While flying back to Asia from Europe in March, Roland Heller noticed long queues forming at the check-in counter and boarding gates as passengers waited for multiple travel documents to be manually verified.
Spotting an opportunity, Heller, CEO of airline mobile application solution Mobipax, worked to introduce new functions into his platform that will resolve such issues.
Mobipax is developing new tools for airlines to strengthen their onboard efficiencies, passenger servicing, safety and interaction
This anecdote was shared by co-founder Porntippa Pongthomma at this week’s Aviation Festival Asia 2022, where she revealed more about the company, which has ambitions to expand into the Asian airline market.
Targeted specifically at facilitating interactions between passengers and the cabin crew, the cloud-based smartphone application can offer services such as selling merchandise before and during a flight.
“It is very interesting that technology has advanced a lot, but the actual business process has not changed much,” said Porntippa. “We are ready to be one of the key players who support this change by providing modern, dynamic and affordable solutions for the airlines and passengers.”
To this end, it is developing two features at the moment.
The first is Mobiwatch for cabin crew to download onto their smart watches and access information linked to the flight, such as passenger preferences.
“Because of the multi-tasking they have to do, it is not so convenient for them to hold a tablet or smartphone while they serve passengers,” she explained.
The other feature is travel document verification, which it is looking to add to its existing Mobicrew application. In addition to scanning boarding passes, Mobipax is exploring the inclusion of other documents such as Covid-19 vaccine certificates and visas.
An added function for Mobicrew is delivering an alert to the crew if a passenger tries to board a flight with incomplete documents.
“Our aim is to give the airlines tools that can strengthen their onboard efficiencies, passenger servicing, safety and interaction,” added Porntippa.
Traveloka has become a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) as part of its strategic effort to preserve the environment and realise sustainable tourism.
Through its GSTC membership, Traveloka plans to promote sustainable tourism standards in the hospitality sector in South-east Asia.
Traveloka’s GSTC membership will present it with more opportunities to initiate sustainable tourism efforts
The lifestyle superapp has been educating stakeholders in the industry, including its partners and users, on the significance of environmental sustainability and social responsibility. It most recently assisted the Indonesian government in developing domestic tourism sustainably by planting 40,000 seedlings along the shoreline of Buleleng Regency, North Bali.
Alfan Hendro, chief operating officer, Traveloka, said: “The traveller of 2022 will be much more refined, caring more about sustainability, local communities, people and brands that align with their own personal principles; and it is important that businesses prioritise sustainable tourism with the commitment to preserve nature and utilise natural resources responsibly.
“Traveloka will continue to play a strategic role in supporting the environmental agenda anywhere we operate, and we hope that our membership with the GSTC will help open up more doors for us to initiate sustainable tourism in the region.”
Voco Brisbane City Centre, Australia
The is the first voco to open in Brisbane and the second voco for Queensland. Voco Brisbane City Centre offers 194 guest rooms which feature natural lighting, plush sustainable bedding, smart in-room technology, modern bathrooms and sweeping views over the city or river.
Guests can relax at the rooftop pool, work out in the 24-hour fitness centre and enjoy local craft beers, wines and cocktails at Kraft & Co, a chameleon-like space that transforms from a bustling café during the day into an atmospheric lounge bar at night. Guests also enjoy free access to handcrafted bamboo bikes from Wyld Bikes.
The Silveri Hong Kong – MGallery
The Silveri Hong Kong – MGallery, Hong Kong Styled after a modern manor house in Tung Chung, Lantau Island, this eco-friendly urban resort offers 206 rooms and suites. Suites offer spacious outdoor terraces, each with its own private outdoor plunge pool or private outdoor heated Jacuzzi overlooking the hills of Lantau.
On the grounds are an outdoor sculpture garden, 25m swimming pool, and a fitness area. Meanwhile, F&B choices include Pavilion bar, for drinks and afternoon tea; daily coffee bar Fresh; and bistro The Enclave.
The hotel is five-minutes away from the Hong Kong International Airport and 30 minutes from the city centre.
