Booking.com has made two leadership changes within Asia-Pacific.
Anthony Lu has expanded his remit to cover all markets across South-east Asia in his new role as regional director for South-east Asia and China, including Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei, in addition to China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Now based in Singapore, he leads the commercial growth of Booking.com’s business across South-east Asia and China overall.
From left: Anthony Lu and Nuno Guerreiro
Nuno Guerreiro is now the regional director for South Asia Pacific & Chains, will continue to focus on the growth of Booking.com’s business in India, Indonesia and Oceania, as well as for the Chains segment of the company’s business in Asia-Pacific. He remains based in Singapore.
Gel Gomez is now general manager of Anchor Land’s newly-launched hospitality division.
The luxury real estate developer, which owns Admiral Hotel Manila managed by M Gallery by Accor, is diversifying into a chain of hotel and serviced residences in several key destinations in the Philippines including Boracay as well as Coron and San Vicente in Palawan.
Gomez is handling their branding and business model, among other tasks.
She has a wide experience in the hotel industry including stints as group general manager and head of group sales and marketing of Hotel 101 Group, assistant director of sales at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.
More Indians are travelling with the intention of attending global sports events and extending their trip for a more holistic experience, observed outbound specialists.
Monish Shah, founder and CEO, DreamSetGo, a tour agency specialising in sports tourism, said: “Sports tourism in India is on a remarkable upward trajectory, growing at a CAGR of approximately 17.5 per cent, outpacing the overall tourism sector’s 10 per cent. This growth is fuelled by India’s deep-rooted passion for sports and an increasing interest in diverse international sports beyond cricket.”
Indian travellers are willing to spend on travel to attend and/or participate in sports events around the world
Indeed, Indian sports enthusiasts are drawn to football, rugby, golf, badminton and basketball tournaments and competitions.
Thomas Cook (India)’s consumer data trends for 2024 highlights growing demand for big-ticket global sporting events like the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup, Wimbledon Championships, the Olympics, and Formula 1 races in various parts of the world.
Rajeev Kale, president & country head, holidays, MICE, visa at Thomas Cook (India), told TTG Asia that these sporting events influence travel decisions, with 23 per cent of consumers taking them into account while choosing destinations.
Daniel D’Souza, president & country head – holidays, SOTC Travel, observed a 20 to 35 per cent year-on-year increase in demand for sports tourism among his Indian clientele. Interest stems from various demographics, including young professionals and corporate groups, who view these events as opportunities for fun and networking.
DreamSetGo’s Shah has seen “significant demand” from corporate clients. The corporate hospitality programme at major sporting events often include meet-and-greet experiences with sports legends and other exclusive activities.
Indians travelling for sports are willing to splurge, with many opting for VIP boxes as well as premium hospitality packages and experiences.
Thomas Cook (India)’s Kale told TTG Asia that one of the firm’s premium programmes for the Olympics is priced around US$13,103 per person for a group of 50.
As the Official Travel Partner for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, DreamSetGo offers an exclusive package that includes a private meet-and-greet with Neeraj Chopra, the Olympic champion and World champion for the Men’s Javelin Throw event. The priciest package that takes clients to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics is priced from US$1,192 to US$14,295 per person.
SOTC Travel’s D’Souza said Indians are not only keen on being spectators. Many are travelling abroad to participate in events like marathons and adventure, reflecting the growing shift towards experiential travel preferences.
Indonesian luxury hospitality company, Tentrem Group, has launched its latest property in Alam Sutera, Tangerang Selatan (off Jakarta), which is recognised as a milestone development for the organisation.
Hotel Tentrem Jakarta, owned by Praja Karalan Perdana and managed by Hotel Candi Baru (Tentrem Group), offers 200 rooms, including 29 suites, and one Presidential Suite; four F&B outlets; a spa and fitness centre; playground; and a collection of events venues, comprising a 1,000-pax ballroom, 11 meeting rooms and a multi-purpose hall.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony during the launch of Hotel Tentrem Jakarta
Tentrem Group has been in business since 2012, and its portfolio includes properties in Yogyakarta and Semarang, Central Java.
Hotel Tentrem Jakarta is Tentrem Group’s first property under a third-party owner.
Karina Pikanto, owner of Hotel Tentrem Jakarta, said: “We are excited to bring the Tentrem experience to Jakarta. This city is a vibrant hub of business and culture, and we believe Hotel Tentrem Jakarta can become a sanctuary for both locals and international travellers.”
