HARD Rock International has announced the hiring of Daniel Cheng as senior vice president of business development, Asia-Pacific.
In his new role, Cheng will be responsible for identifying the appropriate casino investments and development partners within key countries, such as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Cheng was most recently with Resorts World under Genting Group, and brings with him nearly three decades of experience from multiple industries.
INDONESIAN aviation safety is in the spotlight as the investigations into Indonesia AirAsia flight QZ8501 unearthed information leading to the temporary suspension of the carrier’s Surabaya-Singapore service on January 2.
Djoko Murjatmodjo, acting director general of air transportation, Ministry of Transportation, said: “The airline’s permit is to fly is for Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, but it turns out AirAsia was flying on Sundays.
“This is a violation of the flight permit, therefore we have temporarily frozen the Surabaya service for investigations.”
The official said the proceedings from here on are isolated and separate from investigations into flight QZ8501, and added that the Ministry would intensify controls on airlines to ensure compliance with aviation regulations, including the pilot briefing by flight dispatcher.
Sunu Widyatmoko, president director of Indonesia AirAsia declined to comment, but outbound passengers are meanwhile switching to different carriers.
Reza Novaldy, director of Tama Putera Wisata Bandung, said: “People will continue to travel but we have seen people shifting from LCCs to Garuda Indonesia on domestic routes, unless the destination is only served by LCCs.”
Likewise, Kencana Tour Jakarta’s president director, Yekti Suradji, said: “There was growing demand from our corporate clients to travel with AirAsia, especially from those with budget cuts. However, looking at the forward bookings, we see this demand in decline as clients start shifting back to Garuda.”
Pauline Suharno, deputy secretary general of The Association of Air Ticketing Companies in Indonesia expected this year to become a turning point for Indonesian aviation. “Aviation safety is in the spotlight, but the new minister of transportation (Ignasius Jonan) has moved quickly to improve and see that (different players) are complying with regulations.”
In a separate blow to Surabaya, the US Embassy in Jakarta issued a travel alert over the weekend against Indonesia’s second-largest city that warned of possible threats against American interests.
Posted on the embassy’s website, the statement read: “The US Embassy has been made aware of a potential threat against US-associated hotels and banks in Surabaya, Indonesia. The US Embassy recommends heightened vigilance and awareness of one’s surroundings when visiting such facilities.”
No further details were provided, but the concerns were likely heightened following attempts by a number of Indonesian citizens to travel to Syria and Iraq to join ISIS.
East Java regional police forces have denied any existence of a threat but are increasing patrols and security measures around US-associated facilities.
HILTON Worldwide opened Hilton Ngapali Resort & Spa today as its second property in Myanmar, hot on the heels of its Naypyidaw hotel.
Situated on Myanmar’s west coast facing the Indian Ocean, Hilton Ngapali Resort & Spa is 2km away from the Thandwe Airport, a 10-minute drive from Thandwe town centre. From Yangon, beach destination Ngapali is a 45-minute flight away.
“Our expanding presence in Myanmar – particularly with the opening of Hilton Ngapali Beach Resort & Spa – provides more choices for travellers and elevates hospitality standards and services in this increasingly important and growing region,” said Rob Palleschi, global head full service brands, Hilton Worldwide.
The property is owned by Eden Group Company and managed by Hilton Worldwide.
Hilton Ngapali Resort & Spa features 51 rooms and villas with Wi-Fi, satellite TV channels, balconies or terraces, and separate bath and rain showers.
Rooms start at the entry-level Deluxe Rooms with a private whirlpool to the top-end Ocean View Villa Suites with a previate pool and outdoor deck offering views of the Indian Ocean, and access to the Executive Lounge.
Within the resort premises, F&B options include all-day dining Flow restaurant, The Lounge in the resort lobby, and Shore bar.
Other facilities include a spa, 24-hour fitness centre, outdoor infinity pool with three whirlpools, and a separate children’s area. Recreational activities such as non-motorised water sports and golf can be arranged.