Le Méridien Petaling Jaya
Le Méridien Petaling Jaya, Malaysia The 300-key Le Méridien Petaling Jaya is located 11km south-west of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur.
A 45-minute drive from Kuala Lumpur International Airport or a 10-minute drive from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport, the hotel houses the largest rooftop bar in Petaling Jaya – PJ’s Bar & Grill. Set atop the 30th floor against expansive cityscape views, this restaurant specialises in grilled dishes and creative cocktails accompanied by a private cigar lounge, situated next to the outdoor 300m² infinity pool.
There is also an executive loung, a gym, and all-day dining restaurant, Pasar Baru, on-site. For families, the Le Méridien Family programme will help keep the little ones entertained.
JW Marriott Hotel Changsha
JW Marriott Hotel Changsha, China JW Marriott Hotel Changsha is the first JW Marriott property in Hunan province, one of the city’s upscale neighbourhoods. The hotel is close to commercial, retail and attractions such as Xiang River and Orange Island, with the nearest metro station within walking distance. Changsha Huanghua International Airport and Changsha South Railway Station are approximately a half hour’s drive away.
The hotel’s 287 guestrooms include floor-to-ceiling windows for natural light and offer views of the historic Xiang River and the skyline of Changsha.
Featuring a diverse selection of culinary experiences, signature restaurant Hao Yu offers popular local Xiang dishes, while Ginza Onodera from Tokyo serves up Japanese teppanyaki. Located on the 35th-floor Sky Lobby, the JW Lounge showcases seasonally inspired afternoon tea and crafted beverages.
Other amenities include a 24-hour fitness centre, an indoor heated pool, spa and several event venues.
Welcome back to the cruise business! It must have been a whirlwind journey to bring Resorts World Cruises to market, considering how rumours of this comeback started swirling around March and in May the announcement was made. How do you feel about returning to the business you are so familiar with?
There is a lot of excitement in the team. We are so happy to be back at work, and be instrumental in starting up a whole new business from scratch.
The excitement also stems from us being able to bring an Asian cruise line back to the region. There is no shortage of European and American cruise lines around the world, but find me an Asian cruise line that is led by a team with over 30 years of experience in the business.
What is the value of being an Asian cruise line? It is the understanding we have of the Asian cruise customer, as well as our ability to offer Asian experiences to international guests.
Furthermore, it is great that Resorts World Cruises is based here in Asia, as we can quickly and easily table ideas to head office, and have the support of decision-makers who are themselves familiar with the needs and preferences of Asian travellers.
That said, it is important to understand that being an Asian cruise line does not mean our focus is just on Asia and Asians. We welcome every guest, and we have international experiences onboard. For example, our guests can enjoy excellent German dishes crafted by our fleet executive chef Reinhard Mammes.
What was the most important task for the leadership team as soon as it was determined that Resorts World Cruises would begin operations? It was to bring in the right people to enable this start-up. I say Resorts World Cruises is a start-up because we are truly building it up from scratch, from our reservations systems, safety procedures and hotel operations, to service culture, entertainment, and sales and marketing to the trade and travellers. We must have the right people to lead and identify the right talents to join the team, so that we can move very quickly in the right direction.
We had a very tight timeline to get Resorts World Cruises off the ground. We officially announced the commencement of Resorts World Cruises on May 18, but discussions about possibly getting back to business first started just two months before. On June 11, we will conduct our Genting Dream Preview Cruise, and then on June 15, we will host a massive launch sailing.
Was it a challenge to recruit all the manpower you need at the office and for the ship in such a short time? I’d be lying if I said there was no challenge. It wasn’t just about hiring enough people to fill positions, but to get people with the right service attitude because what are we without good software?
There is great demand for good service crew in the cruise industry, especially now when so many cruise lines are restarting their operations.
However, we have been very fortunate with our recruitment. We have many staff who have trust in us and very quickly said yes when we invited them to join Resorts World Cruises. Within a short period of time, we brought in 1,650 crew members – more than 90 per cent of them were previously with Dream Cruises. We also brought in around 70 staff on shore – 80 per cent were from Dream Cruises.
