SUZHOU Center Plaza, located in Suzhou Industrial Park’s CBD to the west of Jinji Lake, will become the largest integrated development project in China when it debuts in 2019.

The 21.1ha, RMB28.5 billion (US$4.7 billion) development comprises 10 buildings, including a 500m super high-rise building – poised to be the highest in Suzhou and the top integrated commercial centre in the Yangtze River Delta – and a commercial compound housing offices, commercial holdings, hotels, residences, arts and entertainment facilities.

The largest mixed-use urban and underground development project in China, the plaza will feature an integrated mall, sky gardens, plus centralised heating and cooling system. The mall, which is jointly developed by SIP Jinji Lake City and CapitaLand, will boast an Olympic-size ice skating rink, a cinema, high-end dining options and luxury retail outlets. The mall is scheduled to commence operations in June 2017 at the earliest.

The plaza further features six Grade A corporate offices, a financial trading floor and a helicopter pad, among its corporate facilities. Starwood’s W Hotels has also confirmed its operations at the plaza.

The integrated transport system will be another unique feature of the plaza. A city circuit transport route will operate from Basement 2, while Basement 1 connects to the metro to relieve traffic at the ground level. Basements 2 to 4 also feature China’s largest underground parking space with some 7,000 parking lots.

Marking the most noteworthy component of the plaza are the rooftop passages, which link up all the buildings to enable pedestrians to access the City Square, camphor woods and other highlights in the vicinity.

Article by Jessie Liu. Translated by Ong Yanchun from the original TTG China e-Daily, November 6, 2014 article.

THE Gateway Hotels & Resorts, a subsidiary of the Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), has forayed into the resort segment with the opening of The Gateway Resort, Damdama Lake, Gurgaon on Monday.

The 78-room property, launched in partnership with Samak Dhoot Resorts and Spa, is positioned as a weekend destination in the Delhi NCR region, with an adventure park zone offering activities like rock climbing.

In its first year of operation, the resort is targeting an average room rate of US$129 and average occupancy of 50 to 55 per cent, said Prabhat S Verma, COO, Gateway Hotels.

IHCL is also looking to expand its resort portfolio with the opening of three more properties in the coming year.

“We are looking to open resorts in Pune, Raipur and Corbett Park in Uttarakhand next year under the management contract model. Shimla is also a destination we are considering,” said Verma.

IHCL operates four brands: the luxury Taj, upper-upscale Vivanta by Taj, upscale Gateway by Taj and budget Ginger.

*The article initially stated the IHCL debuting its inaugural resort, which is inaccurate. It has been amended.

THE landmark Australia-China free trade agreement (ChAFTA), announced earlier this week when negotiations concluded between Australian prime minister Tony Abbott and Chinese president Xi Jinping, looks set to be a major boost for tourism Down Under in years to come.

When the ChAFTA is fully implemented, 95 per cent of Australian exports to China will be tariff-free while Australian service providers in sectors such as banking, tourism, education and healthcare will gain greater access to the Chinese market.

The Federal Government has announced that Australia would grant visas for up to 5,000 Chinese work and holidaymakers annually. In addition, up to 1,800 skilled Chinese workers, including chefs and Mandarin-language tutors, would be eligible to apply for ‘457’ work visas.

Commenting on the changes to the visa arrangements, acting CEO for Tourism Accommodation Australia (TAA), Carol Giuseppi, said that the timing of the announcement was particularly important.

“Australia is undergoing the largest expansion of its hotel sector in over 20 years, with new hotel developments across the country, so it will be beneficial to have access to a pool of labour to work in both existing and new hotels,” said Giuseppi.

“Their availability will come at a time of record growth in Chinese inbound travel and will cater for the many hotel groups seeking Mandarin-speaking staff. The allocation of more ‘457’ visas to chefs will particularly address a shortage of skilled labour in hotel F&B operations.

Giuseppi said that other changes announced as part of the ChAFTA would also benefit the industry.

“Australia’s hotel and tourism sector will benefit from increased investment via the new Investment Facilitation Arrangements, while education-related travel to Australia will be significantly boosted as a result of new measures announced as part of the agreement,” she added.

At the same time, Giuseppi also urges the authorities to review the visa application process “to make it easier and cheaper for Chinese travellers to visit Australia”.

“While TAA applauds the government’s positive initiatives, the hospitality sector would benefit even further if the Working Holiday Visa programme was extended from 12 months to 24 months duration, with a corresponding increase in the working portion of this from six months to 12 months,” she commented.

“To meet the shortage of workers in the hospitality sector, we would also call on the government to allow Working Holiday Visa holders who meet the criteria for extending their stay by working in a regional area, to be able to spend their second six-month working stint working in a city-based tourism business.”

THE US state of South Carolina is keen to dramatically increase tourist arrivals from India in the next two years, having formulated a strategy to tap this market, said a senior tourism executive during an official visit to the country.

Duane Parrish, director, South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, said: “South Carolina recorded around 30,000 Indian arrivals in 2013. We are looking to double this figure. The growth of middle and upper-middle classes in India makes it a prime market for us.”

South Carolina will be partnering Brand USA to participate in their upcoming roadshows in India, apart from investing in print and online advertising.

“We want to use social media and outdoor advertisement as tools to create awareness. We are also looking to organise a fam trip for Indian travel consultants in the next 12 months,” added Parrish.

Nikki Haley, governor of South Carolina who is on a 10-day trip to India to boost business ties between the two countries, said: “Whether you want to have a board meeting or vacation, South Carolina is the place.”

At present, half of all Indian visitors to South Carolina come for business, while the rest are leisure travellers.

Parrish said: “We are keen to increase the share of leisure travellers from India.

“South Carolina offers unique experiences, featuring historical monuments and massive plantations. We also want to promote adventure activities like kayaking, boating and hiking.”

Parrish is planning to visit India again in September 2015 with a 12-member delegation comprising tourism promoters from specific locations like Charleston.

Currently, key source markets for South Carolina include Mexico, Canada, the UK, Germany and France.