Sunway Resort set to unveil massive brand new look

June 10, 2022

A revitalised Sunway Resort at Sunway City will reopen in phases from this month to unveil new accommodation categories and fresh guest experiences.

The US$60 million transformation of Sunway Resort, which began in early 2020, will deliver 12 new room and suite categories, a new lobby with 24k gold leaf ceilings, landscaped pools with underwater speakers, and the world’s first Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill to be located outside London.

Sunway Resort will reopen in phases from June this year

Technology is utilised throughout the property to enhance the guest experience, starting with contactless check-in and keyless room entry, and carrying through to a custom-built app with multiple functions that guests will find useful.

Sunway Resort also deploys specialist iButlers that will set up devices, offer demonstrations, and deliver nifty gadgets such as Harman Kardon headphones and sound bars.

Guests can expect spa-inspired bathrooms, which feature a walk-in chromotherapy shower that uses colour and light as a restorative therapy, as well as a free-standing bathtub.

With sustainability being a driving philosophy at Sunway, the transformation has brought in advanced air-conditioning systems, smart curtains, solar panels and motion-sensor LED lighting to further improve energy efficiency. The use of plastic bags has been discontinued, and an urban hydroponic farm by Sunway XFarms supplies healthy, farm-fresh produce to the resort’s restaurants.

Alex Castaldi, senior general manager of Sunway City Kuala Lumpur Hotels, said in a press statement that one of the “truly unique” aspects of Sunway Resort’s transformation is the introduction of bespoke room categories for corporate travellers, families and wellness seekers.

The Corporate Suites feature a fully-connected office space with essential amenities such as a printer, scanner and wireless chargers, while the Wellness Suite is equipped with in-room fitness equipment and an ambient sound and light machine to support deep sleep.

The Family Fun Suite showcases the latest in virtual entertainment, including a multi-player game console and a karaoke machine.

Malaysian agents put Japan on sale, with trips as early as July

By S Puvaneswary

June 9, 2022

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Malaysian outbound agents are eyeing Japan as a new destination to sell from June 10 when borders are finally eased open for foreign, non-essential travellers.

Forward bookings is strong for Malaysia based Apple Vacations & Conventions, which is planning group departures from next month.

Tours to places in Japan, like Hokkaido, will include more nature-based activities

Koh Yock Heng, the agency’s group managing director, shared that itineraries would include more outdoor and nature-based activities, and group sizes would be limited to 25 people to cater to travellers’ preference post-lockdown.

In conjunction with year-end school holidays, Apple Vacations is organising six charter flights to Hokkaido as well as selling tours to other parts of Japan on scheduled airlines. Of the 5,000 seats available, including the charters, some 45 per cent has been sold, shared Koh.

Rosli Seth, managing director of Feel Japan with K, also has departures to Kanazawa and Tokyo in July and August. Programmes will avoid crowded places during peak hours as a health precaution.

Japan’s strict requirements for inbound travellers, which include group travel only, present business opportunities for travel agents, said Adam Kamal, general manager, Suka Travel, who noted that pre-pandemic, Malaysian travellers typically made their own bookings and arrangements instead of relying on agents.

Kyrgyzstan makes a move on Indian travellers

By Rohit Kaul

June 9, 2022

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The central Asian nation of Kyrgyz Republic, commonly known as Kyrgyzstan, looks to double its tourist arrivals from India and has stepped up its trade engagements to meet the target.

The Kyrgyz Republic hosted two roadshows in India, covering New Delhi on June 7 and Mumbai on June 8, and has recently appointed Salvia Promoters as its representative office in India for the promotion of tourism.

Kyrgyzstan looks to attract travellers from India to visit

The Kyrgyz Republic also formed a Tourism Development Support Fund two months back with an initial corpus of around US$13 million, aimed at backing tourism infrastructure development and to pitch the country as an investment destination for tourism and hospitality projects. The fund will also be used for tourism marketing activities.

“Our prime objective at present is to create awareness in the Indian market about various tourism products and experiences available in the Kyrgyz Republic. We are looking to promote our untouched nature, nomadic heritage and silk route sites in the Indian market. We also want Indian companies to invest in our country’s tourism and hospitality projects,” said Elena Kalashnikova, president, Tourism Development Support Fund, Kyrgyz Republic.

There is now a visa processing centre in New Delhi to enable hassle-free application for Indian tourists.

