THE UK, Australia and Canada have issued travel advisories this week to caution citizens visiting Sri Lanka of potential election violence at the upcoming presidential poll on January 8.

“Political rallies and election campaigns in Sri Lanka have occasionally turned violent. Travellers should avoid any political gatherings or rallies,” the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in its advisory.

However, Sri Lankan travel industry members said large-scale violence is unlikely and that business for the traditional peak season is looking good.

“These are routine advisories issued ahead of any election. Bookings are great (for December) and I don’t expect any election violence deterring arrivals,” said Hiran Cooray, president of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka.

Rumy Jauffer, managing director of the state-run Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, told TTG Asia e-Daily that arrivals would reach the targeted 1.5 million this year, with China closing in on the UK’s position as the second-largest source market, after India.

“Chinese arrivals have been showing triple-digit growth for the past few months,” he said.

Furthermore, India and China don’t issue travel advisories like their western counterparts.

According to the latest data for January-November 2014, Indian, UK and Chinese arrivals rose 16.3 per cent, 4.9 per cent and 137.6 per cent respectively year-on-year.

THE first DoubleTree by Hilton property in Melbourne was launched recently in the heart of the city, opposite the iconic Flinders Street Station.

Previously known as Citigate Melbourne, the 180-key DoubleTree by Hilton Melbourne – Flinders Street is owned by M&L Hospitality and managed by Hilton Worldwide, and had just undergone a multi-million-dollar refurbishment.

The hotel is within easy walking distance of Federation Square, Melbourne’s famous laneways, restaurants, bars and shopping, and the vibrant arts and entertainment district centred around the Yarra River’s south bank.

Facilities include two meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 140 people, a fitness centre, a business centre, a lobby bar and a restaurant.

THE Virgin Group has ventured into the cruise line business, announcing yesterday the formation of Virgin Cruises with two new purpose-built ships.

The company, led by Tom McAlpin as CEO, is a partnership with Bain Capital and will be based in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area.

McAlpin said: “Opportunities like this do not come often, so I am very excited to lead this business and introduce the Virgin brand to the cruise industry.”

Stephen Pagliuca, a managing director with Bain Capital, said: “We know that thanks to the strategic vision laid out by our collective team, Virgin Cruises will help reshape consumers’ expectations of what a cruise experience can be.”

At press time, the company is yet to confirm its date for commencement of operations, citing competitive reasons.

AVANI Hotels & Resorts has added its first hotel in Thailand, the 568-unit Avani Atrium Bangkok, in a commercial and retail area in the Asoke-Sukhumvit area.

Previously operating as Atrium Bangkok, the property has undergone a US$8 million refurbishment over the past 12 months.

The top levels of the 23-storey hotel are Executive Floors, with rooms boasting a 40-inch LCD TV, DVD player and upgraded amenities, in addition to Executive Lounge access for breakfast, complimentary evening cocktails and canapés, and other privileges.

F&B options include Pantry, a casual venue serving drinks, snacks and light meals; Public, an all-day-dining restaurant; and Benihana, a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant due to open in early 2015.

Other facilities include a swimming pool, gym, aerobics studio, beauty salon, and steam and sauna chambers.

Corporate guests benefit from seven configurable and well-equipped meeting, boardroom, function and ballroom venues for 10 to 400 people.

RESORTS World Malaysia today launched the first phase of its RM5 billion (US$1.45 billion) Genting Integrated Tourism Plan (GITP).

Lee Choong Yan, Genting Malaysia’s president and COO, said the first phase of GITP will include the completion of an additional 1,286 rooms to the First World Hotel in 1H2015.

Sky Avenue, Sky Plaza shopping mall and a new cable car station are scheduled to open in 2016.

Malaysian-born and international Hollywood star Michelle Yeoh was also announced as Resorts World Genting’s brand ambassador.

On appointment of Yeoh, Lee shared: “As a Malaysian Michelle Yeoh has successfully penetrated the international movie scene and is today an internationally acclaimed actress and producer. In many ways, her courage, resilience and strength in remaining at the top of her industry mirrors our business.

In 2013, Resorts World Genting attracted 19.6 million visitors. It is targeting 30 million by 2020.

Launched in December 2013, GITP involves the development and enhancement of the infrastructure, products and services at Resorts World Genting. It is expected to propel the resort into the next 50 years.

GITP includes the previously announced Twentieth Century Fox that will open in 2016.

ZUJI yesterday introduced two new online platforms, ZUJI Exclusives, a website that provides travel deals exclusive to Singaporeans; and ZUJI Passport, an online source that shares content written by the OTA’s travel specialists.

