Singapore hospitality institution opens first overseas college

March 20, 2023

Singapore-based SHATEC Institutes will establish its first overseas hospitality training and culinary arts college in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with classes likely to commence in 4Q2023.

Describing the planned college as a “milestone” for the hospitality management institute that has been in service for more than four decades, SHATEC’s CEO Lim Boon Kwee said it “marks an instrumental step towards further development and global expansion for the institution”.

SHATEC Institutes’ Lim Boon Kwee and Modern Hospitality Co.’s Hassan Nakshbandi ink an agreement towards the formation of a new hospitality college in Riyadh

“This will be our first academy outside of Singapore although we have acted as consultants to several overseas colleges in the past,” Lim told TTG Asia in an interview.

The college will be a joint effort between Saudi-owned Modern Hospitality Company (MHC) and SHATEC Institutes, with both signing an agreement on March 15. The signing ceremony was witnessed by two deputy ministers from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism – Mahmoud S Abdulhadi and Mohamed Bushnaq – along with Singapore ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Wong Chow Ming.

The establishment of the school underscores Saudi Arabia’s quest for tourism advancement and excellence as part of its Vision 2030 mandate, as well as the Ministry of Tourism’s commitment to training youths and locals in the profession.

Lim said SHATEC’s role in this collaboration would be to provide consultancy services, expert knowledge and advice to the academy’s pre-opening team. It will also serve as the educational partner of the academy.

“SHATEC is committed to assisting its partner in Saudi Arabia on human capital development in Saudi Arabia by offering curricula in our proprietary diplomas in Accommodation & Room Operations, and Culinary & Pastry Art,” he added.

Accor names new MD for Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford

By TTG Asia

March 20, 2023

0

Accor has appointed William J. Haandrikman as managing director of Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford.

In his new role, Haandrikman will spearhead an integrated business strategy to maintain both properties’ position as an industry-leading hospitality destination in Singapore.

With more than 30 years of international hospitality experience in senior management positions across Europe, Asia and the US, he was most recently general manager of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi as well as area general manager for Accor North Vietnam.

Vivid Sydney returns with its biggest programme yet

By TTG Asia

March 20, 2023

0

Australia’s largest event and the pioneer of light-based art and culture festivals in the Asia-Pacific region, Vivid Sydney, returns this year from May 26 to June 17.

Inspired by the master of all creators, Mother Nature, this year’s theme Vivid Sydney, Naturally, is reflected across all of the 300+ activations and events that make up the 23-day programme.

The Lightscape at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, pictured, is a wonderland of light and colour

This year’s line-up comprises some of the world’s most innovative artists, talented music makers and thought leaders, and will also recognise the significant contribution of First Nations peoples and cultures to the creative industries.

Highlights include the Vivid Sydney Light Walk’s signature Sydney Opera House Lighting of the Sails; Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House featuring more than 40 Australian and international artists; Vivid Music which spotlights First Nations and Australian voices; Vivid Ideas that brings together some of the world’s brightest minds and fearless storytellers; and the new Vivid Food, which will include culinary favourites and innovative food events.

Staged across Sydney’s city centre, Vivid Sydney festival locations include Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Walsh Bay, Barangaroo, King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour, Darling Quarter, Darling Square, The Goods Line, Central Station, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Carriageworks, Taronga Zoo and more.

For more information, visit Vivid Sydney.

The Westin Manila

By Rosa Ocampo

March 20, 2023

0

Location
The Westin Manila is ensconced in the Ortigas CBD in Mandaluyong, gateway to the metro’s corporate centres, dining and entertainment hubs, shopping malls, and healthcare establishments. It is 15 minutes on foot to MRT Shaw Boulevard Station and a half-hour drive to Manila’s international airport.

Rooms
Varying in size from 41m² Accessible and Deluxe King rooms to 68m² Westin suites and 124m² executive suites, all 303 keys have posh amenities and fixtures.

