HVS Global Hospitality Services has stepped up its presence in Asia with the opening of a new office in Bangkok, following the launch of its Jakarta office in late 2012 (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 14, 2012).
“Thailand’s importance as a tourist destination in Asia and the world is rising, so it’s timely for us to launch a dedicated office in Thailand,” said Christian Pucher, who has been appointed to head the HVS Bangkok office as director.
“It’s also about proximity, so we will be able to serve our clients in various geographical locations better, including Indochina and Myanmar.”
Daniel Voellm, managing director of HVS Hong Kong, added: “Bangkok is an important hub for business in this region with easy access to Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. HVS Bangkok is here to act as a thought leader and help support and advise players in the industry on hotels, resorts, serviced apartments and branded residences.
“Asia’s middle class is growing and becoming a strong contender for quality tourism experiences against their peers from Europe. Thailand is already benefiting greatly from this trend and neighbouring countries are trying to get their share of the action. Myanmar’s opening provides a whole new spectrum of opportunities for travellers and investors.”
Pucher, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the École hôtelière de Lausanne, joins HVS with over seven years of experience in hotel and resort development in Thailand and across Asia. He will report to Voellm in his new position.
HVS Bangkok will offer hotel owners, operators, developers and investors in the region services including development feasibility and market studies, operator search, valuation, strategic consulting, technical services, asset management, investment advisory and tailored services.
BEST Western International has launched its first property in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
The 152-room Best Western Plus Bakkah Awan Hotel is strategically located in the cultural centre of Mecca, just a few minutes’ drive from the Holy Mosque. Millions of Muslim travellers flock to the city for two annual pilgrimages, the hajj and umrah.
Facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, coffee shop, kid’s club, business centre, free Internet throughout the property and a shuttle bus service for transfers to the Holy Mosque.
The opening marks Best Western’s latest phase of rapid expansion in the Middle East, following the launch of the company’s first hotels in Oman and Jordan last year, as well as in Kuwait this year (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 13, 2013).
By end 2015, Best Western plans to be operating at least 3,600 hotel rooms across 22 properties in eight Middle East countries.
THE Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents (HATA) has bulked up the size and scope of its cruise mart this year, incorporating a travel and tourism segment.
To be held on August 15 in the Gordon Wu Hall at BP International Hotel, the HATA Travel & Cruise Mart 2013 will bring together 250 HATA member buyers and 44 exhibitors including cruise lines, airlines, NTOs, DMCs, hotels, attractions, etc, showcasing over 60 products and five more cruise-related products than last year.
The mart also welcomes members from other trade associations – such as the International Chinese Tourist Association – and tourism students.
Richard Willis, chairman, HATA membership committee, said: “We take the view that small- and medium-sized marts like the HATA one will be a good and effective platform, providing the opportunity for regular product updates (in our case, allow the trade to plan for the winter season) and to enhance product knowledge, and perhaps offer a more cozy and cordial environment to network between buyers and sellers.”
He said the event took six to seven weeks to put together, and HATA was able to expand the scope of the mart because they had found “a bigger and affordable venue… which can accommodate up to 66 table tops”.
“HATA would like to progressively expand to grow the mart to offer members a much wider choice of products. When it comes to cruise tourism, there is also a need for ancillary products and services such as airlines, hotels, DMCs, attractions etc,” he explained.
Admission to the mart is free and, in a bid to boost participation, HATA has 100 complimentary tickets to a dinner cruise that same evening to be given out to buyers who visit 30 exhibitors at the mart.
OVERNIGHT visitor arrivals to Hong Kong shot up 8.7 per cent year-on-year between January and June this year, while the territory welcomed a total of 25.4 million visitors for the same period, up 13.6 per cent over 2012.
In 1H2013, overnight visitors to Hong Kong numbered 12 million or 47.1 per cent of total arrivals, according to HKTB statistics. Unsurprisingly, mainland Chinese tourists who stayed overnight numbered 7.8 million, boasting a 16.2 per cent year-on-year increase.
Taiwanese overnight arrivals rose 4.1 per cent, likely due to the free, pre-arrival online registration service for Taiwanese residents, said a HKTB statement. Visitors from Thailand also rose 15 per cent (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 5, 2013).
However, shorthaul arrivals to the territory fell 4.2 per cent as travellers were drawn to Japan as the value of the yen declined. Japanese overnight arrivals tumbled some 29.1 per cent.
