TTG Asia’s online news bulletin will take a break on April 7, 2023 in observance of the Good Friday public holiday.
To our Christian readers, have a good Holy Friday and Easter Sunday.
The online news bulletin will resume on Monday, April 10, 2023.
ATM 2023 to shape the future of sustainable tourism
The 30th edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from May 1 to 4 with travel professionals and policymakers from across the globe coming together to explore how the tourism sector is working to drive decarbonisation.
The four-day event will feature over 150 speakers across 63 sessions, with ministers from the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Jamaica and Spain to join a host of senior figures from the private sector to showcase sustainable innovations, share knowledge and best practice, and explore opportunities and challenges along the road to net zero.
The 30th edition will “address one of the most significant challenges facing the sector, in line with our theme of Working Towards Net Zero”, commented Danielle Curtis, exhibition director ME, ATM.
“Increased participation in this year’s show not only reflects the seriousness with which global tourism professionals and policymakers are taking sustainability, but also rising demand for leisure and business travel across the Middle East and beyond.”
Exhibitor participation will be 27 per cent higher than last year, with more than 2,000 exhibitors and beyond 34,000 attendees from over 150 countries.
The event will also host an array of regional policymakers, private-sector leaders, and speakers addressing sector-critical issues throughout the four days of the event.
Curtis added: “We look forward to learning how they are working to achieve net zero within their respective tourism markets, as our industry comes together to showcase the cutting-edge innovations and solutions that are driving the next generation of sustainable travel in the Middle East and beyond.”
To mark the 30th edition, Curtis and her team will unveil a dedicated sustainability pledge designed to reinforce commitment to the delivery of sustainable events and supplemented by a new playbook offering participants a framework within which to mitigate their environmental impact before, during and after the show – it also offers an operational guide for ATM as it works towards net zero by 2030.
In addition, this year’s show will also see the return of the ATM Travel Tech Stage, which will showcase how cutting-edge innovations – artificial intelligence, metaverse, cryptocurrency and big data – are driving environmentally responsible tourism.
Highlights of ATM 2023 include the brand-new Sustainability Hub, which will feature sessions dedicated to the latest sustainable travel trends and innovations; the ATM 2023 Start-up Competition, an event that will see entrepreneurs go head-to-head in a ‘Sustainable Tech Pitch Battle’; the International Luxury Travel Market Arabia; and sessions from the International Tourism & Investment Conference, the International Congress and Convention Association, and the Global Business Travel Association.
Other highlights include sessions focused on the key markets of India, China and the GCC, as well as informal speed networking.
The Anam Mui Ne
Location
The Anam Mui Ne is perched on Nguyen Dinh Chieu beach’s white sands overlooking the East Sea in south Vietnam’s Mui Ne. It’s a four-hour drive from Ho Chi Minh City, but with the expressway set to open soon, the transport time will be cut to two hours.
Rooms
The resort’s 127 keys span six categories, from the 40m² Deluxe Room to the 122m² Presidential Suite. I stayed in the exquisite 142m² Private Pool Suite. In line with the property’s décor, it exudes the crisp elegance of Vietnam’s Indochine era. Evoking the feel of a grand French villa, customised mosaic tiles compliment wooden floors and clay pots and statues made by neighbouring Cham artisans dot the vast space.
While the room is open-plan, the living and sleeping areas are separated by a hand-carved wooden panel. The living area comprises ample seating, work desk and mini bar, while the sleeping area is home to a cloud-like king bed and large flat screen TV. It opens up onto a spacious bathroom, where the centrepiece is a deliciously deep clawfoot bathtub.
Both the living and sleeping areas have patio doors that open onto a terrace with two sun loungers and a 22m² pool – perfect to devour the complimentary High Tea delivered to my room.
F&B
I enjoyed a lazy buffet breakfast that took me across continents at all-day dining restaurant The Indochine, as well as lunch of Vietnamese-influenced Caesar salad and pan-fried fish with locally-sourced vegetables. In the evening, we headed to beachfront Lang Viet to embark on a culinary journey to all corners of Vietnam. The spacious lobby also houses the sophisticated Saigon Bar.
Facilities
Spread across 1.2 hectares, The Anam is home to a host of amenities. In addition to large fresh and saltwater pools, The Anam Spa houses five treatment rooms, two steam rooms, saunas, indoor jacuzzis and a beauty salon. A complimentary signature massage was included with my room and was perfect to knead out the knots of a day’s sightseeing.
