The spirit of adventure

November 23, 2023

What changes have you seen in Japan’s adventure travel landscape
We’ve been working in the adventure travel space in Japan since 2005. In those early days, adventure travel was less well understood and considered niche. Now, the potential of adventure travel to bring beneficial changes to the inbound travel landscape has become so substantial that it is a pillar for the Japan National Tourism Organization’s promotions.

Why is adventure travel important for Japan?
Globally, national and local governments are battling the struggle against overtourism by renewing their focus on adventure travel, which typically takes guests into the regions. Japan is recognising the role adventure travel can play in filtering tourists out of areas at risk of overtourism and introducing areas that can benefit from greater attention. With natural capacity caps created by the available accommodations, the integrity of these regions is maintained.

Moreover, adventure travellers leave more of their travel yen in Japan and with local suppliers. They also have a higher per capita spend than other kinds of inbound travellers.

What is Oku Japan’s approach?
We combine activity with community and tourism that tells a story about Japan. Our tours on the pilgrimage routes of the Kumano Kodo and the Shikoku 88 Temples, for example, are not only great hikes but also provide insights into Japan’s spirituality. The Michinoku Coastal Trail, which stretches the east coast of Tohoku from Fukushima Prefecture to Aomori Prefecture, tells the story of reconstruction and resilience following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

Guided tour groups tend to have more opportunities to interact with local people due to their bilingual guide. This is an important aspect of travel for many people so we introduced fureai (interactions) on some of our self-guided tours. These interactions provide moments of connection between the visitors and members of the local community. Sometimes the group may sit over a cup of coffee and learn about life in the area or go and see where fields are being restored and farmed.

Why is that approach important?
We have a strong commitment to the communities where we operate. All of our self-guided hiking tours and many of our small group guided tours, feature hiking in rural areas of Japan. Many of these hikes are linear hikes, taking walkers from village to village or shrine to shrine, allowing our visitors to stay in locally owned and operated accommodations, and dine at local establishments along the way. We also support local traditions, such as shamisen (traditional stringed instrument) practice, by incorporating performances and workshops into our small group guided tours.

Oku Japan also participates in trail clean-ups and local festivals in the areas we operate, and has branch offices on both the Kumano Kodo and Nakasendo trails, to help us pass on our success to the local communities that we work with.

What demand is Oku Japan seeing?
There is extremely high pent-up demand for adventure travel in the country. This year, accommodations on our most popular walking routes filled up many months earlier than they normally do, and we are already seeing issues with availability for spring 2024 as people book ahead so as not to miss out. Smart travellers are booking now for next summer or autumn.

How do you envision the future of adventure tourism in Japan and why?
I think adventure tourism will grow in Japan as more travellers are aware of the opportunity to integrate adventure into their visit to Japan. Already we are seeing that the government views adventure tourism as a means to distribute the benefits of tourism more evenly around the country. Visitors to Japan, meanwhile, are realising they can engage in adventurous pursuits while also having a cultural experience.

Adventure travel can mean many different things: active pursuits, cultural activities or experiential travel. Japan is in a unique position when it comes to inbound visitors because it has such an incredibly long and rich history that is oftentimes completely intertwined with the “adventure” elements of adventure travel. For example, guests can hike along historic trails and pilgrimage routes or in geoparks that tell a story of Japan and its people, in addition to offering a great hiking experience.

Accor, NAB team up to offer enhanced benefits to loyalty members

By TTG Asia

November 23, 2023

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Accor has partnered with National Australia Bank (NAB) to bring enhanced benefits to members of its Accor Live Limitless (ALL) loyalty programme.

Members of ALL can now link their ALL accounts to their NAB Rewards credit cards to earn points on eligible purchases made with their cards.

The collaboration will bring enhanced benefits to ALL members when they use their NAB Rewards credit cards

This collaboration will make it easier for members to accumulate points and redeem them for a range of exclusive experiences and rewards across Accor’s portfolio of more than 5,400 hotels, resorts, and residences in 110 countries.

Some benefits include earning up to 30,000 ALL Reward points on a new NAB Rewards Signature credit card; earning up to 20,000 ALL Reward points on a new NAB Rewards Platinum credit card; auto redemption; 10 per cent off the flexible rate at participating hotels in the Pacific; and more.

Onyx signs Amari Vientiane in Laos

By TTG Asia

November 23, 2023

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Onyx Hospitality Group is expanding its presence in South-east Asia with the signing of Amari Vientiane in Laos.