Longhaul markets continued to suffer the impact of global economic uncertainties and dropped 4.1 per cent for overnight arrivals.
New markets – listed as India, Gulf Co-operation Council countries, Russia, The Netherlands and Vietnam by HKTB – posted 7.2 per cent year-on-year growth collectively. Russian arrivals saw the strongest growth, jumping 24.6 per cent in overnight arrivals and 26.3 per cent for overall arrivals.
Willem Niemeijer, co-founder and CEO of Khiri Travel Group, ventured into countries when they were just opening up, leading Khiri Travel to become one of South-east Asia’s most innovative DMCs today. Greg Lowe speaks to the man at the reins
What were the key milestones for Khiri over the past 20 years?
Our real first break came in 1997 with the Asian financial crisis. In the early days we were uncertain what would happen, but after a couple of weeks it dawned on us that it was a really good opportunity. Business really took off.
Other key developments were the opening of our Chiang Mai office in 1998. The following year, we opened in Cambodia with our own company. We officially incorporated (in Laos) in 2007, but we had been working out of our own office since 2003.
The most recent major change was reorganising the company about one-and-a-half years ago.
How and why did you restructure Khiri?
We were very much centrally managed out of Bangkok. It was me, my then partner and one or two other people who would develop products for all the countries. We felt there was a need to totally reorganise the business so that each country office was the specialist for their country. The passion for the country is strongest within the country itself, so we decided to capitalise on that. Each of our countries now has its own management team and own foreign and local leadership when it comes to product development.
Khiri has always been a B2B business. Why was that decision made and would you do things differently if you opened up shop today?
Right now it is much more obvious to go B2C and if I were to open an office now that’s probably what I would do, with social media, direct bookings and all that. But in the early 90s, people didn’t understand the destinations at all, especially Asia. Almost everybody we dealt with back then came as a group.
I still very much believe that we add a lot of value for (overseas) tour operators. Everybody is going much more into niche markets. As a tour operator, the more you are pushed into niche markets and away from the hotels booking model, the more you need added value and the more you need people on the ground. That’s what we provide.
How are your products developed?
We give the ideas for tour operators. We come up with new ideas about what to do. We then craft and customise them for every agency’s niche.
The movers and shakers of Khiri Travel Group are speaking with each other about what they have tried, what works and what does not. We officially meet three times a year so we can share best practices and ideas. Every time we meet it’s better. It’s very inspirational. I think we are getting back to the heights of our creativity.
What are your key source markets?
Our main source markets are North America, Canada and Western Europe, especially the Scandinavian countries, Benelux and Germany. The UK is also growing.
Regional markets are also growing for us. Again, it’s not the mass market we’re after. We’re more about smaller quality tours from Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing.
Do you have any plans to expand your source markets given the growth in inbound tourism from the likes of Russia and China?
Obviously volume is important, but we always need to look at how we can differentiate, how can we open up even more remote locations. So we look for a different type of traveller and that traveller is definitely not from the mass Russian or Chinese markets. So we have deferred our decision to go into those markets for now.
You started Khiri, operating out of a hotel room in Bangkok in the early days. What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of starting out the way you did? During the first 12 years or so we didn’t really see it as a business. We still do it for the love of travel and the region, but once you grow you have more responsibilities and so many staff that you have to start seeing it as a business.
I wouldn’t change much, though it would probably be a better idea to do things with a little more investment, more planning and targets.
How do you manage your team?
I try to stay very much hands-on and local. I visit all of our countries. I wish I could do more, but with five countries and 11 offices, there’s only so much you can do.
I also try to help out on product innovation and make sure that our brand has the right vision. Of course, there are the budgets, but I have a new partner who is also our CFO (Mark Remijan) and he’s a real star on that front.
You’ve worked in a number of South-east Asian frontier markets over the years, entering when they first opened. What were the key similarities and differences? Each case is different. If you look at Cambodia, when I went there first in 1992 there was basically no infrastructure. There were only a handful of hotels and they were generally pretty crappy. Roads were non-existent; security was a major issue. This really was a country which felt unsafe. Destroyed. There was no human capital. You could only find a few people who spoke a few words of English. It was very difficult for the country to start up. Fast-forward to the mid-2000s and you can see how this country had made tremendous progress.
