TACentre.com dangles prizes for summer bookings

May 21, 2013

TACENTRE.COM is offering cash rewards and prizes to travel consultants who purchase travel products through its online wholesale system as part of its Great Summer Sales 2013 promotion.

The site is dangling cash rewards, chances to win prizes, and cash vouchers. A travel consultants’ chances are based on bookings made between April 24 to June 30, for the travel period between April 24 until July 31, which must be the last date of check-out for hotel bookings.

To redeem cash rewards, consultants must book featured products coded Great Summer Sales 2013 and accumulate booked revenue of more than S$5,000 (US$3,982) for the minimum reward of S$60.

Consultants can redeem S$120 for bookings over S$10,000; S$200 for bookings over S$15,000; S$300 for bookings over S$20,000; and S$500 for bookings above S$25,000.

The cash reward can be either transferred into the consultants’ choice of credit card or collected in cash at TACentre.com offices.

For the lucky draw, consultants only need to book any product available on TACentre.com’s system for one entry, with no cap on the number of chances to win prizes such a an iPad, an iPad Mini and hotel stays across Asia.

Cash vouchers will also be gifted to travel consultants who book any product during the promotion period, for use on his or her own travel bookings made between July 1 to August 31.

The e-vouchers come in denominations of S$10 and S$50, with S$10 vouchers valid for hotel bookings of at least S$150 in total value, and S$50 valid for flight packages of minimum S$1,500.

AirAsia India gets new CEO in Mittu Chandilya

By TTG Asia

May 20, 2013

MITTU Chandilya has been named CEO of AirAsia India, effective June 1, 2013.

The Chennai native brings with him leadership experience gleaned from a range of roles, from working at an entrepreneurial start-up to top leadership roles within MNCs and high-impact management consulting experience.

Chandilya was last principal and head of services practice in Asia-Pacific at Egon Zehnder, focusing on airlines and aviation in the travel and hospitality segment.

Shun Tak to launch hotel brand, management

By Raini Hamdi

May 20, 2013

SHUN TAK Holdings, a household name in Hong Kong and Macau, is planning to establish its own hotel brand and management.

It is understood the brand would appeal to outbound Chinese tourists worldwide.

When asked why Shun Tak was keen to run hotels, managing director Pansy Ho told TTG Asia e-Daily: “If we are going to continue to build and invest in Macau or outside – and we all hear how Asia-Pacific, especially China, is going to grow – eventually there will be a market for it.”

“We figure we probably will not be able to build as quickly as we can in providing the know-how in managing hotels through our accumulated experience of over 50 years in servicing huge numbers of Chinese customers. We have that database and understanding of Chinese customers, so it is probably a good time to start the service,” said Ho, in an interview on the sidelines of PATA Annual Summit in Bangkok last month.

Ho added: “We’re setting up (management services) now. We have not gone down to the last details; we are beginning to amass a professional team of people.

“We will make an announcement soon and maybe (management operations will be up and running) within a year.”

Shun Tak’s core businesses are transportation, property, hospitality and investments, with a strong presence in Macau where it owns or has stakes in, among others, TurboJet, Macau International Airport, Air Macau, Macau Tower and One Central Macau, a mixed-use development that includes the Mandarin Oriental, Macau.

The group also controls 100 per cent interest in the Cotai project and is the sole developer of the site. It is building a Jumeirah hotel there and is exploring “the possibility of building two or three hotels in that same complex,” said Ho.

The company has started to expand into China. Last month, it acquired a project in Beijing Dong Zhi Men district comprising office and hospitality components. It also has participation in Beijing’s Tongzhou Integrated Development Phase 2.

– Read how Ho envisions Macau’s future, TTG Asia, March 31, 2013

UK offers same-day ‘super priority’ business visa in India

By Shekhar Niyogi

May 20, 2013

THE UK has debuted same-day visa application services at its high commissions in India, with plans to make the facility available in a handful of other countries in the near future.

Now in operation at the UK embassies in New Delhi, Mumbai and soon, Chennai, the same-day visa costs 600 pounds (US$912) more than that of a regular visa.

Applicants who complete an online application by 09.30 and receive approval can collect their visas by 17.30 the same day in New Delhi and 18.30 in Mumbai.

The UK government revealed that the service would also be available to travellers applying for a six-month or two-year multiple-entry visitor visa (excluding student visas) and who have previously travelled to the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada or a Schengen country within the last five years.

