New hotels: Holiday Inn Dhaka City Centre, Novotel Melbourne Preston and more

March 31, 2022

Holiday Inn Dhaka City Centre, Bangladesh
The first Holiday Inn in Bangladesh, Holiday Inn Dhaka City Centre is located in the heart of the city, with major public transport and the diplomatic and commercial districts nearby.

Its 187 modern guestrooms and suites feature uninterrupted views of the Lake Hatirjheel or Dhaka City. Some rooms are fitted out with a sofa bed.

As with all Holiday Inn hotels globally, kids under the age of 12 stay and eat for free.

The hotel has five restaurant and bars, a gym with sauna facilities, as well as a business centre, meetings spaces and secured parking.

Novotel Melbourne Preston, Melbourne, Australia
The new Novotel Melbourne Preston has been transformed after an extensive refurbishment and rebrand. It comprises 383 guestrooms, suites and fully self-contained studio apartments, and is located on Bell Street at Preston – home to eclectic pockets of vintage shops, cafés, bars and a diverse range of restaurants.

All rooms feature modern technology and facilities, as well as a captivating view of the city Dandenong.

A new addition to the hotel is The Stampton, set to open to diners in April 2022. The restaurant is designed to marry the rustic charm of a farmhouse with Melbourne’s urban hospitality scene.

Other onsite facilities include grab-and-go Stampton & Co café, lounge area, co-working and informal meeting spaces, and a collection of 16 meeting and events spaces.

lyf Farrer Park Singapore, Singapore
Located in Singapore’s culturally rich enclave of Little India, lyf Farrer Park Singapore is designed for the next-generation travellers, offering digital nomads and creative self-starters a dynamic environment to live, work, and play.

Guests enjoy convenient access to major attractions, shopping malls as well as to the central business district with the nearby Farrer Park MRT station. There are also plenty of multicultural establishments, eclectic shops, historic sights and gastronomic food right at the hotel’s doorstep.

The hotel curates #lyfgoeslocal community programmes and experiences which offers guests opportunities to interact with other individuals within the property and in the neighbourhood.

Crowne Plaza Phu Quoc Starbay, Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam
The new-built, 308-key Crowne Plaza Phu Quoc Starbay on Phu Quoc island is situated along the unspoilt Bai Dai beach, a 40-minute drive from the Phu Quoc International Airport, and 30 minutes from downtown.

Every room offers an expansive balcony overlooking the ocean or the island’s native greenery. The rooms are equipped with USB outlets and unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi. Amenities such as pillow menus and bath products from organic beauty brand, Antipodes, are included.

Guests can relax and unwind at the resort’s two swimming pools, gym, and the Hoa Sim Spa while the kids are kept busy as wildlife adventurers in a day camp setting with Tribe Kids Club.

There are two distinctive dining venues on site: the Horizons Restaurant-Lounge-Bar which serves local and international cuisine with a Mediterranean flair; and the beachfront Amber Sands Beach Club that dishes out fresh locally-sourced seafood and prime cuts of meat from its open-fire kitchen, while guests take in a live fire dance performance and a spectacular sunset.

Egg-citing getaway at JW Marriott

By TTG Asia

March 31, 2022

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JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong has crafted the JW Double Happiness Staycation for guests looking to celebrate springtime or the Easter Holidays.

The JW Double Happiness Staycation package comes with two options: JW Double Happiness Staycation – Family Holiday package and JW Double Happiness Staycation.

Enjoy a family-friendly food platter with the JW Double Happiness Staycation – Family Holiday package

Priced from HK$3,580 (US$457.80) per night, the JW Double Happiness Staycation package offers accommodation in a set of connecting rooms (one Deluxe King Room and one Deluxe Room with Double Beds); 24-hour accommodation for check-in between Monday and Thursday with the latest checkout time at 14.00 (except public holiday and subject to availability); breakfast buffet for four; a HK$1,200 dining credit; a complimentary bottle of selected red wine in the guestroom.