In Laos, there is a much more ideological government which came into power in 1975. You also have a larger country with a smaller population, only a small proportion of which is connected to any kind of grid, electrical or otherwise. There is now a road between Luang Prabang and Vientiane. There have been improvements in northern Laos but they have been very slow. It is very much a rural agricultural country and I think it will remain so for some time.
Vietnam is totally different. When the US lifted the (travel and trade) embargo in February 1994 it started booming. I think there is a stronger parallel between what happened in Vietnam then and what is happening in Myanmar now, than with how things started in Cambodia or Laos.
In Vietnam there was infrastructure. It really wanted to grow but couldn’t because of the embargo. Once that embargo was lifted things took off.
What do you think will happen in Myanmar? If it continues in the way it’s going now, I fear it will end up like Vietnam where there is not a lot of development for the rest of the country. (Development) all happens in the cities.
I’m hoping that as a way out the Myanmar government will make it much easier to invest in some off-the-beaten-track places. It is already trying to do this to some extent. If it is difficult to get a hotel permit in a key destination, it could make it relatively easy somewhere in the boondocks. This is really important in a huge country like Myanmar, rather than just saying, ‘We already have Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake, so these are where we’re going to develop.’
What role can the private sector play to make tourism development in Myanmar more sustainable? The best lessons probably come from Laos and Cambodia. Let’s take Cambodia first. For a long time people would only go to Siem Reap to see Angkor Wat, just flying in and out of one place. It’s only recently that people have started to look at Phnom Penh. More tourists are going there now, but the rest of the country is really lagging behind in development.
Laos is quite similar. People go to Luang Prabang and Vientiane because there is very little infrastructure in places like the Plain of Jars; southern Laos is only now starting to develop.
Once the world knows Laos equals Luang Prabang and Cambodia equals Angkor Wat, it becomes very difficult to get out of that mindset, even for the travel trade.
What are the outcomes for the travel trade if it focuses on a single destination within a country, rather than developing and promoting tourism over a larger area? Siem Reap is probably the best example of this. In typical Cambodian fashion, anyone can build a hotel there. You get a permit very easily. So now when you go to Siem Reap there are hotels everywhere. In high season they are full, but the average occupancy is not great the rest of the time, save for a few of the larger international chains. You see a lot of price competition there but development does not spread across the country. Even with the price competition people think Siem Reap is still the place to invest.
What role do you think the arrival of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 will have on the region’s travel industry? Will it be a bang or a whimper? I’m not sure the AEC will have the huge impact some people are expecting. There will be some impact and most of it will be positive. People are looking for opportunities to fill in gaps. The movement of labour, which is what most people are worried about, usually takes place because there is an economic benefit to move. So overall I think it will result in a more even spread of talent. There will be some very short-term commotion but it will settle down.
What would you change across the region? Visas, immigration systems, TM cards (for Thai immigration), visa on arrival queues, etc − if these could be eradicated it would really help.
TTG Asia selects the most creative ways to tie the knot and honeymoon in the region
Source: Janet Tan-Collis
Red carpet action What’s the idea?Inject touches of glamour à la Hollywood with weddings at the Universal Studios Singapore. The couple will be driven into the park’s New York zone in a luxury sedan, making a grand entrance as they walk down the red carpet with guests cheering from the sides. Dinner will be served on the streets of New York, which will be cordoned off on the big day. A cast of iconic characters from Sesame Street and Kungfu Panda will join guests on the exhilarating rides to end the night on a high note. Contact Universal Studios Singapore; Tel: (65) 6577-6868; Email: weddings@rwsentosa.com
Encounters of the feathered kind (left) What’s the idea? Get married amid lush greenery and a riot of colours at Jurong Bird Park’s African Waterfall Aviary, home to a 30m waterfall and over 600 birds of Africa. Bestow the honourable role of the ring bearer upon the specially- trained birds and after the exchanging of vows, lovebirds can be released to commemorate the beautiful occasion. Guests will then be treated to a banquet at Lakeview Ballroom, with glass walls offering views of flamingos strutting their stuff. Contact Jurong Bird Park, Singapore; Tel: (65) 6661-7807; Email: event.sales@wrs.com.sg
