Gold Coast festivals take the spotlight with new partnership

September 1, 2022

Major Events Gold Coast (MEGC) and Gold Coast Airport will join forces to deliver an enhanced experience for arriving festivalgoers planning to participate in Gold Coast’s festivals.

As part of the two-year partnership, MEGC will provide in-terminal pop-up performances and other entertainment showcasing its festivals. Arriving festivalgoers will have the opportunity to enjoy a taste of what to expect as soon as they disembark, and MEGC hopes to capture new audiences who may not have experienced the destination’s festivals before.

Major Events Gold Coast and Gold Coast Airport have partnered to enhance the festival experience for visitors (Photo: ChameleonsEye)

To kick off the new partnership, MEGC will bring a touch of spring to the airport terminal with a DJ spinning SPRINGTIME tunes as passengers arrive on the Gold Coast – SPRINGTIME is the latest addition to the Gold Coast’s growing music festival scene.

MEGC’s CEO Jan McCormick said: “Our airport is the gateway to the Gold Coast, and our festivals, for so many of our fans, so it makes sense to work together to ensure their festival experience starts the minute they land.

“It has been fantastic to see our international and national visitors flying in again and we want to make sure they experience everything this incredible destination has to offer including our events and festivals.”

The expanded partnership with MEGC came on the eve of the A$260 million (US$177 million) Gold Coast Airport terminal expansion that will open for flights and domestic passengers next week, and for international services in October.

The Gold Coast Airport expects to welcome about 6.5 million passengers this year, and the expansion will allow the airport to service new domestic and international routes, making it easier to travel to and from the Gold Coast.

“The Gold Coast has built a strong reputation as a major events destination and it’s crucial that as well as offering great world-class venues and precincts, we also have state-of-the-art facilities like the new terminal to accommodate the visitors who are flying in, to experience everything we have to offer,” said McCormick.

Sherpa Hospitality Group unveils luxury retreats in the Himalayas

By TTG Asia

September 1, 2022

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Sherpa Hospitality Group has launched its new brand, Mountain Lodges of Nepal (MLN), an evolution of the former Yeti Mountain Home and Ker & Downey Nepal which comprises seven lodges in the Everest region and eight in Annapurna.

Designed to capture the essence of Nepal and honour the traditions of mountain hospitality, MLN is a collection of 15 family-owned premium lodges that have undergone upgrading. It also offers challenging but accessible treks along the Great Himalaya Trails.

MLN’s Phakding Lodge will feature a rock-climbing facility, vegetable garden, restaurant and lounge

Situated along the idyllic Dudh Koshi river about 2,600m above sea level, Phakding Lodge is the first newly-transformed lodge to be unveiled since MLN brand’s debut. The property boasts a rock-climbing facility, vegetable garden, and a helipad-turned-restaurant and lounge.

Launching in 1Q2023, Deboche Lodge in the Everest region will be a new-build, and offer views of Nepal’s iconic mountains, including Mount Everest.

MLN will also offer immersive experiences such as helicopter rides for breakfast at Mount Everest and honey hunting of the wild nectar from the beehives on perilous cliffs.

At present, Sherpa Hospitality Group has a total of 18 properties. As part of the group’s pipeline, 1Q2023 will also see the opening of Shinta Mani Mustang – the first Shinta Mani Hotel outside of Cambodia. Other upcoming properties set to launch under MLN include new lodges in the Annapurna region.

Vouch’s new platform modernises pre-arrival experiences at hotels

By TTG Asia

September 1, 2022

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Hotel tech provider, Vouch, has introduced a new digital guest platform, Bespoke by Vouch, that combines pre-arrival guest engagement and experience personalisation for hotels through smart automation.

A pre-arrival extension to the company’s flagship guest experience platform, Bespoke by Vouch’s algorithm creates tailored recommendations based on guest profiles and preferences, letting guests personalise their upcoming hotel stays by purchasing experiences that interest them.

Vouch’s new platform gives guests the flexibility to plan itineraries, check for room upgrades and make transactions and payments digitally

The platform also gives guests the flexibility to plan itineraries, check for room upgrades and make transactions and payments digitally.

