Bigger pool of Korean-speaking guides needed in Philippines

March 20, 2014

TRAVEL and tourism bodies in the Philippines are banding together to combat the dearth of Korean-speaking tour guides in the country by launching language courses before the year-end.

The Tourism Industry Board Foundation – comprised of tourism players from government, private sector and labour – in tandem with Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) and the Korea National Tourist Organization, are currently in discussions on the plan.

The course will be made up of two modules, each comprising eight Saturday lessons for 3,000 pesos (US$67).

John Paul Cabalza, president of PTAA, said: “We need to train guides because while South Korea is the country’s biggest market, comprising 1.2 million or 25 per cent of total visitors in 2013, there’s only one local tour guide who speaks Korean – and she’s not even working full time.”

“There is a demand for Korean-speaking guides, but no supply,” he said.

Cebu, a favourite destination among South Koreans, has 200 Korean tour guides that make up half of the destination’s total number of guides last year, said a government official.

However, Korean-speaking guides active in the tourism sector are usually also tourists to the Philippines, including those studying English as a second language or other courses.

JTB buys Dynasty Travel, appoints Dennis Law as global inbound GM

By Caroline Boey

March 20, 2014

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JTB’S global expansion has kicked into high gear with the acquisition of Singapore’s Dynasty Travel and new appointments within its Singapore-based operations.

Tadaaki Zaima, who moved to Singapore a year ago as senior manager, corporate planning department at JTB, will become Dynasty’s executive director and general manager of corporate planning.

Meanwhile, managing director of JTB-owned Star Holiday Mart and Singapore Alive, Dennis Law, has been named executive officer and general manager of global inbound business, JTB Asia-Pacific Headquarters from April 1. He will be replaced by Dominic Ong.

Zaima said Dynasty and Star Holiday Mart will continue to be run separately, but JTB will tap possible synergies between the former’s predominantly outbound and the latter’s predominantly inbound businesses.

He is responsible for business strategy, expansion beyond Singapore and developing unique Japanese products for Singapore’s outbound market, while also acting as the bridge between the Asia-Pacific headquarters and JTB headquarters,

Law said: “JTB has taken the next step to move forward to become a global player by 2020, and there are plans to acquire more companies to expand its non-Japanese global business.”

Managing director of Dynasty and now also COO, Clifford Neo, said the family-run business could only do so much to expand the brand in Asia. Since acquiring the company in 2004 and focusing on mid- to high-end outbound travellers, revenue has grown from S$13 million (US$10.2 million) to S$94 million last year, and peaked at S$120 million two years ago.

Neo named Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia as potential markets for Dynasty’s expansion. He said technology innovation would continue to feature in its expansion plan.

“My goal now is to keep the staff who have been with us over the years and to help them and the brand to continue to grow and succeed with JTB. I would like to thank them and those who worked with us in the past for taking the company to where it is today.”

Hotels sharpen strategies in hunt for millennial business

By Paige Lee Pei Qi

March 20, 2014

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MILLENNIAL travellers will dominate the travel industry when they come into their prime in a few years’ time, sending hoteliers scrambling to craft new ways to capture the hearts and interests of this demographic.

Defined as the generation born between 1981 and 1995, millennials will enter their peak earning and spending years over the next decade thus presenting significant business opportunities for the travel industry, according to a joint study by Singapore Tourism Board, Visa and McKinsey & Company released earlier this month (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 7, 2014).

Neil Jacobs, chief executive officer, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, explained: “We recognise that this group of guests don’t want vanilla. They are looking for an interesting experience and something unique.”

Raphael Saw, COO, hospitality business group & director, hospitality operations at Far East Organization, highlighted the rechristening and refurbishment of the Village portfolio last year as an effort to appeal to millennials (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 12, 2013).

He said: “We know that an authentic experience is very important to this group because they want to be in a place that is true to its location and that’s why each property will reflect its locality.”

Stephen Ho, president, Asia-Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, said: “We are aware that this generation uses a lot of social media and they are requesting a lot of personalisation in their requests.

“You must be able to understand their needs and make sure they can get what they want.”

To this end, Starwood has rolled out a pilot programme that allows a keyless entry system in two locations in the US. Ho said instead of visiting the front desk to check into their rooms, guests can simply check-in through the mobile app and go directly to their rooms.

