THE World Cup has hit European bookings for Panorama Leisure Group’s inbound arm, Panorama Destination. However, the DMC remains optimistic about recording a 20 per cent revenue increase this year, with the help of Asia and the US.

Rocky Praputranto, director of Panorama Leisure Group, explained: “Bookings for this summer are slower (than the season last year) as the Europeans’ attention is on the World Cup in Brazil.

“The Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium and Switzerland are our markets and these countries are participating in the World Cup. The Europeans are either staying home or travelling to Brazil for the season (to watch the matches).”

Europe is Panorama Destination’s major market, contributing 52 per cent of its business volume last year.

However, with the first four months recording a 15 per cent year-on-year revenue increase as well as growth of the domestic, Asian and American (the US and South America) markets, Rocky expects the company will see a 20 per cent revenue increase by year-end.

He said: “Since we entered Asia about five years ago, the market has been growing quite rapidly and is becoming the second-largest after Europe, with 34 per cent share.

“The American market contributed 2.3 per cent to the total passenger numbers we handled last year and we are expecting this share to increase to four per cent this year.

“Hence, we are optimistic our target (for the year-end) will be achieved.”

The Asian market includes South-east Asia, India, the Middle East and Indonesia, while the American market is new for Panorama Destination. Last year it handled some 2,500 American travellers.

The company’s annual report shows a year-on-year 3.1 per cent total passenger increase in 2013. Revenue also increased 6.5 per cent year-on-year, at Rp298.5 billion (US$27.1 million).

In terms of products, bookings for overland tours were the highest (nearly 60 per cent) followed by incentive/ad hoc travel and beach holidays.

CARLSON Rezidor Hotel Group will be flagging Radisson Red to Asian hotel owners and developers, its new brand which aims to break grounds in the upscale, select service segment which currently comprises the likes of Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ Aloft and InterContinental Hotels Group’s Indigo.

New Asia-Pacific president, Thorsten Kirschke, in an interview with TTG Asia e-Daily said global hotel chains are collectively responding to a younger demographic and changing consumer demand by fielding new brands, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating, ie, whoever is best able to deliver and execute the concept.

Carlson Rezidor aims to create a new industry category altogether with its Radisson Red, which emphasises competitive building costs and higher margins to owners, and appealing pricing, design, technology and connectivity to customers who today are seeking work-life integration rather than work-life balance, said Kirschke (TTG Asia e-Daily, February 20, 2014).

Radisson Red will be unveiled to investors and developers at this year’s Hotel Investment Conference Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong in October, along with Quorvus Collection, the other new Carlson Rezidor brand comprising independent luxury hotels (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 6, 2014).

Kirschke said there could be “hundreds of Radisson Red hotels in China alone”, alluding to the chain’s expansion ambition for the brand in Asia-Pacific.

Radisson Red, along with Quorvus, represents only one out of a three-pronged strategy that Kirschke intends to take to further grow Carlson Rezidor’s footprint in the region where, by year-end, it will already have more than 100 hotels.

The other two strategies are controlled franchise development and conversion opportunities.

Read the View from the Top in TTG Asia, October 10 issue

ICP (IP) has entered an agreement with hotel group Travelodge to acquire rights to the latter’s registered trademark in Asia.

The wholly owned subsidiary of ICP said in a filing to the Singapore Exchange yesterday that it will pay A$3 million (US$2.8 million) in cash.

The purchase allows ICP (IP) use of the trademark within Asia spanning 22 countries and territories, not including Australia and New Zealand.

Said the company in the statement: “The company regards the acquisition as an opportunity to gain access to an established international mid-scale hotel brand. Travelodge hotels operate in the limited service sector, a market sector which has considerable growth potential in the pan-Asian markets. Limited service hotels are also more cost-effective to both develop and operate.”

It added that it is evaluating a number of other business opportunities.

STARWOOD Hotels & Resorts has opened Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park situated in the city’s new tech hub.

Owned by real estate developer Prestige Group, the hotel offers 191 guestrooms including 13 suites.

Brian McGuinness, senior vice president, specialty select brands for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, commented: “Pioneering initiatives in music, design and technology have positioned Aloft as the must-have brand for the next generation of travellers, and we’re quickly gaining traction in the Indian market among the country’s young and tech-driven society.”

The hotel offers free Wi-Fi throughout its grounds, a plug-and-play connectivity solution for the in-room LED TV, a fitness centre and a swimming pool.

F&B options include the one-stop, 24-hour grab-and-go outlet Re:fuel by AloftSM and the café-style restaurant, Nook.

Meeting space at Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park spans a total of 933.7m2 including a 411m2 banquet hall and seven meeting rooms equipped with the latest generation of audio-visual hardware and an outdoor terrace Backyard for business meetings or social gatherings.

Aloft Bengaluru Cessna Business Park has launched an opening offer starting at Rs6,499 (US$108) plus taxes inclusive of breakfast, valid from Sundays to Thursdays. For Fridays and Saturdays, rates start at Rs5,489. SPG members can earn double StarPoints for this offer.

HARBOUR Grand Kowloon has appointed Yngvar Stray as its new general manager, effective May 2014.

The Norwegian-born hotelier brings with him 30 years of experience within the industry, having worked for international five-star luxury and lifestyle hotels in Asia.

He was most recently general manager of Banyan Tree Shanghai on the Bund.

SUN International is ramping up global sales and marketing efforts by appointing three additional regional representatives, including one for North and South Asia.

Its Asian representation is handled by SG Luxe Collection, a new firm set up by former Raffles International executive, Shiela Gomez, and based in Singapore.

