GOOGLE Street View’s (GSV) launch in Thailand last Friday will provide tourists and travel companies with a new tool to explore and promote the destination.

GSV, a technology featured in Google Maps and Google Earth, provides street-level panoramic views of a location or landmark.

Thailand is the second South-east Asian nation, after Singapore, to offer the service, which was introduced in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket, and is set to expand to other cities and UNESCO World Heritage sites.

“To be able to feature in Google Street View, this is a step ahead for us,” said Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor, Suraphon Svetasreni. “If you talk about our competitors in the region and worldwide, countries are doing everything possible to woo tourists, that’s why Thailand has to grab opportunities.”

“In Thailand, we have so many different places and activities that can be publicised through this channel. (GSV) opens up opportunities and stimulates curiosity for travellers who are looking for something different,” he added.

GSV is expected to benefit tourists and tourism businesses alike, through providing a means to explore destinations and plan itineraries without having to visit beforehand.

“Everyone is using the Internet to plan their trip. Being able to see the destination you are visiting is a good advantage,” said Ariya Banomyong, country business manager for Google Thailand.

Tourism businesses can also embed the service on their websites, giving potential customers a starting point to preview the area being considered for travel.

Suraphon said: “In Bangkok, Street View will benefit hotels in terms of exposure and how to find the location, as well as other services like restaurants. In Phuket, there are many natural attractions and viewpoints to see, and in Chiang Mai there are many historical sights and temples to explore.”

As part of Thailand’s My Miracle campaign, TAT has launched an online poll inviting Thais to nominate and vote for their favourite locations within the country. The top ten locations will be mapped by GSV and presented in a special collection to promote travel.

Reporting by Timothy France

BANGKOK Airways has commenced a codeshare arrangement with Malaysia Airlines (MAS) on selected domestic services, and international routes between Thailand and Malaysia.

Effective March 25, the arrangement applies to Bangkok Airways’ Bangkok-Koh Samui (31-weekly), Bangkok-Phuket (twice-daily), Bangkok-Chiang Mai (twice-daily), Koh Samui-Phuket (twice-daily), and Koh Samui-Kuala Lumpur (daily) services due to launch on March 31.

Bangkok Airways will codeshare on MAS’ Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok (thrice-daily) and Kuala Lumpur-Phuket (twice-daily) routes.

MAS senior vice president international affairs, Germal Singh, said: “The codeshare fits nicely into the needs of our travellers. They now have better options to get to Chiangmai via Bangkok, or on circuit trips like KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport)-Phuket-Koh Samui-Bangkok-KLIA.”

Bangkok Airway’s senior vice president – network, Peter Weisner, said: “This new partnership will offer better connectivity for passengers travelling on MAS longhaul routes to KLIA for their onward journey to Koh Samui. Our departure times from KLIA bring in good traffic flow from both Europe and Oceania. We are also expecting a sizable number of Malaysian tourists to Koh Samui.”

Reporting by N. Nithiyananthan

KOSMOPOLITO Hotels International has rebranded the former Maytower Hotel & Serviced Residences under its Silka Hotels portfolio.

The 179-key Silka Maytower Hotel & Serviced Residences, Kuala Lumpur features a swimming pool, a fitness centre, and a single F&B outlet.

MICE facilities include a 200-pax ballroom and several smaller meeting rooms.

CHINA Eastern Airlines and Qantas have entered into a strategic partnership to create Jetstar Hong Kong, the first low-cost carrier based in the SAR.

Jetstar Hong Kong will incorporate both partners’ local knowledge and networks to service shorthaul routes in Asia, including Greater China, Japan, South Korea and South-east Asia.

Subject to regulatory approval, operations are scheduled to begin in 2013 with a fleet of three Airbus A320s, growing to 18 A320s by 2015.

Jetstar Group CEO, Bruce Buchanan, said: “This is a unique opportunity for Jetstar to capitalise on the enormous potential of the Greater Chinese market, where the penetration rate of low-cost carriers is less than five per cent.”

Chairman of China Eastern Airlines, Liu Shaoyong, said: “We believe there are huge opportunities for the Jetstar low fares model throughout Asia, including Greater China, and are excited to be the first major Chinese carrier to bring this travel option to the region.”

“Cooperation with Qantas Group is a key step in China Eastern Airlines’ international expansion strategy, and an excellent opportunity for China Eastern Airlines to develop low-cost carrier operations to complement its existing business model,” he added.

According to Qantas Group CEO, Alan Joyce, the alliance with China Eastern will provide a platform for the Australian flag carrier to tap the Asian aviation market.

“We see tremendous potential for the Qantas Group in Asia and we’re looking forward to working more closely with China Eastern Airlines to deliver on it,” he said.

Jetstar Hong Kong will have a total capitalisation of up to US$198 million, with China Eastern Airlines and Qantas Group as equal partners in the joint venture.

