IKEA, the world-famous home products firm that designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, is planning to roll out a chain of budget hotels across Europe.

The furniture retailer is aiming to open about 100 of these boutique low-cost hotels across the continent, which will feature neither IKEA’s products nor its brand name.

Operated by an international hotel management company, the new chain will vie with established budget hotel brands such as Travelodge, Premier Inn and Formule 1, as well as new entrants Motel One, citizenM and B&B Hotels.

The first property within the chain is expected to launch in Germany in 2014, with further openings earmarked for the UK, the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Poland and Scandinavia.

Inter IKEA, which holds the rights to the IKEA concept and trademark, already owns a few hotels and has several more in the works, but the new project would be its first official hotel chain.

ACCOR is planning to offer complimentary Internet access across all its hotel brands and properties in Asia-Pacific by the end of the year.

The move comes in response to the Accor Asia Pacific Business Traveller Survey 2012, which found that free Internet connectivity had become a key influencer on business travellers’ choice of hotel—with 49 per cent of respondents rating it among the most important factors.

Respondents from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand all rated free Internet as the primary factor affecting their choice of accommodation.

Although priorities among other markets deviate – with travellers from Australia and New Zealand prizing location, those from China prizing loyalty rewards, and those from India valuing price point – the decision-tipping clout that free Internet has suddenly accrued has prompted a swift reaction from Accor, especially since it did not even figure in last year’s report.

Given that 65 per cent of Accor’s occupancy in Asia-Pacific is driven by business travel, Evan Lewis, Accor’s vice president of communications Asia-Pacific, said: “It is clear that we must take a position on free Internet. By the end of the year, Internet will be free in all Accor hotels across the Asia Pacific region.”

“Hotels with incumbent supplier contracts for Internet provision will align on expiration of these contracts,” he added.

Internet usage charges will not be completely abolished, however. Guests will be able to download emails and browse the web, but activities requiring extensive bandwidth – such as watching movies online – will incur a fee.

Reporting by Timothy France

ETIHAD Airways will ramp up the frequency of its Abu Dhabi-Singapore-Brisbane flights from three times a week to a daily service from February 1, 2013.

Operated on Airbus A330-200 aircraft with 22 business-class and 240 economy-class seats, the four additional flights will bring to 28 the total number of daily services Etihad Airways wields between Australia and Abu Dhabi, together with codeshare partner Virgin Australia.

James Hogan, president & CEO of Etihad Airways, said: “Going daily to Brisbane and Singapore puts Etihad Airways in a stronger competitive position and will increase the airline’s brand footprint exponentially in these markets.”

“These extra flights to Brisbane and Singapore underscore the strategic importance of Australia and the Asia-Pacific region and the contribution each makes to the airline’s goal of sustainable profitability.”

Queensland Premier, Campbell Newman, said Etihad’s plan to increase the number of flights was a boost to Queensland’s economy and tourism industry.

“This will see thousands of extra people a year coming into Queensland, injecting millions of dollars into our economy and resulting in more jobs being created,” he said.

ONYX Hospitality Group kicked-off last Friday construction on OZO Kandy, the third OZO development currently underway in Sri Lanka. The hotel is scheduled to open its doors in 2014.

Located adjacent to Hotel Suisse at Sangaraja Mawatha off Kandy Lake, the 128-room OZO Kandy is a joint venture between Sino Lanka Hotels Holdings and The Kandy Hotels Co. – owners of the Queen’s Hotel and Hotel Suisse in Kandy.

Facilities at OZO Kandy will include a swimming pool, a gym, two restaurants and a snack bar.

Simon Allison, executive vice president & chief development officer – ONYX Hospitality Group, said: “Tourism in Sri Lanka is booming and we have identified a gap in the market for a product like OZO. This brand offers value and comfort for travellers looking for insider experiences, combined with good connectivity and a great sleep.”

Since ONYX launched its OZO brand in 2009, a number of key projects have been announced. The inaugural OZO property, OZO Wesley Hong Kong, will launch in 2013, while OZO Chaweng Samui will open on Koh Samui in early 2014 (TTG Asia e-Daily, August 2, 2012).

Construction on OZO Colombo, located on Marine Drive in the capital, began earlier this year, while a third project is also in the pipeline in the coastal city of Galle.

ASEAN tourism ministers have finally endorsed a four-year joint marketing plan that is targeted at achieving the tourism objectives of the ASEAN Economic Community, due to take effect in 2015, and maintaining double digit tourism growth for the region.

The ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan 2011-2015 is the foundation of the ASEAN Tourism Marketing Strategy 2012-2015, adopted by ASEAN tourism ministers at ATF 2012 in Manado (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 12, 2012).

The plan will comprise a swathe of initiatives such as a new ASEAN for ASEAN campaign, a new website, as well as digital campaigns and special promotions targeting the growth markets of China, South Korea, Japan, India and Australia.

“Our strategy is designed to help build global recognition of South-east Asia as a competitive, world-class tourism destination,” said ASEAN secretary-general, Surin Pitsuwan.

“Our focus is on drawing visitors to the region and encouraging them to visit more than one country. As each has its own unique attractions, we will capitalise on the marketing capacity and resources of our individual NTOs to spread the word.”

ASEAN tourism marketing working group chairperson, Sansern Ngaorungsi, said: “While ASEAN’s niche, tactical campaigns will target sectors such as adventure, experiential, business and long stay, and show the diversity of ASEAN, mass tourism demand for mainstream attractions is expected to keep growing and bring important economic benefits to ASEAN destinations.”

One niche sector, cruise, is being favoured by ASEAN because riverine and sea cruise ships usually visit more than one destination. To promote cruise ship activity in the region, Singapore will be hosting the Cruise Shipping Asia-Pacific 2012 conference and tradeshow from September 17-18 (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 24, 2012).

BEST Western International (BWI) has launched Best Western Klassique Sukhumvit, the chain’s seventh hotel and third new opening of the year in the Thai capital.

Situated in the centre of Bangkok, close to the Thong Lor and Sukhumvit areas, Best Western Klassique Sukhumvit offers 42 guestrooms ranging in size from 23m2 to 46m2. The hotel features an all-day dining restaurant, Café @ Klassique, and one family suite to cater for parents travelling with children.

“The launch of Best Western Klassique Sukhumvit cements our diverse portfolio in the Thai capital, adding a modern, boutique option in an up- and-coming district of Bangkok,” said Glenn de Souza, BWI’s vice president International Operations – Asia & the Middle East.

So far this year, BWI has added two new hotels in the city: the 145-room Best Western Premier Sukhumvit, and 265-room Best Western Plus Grand Howard.

The addition of Best Western Klassique Sukhumvit expands the group’s Bangkok portfolio to seven hotels offering more than 900 rooms. This is expected to increase to 10 hotels with more than 1,300 rooms in the near future.

JET Airways has reconfigured some of its Boeing B777-300ER aircraft to accommodate more passengers, squeezing in an additional 34 economy-class seats per plane.

The Indian carrier achieved this by slotting in ten narrower seats per row where there were previously nine. The number of seats in first and business class remains at eight and 30, respectively.

The higher density B777-300ERs will initially be deployed on flights between New Delhi and London (Heathrow) starting October 16, and on Mumbai–London (Heathrow) services from November 1.

AIRASIA will raise the frequency of its Kuala Lumpur–Yangon services from daily to twice per day, starting October 8.

The additional frequency will depart Kuala Lumpur at 06.55 and arrive in Yangon at 08.00. The return sector will take off from Yangon at 08.30 and land in Kuala Lumpur at 12.50.

Ace Altair Travels managing director, Antony Leopold, said the flight timing for the additional frequency would be a great incentive for travellers wanting to arrive in Yangon early, so that they have more time to spare at the destination.

He added: “Yangon is also a new and emerging market that has just opened up. It is a good (source) market to tap as many passengers will be travelling outbound for the first time. We will work with our partners in Yangon to promote leisure group travel to Malaysia.”

AirAsia first started Kuala Lumpur–Yangon flights on July 20, 2010. The existing service departs Kuala Lumpur at 17.10 and arrives in Yangon at 18.20. The return leg leaves Yangon at 18.50 and reaches Kuala Lumpur at 23.05.

ABSOLUTE Hotel Services Group has unveiled the latest addition to its portfolio in Thailand, U Sukhumvit Bangkok, which is scheduled to open by early 2014.

Situated on Sukhumvit Soi 15, U Sukhumvit Bangkok will offer 94 rooms ranging in size from 30 – 40 m2. Facilities will include a themed all-day dining restaurant, a rooftop swimming pool, a fitness centre, a library/business centre, and free WiFi connectivity.

Denmark-based Evaristti Studios has been appointed as the interior designer for the project.

“With this being our second U property in Bangkok, we are delighted with the Thailand expansion of the brand – which now includes Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Kanchanaburi, with properties shortly to be announced in Hua Hin and Pattaya,” said Jonathan Wigley, CEO of Absolute Hotel Services Group.