SINGAPORE-based Naumi Hospitality has purchased the Hotel Grand Chancellor Auckland Airport, marking the first time the Naumi brand travels overseas.

The 2ha, 193-room property in the Auckland Airport Precinct is the group’s maiden entry into the New Zealand market and will be shut for an extensive renovation before reopening under the Naumi brand in 4Q2015.

Besides being the group’s first overseas property, the purchase is the only hotel with major meeting space for MICE events of up to 200 pax.

The refurbished hotel will offer hotel rooms starting at 27m² and all rooms will come with a balcony. First floor rooms have gardens attached.

Naumi Hospitality is a part of The Hind Group, who also owns and operates Ovolo Hotels in Hong Kong and Australia.

GOLDEN Eagle Ballooning took to the skies over Bagan last weekend with the official launch of its hot air balloon operations.

A subsidiary of Yangon-based Golden Express Tours, the ballooning company intends to meet demand for such services in Bagan, said Golden Eagle Ballooning general manager, Kaung Set Zaw at the launch last week.

The company has three hot air balloons with a total capacity of 24 passengers, and will run one sunrise flight a day between 35 and 60 minutes dependent on weather conditions. A ride costs US$370 per person.

Kang Set Zaw said: “We will start operating in Bagan for this season from November 23, 2014 to March 3, 2015. We will expand our operations to other destinations in Myanmar, probably Mandalay and Inle Lake next year.”

“Our balloons are manufactured by Ultramagic from Spain, one of the best and most well-known balloon manufacturers in the world and approved by European Aviation Safety Agency…The safety and satisfaction of clients is our highest priority,” he explained.

The company has hired three Swiss pilots and one chief pilot from Spain to drive the balloons.

Two ballooning companies are already in operation in Bagan, namely Balloons over Bagan and Oriental Ballooning, and the activity is also gaining popularity at Mandalay and Inle Lake.

MALAYSIAN tour operators both inbound and outbound are strategising how to make the most of AirAsia’s ASEAN Pass announced last week, saying the credit-based system presents potential to upsell and boost travel around South-east Asia.

Adam Kamal, deputy president 2 of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism and CEO of Rakyat Travel, said: “We anticipate this pass will attract budget travellers, such as backpackers and youth travellers, hence we will introduce packages combining three or four countries for this segment.”

The Pass is also expected to be a hit among travellers from medium to longhaul markets, especially bargain hunters who can now cover several countries on a single pass.

John Chan, general manager at NCR Travel & Tours, pointed out: “The savings on flights can be used on the ground. This ASEAN Pass will be an opportunity for us to upsell, and to combine Malaysia with other destinations.”

Ally Bhoonee, executive director at World Avenues, also expects ASEAN nationals to be the main beneficiaries since no visas are required, except to Myanmar. “It is like getting a free ticket to Malaysia when travellers purchase this pass. It will attract more (South-east Asian) arrivals into Malaysia, and inbound travel consultants will benefit for more requests for their services.”

But he added: “On the downside, it may also entail shorter stays in Malaysia as travellers will want to visit other countries within ASEAN as well.”

Echoing Ally’s sentiments, Adam also called for the introduction of the single ASEAN Visa for non-ASEAN nationals “otherwise this initiative will only benefit ASEAN member countries”.

The AirAsia ASEAN Pass is expected to be rolled out in January next year.

According to Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama, the pass eliminates the hassle of dealing with foreign exchange rates as it stores credit and acts as a single currency.

Routes are valued according to the credits. The Pass comes in two options – a one-month pass for 10 credits at a flat rate of RM500 (US$149), and a 45-day pass for 20 credits worth RM900 – both excluding airport charges.

UPBEAT about Asia-Pacific’s business aviation market, UAS International Trip Support has started operations at its new regional headquarters in Hong Kong, and will open its Beijing office today.

UAS co-founder and executive director, Mohammed Husary, commented that Hong Kong is the undisputed destination of choice for the company’s Asia-Pacific headquarters due to its strategic location and all-rounded transportation and logistics network.

The Hong Kong headquarters’ establishment represents the corporation’s first step in penetrating the Greater China market. Its India office is slated to open shortly after.

Asia-Pacific constitutes the fastest-growing market where some 700 out of its 1,400 clients are based, with the China market burgeoning rapidly.

Through its new headquarters, UAS will leverage Hong Kong’s status as a global financial and aviation hub to expand its network. The Hong Kong team will be available 24/7, offering services in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Mohammed Husary further explained that the higher fees, inadequate infrastructure and cumbersome process to obtain landing permits often associated with China’s market will not dampen the growth of and demand for international aviation trip support.

He is also keen to join relevant associations as well as exchange views with industry players to work towards improving the regulatory and business environment in China.

