Vietjet will operate first-ever direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Perth, adding to its current routes to Australia from Vietnam.
The Ho Chi Minh City-Perth inaugural flight is scheduled for November 21, with an initial frequency of two return flights per week on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Location
Hotel Telegraph is situated in the heart of Singapore’s CBD in a building that was built in 1927. Directly opposite is the rebuilt Victorian-covered hawker centre Lau Pa Sat, which translates to old market, where hotel guests can easily cross the road to discover the local delicacies and international food stalls, and not forgetting, the popular satay street at night.
Accommodation
The hotel boasts 134 contemporary-style rooms and suites that are well-furnished and equipped with modern amenities. I stayed in the 35m² Deluxe Room in the Heritage wing and was immediately charmed by the cosiness of the room and its decorative wall mouldings.
There is a separate toilet and bathroom area, which was marble-clad. The bathtub was inviting, and I gladly utilised it during my stay to relax my aching body with the provided Penhaligon’s amenities. Take my word for it, the water pressure in the shower is amazing!
Over by the window were two doors, which I initially thought was the wardrobe. Lo and behold, behind the doors was instead, a well-stocked minibar with a kettle and a Nespresso machine with complimentary capsules, teabags, bottled and sparkling water, juice packets, and snacks. Chargeable alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, and chips are also available.
The tablet allowed me to control everything in the room easily: from the lighting and curtains, and setting up the wake-up alarm, to enabling the Do Not Disturb and Make Up Room signs, and ordering in-room dining. I could also request for towels and amenities via the tablet, while learning more about the hotel and its facilities.
While my window was tiny and offered very little natural light, that hardly bothered me because I was busy admiring the light box above the bed – my favourite feature in the room. The design varies from room to room, where mine resembled the inside of a steeple.
F&B
There are two dining options at Hotel Telegraph, both of which are also open to the public.
The Dining Room is an all-day café, restaurant and bar with a modern open-kitchen concept. I enjoyed my daily breakfast here, thanks to the assortment of cheeses, pastries, salami, smoked salmon, fruits and cooked dishes. There is also an egg station, and a special kitchen order of pancakes or a warm bowl of bak kut teh (a pork rib dish cooked in a broth of herbs and spices for hours). I even indulged in a glass of Prosecco and mimosa with my breakfast, but gave the Bloody Mary a miss.
Every Saturday and Sunday, the Dining Room offers a Weekends Grill & Roast, serving butcher cuts such as beef tenderloin, black Angus ribeye and striploin, as well as various poultry, pork or seafood options.
While the presentation was lovely, the beef tenderloin I had was a tad too well done despite ordering it at medium doneness. For dessert, the Apple Crumble was delicious and a great end to the meal.
Up on the sixth floor is the 1927 Rooftop Bar, boasting a variety of bar bites like the Mini Wagyu Beef Sliders, Truffle Mushroom Arancini Ball, and the Crispy Har-Jeong (shrimp paste marinade) Chicken Wing. I also got to try several National Day specials such as the Chicken Tikka Masala pizza that had a nice crispy base.
There is also an extensive cocktail and wine list. During my time there, I opted for a Margarita, which I found a tad too sour, and a glass of 2019 Castello del Poggio Moscato d’Asti.
Facilities
There is a rooftop infinity pool where I happily dipped into on a sunny afternoon, as I gazed around me at the tall city buildings. At the end of the pool is a transparent wall and floor where I could look down at Lau Pa Sat. Those afraid of heights may want to avoid this, but I was fascinated with it!
There is also a gym with high-end equipment, and a rock-climbing wall on the second level, which was stocked with bottled water and towels for guests’ convenience.
Should the need arise, the VIP Suites can be converted into meeting rooms.
Service
From the moment I arrived, I was greeted with warm smiles and helpful hands. Everywhere I went in the hotel, the staff were ever-ready to help or chat a little. I especially enjoyed my conversations with one housekeeping staff, Huang, who remained cheerful despite how busy she was, and was able to anticipate my needs before I even asked for it.
Verdict
Hotel Telegraph may be small but it exudes an opulent charm and has a way of making each guest feel like a VIP. For those looking to live it up in the city, this is definitely an option to consider.
Contact details
Website: thehoteltelegraph.com
Ahu Bay, Ahungalla, Sri Lanka
Beach house Ahu Bay in Ahungalla is perched on Ahungalla Point between two secluded bays on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka.
The property is made up of a collection of four suites and three three-bedroom beach villas, available either on a rent-by-the-room or exclusive use basis.
It features beach cabanas, a spa, an infinity swimming pool, and an all-day dining venue serving Sri Lankan and international favourites fare.
Dusit Thani Kyoto, Japan
Dusit Thani Kyoto is a new luxury hotel in Kyoto’s Hanganji Monzen-machi district, just 850m from major transportation hub Kyoto Station.
