The Travel Corporation names Melissa Dasilva as interim CEO
The Travel Corporation (TTC) has appointed Melissa DaSilva as interim chief executive officer of TTC Tour Brands.
DaSilva, who most recently served as president of TTC Tour Brands North America and brings over three decades of travel industry expertise to her new role, succeeds Gavin Tollman who will exit the business when the company sale closes later this year.
In her interim position, DaSilva will oversee TTC Tour Brands’ portfolio of six brands, which includes Trafalgar, Insight Vacations, and Contiki.
Plaza Premium Group welcomes new MD of global marketing, products and partnerships
Gigi Cheung has been appointed as managing director of global marketing, products and partnerships of Plaza Premium Group.
She brings over 24 years of experience in business development, partnerships, sales and consumer experience, and will take the lead in developing and implementing strategies to establish the company’s global marketing standards in her new role.
She was most recently the vice president for the launch of K11 MUSEA in Hong Kong as a cultural destination, and prior to that, she had a nine-year tenure at New World Development.
Japan to add more luxury hotels to national parks
Japan is working to have at least one luxury resort hotel in each of its 35 national parks by fiscal 2031 in a bid to make national parks more attractive to affluent inbound visitors, a core market in the country’s latest tourism plans.
The country’s national parks, which extend from the northernmost tip of Hokkaido to the southernmost islands of Okinawa, are already home to some high-end properties thanks to both public and private sector efforts, including The Ritz-Carlton, Nikko, which opened in Nikko National Park in 2020.
Still, the environment ministry wants to ensure every national park can accommodate affluent visitors, not only to increase the number of visitors but also their length of stay and level of engagement with nature.
“We aim to implement projects to increase the attractiveness of national parks using private-sector resources,” said environment minister Shintaro Ito of the plan, adding that the government’s goal is “world-class national parks based on the understanding of local communities and the idea of environmental conservation”.
As part of efforts, the environment ministry is running a pilot project to attract luxury hotels in four national parks including Towada-Hachimantai National Park, which stretches across Aomori, Akita and Iwate prefectures in northern Honshu, and Chubusangaku National Park, which covers Gifu, Nagano and Toyama prefectures in central Honshu.
National Parks have long been part of the government’s tourism growth plan, first a pillar in its Tourism Vision To Support Tomorrow’s Japan, launched in 2008, and now a core element of policies to increase the number of inbound visitors to 60 million annually by 2030.
Agoda, TPB Philippines to bring the world to the Philippines’ shores
Agoda has joined forces with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines to showcase the Philippines as a prime tourist destination while driving increased inbound tourism.
The collaboration, effective immediately, will run until December 15, 2024 with travel periods until March 31, 2025.
In promoting the vast cultural and natural beauty of the Philippines, both organisations will feature exclusive discounts and co-branded marketing campaigns aimed at attracting international travellers to both well-known and lesser-known cities across the Philippines. Campaign details will be prominently displayed on Agoda’s website and mobile app, as well as on the Travel Philippines mobile app.
“We are excited to partner once again with TPB through the latest programme as a significant step to leverage our digital expertise as well as our global network to showcase the myriad destinations and vibrant culture of the Philippines to a global audience,” said Agoda CEO Omri Morgenshtern.
TPB COO Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles shared: “This partnership allows us to utilise cutting-edge digital marketing strategies and valuable insights to promote our unique destinations and create memorable experiences for our tourists.”
Sustainability implementation in organisations still a work-in-progress: NTUC LearningHub
NTUC LearningHub has unveiled its Sustainability for Business Resilience Report 2024, which investigates sustainability as a business imperative, the current state of sustainability efforts in organisations, and the critical role of training and certifications.
Based on survey involving over 150 business leaders and 350 full-time working professionals, the report also highlights the in-demand job roles and skills that inform and shape individuals’ career progression while strengthening the business’ resilience.
The report showed that while sustainability is a growing business priority, only six per cent of business leaders report that their organisation has completed at least one round of sustainability implementation. This is in comparison to 14 per cent from an earlier sustainability report by NTUC LearningHub in 2022.
Nevertheless, a positive outlook remains as 72 per cent of business leaders share that their organisation will begin its sustainability journey within the next five years or more, marking a six per cent increase from the 2022 report.