Meanwhile, Paul Matthew Wiste, regional director of development – design, Asia Pacific for Jumeirah Group, said: “Our tagline is to be different and that is why we have a different design in a different location because we want our guests to wake up and know which country they are in.

“We have no standard floorplans because we want to deliver an experience that is unique to the specific location.”

Jetstar suspends Singapore-Auckland flights

By TTG Asia

March 20, 2014

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JETSTAR today announced it would halt operations on the Singapore-Auckland route due to poor performance.

The thrice-weekly flight, which began in March 2011, will run its last leg on July 21.

Commented a Jetstar spokesman in a statement released to the media: “Jetstar Airways is always keen to bring competition to monopoly routes and for the past three years has provided a low fares choice on the Singapore-Auckland route.”

“Unfortunately the route has not performed as we would have liked and we have decided that the capacity could be put to better use on other routes,” said the spokesman.

Passengers who have purchased tickets on the route beyond July 21 will be offered the choice of a full refund, moving their flights forward or transferring to a connecting service via Australia.

The airline will contact passengers starting next week.

Industry lauds Johor as ‘Shenzhen’ of Singapore

By Paige Lee Pei Qi

March 20, 2014

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INDUSTRY observers have called Johor a “potential Shenzhen in Singapore” due to its meteoric ascent as a tourist destination as new theme parks continue to reel in Singaporeans.

Speaking at a panel discussion during this year’s HICAP Update in Singapore, Charlie Chia, group CEO or property developer United Malayan Land, said: “There is a lot of cross border traffic between Singapore and Malaysia already….If you look at Shenzhen and Hong Kong, and you compare Johor and Singapore you can see a parallel model.”

Singapore was Johor’s top source of international arrivals with almost 10 million visitors between January and July last year (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 24, 2013).

Highlighting the new theme parks as a major draw for tourists, Chia said: “This southern corridor of Malaysia has come alive over the past three years and it has become a new playground for tourists now.

“(Tourists) are no longer just going in to Johor for a while. The trend is that they are taking overnight tours there too,” he added.

Markus Aklin, vice president, development, Onyx Hospitality Group, said: “This is a phenomenal opportunity for us as we can see that Johor Bahru has reached its critical mass now and it is time for us to be setting up shop.”

Last October, Onyx Hospitality Group announced that it had been appointed to operate a 207-room property in Iskandar Malaysia, which is slated to open in 4Q2015 (TTG Asia e-Daily, October 9, 2013).

Aklin said the upcoming 4.5-star Amari Johor’s room rates will “easily be half of that in Singapore” and thus provide a “very attractive value proposition”.

However, Patrick Finn, vice president, development, Hyatt International felt that the Shenzhen comparison is “far-fetched”.

He said: “There is new tourism demand generated in Johor, but right now it is still primarily for the weekends especially when we look at the theme parks.”

New ACTE council chair retains focus on membership growth

By Caroline Boey

March 20, 2014

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AMARNATH Lal Das, general manager-India Travel, Accenture, has taken over from Peter Koh, global travel manager, global sourcing, Standard Chartered Bank, as the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) Asia Regional Council chair and is heading a new 10-member council.

While the majority of the council members are corporate travel managers and suppliers based in Singapore, Greely Koch, ACTE executive director, said representatives from more countries in the region such as India, China and Japan were volunteering this year.

Das, who served as a council member for the past two years, said his task was to continue to expand membership in tandem with ACTE’s growth in Asia. According to Koch, Asian membership surged 144 per cent in early-January.

Koh said the Asia Regional Council had stepped up efforts to reach out to growing corporate travel markets such as China and India and emerging ones such as Mongolia and Kazakhstan.

Das added: “Corporate travel management is still a relatively new concept in Asia. Best-practice sharing and imparting technical know-how at ACTE’s (more than 40 annual) events will help members keep up with an environment that is extremely fast-changing, acquire new skill sets, and tap the opportunities with technology advancement in planning the future of travel operation.”

Meanwhile, ACTE is moving its annual conference from Singapore to Hong Kong after 12 years. Despite the move, Benson Tang, ACTE Asia regional director, told TTGmice e-Weekly that Singapore continues to be an important hub for the association.

