ASCOTT today opened its first premier serviced residence in Qatar, the 299-unit Ascott Doha, bringing Ascott’s Gulf portfolio to six properties in four countries.

Vincent Wee, Ascott’s managing director for India and Gulf Cooperation Council, said: “We see strong demand for serviced residences in Qatar. Our first serviced residence in Qatar, Somerset West Bay Doha, has been achieving occupancy of over 80 per cent. Ascott Doha heralds a new benchmark for luxury serviced residences and it is well-positioned to attract the growing number of expatriates and travellers arriving in the city.”

He also revealed that Ascott had plans to open its Oman properties – Somerset Panorama Muscat and Sohar Garden Residences – within the next 24 months, and deepen the company’s footprints through partnerships in Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Located in the diplomatic centre of the city at the north end of the Corniche waterfront promenade, Ascott Doha is near the Doha Exhibition Centre and a 10-minute drive from the city’s business and financial district.

It offers one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments that come with a fully-equipped kitchen, en-suite bathrooms, separate dining and living areas as well as a home entertainment system, complimentary wireless Internet access and an iPod docking station. Other amenities include an indoor or rooftop temperature-controlled pool, gym, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam rooms and also business centre services, meeting rooms and Wi-Fi access for business travellers.

Ascott is offering special introductory rates from 850 Qatari riyals (US$233) per night and promotional packages for yearly stays until December 30 on Ascott Doha’s website.

THE Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority (MGTCA) has introduced The Passport to Monaco programme in India as part of its plan to grow Indian arrivals by 25 per cent.

Rajeev Nangia, associate director of Monaco’s marketing representative in India, Trac Representations, said the programme consists of a folder of coupons that grants free entry to the principality’s main attractions and museums. This includes the Exotic Garden, the Oceanographic Museum and the prince of Monaco’s collection of antique cars. Useful information about the destination and its best shops and restaurants are also included.

“The programme is available for travel consultants to offer their clients on a minimum two nights’ stay in Monaco,” said Nangia.

MGTCA is also looking to collaborate with the Indian travel trade on fam trips, workshops and seminars, gunning for luxury travel, MICE and weddings.

Monaco is committing 30 per cent of its tourism promotion budget to BRIC countries.

Patrick Medecin, Monaco’s ambassador to India, said: “India is increasingly becoming a niche strategic market for us and we are witnessing a good growth in the number of tourists visiting Monaco from India.

“Our objective is to showcase Monaco as one of Europe’s finest destinations. It is also essential to emphasise that despite its image, five-star hotel rooms in Monaco are generally at least 30 per cent cheaper than hotels in London and Paris. Therefore, Monaco is an affordable luxury destination.”

Tri Star Holidays director, Ankur Khanna, said: “Monaco has an aura of luxury, glamour and exclusivity that appeals to high-end Indian clients. With such emphatic promotion, I expect both leisure and MICE business to grow in 2013 and beyond.”

VIETNAMESE authorities are raising visa fees for incoming travellers with effect from January 1, 2013, said a report on the local government’s online news platform.

According to a circular from the Ministry of Finance, fees for single-entry visas for foreigners and Vietnamese residing abroad will be increased to US$45 from US$25.

Multiple-entry visas will be divided into three categories with validities of one month, six months and more than six months, which will cost US$65, US$95 and US$135 respectively.

Citizens of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore are currently not required to apply for travel visas when visiting Vietnam. As well, visa fees are waived for citizens of Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Russia.

BRITISH Airways (BA) will increase frequencies to Chennai and Hyderabad from London’s Heathrow Airport beginning summer 2013, flying six times per week instead of five.

Christopher Fordyce, BA South Asia’s regional commercial manager, said: “We have seen an excellent increase in demand from Hyderabad and Chennai in the last few years. India continues to be one of the fastest growing markets for British Airways.”

Sajan K Gupta, director, Vaayu Seva Tours said: “BA is consolidating its market share in markets that have shown maximum growth in the last two years. London is always an attractive destination for Indians, and Chennai and Hyderabad are booming economically, adding greater consumption power.”

Sunil Kumar, CEO, Travelworld, welcomed the additional weekly flight, saying it would bring more MICE events to Hyderabad.

“Chennai hotel rates are also low with the addition of 1,300 five-star hotel rooms in the last two months, and this (coupled with the additional flights) will increase inbound tourism.”

British Airways is offering a 25 per cent discount on all fares for travel till December 15, 2012.

GLOBAL economic uncertainty and the emergence of LCCs are likely to result in muted airfare and hotel rate increases in the coming year across Asia-Pacific (APAC), predicts American Express Global Business Travel.

The TMC’s Global Business Travel Forecast 2013 anticipates that shorthaul economy airfares in APAC are expected to grow between minus one and four per cent versus one and five per cent in 2012. Business shorthaul fares, on the other hand, are forecast to rise zero to four per cent compared to two to six per cent the previous year.

The growth in economy intra-APAC fares will slow to minus one to four per cent from one to five per cent in 2012, while business intra-APAC fares will increase by a paltry zero to four per cent, compared to five to 10 per cent last year.

According to Carl Jones, head of American Express Advisory Services for Asia-Pacific, the dip in airfare rises in 2013 can be partly accredited to the increasing competition from LCCs sprouting across the region, which has compelled flag carriers to keep their business and economy fare rises low to compete in the leisure segment.