As a participant in the Hilton HHonors programme, Hilton Ngapali Resort & Spa is marking its opening with 5,000 bonus HHonors points per night for weekday stays of at least three consecutive nights.
The promotion is valid from January 15 to April 30.
NEW World Hotels & Resorts has expanded its reach in the Philippines with the launch of New World Manila Bay on New Year’s Day, the group’s second property in the capital.
Formerly the Hyatt Regency Hotel & Casino, Manila, the hotel is slated to renovate its guestrooms and public areas. The hotel offers easy access to business and major convention centres, retail areas, and historical attractions. The airports and port terminal are a 30-minute and 10-minute drive away respectively.
New World Manila Bay Hotel features 376 guestrooms and suites with Residence Club executive floors and lounge. It has six dining options including the Market Cafe, the Cantonese restaurant Li Li, The Fireplace steakhouse, The Lounge, Pool Bar and The Pastry Boutique.
Meeting and event space includes a 630m2 ballroom that accommodates up to 700 guests and four other venues.
Recreational facilities include a 25m swimming pool, a fitness centre and a spa. The hotel is part of a complex including a 13,935m2 casino.
To celebrate its opening, the hotel is offering a Celebration Stay package until March 31, 2015 that allows guests to enjoy a special rate starting at 6,800 pesos (US$152) a room per night for a minimum stay of two nights in a City Bay View Room.
Guests will be entitled to access to the Residence Club Living Room for breakfast, all-day refreshments and evening cocktails, as well as one-way airport transfers, use of Wi-Fi and the Boardroom for one hour per day, and a turndown amenity. A 25 per cent discount at hotel restaurants and bars and a 15 per cent discount on massage services is also available.
The package is subject to availability, service charge and tax.
ETHIOPIAN Airlines is cosying up to Star Alliance partner Air India as it expands in India with additional frequencies on existing routes and ponders a new service to Chennai.
In India last month for a Star Alliance meeting, Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said: “More than 600 Indian companies have invested in Ethiopia and a large Indian community lives there so it offers a lot of opportunity to us.
“We are considering direct flights between Chennai and Addis Ababa for the summer 2015 schedule, and expect to start double-daily frequencies for the New Delhi-Addis Ababa and Mumbai-Addis Ababa sectors in 1H2015.”
The airline will also extend its codeshare agreement with India’s national airline, Air India, to include other African destinations such as Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and South Africa, and Indian cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata.
Ethiopian Airlines already codeshares on flights from New Delhi and Mumbai to Addis Ababa, and is 5ecording 75 per cent loads on Indian routes.
Commented Subhash Goyal, chairman, STIC Travel Group: “The traffic from India to Ethiopia has been predominantly business. However, there is a good potential to promote the destination among Indian leisure tourists looking to explore newer places.”
MALAYSIA is paving the way for more cycling enthusiasts with 74 more cycling tourism packages, featuring destinations including Kuching and Taman Negara.
The packages were rolled out last month in collaboration with 32 local tour agencies.
Mainly targeting cycling enthusiasts from Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, this niche product together with Tourism Malaysia’s publication, Discover Malaysia by Bicycle Guidebook, will be promoted during the upcoming ASEAN Tourism Forum which kicks off January 22, 2015.
Tourism Malaysia has been actively promoting cycling tourism packages since 2011 and a total of 3,547 cycling packages worth RM657,452 (US$187,953) have been sold from January to August 2014.
In 2013, 5,290 cycling packages valued at RM844,720 were sold.
Tourism Malaysia’s deputy director-general (promotion), Azizan Noordin, said: “Through these packages, domestic and international tourists will be able to explore more destinations in Malaysia through cycling. Some of the most interesting packages include the 3D2N classic Kuching city ride, the 4D3N Taman Negara cycling package, and the 3D2N Kota Bharu cycling tour.”
