Singaporean hospitality group, Banyan Tree Group, has unveiled ambitious plans to double its footprint worldwide by 2025, with a string of new properties planned for Asia.
The announcement follows in the footstep of the group launching its latest brand, Dhawa, a casual and contemporary full-service hotel experience that aims to bring together innovative design, comfort and technology.
The new Dhawa brand has taken over the former Angsana Ihuru in the Maldives
In January this year, the brand debuted with Dhawa Xi’an Chanba in China. This was followed by the opening of Dhawa Ihuru in the Maldives’ North Malé Atoll, a rebrand from Angsana Ihuru, also part of the group.
The brand will enter Vietnam’s Ho Tram and Ha Long Bay this year, and a third will open in China’s Daming Lake. In 2024, Dhawa properties in Binh Dinh, Vietnam and Palawan, the Philippines will begin to welcome guests.
Judy Ong, director of sales and marketing, Maldives, said Banyan Tree Group has been extending its reach. At the end of 2022, the group has 63 properties across 10 hospitality brands. It also enjoyed a year-on-year 23 per cent spike in revenue last year due to the recovery of international travel. This saw the company’s operating profits increase nine-fold to US$31.4 million.
Eight new properties joined the portfolio last year and another nine is planned for 2023. The group intends to double its portfolio by 2025.
“Our goal is to open 50 new or converted hotels, pushing our portfolio to 113 hotels,” she told TTG Asia, adding that the focus will be on wellness, lifestyle and extended stay brands. Properties in the pipeline throughout Asia span China, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Ong said: “This is an exciting time for Banyan Tree Group as we explore more markets and expand our brands and global reach.”
The Sri Lankan government is pursuing the sale of state-owned national carrier SriLankan Airlines and its subsidiaries, as years of government handouts have failed to stem losses.
While SriLankan Airlines has been reporting operating profits in recent months, its net loss remains high, running into billions of Sri Lankan rupees.
The government hopes the partial sale of SriLankan Airlines would provide financial aid to the loss-making flag carrier
SriLankan Airlines CEO Richard Nuttall said on May 7 that the airline has an operating profit of US$103 million, but US$100 million is channelled into servicing past debts.
“If the airline can find a solution for its debt, SriLankan can become truly profitable,” he told local media.
The government has announced its intention to privatise the airline, but calls for expressions of interest from interested parties have yet to be made.
Minister of ports, naval and aviation services Nimal Siripala de Silva, who confirmed this decision, said it would be wise to divest SriLankan Airlines and its subsidiaries SriLankan Catering and Ground Handling services at once to a single investor, instead of opting to bring in multiple investors.
The government is looking at offering a 49 per cent stake to private investors in this process with expectations to raise US$ 500 million to 600 million from the sale of the two subsidiaries, and more from the sale of the airline.
Local media reported that an Indian operator has shown interest in investing.
This is the third time in the national carrier’s history that the government is seeking external help to improve the airline’s fortune. In 1979 Singapore Airlines offered its expertise to run the national carrier, which had then changed its name from Air Ceylon to Air Lanka. In 1998, a 40 per cent stake of the airline was sold to Emirates, which later withdrew in March 2008 when the partnership agreement was up for renewal.
After a pandemic-induced hiatus, TRENZ 2023 is back in-person this year, where 1,500 international buyers and New Zealand-based sellers will be able to reconnect and rebuild connections over the next three days (May 9-11, 2023).
“With TRENZ to be held in person this year, and a ramping up of our online TRENZConnect online showcase, international buyers will be able to develop and renew relationships with top quality New Aotearoa Zealand tourism operators. We have 40 new sellers and new products to showcase this year,” shared Tourism Industry Aotearoa’s (TIA) chief executive Rebecca Ingram.
TRENZ 2023 opens today (photo by Rachel AJ Lee)
Held in Ōtautahi Christchurch at the Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, this also marks the return of New Zealand’s most significant international B2B travel trade event to the compact city after 17 years. This excludes TRENZ HUI 2021 and 2022, where both events then focused on bringing the New Zealand tourism industry together to prepare for the return of international visitors.
Post-lockdown, Tourism New Zealand’s trade strategy has shifted back to international markets, as domestic tourism has reached 2019 levels – worth NZ$17.7 billion (US$11.2 billion) – since December 2022.
The strategy for the Asian market will focus on encouraging visitation outside of the popular summer season.
“We are working closely with local trade partners and media advocates on joint campaigns and content collaborations to promote the off-shoulder autumn season and encourage Asian visitors to come during this time,” she elaborated.
Tailored fam trip opportunities for travel agents will also be a “key platform to engage and showcase products to buyers”, noted Ingram.
