Onyx strengthens travel industry partnerships with UK sales mission
Onyx Hospitality Group has recently completed a dedicated UK sales mission, aiming to foster strong relationships with key tour operators in the UK travel industry.
Further building on key relationships with companies such as Kuoni, Best at Travel, Southall Travel, TUI, Destination2 and BA Holidays, the mission’s aim was to educate the trade on Onyx’s varied hotels and resorts across the diverse brand portfolio, and to announce upcoming goals and new openings.
The UK is a key market for Onyx, with this year’s arrivals to all Onyx resorts from the UK up 56.9 per cent in January and February as compared with arrivals in 2023.
In addition, the group aims to surpass 50 properties by 2025, setting a target of reaching 70 by 2028.
Upcoming openings include Shama Rayong in Thailand; Shama Suasana Johor Bahru and OZO Medini in Malaysia; Shama Hub Metro South Hong Kong; and Shama Hub Qiantang Hangzhou in China. An opening in Laos, Amari Vientiane, is also in the pipeline.
New Mandarin Oriental to open in Philippines’ Makati City in 2026
Ayala Land and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (MOHG) have teamed up to bring back the hospitality brand to Makati City, the commercial heart of the Philippines, with the unveiling of the new Mandarin Oriental, slated to open in 2026.
The new hotel, located in Ayala Triangle Gardens at the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Makati Avenue, will have 276 rooms with a range of amenities including restaurants and spa.
The original Mandarin Oriental was a defining part of the Makati City skyline from 1976 through 2014. The new property will be at the forefront of the evolving landscape of Makati City, with the city’s new 25-year plan geared at enhancing its liveability, diversity and sustainability.
Christoph Mares, chief operating officer, MOHG, said: “As a brand that was born in Asia, Mandarin Oriental has always been at the heart of the region’s development and evolving culture. We’re optimistic about the future prospects of the Philippines, and are happy to be returning to the country now.”
“We’re excited to welcome Mandarin Oriental back to the Philippines, and to Makati City specifically. More than just a physical landmark, the brand was also a cultural landmark, with the hotel hosting celebrations and special events,” added Mariana Zobel de Ayala, senior vice-president, leasing and hospitality head, Ayala.
Air Astana resumes flights to Seoul
Air Astana will restart its services from Astana, Kazakhstan to Seoul, South Korea on June 15, flying twice weekly on the Airbus A321LR.
The new services from Astana to Seoul will be in addition to the daily flights from Almaty to Seoul, with all services operated on a codeshare basis with Asiana Airlines.
Positive outlook for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts buoyed by APAC growth
Brought to you by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Buoyed by a strong 2023, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest hotel franchising company, looks forward to continued growth across Asia-Pacific for the year ahead.
It recently signed a new strategic franchise agreement with The Ozone Group Phuket in March, which brought its 16th brand in Asia Pacific. This will see the launch of The Ozone Signature, A Registry Collection Hotel, the first Registry Collection Hotels in this part of the region in 2027.
“This year, we aim to strengthen our leadership position in the hotel franchising space. Wyndham is strategically expanding our presence across the Asia-Pacific region with an ambitious pipeline of new hotel signings and openings, aiming to cater to a diverse range of travellers’ needs and preferences,” said Joon Aun Ooi, president, Asia Pacific, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
Record year
The agreement follows a record 2023 for the world’s largest hotel franchising company where Wyndham Hotels & Resorts launched nine brands in eight new markets, signed 222 hotels and opened 158 new hotels.
These nine brands include Wyndham Grand, Wyndham, Wyndham Garden, Hawthorn by Wyndham, TRYP by Wyndham, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, Ramada Encore by Wyndham, and Howard Johnson by Wyndham.
This contributed to a 7.4 per cent year-on-year net room growth for the group, equivalent to 14,200+ rooms, according to its financial report.
In the popular island destination of Phu Quoc, Vietnam, the group debuted the largest of its two brands — the 1,399-room Wyndham Grand Phu Quoc and the 921-room Wyndham Garden Grandworld Phu Quoc.
The flagship Wyndham brand will make its debut in Singapore, taking over the 591-room Peninsula Excelsior Singapore. Currently undergoing refurbishment, it will be known as Wyndham Singapore.
The group also opened new brands in new markets such as the 163-room Hawthorn by Wyndham Dali Erhai Park in China’s Yunnan province, 271-room Wyndham Grand Busan Ijin by Songdo Beach, and 77-room TRYP by Wyndham Wellington in the business district of New Zealand’s capital.
“Every brand offers a distinctly different experience and is tailored to meet the dynamic and growing demand for experiential travel. At Wyndham, we have a global portfolio of 25 brands with 15 brands at play in Asia-Pacific region, this aligns perfectly with our mission statement of making hotel travel possible for all, our vision of expanding into new cities, introducing quality brands, and catering to the diverse needs of travelers in Asia-Pacific region,” said Ooi.
