After 35 years of operations, Mandarin Oriental, Singapore has temporarily closed its doors on March 7 to undergo a six-month transformation. It will re-open later in September.
The hotel’s multi-million-dollar transformation is set to take place across all fronts, including a complete redesign and refitting of the hotel’s interiors, from the grand lobby and the rooms to the F&B venues.
Mandarin Oriental, Singapore will undergo transformation and re-open in September this year
During the six-month transformation, Mandarin Oriental, Singapore’s social media platforms will share content honouring the legacy of the hotel, feature new and long-term employees, regular peeks into the hotel transformation process and the release of early hotel room, dining and spa bookings, all ahead of its re-opening.
Bhutan Airlines has joined Amadues’ global distribution system (GDS) as well as launched its new in-flight entertainment (IFE) system to provide passengers with a seamless travel experience.
The Amadeus GDS platform, which connects travel agents and online booking platforms to the airline’s inventory, will make it easier for travellers to book flights and access real-time information on flight schedules, availability, and pricing.
Bhutan Airlines has joined Amadeus’ platform to provide its passengers with a seamless travel experience
Initially, tickets will be issued only by 4,000 travel agents in India, such as MakeMy Trip, Yatra, Clear Trip, and Via.com on Amadeus’ platform, Bhutan Airlines will join the IATA’s Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) for other countries, thereby enabling its flight tickets to be issued globally.
The airline’s new wireless IFE system will be available on all flights, offering a wide selection of regional and international movies, documentaries, TV shows, music, podcast, magazines and games, and live flight tracking – passengers will be able to access the IFE system through their personal devices.
Editor’s note: In the original post, Bhutan Airlines was erroneously identified as the national carrier of Bhutan. This has been corrected.
Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia (Voyages) is set to launch Wintjiri Wiru, a fully-immersive light and sound show at Ayers Rock Resort in May. It will combine ancient Anangu storytelling with light, laser, projection and drone technology.
Wintjiri Wiru (beautiful view out to the horizon in the local Anangu language) will bring to life a chapter of the Mala ancestral story which sits between Kaltukatjara (Docker River) and Uluru. Voyages has consulted and collaborated closely with the Anangu custodians of this chapter of the Mala story to obtain approval to bring Wintjiri Wiru to life.
Catch Wintjiri Wiru, an immersive light and sound show at Ayers Rock Resort
Through choreography and visual artistry, the drones depict aspects of the Mala story accompanied by a narration in Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara languages, and a soundtrack with traditional inma recorded with members of the local Anangu community.
Visitors will be able to view the show on a sustainably-built platform atop a desert dune with panoramic views of both Uluru and Kata Tjuta nestled on the horizon.
Two Wintjiri Wiru sound and light shows will run every night from May 11.
The signature experience is a three-hour Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner priced at A$385 (US$253) per pax. Inclusive of return resort transfers, it comprises welcome cocktails and canapés, followed by a gourmet dinner hamper before the show.
Priced at A$190 per pax, After Dark is a shorter, one hour-long experience which includes light refreshments followed by the show.
Cambodia is pushing sports tourism as part of its Visit Cambodia Year 2023 campaign as it gears up to host the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) for the first time in May.
Prak Vuthy, director of the Ministry of Tourism’s overseas marketing and promotion department, said the games would serve as a catalyst to promote sports tourism nationwide.
Cambodia’s Phnom Penh will host the Southeast Asian Games in May this year
“This year will see Cambodia host the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, which is a big thing for Cambodia,” he remarked.
Both events are expected to attract between 250,000 and 500,000 international tourists.
The SEA Games will take place from May 5 to 17, followed by the ASEAN Para Games 2023 from June 3 to 9.
Prak added that Cambodia annually hosts many sporting events that attract visitors from across the globe, including the Angkor Half Marathon in December and Ultra-Trail Angkor in February, and various international cycling events as well.
He added that Cambodia’s southern coastline is also perfect for water activities, including sailing and yachting, with more sports-driven itineraries being drawn up.
Trip.com Group will be strengthening collaborations with its stakeholders to promote and position Japan as a destination.
Trip.com Group’s chief marketing officer Sun Bo had met up with Koichi Wada, commissioner of Japan Tourism Agency, last Friday to share how the group will further promote tourism to destinations around the world, including Japan.
Trip.com Group will work with Japan Tourism Agency to promote Japan as a destination
He noted that Japan has consistently been ranked among the top five destinations (in terms of bookings and search volumes) since it eased its entry restrictions in 4Q2022.
Sun shared: “Travellers’ trends and preferences have shifted as a result of the pandemic, and we are ready to work with Japan Tourism Agency and other partners to promote Japan to our travellers through a targeted strategy.”
“There are various attractions in Japanese local areas… every traveller will be able to enjoy not only Japanese cuisine, but also other variety of activities,” said Wada, adding that they look forward to welcoming visitors from China soon.
As part of its ongoing efforts to promote various destinations, Trip.com Group hosted its third edition of the Super World Trip at Sanrio Puroland in Tama City, Tokyo, on March 1, with the support of its partner JR Kyushu.
South-east Asia is providing TUI Group’s TUI Blue brand with a hotbed of opportunities to grow the global hotel brand, according to its managing director.
As part of TUI Blue’s grand vision to launch more than 300 hotels worldwide, it has set its sights firmly on the region.
TUI Blue hosted a private event on the sidelines of ITB Berlin to engage with investors and current owners
“It’s an important region for us,” said Artur Gerber, CEO and managing director, TUI Blue. “We did a lot of research and it showed very clearly there is space for us in South-east Asia.”
As part of its expansion plans, TUI Blue has set up business development offices in Dubai to focus on Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, with another in Hong Kong for South-east Asia. TUI Blue The Passage is slated to open in Thailand this summer, with another to rise on the Cambodian island of Koh Rong in the coming years.