Arriving tired and grimy from the outskirts of the metro, my room was a cosy cocoon of calm, comfort and warm minimalism, just what I needed. Done up in a neutral colour palette, the room had functional furniture, and a glass panel separating the open wardrobe area.

The pièce de résistance is the Westin trademarked Heavenly bed and bedlinens, a holistic approach to well-being for a great night’s sleep. It was cool under the duvet although the aircon was turned off throughout the night, and the lavender aromatherapy balm by the bedside was unused.

The Heavenly bed and linens are made with bamboo and eucalyptus instead of cotton polyester, said general manager Alexander Dietzsch, explaining that bamboo and eucalyptus are sustainable materials which grow very fast and need less chemical treatment.

The bathroom has an inviting bathtub and rain shower, White Tea bath amenities and the softest Heavenly towels and bathrobes. The dental kit is also sustainable, with the bamboo toothbrush and toothpaste in biodegradable paper. Even the shower cap film is made of compostable materials.

F&B
All-day dining Seasonal Tastes features a live interactive kitchen, with a well-curated buffet station, fresh and savoury offerings ranging from the soft bread roll and desserts to the laksa, fish and meat entrées.

The Lobby Lounge boasts an extensive gin library, including artisanal cocktails. Debuting in July, the Tapas Bar on the 32nd floor rooftop will offer authentic Spanish cuisine.

The Westin Manila

1 of 6

Executive chef Rej Casanova shared that seafood is sustainably sourced while organic herbs, vegetables, teas and chocolates come from different regions of the country in support of local farming communities.

Healthy menu for both kids and adults are available.

Facilities
On-site are the Executive Club Lounge, 24/7 Workout Fitness Studio, and 25m outdoor pool with a dedicated kids’ pool for families.

The hotel’s Workout Gear Lending Programme lets guests borrow the latest hi-tech recovery and total body strength training equipment to optimise their fitness.

When it opens, the Heavenly Spa by Westin will offer sensory spa experiences in four rooms with private shower areas and a couple’s room with jacuzzi.

Six function rooms are available for business and social events with a combined space of 1,063m² and seating for up to 550 pax, including the elegant ballroom with an LED wall and customisable cove lighting.

Service
The staff know their stuff. Each answered correctly when asked separately about the morning routes of the RunConcierge, whether all the plants at the towering vertical garden lobby are real (they are) and another even brought me to The Residences at The Westin Manila.

Verdict
The Westin Manila delivers on its brand promise to empower well-being while travelling. High marks for embracing sustainability without compromising luxury, and for the quality of its culinary offerings.

Contact details
Tel: +632 82562020
Email: westinmanila@westin.com

Sail 154 nights on Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 2026 World Cruise

By TTG Asia

March 20, 2023

0

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has unveiled its longest World Cruise to date on board the Seven Seas Mariner sailing January 10, 2026.

Titled The Sense of Adventure, the new World Cruise is a round trip journey embarking from Miami, Florida where guests will cruise three oceans over 154 nights, discovering destinations in the Americas, South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Guests will explore 77 ports of call in 41 countries across six continents, with the addition of three new ports of call – Lifou Island, and Maré of the Loyalty Islands in the New Caledonia archipelago, and the wild and rugged Waingapu (Sumba), Indonesia.

Seven Seas Mariner will sail on January 10, 2026 on its longest World Cruise yet

Regent has curated 431 shore excursions and 16 in-port overnight stays for extended exploration in Bora Bora, French Polynesia; Darwin, Australia; and Walvis Bay, Namibia. The itinerary also provides access to 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Monastery of Vallée de Mai Nature Reserve from Praslin, Seychelles; Robben Island from Cape Town, South Africa; and the Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, Australia.

Guests will kick-off their round-the-world adventure with a one-night pre-cruise stay in a luxury hotel in vibrant Miami, Florida, and an exclusive pre-cruise gala event before boarding Seven Seas Mariner, the world’s first all-suite, all balcony luxury cruise ship featuring four fine-dining restaurants.