“We are planning familiarisation trips for travel agents and wedding planners (and to) promote Kyrgyzstan through social media. We will also organise roadshows in South Indian cities in the near future,” said Prashant Chaudhary, managing director, Salvia Promoters.

Direct scheduled flights between the two countries are on the anvil.

“Carriers including Air Manas and Aero Nomad will soon begin direct flights between India and Kyrgyz Republic, which we expect will boost the tourist flow,” said Asein Isaev, ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic in India.

New Zealand’s capital named one of most eco-friendly in the world

By TTG Asia

June 9, 2022

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Wellington has been named as one of the top 10 eco-cities in the world in Lonely Planet’s new Sustainable Travel Handbook.

Having committed to the Paris Agreement in law in 2019, New Zealand is aiming for zero net carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, and Wellington is leading the way by having the lowest emissions per capita of any Australasian city.

Wellington is home to the world’s first fully-fenced urban sanctuary, Zealandia

The capital was recently named one of 15 cities worldwide to win the Bloomberg Mayor’s Challenge for its video-game-like climate change tool. It was also recognised as the most beautiful large city in New Zealand.

Wellington offers a fully electric high-performance passenger ferry; sustainable electric e-motorbike, Streetdog; and the world’s first fully-fenced urban sanctuary, Zealandia.

There are also four entertainment venues in Wellington that are the first in New Zealand to be awarded EarthCheck’s Bronze Benchmark accreditation.

The city’s new conference and exhibition centre, Tākina, opening mid-2023, has already bagged a 5-Star Green Star certification representing New Zealand excellence for environmental sustainability. The centre will result in a 60 per cent reduction in energy use and a 66 per cent reduction in operational carbon emissions, when benchmarked against a comparable new-build.

Silversea back in Australian waters after two years

By TTG Asia

June 9, 2022

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Silversea Cruises celebrates its return to Australia with Silver Explorer’s 10-day exploration of the Kimberley coast – the first of eight voyages for the 2022 season.

The ship departed Darwin on June 4.

Silver Muse will return to Australia this December

“We are so pleased to welcome the rest of the world back to Australian shores. The Kimberley region is among the most treasured in the world and we are thrilled to offer Silversea’s ultra-luxury expedition experience to our valued guests,” said Adam Radwanski, managing director for Asia-Pacific, Silversea, adding that Australia is regarded as a key growth market.

Silversea recommenced global operations in June 2021, and will have all 10 ships in its fleet back in the waters by today.

Beyond the 2022 season, Silver Explorer will offer 10 sailings for the 2023 season, commencing in May 2023. Voyages on Silver Explorer in the Kimberley region are nearly sold out for 2022, with suites available for 2023.

Silver Muse will also return to Australia this early December. In early January 2023, Silver Whisper will arrive in Auckland, while Silver Shadow will depart Sydney for the 2023 World Cruise.

Other itineraries for Silver Explorer in 2023 include the Darwin-to-Darwin 10-day exploration of the spectacular Kimberley region; and the Darwin-to-Perth 17-day voyage sailing along the coastline of Western Australia.

Trip.com chooses to get greener with travel

By TTG Asia

June 9, 2022

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Trip.com has partnered with climate-tech company CHOOOSE to launch an integrated carbon solution that enable its users worldwide to calculate and offset their flight’s carbon dioxide emissions by supporting impactful climate solutions around the world.

The CHOOOSE solution is integrated directly into the Trip.com platform, allowing customers to seamlessly address their carbon dioxide emissions during the booking journey. For a small cost, travellers’ offsets will support projects that either reduce, capture, or avoid carbon dioxide emissions in an amount equivalent to the flight’s calculated emissions.

Trip.com and CHOOOSE’s integrated carbon solution helps travellers understand and address the carbon dioxide emissions from their travel

Jane Sun, CEO, Trip.com Group, said: “As part of our mission to lead the global transformation to modern and more environmentally-responsible travel, we have partnered with CHOOOSE to contribute towards highly effective carbon dioxide-mitigating projects around the world. This makes it easier and simpler for Trip.com users to offset their flight’s carbon dioxide emissions during checkout on our platform and travel more responsibly.”

Trip.com and CHOOOSE calculate carbon dioxide emissions based on factors such as a flight’s distance, capacity and flight time, in accordance with the latest industry guidelines. This calculation helps to inform the cost to offset the journey, as well as guide which itineraries may be producing the least amount of carbon dioxide per passenger.

