INDONESIA is stepping up its courtship of the Indian weddings market, with marketing efforts going beyond major cities and now extending to B2C.

“We have embarked on B2B initiatives during our sales missions, which will continue, but we will also introduce a B2C interface to garner a larger number of visitors from India,” said Iyunu Masruroh, deputy director of international tourism promotion for Asia, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Indonesia.

Trade initiatives include taking roadshows beyond metropolises to Tier 1 cities, fam trips, and offering links to DMCs who can offer ground and logistic services for groups and weddings.

Iyunu said Indonesia is also working with Indian outbound tour group operators and wedding planners to that end.

Alok Teng, director of LH Travels Bali, commented: “Currently Indonesia hosts about 30 Indian weddings (mostly in Bali), but more than half originate from the Indian expatriate community residing in the Middle East, Hong Kong or the UK. We are looking at attracting more wedding groups from India.”

TTG Asia e-Daily understands that Indonesia will focus on promoting Bali for such destination weddings, as it is populated mostly by Hindus, making it a more suitable destination.

Indian arrivals grew 18.9 per cent year-on-year in 1H2014, according to the tourism ministry.

On the leisure front, Iyunu said: “We are trying to promote itineraries other than Bali, like Jakarta-Bandung and Bali-Jogjakarta-Solo for the Indian FIT.”

Mahesh K Saharia, honorary consul of the Republic of Indonesia, added: “It is imperative that Garuda Indonesia should start a flight to New Delhi in 2015, not only to promote tourism but also to encourage trade between the two countries.”

MINOR Hotel Group (MHG) announced yesterday a strategic tie-up with Sun International to own and operate eight properties across five African countries.

Under the terms of the new agreement, the Bangkok-based hotel operator is investing US$63.9 million to own a 50 per cent stake in two properties in Zambia – the 173-key Royal Livingstone Hotel and 212-key Zambezi Sun.

For that sum it will also hold stakes of between 37.5-80 per cent in six further properties: the 196-key Gaborone Sun in Botswana; the 158-key Lesotho Sun and 105-key Maseru Sun in Lesotho; the 149-key Royal Swazi and the 202-key Ezulwini Sun in Swaziland; and the 173-key Kalahari Sands in Namibia.

Seven of the eight properties will be rebranded to MHG’s upscale Avani brand, except the renown Royal Livingstone Hotel.

Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotel Group, said: “MHG is strategically expanding its hospitality business into many regions and Africa is a key focus where we have seen substantial growth potential. We are excited to be partnering with Sun International with their vast experience on the continent and this latest acquisition significantly strengthens MHG’s position in Africa.

“Starting with these existing African properties, it is the intention of this new partnership to explore together other hotel and gaming opportunities that may arise in Africa and Asia, where MHG would manage the hotel component and Sun International would manage the casino component”.

The collaboration with Sun dovetails with MHG’s ongoing strategy to increase its presence in Africa, where it has existing partnerships for the ownership of Elewana Collection, eight luxury safari lodges and resorts in Kenya and Tanzania, and for five hotels in Mozambique.

Sun International’s chief executive, Graeme Stephens, remarked: “With MHG now taking the bulk of management responsibility for these properties, this allows Sun International and its management team to increase their focus on the core casino assets that are driving its financial performance and strategy. In addition, Sun International will remain as 20-50 per cent shareholder in the partnership and will continue to benefit in the future growth of these properties.”

MHG operates over 100 hotels, resorts, and serviced suites across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, the Indian Ocean, and Africa.

WORLD Bank Group member International Finance Corporation (IFC) has pumped US$21 million into India’s Samhi Hotels in its maiden investment in the country’s hotel sector.

The funds come in the form of convertible debentures and will enable Samhi to expand its portfolio in the mid-market segment through developing greenfield hotels and acquisitions in first- and second-tier cities.

Ashish Jakhanwala, managing director and CEO, Samhi Hotels, said: “This investment is an effort to strengthen the tourism infrastructure in India. Besides providing long-term financing, IFC will help us formulate environmental and social standards, and adopt green building design principles.”

Samhi is a privately owned hotel asset company specialising in the development, acquisition and ownership of branded hotels, having partnered with international hotel operators such as Marriott International, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Accor and Hyatt Hotels and Resorts.

It has seven operational hotels in Greater Noida, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Pune.

Last month, India’s Ministry of Tourism announced a tie-up with IFC to roll out a five-year strategy to rejuvenate the Buddhist heritage circuit across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 18, 2014).

India’s potential for the mid-market sector is well-known and, according to HVS’ 2013 Hotels in India Trends & Opportunities report, budget and mid-market hotels account for nearly half of all hotel rooms in the country.

AIR India’s restarting of direct flights between New Delhi and Moscow last month are expected to boost the Russian inbound market, even as the airline is understood to be considering flights to other Russian destinations.

The national carrier started flying four times a week to Moscow on Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on the heels of a meeting between prime minister Narendra Modi and Russian president Vladimir Putin at the BRICS Summit in Brazil. The service was initially scheduled for commencement in March.

Rohit Nandan, chairman and managing director of Air India, commented: “Presently, around 10,000 people travel between the two countries every month, and there are over 1,000 Indian students in Russia who will benefit from this service.”

Besides Air India, Aeroflot is the only airline connecting New Delhi and Moscow, a route which Air India had previously codeshared on.

THE owning company of The Mira Hong Kong and Mira Moon Hotel, Miramar Group, is set to launch its third boutique hotel on January 1, 2015.

The 50-key Mira Cube is situated in the heart of Knutsford Terrace in Tsim Sha Tsui close to The Mira Hong Kong.

Gerhard Aicher, general manager of The Mira Hong Kong, who is tasked with running the group’s maiden Mira Cube, said: “Designed with well-travelled and tech-savvy individuals in mind, Mira Cube’s features and services are streamlined to the convenient minimum that defines 21^st century urban lifestyle hotel experience.

“Mira Cube customers will also enjoy unique offerings and privileges at The Mira Hong Kong’s six award-winning outlets, the MiraSpa which includes our infinity pool and 24-hour gym, as well as access to a fleet of guest service specialists for meeting, catering and events facilities.”

For promotional opening rates at Mira Cube, visit www.miracubehote.com for more information.