NATAS has signed an MoU with leading GDSs such as Amadeus, Abacus and Galileo by Travelport to kick-start a new corporate ticketing consultant development scheme run by the Tourism Management Institute of Singapore (TMIS).

Targeted at school leavers considering a career as a corporate ticketing consultant, the programme forms part of the NATAS Industry Accreditation initiative, which is slated for launch sometime later this year.

During the inaugural session, around 20 individuals will be introduced to the basics of operating Amadeus’ corporate reservation system, through a series of classroom training and scenario-based practicum sessions utilising live GDS data. Participants will be given a monthly stipend of about S$1,500 (US$1,190). Subsequent courses will expose trainees to the reservation systems offered by other GDSs.

Robert Khoo, CEO of NATAS said: “Currently, (travel) consultancies dedicate very little time to formal training for new staff members, as managers are often bogged down by day-to-day operations. This new course ensures that recruits hit the ground running, saving firms both time and money. With this new programme, we hope to fulfill the demand for (travel industy) professionals, and to pave the way for future development in professional training for the industry.”

Singapore nationals and permanent residents who undertake the training will have up to 90 per cent of their course fees subsidised by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency. Newly qualified corporate ticketing consultants are expected to serve a bond.

Some 19 travel consultancies including American Lloyd Travel Services, Fortune Travel, Mandarin Tour, Pinnacle Travel Services, STA Travel, Sunny Holidays and Thoha Travels and Tours have signed up for the programme so far.

TMIS and NATAS are looking to train up to 60 corporate ticketing consultants before year-end. If demand is high, the programme will be reintroduced in 2013.

GARUDA Indonesia registered 27.2 trillion rupiah (US$3.02 billion) in revenue last year, a 39.1 per cent increase over the 19.5 trillion rupiah earned in 2010.

The flag carrier recorded an operational profit of 1.01 trillion rupiah for 2011, compared to a loss of 67.2 billion rupiah the year before. Net income over the same period was 859 billion rupiah, more than double the figure in 2010.

Garuda vice president corporate communications Pujobroto said: “The increase in revenue and comprehensive profit was the result of the company’s operational expansion through Quantum Leap and efficiency programmes, and optimising resource and aircraft utility.”

The airline expects to boost overall sales by at least 20 per cent this year, according to CFO, Elisa Lumbantoruan.

Garuda carried 13.9 million domestic and 3.2 million international passengers in 2011, a 36.2 per cent jump over the year before.

Flight frequencies in 2011 were up 26.6 per cent to 130,043, including 108,381 domestic and 21,662 international flights. The average load factor increased from 71.7 per cent in 2010, to 75.2 per cent last year.

SPECULATION is rife that Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will open a second Traders Hotel in Singapore, once work on Orchard Gateway, a mixed-use project being jointly developed by OCBC Bank, Great Eastern Holdings and United Engineers Limited, is completed in 2013.

Located at 277 Orchard Road, the site, which once housed Hotel Phoenix and Specialists’ Shopping Centre, will feature a proposed 512-room hotel, which will be integrated into a 20-storey building designed by Tange Associates.

The building will also feature 16,722m2 of retail space over six floors, and will be connected to an 11-storey office building across the street, via a glass overhead bridge straddling Orchard Road.

When TTG Asia e-Daily contacted Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, the group behind the four-star Traders Hotel brand, the hotel chain did not vehemently deny nor confirm that it had been engaged by the developers to manage the hotel.

A spokesperson for Shangri-La Hotel and Resorts said: “We cannot reveal anything at the moment. All we can say is that we will issue a press statement sometime in the near future.”

A row of conservation houses outside the office building will house the Singapore Tourism Board’s Singapore Visitor Centre. In addition, visitors to Orchard Gateway will be able to access Discovery Walk, a passageway lined with all-day and all-night eateries.

CEBU Pacific (CEB) has launched thrice-weekly services between Hong Kong and Kalibo, Boracay, with fares on the route starting from HK$428 (US$55) for a one-way ticket.

“Cebu Pacific now offers passengers from Hong Kong and Southern China direct access to Kalibo with no need for connecting flights,” said CEB vice president for marketing & distribution, Candice Iyog.

CEB also operates six daily flights from Hong Kong to Manila, Cebu and Clark.

Manila-Siem Reap services are scheduled for inauguration on April 19, 2012.

INTERNATIONAL real estate management firm Savills has signed an agreement to manage the Savills Residence Century Park in Shanghai.

Scheduled to open in June 2012, the property, located on Huamu Road in Pudong district, will offer 63 one- and two-bedroom apartments, and two three-bedroom penthouses.

International schools located at Green City are a few minutes drive away.

Neil Harvey, director of Savills Residence, said: “We look forward to offering a new level of serviced apartment quality, with stylish, thoughtful design and polished service here in Shanghai.”