Ethnic Iban flavours What’s the idea? Follow the age-old traditions of East Malaysia’s indigenous Iban people with a longhouse wedding in Lemanak, about 220km from Kuching city in Sarawak. The bride and groom will first be introduced to their foster parents in the longhouse, after which they will receive separate advice on how they should behave after marriage according to Iban customs. During the ceremony, the couple will be dressed in traditional attire, while the Iban elders will give their blessings by touching a steel knife with their teeth so that the newly-weds’ souls will be as strong as steel. Contact Panch Sammy, Diethelm Travel Malaysia; Email: panch.p@my.diethelmtravel.com
Aboard a yacht on the sea of love What’s the idea? Set sail aboard the YTL Lady I, a 20m luxury yacht, and anchor at the magnificent Emerald Bay for an intimate ceremony at sea. As the sun sets on the Straits of Malacca, the couple exchanges vows on the petal-strewn deck in the presence of a pastor or a wedding celebrant, then followed by a champagne toast as the band serenades guests with their romantic tunes. Cruise back to Pangkor Island, where a sumptuous five-course seafood banquet on the beach awaits. Contact Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia; Tel: (60-18) 799-9000; Email: events@ytlhotels.com.my
On the Kyushu express What’s the idea? Set to launch operations on October 15, the Seven Stars in Kyushu luxury train will take honeymooners on a comfortable and intimate journey through Kyushu, with a maximum group size of 30 pax per trip. Guests can choose between a 4D3N or 2D1N itinerary, with the longer trip bundling a night’s stay at an exclusive ryokan. Also included in the programme are unique activities such as visits to the Aso caldera, a traditional Kagoshima kiln and plenty of hot springs – perfect ways for newly-weds to begin their marital journeys. Contact Kyushu Railway, Japan; Tel: (81-92) 474-0221; Email: cruisetrain@jrkyushu.co.jp
Source: The Sodoh Higashiyama Kyoto
Under the cherry blossom trees(right) What’s the idea? The picturesque grounds of The Sodoh Higashiyama Kyoto, the former residence of a master painter turned restaurant, makes an exquisite backdrop for a Kyoto-style wedding. Coiffed in ceremonial Japanese wedding wear, the bride and groom will enjoy a scenic rickshaw ride through Kyoto’s quaint streets to Yasaka shrine, where the couple’s union will be blessed in a traditional ceremony. Returning to The Sodoh via rickshaw, the couple then proceeds for a photo session around the charming venue. A post-wedding dinner or lunch can be arranged for an additional charge. Contact The Sodoh Higashiyama Kyoto, Japan; Tel: (81-70) 5568-5628; Email: pds-sd@plandosee.co.jp
The alchemy of scent What’s the idea? Ayana Resort and Spa Bali’s Something New wedding package allows lovebirds to create their own personalised fragrance at the L’atelier Perfume Studio, very much the same way John Lennon and Yoko Ono used to create their own rose oil scent. Besides a three-night stay at the 3,000m2 Ayana Villa on a cliff-top, the couple can also look forward to a wedding celebrant, acapella choralists, Balinese flower girl attendants, homemade canapés and welcome drinks during their wedding reception, as well as a private table at Rock Bar with two glasses of sparkling wine as part of the package. Contact Ria Kentjono, chief wedding planner, Ayana Resort & Spa Bali, Indonesia; Tel: (62-361) 702-222; Email: weddings@ayanaresort.com
Cast adrift on remote waters What’s the idea? Enjoy a honeymoon on the remote waters of Indonesia aboard a phinisi, the traditional ship of the Bugis seafarers from South Sulawesi. Staying in one of the five suites of Alila Purnama, a luxurious 46m, three-deck liveaboard phinisi, couples can opt for seven-day expeditions around Komodo Island or Raja Ampat archipelago, while private charters for customised itineraries are available year-round too. Honeymoon packages can be tailormade to include couple spa treatments on board, candlelight dinners for two, romantic BBQ dinners by the beach, champagne upon arrival and flower arrangements. Contact Taufik Racman, director of sales and marketing, Alila Purnama, Indonesia; Email: purnama@alilahotels.com
Source: Heritance Tea Factory
Of saree, tea and metti (right) What’s the idea? Heritance Tea Factory, a tea factory turned luxury hotel located amid tea plantations in Sri Lanka’s cool hills, offers a traditional Hindu wedding package at a local temple, complete with full ceremonial regalia for the couple – saree, thali (gold pendant) and metti (silver toe ring) for the bride; traditional outfit and headdress for the groom – and rituals overseen by a Hindu priest. In addition, the couple can enjoy a dinner in a 1930s railway-carriage restaurant, and pick their own tea and process it at the on-site factory to take home as souvenirs. Contact Heritance Tea Factory, Sri Lanka; Website: www.heritancehotels.com/teafactory
