SINGAPORE Airlines’ new medium- and longhaul low-cost subsidiary Scoot has unveiled Sydney as its inaugural destination.

Scoot, which will operate out of Changi International Airport’s Terminal 2, will offer a daily service to and from Sydney when it takes flight in June next year.

With the launch of its first-ever route, Scoot will become the only budget carrier offering direct flights from Singapore to the capital of New South Wales, with competitors such as Jetstar and AirAsia X choosing to fly to other Australian destinations.

“Scoot’s decision to fly its first service between Sydney and Singapore from mid-2012 is fantastic news,” said Barry O’Farrell, premier of New South Wales.

“This is a significant step towards our goal of doubling tourism expenditure by 2020, placing Sydney front and centre of the boom in budget travel in emerging markets like Singapore, China and India.”

According to a report in Channel NewsAsia, Scoot’s choice of Sydney as its initial destination was the result of an alliance between Destination New South Wales (NSW) and Sydney Airport to promote Sydney to new airlines and compete for new routes.

As part of the agreement, Destination NSW will be also be working with Scoot, Sydney Airport and Tourism Australia on a two-year joint marketing initiative to promote the new route.

EVENT specialist Pacific World has consolidated its worldwide operations under a single brand umbrella as part of its ongoing global expansion.

The move will see its agencies in Europe and India, specifically Ultramar in Spain, TravelScotWorld in Scotland, TUI Hellas Corporate Services in Greece, Miltours in Portugal and Integrated Conference & Event Management and Mintcentives in India, being rebranded under the Pacific World banner.

With the addition of the aforementioned MICE agencies, Pacific World will now operate in 13 countries and over 30 destinations, compared to eight countries in Asia-Pacific previously.

Speaking to TTG Asia e-Daily, Manuel Ferrer, regional director South-east Asia of Pacific World, said: “Pacific World has been largely an Asian company, one that has built a strong reputation for delivering outstanding customer care and for being best in class in onsite operations. That is the identity of Pacific World for the past 30 years, and we must keep that and bring that reputation to Europe and North America.”

A fresh logo that resembles a key, and a new tagline – opening up perspectives – has also been adopted. The revamped corporate identity will be reflected in all marketing collaterals and Pacific World’s corporate booths at trade shows.

“We unveiled the new corporate look at EIBTM in Barcelona this week, and many business partners and even friendly competitors came by to say they loved it,” said Ferrer, adding that the group was also planning to sharpen its congress organisation and special events capabilities, and expand into destinations it does not already have a presence in.

Ferrer explained that while Pacific World had honed its expertise in destination management, the group “has also achieved excellence in PCO and special events capability in some destinations”, specifically capital cities where congresses often gather.

PHILIPPINE-based low-cost carrier Zest Air is making a major push into mainland China and South Korea.

Beginning December 12, Zest Air will operate from Chengdu to Kalibo every five days, with the return sector being operated on a similar frequency starting December 16. A thrice-weekly Manila-Jinjiang service will be launched starting December 22.

In South Korea, the carrier will operate twice-weekly Cebu-Muan services from December 29 to January 26, twice-weekly Cebu-Cheongju flights from December 31 to February 4, and twice-weekly Bacolod-Seoul (Incheon) services from January 4 to February 22.

All these flights will be operated using the airline’s 168-seater Airbus A320 aircraft.

THE PARENT company of American Airlines Inc. (AA), AMR Corporation, yesterday filed voluntary petitions for bankruptcy protection in the US, citing the need to achieve industry competitiveness.

“AMR’s board of directors determined that a Chapter 11 reorganisation is in the best interest of the company and its stakeholders. Just as with the company’s major airline competitors in recent years, the Chapter 11 process enables American Airlines and American Eagle to continue conducting normal business operations while they restructure their debt, costs and other obligations,” it stated in a press release.