She added that the property will “preserve culture, teach good values, and develop people”.
Mario Hidayat, director of Hotel Candi Baru, said: “We feel that it’s time Hotel Tentrem steps outside of Central Java (and) we are fortunate to (have found partners) who share the same passion and values with us.”
Mario said the introduction of Indonesian culture through luxury hospitality was of prime importance for the company.
“We feel the luxury segment gives us more room to explore our culture through architecture, art, interior (design), fashion, food, music, way of greetings, and much more,” he commented.
The hotel’s design is an interpretation of Javanese culture, using natural materials like wood, natural stone, and greenery.
The hotel’s Kayu Manis Restaurant serves up authentic Indonesian dishes, with a focus on local food sources.
Mario said the company aims to be different from “many hotels that try to serve luxury international food with imported meats, fish and dairy”.
At Tentrem Group’s existing properties in Yogyakarta and Semarang, for example, restaurants serve traditional street food. “We collaborate with popular traditional food vendors in town and serve their dishes every morning at our buffet breakfast,” said Mario.
Mario stated the location of the new hotel was carefully considered. “With so many future developments in the Alam Sutera area, we’re certain the area holds great potential for tourists, events and MICE, and the area’s infrastructure is well developed and maintained as well. We believe Hotel Tentrem will be well represented here.”
He has plans to bring the Hotel Tentrem brand to more destinations, and will prioritise quality over quantity.
Cathay recently concluded a six-day visit to three South-east Asia countries – Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam – with plans to enhance connectivity with South-east Asian partners to grow the Hong Kong international aviation hub.
Joining a delegation led by chief executive of the Hong Kong SAR Government John Lee Ka-chiu, Cathay Group CEO Ronald Lam toured a variety of local enterprises and major infrastructure projects in these three countries, gaining valuable insights into their latest developments while seeking out new avenues to foster synergy and strengthen ties in trade, commerce, technology and tourism between Hong Kong and the South-east Asian region.
Cathay Group signed an MoU with Cambodia Airports on July 31
On the Cambodia leg of the visit, Lam signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cambodia Airports CEO Cyril Girot to reinforce partnership between the two parties. As part of the MoU, Cathay Pacific will boost its flight frequency to Phnom Penh from five per week to daily starting from October 27, reflecting its confidence in the Cambodia market and growing customer demand.
The Cathay Group, which includes passenger airlines Cathay Pacific and HK Express, currently flies to a total of 17 South-east Asian destinations, with over 360 flights per week.
Cathay Pacific and HK Express currently operate flights to three destinations in Vietnam, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang; there are plans for HK Express to launch a new route to Phu Quoc in 4Q2024.
Lam commented: “As Hong Kong’s home carrier, Cathay is committed to furthering the growth of Hong Kong as an international aviation hub and enhancing connectivity between Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland to the rest of the world. Our visit to the three South-east Asian countries attests to the immense potential we see in these dynamic regional markets.
“The completion of Hong Kong International Airport’s Three-Runway System will unlock great opportunities for us to grow for the future. We will continue to strengthen our existing routes, and deepen our network and collaboration across South-east Asia to seize these growth opportunities.”
Scoot will be receiving its third and fourth Embraer E190-E2 aircraft in Singapore in September and October 2024.
With the addition of the new aircraft, Scoot will launch flight services to two new South-east Asian destinations, namely Kertajati (Greater Bandung) in Indonesia, and Malacca in Malaysia.
Scoot will deploy its two new Embraer E190-E2 aircraft on existing services as well as on new routes
Flights to Kertajati will commence on September 28 with twice-weekly services, while Malacca flights will start October 23, flying five-times weekly.
Besides Kertajati and Malacca as new destinations, Scoot will also be deploying the E190-E2s on some existing services, including twice weekly flights to Pekanbaru on the E190-E2s in addition to its thrice weekly flights on the Airbus A320 aircraft, and increased flight frequencies from three- to four-times weekly to Balikpapan and Makassar, from October.
From November, the E190-E2s will also operate nine-times weekly flights to Davao, an increase from seven-times weekly, and from December, four-times weekly flights to Vientiane, an increase from thrice weekly.
The addition of Kertajati and Malacca to Scoot’s network follows the recent announcement of another new destination, Subang in Malaysia, effective September 1.
