Luxury department store Galeries Lafayette Macau will soon open at YOHO Treasure Island Resorts World Shopping Centre in Macau on January 26, marking the debut of the first Galeries Lafayette in Hong Kong and Macau.
Galeries Lafayette Macau will offer diverse shopping experiences and activities that will attract international and local shoppers and infuse Macau with a tapestry of urban vibrancy and fashion allure.
A rendering of Galeries Lafayette Macau, which will open officially on January 26
Positioned as the “New Waterfront Fashion and Art Landmark”, this shopping haven overlooks the Nam Van Lake and houses over 100 renowned international and designer brands, including more than 10 first-in-Macau brands and the cross-brand area EDIT by Galeries Lafayette.
Designed with French elegance and charm, Galeries Lafayette Macau will also feature a seven-metre indoor replica of the iconic Parisian landmark, the Eiffel Tower.
To celebrate the grand debut of Galeries Lafayette Macau, there will be shopping offers and exclusive limited-time events, such as the debut of the first Marni Market in Macau, and Byredo’s first Chinese New Year-themed pop-up store in Macau with limited-edition tea sets, and more.
On the official opening, January 26, Galeries Lafayette Macau and Charlotte Tilbury will jointly present Macau’s premier brand drone show above the Nam Van Lake to celebrate the occasion.
For the month of February, Ayana Bali in Jimbaran is unveiling a series of celebrations for the upcoming Chinese New Year (CNY) – from festive traditional delicacies and lavish buffet dinners to spa treatments.
Guests can enjoy a Special Noodle Menu encircled by koi ponds and verdant gardens at To’Ge, or indulge in a Family-style Lunch and Special Dinner Menu from February 8 to 11 at Ah Yat Abalone Seafood Restaurant.
Ayana Bali has a line-up of festive celebrations to ring in the year of the dragon this Chinese New Year
On February 9, Ayana’s Rock Bar – perched just 14 metres above the Indian Ocean – will host the Dragon’s Roar: Chinese New Year Countdown, while on the same evening guests can enjoy a Special Buffet Dinner surrounded by terraced lotus ponds at Padi.
Then on the first day of CNY, February 10, a Barong Dance and Fireworks Show will illuminate the resort’s lobby, while at night, guests can enjoy a Buffet Dinner featuring an array of traditional Chinese fare.
As for the littles guests, they will be invited to take part in the CNY Kids Activities at the Kids Club on February 10.
Ayana Bali is also offerings a special Perfect Family Getaway package, which is valid for minimum three-night stays until March 31. The package comprises a 15 per cent discount on room rates, daily breakfast for two adults and two children under nine years of age, resort credit, and more.
Emirates is giving away free tickets to two of Dubai’s top attractions – the Museum of the Future and Atlantis Aquaventure – to travellers who have bought flights to Dubai or added a stopover in Dubai of eight hours or more.
The Museum of the Future is the newest jewel in the Dubai skyline, bringing together the best of science, technology, and innovation. Visitors will be taken on a journey 50 years into the future through multi-sensorial exhibitions.
Enjoy tickets to Atlantis Aquaventure and the Museum of the Future when travelling to Dubai with Emirates
At the world’s largest waterpark, Atlantis Aquaventure, visitors can enjoy the thrills of rides and slides, get up close and personal with hundreds of marine animals, and suit up for a fun afternoon of water sports.
This special offer is valid on tickets bought between January 12 and February 1 for travel between January 15 and March 31. The offer is available across all cabins.
Shenzhen’s member-only warehouse stores for bulk purchases have recently been drawing crowds of people from Hong Kong, prompting travel agents to introduce hassle-free border-crossing shopping tour packages.
In December 2023, EGL Tours pioneered a two-day Shenzhen tour, combining shopping with sightseeing around Dongguan. The itinerary included an overnight hotel stay, three meals, and a one-year membership card per two guests worth HK$285 (US$36), all for HK$429.
EGL Tours introduced a two-day Shenzhen tour, combining shopping with sightseeing around Dongguan (Photo: EGL Tours)
Strong demand, fuelled by the recent opening of the first Costco in Shenzhen, has led to sold-out January departures. To meet this high demand, EGL Tours has expanded its offerings to include another itinerary to Huizhou, an hour from Shenzhen.
Steve Huen, executive director, EGL Tours, commented: “Our bookings have so far exceeded 5,000 pax, which may generate about HK$2.5 million. Still, this is just a very tiny ratio (compared) to our overall business monthly turnover of HK$100 million.”
Huen added that although its existing patrons are mostly aged 50 or above, those most attracted to this shopping spree trend are in the 30 to 40 age group, a segment that EGL Tours is keeping its eye on.
Meanwhile, Big Line Holiday, which has been operating group tours to China, have also taken notice of the increasing traffic from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, especially in the lead up to the Chinese New Year (CNY) The travel agency currently offer three two-day itineraries that offer less sightseeing and more time for shopping.
