CARLSON Rezidor Hotel Group is joining forces with Bestech Hospitalities to open a bumper crop of Park Inn by Radisson mid-scale hotels in India.

The deal grants Bestech with exclusive rights to develop Park Inn by Radisson properties in central and north India, and will herald a new generation of Park Inn by Radisson targeted at the growing middle class in key emerging markets.

Carlson Rezidor will operate the new properties through a management company in which Bestech is a partner. Forty-nine Park Inn by Radissons are scheduled to open by 2024.

To kick off the expansion, Carlson Rezidor and Bestech will invest US$42 million in a joint venture to develop the first two properties, Park Inn by Radisson Gurgaon Sector 88 and Park Inn by Radisson Chandigarh, Mohali.

K.B. Kachru, executive vice president, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group said: “We jointly believe that Park Inn by Radisson provides an effective and compelling investment opportunity for the Indian hotel property market, and we are confident that we will be able to attract additional investors in pursuit of this opportunity.”

The 11 states covered by the partnership include Chattisgarh, Chandigarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand.

Park Inn by Radisson is currently present in 33 countries, with 127 hotels in operation and 65 in the pipeline.

SAN Miguel Corporation (SMC, one of the Philippines’ largest conglomerates, has purchased a 49-per cent stake in Philippine Airlines (PAL) and its low-cost subsidiary Airphil Express for PHP21.5 billion (US$500 million).

In a joint statement to shareholders, PAL chairman Lucio Tan and SMC president & COO Ramon Ang said: “The new investment will allow the two airlines to strengthen operations and stay competitive with the implementation of PAL and Airphil’s fleet modernisation programme.”

Lucio Tan will remain chairman and controlling shareholder of the Philippine flag carrier after the deal is concluded.

The sale comes after PAL’s announcement over the weekend of a new Manila-Bali route that will operate twice weekly, starting April 28.

PAL spokesperson Cielo Villaluna told TTG Asia e-Daily: “We are also planning to open a route connecting Cebu to Darwin, Australia, which is only three hours away. It is definitely in the pipeline.”

PAL received its fourth Airbus A320 last week, bringing its fleet to 37 planes. The carrier will acquire two more Boeing B777-300s by end-2012 and in 2013, respectively.

Meanwhile, SMC, which recently diversified into airport infrastructure development, is interested in investing in Clark International Airport.

Clark recently issued a PHP360 million tender for expansion of its existing passenger terminal, and is looking to construct a new budget terminal in anticipation of increased arrivals.

THE JAPANESE embassy in India has appointed VFS Global and Cox & Kings to process visa applications from Northern Indian states, effective April 2, 2012.

“We hope that the new system will ease the process of visa handling,” said Akitaka Saiki, Japan’s Ambassador to India.

VFS Global has also been tasked with managing two application drop-off offices in Punjab (Chandigarh and Jalandhar), while Cox & Kings will oversee a separate drop-off office in Rajasthan (Jaipur).

The new system will allow travellers to submit their visa applications from 08:30am – 17:30pm (Monday-Friday). Previously, requests could only be sumitted to the embassy from 09.30am – 12.00noon.

Meanwhile, the embassy, which is located in Chankyapuri, New Delhi will continue to accept applications for diplomatic and official visas, and other instances requiring special attention on humanitarian grounds.

The Japanese consulates in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata will continue to process applications from their respective regions.

Last year, 59,000 Indians travelled to Japan. The Japan National Tourism Organisation, which recently appointed Mileage Communication Delhi as its representative in India, is targeting 90,000 Indian arrivals this year.

Reporting by Divya Kaul

ONLINE short-term rental accommodation provider Roomorama.com, which is headquartered in Singapore, has merged with Lofty.com, a Europe-focused short-term rental site, in the process generating US$2.1 million in seed funding.

“By combining the strengths of both companies, Roomorama will now be the leading marketplace for mid-range to high-end rentals,” said Fabrice Grinda, founder of Lofty.

