SilkAir suspends Solo service

August 8, 2014

REGIONAL carrier SilkAir yesterday announced it is halting twice-weekly flights to Solo in Central Java from October 26.

A statement from the airline cited an “ongoing review of its network and capacity” as reason for the suspension, adding that SilkAir will continue flying to Semarang and Jogjakarta, also in Central Java.

For customers with tickets to Solo for after October 25, SilkAir is offering a change of destination from Singapore to any other Indonesian point, or a full refund. All administrative fees and penalties will be waived

The offer also stands for KrisFlyer redemption tickets.

For assistance and information, call SilkAir Contact Centre at (65) 6223 8888.

YTL unveils masterplan for world-class alpine destination at Niseko

By Paige Lee Pei Qi

August 8, 2014

MALAYSIAN hospitality group YTL Hotels is going all out to transform Niseko Village, Hokkaido, into a mountain resort destination that will set the benchmark for ski resorts worldwide.

Owned by YTL, the 462ha destination will see three new local and Michelin-starred F&B options, as well as eight luxury retail outlets, opened by December 1 to “deliver an experience that is on par with the best (ski) resorts in Europe and North America”, said Luke Hurford, YTL Hotels’ vice president of sales and marketing.

“Niseko has evolved into Asia’s hottest ski destination over the past 10 years, and it excites us to push it to even greater heights with Kasara Niseko Village Townhouse and Asia’s best après ski experiences.”

Set at the foot of Mount Niseko Annupuri in Hokkaido, Niseko Village currently houses two luxury hotels – the 506-key Hilton Niseko Village and 200-key The Green Leaf Niseko Village.

YTL will add to the inventory with the global debut of its Kasara brand on December 1, when Kasara Niseko Village Townhouse opens (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 17, 2014). This injects another eight 240m² three-bedroom townhouses. Guests can enjoy in-residence ski or snowboard boot fitting among a host of personalised services including a resident concierge and complimentary driver-on-call.

According to Hurford, while 50 per cent of the guests in Niseko Village are local, there is growing demand from the Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong markets.

He said: “We see that families are increasingly looking for winter holidays and we want to offer them this memorable experience in Asia…We want to create our own unique DNA of an alpine town to raise the bar of what is already available. “

While YTL’s top sales tool is its brand website, Hurford said the company is working closely with tour operators in its key markets like the UK, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia to promote Niseko Village.

Priceline, Ctrip.com take collaboration to next level

By TTG Asia

August 8, 2014

TRAVEL giants The Priceline Group and Ctrip.com are expanding their existing collaboration that began in 2012, which will result in even more cross-selling of products.

Priceline will inject US$500 million through a convertible bond, while Ctrip has green-lighted Priceline’s intended acquisition of up to 10 per cent of Ctrip shares in the open market within the next 12 months.

An observer to the Ctrip board of directors will be appointed by Priceline.

In terms of products, Ctrip will offer additional Priceline Group brand services to its customers, including inventory from Rentalcars.com and OpenTable.

On the other hand, Priceline will promote Ctrip’s air ticketing and attraction ticketing to its customers.

“The Priceline Group is the global leader in online accommodations, and as such, a key strategic partner for us as we look to expand our global footprint,” said James Liang, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Ctrip.

Darren Huston, president & CEO of The Priceline Group, said: “Ctrip is the clear leader in online travel in China and we are pleased with the growth in Ctrip bookings through Booking.com and Agoda over the last two years…Travel to and from China is growing rapidly, and through this partnership, we have an opportunity to further help the world experience China, and China experience the world.”

Ctrip is China’s largest online travel company in terms of revenue, and Priceline has under its wing six primary travel brands – Booking.com, Priceline.com, Agoda.com, Kayak, Rentalcars.com and OpenTable.

Venues will do well to understand needs of healthcare event clients: industry players

By Karen Yue

August 7, 2014

PRESSURED event budgets and funding for medical society events, along with stricter requirements on compliance with pharmaceutical codes that impact meetings, are some of the key challenges facing healthcare event owners and planners today, found a quick poll conducted with attendees of the Healthcare Meetings Forum Asia last Friday.

