This year marks a decade of Dark Mofo, a provocative midwinter festival that stretches imaginations with its unique, artistic expression – it returns to Tasmania, Australia from June 8 to 22.
Explore a variety of offerings from the iconic Winter Feast to the nude solstice swim. This festival will allow for extreme merry-making with its mesmerising exhibitions, astounding visual shows at the Dark Park, and scrumptious spread for all to enjoy.
For more information, visit Dark Mofo.
Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort, the Maldives
Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort is set on the tropical island of Fares at the western edge of Baa Atoll and features 176 accommodation choices such as beach studios, four-bedroom beach pavilions, and three-bedroom over water villas.
Just 35 minutes from Velana International Airport, the new-build resort offers activities for the whole family – seven F&B outlets, a water sports centre, gym, spa, kids’ club, teens’ club, and more.
The resort is in close proximity to Hanifaru Bay, where guests can spot whale sharks and snorkel with manta rays. There are also dive sites and reefs for guests to explore the underwater world.
Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit, Thailand
INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit offers 208 rooms and is situated in the city’s trendy On Nut neighbourhood.
Guests can take in the vibrant cityscape from the towering windows of the hotel’s expansive co-working space on the 32nd floor, dine at the on-site tapas restaurant, or head to the two topmost floors to enjoy the sky-high pool bar and open-air swimming pool.
Caring for the environment, the property has eliminated single-use plastic and provides drinking water in recycled glass bottles.
Grand Mercure Hanoi, Vietnam
Grand Mercure Hanoi has opened in the heart of city, close to the Temple of Literature and within walking distance of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long and Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum.
The hotel boasts 181 rooms and suites, as well as four restaurants and bars, rooftop pool, fitness centre, spa, and meeting venues.
Centara Ubon, Thailand
The 160-key Centara Ubon is an all-in-one lifestyle destination for both business and leisure travellers to experience the beauty and culture of Thailand’s North-east region.
On-site are an all-day dining restaurant, outdoor pool bar, swimming pool, fitness centre, event spaces.
Located just 6.5km from the Ubon Ratchathani International Airport, guests at the hotel are within steps of food, shopping and local experiences at the adjacent Central Ubon shopping centre and nearby historic landmarks.
Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will be refreshing its Passion Made Possible (PMP) campaign, which is expected to be the impetus to maintain the momentum of tourism recovery.
During the Travel Industry Conference on April 5, STB chief executive Keith Tan expressed confidence “we can sustain the momentum of growth” based on the destination having “already crossed over 2.9 million visitors in 1Q2023, each staying an average of 3.97 days”.
Sharing more details on PMP 2.0, Chang Chee Pey, assistant chief executive, marketing group, told TTG Asia a review of the marketing strategy had been done in 2021 – in consultation with experts in travel, tourism, and marketing – to “future-proof Singapore’s desirability as a destination and support our longer-term tourism strategy”.
“With rapidly evolving consumer behaviour, Singapore must remain well-positioned to cater to the needs of future travellers,” Chang added.
STB’s refreshed marketing strategy is to tell a great Singapore story by “sharpening this narrative” and giving strong reasons for travellers to visit based on six propositions, namely World’s Best MICE City, Culinary Capital, Family Playground, Twice the Fun, City that Connects, and Travel Well.
Chang explained: “Each of these six positionings is supported by a mix of products and experiences. They have the most potential to grow visitor arrivals, as well as impact visitor spend and length of stay in Singapore.
“The positionings will be rolled out progressively, with the World’s Best MICE City positioning campaign set to launch later this year. More details on the other positionings will be available at a later stage.”
Elaborating on the MICE positioning, Chang noted: “We want Singapore to be recognised globally for the strong fundamentals that make us a key MICE hub, such as our strategic location, vibrant business culture, excellent infrastructure, stable governance, and stellar track record in delivering high-quality events.”
As for Culinary Capital, the vision is for Singapore to be known as a world-class food destination that constantly innovates.
“We want to be recognised for our distinctive local cuisine and diverse dining scene, helmed by reputable bars and restaurants with talented bartenders and chefs. Singapore will host the World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 later this year, which will be held in Asia for the first time. We also had a strong showing in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants for 2023, with nine restaurants making the cut and eleven bars in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2022,” he added.