Employees of companies that are members of the Business Express Programme who are travelling for business, may also apply.

Said Mark Harper, the UK’s immigration minister: “Using the ‘super priority’ visa service does not imply or guarantee in any way that your visa application will be successful. All applicants must meet the requirements of UK immigration rules.”

The UK’s biggest visa operation is located in India, processing about 400,000 applications each year and issuing 70,000 business visas annually in the last five years.

However, Rakesh Lamba, managing director, Prakriti Holidays, said: “Most regular business visitors to the UK already hold a medium-term multiple-entry visa. What purpose will a same-day visa issuance at an enormous cost serve? This will have marginal impact, as only a few people (who need to travel urgently) will use it.”

The same-day visa service will soon be offered in China, Brazil, Turkey and South Africa.

Declining yen holds promise for Japan inbound tourism

By Hannah Koh

May 20, 2013

JAPAN’S weakening currency may be the saviour of its once-faltering inbound tourism, as trade players at the inaugural Japan-ASEAN Travel Mart last week cited the yen as a major factor for the sector’s strong recovery.

Susan Ong, manager, Japan National Tourism Organization Singapore Office, which also oversees the NTO’s activities in Malaysia, Indonesia and India, shared: “According to agent feedback, two years on (after the March 11 Tohoku earthquake), there is a lot of pent up demand from people who have been planning to go to Japan, and who are now doing so due to the weakening yen.”

She also mentioned that a representative from a major travel agency in Singapore had reported a 40 per cent increase in travel demand for Japan thanks to the currency’s exchange rate.

Utumporn Suonchai, general manager of Bangkok-based Am Tourist Club, said: “There are a lot of Thai people visiting Japan now because of (the favourable exchange rate) and the number of (destination) promotions Japan has done. People are not afraid of radiation anymore. The increase has been about 100 per cent compared to (the same period in) 2012.”

She said it was hard to estimate how Thai outbound to Japan would fare in 2013, but hoped for a 30 per cent increase by the end of the year.

Japan’s inbound arrivals continue to display strong recovery, with total inbound arrivals spiking 34.6 per cent last year against 2011 to reach 8.4 million.

The country posted 2.3 million arrivals for the first quarter of 2013, or an 18 per cent increase over the same period in 2012.

Garuda’s Bandung-Bali flights take off

By Mimi Hudoyo

May 20, 2013

GARUDA Indonesia began Bandung-Denpasar flights on May 18 in a bid to facilitate traffic between the two cities and connect Bandung with other Garuda destinations such as Australia, Japan and South Korea.

Garuda Indonesia’s vice president corporate communications, Pujobroto, said: “As Denpasar is one of Garuda’s hubs for flights to Australia, Japan and South Korea, travellers from Bandung can connect to Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Tokyo and Osaka, or to Indonesian destinations like Lombok, Kupang, Makassar and Timika.”

The new route is operated with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft with 156 seats comprising 12 executive and 144 economy class seats.

The flight leaves Bandung at 12.25, arriving in Bali at 15.05, while the return flight departs Bali at 11.00 to land in Bandung at 11.40.

Meanwhile, Batik Air, the full-service airline of Lion Air Group that launched on May 3, has introduced twice-daily services between Jakarta-Bali on May 20. The service is the carrier’s sixth route from Jakarta after Manado, Balikpapan, Ambon, Pekanbaru and Jogjakarta.

Firefly, Malindo square off on domestic routes

By S Puvaneswary

May 20, 2013

FIREFLY will face stiff competition from Malindo Air when the latter commences twice-daily turbo-propeller operations to Penang, Johor Bahru and Kota Bharu out of Subang Skypark Terminal from June 3.

Malindo Air took delivery of its first ATR72-600 aircraft this morning with another three aircraft to be delivered next month, and a further two in September.

By December 2013, the carrier will have a total of 12 aircraft (Boeing 737-900ER) operating out of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) or klia2 – if the new terminal is operational by then – and six ATR72-600 turbo-propeller aircraft, flying out of Subang.

Malindo has started selling tickets for its services to Penang, Johor Bahru and Kota Bharu, with all-in, one-way fares from RM69 (US$23).

