Tourism Tropical North Queensland launches global campaigns to boost visitation
Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) has launched its first global trade campaigns for the Cairns & Great Barrier Reef brand with partners Expedia and Trip.com, targetting seven key international markets.
TTNQ chair John O’Sullivan said the new campaigns are part of some 20 that are being supported by federal government’s A$15 million (US$9.8 million) International Tourism Recovery Program funding.
O’Sullivan noted that the funding has seen good initial yield.
“This level of investment will drive the region’s recovery with the International Tourism Recovery Program funding already delivering more than A$3 million in gross sales after just three trade campaigns in Japan, which ran from June to July,” he said.
TTNQ CEO Mark Olsen said the campaign activity was closely aligned with Tourism and Events Queensland’s international initiatives, such as its campaign, A Beautiful Way to Be, in China.
“Partnering with influential brands like Expedia and Trip.com will ensure our region is penetrating a highly competitive travel marketplace and leveraging Tourism and Events Queensland’s activity,” he said.
The Trip.com partnership will be live in the UK, China, Singapore and Japan at various times until May 2024, and will include activities such as live streaming promotion via WeChat in China through online travel agent Ctrip.
The Expedia partnership will target the UK, Japan, the US, Canada and New Zealand, and will see tactical activations such as discount coupons in the US market and engagement of some 40,000 travel agencies in Japan and New Zealand through the Travel Agent Affiliate Program.
Travel deals sustain Indonesian outbound demand
Despite the devaluation of the rupiah against the US dollar, appetite for outbound travel among Indonesians remains high, thanks to attractive offers presented at numerous travel fairs that have surfaced this year.
At the recent Garuda Indonesia Travel Fair 2023, hosted in multiple cities across the country – Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Palembang, Denpasar, Makassar and Jayapura, consumers were able to enjoy discounts of up to 80 per cent along with cash-back worth up to 4.3 million rupiah (US$272).
The fair has a target of 105 billion rupiah in transaction, with 30,000 flight tickets sold. The final transaction is not yet available at press time.
Indonesian outbound specialists told TTG Asia that consumers may be unperturbed because they are now used to the fluctuating conditions of the rupiah.
Furthermore, Indonesians now perceive travelling as a necessity.
Edhi Sutadarma, director at Golden Rama Tours and Travel, added that the ability to travel abroad is “like a status symbol”.
Even with rising costs of travel, affordable destinations remain, opined Davy Batubara, Group COO Smailing Tour. He pointed to Malaysia and Thailand as being good options.
“Even with the current rupiah value, hotel prices in Malaysia and Thailand are still cheaper than in Bali while air ticket prices are not much different,” Davy said.
Both Davy and Edhi noted that the affordability of South-east Asian destinations is a strong pull factor for Indonesians, while Japan and South Korea have risen steadily to become leading destinations among their customers.
Daissy, acting vice president of outbound tour at Wita Tour, is optimistic that outbound travel demand will continue to grow due to back-to-back festive seasons. “The timing is right – the end of year holidays is followed by the Chinese New Year and Eid al-Fitr holidays,” she said.
Golden Rama Tours and Travel as well as Smailing Tour have committed to keeping prices in the face of rising costs and depreciating rupiah, as they would rather reduce profits than lose clients.
However, Edhi admitted that holding out cannot be a long-term solution. “If the rupiah doesn’t strengthen next year, there will have to be a little adjustment,” he said.
Philippine company takes Hotel101 brand to the US
Filipino company DoubleDragon Corporation has secured a site in Los Angeles, the US for its first Hotel101-branded property in the country.
The site is in the Westlake North District, five minutes to downtown, 10 minutes to Hollywood, and 20 minutes to Beverly Hills and the Los Angeles International Airport.
The hotel is expected to offer 622 rooms, subject to entitlement and zoning approval, as well as an all-day restaurant, a business centre, pool, gym, 24-hour convenience store, and event venues.
Hannah Yulo-Luccini, CEO of Hotel101 Global, a subsidiary of DoubleDragon Corporation, said: “This step completes the first three strategic overseas sites of Hotel101 located in Japan, Spain and the US, and is set to enable Hotel101 to transcend as a truly global brand.”
