MARCO Polo Hotels is determined to return to South-east Asia, particularly Singapore, with president Steve Kleinschmidt saying the group was now proactively seeking management contracts in the region.

Director of development Asia-Pacific, James Mabey, who joined in January, has been busy scouring South-east Asia for opportunities. “Previously, our focus was exclusively on China,” Kleinschmidt said.

Thus far, the search has resulted in MoUs for four resorts in Thailand. Kleinschmidt said he was “relatively close” to signing an MoU for a hotel in Bangkok, but would not say more.

Kleinschmidt is under no illusions, however, and conceded that Singapore would take longer. He is hoping to secure a hotel there within three years.

“In Singapore, we’re looking at opportunities to reflag an existing hotel, in a core area, that meets Marco Polo standards in terms of size and potential for refurbishment. But there aren’t many,” he said.

Jakarta, where the group previously had an Omni hotel, is also on the radar.

Owned by Hong Kong’s Wharf Holdings, Marco Polo operates 10 hotels and has 11 in the pipeline, mostly in China. Kleinschmidt said the group was “well-ahead” of its target to grow its portfolio to 30 hotels (opened and in the pipeline) by 2016. He said Marco Polo would maintain its mix of 50 per cent owned hotels and 50 per cent management contracts.

Kleinschmidt admitted Marco Polo had been relatively quiet in development despite the long history of the brand, but said this was because it was under no pressure to grow for the sake of growth.

“More importantly is, we may be small, but we are a profitable, strong, consistent hotel company. In several markets where we’re surrounded by the multinationals (global chains), such as in Wuhan and Shenzhen, our hotels surpass theirs in RevPAR,” he said.

– Marco Polo’s resurgence, read the strategy, TTG Asia, July 8 issue

THE TOURISM Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s promotional video, Hearing the Sunshine, has attracted more than 300,000 views on various social media channels since its premiere in early June. This figure includes more than 100,000 hits on YouTube within the last week.

Sugree Sithivanich, director of TAT’s advertising and public relations department, said the interest shown in the video was significant, as it had been produced as part of the Thai NTO’s efforts to restore Thailand’s image as a safe destination, and to reiterate the Amazing Thailand, Always Amazes You branding.

“Over the last few years, Thailand’s image has been battered by several factors,” he said. “The phenomenal feedback on the film signifies visitors’ continued interests in our country.”

Hearing the Sunshine is divided into seven episodes, and is based on two real travellers: a sound artist and a photographer. By featuring real stories narrated by previous visitors to Thailand, the TAT is hoping to give prospective visitors a realistic picture of tourism in the country.

The promotional video is part of TAT’s The Most Amazing Show on Earth campaign, which includes a photography competition on the microsite www.mostamazingshow.com, and a television commercial broadcasted on international networks.

The Most Amazing Show on Earth campaign is likely to be carried forward into TAT’s 2012 tourism marketing strategy, which is in the process of being mapped out.

By Sirima Eamtako

INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group (IHG) will take over the management of the Silver Shores International Resort in Danang, and rebrand it as a Crowne Plaza from September 27.

Launched in January last year, the convention and casino resort currently has 422 available rooms, and will start operating an additional 113 rooms in late September. Construction on its second phase development, involving 52 villas in the resort’s secluded quarter, will begin later this year.

The resort’s facilities include an 820m2 grand ballroom, seven meeting rooms, four F&B outlets, a recreational centre and a gaming facility.

IHG’s arrival in Danang will be ahead of a slew of international hotel brands, some of which were expected to make their entry in the last two years, but were postponed due to construction delays.

New international branded hotels in the pipeline for Danang include Hyatt Regency, JW Marriott and Le Meridien.

Accor will open the 279-room Mercure Danang later this year, and the 197-room Pullman Danang Olalani Resort and 346-room Novotel Danang Han River next year.

By Sirima Eamtako

THE RECENTLY-launched 10-year multiple entry visa for Indian nationals will not only boost trade relations between the two countries, but also facilitate the growth of Indian tourist arrivals into Canada.

A six-month visa is being issued to Indian visitors at the moment.

