Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has inked three new agreements with Indonesia Hospitality Group that will drive further expansion of the Howard Johnson by Wyndham brand in the country.
This follows an earlier signing with Indonesia Hospitality Group that led to the launch of Howard Johnson by Wyndham Pekalongan in February this year.
Leadership from both Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Indonesia Hospitality Group celebrate the new signings
In a press statement, Wyndham said the signings “timely” as Indonesia’s tourism and hospitality industries are predicted to grow by US$21.9 billion between 2022 and 2026, as determined by Technavio. Furthermore, these sectors were also noted by Technavio to progress at a CAGR of 11.81 per cent during the forecast period with a six per cent year-over-year growth rate from 2022.
The expanded partnership will result in the opening of Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kota Kedoya Jakarta, Howard Johnson by Wyndham LA Hub South Jakarta, and Howard Johnson by Wyndham Treepark Tangerang.
The brand prides itself on warm and honest guest experiences, offering owners an ideal franchise opportunity to reach travellers seeking mid to upper-midscale accommodation.
Matt Holmes, vice president of business development South East Asia & the Pacific Rim, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, said: “Indonesia has and always will be an integral market for Wyndham’s Asia-Pacific growth strategy, particularly so with the rapid rise in international and domestic tourism numbers. In deepening our partnership with Indonesia Hospitality Group and tapping on its in-depth understanding of the local market, we are excited to be growing our presence across Indonesia with the Howard Johnson by Wyndham brand offering to achieve greater milestones.”
Nathania Putri Budidjaja, director, Indonesia Hospitality Group, welcomed the partnership, noting that travel demand for Indonesia has surged since the full reopening of borders across Asia-Pacific.
“As such, these are exciting times for Indonesia Hospitality Group as we partner Wyndham Hotels and Resorts to introduce Howard Johnson by Wyndham brand in Indonesia,” Nathania said.
The PAL-LinkedIn partnership was sealed at a recent ceremony at the airlines' headquarters
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has forged a partnership with LinkedIn to boost its new corporate learning space, The PAL Multiversity, and build a high-performance culture for its staff that is anchored on driving customer-centricity, profitability and growth.
The PAL Multiversity is designed to equip the airline’s workforce with vital skills for a fast-changing and competitive business environment, in line with a strategic corporate shift from routine training to holistic talent development.
The PAL-LinkedIn partnership was sealed at a ceremony at the airlines’ headquarters
Through LinkedIn’s intelligent skill-building platform, PAL will offer all employees free access to more than 21,000 expert-led online learning courses, including an estimated 60 new courses per week on some of the most in-demand business, technology, and creative skills.
“The pandemic taught us that we need to be agile. We at Philippine Airlines began our journey of digital transformation by strengthening one of our core assets, our people, through the development of programmes to prepare them for the demands of the future,” said PAL vice president for human capital, Jo-Ann D Maluenda.
“With The PAL Multiversity powered by LinkedIn Learning, we opened up a wealth of opportunities for learning and empowerment, helping us to build a powerhouse team that will take excellence and creativity to a new level.”
Atul Harkisanka, LinkedIn head of growth markets and country manager for the Philippines, stated that “PAL and major airlines around the world are doubling down on their investment to strengthen their workforce agility” as they sought to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.
Harkisanka added that LinkedIn hopes to “help PAL leverage our AI-powered talent attraction, engagement and retention tools and resources, as well as real-time insights of the industry and economy to achieve its business goals”.
Besides skills-building, PAL will have access to comprehensive talent insights and data to help make more informed hiring decisions and develop employer branding to attract strong candidates to save time and generate better leads with smart filters and recommendations for the airline’s crucial hiring decisions. The airline will utilise tools such as LinkedIn Recruiter and LinkedIn Talent Insights.
The partnership also includes advisories on global best practices, support for implementation and enablement, and continuous customer success.
Japan’s release of treated water from the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant into the ocean has caused concern among some potential travellers from China, South Korea and other neighbouring markets, but bookings from most countries are largely unaffected, say inbound agents.
The water became contaminated following damages to the plant during the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, and was subsequently filtered but still contains tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen. Operator TEPCO began diluting the water and releasing it on August 24, following the International Atomic Energy Agency’s conclusion that the diluted water met international standards, despite objections raised at home and abroad.
Some travellers to Japan have enquired about the local food situation, but cancellations from most markets have been few and far between
A representative of an inbound travel agency that declined to be named said TEPCO’s move has already resulted in some cancellations by Chinese tour groups for Japan’s autumn leaves season. Other Chinese tour groups that were due to book had changed their country destination, the spokesperson added.
