La Vie Hotels & Resorts has signed a multi-partnership deal with Amber Property Group to manage its Melbourne hotels – The Sebel Melbourne Ringwood, previously franchised with Accor, and the upcoming The Motley Richmond.
On this multi-partnership signing, Craig Bond, managing director, La Vie Hotels & Resorts, said: “We are humbled and incredibly excited to be working with the team at Amber Property Group to manage their beautifully designed Melbourne hotels in Richmond and Ringwood, two of the city’s busiest suburban hubs.”
The Motley Richmond is slated to open in early January 2023
He added that “The Motley will not disappoint” and that the property will be “a lifestyle hotel that the locals can claim as their own”, while commenting that The Sebel Ringwood is “a stunning property” with extensive facilities that business and leisure travellers will appreciate.
Rachael Brady, CEO, Amber Property Group, said: “The Sebel Ringwood Melbourne is a very special property and is much loved by regular travellers to the east for work, while The Motley will provide a true lifestyle hotel experience in the heart of Richmond. We are excited to see these hotels flourish under La Vie’s guidance.”
The Motley Richmond is slated to open in early January 2023 and will feature 80 rooms. It is located on Bridge Road, close to shopping boutiques, the MCG and Rod Laver Arena, with Melbourne CBD only a short distance away.
The Lux Collective has signed a hotel management agreement with P Q Hai Quoc Joint Stock Company to build a luxury overwater resort under the Lux* Resorts & Hotels brand on the island of Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
Named Luxnam* Phu Quoc, the 126-villa only resort is set to open in late 2024 and is located on the remote Northern coast of Phu Quoc, adjacent to a UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve.
Luxnam* Phu Quoc, featuring 126 villas, will open in 2024
The Lux Collective’s CEO, Paul Jones, shared that Luxnam* Phu Quoc is inspired by “the iconic Maldivian-style overwater resorts” – a first for Vietnam and the region.
Bao Vu, chairman, P Q Hai Quoc Joint Stock Company, said: “We are certain that this long-term strategic alliance will help to promote Phu Quoc – mapping it as the Maldives of Vietnam – among global travellers.”
The dragon-shaped resort consists of two areas connected by a four-kilometre-long jetty over the lagoon. It sits above the shallow waters and coral reefs of Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve and the brand’s sustainability DNA is incorporated throughout the resort. It will feature restaurants, a spa, fitness centre, four pools, a children’s playground and other facilities.
The South Korean capital city will be one of six global hosts of the FIFA Fan Festival, a public event that will be held during the upcoming World Cup season from November 20 to December 18.
It is the only Asian city featured in the selection, with the other global hosts being London, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Dubai. These satellite FIFA Fan Festivals around the world will join the main event in Doha, the capital city of the World Cup host country Qatar.
Seoul will be one of six global hosts of the FIFA Fan Festival (Photo: The Korea Times)
According to the event website, FIFA Fan Festival events will feature live match broadcasts, live performances by renowned DJs, musician and other artists, as well as appearances by FIFA legends.
The event in Seoul will be held at SFactory in the trendy Seongsu-dong district. While programme details are not yet available at press time, the event is said to be live on November 24 and 28 as well as December 3.
Updates on the official ticketing platform will also be made available soon.
Paolo Campillo takes on the role as general manager at Cebu’s first integrated resort, the NUSTAR Resort and Casino, where he led the opening of Fili Hotel.
Amassing nearly 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, he joins NUSTAR from Parkroyal on Beach Road in Singapore where he was also general manager and pioneered several initiatives on customer service and engagement, propelled through digital efforts and solutions during his time in Singapore and Malaysia.
Better known for decades among island destinations for romantic getaways and honeymoons, the Maldives has recently been attracting families quite successfully.
According to Abdulla Ghiyas, president of the Maldives Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO), one in three visitors to the destination is part of a family group.
Family bookings for RIU’s resorts in the Maldives peak during the July, August and December European school holidays
“The family travel segment is a growing feature of the Maldives,” he added.
He noted that most new resorts in the destination have child-friendly and childcare facilities, while older villas have been refurbished to cater to this segment.
RIU, for instance, offers two resorts in the Maldives that promise luxury getaways that are also welcoming for the little ones. Guests can enjoy a premium vacation at the all-inclusive Hotel Riu Palace Maldivas, located on the private island of Kedhigandu. Over a convenient footbridge on the neighbouring island of Maafushi stands sister resort Hotel Riu Atoll, where there is the RiuLand kids’ club and children’s pool. Children have access to a daily programme of activities and entertainment.
Petra Gauthey, director of business development Asia with Riu Hotels & Resorts, added that special guest programmes are also designed for celebratory seasons, such as Christmas, while customised activities such as barbecue parties, cocktails and excursions can be arranged by the resort’s staff.
