Crowne Plaza grows into Penang and Rajasthan
New hotels: Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong, Selina Serenity Rawai Phuket and more
Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong, Hong Kong
The 425-key Fullerton Ocean Park Hotel Hong Kong sits adjacent to Water World Ocean Park, offering rooms with sea views, nine kids-themed rooms for families, and two top-level signature suites with a private pool and expansive outdoor terrace.
There are five dining concepts within the property – signature Chinese restaurant Jade, Lighthouse Lounge, Lighthouse Café, Satay Inn; Giardino, an oceanfront Italian restaurant, will open later this year.
Facilities include a gym, spa, infinity pool, indoor kids zone, kids lagoon, and event spaces.
Upon request, the hotel’s F.U.N. Desk will curate a range of Fun, Unique, Neigbourhood and Nature-immersive programmes for all guests. There are opportunities for children to learn about marine life and sustainability.
Selina Serenity Rawai Phuket, Thailand
Located on the coastline of Rawai, a village in south-east Phuket, Selina Serenity Rawai Phuket offers guests direct beach access and views of the Andaman Sea.
The 52-key hotel features a 24-hour waterfront coworking facility with a private pool, stunning rooftop yoga and wellness centre, beach club, and café HOWM Beach Bar and Kitchen that serves a Latin Thai fusion concept.
Accommodation choices range from ocean view suites to one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as private cabanas with outdoor seating.
Admiral Hotel Manila – MGallery, the Philippines
Admiral Hotel Manila – MGallery is set along Roxas Boulevard and is a portal to the city’s golden era of the early 1940s.
A 20-minute drive from Ninoy Aquino International Airport, the hotel features 123 rooms, including seven suites. Leisure facilities include a spa, rooftop pool, gym, and meeting venues. Pets are also welcomed at the hotel.
There are four dining options: Admiral Club Manila Bay rooftop restaurant; Coconut Grove rooftop bar; El Atrio for high tea with freshly baked pastries and beverages; and Ruby Wong’s Godown, a hand-pulled noodle joint.
Guests can explore places in the city as well as attractions like the Manila Cathedral, San Agustin Church, Ruins of San Ignacio church, Barrio San Luis, and the historic walled city, Intramuros.
Ace Hotel Sydney, Australia
The 257-room Ace Hotel Sydney is situated in the inner city neighbourhood of Surry Hills in New South Wales.
Rooms range from 22m² to 78 m², and feature double and king beds.
The hotel offers dining options from cocktails and wines at The Lobby, to daily meals at Loam restaurant. A café will open at a later date.
Ace Hotel Sydney also offers event spaces and private suites.
The Clan Hotel Singapore boosts experience offerings
The Clan Hotel Singapore has created a new experiential stay package – The Clan Uncovers: Heritage & Craft – to engage guests as they learn about the city-state’s rich heritage and history.
The package includes a curated itinerary and a two-night stay in the hotel’s signature Master Series Premier Room, as well as daily breakfast for two, limousine transfer upon departure, late check-out, choice of one experiential activity for two, four-course dinner, and a complimentary local precinct tour (available on Wednesday or Saturday).
Experiential activities include a choice of a trishaw and bumboat ride by Uncle Trishaw or a Supermama Bento Workshop Experience.
Priced at S$995 (US$717), bookings are open from now till December 21 for stays between June 18 to December 30.
For more information, visit The Clan Hotel Singapore.
Airport tax to rise across Indonesia
Indonesia airport authorities are increasing the passenger service charge (PSC) at 19 airports in the country to keep up services amid rising operational costs.
While PSC adjustments have been enforced in some airports like Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara and Pattimura in Ambon since June, other airports will roll this out between July and August.
Higher PSC will impact airfares. The increment ranges between 11 to 78 per cent for domestic passengers and between zero to 34 per cent for international travellers.
At Lombok International Airport NTB Airport, domestic PSC rose from 60,000 rupiah (US$4) to 106,560 rupiah as of July 16, while international PSC was adjusted from 200,000 rupiah to 250,860 rupiah.
