A Portrait Of Bourdain: Celebrating His Life And Legacy

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April 8, 2022

The late Anthony Bourdain (Photo credit: Russel Wong)

Why
The secret is out! The late Anthony Bourdain’s Bob Kramer custom steel and meteorite chef knife, which sold for over US$231,250 in a 2019 auction of his personal belongings, has been revealed to have been acquired by The English House by Marco Pierre White in Singapore.

For some time, no one knew the identity of the lucky buyer. But here I was at the restaurant, fortunate enough to be peering closely at the renowned bladesmith’s bespoke culinary tool.

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During a recent media preview to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Bourdain, I was one of the first few to lay eyes on the exquisite collection of art and personal possessions of the celebrated chef, unveiled at The English House.

For the very first time in Singapore, the beloved collection is now available for public viewing exclusively at the legendary British chef-restaurateur’s establishment.

What
Displayed lovingly across the antiquated interiors of The English House, diners can discover Bourdain’s trove of cherished personal mementos, art and cultural artefacts collected during his exciting travels around the globe.

Apart from the Bob Kramer creation, the 150-seater restaurant is also home to other gems such as a chrome duck press the late chef became enamoured of during the Paris episode of The Layover; a French silvered bronze Michelin Man sculpture; a bronze skull and antler sculpture from long-time friend, White; an African carved wood and metal ritual power figure, Nkisi Nkondi, from the Portuguese colonial era which was gifted by a Mbole tribal chief; a pig chef sculpture; and intriguing works by contemporary artists Ralph Steadman and Brad Phillips.

Each item curated in the collection held special significance for Bourdain, either as gifts from friends or cherished buys picked up during his travels, creating and inspiring many on television.

Said The English House’s spokesperson, Chef Gabriel Fratini: “Anthony Bourdain was a renegade in the culinary, travel and entertainment worlds, and his experiences led him to amass a truly impressive collection of art – one that represents his eclectic taste, appreciation for discovery and, most notably, other cultures.”

I was most fascinated by the darkly hilarious works of English illustrator Ralph Steadman, especially the gritty silkscreen piece, Rats in the Kitchen, inscribed to Bourdain.

Deeply insightful with a mischievous dash of dark wit, the morbid depictions of an alcoholic cook and a dissected rat underline its droll commentary on kitchen life reflected by the themes Bourdain explored in Kitchen Confidential, his best-selling memoir.

Besides, I was also in for another delightful treat at the event, being seated at the same table as celebrity photographer, Russel Wong.

Over lunch, Wong shared engaging work tales of his collaborations with Bourdain when he was in Singapore – Wong once deployed a kitchen distributor venue in Bukit Merah as the set for Bourdain’s publicity shots for No Reservations and brought the late chef to savour roti prata at Jalan Kayu and other local favourites at hawker centres.

Bourdain was down-to-earth, had a reserved demeanour, was always respectful and had a deep knowledge of the cultures of others, according to Wong.

What’s more – for diners keen to sink their teeth into Bourdain’s favourite quintessentially Roman pasta dish, cacio e pepe, The English House can provide the flavourful offering on special request too.

Verdict
Don’t miss this opportunity to admire Bourdain’s treasured quirky possessions showcased within an equally whimsical venue.

The English House, nestled at Mohamed Sultan Road among a row of Singaporean conservation shophouses, is itself, a wonderous labyrinth decorated in vintage collectibles, impressive art, celebrity and movie memorabilia, as well as other novelty exhibits.

Think framed black and white photos by famed British photographer Terry O’Neill, featuring The Beatles, Elizabeth Taylor and David Bowie adorning the walls, and an antique carving trolley belonging to the late Hugh Hefner, founder of Playboy.

The unique interior and decor, which marry the best of Straits Chinese and classic 19th century Singapore shophouse design, were created as White’s passion project and pay homage to his love for culture.

Then, there is the restaurant’s must-try elevated international classics which include tasty signature dishes such as the homemade sausage roll, fresh lobster dumpling served with egg white and hairy crab sauce, delectable mains such as the beer battered wild cod, classic English favourite fillet of Aberdeen black angus wellington, and on special request – Bourdain’s favourite, cacio e pepe.

The art collection will be a permanent fixture at The English House and is only available for viewing to diners.