Incoming investors include Jose Marin, PROfounders Capital, Lerer Media Ventures, and Thrive Capital Partners.

According to a press statement, Roomorama registered an average gross booking value of US$1,330 last year, with over 80 per cent of bookings for 8-14 nights.

Booking statistics from Roomorama also revealed that the number of APAC travellers booking their accommodation via the platform had tripled as compared to when the company first expanded into the region in 1Q2011.

Roomorama currently lists 50,000 private properties in more than 3,600 locations worldwide, and is aiming to more than double its inventory by end-2012, with over 20 per cent of listings in Asia Pacific.

TAMAN Wisata Candi Prambanan, Borobudur dan Ratu Boko’s (TWCPB&RB) plan to implement a single pricing policy at Borobudur and hike the summit access fee from US$15 to US$20 starting June 1 has resulted in a backlash from tourism stakeholders in Jogjakarta.

Tri Agung Pramono Adi, director, Panorama Tours Jogjakarta said: “On one hand, we understand that the management is bound to agreements with international partners to apply a single pricing policy. However, the decision is very difficult for the trade like us to implement.”

“For international tourists, a Jogjakarta package is already more expensive than one for Bali. International operators have even compared our package prices to Vietnam and Cambodia (for similar heritage products), saying ours are much more expensive.”

“As for domestic tourists, it is very difficult to justify such a huge increase,” he added.

Bagus Baliantoro, president, Dewata Sakti Tours Jogjakarta, said: “I am afraid we will see more agents putting Borobudur as an optional tour. Those who want to climb up the temple will have to pay extra, because the package will become too expensive if we put the cost in.”

Edwin Ismedi Himna, chairman, Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies Jogjakarta chapter said: “Jogjakarta is still dependent on Bali as a tourist gateway, especially for longhaul travellers. If the entry fee is increased, I am afraid our partners in Bali will take Jogjakarta out of their packages and make it an optional tour, as Borobudur is a major highlight for Jogjakarta tours.”

“I understand the value of a (UNESCO) World Heriage site, and I do not mind the price if Jogjakarta airport becomes an international gateway attracting direct flights from overseas,” he added.

Tazbir Abdullah, director, Jogjakarta Tourism Office said: “Jogjakarta is working very hard to grow the number of arrivals. I appeal to the (Borobudur) management to consider (the potential impact on both domestic and international traffic) before implementing a (new price structure).”

SINGAPORE-based General Hotel Management (GHM) was forced out of the Setai South Beach in Miami when representatives of the owning company stormed the hotel at 2.30am last Saturday, complete with armed guards and off-duty sheriff officers in uniform, and informed GHM it was no longer welcome on the property.

Guests of the luxurious property woke up on Sunday, April 1, to a hotel managed by US-based Trevi Luxury Hospitality Group, which the owning company, Setai Owners LLC, a unit of Lehman Brothers, installed following the overnight takeover. It was not an April Fools’ joke.

Hans Jenni, president of GHM, responding via email to TTG Asia e-Daily’s request for comment, described the takeover as “simply shocking”, and posed serious questions whether management agreements today were of any value.

“These actions took us by surprise, as we had no prior indication they were intending to do this, nor were we under the impression that they were unhappy with our performance. We had just achieved the second best financial performance year since the inception of the hotel, not an easy accomplishment in the current economic environment.”

A report in USA Today quoted lawyer William Brewer III, a partner at Bickel & Brewer and counsel for the owner, as saying the owner claimed the hotel should be more profitable.

In contrast, a similar takeover last year on behalf of the owners of Marriott’s former Edition Waikiki – also orchestrated by Brewer – was over the hotel’s financial losses.

Jenni said: “At this time we are not in a position to comment on the specifics of their allegations. We are in conversations with our lawyers and will take the necessary steps to ensure that Lehman Brothers complies with the requirements of the management contract in place.”

