Reed Exhibitions introduces CDATF in Wuhan

June 5, 2014

REED Huabai Exhibitions is teaming up with China Commerce Association for General Merchandise to launch the first China Daily-Use Article Trade Fair (CDATF) in Wuhan, part of its strategy to boost its presence in China’s second-tier cities.

Previously exclusive to Shanghai, the inaugural Wuhan edition will be held from November 6-8, 2014 at Wuhan International Expo Center. The show will span a floor area of 15,000m2 and bring more than 10,000 trade visitors as well as buyers including representatives of major department stores across the cities and townships in Hubei province.

CDATF Wuhan will focus on kitchenware, dinnerware, household electrical appliances, home arts and crafts, fitness, outdoor and gardening products.

From its location in Wuhan, Central China, the tradeshow is also geographically placed to tap the markets of nine surrounding provinces – Hunan, Jiangxi, Henan, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Guizhou, Anhui, Jiangsu and Hubei.

CDATF Wuhan is Reed Exhibitions Greater China’s (parent company of Reed Huabai Exhibitions) 10th show in its Gift & Homeware cluster to be held this year.

“Reed Exhibitions will set up formal and informal alliances with local governments and associations, based on our brand name, sales know-how, extensive databases, marketing expertise, strong networks and profound industry knowledge,” said the company’s vice president, Gary Liu.

“CDATF Wuhan enjoys great support from the Wuhan Commerce Bureau and Wuhan Commercial Federation. Wuhan International Expo Center is a great facilitating partner, providing comprehensive services and creating an environment that is conducive to brisk business and onsite comfort.”

The 108th CDATF is scheduled to be held in Shanghai at the end of July.

Last-minute traffic surge for Thai properties following curfew lift

By Xinyi Liang-Pholsena

June 5, 2014

ALTHOUGH the lifting of curfew at Thailand’s three popular tourist destinations of Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui is barely days old, several Thai hoteliers at the Thailand Travel Mart Plus are already reporting immediate benefits.

“Our OTA bookings came back immediately for our Pattaya properties – Siam Bayshore Resort & Spa and The Bayview. Both hotels saw a pick up of 15 per cent in OTA bookings yesterday, compared with our daily average of 30 bookings,” said Pawich Chokkanlayanee, sales manager of The Sukosol, Bangkok, who added that OTA bookings have fallen 50 per cent since the curfew was introduced.

“These bookings are mostly Asian FITs, a signal that shorthaul visitors are just waiting for a comeback,” he added.

Although the curfew still remains in place for Bangkok, The Sukosol, Bangkok has also rolled out a Book Today Stay Today promotion to entice shorthaul visitors visiting the capital via last-minute fare promotions from regional LCCs such as Scoot and AirAsia, according to Pawich.

While no discernible surge has been observed for overseas bookings in the last two days for Radisson Blu Plaza Resort Phuket Panwa Beach, the resort’s assistant director of sales Jitlada Chahomchuen revealed that the lifting of the curfew led to an immediate hike in domestic bookings.

“Bookings rose some 30-40 per cent for the domestic market, mostly Thai corporate groups. After the curfew lift was announced, it made those who were still considering Phuket make their decision easier,” Jitlada remarked, adding that the Thais’ understanding that the current political situation does not entail major safety concerns is a factor in the quick return of bookings.

Welcoming the curfew lift, Nattaya Chitchonthan, group director of sales and marketing of Sugar Marina Phuket, said: “The curfew had not affected much of our operations. Some clients cancelled their reservations initially but returned later to make bookings again after seeing it was business as usual in Phuket.

“The number of advance bookings we’re getting for July and August are making us hopeful. After all, July and August are deemed the ‘high season’ of the low season with the number of school holidays in Asia.”

Four Seasons takes luxury up a notch with Extraordinary Experiences, private jet

By Gracia Chiang

June 5, 2014

FOUR Seasons Hotels and Resorts is ramping up the glam factor through its own brand of curated, immersive activities, each one unique to the Four Seasons property in a destination.