Location: 28 Mohamed Sultan Rd, Singapore 238972
Email: info@theenglishhouse.com
Website: https://www.theenglishhouse.com/

Ron Pohl heads up BWH Hotel Group and WorldHotels

By TTG Asia

April 8, 2022

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BWH Hotel Group has promoted Ron Pohl to the president of international operations BWH Hotel Group and president of WorldHotels.

In his new role, Pohl will be responsible for further strengthening the organisation’s presence around the world and enhancing the company’s operations on a global level.

Pohl joined the organisation in 2007 and previously served as senior vice president and chief operations officer. Prior to joining Best Western, Pohl spent 25 years with Boykin Management Company and Marriott Corporation. With Boykin, he served in a number of senior-level positions and, ultimately, senior vice president of operations.

Pohl currently serves on the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Board of Directors, the Advisory Board for Grand Canyon University and previously served on the board of directors for the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland.

Radisson Hotel Group outlines latest sustainability targets

By TTG Asia

April 7, 2022

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Net zero, diversity in the company, and community support are among the latest sustainability targets Radisson Hotel Group has outlined and aligned with its strategic five-year plan.

Its sustainability efforts are guided by three responsible business pillars of Think People, Think Community, and Think Planet.

The group’s sustainability efforts are guided by three responsible business pillars of Think People, Think Community, and Think Planet

Under the Think Planet banner, the group will build on its heritage of sustainability by committing to set science-based emission reduction targets, and strengthen its performance with a net zero carbon future in sight by 2050.

The group will be part of the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign and will join the UNFCCC Race to Zero campaign as part of an important, globally coordinated effort to reach the goal of net zero.

Under the Think People banner, the group will maintain its focus on the health, safety and security of its team members, guests, and business partners. It has also reaffirmed its ongoing focus on human rights, business ethics, and diversity in hotels worldwide by issuing its sixth slavery and human trafficking statement and by increasing the number of women in leadership roles to 29 per cent.

The group continues to expand its online Learning and Development initiatives in partnership with hospitality training provider, Typsy. Training hours was increased by 120 per cent in 2021 over 2020.

Under the Think Community banner, the company remains supportive of the communities where it works and operates. Team members have volunteered more than 26,500 hours and donated more than 510,000 euros (US$) to charitable causes, including SOS Children’s Villages and Just A Drop. The group has supported 12 environmental and social carbon offsetting projects in China, India, Peru, the US, Turkey, and Borneo through its 100% Carbon Neutral Meetings initiative.

Beyond the three pillars, Radisson Hotel Group is playing a key role in the development of the Hotel Sustainability Basics in cooperation with the WTTC. The objective of the initiative is to create consistency across the industry and provide clear-to-recognise, easy-to-implement, and meaningful steps to improve sustainability at any given hotel. The Basics Framework will raise the global starting level of hotel sustainability in a transparent and easy-to-understand manner for all travellers and stakeholders.

“Our world needs responsible businesses now more than ever, and we need to accelerate global climate action by 2030 in order to ensure a livable future for both our people and our planet,” said Inge Huijbrechts, global senior vice president sustainability, security and corporate communications.

“We are proud to be playing a leadership role in the development of the Hotel Sustainability Basics, which will launch later this year to establish a common industry framework to grow sustainable travel. Together with our new Build Planet guidelines to develop sustainable hotel asset portfolios, these are essential step-changes that need to be made on the route to net zero,” Huijbrechts added.

Indonesia scraps on-arrival PCR tests, expands visa-free facility

By Mimi Hudoyo

April 7, 2022

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Fully vaccinated international travellers to Indonesia no longer need to complete a PCR test on arrival from April 6, while visa-free entry has been expanded to all travellers from ASEAN countries.

According to a circular from Indonesia’s Covid-19 Task Force, fully vaccinated international travellers will only need to show a negative PCR test taken up to 48 hours before flight.

Travellers will undergo a body temperature and Covid-19 symptoms check at the airport. Those with symptoms or an elevated body temperature of 37.5*C or more must take a PCR test and wait for their result at their hotel. Should a positive result show, travellers must isolate at a hotel or other facilities appointed by the government, while those with severe symptoms must be treated at appointed hospitals.

Travellers with one dose of vaccine must undergo a five-day quarantine at a certified hotel, while those with comorbidity diseases must show a medical statement.

Unvaccinated travellers under 18 years old – a change from the previous 12 year old limit – may enter when travelling with parents who meet Indonesia’s health requirements

The other requirements remain the same.

