CIRQUE du Soleil has linked arms with Brand USA to roll out its travel trade training programme in key international markets where the latter has offices, such as China and South Korea, to boost inbound US travel.

As part of the Cirque du Soleil Destination and Imagination programme, the entertainment company has developed a training manual, iPad app and seminar format training module.

Travel consultants who undertake the training programme, scheduled to launch in 4Q2013, will be recognised as Cirque du Soleil certified product experts.

“The purpose of this programme is to educate the tour operators, receptive operators and frontline travel personnel on how to package and sell a US Cirque du Soleil show experience to international travellers to the US,” said Matthew Boone, director tourism and international travel, Cirque du Soleil US.

“Presently, we have nine permanent shows in the US (eight in Las Vegas, one in Orlando) and 10 touring shows travelling around the world,” he added.

Boone also said that Cirque du Soleil planned to leverage Brand USA’s new marketing initiative, USA Live Entertainment, “to further promote to consumers the multiple live entertainment options available to international travellers”.

USA Live Entertainment provides a platform for outbound travel operators from around the world to ramp up their US product offerings with the best of the country’s theatrical productions, concerts and professional sports.

Entertainment acts such as Cirque du Soleil participate in this initiative by featuring in international tradeshows, training programmes, fam tours and direct promotions for retail to tour operators.

Brand USA has international offices in China, Japan, South Korea, the UK, Germany and Brazil. The NTO recently appointed BrandStory to represent its interests in the Hong Kong market and is preparing to launch an office there by 3Q2013 (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 13, 2013).

It is also aiming to expand its presence to India, Australia and New Zealand within the year.

LAGUINDINGAN Airport in Cagayan de Oro began operations last week amidst hopes that it will become a gateway to Mindanao, but the trade has its reservations.

The 7.8 billion-peso (US$181.4 million), 7,184m² international standard airport operates on a daytime schedule with flights carried over from the existing Cagayan de Oro City Airport in Lumbia.

ZestAir launched flights from Manila to Laguindingan Airport on June 15, flying thrice daily.

There are currently no filings for international flights out of Laguindingan in the foreseeable future, according to the Civil Aeronautics Board, but Department of Tourism (DoT) assistant secretary, Benito Bengzon Jr, said: “We see Laguindingan Airport as a gateway into Mindanao, and we expect it will get international operations by 2014. The international passenger terminal will be ready to accommodate up to about 1.6 million passengers a year.”

DoT projects that Cagayan de Oro will become the Philippines’ sixth most important gateway by 2016.

However, not all were enthusiastic about the new facility. Erlinda Tan, operations manager, JLT Travel & Tours, pointed out: “Lumbia Airport is 13km away from the city, Laguindingan is about 30km.”

Tan noted this lengthened travel time for transfers and would increase overall costs. The distance could be a problem for visitors hoping to transfer to other destinations if flights were delayed. For instance, the daily ferry service from Cagayan de Oro to Camiguin leaves at 08.00.

Furthermore, Cagayan de Oro’s tourism reputation remains affected by security issues far away. “The main problem remains with the travel advisories issued in the EU, US, and Australia,” says Willy Alcantara, local tours supervisor at House of Travel.

“If something is happening in Basilan or Jolo, even if they’re so far away, all Mindanao is affected, because the advisory is (for all of) Mindanao. That’s a setback for the industry that can kill businesses.”

AUSTRALIA’S Foreign Investment Review Board has announced that it would not object to Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) intention to increase its stake in Virgin Australia by 9.9 per cent.

The board’s approval now allows SIA to complete the purchase of the 9.9 per cent stake for A$122.6 million (US$113.2 million).

The transaction, which is expected to finish by the end of the coming week, will double SIA’s initial 10 per cent stake in Virgin Australia to 19.9 per cent.

Earlier this year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission also approved Virgin Australia’s plan to acquire 60 per cent of Tiger Airways Australia (TTG Asia e-Daily, April 24, 2013).

HYATT Hotels intends to deepen its footprint in India by adding 15 more Hyatt Regency hotels by 2016 and roll out three more brands locally.

Currently, the company has 17 Hyatt properties or 4,900 keys in the country, of which six are branded under Hyatt Regency.

Hyatt Regency Gurgaon debuted last week (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 18, 2013) and will be joined by Hyatt Regency Ludhiana, Hyatt Raipur and Hyatt Place Pune Hinjewadi later this year, the three adding 400 rooms in total.

The hotel giant has launched only four of its seven brands in India – Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Place – but intends to introduce Andaz, Hyatt House and Hyatt to the market soon.