Just 4.8km from Wattay International Airport, Amari Vientiane will be the group’s second Amari brand property in the country, complementing Amari Vang Vieng.

Amari Vientiane is Onyx Hospitality Group’s second Amari brand property in the country and will open in 2024

Scheduled to open in 2024, Amari Vientiane will boast 248 guestrooms, a rooftop executive lounge, a specialty rooftop restaurant, rooftop bar, banqueting facilities including a ballroom and meeting rooms, gym, spa, pool, children’s pool, kids’ club, and parking spaces.

Yuthachai Charanachitta, CEO of Onyx Hospitality Group, said: “We remain dedicated to creating exceptional hospitality experiences for our guests, and this new property underlines our commitment to that mission. As we continue to expand our footprint in South-east Asia, our aim is to provide diverse and captivating destinations for travellers to explore.”

Onyx Hospitality Group continues to expand its portfolio of hotels, resorts and serviced apartments across South-east Asia, and is poised to operate over 50 properties by 2025.

New hotels: InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping, Jawakara Islands Maldives and more

By TTG Asia

November 23, 2023

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InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping, Thailand
Surrounded by Chiang Mai’s iconic landscapes and draped in greenery, InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping boasts 240 rooms and suites facing the old town or Doi Suthep mountain.

At its doorstep are a host of iconic landmarks such as Chiang Mai’s walking streets, the night bazaar and the historic Tha-Pae Gate dating back to the 13th century.

The hotel features restaurants and bars, spa, fitness centre, outdoor pool, and event venues.

Jawakara Islands Maldives, the Maldives
Jawakara Islands Maldives is a 290-villa property offering restaurants, three bars, two spas, two infinity pools, a kids’ club, fitness centre, nine-hole golf course.

The resort is just 40 minutes by speedboat from Madivaru domestic airport in Lhaviyani Atoll or 35 minutes by seaplane from Malé International Airport.

Available activities include surfing, diving, motorised and non-motorised water sports, such as kite-surfing, kayaking, snorkelling and more.

Hyatt Place Johor Bahru Paradigm Mall, Malaysia
The 202-room Hyatt Place Johor Bahru Paradigm Mall is attached to Paradigm Mall, the largest shopping mall in the Malaysian city, and offers F&B options, a fitness centre, and event venues.

The hotel is a 15-minute drive from Senai International airport, a 20-minute drive to Tuas Checkpoint Singapore, and a 25-minute drive to Woodlands checkpoint in Singapore.

Nearby are attractions like Legoland Malaysia, Johor Premium Outlets and the newly-built Stadium Sultan Ibrahim, home to the Johor Southern Tigers football team.

The Bus Collective, Singapore
Nestled in the heart of Changi Village in Singapore, The Bus Collective is South-east Asia’s first resort hotel using repurposed buses, which are retired public buses transformed into 20 elegant and eco-conscious luxury suites, boasting features like composite lamination, marble tops, invigorating rain showers, sumptuous beds, and lavish bathtubs.

The Bus Collective allows guests access to attractions such as the Changi East Boardwalk and Changi Chapel & Museum, as well as experiences and tours that look at the history and geography of Changi.

Guests can also savour the rich culinary heritage of the area at nearby restaurants recommended by The Bus Collective staff.

Cleanse body and mind at TIA Wellness Resort

By TTG Asia

November 23, 2023

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TIA Wellness Resort is embracing nourishing raw food cuisine, detox therapies, and holistic wellbeing practices from sound healing to private yoga sessions in its new retreat package Body & Mind Cleanse.

The four-night or seven-night offering draws from different healing modalities so guests can detox and release toxins from the body, while also improving vitality through letting go of what’s holding them back on a mental level.

TIA Wellness Resort’s new wellness package comes in four- or seven-night options

A key element of the new package is intermittent fasting, a practice where all the food consumed in a day is eaten during an eight-hour window. When the fast is broken, guests follow a plant-based raw food meal plan, designed to give them more energy, vitality and nutrients.

The carefully-crafted meal plan is paired with a full schedule of healthy activities each day, such as a private yoga lesson, wellness treatments, private breathwork session, and more.

In addition, there is an optional creativity workshop which takes an artistic approach to self-healing; followed by the Detox Hydrotherapy Circuit or Sound Healing Therapy, and then in the evening, a 30-minute Tai Chi session before a two-course raw dinner. The day ends with a treatment of the guest’s choice from a broad array, ranging from facials to massages.

For guests who opt for the seven-night option, day three starts early with a trip to the Marble Mountains, five karsts named for the five elements.

