TIGER Airways Singapore has kicked-off a recruitment drive to find a replacement for managing director, Stewart Adams, who will be leaving at the end of the year to pursue personal interests.

Adams, previously the managing director of British Midland Airways Regional, took over from Rosalynn Tay as Tiger Airways Singapore chief in January 2011.

“Stewart joined Tiger Singapore at an important stage in its growth,” said Tiger Airways group CEO, Chin Yau Seng, who will also be stepping down to make way for Koay Peng Yen on August 10 (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 6, 2012).

“Since then, (Adams) has led his team through one of its most difficult periods, strengthened the airline’s operations and brought it back on track to achieving profitable growth.”

Adams said: “My immediate focus is on achieving a successful and smooth relocation of Tiger Singapore’s operations from the Budget Terminal to Changi Airport Terminal 2 come September 25. I will also ensure that there will be a seamless transition to the incoming MD.”

ONYX Hospitality Group has begun its push into the luxury segment with the launch of Oriental Residence Bangkok, the first luxury serviced residence to be managed by the company.

Although it doesn’t carry ONYX’s top-tier hotel brand, Saffron (Editor’s Pick, May 13, 2011), Oriental Residence Bangkok sets the tone for future high-end projects for the group, being the visible showcase of its management capabilities in the upmarket segment.

Patrick Schaub, general manager of Oriental Residence Bangkok, said: “Oriental Residence Bangkok is the spearhead of ONYX Hospitality Group’s luxury initiative, and will help to position ONYX as a leader in the very top tier of Asian hospitality.”

Suravut Thongthaem, senior vice president of sales, ONYX Hospitality Group, said: “ONYX sees extensive opportunities for a hospitality management organisation to capitalise on market space and deliver exceptional projects at the top end of the luxury sector in Thailand.”

“Oriental Residence Bangkok will attract business and leisure guests alike, catering to corporate and upscale MICE clients, international visitors and long-stay medical tourists,” he added.

Located within a 32-storey building on Wireless Road, Oriental Residence Bangkok offers 46 private ownership units and 145 serviced residence units comprising 41 executive deluxe rooms, 70 one-bedroom, 30 two-bedroom and four three-bedroom suites. Ranging in size from 45m2 – 188m2, the units feature polished hardwood floors, and imported furnishings and fixtures.

F&B options at the property include a signature Chinese restaurant and the chic Café Claire, while function facilities include three meeting rooms ranging in size from 16m2 – 145m2, with the capacity to accommodate up to 100 guests.

THE LUXURY cruise vessel Ocean Dream embarked on its inaugural 4D3N sailing on the Gulf of Thailand last week, departing from Laem Chabang in Thailand’s Chonburi province, calling at Koh Samui, then Sihanoukville in Cambodia, before returning to Laem Chabang on August 6.

A joint venture between Thailand’s Eastime Shipping and Profit Summit Deluxe Cruise, a Chinese cruise ship operator, the programme will run twice weekly, departing from Laem Chabang on Mondays and Fridays at 18.00.

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Suraphon Svetasreni said: “TAT is delighted that the Ocean Dream offers a great new option for travellers to enjoy the tranquil beauty of the Gulf of Thailand, while offering a different perspective on Koh Samui and an introduction to the joys of Cambodia.”

The 20,000-tonne Ocean Dream offers choice restaurants, clubs featuring a variety of entertainment options, a swimming pool, a casino, a movie theatre, a shopping gallery and Internet connectivity across its nine decks. The ship’s 420 cabins can accommodate up to 1,060 passengers.

The 4D3N Gulf of Thailand cruise package is priced at 11,000 Baht (US$349) per pax.

THE MAJORITY of foreign-owned hotels in Yangon have started complying with a government directive to scale back their exorbitant room rates, but locally-owned hotels have sniffed out a potential loophole and are starting to raise prices.

The ministry implemented a US$150 rate cap for hotels under its Foreign Direct Investment scheme on June 25, following complaints from local and international travel firms about indiscriminate room pricing (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 6, 2012).

“Relations with foreign hotels are now quite okay. But there is a problem with local hotels,” said Ma Sabei Aung, managing director of Nature Dream Travel & Tours, adding that recent rate hikes had occured at Mya Yeik Nyo, Mingalar Garden, Summer Palace, Clover and Green Hill hotels.

According to Kerstin Jung from Gracious Myanmar Travel, rates at some locally-owned hotels in Yangon were now three to four times higher than a year ago.

“I’m really not sure if (the rate hikes) are a healthy development for the tourism industry. To be honest, many local hotels just don’t want to work with (travel consultants), and some of the hotels aren’t really suitable for foreign guests,” she said.

U Tin Soe from Joyful Jupiter Tours said he had booked several rooms at Mya Yeik Nyo Royal Hotel for group tours in October and January 2013. Although he had earlier received confirmation from the hotel that the single/double room rate would be about US$70/US$80 per night, he was later informed that prices had increased significantly.

“The single room rate had almost doubled to US$120, and double rooms were now US$180. How can I do my business with these skyrocketing prices?” he lamented.

THE MEXICO Tourism Board’s heightened efforts to tap Asian outbound over the past three years have paid dividends, with Chinese visitor numbers growing by an average of 30 per cent per year, culminating in a 32.7 per cent surge in the market in 2011/2012.

On his first official visit to Asia covering Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul, the board’s COO, Rodolfo López-Negrete, said: “We are happy with the result, but not content. We can generate more. Developing business out of Asia is crucial.”

“So far, Japan remains the top market (in Asia). Apart from China, South Korea has also displayed strong growth. About 41,000 South Koreans visited Mexico in 2011, an 11 per cent (year-on-year) increase.”

López-Negrete told TTG Asia e-Daily that the board was planning to launch an office in Seoul and had just hired a full-time staff based at the Mexican embassy there. “We are also exploring Shanghai as a second office (in China) after Beijing,” he said.

With only 1,500 visitors per annum from Hong Kong at the moment, López-Negrete agreed that there was much potential for the market to develop. “We need to elevate the level of awareness in Hong Kong. Mexico is not well known here.”

He added: “While we target the luxury tier of travellers in Hong Kong, we look to target the growing middle class in China.”

According to López-Negrete, limited air connectivity is the main stumbling block to promoting Mexico in Hong Kong and China.

“Even though longhaul connections are available from Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, we don’t have a national carrier. We have held discussions with multiple carriers to launch additional routes. Cathay Pacific is a key player and is interested in (starting flights to) Mexico,” he said.

JETSTAR has beefed up its distribution network in China by making its fares available to local consumers via Ctrip, the country’s largest online travel retailer, and to local travel consultants via TravelSky’s Eterm GDS.

“Our presence on Ctrip, China’s leading travel portal with more than 50 million registered users, creates improved access for our growing number of Chinese customers,” said Jetstar group CCO, David Koczkar.

In addition, the listing of Jetstar inventory on TravelSky’s Eterm GDS means that the airline’s fares and ancillary products are now available via over 7,000 travel agencies across China.

Meanwhile, local travel agencies also have the option of booking Jetstar fares through a new customised trade website, which provides direct bank debit in RMB for all Jetstar Group airlines flying to China.

“Working with our travel industry partners to ensure our low fares are easy to access for consumers is a key priority as we look to strengthen our presence on routes to-and-from China,” said Koczkar.