Located on a breezy part of the beach, the water sports centre is a hit for kitesurfing, jet skiing, kayaking and surfing. Elsewhere, a gym boasts state-of-the-art equipment, with a yoga room also available. A kids’ club caters to the little ones and there are meeting facilities.
Service
The staff were superb and greeted me each time on a first name basis. They were also mindful of ensuring all my needs were met, from the type of pillows in my room to diet requirements and everything else in between – all served with a smile.
Verdict
The Anam Mui Ne has perfectly managed to capture old world charm and bring it into the modern world with a sense of sophisticated yet simplistic charm. It packages unpretentious luxury into the perfect beach holiday with all the onsite amenities needed.
Contact details
Tel: +84 252 6284 868
Website: http://www.theanam.com/mui-ne
Hilton signs new Hilton Garden Inn in Bangkok
Hilton has signed an agreement with Siamese Asset to open a Hilton Garden Inn hotel in the up-and-coming central business district in Bangkok.
Set to open in 2025, Hilton Garden Inn Bangkok Ram Intra will offer 224 rooms and primed to cater to the evolving needs of business and leisure travellers.
The new hotel will be part of a mixed-use development that is strategically located in the Ram-Intra – Khan Na Yao neighbourhood, home to several key international schools and medical institutions.
It is less than 30 minutes away by car from Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang International Airport, and nearby popular tourist attractions such as the Siam Amazing Park and the Kwan-Riam Floating Market.
TAP Air Portugal engages GSA to further expansion plans
TAP Air Portugal (TAP) has chosen APG Network to expand its reach across 18 markets in Asia, Australia, Europe and Africa.
APG offices will provide comprehensive sales and marketing activities as well as ticketing and reservation services, enabling the airline to strengthen its position in these key markets.
Justin Jovignot, director commercial strategy & distribution, TAP, said: “In this joint force, TAP is aiming to improve presence in the markets and grow its revenue. TAP is flying directly to some of the markets where it has appointed APG as GSA, but the focus is also on offline markets, where TAP is still not flying to and where growth potential is a key element for future business development.”
New hotels: JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa, The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne and more
JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa, South Korea
Perched on a cliffside overlooking the volcanic coastlines of the island is JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa in Seogwipo, Jeju, located just an hour’s drive away from Jeju International Airport.
The property offers 197 rooms including 28 suites, a selection of dining options, spa, four swimming pools, and event spaces. Family-friendly facilities include a kids’ club, playground, and swimming pool. There are also classes and activities to keep young guests entertained.
The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne, Australia
Set on the western side of Melbourne’s central business district, The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne sits 80 stories above the city and has a ground floor gallery and a Sky Lobby Reception on the 80th level.
The hotel’s 257 guestrooms come with stunning city views – guests can enjoy more panoramic views of the city from the rooftop infinity pool.
Onsite are a restaurant, lobby lounge, cocktail bar, spa, fitness centre, yoga studio, and 2,500m² of event spaces.
Oaks Chengdu at Cultural Heritage Park, China
The 197-key Oaks Chengdu at Cultural Heritage Park is situated on the south-west edge of the commercial and convention hub of Chengdu International Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Park.
It features restaurants, lounge, spa, fitness centre, swimming pool, children’s club and event venues.
Nearby, guests can visit the sprawling Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, indulge in high-end shopping, explore traditional tea houses and hawker stalls, or tour imperial burial sites and centuries-old temples. The hotel in also nearby Nancaoping Ecology Park and the 18-hole Tianfu Golf Club.
Brij Hotels, India
Brij Hotels is an all-villa, pet-friendly resort located just under a four-hour drive from Delhi. The hotel is a serene and sustainable green sanctuary with gardens and orchards, large water bodies, and a vegetable farm.
Boasting 20 villas, Brij Hotels offers guests two dining venues, lounge and bar, a library lounge, pool and spa. Guests can also choose to participate in immersive hyperlocal experiences curated by the hotel.
Frasers Hospitality hits 25-year mark
Frasers Hospitality is celebrating its 25 years in business this year with plans for continued strategic growth, comprising inventory expansion and product innovation.
Mark Chan, chief operating officer, Frasers Hospitality, shared that more properties are set to open in South-east Asia and China, across key, economically vibrant first and second-tier cities.
Investment in product innovation through technology will be centred on consumer touch points, such as cloud-based technology, deployment of robots and contactless check-in.