Expecting competition from the new airline, Firefly launched its Everyday Low Fares campaign last Monday, to run for an indefinite period. However, Firely’s promotional fares appear higher than Malindo Air’s, with a one-way fare from Subang to Johor Bahru priced from RM79, Penang at RM123.95, and Kota Bharu at RM139.

Malindo CEO, Chandran Rama Muthy, said the ATR flights would initially connect Subang with secondary destinations within Peninsular Malaysia and certain points in Sumatra.

He said: “The turbo-prop operations will act as a feeder service to the jet operations, currently operating out of KLIA. We are talking to Malaysia Airports Holdings to provide public land transportation to link Subang and KLIA for the convenience of travellers.

“We are also revising upwards the (travel consultant) commission structure, which will be from three per cent of the base fare, for both jet and turbo-prop operations.”

Luxury Tours Malaysia manager, Ganneesh Ramaa, said Malindo’s new turbo-propeller services would add capacity and provide healthy competition for Firefly.

He said: “The three secondary routes – Penang, Kota Bharu and Johor Bahru – are also business routes. Flying to Subang city airport will provide convenience to business travellers as it is close to Kuala Lumpur and surrounding areas. They will save on transport as compared to landing at KLIA.”

SIA, SilkAir seal codeshare pact with Shenzhen Airlines

By TTG Asia

May 20, 2013

SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) and its subsidiary SilkAir have signed a codesharing agreement with Shenzhen Airlines, giving passengers a choice of two flights on the route between Shenzhen and Singapore.

According to the agreement, SIA and SilkAir will both add their codes to Shenzhen Airlines-operated flights, while Shenzhen Airlines will tag SilkAir services on the route with its code.

Shenzhen Airlines and SilkAir both run daily services linking Shenzhen and Singapore, with Singapore Airlines already currently codesharing on the latter.

Tickets for the codeshare services are open for booking.

Archipelago debuts fifth Jakarta Favehotel

By TTG Asia

May 20, 2013

ARCHIPELAGO International has begun welcoming guests at its fifth Favehotel, Favehotel Kelapa Gading, in the Indonesian capital.

The mid-sized select-service hotel is situated on Jalan Gading Indah Raya in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. It is located just behind Kelapa Gading Mall and a short distance from the Mall of Indonesia.

Favehotel Kelapa Gading offers 121 guestrooms and facilities such as LCD TV sets with 60 local and international channels, free high-speed Internet access, three meeting rooms and a café.

Said Norbert Vas, vice president of sales & marketing, Archipelago International: “We intend to add at least another 10 Favehotels to Jakarta’s existing five. Kelapa Gading complements Favehotel’s current locations in Wahid Hasyim, Kemang, Pasar Baru and Pluit, but we will soon open in Melawai, Sunter, Cideng, Tanah Abang, Grogol, Menteng, Glodok, Cililitan, Zainul Arifin and Kebayoran.”

Archipelago International earlier announced intentions to open 41 hotels by the end of 2013, to bring its total portfolio to more than 100 properties (TTG Asia e-Daily, February 14, 2013).

All-in-one playgrounds

By TTG Asia

May 17, 2013

They may not have casinos, but these destinations are drawing tourists with their unique experiences

Lagoi Bay
Following its launch in 2007, the 1,300-hectare Lagoi Bay in Bintan will be opening key facilities from the second half of this year, which include beach and lakeside resorts, a mall and first-of-its-kind recreational activities. The entire development is scheduled to be completed by 2015.

Geared to take off in October will be the Air Adventures Flying Club Bintan, an ultra light aircraft ride centre and flying school that claims to be South-east Asia’s first seaplane facility offering an open cockpit seaplane experience to seasoned pilots or novices.

Adventrees, a new canopy adventure trail in the forest surrounding Lake Lagoi will also be ready by October for teambuilding activities involving ropeways, as will an off-road rally car circuit.

On the accommodations front, The Sanchaya will debut 19 luxury villas and nine suites in November, adding to Lagoi Bay’s five resorts that offer 1,400 rooms. Early next year, Alila Villas Bintan and Swiss-Belhotel Lagoi Bay, Bintan will further plump up the inventory with over 250 new rooms. Room rates are estimated to range from S$80 (US$65) for beach cabanas to over S$4,000 for four-bedroom pool villas.

A 45-minute ferry ride from Tanah Merah ferry terminal, travel consultants said Lagoi Bay had potential to draw FIT travellers as well as meetings and incentive groups.