Available year-round, The Body & Mind Cleanse is priced from US$2,694 per person for the four-night stay and US$4,221 for the seven-night option.

For more information, visit TIA Wellness Resort.

Hong Kong travel agents gain insight into cruising opportunities in Asia

By TTG Asia

November 22, 2023

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Fifty travel agents from across Hong Kong joined a Cruise Holiday Selling Workshop last week, which gave them detailed insight into the cruise sector’s latest developments and opportunities offered in Asian markets.

The specialist training workshop was jointly organised by Worldwide Cruise Terminals, the Travel Industry Council Hong Kong and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

Travel agents from across Hong Kong gained insight into the cruise sector’s latest developments and opportunities offered in Asian markets during the Cruise Holiday Selling Workshop last week

The agents were also able to take a ship inspection aboard Celebrity Solstice during its inaugural visit to Hong Kong and enjoyed a lunch inside the city’s Kai Tak Terminal.

CLIA Australasia head of international training and development Peter Kollar said the event was designed to help participants boost their cruise knowledge and maximise their selling opportunities.

“Cruising is going through a resurgence worldwide and this means new opportunities for Hong Kong travel agents,” he shared. “Education is the key to benefitting from the growing interest in cruising, and we’ve seen a fantastic level of engagement from Hong Kong travel agents who are keen to stand out as cruise specialists.”

Kollar added that the day’s programme outlined many of the industry’s latest developments, while providing detailed product information and practical sales techniques to help agents match the right cruise to their clients.

The workshop coincides with the opening of CLIA’s 2024 Asian Membership programme, which offers extensive benefits to support travel agents, including CLIA’s education and training opportunities.

Miral announces expansion plans for Abu Dhabi water park

By TTG Asia

November 22, 2023

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Immersive destinations and experiences creator, Miral, has announced a 16,900m² expansion to Yas Island’s Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi.

Set for construction completion in 2025, the expansion will see the addition of slide sections and an expected 20 per cent growth in guest capacity through the addition of 18 new rides and attractions, taking the park total to more than 60 rides and experiences.

The expansion to Yas Island’s Yas Waterworld is set to complete in 2025

Once open, the park will include the UAE’s highest slide, as well as the Gulf Cooperation Council’s first amusement ride in a water park, that is integrated within a waterslide complex.

Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, group CEO of Miral, commented: “This expansion marks another addition to our world-class attractions and experiences on Yas Island, and a testament to achieving our vision of positioning it as a top global destination for entertainment and leisure.”

For the last decade, Yas Waterworld has immersed guests in the coolest rides and attractions as well as shopping and dining options – the new expansion will enable guests to embark on a journey to discover hidden treasures and secret passages, intertwined with fun attractions.

Features of the new expansion include a swim up bar, a high-thrill boat ride, racing and tube slides, family raft rides, and a duelling master blaster. Mini thrill seekers can look forward to smaller scaled versions of Yas Waterworld’s most iconic rides, such as a mini-Dawwama, which will be the region’s only kids’ mini blaster fusion ride with two blaster sections and a thrilling rattler end section, as well as a mini-Boomerango to give little guests that big ride sensation minus the fear.

Yas Waterworld is part of the wider offering of Yas Island that includes attractions such as Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi, CLYMB Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan, Yas Bay Waterfront which is home to the UAE’s largest indoor multi-purpose venue Etihad Arena, the world’s first-ever Warner Bros themed hotel, and the newly opened SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Regent takes delivery of Seven Seas Grandeur

By TTG Asia

November 22, 2023

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Regent Seven Seas Cruises has taken delivery of its sixth ship, Seven Seas Grandeur, which started welcoming guests on November 18.

Designed by the Studio DADO and built by Fincantieri in Ancona, Italy in just over two years, Seven Seas Grandeur is able to hold 746 guests and provide them with transformative experiences on board.

From left: Fincantieri’s Gilberto Tobaldi and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ Harry Sommer

Seven Seas Grandeur boasts 15 accommodation categories, eight dining experiences, a Culinary Arts Kitchen offering hands-on classes and special demonstrations, four new stage productions, as well as house a 1,600-piece art collection featuring a custom designed masterpiece – Journey in Jewels – the first Fabergé Egg to permanently reside at sea.

In addition, the ship will debut Regent’s very first digital art tour, Art Experience, which is available through the new Regent Mobile App from December 2023.

The ship’s maiden voyage set sail from Venice (Trieste), Italy to Barcelona, Spain on November 18, and will later traverse the Atlantic to Miami, Florida for an exclusive gala event on December 10, where her godmother Sarah Fabergé, founding member of The Fabergé Heritage Council and great-granddaughter of Peter Carl Fabergé, will perform her christening duties.