Fares for the 154-night voyage start from US$94,999 per guest for a Deluxe Veranda Suite and US$266,499 per guest for the Master Suite. It includes three exclusive shoreside events, US$600 SBC per person, unlimited valet laundry (dry cleaning and pressing), phone time per suite, a commemorative gift, unlimited Wi-Fi, onboard medical services and more.

The 2026 World Cruise opens for reservations on March 23.

For more information, visit Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Singapore welcomes new resident manager

By TTG Asia

March 20, 2023

0

Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Singapore has appointed Daniel Khoo as its resident manager. He will be responsible for overseeing and managing the operational aspects and will support the resort’s general manager, Gavin Weightman.

Khoo brings with him 20 years of luxury hospitality experience from various international hotel chains across several destinations including China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore.

Japan boosts flight capacity, upgrades air traffic control

By Kathryn Wortley

March 17, 2023

0

Japan is upgrading its air traffic control system to increase flight capacity at its Tokyo hubs in anticipation of inbound tourism growth in excess of pre-pandemic levels in the mid- to long-term.

By spring 2025, the country’s four regional air traffic control centres will be merged into three: one managing high-altitude flights (above 10,000km) and two covering low-altitude flights (one for the east and one for the west). The consolidation will enable the network to manage two million flights annually, an increase of 10 per cent on current capacity.

Haneda International Airport in Tokyo will add flight slots and increase its total capacity

By fiscal 2024, the government will also centralise flight routes, take-off and landing times and other information by creating a digital system based on International Civil Aviation Organization standards.

In tandem, Haneda International Airport in Tokyo and Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture are adding flight slots and plan to increase their total capacity to one million flights per year by 2029, up from 830,000 flights handled in 2020.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, slot expansion at these two airports are among their top priorities to boost tourism and Tokyo’s standing as a major international gateway.

The Japanese government is eager to welcome inbound growth as it strives to reach its target of 60 million international visitors annually by 2030 and prepares for international air passenger numbers to reach pre-Covid levels by 2024, as predicted by The International Air Transport Association.

Indeed, the return of international airline capacity to Japan is growing steadily, with December 2022 figures only 54 per cent down on December 2019. In comparison, calendar 2022 data was 77 per cent down on calendar year 2019, indicating a significant uptick in travellers in the latter part of last year following Japan’s reopening in October 2022.

Accor reveals report on sustainable travel in China

By TTG Asia

March 17, 2023

0

Accor, together with Trip.com Group and global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, have published a new educational whitepaper on sustainable travel in China.

The path toward eco-friendly travel in China report examines the environmental impact of China’s tourism sector, analyses Chinese travellers’ sentiment towards sustainability and sets out actions key stakeholders in China’s tourism sector need to take to foster sustainable travel.

The report delves into promoting a sustainable future for China’s travel industry

By identifying a series of sustainable changes that ought to be made, from the everyday to the systemic, which can support the travel and hospitality of tomorrow with the intention of becoming an informative industry reference tool for change, the report proposes that by adopting a set of collaborative measures across the industry value chain, from guests to major global providers, China’s tourism sector could move toward a more sustainable future.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, China is expected to have the world’s largest tourism market by 2032 and, prior to the pandemic, was already one of the biggest global markets. Analysis for the whitepaper found the environmental impact of China’s travel industry is substantial: tourism represented approximately six to eight per cent of China’s total carbon emissions in 2019.

Data from McKinsey showed that Chinese travellers are engaged about their environmental impact and are starting to seek out sustainable alternatives, but the report found they may need more help understanding where to look.

Trip.com Group found that 85 per cent of Chinese travellers rate travel sustainability as important or very important, while 60 per cent are concerned about climate change. However, Chinese consumers are not yet used to the idea of paying extra for sustainable travel, so it is important to provide travellers guidance regarding sustainability costs, highlighting the industries’ efforts to improve provision of sustainable offerings.

