INDIA’s inaugural state-level CVB has opened shop in Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh.

Government of Andhra Pradesh secretary Tourism & Youth Affairs, Jayesh Ranjan, said: “With Hyderabad Convention Visitors Bureau (HCVB) now in full swing, we have created a single platform where convention and exhibition buyers such as associations, association management companies, MICE and meeting planners can expect to have all the possible assistance extended to them, to enable them to choose our city as the destination for their events.”

“HCVB will take Hyderabad to the world and bring the world to Hyderabad,” said HCVB’s newly-appointed CEO, Jalil Khan.

Khan, a 23-year veteran of United Airlines based in California, returned to his native Hyderabad, armed with a wealth of experience in global marketing and networking. “My top priority is to be Hyderabad’s brand ambassador,” he added.

THE ROOM oversupply in Bangkok has prompted the newly-opened Park Plaza Sukhumvit Soi 18 to enter the market with a discounted pricing strategy.

The property, which soft-opened on April 5, is offering introductory rates starting from 2,200 baht (US$73) per room per night, and a further 30 per cent discount on any bookings for more than two roomnights, until June 30.

“I believe the current oversupply in Bangkok will be stabilised in a few years, and hopefully we will see more demand then,” said the hotel’s general manager, Martin Fabiano.

Fabiano added that the hotel had recorded good business so far, especially through its online channels. Half of its bookings to date originated from online sources such as the hotel’s website, and 80 per cent of its Internet reservations were via website promotions.

The hotel is also working hard to attract business from inbound travel agents strong in the China, India, Hong Kong and Singapore markets.

Meanwhile, Carlson has just inked a deal to manage the 290-room Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Bangkok, Sukhumvit, slated to open in 2013.

SRI LANKA has submitted its bid to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Hambantota, a fast-developing coastal city in the country’s south coast region, worst hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.

A delegation from Sri Lanka yesterday presented the Hambantota 2018 Bid Book to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) in Kuala Lumpur. The book, or candidature file, details a proposal that could prove to be an important one for the country, following the end of civil war in 2009.

The Games are seen as a catalyst for sport, tourism and sustainable economic, social and cultural development.

“The Hambantota 2018 Games will secure long-term and sustainable social and economic benefits, and drive sustainable development throughout our country,” said Ajith Nivard Cabraal, Hambantota 2018 Organising Committee co-chairman and governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.

“We are not adapting existing facilities, but creating brand-new state-of-the-art venues. We have already started work on our wonderful new host venue, the adjacent international airport and new road system.”

Over 90 per cent of the training and competition venues will be clustered together in the futuristic Sports City, which promises tailor-made facilities all within five minutes of the Athletes Village. The project is already under construction, and together with accompanying infrastructure including a high-capacity public transport system, will be ready by 2016.

The CGF Evaluation Commission will visit Hambantota in June to assess the city’s capability to host the Games. The CGF will choose the host city for the Games at its meeting in St Kitts and Nevis on November 11.

PATA has set up a Rapid Recovery Task Force to devise post-crisis recovery strategies in the face of natural, economic or political upheaval that its member countries may face.

At the PATA 60th Anniversary and Conference in Beijing last month, Bill Calderwood, CEO, PATA, expressed concern over recent natural disasters and catastrophes and the challenges they pose for tourism, not only in terms of immediate impact, but also with the ongoing and residual damage. The aftermath makes it harder to restore confidence that the affected destinations are safe and desirable places to visit.

“Such misperceptions are difficult to dispel and a barrier to the recovery of the tourism economy,” said Calderwood. “We have been asking ourselves what PATA can do to assist our members to speed up the recovery and minimise the impact of any negative perception.”

Bert van Walbeek, a veteran of many crisis management programmes and chairman of PATA Thailand Chapter, will chair the Task Force. Other members include Mario Hardy, David Beirman, Rick Vogel, Ken Scott and Kris Lim.

EMIRATES’ Indonesia operations achieved strong results last year, and is also expected to register double-digit growth for the fiscal year ahead (April 2011-March 2012), despite the political turmoil in the Middle East and escalating fuel prices.

Emirates manager – Indonesia, Mohammed Al Nahari, told the media on the sidelines of Emirates’ 2010-2011 Annual Report global media teleconference yesterday: “We posted strong double-digit growth last year despite global challenges such as the volcanic ash cloud (in Europe) and increasing oil prices.”

“Our average load factor was still around 80 per cent, and we managed to double capacity between Jakarta and Dubai to twice-daily direct flights in March last year.”

Al Nahari said the recent political situation in some Middle Eastern countries was “as challenging for Emirates as it was for any other airline”.

“It affected the student market (to Egypt), which is a good market for us, and also the outbound religious and leisure markets from Indonesia,” he said. “However, as conditions improve, we are putting back flights and expect that the market will rebound soon.”

Al Nahari is targeting business growth of between 25 per cent and 30 per cent for the next fiscal year. He said Indonesia’s current economic and political stability should result in stronger inbound and outbound traffic.

The fact that Emirates dropped its fuel surcharge (which costs around US$100 to Europe) a few days ago would make the airline more attractive to consumers, he added.

AIRASIA yesterday introduced a year-long inter-regional initiative to help Japan get back on its feet following the disasters that hit the country.

The To Japan with Love campaign includes a fundraising drive across the airline’s entire network, and sponsored flights for a group of participants of the ASEAN Youth Caravan of Goodwill programme to Northeast Japan in June.