The JW Double Happiness Staycation – Family Holiday package is priced, the same and comes with the same inclusions. However, in place of the dining credit, this package offers a family-friendly food platter for three to four persons, to be served in the guestroom on the day of arrival, as well as welcome snacks and kids’ activities such as board games and egg hunt game with rewards.

The JW Double Happiness Staycation packages require a two-day advance reservation and a one-day advance reservation for dining options.

Promotion ends May 31.

Thankyou, hotel chains join fight to end global poverty

By Karen Yue

March 31, 2022

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Australian FMCG personal care brand and social enterprise, Thankyou, has roped in three global hotel chains in its mission to end global poverty by having the properties stock their products as guest amenities and direct sales proceeds to fund impactful causes.

Rydges Hotels & Resorts and Ramada by Wyndham will stock Thankyou amenities across their Australia and New Zealand properties, respectively, while all hotels worldwide under the Canopy by Hilton brand will carry Thankyou amenities by the end of the year.

Thankyou hotel amenities will carry messages of the social enterprise’s cause to guests, and encourage them to find out more

The hotel range is launched in partnership with Hunter Amenities, a prominent global supplier of hotel amenities for world-leading brands. It comprises some of Thankyou’s best-selling personal care products and a new liquid hair-care series. Products are 100 per cent vegan friendly, not tested on animals, and utilise rPET bottles and FSC certified packaging.

Like the rest of Thankyou’s personal care range, these hotel stocks contribute funding to change-making organisations that are serving the world’s poorest. Parent organisation, Thankyou Charitable Trust, currently has 18 active global impact partners that operate on a variety of grants focusing on economic development, food security, health, and systems change.

According to a Thankyou spokesperson, the move to involve hotels in its mission is new. Thankyou products are currently stocked in major retailers across Australia and New Zealand, as well as several online and independent retailers.

“Thankyou exists to turn consumerism into a vehicle that can spread the positive impact of products to as many people as possible, all over the world. The launch into the hotel and accommodation industry allows Thankyou to reach more consumers, and the expansion of the unique Thankyou business model into the amenities sector empowers hotel and accommodation services to make more conscious and sustainable choices in their everyday business practices,” explained the spokesperson.

She shared that there has been encouraging interest from other hotel and accommodation service providers, “which is an exciting opportunity for more organisations in the industry to stock Thankyou amenities and join in the fight against global poverty”.

When hotels stock Thankyou amenities, they play a part in educating the public on Thankyou’s mission. Messaging about Thankyou’s purpose is captured on the product, and guests are encouraged to visit the impact section of Thankyou website to find out more.

While Thankyou products are not manufactured by impoverished communities, the social enterprise’s work goes into backing solutions executed by impact partners that address root causes of poverty traps.

“For example, our economic development programmes and partners work with communities to increase the yields/income of their livestock and agricultural produce, which does not easily translate into ingredients found in a personal care product,” the spokesperson explained.

TUI Group set for hotel business unit expansion

By TTG Asia

March 30, 2022

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Germany headquartered TUI Group will expand its TUI Blue global hotel brand into new regions across South-east Asia, China, and the Middle East, and Southern Africa, with some 300-plus hotels as its eventual goal.

An important driver for the future growth strategy are international partnerships in which TUI Blue hotels are operated either under management contracts or by franchisees.

Friemuth: TUI Blue aims to be the leading leisure hotel brand with more than 300 hotels worldwide

Erik Friemuth, managing director of TUI Hotels & Resorts, said in a press statement that TUI Blue’s new management and franchise model will allow its future partners to benefit and bring guests unique holiday experiences.

“TUI has unrivalled strong expertise in designing, developing and successfully operating leisure hotel brands as well as developing holiday destinations,” said Friemuth.

The TUI Blue business model was presented to investors as well as representatives of the hotel industry at a hybrid event in Dubai on March 28.

TUI Blue will establish its own hotel development team in the Arabian Gulf and Hong Kong.

Progress in Asia is being made with the formation of a dedicated team as well as contracts being signed for the first TUI Blue hotels in China, shared Artur Gerber, managing director for TUI Blue.

