Rubel Miah joins Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort, BDMS Wellness Clinic as GM
Rubel Miah has been appointed as the new general manager of Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok and BDMS Connect Center.
With over 20 years of hospitality expertise, the French national was previously the general manager of Lebua Hotel Bangkok.
Macau woos Singapore visitors with a diversified strategy
As Macau celebrates its 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR), it is ramping up efforts to grow inbound tourism from Asia, particularly from Singapore, which is the destination’s eighth most valuable international visitor source market.
In 1Q2024, Macau welcomed over 25,000 visitors from Singapore, with an average daily visitor volume increase of 263.1 per cent compared to the same period in 2023.
Speaking at the Macao Tourism + MICE Product Updates Seminar & Travel Mart in Singapore on April 25, Cheng Wai Tong, deputy director, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), observed more interest in visiting Macau among Singapore travellers, partly due to direct air routes between the two destinations.
Traveller demographics have also changed, according to a survey by MGTO. Visitors from Singapore are younger, have a high education background and income, tend to travel with family, and prefer to visit heritage sights and experience local food and culture.
“Macau has transformed from a gaming destination to a diversified destination,” he said.
Tourists are coming to experience the non-gaming aspect of Macau and to meet this changing demand, the government will continue to focus on its Tourism+ strategy to promote other aspects of the destination. It includes culture and creativity; sports; business events; public events; wellness; gastronomy; technology; e-commerce, and education.
Cheng also highlighted the increased number of concerts hosted in Macau since last year. Cantopop artistes and international acts such as Bruno Mars and Blackpink have all performed in the destination, creating a positive impact on tourism. As most concerts were held in the evening, concert-goers stayed overnight and had more opportunities to shop and dine.
Macau has also made travel arrangements more seamless. Singaporean passport holders can now use the conventional two-gate e-Channels at Macau’s various border checkpoints upon registration, which will expedite the clearance process.
There is also a bonded bus service that connects visitors to Hong Kong International Airport via the Macau side of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, launched last August.
These developments support Macau’s aim to welcome 33 million visitors in 2024.
“Looking ahead, MGTO will continue its marketing efforts in Singapore, focusing on five key pillars to position Macau as a premier travel destination. These pillars include partnerships with key airlines and online travel platforms for discounted packages, collaborations with Singapore travel agencies, utilisation of KOLs and social media, participation in major travel fairs, and organising mega offline consumer events to showcase Macau as a destination,” said Cheng.
Iloilo campaigns for more visitors
A private-government sector collaboration has launched the Visit Iloilo campaign, complete with branding and tactical offers, to position the province as a leading tourism destination for foreign and domestic travellers alike.
Iloilo Festivals Foundation (IFFI) president Allan Tan said that apart from presenting the destination in every imaginable discussion and platform possible, Iloilo will increase its presence in local trade fairs and international travel expos.
Soon to be launched across service partners are discounts and added service value systems, Tan added.
The campaign also draws support from Iloilo MICE Alliance, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iloilo Chapter, Department of Tourism, local government units, and the province of Iloilo.
Megaworld Hotels and Resorts group general manager Art Boncato Jr said the website www.visitiloilo.ph is being jazzed up and a digital marketplace page will be added to highlight tourism suppliers and their offerings. The e-commerce platform will enable convenient service transactions between customers and businesses.
Visit Iloilo is envisioned to be a progressive campaign to last a long time as the province doubles down on expanding its tourism hardware including an international airport, ferry services linking it to other domestic destinations, a convention centre, more hotels, and more natural and cultural attractions, heritage sites and festivals.
Located in Western Visayas, Iloilo City was named UNESCO City of Gastronomy in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for 2023, recognising its heirloom dishes including pork dumpling soup called pancit molo; savoury noodle dish of batchoy made from innards, beef and pork strips sprinkled with pork crackling; native chicken delicacies, and more.
Oceania Cruises unveils 2025 Mediterranean sailings
An array of new European sailings, ranging from nine to 56 days, has been added to Oceania Cruises’ 2025 Mediterranean programme.
Cruise enthusiasts can expect to journey with Oceania’s Marina and Nautica to iconic islands in the Mediterranean, Aegean and Adriatic as well as well-loved European resort towns and bustling cities, and lesser-known ports of call.