From August 1, PSC at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 2 will increase from 85,000 rupiah to 119,880 rupiah for domestic passengers and from 150,000 rupiah to 177,600 rupiah for international passengers.
At Terminal 3, however, domestic passengers will have to pay 168,720 rupiah instead of the current 130,000 rupiah from August 1, while international passengers will now be charged 266,400 rupiah instead of 230,000 rupiah.
For Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, domestic PSC has increased from 101,000 rupiah to 119,000 rupiah since July 16, while international PSC remains at 230,000 rupiah.
PSC at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali remains unchanged.
Sandiaga Uno, Indonesia’s minister of tourism and creative economy, said the higher airport tax will help airports remain in line with environmental sustainability.
He shared that the decision was made after discussions between Angkasa Pura I and II airport authorities and related parties, including the Ministry of Transportation.
Yulhendry, director of Ravelino Tours & Travel, told TTG Asia that the move has come at a bad time. “We are facing the problem of expensive airfares due to the lack of flights while demand is high, and the higher airport tax will only make airfares even more costly.”
He also expressed concerns about unclear terms and conditions for the new tariff, as there was no official circular on the PSC changes.
Awan Aswinabawa, chairman of A&T Holidays, opined that while the increase in PSC may seem small, the new charges will impact travellers.
“The fundamental question then is what improvements in services and facilities travellers will get with the increase,” he said.
Hong Kong’s SkyCity serves up new immersive experiences
Situated in SkyCity of the Hong Kong International Airport, 11 SKIES is set to be the largest ‘retailtainment’ landmark in Hong Kong, providing one-stop entertainment, retail and commerce offerings, and a variety of experiences for visitors.
A HK$20 billion (US$2.5 billion) development by New World Development, and operated by K11, 11 SKIES spans over a total gross floor area of 35.3 hectares and is home to the largest indoor entertainment hub at 5.23 hectares. It will host eight world-class, all-weather entertainment attractions for all ages.
The first phase of entertainment attractions will feature the city’s first 4D motion flying theatre, Timeless Flight Hong Kong, which offers a fresh and unique perspective of Hong Kong’s skyline as audiences ‘fly over’ the city within the 13m-high borderless spherical screen.
Coming up next is South Korea’s largest immersive media art exhibition ARTE MUSEUM, which presents a collection of body-immersive artwork enabled by advanced digital media projection technology, showcasing surreal nature-themed art experiences as well as bespoke Hong Kong-themed artwork.
From the end of 2023 to early 2024, young ones will get to have fun with the Paddington Play Experience as well as Greater China’s first KidZania theme park.
11 SKIES will also house more than 800 shops, including over 120 dining concepts.
Making up for lost time
Despite being the last Australian state to reopen its borders, Western Australia (WA) is the first state to bring over 26 diverse operators from the region back into South-east Asia to reconnect with critical leisure and business event partners.
An intense three-day Reconnect WA roadshow in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore last week allowed Tourism Western Australia, Business Events Perth and WA operators to meet with more than 306 airlines, travel trade, and media partners from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are WA’s second, third and seventh top-performing international source markets.
The Reconnect WA mission is made possible by the WA state government’s Reconnect WA funding package.
Powerful earthquake strikes Luzon
A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Philippine island of Luzon today, sending strong tremors through the capital, Manila.
According to news reports, a hospital in Abra province was evacuated after the building partially collapsed following the quake, and houses have been damaged. Strong aftershocks are expected to follow.
Tremors in Manila have halted the city’s metro rail systems.
Emirates adds third service to London Gatwick
In response to capacity adjustments at London’s Heathrow Airport, Emirates will increase the frequency of its services to and from London’s Gatwick Airport between July 27 and August 3, with the addition of a third daily flight.
This is expected to help cater to the high demand from customers travelling to and from London this summer.
