Kulon Progo ups the ante on tourism developments
Kulon Progo Regency in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, is stepping up its game to attract more visitors by upgrading its tourism villages to reach a premium level.
The upgrade includes developing homestays, more live-in activities, and experiencing life with the local community.
Speaking at a recent media fam trip in conjunction with the rebranding of Hotel Morazen Yogyakarta, Joko Mursito, the regency tourism office head, said the presence of Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) has elevated the profile of Kulon Progo, bringing new developments like the first international standard hospital with helipad facility in Yogyakarta, as well as branded hotels including ibis, Swiss-Belhotel, Novotel and Morazen – all of which have prompted homestays to raise their standards in terms of services and products.
Joko noted: “Community empowerment has been the basis of tourism development in Kulon Progo. The fact that we have received the Indonesia Tourism Village Awards for four years in a row, a (record) in Indonesia, proves that we have been successful in the development.”
The tourism office and village authorities are also collaborating with surrounding hotels to train, mentor, and prepare them on how to host visitors with hotel-style service.
Hengky Tambayong, deputy chairman of Indonesia Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA) Kulon Progo Chapter and general manager of Hotel Morazen Yogyakarta, shared: “We are working with the local authorities to accelerate the development of attractions and human resources. For example, we have trained hawkers at Glagah Beach to improve their food quality and presentation, and helped villages to create SOPs for their services using hotel standards. We also conduct in-house hospitality training for students.”
In fact, Joko said that competitions among the tourism villages are held occasionally, whereby the judges from tourism-related associations will buy, stay, and assess the overall programme.
The regency government also stipulates that each tourism village must have its own themed package to ensure travellers have many choices of activities when visiting Kulon Progo, and for the tourism economy to be distributed evenly in the regency.
“We have created travel packages to make it easier for travellers to pick the ones that suit their interests,” Joko explained.
Examples of packages available include bird conservation activities at Jatimulyo Village, educational tourism at Tinalah Tourism Village, nature tourism at Ngargosari Village with views of ancient volcanoes, and outbound activities at Hargotirto Village.
Other than cooperating on product and human resources development, Hengky said stakeholders are ramping up promotions to put Kulon Progo on the map.
Although YIA has a capacity of 70,000 passengers, the airport’s traffic is only around 8,000 to 12,000 passengers per day, and only 20 per cent of that traffic stays at Kulon Progo; the rest head to Yogyakarta city centre and other cities in Central Java. This means, Henky noted, there is still room to grow.
Additionally, IHRA has approached Yogyakarta Tourism Promotion Board to work with airlines to promote cultural and unique events, such as the fisherman’s festival and durian party, as well as requested Borobudur Authority Board to include Kulon Progo in their international promotions.
Contiki rolls out new trips worldwide
Youth travel brand Contiki has launched brand new trips across the world, including some to destinations that the brand has never visited before.
The North American Glaciers and National Parks trips show travellers the incredible Banff & Jasper National Parks in Canada and Glacier National Park in the US in just 12 days, and is packed with unique experiences including a Red Jammer bus ride, playing ice hockey with professionals, and even learning from indigenous people about their culture and traditions.
Vietnam’s ever-growing appeal has already made it a popular destination for Contiki travellers. After the 10-day Vietnam Highlights trip and the 27-day Ultimate South East Asia trip, the brand has now introduced a great-value five-day trip that visits the Ha Giang Loop in Northern Vietnam. Travellers will have the chance to learn about traditional H’mong art and crafts, and trail along the Nho Que river on a boat with local guides.
Contiki has launched a brand new South Korean Soul trip that now includes four days in Jeju Island – popular for its haenyeo (women sea divers) culture, and a hotspot for K-drama lovers too. It is one of the very first youth travel brands to offer a product that visits this incredible island.
Contiki has also dropped two new trips that now give travellers the chance to go from Delhi to Kathmandu by coach and internal flights, followed by a trek with varying difficulty levels to choose from.
In addition, Contiki is now offering travellers savings from 10 to 15 per cent off these new trips.