People are key assets to Resorts World Cruises. Many of the ship crew for Dream Cruises had actually gone home, to different countries. So, within a short period, we had to fly them back to Singapore to prepare for the launch of Genting Dream.
I have been onboard Genting Dream many times in the last few weeks. Work is intense as we all prepare to launch at short notice, but the mood is just joyful. Everyone is so happy to be back and working together again.
Is it a good thing that Resorts World Cruises is starting with a clean slate?
Definitely, because that allows us to get very creative with a new product. The pandemic has changed consumer habits and travel preferences. We now have the opportunity to rethink what experiences a cruise should offer in order to cater to new traveller needs and expectations.
So, how different will Resorts World Cruises be from Dream Cruises? Resorts World Cruises focuses on cruising concepts aligned with regional locations where we (operate). We are not about taking directions from headquarters and then offering the same experience no matter which homeport we operate out of.
We have created thematic guest programmes that combine entertainment and education opportunities. For example, guests on Genting Dream can enjoy a show about a traditional Chinese opera singer in the evening, and then join an enrichment class the next day to learn about the heritage of Chinese opera.
As an Asian cruise line, we also pay a lot of attention to F&B, to ensure we deliver more than the Asian dishes that commonly come to mind, like chicken rice and laksa. We bring in a wide range of Asian favourites, like fried chicken and beer so loved by the South Koreans, and omakase Japanese fine-dining concept. We are halal-certified too, so our Muslim guests can dine with peace of mind.
We have actually put in a lot of effort in designing the dining experience for Genting Dream. For example, (music venue) Tributes will feature Brazilian music and dance, alongside good food. At different stages we will bring other forms of entertainment into the dining experience.
We have also created different zones on the ship, each conveying a unique vibe through music styles and lighting.
Our revolutionary new cruise entertainment includes foam parties at Zouk Beach Club during sunset and/or starry nights. From time to time, Zouk Singapore DJs will set sail with us and spin music on selected cruises.
Resorts World Cruises is a trendy cruise line.
Genting Dream may be a ship that Dream Cruises fans will find familiar, as most of the venues onboard will retain their names, but the range of new experiences offered by Resorts World Cruises will set us apart from the former cruise line.
Bar360 onboard Genting Dream gave off elegant Shanghai Bund vibes as one of many special performances lined up for the June 15 launch sailing
You mentioned in the latest press release that Asian governments have been very supportive in facilitating Resorts World Cruises’ launch of destination cruises. What is being done to enable a smooth travel process for regional sailings and shore excursions? We have more than 30 years of experience in operating destination cruises, so procedures for our upcoming Malaysia and Indonesia port calls and shore excursions are nothing new to the team.
The only thing different now is working with relevant authorities to abide by local health protocols. Fortunately, many of these health protocols have eased off, so guests really only need to come onboard, let their hair down, and let us take them on fun shore excursions.
Boarding from Singapore, they only need to fulfil an ART taken 24 hours prior to boarding, and then have the local health apps on their smartphones for the destinations they are visiting on shore excursions.
It is our responsibility to make these procedures very easy for our guests, so we will provide all the necessary information to guide them through. Crew onboard will also help guests with the procedures. There is plenty of time for guests to sort out the local health apps before shore excursions.
What business prospects do you see for regional sailings? A lot of our travel partners have been out of business for a very long time (due to the pandemic), so our return to the marketplace is a business opportunity for them.
They have been so enthusiastic about Resorts World Cruises. Many of them caught wind of us returning to the industry before our official announcement was made, and texted me to confirm what they were hearing.
The trade has great confidence in the revival of destination cruises. Since opening the business, India alone has 22,000 cabin requests from now up to next year. The same enthusiasm is seen in other markets, like Indonesia and Thailand. These are all our loyal customers.
I would say that the reputation and experience of everyone in the Resorts World Cruises team have been instrumental in us being able to get back to business so quickly.
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has released its latest quarterly international visitor arrivals (IVAs) forecast current to May 6, 2022, based on the data provided by 39 Asia-Pacific destinations.