Fairmont Sirru Fen Fushi, another prime example of a resort that puts families at the centre, offers activities for guests of all ages.
“While parents enjoy a relaxing spa treatment or beachfront cocktail at Onu Onu Bar, children are invited to a yoga class, specially designed for little guests, or learn to paint a coconut at our Art Studio,” said general manager Marshall Orton.
Mohamed Khaleel, CEO of both Pulse Resorts and Manta Air, said the Maldives is evolving – it is no longer just an ultra-rich and honeymoon paradise.
His companies are, therefore, moving with the times to market different products now. “We can cater to a market range of US$100 to US$20,000 per night,” he said.
Confident that the family travel segment will continue to grow for the Maldives, Minor International will launch Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort in 1Q2023 – a product that is very much geared towards families, revealed group CEO, Dilip Rajakariar.
The Maldives’ move to lure families is necessary, opined Ghiyas, as room inventory has expanded and properties have to offer more to grow bookings. Reliance on traditional honeymooners and high-end travellers alone will no longer cut it, he opined. – Additional reporting by Karen Yue
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has launched its annual Kilo of Kindness charitable programme, an initiative to encourage guests, visitors and members of the community to donate one kilogram of food, clothing and school supplies for those in need.
Taking part in Australia are Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne on Spencer and Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, where guests and visitors are invited to drop off donations throughout October, and the collected items will be shared with local families in need through Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia.
Mövenpick’s Kilo of Kindness programme hopes to inspire people to donate to those in need; Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne on Spencer pictured
Along with 65 other Mövenpick properties across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, the initiative looks to gather a global goal of 25,000 kilograms of donations.
Kishan Chandnani, global vice president, Premium Brands shared: “Through uncertain times, it’s important to come together to spread kindness to where it is needed most; that’s the core premise behind Kilo of Kindness.
“Building on our culinary heritage, we know food has the power to do good and be a medium for positive change. With our annual Kilo of Kindness programme, we believe in indulging in heartfelt moments and finding the goodness in the social change we can make by giving back.”
Since 2015, approximately 71,457 kilograms of supplies have been donated and distributed to disadvantaged communities around the world. Mövenpick hopes to make its 2022 campaign the most successful to date by surpassing its current donation record of 21,921 kilograms and aiming to secure 25,000 kilograms.
Travellers are planning to make nearly as many trips by air in the next year as they did pre-pandemic, according to new research among frequent flyer members of Collinson’s Priority Pass.
Even with rising costs, 62% of members would rather cut back on non-essential retail purchases than reduce their travel budgets. Nearly a third (30%) are prepared to give up restaurants, 25% their gym membership, and over 21% their streaming services.
Collinson’s research reveals that travellers plan to make trips over the next 12 months despite a troubling economic backdrop
The research reveals that despite a troubling economic backdrop, travellers plan to make eight return trips on average in the next 12 months – nearly back to the average of ten trips made pre-pandemic in 2019. This is a positive sign to the industry to keep on investing in recovery.
Be it in recruitment and training of additional workforce, core travel industry infrastructure, or travel benefits and rewards, there is a need for continued investment to keep supply chains moving and to help ensure travel gets back to pre-pandemic levels of both delivery and customer experience. This is especially important given 29% of travellers expressed dissatisfaction with how they were treated during the pandemic by an airline provider – and said they had subsequently thought twice about using their services again.
Confidence drivers on a journey
Collinson’s study of over 3,700 frequent flyer members of the Priority Pass programme worldwide provides insight into traveller habits, preferences, loyalties, and intentions as the industry recovers from the pandemic. It follows similar studies in 2020 and 2021.
Emerging from the pandemic, confidence is at the heart of recovery with airport lounge access (47%) still being the thing that travellers were most likely to pay for. In fact, behind knowing that travel companies required other passengers to be vaccinated, being able to access an airport lounge was the second biggest confidence booster for travellers. Over 22% gave it as their top reason for feeling confident about travelling again, while nearly half (47%) listed it in their top three reasons.
Members are also very likely to pay for other premium travel experiences, such as an upgraded seat (43%) or direct flight (39%). The research shows that faceless, contactless and self-services are also becoming increasingly popular. Nearly half (47%) of members said they are more likely to either pay for contactless services or use a self-service bag drop than wait to speak to a human at a desk.
In general, people are feeling far more confident about travelling than they were a year ago. In last year’s survey, 35% of members said they felt cautious about travelling in the future – that figure has more than halved to 16% this year.
Loyalty matters
The survey also reinforces a growing interest in travel loyalty programmes post pandemic, with 43% of respondents now stating a growing interest and 24% stating that they are very interested.