“Asia is the new young-traveller hotspot, and the success of our South Korean Soul trip proves it. That’s why we’ve decided to expand our offering in South Korea, and there’s no better choice than Jeju Island,” said Taryn Welsh, Asia operations director at Contiki.
Megan Baiada, project manager for Contiki Asia, shared: “Travelling along the Ha Giang Loop and seeing the lush landscapes of Northern Vietnam is on the bucket list for a lot of travellers who visit South-east Asia – and now they have the chance to do it with us.”
DoubleTree by Hilton hits 100th property milestone in Asia-Pacific
DoubleTree by Hilton has surpassed 100 properties in Asia-Pacific, reinforcing Hilton’s leadership and commitment to growth in one of the world’s most dynamic hospitality markets.
This milestone is driven by recent and upcoming hotel openings across the region, including DoubleTree by Hilton Jakarta Kemayoran and DoubleTree by Hilton Jakarta Bintaro Jaya in Indonesia; DoubleTree by Hilton Kyoto Station and DoubleTree by Hilton Osaka Castle in Japan; DoubleTree by Hilton Bengaluru Whitefield in India; and DoubleTree by Hilton Yantai Golden Coast in China.
The company’s recent franchise model expansion with the DoubleTree by Hilton brand is set to significantly boost this growth – offering owners in Greater China enhanced opportunities to leverage the brand’s market presence and Hilton’s commercial engine and network effect.
With nearly 80 additional DoubleTree by Hilton properties in the Asia-Pacific pipeline, the brand will contribute to Hilton’s target to surpass 1,000 trading hotels in the region by 2025.
Clarence Tan, senior vice president, development, Asia Pacific, said: “Our expanded franchise model paves the way for further growth, as we stay focused on delivering reliable and friendly stays to guests, and best-in-class returns to owners.
“We are optimistic about the brand’s growth momentum and look forward to capturing even more opportunities in this segment.”
Qantas launches new flexible membership
Qantas has introduced a new membership option which allows customers to pay for 28-day access to its 30 Qantas branded lounges.
Available to purchase on Qantas’ website, Qantas Club Flexible is a new subscription membership that gives customers flexibility and choices to enjoy access to Qantas lounges on an ad hoc basis, as an alternative option to the annual Qantas Club membership.
The 28-day rolling membership can be cancelled at any time up until three days prior to renewal (with benefits remaining till the end of that cycle) and provides members with access to its 30 Qantas Club, Qantas Domestic and Qantas International Business lounges in Australia and around the world.
Other benefits include Domestic On Departure Upgrade rewards and complimentary Qantas Frequent Flyer Membership.
Qantas Club Flexible members will receive a digital membership card only via the Qantas app, which aligns to the Qantas Group sustainability goals.
For customers who take out a Qantas Club Flexible membership and travel before March 31, 2025, they will receive a bonus benefit of additional checked baggage.
In addition, Qantas has recently announced significant investment into its lounge network including a new lounge in Hobart, refurbishment of Broome Qantas Club, and redevelopment of the Adelaide lounge precinct including refurbishment of the Adelaide Qantas Club and a new Business lounge.
New hotels: The Westin Resort & Spa Cam Ranh, Wyndham Sun Moon Lake and more
The Westin Resort & Spa Cam Ranh, Vietnam
Situated along Vietnam’s south-central coast, The Westin Resort & Spa Cam Ranh offers 207 guestrooms, suites and pool villas, including a selection of private pool villas.
Onsite are restaurants, lounge, bar, spa, fitness centre, ball courts, water sports facilities, three outdoor pools, including a kids’ pool, a ballroom as well as meeting rooms.
Just a 10-minute drive to Cam Ranh International Airport, the resort is also a 45-minute drive away from the centre of Nha Trang city.
Wyndham Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan
The 203-key Wyndham Sun Moon Lake offers family-friendly rooms and private hot spring baths in every room. Hotel facilities include a fitness centre, spa, two restaurants, two bars, café, and event spaces.
