SMALL Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) will open a representative office in Shanghai in the second quarter, as part of efforts to boost the hotel consortium’s presence in China.

Besides appointing Weber Shandwick as its public relations agency in China, other efforts to tap the China market include participating in this year’s International Luxury Travel Market Asia in Shanghai and China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market in Beijing.

A number of roadshows in major urban centres including Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing have also been scheduled.

According to Brandon Chan, director of sales – Asia Pacific, SLH, the majority of guests staying in SLH hotels in China originate from Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Singapore.

On the other hand, the group’s Chinese clientele head mostly to European destinations such as Paris, Rome, Milan and London, with the majority choosing to embark on multi-city itineraries.

“China is one of the largest and fastest growing markets for us here in Asia,” said Chan, who expects SLH bookings for the Asia-Pacific region to grow by 10-15 per cent this year.

“An emerging affluent middle class is fuelling the strong growth in (Chinese) demand for luxury hotels and products.”

“More Chinese, especially those in the 30 to 40 age band, are venturing outside Asia, and are exploring exotic destinations such as the Maldives,” he added.

So far, four hotels in China have been added to SLH’s portfolio this year – one each in Yunnan, Shanghai, Nanjing and Beijing.

A SLEW of new land-based services have boosted the number of options available to budget travellers looking to commute between Thailand and Laos.

Thai domestic LCC Nok Air introduced a new Fly ‘n’ Ride service from Bangkok to Vientiane on March 14. The service consists of a budget flight from Bangkok to Udon Thani, followed by a coach ride to the Thai Lao Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai—where travellers are processed through immigration before boarding a second bus to Vientiane.

To introduce the new service, Nok Air is offering an all-inclusive online fare of 3,200 baht (US$104) per pax. Compared to a direct flight from Bangkok to Vientiane, Nok Air’s Fly ‘n’ Ride service offers significant cost savings for budget travellers.

Meanwhile, Thai coach operator The Transport Company is planning to launch a new air-conditioned direct bus service from Udon Thani to Vang Vieng in Laos. The service is expected to help develop Vang Vieng from an overnight stop between Vientiane and Luang Prabang into a destination in its own right.

“Our service will not only benefit the tourism industry, but also trading and logistics between Thailand and Laos,” said The Transport Company managing director, Wuttichat Kanlayanamit.

The Udon Thani-Vang Vieng route will be the company’s ninth between Thailand and Laos. The others include Chiangmai-Luang Prabang, Udon-Thani Vientiane, Nong Khai-Vientiane, Khon Kaen-Vientiane, Nakon Ratchasima-Vientiane, Ubon Ratchathani-Pakse, Mukdahan-Savannakhet, and Nakhon Phanom-Thakhek.

Reporting by Chami Jotisalikorn

THE CHONBURI Provincial Administration Organisation, which oversees tourism development in Pattaya, has set a target of 10 million international and domestic visitors and 100 billion baht (US$3.26 billion) in tourism recipts for the resort destination by 2015.

According to figures from Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Pattaya received 8.3 million arrivals in 2010, a 93.1-per cent jump over 2009. For the period January-June 2011, there were 724,273 Thai and 3,070,635 foreign visitors to Pattaya.

“Tourism to Pattaya still has potential to grow,” said Chonburi Provincial Administration Organisation chief executive Vitaya Khunplome, who cited increasing hotel investment as an indicator of the city’s tourism potential.

A total of 5,000 luxury hotel rooms will open in Pattaya over the next three years, with the new developments expanding out of central areas into the neighboring Sattahip and Na Kluea districts along the coast.

Ministry statistics show that Russia, China, Germany, Taiwan and India were the top five international source markets for Pattaya last year.

To tap these markets, the Chonburi Provincial Administration Organisation has set asode a 40 billion baht budget to support tourism events like the Pattaya Countdown and Pattaya International Music Festival, and to participate in international trade shows such as ITB Berlin, SATTE in New Delhi, and Luxury Leisure in Moscow.

Reporting by Chami Jotisalikorn

A SURGE in foreign investment and trade missions to Sri Lanka is expected to grow the destination’s business travel segment, as well as its ability to host business events.

Speaking to TTG Asia e-Daily on the sidelines of a Sri Lanka Business Association investment seminar, Duminda Ariyasinghe, executive director (investment promotion), Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, said: “Increased trade missions to Sri Lanka will benefit tourism arrivals, while property investments will boost the country’s infrastructure. Singapore arrivals into Sri Lanka are growing (up 34.3 per cent between 2010 and 2011), and trade missions and business trips are playing a part.”

“Then, there is Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, which is going to open two hotels in Sri Lanka,” he added.

The Hong Kong-based hotel chain will open the 661-key Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo in mid-2015. Its second property in Sri Lanka, the 315-key Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa, will open in 2014, and will be surrounded by an 18-hole golf course.

Other upcoming foreign investments include an US$800 million resort development in Katana by South Africa’s Sun City; the US$250 million Havelock City luxury residential, commercial and lifestyle project in Colombo, backed by Singaporean S.P. Tao who was also behind the capital’s World Trade Centre; and a US$115 million mixed-use development by Singapore’s Mustafa Shopping Centre.

According to Ariyasinghe, the Sri Lankan government is also planning to establish a waterfront development in Colombo comprising a convention centre as well as commercial and entertainment outlets, although no timeline has been set as yet.

Hiran Cooray, chairman, Jetwing Hotels, said Sri Lanka was “poised to (become) a premium MICE destination”. “We may not build something like Resorts World Sentosa right away; maybe within the next five years,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jetwing Hotels is busy expanding its portfolio to cater to the increasing number of Asian visitors to Sri Lanka. The group has overhauled and repositioned the former Blue Lagoon in Negombo from a two-star resort into the luxurious Jetwing Blue Negombo, complete with meeting facilities including a grand ballroom for 800-pax (theatre-style).