Andreas Slettvoll, CEO, CHOOOSE, said: “We see an increasing demand from individuals and companies around the world wanting to understand the carbon dioxide emissions from their travel and to address these emissions through solutions like carbon removals, offsets and sustainable aviation fuel. That’s why we are thrilled to team up with Trip.com to offer integrated climate options as a seamless part of their booking process, making climate action more accessible for people worldwide.”

Both companies have selected a range of high-impact carbon dioxide mitigation projects around the world that either reduce, remove, or avoid carbon dioxide emissions. The projects are carefully vetted by carbon professionals and certified to the most comprehensive standards such as the Gold Standard, a leading international carbon protocol. This ensures that the projects create the highest possible carbon impact and a real benefit to local communities, so travellers know their contributions make a difference.

Singapore to launch sustainable aviation fuel credits

By TTG Asia

June 9, 2022

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The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), Singapore Airlines (SIA), and Temasek will launch in July the sale of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) credits as part of a pilot announced in November 2021 to advance the use of SAF in Singapore.

A total of 1,000 SAF credits will be available for sale, generated from the 1,000 tonnes of neat SAF which are blended, delivered and uplifted from Singapore Changi Airport. These are expected to cut carbon dioxide emission by 2,500 tonnes. Every credit purchased will help to reduce 2.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

SAF credits can be purchased directly from SIA to help stimulate demand, support development and advance the adoption of SAF for aviation sustainability

The launch of the SAF credits provides customers, including corporate and individual travellers, an avenue to do their part for the environment. By purchasing these credits, they can also help to stimulate demand for SAF, support the development of the nascent SAF industry, and advance the adoption of SAF for aviation sustainability.

The SAF credits will be registered as part of a pilot project within the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) Book & Claim System to ensure that the SAF credit transactions are conducted in a trusted and transparent manner, with no double counting of credits. The Book & Claim System is enabled by the RSB, a global membership organisation that drives the sustainable transition to a bio-based and circular economy.

The SAF credits can be purchased directly from SIA.

From 4Q2022, all SIA customers will be able to purchase a mix of SAF credits and carbon offsets, as part of the SIA Group Voluntary Carbon Offset Programme. SIA will also partner Climate Impact X (CIX), a global exchange for quality carbon credits, to introduce a bundled portfolio consisting of SAF credits and carbon credits. The product will be designed to meet corporate demand for SAF while balancing affordability.

Lee Wen Fen, senior vice president corporate planning, Singapore Airlines, said: “As we progress with the SAF pilot in Singapore, we can now offer more opportunities for our corporate customers and travellers to mitigate their carbon emissions using SAF credits, which are registered and accounted for within the RSB Book & Claim System. This will help to accelerate and scale up the collective adoption of SAF, reinforcing our commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

Indonesia travel players lambast Jakarta e-Prix 2022 for leaving out agents

By Tiara Maharani

June 8, 2022

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The inaugural ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (Jakarta e-Prix 2022) may have blazed a trail in the world of motorsports when it was held in the Indonesian capital city last week, but local travel players are not amused that the organisers have left travel agents out in sports tourism opportunities.

According to race organiser Jakarta Propertindo (Jakpro), the event at the new Jakarta International E-Prix Circuit attracted 22,000 spectators within the circuit, half of which were international visitors.

The first ABB FIA Formula E World Championship attracted 22,000 in-circuit spectators but travel players claim the benefit to inbound tourism was limited

Anies Baswedan, Jakarta governor, said the race was symbolic of the city’s future as it served as a test of Jakarta’s ability to hold an international sporting events of a higher level, such as the Formula One races.

To this end, Jakpro’s president director, Widi Amanasto, said Jakarta e-Prix 2022 has succeeded, as Jakarta is now seen as a desirable hub for sport events in the country.

“There are already racing events (of local and international scale) that will be held until the end of 2022 in Jakarta,” he said.

However, travel trade players argued that the event had little impact on Jakarta’s tourism industry.

Pauline Suharno, president of the Association of the Indonesian Travel Agents (ASTINDO), said travel agents were not relied for ticket distribution.

“Compared to the Mandalika MotoGP, where ASTINDO members were involved in ticket sales and the preparation of tour packages, the organisers of the Jakarta e-Prix 2022 have forgotten about travel operators. ASTINDO was not invited to collaborate on creating tour packages or to be ticket distribution channels,” she told TTG Asia.