Nestled on the shores of Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan’s largest natural lake, guests can explore nearby attractions such as the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway, Nine Frogs Tower, and Man Mo Temple.
Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport, Australia
The dual-branded Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport features 464 guestrooms split across Accor’s Novotel (248 rooms) and ibis Styles (216 rooms) brands.
Both hotels feature a full range of facilities to cater to business, conference, and leisure guests, including three F&B outlets, function spaces for up to 330 guests, and hotel-serviced co-working space Aerofoil Workspace.
Within walking distance to the Melbourne Airport terminal precinct, both hotels also provide easy access to local attractions including URBNSurf, Essendon Football Club and the Sunbury wine region.
Jumeirah Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Located in Jabal Omar and a short walk from the Great Mosque of Makkah, Jumeirah Makkah boasts 1,121 keys of rooms, suites, apartments, and residences.
The hotel has eight dining destinations, three meeting rooms and event spaces accommodating between 10 to 70 people.
Hotel guests will also have the option to book entire floors, which feature 14 rooms and suites per level.
Centara Hotels & Resorts appoints GM for Maldives, Samui
Andrew Jansson has been named cluster general manager of the soon-to-be opened Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives and Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives, while Neil Li joins is the new general manager of Centara Reserve Samui.
In his new role, Jansson will oversee the pre-opening and strategic development of Centara Grand Lagoon Maldives and Centara Mirage Lagoon Maldives. With nearly 30 years as a seasoned hospitality professional, Jansson has held leadership roles in 14 countries with renowned hotel chains such as Hyatt and Shangri-La.
Li brings over a decade of hotel management experience from top international five-star hotels in Shanghai, China. He was previously serving as assistant vice president at Shangri-La Circle.
Frasers Hospitality gears up for international expansion
Frasers Hospitality is expanding globally through collaborations with capital partners and third-party hotel operators that complement its operational excellence within the extended stay segment.
Over the past 18 months, on top of its ongoing focus of opening new properties in key gateway locations, Frasers Hospitality acquired its inaugural premium rental apartment assets in Shenzhen, China and Osaka, Japan, respectively, together with joint venture partners.
In addition, as an extension of its current extended-stay portfolio offering, Frasers Hospitality is partnering with Yotel to launch the brand’s first Yotel property in Japan in early 2025. The site was acquired and developed by Frasers Hospitality, and is strategically located within walking distance to Tokyo Station, at the city’s most popular dining and shopping enclave.
Frasers Hospitality opened three new properties in Bahrain, Chengdu and Shanghai in 1H2024, with an additional nine properties scheduled to open in the next two years across China and Vietnam.
Recent openings by Frasers Hospitality include Modena by Fraser Nansha Guangzhou, Fraser Place Wujiaochang Shanghai, Fraser Place Chengdu, and Fraser Suites Al Liwan Bahrain.
In May 2023, Frasers Hospitality made its maiden acquisition of premium rental apartment assets in China and Japan with a combined asset value of approximately S$170 million (US$125.9 million). Both the 325-unit premium rental apartment in Shenzhen, China, and the 124-unit premium rental apartment in Osaka, Japan add to Frasers Hospitality’s expanding portfolio in North Asia with close to 3,400 units in 16 properties across China, Japan, and South Korea.
Over the next four years, Frasers Hospitality will open another 20 properties, including the nine properties scheduled to open over the next two years.
Eu Chin Fen, CEO of Frasers Hospitality, said: “Our recent partnership with Yotel in Japan and joint ventures formed in China and Japan exemplify our ability to forge strong alliances with industry leaders. Concurrently, we continue to deepen our presence in existing cities with more properties slated to open in the next few years.”
Hilton expands partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Hilton is expanding its portfolio of luxury hotel experiences with the addition of nearly 400 boutique properties from the Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) collection, which will be available on all Hilton direct booking channels.