Cities including Athens, Barcelona, Istanbul, Rome and Lisbon frame the 16 voyages, allowing the ships to meander from lively jet-set resort towns such as Monte Carlo, Cannes, Positano and Sorrento, to hidden gems including Tirana and Sarande in Albania; Trapani in Sicily; Calvi and Propriano in Corsica, and Sibenik in Croatia.
Through Oceania’s extensive set of small-group, immersive shore excursions, guests can rediscover previously-visited favourites through a new lens, or uncover new places for the very first time. For example, while in Santorini, travellers can choose an adventurous tour of the island’s active volcanoes, or while in Montenegro, see a new side of Kotor by exploring Europe’s southernmost fjord, Boka Bay.
The new voyages also come with enhanced onboard experiences, as the 1,250-guest ship, Marina, emerges from an expansive refurbishment. It will feature two new dining options, an expanded poolside ice-cream parlour, and refreshed Penthouse Suites and public areas.
Yotel makes Japan entry with Frasers’ hands
Global hospitality brand Yotel and Singapore-based Frasers Hospitality have formed a partnership that will allow the former to launch the first Yotel hotel in Japan in early 2025.
The 244-key Yotel Tokyo Ginza will command a prime location in the city’s most popular dining and shopping destination, with Tokyo Station a short 15-minute walk away.
It will showcase the brand’s distinctive signature style, seamlessly blending modern design with locally inspired artwork. Guests can expect new features during their stay, such as robotic concierge, motorised SmartBeds, and fully integrated technologies enabling a complete digital guest experience from reservation up to check-out.
Hubert Viriot, Yotel’s CEO, said the new property would be the brand’s flagship.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with an investor who shares our dedication to innovation and excellence in hospitality,” he said.
Eu Chin Fen, CEO of Frasers Hospitality, said: “The debut of the inaugural Yotel-branded hotel in Tokyo, Japan marks a significant milestone for us and reaffirms our commitment to deepen our presence in the country as we continue to grow the portfolio. We are pleased to join hands with Yotel to launch the brand in Japan and look forward to a mutually beneficial partnership in the long term.”
Yotel Tokyo Ginza is part of the brand’s wider strategy to expand across key cities in Japan. The group is also working to roll out Yotelair, a transit hotel concept, at key gateway airports and train stations.
Adventure, Inc. expands in Asia, acquires Singapore’s Silkway
Singapore-based travel management company Silkway Travel Asia has been acquired by Japanese OTA Adventure, Inc. as part of the former’s regional expansion strategy, and will now function as a fully owned subsidiary of the latter.
The deal is mutually beneficial and will not affect Silkway Travel Asia’s operations in Singapore, including its name, management team, and product offerings, assured the company in a press statement.
The deal will allow Adventure, with an annual turnover of 20 billion yen (US$130.7 million), to leverage Silkway Travel Asia’s established presence and expertise in both Singapore and the region, and cater to the diverse travel preferences of Asian customers as part of the company’s strategic expansion into South-east Asia.
The integration of Silkway Travel Asia’s unique offerings into Adventure’s extensive portfolio ensures travellers will enjoy unparalleled access to tailored travel experiences.
Silkway Travel Asia will also gain access to Adventure’s air ticket reservation platform skyticket, which streamlines the booking process for customers by allowing them to search, book, and pay for flights through Google’s search engine, without needing to be redirected to other websites.
James Tang, director and co-founder of Silkway Travel Asia, said: “Silkway Travel Asia will continue to expand its portfolio of MNC and SME clientele, providing extensive and comprehensive corporate travel management products and services.”
Albert Hong, director and co-founder of Silkway Travel Asia, added: “We’re thrilled to embark on the next stage of our growth with Adventure. This acquisition signifies Adventure’s confidence in our offerings and long-term strategy in expanding our operations further in Singapore and South-east Asia region, as travel demand continues to grow post-Covid.”
Both Tang and Hong will continue to serve as directors of the company post-acquisition.
Describing Silkway Travel Asia as a “valuable addition to the Adventure family”, Shunichi Nakamura, CEO of Adventure, said both companies “share a common goal of creating impactful and sustainable travel experiences that resonate with the evolving desires of today’s modern travellers”.
Hotel Indigo brand deepens reach in Thailand
IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG), along with property developer Magnolia Quality Development Corporation (MQDC), will take its Hotel Indigo brand to a new mixed-used development in Bangkok, one that is said to be the largest project of its kind in the country. The 274-room Hotel Indigo The Forestias Bangkok is expected to open in 2026.
