RESEARCH has found that the travel industry has yet to fully embrace newer payment systems, which has made travel consultants, wholesalers and tour operators less competitive as a result.

The finding is part of a series of white papers commissioned by eNett International and MasterCard and undertaken by PhoCusWright under the theme The Future of Travel Payments.

The study reported that 40 per cent of respondents said they faced the problem of losing out on unpaid commissions, which many recover via settlement services at a cost of 10-15 per cent.

Agencies turning over US$1 million and US$5 million hire one part-time staff member to handle reconciliation, fraud, chargebacks and related functions, while the task requires an average of 16 full-time employees in a company with over US$1 billion in bookings.

It said that travel industry players needed to take a wider view of the costs involved including manual processing, reconciliation and reporting, foreign exchange, delayed cashflow, fraud and supplier default.

Such hidden costs saddle travel companies with unnecessary burdens “at a time when travel suppliers are already under relentless pressure to cut costs and increase margins”.

Anthony Hynes, managing director and CEO of eNett International, said: “The travel industry continues to face a tough climate. A business’s ability to deliver and succeed in this environment will be dictated by how well-placed it is to control costs, minimise risk, utilise its data and ultimately enhance revenue.

“Deploying innovative new technology can help deliver the changes needed in a simple and straightforward way, meaning consultants and tour operators can focus on doing what they do best – meeting and exceeding the expectations of your customer.”

The study represents the views of over 1,500 respondents from the travel industry internationally.

Full results and how travel consultants can tackle the problem of inefficient payment systems will be discussed in a webinar on May 7, which interested parties can sign up for at www.enett.com/insights.

THAILAND-based ONYX Hospitality Group’s Amari brand will debut in Indonesia with the launch of Amari Pecatu Bali in 2015, a joint venture between STA Group Property Division and PR Bali Pecatu Graha.

The 435-key property will be developed as part of the Pecatu Indah Resort integrated development, boasting a shopping mall and conference venues for up to 12,000 pax. The resort is currently home to an 18-hole golf course, which was designed by Ronald Fream.

Amari Pecatu Bali will offer 385 deluxe rooms, 10 junior suites and 40 villas ranging 54m² to 400m², each with either a view of the fairway or the Indian Ocean.

Facilities at the new hotel will include two destination restaurants, a lounge and bar, a sea view swimming pool, a spa, a gym and a retail area.

Pan Pacific Hotels Group had earlier announced that it was to manage the 380-room Parkroyal Pecatu Bali Resort, which will also be located within the 400-hectare Pecatu Indah Resort (TTG Asia e-Daily, April 15, 2013).

COME 2016, Singapore-based developer GuocoLand will roll out an integrated mixed-use development in the heart of the CBD, which will comprise a hotel, offices, apartments as well as retail and event space.

Located above Tanjong Pagar MRT station, the 290m Tanjong Pagar Centre will be Singapore’s tallest building with a floor space totalling 158,000m². The project will include Guoco Tower, a 38-storey Grade A office block; premium residences known collectively as TP180; six levels of retail and F&B space; and a luxury business hotel.

“The richness of the historical district, park and landscape spaces will differentiate it from other commercial developments. We have set out to build a global icon that will position Tanjong Pagar as a premier-quality business and lifestyle district in the CBD and be a benchmark for sustainable and liveable developments,” said Trina Loh, group managing director, GuocoLand (Singapore).

Architecture firm, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, who was behind iconic buildings such as Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and New York City’s One World Trade Center, has been appointed for the project.

She added: “Tanjong Pagar Centre signals a transformed portfolio for GuocoLand in Singapore. It will expand our focus on commercial properties in Singapore, and reaffirms our position as a developer of large-scale integrated developments here and in the region.”

In addition to Tanjong Pagar Centre, the Group also boasts a portfolio of mixed-use developments in China, Malaysia and Vietnam. Malaysia’s Employees Provident Fund holds a 20 per cent stake in Tanjong Pagar Centre.

PLANS are afoot to convert the former colonial-era Police Commissioner’s building on Yangon’s Strand Road into a US$50 million five-star hotel.

Nestled in a sprawling two-storey structure that takes up a square block near the famed Strand Hotel, the building was first completed in 1931 and, in recent years, has served as a court complex. The converted hotel will have 239 standard rooms and a number of larger suites and deluxe rooms, as well as restaurants, meeting rooms, a pool and other facilities.

Than Htike Minn, managing director of Flying Tiger engineering company, which has been selected by the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) for the redevelopment, said: “The Fullerton Hotel in Singapore was once a post office building, and was listed as a part of Singapore’s heritage. The developers were not allowed to alter the original structure and architectural features. In the same spirit, we will try to convert the Police Commissioner’s building into Myanmar’s most prestigious hotel.”

Sai Khan Hlaing, a director of the company, said MIC had leased the building for 50 years with the possibility of two 10-year extensions. “The terms and conditions do not allow the original structure and architectural features of the buildings to be changed,” he said.

The project is a joint venture with a partner company based in Singapore, said Sai Khan Hlaing.

