THE new 330-key Shangri-La Hotel, Qinhuangdao in China’s Hebei province opened its doors last Friday.

Located along Bohai Bay, the 23-storey hotel is a 15-minute drive to the train station that shuttles travellers to Tianjin and Beijing in under two hours, and 35 minutes away from Qinhuangdao Shanhaiguan Airport.

Apart from guestrooms and suites sized from 45 to 135m², the hotel also offers F&B outlets including Café Qin, which seats 60 people for alfresco gatherings; and Qin Xiang Ge Chinese restaurant, which offers 15 private rooms.

Wellness facilities comprise a 24m indoor pool, gym, Jacuzzi and spa, while meetings facilities include 11 function rooms and a 1,658m² Grand Ballroom. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

Valid until December 31, the hotel’s opening offer starts at RMB558 (US$90) per room per day, and includes breakfast for one, 20 per cent discount on laundry and double Golden Circle points.

A HOTEL in Tokyo has created a whole new niche market, providing special rooms for stressed out working women wanting a good cry.

The Mitsui Garden Yotsuya Hotel introduced the new package, which includes ultra-soft tissues, therapeutic eye masks, make-up remover, miserable manga and a selection of weepy movies such as Forrest Gump, in late March.

A member of staff told TTG Asia e-Daily that the hotel has taken “quite a few” reservations for the package.

The “ladies moderate single room” costs 10,000 yen (US$83) per day. Included in the package is a book about crying therapy and other ways of reducing stress.

The offer will continue at the hotel until August 31. The spokesperson for the hotel said it is possible that it might be held in the future again, or even introduced in the Mitsui Garden chain’s other properties.

THE growing number of air connections in Surabaya, originally intended to improve travel for locals, is expected to open up new destinations such as Banyuwangi, Jember and Malang, and bring in more visitors to East Java.

East Java Government Culture and Tourism Service director, Jarianto, who goes by a single name, said Garuda Indonesia’s launch of Surabaya-Jember and Surabaya-Banyuwangi routes in the last couple of years had fostered development in the surrounding areas.

“Susi Air just opened pioneering routes between Jember and Sumenep (on Madura Island) on May 2 and it also plans to fly Sumenep-Kagean (also on the island) later on.

“While this is initially targeted to prove better access to the local people, it is expected to stimulate tourism in the future.”

At the same time, Banyuwangi’s Blimbingsari Airport is expanding its runway from 1,900m to 2,250m to enable it to accommodate bigger aircraft with a budget of Rp150 billion (US$11.4 million) already set aside for it.

Surabaya is the capital and international gateway of East Java province, which received 460,000 international arrivals in 2014, a 54 per cent increase over 2013.

It also saw 45 million domestic movements last year, making it one of the biggest local travel destinations in the country.

East Java governor, Soekarwo, who also goes by one name, said: “Tourism has played an important role in the development of East Java, contributing Rp101 trillion to regional income in 2014, an increase of 15.6 per cent over the previous year.”

Addressing an audience at the opening of Majapahit Travel Fair (MTF) 2015 and Indonesia Corporate Meeting and Incentive Travel Mart (ICMITM) 2015 in Surabaya last week, Soekwaro said the regional government was fostering the development of tourism at the regency level and is improving infrastructure to attract more arrivals in the future.

THE German National Tourist Office (GNTO) is aiming to strengthen the country’s image as a traditional and cultural destination through its new campaign, Germany – Traditions and Customs.

Introduced to the Indian market yesterday, the campaign promotes Germany’s traditional costume and dance, beer breweries, craft villages, culinary specialties as well as festivals like the German Grape Harvest Festival in Neustadt and Oktoberfest in Munich.

“The overnight stay of Indian tourists has gone up by 72 per cent since 2007. We would now like to encourage Indian tourists to explore the diversity of culture, customs and historical sights of the lesser-known German cities,” said Michael Steiner, German ambassador to India, to TTG Asia e-Daily.

Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin are currently the top three German destinations for the Indian market.

The tourism board will be depending on strategic marketing activities like newsletters, outdoor advertorials, joint promotions with travel trade, media and trade fam trips.

Roadshows and social media to increase awareness of the campaign, said Romit Theophilus, director, sales & marketing, GNTO India.

GNTO will also advertise 150 scenic routes throughout the country.

STARWOOD Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is recruiting Asian hotels into Tribute Portfolio, its latest collection of independent hotels meant to cater to changing customer demand.

With the radar on four- and five-star upper upscale hotels, this brand, which was launched last month, is looking to welcome at least 100 independent hotels and resorts globally over the next five years.

Alison Taylor, the newly appointed senior vice president of Starwood’s sales organisation, told TTG Asia e-Daily at the Asia launch of the brand that although the initial focus of growth will be in North America and Europe, there is ongoing discussion with hotels in Asia who have expressed interest in coming on board.

Tribute Portfolio, the company’s 10^th brand and second collection of independent hotels, currently has five hotels under its wing, including the Royal Palm South Beach Miami.

Taylor explained: “We see a big number of requests coming from our guests to stay in independent hotels and it is because these people enjoy the unique flavour and personality of such hotels.”

“This new brand gives us a huge opportunity to work with independent hotels that can utilise our booking channels and reward programmes that results in a win-win situation,” she added.

According to Starwood, 50 per cent of upper upscale hotels in the US are independent, and 60 per cent of four-star hotels globally are not affiliated with a brand flag, which in turn provides Starwood with a vast landscape to grow the Tribute Portfolio.

Taylor also revealed that Starwood will be announcing plans for their largest portfolio – Sheraton, which holds 40 per cent of the property count – towards the middle of the year.

She said: “We are not going to rework the brand, but we want to heighten awareness about Sheraton through enhanced marketing and sales efforts.”

THAI hospitality company Dusit International is reaching into the Middle East with a new regional sales office in Riyadh.

Through its newly minted presence there, Dusit aims to build on a growing customer base in the region while providing support to its recent joint venture agreement with Dyar Hotels and Resorts.

Saudi Arabia is the top source market from the Gulf Cooperation Council for Dusit’s properties in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Cairo and the Maldives.

Amr Mekkawi has been appointed as director of sales, Saudi Arabia and will run the new office, driving business and raising awareness of Dusit’s global portfolio among the country’s travelling population.

“With Dusit focusing on expansion in the Middle East and Africa, and in light of the projects recently announced, we have decided it is an opportune time to have a Dusit representative based in Riyadh,” said Sameh Shawkat, Dusit International’s regional director of sales and marketing – Middle East and Africa.