Family-owned Amora Group is ramping up hotel investments in Thailand and Australia with the refurbishment of Amora Beach Resort Phuket and Amora Hotel Brisbane.
Its flagship property Amora Beach Resort Phuket, first opened in 1999, will undergo an extensive refurbishment costing 500 million baht (US$14 million), while the newly-purchased Amora Hotel Brisbane will be transformed into a five-star hotel.
Amora Group is aiming to cement its footprint as a five-star hospitality group in Australia and Thailand
As tourism demand returns, Amora Group is also gearing up to cement its footprint as a five-star hospitality group in Australia and Thailand, with a longer-term goal of expansion in key cities in Asia-Pacific and developing properties in South-east Asia.
With Phuket expecting more than 14 million international and domestic arrivals by end 2023 as stated by the Phuket Tourist Association, the reopening of Amora Beach Resort Phuket, scheduled for December 2023, will help meet this demand.
Key highlights of the flagship’s transformation include newly-built facilities such as a new-concept beach club, a wellness and fitness centre, two pools, a kids’ club, a restaurant, a beachfront event lawn, a grand ballroom and four meeting rooms.
Amora Hotels & Resorts’ owner and director Earp Siriphatrawan said: “The group is confident that Amora Beach Resort Phuket will offer a distinctive guest experience that honours over 20 years of tradition in hospitality and yet adapts to the future with a young and innovative approach.”
As for manpower, he shared that each property is operated by the company and “remains very autonomous in their management, while adhering to guidelines”.
He explained: “General managers have the flexibility to adapt protocols in such a way that they are able to provide unique, unscripted and even spontaneous service that creates memorable moments for our guests.
“At Amora, we have many long-serving staff who are passionate about what they do, and have established a warm rapport with returning guests – a key factor that translates into brand loyalty and differentiation.”
The latest international YouGov survey showed that tourists are less likely to consider exploring unfamiliar tourist destinations, opting to travel to locations that they are more familiar with.
The survey of over 17,500 people, commissioned by the Saudi Tourism Authority and published ahead of this year’s World Tourism Day in Riyadh, was carried out in 15 countries across Asia, Africa, America, Europe and the Middle East. While results vary between geographies, the study reveals that 66% of tourists prefer traveling to countries that provide familiarity, while 67% tend to travel to destinations that they have previously visited or have heard about through their network, such as family and friends.
YouGov’s survey showed that more tourists are opting to travel to locations that they are familiar with
There are some global differences in the findings with 90% of tourists from Middle Eastern countries seeing familiarity with the destination as a key factor in making travel decisions, while British (62%), French (75%), Chinese (68%) and Japanese (74%) tourists feel more comfortable travelling to places that they know less about.
The implication for those destinations that have a developing tourism sector with less spending power for international promotional efforts is that they lack the ability to generate the familiarity which is clearly an important factor for people when choosing where to travel. On the other hand, the challenge for more mature tourism destinations is to encourage tourists away from the hotspot locations and into their lesser-known regions.
Resonating with previous studies which found that 80% of tourists visit just 10% of the world’s tourism destinations, the stark findings of this survey not only emphasise tourists’ preference for familiar destinations but also shed light on the need for more sustainable tourism practices worldwide.
Fahd Hamidaddin, CEO and board member of Saudi Tourism Authority, said: “The findings of this international survey give us great insight into the trends and habits of global tourists and how important a sense of familiarity is to them when choosing destinations.
“However, familiarity does not mean that destinations need to compromise their authenticity as the research also supports the notion that visiting new places deepens our appreciation of diverse cultures and fosters mutual understanding. When we travel, we are agents of good – we export our own cultures and return home with new discoveries, new ideas and new perspectives.”
The results support recent news reports from nations, such as Croatia and France, who have implemented measures to better control high volumes of tourists in their most popular destinations. The city of Dubrovnik, Croatia, has implemented a Respect the City campaign to manage tourism and minimise its impacts, while French Tourism Minister Olivia Gregoire asserted that France needed to better manage influxes during peak season that threatened “the environment, the quality of life for locals, and the experiences of its visitors”.
Of tourists that have ventured to new destinations, 83% report that the experience changed or broadened their perspective providing compelling evidence of the profound impact of tourism in connecting people and enhancing mutual understanding.