In line with the start of the region’s travel recovery, aggregate numbers into the 39 Asia-Pacific destinations are projected to have step-wise annual increases beginning in 2022 and continuing to 2024 across all three of the mild, medium, and severe scenarios.
Recovery for international visitor arrivals across Asia-Pacific is predicted to reach between 25-48% of 2019’s
IVA recovery rates (above 2019 baseline level) for visitors into and across Asia-Pacific is predicted to reach between 25-48% of the volume last received in 2019, with the numbers reflecting the range of potential outcomes from a severe to a mild scenario. This is a solid improvement over the 16-18% range of 2021 – the trough year for most Asia-Pacific destinations – and heralds the beginning of a continued growth trend to 2024.
The number of foreign arrivals into and across Asia-Pacific is still projected to either reach parity with the 2019 position (medium scenario) or be well above it (mild scenario) by 2024.
A possibility exists for conditions to deteriorate once again – with multiple influencing factors including the ongoing pandemic continually evolving, the Ukraine-Russia crisis, escalating jet fuel prices, and limited air capacity and routes, plus industry-wide staff shortages.
While annual growth is predicted to occur for each of the 39 destinations covered between 2022 and 2024, there will be some variations illustrated by the differences in relative positions for each of the three destination regions of Asia-Pacific, as well as under each of the three scenarios within each of those regions.
At the individual destination level, recovery rates vary broadly in 2022 and are predicted to range from less than 15% to almost 99%, while in 2024, they range from 86% to 120% under that same scenario. Projections are now for Asia-Pacific to reach an IVA count in 2024 of 510-832 million, depending on which scenario plays out over that period.
Similar variations are apparent across the source market regions relevant to Asia-Pacific, although in general, the trend is back towards the same inbound structure of 2024 under the medium scenario.
PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera observed that while a positive turning point is predicted to occur in 2022 for all the 39 Asia-Pacific destinations covered in these updated forecasts, many market variables are currently influencing travel and significant challenges still lay ahead.
Even with the momentum for international travel demand increasing, she pointed out, multiple challenges need to be navigated by the global travel and tourism sector, such as emerging new strains of Covid, escalating jet fuel prices, rising inflation, and geo-political conflicts.
Safety, wellness and smooth travel experiences are top of mind as needs for post-pandemic travellers, therefore it is vital to provide clarity in processes and deliver good customer support in the face of ever-changing circumstances.
New cruise line, Resorts World Cruises, marked its global premiere with Genting Dream setting sail on its maiden voyage from Singapore on June 15, 2022.
The milestone event saw the participation of travel trade and media partners, cruise customers, and top leadership at Resorts World Cruises.
Leadership at Resorts World Cruises joined Genting Dream on its maiden journey; (fourth from left) Michael Goh, Colin Au, and Raymond Lim
The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has opened three new properties in Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta under the Kimaya brand.
The three hotels are the 340-key Kimaya Slipi Jakarta by Harris, formerly Ibis Slipi; the 193-room Kimaya Braga Bandung by Harris, formerly Ibis Styles Braga Bandung; and Kimaya Sudirman Yogyakarta by Harris, which used to be Novotel Sudirman Yogyakarta.
Ascott has opened three new properties under the Kimaya brand in Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta
As a brand under Wahana Graha Hijau, part of Indonesia’s household and F&B company Wings Group, Kimaya Group operates in the midscale hotel sector in affiliation with the Harris brand.
Patrick Vaysse, chief operating officer for hotels, Ascott Indonesia, said at the media event held in Jakarta on June 11: “Indonesia is Ascott’s largest market in South-east Asia. We are very pleased to welcome Kimaya Hotel to be part of Ascott. This new opening is the latest milestone in our expansion plans for Ascott in Indonesia. Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta are key areas of development for the group in Indonesia.”
Irene Janti, director, brand and marketing, Ascott, added: “The Kimaya brand was created to accommodate the owner’s desire to have their own brand, but managed by us. The hotels will target the same market segment as Harris, but they will carry its own brand identity.”