The Hotel101 brand adopts a hybrid condotel business model where rooms are intended to be typical or similar in size and look, so as to cater to the mid-end market.
Christmas is coming to Universal Studios Singapore
Christmas is coming to Universal Studios Singapore (USS) at Resorts World Sentosa from December 2 to January 1, 2024. A Universal Christmas will present all-new live shows, festive encounters with popular characters, including Illumination’s Minions and DreamWorks’ Trolls, and snowfall.
DreamWorks’ Trolls will bring holiday cheer to the Hollywood zone, along with the Trolls Tree Trimming Party show that comes with a meet-and-greet with Poppy and Branch.
The New York zone will be transformed into Santa’s North Pole Headquarters. Expect to encounter snowfall here multiple times a day.
Every evening, Santa’s North Pole Headquarters plays host to a night-time performance – the W.I.S.H show, which packs in live singing, dancing and an enchanting snowfall at the end.
Christmas vibes will continue throughout the theme park – spot Santa’s Present Party delivery route, join regular characters like Bumblebee from Transformers and DreamWorks’ Shrek and Fiona in spreading festive cheer, and enjoy Christmas hits at Mel’s Stage.
A Universal Christmas is included with regular admission to USS.
More information is available here.
Bringing home a legend
The Regent Hong Kong is considered quite the landmark in the destination, in entertainment, events and tourism circles. Is that why the brand and property’s return has attracted so much fanfare?
When the Regent Hong Kong first opened in 1980, it set a new benchmark for luxury hospitality in Asia, from its groundbreaking design to its highly personalised level of service.
The hotel’s legacy in Hong Kong is indelible in the collective memories of Hong Kong people who have celebrated life’s milestones here – from their wedding photos on the iconic white marble staircase leading to the Regent Ballroom to special family occasions at our restaurants or fireworks celebrations with the hotel’s front-row views of Victoria Harbour.
Over the decades, the Regent Hong Kong was the hotel of choice for many of the most prestigious events, hosting international dignitaries, celebrities and CEOs. It was renowned as one of the world’s top hotels. It is acclaimed for its exceptional restaurants and personalised service.
When it comes to location, it is world renowned for having the best and most spectacular views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island.
For those familiar with the former Regent Hong Kong, what would be surprising for them now?
The hotel has undergone a total transformation from top to bottom – encompassing all guestrooms, public areas and even the façade. Our visionary designer Chi Wing Lo had reimagined the hotel as a serene and majestic haven on the harbour, removed from the hustle and bustle of the city.
For guests who remember the original Regent Hong Kong, they will still feel a sense of familiarity – the feng shui fountain at the entrance, the original white Carrara marble staircase leading to the Regent Ballroom, their favourite restaurants – including Harbourside, The Steak House, Lai Ching Heen and The Lobby Lounge – are still here.
What will be most surprising for them will be the reimagining of the guestrooms by Chi Wing Lo – with each room envisioned as a personal haven of tranquillity. The serene room design is filled with thoughtful details and touches such as the mirrored sliding doors, with a subtle woven pattern that reflects the view. A daybed becomes a personal haven overlooking a unique framed view of the harbour, with a handcrafted bronze bonsai creating a bespoke foreground. The chair swivels, allowing you to enjoy the view from every angle; and the furniture seems to float – making the room seem more spacious. In the Oasis Bathroom, the deep-soaking tub has views of the harbour (only in selected harbourview rooms). Even the toilet is calming, with a backlit wall with greenery.
And for those new to the hotel, especially the young generation of travellers, how would it impress?
The hotel has a contemporary feel that will appeal to the new generation of luxury travellers. It is a haven for discreet luxury with a timeless design.
We boast a Dining Destination that offers immersive culinary experiences that appeal to all ages. Building on decades of culinary and service excellence, each venue – The Steak House, Harbourside, The Lobby Lounge and our two-Michelin star Lai Ching Heen – has been reimagined with a stunning new decor and elevated dining experiences.
Nobu Hong Kong has reopened at our hotel with its internationally acclaimed Japanese cuisine.