Joining Hilton’s luxury brand portfolio comprising Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts and Signia by Hilton, SLH’s participating hotels will offer travellers new ways of staying with Hilton – from rustic huts and woodland treehouses to rainforest retreats and coastal villas. These include properties like Nobu Hotel Marbella in Spain; Lanson Place Causeway Bay Hong Kong in China; Gangtey Lodge in Bhutan; Nimb Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark; Grove of Narberth in the UK; and Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa in the US, and more.
Since the announcement in February, 390 SLH properties have opted to join the partnership with more hotels expected to be added as the SLH and Hilton relationship grows.
Through the exclusive partnership, members of Hilton’s loyalty programme, Hilton Honors, will be able to earn and redeem points for SLH stays, as well as enjoy exclusive benefits at SLH’s city, beach and resort hotels.
Hilton Honors members can elevate their stay at participating SLH hotels with exclusive benefits, including earning and redeeming points, free Wi-Fi and a guaranteed member discount. Gold and Diamond members also enjoy space-available room upgrades and continental breakfast for up to two guests, points and money payment options, no resort fees on stays booked using all points, and fifth standard reward night free.
“Integrating with Small Luxury Hotels of the World allows us to expand the Hilton stay experience and travel aspirations for all guests, with special opportunities for our loyal Hilton Honors members,” said Chris Silcock, president, global brands and commercial services, Hilton.
SLH chairman Shaun Leleu added: “This alliance expands the reach of our boutique hotels to Hilton’s loyal and discerning clientele, transforming the global landscape for independently owned hotels in a remarkable way.”
Club Med surpasses pre-pandemic growth in Asia, plans new resorts in the region
Global specialist in premium all-inclusive holidays, Club Med doubled its business in Asia last year versus 2022, and has already surpassed its pre-pandemic growth level in Asia with business growing +6 per cent in 2023 vis-à-vis 2019.
Even though the Indian market grew by +37 per cent in 2023 compared with 2022 for Club Med, the other Asian markets including Malaysia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea are much bigger than India.
“In some Asian markets, like Japan, we have five domestic resorts so the demand is much higher than India. However, we are recording a strong demand for our ski resorts among Indian outbound travellers. In fact, the growth of ski business from India was +430 per cent in 2023 versus 2022 for our ski resorts in destinations like France and Japan,” said Bruno Courbet, director of Indonesia, India, Thailand and new markets, Club Med while speaking to TTG Asia.
Courbet shared that the business for its resorts in Maldives has gone down – it used to contribute 60 to 70 per cent to its overall business from India in the pre-Covid era. This is why Club Med is aggressively promoting ski resorts in the Indian market at present.
He continued: “Overall in the Asian region, 15 per cent of our business is MICE driven but, as of today, 100 per cent of our business in India is leisure-centric. We believe that MICE, especially the incentive movement, has the potential to contribute 10 to 15 per cent of our total business in India in the next few years. We will start by working on small MICE groups of 20 to 25 pax.”
“We have two key priorities in Asia – the first one is the ski business and the second one is our high-end Exclusive Collection Resorts,” added Courbet.
In terms of its expansion plans in Asia, Club Med is coming up with one resort in Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia by mid-2025, with plans to open five resorts in Indonesia over the next few years.
“We want to expand in Thailand. We also see an opportunity in foraying into the Indian market by opening a ski resort in the northern part of the country,” said Courbet.
Presently, 60 per cent business for Club Med resorts is generated by European markets, 20 per cent by American markets and the remaining 20 per cent from Asia.
Digital travel platforms are ramping up their focus on the millennial and Gen Z demographic with data showing strong demand and surge bookings during special social media marketing events, their merchandise value contribution and the impact of celebrity endorsements and holiday periods.
These platforms are investing in appealing to this younger, tech-savvy cohort with what they like – a seamless, customised and entertaining travel planning experience.
Trip.com Group launched live-streaming in 2020, and according to Trip.com Group chief marketing officer Bo Sun, live-streaming appeals to a broad demographic, including tech-savvy millennials and Gen Z travellers who are looking for interactive and visually appealing content.
“By leveraging popular social media platforms and live-streaming services, we can reach a wider and more diverse audience,” he added.
