BANGKOK Airways will run additional flights between Bangkok and Myanmar capital Naypyidaw between May 5 and 30.

From May 16 to 30, the extra flight departs Bangkok at 17.00 and arrives in Naypyidaw at 19.00. The return flight leaves Naypyidaw at 20.05 and reaches Bangkok at 23.05.

For the period from May 6 to 12, the extra flight takes off from Bangkok at 18.25 and arrives at 19.35. The return flight leaves Naypyidaw at 20.25 and reaches 22.35.

The additional flights increases the airline’s current Bangkok-Naypyidaw frequency from five times weekly flights to daily.

Bangkok Airways commenced flights to Mandalay and Naypyidaw last September (TTG Asia e-Daily, August 22, 2013).

THE Sabah state government will impose a curfew and travel restrictions on the waters off Lahad Datu and Sandakan in the wake of the latest kidnapping incident, according to local media.

Malaysian police had not provided details on the ban at press time, but local daily The Star reported Sabah chief minister Musa Aman as saying that the state would implement control areas where entry would be prohibited or restricted based on time, place and situation.

Chinese national and fish farm manager Yang Zai Lin was kidnapped yesterday from his workplace, Wonderful Terrace on Pulau Baik (Baik Island), about 30km south of Lahad Datu.

This kidnapping came two days after pirates attacked and robbed four fishermen on Sunday at Tanjung Labian, close to Kampung Tanduo, both of which had seen the invasion of Sulu gunmen in February 2013.

In November last year, gunmen abducted a Taiwanese tourist, Chang An Wei, and killed her husband, Lee Min Hsu, from Pom Pom Island, off Semporna (TTG Asia e-Daily, April 8, 2014). Chang was rescued 36 days later from Jolo, an island in the Philippines.

Arokia Das, senior manager at Luxury Tours Malaysia, said: “We’ve tried very hard to push the islands off Sabah to the Asian and South Asia markets but there has been no interest since the Pom Pom Island incident in November. This latest incident yesterday coupled with the intended curfew and travel restrictions is going to be a further deterrence. Holidaymakers don’t fancy visiting places where there are safety issues.”

SHANGRI-LA Hotels and Resorts has launched its maiden property in the UK within the landmark The Shard development.

Occupying floors 34 to 52, Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London is located in the tallest building in Western Europe and overlooks London icons such as the Houses of Parliament, Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral. It is south of the River Thames and minutes from the city of London.

The hotel’s 202 guestrooms and suites are some of the largest hotel rooms in London, averaging more than 42m², with butler service provided for suites. Free Internet access is available throughout the premises.

Guests can choose from the hotel’s three F&B outlets: Ting, for Asian specialties and locally sourced cuisine with Asian flavours; Lang, a patisserie and artisan deli; and Gong, London’s highest champagne and cocktail bar that will be opened on May 19. Gong is located on the 52^nd storey, where the hotel’s gym and infinity pool are also situated.

For meetings and events, Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London offers three river-facing event spaces connected to the sky lobby by a grand staircase. These venues will fit between 10 and 140 people, or planners can book out the entire 34^th floor for a standing reception of 200 pax.

To mark the occasion, Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London’s opening rates begin from 450 pounds (US$764) per room per night, including VAT. The hotel’s Room With A View package starts from 530 pounds per night based on twin sharing with breakfast for two and two tickets to viewing platform The View from The Shard, including VAT.

Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London is the group’s 83^rd hotel and third in Europe, following the openings of Shangri-La Hotel, Paris and Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul in 2010 and 2013 respectively.

TUNE Hotels will close its hotel at Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s (KLIA) Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) and open a flagship hotel at klia2 on May 9.

The 400-key Tune Hotel klia2 will be connected to the new terminal via a covered walkway and link bridge, allowing guests to reach the terminal, check-in counters and Gateway@klia2 shopping mall within a 10-minute walk.

Mark Lankester, group CEO of Tune Hotels, said Tune Hotel klia2 will be the largest Tune Hotel.

The hotel features a casual seating lounge with free Wi-Fi, an open-air courtyard lounge, a 24-hour restaurant and beverage centre, 167 parking bays, a transport counter for guests with further transportation needs, and two AirAsia self check-in kiosks within the lobby. The lobby area also displays up-to-date flight information on arrivals and departures.

Transit passengers who walk in to the hotel can opt for a short-stay Refresher Package, available between 09.00 and 18.00, subject to availability.

Guests with reservations at the current Tune Hotel KLIA LCCT will be automatically transferred to the property at klia2 on May 9.

“To facilitate guest relocation, all in-house guests will be provided complimentary transfer to the klia2 terminal building and Tune Hotel klia2 on May 9. For guests with bookings for 9 May and after, check-in will be at the Tune Hotel klia2,” Lankester said.

Affected guests will be notified by email.

