Brought to you by BWH Hotels
Japan is a destination that attracts travellers all year round with a wealth of natural and cultural wonders.
With an extensive collection of 21 hotels and resorts nationwide, across six innovative and intuitive brands, BWH℠ Hotels can set the stage for inspiring adventures in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Best Western Plus Nagoya Sakae
The relaunch of Best Western Plus Nagoya Sakae in the commercial heart of Nagoya and the collection of properties throughout Japan, have created even more options for travellers who want to explore this captivating country this spring or summer.
Newly-renovated and rebranded, Best Western Plus Nagoya Sakae is a stylish downtown hotel, surrounded by corporate offices, world-class attractions, shopping malls, restaurants and bars. Guests can stay in a choice of contemporary rooms with comfy beds, free Wi-Fi and a selection of activities in close proximity.
Tokyo & Yokohama
BWH Hotels’ comprehensive collection of hotels and resorts in Japan now spans every sector of the market, from economy to luxury. In Tokyo and Yokohama, there is a choice of nine exceptional properties including the following properties from WorldHotels: Dai-ichi Hotel Tokyo, Villa Fontaine Premier Haneda Airport, Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro, Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport. From Best Western: Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akasaka, Best Western Hotel Fino Tokyo Akihabara, Rose Hotel Yokohama, WorldHotels Distinctive, Best Western Yokohama, and Best Western Hotel Fino Shin-Yokohama each with their own unique offerings.
Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe & Kyoto
Best Western Plus Nagoya Sakae is now welcoming guests in the compelling city of Nagoya. Visitors can also choose from six hotels in the dynamic Kansai region, including Best Western Hotel Fino Osaka Shinsaibashi, Best Western Osaka Tsukamoto, Best Western Plus Hotel Fino Osaka Kitahama, and SureStay Plus Hotel by Best Western Shin-Osaka let travellers stay fully connected in the city of Osaka, Portopia Hotel, offers charming stays in the vibrant port of Kobe, and KAYA Kyoto Nijo Castle, BW Signature Collection lets guests uncover the treasures of Kyoto with its convenient location near Nijo Castle and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Imperial Palace.
Fukuoka, Sapporo & Okinawa
Venturing further across the country, Best Western Plus Fukuoka Tenjin-minami lets travellers experience the lively coastal city of Fukuoka in Kyushu Island, Best Western Sapporo Odori Koen and Best Western Plus Hotel Fino Chitose set the stage for northern adventures in Hokkaido Island, and a choice of two hotels in tropical Okinawa, Best Western Okinawa Kouki Beach and Best Western Okinawa Onna Beach, set the stage for beachfront getaways.
“BWH Hotels is one of the leading international hotel groups in Japan with a comprehensive portfolio of properties in many of the country’s most popular destinations, catering for a wide range of travellers. By delivering our timeless standards of global hospitality in prime locations, our hotels and resorts are becoming popular places to stay for Japanese and international visitors alike,” said Olivier Berrivin, Vice President – APAC, BWH Hotels.
From now till May 4, Best Western Rewards members who book their stay at participating Best Western hotels in Asia earn double BWR® points. The offer is valid for up to three stays, with 10,000 points per stay, giving travellers a chance to earn up to 30,000 bonus points. Book now and start exploring Japan with BWH Hotels!
The online news bulletin will resume on Monday, April 1, 2024.
Having joined Minor Hotels in early 2020, Abeyakoon was most recently general manager at Minor’s Oaks Ibn Battuta Gate hotel in Dubai.
Airline chiefs of legacy, low-cost carriers (LCC) and new full-service start-ups, who spoke at the recent Aviation Festival Asia in Singapore, have one thing in common – the need for additional aircraft to meet growing passenger demand and expansion of their domestic and international networks.
Air India, under new Tata Group management since 2022, has 506 orders, 36 on lease and is accepting one aircraft delivery every six days. Air India CEO and managing director Campbell Wilson is expecting “some delays” on its orders 18 months into its five-year transformation, noting the airline is “undersized in relation to the market”.
IndiGo is the largest airline in India by passengers carried and fleet size, and the LCC has a 60 per cent share of the domestic market. IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers reported growth of 20 per cent in the past year and its 2024 network will comprise 86 domestic and 33 international destinations, adding that the airline’s target is to grow from 300 to 1,000 aircraft to “double in size by the end of the decade”.
New player Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air was launched some 15 months ago and is in an alliance with Turkish Airlines. According to CEO Tony Douglas, the start-up is looking to fly to some 150 destinations, has an order for 72 aircraft, and expects to start operations by mid-2025.
On another panel, CEO of Really Cool Airlines Patel Sarasin said the new Thai full-service international player is scheduled to take off by the end of the year but shared he was facing challenges in finding aircraft.
Fellow panellist Mike Szucs, CEO of Cebu Pacific, said he was negotiating with Airbus and Boeing for 150 aircraft to tap domestic and international opportunities with major improvements in the country’s airport infrastructure under way.
However, airlines have little control over the delivery of their aircraft orders.
Douglas admitted Riyadh Air has “no Plan B” in the current situation of demand chasing supply; while Elbers acknowledged there were supply chain challenges and original equipment manufacturer issues.
On how Thai Airways is coping with passenger demand changes following China’s reopening, CEO Chai Eamsiri said Chinese state-owned enterprises were controlling the flow of outbound travel and the airline was managing its aircraft deployment by serving only 42 routes, less than 80 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
For Riyadh Air, Douglas noted that China, described as a giant market, is on its “list of top priorities”, adding “we have to go to China and will use social media” to promote its appeal to football-mad supporters – Cristiano Ronaldo captains Saudi Pro League Al Nasser – and adventure seekers as host of the Dakar Rally.
Airlines also have no clear answer on how to get to net zero carbon emissions, identified as one of the industry’s biggest challenges even though low-carbon and sustainable fuel are available.
Chai commented carbon neutrality was not just the responsibility of airlines and “everyone has to pay for it”.
While the airlines are ready, where there are mandates in Europe and where the Schengen region and the US have also introduced incentives, he said more guidelines are needed in Asia.
Chai referenced the February announcement that flights departing from Singapore will be required to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from 2026, in a move aimed at progressively decarbonising airline operations.
Singapore is aiming for a one per cent SAF uplift and passengers will have to pay more for their air tickets due to a levy imposed on the purchase of the fuel with fees paid based on factors such as distance travelled and class of travel.
The rest of South-east Asia, even the Thai government, Chai pointed out, have no comprehensive policy on SAF and the national carrier is pushing for clearer concrete solutions on its availability in the market.
While no mention was made during the panels on recent incidents of missing aircraft door plugs or tricky pilot seat switches having a knock-on effect on delivery and capacity rebuilding, passengers will have to brace themselves for higher ticket prices as airlines wait for orders and what else is to come as governments and the industry work out the route to net zero carbon emissions.