THE European Commission (EC) has released a proposal for the creation of a new visa that would allow travel within the Schengen area for up to a year, one in a raft of initiatives to draw more arrivals from major outbound markets.

Currently known as the touring visa, it grants visitors passage through the Schengen area for one year with the option of an extension for up to two years, though visitors are disallowed from staying in one member state for more than 90 days within an 180-day period.

The EC has also rolled out a number of proposed changes to Schengen visa rules, noting in its press release that non-EU travellers tended to face “cumbersome, lengthy and costly visa procedures” when applying for short stays.

These include:
–       Reducing the deadline from 15 to 10 days for processing and taking a decision
–       Making it possible to lodge visa applications in other EU countries’ consulates if the member state competent for processing the visa application is neither present nor represented
–       Substantial facilitations for regular travellers including mandatory issuing of multiple-entry visas valid for three years
–       Simplified application form and allowing for online applications
–       Possibility for member states to devise special schemes granting visas at the borders for up to 15 days in one Schengen state
–       Possibility for member states to facilitate the issuing of visa for visitors attending major events

Approvals for the touring visa and reworking of the visa code must be obtained from the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament, and are expected in 2015 at the earliest.

Antonio Tajani, European Commission vice president responsible for industry and entrepreneurship, commented: “Our proposal will help (the) European tourism industry at a time when international competition is becoming increasingly fierce with a growing number of countries relying on tourism as a factor for growth. The new visa rules are the answer to this challenge. These changes will help the tourism industry to deal with the expected considerable increase of the flows of tourists visiting Europe. Tourism is Europe´s growth engine and has been the most important stronghold of European economy during the recent crisis.”

A study cited by the EC stated that in 2012, some 6.6 million potential travellers from the six countries with the most travellers (China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Ukraine) were ‘lost’ due to the hassle of applying for a visa.

On the other hand, the report predicted that streamlining visa rules would boost the number of trips to the Schengen region by 30 to 60 per cent from those countries alone, and generate 1.3 million jobs in tourism and related sectors.

MARRIOTT International has launched the 348-room Renaissance Chengdu Hotel in south-west China under a management agreement with Sichuan Master Investment Group.

Located north of the Tianfu Interchange Bridge, the hotel is close to Chengdu’s main commercial, entertainment, and shopping area, and offers easy access to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

It comprises 348 guestrooms including 29 suites, as well as a 29^th floor club lounge for daily buffet breakfast with live cooking stations, afternoon high tea and evening cocktails. Club members can also avail of luxury business services and complimentary usage of an executive meeting room for two hours.

F&B establishments on site include BLD Café featuring buffet and a la carte culinary delights; upscale Wan Li for authentic Cantonese and Sichuanese cuisine; and lobby lounge The R Bar serving coffee, Chinese afternoon tea, wine or a specialty R cocktail in the evenings.

Renaissance Chengdu Hotel also boasts 1,322m² of meeting space across nine rooms that can be configured in various ways, including a grand ballroom with a nearly 7m ceiling. All meeting rooms are equipped with modern audio visual technologies.

Other available amenities are the 24-hour concierge service Navigator, a full-service business centre, 24-hour fitness centre and an outdoor swimming pool.

Henry Lee, COO of Greater China for Marriott International, states: “Marriott International’s portfolio in China continues to expand and we’re thrilled to open our first Renaissance Hotel in the heart of Chengdu. Renaissance Hotels is known for embracing the spirit of each destination, making it a perfect fit for travellers visiting this exciting city.”

MORE corporates are turning towards the buoyant LCC sector as a way to keep travel costs down while budget airlines simultaneously evolve to cater to this market.

Speaking at a panel discussion at ACTE Executive Forum Singapore yesterday, Todd Arthur, vice president, sales & account management, Asia Pacific, BCD Travel and also Asia board member of Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), said: “LCCs now account for over 15 per cent of Asia’s fleet which outstrips the growth of full-fledged airlines.

“The bulk of the new aircraft is all coming from the LCCs and these are evolving into hybrid carriers to expand themselves into the corporate market.”

Lisa Akeroyd, vice president, global sales & program management, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, said: “The trend of the LCCs is very real and our clients are starting to have conversations about them and questioning if they have to continue solely supporting the national carrier.

“We see that hybrid carriers, which is a cross between no-frills and full service, are fitting into corporate travel requirements,” she said.

Citing the example of how LCCs are increasingly available on the GDSs, he said: “The GDSs are not stagnant too and we see that every one is making progress in these spheres.”

However, Joana Yap, general manager, HRG Singapore highlighted that while her clients request for an LCC option for price comparison, most still opt for full-fledged airlines. “At the moment, it is not the corporates’ mandate to use LCCs because given the choice, most of them will still prefer a flight that provides everything from baggage to meals.