Chang pointed out that Singapore is one of the world’s safest and cleanest cities, coupled with world-class and diverse family-friendly attractions and experiences, citing Disney Cruise Line homeporting a new Disney Cruise ship in Singapore exclusively for five years, as an endorsement of the Family Playground status.
Twice the Fun will aim to deliver “an exciting city that offers year-round leisure events, entertainment, retail, and nightlife experiences that appeal to Early Careers” by curating and developing “a range of attractive tourism and lifestyle offerings that appeal to travellers across ages, interests and passions”.
In addition, STB will maintain a full calendar of events, such as world-class sports, arts, culture, and food, on top of Singapore’s exciting nightlife including outdoor cinemas and night admissions to museums, to add vibrancy to the garden city.
City that Connects will promote Singapore as a multi-cultural hub and a global city with excellent connectivity to Asia and the rest of the world, in particular to South-east Asia, while Travel Well aims to have Singapore become a sustainable city and urban wellness haven.
Chang observed: “Earlier this year, we were certified under the GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) Destination Criteria, which affirms that Singapore is on the right track to become a sustainable urban destination, where large experiences come with small footprints.
“In wellness, we will establish Singapore as a destination that provides holistic well-being and accessible must-do experiences that leave visitors feeling better than when they arrived. For both sustainability and wellness, we will continue to invest in new products and experiences.”
To celebrate the 100-day countdown until the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, FIFA announced yesterday a new tournament chant as well as released additional tickets to World Cup matches.
Held every four years, the biggest women’s sporting event on the planet will kick off across nine cities in two countries, with Brisbane as the host city for eight of the 64 football matches.
The FIFA Beat, as the chant will be known, was developed to unify football fans (and non-fans) around the world and energise them ahead of this year’s historic tournament. The chant is anticipated to become a stadium favourite in the same way that “Ole, Ole, Ole” has become the anthem for international football spectators.
Meanwhile, fans in Brisbane also welcomed the start of a six-day football activation with the arrival of the Unity Pitch at King George Square – a scaled-back football field made up of a patchwork of FIFA brand colours that reflect the local cultures and the coming together of the 32 nations participating in this year’s cup.
From April 11 to 16, visitors to the pop-up pitch can watch exhibition matches and practice football drills using the official tournament ball. Tazuni, the tournament mascot, and Matilda’s Active, the Matilda’s fan squad, will also make special appearances at the pitch.
This year is anticipated to be a strong year for Marriott Bonvoy in Singapore, Malaysia and the Maldives, with forward bookings for all three markets reflecting the return of solid demand for travel.
Rivero Delgado Ramos, Marriott International area vice-president for Singapore, Malaysia and Maldives, shared in an email response: “The opening of our latest hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Melaka, earlier this month is a milestone for several reasons – it is our third Courtyard hotel and the 40th property in Malaysia, as well as the debut of Marriott International in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Melaka.”
She added that strategic sales and marketing plans continue to drive and stimulate demand to the three countries under her portfolio, keeping them top-of-mind for consumers and travellers.
Sharing why Marriott Bonvoy finds it more effective to connect directly with its guests through social media platforms, Ramos said: “Social media allows us to not draw attention to ourselves, but to see our guests in their own spotlight. We create user-generated content to capture the millennials’ and Gen Z’s attention as they are more spontaneous and do not buy into old-fashioned travel norms.”
With the reopening of China’s borders and its people travelling abroad, China remains a top source market for Singapore, Malaysia and the Maldives.
Ramos noted: “We are already seeing an increase of Chinese guests at our hotels and this is expected to increase as flight frequencies improve and travel costs return closer to pre-pandemic levels. We expect the coming Labour Day in May and Golden Week in October to be especially robust.”
On post-lockdown leisure travel trends in Malaysia, Singapore and the Maldives, Ramos revealed that Marriott Bonvoy is seeing an enhanced demand for personalised, luxury travel experiences and meaningful travel experiences – more travellers are also looking for sustainable offerings.