In December, we will launch Qura, a stunning destination bar with incredible framed views of the harbour, bespoke drink selections, and a humidor room for cigar enthusiasts. This is positioned as a sophisticated playground to celebrate life’s great pleasures. It will definitely appeal to the young generation of well-heeled local and international guests.
Our service philosophy also appeals to the younger generation. It’s about doing things on your terms. We make our guests feel comfortable in the environment. We enable uplifting experiences – through our service philosophy.
There is a harmonious flow where things happen naturally. There is thoughtful kindness delivered through small touches. There is a bit of decadence, especially through little touches in the food and beverage offerings in our restaurants and our amenities. Each experience is a journey.
With our Regent Experience Agents, each guest has a single point of contact.
The guest can also communicate 24/7 with our Experience team via our Regent Chat app which the young generation of travellers will appreciate.
How did early bookings as well as interest from travel agent partners look in the months leading up to your November 8 opening? And how well will your hotel do in its initial months of opening, which coincide with the year-end and new year peak?
In alignment with the travel trends in Hong Kong, business from China and Asia has been picking up rapidly over the past several months. Luxury leisure travel has been on the rise, while corporate travel, especially from long-haul markets, is also rebounding.
We anticipate a busy year-end and new year holiday season with guests who are excited to experience the reimagined Regent Hong Kong and the personalised and immersive experience at our haven on the harbour as well as our Dining Destination with all of our restaurants and bars fully open.
How will your distribution strategy look, and where does the travel agent community fit in?
In the history of our hotel, we have always worked very closely with the travel advisor community.
We participate in several luxury travel industry alliances including Virtuoso and Signature Travel Network. In fact, we are currently taking part in Virtuoso road trips to reconnect with the travel advisor community.
I will be attending ILTM in Cannes in early December along with our director of luxury. We are actively reintroducing Regent Hong Kong to the luxury travel industry community and are excited to share the reimagined Regent Hong Kong and welcome travel advisors and their clients to experience the new Regent Hong Kong.
Friends in the travel and tourism industry often tell me that Hong Kong will shine again soon enough post-lockdown. There is great optimism that Hong Kong can attain 30 million arrivals by the end of 2023 – more than the 26 million forecasted. What is your outlook for the destination, and what opportunities are there to catalyse Hong Kong’s travel and tourism rebound?
Hong Kong is a vibrant and dynamic city. It has so much to offer to both the leisure and business traveller. Exciting developments in Kowloon, especially on the art and cultural front, including M+ and the Hong Kong Palace Museum in the West Kowloon Cultural District, are world-class attractions, just a short taxi ride from our hotel.
Meanwhile, the TST (Tsim Sha Tsui) neighbourhood where we are located has been totally redeveloped and revitalised, with Victoria Dockside, K11 Musea, the Hong Kong Museum of Art, and the Avenue of Stars. Regent Hong Kong is uniquely positioned at the harbour’s edge as the epicentre in a dynamic neighbourhood that is a destination in itself.
With the recent launch of several major infrastructure projects like the high-speed train at the West Kowloon Station and the road/rail bridge linking Hong Kong, Macau and beyond, Hong Kong now has easy connectivity to so many cities within the GBA (Greater Bay Area) and Pearl River Delta. Ease of travel in the area has greatly been improved.
I look forward to seeing Regent Hong Kong contribute to the success of this incredible city as a global travel destination.
How Regent Hong Kong brings meaning back to brands
I stayed multiple times at the former Hotel InterContinental Hong Kong, which is now Regent Hong Kong, as it was from 1980 to 2001 before it became InterContinental.
Brands may change, but great hotels don’t. This hotel has always been special because of its location on the edge of Victoria Harbour, which makes guests feel as if they are on a cruise absorbing the most splendid views of the harbour and Hong Kong skyline.
It’s also special because it’s a dining destination before the catchphrase was even invented. Then there’s that grand marble staircase leading to the ballroom that has witnessed many life moments. Service is courteous, caring and always consistent.