In such a climate, venues will fare well if they “spoke the language” of healthcare event clients, said Mark Handforth, founding director of UK-based Compliant Venues, which assesses venues to support them in meeting the needs of healthcare meetings and provides skills-based training to help venues be “appropriate and truthful”.

“Marketing of venues is quite linear, covering many sectors and event types. However, the healthcare sector is very specific and sometimes the marketing messages may be misleading for this market. We help venues and their staff understand that, which will in turn give them greater confidence in interacting with domestic and international healthcare event clients,” Handforth said.

Explaining the meaning of “appropriate language”, Handforth said: “A hotel or venue’s operation personnel or salesperson will not just be talking to healthcare event clients about F&B, they will have to be ready to discuss their capability to support transparency reporting and event compliance (to pharmaceutical codes).”

“Many hotels and convention centres want a piece of the (healthcare events business), but if the director of sales, for example, lacks the right language of this sector, he or she can very quickly be pushed aside by a client who needs to work with an educated partner.”

Compliant Venues publishes online independent reviews of venues that are worded with healthcare event clients in mind. Clients may then use the information to “speed up their venue decision-making process”.

Currently the company only reviews venues in Europe, although there are plans to expand its reach to Asia.

While Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre does not yet carry such accreditation, its CEO, Arun Madhok, said the venue is already seeing much success with medical and healthcare meetings and events.

Suntec Singapore has a dedicated sales team familiar with regulations affecting such business functions, a specialisation that Madhok believes has benefited the venue.

Madhok said: “Today, although medical and healthcare events represent 30 per cent of the key events we’ve hosted, we still see significant growth opportunities in this area. We are regarded as the venue of choice in Singapore for medical and healthcare events and they form a key part of our business strategy.”

Understanding the legal and budget constraints faced by medical and healthcare associations and companies is important, opined Madhok, who said his team “not only comprehends a large portion of the pharmaceutical codes but also offers solutions to help reduce event costs for healthcare event clients”.

Examples of options include flexible function spaces that allow clients to hire less space and bento lunch boxes which are convenient for “time-strapped doctors who often need to eat while watching a presentation”.

Madhok favours the idea of being accredited as a healthcare event compliant venue by “preferred third-party partners”.

Meanwhile, Handforth is also keen to support education programmes in Asia to improve awareness and understanding of pharmaceutical codes that impact events, among corporate event planners, venue owners and event agencies.

Taiwan promotes incentive travel through contest

By TTG Asia

August 7, 2014

MEET TAIWAN has kicked off the inaugural Super Team in Asia campaign in its bid to promote Taiwan as a top-of-mind destination for incentive travel in Asia.

This marks Taiwan External Trade Development Council’s (TAITRA) first-ever multi-national campaign held across Taiwan’s top five source markets, namely – Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

In the first stage of the competition, participants create their dream incentive travel itineraries in Taiwan through the campaign website.

Participants are required to share their itineraries through social media platforms and call for votes, which comprises 70 per cent of the judging criteria. The other 30 per cent will be judged by the panel, who will be looking at factors like team spirit and culture in the proposed itinerary.

Thereafter, one winner from each of the five countries will be selected to take part in the second stage, consisting of an all-expenses-paid 5D4N competition tour to Taiwan for five members of each finalist team.

Through this competition, participants will also act as ambassadors to promote incentive travel to Taiwan. The final winner will walk away with an incentive travel package to Taiwan for up to 20 people worth more than US$50,000.

According to TAITRA, each participating team has to belong to a legally registered company in any of the five countries, and the company must have 20 or more employees.

Registration for the competition is available at www.asiasuperteam.com and closes on August 24.

Suntec Singapore to engage event clients through industry forums

By Karen Yue

August 7, 2014

SUNTEC Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre kicked off the first of several in-depth industry forums, the inaugural Healthcare Meetings Forum Asia, last Friday as part of its move to connect with decision-makers from various industries and to better understand meetings-related issues impacting these clients.