“With the pandemic well behind us and international borders fully reopened, a whole new world awaits and Frasers Hospitality is well-positioned to anticipate and meet the changing needs of the extended-stay market,” said CEO Eu Chin Fen.
Looking ahead, Eu said there has been a “major shift” in demand for long-stay accommodation.
“Remote working is now commonplace, while attitudes towards home ownership have changed among millennials and the next generation. Purposeful living – which allows like-minded individuals to network – is the new ideal, and so too is the concept of flexible leasing, fast outpacing the conventional practice of long-term rental,” she detailed.
She added: “We anticipate a new lifestyle, where individuals seek out spaces that allow them to grow and live life to the fullest, with a healthy balance of work and self-fulfilment. Frasers Hospitality is always looking at enhancing our products and services to align with this ethos.
“In fact, with new developments in store, our next journey will be an exciting one that we can’t wait to embark on as we write the next chapter of Frasers Hospitality.”
To commemorate this milestone, Frasers Hospitality has planned a year-long campaign marked by free stays and other activities to highlight its achievements as a global Singapore brand. A highlight of the anniversary celebrations is a giveaway of 300 free stays.
Paradise for the birds
Singapore’s bird park is getting ready to welcome visitors to its new location in Mandai. Called Bird Paradise, it will house a population of 3,500 birds across 400 species when it soft opens on May 8.
After 52 years of operations, Jurong Bird Park closed earlier in January for the big move from Jurong to Mandai where, for the past few months, over 100 staff have been busy making the transition as stress-free as possible for both the birds and their caretakers.
Luis Neves, vice president of animal care, Mandai Wildlife Group, remarked that the birds are adapting well to the new environment and that the birds’ welfare and adjustment to their new habitat remains the group’s priority.
The new Sky Amphitheatre will feature an LED wall, and is designed for longer flights, with higher platforms to showcase flights from heights that were not previously possible at Jurong Bird Park.
Some new highlights guests can look forward to include eight walk-through aviaries where visitors can experience the different habitats of the world; the multi-level indoor Ocean Network Express Penguin Cove that is home to four penguin species; and close encounters with the birds and interactions with the animal care team.
Visitors to the new Bird Paradise can look forward to spotting several species making their debut, such as the Goldie’s Lorikeet, the European Bee-eater, the Brown-headed parrot, the Pompadour Cotinga, the Epaulette Oriole and the Grey-winged Trumpeter.
Bird Paradise will redouble its focus and take a prominent role in avian care, research and conservation efforts while providing opportunities for visitors to connect with these amazing creatures. It will also participate in over 75 ex-situ managed breeding programmes as part of its commitment to be a globally recognised hub for avian conservation and research.
INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit names new GM
Aarron Nelson has been appointed as the general manager of INNSiDE by Meliá Bangkok Sukhumvit.
He joins the Meliá team after five years as general manager of citizenM Kuala Lumpur.
With over 28 years of hospitality experience, Nelson has worked in countries such as Malaysia, the Maldives, Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand.
Japan to end current border control measures in May
Japan eased border control measures on visitors from mainland China today and will end border control measures for all overseas travellers on May 8.
The announcement follows the government’s recent relaxation of recommendations to control infection risk, including encouraging individuals to decide when to mask, ahead of the country’s reclassification of Covid-19 to a common disease on May 8.
From April 5, arrivals from mainland China will be able to enter Japan by presenting proof of having received three doses of a Covid-19 vaccine rather than proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure.
According to chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, the government decided to alter the measures for China “in light of the infection status at home and abroad, as well as border control steps taken by other Group of Seven nations”.
From May 8, in line with Japan’s downgrade of Covid-19 from a Class 2 disease (such as tuberculosis and SARS) to a Class 5 disease (such as seasonal flu), travellers will not be required to present evidence of three Covid-19 vaccination doses or a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure, which is done currently.
Instead, the government will start new genomic surveillance at ports that will test arrivals for fever and other symptoms of infectious diseases.
The relaxation is welcome for the travel trade as recent long queues at Japanese airports, particularly in Tokyo and Osaka, prompted warnings of delays to be issued by agents overseas, including in popular departure destination Hong Kong.
Japan Airlines updated its notice to passengers on April 4, stating that “due to enhanced border measures, it may take a long time to complete the entry process after arrival at airports in Japan”.
Japan’s reclassification of Covid-19 will also mean the quarantine period for infected persons and close contacts will be scrapped, and any hospital — rather than solely designated facilities — will be able to treat people suspected of having the disease.