Big Line Holiday’s director of sales, Marco Chan, said: “Response has been overwhelming recently, with 10,000 bookings already made to depart before CNY. We average 10 tours per day (30 pax per tour) and (focus on) brand-new content with authentic meals to woo clientele.”
Eat Play Travel has also hopped on the shopping spree bandwagon, and has three to four groups (40 pax per group) departing on a weekly basis.
Thomas Chan, general manager, Eat Play Travel, remarked that this has helped to keep the company afloat, as outbound travel “fell short over last Christmas”.
“China has been the only market delivering numbers and business. In fact, our China business rebounded almost 90 per cent,” Chan shared.
OTAs like KKday are also seizing this opportunity and is now offering same-day coach bus transfers, and private car charters for two-day group tours.
Pinky Lee, general manager, KKday, shared: “We kicked off the offers last week, and received several thousand calls for tour details – with more than 200 orders placed. Apart from shopping, we all also explore more different experiences in Shenzhen, such as massage and indoor skiing activities, to spice up the city’s offers.
“Kudos to agents in Hong Kong (for making) such a creative travel product happen.”
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) welcomed a record 1.22 million overnight arrivals in 2023, up eight per cent on 2022 numbers and a 24 per cent increase in international visitors.
The robust performance is underscored by RAKTDA’s strategic growth plans – from investment in tourism infrastructure, targeted initiatives to drive more visitors to the emirate, to developing an ecosystem rooted in sustainability.
The destination welcomed the debut of Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort, pictured
Some of Ras Al Khaimah’s key 2023 achievements include cementing its status as a business and social events hub with a 23 per cent growth in MICE revenue and 103 per cent increase in revenue from weddings; achieving a Silver Certification under EarthCheck’s world-leading Sustainable Destinations programme; numerous destination features in prominent channels; boosted international air connectivity with the introduction of direct flights with Qatar Airways, Indian carrier IndiGo’s, Smart Wings, Centrum Air and SmartLynx; and the launch of borderless travel with Oman Tourism Development Company for cross-destination tourism promotion and marketing initiatives.
The destination also saw the debut of Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort at the start of this year, as well as the reopening of Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah following an extensive refurbishment.
In addition, Ras Al Khaimah staged events such as the 2023 WMF Minifootball World Cup, DP World Tour, RAK Half Marathon, Arab Aviation Summit, Exotic Wedding Planning Conference and the Global Citizen Forum, and attracted over 65,000 visitors at its 2024 New Year’s Eve fireworks and drone display.
RAKTDA CEO Raki Phillips said: “Despite global challenges that have impacted our industry, we remained agile and resilient as a tourism community, working together to deliver a destination offering that would resonate with our visitors and residents alike. From investing in infrastructure and staging world-class events to making our Emirate sustainable and accessible to all, Ras Al Khaimah is firmly on the path for continued success in 2024 and beyond.”
Amadeus has joined the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA), bringing its travel technology expertise to the table in the quest to support a more prosperous and responsible hospitality sector.
The global travel tech company sees great potential to work alongside and connect with hospitality industry stakeholders and, together, contribute on the journey to SHA’s goal of Net Positive Hospitality – ensuring the industry gives back to destinations more than it takes.
Amadeus is the first global travel tech company to join as a member of Sustainable Hospitality Alliance
As part of its membership, Amadeus will hold a permanent position on the Senior Advisory Council that was established to provide strategic advice, create a network of influential leaders and drive change towards Net Positive Hospitality. Key areas of focus for Amadeus include education, accessibility and helping travellers and guests make informed decisions.
Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, SHA, commented: “Onboarding Amadeus to our Senior Advisory Council is an important step in tackling the challenges the hospitality industry faces. Having Amadeus as a member will help drive our collaborative approach on the journey to Net Positive Hospitality.”
“By sharing insights and experiences based on our best practices across all travel sectors, we aspire to help accelerate the advancement of the industry’s goals toward net positive hospitality. Building a more sustainable industry is an objective shared by Amadeus,” added Francisco Pérez-Lozao Rüter, president, hospitality, Amadeus.
Micro hotels – classified as smaller-sized lodgings with high-end, functional in-room furnishings usually found in high-density, urban locations – are gaining in popularity among young travellers in Asia-Pacific, with the region also pegged as the next big growth space.
According to Future Market Insights, the micro hotel market was estimated to be US$84 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach US$150.4 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of six per cent from 2022 to 2032.
Moxy debuted in Australia with Moxy Sydney Airport, pictured, in August last year
“(The) micro hotels (concept) is probably the fastest-growing segment in hospitality, and (I think) that more of the big hotel brands will be venturing out into a segment that Yotel pioneered. When we started, we were an oddity, and currently there are very few brands competing globally,” opined Hubert Viriot, CEO of Yotel.
