Accor and Nomura Real Estate Development Co. will land the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts brand in Japan with the opening of Fairmont Tokyo in 2025.
The first Fairmont in Japan will offer 219 guestrooms, and occupy the upper floors of the South Tower of the Shibaura Project, part of a development designed under the National Strategic Special Zone Program.
Fairmont Tokyo to open in 2025
The hotel will also offer a host of facilities, from F&B and fitness centre to meeting and banquet spaces.
Garth Simmons, CEO, Accor Southeast Asia, Japan & South Korea, said: “Like all Fairmont properties around the world, the hotel is set to become the epicentre of Tokyo’s social scene and will bring a new level of personalised service and thoughtful luxury to the city.”
Thailand-based ground operator and travel specialist Tripseed has announced a range of new services to provide local and online representation for operators wishing to tap into the US$14.9 billion Thai outbound travel market.
Tripseed’s new market representation services will include the localisation of sales and marketing to appeal to Thai audiences, consultation on market penetration and product development to align travel packages with market demand, and on-the-ground representation at travel fairs and exhibitions around the country.
Tripseed has announced a range of new services to provide local and online representation for operators
The company has already been operating domestic and outbound trips over the past six months for Thai travellers to Australia and the US, with Western Europe and the UK as the most popular longhaul destinations.
It has been building strong partnerships over the past year as the leading ground operator of choice for travel agents and tour operators that are sending travellers to Thailand. As the market gradually recovers, Tripseed seeks to align its domestic success with inbound travel services for its international partners.
According to the UNWTO, European Travel Commission, and Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism & Sports, the Thailand outbound tourism market was one of the fastest growing in the region prior to the pandemic. In 2019, the outbound tourism expenditure of Thai travellers reached a record peak just shy of US$15 billion, surpassing its close competitors Malaysia and Indonesia, and placing the country behind only China and Singapore in regional outbound expenditure.
Confident that the strong resurgence in demand for outbound travel makes the perfect opportunity for international agents and operators to consider tapping into new markets and diversifying their businesses, Tripseed’s co-founder Narissara Wongmahawan said: “At Tripseed, we’ve always been centred around a single goal – to grow our partners’ businesses. The launch of our market representation services is just the natural progression of how we continue to achieve this.”
Tripseed’s initial focus will be on extending its partnerships with operators and agents in key longhaul outbound markets, which are already collaborating with Tripseed as their ground operator in Thailand.
“This aligns with the demand we have received from within our domestic Thai market, to provide outbound travel services to the UK, Europe, the US and Australia,” added Narissara.
“Following this, we’ll also be expanding the offering of these services out to suppliers and partners in popular short-haul destinations for the Thai market including hotels and operators in Japan, South Korea and China.”
Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives offers stunning accommodation such as the Family Overwater Villa, Premium Deluxe Sunset Overwater Villa, and a collection of beachfront villas that include private pools and access to the powder-soft sand. Facilities include a spa, fitness centre, kids club, and a variety of restaurants, bars and lounges.
Families can bond over activities like tennis, volleyball, water sports, snorkelling and scuba diving, or explore the beauty of the Maldives with excursions including snorkelling adventures, semi submarine rides, as well as whale shark, turtle or manta sighting cruises.
Summer holiday at Centara Maldives
Lovebirds can head to Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives, an exquisite adults-only island retreat in the North Malé Atoll, less than 20 minutes away by speedboat from Velana International Airport.
Housing a collection of beachfront and overwater accommodation, such as the Deluxe Spa Overwater Villa that comes with an outdoor spa bathtub and direct steps down to the reef – perfect for swimming or snorkelling around the lagoon; and the Premium Deluxe Sunset Overwater Villa with an ocean-facing deck, outdoor spa bathtub and access to the sparkling lagoon.
There are seven restaurants and bars, spa, and water sports facilities available at Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives.
DidaTravel has entered an agreement with Leonardo Hotels Central Europe, allowing DidaTravel’s B2B buyers to gain real-time inventory to Leonardo Hotels Central Europe’s 15,000 over rooms across 88 properties.
Leonardo Hotels Central Europe’s brands include Leonardo Hotels, Leonardo Royal Hotels, Leonardo Boutique Hotels and NYX Hotels by Leonardo Hotels in destinations like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Spain and Italy.
The partnership with DidaTravel will significantly expand the global B2B reach of Leonardo Hotels Central Europe
This partnership will significantly expand the global B2B reach of Leonardo Hotels Central Europe, giving it access to DidaTravel’s 23,000 B2B buyers comprising travel agencies, tour operators, airlines and TMCs based in more than 50 source markets worldwide. Over half of the buyers are based outside of Asia-Pacific.
DidaTravel had announced plans to increase the number of directly contracted hotels to 74,000 by the end of 2022, with over 30 hotel chains already in pipeline.
Rikin Wu, DidaTravel founder and CEO said: “Leonardo Hotels Central Europe is one of the leading hotel chains in the region and we are very pleased to partner with a chain known for its high quality and service standards. We are confident that DidaTravel’s technology, experience and extensive global B2B network will help them attract incremental high-value, international travellers now that safe travel has returned.”