Canadian international trade minister and Asia-Pacific gateway minister, Edward Fast, said: “After an initial visa screening, applicants can get visas that allow them to visit Canada often, as long as their passports are valid up to ten years.”

Travel Agent Association of India (TAAI) president and Swiftravel International chairman and managing director, Rajinder Rai, told TTG Asia e-Daily: “This will help business tourists and those with friends and relatives in Canada to visit the country frequently, without the hassle of obtaining a visa on consequent visits.”

“Many leisure tourists might also make use of the facility to visit Canada more often, to tour the country’s vast regions and attractions during different seasons,” he added.

Canada Tourism Commission (CTC) India director, Shilpa Sethi, said: “Many people think that obtaining a Canadian visa is difficult. Hence they don’t even consider Canada for travel. The new visa regime will change their mindsets. Along with our promotions, it will definitely boost tourism to Canada.”

127,000 Indians visited Canada last year. CTC is targeting a 20 per cent growth in Indian arrivals this year.

By Anand & Madhura Katti

ALILA Hotels & Resorts is growing its global footprint, with some 20 properties to open within the next five years.

Expansion plans include Alila’s first foray into Europe, with the opening of Alila Roncão in the Alentejo region east of Lisbon.

New resorts are also under development in Oman – Alila’s first venture into the Middle East – including a beach resort in Salalah, a property in the mountain region of Jebel Akhdar, and an Alila Villas in Musandam.

Developments have been earmarked for Calicut in India, as well as expansion in Cambodia and Indonesia. New ventures are in the pipeline in Vietnam and China.

Speaking to TTG Asia e-daily at the group’s 10th anniversary celebration in Singapore today, Alila Hotels & Resorts CEO, Frederic Simon, said: “These properties are at different stages of development, and most will open in the next one-and-a-half to two years.”

The group, which presently manages nine properties across Indonesia, India and South-east Asia, has been receiving “good support” from its travel agent partners, according to the group’s vice president sales & marketing, Doris Goh.

Travel agents contribute 45 per cent of Alila’s bookings, with the rest coming from direct and online channels.

While recognising that “the world is changing and more people are booking online”, Alila COO Guy Heywood said the company remains committed to its travel agent partners.

“While we are actively strengthening our presence online and on social media platforms, we will continue to support agents financially (through attractive rates), and protect them by not diverting too much traffic (from them) to our direct channels.”

TOURIST arrivals to Sri Lanka in May rose by 39 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to Sri Lanka Tourism.

The surge in arrivals came from India, Sri Lanka’s biggest source market last year, with a 55.8 per cent year-on-year increase to 16,649.

Visitors to Sri Lanka from South Asia grew 53 per cent to reach 21,016 arrivals, compared to Western Europe’s 17.4 per cent rise to 12,419.

The number of visitors from the UK dropped 0.4 per cent to 4,452 in May, while arrivals from Germany, Sri Lanka’s third largest source market, increased by 3.2 per cent to 2,137.

Sri Lanka’s visitors from China rose by 100.1 per cent year-on-year to 1,337 in May.

In all, there were 327,902 arrivals to Sri Lanka in the first five months of the year, an increase of 40 per cent over the year before.

Western Europe contributed the largest number of visitors over the January to May period, with 129,367 arrivals, a 37.1 per cent increase. Arrivals from South Asia rose 50 per cent to 93,139.

THE VOLCANIC ash cloud originating from Chile has returned to Australia, prompting airlines there to cancel or redirect their Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide and Hobart services.

Qantas cancelled 73 domestic and six trans-Tasman flights today. The carrier halted domestic services to and from Adelaide throughout the day, suspended Canberra domestic operations from 12.00, and grounded Sydney domestic flights from 15.00.

Qantas’ international services to and from Australia are still in operation, with some flying alternative routes. For instance, its QF32 Singapore-Sydney service has been diverted to Brisbane, while Johannesburg-bound services will operate with a refuelling stop in Perth until further notice.

Jetstar cancelled all flights to and from Adelaide today, and all flights originating from Sydney and Newcastle after 15.00 were suspended for the remainder of the day.