Besides Hong Kong, UAS also has headquarters located in Houston, Johannesburg and Dubai.

Established in 2000, UAS provides global trip support services to private and corporate passengers as well as cargo, royal and presidential flights.

Article by Yvonne Chang. Translated by Ong Yanchun from the original TTG China e-Daily, November 21, 2014, article.

ACCOR last week launched its first Grand Mercure resort property in Candolim, Goa.

The 121-unit Grand Mercure Goa Shrem Resort is the group’s second hotel in Goa and offers a 10-treatment room Balinese spa and has three F&B options: all-day dining restaurant Festa, Junho Bar, and Chy lounge.

The resort will also be able to host events for up to 800 guests.

Speaking at the launch of the property, general manager Manish Dayya said: “We aim to substantiate our position in this market for leisure as well as for MICE. Our product is geared to handle both equally effectively.”

Two more Grand Mercure properties will be opened by 2015, one in Vadodara and another in Bengaluru.

Mitesh Dani, managing director, Parul Tours, said: “With Accor pushing for a larger market share, the high-end hospitality offering in Goa is closing the gap between supply and demand. There is unfulfilled demand for rooms, leading to healthy ARR in this destination.”

* This article originally wrote that a Grand Mercure property will open in Ahmedabad in 2015. This was incorrect and has been edited for accuracy.

INBOUND tour operators are prepared to absorb additional costs to honour existing contracts as the Malaysian government scraps fuel subsidies from next month, but higher package rates are on the table for the next contracting period.

Said Adam Kamal, CEO, Rakyat Travel: “We will monitor rates over the next three months and decide on a new rate mechanism for the next contracting period. We will likely put a clause in that transport rates are subject to change. We have a clause now for foreign exchange rates.”

Likewise, S Jayakumar, operations manager, Dayangti Transport & Tours, said: “For the next contracting period, we will cost our tours higher with a bigger buffer, just to play safe.”

Luxury Tours Malaysia senior manager, Arokia Das, said: “Our coach and van providers have indicated that new rates will go up by 10 to 15 per cent in 2015. GST will also be introduced on April 1, 2015. Thus our package prices will increase by a minimum of five per cent next year.”

The government announced over the weekend that from December 1 it will no longer be providing fuel subsidies for RON95 petrol and diesel. Retail prices will be based on a managed float and tied to international crude oil prices.

This follows a recent hike in fuel and diesel prices by 10 per cent on October 2.

Some tour operators were unhappy with the removal of the subsidy. Arokia commented: “What the government should do is to fix a price for the tour and travel industry. They should give us some form of subsidy as we are bringing foreign tourists to the country, who come here and spend and benefit the economy.

“Already, our tour packages cost the second highest in this region, after Singapore.”

GREATER China is set to fuel Asian cruise growth with its market of 83 million potential passengers, and families with young children are the best segment to target, according to a study conducted this year by Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB).

Speaking at Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific last week, HKTB executive director Anthony Lau shared the results of the NTO’s first cruise consumer behaviour study involving 3,500 people from Taipei, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chongqing, Wuhan, Chengdu and Beijing.

“Our findings indicated out of the three consumer segments (family, young and achievers), the achiever, or those between ages 46 to 60, showed the least intention to take cruise (11 per cent) compared to families with children (44 per cent)…because they view cruising as a hassle-free, ideal occasion to spend quality time with the family,” he said, adding that Chinese travellers perceived cruises as a luxury product.

Respondents also indicated a preference for French and Italian fine dining on cruises, deemed free Wi-Fi a necessity, and said the ideal length for a cruise is six to seven days. Over 80 per cent wanted to cruise to Hong Kong.

Carnival Australia, CEO and chairman, CLIA SE Asia, Ann Sherry, welcomed the results of the study saying: “The study’s data like age and demography, helps match cruise products with the right segment.”

PANORAMA Tours Indonesia relaunched its website last week offering domestic air tickets, hotel rooms and packaged tours at www.panorama-tours.com.

While not new per se, this is the first time the website is being used for direct customer bookings.

Bobby Riawan, vice president e-commerce at Panorama, said: “E-commerce has now become a new shopping trend. As such we are targeting business expansion of 20 per cent through the OTA.”

“At this initial stage, clients can buy domestic flights and FIT (domestic and international) tour packages,” he added.

In the pipeline are plans to add international flight bookings, car rentals, admission tickets and “other travel necessities”.

Said Bobby: “In due time, we will offer group tour programmes. Travellers will also be able to create their own itineraries online.”

Hellen Xu, the company’s managing director sales & distribution, said: “The online platform will complement the existing (brick-and-mortar) travel company. With Panorama.com we expect to expand our market, reaching out to Millennial travellers, who are dependent on their gadgets.”