Other sailings include the Caribbean, two transits of the Panama Canal as well as an itinerary sailing the US Eastern Seaboard, before sailing back across the Atlantic from New York to Barcelona in March 2024 to explore the Mediterranean. Seven Seas Grandeur will then sail to Canada and New England in September and October, before culminating a year of travel by exploring more of the Caribbean to close out 2024.

Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said: “Seven Seas Grandeur’s inaugural season is all but sold out, which is testament to the burgeoning popularity of the unrivalled Regent experience and also reflective of the ship being the most anticipated launch of 2023.”

“As the appetite for luxury travel continues to grow, the delivery of Seven Seas Grandeur provides even more opportunities to cruise the world while enjoying the highest standards of hospitality in lavish and spacious surroundings,” added Andrea DeMarco, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

RateHawk casts confident eye on Asia

By Alastair Newport

November 22, 2023

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Along with its recent rebranding, B2B online booking engine RateHawk is now poised to enter the Asian market.

The company now has a core group of people in the region, and aims to expand its headcount to 30 in 1Q2024 and 60 by the end of the year. The company will launch as a legal entity in Singapore, with a target to begin operation by the end of this year.

Shpilman: establish local operations with local support, local commercial teams, local bank accounts

RateHawk is available in 21 languages, including Chinese. As it grows in this region, it will add Thai and Korean in 1Q2024, Vietnamese in 2Q2024, and Japanese by the end of 2024.

Felix Shpilman, RateHawk’s CEO and president, said the company would establish local operations, with “local support, local commercial teams, local bank accounts” among other things. He also plans to contract locally, as RateHawk has been in other regions like Dubai in the Middle East, Europe and CIS nations.

Shpilman is bullish about competition, and remains confident that his company stands out in terms of supply quality, web and mobile user experience convenience, support quality, and level of automation and machine learning.

“Nobody has anything like us, and I believe we’re unmatched globally. Expedia, Bedsonline, TPL Holidays, etc are all formidable competitors, but combining all of those things? Nobody does that at the global scale like we do,” he remarked.

Trip.com joins Nihao! China campaign to promote inbound to China

By TTG Asia

November 22, 2023

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Trip.com Group has signed a three-year MoU with the China International Culture Association (CICA) to promote inbound tourism through the latter’s Nihao! China campaign, which plays up cultural exchanges and seeks to establish friendships between China and overseas visitors.

Both will jointly produce global promotional videos and digital communications supporting Nihao! China, and establish a framework that looks into building a service platform for inbound travel and activities at the China International Tourism Fair, the Sino-French Tourism Year, the China-US Tourism High-Level Dialogue, and the World Conference on Tourism Development, among other events.

The campaign plays up cultural exchanges and seeks to establish friendships between China and overseas visitors

The group will further contribute to China’s inbound tourism objectives with curated content to showcase specific offerings and services, and by collaborating with Chinese cultural centres, tourism boards, and other organisations.

Over the next three years, Trip.com Group plans to invest in platform technology, marketing and promotion, and product integration to accelerate the development of inbound tourism in China.

Trip.com Group data shows that China’s top 10 source markets, excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, are South Korea, the US, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, Canada, Thailand, the UK, and Germany.

January to October 2023 saw a four-digit growth in visitor numbers when compared with the same period in 2022, reaching more than 60 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. China-related bookings made via the group’s platforms have surged since the reopening of China’s borders earlier this year. In October 2023, there was a 98 per cent year-on-year surge in inbound flight bookings, while September and August saw an increase of 58 per cent and 89 per cent, respectively.

Overseas visitors are most drawn to Shenzhen, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Zhuhai, Hangzhou, Foshan, Xiamen, Zhongshan, and Chengdu. In fact, seven out of 10 hotel bookings made by inbound tourists are for Shenzhen.

Trip.com Group expects inbound demand to rise in the near future, fuelled by government and the industry facilitation.

The spirit of adventure

Accor, NAB team up to offer enhanced benefits to loyalty members

Onyx signs Amari Vientiane in Laos

New hotels: InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping, Jawakara Islands Maldives and more

Cleanse body and mind at TIA Wellness Resort

Hong Kong travel agents gain insight into cruising opportunities in Asia

Miral announces expansion plans for Abu Dhabi water park

Regent takes delivery of Seven Seas Grandeur

RateHawk casts confident eye on Asia

Trip.com joins Nihao! China campaign to promote inbound to China

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