SHANGRI-LA Hotel, Paris has rolled out the Roland-Garros VIP Package: The Parisian Dream that includes a stay at the hotel and tickets to the French Open.

The package is available for the duration of the 2014 French Open (May 25 to June 8) and is for two or four persons only.

In the all-inclusive package are a savoury tea time upon arrival at the hotel, dinner at La Bauhinia restaurant, breakfast, lunch at the Brasserie des Jardins de Roland-Garros, French Open matches and official Peugeot shuttle service.

Prices start at 1,125 euros (US$1,539) per person. For additional information, visitrolandgarros.fft-tickets.com/uk/the-parisian-dream.

DUE to the Lunar New Year holidays, TTG Asia e-Daily will be taking a break from January 30 to February 3, 2014.

Here’s wishing all readers a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year!

MELIÁ Hotels International will roll out its first Innside by Meliá hotel in Asia when the 258-room Innside Yogyakarta opens in early 2015, expanding the brand’s presence beyond its current European stronghold.

The Indonesian hotel will also mark the biggest property to launch under the Innside by Meliá brand, which is so far only operating in major cities in Spain and Germany, with Denmark and the UK soon to be added into the portfolio.

Comprising a mix of four- and five-star properties with “their own character, unique architecture and avant-garde design”, Innside by Meliá properties are conceived as technology-driven urban hotels, with facilities such as multi-functional events rooms and a lobby bar that is the “centre of energy”.

Apart from six hotels in the pipeline for China – which also includes a Innside by Meliá in Zhengzhou (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 13, 2014) – the Spanish hospitality chain has other properties launching in Indonesia and Vietnam later this year, according to a company spokeswoman.

The 300-room Meliá Surabaya will form part of a large leisure complex that includes a golf course and shopping mall.

The 150-room Meliá Danang, which will include 10 villas and a spa, is located on Non Nuoc beach near Hue and Hoi An.

COME March, Phuket will welcome Baan Teelanka, an inverted attraction that will mark the first of its kind in Thailand.

Baan Teelanka – which means upside-down house in Thai – is founded and managed by Alex Riva and Wah Yodying, a husband-and-wife team that has invested 25 million baht (US$760,000) into constructing the gravity-defying structure.

Located on Phuket’s Chalermprakiat Ror 9 Road between Premium Outlet and Siam Niramit, the 13m-high, three-storey house is fully furnished with staircases, a garage, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom – but with the furniture and household fixtures all hanging downwards from the ceiling.

Adjacent to the topsy-turvy house is the A-Maze-in-Phuket, a 950m² hedgerow garden maze designed by Adrian Fisher and filled with some 2,200 plants and 12 different gates for the creation of alternate routes.

“This fully furnished upside-down house is fantastic light-hearted entertainment for families and is the perfect attraction for those looking for an alternative to the beach,” said Riva, who is currently taking a sabbatical from his 20-year hospitality career to resettle in Phuket with his family to launch the new attraction.

“In the evenings after opening hours, the house is also available for rental for private parties or corporate groups to organise their own fun-themed events,” he added.

The attraction is open daily from 10.00 to 18.00, with tickets priced at 120-200 baht and 100-150 baht for Baan Teelanka and A-Maze-in-Phuket respectively. The attraction also boasts a café and a souvenir shop on site.

MYANMAR’S airspace will see competition intensify as three domestic airlines commence or expand operations over the next few months.

Brand new carriers Apex Airlines and Mann Yatanarpon Airlines are due to take flight soon, while FMI Air Charter will start more scheduled flights.

A source from Apex told TTG Asia e-Daily that the company’s management is still looking for aircraft and expects to launch operations in April or May out of Nay Pyi Taw International Airport.

On Mann Yatanarpon, Win Swe Tun, deputy director of Myanmar’s Department of Civil Aviation, could not say when the airline would begin services officially but revealed: “Mann Yatanarpon Airlines will operate regular scheduled flights to all major tourist destinations in Myanmar out of Mandalay and Yangon airports.”

However, TTG Asia e-Daily understands the airline intends to take delivery of 70-seat ATR72-600 aircraft by end-January and start flights between late February and early March.

FMI, which currently runs scheduled Yangon-Naypyidaw flights and charter flights, will introduce new scheduled services to other major tourist destinations in April, according to Win Swe Tun.

JET Airways will commence a daily service from Mumbai to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport on May 14, pitting it directly against Air France.

The carrier will deploy an Airbus A330-200 for the route, offering 235 economy and 18 premium flatbed seats. It is also the only evening departure from continental Europe to Mumbai.

Gaurang Shetty, vice president commercial of Jet Airways, said that the airline would now be able to offer seamless travel between Europe and India with onward connections to Colombo, Dhaka and Kathmandu.

Sonal Swamy, director of Mumbai-based Syrisa Travel, pointed out that the “convenient departure and arrival times and short-transit connections beyond Paris will ensure that (the flight) will succeed”.

“It will benefit inbound visitors as they can connect to any destination within India after arriving in Mumbai in the morning. It will improve both oubound departures and inbound arrivals at Mumbai and Tier Two and Tier Three cities that use Mumbai as gateway,” she added.

Jet Airways has launched special fares to mark the new route, priced from Rs45,291 (US$729) for economy class and Rs153,315 for premiere class, taxes included. Tickets are available for purchase until February 10.

SILVERNEEDLE Hospitality will add Riva Arun Bangkok to its SilverNeedle Collection of independently owned boutique hotels when the property is completed in 2015.

Riva Arun Bangkok will offer 25 rooms across two buildings built in Sino-Portuguese colonial style, located opposite Wat Arun along Chao Phraya River. It will come with a rooftop bar with 360º views of its surroundings.

Iqbal Jumabhoy, managing director and CEO of SilverNeedle Hospitality, commented: “As the area where international tourist arrivals grew the most in 2012 and 2013, we are optimistic that South-east Asia’s long-term fundamentals remain robust and will pursue opportunities here as well as in the broader Asia-Pacific region.”

The SilverNeedle Collection currently comprises Riva Surya, Bangkok; 137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai; and Kiridara, Luang Prabang.