In another change to Indonesia’s entry policy, visa-free entry is now offered to travellers from ASEAN countries. Previously, the facility was only available to Singapore citizens and ASEAN member country passport holders with Singapore permanent residency.

The Indonesia Directorate General of Immigration has also added Timor Leste to the list of nationalities eligible for visa on arrival (VoA) facility, which now totals 43 countries.

The requirements for both visa-free and VoA remain the same, although the number of entry points has expanded. Previously, visa-free entry for ASEAN nationals was only available in Batam and Bintan while VoA entry was only possible via Bali. From April 6, the airports of Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Makassar, Manado and Yogyakarta, as well as the seaports of Batam and Bintan, are valid.

Empower to transform

By Mimi Hudoyo

April 7, 2022

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FATA is an established association in ASEAN, but there is always room for improvement. In what ways should FATA improve?
FATA has been established for decades, but I still hear people ask “what is FATA?” and “do you mean PATA?”. The branding of our organisation needs to be revitalised. We need to inform the world who we are and what we do. When looking for travel agencies in (South-east Asia), people should immediately think of FATA.

What are you going to do about that?
We need to start from within the organisation. Presently, FATA members are represented by the president of the national associations of ASEAN countries or their official representatives. The FATA presidency period and the chairmanship period of their associations at home are different – this is the problem. We often see changes of representatives at the FATA Board when a national association election takes place and a new president is elected, making it difficult to form a solid team to create workable programmes. With the pandemic, meetings and discussions could only be done online, making it more challenging for board members to bond. For the board to work effectively, such chemistry is important.

Secondly, we need ASEAN members to understand the benefits of becoming members, otherwise this organisation will not be able to grow. Currently, not all 10 member countries have joined FATA. Also, some countries have more than one travel agency-related association that we hope to attract. For example, in Indonesia, there are ASTINDO, ASITA and IINTOA, which is an inbound specialist association.

Those seem to be fundamental issues in an organisation. How can this change?
National association members should appoint a representative to sit at FATA, who can dedicate their time and thoughts in the organisation. The representatives do not have to be the associations’ presidents themselves, as they may be too busy managing their own associations.

FATA also needs to have an executive director, who will run the programmes set by the board. The executive director will also be the one to consistently attend the meetings.

Does FATA have the budget to finance it?
While the spirit of togetherness is high in ASEAN, budget is always an issue. We need to create programmes and activities that both benefit members and bring in income. We also need to develop partnerships with NTOs and other organisations.

Before the pandemic, FATA had successfully organised FATA Convention twice. We had an NTO sponsor who hosted the events in Malaysia and Thailand, and participants who paid registration fees. The event discussed trends and issues faced by the travel industry and provided a means for participants to network with others.

During the pandemic, ASTINDO held an online travel mart inviting buyers from FATA to attend as buyers – something that other FATA members could do in their markets, so that there will be more intra-ASEAN B2B events than the annual ASEAN Tourism Forum.

At ASTINDO, we also started off from nothing to creating programmes with regional and international NTOs to promote destinations. The Indonesian government noticed our active role at ASEAN forums, and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy appointed us to handle a fam trip a couple of years ago. We contacted our counterparts at FATA to select and invite their members who had Indonesia in their market mix to join. Such activities help our national association members to scale up their businesses. Without our executive director’s support, the ASTINDO board would otherwise not be able to work effectively.

So, FATA needs an executive director. Previously, Hamzah Rahmat had volunteered as executive CEO of FATA and was behind the success of FATA Conventions. However, we cannot expect volunteers (all the time) and will need to work on the budget for one.

Do you think such events are key to attracting more membership?
It will be useful (to) create more awareness but that is not all FATA can and should do.

An association provides a platform for members to share best practices for the counterparts to learn, and takes on the role of a firefighter. It solves common problems faced by its members, such as insurance or bank guarantee issues with airlines.

FATA will bring up these issues to the international level by talking to IATA on behalf of associations in ASEAN member countries.

For example, during the pandemic, IATA issued a no-refund policy for unused issued tickets because the airlines were also running out of funds. Instead, they issued vouchers for later use. FATA, through dialogues with the regional IATA in Singapore, managed to get IATA approval for cash refund. However, only those who took the effort to collect data from their national associations’ members and submitted data got their money back.

That is just one example of how FATA is beneficial for its members. However, members will need to actively do their part so that their national association members can enjoy the benefits, such as actively participating at FATA meetings and informing their associations at home of our plans and discussions.