The hotel boasts 147 guestrooms, F&B, event spaces for up to 240 guests, fitness centre, indoor swimming pool, and wellness centre.
Guests can also arrange with the hotel for excursions to nearby attractions such as Nishi Honganji and Toji temples (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites), as well as other popular destinations and hidden gems throughout the city.
Hotel Nikko Changshu, China
Hotel Nikko Changshu is located at the heart of the Changshu National New & High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, is easily accessible via local highway infrastructure.
The new hotel boasts 288 guestrooms and suites, as well as 197 serviced apartments. Facilities comprise a lobby lounge, an all-day dining outlet, Chinese restaurant, gym, indoor swimming pool, Japanese hot tub, kids’ playroom, game rooms, event venues, and an outdoor roof garden connecting the hotel’s serviced apartments with its public areas.
Just a 25-minute drive from Changshu railway station and a 30-minute drive to downtown Suzhou, attractions nearby include Kuncheng Lake and scenic parks such as Shanghu, Shajiabang and Yushan.
Mercure Pangkalan Bun, Indonesia
The 150-key Mercure Pangkalan Bun is located a 15-minute drive away from Iskandar Airport in Central Kalimantan Province, Indonesia.
The property features an all-day dining restaurant, lobby lounge, bar, gym, spa, salon, swimming pool, and a pillar-less ballroom.
Nearby is the Tanjung Puting National Park which is recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve – the park is an important conservation area for orangutans worldwide.
Thai Vietjet has launched a Family Fun Month promotion with fares starting from just 1,688 baht (US$48).
Travellers can book from now to August 17, for travel between September 1, 2023 to March 27, 2024.
The special promotional tickets are applied to Thai Vietjet’s entire international flight network from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Japan, and Taipei.
For more information, visit Thai Vietjet Air.
TTG Asia, with its editorial headquarters in Singapore, will take a break for the public holiday on Wednesday, August 9, in recognition of the country’s 58th National Day.
TTG Asia’s online news bulletin will resume on Thursday, August 10.
Happy National Day in advance to all Singaporean readers!
HalalBooking saw US$2.5 million of new cash invested in July at a company valuation of US$102 million in the next stage of its Series B round.
This is added to the US$5 million convertible loan invested in 2021, which has now been converted into Series B shares at a 20 per cent discount from the above valuation – totalling US$7.5 million for the round so far. Capped at a maximum of US$10 million to be completed by the end of the year, leaving US$2.5 million available as a headroom amount to be subscribed to at the same valuation.
Elnur Seyidli, CEO of HalalBooking, said: “This is still a relatively small angel round and the company’s cap table remains mostly under the ownership of the founders. This investment, combined with cash we generate from our healthy 17 per cent profit margin, will help us to accelerate our 2023-24 growth and be in a stronger position to reach our US$1 billion unicorn goal sooner.
“There is a lot of interest from institutional investors, who have been closely watching our growth since the pandemic, which is leading us to consider a larger, institutional US$30-40 million Series C round to further accelerate our growth rate. This would increase the likelihood of reaching the US$1 billion goal in three to four years, rather than in, say, six to seven years of more organic growth.”
The company is already seeing significant growth in 2023, enjoying a record sales month in July, reaching US$10 million in sales, a 45 per cent growth compared to July 2022.
HalalBooking recorded sales of US$52 million in 2022, with the forecast for 2023 estimated at US$75 million – the company aims to reach US$600 million sales in four to five years.
Klook’s Travel Pulse survey revealed that travellers are ready to spend big on travel. One in three millennial and Gen Z travellers are willing to spend more than double of the average monthly income in Asia (US$1,069) on their next holiday, which amounts to US$2,000 and more.
The survey was conducted in July this year with a total of 2,400 respondents across 12 markets including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Mainland China and India.
Eric Gnock Fah, chief operating officer and co-founder of Klook, said: “Embracing a new era of travel, experiences have emerged as a new coveted currency for the next generation of travellers, particularly among millennials and Gen Zs. Unique experiences and activities take precedence in their travel plans as the first thing they look at, with 85% of travellers willing to invest in experiences during their holidays.
“This remarkable shift is a testament to their increasing desire for authentic experiences, with their decisions fuelled by social media over traditional sources like search engines and travel guides before embarking on their next travel adventure.”
Experiences are millennials’ and Gen Zs’ new travel currency
As travel becomes more intentional, a majority of travellers are also prioritising experiences and making them a focal point of their trip, with 63% booking their experiences before they fly.
More than 90% of millennials and Gen Zs place importance on unique and memorable experiences during their travels, with 85% signalling a willingness to invest in them during their holiday. Notably, travellers from Thailand, Vietnam, Mainland China, and India lead the pack across Asia-Pacific, with a strong desire to spend more on nature and outdoor experiences like island tours, and cultural experiences such as visiting historical sites.