Together with destinations served by Scoot’s existing fleet, Scoot will operate 78 weekly flights to Indonesia and 115 weekly flights to Malaysia by October, 37 weekly flights to Philippines by November, and four weekly flights to Laos by December.
Laguna Phuket invites families to enjoy a memorable retreat – from water sports, immersive culinary adventures, wellbeing workshops, to exploring the local culture with a diverse range of goods, products, art, craft, fashion, and entertainment.
For accommodation, guests can choose from Banyan Tree Phuket, Angsana Laguna Phuket, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, SAii Laguna Phuket, Homm Suites Laguna, and Cassia Phuket.
Laguna Phuket offers a wide range of accommodation choices and activities for families seeking a fun holiday
Angsana Laguna Phuket boasts a 323m pool with slide, one of the longest in South-east Asia.
The beachfront resort is tailored to meet the needs of families, including a Kids Club that has engaging arts, crafts, and educational activities for the young guests. Other activities comprise bike rides, immersive Thai cooking classes, or boat trips to a nearby island.
Those seeking fun in the water can learn about the electric sport eFoiling at Cassia Phuket, or partake in an array of non-motorised water activities at SAii Laguna Phuket, including kayaking, sailing, and windsurfing under the expert guidance of skilled instructors.
Cassia Phuket also features a family package where up to two kids stay for free. The resort also welcomes furry friends to stay.
At SAii Laguna Phuket, guests can customise their own stay package, choosing from activities such as private sailing or windsurfing lessons, personal training sessions, private yoga classes, Muay Thai lessons, lunch or dinner at Miss Olive Oyl or limitless evening cocktails for the perfect holiday experience.
Homm Suites Laguna boasts 79 suites and offers an idyllic retreat for families. Dive into the pool with its slides, leave the little ones at the kids’ club, and indulge in the daily happy hour with a buy-one-get-one-free offer. Long-stay packages receive a 38 per cent discount too.
Meanwhile, Banyan Tree Phuket features the Le Petit Chef dining experience, with a choice of two journeys – The Silk Route or French Classic.
Those seeking wellness offerings can head to Banyan Tree Spa or Banyan Spa & Wellbeing Academy. Engage in comprehensive workshops covering the fundamentals of reflexology, participate in facial yoga sessions, and master the art of creating customised body scrubs. Explore the Nature House and embrace the Holistic Spa and Wellbeing Classes to gain expertise in natural remedies and overall well-being.
Golfers will delight in the Laguna Golf Phuket, where the Laguna Golf Academy offers the ideal setting to receive professional guidance from certified PGA professionals. Kids are welcome to learn as well, making it a great way to bond and stay active while on vacation.
The Brisbane Economic Development Agency (BEDA) in partnership with Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has appointed Singapore-based Horus Development & Consulting as its official representatives in South-east Asia. This partnership will enable BEDA and BAC to enhance awareness of Brisbane as a top-tier city and premier tourism destination in Australia, and intensify engagement across key markets in the region.
Horus Development & Consulting’s deep understanding of Asia’s regional market dynamics alongside its robust network will be instrumental in driving new opportunities and strengthening existing relationships for the promotion of Brisbane to its industry counterparts, and increase Brisbane’s visibility and appeal to South-east Asian travellers.
Horus will represent Brisbane in increasing the city’s visibility and appeal to South-east Asian travellers
Horus Development & Consulting will also be partnering with Fishermen, a digital agency specialising in digital marketing and social media services, to expand on Brisbane’s creative strategy throughout this new partnership.
Choy Teh, who grew up in Brisbane, will be the lead account manager within the Horus Development & Consulting team.
BEDA CEO Anthony Ryan expressed joy in building on the strong results achieved in South-east Asia over the last four years.
“BEDA is proud to continue its partnership with BAC through the Enhanced Destination Marketing Program, supported by the work of our new in-market agency, Horus Development & Consulting, who will play an important role in showcasing why Brisbane is a must-visit destination,” Ryan said.
“Brisbane offers an unforgettable experience for visitors, from climbing our famed Story Bridge, dining at our award-winning restaurants, meeting our local wildlife and experiencing the region’s unique natural surroundings, and learning about our local indigenous cultures.”
BAC CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said this was an investment in Brisbane’s future. “South-east Asia is home to 675 million people who live within easy flying distance of Brisbane. Over the past three years, we have worked hard to establish direct connections to this rapidly developing region. Now, it’s time to intensify our efforts to showcase why Brisbane should be at the top of their list of cities to visit.”