Gerber said the entry of TUI Blue is supported by the strength of the mother company’s brand, with TUI Group known worldwide.
“A lot of partners already know TUI. For example, in Bali, a lot of hotels receive TUI tour operator guests, which means the industry already knows the brand. We believe we can bring many customers from Europe to the region,” said Gerber.
“We already have sales systems in place across the world, so we have the opportunity to fill the hotels.”
In addition, TUI Blue is expanding into regions where TUI Group is not so well known. Gerber said this also presents opportunities for both TUI and the destinations.
“We can help these regions get more attention from European customers because TUI, as the world’s leading leisure tourism company, can carry out more marketing for these destinations. This is a clear benefit that we see,” he noted.
TUI Blue’s expansion is made possible through international partnerships, investments and franchises. Prior to the pandemic, the group shook up its business model after heavily investing in ships and hotels between 2013 and 2019.
“We’re now looking for partnerships and investors and it’s encouraging that we have signed many agreements in the last few months. There are still many possibilities to find partners around the world and in South-east Asia,” Gerber said.
There is no rest for The Anam team, which has just unveiled its second property in Vietnam’s Mui Ne but is already embarking on the design and plans for yet another ambitious project in Phuc Yen.
Sharing details of the group’s “next big project”, Laurent Myter, group general manager, The Anam, told TTG Asia that a massive and “stunning” beach location in Phu Yen, a two-hour drive north of Cam Ranh, will allow the construction of two resorts.
From left: Koerner and Myter
“One will be The Anam, and the second will be a global luxury brand. We are still looking into partnerships. It could be a St Regis, a Ritz Carlton or a Rosewood – essentially a very high-end product,” said Myter, adding that government permits to build overwater villas there have been secured. Should plans pan out and these overwater villas are built, the new property will be the first in Vietnam to boast such accommodation.
Martin Koerner, group commercial director, said the two resorts will be distinctly different, each with its own value propositions and unique services.
“Both our location and the resorts’ configuration will give us private and exclusive access to the beach, which is an unusual aspect in South-east Asia,” opined Myter.
Besides the Phuc Yen development, the company is also close to finalising a convention centre and lifestyle complex right next to The Anam Cam Ranh. Named Axi Plaza, the beachfront building will pack in 10,000m² of shopping and dining facilities, a conference hall for up to 1,000 pax, and a rooftop bar offering panoramic views.
Axi Plaza has confirmed its first business event for this July.
Myter believes that the opening of Axi Plaza and business events coming in will bring greater attention to Cam Ranh.
Resorts World Cruises has announced that from April 11, Resorts World One will call on Penghu, a collective name for nearly 90 islands, in Taiwan.
The ship will now offer vacationers a convenient alternative to visit the island county of Taiwan every Tuesday during the four-day/three-night cruise, which features two destinations as part of the itinerary for sailings departing from Kaohsiung and Hong Kong.
Resorts World One will call on Penghu, the island county of Taiwan, from April 11
Activities at Penghu include the beaches, snorkelling, fishing and island-hopping boat tours. Guests can also savour the seafood delicacies, shop for local dried seafood, and explore the historic Magong city renowned for its rich heritage and culture with natural scenery.
In addition, shore excursions can be made to Baisha Island, famous for the Baoan Temple, where a 200-year-old Banyan Tree covers 660m² of land and beaches such as Shili and Sanshui.
Michael Goh, president, Resorts World Cruises, said: “Resorts World One will grow and increase the inbound and outbound tourism, which will enhance and create new economic opportunities for Kaohsiung, Penghu and across Taiwan.”
Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) has signed Radisson Red Phuket Patong Beach in Phuket, Thailand, slated to open later this year.
A conversion of an existing property owned by Destination Group, Radisson Red Phuket Patong Beach will mark the debut of the Radisson Red brand in the country. Destination Group also recently partnered with RHG for Radisson Resort & Spa Hua Hin and Radisson Resort & Suites Phuket.
Radisson Red Phuket Patong Beach marks the debut of the Radisson Red brand in Thailand
The 390-key hotel will feature a rooftop beach club, rooftop pool, restaurants, lounge, grab-go kiosk gym, spa, movie theatre, video arcade, and kids’ club. At the lobby, guests will be greeted by the hotel’s mascot – a life-sized sculpture of a red lacquered elephant wearing earphones – and a red tuk-tuk, a nod to Thailand’s most prominent national icons.
The property is also nearby the beach and surrounded by retail malls, restaurants and nightlife.
Ramzy Fenianos, chief development officer, Asia-Pacific, RHG, said: “With its striking design, upbeat vibe and the flexibility to let guests seamlessly switch between business and leisure, Radisson Red has the power to inject new life into hotels and destinations. This makes it the perfect fit for Patong Beach, one of Thailand’s most dynamic tourism hubs.”
“This is the first hotel to be designed to meet the desires of (post-lockdown) travellers to Phuket. We are not just selling a room, but more so, we are selling an amazing Instagrammable experience in our resorts,” added Gary Murray, founder & CEO, Destination Group.
RHG currently operates six hotels in Thailand across four brands in Bangkok, Phuket and Hua Hin, with further expansion plans in the pipeline.
Starting April 16, operations at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in the Philippines for Jetstar Asia and Jetstar Japan will be relocated from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3.
Jetstar’s flight schedule, ground handler, check-in facilities and check-in timings will remain unchanged.
Jetstar Asia and Jetstar Japan’s operations will relocate to Manila’s international airport Terminal 3 from April 16
Jetstar passengers booked to travel to/from NAIA from April 16 will receive an updated email itinerary to reflect the new terminal.
The airport will provide a complimentary shuttle bus service for passengers needing to access other terminals.