Sabre Corporation has launched its newest AI-powered retailing solution for airlines – Sabre Upgrade IQ – which can help airlines generate incremental and diversified revenue by optimising the available inventory in their premium cabins, while elevating and streamlining the customer experience.
Upgrade IQ is a PSS-agnostic solution which allows airlines to give travellers the opportunity to bid for a seat upgrade at any stage during the pre-travel timeframe – throughout the booking flow, at check-in, in the airline’s mobile app or via email communication.
Sabre’s Upgrade IQ allows airlines to give travellers the opportunity to bid for a seat upgrade at any stage during the pre-travel timeframe
Using the advanced AI and machine-learning models powered by Sabre Travel AI, Upgrade IQ streamlines the management of seat upgrades for airlines with an intuitive and automated interface that can automatically accept traveller bids, change the flight itinerary cabins, re-issue and revalidate the tickets, process payments and send receipts and confirmation information to the traveller. It also supports instant upgrades, where the traveller chooses to pay full price for a guaranteed upgrade.
During beta testing, Upgrade IQ demonstrated the ability to deliver up to 20 per cent uplift in incremental upgrade revenue by filling empty seats in premium cabins.
In addition to leveraging AI capabilities from Google, Sabre integrated with Hopper’s platform to create a frictionless and streamlined customer experience. The new Sabre solution incorporates Hopper’s advanced bidding platform which facilitates the bidding process and enables airlines to communicate with travellers in multiple languages and in-real time.
“By collaborating with Google and Hopper on some of the core technical capabilities, we have delivered a modern retailing solution to help airlines better manage seat upgrades and create differentiated customer experiences,” said Garry Wiseman, chief product officer, Sabre Travel Solutions.
Hotel Indigo, part of IHG’s Luxury & Lifestyle portfolio, is debuting its largest marketing campaign this month, and will rolls out in phases around the world.
Titled The World’s Neighborhood Hotel, the campaign aims to inspire travellers to explore by unearthing the hidden gems that can only be found in a neighbourhood. It is designed to celebrate how guests can discover, or rediscover, some of the most inspiring and culturally rich neighbourhoods in and outside the hotel.
Hotel Indigo’s latest campaign spotlights neighbourhoods at its properties around the globe
In a global survey from Hotel Indigo, the brand reveals 73 per cent of respondents feel it is important for the hotel they stay in to be connected to the local neighbourhood as it may inspire more adventurous activities, the desire to try new things, and meet new people.
The campaign builds on the fact that when you stay at a Hotel Indigo, you not only visit a place, but fully immerse in it and take a little bit of it home with you.
Each individual property is inspired by local neighbourhood cues, with highlights ranging from a unique selection of vinyl Shibuya-Kei records in each guestroom at Hotel Indigo Tokyo Shibuya and infused elements reminiscent of Old Hollywood at Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown, to Hotel Indigo Brussels – City only using locally-sourced ingredients in its restaurant, and every floor of Hotel Indigo Dubai Downtown featuring local artwork.
Carol Hoeller, vice president global brand management, Hotel Indigo, said: “For our guests, Hotel Indigo isn’t just a place to stay – it’s a reason to travel. It’s a destination all on its own, and The World’s Neighborhood Hotel embodies that. The campaign beautifully juxtaposes the inside and outside, and how our brand and the communities in which we exist are inseparable.”
Chloe Banicevic, creative director at Anomaly, shared: “We wanted this campaign to be a journey of discovery and wonderment. The creative captures the real culture and emotion behind the neighbourhoods featured in a soul-stirring way. We wove in iconic sights and sounds as well as people living, connecting, and seeking out incredible things and hidden gems. We wanted it to be more than just a homage to the neighbourhood – we wanted it to be an invitation to come and experience it for yourself.”
The international campaign will feature images and videos personalised for the next-gen explorer through a variety of media and social media channels worldwide.
Anantara Hotels and Resorts is rolling out its CSR programme at all of its properties worldwide, including the brand’s recently launched hotels in Europe.
Designed as an opt-in programme for guests, the Dollar for Deeds initiative encourages travellers to give back to the community by donating to a range of worthy causes. Guests can choose to donate one dollar per night of their stay, and Minor Hotels will match their contribution dollar for dollar and donate to CSR partners internationally.
