VIETNAM-BASED tour operator Luxury Travel will showcase Vietnam as a new luxury destination to Latin Americans with the addition of a representative office in Argentina.

Bielka Representations has been appointed the tour operator’s representative in Argentina and throughout Latin America.

Luxury Travel founder and CEO, Pham Ha, said: “Latin America is in a strong financial position at the moment, so we have stressed the importance of diversifying markets by participating in the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking markets.”

According to the tour operator, travellers from Latin America are looking for a more authentic experience and a deeper understanding of Vietnam’s culture, food, history and everyday life.

Vietnam received 6.8 million international arrivals last year and the number of travellers from Latin America has been increasing over the last three years.

Pham added: “We have great traffic and high demand from the Uruguay market. With our representatives, we will expand and expect to stay strong in Latin America. We will take part in more tradeshows, revamp our website to include a Spanish language (option), and launch Spanish brochures online and offline.

“We will attract more discerning Spanish-speaking (luxury) travellers and we are targeting 100 per cent growth from this market for 2014.”

ASIA and its growing middle-class consumer segment continue to drive the growth behind Starwood Hotels & Resorts as the group readies to open 160 new properties in the continent within the next three to five years.

Chuck Abbott, regional vice president, South-east Asia, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, said: “The growth of the middle-class in Asia-Pacific is driving a great change in demand from both a leisure and business travel standpoint.

“We believe our brands are relevant and attractive to this new customer (segment).”

Highlighting China, India and Indonesia as key markets, he added: “These are the three most populous countries in the world, and along with their growing middle-class, these markets will grow at a faster pace.”

China ranks as Starwood’s fastest-expanding hotel market, with 120 operating hotels and more than 100 in the pipeline. This makes China the group’s second largest market, after the US.

As part of the group’s expansion plans in Asia-Pacific, Starwood will be bringing the Westin brand back to Singapore after a 10-year absence through a 305-key hotel in Marina Bay, set to open in November (TTG Asia e-Daily, October 18, 2011).

The hotel will occupy the 32^nd to 46^th floors of Asia Square Tower 2. It will have four F&B outlets and a 480m² banquet hall.

Abbott said: “The reputation and culture that the Westin had built in Singapore in the past, is still present today. The brand has a very loyal and significant following in Singapore and we are fortunate to have (it back in) the market.”

THE European Union has struck Philippine Airlines (PAL) off its latest update on the European safety list of banned airlines – carriers deemed non-compliant with EU air safety regulations.

This represents a partial lift of the EU ban on the Philippines since March 30, 2010. The statement said the ban remained for all other carriers in the Philippines.

Philippine president and CEO, Ramon S Ang, said: “Credit goes to the Philippine government for its effort and hard work in addressing this significant concern hounding our aviation industry for years.

“When we fly back to Europe after an absence of 15 years, we can boast of a newer fleet of aircraft and top quality customer service.”

PAL has disclosed it will relaunch flights to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Rome and Madrid.

Department of Tourism (DoT) secretary, Ramon R Jimenez, cited the event as an “excellent opportunity” for PAL to augment existing services provided by foreign carriers, noting the UK, Germany and France as “key European markets with stable influx to the country”.

As per DoT figures, a total of 213,598 European visitors came to the Philippines between January and May, an 8.5 per cent increase over the same period last year.

“As we work towards our goal of 10 million foreign tourists by 2016, we need our international air seats and connectivity greatly enhanced, in addition to our ongoing internal development work on infrastructure, destination and facilities,” the secretary added.

Cesar Cruz, president of the Philippine Tour Operators Association, said: “The lifting of the EU ban is one of the most important developments in Philippine tourism today. With this, we will be able to sustain double-digit increases in arrivals, especially from Europe.

“This is in time for the winter season, from November to March, which is peak (season for the country’s longhaul markets).”

Cruz estimates about 400,000 visitors will arrive during this period, a development that will be facilitated by the upcoming implementation of longer-stay visas for foreigners.

John Paul Cabalza, president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, said: “We are enthusiastic and bullish about the programmes launched by our travel consultants for Europe(ans), who can book resorts in time for the winter season. More packages will aggressively be built around Europe.”

THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is promoting six experiential and creative travel themes as part of the implementation of the ASEAN Tourism Strategy 2012-2015, to encourage multi-country itineraries across South-east Asia.

The six themes include The Taste of South-east Asia; ASEAN, a Tropical Paradise; World-Class Cities; Experience Diverse Traditions; Sport and Relaxation; and Diverse Contemporary Creativity.

An initial list of 20 tour operators offering the themes in multi-country itineraries can be found on ASEAN’s official website.

The ASEAN Tourism Product Development Working Group chairman, Aung Zaw Win, said: “Our new focus is on experiential and creative tourism that respects environment and culture.

“An authentic travel experience involves meaningful engagement with the heritage, arts and special character of our ASEAN destinations.”

To inspire and cater to the specific interest of travellers, a series of features has also been compiled and made available on the website, such as beach nature and wildlife; cruise tour and rail; culture and heritage; education and volunteering; food and nightlife; fun and leisure; health and spa; outdoor and water sports; and pilgrimage tourism.

Aung urged tour operators in ASEAN countries to develop more multi-country packages highlighting experiential and creative tourism, which, he noted, was a rising trend among consumers who wanted ‘authentic’ travel.

“Our role is to therefore support multi-country experiential travel within ASEAN member states,” he said.

NETHERLAND-BASED Space Expedition Corporation (SXC) has expanded into Asia with the opening a regional head office in Hong Kong.