Four Seasons Hotels Thailand spokesperson Nicola Chilton told TTG Asia e-Daily: “We noticed that our guests are very sophisticated travellers. When they travel they either want to learn or experience something (about the local culture). It’s our way to open up that access that otherwise they may not be able to do on their own.

“Right now every property has one exclusive experience. The further along we go the more we will develop. We’ve launched 30 experiences on the microsite so far. We have 92 properties so there will be 92 experiences that we will gradually be rolling out.

“In our Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle in Thailand, it’s elephant trekking to see the sunrise. In Budapest, you have a private dinner for two on the stage of an opera house with a string quartet playing to you.” The collection of exclusive experiences can be viewed and booked online at FourSeasons.com/ExtraordinaryExperiences.

Four Seasons also announced earlier this year that it would begin operating the industry’s first branded private jet service in February 2015.

The hotel company had already been operating custom jet experiences since 2012 but this service has since evolved based on feedback from guests who demand more immersive experiences, said Susan Devins, vice-president, sales and marketing, Asia-Pacific.

Four Seasons has retrofitted the interior of the jet and journeys will come with in-flight staff, a dedicated onboard concierge, leather flatbed seats, globally inspired cuisine and in-flight Wi-Fi. Seat numbers have been reduced to 52 for a more private experience.

In 2015, the Four Seasons Jet will embark on its maiden around-the-world itinerary, followed by an arts-themed trip and the second around-the-world tour.

Devins said the first itinerary in February will cost US$119,000 per pax.

“Asia is featured heavily in the two around-the-world itineraries. There are stops in Bora Bora, Sydney, Chiang Mai, Mumbai, Taj Mahal, Tokyo, Beijing and the Maldives. There is only one seat left on the February itinerary.”

The Four Seasons Jet, including staff and crew, can also be privately chartered.

STB partners Felivway for exclusive F1 race experiences targeting Chinese

By Gracia Chiang

June 5, 2014

THE Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is aiming to catapult the city-state to a top-of-mind luxury lifestyle destination in a first-of-a-kind tie-up with a Chinese premium travel agency, kicking off this September during the Formula One season.

STB will collaborate with 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, among other privileges. Conversations are still ongoing with Singaporean suppliers interested in participating.

More significantly, these groups will be accompanied by well-known personalities and key opinion leaders on their trips, lending the star factor.

Felivway deputy general manager, Kate Ni, told TTG Asia e-Daily that these will be great networking opportunities for the who’s whos of China, including self-made entrepreneurs.

“More high-end customers are not only looking for high-end facilities, they care more about who they can travel with and what they can learn from the trip,” she observed.

Ni said that the parent company of Felivway, lvmama.com, is the second largest OTA in Shanghai after Ctrip. Known for its themed experiences and celebrity-led tours, the Felivway brand was established in end-2012 to court luxury clients.

Besides several fixed departures, Felivway will also tailor-make itineraries for individual clients. For example, some might even want to combine their trip with doing business in Singapore, explained Ni.

As the first of such collaborations between STB and Felivway, similar products could also be extended to other key events held in Singapore, such as the WTA Championships, World Gourmet Summit and Art Stage, shared STB area director, Eastern China, Kwan Su Min.

Describing to TTG Asia e-Daily how the Chinese luxury travel market is coming of age, STB chief representative regional director, Greater China, Edward Chew, said: “Previously many of the high-end travel planners (in China) were embedded within large travel companies, but now we see a lot more pure-play luxury travel agencies who are into customised and tailor-made holidays. This is therefore a good time to engage these high-end service providers, as they reflect a growing sophistication in tastes of the target market.

“Singapore is better known as a business city to the Chinese than as a luxury lifestyle destination. In spite of this though, if the travellers are looking for a three- or four-day break, Singapore has a lot to offer in terms of high-end luxury experiences.”