Anantara gives back to the community, such as The Royal Livingstone Hotel’s Nsongwe Women Farm in Zambia, Africa, pictured
Dollar for Deeds was first introduced nearly a decade ago at select hotels in Thailand and has been integrated into the growth strategies of the brand globally.
In Thailand, funds raised are dispersed equally between three chosen and vetted causes: The Princess Sirindhorn Craniofacial Centre at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok, which provides comprehensive care for children with craniofacial abnormalities; The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation that looks after all turtles that nest in Phuket including the critically endangered giant leatherback; and The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation where rescued street elephants enjoy a peaceful life in Northern Thailand and wild elephants and their habitat are protected.
Other projects around the world include holistic coral reef protection in the Maldives; vulture nest monitoring, raptor protection and humpback whale monitoring in Oman; gibbon, peacock and otter releases in Cambodia; providing care and vocational training for disabled children in Vietnam and Indonesia; supporting local farmers and local fishing communities in Africa and reforestation projects in China and Malaysia.
John Roberts, group director of sustainability & conservation for Minor Hotels, Anantara’s parent company, said: “By making Dollar for Deeds accessible globally, we can support more worthy causes around the world while encouraging individual sustainability journeys and changing the definition of purposeful travel in our neighbouring communities and ecosystems.”
Seminyak, Bali will once again host Further East, This is Beyond, this year from November 6 to 9. This four-day event will gather stakeholders in the region to redefine luxury travel, spark transformational discussions, and pave the way for interactions that will shape the future of Asia-Pacific.
Kicking off on the November 6 is the Open House – Further East’s exclusive un-conference – hosted at the Potato Head Beach Club, where the Further East community will reunite.
Further East 2023 will be held at Seminyak, Bali from November 6 to 9 this year (Photo: Further East)
Further East is centred on three stages: Inspire, Spark, and Progress.
The Inspire stage will see visionaries including Desa Potato Head’s Ronald Akili, a panel discussion led by Design Hotels to explore the art of Creating Spaces for Spiritual and Physical Healing, and a panel hosted by W Hotel’s Carly Van Sickle, who will examine the impact of travel influencers on the industry and how businesses can best collaborate with and benefit from social media influencers.
The Spark stage brings together game-changers to ignite innovation and explore fresh perspectives – speakers include Melita Koulmandas, CEO and founder of Song Saa Collective, and Sanjay Choegyal, principal of Advant Labs, among other experts.
For Progress, there will be a panel led by Viceroy Bali’s Matt Brazier to explore how partnerships can elevate the guest experience; and GHC Asia’s founder & CEO Paul Hicks will lead the Reverse Press Conference which will see delegates turn the tables and ask questions to a specially-selected panel of media.
Activity highlights comprise a diverse range of workshops and activities – exploring age-old crafts and weaving techniques, an eco-conscious retreat, and sessions that intertwine creativity, art and sustainability.
Lacol Khao Yai – A Chatrium Collection has announced a special introductory Discover More offer for travellers who seek an elevated retreat surrounded by the lush landscape of Khaoyai National Park.
Starting at just 3,300 baht (US$89) per room per night, this offer is valid for stays with a minimum of three consecutive nights from now to October 31.
Guests at Lacol Khaoyai – A Chatrium Collection can enjoy the lush landscape of Khaoyai National Park
The package includes daily breakfast for two, welcome minibar, and complimentary in-room Wi-Fi.
The eagerness and confidence to traverse the globe among luxury travellers is palpable, as many have moved away from material extravagance to seeking more emotional fulfilment through the creation of cherished memories with loved ones through quality travel time.
Mark Wong, senior vice president, Asia Pacific, Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), told TTG Asia at the recent ILTM Asia Pacific 2023 that the appetite for travel among the region’s luxury travellers is “voracious”. This is reflected in the group’s average daily rate (ADR) performance – while worldwide ADR has climbed 35 per cent against 2019, that figure in Asia-Pacific is 71 per cent.
Luxury travellers see spending time with family or friends as an essential part of a fulfilled life
Reflecting on the altered approach to travel, Michelle L Woodley, president, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, said: “The world has changed significantly in recent years, and the importance we now attach to our well-being and the well-being of our families is reflected in our travel decisions. Leisure breaks are no longer about pure escapism or a time to switch off, but rather, an opportunity for travellers to reconnect with loved ones, culture, and themselves.”