Sandra Dreher, vice president sales & marketing at Leonardo Hotels Central Europe added: “Leonardo Hotels Central Europe is looking forward to the new cooperation with DidaTravel and extending our distribution reach across a wider international pool. We are convinced that our portfolio is an attractive new addition for the extensive network of travel buyers and believe that this agreement will produce further synergies for both partners.”
The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort in Doha, Qatar has a new director of sales and marketing.
Ali Moussa, who has more than a decade of senior sales and marketing experience opening luxury hotels in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, will play a strategic role in the brand’s debut and commercial success in Qatar’s luxury hospitality landscape.
Prior to his new appointment, Ali was a key member of the pre-opening team of Dream Doha, as director of sales, for Dream Hotel Group’s flagship luxury hotel in Qatar.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on May 23 that mass vaccinations are not needed against the monkeypox outbreak that has spread beyond Africa.
Latest reports this week state that there are about 200 confirmed and suspected cases across at least a dozen countries, most of them being in Europe.
Good personal hygiene, contact tracing and isolation will help control the transmission of Monkeypox
The US and the UK are making some vaccines available while Germany is mulling options for vaccinations, isolation and quarantine. On May 23, Belgium ordered mandatory monkeypox quarantine; it is the first country to do so.
A senior official at WHO said measures like good hygiene, safe sexual behaviour, contact tracing and isolation will help control its spread, and noted that the virus does not spread very easily.
In a statement issued May 21, WHO said epidemiological investigations are ongoing, and reported cases have no established travel links to endemic areas. As the situation is evolving and surveillance is expanded in non-endemic countries, WHO expects more cases of monkeypox will be identified.
Medan’s tourism players are expecting arrivals to North Sumatra to rebound with the return of regional airlines to Kuala Namu International Airport.
Malaysian Airlines resumed its Kuala Lumpur-Medan flights on April 22 while AirAsia did the same on April 27. Most recently, Singapore Airlines recommenced its Singapore-Medan services.
Regional flights to Medan are helping to facilitate longhaul arrivals
Resylia Martinez, corporate general manager for sales & marketing with Horison Hotels Group, told TTG Asia that the resumption of international flights “indicates that demand for tourist and business trips to Indonesia is increasing”.
Returning air access between Medan and Malaysia and Singapore is very much welcome, stated Prita Gero, spokesperson for Santika Hotells & Resorts Group, as both markets contribute 40 to 42 per cent of the hotel’s business.
These regional flights are also facilitating the return of longhaul travellers too. According to Christine Kowandi, tour manager of Horas Tours, French and German customers have started to return to Medan since May 12.
Sharing the same observation, Yulhendry, director of Synergi Ravelino Tours & Travel, said both Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines have helped to bring back travellers, although the “numbers are still small” compared to pre-pandemic levels.
For tourism in Medan and North Sumatra to truly recover, Yulhendry said direct flights from Europe must resume.
“Tourists from Europe take longer holidays. The French and Germans usually spend three weeks, while tourists from the Netherlands usually travel for four weeks. They do not only visit Medan, but also explore all places in Sumatra,” he explained.
The resumption of international scheduled flights to India in March has helped to nurture a return in inbound business, inspiring business confidence among some Indian destination players.
Prateek Hira, president & CEO, Tornos India, said the inbound season beginning in October is looking very positive, with two large groups from the UK confirmed for November.
Wellness experiences in India are attracting a younger segment of travellers now
Inbound specialists say wellness products are in demand, and early trends are pointing to keener interest from younger travellers.
Abhilash K Ramesh, executive director, Kairali Ayurvedic Group, said travellers from German-speaking markets, North America and Japan are showing up for wellness experiences.
“Traditionally, the average age of our clients from European markets was 45 years, but this year we are seeing demand from those in their 30s,” shared Ramesh.
While there were expectations that India’s inbound recovery would be driven by short-haul markets, stakeholders are relieved to see that traditional longhaul source markets like Europe and the US were still biting.
Hira said it is now time for the tourism ministry and state tourism boards to “aggressively market India internationally”, and “send a strong message that we are ready to welcome international tourists”.
While confidence is up, recovery will take time. Arun Anand, managing director, Midtown Travels, expects inbound performance to only match pre-pandemic numbers in 2023 at the earliest.
Silversea Cruises is well-positioned to capitalise on the new travel trends and changing consumer preferences emerging from the pandemic, Adam Radwanski, managing director, Asia-Pacific told TTG Asia.
An appreciation for slow travel and more immersive experiences, as well as a propensity to splurge on more luxurious offerings – a result of accumulated wealth from the lack of prior travel opportunities – meant greater business opportunity for the ultra-luxury expedition cruise line.
Silversea commits to bringing in more capacity and the latest ships to Asia in the future
That appetite has resulted in a longer average cruise trip duration post-pandemic – from 16 days before to 18 days now, shared Radwanski. Guests are also keen to book more expensive selections.