RedDoorz launches fourth label aimed at urban, corporate travellers

By TTG Asia

March 30, 2022

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Urbanview is the latest label to join RedDoorz’s multi-brand portfolio, with the new collection of accommodation being aimed at urban and business travellers who desire affordable, aesthetic and comfortable options.

Urbanview properties are strategically located in close proximities to key business districts, transport nodes, urban areas, and key tourist attractions. The firm currently has 50 Urbanview properties in Indonesia and the rooms are priced at an average rate of US$15 to US$20 per night.

Urbanview is starting off with a collection of 50 properties in Indonesia

Urbanview will provide travellers with amenities such as Wi-Fi, cable TV, and an atmosphere inspired by a natural oasis at an affordable price, while also adhering to RedDoorz’s proprietary HygienePass-certified cleanliness measures for travellers’ peace of mind.

Amit Saberwal, founder and CEO of RedDoorz, said: “We are pleased to announce the launch of Urbanview in our bid to provide greater quality and value for a larger spectrum of travellers within this region. Urbanview will allow our multi-brand strategy to tap onto a larger segment of travellers, driving us further towards our goal of being a key leader in the hospitality and tourism sector.

“As per Statista, in 2020, domestic tourism spending in South-east Asia totalled over US$106 billion. This was an increase from 2011, in which domestic tourism spending almost reached US$74 billion. We believe we have only scratched the surface in this region.”

Singapore organisations pioneer tourism sustainability programme to nurture future talent

By TTG Asia

March 30, 2022

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Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) and Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) launched the Sustainability Programme at RWS (Sustainability@RWS) on March 29, a first ever initiative for both that is aimed at developing skilled talents in the sustainable tourism industry through real-world learning.

The three-year programme is designed for students pursuing their Diploma in Tourism & Resort Management (TRM).

RWS will open up its facilities and leadership to NP students pursuing their Diploma in Tourism & Resort Management

TRM students at NP’s School of Business & Accountancy will have the opportunity to propose and execute sustainability-related business solutions for RWS, such as working on advocacy campaigns that target guests and visitors, and education programmes on environmental conservation.

The students will attend lessons at RWS’ extensive facilities, where they will benefit from industry-real learning. RWS and NP will collaborate on the sustainability-related curriculum, learning experiences, and assessment of two event modules – Event Creation & Design (ECDE) and Event Management & Operations (EMOP).

Lectures by RWS’ sustainability team will be conducted via the NP Virtual World platform, an innovative digital learning platform where videos, simulations, and interactions are presented in a 3D environment. NP Virtual World also allows students to gain first-hand insights into managing virtual events.

RWS will co-assess concept proposals by students to ensure that they are applicable in real-world settings, with some of the sustainability ideas adopted and implemented as part of the graduating students’ capstone projects.

Sustainability@RWS draws on the strengths and expertise of RWS to spearhead efforts in Singapore’s tourism economy and environmental education, aligned with the nation’s ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) development. The programme also reaffirms RWS’ commitment towards sustainability and sustainable tourism.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s principal and CEO Lim Kok Kiang said: “NP is committed to nurture the next generation of sustainability leaders and contribute towards Singapore’s Green Plan. Through this programme, our students will deepen their understanding of sustainable tourism, and have the opportunity to conceptualise and testbed innovative solutions for the industry. The industry-real learning experience offered by RWS to our students will be invaluable.”

“Nurturing the next generation of talent who can help shore up our nation’s sustainability drive is imperative. Through the Sustainability@RWS programme in collaboration with NP, we aim to firstly, boost awareness and practical understanding of sustainable tourism among students today, who can in turn drive positive impact tomorrow, and secondly, play our part in driving sustainability education and advocacy amongst all our stakeholders. This aligns to our broader ambition of creating positive environmental and socio-economic impact for the communities in which we operate,” stated Loh Su Kim, RWS’s vice president, sustainability.

Penang revives fam trips, readies for return of tourism business

By TTG Asia

March 30, 2022

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Penang kicked off her first trade and media fam trip conducted since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with participants coming from Singapore and the programme being supported by Tourism Malaysia, Singapore office.