Looking ahead
This year, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is continuing its focus on franchising to cater to the diverse needs and preferences of global travellers.
Its growing portfolio in the region also allows it to offer more options for the more than 106 million members of its Wyndham Rewards loyalty programme.
“The strong growth of our capillarity of hotel network coverage ensures that wherever our guests are going and whatever their trip objectives are, we will have a Wyndham-branded hotel waiting for them to either earn or burn their loyalty points,” said Ooi.
He added that the group maintains a “cautiously optimistic outlook on the travel and hospitality sector in the Asia-Pacific region” and that changing demographics and travel patterns such as an expanding middle class and increased digital engagement across all age groups will continue to contribute to demand for travel in the region.
Looking for a place to stay for your next trip? Book a Wyndham hotel on www.wyndhamhotels.com.
Japan to construct barrier at Mount Fuji photo spot to combat overcrowding
A huge barrier to block views of Mount Fuji will be installed at a popular photo spot by Japanese authorities as a last resort, a decision brought about by crowds of badly-behaved foreign tourists who disobeyed rules and left litter behind.
An official from Fujikawaguchiko town said that a mesh net of about 2.4 metres high and 20 metres long will be constructed next week.
While the famous mountain can be photographed from many spots in Fujikawaguchiko, this viewpoint is particularly popular on social media because Mount Fuji appears behind a Lawson store, which are ubiquitous in Japan. This attracts tourists who overcrowd a stretch of pavement next to the convenience store, and ignore traffic signs and repeated warnings from security guards.
The official shared that the current plan was for the screen to stay up until the situation improves.
This barrier at Mount Fuji is the latest direct action in Japan against overtourism after residents of Kyoto’s geisha district banned visitors from small private alleys this year due to tourists who harassed the city’s geishas and took photographs of them without permission.
In addition, Japan has announced a series of new measures that will take effect from 2024 for the safety of Mount Fuji hikers, such as charging a fee of 2,000 yen (US$13), which will go towards supporting Mount Fuji’s conservation efforts. Night-time climbers will also be required to make reservations at mountain huts for their ascent.
Plaza Premium Group names new GM
Plaza Premium Group (PPG) has appointed John Girard as general manager operations for Hong Kong, where he will oversee PPG’s operations at its hometown, Hong Kong International Airport, in his new role.
A veteran global hotel executive with deep experience in Hong Kong, Girard has an extensive hospitality career, including over three decades in leadership positions at Hong Kong hotels, most recently as area general manager and vice president of development at Regal Hotels International where he managed the 1,200-room Regal Airport Hotel.
Malaysia sees promising growth for inbound tourism in 2024
Malaysia’s tourism industry is poised for a remarkable rebound, with projections indicating a surpassing of pre-pandemic levels from 2019 and a promising trajectory for future growth, bolstered by strategic collaborations and partnerships within the airline sector.
Malaysia welcomed 20.1 million international tourists in 2023, generating a substantial revenue of 71.3 billion ringgit (US$14.9 billion). Although this achievement exceeded the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture’s target of 16.1 million arrivals, it notably fell short of the robust figures seen in 2019, where 26.1 million international tourists contributed 86.1 billion ringgit to the country’s economy.
Addressing the APG Network Annual General Meeting 2024, deputy tourism, arts and culture minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan articulated the government’s ambitious aspirations, setting a target of 27.3 million tourists and aiming for 102.7 billion ringgit in tourist expenditure for 2024.
He stressed the ongoing promotional initiatives and events, particularly highlighting the state-focused campaigns in Melaka, Kelantan, Perak, and Perlis. Expressing optimism, he underscored Malaysia’s commitment to surpassing pre-pandemic benchmarks, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Looking ahead, the government has set its sights even higher, with a tourism target of 31.4 million visitors and revenue of 125.5 billion ringgit slated for 2025. For Visit Malaysia 2026, an ambitious goal of attracting 35.6 million tourists is established, with an anticipated tourism revenue of 147.1 billion ringgit.
During his presentation at the event, Shahrin Mokhtar, director, strategic planning at Tourism Malaysia, highlighted the pivotal role of enhanced air connectivity in bolstering international arrivals to Malaysia.
He elaborated on the availability of a matching grant designed to incentivise airlines to initiate new services, augment existing frequencies, or introduce charter services to Malaysia.
Moreover, Tourism Malaysia is deepening its collaboration with local airlines flying on international routes, with a specific focus on promoting stopover programmes and seamlessly converting transit passengers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport into tourists, thereby harnessing the full tourism potential of the nation.
Emphasising the significance of strategic partnerships, Shahrin also underscored the importance of alliances with Middle Eastern airlines to attract European tourists to Malaysia. Additionally, he highlighted the value of collaborations with airlines operating in Singapore to entice more Chinese tourists to visit Malaysia.