Sun is an established player that has within its portfolio some of the most luxurious hotels and resorts in Africa, a destination Gomez said is growing rapidly for the Asian travel market.

At the same time, Sun has come up with a new campaign it believes will appeal to luxury travellers. The Sunlux Collection strings a ‘golden triangle’ linking three of its most luxurious properties, The Table Bay, located within the Victoria & Albert Waterfront in Cape Town, Sun City’s The Palace of the Lost City nestled in an extinct volcanic crater surrounded by the Pilanesburg big five nature reserve, and The Royal Livingstone, set against the stunning backdrop of Livingstone’s Victoria Falls, Zambia.

Gomez anticipates a very positive response to the new Sunlux marketing campaign. “Africa is on the bucket list of many high-end travellers across Asia and we are delighted to be working with the Sun International team on introducing their newly branded, high-end Sunlux Collection to discerning travellers across Asia. We are very excited about this partnership,” she said.

The other two new trade representatives are Elite International Luxury Hotel Representation for the US, Canada and Mexico and 3Sixty Luxury Marketing for the UK/Eurozone.

The three additions fortify the existing network of representatives based in India, Brazil and Australia.

THE inking of an air service agreement between the Philippines and Myanmar is likely to pave the way for LCC flights on the Manila-Yangon route, which travel consultants are keen to capitalise on for niche holidays.

Following the May 20 signing, Philippine-based LCCs Cebu Pacific Airways, Tigerair and Philippines AirAsia have applied to the Civil Aeronautics Board for 1,260 seats for a weekly Manila-Yangon route.

AirAsia Zest is keen on a seven-times-weekly service while Philippines AirAsia also wants to fly from points outside Manila to points outside Yangon.

Travel consultants welcomed the LCCs’ plans while noting that Myanmar is pricey because both accommodation and transport options are limited.

Pearl Brion, product specialist, Rajah Travel, noted that inbound to Myanmar is controlled. “For now, Myanmar is not for mass tourism; it’s more for niches like cultural immersion and adventure.

“However, budget flights will be a big boost to Myanmar and will complete the opening of tourist destinations in Indochina.”

Hanna Padilla, managing director, RDV Voyage Travel Agency, said: “Myanmar opened up recently and is not yet ready for mass tourism, but I think it is going to change very fast as everything changes very fast in Asia”.

Padilla added: “Myanmar is a very specific travel category, attracting travellers who will stay one or two weeks immersing in its cultural and natural attractions unlike mass tourists spending 2D/3N shopping, eating and sightseeing in say, Singapore or Hong Kong”.

MSC Cruises will add Mumbai and Kochi to its itineraries from 1Q2015 on MSC Orchestra’s maiden voyage from Dubai.

The vessel will sail 33 nights from February 21 via India and through the southern hemisphere to Fremantle in western Australia.

The company’s executive director – emerging markets, Antonio Paradiso, said at a recent road show in New Delhi: “India will regularly feature in our itineraries when we add four new vessels to our current fleet of 12 by 2018.”

Country head for India, Amit Mathur, noted that India is an emerging market for the cruise segment. “We see a huge demand for cruise tours to Europe from the Indian market, having recorded 30 per cent year-on-year growth in 2013.

“We are now focusing on packages to Dubai-Abu Dhabi-Oman, and three- or four-night cruise packages to South Africa.”

New Delhi-based Carnation Travel Services managing director, Rajesh Sethi, said: “Indians are increasingly opting for cruises and any world-class vessel dropping anchor in Indian ports is going to boost this segment by at least 20 per cent immediately.

“Indians (usually) travel to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska and Singapore for cruises, so the ease of boarding the vessel from the home country will be an encouraging factor.”

Kolkata-based Gainwell Travel & Leisure general manager, Seema Ahmed, suggested: “More cruise vessels will come to Indian ports if we build some international-standard cruise terminals. With our large coastline, it should be a cakewalk.

“Inviting more cruise companies to call on Indian ports will increase international tourist arrivals by 25-30 per cent over the short term.”

INDIA’S Riya Group Enterprise has entered the Middle East market with the opening of an office in Dubai last week.

The new branch in Deira on Port Saeed Road has begun commercial operations and is the company’s 10th overseas office. It is expected to serve clients in the region and help make inroads into the Middle East.

Flight bookings, holiday packages, travel insurance and visa services are some of the travel products the company is offering initially.

Chairman and managing director, GMJ Thampy, said: “The establishment of our first branch in Dubai complements the deepening of our presence in the international arena. Constant requests from our clients based outside the UAE have prompted us to expand.”

Head – Middle East, George Thomas, said: “Dubai is the first step in our expansion plans for the region. The Middle East in general and UAE in particular play a key role in our future growth plans.”

The company also has offices in the US and Canada. With more than 50 branches across India, Riya’s turnover now exceeds US$1 billion.

FRHI Hotels & Resorts recently unveiled a host of new appointments across the globe. Within Asia, Swissôtel Resort Phuket named Jeff Ross as general manager and Raffles Hainan has a new director, sales and marketing in Tim Xue.

Ross joined the company in 2010 as director of operations and was later hotel manager at Swissôtel the Stamford Singapore. Before joining FRHI, Ross was with Starwood Hotels & Resorts where he held a variety of positions from F&B manager to hotel manager.

Xue joins FRHI with more than 15 years of experience in sales and marketing roles at various hotels in Shanghai. He was most recently director of sales and marketing of Dalian New World Hotel.