Still, most markets have shown no intention of changing their plans and pent-up demand for Japan remains high.
“We don’t expect the upcoming autumn peak season to be affected at all. In fact, this autumn is looking like one of our busiest ever, on a par with 2019,” James Munday, spokesperson of travel agent of InsideJapan Tours, told TTG Asia.
And, although there have been “a few concerns from a handful of customers” about trips to Fukushima, Munday said his company has seen no cancellations for travel to Japan and “would be surprised to see any,” adding that the company “will continue to promote the Tohoku region to those who want to discover a quieter Japan”.
Naomi Mano, president and CEO of high-end inbound travel firm Luxurique, also told TTG Asia that her clients have so far expressed “no concerns” about the release of the water.
Trade players outside of Japan share similar optimism about demand for the destination.
Hellen Xu, CEO of Panorama JTB Tours Indonesia, said enquiries and bookings for Japan are still streaming in, and none of her clients have cancelled.
“Japan recently organised the Japan Travel Fair (in Jakarta), and the show was a hit,” said Xu. “Japan is our second biggest destination after Europe, and as we have projected earlier, bookings for the rest of the year is very good.”
Xu said bookings for the 2024 sakura season are not yet established, but some dampened demand could be expected since the Muslim fasting month and Lebaran holidays would be just a month away. Instead, she expects Indonesian bookings for Japan to look good in 2H2024.
Apple Vacations Malaysia’s co-founder and group managing director, Koh Yock Heng, said winter tour bookings with fixed departures to Hokkaido and Tohoku regions this December has seen a small two to three per cent cancellation so far.
“We understand that seafood may be a concern for some (travellers), but we provide a variety of menu options that include chicken and beef, as this will also cater to different preferences and dietary requirements,” he said.
Japan, meanwhile, is trying to mitigate any potential damage to inbound markets.
During its participation in Malaysia’s leading outbound consumer travel event, MATTA Fair, Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) distributed brochures produced by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to reassure potential visitors that it was safe to consume Japanese seafood.
A source from JNTO Kuala Lumpur office told TTG Asia that there were few tour cancellations reported by agent partners in Malaysia, indicating continued travellers’ confidence in Japan’s safety measures.
Taichiro Ishida, marketing manager, Suruga Market!ng & Tour!sm Bureau, told TTG Asia that Japan is taking responsibility for the outcomes of choosing to use nuclear power as an energy source, and is doing what is needed to ensure a safe release of waste water.
He believes that “most tourists will (continue to visit Japan)”.
A JNTO spokesperson said the Japan Tourism Agency will support the promotion of blue tourism and the charms of the ocean in regions rumoured to be polluted by water discharge, such as Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki prefecture, and will work on countering these rumours.
Commenting on the water release, Taro Kono, state minister of consumer affairs, told reporters that he hoped Chinese visitors to Japan who eat sushi and sashimi would “return home and say ‘Japanese seafood is delicious’”.
Videos in Chinese that promote the safety of Japanese seafood are being planned, according to Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency. – Additional reporting by Mimi Hudoyo, S Puvaneswary and Rachel AJ Lee
Cathay Pacific in South-east Asia is has made changes to key management roles across the region.
Dominic Perret remains the regional general manager South-east Asia, where he is responsible for all commercial, operational and support functions across the seven countries Cathay Pacific flies to in South-east Asia.
Dominic Perret
Next, Jonathan Ng is now regional head of customer Travel and lifestyle, South-east Asia. He replaces Ray Fung, who is now head of lifestyle strategy and partnerships in Hong Kong.
Ng joined Cathay Pacific in 2011 and has worked in several key positions across various markets, including Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE. Prior to this move, Ng was seconded to HK Express as general manager, corporate planning; he was part of the transition team following the acquisition of the low-cost carrier by the Cathay Group.
New country managers have also been announced for South-east Asia.
Tony Sham is country manager for Indonesia. Based in Jakarta, he replaces Matthew Choi, who is now general manager corporate planning for HK Express.
Sham has been with Cathay Pacific for 34 years. He has a wealth of experience across several functional departments including airline planning and international affairs, as well as in outports like Japan and Germany. Prior to his current appointment, he worked as regional head of customer travel and lifestyle for North-east Asia in Tokyo.
Based in Manila, Vishnu Rajendran is now country manager for the Philippines. He replaces Donald Morris, who is now country manager, Korea, based in Seoul.
