MALAYSIA’S win of the 7th International AIDS Society (IAS) HIV Conference on Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in 2013 marks the first time the biennial conference will be held in Asia.

Between 5,000 to 6,000 delegates from 125 countries – among them the world’s leading scientists, clinicians and public health experts – are expected to converge at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre for the four-day conference in July 2013.

Tourism minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said: “With almost an estimated 90 per cent of the delegates coming from overseas, the conference is estimated to generate over RM78 million (US$25 million) in economic value to the Malaysian economy.”

THE COURTYARD by Marriott Beijing has been relaunched as the pentahotel Beijing, making it the second China property of the select service brand. There is only one other pentahotel in Asia, located in Shanghai.

The 299-room hotel is located in the downtown Chongwenmen District and is close to popular tourist attractions.

By the third quarter, the hotel’s public spaces and guestrooms will be redesigned, and a new service culture will be introduced to reflect the pentahotels’ concept of a neighbourhood lifestyle hotel.

Launched in Europe, the brand’s properties in Asia are managed by Hong Kong-based New World Hospitality. Further expansion is on the cards, with a target of 30 pentahotels in Asia by 2015.

NEW aviation company Heritage Air (Melaka) plans to commence thrice-weekly regular charter services between Malacca and Bandung, Indonesia by the end of the first quarter.

Set up last year, Heritage Air (Melaka) is wholly owned by Kumpulan Kemuning Nilam. It is currently awaiting the Air Operator’s Certificate from Malaysia’s Department of Civil Aviation.

The Malacca-Bandung route will be serviced by a BAe 146-200 aircraft, which has a seating capacity of 94 passengers, said Heritage Air (Melaka) executive vice-president, Mohd Azhan Ariffin.

The company also intends to lease another three aircraft by 2014 and to fly to regional destinations which are within a three-hour flight radius, added Azhan. Malacca will be its base of operations.

IT&CM China 2011, taking place at ShanghaiMart Expo from April 13 to 15, will have several new elements including two themed pavilions.

The first pavilion will showcase unique and creative convention venue solutions, as buyers had previously indicated that clients have been increasingly requesting for proposals with a ‘wow’ factor.

The second pavilion will house health and medical suppliers with travel wellness offerings, in response to trend research revealing an increasing salience of health and wellness travel in both China’s MICE and corporate travel sectors.

The IT&CM China organising committee has also launched recruitment efforts to attract corporate buyers from the pharmaceutical, food supplies and motor industries to increase diversity.

Furthermore, pre-show city tours of Shanghai will highlight four new attractions in the city, with hosted buyers and media getting to experience the Mercedes-Benz Arena (former Expo Culture Centre) and Expo Convention Centre (former Expo Centre), Shanghai Gong Stage, ‘New Era of Kaleido’ cultural performance, as well as the Bund, which re-opened in March 2010 after restoration works.

ASIA Experience Tours hopes to grow the EuropCar brand locally and is looking for partners in key tourism destinations Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Malacca and Langkawi.

The company is the sole franchisee for EuropCar in Malaysia.

CARLSON will launch its second Radisson property in the Maldives, the Radisson Plaza Resort Maldives, Naagoshi in the third quarter of 2012.

The US$91 million resort featuring 182 land and 99 overwater villas will be based on Naagoshi Island on the northern Hua Dhaalu Atoll, 45 minutes by seaplane from Male International Airport.

Carlson has another hotel under construction in the Maldives, the 250-room Radisson Hotel Maldives Hulhumale, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2013.

Last October, Carlson announced plans to increase the number of Radisson hotels in Asia Pacific to over 100 hotels by 2015.

SHANGRI-La Hotels will mark its entry into Sri Lanka with the opening of a 500-key luxury hotel in Colombo in early 2014.

The hotel will be part of a multi-use complex with high-end retail facilities and deluxe apartments, on a 2.4-hectare plot of land facing the Galle Face green promenade.

Shangri-La also plans to develop a second property, a 300-key city resort on approximately 40.4 hectares of land in Hambantota, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, to open in 2013.

“Both Shangri-La hotels strategically fit into the group’s ongoing expansion plans to link the Indian subcontinent and our South-east Asia developments,” said Greg Dogan, president and CEO of Shangri-La Hotels.

THE PARKROYAL Serviced Suites Kuala Lumpur, which opened in October last year (TTG Asia e-Daily, August 5, 2010), is proving a hit with tourists from the Middle East, say Malaysian agents handling this particular market.

Two-bedroom serviced apartments with full cooking facilities, like those offered by the ParkRoyal KL but in short demand in the city, are usually the preferred accommodation choice for Middle East customers, explained Andy Muniandy, director of sales and business development of Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel.

The ParkRoyal KL, with its inventory of 287 one- and two-bedroom suites in five different categories, is also within walking distance of Jalan Bukit Bintang, known colloquially as “Arab Street”, making it even more popular among Middle East tourists, said World Avenues executive director Ally Bhoonee.

TEXAS-based Sabre Holdings has become the latest travel technology firm to take action against American Airlines, in an ongoing spat over the airline’s plans to force agents into using its Direct Connect booking system rather than their global distribution systems.

Besides downgrading American’s flights on most of its displays and withdrawing booking fee discounts, Sabre has also made clear its intention to end its agreement with American in August, a month ahead of schedule.

The measure by Sabre follows Expedia’s decision to hide American’s airfares on its websites last weekend, after Orbitz Worldwide, which owns ebookers, was forced to pull data on American’s flights having lost a legal dispute against the airline before Christmas.

Sabre said in a statement: “For a number of months, American Airlines has taken actions in an attempt to impose a costly, unproven and unnecessary system on agencies and corporations, including withholding fare content from Sabre.

“We believe these actions are harmful to our agency and corporate customers, as well as consumers, making it harder and more costly to comparison shop. Sabre is taking actions to protect its interests and those of its customers by supporting airlines that value the transparency and efficiency of the proven system we provide.”

US-based Zegrahm Expeditions has taken its 110-pax luxury vessel, Clipper Odyssey, to Asia, with Singapore as the launch pad for a nature-and adventure-themed itinerary in the region.

The ship departed Singapore shores yesterday, bound for destinations such as Malacca, Sumatra, Banda Aceh, Nias Island, Padang and the southern end of Java. Nature expeditions on the itinerary include trips to Gunung Leuser National Park, Krui Village and Way Kambas National Park.

“The Clipper Odyssey is a different kind of cruise, as it journeys on routes and calls at ports most other cruise lines don’t,” explained Darren Tan, managing director of World Express, groundhandler for the ship’s call in Singapore. “Passengers get to stop in parts of Asia where natural reserves are aplenty, and head out on expeditions.”

Tan added that the majority of Clipper Odyssey’s passengers hail from the US and had flown into Singapore to embark on the voyage.

The ship will return to Singapore on January 20, before departing for another itinerary that heads for various ports in Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and finally, India.