“Since the beginning, we’ve worked with hotels to create digital solutions that help elevate the modern hotel experience as well as increase efficiency within hotel operations… to create an ideal solution that achieves both guest satisfaction and labour efficiency through automation,” said Joseph Ling, founder and CEO of Vouch.

He added: “Hotels today are facing a rise in guest demands while working through an unprecedented manpower crunch. The pre-arrival experience, which is often neglected, has largely been labour-intensive and this lapse in digitalisation has created a wide efficiency gap for hotels when compared with other industries in the service sector.”

With the launch, Bespoke by Vouch will provide hotels with reliable solutions to aid them in their efforts to provide a great guest experience – from the hotel management portal and data collection of guest information (dietary restrictions, arrival timings and stay purposes) to the incremental revenue with the upselling channel that allows more preparation time for hotels to execute each add-on to perfection.

Preferred Hotels & Resorts appoints Lori Strasberg as new VP marketing

By TTG Asia

September 1, 2022

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Lori Strasberg has been appointed Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ senior vice president of marketing, reporting to Cheryl Williams, chief revenue officer.

In her new role, she will work with the brand’s global marketing and loyalty teams to deliver new e-commerce initiatives, cooperative hotel marketing programmes, like-minded brand partnerships, and exclusive bank card rate programmes to contribute to the brand’s development and revenue goals.

With more than 20 years of multi-disciplinary experience in hotel and loyalty marketing, Strasberg joins Preferred Hotels & Resorts from Marriott International where she was vice president of Marriott Bonvoy Member Marketing.

Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas hires resort manager

By TTG Asia

September 1, 2022

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Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas has appointed Peter Wagner as resort manager.

Reporting to the general manager, Wagner is responsible for handling daily operations, upholding service quality and increasing guest satisfaction.

With two decades of hospitality experience honed in destinations throughout the globe, the German moved to Malaysia from Six Senses Samui where he was director of rooms. Prior to that, Wagner was based in Vietnam as rooms division manager at Anantara Mui Ne.

Golden Autumn in Switzerland

By TTG

September 1, 2022

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Brought to you by Switzerland Tourism

Easily many people’s favourite season, autumn takes us into a golden (pun intended) transitional time with the colour-changing leaves and cool weather. Switzerland boasts its distinct four seasons which can give you a totally different experience when visiting one same spot in different seasons. In autumn, Switzerland “lights up” with its beautiful autumn colours – perfect time to unwind after a busy and active summer.

Swiss Travel System
Grand Train Tour of Switzerland

The Grand Train Tour of Switzerland merges the most beautiful panoramic lines into one unique route. From glaciers to lakes and from mountains to cities: each section of the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland has a unique character and allows you to witness Swiss autumn in its different landscapes. 11 large lakes, 4 official languages, 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 1,280 kilometres of magnificent view are all packed into the tour where you can hop on and off wherever you like. Experience the entire tour with only one single ticket – the Swiss Travel Pass.

▸ Swiss Travel Pass | Switzerland Tourism

Lake Lucerne Region
Cruising on Lake Lucerne

Lake Lucerne is the lake with the greatest scenic variety in Switzerland. A boat trip during the autumn mist period gives off a mystical mood and is wonderfully unforgettable. The cruise operates the necessary routes to reach many of the most important excursion destinations and mountain cableways of the region, such as the Rigi, Pilatus, Bürgenstock and Klewenalp. Special musical and culinary events are also offered on numerous scheduled and additional trips. The rich offering of delicious foods from the onboard galley provides added enjoyment and pleasure to any cruise.

▸ Lake Lucerne | Switzerland Tourism

Jungfrau – Interlaken
Get pampered at Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof

Simply enchanting, Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof, Swiss Alp Resort & Spa is built in traditional chalet style near the centre of Grindelwald. The backdrop of the hotel is the world-famous Eiger and Lauberhorn, a mountain scenery like of which you have never seen which thrills guests from all over the world. The ambience here is luxurious and comfortable. Connoisseurs of traditional perfection also appreciate the hotel’s exceptional service and culinary delights. The hotel is a perfect destination for a romantic escape or a wellness trip.