Hyatt Hotels has 50 ongoing projects in India and intends to open hotels in key business and leisure destinations, having identified metro, Tier Two and Tier Three cities for development, according to Dhruva Rathore, vice president, Hyatt Hotels.

Anil Punjabi, director-eastern region, Travel Agents Federation of India, said: “Ever since the first Hyatt Regency was opened in New Delhi 30 years back, the brand has done well, carving their niche in a competitive and growing hotel market. Additional properties will add good quality, branded room inventory and help in attracting leisure, corporate and MICE clients.”

Arun Verma, director, New Delhi-based Allways Travel, commented: “The opening of Hyatt brand hotels in Tier Two and Tier Three cities will be a success. These are high-growth areas in India and (hotel openings) should help increase footfalls in such cities because the dearth of branded room capacity in the past has been a deterrent to both business and leisure travel.”

AIRLINE ticketing distributor Hahn Air wants to grow its presence in Asia as it foresees “big demand” from regional travel consultants for its services.

Hahn Air’s core business is supplying travel consultants with an e-ticketing platform that enables them to issue tickets for more than 260 partner airlines via all major GDSs.

The company also assists travel consultants in the resolution of possible plating problems, for instance where use of the Billing and Settlement Plan is not available. Such assistance is free for travel agencies and Hahn Air’s profits are derived from airline service fees.

Travel consultants and their clients who book through Hahn Air are automatically insured against flight cancellations. Ralf Masermann, director, global account management, Hahn Air, explained: “In case a passenger is affected by the insolvency of one of Hahn Air’s over 260 partner airlines, Hahn Air and its insurance partner will vouch for a full refund of the unused part of the ticket, including taxes.”

The company also operates executive charter services with its single business jet that can take up to seven passengers at any one time.

Speaking on Hahn Air’s intention to court Asia’s travel consultants, Masermann said: “We want to be closer to Asia so that the agents here will know that we are really 100 per cent accessible to them.”

Last month, Hahn Air opened its first service desk in Manila. The third after Frankfurt and Uruguay, the facility provides 24-hour support regarding Hahn Air’s services.

Hahn Air currently has an established presence in 190 countries worldwide and cooperates with 260 airlines and 91,000 travel agencies.

Still, Masermann noted that travel consultants in Asia were unfamiliar with Hahn Air’s services despite their need for it, which was why Hahn was aiming to expand into Asia.

Highlighting India, Japan and Singapore as Hahn Air’s top priority countries in the region, he said: “We want to get better acquainted with the consultants here to share the benefits with them.”

QUINCY Hotel, Residences and Suites is the latest hotel announcement on Bintan’s Lagoi Bay, and will form part of The Heritage Bintan project that broke ground on Monday.

The Far East Hospitality-owned chain will manage the 218-key facility to be built by Stareast Sejahtera and which sits within the 1.6-hectare The Heritage Bintan development.

The Heritage Bintan, slated to be ready in April 2015, is adjacent to the Bintan MarketPlace and a stone’s throw from Swiss-Belhotel Lagoi Bay, Bintan. Monday’s ground breaking ceremony also marked the entry of the Quincy brand into Indonesia.

Bintan’s Lagoi Bay has been a hotspot of development on the Indonesian island, with other resorts and developments scheduled to come on stream when phase one wraps up by the end of 2013, including The Plaza Lagoi (formerly Beach Village Mall), The Sanchaya and Alila Villas Bintan (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 9, 2013).

THE Langkawi International Powerboat Challenge 2013 F1 Nations Cup will be splashing down in Pekan Rabu, Kuah, Langkawi from August 27 to 29.

To be held for the first time in Malaysia, the event is the first leg of the F1 Nations Cup circuit, which will continue in Doha from November 20 to 22, and in Abu Dhabi from November 29 to December 1.

The three-day sporting highlight is organised by Associate Mediacom and hosted by the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), sanctioned by the Monaco-based international governing body of power boating, Union Internationale Motoautique, and the Motorised Water Sports Association Malaysia.

LADA CEO, Khalid Ramli, said 10 powerboat teams from Hungary, South Africa, Finland, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Brunei, Singapore and two teams from Malaysia were expected to participate in the Powerboat Challenge.

Khalid anticipated a crowd of 200,000 visitors over the course of the event, with races held daily and Pekan Rabu town transformed into an F1 Powerboat Village where other activities such as a public carnival and a night concert with local and international artistes would be staged.

Zarina Jaafar, event director, Associate Mediacom, said her company had signed an event promotion agreement with Union Internationale Motonautique to hold this event in Langkawi over three consecutive years, starting from 2013.

“It is hoped that the agreement will be renewed and this will be an annual event in Langkawi,” said Zarina.