It is special because of its history. The hotel isn’t the first Regent hotel in the world, but it’s the one that made Regent famous. Robert Burns, who founded Regent, along with Adrian Zecha and Georg Rafael, reinvented luxury in the 80s with this hotel. Their vision was to create an innovative product that blends the best of Asian and Western hospitality. Put together three hotel supremos – an American, Asian and European – innovate they did, and the hotel captured the imagination of world travellers at a time fascination with the exotic Far East was rising.
Regent gave us what we take as a given in luxury hotels today, i.e., the five-fixture bathroom – bathtub, walk-in shower, separate toilet and two sinks. It eschewed the opulence of traditional grand hotels for something “simple yet elegant, modern yet timeless, global yet local”, in the words of Steven Pan, chairman of Regent Hotels & Resorts and owner of Regent Taipei, in a chat with me at the grand opening event on November 8.
But Regent went into wrong hands several times in its history. Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts bought it, only to reflag Regent hotels in the choicest locations such as Bali as Four Seasons. Radisson put the brand on its cruise line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Were it to go into wrong hands again, Regent might be history. Fortunately, there’s a new ‘trio’ to reignite Regent, namely the brand’s new ownership under a joint venture between IHG and Steven Pan, and Gaw Capital Partners, which led the acquisition of the InterContinental in 2015 and its rebranding as Regent Hong Kong today.
A royally expensive renovation of Regent Hong Kong, believed to cost US$300 million, reflects the hotel owners’ commitment to reproduce the original top quality Regent hotel, yet one that will appeal to new travellers.
As Tom Rowntree, IHG’s vice president global luxury & lifestyle brands, told me, many of the great brands that exist today were built on the traditional cues of luxury, which no longer resonate with today’s clientele. Moreover, majority of wealth previously was inherited; today, it is earned, he said. That changes the way today’s new rich consume luxury – less formality, for instance, and more tailor-made to the individual rather than rigid conventions as in the past.
The new Regent Hong Kong is sleek, stylish and sensuous in elegant and quiet ways. There’s a distinct air of sophisticated modern Asia about it, a nod to its location. It also shows us how functionality and beauty can work well together. I’ve been to luxury hotels which are beautiful but utterly impractical, and others that are functional but sadly plain.
The overriding design of Regent Hong Kong is more ‘zen‘ than I expected. That was the plan; it’s listening to people’s desire for more moments of calm and well-being.
“Our property defines itself as ‘quiet luxury’, ‘serene environment’, ‘urban sanctuary’ and the designers (led by Chi Wing Lo) have achieved this. Then we bring in decadence through sumptuous dining, among many other ways,” said Michel Chertouh, Regent Hong Kong’s managing director.
Regent is back on an even keel because there’s a lot of love for the brand, a kind of fervour rarely seen in a hotel world overflowing with brands.
It reminds us that the industry is a better place if brands are meaningful and treasured, not a means for quick conversions or expansion.
NTUC LearningHub increases involvement in tourism sector
NTUC LearningHub (NTUC LHUB) is partnering the Tourism Management Institute of Singapore (TMIS) to launch a series of six new courses for the tourism sector to tap the growing trend of discerning travellers seeking new offerings, and also improve technological skills.
This was announced at the Reskilling for the New Tourism Economy event at Sentosa Golf Club on November 16.
“NTUC LearningHub is proud to be at the forefront of training for in-demand and emerging skills in various sectors, including tourism,” said Jeremy Ong, CEO of NTUC LearningHub, explaining the National Trades Union Congress’s collaboration with TMIS.
He added: “We hope to help Singapore establish itself as a top tourism destination of choice through a skilled workforce that seeks to constantly reinvent and rejuvenate the sector.”
Steven Chua, CEO of TMIS, said: “We aim to empower our tourism professionals to keep themselves abreast of the latest developments in the global tourism industry and contribute to the rejuvenation of Singapore’s tourism sector.”
The exclusive partnership leverages NTUC LHUB’s vast network and administrative resources while TMIS will conduct the training.
The four professional certificate and two specialised courses cover wellness tourism, sustainable products and services, as well as key digital and technological skills.
Eligible course participants may use government subsidies under the SkillsFuture framework and stack completed modules towards advanced qualification for diploma courses offered by TMIS.