These partnerships serve as vital conduits for diversifying and expanding Malaysia’s tourism base, tapping into key source markets and fostering sustainable growth in the industry.
Malaysia’s tourism sector is expected to generate earnings of 375.3 billion ringgit over the course of 2024 to the Visit Malaysia campaign year in 2026.
Khairul also shared that in 2023, Malaysia recorded 20.1 million tourists, successfully surpassing the government’s target of 16.1 million arrivals.
This year, the government has set a target of 27.3 million tourists which will attract some 102.7 billion ringgit in tourism revenue.
Uniworld sees potential in Asian market, launches themed charters
River cruising has a lot more potential to grow among Asian travellers, said Henry Yu, managing director, Asia, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises.
In an interview with TTG Asia, he added that there was increasing awareness of river cruising and the Uniworld brand.
“If they travel with us this year, 70 per cent of our customers will return within the next three years, and bring more customers back,” he said.
He observed that customers are also making bookings earlier. Meanwhile, its Rhine and Danube river cruises remain the most popular cruises, although there is growing interest in its southern France and Bordeaux itineraries.
This year, Uniworld’s new Super Ship, the S.S. Victoria, set sail in March, starting from Amsterdam on an eight-day Holland & Belgium at Tulip Time cruise, then on to an eight-day Castles Along the Rhine trip from Basel to Amsterdam, before cruising along the Magnificent Moselle and Rhine itinerary for 10 days.
The ship, with 55 suites and staterooms, can accommodate up to 110 guests. The biggest Royal Suite is a sizeable 47m2, while the suites range from 22m2 to 23.5m2.
Launching in 2025 will be the S.S. Elisabeth, the sister ship to S.S. Victoria, which boasts two Royal Suites at 47m2 that can be combined with an adjoining suite next door to create an even bigger 70.5m2.
Uniworld has also launched new themed cruises this year, which includes sailing with Michelin-star celebrity chefs, Robert van Rijsbergen, Uniworld’s own culinary director, and Taiwanese chef Thomas Chien.
There is also a Pearl Wedding Anniversary sailing with Chinese news anchor, Ho Rong, in November on an eight-day Enchanting Danube itinerary from Budapest to Passau.
Holiday season cruises are also open for booking, with seven itineraries on the Rhine and Danube rivers, taking passengers to various Christmas markets across Western and Central Europe.
Yu emphasised that Uniworld can provide all the necessary logistical arrangements, including transfers, food and beverage, and activities for charters.
For corporate charters, venues and function rooms are also available, with places such as the lounge, bar, restaurant and sun deck that can be utilised as meeting venues.
Go City adds iconic London experiences through Merlin Entertainments partnership
Go City has expanded its offerings through a partnership with Merlin Entertainments, adding seven of the iconic city’s top experiences to its London Pass, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
These attractions include The Lastminute.com London Eye, also celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, Madame Tussauds London, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Shrek’s Adventure! London, The London Dungeon, Sea Life London Aquarium and Legoland Windsor Resort.
These new additions expand Go City’s London-based attractions to more than 100 offerings found on the Explorer and All-Inclusive passes.
“Our customers love using our app to discover an amazing blend of iconic landmarks and hidden treasures – plus they enjoy up to 50 per cent savings on walk-up rates. We’re thrilled to build on our global partnership with Merlin Entertainments, by including, for the first time, seven of Merlin’s iconic London attractions in our London pass line-ups” shared Jon Owen, CEO of Go City.
“This is a mutually beneficial partnership that opens us up to new audiences while providing Go City with premium experiences to complement their passes in London,” said Dominique Sidley, global trade strategy director of Merlin Entertainments.
Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, has launched its innovative digital platform, the Travel Companion, powered by advanced artificial intelligence, as part of a two-year plan to revolutionise the travel industry by embracing digital innovations.
In collaboration with global professional services firm Accenture, Saudia’s Travel Companion is set to change how travellers interact with the airline and redefine the standards of digital travel.
With the goal of becoming the go-to platform for various services beyond flight bookings, the Travel Companion offers personalised and tailored solutions to meet individual preferences and needs, providing search results from trusted and authenticated sources and utilises image-supported responses.
The platform is intended to be a comprehensive, one-stop solution that allows users to book concierge services such as hotels, transportation, restaurants, activities, and attractions, eliminating the need to switch between multiple platforms. Additionally, it establishes seamless connections with transportation platforms and various train companies, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted journey.
Currently in its beta version, Saudia will introduce additional features, such as voice command and digital payment solutions in the next stages. Through an always-on Travel Companion accessible via an e-SIM card enabled by Saudia, users can enjoy global access without relying on other internet providers.
Furthermore, users can purchase data packages for additional applications, ensuring continuous access to the platform’s services.