Speaking to TTGmice e-Weekly on the sidelines of the full-day event, Suntec Singapore’s CEO, Arun Madhok, said each forum would be dedicated to a specific industry and is free for all attendees.

“The next few forums will likely follow the same approach taken with the Healthcare Meetings Forum Asia. While Suntec Singapore took the lead in pulling the conference together, it was done in cooperation with various partners, such as Zibrant and Compliant Venues, and sponsors,” said Madhok.

“Just like Healthcare Meetings Forum Asia, future forums will feature highly interactive sessions that encourage a deep exchange of knowledge. We will continue to keep these forums intimate; an audience of 80 to 100 pax is just right for good dialogue.”

Some 80 top-level representatives from medical and healthcare societies and companies, as well as meeting planners who specialise in this sector, attended The Healthcare Meetings Forum Asia, which was oversubscribed.

“We want to engage our event clients in a fresh way that goes beyond just a site inspection,” said Madhok. “When they come here for an industry forum, they gain first-hand experience of our hardware and service. More importantly, though, is that these forums will help us (the Suntec Singapore team) gain more insights to the event needs of specific industries.”

“I had a number of my own staff attending the healthcare forum to learn how pharmaceutical codes will impact healthcare meetings business, and see how Suntec Singapore as a venue sits in this picture.”

Setia City Convention Centre sets sights on regional business

By S Puvaneswary

August 7, 2014

LESS than two years since it first opened its doors, Setia City Convention Centre is expanding its focus from the domestic market to regional business.

Convention centre head, Francis Teo, said the convention centre is working with DMCs, PCOs, and event management companies to attract more regional business. “We’re targeting regional meeting organisers who are looking for a venue away from the traffic and distractions in the capital city, and yet, providing easy access to the city with good roads and highways.”

Its location, just off the New Klang Valley Expressway in Shah Alam, means the townships of Subang Jaya, Shah Alam, and Klang are all within a 15-minute drive. Setia is also within a 45-minute drive to Kuala Lumpur City Centre.

The two-storey convention centre was launched in 2012 but opened to public bookings only last year, with an inventory consisting of a pillar-less ballroom for 180 tables that can be divided into three parts, eight meeting rooms including two that can accommodate up to 200 pax in theatre-style, three VIP rooms, and three AV rooms that can double up as interpretation booths.

The convention centre will also appeal to environmentally conscious companies, boasting green element such as rainwater harvesting, solar panelling to generate electricity, and 21 parking bays with chargers for electric cars.

Said Teo: “We provide a venue option for companies wishing to minimise their impact on the environment and their carbon footprint.”

Setia City Convention Centre has so far confirmed three regional meetings, of which two will be held in September, namely the 1,500-pax AIA Regional Life Planners Congress, and 500-pax GD Express regional conference.

The third meeting, an annual convention by Reapfield, will be in March for 500 delegates from across South-east Asia.

Jet Airways, Vietnam Airlines materialise codeshare partnership

By TTG Asia

August 7, 2014

JET Airways has confirmed a codeshare agreement with Vietnamese flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, to offer links between the two countries via Singapore and Bangkok.

Under the codeshare arrangement that takes place with immediate effect, Jet Airways will place its code on Vietnam Airlines’ flights from Bangkok and Singapore to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Vietnam Airlines in return will have its code on Jet Airways’ services between Bangkok and Mumbai/Delhi, as well as from Singapore to Mumbai/Delhi and Chennai.

With the commencement of Jet Airways’ Ho Chi Minh City service on November 5, Vietnam Airlines will place its code on Jet Airways’ Bangkok /Ho Chi Minh route, as per the codeshare agreement.

Tickets for codeshare services are already on sale.

Gaurang Shetty, senior vice president – commercial, Jet Airways, commented: “This new partnership between Jet Airways and Vietnam Airlines illustrates our group’s strategic positioning that continuously strengthens our offer between India and the rest of the world by developing our network.”