ZUJI Exclusives, a click away from the ZUJI Singapore site, offers packages in a voucher-based format and varies greatly from the OTA’s current sales method.

After purchasing a voucher, the user will then proceed to enter a live web chat with ZUJI employees to select dates and other details for his/her trip.

The OTA also offers a “21 days no questions asked” refund policy up till the point before the user reaches the live web chat, and also a price promise that if a user can find a cheaper version of the exact same product that the OTA offers, the holiday will be free.

The online content hub and mobile-supported ZUJI Passport is for all travellers and shares information such as travel tips and unique adventure recommendations by ZUJI travel specialists to enthuse readers into booking a holiday at these destinations.

Commenting on how this will help ZUJI differentiate itself from competitors, Chua Hui Wan, CEO, ZUJI Singapore, told TTG e-Daily that the company is currently the only OTA that offers voucher-based products.

The OTA launched a mobile site recently and expects to introduce a mobile app in 2015.

NOW almost wrapping up its 30^th year of operation, Ascott today announced it has added 25 properties globally and opened 14 to date in 2014.

The group recently opened the 185-unit Ascott Kuningan Jakarta, which it acquired for S$90 milion (US$68.5 million) under a conditional agreement with Ciputra Adigraha.

A contract has also been secured from Canh Hung Hai Thanh Corporation for managing the 222-unit Ascott Waterfront Saigon. Located in Ho Chi Minh City, it will be the first Ascott-branded residence and its 13th property in the country when it opens in 2016.

Commenting on plans for the future, Lee Chee Koon, CEO, Ascott, said: “Globally, we have opened 14 properties with over 2,000 apartment units so far this year and will be opening Somerset Vientiane, our first serviced residence in Laos, on December 9. More properties such as Citadines LiZhiWan Guangzhou and Somerset Grandview Shenzhen will open before end-2014.

“We will continue to seek opportunities in key cities in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Gulf region to achieve our target of 80,000 apartment units worldwide by 2020.”

WHILE Tianjin has often been marketed as a day trip option from Beijing, its tourism bureau is seeking to reverse this by drawing attention to its lower prices as well as historical and cultural assets.

Tianjin’s accommodation is cheaper than Beijing’s, and the city is just 30 minutes away from Beijing by high-speed rail. Meanwhile, construction of the Light Rapid Transit system linking the city will be completed next year.

Tianjin Airport too, offers a wide range of flight routes like Beijing, but minus the inconveniences of full flights and delays.

Tianjin Municipal Tourism Bureau director Ma Ben Zhong noted Tianjin’s significance in contemporary Chinese history, where the last emperor Puyi, first Republican president Yuan Shi Kai, and various warlords had left their mark.

While Beijing has been renowned for China’s ancient heritage, Tianjin is noted for historical sites from the late Qing dynasty and early Republican era.

The nine foreign concessions in Tianjin also offer plenty of historical significance to the city’s tourism. Tianjin’s Culture Street, Hai river cruise and Tianjin Eye are also widely popular attractions.

Tianjin Port, located in the Binhai New Area, offers unbeatable sceneries. Other attractions in the vicinity include an aircraft carrier theme park and a Russian-themed street.

Tianjin also draws tourists for its ‘industrial travel’ products, such as an Airbus 320 assembly facility, biological and pharmaceutical sector, textile industries and breweries.

Article by Zhong Yun. Translated by Ong Yanchun from the original TTG China e-Daily article, December 1, 2014.

CHANGI Airport Group (CAG) on Monday inked an agreement with the Maldives Airport Company Ltd (MACL) to help expand and develop the country’s Ibrahim Nasir International Airport.

MACL managing director, Ibrahim Bandhu Ibrahim Saleem, said the expansion will enable the airport to accommodate 9.6 million passengers by 2030, up from the current 2.5-2.6 million.

Saleem added the expansion and commercialisation of the airport is a strategic initiative that will support the fast-growing tourism industry as well as expansion of trade activity.

“We believe CAG will be able to bring world-class planning and operating experience to the Maldives and support MACL in the successful delivery of this important milestone,” he said at the ceremony.

Local media reports in Male cited CAG’s CEO, Lim Liang Song, as saying: “We will give the best advice on practices and processes – the airport has to be moved by the emotions and vision of the government as well as MACL.”

In late 2012, the government cancelled a management and operation contract with India’s GMR due to a dispute over concessions.

The Maldives is expanding its regional airports, currently numbering 10, with some being upgraded to international status. The country received 1.3 million tourists last year.