Lured by great potential in Asia, Radwanski said the cruise line would roll out plans to grow Silversea’s presence, capture demand, and ride on the explosive growth in the region.
Despite the current challenging climate, he is very clear that slashing prices is not part of his strategy. Strong differentiation ensures the jewel in the crown of the Royal Caribbean Group remains ahead of the curve.
For one, Silversea is the world leader in expedition cruising, which is a hit with travellers in Asia. These breathtaking sea adventures see guests exploring aspirational bucket list-worthy destinations such as Antarctica, Arctic and Galapagos.
The ultra-luxury brand also has in place novel onboard ecosystems which are not easily replicated by competitors, Radwanki opined.
Take Silversea’s groundbreaking S.A.L.T. culinary programme for instance – it enables travellers to dive deep into culinary cultures.
He explained: “It creates a smooth experience starting from the cooking classes onboard, through to the restaurants and bars which have their menus and drinks changing daily depending on the destinations and ports; enrichment lectures in our theatres about the history of food in different countries and then to shore excursions to local markets.”
Always mindful of the unique needs of its business partners in different countries, as well as customers’ evolving preferences, Radwanski is also looking to localise content and review communication methods to find the most effective way to connect with them meaningfully.
He visits and speaks with trade partners in Asia to get a good grasp of ground sentiments and regulatory updates first-hand. Silversea conducts regular surveys to stay relevant to luxury travellers’ needs and uses findings to guide the cruise line’s business approach.
Radwanski said Asia sailings would resume as early as September this year, and at least three ships are planned for deployment in the region next year.
China and Japan remain strategic markets for Silversea, while its core target segment remains the baby boomers with high spending power. However, Radwanski is seeing strong potential in multi-generational groups, with families travelling together and couples in groups on the rise across the region.
Radwanki added: “Our commitment to Asia will not change, we will continue to invest in this market and as we grow, we will bring in more capacity and the latest ships in the future. We will also enhance the products in Asia, like finding interesting itineraries and ports, and growing Singapore as a base for cruising.”
While career advisors typically urge a clear distinction between work and personal life, C Raaj Ganesh, CEO of Penangs.com, has found advantage in bringing both together – much to the delight of children and teenagers with special needs in his community.
Raaj uses his expertise in event management, and his network of contacts, to organise sporting events in Penang for young ones with special needs. He does this on top of running a full-time business centred on destination weddings in Penang, an online platform connecting travellers to verified tourist guides, and customised tours for travellers.
Penangs.com’s C Raaj Ganesh leverages his event management expertise to create non-profit sporting events for people with special needs
Growing up with an elder sister with Down Syndrome, he understands the importance of human interaction to improve the social skills and general well-being of those with special needs. At the same time, these interactions help others to understand the challenges faced by people with disabilities.
According to Raaj, his sporting events earn support from the local council in Penang. The council would sponsor the venue for activities, while Raaj would take care of the transportation and refreshments for the players.
His first project was in 2017, when he organised a nine-day event that involved Australian children and teenagers with special needs and their caregivers, the National Autism Society in Penang, and a government-funded secondary school in Penang for teenagers with special needs. The youngsters had fun interacting over activities such as bowling, cricket and sepak takraw. He also arranged a tour of Penang for the group of 46 attendees from Australia.
His work on such sporting events is driven by passion, and has no plans to turn them into a business. He told TTG Asia that he only hoped the events would provide “invaluable opportunities for interaction” between the Malaysian participants and their Australian peers.
Raaj is expanding the number of these special sporting events in Penang, with a walk and badminton game coming up this year
With the Malaysian borders now opened to the world, Raaj has received interest from two non-profit organisations in Australia keen on bringing children with special needs to Penang next year for sports interaction with their Malaysian counterparts.
For now, Raaj is busy planning for the ASEAN Autism Awareness Walk on July 3. This is a two-kilometre walk that starts and ends at Youth Park Penang. The event welcomes everyone, not just those with autism.
Raaj hopes the event will generate greater empathy for those with disabilities, and provide good networking opportunities for people with special needs, their caregivers and the general population.
He has plans later this year for a badminton event in Penang, which will be open to those with special needs.
Prior to his new appointment, Ali was a key member of the pre-opening team of Dream Doha, as director of sales, for Dream Hotel Group’s flagship luxury hotel in Qatar.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said on May 23 that mass vaccinations are not needed against the monkeypox outbreak that has spread beyond Africa.
Latest reports this week state that there are about 200 confirmed and suspected cases across at least a dozen countries, most of them being in Europe.
The US and the UK are making some vaccines available while Germany is mulling options for vaccinations, isolation and quarantine. On May 23, Belgium ordered mandatory monkeypox quarantine; it is the first country to do so.
A senior official at WHO said measures like good hygiene, safe sexual behaviour, contact tracing and isolation will help control its spread, and noted that the virus does not spread very easily.
In a statement issued May 21, WHO said epidemiological investigations are ongoing, and reported cases have no established travel links to endemic areas. As the situation is evolving and surveillance is expanded in non-endemic countries, WHO expects more cases of monkeypox will be identified.