Sedona Hotel Yangon doubles room capacity

October 28, 2013

SEDONA Hotel Yangon last week broke ground for its new 29-storey second wing, a welcome development in a city that is facing a severe room crunch.

Scheduled to be fully complete in 2016, the US$80 million second phase will add 420 more rooms to the hotel and bring total room capacity to 786.

The hotel is simultaneously undergoing refurbishment works to areas including rooms, the lobby, main entrance and common corridors, and is expected to be finished by the end of the year. Renovations will cost US$25 million.

Singapore-based Keppel Land, which owns and manages both Sedona Hotel Yangon and Sedona Hotel Mandalay, is also due to begin a US$7 million upgrade for the latter.

STIC widens market with first overseas office in Singapore

By Gracia Chiang

October 28, 2013

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STIC Travel Group India is setting up its first overseas office in Singapore to capture a slice of Asian outbound to India and bring more Indian tourists to this region.

“We would like to expand in Asia first before expanding in Europe and Africa,” said founder chairman Subhash Goyal, who is also president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators.

Having organised its first fam trip for Singapore and Malaysian agencies in September, the B2B marketing office will further support agencies by providing customised programmes and helping with airline seat blocks.

“If we feel that an agency needs brochure support, we can also link them up with state NTOs,” added Goyal.

In addition to its FIT business, STIC is, for the first time, running fixed departures of 20-30 pax out of Singapore from December to March.

About 60 per cent of STIC’s inbound business to India comes from longhaul markets like the US, Europe and Australia, a percentage that should shift by the end of next year to a more balanced 50-50.

“A lot of travel agencies collaborating with us for this winter season have not promoted India before,” said Singapore-based director – group business development, Richa Goyal Sikri, adding that Asian markets such as Indonesia, the Philippines and South Korea are being targeted. “We want to do yoga and Ayurveda programmes as well as Buddhist tours.”

While the initial focus for the office has been Asian outbound, STIC also intends to grow its share of Indian inbound to the region from next year. Using Singapore as a base, there could be combinations with Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Goyal Sikri revealed that the company would concentrate on customised itineraries for FITs and smaller groups, featuring off-the-beaten-track sights.

“For example, every Saturday, all fire stations in Singapore have an open house. People don’t know that…For an Indian family to be able to give their child an experience of a fire station, it’s something they would not even think of.

“Singapore is already such an established destination for Indians and most end up doing a typical circuit. But Singapore has so much more to offer…Why can’t we have more repeat travellers to Singapore (the way Thailand has)?”

Hotels not maximising mobile technology

By TTG Asia

October 28, 2013

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A RECENT TripAdvisor study has found that most hoteliers are not meeting their customer’ mobile expectations even though travellers are now attached to their mobile devices more than ever.

According to the TripAdvisor TripBarometer Mobile and Social survey, 87 per cent and 88 per cent of travellers around the world and in Asia respectively use their mobile devices on the go.

Yet almost one-third of hoteliers around the world are not dishing up additional mobile content for users.

Some 39 per cent of travellers internationally want mobile-friendly sites, which are currently offered only by 37 per cent of hoteliers globally and 27 per cent in Asia. Location-specific deals and special offers for mobile users are in demand at 24 and 27 per cent respectively, but the number of hotels in Asia providing these make up only a woeful five per cent and 15 per cent.

However, TripBarometer reported that this situation is likely to improve in the coming year. While only 36 per cent of hoteliers internationally are prioritising mobile marketing this year, 53 per cent plan on expanding mobile offerings in 2014.

Asian hoteliers are the most likely bunch to ramp up mobile offerings in 2014, (66 per cent), including mobile booking functionality (30 per cent), mobile-friendly websites (26 per cent) and mobile-specific special offers (15 per cent).

Hoteliers are doing better in terms of engagement on the social media front, with 82 per cent of hotels internationally and 84 per cent in Asia interacting with current and potential guests. Facebook and Twitter are the most popular platforms. In the coming year, 55 per cent of hoteliers internationally and 58 per cent in Asia intend to invest more in social media in 2014.

Julio Bruno, global vice president of sales, TripAdvisor for Business, said: “TripBarometer findings revealed that there are opportunities for hospitality businesses to provide value at various points throughout a traveller’s journey. Businesses should engage with potential and current guests on mobile and social media to interact with them in real time through special offers and apps that are popular with travellers. Ultimately, mobile is the direct link to travellers on the go.”

Crowne Plaza Changi Airport names new GM

By TTG Asia

October 28, 2013

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BILL Sheppard has been appointed the new general manager of Crowne Plaza Changi Airport to oversee all operations of the hotel.

Previously the regional general manager for United Arab Emirates and general manager of Crowne Plaza Deira Dubai, Sheppard has more than 35 years of hospitality experience under his belt, spanning Europe, the US, Middle East and Australia.

Gulf Air appoints country manager for Philippines

By TTG Asia

October 28, 2013

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ADEL Al Saleem has been named Gulf Air’s country manager for the Philippines, to be responsible for driving the commercial performance of the carrier in the Philippines and build on existing relationships with key travel consultants and corporates.

Al Saleem brings to the table over 20 years of experience and knowledge in aviation and has worked with Gulf Air since 1992.

Edie Bornstein becomes president, COO at Crystal Cruises

By TTG Asia

October 28, 2013

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EDIE Bornstein has been named the president and COO of Crystal Cruises, replacing Gregg Michel.