Rajendran joined Cathay Pacific in 2008. Since then, he has taken on roles in marketing, sales and port management, and most recently was area manager, Middle East. He was also acting country manager, South Africa & Indian Ocean, as well as acting country lead for Sri Lanka & Maldives.
Over in Kulala Lumpur, Robbie Blackwood is now country manager, Malaysia and Brunei. He replaces Roger Li, who is now a cadet pilot with Cathay Pacific.
Blackwood joined Cathay Pacific in 2018 and has worked in various departments and key markets, including Hong Kong and Japan.
Nicolas Masse has been appointed country manager, Vietnam & Cambodia. Based in Ho Chi Minh City, he replaces Jason Choi, who is now regional head of customer travel and lifestyle, North-east Asia, based in Tokyo.
Masse has over two decades of experience in the aviation industry. He joined Cathay Pacific in 2007, and has since held several key positions overseeing sales, marketing and communications in both Europe and Asia. Prior to his current appointment, he was Cathay Pacific’s country manager for Korea.
Last but not least, Keri Lui remains the country manager for Thailand, based in Bangkok.
Marriott International has made two new director of sales and marketing appointments, for The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort and the JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa.
Debanjan Kundu joins The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort from his previous position as senior director of sales – India at Amadeus.
However, Kundu is no stranger to Marriott International, as he has worked with various brands within the company including Sheraton, Westin, as well as The Ritz-Carlton in his career journey spanning almost two decades.
From left: Debanjan Kundu; and Srijith Ravindranath
He has also held several director of sales and marketing positions at luxury hotels across India, including hotels in Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
Over at the JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa, Srijith Ravindranath brings with him 15 years of experience in hotel sales and marketing.
Ravindranath first commenced his career with Ginger Hotels, and has since held significant roles at IHHR Hospitality, Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, and the St. Regis Goa Resort.
Silversea Cruises has launched an exclusive pre-sale on a new collection of 206 voyages for summer 2025, which are set to depart between March and November 2025.
These voyages, conducted by the company’s fleet of 12 ships, will unlock 409 destinations in 60 countries, including 24 maiden calls. Travellers can also expect to journey deeper ashore, thanks to 66 overnight calls and 421 late departures.
Silver Endeavour will make her first Northwest Passage crossing during the 2025 Arctic season
Highlights of Silversea Cruises’s summer 2025 itinerary collection include two new Grand Voyages that incorporate calls to iconic cities and off-the-beaten-path destinations – many of which are rarely visited and accessible only to smaller ships. Silver Spirit will undertake the Grand Mediterranean 2025 voyage, departing Fusina (Venice) on September 18 and arriving in Lisbon on November 11, and featuring 44 destinations in 12 countries. Silver Shadow will undertake the Grand North Atlantic & Northern Europe 2025 voyage, departing New York on June 11 for an 83-day coverage of 55 destinations and 16 countries.
The cruise line is also expanding its presence in the Mediterranean for summer 2025, offering 84 voyage aboard six ships, as well as enhancing the itineraries offered onboard Silver Origin, which will call at two new destinations – Isla Lobos, San Cristobal through the North Central Itinerary and Bahia Bowditch through the Western Itinerary.
Furthermore, Silver Endeavour will make her first Northwest Passage crossing during the 2025 Arctic season, allowing travelers to journey in the footsteps of many famous explorers over 24 days.
From May to August 2025, Silver Endeavour and Silver Wind will both undertake 14 voyages to rarely visited destinations, providing the chance to experience Inuit cultures, spot rare wildlife, and learn about some of the planet’s most remote environments through the enrichments of Silversea’s leading expedition experts.
Official figures indicate Cambodia is in recovery mode, with the nation welcoming 3.03 million international visitors in the first seven months of 2023 – however, tourism players on the ground paint a different picture.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, arrivals mark a 308 per cent year-on-year increase, with Thailand topping the table, followed by Vietnam. Laos was fourth, while land and waterway arrivals accounted for 64.9 per cent of the total.
While Cambodia reported 3.03 million international visitors in the first seven months of 2023, only 498,513 visited the Angkor Wat heritage complex (pictured)
“Looking at the tourism figures, people working in travel should be happy,” said Steve Lidgey, general manager of Travel Asia a la Carte. “However, the reality on the ground shows many empty hotels, restaurants failing, and guides without work as there are few visitors and a very low low season.”