AirAsia Group has also moved all its LCC operations to the new terminal, which opened on May 2 (TTG Asia e-Daily, April 25, 2014).

SRI LANKA has denied permission for the opening of casinos at three planned luxury resorts in Colombo, including one by Australian casino baron James Packer, following widespread objection.

The ban was announced on April 24.

Opponents say the casinos are not in line with the country’s conservative Buddhist culture and could promote prostitution. Although Sri Lanka has a number of operational casinos, opponents claim the upcoming casinos are Las Vegas-type projects aimed at attracting high-rollers from India and the rest of Asia.

The casinos form part of mixed-use developments that were approved with special 10-year tax concessions and investors were promised on the outset that approvals extended to casinos.

Packer’s Crown Investments group has not responded to the ban but TTG Asia e-Daily has learned that Packer’s local partner, Ravi Wijeratne, flew to Australia last week for urgent consultations on whether to proceed with the US$1.3 billion project.

Packer has said in the past that he would not proceed if casinos are disallowed.

The other two projects involve local businessman Dhammika Perera and the country’s largest hotel operator, John Keells Holdings (JKH). JKH said last week that it has begun construction at the site which also includes a conference facility for 2,500 pax, to become the largest such facility on completion in a few years’ time.

ETIHAD Airways has launched a game-changing product for its Airbus A380 aircraft – the world’s first three-room cabin comprising a living room, bedroom and ensuite shower.

Unveiled at a global media launch in Abu Dhabi on May 4, The Residence will be located in the forward upper deck cabin on only the A380 and comes with either single or double occupancy and a personal butler that has been trained at the Savoy Butler Academy in London.

Each Etihad A380’s The Residence will boast different colour palettes, table marquetry and custom carpets for an mid-air boutique experience.

The announcement is part of Etihad’s initiative to redefine and rename its cabin classes.

Etihad has allocated the upper deck of the A380 to its premium cabins, including its First Apartments. These are fully private suites with a separate reclining lounge seat and full-length bed, a chilled mini-bar, personal vanity unit and wardrobe.

The First Suite class on the airline’s Boeing 787 aircraft will come with new features including a chilled mini-bar.

Meanwhile, its Business Studio and Economy Smart Seat classes will be available on both Etihad’s A380s and the B787s.

The carrier’s entertainment system has also been upgraded to the latest Panasonic eX3 for improved gaming, HD quality and video touchscreen handsets that offer an extra screen. All A380 aircraft will be fitted with full mobile and Wi-Fi service while the B787 will have Wi-Fi.

James Hogan, president and CEO of Etihad Airways, said: “These new living spaces will raise inflight product and service standards to their highest level yet in commercial aviation and alter air travellers’ expectations of inflight comfort and luxury forever.

“Etihad Airways’ A380 and B787 will deliver the most advanced airline cabins in the industry, while meeting all weight, range and cost targets at our desired seat count. This will allow us to offer products unparalleled in quality and style, yet at competitive prices across all three cabins.”

CARLSON Rezidor Hotel Group has named the first three member hotels of its luxury Quorvus Collection, which itself was unveiled to the world in February (TTG Asia e-Daily, February 20, 2014).

Speaking at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai, The Rezidor Hotel Group president and CEO, Wolfgang M Neumann, said The May Fair Hotel London, the G&V Royal Mile Hotel Edinburgh and the Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait would form the collection’s first properties.

“These three unique hotels lay a strong foundation for the further development of Quorvus Collection. The Edinburgh and Kuwait hotels will join the Quorvus Collection immediately and we anticipate The May Fair joining the Collection later in the summer of 2014,” Neumann commented.

The May Fair Hotel is owned and operated by Edwardian Group London and was first opened by King George V in 1927. It offers 404 guestrooms and suites, a 201-seat private screening room, a spa, and the May Fair Bar that has hosted some of London’s most extravagant society events.

Located on the corner of George IV Bridge, Victoria Street and The Royal Mile, the G&V Royal Mile Hotel Edinburgh features 136 rooms and suites, award-winning Italian restaurant Cucina and the Fashionista Bar G&V. Meeting facilities include three modern event spaces, a breakout area and a city spa.

The Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait is part of the Symphony complex in Kuwait’s main shopping and entertainment district of Salmiya. Occupying an 18-storey high building, the hotel’s 169 rooms and suites offer guests views of the Arabian Gulf. Other facilities include Italian restaurant Cucina, Luna for Arabic food with a Mediterranean twist, Choco Café for coffee, a Six Senses Spa, and six event spaces ranging from boardrooms to a ballroom.

Neumann said Carlson Rezidor aims to grow the Quorvus portfolio to 20 hotels in operation and development by 2020, “through conversions and newly built urban hotels and resorts”.

The Quorvus Collection takes its name from the Southern sky Corvus constellation featuring the five brightest stars.