ACTE will maintain a strong presence in Singapore by participating in the UATP Airlines Distribution Event next week, continue with the one-day ACTE Singapore Executive Forum on April 1 at The Westin Singapore, and host an ACTE cocktail in the fourth quarter, among other activities.

In moving the annual conference to Hong Kong, ACTE has rebranded the former ACTE Asia-Pacific Education Conference to the ACTE Asia Corporate Travel Conference to more accurately reflect the programme content. It will be held on August 6 and 7.

Themed the Future of Corporate Travel in Asia, Tang said the Hong Kong conference was expected to attract more corporate travel managers based in China.

Koh said Hong Kong provided an affordable option to attract attendees from China and added that numbers from Singapore had fallen. The conference usually attracts about 600 participants.

GBTA grows second China conference

By Caroline Boey

March 20, 2014

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GBTA forecasts point to China becoming the world’s top corporate travel market by 2016 and its China conference, being held for the second time in Shanghai, is recommended for the country’s state-owned enterprises (SOE).

Jin Jiang International Hotels, an SOE and GBTA’s China conference partner, has paved the way for the Shanghai municipal government to recommend the conference for China’s SOEs, said Welf Ebeling, GBTA vice president, operations, Asia Pacific.

GBTA is expecting 230 participants at its 2014 China conference with a 50:50 buyer-seller ratio, compared to 181 participants in 2013 and a 40:60 buyer-seller ratio.

GBTA has also formed an education partnership with renowned Fudan University and Wang Yonggang will be delivering the second keynote address on Top-level Design, Technology Innovations and Growth of China’s Business Travel Industry.

GBTA president Donna Kelliher’s keynote address is themed Can Business Travel Management be Truly Global?, while Michael McCormick, executive director and COO, will deliver the 2014 H1 GBTA Business Travel Index report, sponsored by VISA.

McCormick said: “Over the past few years, GBTA has expanded its presence across the globe and bringing this conference back to China is a great opportunity to discuss doing business in China from both a local and expatriate viewpoint.”

Ebeling added: “The programme for this year has been designed by a panel of local travel managers and industry experts focusing on the needs of China’s fast growing business travel industry. At the same time having the entire GBTA US Board of Directors participating adds a global perspective and vast international expertise that will benefit all conference attendees.”

Perks for meetings at Hanoi’s Press Club

By TTG Asia

March 20, 2014

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THE Press Club, regarded as one of Hanoi’s most stylish addresses for corporate gatherings, is offering a number of freebies to enhance clients’ event experience.

A free flow of canned fruit juices, soft drinks, beers and mineral water as well as the use of an LCD projector and screen will be provided to groups that book the venue for meetings with lunch from June 1 to August 31 this year.

The Press Club has three function rooms, a private library, an open-air terrace and a board room.

Email info@hanoi-pressclub.com for more details.

Justin Guo takes up 2 postings with Pan Pacific Hotels Group

By TTG Asia

March 20, 2014

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PAN Pacific Hotels Group has appointed Justin Guo area general manager, China and general manager of Pan Pacific Suzhou.

A Chinese native and experienced hotelier, Guo is tasked with overseeing the Group’s expanding China portfolio and taking charge of Pan Pacific Suzhou’s daily operations and overall performance.

Guo held a senior management position at an international hospital in Shanghai in his last position.

Oriol Montal named GM of JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa

By TTG Asia

March 20, 2014

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ORIOL Montal took the helm at JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa this month, bringing with him 20 years of experience in hospitality to his new appointment.

He began his career in hospitality at the Hotel Barcelona Sants and was general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Osaka until his newest posting.

Montal is fluent in Catalan, French, English and Portuguese.

Bigger pool of Korean-speaking guides needed in Philippines

JTB buys Dynasty Travel, appoints Dennis Law as global inbound GM

Hotels sharpen strategies in hunt for millennial business

Jetstar suspends Singapore-Auckland flights

Industry lauds Johor as ‘Shenzhen’ of Singapore

New ACTE council chair retains focus on membership growth

GBTA grows second China conference

Perks for meetings at Hanoi’s Press Club

Justin Guo takes up 2 postings with Pan Pacific Hotels Group

Oriol Montal named GM of JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa

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