CENTARA Hotels & Resorts unveiled its budget hotel brand (TTG Asia, November 2, 2012), COSI Hotels, this morning, pitched at an average room rate of 1,000 baht (US$33) to 1,250 baht per night, depending on location.

It expects to have at least 30 COSI Hotels in operation by 2020, with the first, which it is prototyping, to open in 2015.

The construction cost per room is expected to be around 1.5 million baht per room. Centara will invest fully or in a joint venture on one COSI Hotel per year and hopes to win four management contracts a year for the brand. Thailand will be the key area of expansion, followed by ASEAN countries, China, Australia and New Zealand.

Centara’s CEO, Thirayuth Chirathivat, forecasts the 30 hotels in operation by 2020 to generate “an income of around 2,200 million baht and income from management fees of 180 million baht”.

While it is targeted at cost-conscious travellers who book mostly online, Centara will encourage travel agencies to book. “Whilst the brand is designed to be web-based sales, we are an organisation that is industry friendly and we are currently working on a plan that would allow our industry partners to book and be compensated accordingly. This will be rolled out with the first products,” said Chris Bailey, senior vice president sales & marketing.

Asked whether COSI would work in an oversupplied hotel market like Bangkok where rooms priced at 1,000 to 1,200 baht are aplenty, Bailey said: “We think it will work. We think there is demand for a consistent,  branded product that delivers each and every time according to our communication and the customers expectation. The  product will be fresh and, combined with a loyalty-based programme, will deliver well to savvy  travellers,” he said.

COSI is an acronym for comfortable, open, sensible and individual. It will offer, among others, free Wi-Fi everywhere in the hotel, easy and convenient “grab-n-go” restaurants, seminar rooms for corporate guests, and an entertainment corner in the lobby area for movies and live sport. There will be both twin and king beds in standard rooms, and rooms specially designed for families.

It targets 16-29-year-old university students or graduate students who are just starting their career, seniors and retirees aged 50 years and above, families and corporate groups seeking a more limited service accommodation and friendlier prices.

LAUNCHED in New Delhi last week, the India Golf Tourism Association (IGTA) will actively promote the country as a golf tourism destination in domestic and international markets.

Uday Marwah, secretary, IGTA, said: “Currently, golf tourism is being promoted by niche tourism companies and golf enthusiasts. We are enthused by the successful experiences of countries like South Africa where tourism stakeholders are promoting golf tourism from one platform.”

The association will participate in roadshows and international trade events with India’s Ministry of Tourism, while promoting membership across the entire spectrum of travel and tourism stakeholders, according to Rajan Sehgal, president, IGTA. An Incredible India Golf Tournament jointly hosted with the ministry is also in the pipeline.

Welcoming the establishment of a golf-dedicated tourism association in India, Manoj Saraf, managing director, Gainwell Travel & Lesiure, said: “Inbound golf tourists are already arriving in substantial numbers. A cohesive promotion will increase the flow. IGTA could even co-host tournaments in key source markets to develop greater interest in India as a golf destination.”

Virat Chatturaputpitak, managing director of Bangkok-based Marwin Tours (Thailand), said: “There are many golf enthusiasts across Asia who would like to play golf in India and also visit the tourist attractions of the country. The Indian courses are good and many host professional tour championships.”

FROM January 1, 2013, tourists from 45 countries will be allowed to enjoy a 72-hour visa-free stay in China’s capital.

According to an announcement on the official website of the Beijing government, ”The policy is aimed at making Beijing more accessible to the world and is expected to attract more overseas travelers.”

However, visitors without a visa will not be allowed to travel outside Beijing once they arrive.

According to China Daily, the Beijing Tourism Development Committee said the programme benefits transit passengers and business travellers.

The 45 countries mentioned include Singapore, Japan, the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and Australia.

Zhang Hui, a professor of tourism at Beijing Jiaotong University, told the Chinese newspaper: “The waiver is definitely a giant step forward that will greatly boost tourism. Business tours and high-end travel will benefit the most. Those on business trips usually don’t have sightseeing plans, so they’re free to explore when they have time.

This move follows Shanghai’s recent approval of visa-free access for up to 72 hours for foreign transit visitors to Shanghai.

STAYWELL Hospitality Group, the owner and operator of the Park Regis and Leisure Inn brands, has announced plans to operate a four-star hotel in Bali, Indonesia.

Park Regis Kuta is expected to open in early 2013 and will be StayWell’s first hotel in Indonesia.

Park Regis Kuta comprises 175 guest rooms – including studios, junior suites and pool suites. Facilities include a 24-hour reception desk, an al fresco café, a restaurant, an outdoor tropical swimming pool, a fitness centre, a day spa and a business centre.

Centrally located on Jalan Raya Kuta, the hotel is a short distance to the main beach, shopping districts, local attractions, nightclubs and restaurants of the popular Kuta area.

Property owner Rudy Indopratama Sejahtera has engaged StayWell’s services under a long-term management agreement.

StayWell’s CEO, Simon Wan, said the latest announcement marks a strategic step in the company’s expansion plan.

“Bali is a destination we have been considering for some time and were waiting for the right opportunity, which we’ve found with Park Regis Kuta. We anticipate this announcement will be the start of further developments within South-east Asia, including (additional) properties within Indonesia itself,” he said.

Future plans for the group include expansion into China, India and Europe, as well as growing its portfolio in Australia.

INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group (IHG) has entered into a partnership with OK Center Development – jointly held by Incheon Development & Tourism Corporation (City of Incheon affiliate) along with TWG Group USA – to debut Holiday Inn Incheon Songdo.

Scheduled to open in mid-2014, the 202-room hotel will mark the entrance of the Holiday Inn brand into Incheon Songdo – South Korea’s first free economic zone – and its third Holiday Inn property in the country following Holiday Inn Seongbuk and Holiday Inn Gwangju.

Spanning 16,000m², the 12-storey property features an all-day dining restaurant, a lobby lounge bar, a multi-purpose ballroom, as well as meeting and function facilities alongside business and fitness centres.

Situated above the Central Park subway station within Songdo Central Park, the hotel is located close to the Incheon International Airport and a 40-minute drive from the Seoul Metropolitan areas.

AMERICAN Airlines (AA) will begin a daily service from Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport to Incheon International Airport in Seoul on May 9, 2013.

Operated on Boeing 777-200 aircraft, the DFW-Incheon service marks AA’s first-ever service to South Korea. The airline will also commence flights from DFW to Lima utilising Boeing 757 aircraft from April 2 next year.

“We are seeing increasing interest for international service to the growing economies in South America and Asia, and we are pleased to see AA meet that demand by investing more into their DFW hub,” said Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW International Airport.

JETSTAR Asia is adding extra services from Singapore to Penang and Bangkok to meet travel demand during the holiday period next year.

The airline will operate 16 additional return flights between Singapore and Penang and six additional return services between Singapore and Bangkok, offering over 7,000 seats.

The extra flights are on sale now for travel between February 7 and 17.

Jetstar Asia CEO, Barathan Pasupathi, said: “Jetstar’s low fares allow more families the chance to get together over the holidays. These extra services provide a last-minute opportunity to join family and friends or to plan a short getaway to these popular destinations.”

Jetstar currently operates 24 flights a week to Bangkok with fares starting from S$98 (US$80) and nine flights a week to Penang with fares starting from S$58.