Looking at the internal issues still pertaining, how long will it take for the FATA brand to be established?
It is a big job and will take time, but we need to start somewhere. I would like the FATA board to meet more often – currently, the meetings take place four times a year. The interval is too long to plan for a programme. We could add more online meetings, which we have become so used to during the pandemic.

In terms of programme implementations, it won’t be easy to equate visions of all member countries so we will start with pilot projects. On the NTO level, the ASEAN spirit of togetherness is ultimate. A programme can be implemented only when all members have ratified it, but we do not want that with our programmes. Those with similar vision can start first. When it works, the rest will hopefully join in.

We will be reactivating our FATA website and improving our social media presence.

We would also like to restart the FATA Convention. Manado, North Sulawesi has indicated its interest to host and I will be following up on it.

Intensified marketing, novel experiences lead Singapore’s tourism return

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April 7, 2022

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01_Trifecta_will_be_the_first_attraction_in_Asia_to_house_three_action_sports_arenas_–_surf,_snow,_and_skate_640 — Trifecta

As destinations race to recapture tourism dollars, Singapore’s key preoccupation is to differentiate the city-state from its competitors, emphasised chief executive of Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Keith Tan.

Speaking at the Tourism Industry Conference 2022 yesterday, Tan unveiled a host of initiatives aimed at stimulating travel demand and rebuilding arrivals.

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Key among STB’s efforts is an expanded SingapoReimagine international recovery campaign, which will be carried out over the next six to 12 months in critical source markets like Indonesia, Australia and India.

In Indonesia, the second-largest market for the city-state after China, STB is relying on a combination of creative activations and attractive incentives to raise Singapore’s desirability. An example, STB has an ongoing collaboration with Artotel Group and Far East Hospitality, where the hotel groups have designed unique Singapore-themed rooms in their Indonesia hotels, and are offering exclusive discounts at Far East properties in Singapore.

STB also promoted Singapore’s tourism offerings with redeemable rewards at the Astindo Travel fair in Jakarta last month.

To further market Singapore and spur conversions, STB is now firming up partnerships with Indonesian banks and malls.

These in-market efforts are complemented by intensified regional and global partnerships to feature the destination. Singapore Airlines, Qantas, AirAsia, Changi Airport, Expedia, Klook and WarnerMedia are among the many partners.

Enhanced offerings
Later in the year, STB will launch a new incentive programme that will offer travellers a complimentary experience when they visit Singapore.

“We want to delight our visitors with hidden gem surprises so that they experience more of Singapore, in an unexpected way,” Tan explained, and urged industry players to support the programme by developing more unique and unusual experiences that will reel in repeat visitors especially.

Building towards mid- and long-term goals Tan said Singapore’s immediate initiatives must support medium to longer-term strategies for 2030 and beyond, and STB has drawn up forward-looking plans that are termed, Tourism 203X.

Tourism 203X comprises four key pillars: defending Singapore’s business events position as a global-Asia node; developing Singapore as a sustainable urban destination; strengthening Singapore’s urban wellness offerings; and doubling the fun quotient of events and experiences in Singapore.

On the business events front, Singapore will create, attract and grow high-quality events out of Singapore that are aligned with the country’s economic focus and critical needs of the future, such as sustainability, urban solutions and fintech.

Expanding on Singapore’s sustainable destination goal, which was highlighted last year, Tan said there has been “good progress over the past year at raising our sustainability quotient”. He pointed to the launch of the Hotel Sustainability Roadmap in March, which has seen “high ambition and high commitment” from hotels across the country.

Support has also come from other tourism sectors, such as from the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers, which will be aligning its MICE Sustainability Certification with internationally-recognised standards. Along the same lines, Singapore will participate in the Global Destination Sustainability Index for the first time, to benchmark performance against other MICE destinations.

STB will also look to certify Singapore as a sustainable destination under the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Destination Criteria.

Tan encouraged industry players to support the sustainable goal by thinking beyond reducing carbon emissions, and “weaving sustainability into all your touchpoints with your guests”.

Citing an example of what tourism businesses can do, Tan pointed to the collaboration between Sentosa Development Corporation and Palawan Innovation Studios to introduce HyperDrive, a new racing and interactive gaming activity using electric go-karts.

Tan explained: “Our ambition is to become one of the world’s most sustainable urban destinations, a city in nature, where large experiences come with small footprints.”

