DESTINATION Asia today made available its new online booking engine called eDA, which allows its trade partners to complete multiple country bookings with a single PNR.

First launched at ITB Berlin, users can book rooms, tours and transfers online round the clock, and confirm a reservation instantaneously.

Fully secured to ensure total privacy, the system also enables users to make additions and changes to itineraries.

James Reed, CEO, Destination Asia, said: “We have developed the system, in collaboration with our partners, based on an understanding of the differing needs of our business clients to ensure full flexibility.”

He added that eDA was the “most advanced booking system available in the market” and would streamline clients’ operations. 

PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) and PAL Express are aligning their schedules on the Manila-Kuala Lumpur route to offer daily services between the two carriers, following PAL Express’ recent rebranding (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 18, 2013).

While PAL is due to commence a four-times-weekly service between Kuala Lumpur and Manila on May 2, PAL Express – which already operates this sector – will change its flight days and retime its thrice-weekly flights.

Flights for both airlines will depart Manila at 07.55 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 11.40. The return flight will depart Kuala Lumpur at 12.50 and arrive in Manila at 16.40. PAL will use its Airbus A319 aircraft on this route while PAL Express will deploy an A320 aircraft.

Tunku Iskandar, group president of Pacific World Travel, GSA for PAL and PAL Express in Malaysia, said passengers could expect “seamless connections” while travelling on either airline.

“Both PAL and PAL Express will operate from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Centennial Terminal 2, while baggage check-through to the final destination will be provided for all international flights as well as those to major domestic points,” he explained.

RESORTS World Genting has introduced a multi-currency pricing solution for its online reservation system to facilitate payment in Malaysian ringgit, US dollar or Singapore dollar.

Thomas Ng, senior vice president of e-services & risk management, Resorts World Genting, said: “The core benefit of this enhancement is an improvement of customers’ experience, where they can browse or buy our products such as hotel rooms, theme park tickets and show tickets in the currency of their choice.”

“It will take away the surprise element that is currently associated with exchange rate fluctuations and conversions, and gives transparency.”

Ng added that Resorts World Genting would introduce more foreign currencies in the future.

The multi-currency pricing solution was developed using Fxmicropay, the Royal Bank of Scotland’s e-commerce foreign exchange management solution.

THOSE looking to tap Indonesia’s growing number of Internet users must ensure that multi-payment systems are in place first, said participants at yesterday’s Web in Travel (WIT) Indonesia conference.

Indonesia posts 2.5 billion search queries a month (averagely 83.3 million a day), while travel-related searches number two million a day, according to research by Google Indonesia. Airline searches lead travel-related queries, followed by hotels, said Henky Prihatna, head of travel, Google Indonesia.

However, low credit card penetration in the country and online payment security concerns have forced OTAs, airlines and hotels in Indonesia to adopt a multi-payment system to capture the crowd, offering ATM and cash payments to settle online or call centre bookings.

Eztravel.co.id, whose primary product is airline ticketing, is seeing search queries soar, while online bookings remain insignificant. Eztravel CEO, Eric Tjetjep, said: “Customers only use our website to search for best prices available, but most of the bookings are done offline, through our call centre.”

Mandala Airlines commercial director, Brata Rafly, added: “Domestic airline traffic grows 12 per cent annually (reflecting the rise of the middle-class market). Although people have money, many of them do not have credit cards, only ATM cards.”

“In Indonesia, tier two and tier three (destinations) do not have (good) Internet (access), so what we need is a B2B2C model, a combination of OTAs and traditional offline retailers to reach a wide base of travellers around Indonesia.”

Indonesia is not the only country plagued by slow online booking growth, with MakeMyTrip chief business officer, Amit Saberwal, noting that online payment security was also an issue in India.

THE International Air Transport Association (IATA) is rallying government and industry players to come together to raise the standards of aviation in India in the areas of safety, security and efficiency.