Surprisingly, Gen Zs, who are just beginning to embark on their careers, are not far behind their millennial counterparts in splurging on travel. One in five Gen Zs are willing to spend over US$3,000, slightly trailing one in four millennials who share the same sentiment. The biggest spenders across Asia-Pacific emerge from Mainland China (58%) and Hong Kong (39%), taking the top spots in willingness to spend beyond US$3,000 on their next holiday.
More price-conscious travellers originate from India, Vietnam, and the Philippines with the majority willing to spend below US$2,000, still more than double their average monthly income.
Social media will soon overtake traditional sources
Social media is the top inspiration tool for Gen Z travellers, with more than half using the platform to discover new destinations and experiences, favouring it over search engines and travel guides. While millennials still prefer to use search engines (59%), social media comes a very close second (55%) indicating its rising influence over how travellers seek out information.
In fact, nine out of 10 millennials and Gen Zs check online reviews before making their bookings, and rely on travel content recommendations on social media when planning holidays. Findings show that creating social media-worthy content is of utmost importance for a large majority of travellers (87%) – especially for travellers from India, the Philippines and Mainland China – and one of the main reasons for travel.
“The rise of social media as a travel inspiration and planning tool is largely due to their interactive nature, especially with short-form videos and mobile apps,” shared Fah.
“It has undeniably become a powerful and dynamic source of travel inspiration among millennials and Gen Zs. This lies in its ability to offer authentic storytelling and personalised real-time recommendations. This paradigm shift is indicative for the demographic’s desire for meaningful connections and seamless exploration.”
Millennials and Gen Zs opt for more intentional shorthaul trips
Majority of millennials and Gen Zs across Asia-Pacific are becoming more intentional travel planners, with 65% planning their holidays at least two to six months in advance. Travellers ranking highest among this bracket come from Singapore (74%) and Australia (57%), while nearly half of travellers from Mainland China, Vietnam, and Thailand prefer to make holiday plans in less than two months.
Additionally, millennials and Gen Zs are increasingly opting to travel closer to home domestically (60%) and within Asia-Pacific (30%). The top three destinations on the travel wish list are Japan, Thailand and Singapore. These findings indicate a rising trend of younger explorers putting focus on the desire to explore and seek new experiences over the actual destination itself.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has taken delivery of Norwegian Viva, the newest vessel in the now 19-ship fleet and the second ship in Prima Class, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera, Italy.
Norwegian Viva is the second of six ships in the Prima Class set to debut through 2028 following the launch of Norwegian Prima in 2022. The ship will homeport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for a season of Caribbean voyages from December 2023 through March 2024.
The new 3,100-guest ship will showcase enhanced guest experience with elevated offerings like spacious designs, and new dining concepts like the Indulge Food Hall, an open-air food market featuring 11 unique eateries.
Highlights include the three-story Viva Speedway, The Concourse – an outdoor sculpture garden in Ocean Boulevard, and entertainment such as the at-sea debut of Tony Award-nominated production Beetlejuice, and the immersive game show experience, Press Your Luck Live.
Norwegian Viva will take her maiden voyage on August 10 then sail a series of Mediterranean and Greek Isles itineraries before her official Christening ceremony in Miami on November 28.
Latin Grammy artist Luis Fonsi has been named godfather to Norwegian Viva, who will attend the celebration to officially name the ship, along with other celebrities.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will ramp up services to destinations across its network during the Northern Summer 2024 operating season (March 31, 2024 to October 26, 2024).
This includes restoring Airbus A380 services between Singapore and Frankfurt, deploying widebody Airbus A350-900 medium-haul aircraft on services to Cairns and Male, reinstating direct services between Singapore and Barcelona, and increasing flight frequencies to pre-pandemic levels across multiple points.
Destinations that will reach or exceed pre-pandemic levels of flight frequencies include Ahmedabad (India); Beijing and Shanghai (China); Copenhagen (Denmark); Danang (Vietnam); Darwin, Melbourne, and Perth (Australia); Dubai (the UAE); Tokyo-Haneda (Japan); as well as Seattle and Houston (the US).
JoAnn Tan, senior vice president marketing planning, Singapore Airlines, said: “With the release of SIA’s Northern Summer schedules, our customers can plan ahead and start to make their travel plans for 2024.”
The National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) has secured a record high of 12 NTOs for its second travel fair for the year over this coming weekend – the biggest destination showcase since the resumption of its public fairs post-lockdown.
NATAS Holidays 2023, taking place at Singapore Expo Halls 4 and 5 from August 11 to 13, will gather more than 60 exhibitors, featuring airlines, cruise operators, NTOs, travel agents and travel-related exhibitors, such as Etiqa Insurance for travel insurance plans.
As Destination Partner for NATAS Holidays 2023, Uzbekistan will bring together various craftsmen, national dancers and singers to engage with public visitors at booth 4H09/4H11.
This will be NATAS’s 58th edition of the travel fair.