For instance, as part of the If You Seek fam trip, travel agents from countries such as Singapore, India, South Korea and Japan were brought around the North Island to explore Waiheke Island, Maungatautari (Sanctuary Mountain), Redwoods Treewalk, and Waitangi Treaty Grounds.
The If You Seek brand campaign, which was launched in August 2022, was Tourism New Zealand’s first global campaign post-lockdown. It recently went live in China.
“We’re now focused on embedding the campaign in all international markets and continuing to evolve it with new content,” Ingram added.
Trip.com Group’s data revealed sharp increases in domestic and international travel consumption as China’s May Day holiday climbed in popularity.
International flights during the holidays recovered to around 40% over the same period in 2019, with searches increasing by more than 60% compared to 2019.
Chinese cities continue to focus on domestic tourism by offering VIP services and experiences
Compared to the Chinese New Year holiday (January 21 to 27), Ctrip platform data reports that flight bookings from China to South-east Asian countries during the May Day holiday have increased by 91%. Flight bookings to Japan and South Korea increased by 120% and 204%, respectively, while longhaul flight bookings to Europe have grown by over 40%.
Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, the US, Indonesia, Vietnam, Australia, and the UK were the top 10 most booked overseas destinations for the holiday period.
The Ctrip platform also showed that Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur were popular with first-time travellers aged 18 to 23.
Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group, said: “The May Day holiday has ushered in the first wave of outbound tourism growth this year, driving recovery and local service capabilities.
”With capacity continuing to increase, Chinese consumers will soon seek destinations beyond Asia-Pacific and return to longhaul travel to EMEA and the Americas. We continue to work with global partners to ensure capacity and safeguard the pent-up travel demand seen from Chinese mainland consumers.”
Meanwhile, Chinese cities continue to focus on domestic tourism. Numerous scenic spots joined hands with Trip.com Group’s Ctrip platform to offer VIP services and special activity packages to provide a wide range of experience options for May Day visitors.
As of April 19, bookings for domestic hotels, flights and scenic spot tickets for the May Day holiday on the Ctrip platform surpassed 2019’s level.
The top 10 cities were Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Chongqing, Xi’an, Wuhan and Shenzhen.
According to data from Ctrip’s FlightAi market insight platform, more than 80,000 domestic flights were operated this May Day, with the average daily level increasing by around 15% compared to the same period in 2019.
Escaping the city and embracing the rural areas has become a holiday choice for more users. Ctrip data shows that during May Day, the overall volume of rural tours has recovered to 242% of the same period in 2019, and the proportion of orders from tourists staying in the countryside for more than three days has increased by 230% compared to 2019.
The overall volume for Trip.com Group’s Country Retreats increased by 261% year-on-year. Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Hangzhou became the most vibrant cities for countryside tours.
Malaysia-based hotel data and AI platform, ADATA, has plans to expand its offerings to countries in South-east Asia by 4Q2024, with approval from the ASEAN Hotel and Restaurant Association.
The Association finalised a Memorandum of Understanding with ADATA late last year to expand the services ADATA was providing to Malaysian hotels by collecting hotel performance data and making it freely available to the hospitality industry. Data on average room rate, average occupancy rate and hotel inventory could be searched by proximity, competitor set, city, state and country.
Goh: ADATA serves as a primary source of hotel industry performance data
ADATA set up a representative office in Bangkok two months ago and it plans to launch full access of data to Thai hotels sometime in 3Q2023. It also plans to launch a representative office in Brunei Darussalam by this year-end and the rest of ASEAN member countries by 4Q2024.
The platform works on data sharing within the hospitality industry in order to promote growth and healthy competition instead of collecting and selling data. This ensures that all hotels, regardless of size and brands, gain free access to much needed data for operational and strategic planning.
Those outside of the hotel industry, such as media outlets, banks, research and valuation houses, will have to pay for information access.
ADATA director, CS Goh, shared: “In addition to providing valuable data insights to hotels, ADATA also serve as a primary source of hotel industry performance data to policy makers, media and the travel industry stakeholders. The consolidation of data from independent, local and international chains of hotels and the availability of timely, accurate and granular insights, like segmented analytics, promotes a healthy environment for travel related investments.”
Goh said his closest competitor was STR Global, but claims that ADATA is miles ahead in terms of hotel coverage, with more than 400 hotels in Malaysia including independent, local and international chains. ADATA’s investment in artificial intelligence capabilities for performance trend prediction further strengthens its market leadership.
The company is currently funded privately. Riding on the high growth of the region’s travel industry, ADATA has reached financial breakeven point and is well positioned to achieve significant profitability as it expands its footprint over the region.
Independent hotel management company La Vie Hotels & Resorts has rolled out a new lifestyle brand, NOOE, as well as the first property to carry this label.