Tony Tyler, director general and CEO, IATA, said: “The interests of government and industry are aligned. Aviation and aviation-related tourism drives 1.5 per cent of India’s GDP and supports jobs for 1.8 per cent of the workforce. A stronger aviation sector will be a catalyst for even wider economic benefits.”

As such, he called for government and industry to collaborate in three areas.

• Safety – Tyler encouraged India to make use of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) and IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations global standards as India evolves its Directorate General of Civil Aviation into a Civil Aviation Authority.

  Last year, the all accidents safety performance of airlines on the IOSA registry was 77 per cent better than those not on the registry, and there were no hull losses with Western-built jet aircraft among the carriers on the registry.

• Security – Tyler also urged India to address the non-standard advance passenger information that airlines are required to transmit as well as to review its groundhandling policy.

  “Airlines are subject to discrimination between how security functions are handled by domestic airlines versus international carriers…And there is deep policy confusion due to different interpretations of the multiple government notifications and concessions awarded by airports,” he said.

• E-freight – India needs to urgently modernise its largely paper-based cargo processes to move towards e-freight implementation, Tyler added.

  On green policy, IATA said India should take up a key role in the debate on aviation emissions, specifically market-based measures, via a global agreement through the International Civil Aviation Organization.

PUTERI Harbour in Nusajaya will soon see the arrival of Traders Hotel Puteri Harbour and entertainment complex Little Red Cube, both under the investment portfolio of Destination Resorts and Hotels (DRH) and worth more than RM400 million (US$130 million).

Traders Hotel Puteri Harbour is set to open in 2Q2013 and was developed in partnership with Shangri-La Group.

The hotel will boast five multi-function meeting and event rooms, including a banquet hall with the capacity to cater for up to 600 guests, a pre-function area, a business centre and VIP room for MICE or business travellers. Guests can also enjoy the skybar lounge on the roof, three swimming pools, a spa and gym.

Meanwhile, Little Red Cube will come up within the same integrated development of Puteri Harbour. At 1.7 hectares, it will offer visitors two levels of retail, leisure, F&B and entertainment options, such as the newly opened Puteri Harbour Family Theme Park (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 31, 2013).

The indoor theme park comprises Hello Kitty Town, Little Big Club and latest addition LAT’s Place.

DRH was established by the Malaysian government’s investment arm, Khazanah Nasional for the continued development of Malaysia’s luxury leisure and tourism sector.

BANYAN Tree Hotels and Resorts will open Chongqing’s first internationally run hot spring resort in summer 2013.

Located 40 minutes from the Chongqing airport and two hours from Chengdu, Banyan Tree Chongqing Beibei will offer 48 Hot Spring Retreats and 59 Hot Spring Villas, each with private hot spring pools for guests to enjoy the water’s healing properties.

The resort’s spa also features seven different outdoor and indoor hot spring pools, as well as its signature Yin Yang Rainmist treatment.

On site are five F&B outlets, a gym, yoga room, and the Banyan Tree Gallery that sells indigenous handicraft, resort apparel and spa amenities.

Design-wise, the resort reflects the start of the Minguo era with traditional multi-storey folk houses and an open bamboo-lined courtyard and foyer, while indoor décor is complemented by renowned Shu embroidery, brocades and lacquer art.

THAILAND’S Centara Hotels & Resorts has opened the four-star Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives.

The resort features 140 suites, beachside and over-water villas, with both types of villas offering the option of an outdoor Jacuzzi.

Centara Ras Fushi is close to the capital island of Male and a 15-minute ride by speedboat from Male International Airport.

Guests can choose either a Half Board Plus package that includes breakfast, dinner and an open bar for three hours during evening meals, or the All-Inclusive package that comes with all meals and a full open bar between 11.00 and 23.00 daily.

Other facilities at the resort include four dining venues, a spa, and a watersports and PADI dive centre.

Earlier this month, Centara Hotels & Resorts secured an agreement for a third property in the Maldives (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 13, 2013). The chain aims to acquire over 45 hotels and resorts to reach 100 properties worldwide by 2017.