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.

INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group (IHG) has opened the first property under its Even Hotels brand in Norwalk, Connecticut.

Even Hotels is a US-based brand launched in 2012 with an explicit focus on lifestyle and wellness to meet the growing demand for wellness-minded travellers to maintain their health routines during a trip.

Kirk Kinsell, president, the Americas, IHG, said: “We know that for the travelling public, the ability to maintain their health routine while on the road is becoming more and more important, and Even Hotels provides the tools and encouragement to make healthier choices while on the road at an approachable price point.”

Key to the brand are features such as: a Simple.Natural.Good F&B promise; natural eucalyptus linens for a cooler sleep; a three-zone Athletic Studio; spin and yoga classes; regular community runs in the morning led by the hotel’s general manager; and an In-Room Training Zone workout using the Even Hotels Trainer, among others.

Four more Even Hotels are in the IHG pipeline at the moment, with two to be located midtown Manhattan, one in Brooklyn, New York, and the last in Rockville Maryland.

IHG has identified the Washington DC area, San Francisco, Chicago, Denver, Portland, Seattle and Los Angeles as key markets.

POP-UP dining event Stories: A Pop Up Restaurant has been cancelled due to “lukewarm response”, says the organiser.

Originally scheduled to take place at the defunct Tanjong Pagar Railway Station on June 26 to 29, it was meant to be the first in a series of events that would see guests dine in a historic venue with a matching thematic menu devised by a celebrity chef (TTG Asia e-Daily, April 29, 2014).

Tickets were priced from S$188 (US$150) to S$248.

MyPrivateChef, the organiser of Stories, was a recipient of Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) Kickstart Fund that supports innovative lifestyle concepts.

Crystal Chua, founder and director of My Private Chef, said in a statement: “It is with deep regret that we have to cancel the first chapter of Stories at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. Unfortunately, sales performed below expectations and we are unable to proceed with the event as planned. We thank you for your understanding and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

Members of the public will receive a full refund of their ticket price by respective ticketing partners.

PUTTING an end to months of speculation, Air India is set to become the 27th member of Star Alliance on July 11, announced India’s civil aviation minister at a news conference yesterday.

Minister, Ashok Gajaputhi Raju, said: “Air India’s entry into Star Alliance would facilitate its access to a vast global network, offering it wider reach and seamless transfers for its travellers. The alliance will benefit Air India in terms of adoption of global best practices and branding. The extensive Star Alliance network will strengthen Air India’s overseas operations, linking it to its extensive domestic network.”

Air India’s formal induction will take place on July 11 alongside the unveiling of the Star Alliance logo and livery on the carrier’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner and an Airbus A320.

The Indian flag carrier adds 400 daily flights and 35 new destinations in India to the alliance network, bringing Star Alliance’s market share in the country to 30 per cent.

Vishal Bhadola, associate manager, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) India, commented: “Air India can now generate more revenue due to a wider network to sell through more codeshares and more feed/de-feed options for transfer traffic.

“CAPA estimates a two to three per cent increase in Air India revenue once the integration is complete as the alliance will help its network…Air India will also save costs as it will get access to shared resources at airports worldwide such as lounges, manpower, equipment, etc.”

While welcoming the move, Rajji Rai, chairman of Uniglobe Swiftravel, cautioned: “Air India needs to raise its service standards if it wants to make the most of being a part of Star Alliance network.”

Air India’s entry into Star Alliance, a longstanding ambition that was put on hold for three years, was put into motion when alliance members unanimously endorsed its entry in May (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 5, 2014).

FRASERS yesterday lodged a preliminary prospectus for its hospitality trust, claiming to be the largest global hospitality portfolio to be listed in Singapore by number of rooms.

Encompassing 1,928 hotel rooms and 842 serviced apartments in Singapore, Australia, the UK, Japan and Malaysia, the hospitality stapled group comprises FH-REIT and FH-BT.

Parent company Frasers Centrepoint (FCL) is expected to raise S$365.2 million (US$292.3 million) from FHT’s IPO. It is injecting six serviced residences into FHT, which is to be listed in July.

Majority shareholder in Frasers Centrepoint, TCC Group, will also inject six hotels including InterContinental Singapore and The Westin Kuala Lumpur to bring the REIT to a total worth of S$1.7 billion.

FHT’s portfolio of right-of-first-refusal (ROFR) assets located across North America, Asia, Australia and Europe through FCL and TCC as well as other third-party properties means that geographical coverage could expand further.

According to The Business Times, Frasers Hospitality Global (FHGL) was set up in October last year to invest in projects outside the serviced residences niche, which could include retirement villages.

Last year, it acquired an office building in Brisbane’s CBD and is converting it into Capri Brisbane, while last month, it bought Sofitel Sydney Wentworth.

Separately, Frasers Hospitality is building a hotel residence in Frankfurt, rebranding a hotel in Barcelona under the Capri by Frasers brand, and undertaking due diligence in Berlin, Hamburg and Italy for more hotel residences.

Read our View From The Top with Frasers Hospitality CEO Choe Peng Sum

A NEW S$1 million (US$800,502) Rediscover Singapore From Your Heart campaign has been announced to attract Chinese arrivals to Singapore, after four months of reduced passenger traffic.