A sandy proposition What’s the idea? Simplifly, a Sri Lankan charter operator, has a helicopter ride proposal package. Flying over the stunning coastline of Sri Lanka, the helicopter ride will take the couple to a particular location on the beach. As the helicopter descends to a lower altitude, the couple will see the message “Will you marry me?” written on the sand, at which point the man can pop the question to his girlfriend. On landing at the site, stewards will serve cold towels and a bottle of Champagne to mark the special occasion. Contact Simplifly, Sri Lanka; Website: www.simplifly.com
Back to the aristocratic 1920s What’s the idea? Travel back to the 1920s of the British colonial era and get married according to the traditions of the Mudliyar, an aristocratic class created by the Portuguese colonial rulers. The wedding will be held at the 17th century Galle Fort in south-western Sri Lanka, where the bridal couple and guests will be dressed in the ceremonial attire of the 1920s. The groom and groomsmen will arrive on caparisoned elephants while the bride and her retinue travel in a refined thirikkale (bullock cart). Contact MICE.lk, Sri Lanka; Website: www.mice.lk
A fiery fiesta in the desert What’s the idea? With the pristine dunes of Rajasthan’s Thar Desert as a majestic backdrop, the experience begins in the late afternoon with a jeep and camel caravan taking the wedding entourage through the sand dunes. On arrival at Samsara Luxury Resort & Camp, the couple and guests will be greeted with garlands by local villagers. Surrounded by bright lanterns and torch lamps, a lavish wedding dinner with cocktails and Rajasthan’s most signature dishes will be organised in the outdoors, while local folk singers and dancers entertain the guests and add to the festivities. A wedding ceremony will follow, after which the tranquil desert sky will be lit up with firecrackers to mark the celebrations. Contact Samsara Luxury Resort and Camp, India; Email: reservation@samsaradechu.com
Nuptials amid the rolling hills What’s the idea? The remote Batanes Islands in the Philippines make a novel wedding destination, with no lack of awe-inspiring venues such as the Tukon Chapel and the Basco Lighthouse nestled amid the rolling hills with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean. During the wedding ceremony, the groom will present his bride with 13 gold coins to symbolise his dedication to her and their children. For the wedding feast, traditional Ivatan delicacies like banana blossom piths are served with local palek wine, while Ivatan merrymaking songs called laji are incorporated into the music. ContactThe Wedding Agency by The Rebellious Brides, the Philippines; Email: rebellious.bride@gmail.com
Go local, go Filipiniana What’s the idea? Incorporate Pinoy warmth and charm into a wedding by opting for Filipino-inspired details. The bride and bridesmaids are clad in terno gowns while the groom and groomsmen are attired in sheer button-up shirt called barong – both embroidered garment of the Philippines. The jeepney, the country’s most iconic transportation mode, serves as the bridal car. During the wedding dance, the couple’s respective families will try to outdo each other by pinning peso bills on their garments, after which the bills will be unpinned and counted, and the winner pinning the bigger amount will be announced. The entire amount collected is given to the newly-weds to herald a prosperous beginning to their married life. Contact The Wedding Agency by The Rebellious Brides, the Philippines; Email: rebellious.bride@gmail.com
Strings attached What’s the idea? To celebrate a couple’s union, Villa Maly will organise a baci ceremony – an ancient Lao tradition performed to mark important occasions – as part of its Romancing Luang Prabang honeymoon package. The officiating monk or elder will recite chants calling for the blessing and well-being of the newly-weds, while knotting white cotton strings around the bride and groom’s wrists, symbolically sealing in the benefits of the ritual, before concluding with a Lao dance and music performance. Valid until the end of December, the package also includes a two-night deluxe room stay, a Lao-style sindad barbeque, a sunset dinner cruise on the Nava Mekong and a 60-minute massage. Contact Villa Maly, Laos; Website: www.villa-maly.com
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand
Under the emerald sea (left) What’s the idea? Couples keen to tie the knot can literally take the plunge with an underwater wedding ceremony in Thailand. Each year scores of couples head to the southern Thai province of Trang for a unique scuba-centric mass wedding ceremony that will mark its 18th anniversary in 2014. Activities including tree planting and blessings usually take place between February 13 and 15, with the wedding held on Valentine’s Day. Couples will take their vows and marriage registration underwater, with packages available for divers and non-divers alike (no experience is necessary). Contact Trang Chamber of Commerce, Thailand; Tel: (66-2) 863-3288; Email: info@underwaterwedding.com
On the back of pachyderms What’s the idea? Surin province, famed for its annual Elephant Round-up, also hosts a unique ceremony in which couples get hitched on the back of the magnificent beasts. Brides will don a crown made from palm leaf while grooms will put on a rope with three colours. During the sut tae ceremony – the traditional wedding of the local Kui tribe – couples exchange their vows while seated on a pachyderm at Ta Klang Elephant Village and will take part in an elephant parade, among other activities. The event typically runs from February 13 to 15 each year. Contact Tourism Authority of Thailand Surin office; Tel: (66-44) 514-447
Source: Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong
The white chapel by the sea(left) What’s the idea? Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong debuted the city’s first and only seaside resort-based wedding chapel early this year on Discovery Bay, Lantau Island. Clad with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the 16m White Chapel provides a sleek yet idyllic backdrop for weddings with its waterfront location framed by panoramic views of beaches and mountains. Other novel experiences such as a ride on a horse-drawn, open-air carriage or a cruise aboard The Bounty can also be arranged. Contact Auberge Discovery Bay Hong Kong; Website: www.aubergediscoverybay.com
A Hong Kong of yore What’s the idea? Ocean Park’s recently launched Old Hong Kong zone will double as an unusual venue for couples seeking thematic wedding styles when the destination’s wedding package launches this month. Designed to recreate the authentic streets and scenes in the 50s-70s, this zone relives the early days of the territory. Couples even step aboard the heritage tram and savour the sounds and sights of yesteryears. Contact Ocean Park Hong Kong; Website: www.oceanpark.com.hk
Additional reporting from Lee Pei Qi, S Puvaneswary, Hannah Koh, Mimi Hudoyo, Rosa Ocampo, Greg Lowe, Prudence Lui, Rohit Kaul
A NEW report by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has forecast business travel the world over to continue its upward trajectory for the rest of 2013, with emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil boasting strong growth rates.
For 2013, business travel is expected to reach US$1.1 trillion in 2013, a 5.4 per cent year-on-year increase over 2012, according to the most recent GBTA BTI Outlook – Annual Global Report & Forecast.
Continued expenditure on business travel for the rest of the year will lay the foundation for 8.2 per cent growth in 2014. Looking ahead, business travel spend is projected to notch growth of 7.6 per cent, 7.2 per cent and 7.1 per cent for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively.
Meanwhile, emerging economies are set to reshape the landscape of global business travel over the next five years.
Business travel spend in Asia-Pacific has recorded eight per cent growth annually since 2000 to hit US$393 billion in 2012, in part boosted by China’s strong performance.
China rose from US$32 billion in 2000 to US$196 billion by 2012, and will likely overtake the US as the largest business travel market in the world by 2016. GBTA predicts China will double spend to US$375 billion by 2017.
Another Asian juggernaut, India, overtook Canada to become the 10th largest business travel market in the world last year, with US$22.1 billion spent on business travel. GBTA anticipates that India will grow at a compound rate of 13.5 per cent annually in the next five years (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 10, 2013).
The GBTA BTI Outlook – Annual Global Report & Forecast report, commissioned by Visa, details travel spending in 75 countries.
PATA’s third China Responsible Tourism Forum (CRTF) will take place in Sheraton Hotel Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan province on September 12, bearing the theme Beautiful China – A Responsible Visitor Economy.
Co-organised by the ASEAN-China Centre and the Jiuzhaigou National Park Administration, the event aims to raise awareness of responsible tourism concepts and showcase best practices to encourage tourism stakeholders to operate in and develop more sustainable processes.
While discussion topics and featured speakers have not been finalised, a statement from PATA said there were plans to adopt the Cape Town Declaration during this year’s gathering.