▸ Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof | Switzerland Tourism

Schilthorn
Enjoying the 360-degree panoramic views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau

The 2,970-metre Schilthorn offers 360-degree panoramic views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and more than 200 other peaks. A cable car runs every half hour from Stechelberg in the Lauterbrunnen valley in four stages up to the summit, spoiling your eyes with the romantic autumn foliage colours before reaching the top to see the majestic views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau that await you. Dine in the revolving restaurant, Piz Gloria, for an ultimate dining with a view experience.

▸ Schilthorn – Piz Gloria | Switzerland Tourism

Vaud – Lake Geneva Region
Discover Lavaux

The terraced vineyards of the UNESCO region Lavaux are some of the most spectacular natural sights in Switzerland, especially in autumn. Extending over 800 hectares along the Lake Geneva shores, they can be enjoyed by hikes, bikes and walks. Of course, the trip to Lavaux isn’t complete without tasting locally produced wines in an authentic wine cellar and learning the centuries-old winegrowing traditions that testify to the synergy between man and nature.

▸ Lavaux vineyards | Switzerland Tourism

Zurich
Thermal Baths & Spa Zurich

Treat yourself with a hot bath during a cooler weather for a city break. Relax in soothing warm water in giant wooden vats – reminiscent of the barrels used in this former brewery – under an impressive barrel-vaulted ceiling. Thermal attractions here range from massage jets to bubble seats and loungers, a sequence of water massages, whirlpool baths and relaxation area with shallow-water zone. The top attraction here – literally – is the open-air pool on the roof of the former brew house, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the whole city of Zurich and the mountain beyond.

▸ Thermal Baths & Spa Zurich | Switzerland Tourism

Japan to permit non-guided group tours, raises daily entry cap

By TTG Asia

August 31, 2022

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Travellers will be allowed to enter Japan on non-guided package tours from September 7, as the country further eases border restrictions. The daily entry cap will also expand from the current 20,000 to 50,000 people.

In making the announcement on August 31, prime minister Fumio Kishida said the intention is to encourage travellers to visit Japan.

Travellers to Japan can enter without a guided tour restriction from September 7

In June, the government began to allow limited numbers to return, subject to strict rules such as being part of a package tour with a guide.

Japan had only 353,119 foreign visitors last year compared to the record 31.9 million in 2019.

Last week, Kishida said Japan would scrap the pre-arrival Covid-19 testing requirement for travellers who have received three vaccine doses.

However, travellers to Japan still require entry visas. Japan’s border is currently open to Japanese nationals and those with long-term and pre-issued tourism visas. It ceased visa waivers for applicable passports during the pandemic.

Hokkaido welcomes back tourists with winter sports and gastronomy

By Kathryn Wortley

August 31, 2022

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Hokkaido’s tourism industry is preparing for somewhat of a rebound this winter with bookings picking up at resorts and snow sports companies preparing for Japan’s new requirements for inbound travellers.

At the northern prefecture’s most popular ski and snow resorts, Niseko and Kutchan, 89 per cent of reservations are from abroad, predominantly Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and the US, according to a survey by the Kutchan Tourism Association.

Bookings at Hokkaido’s resorts and snow sports companies are picking up with Japan’s new requirements for inbound travellers

Hokkaido Ski Club has teamed up with a Tokyo-based travel agency to offer private ski holiday guided tour packages for the 2022–23 season, which runs from December to April. These packages meet the government guidelines introduced on June 10, which require inbound tourists to have a sightseeing visa and be part of a tour group.

Hokkaido-based Japan Ski Experience, meanwhile, is optimistic that Japan’s scrapping of pre-arrival Covid tests for vaccinated tourists from September 7 indicates further loosening of rules will occur soon.

The snow sports market is important to Japan, with average spend of a winter sports tourist totalling 225,000 yen (US$1,636) in 2018, compared to 153,000 yen for an inbound tourist not doing winter sports, according to the Japan Tourism Agency. It is also a growing market. Japan attracted 80,000 inbound skiers in 2018, up from 300,000 in 2013.

And, with swathes of Japan competing for skiers and snowboarders, efforts are underway to boost Hokkaido’s gastro-tourism to add to the prefecture’s international appeal.

The Japan National Tourism Organization is promoting Hokkaido’s iconic foods, including king crab; soup curry, sea urchin and jingisukan (lamb and vegetables).