In the space of wellness tourism, which is projected to grow in the next five years to reach US$1.1 trillion by 2025, STB has the ambition to position the destination as one with a wide range of accessible experiences that support the holistic well-being of leisure and business visitors, and for the Singapore wellness experience to be different from the likes of Bali or Phuket.

The Wellness Festival Singapore will debut in June to enhance the country’s wellness offerings and catalyse more wellness-related products and partnerships between various players in the destinations. Some of the known activities include a multi-sensory pop-up at Gardens by the Bay alongside wellness masterclasses; an inaugural Livewell Festival at Sentosa; and a series of art, wellness and mindfulness programmes at the National Gallery of Singapore.

More activities under the Wellness Festival Singapore will be announced in time to come.

For the final pillar, Tan urged industry players to skip old and familiar templates and look towards “innovative ways to enable our events, experiences and offerings to surprise and stand out”.

One way to do that is to partner with popular brands and IP, or introduce more hands-on, educational experiences, he suggested.

Later this year, CityNeon will launch Avatar: The Experience at Gardens by the Bay’s Cloud Forest. The walk-through event invites guests to connect with the alien world of Pandora, its bioluminescent environments, mythical creatures, flora, and the captivating culture of its indigenous people, the Na’vi. It coincides with Gardens by the Bay’s 10th-anniversary celebrations as well as the worldwide release of the film’s sequel.

Another product that will up the fun quotient is the new Chocolate Factory concept by homegrown brand Mr Bucket Chocolaterie at Dempsey. Launching later this year, it will feature Singapore’s first build-your-own chocolate bar section, with distinctive Asian flavours.

To let returning visitors know that they are not coming back to the “same old places”, Tan encouraged industry players to maximise the use of existing spaces and refresh them.

Orchard Road will continue with its transformation to become a top lifestyle destination. An iconic new development is Trifecta, set to be Asia’s first snow, surf, and skate attraction when it opens in 2023. Conceptualised and developed by Singapore-based adventure sports company The Ride Side, the attraction next to the Somerset Skate Park will enable visitors to accomplish the hallowed trifecta of snowboarding, surfing and skating in one day and all under one roof.

The slopes in the snow arena will be powered by the first Virtual Reality (VR) ski simulator in Asia, with best-in-class speed simulation and directional movements to mimic the uneven terrain of a natural mountain. The surf arena will incorporate the world’s leading technology in deep water wave pool for an endless surf experience, with water columns of 1.5m, the deepest in Singapore. Meanwhile, the skate arena will be home to the world’s first hybrid skate bowl designed for skateboarding and surfskating, making it the first skate bowl in Somerset, and the first surfskate circuit in Singapore.

Facilities at Trifecta will be rounded out with unique F&B concepts and retail stores that introduce the complete trifecta lifestyle to customers. – Additional reporting by Karen Yue

Beyond Green launches booking platform centred on sustainable trips

By TTG Asia

April 7, 2022

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Beyond Green has married its global portfolio of sustainable accommodation with &Beyond’s luxury experiential specialisation to birth new travel booking platform designed to deliver sustainable and inspirational luxury vacation itineraries.

The new Plan Your Trip online platform provides custom, turnkey booking and facilitation services for travellers seeking intentional getaways, with Africa and South America as its launch destination offerings.

Beyond Green’s new booking platform centres on sustainable trips

Asia programmes will be available soon.

Visitors to StayBeyondGreen.com/plan-your-trip can incorporate a mix of hotels, including &Beyond properties and members of the Beyond Green portfolio. Alternatively, travellers seeking a fully customised trip can submit a request form via the dedicated Plan Your Trip landing page and, in response, they will receive a meaningful itinerary recommendation that combines their interests and hotels committed to people and the planet.

“With &Beyond a proven leader in travel based on its ‘Care of the Land, Wildlife and People,’ Beyond Green is particularly proud of this incredible new partnership to make planning a sustainable travel holiday easier than ever in two of the world’s great travel destinations – Africa and South America,” said Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO of Beyond Green.

“The Beyond Green platform aligns perfectly with our mission statement of striving to leave the world a better place through the delivery of extraordinary guest experiences,” said Joss Kent, CEO of &Beyond.

“With the world more focused on the need to preserve its wild places than ever before, we believe that this new partnership will be a powerful new outlet to convert ever more travelers to sustainable travel practices,” added Kent.