The report also revealed that while employees perceive possessing the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and implement sustainability initiatives at the workplace, more than four in five business leaders say that there is a gap in expertise and skill sets around sustainability in their organisation. These include skills like climate change sustainability, environmental management system framework or policy, risk management, sustainability risk and impact assessment, and Environmental and Social Governance.
While nearly a third of business leaders report having sent their employees for sustainability-related training in the past year, only 11 per cent employees report attending sustainability-related training and 46 per cent are unaware of the available programmes in the market.
When sending employees for training, business leaders grapple with employees being too busy with work to attend training, difficulty in identifying industry-recognised courses and relevant external training providers or centres, insufficient budget for training programmes, and resistance to change among employees.
Meanwhile, employees have listed challenges such as being too busy with work, training programmes not being fully funded by their company, having no one to cover their work while they are away for training, uncertainty about their skills gaps, and limited in-house training programmes offered by their organisation.
Although nearly four in five business leaders agree that their organisation has clearly communicated how employees can contribute towards the organisation’s sustainability goals, both groups have differing views on the top motivators for sustainability initiatives implementation.
Employees report the top three motivators to be cost savings, complying with rules and regulations, and responding to market demand. On the other hand, business leaders cite responding to market demand as the primary driver, followed by achieving cost savings, and managing risks.
Moreover, 33 per cent of employees lack the confidence in their organisation’s ability to effectively implement sustainability initiatives, citing unclear sustainability goals, insufficient budget allocated to sustainability initiatives, and lack of sustainability training programmes as primary reasons.
Tay Ee Learn, chief sector skills officer, NTUC LearningHub, shared: “The findings suggest a possible disconnect between business leaders and employees… transparent communication is key, but organisations must first develop a clear sustainability roadmap with defined goals to ensure everyone is aligned.
“This involves prioritising workforce training and development to prepare employees for new and refreshed green roles. Investing in the development of their human capital will go a long way to reassure the workforce that they are valued, allowing both organisations and workers to remain competitive in a dynamic landscape.”
The Sustainability for Business Resilience Report 2024 can be viewed here.
Contiki launches limited-edition trip for travellers to explore France in one week
Contiki has announced a special departure of their brand-new trip France in a Week that gives travellers the chance to live out their French fantasies, inspired by Netflix’s series Emily in Paris.
The Inspired by Emily departure is a seven-day trip where fans can experience all things French, like visiting Paris’ most famous locations, creating their own signature scent at a perfumery, touring a château and a champagne house, going behind the scenes of a cabaret set that was used in the show, and more.
Additionally, travellers will take a tour of some filming locations in Paris and also visit the Palace of Versailles & Loire Valley after stopping at a classic Parisian pâtisserie for a pain au chocolat.
The limited-edition departure is in response to the growing trend of set-jetting, where travellers are flocking to locations popularised by movies, television and even games.
Keeping up with popular trends, Contiki also introduced the Taylor your Contiki campaign for fans who were travelling to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Europe.
The brand also launched a Paris to Rome by Train trip, which lets Emily-inspired travellers take their exploration one step further and visit Rome, taking them to Europe’s most romantic spots, including Venice, Milan & Lausanne, on comfy trains in just nine days.
“Understanding the latest youth travel trends and offering our travellers the right product to experience them is very important to us. So, when there was an opportunity to do a spin on one of our newest trips and make it exciting, we just knew we had to do something and give our travellers the chance to step into Emily’s shoes and live their main character moment in France,” shared Contiki CEO Adam Armstrong.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to see more of France, and this special departure is such a great way to experience it as more and more people want to visit the show’s iconic spots and filming locations. This trip covers that, and so many more experiences that are quintessential to the show. It’s going to be a blast for Emily fans,” added Nick Lim, CEO (Asia), The Travel Corporation.
Onyx Hospitality Group introduces new campaign for its Shama brand
Onyx Hospitality Group (Onyx) has launched a new campaign that will focus on creating immersive experiences and fostering a strong sense of community, redefining serviced apartment living for the modern traveller.
The Live Your Blended Life at Shama campaign will also be accompanied by a new brand video.