“Marriott Bonvoy has embarked on a journey to sustainability and have implemented a few ways to facilitate this – starting with food and beverage offerings at selected hotels. It is not just in production or minimising food wastage, but also through avoiding non-environmentally-friendly packaging,” she explained.
Marriott Bonvoy is working towards ensuring that by 2025, it will locally source 50 per cent of all produce, in aggregate, across its portfolio.
In addition, Ramos noted the growing demand for wellness-focused travel experiences such as yoga retreats, meditation classes, and spas to relax and rejuvenate.
As for the trend of remote work, or “workation”, Ramos believes it will continue to gain momentum throughout 2023. She said: “Countries like Malaysia – which have recently introduced a digital nomad visa welcoming digital professionals to work in the country for up to a year – are likely to see an increase in digital nomads.”
She added that the increase of multi-generational travel has also resulted in increased demand for suites and villas, particularly in destinations where private plunge pools are available, so guests can enjoy the exclusivity of a private getaway.
PATA is on the hunt for its next CEO, following the exit of its former head, Liz Ortiguera, in February.
Applications can be submitted until May 5 at 17.00 Indochina time.
Information about the application process is available on the PATA Career page.
The Executive Board has appointed a Selection Committee to assist in reviewing applications, developing a shortlist, and interviewing final candidates. The Selection Committee shall put forth their recommendations to the PATA Executive Board for endorsement and final approval.
The whole process is expected to be completed no later than mid-July this year.
Minor Hotels will launch its luxury Anantara brand in India with Anantara Jaipur Hotel, scheduled to open 4Q2023.
The new-build hotel will feature 150 guestrooms and suites, including four Terrace Suites with private plunge pools and a 160m2 Royal Suite with a large terrace and private pool.
For dining, there will be a specialty Indian fine dining restaurant and terrace, a rooftop bar and restaurant, all-day dining with a show kitchen, as well as a hotel bar lounge and terrace. Other facilities will comprise a spa, beauty salon, gym, semi-outdoor pool, kids’ club, and event spaces.
The hotel has also been designed to meet the demands of the rapidly growing demand for destination weddings, and will be able to cater to weddings of up to 2,500 guests with its collection of indoor and outdoor venues.
Dillip Rajakarier, group CEO of Minor International and CEO of Minor Hotels, commented: “We are really excited to expand our footprint in India with this important new project that will marry Anantara’s trademark take on authentic, indigenous luxury with outstanding wedding and event facilities.
“Jaipur is one of India’s most vibrant destinations, with a huge destination wedding potential, and I look forward to working with (owner) Ajay Gangwal and his team to launch our first Anantara in India, which is a significant strategic step for Minor Hotels.”
A celebration of colour will take over Universal Studios Singapore (USS) from April 7 to May 21 with the Colour Pop! event, where guests can experience a line-up of bright and bold new offerings.
Colourful and interactive photo stations along Hollywood Boulevard will feature Sesame Street and DreamWorks’ Trolls, while on the Hollywood Lagoon Stage, favourite characters await to take fun snapshots with guests.
An all-new show The Rainbow Reunion will introduce Colourissa, the creator of colour, as she gathers all her friends to help create her biggest rainbow yet. Guests who are dressed in their brightest colours stand a chance to be spotted by Colourissa to win a surprise.
In addition, there will be face painting available (at a separate charge) and street art drawings as well as free giveaways, an array of colourful and delicious treats, and more.
The Colour Pop! event is included with regular admission to USS. Tickets are priced at S$82 (US$61) per adult and S$61 per child – Singapore residents pay only S$73 per adult and S$58 per child.
For more information, visit Universal Studios Singapore.
Hervé Mazella has been appointed as managing director of both Hyatt resorts in Sanur – Andaz Bali and Hyatt Regency Bali.
In his new role, he will oversee the operations of both properties, comprising a total of 512 rooms, seven restaurants and nine meeting rooms.
Prior to joining Andaz Bali and Hyatt Regency Bali, he was general manager of Park Hyatt Tokyo from 2016 to 2022.
The Maldives is persisting in its journey to present itself as a diverse destination for different segments of travellers, not just the affluent.