Alicia Seah, CTC Travel senior vice president of marketing & public relations, said: “We foresee these developments will primarily attract high-end travellers who seek a getaway from the hustle and bustle in Singapore.”

However, Luxury Tours & Travel director, Michael Lee, said the development needed more publicity.

While Singaporeans currently top Bintan’s arrivals, Chia Tek Yew, executive director, strategy & marketing, BRI, expects the domestic market to grow once the Bintan Resorts International Airport becomes fully operational by 2015. It will be in Busung, Kuala Lobam, a 30-minute drive south-west of Lagoi Bay. – Lee Pei Qi

Laguna Lang Co
Vietnam’s Laguna Lang Co held its grand opening in April, with the first of its hotels now ready to receive guests. More accommodation options and facilities will be added to the vast 280 hectare site over the coming years, with the IR eventually set to emulate the scale of Laguna Phuket.

Like its Thai sister, Lang Co is targeted at a broad spectrum of high-end travellers. Banyan Tree offers luxury with its spacious private pool villas, while Angsana’s inventory ranges from the more modest deluxe rooms to rooftop pool suites. Rates start from US$280++ at Angsana and US$735++ at Banyan Tree.

MICE business is integral to the business plan, with top-end meeting facilities, a huge ballroom and the capacity to cater to major events outdoors.

Weddings are also part of the mix. “We are the only hotel with a dedicated chapel on site,” said Khiet Le, marketing and communications manager, Laguna Lang Co.

Other facilities include the world-class Nick Faldo-designed golf course and two spas.

Sitting amid UNESCO World Heritage sites – Hoi An’s ancient town, the Cham ruins of My Son and the imperial city of Hue – the resort provides day-trip access to all three. That said, the location also means Laguna Lang Co is somewhat out on a limb. It is best reached via Danang International Airport, a 40-minute drive away.

“At present almost all our customers request hotels or resorts in the centre of Danang city, but Laguna Lang Co is an attractive and exciting new development that we will consider in the future,” said Vietravel’s director of marketing, Nguyen Minh Man.

Khiem Vu, general manager of Indochina Travelland, believes that the combination of the Laguna brand, the beauty of Lang Co bay and its location between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, will make it a success. He said: “We have already made a couple of early bookings for this property, and we predict strong local demand as more and more Vietnamese travel in the luxury segment.”

Meanwhile, Buffalo Tours has yet to work with Laguna in Vietnam, but they are close partners in Thailand. Explained head of international business development, Ed Pettitt: “We know the quality and consistency of the product, but we have not sent clients as it has only been recently completed and we need to be able to guarantee everything is in order first.” – David Lloyd Buglar

Funtasy Island
Situated between Singapore and Batam, Funtasy Island on Riau Islands is envisioned to be the world’s largest eco theme park with residential, commercial and tourism components, which will be rolled out in batches from mid-2014.

At 328 hectares, the island itself is two-thirds the size of Sentosa, with 70 per cent of its total area preserved as a nature sanctuary.

In the first phase is a five-star deluxe resort development run by Meritus Hotels & Resorts, comprising a 200-room condotel, 230-suite hotel and 413 villas. Eco-themed activities such as aquaculture tours and nature trails will also be available, as well as a beach club that will offer a slew of sea sports from diving to parasailing.

To be revealed later in 2015, one of the highlights will be a heart-shaped islet, which will have a 1,000-pax banquet hall and a wedding chapel. There are six islets in total.

Funtasy Island Development director, Michael Yong, said at least one million visitors are expected to arrive annually once the island is fully completed in 10 years’ time.

He said: “We are targeting Singaporeans and international visitors who come through Singapore.” Located 16km off the coast of Singapore, Funtasy Island will be accessible via a 20-minute ferry ride from the HarbourFront ferry terminal.

Stella Chow, manager advertising and marketing division, outbound tour department, Hong Thai Travel, said: “There is potential to attract Singaporeans due to its eco park concept, which will appeal to those who are used to the concrete landscape. The Love Island is also an attractive alternative venue for a romantic getaway.

“However the infrastructure within the resorts, such as getting around the resorts and the ease of travelling from the ferry terminal to the resorts has to be well put together to ensure convenience.”