Booking behaviours are also reflecting a greater demand from luxury travellers for more meaningful, community-led experiences and wellness-centric programming, she added.
Additionally, Preferred has noticed an increase in length of stay – now up to 4.5 nights instead of three – which Woodley said has “positively impacted its Asia-Pacific properties in India, Thailand, Indonesia and Japan”.
This desire for reconnecting with the outdoors and quest for quality travel experiences have also been noticed by Wong, who shared that luxury travellers are “pursuing restorative and recuperative benefits more than ever, and searching for a greater connection to themselves, their families and the world around them, leading to a rise in multi-generational holidays”.
The Capitol Hotel Tokyu in Tokyo is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts
That is why SLH’s portfolio of private islands like Raiwasa Private Island in Fiji; the remote Wa Ale Resort which boasts barefoot luxury and a stellar sustainability programme; and Chalets at Blackheath, tucked away in Australia’s UNESCO-listed Blue Mountains among one million hectares of national parkland, have risen in popularity.
Similarly, Paul Jeffels, luxury travel consultant of Thailand-based 360 Private Travel – who handles the Singaporean and Hong Kong luxury outbound market – noticed that reconnecting with family all over the world and combining that with a multi-generational side trip is currently a “huge market”.
There has also been a marked shift back towards the reliance on travel agents.
“Time wasted doing nothing during the pandemic has made luxury travellers focused on maximising enjoying and reducing hassle, which is why our guests are going back to travel agents to plan their itinerary. SLH’s voice reservations division has seen a two-fold increase in calls,” Wong said.
Linda Law, general manager Hong Kong, 360 Private Travel, agreed: “Our clients in Asia are all eager to travel, are now willing – more than ever – to work with a professional travel advisor. Many of them are also open to trying out different (destinations or itineraries) as advised by us.”
As to countries luxury travellers are gravitating towards this year, travel agents provided a mixed bag of responses.
For Elgin Xiao, private designer with Singapore-based Intriq Journey, exotic Egypt has “picked up very fast this year”, while stalwarts Japan and Italy remain favourites.
Crans Ambassador, a luxury ski hotel in Switzerland, is a member of the Small Luxury Hotels Group
Law’s Asia-Pacific clients are also opting for Japan and Italy, along with other European destinations like Switzerland, France, and Spain. This observation reflects Heaven’s Portfolio’s summer bookings, with Italy, France, Switzerland, and the UK looking strong, noted Christine Galle-Luczak, founder and managing director of the company, which represents various properties in sales and marketing.
Meanwhile, Jeffels’ Singaporean clients are opting for adventurous destinations like South America, while those from Hong Kong prefer “familiar” options like Japan and Thailand – specifically Phuket and Bangkok.
As for SLH, the group sees Croatia, Norway and Morocco entering its 2023 top destinations list, alongside the top three perennially favourites Italy, Japan, and the Maldives.
This shift towards less popular destinations could be attributed to luxury travellers eagerly wanting to check items off their bucket list.
Preferred’s customers are planning and booking aspirational or bucket list trips to destinations or destination hotels that focus on exclusivity, insider knowledge, and personalised itineraries.
Galle-Luczak is also seeing the younger affluents (ages 18-34) prioritising bucket list adventures, with 30 per cent having done so in the past year. The pandemic has “emboldened the philosophy of ‘you only live once’, so many affluents are moving their bucket list items forward”, she reasoned.
Macau is looking to further enhance its international image as a tourist destination through high-profile events and activities.
Some of these include the Macao International Travel (Industry) Expo in late June and the Global Tourism Economy Forum in September. While these will no doubt attract business leaders, a whole set of fun events is also ready to charm fun seekers. The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has also lined up Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale; the Macao International Fireworks Display Contest which returns this September and October for its 31st edition after a hiatus of three years due to the pandemic; the Macau Grand Prix, which celebrates its 70th edition in November; and Light Up Macao at the end of the year.
South Korean boy band Super Junior performs at Galaxy Macau
According to MGTO, high-profile concerts, along with spike in non-gaming entertainment hosted by the six integrated resorts (IR) and leisure enterprises, will continue to provide visitors with new impetus to take a vacation in Macau. These non-gaming investment commitments are a requirement that comes with the gaming concession contracts announced in December, all to support the government’s objectives in promoting Macau’s economic and industrial diversification.