The fam trip, which started on March 29, was attended by six media representatives, four travel agents, a representative from Tourism Malaysia, Singapore office, two representatives from Tourism Malaysia headquarters, and one representative from Air Asia.

Tourism Malaysia, Singapore office facilitated Penang’s first post-lockdown fam trip this week

Speaking at a press conference at The Prestige Hotel, Yeoh Soon Hin, head of Penang State Exco for Tourism Development, Arts, Culture and Heritage, said there was a need to gradually revive the industry and put in place initiatives to generate economy activities that support the tourism industry.

Yeoh noted that recent measures to allow domestic travellers to visit Penang as well as Singapore’s Vaccinated Travel Lane with Penang, launched March 16, have led to stronger tourism performance for the destination.

“Penang is home to us Penangites, yet it is also a destination filled with the known and unknown treasures to be discover by visitors. That is why Penang remains one of the top destinations for travellers throughout the years,” he elaborated, adding that Singapore is Penang’s second biggest arrival market just after Indonesia.

Rebuilding, rethinking travel

By Marissa Carruthers

March 30, 2022

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As travel starts to rebound globally, what does the industry need to do to thrive?
The industry needs to rebuilt trust. Actually, I do think consumers are giving the industry credit for acting very quickly around restrictions and transparency of information. Refunds and exchanges by and large went very smoothly during what was an unprecedented time. I think consumer trust is shockingly high for the travel industry right now, but continuing to build that trust, like making sure consumers and travellers know what the latest is on restrictions and everyone along the chain is trained on that so when things change they know, is key.

What opportunities has the pandemic presented for the industry to reinvent itself?
There are a couple of key moves that the industry is poised to make in the wake of the pandemic. The first is more flexibility. The rigidness around changes and refunds has changed drastically. The industry had to act very quickly to become nimble about how to operationalise those quicker and in a much more flexible way than we as travellers were used to. I hope that stays; travellers will expect that to stay because there’s still uncertainty.

The second is that consumers expect a good experience. It’s been a hard-earned pent-up wait for travel, so we expect things to go smoothly and we expect suppliers to provide that experience. We’re really counting on suppliers to deliver that now more than ever.

Why is the travel industry lagging behind in digital innovation?
Travel technology is very complicated if you compare it to other retail sectors. What I like about Travelport, and why I came to Travelport, is it’s a company with decades of in-depth experience and deep expertise, yet it is building something altogether new. There are a lot of upstarts in the industry but they don’t have the depth of experience to understand the complexities and how to simplify them.

What exciting entries to the market should the industry look out for in 2022?
We are very lucky to have a new CTO (Tom Kershaw, who joined as chief product and technology officer in July 2021) who is evaluating travel technology with fresh eyes. He’s very passionate about rebuilding search for travel and making it work just like the Internet; adding machine learning and the data we know about the traveller to the search so that it’s more personalised.

The second is workflow. It’s really important for the industry to make the workflow feel more like the Internet. This isn’t just for the end consumer but for the people working in the industry. A technical example is PNRs. They’re woefully outdated and have been flawed for a long time. Our plan is to reinvent them and move to an open-source model so that more than one person at a time can work on a file and bring the data closer to end travellers.

A recent Travelport survey revealed shopping for travel is complicated and cumbersome for consumers. What does the industry need to do to change this?
As we build Travelport+, our goal is to simplify that experience for both the industry and consumer. It’s not necessarily to reduce the complexity, travel is always going to be a really complex back-end technology, but to reduce the interaction with that complexity is our goal. To be able to simplify it for the users would be a real first in the industry.

What new needs have arisen from post-lockdown travel behaviour?
The depth of digital has accelerated across all of our lives and all generations. We carried out a study on trust last year and the thing that came out is there is zero tolerance for hidden fees, especially during a pandemic. For example, when you’re ordering food online, you know what it costs to have it delivered and any gratuity fees (are) not hidden. That transparency has to carry into travel.