In Sapporo, Kamikawa Taisetsu Sake Brewery offers a tasting room geared to international visitors following research of gastro-tourism experiences in the US and France. Staff introduce various kinds of sake made from Hokkaido-grown rice and provide information on the history of the prefecture and its sake-brewing roots.

And, in April, the southwestern city of Hakodate set up a green tea tourism council, to promote the drink as well as food items made using green tea.

MBS, Las Vegas Sands pledge US$1m for bond-free hospitality scholarships

By TTG Asia

August 31, 2022

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From 2023, more than 100 Singaporean students pursuing hospitality or tourism-related courses can tap a new US$1 million bond-free scholarship programme launched by Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and parent company Las Vegas Sands.

The Sands Hospitality Scholarship programme will run for at least three years, and is open to second-year students studying related courses at the six higher institutes of learning – Nanyang Polytechnic; Ngee Ann Polytechnic; Republic Polytechnic; Singapore Polytechnic; Temasek Polytechnic; and the Singapore Institute of Technology.

The Sands Hospitality Scholarship programme is open to students studying related courses at the six higher institutes of learning in Singapore

Over the three years of the programme, approximately 19 students per polytechnic and 14 students from SIT can apply for the scholarship. Recipients can use the funds for expenses such as tuition fees, course materials and overseas immersion programmes.

They can also apply for internship and full-time roles in the hospitality and tourism sectors such as housekeeping, food and beverage as well as events management.

With a currently employment of close to 10,000 people, of which two-thirds are local, MBS said the scholarship programme is part of its efforts to support the hospitality industry’s workforce development.

MBS’ chief operating officer Paul Town explained that making the programme bond-free will “stimulate interest” in the hospitality industry, rather than specifically to MBS, and will help bring out more emerging talent after the pandemic.

Ron Reese, Las Vegas Sands’ senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, noted that Singapore’s “resilient tourism industry” is expected to grow robustly with international travel resuming.

“By investing in education to help youth establish careers in hospitality, we are supporting the future of our industry and Singapore’s continued leadership as a top global travel destination,” he said.

Housekeeping and F&B jobs are in high demand, he noted, simply because “they really are the engine room of a property”.

“If you don’t have capacity and housekeeping, you literally are potentially closing sections of your hotel and then limiting the tourism visitation into Singapore,” he added.

Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh to nurture next generation of hospitality stars

By TTG Asia

August 31, 2022

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Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh has signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cambodia’s National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (NIEI) on August 30 to provide resources, workshops, training, technical and curriculum consultation to NIEI in order to develop the next generation of Khmer hospitality personnel.

The hotel will also offer internships to NIEI students to help build their skills in key areas of hospitality.

From left: NIEI’s Tan Kosal and Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh’s Juan Mercadante at the MoU signing event

Juan Mercadante, general manager, Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh, said: “By refining skills through internships at our hotel, we can really maximise this human capital and offer these students invaluable experience and opportunities to grow their careers.”

The new arrangement between Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh and the NIEI is in line with the Hyatt RiseHY initiative, a new global programme designed to pair hospitality career opportunities with young people who need them. As part of the initiative, Hyatt hotels around the world will commit to hiring 10,000 Opportunity Youth – those aged 16 to 24 who are neither in school nor working – by 2025.

“We understand the challenges young people face, and Hyatt hotels are uniquely positioned to be part of the solution. Hospitality is one of the few industries where entry-level opportunities often lead to fulfilling, life-long careers that can change the trajectory of someone’s life,” said Malaika Myers, chief human resources officer, Hyatt.

“With the launch of RiseHY, Hyatt hotels will harness the power of technology in ways our industry has never done before, to scale career opportunities, bringing awareness to hospitality careers and setting up candidates for success from the start as it expands training programmes as a path for employment.”

Gold Coast festivals take the spotlight with new partnership

Sherpa Hospitality Group unveils luxury retreats in the Himalayas

Vouch’s new platform modernises pre-arrival experiences at hotels

Preferred Hotels & Resorts appoints Lori Strasberg as new VP marketing

Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas hires resort manager

Golden Autumn in Switzerland

Japan to permit non-guided group tours, raises daily entry cap

Hokkaido welcomes back tourists with winter sports and gastronomy

MBS, Las Vegas Sands pledge US$1m for bond-free hospitality scholarships

Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh to nurture next generation of hospitality stars

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