Shama, a serviced apartment brand originally from Hong Kong, was acquired by Onyx in 2010 and has since been expanding both in Thailand and internationally. The company recently launched three new Shama locations in 2024: Shama Hub Metro South in Hong Kong, Shama Hub Qiantang Hangzhou in China, and Shama Suasana Johor Bahru in Malaysia, with Shama Rayong in Thailand scheduled to open in 2027.
The Shama brand encompasses three distinct categories: Shama Luxe, Shama, and Shama Hub – Onyx has plans to expand Shama Hub in Thailand, Shama Luxe in Malaysia, and Shama in Laos in the near future.
A key feature of the Shama brand, and part of the new campaign, is the Shama Social Club.
As part of the Live Your Blended Life campaign, three exclusive Shama Social Club activities will be introduced each month. From October to December 2024, these activities comprise the Explorecation (explore + vacation) activity in October, which features a Floating Sound Bath experience; the Workshopping (work + shopping) activity, scheduled for November, which will help guests understand their unique colour profiles for outfit selection; and the Foodventure (food + adventure) activity, happening in December, that will allow guests to embark on a bike tour through Bangkok, sampling local flavours and learning photography tips.
“In addition to its prime location and excellent facilities, the Shama Social Club, a lifestyle programme of the Shama brand, will elevate the living experience by fostering connections, familiarity, and integration with surroundings and the local community. This programme is designed to make guests feel welcomed and at home from their very first visit, ensuring they adapt quickly and comfortably to their new environment,” said Onyx CEO Yuthachai Charanachitta.
Robust hotel pipeline enriches Philippine tourism development, boosts job creation
The Philippine hotel sector is showing resilience as investors seek opportunities throughout the country and put their money in upscale properties with international and homegrown brands.
Some 158 accommodation establishments are either planned or currently under development, and are set to add 40,084 new keys to the country’s room inventory over the next few years. These projects also represent a staggering 250 billion pesos (US$4.5 billion) in private investment and will create over 55,000 direct jobs, according to the 2024 Philippine Accommodation Pipeline Report of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) and Leechiu Property Consultants.
Geographically, half of the pipeline projects are in Luzon, the country’s economic hub, with 85 new accommodation and 20,116 keys.
Tourism centre Visayas gets 42 per cent of the lion’s share with 57 accommodation and 16,830 keys.
Mindanao represents eight per cent of the total or 16 new accommodation and 3,138 room keys, but is expected to continue on an upward trajectory as its economy continues to grow, the report said.
The report also noted the shift towards decentralisation of investments, with developers from Luzon and Visayas actively seeking expansion opportunities in a diverse range of locations, from Baguio City and New Clark City in Luzon to Davao and Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao.
The rise of alternative accommodation models like branded residences, serviced apartments and condotels signal a shift in market preferences as travellers seek home-like stays and investors look for long-term returns.
As integrated resorts (IR) thrive in the Manila Bay area, major developers are coming in with 2,863 keys in the pipeline, including Westside City Resorts, Hotel Okura Manila Bayshore, and Banyan Tree Manila Bay.
Visayas, particularly Cebu, Boracay and Panglao, is experiencing significant growth in upscale, upper upscale and luxury segments largely attributed to international connectivity. Resorts are seeing a notable surge in popularity especially in Panglao, Mactan and Palawan.
By 2028, when the Philippines aims to have 12 million foreign tourist arrivals, it will be supported by 8,969 new hotel keys across the country, 46 per cent of which will be from international hotel brands.
Centara Life elevates travel with flexible checkouts and late breakfasts
The Centara by Centara hotel brand has been reimagined as Centara Life, a rebranding exercise that is designed to offer greater brand clarity as well as improved convenience and flexibility for guests.
Centara Life introduces several innovative guest perks such being able to check in any time and enjoy a full 24-hour stay; flexible breakfasts served until 16.00; an always-open complimentary snack bar showcasing local snacks from each hotel’s locale; and a night-time noodle bar where travellers can enjoy late-night suppers.
According to Tom Thrussell, vice president – brand, marketing & digital of Centara Hotels & Resorts, the rebranding was driven by both functional and emotional needs and will “breathe new energy and life into the upper-midscale hotel sector” by focusing on what modern guests truly want – comfort, flexibility, and convenience at an attractive price.