Musa Yusof, director, domestic marketing division at Tourism Malaysia, said the NTO is also in discussions with local and foreign airlines flying into Malaysia to waive fees for bicycles taken onboard a flight, as what Garuda Indonesia is practising.
DUE to heavy flooding in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, several travel companies have temporarily stopped selling flood-affected destinations such as Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Taman Negara National Park and are diverting existing groups to alternative areas.
Luxury Tours Malaysia senior manager, Arokia Das, said: “We sent out travel advisories to our travel consultants to update them on the situation and which parts are affected by floods.
“Generally, we are not selling Taman Negara, the east coast and the islands off the east coast. We hope the floods in the east coast will clear up by mid-January. Instead we are promoting Langkawi, Penang, Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur.”
Saini Vermeulen, head of international sales, Panorama Tours Malaysia, said the company would be diverting a group of 20 pax from Holland from Taman Negara National Park to Belum Rainforest. He said: “For us, the customer’s safety and comfort come first. We will monitor the situation in the east coast, and only start selling it when the situation improves.”
He added that the company will still accommodate FIT requests to these affected states where possible. “However, during this period, if there are requests for beach holidays, we will promote Penang and Langkawi, and for theme parks, Johor Bahru.”
Liza Alip, managing director of Johor-based East Coast Adventure Travel and Tours, said her tours are running as usual in Johor Bahru but the company avoids selling tours to flood-stricken areas such as Kluang and Mersing in Johor.
Parts of Malaysia are regularly hit by strong winds and rains during the annual monsoon season, but the downpours that began end-December have been described as being the worst in 30 years.
INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the appointment of Anne Busfield as general manager of Holiday Inn Golden Mile Hong Kong.
Busfield brings with her over 28 years of experience in the fields of hospitality and sales and marketing.
Prior to joining IHG, Busfield held the same position at hotels including the Hilton Brighton Metropole and The Empire Hotel & Country Club Brunei.
In addition, Busfield had also been director of marketing for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Thailand, Hong Kong and Macau where she led the sales and marketing team.
GARY Antony Henden has been appointed to the position of general manager at Six Senses Samui.
Prior to this posting, Henden also held the same position at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay in Vietnam.
Henden brings with him over 20 years of operational and project management experience in the hotel industry and has been with Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas since 2005.
FLIGHTS in and out of Indonesia are proceeding as normal with little immediate reaction to the disappearance of Indonesia AirAsia’s flight QZ8501 yesterday.
In a press conference this morning, Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia Group, stated that all AirAsia flights were operating regularly including flights from Surabaya.
The Indonesian outbound operators in Surabaya noticed no impact. Monas Tjahjono, managing director of Monas Tours and Travel in Surabaya, said: “Overall, outbound business this year-end dropped compared to last year, but it is more likely because of the depreciation of the rupiah against the US dollar.
“Travellers already holding tickets will continue with their plan, so activities at the Juanda International Airport are running normally. I have a group leaving tomorrow – not with AirAsia though – and none of them is showing concern.”
Likewise passenger confidence in travelling on AirAsia has not been shaken, according to Yongky Yanwintarko, chairman of The Association of Air Ticketing Companies in Indonesia (ASTINDO) East Java Chapter.
“The airline has a good track record in safety. This is the first time they’ve had an accident and, while we’re waiting for official results of the investigation, so far it looks like the incident had to do with the weather.”
A couple of ASTINDO East Java Chapter’s members, Universal Travel Surabaya, had a group of 24 guests and one tour leader on the missing plane, alongside other FIT travellers on board.
The second, TX Travel, had three travellers on the flight. Managing director Anton Thedy said “We are sad there were three of our guests on that flight, but 10 other guests (escaped) the incident.
“Our guests arrived at Surabaya airport late and missed the flight, as there had been a timetable change and we failed to inform our guests as we could not reach them when we received notification from AirAsia.”