“While companies may look at various ways to keep their travel budget tight, corporate travellers will use the reasoning that full-fledged airlines will promise them and the company good productivity to get away (from LCCs),” Yap added.

PAN Pacific Hotels Group today launched Parkroyal Nay Pyi Taw in the Myanmar capital, marking its second Parkroyal property in the country.

The 180-room hotel is strategically located close to Myanmar International Convention Centre, the official venue of government functions, and opens with 90 rooms available. The remainder is expected to be fully operational by end -2014.

Parkroyal Nay Pyi Taw offers an all-day dining restaurant, spa, gym, swimming pool and a range of meeting facilities (TTG Asia e-Daily, February 11, 2014).

“As an early and successful player in Myanmar’s hotel industry, Pan Pacific Hotels Group is keen to capitalise on business opportunities within the flourishing tourism sector to solidify our position as one of the leading international hotel operators in the country,” says Bernold O Schroeder, CEO, Pan Pacific Hotels Group.

“The opening of Parkroyal Nay Pyi Taw in such a prominent location in the capital will give the brand greater visibility and boost the Group’s Myanmar portfolio.”

Meanwhile, Parkroyal Yangon is also to undergo renovations for refreshed dining spaces, lobby and meeting and entertainment facilities.

In 2013, Pan Pacific entered a joint venture agreement with Myanmar’s Shwe Taung Group to develop the country’s first Pan Pacific hotel (TTG Asia e-Daily, October 30, 2013).

Scheduled to open in 2017, the 348-room Pan Pacific Yangon will be located in the heart of Yangon city centre, opposite the popular Bogyoke Aung San (Scott) Market.

THE Ascott has purchased an operational serviced residence in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Island and will rebrand it to Citadines Mercer Hong Kong in 3Q2014.

The 55-unit property is located next to Hong Kong’s central business district, close to Soho and the famous Lan Kwai Fong.

Lee Chee Koon, CEO, said: “One of Ascott’s growth strategies is to look for prime operating serviced residences in gateway cities which will provide us with faster time to market.

“Adding a fourth property to our portfolio in Hong Kong will give us economies of scale and further strengthen Ascott’s leadership position as the largest international serviced residence owner-operator in (Greater) China with more than 10,300 apartment units in 57 properties across 20 cities.”

Meanwhile, managing director for North Asia, Kevin Goh, said that demand for serviced residences from expatriates and travellers is strong. He pointed out that Citadines Ashley Hong Kong, the first Citadines property in the SAR, has been seeing occupancy of above 90 per cent since its inception in 2006.

Citadines Mercer Hong Kong will offer one-bedroom apartments featuring a kitchenette, living and work spaces, a residents’ lounge, gym and swimming pool.

The Ascott is scheduled to launch Somerset Victoria Park Hong Kong in the third quarter and rebrand another serviced residence on Connaught Road in 2015.

In a separate development, Ascott today also announced it has partnered James Cook University to offer a direct path to a business degree programme for those studying for a Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications Diploma in Tourism (Accommodation Management) at the Ascott Centre for Excellence.

Appointed by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency, the Ascott Centre for Excellence is the first and only continuing education and training centre for the hospitality sector that is run by a hospitality company.

BUDGET carriers AirAsia and AirAsia X have insisted on staying at the low-cost carrier terminal in Sepang after May 9 despite having been told that Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s (KLIA) low-cost terminal will cease operations following the opening of the klia2 on May 2.

The airlines want issues on safety and security at klia2 as well as the potential rise in airport charges and passenger service charge, which could raise the overall cost of travel, to be addressed before they relocated, The Star reported today.

LCCs currently operate at KLIA’s budget terminal that is scheduled to shut on May 9, one week after the new klia2 airport, which serves only budget airlines, is to open for business.

While the move was described as imminent by Aireen Omar, CEO of AirAsia Malaysia, she was quoted by The Star as having said: “We want to ensure our guests will have a seamless journey, without any disruptions that might potentially be caused by any periodic remedial measures undertaken by klia2.”

Meanwhile, Adam Kamal, general manager of Rakyat Travel said: “This issue has to be quickly resolved as it would cause confusion among travellers. Until this matter is resolved, we cannot confirm point of departure and arrivals for our fixed departures on AirAsia and AirAsia X.”

Ganneesh Ramaa, manager at Luxury Tours Malaysia opined that the AirAsia group should sit down at the table with Malaysia Airports Holdings to resolve issues for the benefit of travellers and the image of the country.

He added: “If it remains at the current low-cost carrier terminal, it would incur extra transportation costs for transit passengers and this runs contrary to the AirAsia’s brandingNow everyone can fly.”