ASCOTT has won a management contract for its first Ascott-branded serviced residence in Surabaya, Indonesia, which is slated to open in 2014.

The 181-unit Ascott Waterplace Surabaya will be located within Pakuwon Indah, western Surabaya. Situated in an upmarket residential precinct, the property will sit opposite the Supermall Pakuwon Indah, which houses convention halls, shops, a cineplex, a supermarket and various dining outlets.

A choice of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments will be on offer, as well as guest facilities such as two swimming pools, a gym and a residents’ lounge.

Alfred Ong, Ascott’s managing director for Southeast Asia and Australia, said: “Ascott sees tremendous growth potential in Indonesia, which attracted a record foreign direct investment of S$7.2 billion (US$5.9 billion) in the third quarter of 2012. Besides having a strong foothold in Jakarta, we are expanding our presence in Surabaya with our flagship Ascott brand.”

Ascott Waterplace Surabaya will be the company’s third property in Surabaya, after Citadines Marvell Surabaya and Somerset Surabaya Hotel & Serviced Residence. With this addition, Ascott will have more than 2,200 apartment units across 10 properties in Indonesia.

HILTON Worldwide has inked an agreement with Travellers International Hotel Group to manage Hilton Manila in Newport City, the Philippines, its first property in the country’s capital.

Opening in 2014, the 350-room hotel will sit close to Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and 3.5km from Manila’s central business district, Makati.

To be developed by Alliance Global Group and Genting Group, the hotel will be connected to a 30,000m² entertainment and hospitality complex. The 10-storey hotel will offer an all-day dining restaurant, a specialty restaurant, a bar and lobby lounge, a fitness club, an indoor pool and a spa, as well as event spaces.

“Manila is the political, economic, social and cultural centre of the Philippines and a leading gateway destination in South-east Asia. The announcement fully demonstrates our ongoing commitment to growing aggressively in Asia-Pacific and re-establishes both Hilton Worldwide’s and the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand’s presence in the Philippines,” said Andrew Clough, senior vice president, development, Middle East & Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide.

GUANGZHOU will be the first mainland Chinese city to host a W hotel when the W Guangzhou Hotel & Residences opens its doors in early 2013.

The 320-key property, situated in the Pearl River New Town district, will feature a signature Chinese restaurant Yan Yu and a destination bar, among other facilities, as well as cutting-edge architectural and interior designs.

Paul James, global brand leader, W Hotels Worldwide, St Regis and The Luxury Collection, said: “The debut of the W brand in mainland China is a true milestone in our expansion into the world’s most vibrant and exciting destinations.”

W Guangzhou Hotel & Residences joins W Hotels Worldwide’s Asian portfolio that includes properties in Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Maldives and recently, Bangkok.

GENERAL Hotel Management (GHM) has unveiled plans for The Aayu Mumbai, a 42-suite luxury hotel scheduled to open in December next year.

Occupying the top five floors of Kohinoor Square’s 50-storey Central Tower, the tallest commercial building in the city, the hotel will house suites ranging in size from 65m² to 155m².

The hotel will also be home to India’s first celebrity restaurants led by decorated chefs Joel Robuchon and Hide Yamamoto.

Robuchon, a recipient of 28 Michelin stars, will open his eighth L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon restaurant at The Aayu. Serving contemporary French cuisine, the establishment will also feature a tea lounge, pastry shop and a collection of fine wines.

Yamamoto’s restaurant will feature a charcoal Robata grill, a ramen noodle bar, and a sushi and sake counter.

Other facilities in the hotel will include a library lounge and bar, a cigar and cognac lounge, an exclusive malt bar, and a boardroom on the 49th floor, as well as a rooftop terrace with a bar, a swimming pool and deck, and 1,400m² of landscaped courtyard.

GHM will also roll out two other properties by the end of 2013 – The Chedi Club Suzhou in China and The Chedi Andermatt in Switzerland.

PREMIUM cruise brand Celebrity Cruises kicked off her inaugural Asian season yesterday following the arrival of the 2,158-guest Celebrity Millennium at Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore over the weekend.

From now until April 2013, the ship will call at nine new countries, including Thailand, Vietnam and China. There will be a series of 14-night one-way cruises between Singapore and Hong Kong, with overnight stays in ports like Singapore, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Halong Bay and Hong Kong, as well as two 14-night round-trip sailings from Singapore with overnight stays in Bali.

Operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises, Celebrity joins the company’s two other brands, Royal Caribbean International (RCI) and Azamara Club Cruises, in Asia.

Highlighting their differences, Royal Caribbean Cruises managing director, Singapore, Jennifer Yap, told TTG Asia e-Daily that Celebrity’s and Azamara’s itineraries were longer, with RCI offering voyages of as short as three nights.

Facilities also vary. “Celebrity is for people who love the comforts of life, culinary aspects and retail experiences because we tie up with brands like Bulgari. At the same time, we cater to families with a children’s club,” she explained.

“(RCI) is more all-generation. Anyone from six months to 80 years old can come onboard. We have ice skating rinks, FlowRiders simulating surfing experiences and rock climbing walls for fun-loving and adventurous people…Azamara is more boutique.”

With long cruises, the guest mix tends to be more international, Yap noted.

The top nationalities for Celebrity cruises in Asia are currently the UK, the US and Australia, with Asians at a single-digit percentage. Japan and Hong Kong are among the highest contributors of Asian guests.

“Asians have a natural tendency to prefer short cruises because the market is less mature. Sometimes they just want a sampler…Usually when they try it and they like it and are converted, then they do a fly-cruise,” she said.

Launched in 2000, Celebrity Millennium underwent a major renovation earlier this year and now features Solstice Class features, including spa-inspired AquaClass staterooms; Qsine, which serves up globally-influenced dishes in a unique dining experience; creperie Bistro on Five; and wine bar Cellar Masters. There are nine dining outlets, four of which involve surcharges.

Other highlighted venues include the ice-topped Martini Bar accompanied by a VIP-like area called Crush.

The ship will be returning for a second Asia season in 2013/2014.

THE HISTORICAL Hotel Majestic in the Malaysian capital city, which was refurbished by YTL Hotels, celebrated its grand opening last Saturday.

Having restored Hotel Majestic to its former splendour, Kuala Lumpur now boasts an iconic and historical property comparable with Singapore’s Raffles Hotel and Hong Kong’s The Peninsula, said YTL Corporation managing director, Francis Yeoh Sock Ping, during his opening address.

Nestled in a five-storey neoclassical building dating back to 1932, the 300-room property features new wings and modern facilities at its Jalan Sutan Hishamuddin location, opposite an old railway station in the historical quarter of Kuala Lumpur.

The original building houses suites, The Colonial Café, The Bar and The Tea Lounge, while the new 15-storey Tower Wing comprises 16 meeting rooms, a pillarless ballroom which can accommodate 1,200 people in banquet style, a gym and a swimming pool. The seven-room Majestic Spa is located in a separate wing, and The Smoke House, a two-storey building, boasts a lounge, a grooming room, a cigar room, a private dining area with a chef on call, a screening room and a card room.

Said Ally Bhoonee, executive director of World Avenues Travel & Tours: “The Majestic Hotel is definitely a jewel for Kuala Lumpur, which is in great need of a super luxury hotel with a grand history. It will definitely attract the upper middle class clientele who loves history, old colonial charm and luxury.”

Yap Sook Ling, managing director, Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel, agreed: “It’s good to have a grand dame hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Its illustrious history can offer something special for MICE groups.”