“The allegations shared by Lehman Brothers’ council are defamatory, damaging and without basis. Lehman Brothers have ignored a valid contract, stormed the hotel and have taken the law into their own hands.”

“Their lawless behavior is sending the message that no contract is enforceable.”

Adrian Zecha, founder of Amanresorts and non-executive chairman and director of GHM, said: “It was GHM that created the Setai concept and experience, leading the hotel to achieve numerous industry recognitions.”

“Under GHM management, The Setai South Beach has provided a strong resident experience that has been key to maintaining and increasing the value of the individual properties, creating record breaking prices for the property sales,” he added.

EXPEDIA and TripAdvisor have filed antitrust complaints against Google with the European Commission, joining a growing list of companies who have accused the Internet search giant of breaching European Union (EU) competition laws by rigging online search results.

Complaints by the two OTAs reportedly centred on Google Flight Search, a new web-based service launched last year that allows users to search for and purchase airline tickets, similar to services offered by Expedia and TripAdvisor.

So far, the EU competition watchdog has received 13 separate complaints, all of which claim that Google is rigging online search results to direct users to its own services, while reducing the visibility of competing websites and services.

The Commission’s initial findings will be revealed later this month, according to Joaquin Almunia, EU commissioner.

PAN PACIFIC Hotels Group will open the Pan Pacific Tianjin in 2013, adding to three other properties scheduled for launch in Ningbo and Shanghai this year.

Offering panoramic views of Haihe River, the 330-room Pan Pacific Tianjin will form part of The Esplanade, a mixed-use development comprising residential apartments, a retail mall and an office tower.

The hotel will feature an all-day dining outlet, a Chinese restaurant and a lobby lounge. Facilities include an executive lounge, a business centre, an indoor swimming pool, a health club and spa, and several meeting and function spaces.

“Pan Pacific Tianjin marks our ongoing commitment to grow our brand footprint in China, a key growth market for the group,” said A. Patrick Imbardelli, president & chief executive of Pan Pacific Hotels Group.

The hotel chain will also open Pan Pacific Ningbo and Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Ningbo this June, while its Parkroyal brand will debut in China when the Parkroyal Service Suites Green City, Shanghai opens by end-2012.

Outside China, Parkroyal on Pickering, the flagship Parkroyal in Singapore will launch in November 2012. A serviced suites project is also slated to open in Singapore by year-end.

Meanwhile, Pan Pacific Singapore has released more details of its upcoming multi-million dollar facelift.

The extensive S$80 million (US$63 million) makeover for the 790-room hotel will see guest rooms, restaurants and the lobby undergo a major transformation. The highlight addition will be the 360-degree view Pacific Club on the topmost floor.

Pan Pacific Singapore will close on April 15 and is scheduled to re-open part of its premises and facilities – 150 rooms and public areas on level one – from August 2012, and is expected to be fully operational in September.

JET Airways has threatened to pull its inventory from leading Indian OTAs if they refuse to abolish a controversial practice that only reveals the carrier’s identity after a customer has purchased a flight ticket to a particular destination.

Recently, OTAs such as MakeMyTrip.com, Yatra.com and Goibibo.com have been found to be offering heavily discounted tickets without revealing the airline’s identity until payment is completed.

Some customers who booked flights operated by Kingfisher Airlines were subsequently left stranded when the beleaguered airline culled its operations.

Nikos Kardassis, CEO, Jet Airways described the ongoing practice as a “scam” and “damaging (to) the market”. The airline has since filed a complaint with India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Many travel trade members have also expressed discontent about this non-transparent method of selling air tickets.

Rakesh Lamba, director, Prakriti Holidays New Delhi said: “It is of utmost importance for travel consultants to provide transparent and legitimate services to passengers. We do not mask and sell.”

Anju Desai, vice president, HMA Travel Mumbai warned: “Selling tickets below cost may be more damaging than empty seats on flights.”

One of the OTAs, MakeMyTrip.com, has since promised that it will relook the way it displays fares on its portal.