Emirates’ customers impacted by capacity adjustments at Heathrow Airport will be contacted directly by the airline or their travel agent. Emirates is working closely with its travel partners to re-accommodate any impacted bookings and ensure smooth onward flight connections for customers to reach their planned destination.
Emirates will continue to operate its six daily flights to and from Heathrow Airport during this period, and is set to restart daily services to London’s Stansted Airport on August 1.
Cruise around the world with Silversea
Silversea Cruises is inviting guests on its Controtempo World Cruise for 2025, covering 59 destinations in 30 countries across four continents on the Silver Dawn – the first time a Muse-class ship will host a World Cruise.
The 136-day Controtempo World Cruise will depart Tokyo for New York on January 13, 2025, unlocking some of the world’s most iconic and off-the-beaten-path destinations during unconventional seasons, with immersive experiences that introduce local people and the most compelling stories.
The voyage on the 596-guest Silver Dawn starts in Tokyo with an optional pre-cruise overland programme spotlighting some of Japan’s most iconic landmarks, experiences, and traditions – including the famous Japanese snow monkeys of the Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, riding Japan’s bullet train in first class, and more.
The entire journey is divided into 10 segments: Tokyo to Hong Kong; then Singapore to Mumbai; from Istanbul to Naples; Lisbon to Southhampton; Stockholm to Reykjavik; finally ending in New York.
The pre-sale for the Controtempo World Cruise 2025 for all Venetian Society members is already open for booking. Public sales will open on August 2, 2022.
For more information, visit Silver Seas Controtempo World Cruise 2025.
Swire Hotels signs new The House Collective in Shibuya
Swire Hotels is collaborating with Tokyu Group and L Catterton Real Estate (LCRE) for a new luxury hotel in Shibuya, Tokyo under The House Collective brand. The yet-to-be-named House is set to open in 2027 and will be the first of its brand to open outside of China.
The new House, set on the site of the iconic flagship Tokyu Department Store, will offer travellers a respite from city life. In addition, this project aims to meet the sustainability goals of the Tokyu Group and LCRE through international certifications.
Swire Hotel’s deputy chairman Toby Smith said: “Witnessing the growth of The House Collective is an extremely proud moment for us as we look to expand into new cities throughout the Asia-Pacific region.”
IHG Hotels & Resorts signs off two management contracts this week that will see it bring the first Crowne Plaza brand to Penang, Malaysia and a fifth hotel to Rajasthan, India.
In Malaysia, the partnership between IHG and STC Property Management will result in the 343-room Crowne Plaza Penang Butterworth Straits City, set within a sustainable high-end mixed-use development on the waterfront.
Rajit Sukumaran, managing director, South East Asia and Korea, IHG said: “This signing underscores IHG’s commitment to further expand its footprint across Malaysia and grow its portfolio in strategic destinations.”
Crowne Plaza Penang Butterworth Straits City adds to an already impressive list of IHG properties scheduled to open in Malaysia in the next few years, most notably, Crowne Plaza Kota Kinabalu, Crowne Plaza Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park, and Kimpton Kuala Lumpur.
Over in India, Crowne Plaza Resort Pushkar will join four other IHG properties – two in operation and two under development – in Rajasthan.
Crowne Plaza Resort Pushkar will be a new-built property featuring 125 rooms and is expected to be operational by early 2026.
Located on the outskirts of Pushkar, the hotel will be well-connected to one of the most significant highways in India passing through Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur. Set in a serene locale, the hotel will be an ideal choice for leisure travel and destination weddings.
Sudeep Jain, managing director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts said: “We are thrilled to announce the signing of a new Crowne Plaza Resort in Pushkar which has become a hotspot for leisure and spiritual tourists visiting Rajasthan. The city’s growing popularity as a weekend and wedding destination also presents a great opportunity for us, and bringing our premium brand, Crowne Plaza to the city will help us cater to this increasing demand.”
He added that there is growing tourism potential in secondary Indian destinations, and the company is committed to “fill the need gap for quality branded accommodation in these cities”.