There is a lot of buzz around personalising the travel experience. What does this mean?
The key thing is information sharing and, again, the industry needs to move towards a more collaborative model that is maybe some form of unified traveller ID. However, there is hesitance there. Like with the publishing industry, there is a reluctance to share information for fear of competition despite the fact everyone knows it would be for the best. I think this will continue to be a discussion that evolves.

Catching first rays

By Feizal Samath

March 30, 2022

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Himmafushi,/,Maldives,-,March,08,,2019:,Caucasian,Long,Haired — HIMMAFUSHI / MALDIVES - MARCH 08, 2019: Caucasian long haired surfer rides the tropical ocean wave with green island on the horizon and some underwater view of the coral reef.Tilt shift effect applied

Bucking international border closures and global travel restrictions owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Maldives is heading towards a successful tourism year in 2022, coinciding with the island nation celebrating its golden jubilee of tourism.

“We are hoping to break another milestone (in 2022) and welcome 1.6 million visitors this year,” remarked a confident Thoyyib Mohamed, managing director and CEO of the state-run Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).

Surfing is just one of the many activities that can be done in the Maldives

The Maldives reopened her borders to tourists on July 15, 2020, after a brief three-month pandemic related lockdown, with rigorous procedures in place to ensure the safety of tourists and tourism workers.

Arrivals in 2021 hit 1.3 million, revelling in a period when few other destinations were open. Pre-pandemic, the year 2019 generated a record 1.7 million arrivals.

Mindful of Covid-19 travel constraints, MMPRC has relied heavily on promoting the destination through digital media, forging strong relationships with tourism companies to promote longhaul market recovery.

Mohamed told TTG Asia: “We had to adapt our marketing concepts towards online and digital events. We also conducted several social media campaigns to ensure that the world knew we were preparing and waiting to welcome them once it was safe to travel.

“This included a major campaign titled, Maldives, The Sun Will Shine Again, where we encouraged travellers to stay safe and visit the Maldives later.”

Throughout 2021, MMPRC carried out 260 different marketing activities in 22 global markets last year – all to ensure demand follows the destination’s open borders.

It also had multiple partnerships and engagements with major international travel brands and companies. For example, Kuoni France held a month-long campaign in partnership with the Maldives, where the destination was marketed through articles, photos, and newsletters on Kuoni’s digital and social platforms.

There were also destination marketing campaigns with Polish tour operator ITAKA; fam tours for travel writers from key source markets; a joint campaign with Italy’s Sporting Vacanze, a member of ASTOI, the Italian Association for Tour Operators; a global advertising agreement with BBC Global News; and a joint campaign with News UK, among others.

Despite Covid-19-related challenges, a number of new resorts opened in the Maldives last year. Many resorts are also on track to launch this year, including the Hilton Maldives Amingiri Resort & Spa, and the Six Senses Kanuhura.

According to Dillip Rajakariar, group CEO of Minor International and CEO of Minor Hotels, the Maldives is a destination that can deliver a world-class experience on so many levels, thanks to its natural beauty, quality hotels, high levels of service and superb experiences.

“We have confidence in the future of the Maldives, so much so that we are launching our sixth property – the Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort – in the Baa Atoll in September this year,” he told TTG Asia.

Rajakariar expects easing travel restrictions across the globe to fuel demand for high-end destinations – the Maldives included.

Inigo Berastain, director, RIU Maldives, meanwhile, believes the Indian market, due to its proximity, will continue to be a very strong inbound market for the Maldives.

He is also confident that “the classic and strong markets” of Germany and the UK will continue to support the Maldives’ tourism recovery.

Berastain added that while there is a perception that the Maldives is a destination for honeymooners, RIU has been welcoming a wider variety of guests.

“We also receive families, groups of friends, people travelling alone, and corporate groups that decide to make their company trip here,” he revealed.

Travellers to the Maldives are often those who enjoy water activities, such as kayaking, scuba diving or surfing.

While the Maldives is widely popular for its one-island-one-resort concept, which provides guests with as much privacy as they desire, the destination also caters to all price points, from super-rich globetrotters to back-to-basics backpackers.

Mohamed said the Maldives is ready to welcome one and all, as accommodation inventory features resorts, hotels, guest houses, homestay options and liveaboards at different price ranges.