The hotel will be located alongside residential and office space, retail, dining and family entertainment options, expansive meeting spaces and a hospital.
The Forestias will also be home to another IHG property – Six Senses The Forestias, a 85-room hotel and 27 residences development closely attached to a five-hectare forest park.
Hotel Indigo The Forestias Bangkok will offer a café, lounge, pool bar, gym, swimming pool, and over 6,500m2 of meeting space for up to 400 people. Guests can also expect easy access to Bangkok’s city centre and Suvarnabhumi International Airport, both of which will be accessible through a high-speed rail link.
Saowarin Chanprakaisi, senior director, development, South East Asia & Korea, IHG said: “MQDC and IHG have a shared vision of providing our guests with the best stay experience while operating in total harmony with the natural environment. We are thrilled to be part of this exciting project that will set the benchmark for community living.”
Paisit Kaenchan, head of hotel & hospitality business, MQDC, added: “The Hotel Indigo brand is perfect as the flagship hotel for The Forestias, thanks to a design philosophy that brings its neighbourhood to life. Through this we will see a strong connection forged between our guests, the community and the environment, and our visitors can expect to be fully immersed into the eco-educational and nature experiences offered at The Forestias.
“Combining innovation and technology, The Forestias will become a destination of the future to live, work and play in a sustainable way. More than half of the project space will be forest and green spaces rich in wildlife, with residential, community and leisure spaces sensitively integrated.”
Thailand continues to be a strong growth market for IHG, with 39 hotels across nine brands in the country and another 37 properties in the pipeline. Together with Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road and Hotel Indigo Phuket Patong, Hotel Indigo The Forestias Bangkok will join three other hotels in the pipeline including two in Bangkok and one in Koh Samui.
DidaTravel announces strong sales growth across GCC markets ahead of ATM
Brought to you by DidaTravel
DidaTravel, a tech-driven global travel wholesaler, announced strong year-to-date sales growth from across GCC source markets and destinations ahead of the 2024 Arabian Travel Market (ATM) show in Dubai.
For DidaTravel, the leading B2B travel wholesaler in China and APAC, the GCC region has been of increasing strategic focus over the past few years and the year-to-date growth is testament to the success of this strategy, with an average outbound sales increase of +104% from GCC source markets.
The fastest growing GCC markets were Saudi Arabia (+202%), Qatar (+199%), Kuwait (+157%) and Bahrain (+104%), while the most popular destination countries were the UK, USA, Turkey, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
From an inbound perspective, the most popular GCC destinations continue to be Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha and Jeddah. Year-to-date average daily rates (ADRs), for GCC destinations booked through DidaTravel’s platform and distribution channels have grown by a very positive average of +31%.
In addition, DidaTravel’s flight distribution business has been growing very fast across the GCC region with average regional outbound sales growth of +556% year-to-date.
Jinyan Li, vice president of Global Account Management at DidaTravel said: “For DidaTravel, the GCC region is of paramount strategic importance from both a source market and destination perspective, so it is great to see such positive results over the past 12 months after all the hard work of both our sourcing and distribution teams. We are grateful to all our hotel and distribution partners in the region for their continued confidence in Dida and we look forward to meeting everyone at the upcoming ATM show”.
DidaTravel will be exhibiting at ATM, Stand TT3350, from May 6 to 9.
Goodbye golden edelweiss, hello Switzerland
In an ongoing rebranding exercise, Switzerland Tourism has retired its iconic golden edelweiss logo and replaced it with the word Switzerland, with the Swiss cross taking the place of the letter ‘t’, set against a colour gradient backdrop of five shades of red.
The new brand identity was developed with Zurich-based branding specialist, Made Identity. According to the agency’s case study on the rebranding exercise, the new logo allows a stronger reflection of the Swiss flag through the inclusion of the Swiss cross in the wordmark while the five tones of red convey energy and the alpine glow of Swiss mountains.
While the new brand image was unveiled in Geneva on May 1, the full exercise will be implemented globally in stages, reaching South-east Asia mid-2024. Switzerland Tourism told TTG Asia that more information would be shared with the Asian travel trade community at ILTM Asia Pacific 2024.
Dao by Dorsett has appointed Jessie Khoo-Gan as its new general manager.
She joins the team with a wealth of knowledge and expertise, and has amassed over 30 years of extensive experience in the hospitality industry.