SHANGHAI Spring International Travel (Spring Travel) is rolling out 15 charter cruises in 2015 as the market outlook for cruising next year is decidedly upbeat.

Eleven of the 15 charter cruises will depart from Shanghai and the remaining four from Tianjin, including an ancient Rome-themed cruise on Costa Serena and Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas, which boasts robot bartenders and bumper cars on board.

It aims to increase the number of quality itineraries, such as the Princess Cruises charters, and develop more themed cruises like the little sea explorer series that has found popularity among children.

This continues Spring Travel’s operations in China this year, consisting of themed travel in partnership with Royal Caribbean Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Costa Cruises. An itinerary based on wildly popular South Korean reality show, Running Man, was developed this year as was a themed cruise for singles seeking partners.

Spring Travel’s 2015 charter cruise dates will take into consideration winter and summer vacation periods and national public holidays in China.

General manager Zou Qingling noted that the industry remained optimistic about prospects for 2015.

The Asia Cruise Association predicted that the number of passengers for the Asian cruise market will hit 3.8 million in 2020 with 43 per cent coming from China.

Meanwhile the Cruise Lines International Association has forecast that international cruise passengers for 2015 and 2020 will climb to 25 million and 30 million respectively.

But for the moment, the association stated, cruise travel is capturing a mere 0.05 per cent of the Asia-Pacific’s 3.5 billion-strong market.

Article by Jessie Liu. Translated by Ong Yanchun from the original TTG-BTmice China e-Weekly, December 9, 2014 article.

UP TO 400 new Accor brand hotels will open in China within the next five years under Huazhu Hotels Group, which has been named the exclusive master franchisee in a newly sealed alliance that will create one of the largest hotel groups in the country.

Huazhu, also known as China Lodging Group, will operate and develop Accor’s Ibis, Ibis Styles, Novotel, Mercure, and Grand Mercure brands in mainland China, Mongolia, and Taiwan.

It will also take a 10 per cent share of Accor’s luxury and upscale business in China and offer support to the French hospitality giant.

With hotels spanning the entire market spectrum, Huazhu comes to the table with over 1,900 hotels of its own.

At the same time, the two companies have agreed to grant Accor a 10 per cent stake in Huazhu and a seat on the board of directors.

Ji Qi, chairman and CEO of Huzahu Hotels Group, said in a statement: “With an extensive brand portfolio, and strong distribution and loyalty platforms, Accor and Huzahu share a lot of common values. By combining forces we can facilitate growth and attract more customers to the expanded network.”

The agreement will also allow customers of both loyalty programmes – a combined market of 47 million – access to a network of more than 5,600 hotels internationally.

Sebastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of Accor, said: “This major step is key to our digital transformation as the agreement will link the power of both groups’ reservation and loyalty platforms, providing an expanded distribution capability.

“China today is the largest outbound tourism market in the world; in that context, creating one of the largest hotel groups in China will lead to growth globally as those travellers come to recognise Accor and Huazhu’s brands and expand their travel internationally.”

He added: “This agreement will also help us better anticipate customers’ expectations and strengthen our leadership in the Chinese market over the long term.”

A MASSIVE marketing campaign forming the centrepiece of Bohol’s recovery efforts will offer hefty discounts, new attractions, and activities for trade and consumer alike in the new year.

Coming up first under Visit Bohol 2015 is the Bohol Travel Fair in Manila from January 9 to 11, where savings of up to 60 per cent on accommodation, tours, and travel essentials will be featured. There will also be a B2B component for trade.

The new campaign will feature and promote new attractions such as the white beaches of Anda; Lamanok Island; Banacon, Asia’s largest mangrove forest; a dive festival; two international music festivals; geo-science tours covering the change in Bohol’s land mass following the earthquake; among others.

These initiatives fall under the Bohol Tourism Recovery Programme, which was spearheaded by the Philippine Department of Tourism, together with the US Agency for International Development, UN World Tourism Organization, and PATA.

Bohol Tourism Council chair, Lucas Nunag, noted that the foreign market is growing faster than the domestic market, and that investors are already coming in as construction on the new airport begins next year.

“I expect additional supply of 1,000 high-end rooms with in the next two years, including the 2015 opening of 400 rooms and 12 villas at Henann Resort Alona Beach; a 200-key property being built by Be Hotels in Panglao; additional 60 rooms at Amorita Resort; and South Palms Resort which took over two-thirds of the 60ha Bohol Beach Club,” said Nunag.

Bohol tourism stakeholders went to Thailand’s Chiang Mai to learn more about developing homestays, ecotourism, and community-based tourism in the province, he added.

HARD Rock Hotels will debut its first property in India next March in the renowned beach area of Calangute.

Located 45 minutes from Goa International Airport, the 135-key Hard Rock Hotel Goa will offer the usual trappings of the brand.

These include the Sound of Your Stay, a free music amenity programme allowing in-room guitar rentals and playlist download upon check-in, an all-day dining restaurant, outdoor pool, poolside bar and grill, a Body Rock fitness centre, and a Rock Shop selling merchandise.

The hotel also comes with meeting and event space.

Abida Kumar, deputy general manager of Minar Travels Goa, welcomed the brand, calling it “synergetic with Goa’s (image) as a party and fun travel destination”.

LONGHAUL travel will be the hardest hit by the depreciation of the Malaysian ringgit and the impact could be seen as early as Lunar New Year 2015, say travel consultants here.

The Malaysian currency has slid 6.8 per cent since October 10.

