THE MGM Grand Ho Tram, Vietnam’s inaugural large-scale integrated resort situated in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, is scheduled to open its doors in 1Q2013.

A joint project between MGM Resorts International and Asian Coast Development (Canada) (ACDL), the MGM Grand Ho Tram will be the first component of the US$4.2 billion multi-site Ho Tram Strip resort complex, developed by ACDL and slated to be the largest tourism complex in the country.

ACDL will own and finance the MGM Grand Ho Tram, while MGM Resorts International will provide development assistance, brand equity and manage the five-star integrated resort.

Once ready, the first phase of the five-star MGM Grand Ho Tram will offer 541 guestrooms, a conference centre, a gaming area comprising 90 live table games, 500 electronic games and VIP facilities, and a variety of recreational, F&B and spa facilities.

The second phase of MGM Grand Ho Tram will incorporate another tower with 559 guestrooms, and an additional 500 electronic games.

BANYAN Tree Hotels & Resorts will debut its urban resort concept in China with the launch of two properties in Shanghai and Tianjin later this year.

Following previous openings in urban metropolises such as Bangkok, Seoul and Macau, Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund and Banyan Tree Tianjin Riverside are scheduled to commence operations in October and November, respectively.

Forming part of the Above The Bund Urban Complex Project on Shanghai’s northern Bund area, Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund will offer 130 suites equipped with large French windows that open out onto the Bund thoroughfare.

The property will feature four F&B outlets, including Western seafood restaurant Oceans; Ming Yuan, serving Cantonese cuisine; Tai Hei, a high-end Japanese sashimi and sushi counter; and an alfresco roof top bar, Stars.

Banyan Tree Shanghai On The Bund will also offer meeting facilities for medium and small conferences (including four conference rooms of varying sizes and a Banyan Ballroom), a Banyan Tree Spa with eleven treatment rooms, a gym, and an indoor swimming pool.

Located on the east bank of the Hai River in Tianjin’s former Austrian concession, Banyan Tree Tianjin Riverside will offer 159 suites, a diverse range of dining options ranging from traditional Cantonese fare to grilled seafood and meat specialties, and the first Banyan Tree Spa in North China.

TRAVELtech 2012, the twelth edition of Australia’s original web travel, marketing and distribution conference, will take place at the Amora Jamison Hotel in Sydney on September 7.

The theme for this year’s conference is Follow the Money, and programme highlights include the results of online travel spending research from Quantium, web case studies from Hooroo.com.au, Rome2rio.com and Australian Pacific Tours, and a distribution session featuring Pierre-Stephane Austi, CEO, Rail Europe and Steven Greenway, head of commercial, Scoot.

Other confirmed speakers include Joe Araullo, CEO, TravelManagers Australia; Brett Henry, vice president marketing, Abacus International; Fiona Hunt, managing director, Contiki Australia; Tom Manwaring, CEO, Orient Express Group; David O’Loughlin, director marketing & communications, SATC; Georg Ruebensal, managing director, Expedia Australia; and Gagandeep Singh, GM experiences & marketing, Greyhound Australia.

Conference director, Martin Kelly, who founded TRAVELtech in 1999, said 200 delegates were expected at the show.

LUXURY cruise line Silversea Cruises has published its 2012/2013 brochure, featuring several Asia-Pacific sailings ranging from seven to 21 days onboard its Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper cruise vessels.

Starting late October to December this year, Silver Shadow will embark on a series of nine- and eleven-day cruises from Hong Kong, Bangkok or Singapore to ports in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Each of these six cruises will include an overnight stay in Ho Chi Minh City.

All-inclusive fares for these itineraries start from US$5,399 per person, double occupancy, in a Vista Suite. Guests will also receive US$1,000 onboard spending credit per suite, to spend on spa treatments, boutique purchases, shore excursions and F&B.

Aside from these packages, Silversea is also offering 21 new Asia-Pacific itineraries ranging from seven to twenty-one days aboard the Silver Shadow or Silver Whisper. These sailings include calls at ports in Vietnam, Indonesia and China, as well as overnight stays in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore.

All-inclusive fares start from US$3,299 per person, double occupancy, and include onboard spending credit of up to US$1,500 per suite.

LANGHAM Hospitality Group, which already operates The Langham Melbourne and The Langham Sydney, is looking to add another five properties to its Australian portfolio.

“We have a positive outlook of the hotel industry in Australia. There has been significant inbound visitor growth from the emerging economies of China and India as a result of strong income growth in these markets,” said Brett Butcher, CEO of Langham Hospitality Group.

“This catalyst, coupled with sound domestic economic growth and a lack of new hotel developments, is creating a recipe for increasing supply. We believe that Australia can have a number of our brands, and this can be achieved either by developing our own assets or through management contracts.”

According to Butcher, Langham is contemplating introducing the group’s modern luxury brand, Langham Place, to Sydney and other cities in Australia.

“There’s no reason why Melbourne and Sydney can’t not support another Langham brand, and then Perth and Brisbane. A (property) in Queensland would make sense,” he said.

Meanwhile, Langham is planning an A$10 million (US$10.4 million) revamp for its recently acquired The Observatory Hotel in Sydney (TTG Asia e-Daily, August 7, 2012), now operating as The Langham Sydney.

JETSTAR Pacific has added another Airbus A320 aircraft as part of its ongoing fleet renewal programme.

The new plane will boost the Vietnam-based low-cost carrier’s fleet of A320s to three, and facilitate the retirement of a Boeing B737-400. It hopes to eventually phase out its four remaining B737s by early 2013, and switch to an all-A320 fleet of up to 15 planes.

The fleet rejuvenation exercise is a key priority for the new partnership between The Qantas Group and Vietnam Airlines, which own 30 and 68 per cent of Jetstar Pacific, respectively. The two bodies poured A$25 million (US$26 million) into the carrier earlier this year.

“A more modern fleet will deliver significant cost improvements in terms of fuel efficiency and maintenance,” said Jetstar Group CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka.

“There are also some significant economies of scale advantages across the Jetstar Group from having the same aircraft type for all our shorthaul flying.”

She added: “Vietnam is an important part of the Jetstar Group’s expansion plans across Asia-Pacific, and holds tremendous opportunity for expanding leisure travel as one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world.”