In terms of the best way to engage with interested members, 80% stated access to benefits and perks as the main motive for engagement, while 58% stated the opportunity to earn rewards as the second main driver. This is crucial insight for loyalty programme providers and travel brands which are looking to win back and re-engage dissatisfied customers, and poses an opportunity for savvy brands that are looking to better connect with consumers, whether it be through benefits and perks or loyalty programmes that really engage.
Travelling for love and leisure, not business
Just like last year, people are still more likely to be travelling for leisure (45%) than for business (35%). In fact, many are travelling at the moment to nurture relationships. When asked the reasons for travelling, nearly 30% of members said that they wanted to travel to make memories with their families, while 18% said they wanted to get away with someone special.
The most frequently claimed motivation for travel is the same as it has always been: to rest and relax. Over half (55%) listed this in their top three reasons for making a journey.
“Our latest research is great news for the beleaguered travel industry, suggesting that as a cost of living crisis looms in many parts of the world, travel spend is way down the list of things that people will consider cutting from their household budget. But it also indicates that it is frequent flyers who will be leading the charge and in order to maintain the trajectory of travel recovery, a specific focus on their needs is paramount across the travel ecosystem,” said David Evans, Joint CEO at Collinson.
Traveloka is collaborating with Tourism Malaysia to promote the country as the holiday destination of choice over a four-month campaign till December 31.
The campaign will highlight Malaysia’s multicultural attractions, scenic locations, diverse cuisine and renowned hospitality, by harnessing Traveloka’s innovative travel and lifestyle platform. Holidaymakers will also be able to enjoy redeemable offers and promotions from Traveloka.
Zainuddin: forging smart partnerships with industry players is crucial to boost the recovery of the tourism sector
As Malaysia sees an uptick in domestic and regional post-pandemic travel after the lifting of international border restrictions, the online campaign aims to increase holiday bookings while fulfilling the National Tourism Policy’s focus on digitalisation.
Tourism Malaysia has set a target of 9.2 million international tourist arrivals this year.
Zainuddin Abdul Wahab, director general, Tourism Malaysia said: “Forging smart partnerships with industry players is crucial to boost the recovery of the tourism sector. They are the backbone of the industry, and by working with influential brands and unicorns like Traveloka, we record higher tourist arrivals, maximise resources and elevate our distribution channels to promote Malaysia domestically and regionally.
“Tourism Malaysia will continuously work hand-in-hand with our partners to ensure domestic tourism demand returns to its pre-pandemic levels of 2019 as early as the fourth quarter of 2022.”
Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia (domestic) have been identified to implement this campaign with an average booking target of 39,500 in a duration of four months starting from September until December 2022.
Angelica Chan, country manager, Traveloka Malaysia, said: “Working closely together, we aim to exponentially increase the number of bookings via the numerous features available on our platform, and help locals and regional visitors fulfil their lifestyle aspirations and needs, whether it’s enjoying authentic Malaysian cuisine, attractions, wellness and spa, or every other experience that defines our unique country.”
Laos’ two airlines, Lao Airlines and Lao Skyway, have achieved the SafeFlight certification under the LaoSafe programme, with new flight routes opening up this month.
The SafeFlight standard, one of a series of health and hygiene certifications under the LaoSafe programme, ensures that cabin crew and flight staff abide by strict hygiene regulations to ensure a clean and comfortable flight for passengers. LaoSafe is a nationwide initiative designed to create a health and hygiene system within the tourism and hospitality industry.
Lao Airlines has achieved the SafeFlight certification under the LaoSafe programme (Photo: Huy Thoai)
“The LaoSafe certification has allowed us to demonstrate our commitment to safe and clean hygiene travel standards for everyone,” said Sitthideth Douangsiththy, deputy director, Lao Airlines.
According to the SafeFlight standards, all airline personnel must follow health and hygiene protocols set in place for maximum cleanliness, and includes daily temperature screening, frequent environmental cleaning and disinfection, wearing masks in the airport and for the duration of the flights, wearing gloves when handling travellers’ personal belongings, regularly washing hands, and providing safety amenities to passengers.
Siviengthong Konnyvong, CEO, Lao Skyway, said: “Tourists can be assured that their travels in Laos abide by the highest hygiene standards.”
Flights connecting Hanoi, Vietnam, and Chiang Mai, Thailand, with Luang Prabang will be available in the coming months. Lao Airlines has also increased the frequency of its Vientiane-Seoul service, and will offer flights to and from major regional destinations such as Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, and Siem Reap.
Amassing nearly 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, he joins NUSTAR from Parkroyal on Beach Road in Singapore where he was also general manager and pioneered several initiatives on customer service and engagement, propelled through digital efforts and solutions during his time in Singapore and Malaysia.