Bornstein brings to Crystal more than 30 years of experience in the global cruise, travel and technology industries and was most recently senior vice president of marketing and sales at Azamara Club Cruises.

She has worked at Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard and Seabourn Cruise Lines, as well as Amadeus.

Marco Polo Ortigas Manila unveils pre-opening team

By TTG Asia

October 28, 2013

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MARCO Polo Ortigas Manila has named its pre-opening team, including general manager Adriano Vences and director of sales & marketing, Pearl Peralta-Maclang.

Vences was previously resident manager of Marco Polo Hong Kong, while Peralta-Maclang was the former vice president of sales & marketing of Crimson Hotels and Resorts’ management arm, Filarchipelago Hospitality.

US in fighting form

By Hannah Koh

October 25, 2013

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BRAND USA is gunning for more international arrivals through its inaugural appearance at this year’s ITB Asia and increased trade support in the region.

Brand USA vice president for global partnership and development, Jay Gray, said: “Between 2000 and 2010, international outbound travel across the world increased immensely, but US market share of that actually decreased five percentage points in what we called the ‘lost decade’.”

Gray attributed this to the destination’s lack of marketing efforts, while other countries were out there marketing themselves as tourism destinations.

But all hope is not lost as outbound departures to the US are on the rise in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines.

The US is aiming for 100 million international arrivals this year, a huge leap from the 67 million recorded last year.

“Travellers and consultants here are not as informed about the product as they could be,” he said.

To tackle that, Brand USA will launch an online education and certification programme for South-east Asia’s trade in 1Q2014.

“This is about creating a community of operators with a social element, so when somebody logs into this, completes a module, his rankings increase. Then when he goes on one of our fam trips, upload his experiences online, his rankings increase more.”

The trade can also expect co-op programmes that could extend to campaign funding.

Said Gray: “For (tour operators) buying advertisements or promotions around US products, we want to help them, may be in terms of bringing partners to the table that they may not have already talked to, unique itineraries, or just putting additional funds into campaigns.”

Malaysia dedicates more resources to courting Chinese FITs

By Xinyi Liang-Pholsena

October 25, 2013

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THE evolving mainland Chinese traveller is presenting new opportunities for Malaysia as the destination rolls out Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2014.

“Chinese tourism trends are changing; Chinese tourists used to join group tours with the standard Singapore-Malaysia-Thailand itineraries,” said Ng Yen Yen, chairman of Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB). “But last year, Chinese FITs rose 30 per cent while group tours dipped 30 per cent, so we would like to capitalise on the changing travelling styles of the Chinese.”

MTPB will soon start an FIT unit, which will focus on studying market trends and sharing that knowledge with the trade, Ng revealed.

“We have established presence in (key Chinese cities) for the past 15 years, so we will now target second-tier cities like Ma’anshan in Anhui province,” she added.

However, the outbound market from secondary cities is still hampered by a lack of direct air access to Malaysia, an issue that the board has recognised and will push for more charter and scheduled flights from China, Ng remarked.

The NTO will also work with the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs to push for easier visa procedures for Chinese visitors.

According to Ng, luxury travel will be emphasised in the Chinese market, through the promotion of high-end products like yachting, Sepang F1 Grand Prix, Ferrari speed driving and helicopter tours. The upcoming debut of St Regis, Four Seasons and Harrods branded hotels are expected to elevate Malaysia’s luxury travel landscape.

Taking prime position among VMY 2014’s iconic events is Impression Melaka, a mega show debuting in Malacca by end-2014. The new destination campaign will also see a stronger push for Malaysia as a shopping haven.

Meanwhile, Tourism Malaysia’s absence at ITB Asia this week was conspicuous as several inbound operators expressed that it lost the opportunity to “hype up” the VMY campaign, in the words of Eric Sinnaya, managing director of Morahols Travel, Langkawi.

Sinnaya said: “The idea of creating a VMY is good (but) briefings on the tourism event highlights and new packages should be given to the local trade at least a year in advance so they have time to market and promote it overseas, especially to longhaul markets that need longer lead times.”

– Additional reporting by S Puvaneswary at ITB Asia in Singapore

Outrigger to launch a second brand

By Raini Hamdi

October 25, 2013

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OUTRIGGER Enterprises Group is launching a second global brand, which will enable it to tap the midtier urban hotel market.

It has roped in Singapore-based Fitch to design the brand, which is expected to debut in 2014, most likely in homeground Hawaii, according to the group’s EVP chief marketing officer, Sean Dee.

Dee said a number of locations has been identified in Australia and Asia for the brand, but would not reveal details.

He said while the second brand is another tool for branding and development, the focus remains on the core Outrigger, a resorts-oriented brand.

Since setting up an Asia-Pacific base in Phuket four years ago, and flushed with a capital fund, the group has expanded its footprint in the region in Thailand, Bali, Australia and Mauritius (the 46th Outrigger hotel opening December), most of which it owns or has major stakes in.

In 2016/17, it will extend the Outrigger footprint to China and Vietnam (Hainan and Vinh Hoi respectively).

Sedona Hotel Yangon doubles room capacity

STIC widens market with first overseas office in Singapore

Hotels not maximising mobile technology

Crowne Plaza Changi Airport names new GM

Gulf Air appoints country manager for Philippines

Edie Bornstein becomes president, COO at Crystal Cruises

Marco Polo Ortigas Manila unveils pre-opening team

US in fighting form

Malaysia dedicates more resources to courting Chinese FITs

Outrigger to launch a second brand

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