STARTING September 23, Vladivostok Air will operate two flights per week on the Vladivostok-Hong Kong-Singapore route, using Airbus A320 aircraft configured with 12 business-class and 138 economy-class seats.

This marks the resumption of flights between Vladivostok in the Russian Far East and Singapore, a route that was previously operated by Aeroflot in the late-1990s.

Vladivostok Air does not have traffic rights between Hong Kong and Singapore.

Meanwhile, the Russian carrier has signalled its intention to expand into Asia-Pacific with flights to Bali, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok.

Besides aiming to facilitate growing corporate travel between South-east Asia and the Russian Far East, Vladivostok Air is also hoping to open up winter vacation options to those wishing to escape the harsh Russian winter.

SWISSÔTEL Hotels & Resorts has launched an all-new loyalty programme, Swissôtel Circle, which accords preferential treatment and special privileges to its guests staying at any property in the hotel chain’s international portfolio.

The membership is divided into three alpine-inspired tiers: Inizia, Elevà and Zenit.

Guests will qualify for the Inizia tier as soon as they have registered and stayed for five nights in one or more of the chain’s properties. These guests will be able to avail of personalised room preferences, priority waitlist status, complimentary access to spa and sport facilities, and Advantage Awards, which they may exchange for complimentary upgrades, breakfast or Internet access.

After staying for 20 nights within a 12-month period, guests will automatically qualify for Elevà status. At this level, guests will be able to avail of complimentary breakfast and Internet access, executive lounge access, 48-hours guaranteed room availability, and Premier Awards, which they may exchange for complimentary room nights or dinner for two.

Guests will reach the Zenit category after spending 60 nights in two or more Swissôtel properties within one year. Members will be able to avail of free upgrades, invitations to Swissôtel Circle events, a partner card providing the same status and benefits to their spouse, 48-hour guaranteed room availability without black-out dates, and Zenit Awards, which they may exchange for free weekends stays in suite accommodation.

The membership for Elevà and Zenit status is subject to renewal every 24 months.

A detailed overview of Swissôtel Circle and its benefits, services and qualification criteria can be accessed at www.swissotelcircle.com.

EVEN though their ‘co-branding’ arrangement has ended, ITB and SATTE are still “working closely with one another to promote each other’s show”, according to UBM India group director, Sajid Desai, in response to the Daily’s article on Wednesday, India tradeshows hot up.

Next year’s SATTE, the 19th edition, would be a bigger show, he said. It has been extended to three days, February 10-12, from two. More than 50 countries and 6,000 visitors are expected to participate. In addition, there will be a buyer-meet-seller edition in Mumbai from February 15-16.

TWO SIX Senses Resorts and Spas-branded properties in Hua Hin and Phuket are among seven properties listed for sale, as Thailand is seeing a rebound in foreign investor confidence in the local hotel industry, according to Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels.

Besides the two upscale properties, the hotel investment services firm is also searching for buyers for the Swiss Park Hotel Bangkok, a 50-key boutique resort in Koh Samui, a 100-key serviced apartment in Bangkok, and two 49 per cent-stakes in Centara Karon Resort Phuket and Centara Kata Resort Phuket, respectively.

In the first half of 2011, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels sealed deals for two properties – Laguna Beach Resort Phuket for 1.5 billion baht (US$49.9 million) in February, and Sofitel Silom Bangkok for two billion baht in March.

Mike Batchelor, managing director – investment sales of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, said he expected hotel transaction sales in Thailand for the year to exceed last year’s figures.

Batchelor said investor confidence in Thailand’s hotel sector started to return from last year, when the firm saw a total of 5.5 billion baht in transactions for Baan Taling Ngam Koh Samui, Mercure Koh Samui, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket and the Yamu project in Phuket.

Last year’s transactions came on the back of nil activity in 2009 due to the global financial crisis, but the figure is still a far cry from the record year in 2006, when 15.9 billion baht in deals were secured.

By Sirima Eamtako

THE 1MALAYSIA Tanglung (Lantern) Festival to be held on September 10 in Kuala Lumpur is a fine example of collaboration between the government and private sector to develop a tourism product, said the country’s tourism minister, Ng Yen Yen.

The one-day event in Chinatown comprises lantern-based participatory activities and stage performances by Chinese and other ethnic groups. This year’s festival is expected to attract 40,000 local and foreign visitors, a 74 per cent increase over last year’s 23,000 guests.

Since 2009, the tourism ministry has been providing a non-governmental organisation, the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall (KLCAH), with an annual grant of RM250,000 (US$84,000) to organise the full-day event and facilitate the involvement of local cultural organisations.

“KLCAH has gained the support and participation of 250 cultural associations for this year’s festival. (The ministry’s) role has been to promote the event,” Ng said.

Efforts to target international tourists included informing agents as well as posting the event on the ministry’s tourism calendar.

“The date is on our tourism calendar, which spans three years. This will give agents a chance to plan and develop packages around this event,” Ng said. “Tourists already in the country will be informed of the festival via their hotels.”

Come 2014, the KLCAH will have to self-fund the festival.

“As the numbers show, the festival has grown in popularity since its commencement. Given this situation, the KLCAH should easily be able to obtain sponsorship from other sources,” Ng said.

By N. Nithiyananthan