In response to this, the report provides guidance on the actions that travellers can take to travel sustainably and to empower their own consumer decisions, including booking sustainable travel options with certified service providers, spending more time in one destination, and cultivating sustainable habits. Traveller behaviour is just the first consideration the report highlights. Long-term sustainability will be achieved in tandem with initiatives from tourism providers, who hold a responsibility to inspire travellers’ mindset.

The whitepaper sets out a series of suggestions for the hospitality industry to support the Chinese traveller in their understanding of sustainable travel, including recommendations like using technology platforms to make sustainable travel options more visible online, using labelling to ensure travellers are informed on the environmental impact of their actions, providing incentives to encourage sustainable behaviour, and training employees to adopt a sustainability mindset.

The report states lasting sustainability improvements require collective industry-wide effort and concludes as a call to action for the hospitality industry to work together hand-in-hand to achieve sustainable transformation in China.

Sébastien Bazin, chairman & CEO, Accor, said: “When it comes to sustainability there are no individuals, only collectives, and this paper represents a major step forward for this collaborative industry approach.

“Impactful change cannot be made alone; transformation happens together.”

Download the full report here.

Trip.com Group, Mastercard to offer travellers benefits and enhanced travel experiences

By TTG Asia

March 17, 2023

0

Trip.com Group and Mastercard Asia-Pacific have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance travel experiences and offerings for customers.

The collaboration will see both parties design and launch joint marketing events to offer travellers a comprehensive range of products, services, member privileges and benefits when they book their trips with Trip.com Group and Mastercard payment options.

The collaboration will see both parties offering travellers a range of products, services, privileges and benefits

Examples of travel-related services and premium privileges include access to airport VIP lounges, hotel room upgrades, early check-in, late check-out and priority bookings.

Both parties will also launch joint promotions on Trip.com Group’s Global Shopping Platform, through which Mastercard cardholders from mainland China may enjoy instant discounts and offline spending promotions.

“With the reopening of China’s borders, we have seen a significant increase in outbound travel-related bookings and searches in the past two months,” said Bo Sun, chief marketing officer, Trip.com Group. “We look forward to collaborating with Mastercard to create new opportunities, value-adds and unique experiences for our customers who are ready to rediscover the world.”

Yunsok Chang, executive vice president of market development, Mastercard Asia-Pacific, said: “The pandemic has accelerated not just the pace of digitalisation but also consumers’ expectations for digitalised, trusted, and frictionless experiences. Together with Trip.com Group, we are looking forward to innovating and reimagining the travel landscape enabled by data-driven insights.”

Emirates ramps up operations across Asia-Pacific

By TTG Asia

March 17, 2023

0

Emirates has plans to boost operations by restarting routes and adding services to established ones.

From March 26, the airline will relaunch its daily direct flight between Singapore and Melbourne; restart daily services to Christchurch, New Zealand from Dubai via Sydney; and add a third daily service to Melbourne via Singapore.

Emirates will ramp up operations with the resumption of routes and adding services to established ones

Emirates will add a daily non-stop flight to Hong Kong from March 29.

For Tokyo (Haneda), daily services will resume from April 2.

From May 1, a third daily non-stop service will be added to Sydney, while an additional daily service to Brisbane will operate from June 1.

A third daily service to Kuala Lumpur will also commence from June 1.

Starting August 1, Bangkok will see a fifth daily service added.

A second daily service to Beijing will be added from September 1.

Singapore hospitality institution opens first overseas college

Accor names new MD for Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford

Vivid Sydney returns with its biggest programme yet

The Westin Manila

Sail 154 nights on Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 2026 World Cruise

Shangri-La Rasa Sentosa, Singapore welcomes new resident manager

Japan boosts flight capacity, upgrades air traffic control

Accor reveals report on sustainable travel in China

Trip.com Group, Mastercard to offer travellers benefits and enhanced travel experiences

Emirates ramps up operations across Asia-Pacific

Tried and Tested

Knai Bang Chatt by Kep West

What to Buy Now

Star Navigator to sail to Okinawa from Kaohsiung in January 2026