As such, the Maldives is also planning to court millennials, a group that currently makes up 40 per cent of the global travel market.

According to a recent Maldives Visitor Survey, statistics show that nearly half the visitors to the Maldives are below 35 years of age, while 60 per cent of them discovered the island nation on the Internet.

Malaysia trade rolls out deals to lure returning Singapore visitors

By S Puvaneswary

March 29, 2022

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With Singaporeans historically making up half of international tourist arrivals into Malaysia prior to the pandemic, the Malaysian travel trade is banking on air and land arrivals from Singapore to expedite recovery and have come out with enticing deals to lure bookings as restrictions ease from April 1.

Genting SkyWorlds is one of the newest attractions in Malaysia ready to welcome Singaporeans

G Hotel Kelawai Penang, which reopened on March 13, is rolling out the red carpet to Singapore residents, with room deals from RM$350 nett (US$83) for deluxe room and from RM$399 nett for room with breakfast for two.

Christina Tan, director of sales and marketing at G Hotel Kelawai and sister property G Hotel Gurney in Penang, shared that Singaporeans were previously G Hotel Kelawai’s top foreign source market. She hopes the opening deals, running up to end of July, would entice families to stay more than a night.

Zenith Cameron, another five-star property in Malaysia, is hoping agents from Singapore will support the 175-key property, currently the newest hotel up in the Cameron Highlands. Zenith Cameron’s director of business development, Vimala Sivasubramaniam, said she had recently sent room contract rates to Singapore agents.

As the compulsory Covid-19 insurance coverage requirement for international travellers to Malaysia was not announced as of March 28, Tan said bookings were slow to materialise. That information was released on the following day, stating a requirement for Covid-19 travel insurance to come with a minimum coverage of US$20,000.

Resort World Genting’s senior vice president, sales and marketing, Spencer Lee, told TTG Asia that it was still too early to gauge response from the Singapore market. The integrated resort is offering 20 per cent off Genting SkyWorlds entrance during the soft opening period, two-day-two-park hotel and room packages, and promotional rates for Crockfords Hotel from now until June.

To encourage the return of Singapore guests, Sunway Lagoon Theme Parks executive director, Calvin Ho, said the complex is emphasising on safety aspects in its marketing pitch, and that both Sunway Lagoon and Lost World of Tambun are safe for families and all ages. He believes that contactless booking system and e-wallet wrist band for purchases in the theme parks will help to reassure visitors.

With self-drive a popular form of travel for Singapore residents exploring Malaysia pre-pandemic, Car Rental Association of Malaysia president, Felix Fernandez, expects such bookings among members in Malaysia to pick up in June and July. Destinations along the west coast, from Johor to Penang, will shine due to accessible highways, food and tourist attractions.

He said the reopening of the borders also presented an opportunity for car rental operators to rebuild their capacity in terms of operations and fleet size, as many have had to retrench staff and sell their vehicles in the past two years.

However, Malaysian Association of Hotels CEO Yap Lip Seng cautioned that in pre-Covid times, despite the large number of tourist arrivals from Singapore, it did not contribute to an equivalent hotel performance.

“Many of these incoming travellers had other accommodation options, including family-owned residences,” he told TTG Asia.

In 2019, out of the total 26.1 million tourist arrivals to Malaysia, 10.1 million were from Singapore.

Yap added: “The tourism industry is looking forward to recapture this, especially in the southern states.”

New hotels: Holiday Inn Dhaka City Centre, Novotel Melbourne Preston and more

Egg-citing getaway at JW Marriott

Thankyou, hotel chains join fight to end global poverty

TUI Group set for hotel business unit expansion

RedDoorz launches fourth label aimed at urban, corporate travellers

Singapore organisations pioneer tourism sustainability programme to nurture future talent

Penang revives fam trips, readies for return of tourism business

Rebuilding, rethinking travel

Catching first rays

Malaysia trade rolls out deals to lure returning Singapore visitors

Tried and Tested

Knai Bang Chatt by Kep West

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