NOOE properties promise to be a place where great things happen, where lobbies are buzzing, restaurants serve local favourites, pools double up as day clubs, and gyms build both mental and physical wellness. Guests are invited to lounge in studios, suites, bungalows and villas, not rooms, and sharply designed spaces inspire work and creativity, as much as rest and relaxation.
NOOE Maldives Kunaavashi is the first NOOE property by La Vie Hotels & Resorts
Craig Bond, managing director of La Vie Hotels & Resorts, said: “We have been working on creating the NOOE brand for some time now, and we are thrilled to be launching this new lifestyle offering in the Maldives with our partners CJL Investments.
“The NOOE brand brings together what it means to live a balanced lifestyle; blending work, play, relaxation, good food and drink, and adventure all into one, and we are excited to grow the brand in other resort and urban locations.”
The first NOOE property is NOOE Maldives Kunaavashi. It features 72 bungalows and villas across three hectares, 39 of which boast an overwater location; six F&B outlets; a Dive & Watersports Centre; kǔlh·un’ (Play) Kids Club; Boutique Shop; and Th·āri by Mandara Spa, which has three private treatment rooms and a range of curated treatment options.
“The Maldives has always been known as a bucket list destination for travellers across the globe, so what better place to launch a new lifestyle brand that promotes a balanced holiday than the place everyone dreams of visiting,” said Bond.
“We’ve long seen a gap in the market for an upscale lifestyle brand and see huge growth opportunities for urban and resort properties within this segment across Asia-Pacific.”
Airbnb has introduced Airbnb Rooms, a new take on the original Airbnb and one that is said to provide a more authentic way to experience a city.
Every Airbnb Room features a Host Passport, which helps guests get to know their host before booking their stay – hosts will share more details about themselves, like where they went to school, what they do for work, a fun fact about themselves, and much more.
Airbnb’s Host Passport helps guests to learn more about their host before booking their stay
“With Airbnb Rooms, we’re getting back to the idea that started it all – back to our founding ethos of sharing,” said Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and CEO. “Airbnb Rooms are often more affordable than hotels, and they’re the most authentic way to experience a city. This is the soul of Airbnb.”
The platform has also created a Rooms category with over one million listings, redesigned filters and added new privacy features, such as whether the bedroom door has a lock or if the host will be in the home during the guest’s stay.
Other new features and upgrades include total price display, transparent checkout instructions, improved maps, redesigned wish lists, more affordable monthly stays, payment instalments, and instant rebooking credit if a host were to cancel within 30 days of arrival.
In addition, Airbnb has created a dedicated all-day support team for priority access.
For hosts, Airbnb has launched improvements such as new pricing tools to help hosts set competitive prices, add weekly and monthly discounts, and compare their listing to similar ones in their area, as well as a yearly view in calendar, the ability to easily enter checkout instructions, read receipts and new quick replies in messaging, and more.
With requests for commercial networking opportunities to be included in Very Local Trip’s personalised tour itineraries becoming more popular, Maxime Besnier launched My Local Fixer, a bleisure-focused platform for customers who want to add value to their vacation time.
For nearly a decade, Very Local Trip has provided individual tour experiences, initially in Bangkok but now in other cities throughout South-east Asia and beyond. The concept is simple: the company’s team (Local Friends) creates a day of activities based on the client’s profile and list of interest.
Besnier leverages on his business connections in Thailand to find the right people to organise bleisure experiences for clients
The Local Friend is the company’s upgrade of a traditional tour guide, a term the founder has erased from his vocabulary.
Besnier shared: “Our Local Friend backgrounds are all highly varied. We have journalists, bloggers, photographers, artists, artisans, and expatriate wives and husbands working for us. But what they have in common is that they are all passionate about their interests, enthusiastic communicators, and hyper-curious urban explorers.”
By matching a client with a Local Friend who shares the same interests, it turns the average holiday into an enriching field trip researching how the individual’s hobbies and interests are represented in a new location.
“The guests (don’t) have to change their plans to suit us; we fit the tour around them,” he explained.
The itinerary is also completely flexible, so, for example, if a guest needs to run an errand, which can be overwhelming in an unfamiliar city, the Local Friend, can use their local knowledge to turn a mundane task, like mending a zip or fixing a shoe heel, into a fascinating peek into a different culture.
The evolution of Besnier’s core concept of providing curated cultural experiences, such as shopping, meeting local artists, or discovering the best local street food, by the company’s Local Friends after a one-on-one consultation was an organic process.
He said: “The line between business and leisure travel has been blurring for a while; and with the pandemic causing more people to work from home than ever before, the blur between work and social spaces became even more significant.
“I’d noticed an increase in agency requests and customer interviews, and realised that Very Local Trip was already creating bleisure experiences for clients. For one client, we organised a two-day itinerary; one half devoted to cultural pursuits, and the other was a full day visiting textile factories we had selected that matched their commercial interests. They went home with five new contacts, exactly in their core business – so it was a great added value for them.”