When asked about Wings Group’s interest in hotel investment, Hadi Setiadarma, director of Kimaya Group, told TTG Asia: “We are in the F&B business and the hotel business is (closely) related. We already own an (upper upscale) property in Bali, The Apurva Kempinski, so the Kimaya brand will be our midscale brand.”
On the choice of buying existing properties rather than building new hotels – in 2021 Kimaya Group acquired five properties – Hadi said the pandemic provided opportunities for the group to do so.
He explained that some hotel owners have decided to move onto other businesses and put these properties up for sale. Located in prime locations, these hotels would have been impossible to purchase under normal circumstances.
However, as the group does own some land, Hadi did not rule out the possibility of developing new hotels in the future.
Cebu Pacific (CEB) will double its daily frequency between Singapore and Manila, as well as restart flights from Singapore to Cebu on July 16, with three services a week.
The additional morning service to Manila will depart Changi Airport at 10.15 and arrive at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 at 14.00; while the Singapore-bound flight will depart from Manila at 5.35 and arrive at 9.20.
Cebu Pacific resumes flights between Singapore and Cebu, and increases services between Singapore and Manila
Flights between Singapore and Cebu will be on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, departing from Changi Airport at 4.00 and arriving at Mactan Cebu International Airport Terminal 2 at 8.05. Flights from Cebu to Singapore will operate every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, departing at 23.05 and arriving at 3.00 the following day.
Travellers at the baggage claim at Christchurch International Airport
New Zealand has announced that it will no longer require inbound travellers to conduct a Covid-19 pre-departure test effective June 20, 23.59.
The move brings forward the initial date planned for the change by six weeks, or July 31.
Travellers at the baggage claim at Christchurch International Airport
“We’ve taken a careful and staged approach to reopening our borders to ensure we aren’t overwhelmed with an influx of Covid-19 cases. Our strategy has worked and as a result it’s safe to lift pre-departure test requirements much sooner than planned,” said Covid-19 response minister Ayesha Verrall in a press statement.
“Around 90 per cent of international arrivals undertake their required testing once they are in the country, with only a two to three per cent positivity rate. So we don’t anticipate a significant increase in border cases once the requirement is lifted.”
“Factors such as the availability of and cost of getting a test are increasingly becoming a barrier for people intending to travel here, especially as other countries wind back testing availability or the requirement for a test on entry themselves,” she added.
However, New Zealand will still have a set of border surveillance measures for detecting any possible new variants of Covid-19, including requiring travellers to self-test on Day 0/1 and again on Day 5/6. A positive result would then require a PCR test.
Separately, travellers transiting through New Zealand will no longer need to be vaccinated, nor be required to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration.
Albert Lafuente is the new resident manager of Sedona Suites Ho Chi Minh City.
Lafuente has extensive experience in sales and marketing and joins Sedona Suites Ho Chi Minh from Swissotel Clark where he was the director of sales and marketing.
Welcome back to the cruise business! It must have been a whirlwind journey to bring Resorts World Cruises to market, considering how rumours of this comeback started swirling around March and in May the announcement was made. How do you feel about returning to the business you are so familiar with?
Traveloka has become a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) as part of its strategic effort to preserve the environment and realise sustainable tourism.
Through its GSTC membership, Traveloka plans to promote sustainable tourism standards in the hospitality sector in South-east Asia.
The lifestyle superapp has been educating stakeholders in the industry, including its partners and users, on the significance of environmental sustainability and social responsibility. It most recently assisted the Indonesian government in developing domestic tourism sustainably by planting 40,000 seedlings along the shoreline of Buleleng Regency, North Bali.
Alfan Hendro, chief operating officer, Traveloka, said: “The traveller of 2022 will be much more refined, caring more about sustainability, local communities, people and brands that align with their own personal principles; and it is important that businesses prioritise sustainable tourism with the commitment to preserve nature and utilise natural resources responsibly.
“Traveloka will continue to play a strategic role in supporting the environmental agenda anywhere we operate, and we hope that our membership with the GSTC will help open up more doors for us to initiate sustainable tourism in the region.”