Horus Development & Consulting’s managing director Benoit Badufle said: “We are absolutely thrilled to collaborate with the dynamic BEDA team and to represent such an iconic destination. Brisbane, already renowned for its vibrant cultural scene, famous river, trendy neighbourhoods, and proximity to world-class natural attractions, is now gearing up for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics. This ambitious endeavour alongside the redevelopment of Queen’s Wharf, and with Brisbane’s value proposition as a premier destination, is incredibly exciting and we look forward to contributing to its success from our region of the world.”
Horus Development & Consulting will also represent BEDA at key travel industry events and exhibitions, further solidifying Brisbane’s presence and engagement with stakeholders in the region.
Sri Lanka is returning to an old visa system, offering visas on arrival, after a Sri Lankan court cancelled a new one which was criticised by the tourism industry as cumbersome, costly and allegedly fraudulent.
Responding on August 2 to seven petitions by key stakeholders in the industry and three opposition politicians, the Supreme Court ordered the return to the old visa system and cancellation of the current one, bowing to claims of too many procedures in the new scheme and allegations of a fraudulent deal.
Sri Lanka is reverting to an old visa scheme after the new one was met with protests; Coconut Tree Hill in Mirissa Beach, Sri Lanka, pictured
“There may be some confusion (in obtaining visas) but I hope it will be sorted out soon,” said Nishad Wijetunga, president of the Sri Lanka Association of Inbound Tour Operators (SLAITO), one of the petitioners.
The Department of Immigration and Emigration, pursuant to the court ruling, said on Monday that the Sri Lankan e-visa website had been deactivated until further notice. In a notice to the trade and Sri Lankan embassies overseas, the department said it was hoping to restore the old e-visa platform as soon as possible.
Accordingly, visas will be issued on arrival at the Colombo airport at a fee of US$50 per 30-day entry. Until the old online visa is reintroduced, visas can also be obtained at Sri Lankan missions abroad. Citizens of India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia will continue to be issued free visas on arrival.
Tourist arrivals totalled 1,198,059 in January-July 2024, up sharply from 769,913 in the same 2023 period. However, the figures in April to July this year were lower than forecasts partly because of the complex visa process, officials said.
Sri Lanka is aiming for 2.3 million arrivals this year, similar to the record 2.3 million achieved in 2018.
Cambodia’s Sun and Moon Hotel Group (SMH) has partnered with Trip Affiliates Network (TA Network) to enhance online distribution and booking processes by leveraging the network’s proprietary solutions.
This partnership is a significant step for Sun and Moon Hotels in optimising their booking processes and service offerings to their travel industry partners, embracing technology to enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Sun and Moon Hotel Group has adopted TA Network’s Hotel B2B Direct Booking services
SMH will manage wholesale contracts digitally, improving efficiency in lead time, booking windows, and stay pattern promotions. It will also streamline inventory management by reducing manual errors in hotel contract maintenance, which will help prevent overbooking and under-booking issues.
TA Network’s digital payment solutions, including virtual cards and virtual bank accounts, will enable seamless global transactions while improving payment processes and reducing cross-border and foreign exchange fees.
Rithy Kruy, group director of sales and marketing at SMH, shared: “TA Network has enabled Sun and Moon Hotels to manage conservative wholesale contracts digitally with full functionality, making our B2B operations faster. We can manage dynamic rates efficiently, like an OTA, and work with dynamic wholesalers. We are excited to have instant access to all major channels integrated with the TA Network ecosystem.”
“Hotels are increasingly looking for dynamic tools to enhance direct online booking partnerships with preferred agents and corporates, utilising process automation solutions and seamless online payment services. We are thrilled that SMH has adopted TA Network Hotel B2B Direct Booking services, and we look forward to working closely to expand and strengthen their direct booking partnerships,” added David Lai, regional director of partnerships and growth, TA Network.
Gel Gomez is now general manager of Anchor Land’s newly-launched hospitality division.
The luxury real estate developer, which owns Admiral Hotel Manila managed by M Gallery by Accor, is diversifying into a chain of hotel and serviced residences in several key destinations in the Philippines including Boracay as well as Coron and San Vicente in Palawan.
She has a wide experience in the hotel industry including stints as group general manager and head of group sales and marketing of Hotel 101 Group, assistant director of sales at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.