Major tourism players such as the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Changi Airport Group, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands, among others, are backing the five-month-long marketing campaign, according to daily broadsheet The Straits Times.

Local and Chinese travel agencies are also participating.

Slated to run until October, the campaign will also feature roadshows in major Chinese cities to sell Singapore as a destination, said The Straits Times.

Events in the region including the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 and Thailand’s coup d’état have impacted the number of Chinese arrivals to Singapore, who typically combine all three South-east Asian destinations within one itinerary.

STB is also becoming more aggressive in promoting Singapore as a mono destination (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 5, 2014).

At the recent ILTM Asia, it announced its collaboration with Chinese premium travel agency Felivway to create exclusive products for high-end Chinese travellers to Singapore, with itineraries comprising race viewing, upscale hotel stays, Michelin-starred dinning and VIP access to private parties, plus other privileges.

CARLSON Wagonlit Travel (CWT) will belong wholly to global hospitality and travel company Carlson by next month.

Carlson yesterday announced that it has entered an agreement with JPMorgan Chase & Co to purchase the latter’s 45 per cent equity interest in CWT, which it holds indirectly.

The acquisition brings Carlson’s stake in the business travel and meetings management specialist to 100 per cent.

Trudy Rautio, president and CEO of Carlson, said: “We are pleased with the momentum, growth and results realised by the management team at CWT. This acquisition, along with our ongoing investment in Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and its family of brands, helps solidify our long-term direction for the company.”

While financial terms of the transaction were not released, a statement by Carlson said the transaction is expected to close in July 2014, subject to customary closing conditions.

THE Ascott has secured contracts to four more properties in China with one each in Taiyuan, Beijing, Shanghai and Dalian that will open between now and 2018.

Kevin Goh, managing director for North Asia, The Ascott, said: “China is one of Ascott’s fastest growing markets and we are pleased to establish our presence in the city of Taiyuan and near the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (CSPFTZ).

“Taiyuan, the capital city of Shanxi province, is one of the most famous ancient cities in China and is well known for its vast natural resources. Our first serviced residence in Taiyuan will cater to the strong demand from the local business community and executives on project assignments particularly from the mining sector.

“We also see great potential in the CSPFTZ where favourable policies have already attracted many multinational companies to establish their presence there. This will drive significant demand for quality accommodation in the area.

“This year, besides two properties that have opened in Suzhou and Dalian, 10 more properties are slated to open by end of this year. We are confident of achieving our goal of 12,000 apartment units in China by 2015,” Goh added.

The 195-unit Somerset Grand Central Dalian, which recently opened, is located on Jinma Road in the CBD of Dalian Development area and close to popular attractions and scenic areas. One- to five-room units are on offer here with a range of facilities including an indoor heated swimming pool.

Somerset Sunland Shanghai is slated to open in 2016 as part of a mixed-use project close to CSPFTZ and Sunland Waigaoqiao development. Residents can choose from the serviced apartments’ 342 units of studios to three-bedroom apartments.

Also to open in 2016 is the 195-key Ascott Riverside Garden Beijing offering a prime location along West Dawang Road. It offers units in configurations ranging from studio to three-bedroom, as well as facilities such as a business centre and children’s playground.

Ascott Taiyuan is scheduled to debut in 2018 with 170 units, situated along Longcheng Street in Longcheng new district, a fast developing business district in Taiyuan. A 10-minute drive to the Taiyuan International Airport and the new high-speed railway station connecting to Beijing, the property features apartments in studio to three-bedroom arrangements.

ROYAL Caribbean Cruises has gained a foothold in Greater China with the opening of a Hong Kong office on June 20.

Balwin Yeung helms the Hong Kong office with eight staff to promote both Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises in the South China market.

According to Yeung, the cruise operator is offering 21 back-to-back sailings covering 12 ports of call including Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and China, between July 2, 2015 and October 10, 2015.

The move ends Lotus Tour’s role as GSA and business representative which it has held for 20 years.

Adam Goldstein, president and COO of Royal Caribbean Cruises, said: “In the past, we relied on (Lotus) to distribute our product to travel consultants and consumers. We have reached a stage where we can grow our own business after building on the success of the last 20 years. Now, we depend on ourselves and need to conduct trainings to familiarise others with our products.”

Goldstein elaborated: “In the next six to 12 months, we will take part in roadshows, seminars and webinars. Our sales & marketing office in Hong Kong will actively support travel consultants and other stakeholders. We want to build distribution as we have a big ship to fill here.”

Voyager of the Sea will homeport at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal beginning summer next year after a scheduled US$75 million refurbishment.

TRAVEL consultants in China are one step closer to fulfilling the entire billing and ticketing process for travel products by foreign billing and settlement plan (BSP) airlines.

With Amadeus receiving BSP certification, travel consultants will find ticketing simplified, reporting and remittances consolidated, and quality control improved overall with a streamlined, electronic system.

Sandeep Bahl, chairman of the Board of Airline Representatives in China, commented in a media statement: “To compete in the ever-changing and competitive world of travel, the Chinese travel industry needs advanced technology to better service the industry. Amadeus, along with other GDSs, are actively entering the Chinese market, and we welcome the news that Amadeus has now been BSP certified for China enabling it to ticket in China.”

The Civil Aviation Administration of China in January granted approval for authorised international airlines to be bookable via Amadeus in China.