In line with this, Sands China has defined its vision and strategy for the next decade. It has set aside 30.2 billion patacas (US$3.7 million) worth of financial commitment through 2032, with 27.8 billion patacas going to non-gaming projects.
President and executive director of Sands China, Wilfred Wong, said at the recent Asian IR Summit: “As IR operators, it is crucial that we continually push boundaries and enhance guest experiences through innovation. We must evolve and reinvent ourselves to stay ahead of the curve and set the benchmark for best-in-class IR offerings.”
Sands China’s focus will include investments in Macau’s dining scene, with an additional 10 outlets set to open. Coming right up is The Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill and The Mews, which will open later this year.
Over at Studio City, phase two developments have launched. Macau’s all-new, all-weather 10,000m² water park is welcoming guests now, while what is said to be Asia’s first-ever residency concert series is currently underway at Studio City Event Center. The latter kicked off with Hong Kong superstar Joey Yung concerts in April.
Even more will emerge across Macau.
Event specialist, smallWORLD Experience, which has pivoted its focus to the local market following the Covid disruption, is now doing brisk business with entertainment concerts.
Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo
Its executive director and partner, Bruno Simões, said: “Large concerts playing at The Venetian Macao and Galaxy Arena (part of Galaxy Macau) have a crucial role in Macau’s destination marketing. They elevate Macau’s status as a destination. This is particularly true in the Greater Bay Area, where most of Macau’s visitors come from. These events not only enhance visitor experiences, but they also ignite retail and casino businesses.”
Simões told TTG Asia that his company was supposed to produce 45 concerts in 10 months in the destination, following a successful bid with the Cultural Affairs Bureau.
“But, because of the pandemic, we ended up doing 25 different concerts and 75 different performances from November 2022 to April 2023,” he said, adding that the events were successful in drawing visitors to Taipa Houses, as well as highlighting the local music scene, fostering local talent, and stimulating local economy.
With community tourism as one of the drawcards, MGTO has approved subsidies for 42 special projects slated to kick off between April and December this year.
These projects encompass themes of enhancing community-based tourism, celebrating gastronomic culture, and promoting maritime tourism. They aim to consolidate the unique characteristics of different districts, incorporate fresh tourist attractions in Macau, and introduce a diverse range of tourism products and experiences by merging various tourism elements.
MGTO has also made it a requirement for event organisers to work with local SMEs.
Ultimately, these efforts will revitalise the community economy.
In terms of access, Macau is seeing improving air services with key international visitor source markets, such as South Korea, Japan and Thailand.
Tiger Air resumed services from Taipei and Kaohsiung from July 1, while Air Macau boosted its services from Singapore from four a week to seven since July 12.
The annual TTG Travel Awards returned yesterday evening with its 32nd edition which commemorated 66 exceptional travel and tourism players across Asia-Pacific.
This year, there were three new inductees into the TTG Travel Hall of Fame, an accolade reserved for those who have taken home a TTG travel award 10 consecutive times. They are Harbour Plaza, Phoenix Tours, and Resorts World Sentosa.
Philippine ambassador Millicent Cruz Paredes (left); and TTG Asia Media’s Darren Tan (right), presented Singapore Airlines’ WK Lim (centre) with the first TTG Travel Hall of Fame accolade
Several recipients that successfully defended their titles include Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld (Best Meetings & Conventions Hotel), Scoot (Best Low Cost Carrier), Frasers Hospitality (Best Serviced Residence Operator), and Corporate Travel Management Asia (Best Corporate Travel Agency).
For 46 others, it was the first time they ever won a TTG Travel Award. These new winners include Marina Bay Sands (Best Integrated Resort), Kempinski (Best Luxury Hotel Brand), Temple Tree Resort Langkawi (Best Boutique Hotel), Hamad International Airport (Best Airport), and The Standard Mahanakhon (Best New City Hotel).
The Outstanding Achievement Awards category – the only non-voting segment of the awards, with winners determined by TTG’s editorial team for their remarkable contributions to the industry – recognised Singapore as Destination of the Year; Tourism Authority of Thailand for the Best Travel Marketing Effort awards; and Marriott for the Most Sustainable Travel Company award.
The gala event was held at Centara Grand at CentralWorld, and coincided with IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific double-bill event in Bangkok from September 26 to 28.