Of all the captured arrivals, only 498,513 visited Angkor Wat, according to figures from Angkor Enterprise. This has caused inbound agents to believe that the majority of the 3.03 million arrivals are people crossing the border for daily trade or to gamble in border casinos but ticking the “tourist” box.
“I have yet to see coach-loads of Laotian tourists checking in at Siem Reap hotels,” Lidgey remarked, adding while his FIT figures for the last high season were up on pre-pandemic numbers, GIT is down, and corporate groups are “extremely quiet”.
Sinan Thourn, CEO of B2B Cambodia (Travel/Tours) and chairman of PATA Cambodia Chapter, said while recovery on paper is a positive sign, it has yet to translate on the ground. He told TTG Asia that the global economic crisis and high airfares remain barriers for travel.
Additionally, Vannary San, owner of House Boutique Eco Hotel in Phnom Penh, noted that, in fact, bookings for the last few months have dropped “very badly”. “We are still very much in recovery,” she said, adding that she is continuing to foot the expenses for essential renovations to bring the property up to pre-pandemic standards.
Post-lockdown recovery momentum has continued for the passenger aviation sector, reported IATA, with total traffic in July 2023 rising 26.2% compared to July 2022 and global traffic standing at 95.6% of pre-pandemic levels.
Domestic traffic for July rose 21.5% versus July 2022, and was 8.3% above the July 2019 results. July RPKs are the highest ever recorded, strongly supported by surging demand in the China domestic market.
International traffic climbed 29.6% compared to the same month a year ago, with all markets showing robust growth. International RPKs reached 88.7% of July 2019 levels. The passenger load factor (PLF) for the industry reached 85.7%, which is the highest monthly international PLF ever recorded.
“Planes were full during July as people continue to travel in ever greater numbers. Importantly, forward ticket sales indicate that traveller confidence remains high. And there is every reason to be optimistic about the continuing recovery,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general.
International Passenger Markets
Asia-Pacific airlines saw a 105.8% increase in July 2023 traffic compared to July 2022, continuing to lead the regions. Capacity climbed 96.2% and the load factor increased by 3.9 percentage points to 84.5%.
China’s domestic traffic jumped 71.9% in July compared to a year ago and is now 22.5% above July 2019 levels, which was the strongest gain against pre-pandemic levels among the domestic markets.
European carriers’ July traffic rose 13.8% versus July 2022. Capacity increased 13.6%, and load factor edged up 0.1 percentage points to 87.0%.
Middle Eastern airlines posted a 22.6% increase in July traffic compared to a year ago. Capacity rose 22.1% and load factor climbed 0.3 percentage points to 82.6%.
North American carriers had a 17.7% traffic rise in July 2023 versus the 2022 period. Capacity increased 17.2%, and load factor improved 0.3 percentage points to 90.3%, which was the highest among the regions for a second consecutive month.
US airlines’ domestic demand climbed 11.1% in July and was 3.0% above the July 2019 level.
Latin American airlines’ traffic rose 25.3% compared to the same month in 2022. July capacity climbed 21.2% and load factor rose 2.9 percentage points to 89.1%.
African airlines saw a 25.6% traffic increase in July 2023 versus a year ago, the second highest percentage gain among the regions. July capacity was up 27.4% and load factor fell 1.0 percentage point to 73.9%, the lowest among the regions. For a second month in a row, Africa was the only region to see capacity growth outrun traffic demand.
The detailed passenger market analysis is available here.
Booking.com confirms that a technical glitch that affected payments to hotel partners has been resolved, and that it is working urgently to process remaining transactions.
“We understand the frustration of the accommodation hosts and owners that have been unduly affected by an ongoing technical issue, and can confirm that the system errors that affected the payments have now been corrected and the transactions of most of our partners have been processed,” a spokesperson at Booking.com in Singapore told TTG Asia.
Booking.com’s technical glitch has affected payments to accommodation hosts and hotel owners
The online travel agency raised the ire of hosts and owners worldwide when weekly payouts stopped for thousands of them. A check on Booking.com’s Partner Hub shows some hosts and owners complained they had not received payment for end of June and July bookings. The payouts are payments guests made to Booking.com directly, minus the OTA’s commission.
Said a host/owner on Booking.com’s Partner Hub: “Absolute disgrace on payout delay. Endless phone calls and messages. No one replies. What a time to do maintenance on you (your) finance department in busiest month of July.”