Star Holiday Mart managing director, Dennis Law, added: “This new attraction will sell with the right products, but Singapore already has many fun and adventurous products so not many may want to travel to (Riau) since it will involve extra costs.” – Lee Pei Qi

Desaru Coast
Adding to Johor’s growing bag of tourism products is Destination Resorts and Hotels’ (DRH) Desaru Coast, a 17km beachfront stretch at the south-eastern tip that will comprise hotels and residences, water theme parks, golf courses, a retail village and a convention centre, among other offerings. With 1,600 hectares to be developed over three phases, the first is targeted for completion in 2015.

Lau Yin May, senior vice president, programme management & corporate communications, DRH, said: “There will be a number of world-class brand names such as the Aman Country Club and Aman Villas, situated along pristine beachfront; Sheraton Desaru Resort, also with direct beach frontage; and Datai Desaru, nestled on a hilltop. Plantation Hotel will be a four-star hotel integrated with the two theme parks.”

At Ocean Quest and Ocean Splash, guests will be able to interact with marine animals and play at the salt water wave pool respectively, while The Els Club Malaysia will feature two championship golf courses – a 27-hole course designed by Ernie Els and an 18-hole course designed by Vijay Singh – as well as exclusive villas.

There are several tourist attractions within close proximity to Desaru Coast, including a fruit farm and an ostrich farm. Further out, a scenic one hour drive will take guests to Puteri Harbour, where families can spend a day at The Little Red Cube, a lifestyle retail complex that is also home to an indoor theme park. Legoland Malaysia is a five-minute drive away.

From Kuala Lumpur, Desaru Coast is a four-hour drive using the North-South Highway or a 45-minute flight to Senai International Airport, followed by a 45-minute drive. From Singapore, it is a 30-minute ferry ride from Changi Ferry Terminal to Tanjung Belungkor Ferry Terminal in Kota Tinggi, followed by a half hour’s drive. By land, it is a one-and-a-half-hour drive from the Second Link or Causeway.

Raaj Navaratnaa, general manager of New Asia Holiday Tours & Travel, said: “We will twin Desaru packages with Singapore as both destinations have something different to offer families on holiday. Desaru has theme parks and ecotourism products, whereas Singapore is known for its shopping and entertainment.”

World Avenues executive director, Ally Bhoonee, added: “Due to its close proximity to Singapore, it will make a perfect pre- and post-tour option for MICE events held in Singapore.” – S Puvaneswary

Grand Kawanua International City
Growing air access into Manado, North Sulawesi will provide a lift for the Grand Kawanua International City (GKIC), which will see hotels, hospitals and a water park rising on its 300 hectares over the next few years.

Developed by Jakarta-based AKR Group, GKIC is already home to the 176-room Novotel Manado Golf Resort & Convention Center and the 6,500m2 Grand Kawanua Convention Center that can host up to 4,000 people. There are also residential properties and public facilities such as tennis courts and a swimming pool.

A number of projects are scheduled for completion this year, including the conversion of the 15-hole golf course to an 18-hole one, as well as the Citiwalk Shopping Mall and a wedding chapel.

Earlier this year, the six-country Regional Secretariat of Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security also set up base here, with ensuing marine conservation activities expected to drive more visitors to the destination. Other recent additions include an art gallery with US$3 million worth of Indonesian art and painting collections, and Siloam Hospital.

AKR managing director, Widijanto, said some 10,000 more rooms were needed over the next few years, highlighting a 100-hectare site that is open for hotel development. Currently, Novotel Manado’s rates are between Rp400,000 (US$42) and Rp800,000.

He said: “Lion Air is opening Manado as a hub for its regional routes to Hong Kong, China, Japan and Singapore, in line with the arrival of new aircraft. This will add to existing direct services from Manado to Singapore and Davao, as well as the route network within Indonesia.”

Incito Travel managing director, Ng Sebastian, said while GKIC had succeeded in positioning itself as a MICE destination, more promotions had to be done to highlight the leisure attractions in order to target domestic and regional markets.

Mapanget Mega Wisata Tours and Travel managing director, Reenaldo Wangkar, added: “We can develop golf packages to Manado when the 18-hole golf course is ready. The water park may also add facilities for the leisure market as well as the corporate market for teambuilding or gatherings.”

Meanwhile, the North Sulawesi and Manado City Government are developing infrastructure such as a ring road connecting Manado with surrounding areas like Bitung and Tondano, to be ready in two years. – Mimi Hudoyo