“Travellers with family and business obligations to travel to Europe and North America will still travel. But others will postpone their holidays there and wait for the ringgit to strengthen,” said John Chan, general manager, NCR Travel & Tours.

He added: “I predict that next year, companies will also cut back on their travel and entertainment expenses.”

Adam Kamal, CEO of Rakyat Travel, said his company is already feeling the impact of the weakened ringgit on business and is absorbing the difference in currency exchange rates.

He commented: “People will still travel but there will be a shift (in destination choices). Due to aggressive airline promotions, South-east Asian and Asian destinations such as China and South Korea will benefit the most.”

Concurring with his point is Mint Leong, managing director of Sunflower Holidays, which customises tours to Europe.

She observed that families are still going on holiday, but are shortening their lengths of stay and downgrading accommodation on their vacations.

The Malaysian government is conducting a comprehensive study on the ringgit’s depreciation to determine its impact on imports, exports, inflation, manpower and others, according to national news agency Bernama.

STARWOOD Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’s The Luxury Collection will make its debut in Japan when the 39-key Suiran opens its doors in Kyoto in March 2015.

Developed as a ryokan-style accommodation, Suiran, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Kyoto is located in the city’s western Arashiyama district, occupying part of the grounds of Tenryuji Temple, a World Heritage site, and adjacent to the Hozugawa River, Kameyama Park and Hogoin Temple.

Each guestroom will be designed in culturally significant hues and traditional motifs of Kyoto. Facilities in the hotel include a lobby lounge, signature restaurant, meeting room, fitness center and spa, while the brand’s concierge service advises Kyoto’s destination highlights to new travellers.

In addition to the newly built guestrooms and facilities, Suiran will retain elements of its esteemed past including the preservation of two original structures – Enmei-kaku, built in 1899, and Hasshoken, constructed in 1910 – both of which are currently undergoing extensive renovations and will ultimately house a signature restaurant and cafe.

The signing of Suiran bolsters Starwood’s relationship with owner Mori Trust, which also owns The Westin Sendai in northern Japan. “We are very excited to debut The Luxury Collection in Japan with a property that epitomises the scenic beauty of this country in every season,” said Miwako Date, president, Mori Trust Hotels & Resorts and executive managing director, Mori Trust.

“Japan has a well-established hospitality industry with limited supply and few new developments at the high end of the market,” added Rajit Sukumaran, vice president, acquisition & development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia-Pacific. “With this distinguished new addition to our portfolio, we will continue to deliver on the Luxury Collection’s brand promise to offer guests unparalleled access to rich, indigenous experiences.”

Suiran joins Starwood’s portfolio of 23 Luxury Collection hotels in Asia-Pacific including the recently opened The Azure Qiantang in Hangzhou and The Castle Hotel in Dalian.

HONG Kong Disneyland Resort is wooing the South-east Asian market with a series of trade initiatives and packages.

The campaign blitz, which so far has reached Thailand and Taiwan before the Philippines, highlights the destination’s permanent light show Disney Paint the Night as well as Disney Sparkling Christmas – a seasonal campaign featuring Frozen characters such as Queen Elsa and Princess Anna.

In conjunction with an upcoming singing contest in the Philippines next year, the Sing-Along Disney Journey package will be made available for travel consultants’ promotion during the annual Travel Tour Expo in February, informed Larry Leung, director for travel trade sales at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. The one-day package includes resort ticket, a free meal coupon and a personalised nametag.

“Every year, between March and May, we also have a Star Guests programme, where (travel consultants) can show your appreciation for your VIP guests. You can bring them into Hong Kong Disneyland and we will have special moments for each of (them),” he added.

These initiatives come on top of the resort’s existing Travel Industry Salute Promotion, which enables trade members to enjoy 10 per cent off admission tickets and room offers at its two themed hotels in 2015; visitors who show a Cebu Pacific Air boarding pass and valid passport at CTS Hong Kong branches get 10 per cent discount on selected Hong Kong Disneyland travel products.

Next year, Leung said the resort will centre its marketing efforts on its 10^th year anniversary on September 12, the launch of its first Marvel-themed Iron Man experience in 2016 and the opening of an exploration-themed 750-room hotel in 2017.

Hong Kong Disneyland will continue its South-east Asian promotion in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Ipoh in January.

TRIBUTE Hotels, a newly formed hospitality brand by Hong Kong real estate development company District15, will launch its first property in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon come April 2015.

Featuring a community-based, select service concept, the design-led property was transformed from a 13-storey former office building on Tung Fong Street.

District15 founders Alex Bent and Dinesh Nihalchand worked with international architect Alex Jones of Spawton Architecture and designer Candace Campos of Identity to create a style that combines both global and local elements.

The Tribute Hotel Yau Ma Tei will offer 24 comfortable rooms with just two room types: Big & Small. The twenty-two 14m2 Small Rooms have a king-size bed, walnut and brass desk, storage racks, en-suite bathrooms with brushed brass fittings and rain showers, while the two 26m2 Big Rooms (one per floor) are similarly appointed with the addition of bunk beds to accommodate up to four guests.

Tribute will offer a select complimentary F&B service providing guests with a grab-and-go cart in the lobby, similar to the trolleys found in traditional local teahouses, for breakfast and free-pour local craft beer in the evenings. The hotel is also working with local fashion houses, craftsmen and artisans to create a distinct guest experience including organic teas, coffee and a Hong Kong microbrew from local purveyors.

The hotel is located in close proximity to the major Kowloon shopping districts of Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui, and less than a minute walk from the Yau Ma Tei MTR station.

Introductory rates start from HK$1,300++ (US$168++).