The rebranding followed extensive market research and surveys of existing customers, with Thrussell saying that the new name and visual identity were influenced by the brand’s key customers.
“We learnt that the previous name, Centara by Centara, was not really very well understood by our customers,” Thrussell noted, adding that the decision to leverage the Centara name, while adding the term “Life” to differentiate it, has helped strengthen the brand’s identity and make it more relatable.
Furthermore, the brand caters to all types of travellers, from business to leisure, solo adventurers to families.
He added: “We also learnt that while customers and guests still crave security, comfort, quality of service, they need more than that now. Particularly in a post-Covid world, they crave flexibility, efficiency, and a break away from some of the traditional hotel rules. So, that’s what we’re looking to integrate into our service experiences.”
Operationally, offering these new perks across all rooms presents challenges, particularly during peak times. Thrussell acknowledged this, stating that in the interest of balancing guest expectations with operational feasibility, these offerings are available at a bookable rate, allowing guests willing to pay a premium to access full 24-hour stays and other benefits.
Centara Life hotels are already open in Bangkok, Krabi, Koh Samui, and other locations, with more destinations planned as part of Centara’s goal to double its global portfolio by 2027.
To celebrate the launch, the brand is offering a special promotion, allowing CentaraThe1 members to enjoy extra benefits, such as stay-three-pay-two deals and double points.
The Ascott has announced 28 new signings year-to-date in South-east Asia, adding over 3,400 units across its various brands in key destinations.
Accounting for more than half of Ascott’s global signings year-to-date, they will augment Ascott’s portfolio in South-east Asia to over 360 properties – both operational and in the pipeline – across 86 cities in nine countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
The new signings will also mark Ascott’s entry into new cities such as Purwakarta in Indonesia and Kulim in Malaysia.
Seven of Ascott’s newly signed properties in the region are under Oakwood, with openings in Cambodia as well as across several Indonesian cities, with properties like Oakwood Serpong, Oakwood Yogyakarta, Oakwood Merdeka Bandung, Oakwood Palm Hill Semarang and Oakwood Slipi Jakarta. The seventh addition, an Oakwood Premier property in Singapore, will mark the first Oakwood Premier branded property in South-east Asia since the brand’s refresh earlier this year.
The new signings also feature four Somerset properties, three Citadines properties, and two new properties for The Unlimited Collection in Penang, Malaysia. The lyf brand will add two new properties in Singapore – lyf Bugis Singapore, which opened in August 2024, and lyf Chinatown Singapore, currently under development.
Meanwhile, the growth of Ascott’s regional brands in South-east Asia is led by Harris with two signings, and one each for Preference and Fox. In 4Q2024, Ascott expects to open the first Harris property outside of Indonesia, Harris Hotel Sunshine Penang, in Penang; the state will also welcome its first lyf property, the 144-unit lyf Georgetown Penang.
Ascott also launched its Ascott Privilege Signatures programme earlier this year, which is an integral part of Ascott Star Rewards’ brand promise to ‘Stay Rewarded’. The programme caters to the growing demand for experiential travel by offering unique, ‘money-can’t-buy’ experiences, such as the inaugural event in London in July featuring an afternoon of fine dining at Le Gavroche alongside VIP access to the Wimbledon finals, and the upcoming Ascott Privilege Signatures events include exclusive experiences with Chelsea Football Club, following Ascott’s recent appointment as the club’s Official Global Hotels Partner.
Serena Lim, chief growth officer for Ascott, shared: “Ascott’s flex-hybrid hotel-in-residence model… (has) shown remarkable resilience during and after the pandemic, establishing itself as the preferred choice in the lodging industry.
“By employing a ‘glocal’ approach, we effectively broaden our reach with Ascott’s global brands while also delving deeper into the local destinations through our regional offerings. This strategy enables us to capture not only inbound travel to South-east Asia but also intraregional and domestic travel, further enhancing Ascott’s market performance.”
“Our diverse new offerings, which include beach resorts, boutique heritage hotels, full-service city hotels and premium serviced residences, will cater to a wide range of guest preferences,” added Wong Kar Ling, chief strategy officer and managing director of Southeast Asia for Ascott.