It would be business as usual for the airlines during the Chapter 11 process, including flights, services, tickets and reservations, frequent flier programmes, and payment for suppliers, among others.

Thomas W. Horton, chairman, chief executive officer and president of AMR and American Airlines, said: “This was a difficult decision, but it is the necessary and right path for us to take – and take now – to become a more efficient, financially stronger, and competitive airline.”

He added: “But as we have made clear with increasing urgency in recent weeks, we must address our cost structure, including labor costs, to enable us to capitalise on these foundational strengths and secure our future. Our very substantial cost disadvantage compared to our larger competitors, all of which restructured their costs and debt through Chapter 11, has become increasingly untenable given the accelerating impact of global economic uncertainty and resulting revenue instability, volatile and rising fuel prices, and intensifying competitive challenges.”

AMR said that it has approximately US$4.1 billion in unrestricted cash and short-term investments and that it would be more than enough to pay for goods and services during the Chapter 11 process.

In a separate announcement, AMR Corporation’s board of directors appointed Horton chairman and chief executive officer of the company, succeeding Gerard Arpey, who is retiring. He will also succeed Arpey as chairman and CEO of AA and will retain the title of president.

HILTON Worldwide signed an agreement with Les Roches Jin Jiang International Hotel Management College (LRJJ) in China for a Hilton Class programme that will offer workplace training and other curricula for students.

“The Hilton Class program is part of our commitment to extend and deepen our presence in China. We believe it will not only benefit the industry, but also provide Hilton Worldwide access to best-in-class talent to support our ambitious goal of expanding from the current over 20 to more than 100 hotels over the next five years,” said Dave Osborne, senior vice president, HR Operations and Development, Hilton Worldwide.

The Hilton Class is said to be a groundbreaking collaboration between an industry player and a higher education institution for students to have the best of theoretical learning and workplace training.

Under the partnership, Hitlon Worldwide and LRJJ will select 20 top first-year students every year. Each will be offered three full-time internships at Hilton Worldwide’s managed properties throughout their course, gaining 18 months of training.

In addition, Hilton Worldwide will organise guest lectures, on-site visits and e-learning programs to prepare the students for the workplace. Students could also potentially secure job offers with the chain upon graduation.

THE Colombo-Tuticorin passenger ferry service between Sri Lanka and India, started with much promise in June (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 20, 2011), was suspended indefinitely on November 22 due to being economically unviable.

The service was operated twice a week by India-based Flamingo Liners using the Scotia Princess ship with a capacity of 1,000 passengers. The trip took 14 hours and was the first ferry service between the two countries in more than four decades.

Sunil Obadage, general manager of the state-owned Ceylon Shipping Corporation, the general sales agent in Colombo for the ship operator, said that the operator did not give any reason for the suspension. “However, with only an average of 150 passengers per journey, (we felt that) it was uneconomical for the operator,” he said.

The service was launched under a bilateral agreement between India and Sri Lanka. India is Sri Lanka’s biggest source market for tourists, but even though the fare was cheaper than an airline ticket, it only drew a few passengers.

Obadage said tickets cost Rs12,210 (US$107.20) per round-trip, half the price of airfare from the closest destination in India to Colombo.

S. Jaufer, managing director of Arugam Bay Travels, one of the local travel consultants promoting the service, said he was surprised by the suspension, since there were some 800 passengers lined up for travel in December. “The service has not gotten enough promotion, and Flamingo had promised to update the facilities on board and also launch a new promotion campaign,” he said.

THE THAI Hotels Association (THA) is collaborating with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to launch a 1+1 tactical to help stimulate bookings from December 15 to January 15 following the flood crisis in the country.

THA president, Prakit Chinamourphong, said the scheme aims to jumpstart market interest and counter sluggish bookings for December. Hotels nationwide have reported seeing only 30 per cent in bookings compared to the usual 65 per cent to 70 per cent during this period.