In Asia, a September 5 article on Thaiger, which combed chat groups and Facebook pages, said for some, payments had stopped since as far back as April or earlier. Thaiger is a well-read English news and lifestyle platform in Thailand, a key market for Booking.com and the base of its sister OTA, Agoda.
According to the report, in a message in late June, Booking.com promised payouts for reservations checked out between June 28 and July 19, to be processed by July 24. However, as one host pointed out, the promised date came and went without any money transfer.
After a prolonged silence, the online travel agency sent a new message to hotels on August 1, pushing the payout deadline to August 4. A few properties started receiving payments but thousands are still in the dark and on the hook for big money, according to the report.
When contacted by TTG Asia, the spokesperson said, “We acknowledge that for some this has taken longer than it should have, and continue to work urgently to finalise the rest of the transactions. If any partner has an issue, they can contact us through the Partner Hub.”
“We always strive to support each of our accommodation partners in the best way possible, and fully understand the importance of processing payments on time,” she said.
Madi Paidi Bangkok, Autograph Collection, Thailand The new boutique hotel, Madi Paidi Bangkok, Autograph Collection, has opened in Thong Lor, Sukhumvit, one of the Thai capital city’s most vibrant districts.
It features an elegant, timber-clad exterior, tumbling foliage and verdant roofline that blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings in this leafy avenue. Inside, guests can take their pick of 56 guestrooms and suites; dine well at Ekkaluck, the hotel’s signature restaurant which promises uniquely creative cuisine; and seek wellness up at the rooftop gym and pool.
The hotel is a short distance from Thong Lor BTS skytrain station, while Suvarnabhumi International Airport and Don Mueang International Airport are a 30-minute and 40-minute drive away respectively.
Hotel Marvell
Hotel Marvell, Byron Bay, Australia Byron Bay’s first and only five-star hotel has started to welcome guests. It offers a unique tropical setting, an array of luxurious accommodation, and attractive dining venues.
Designed by renowned architect Harley Graham of Harley Graham Architects, the Hotel Marvell captures the essence of Byron Bay’s eclectic, warm, and colourful atmosphere. An inviting pedestrian laneway, with lush greenery and a tropical jungle vibe, sets the tone for an enchanting stay.
Accommodation options include 16 hotel rooms, six suites, and two two-bedroom hotel rooms, all with private balconies.
Guests will dine well at Bonito restaurant and can enjoy a fine tipple up on the rooftop bar.
Hotel Marvell takes pride in supporting local businesses throughout Australia. Emphasising a local-first sourcing philosophy, the hotel prioritises suppliers and produce from the Byron and northern regions, extending its support to wider Australian operators when necessary. By promoting sustainability and reducing environmental impact, Hotel Marvell ensures its food and produce are sourced as locally as possible, providing guests with the freshest and highest-quality offerings.
ibis Yogyakarta International Airport Kulon Progo
ibis Yogyakarta International Airport Kulon Progo, Indonesia
The new-built 224-key ibis Yogyakarta International Airport Kulon Progo hotel stands five minutes from Yogyakarta International Airport by car, and offers travellers a convenient base from which to explore the region.
Within a short 40-minute drive, guests can take in the natural surroundings of Waduk Sermo and Kalibiru, or unwind on Glagah Beach.
Accommodation, with options including Standard, Premium with sofa, and Premium family, is contemporary and comfortable, ideal for both leisure and business travellers. Facilities include alively social hub; all-day dining restaurant, ibis Kitchen; Grab&Go kiosk for quick bites; function rooms; kids’ corner; and web corner.
Moxy Sydney Airport
Moxy Sydney Airport, Australia
The 301-room Moxy Sydney Airport is 10 minutes from Sydney International Airport via the hotel’s shuttle service, and accessible from Sydney’s bustling CBD and iconic sites.
Inspired by the neighbourhood’s industrial and art-deco heritage, Moxy Sydney Airport features stylish interiors and a façade that is distinguished by a striking public art mural created by local artist Elliott Routledge. Routledge, renowned for his distinctive, abstract designs, has also created a sculpture that celebrates Moxy’s Play On spirit, rising from a podium on level four to catch the eyes of fun-hunting guests and locals.
Guests can enjoy a complimentary Get Moxy signature cocktail in the lobby, which is a multi-functional work and interactive social space; lounge in the Living Room, a laid-back communal space that is filled with eclectic and nostalgic pieces, including a 1970s photo booth and reclaimed vintage lounge chairs; and refuel at Little Baxter streetside cafe or Bar Moxy.
The hotel is also equipped with five meeting studios.
International Passenger Markets