“We have a very strong team to develop this project as fast as possible. We will also use local workers as well as foreign experts, which will create about 600 job opportunities for local people. We expect to finish the whole project within two years and open the hotel in early 2015,” he added.

However, the plan has drawn opposition from conservationists. The Police Commissioner’s building became the centre of controversy when the Myanmar Lawyers’ Network took to the streets last year to protest against the development project, saying the government’s sale violated Myanmar’s national conservation laws.

ENCOURAGED by Vietnam’s and Cambodia’s growing potential as luxury travel destinations, Luxury Travel Vietnam will roll out its first set departure tours in the two countries from June.

Vietnam Highlights 12 Days will depart Ho Chi Minh City on the first of every month, with the first departure set for June 1. Meanwhile, Vietnam and Cambodia Experience in 14 Days will start from Hanoi on the 15^th of each month and end in Siem Reap, with the first departure slated for June 15.

Tailored for small groups of up to only 12 guests and a minimum of two, all departures are accompanied by an English-speaking tour guide.

The package is priced from US$1,569 per person on a twin-sharing basis, including domestic economy flights, 11 nights’ premium accommodation, most meals, airport transfers and sightseeing tours.

Luxury Travel, sales and marketing manager, Hung Nguyen, said: “In response to market demand, our set departure offering will enable our travel partners and their clients the opportunity to book luxury tours on a predictable and affordable basis. If you book, we guarantee you are going.”

SILKAIR will soon fly to two more cities in Indonesia – Semarang and Makassar – expanding its Indonesian network to 11 destinations.

Subject to regulatory approvals, SilkAir will offer thrice-weekly flights between Singapore and Semarang, the provincial capital of Central Java, from July 29, and thrice-weekly flights between Singapore and Makassar, the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, from August 1.

The new services will be operated with Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft, featuring both business and economy class cabins.

Operating every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, MI102 will depart Singapore at 10.45 and arrive in Semarang at 11.40. The return flight MI101 will leave Semarang at 12.30 and land in Singapore at 15.45.

For the Singapore-Makassar sector, which operates every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, MI142 will depart Singapore at 08.05 and land in Makassar at 11.15, while MI141 will take off from Makassar at 12.05 and arrive in Singapore at 15.00.

SilkAir’s chief executive, Leslie Thng, said: “We are impressed with the growth of air travel to and from Indonesia, and we are confident that the two new services will be well received.”

SilkAir currently serves nine Indonesian destinations, namely Balikpapan, Bandung, Lombok, Manado, Medan, Palembang, Pekanbaru, Solo and Surabaya.

HAVING launched its same-day hotel booking mobile application in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysia in March, Hong Kong-based HotelQuickly has added Vietnam and Macau to its portfolio, becoming another contender in the last-minute booking marketplace that is heating up in Asia (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 21, 2012).

“Mobile phones enable the convenience of booking hotels on the go. (There’s) no need to spend precious time on websites anymore, browsing through ratings and locations, while filtering for all kinds of attributes. We show best-rated hotels only, close by to a user’s location”, said chief sales officer, Raphael Cohen.

As the HotelQuickly app constitutes a private sales channel, with hotels only available for booking after 12.00 on the day of checking in, exclusive hotel rooms in the three- to five-star category can be booked at up to 30 per cent discount on the best price available online.

While existing locations such as Taipei, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore have so far mainly targeted business travellers, the introduction of Macau has extended HotelQuickly’s offerings to leisure travellers from Hong Kong and Taiwan, its release said.

Available on Apple and Android platforms, the mobile app supports English, Chinese, Thai and Bahasa.

ENTERING its sixth edition this year, the Indonesia Corporate Meeting & Incentive Travel Mart (ICMITM) has helped to introduce new cities in the country as MICE destinations.

Currently taking place in Semarang, Central Java from May 1-4, it is jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy with Bank Danamon American Express (AMEX) Corporate Card. This year’s ICMITM brings together 80 Bank Danamon AMEX corporate card members and 101 Indonesian MICE suppliers.

Indonesia Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy director general of tourism markering, Esthy Reko Astuty, said: “The event is aimed at promoting the host city as a MICE destination. Central Java, in particular Semarang, was chosen as it is one of our focus destinations for MICE (during Visit Central Java Year 2013).”

Bank Danamon AMEX’s executive vice president – card business head, Dessy Masri, also concurred that the ICMITM has achieved its goal of introducing new MICE destinations to her clients based on the past five corporate travel marts.

She said: “Following the ICMITM in Medan in May last year (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 10, 2012), spending on MICE- and travel-related events grew by 20 per cent between May and December last year.

“Our clients may know Medan or Semarang, but may not know what facilities and attractions these cities have for MICE until they talk to the suppliers and see for themselves when they come here. They get various choices of destinations, products and special offers from suppliers to plan their events.”

“Travel and MICE comprise 60 per cent of Danamon AMEX corporate card spending, which totalled Rp1.3 trillion (US$133 million) last year,” revealed Dessy, who expected this segment to grow by at least 20 per cent this year amid a booming Indonesian economy.

ICMITM 2013 is expected to rake in transaction amounts of at least Rp540 billion this year, or 20 per cent higher than last year’s Rp450 billion.