SXC Asia is looking for partners for sales and marketing initiatives in the region, particularly for the burgeoning China market.

SXC Asia CEO, Alex Tang, said: “More Asians are pursuing novel and exciting experiences. Space travel meets their needs. China is our first stop in Asia for space travel.

“We target to test flights in early 2014 and Lynx Mark I (to soar 60km above sea level) will be operational in mid 2014. Meanwhile, Mark II will commence in mid 2015 taking travellers 100km above sea level. Apart from travel consultants, we will also look into (partnering) private flying clubs, large corporations and even automobile associations.”

Tang declined to disclose any names of potential partners but SXC marketing director, Cees Faes, tipped: “The business model is similar to what we are doing in our New York office. So far, we have global partners like Unilever and KLM.”

The SXC Asia Founder Astronaut Package, priced at US$220,000, is set to woo the first 100 participants in the Asian market to travel on fighter aircraft Mark II. This eight-day, tailor-made package includes perks like a 25-hour Hong Kong-Curacao spaceport private jet transfer; special welcome pack, gala dinner and award ceremony.

So far, 250 people across the world have signed up for the hour-long space journey, with 99 per cent having passed the medical examination, according to SXC, CEO Michiel Mol.

“At this moment, we hardly have any participants from Hong Kong and China. However, as the US government changed regulations at the beginning of this year making it possible for Chinese people to travel to space on US spaceships, we decided to open an office here. In future, we think Greater China might generate at least 30-35 per cent of our total sales.”

TO ENHANCE the attractions industrys experience creation capabilities, the Association of Singapore Attractions (ASA), Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) have joined hands to kick off a series of seminars and interactive masterclasses.

The Attractions and Development Series is the first initiative to be executed under the Attractions Industry Productivity Roadmap, to help the industry sustain revenue growth through the rejuvenation of visitor experiences.

Throughout the series, to be implemented from this month until March 2014, participants will learn how to craft compelling stories, deliver memorable experiences and develop dynamic business models, via lectures, hands-on activities and in-depth discussions.

Speakers and facilitators for the seminars and masterclasses were selected based on their relevant experiences and global portfolio of projects in the industry.

The first seminar and masterclass took place from July 9 to 10 and was facilitated by Metaphor, a leading masterplanner and designer for attractions, museums and landscapes worldwide, based in the UK. It attracted around 150 participants.

Participants who successfully complete all five seminars and at least three of the four masterclasses will be awarded a certificate of completion jointly endorsed by ASA, STB and WDA.

Janice Foo, director of tourism division, WDA, said: “Insights gained from the sharing of best practices among local and international experts from the industry will provide the practical knowledge required to meet real life challenges.

“By tapping on these holistic training options, our tourism workforce is primed for more sustained growth in the industry.”

The next seminar is expected to take place in September. Interested industry members can contact the ASA Secretariat office.

HOTEL Reservation Service (HRS) has announced its expansion to Asia-Pacific with the opening of its regional headquarters in Singapore.

Singapore was chosen as HRS believes it is home to regional and global headquarters of multinational organisations as well as many Asian companies. Not only is it a popular destination for business travel but it also has a high number of outbound travellers, serving as a hub in the region.

“Asia is experiencing a strong economic growth and an unprecedented rise in the consumption of travel services. With the worlds’ biggest, youngest and most tech-friendly consumer group working and living in this region, it is a promising market to be in,” added HRS commercial director of APAC, Christian Lukey.

Early this month, HRS announced the opening of its Beijing branch, marking the company’s efforts in increasing its investments in China and expanding the country’s Northern market from the core of Beijing.

The Beijing office is located at the central business district, comprising hotel, customer service and sales teams.

HRS CEO, Tobias Ragge, said: “China’s business travel market has a great potential, with an increase of more than 20 per cent last year and I believe there is an even better growth this year.”

He added that currently 20 per cent of hotel bookings in China were made online, while the rates in Europe and the US had reached 45 per cent, signifying a huge room to promote smart travel in China.

HRS China managing director, Jiang Jun, said Siemens was an important client in Northern China due to its rapidly growing hotel reservation rate. For Chinese enterprise Haier, she added, its internationalisation would lead to a large volume of international travel.

PUERTO Galera, a top diving spot and tourist magnet in Oriental Mindoro, will soon have its first upscale beach resort with the opening of Fridays Boquete Island, Muelle Bay first week of November.

The new resort will be on par with five-star Fridays Boracay Resort Hotel, according to Jill Miranda, sales manager of Fridays Boquete Island. Both resorts are owned by publicly-listed Boulevard Holdings.

Under construction near the UNESCO-protected Muelle Bay and just behind the white-sand Boquete Beach, the resort will bear Fridays’ trademark tropical, rustic feel. It will also offer luxurious and modern amenities, 43 premier suites, a restaurant that can be converted into an event area, and a huge swimming pool, among others.

Miranda said that from Manila’s international airport, guests would be shuttled to a private welcome in Batangas, a province south of Manila. From Batangas, they can be transported to Fridays Boquete Island either by helicopter or private ferry, the latter taking two to three hours.

She added the resort would cater more to leisure travellers, with up to 20 per cent of business from corporates and MICE. Half of the resort’s guests are targeted to come from abroad, such as from Australia, North America, Japan and South Korea.

Fridays’ presence in Oriental Mindoro is a big coup for the destination which, although near Palawan and boasts pristine beaches and coral reefs, has not developed as fast. It has no airport, has not attracted top brand hotels, and has yet to reach its target of one million tourists.