He said the flooding that affected parts of the country had an impact on travellers’ confidence, and the special promotion would help stimulate interest. “We hope the 1+1 special promotion will generate 20-30 per cent extra business during the one-month promotional period,” Prakit said.

THA expects about 50 per cent of its hotel members – about 800 in total – to participate in the scheme. It is hoping to have all the detains in place by December 10. The promotion will be launched through TAT’s 26 overseas offices.

“Our key targets are FITs from shorthaul markets,” said Prakit.

In addition, THA will be proposing that the Thai government offer relief measures for hotels affected by the floods in the form of stimulus loans and tax incentives, among others.

By Sirima Eamtako

DESTINATION New South Wales (NSW) has decided to open an office in Mumbai, in recognition of the importance of the Indian market for the state’s tourism industry.

The decision follows a five-day trade and investment mission to Mumbai by state premier Barry O’Farrell.

“Establishing an on-the-ground tourism presence in India, will allow the NSW government to further promote its ongoing relationship with the Indian market,” said George Souris, state minister for Tourism and Major Events.

“It will play a key role in achieving our target to double overnight visitor expenditure by 2020.”

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said the new India office would have the dual role of enticing more Indian holidaymakers to NSW and tapping into the burgeoning Indian incentive travel market.

She said the office would also represent Business Events Sydney and work closely with airlines, the travel trade, business event organisers and media to keep Sydney and NSW top of mind as a destination.

Lyn Lewis-Smith, acting CEO of Business Events Sydney said: “There are obvious synergies and it makes sense for Destination NSW and Business Events Sydney to work together to maximise the opportunities the Indian market presents for the state.”

According to Chipchase, India is currently NSW’s 11th largest tourism source market and last year contributed a 17 per cent rise in visitor numbers.

“In the year ending June 2011, we welcomed an additional 10,000 visitors from India and in the same period, total overnight expenditure from visitors from India was A$219 million (US$220 million),” she said.

Destination NSW has international offices in Singapore, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Auckland, London and Tokyo.

MELBOURNE has secured the right to host the International AIDS Conference in 2014, which would be the largest-ever medical conference to be held in Australia.

Louise Asher, minister for tourism and major events, said: “This six-day event, which will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in July 2014, will generate A$80 million (US$79.40 million) for the Victorian economy and is expected to attract more than 14,000 of the world’s leading scientists, healthcare providers and political, community and business leaders.”

Chief executive officer of the Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau (MCVB), Karen Bolinger, said this added to a string of health-related events recently secured for Victoria.

“The win follows the announcement of other major medical events we have won for Melbourne for 2014, including the 23rd World Cancer Congress and the World Congress of Cardiology,” Bolinger said.

“MCVB worked closely with the Australian Hotels Association to commit 12,000 rooms; the Department of Transport to assist with tailored public transport options; and the agent general of Victoria to secure the bid for Melbourne.”

The International AIDS Conference is organised by the International AIDS Society (IAS) in partnership with selected government, scientific and community partners from Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region, as well as international community partners and UNAIDS.

LOMBOK is starting to feel the positive impact of the opening of the new Lombok International Airport, with the arrival of the Russian market via Nordwind Airline chartered services.

A series of chartered flights organised by Pegas Touristik in Russia and handled by Go Vacation Indonesia brings passengers from Russia directly to Lombok on an Airbus 767-300ER with a capacity of 304 seats starting November 15.

Go Vacation Indonesia executive manager, product and contracting, Marika Gloeckler, said: “These are direct flights from Novosibirsk/Russia to Lombok on a regular basis, with a rotation of 13 nights back to back, to the island up to May 2012.”

The chartered flights are expected to bring up to 4,000 passengers during the period. Gloeckler added that there could be a second chartered programme from another city in Russia.

West Nusa Tenggara Tourism Office director, Lalu Gita Aryadi, said: “We are happy to see this progress, and we are working to entice more travellers and airlines, both domestic and international, to visit here.”