Chew added that STB is also becoming “more aggressive in promoting Singapore as a mono destination”. Commencing next week is a series of mono-Singapore promotions for this summer season up until August.

US banks on Asia’s food obsession in new culinary campaign

By TTG Asia

June 5, 2014

BRAND USA is kicking off a new culinary campaign next month to entice travellers from Asia-Pacific to explore the US’ gastronomic delights.

As part of the initiative, the NTO is rolling out a high-quality culinary guide to the US and a social media campaign in multiple markets including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Reene Ho-Phang, managing director of Brand USA Taiwan & Hong Kong told TTG Asia e-Daily: “To Asians, food is not just for consumption. It means prosperity, abundance and even healing. With the economic boom, Asians are fast venturing outside their shores to have a taste of other countries’ food offerings. Through the Brand USA Culinary Guide, we hope to rekindle the fondness of America through Asians’ palates.”

Chefs from the country’s Diplomatic Culinary Partnership will travel to the US embassies in Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan to launch the campaign during Independence Day celebrations.

Ho-Phang commented: “Unknown to most visitors, the culinary landscape of the US embodies the abundance of native and immigrant influences that reflect its cultural diversity, storied history and rich travel experiences.”

She said that the culinary campaign is expected to further propel with the strong inbound travel to the US from Taiwan and Hong Kong, and noted that with a fourth terminal to come up at Singapore Changi Airport in 2017, Singapore-US travel is predicted to rise in the coming years.

Lagisatu.com connects hotels to Muslim travellers

By TTG Asia

June 5, 2014

METASEARCH site Lagisatu.com is helping hoteliers tap the Muslim travel market through its hotel listing and booking services tailored specifically for this segment.

Launched in 2013, the site’s MuslimStars feature is incorporated into the results of user searches by indicating how Muslim-friendly a property is on a scale of 100 points. Details include whether the hotel offers halal food, and if guestrooms include a Quran and the qiblah.

A quick search on the site however, indicates that the MuslimStars rating is not available for all hotels and a press statement said that Lagisatu.com currently has more than 10,000 properties registered for its MuslimStars feature.

Lagisatu.com currently has more than 650,000 accommodations, hotels, home stays, inns and resorts across over 83,000 cities worldwide in its inventory.

Co-founder Faeez Fadhlillah said: “Lagisatu.com hotel listings allow hotels to reach out to potential consumers in an extremely effective manner. Because we display the direct contact details of hotels, their special offers and other key information, that sales channel is clear and direct.”

Juergen Gallistl, chief marketing officer of Lagisatu.com, said: “Our data shows that in 2013 the MuslimStars rating was proven to increase the average hotel conversion rate by 21.4 per cent.

“With Lagisatu.com witnessing an increase of 200 per cent increase in traffic since then, we aim to channel some of the traffic to hotels directly, helping them to further increase direct bookings.”

New B2B brochure on luxury Indochina products unveiled

By TTG Asia

June 5, 2014

ASIA Premium Travel has rolled out a new B2B brochure and website for the travel trade showcasing the luxury travel possibilities in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

The Cambodia-based DMC’s brochure is a 92-page, full-colour publication focusing on niche travel segments such as luxury, cultural tourism, ecotourism, beach tourism, adventure travel, golf, MICE and multi-country tours, as well as tours for special interest travellers.

Chea Win, co-founder and CEO of Asia Premium Travel, said: “We have just launched the new Asia Premium Travel’s Five Signature Travel Experiences for discerning travellers for the next season, and our brochure is truly rich in content and very educational.”

“The key thing sophisticated travellers want today is personal service and the opportunity to have unique encounters with a destination’s culture, history and people – something they can’t Google,” added Chea Win.

Phan An, director of sales and marketing, said: “We do hope that our new website and first-ever brochure for 2014/15 helps travel professionals to generate sales. Interested travel colleagues can make an appointment with us for further discussion about the profitable market share in emerging destinations.”