In 1Q2024, Trip.com Group’s live-streams drove a substantial 55.7 per cent increase in gross merchandise value (GMV) compared to the same period last year.
Recent live-streaming sessions featured travel destinations such as Thailand and Singapore to showcase their unique attractions and available travel products in real-time.
On the appeal of such events, Sun noted: “During our live-streams, hosts share valuable travel tips, recommend destinations and provide exclusive discounts on hotels, tour tickets and limited-time coupons.”
In February, Trip.com Group collaborated with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and held a live-stream in Phuket for its Mega Sale event.
“This event not only highlighted Thailand’s diverse attractions with millions of views but also generated significant GMV of over US$7 million and over 24,000 orders,” Sun shared.
A month earlier, in Singapore, the live broadcast saw high volumes – exceeding 5.41 million bookings – and the Mega Sale event at Singapore Changi Airport achieved US$5.5 million in total GMV of Singapore travel products.
Sun added: “While the audience is currently primarily Chinese, we will further apply this strategy for other locales to align with emerging live-stream trends in the other regions.”
At Airbnb, 2023 data showed strong demand from millennial and Gen Z travellers, and approximately 50 per cent of first-time bookers in Asia-Pacific were aged between 18 and 30 years old.
A spokesperson told TTG Asia that around 90 per cent of first-time bookers in the Indian market last year were millennials and Gen Z travellers.
Between 2022 and 2023, Airbnb saw millennials and Gen Z guests “drive a surge in travel to Thailand” and “bookings in Thailand by Indian guests on Airbnb increased more than 60 per cent year-on-year”.
She also shared that there was a noticeable surge of interest during the Holi and Easter long weekends in 2023 when searches by Indian guests for stays in Thailand during that period increased by more than 200 per cent.
“Over the last few years, we’ve announced several product updates, with the most recent being the launch of a new category of extraordinary experiences hosted by the greatest names in music, film, television, art, and sports, among others,” noted the spokesperson.
Jeremy Bek, general manager, global head of travel at Rakuten Travel observed an increase in high-spending travellers and higher-ranked members driving business, particularly from countries such as Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan to Japan.
Bek stated: “These travellers are often looking for highly authentic experiences, including stays at ryokans in less frequented cities, as well as unique cultural experiences and gourmet dining, such as kaiseki (traditional multi-course Japanese dinner).”
While Rakuten Travel does not specifically record age-related data in the booking process, it recognises the significant impact of younger, under-40 travellers driving demand on its platform.
“This demographic is tech-savvy, values unique and personalised experiences, and is more likely to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations,” he shared. “Their preferences for experiential travel and their willingness to spend on unique experiences are shaping the future of the travel industry, making them a key focus for our growth and innovation strategies.”
Regular sales and campaigns also play a significant role in driving bookings and revenue for Rakuten Travel.
Bek continued: “Particularly, our recurring mega sale, dubbed Rakuten Travel Super Sale, offers substantial discounts of up to 75 per cent and encourages travellers to take advantage of our exclusive offers and receive significant interest and bookings.
“Additionally, these campaigns help increase brand awareness, especially in countries where our brand presence is still growing.”
“At Rakuten Travel, we are leveraging various tech innovations to enhance and personalise the travel experience,” he added.
Rakuten Travel offers detailed meal plans, allowing travellers to select their choice of meals at ryokans, and meal filters to help users find accommodations that meet their dietary preferences – these are seen as important for younger travellers who value personalised and unique culinary experiences.
“Compared to other OTAs, Rakuten Travel provides more accommodation-type filters, including options like machiyas (traditional townhouses), which cater to those seeking authentic Japanese stays – something that is not available on other platforms,” explained Bek.
“Moreover, the younger demographic is more adventurous and wishes to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations that are less accessible by public transportation and more easily accessible by car. As such, we have introduced a car rental reservation service in multiple languages, including English, Korean and traditional Chinese, with a user-friendly interface and intuitive search functionality, making it easy for travellers to book rental cars on the same platform as the accommodations booking website.”