“This is naturally a great boon for businesses, which are now keeping a closer watch over their travel expenses owing to the poorer global economic conditions.”

He added that airfares in China in 2013 would likely be relatively flat due to the slowdown in GDP growth, as well as government-imposed restrictions. India, which he termed as a “unique aviation market”, is predicted to see airfare hikes as high as eight per cent.

Meanwhile, hoteliers are expected to suppress rate rises next year in an effort to claw more corporate business. Mid-range hotel rates in APAC are forecast to rise by just zero to four per cent in 2013, relative to six to 10 per cent in 2012. Upper-class hotels are expected to up rates by two to seven per cent versus six to 10 per cent a year ago.

INSIGHT Vacations unveiled its 2013/14 Europe brochure to the media yesterday, including 14 new itineraries, which take in the sights of Greece, France, Ireland, Northern Spain and Portugal.

Sheryl Lim, the regional director of Asia, Insight Vacations, told TTG Asia e-Daily that the new itineraries are targeted mainly at Singaporeans and other Asians who do not have the time to plan an extensive tour of the Mediterranean but who want a definitive, unforgettable experience.

According to Lim, as of November, Northern Spain, Central Europe and Eastern Europe are the three most popular regions for Insight Vacation’s Asian clientele. “Many of our Asian clients have visited Western Europe before, and are now keen to explore other parts of Europe,” she said.

John Boulding, CEO & president of Insight Vacations, said: “Owing to the depreciation of the euro against the US dollar, we can now offer travellers savings of up to 25 per cent on last year’s prices.”

The 93 tours on offer, which take a maximum of 40 pax each tour, last between four and 20 days, and cost from just US$155 a day. Travel consultants receive a 10 per cent commission for every booking.

TRAVEL consultants seeking for more updates on Best Western International can turn to the company’s newly launched online education and resource centre, Travel Agent Advantage, at www.bwtravelagentadvantage.com.

The site offers information on Best Western’s 4,000 over properties across the world, the brand’s three types of hotels, as well as key initiatives and programmes that will better equip agencies in their sales.

Interactive online courses are also available, coupled with opportunities to win prizes upon completion.

“As Best Western evolves to engage partners such as travel (consultants) in new and meaningful ways, Travel Agent Advantage is a major initiative for the brand as we further engage and help educate the travel (consultant) community,” said Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president, marketing and sales, Best Western International.

“By providing a portal designed exclusively to meet (consultant) needs, Travel Agent Advantage provides the resources, information and brand education that is so valuable to the success of (consultants) worldwide,” she added.

INDONESIA’S outbound operators are looking forward to the arrival of Japan National Tourism Organization’s (JNTO) Jakarta office, which is set to open in spring 2013, making it the NTO’s third office in South-east Asia after Singapore and Thailand.

Tara Tour managing director, Paulus Sofyan Gazali, said: “Having an office in Jakarta makes it easier for us to communicate with an NTO in developing products. We hope, however, that JNTO will continue cooperating with consultants in the long run and not leave us when the market booms, the way some other NTOs have.”

Bayu Buana Travel Services general manager – leisure, Yunita Widjaja, said: “Indonesians like to see new things and are eager for new experiences. They just need to be made aware of the products. To achieve this, JNTO needs to do consumer awareness promotions and at the same time, create attractive products with travel consultants like us.”

JNTO Indonesia will be a full-fledged office, working in collaboration with outbound operators but also launching B2C activities, such as organising travel fairs in major Indonesian cities, said Motonari Adachi, executive director of JNTO Singapore, which oversees marketing in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and India.

Detailed programmes and strategies are being finalised, including the introduction of Muslim tour programmes, which is also currently in the works for the Malaysian market, he added. Adachi expects Indonesian traffic to Japan to increase by over 50 per cent next year.

JNTO president, Ryoichi Matsuyama, said: “Indonesia is a market with a lot of potential for Japan. We have seen the number of arrivals to Japan increasing, and with Indonesia’s growing middle class, there is a big opportunity to develop the market further.”

XIAMEN Airlines joined SkyTeam as its 19^th member and fourth Chinese carrier yesterday, strengthening the alliance’s position in China.

China’s sixth largest carrier, Xiamen Airlines, is headquartered in coastal Xiamen in Fujian province and contributes three new hubs to SkyTeam – Xiamen, Fuzhou and Hangzhou.

The airline’s current network spans over 50 cities including Macau, Hong Kong and Taipei, as well as cities in South-east and North-east Asia. It also has plans to launch flights to Europe, North America and Australasia by 2014, after the introduction of its Boeing 787.

Michael Wisbrun, SkyTeam’s managing director said: “Greater China remains a priority region for our alliance. Xiamen Airlines will join our members China Southern, China Eastern and China Airlines in developing customer-focused initiatives for the region.”

Xiamen Airlines has already begun rolling out SkyPriority and SkyTeam priority airport services for SkyTeam Elite Plus, First and Business Class passengers worldwide. With immediate effect, Xiamen Airline passengers can earn and redeem miles on services operated by all SkyTeam member airlines, while SkyTeam passengers can also earn and redeem miles when flying on Xiamen Airlines-operated flights.