Asia Premium Travel also launched the website www.asiapremiumtravel.com specifically for travel sellers to offer information on Indochina.

The DMC is a joint venture company backed by Vietnam-based Luxury Travel that began operations last year as Cambodia’s first high-end tour operator (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 30, 2013).

TCEB, THAI on the hunt for the best business travel itinerary

By TTG Asia

June 4, 2014

THAILAND Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Thai Airways International (THAI) have issued an online challenge to trip planners and business travellers to come up with the best pre- and/or post-tour itineraries.

The Itinerary Contest will run from May to August this year and entries must include agenda items, destinations and recreational activities.

Based on the viability and desirability of the entries, five itineraries will be chosen to compete in the final round via voting on social media. The creator of the itinerary with the most votes will win two THAI air tickets and boutique accommodation in Thailand.

TCEB and Thai Airways aim to boost Thailand’s reputation as a business event destination through the contest.

For more information, visit www.businesseventsthailand.com/itinerarycontest.

World Congress on Public Health 2017 to be held in Melbourne

By TTG Asia

June 4, 2014

MELBOURNE hosted a third of Australia’s medical and scientific conferences last year and continues to bolster its position as a global centre of public health with its latest win.

The capital city of Victoria will host the 15th World Congress on Public Health in 2017, to take place at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Held every three to four years by the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA), the congress will draw more than 2,000 public health researchers, academics, scientists, educators and policy makers to Melbourne over the course of five days.

Louise Asher, minister for tourism and major events, commented: “The 2017 Congress holds a special significance as it will coincide with the Federation’s 50th anniversary and it is expected to inject approximately A$11.2 million (US$10.4 million) into the state’s economy.”

Melbourne Convention Bureau CEO, Karen Bolinger, said: “Our collaborative approach to this bid, working alongside our local bidding partner – the Public Health Association of Australia and the state government, was key to our success and I would specifically like to thank the minister (for health and ageing, David Davis) for meeting personally with WFPHA.”

Bolinger credited Melbourne’s expertise and reputation in the fields of science and medicine as a “major drawcard” for such international institutions as the WFPHA.

Melbourne’s latest win over cities such as London and Barcelona comes a few months after the city was picked as host for the International Hepato-Biliary Pancreatic Association World Congress in 2020.

Ritz-Carlton grows resorts portfolio, triples presence in Bali

By Gracia Chiang

June 4, 2014

HAVING already achieved success with its city hotels, luxury hotel group The Ritz-Carlton will focus on adding resorts in Asia, with properties opening in Bali, Langkawi, Lijiang and Jiuzhaigou.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company vice president, Asia Pacific, Victor Clavell, said: “Our customers are saying ‘We want to go to resorts, but you don’t have resorts’.”

Opening in November, The Ritz-Carlton Bali in Nusa Dua will have 313 keys, including suites and cliff-top villas (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 24, 2013).

Also coming to Bali are two Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties – the company’s smaller, boutique brand in special locations – in Ubud (March 2015) and Tanah Lot (2017).

When asked if Bali was able to absorb the additional capacity, Clavell told TTG Asia e-Daily: “Bali received around 3.5 million international visitors last year. The airport has also been redone, and there are plans to create another one in the north. It’s a big island. Infrastructure is also improving. That’s why I’m optimistic.”

He added that the offerings in Bali are “very distinct products with different experiences”. Nusa Dua, for example, is a large resort with many amenities, while Ubud will be well-integrated into its surroundings, giving guests the feeling of being in a local residence, he explained.

The rise in demand for resort destinations was also noted by Hyatt’s senior director, global sales, Shanghai, Lydia Hu.

She said that while hotels in Singapore, Bangkok and other cities of South-east Asia were popular before, this year Chinese leisure travellers are opting for locations like Bali, Phuket and Maldives.