Shetty said the partnership will “strengthen the international reach of both airlines and provide increased benefits to all our guests”, and expects it to boost demand for business and leisure travel between India and Vietnam.

The Indian carrier had last year been reported as on the cusp of such an agreement with four other airlines as well, namely Malaysia Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, American Airlines and Kenya Airways (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 11, 2013).

Centara announces 3rd Bali property

By TTG Asia

August 7, 2014

THAILAND’S Centara Hotels & Resorts has secured a management contract with Crystal Development to open its third property on Bali, the Centara Crystal On The Bay Nusa Dua, in early 2015.

The resort is a 20 minutes’ drive from the airport. It is also close to Pulau Penyu and Tanjung Benoa, which are 10 minutes from the resort by boat. Serangan is a 20-minute boat ride away.

Thirayuth Chirathivat, CEO, Centara Hotels & Resorts, said the new property would feature “an innovative architectural design that will become a landmark on the bayfront at Nusa Dua”.

“Bali is a destination that is of great strategic importance to us, and we are honoured that Crystal Development has the confidence in Centara’s international skills and profile to manage this very fine property,” he said.

Centara Crystal On The Bay Nusa Dua is a six-storey building facing Nusa Dua Bay, with Nusa Dua Beach 20 minutes away by boat or 10 minutes by car.

The resort offers 210 rooms in the categories of Deluxe, Suites, Pool Suites and Jacuzzi Suites, ranging from 37.7 to 147.5m², all of which come with a private balcony.

Facilities available at the hotel include an infinity pool and terrace, two swimming pools, a pool bar, an all-day dining restaurant, a rooftop restaurant and bar, meetings facilities, a wedding chapel, a Kids’ Club and a Spa Cenvaree.

Centara has two other properties on Bali, the first being Centra Taum Seminyak Bali, and the second, Centara Grand Nusa Dua Villas, still in the construction phase.

Malaysia’s Swiss-Garden grows serviced residences network

By Karen Yue

August 7, 2014

SWISS-GARDEN International will add two serviced residences to its collection by the end of this year, in line with its aim to incorporate such apartment products into its portfolio since 2010.

The Swiss-Garden Hotel & Residences Malacca, located in the central business district close to popular tourist areas, will offer 306 hotel rooms, 463 units of serviced apartments, a grand ballroom with seating capacity for 800 pax, and six multifunctional rooms, among other facilities.

The hotel will sit within a mixed-used complex comprising retail and F&B outlets, with Singapore retail giant Tangs as the anchor tenant.

The Swiss-Garden Resort Residences Sungai Karang in Kuantan will offer 264 rooms, including 88 studio suites and 176 two-bedroom suites.

Linda Evelyn Wong, spokesperson for the Malaysian hospitality group, said the new Malacca property is expected to attract predominantly families, tour groups and corporate incentives, while the Kuantan resort will cater well to the large community of oil and gas, and shipping firms in the city.

“The Swiss-Garden Hotel & Residences Malacca is still a long way to opening, but it has already received bookings from several church groups out of Singapore,” Wong revealed, adding that Malacca is a popular destination for group tours and activities organised by churches across the border.

“And with Malacca being such a hot favourite among Singaporeans, who drive two, three hours over to enjoy good food and shopping over the weekends, the property can expect to see really good business from Singapore,” she said.

Explaining the company’s focused growth on serviced residences products, Wong said demand has been “huge”.

“Our first serviced residences property, Swiss-Garden Hotel & Residences Kuala Lumpur, enjoys an average occupancy rate of over 90 per cent despite being in an area with many other similar accommodation options. The property welcomes a lot of Middle Eastern families on holiday as well as corporate travellers,” she said.

Meanwhile, the company’s portfolio is set to grow even further from next year. D’Majestic Kuala Lumpur and Swiss-Garden Johor Bahru are scheduled to open in 2015, while the Pavilion-Garden Suites in Kota Bahru, Damai Laut Sea Villa, and Swiss-Garden Hotel & Residences Cameron Highlands are slated to welcome guests by 2016.

They will join nine other properties that are currently in operation in Malaysia and Australia.