“As a neighbour of Japan, it is only right that we, the ASEAN community, help. And the magnitude of the disasters dictates that we work together to help Japan recover,” said AirAsia founder and CEO, Tony Fernandes.

In a bid to to raise US$1.0 million for the campaign, donation boxes and 5,000 limited-edition wristbands will be made available on all AirAsia, AirAsia X, AirAsia Indonesia and AirAsia Thailand flights.

The carrier will also hold a special charity evening of Magical Musicals, a West End Production at Sunway Lagoon in mid-June, while AirAsia X will offer tour packages, via AirAsiaGo, incorporating the Mount Fuji segment of the AirAsia-sponsored Altitude X climbing expedition with Singaporean adventurer Khoo Swee Chiow.

All proceeds collected from the campaign, wristband sales, tickets and tour packages will be channelled to Japan Platform, a consortium of 32 Japanese NGOs at the forefront of recovery efforts in Northeast Japan.

In conjunction with the campaign, AirAsia X is offering promotional all-in fares to Tokyo from as low as RM199 (US$67) one-way for economy seats, and from RM1,569 one-way for premium seats. The promotional fares are available for booking from May 10 to 22, for travel from June 1, 2011 to February 29, 2012.

STARWOOD Hotels and Resorts is expecting its properties in Thailand to register a positive performance in 2011, with even better results in 2012, as the hotel chain continues to expand its portfolio in the country.

The chain’s 16 operating hotels in Thailand recorded either improved or similar results in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same period last year, according to its sales and marketing regional director for Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, James Ramage.

“Business is slowly coming back to Thailand,” he said. “While there’s a soft situation in European arrivals, there is increasing growth from the emerging China and India markets, as well as a potential to grow the business from within the country.”

Ramage said Starwood would seek to attract the high-end leisure and business segments out of China and India through the expanded presence of the chain’s brands in Thailand.

By the end of the year, Starwood will have eight of its nine hotel brands in Thailand, with the exception of its Element brand. The chain opened its 16th property in the country, The St Regis Bangkok, on April 1 and is slated to launch the Aloft Bangkok Sukhumvit 11 in October.

Last year, it opened Westin Siray Bay Resort and Spa, Phuket, W Retreat and Residences, Samui and Four Points by Sheraton, Sukhumvit 15.

In the pipeline are Four Points by Sheraton Phuket, Patong, Aloft Phuket Patong, Le Meridien Suvarnabhumi Golf Resort and Spa, W Bangkok and Vana Belle Samui Resort and Spa.

By Sirima Eamtako

MALAYSIA’S Sunway Lagoon is rebranding itself from a theme park into an events venue for local and global markets. A slew of new attractions is set to enhance its Asia’s Best Attraction status, awarded from the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions.

Sunway Lagoon CEO, Aaron Soo, explained to TTG Asia e-Daily that they were removing the word “theme park” from its name as it “gives the perception of a small, one-park attraction”.

“We have evolved greatly over the past five years. The term “theme park” does not do us justice. We are now far bigger than that,” he said.

“From having just the Water Park and Amusement Park, we are now a multi-park destination including a Wildlife Park, Extreme Park and Scream Park, offering a total of 80 different attractions with many fabulous ideas as an events venue.”

“We are also looking into promoting international performing arts,” he added.

Following the successful staging of Peter Pan The Musical at its Amphitheatre last December, the RM2.0 million (US$664,000) Magical Musicals, produced by award-winning British West End veterans Chris Colby and David Kort, will be staged in June.

A 5D theatre will also be introduced at the Amusement Park, while a giant water slide, The Tornado, is currently making its debut at the Water Park.

By Ellen Chen

A ROOM boom will be descending on Macau before the year is over, but not all travel agencies are predicting a reduction in room rates in the face of heightened competition.

Galaxy Macau will be opening in four days’ time, adding 2,200 keys to the destination’s room inventory through Galaxy Hotel, Hotel Okura Macau and Banyan Tree Macau, while the 4,000-room Sheraton Macao Hotel and 341-room St Regis Macao will be opening on the Cotai Strip by year-end.

Singapore’s CTC Travel vice president (Private Collection & MICE), Dennis Soon, said strong demand in Macau, especially during the weekends when room rates are double that of weekday rates, would prevent prices from slipping substantially.

Soon cited Singapore as an example of added inventory having little impact on escalating rates. “Marina Bay Sands added (2,561) rooms, but room rates at other hotels in the country are still climbing,” he said.

Richard Yu, inbound/MICE manager of travel agency and DMC Macau.com, said: “I wish room rates would fall. Macau would then be in a better position to encourage longer stays by leisure and incentive groups. Groups now tend to visit Macau for a day, and proceed to Zhuhai or Zhongshan in China for the rest of their programme.”

“But I doubt the international hotel brands will reduce rates much in reaction to competition because they have a brand image to maintain,” he added.

Charles Leong, managing director of Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) Singapore, remains optimistic, steadfastly believing that the expansion of Macau’s room supply will “create great competition for the hotels and great bargains for consumers”.

“When you have 6,500 more rooms coming into Macau, even if demand is high, room rates are bound to soften,” he argued.

SINGAPORE-based travel agency Citystate Travel Group yesterday launched Citystate Destinations, a wholly-owned subsidiary focusing on the high-end market.

Citystate Destinations will initially provide coach services to local and international travel agents within the country, and will eventually offer complete inbound services pending approval of their travel agency license.

The new company will also be obtaining its Malaysian coach license in due course, with a view to providing comprehensive travel programmes covering both Singapore and Malaysia.