Two of Jetstar’s domestic flights between Melbourne and Perth were also grounded. All other flights to and from Australia will run as planned.

Tiger Airways cancelled all domestic flights within Australia today, but all of its international services were operating as usual.

Unlike previously, flights to and from New Zealand were unaffected by the return of the ash cloud today.

Singapore-based travel agents with whom TTG Asia e-Daily spoke with said they were mostly unaffected by the disrupted air services, and that it was still too early to comment on the long-term impact of the ash cloud on bookings.

They had previously indicated there would likely be a short-term drop in bookings to Australia and New Zealand (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 16).

Julie Lim, general manager, Gulliver Associates, said: “We have nothing to report at the moment, but we will be monitoring the situation closely.”

She added: “There have not been any outright cancellations, although a small number of clients have rescheduled in view of the flight cancellations.”

Chan Brothers Travel spokesperson, Ivy Tan, said: “So far both our group and FIT pax are not affected by the flight cancellations this week in Australia, as most flights that have been grounded are domestic.”

“However, we are keeping our fingers crossed for the tour group that is scheduled to return from Sydney tomorrow on Qantas, as we have yet to receive any update from the airline.”

“With the mid-year school holidays coming to an end this week, the impact this round is lesser,” she added.

CENTARA Hotels & Resorts has signed a management contract for a four-star resort property in Mauritius, the group’s sixth destination outside of Thailand.

“Centara is delighted to be entering the Mauritius resort market,” said Gerd Steeb, president of Centara Hotels & Resorts. “We have identified a gap in the market for a quality four-star beachfront family-friendly resort, offering a choice of half-board or all-inclusive stays.”

Due to open in October 2012, Centara Poste Lafayette Resort & Spa Mauritius is located on the northeast coast of the island, and will have its own diving reef.

The resort will offer 98 guestrooms, an all-day dining restaurant and bar, a themed restaurant blending local and Asian dishes, a beach bar and snack deck, a spa, a kids’ club, a sea sports and recreation centre, a recreation room and a meeting room.

HONG KONG-based New World Hospitality has signed a purchase and sale agreement to acquire Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, a privately held ultra-luxury hotel management company based in the US.

The closing date for the US$229.5 million purchase from current owners Rosewood Corp. and Maritz, Wolff & Co. is July 29.

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, with 19 properties in eight countries, will operate as the premium luxury brand in New World Hospitality’s portfolio, and will later extend its reach to new international markets with New World Hospitality’s support.

Sonia Cheng, chairman of New World Hospitality, said: “This acquisition represents a strategic direction for our company to establish a robust presence in the international luxury hospitality arena. With our strong Asia base, Rosewood will be positioned for substantially accelerated global growth.”

New World Hospitality manages the New World Hotels brand of deluxe properties in China and South-east Asia, as well as the select service pentahotels brand in Shanghai and Beijing.

The group is aggressively expanding its presence, with more than 20 properties under development.

ACCOR has appointed Arizona-based Connect-Worldwide as its GSA in India.

Connect-Worldwide, which has its regional headquarters in New Delhi and an office in Bengaluru, will be responsible for boosting sales among retail travel agents and small and medium enterprises. The GSA is planning to organise road shows and participate in trade fairs in India.

Accor executive vice president, hotel marketing and distribution, Jean-Luc Chretien, said: “Accor has ambitious targets for growth in sales from India, and we are constantly working towards improving the reach of our distribution system in the country.”

“With increasing number of Indians travelling overseas and within India every year on business and pleasure, our association with Connect-Worldwide will help us to significantly increase our market share,” he added.

Meanwhile, Accor has introduced a national call centre in India with a toll-free number for travel agents. The staff at the call centre are trained to provide expert advice on Accor’s global portfolio of hotels and destinations.

Blue Star Air Services director, Madhav Oza, told TTG Asia e-Daily: “Accor is a huge group with many brands. It is difficult to recall the different hotels within each brand. The new call centre will mean communication will be now be centralised, and Accor’s extended hand will help boost agent-hotel relationships.”

By Anand & Madhura Katti