He added: “For most of our customers, rest and relaxation is the reason for travelling, but while they are there, why not take the opportunity to do a little business?
He leverages on his business connections in Thailand to find the right people to organise these experiences, something which DMCs may not be able to provide due to not having the right networks or resources.
The next few years will be busy for Besnier as My Local Fixer builds a footing in Thailand. At the same time, Very Local Trip continues to expand its presence in Asia, with operations in India, Japan, Cambodia, and Malaysia gaining velocity after Covid-19 stalled travel.
The company’s new launches in Australia and New Zealand are also proving successful.
Yet, Besnier is never content, and has eyes on another territory – the Philippines.
“From a logistical perspective, it’s not the easiest place to navigate, and it’s hard to find a good DMC in the Philippines, so there is plenty of potential for success there. (Most) crucially, my wife and my son are from Pawan in the Philippines, and it would mean a lot to them if we develop more experiences there and spend more time in their home country,” he explained.
Accor has signed a development agreement with Amsa Hospitality to develop and franchise 18 hotels across second-tier cities within Saudi Arabia over the next 10 years.
The Saudi start-up company will develop a range of Accor’s economy and midscale brands, including ibis Styles, Mercure, Mercure Living, Novotel, Novotel Living, and the recently launched Handwritten Collection, and act as the third-party operator by leasing and franchising the assets.
From left: Amsa Hospitality’s Mohammad Alathel and Accor’s Duncan O’Rourke
Speaking at a press conference during Arabian Travel Market last week, Mohammad Alathel, CEO, Amsa Hospitality, said that the company is aligned with the Kingdom’s plan for the development of the country’s second-tier cities.
“Such an enterprising strategy must be accompanied by quality hospitality, offering the best international standards,” he said. “Committed as we are, we believe that Accor is the finest hospitality company to deliver the high level of guaranteed quality we are looking for, together with their wide choice of brands, giving us the ability to propose the optimum hospitality regarding each city environment.”
As part of the agreement, Amsa Hospitality will be responsible for hotels in several cities in Saudi Arabia.
Duncan O’Rourke, CEO, MEA & Asia Pacific – premium, midscale & economy division, Accor, remarked: “Securing a long-term relationship with Amsa Hospitality underscores our commitment to supporting the Kingdom’s tourism goals while maintaining the focus on the Arabian traditions and Arab culture that Amsa Hospitality is focused on delivering.”
Banyan Tree Krabi has unveiled a new longtail boat that will take its guests on day trips and island-hopping excursions during their stay.
Built by local craftsmen using materials sourced from around Krabi, The White Pearl offers luxury and comfort on board for up to eight passengers.
Banyan Tree Krabi offers day trips and island-hopping excursions on its new longtail boat
Visitors can choose from either a half-day longtail boat trip to nearby Koh Hong or a full-day (eight-hour) tour of the four islands among the islets of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, where the boat anchors for guests to spend the day swimming and snorkelling in undisturbed clear waters.
All day trips on The White Pearl include fresh coconut, fruit and soft drinks, snorkelling equipment, life vests, toilets, and an English-speaking Boat Host.
Private bookings for non-guests are also available.
The Sri Lankan government is pursuing the sale of state-owned national carrier SriLankan Airlines and its subsidiaries, as years of government handouts have failed to stem losses.
While SriLankan Airlines has been reporting operating profits in recent months, its net loss remains high, running into billions of Sri Lankan rupees.
SriLankan Airlines CEO Richard Nuttall said on May 7 that the airline has an operating profit of US$103 million, but US$100 million is channelled into servicing past debts.
“If the airline can find a solution for its debt, SriLankan can become truly profitable,” he told local media.
The government has announced its intention to privatise the airline, but calls for expressions of interest from interested parties have yet to be made.
Minister of ports, naval and aviation services Nimal Siripala de Silva, who confirmed this decision, said it would be wise to divest SriLankan Airlines and its subsidiaries SriLankan Catering and Ground Handling services at once to a single investor, instead of opting to bring in multiple investors.
The government is looking at offering a 49 per cent stake to private investors in this process with expectations to raise US$ 500 million to 600 million from the sale of the two subsidiaries, and more from the sale of the airline.
Local media reported that an Indian operator has shown interest in investing.
This is the third time in the national carrier’s history that the government is seeking external help to improve the airline’s fortune. In 1979 Singapore Airlines offered its expertise to run the national carrier, which had then changed its name from Air Ceylon to Air Lanka. In 1998, a 40 per cent stake of the airline was sold to Emirates, which later withdrew in March 2008 when the partnership agreement was up for renewal.