Kate Chang, PATA’s regional director – Greater China, expects the forum to attract 80 to 100 attendees, a smaller audience compared to the past two editions, as “Jiuzhaigou is a very small ecological place”.
The first CRFT in 2011 drew 120 people, 85 per cent of whom stayed for the full programme, noted Chang. “They found the topics practical and touched on grass-roots (issues),” she explained.
CRFT in 2012 was attended by 150 people, and the Young Tourism Professionals Challenge for students was introduced.
“We are glad to see that ecological progress has been given a more prominent position by the central government. The government has incorporated more responsible practices into the country’s overall development plan, particularly those that relate to economic, political, cultural and social progress. The China National Tourism Administration has also released a new logo and tagline, promoting ‘Beautiful China’,” said Chang.
“Given these developments, I think the forum is quite timely and provides a platform for the Chinese industry to share best practices with their overseas counterparts.”
A webpage dedicated to CRFT will soon be launched, allowing interested individuals to register for the forum.
“CRTF this year will be held right before PATA Travel Mart (in Chengdu), which will make it easier for mart attendees to add the forum to their agenda. Jiuzhaigou is a 40-minute flight from Chengdu, (presenting) an opportunity for anyone to explore the ecological valley and the Tibetan minority that still exists there,” she said.
ONLINE accommodation booking website, Hotels.com, which recently launched its third Xtreme Booking video as part of a communications campaign to underscore the convenience offered by its booking app, has reported “healthy growth in mobile bookings across Asia-Pacific”.
Abhiram Chowdhry, senior director of marketing with Hotels.com Asia-Pacific, revealed that 20 per cent of global transactions today came from mobile devices.
To-date, the Hotel.com booking app has been downloaded 15 million times.
Chowdhry added: “We have found that almost 70 per cent of mobile bookings are for same-day stays. This is particularly true for countries where people take a lot of driving vacations. There is a growing trend for last-minute bookings through the Hotels.com app as customers embrace smartphone and tablets to book trips on the move.
“In many Asian markets we have also found that people are booking longhaul trips using mobile (devices) and with a longer booking window as well.”
Australia, Japan and South Korea contribute the most outstanding growth in mobile bookings in Asia.
Chowdhry declined to reveal booking figures for India, a gargantuan market of 27 million smartphone users in urban districts according to a Nielsen study, but said there was “healthy growth”.
“Many of these bookings are domestic bookings, so the book-as-you-go phenomenon is certainly catching on in India. On top of using mobile (devices) to research and book their hotel stays, many (Indian) users are also using that to share their bookings with friends and family.”
Hotels.com’s Xtreme Booking video series had been successful in capturing consumers’ interest, noted Chowdhry, who revealed that the first two videos scored “millions of views”.
The first video debuted in 2011, showing the Hotels.com app being used while sky-diving in the US. The second, launched last year, featured a hotel booking being made by a user involved in a Spanish bull run. The latest instalment shows Japan’s shock jock comedians, the Tokyo Shock Boys, booking a hotel using the app while surging down mountain rapids and free-falling down a seven-metre waterfall.
He said: “The video demonstrates that even in the most extreme situations… our app can help you find the perfect last-minute deal, many of which are exclusive to the mobile.”
QATAR Airways is set to launch flights from Doha to its sixth Chinese destination Chengdu, on September 3.
The thrice-weekly service will be operated with an Airbus A330 in a two-class configuration, offering 248 economy-class seats and 36 business-class seats.
Flights out of Doha will depart at 02.00 and land at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport at 14.30. Return flights from Chengdu leave at 01.00 to touch down in Doha at 03.50.
Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar Al Baker, remarked: “The new service is part of the airline’s commitment to boost services to the Far East and Asia-Pacific.
“China is one of our key markets and we are excited to further expand our footprint in China, allowing us to provide greater options for business and leisure travellers ready to take advantage of new flights to and from another entry point in China.”
Passengers flying into Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport can also take advantage of the 72-hour visa-free transit allowance now available there (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 10, 2013).
Chengdu is Qatar’s sixth destination in China after Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Chongqing.
Over the next few months, Qatar will expand its network to include destinations such as Clark International Airport, the Philippines on October 27 and Philadelphia, US.
In May this year, the carrier sealed a codesharing agreement with Bangkok Airways for flights within Thailand and the South-east Asian region (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 16, 2013).
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