He shared that the Asia-Pacific holds “massive potential” for Yotel, as the region “will have the largest tourism market in the world thanks to its very young population”. This comes as the micro hotels concept is a “perfect fit” for Asia-Pacific, as most people live in high-density cities.
It also helps that the younger generation of Asian travellers are very responsive to new concepts, new ideas, technology and social media, and are also “price-sensitive”, which makes them “not so loyal to legacy brands”, he noted.
Viriot added: “These young travellers want immediate recognition (as opposed to collecting points over many years for a free stay). They want a great experience, but they also want to save money to utilise their disposable income on experiences. Hotels are only a small component of travelling. That is why we offer cashback programmes, immediate upgrades, or a free experience at our hotels.”
Similarly for Marriott International, Moxy is one of its-fastest growing brands. In August 2023, Moxy debuted in Australia with Moxy Sydney Airport. This year, the brand will be opening outposts in Thailand (Moxy Bangkok Ratchaprasong) and India (Moxy Chennai and Moxy Bengaluru).
“Travellers in Asia-Pacific, especially Gen Z and millennials, continue to gravitate towards hotels that offer vibrant experiences, stylishly-designed rooms, and dynamic communal spaces at an affordable price point,” said John Toomey, chief sales & marketing officer, Asia-Pacific (excluding China).
For instance, Moxy’s lobbies are bars that doubles up as a reception for check-ins, while rooms are designed to maximise space while providing functionality such as motion-activated LED lights, tables and chairs that double as wall art, to roomy under-bed storage and sleek peg walls.
Toomey also expects Gen Z and millennials to lead demand among Asia-Pacific travellers, pointing out that when compared to other generations, they will prioritise travel above material goods, allocate more budget to trips, and take at least three trips a year.
“In 2024, we anticipate that young affluent travellers will also choose to rediscover familiar and nearby locations and immerse themselves in cultures. In addition, their demand for purpose-driven and personalised offerings will continue to increase and loyalty programmes will be the key differentiator in offering exclusive experiences,” he added.
TBO Tek Limited’s (TBO) wholly-owned subsidiary, Tek Travels DMCC, has acquired 100 per cent shareholding of Jumbonline Accommodations & Services, which has been demerged as an online business from Jumbo Tours Group.
The acquisition will enable TBO to further increase its presence in Europe, and reflects the growth plans that the company has set globally towards its vision of simplifying and empowering the travel ecosystem.
The acquisition will enable TBO to further increase its presence in Europe
As one of the biggest international tourism operators offering a range of services and products to tourism operators and travel agencies worldwide, the Jumbonline business distributes an extensive range of products for wholesalers and tour operators all on one single platform. The advanced API solution provides access to over 120,000 hotels with 15,000 hotels directly contracted.
Complementing this business are two other brands – Jumbobeds, the leading online wholesaler for travel agencies, and Jumbotransfers, which offers a wide range of transport services.
Gaurav Bhatnagar, co-founder & director of Tek Travels DMCC, said: “This acquisition will give us not only access to Jumbo’s clientele but quality content from across prime destinations in Europe right down to the Caribbean. We continue to expand our global footprint by staying true to our commitment to simplifying global travel.”
“We are very excited with this partnership and look forward to leveraging TBO’s strengths in travel distribution across the world, specifically in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific,” shared Ginés Martinez, CEO, Jumbo Tours Group.
Editor’s note: The previous headline incorrectly stated that TBO acquired Jumbo Tours Group – the acquisition was only for the online business of Jumbo Tours. The headline has been amended to show this.
With a deep history written in the walls and trees of some of the world’s oldest temples, Siem Reap contains many must-sees for history buffs, lovers of nature, or those seeking a restful destination.
As such, The Aviary has come up with a comprehensive list of five hidden gems for guests to visit during their stay at the resort.
The Aviary offers guests a list of hidden gems to explore in Siem Reap, such as the “Trilogies of Mountains” in the Angkor area, pictured
The five places comprise Preah Khan Temple, one of the most significant temples erected in the time of the ancient Khmer Empire; Phnom Bok Temple, one of the “Trilogies of Mountains” in the Angkor area; Kbal Spean River carvings on the riverbed; Wat Preah Ang Thom, an eight-metre tall statue of a reclining Buddha reaching nirvana; and Phnom Kulen mountain, located about two hours away from Siem Reap, where visitors can bathe in and enjoy the majestic waterfall surrounded by temples and natural landscapes.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has named Liew Chian Jia as its regional director of South-east Asia. In her new role, she will lead the development and implementation of HKTB’s marketing strategies in the region.
Liew joined HKTB in 2017 and has been instrumental in driving the trade partnerships and marketing Hong Kong to the travel trade in South-east Asia.
Prior to this appointment, she was the HKTB’s director of trade marketing for the South-east Asia region.
Prior to this appointment, she was the HKTB’s director of trade marketing for the South-east Asia region.