NTUC LHUB also launched a Curated Training Series for in-demand and emerging skills under the Tourism Careers Hub (TCH) initiated in January 2022 by the Singapore Tourism Board with partners from NTUC and five tourism trade associations and chambers.
The scheme supports business transformation and caters to mature and displaced workers, and places training courses under three pillars: technological enablers, sustainability and service experience excellence, the aim being to upskill and build a resilient, future-ready workforce.
To underline NTUC LHUB’s commitment to the tourism sector, it unveiled its brand identity NTUC LearningHub for Tourism at the event, which also included insightful presentations by TMIS and Sentosa Development Corporation and a panel discussion on Digitalisation & Technology for Tourism.
Indonesia’s new speed rail boosts tourist numbers to Bandung
Whoosh, Indonesia’s first high-speed train that runs from Jakarta to Bandung, has resulted in heightened tourist interest in Bandung and the surrounding areas, say Indonesian travel trade players.
Nuning Widya, director of Mentari Tour, said Whoosh itself is now an attraction among domestic and South-east Asian tourists.
Her agency will receive a couple of groups with about 100 pax from South-east Asia for a three- to five-day Jakarta-Bandung tour this month. These travellers will utilise Whoosh.
Marintur Indonesia has also started accepting bookings that include Whoosh rides. Its managing director, Hasiyanna Ashadi, said tourists are eager to arrive earlier and experience the new speed rail. Furthermore, Whoosh allows a wider variety of tours to be created on the Jakarta-Bandung route.
However, both leaders expressed concerns about the feeder services that joins the end of Whoosh, bringing passengers from Tegalluar, the last Whoosh stop, into Bandung city. At this point, there are limited feeder services and the schedule is said to be unreliable – travel into Bandung city could run the risk of delays.
To resolve this issue during the ongoing train service trial period, Nuning said her agency would pick guests up from Tegalluar station and rely on the toll road to transport them to Bandung city.
“Travel by toll road is still faster than when clients land in Kertajati International Airport or use buses from Jakarta to Bandung which can take three to five hours,” she said.
A Whoosh ticket is priced from 300, 000 rupiah (US$19), which includes a feeder train service to and from Bandung. A 50 per cent discount is applied for the month of November.
Nuning said that without the fare promotion and with the unreliable feeder train service, her guests would have to pay more to get to Bandung, as an extra fee is applied for the Tegalluar station pick-up by car.
She pointed out that current travel options between Jakarta and Bandung have their own pros and cons. While the cost of a Whoosh plus Tegalluar station pick-up arrangement is more expensive than a Jakarta-Bandung shuttle bus service, which costs US$10 to US$20, travellers would still save on travel time. Whoosh cuts the journey from Jakarta to Bandung from three hours by car to just 45 minutes.
A domestic flight from Jakarta to Bandung is the most expensive option.
In time to come, Hasiyanna believes that Whoosh will attract European and American tourists who enjoy overland trips.
Hasiyanna added: “Whoosh gives more tour options. Overland programmes usually go directly to Yogyakarta or Semarang, but Whoosh gives travellers a chance to stop by Bandung and enjoy the surrounding areas.”
Jongki Adiyasa, executive director of Ina Leisure Tour and Travel, hopes that the speed rail will soon extend across Java and include routes to Surabaya.
“It would be a game changer for Indonesia, and an important force in leading the development of Indonesia’s tourism sector,” he remarked.
Whoosh commenced commercial operations at the start of October, offering 600 seats across three classes. Its maximum speed is 350kph. Starting from Halim railway station in East Jakarta, Whoosh passes through Karawang and Padalarang stations before stopping at Tegalluar on the outskirts of Bandung City.
Indonesian president Joko Widodo hailed it as “a symbol of Indonesia modernisation in public transport that is environmentally friendly”.
JHL’s Vinny Hermawan is industry’s 2023 Mentor of the Year
ACI HR Solutions has named Vinny Hermawan, CEO of JHL Solitaire Hotel Group in Indonesia recipient of its 2023 Mentor of the Year, an annual award that recognises individuals in the travel and tourism industry who lead the way in mentorship.