According to the Maldives deputy tourism minister Naushad Mohamed, the authorities are promoting the destination for business travel, sports tourism and culture tourism.
“We also want to include inclusive travel for the differently-abled,” said Thoyyib Mohamed, managing director of Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), adding that family travel is part of the strategy too.
Besides an altered destination marketing narrative, changes to infrastructure across the destination has helped to reposition the Maldives.
Dilip Rajakariar, CEO of Minor Hotels Group, observes that the Maldives has become very family-friendly, with an entire infrastructure built around families and their needs.
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas offers a kids club that comes with a trampoline park, a splash park and slides as well as a full line-up of activities from 10.00 to 18.00 daily, giving children little reason to stay indoors.
Guests looking to bond can sign up for a story-telling date with grandpa, with cookies and milk thrown in. Families can also stargaze at the resort’s over-water observatory and interact with a Maldivian astrologist.
Andy Nightingale, cluster director of sales and marketing for Anantara Dhigu, Veli & Naladhu Private Island, Maldives, said properties offer a mix of programmes unique to children and for everyone in the family because “while families are eager to go on a holiday together post-lockdown, parents are also going crazy after 24 hours with their kids”.
“They need a break, and we are happy to help,” he said. Properties under his care offer complimentary kids programmes, like movie nights, so that the grown-ups can enjoy a tranquil drink or meal for a couple of hours.
Sunny Umar, founder of Halal Travel and co-founder of Get me to Maldives Travels, said resorts are offering different experiences, from museums and craft activities to local island visits, so as to attract a wider range of travellers.
For example, Crossroads Maldives, said to be the Maldives’ first multi-island integrated resort, offers two resorts, 12 dining destinations, two spas, a shopping avenue, and a wide range of recreational activities including watersports, chartered cruises and more.
Festivals are heating up too. Soneva Fushi hosted in May 2022 what it called “the greatest literary show on Earth”. The Jaipur Literature Festival, which is hosted at various places around the world, arrived for the first time in the Maldives in 2022, bringing together a line-up of the world’s finest authors and most acclaimed thinkers. The event will return to Soneva Fushi this year from May 12 to 21.
The expansion of destination experiences helps the Maldives to engage with younger travellers, opined the general manager of a global DMC, who declined to be named. He said younger travellers want more than just a fun holiday. They desire interaction with local people, and opportunities to appreciate local food, culture, heritage, and history.
“They want to understand more of the culture, not only luxuriate on the beaches,” he remarked.
The younger generation is observed to also want to leave a positive impact on the local economy wherever they travel, and are more carbon conscious. These travellers will discover that many resorts in the Maldives are certified with responsible tourism-driven organisations like Travelife, added the general manager.
The clearest shift away from the Maldives’ traditional affluent market is seen in the tourism marketers’ courtship of three-star travellers. There are hundreds of guesthouses that appeal to budget-conscious explorers, while homestays are newer options that are being marketed aggressively these days.
The anonymous general manager also noted that the Maldives is appealing now to “Instagrammers who are looking for something different”.
Meanwhile, with internal travel demand rising, local domestic airline Manta Air said in December 2022 that it would expand its fleet with 12 additional DHC6 Twin Otter aircraft for its seaplane service.
Efforts are paying off. The Maldives was named the World’s Leading Destination for the third consecutive year at the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2022, while MMPRC claimed the title of World’s Leading Tourism Board at the awards presented on November 11, 2022, at the WTA Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Muscat, Oman.
The destination welcomed 1.67 million tourists in 2022, up by 26.7 per cent against 2021 figures. This year’s target is set at around two million. The main source markets were India, Russia, the UK, Germany and Italy, with the US in sixth place as a growing market.
Although the Maldives is succeeding in expanding its markets, industry players expressed concerns about the country’s implementation of a higher Tourism Goods and Services Tax (T-GST). Since January 2023, the T-GST has gone up from 12 per cent to 16 per cent.
“This is not a wise move. It would severely affect businesses as Maldives is already a pricey destination and airfares are also rising,” remarked Abdulla Ghiyas, president, Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators. – Additional reporting by Karen Yue