Aditya A Wirakusuma, general manager of Grand Dafam Ancol, said Jakpro should look beyond the event’s sporting roots and position it for sports tourism in future. Collaborating with hospitality businesses would boost guest profiles beyond race entourage and organisers.

A dialogue with the travel operators was what Hasiyanna Ashadi, managing director of Marintur Indonesia, hoped to see in the future. There could be collaboration to “create more experiences for international visitors”, and for Marintur Indonesia to help promote event packages to overseas tour operators, which would ultimately raise “Jakarta’s popularity as sport tourism destination”.

BWH joins Sustainable Hospitality Alliance to influence responsible hospitality

By TTG Asia

June 8, 2022

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BWH Hotel Group (BWH) has joined the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (Alliance), and will work with the latter, along with the Alliance’s other member companies, to leverage the collective power of the industry to make a positive impact locally and on a global scale.

With BWH representing over 30 per cent of the hotel industry by room count, it has vast opportunity to bring about positive and meaningful change at all levels of the hospitality sector.

BWH will work with the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance to make a positive impact locally and on a global scale

“We are very proud to join the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance as an important step in our effort to build a robust, global ESG strategy for our company,” said Ron Pohl, president of international operations for BWH Hotel Group. “Not only do our guests, partners and developers expect that brands demonstrate a strong commitment to ESG efforts but executing an effective and comprehensive ESG programme is fundamentally the right thing to do.”

The Alliance works with the industry to assess the key global challenges affecting the planet and its people, prioritises activity to deliver impact through collective action, and aims to increase joined up action on sustainability across all parts of the hospitality value chain, bringing together owners, investors and other strategic partners to promote collaboration.

Patrick O’Meara, interim CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, said: “We are always encouraged to see the large global brands taking positive steps on their sustainability, which will have an impact right across the world. We welcome their expertise and contribution to enable us to support the whole industry to achieve critical sustainability goals.”

Agoda widens spotlight on qualified clean accommodation in Asia

By TTG Asia

June 8, 2022

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Following the success of its Clean Certified Accommodations programme Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, Agoda has expanded its partnerships to the Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan to better support the revitalisation of tourism.

The Clean Certified Accommodations programme identifies accommodation suppliers that satisfy the hygiene criteria in line with the local market and regional standards, and awards them with a Clean Certified Accommodation badge on the property page on Agoda’s platforms. Local hygiene certifications, such as Indonesia’s CHSE, Clean & Safe Malaysia, Korea Quality, Taiwan’s OK Travel in New Taipei City, the the Philippines’ Safety Seal, Thailand’s SHA+, and Singapore’s SG Clean, are currently displayed on Agoda’s platforms.

Agoda’s Travel Trend Survey noted that travellers seek assurances that hygiene measures at their destination are rigorous and follow global best practices

In line with travel trends noted in Agoda’s Travel Trend Survey, travellers seek assurances that hygiene measures at their destination are rigorous and follow global best practices. Survey respondents were most interested in “daily room disinfection” followed by “daily disinfection (of general areas)”, “providing hygiene standard listings”, and “hygiene certification from the government”.

“We are proud to partner with government authorities across Asia-Pacific and beyond, to promote hygiene standards for all travellers,” said Omri Morgenshtern, chief operating officer at Agoda.

“Agoda’s top priority has always been to help make travel easier, and travellers will be able to easily identify which properties meet the government cleanliness and hygiene standards in each market. Our objective for the Certified Clean Accommodation programme is to help promote hygiene protocols among our accommodation partners and offer a layer of confidence for travellers looking to get back out there. We want to continue doing everything we can to help rejuvenate the tourism economy in the best way we can.”

Sunway Resort set to unveil massive brand new look

Malaysian agents put Japan on sale, with trips as early as July

Kyrgyzstan makes a move on Indian travellers

New Zealand’s capital named one of most eco-friendly in the world

Silversea back in Australian waters after two years

Trip.com chooses to get greener with travel

Singapore to launch sustainable aviation fuel credits

Indonesia travel players lambast Jakarta e-Prix 2022 for leaving out agents

BWH joins Sustainable Hospitality Alliance to influence responsible hospitality

Agoda widens spotlight on qualified clean accommodation in Asia

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