At the same time, the Highly Commended award was given to Chan Tze Yuan, regional manager of Hotelbeds.
Commenting on this year’s mentorship recognition programme, Andrew Chan, founder & CEO of ACI HR Solutions, told TTG Asia: “We once again had some great candidates who thoroughly deserved their nominations as our 2023 Mentors of the Year. It always gives me great inspiration reading the comments from mentees about those that have inspired them in their careers during the voting periods on our social feeds.”
He added that all nominees “attracted great support from their mentees during the campaign”.
With travel and tourism business rapidly getting back on track this year, ACI HR Solutions’ Chan underscored the need to maintain focus on talent development through mentorship.
“We have lost a lot of experience in the industry as a result of the pandemic, and many organisations have also had to adapt to new working environments and cultures as the industry continues to bounce back at a rapid pace. Mentorship across all levels, and not necessarily just at the top, is needed to enable staff, particularly next generation talents to excel and to trust the process as we continue to rebuild,” he detailed.
Hermawan shared with TTG Asia her thoughts on raising people up: “I strongly believe that people are the key asset of the company. The company will grow as its people grow. Individuals with a positive mental attitude (will) develop their skills, knowledge, and personal or professional growth.”
For this to happen, Hermawan said the leader must recognise that talents are assets, have foresight, know how to lead the team, and be able to “get their hands dirty”. As mentors, they must also lead by example, set goals and standards, and challenge their teams to excel.
In accepting his award, Hotelbeds’ Chan commented: “I am truly honoured and humbled. Seeing the comments from my current and ex-team members as well as bosses, I am grateful to be part of their life journey. I hope that I have added positively to their experience. I am blessed to have great mentors in my career and will look to provide the same guidance whenever the opportunity arises.”
Saudi Arabia is expanding its efforts to develop talents for its growing travel as well as business events sectors, with a specialist school and new training programmes for professionals and businesses in the events ecosystem all in the works.
The Riyadh School of Tourism and Hospitality, set to open in 4Q2024, is co-founded by the tourism ministry and Riyadh-based entertainment mega project Qiddiya in collaboration with the UNWTO. The institute will offer a range of educational programmes, from diplomas to Master’s degrees, and intends to welcome 25,000 students annually by 2030.
Training sufficient human resources to work in tourism and hospitality roles is an important part of the country’s Vision 2030, an ambitious programme that aims to diversify the economy and open up Saudi Arabia, including through tourism, by the end of this decade. The Kingdom aims to create one million new jobs in tourism across the country by 2030.
The Ministry of Tourism had earlier allocated US$100 million to the Tourism Pioneers programme, which enabled 100,000 young people from its second-largest city, Jeddah to study at top institutions in France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, the UK and Australia in 2022. On completion, participants will be equipped to “secure employment opportunities in leading hospitality companies in the Kingdom,” to help “create a skilled and ambitious workforce to support the tourism sector,” said the ministry in a statement.
Most graduates are likely to return to Jeddah due to employment opportunities in its historic Al Barad district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised for its unique architecture and historic role as a major port for Indian Ocean trade and gateway for pilgrims to Mecca who arrived by the Red Sea.
An estimated 1,800 hotel units, as well as recreational and commercial spaces, are earmarked to be built in the 2.5 million square-metre district by 2030, alongside the restoration of historic buildings.
On the business events front, Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority is investing in brand equity promotions for the local meetings and events industry, relevant education to build a pool of events professionals, and training packages for business in the events ecosystem.
These efforts are meant to make Saudi Arabia an even more attractive destination for meetings, according to Amjad Shacker, CEO, Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority.
Amjad said: “(A destination needs) human capital because without it, none of the infrastructure for meetings – the venues, the regulations, the bylaws and the standards – will be possible.”
He shared that work to “educate the masses on this industry” is ongoing, and it has resulted in many “young female and male Saudis eager to participate” as well as the emergence of start-ups in the events ecosystem.
Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority is collaborating with educational institutions to make “courses at various levels” available to anyone keen on a meetings and events profession, and providing educational packages to help SMEs and start-ups in the business events sector grow to a bigger scale. – Additional reporting by Karen Yue