New hotels: Courtyard by Marriott North Pattaya, Fili Hotel and more

By TTG Asia

April 7, 2022

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Courtyard by Marriott North Pattaya, Thailand
The 233-key Courtyard by Marriott North Pattaya has opened a short distance from Wongamat Beach in Naklua, North Pattaya, and a 1.5-hour’s drive from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

All rooms and suites come with ergonomic workspaces, LCD TVs, Wi-Fi and marble bathrooms with rain showers.

F&B options include all-day dining at Café 22 which offers a vibrant ambiance with open kitchens, while the poolside Surf Bar is a great spot to enjoy refreshing drinks. Guests can relax and unwind over crafted cocktails, cold-brew coffee, and more at the Spart’s Bar.

The hotel also features a rooftop pool, Kid’s Club, and function rooms.

Fili Hotel, Cebu, Philippines
The five-star Fili Hotel will be the first of three to open within the NUSTAR Resort and Casino in Kawit Island, the first integrated resort in Cebu.

The hotel offers 379 guestrooms, four ballrooms, five function rooms, extensive F&B outlets, a spa, swimming pools and gym. Guests can request for butler services, babysitting services as well as limousine and car rentals.

Just a 30-minute’s drive from Cebu’s international airport, the hotel has a full view of the southern part of Cebu City and the new Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway.

Best Western Batang Garing, Palangkaraya, Indonesia
The midscale Best Western Batang Garing in Indonesia’s Palangkaraya takes in 133 rooms, an all-day restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a semi-indoor swimming pool, and a spa with massage area.

Guests can explore local attractions such as Huma Betang, Balanga Museum and the Soekarno Monument. A short drive outside Palangkaraya, the jungles of Central Kalimantan offer outstanding opportunities for eco adventures, including boat trips and wildlife treks in Sebangau National Park, which is home to the world’s largest population of orangutans.

Hilton Garden Inn Jinzhou Central Street, China
The 50th hotel under the brand, Hilton Garden Inn Jinzhou Central Street provides upscale and affordable accommodation with the right amenities for guests seeking to maximise the value of their travel experiences.

Conveniently located in the central business district of Jinzhou, the hotel is within walking distance to Jinxiuqiancheng Shopping Mall, Jinzhou City Museum, Liaoshen Campaign Memorial and Guta Park. Jinzhou Railway Station is about 1km from the hotel, providing greater accessibility to the rest of the city.

There is a fitness centre for those looking to work out, and an on-site restaurant serving local and international cuisine.

Singapore ploughs fresh funds into tourism recovery, debuts additional support programmes

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April 6, 2022

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The Singapore government has earmarked close to half a billion dollars to support the tourism sector’s trek to recovery over the coming years, alongside new and enhanced programmes, revealed minister of state for trade and industry, Alvin Tan at this morning’s Tourism Industry Conference.

In his address at Suntec Convention Centre, Tan said the funds would be used to support and sustain strategic manpower capabilities in the sector, offset business costs, as well as amplify Singapore’s international recovery plans.

Ministry of State and Industry’s Tan urged Singapore tourism players to use the new chest of S$500 million (US$367.9 million) to develop outstanding tourism experiences and enhance talents (photo credit: Karen Yue)

He called on industry stakeholders to utilise the financial support for business transformation and development of new experiences.

“Test-bed new and innovative concepts and solutions, especially in wellness and sustainability. Continue to develop your talent, to ensure that the tourism workforce is equipped with the skills needed to support your business transformation plans,” Tan urged.

As tourism returns against a backdrop of inflation, Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) chief executive Keith Tan said the fresh funds would also come in handy to help tourism players deal with rising costs of operations.

However, he emphasised that “business cost is a reality” and that “all businesses in Singapore must internalise that, and not expect the STB or the government to shield them from rising business costs”.

As the cost of travel rises, it is even more important that tourism players develop experiences, attractions and events that travellers find are worth every dollar.

Adding on to the minister’s suggested priorities for the usage of the fresh funds, STB’s Tan encouraged industry players to look at developing great experiences for visitors or to attract new offerings that have yet to wash up on Singapore’s shores.

“For example, we don’t want the same old Christmas light-up on Orchard Road. How can we multiply the wow factor of that annual event?” he explained, adding that the new experiences should serve to differentiate Singapore from other destinations.

Sustainability focus
With sustainability recognised as an engine of growth for the tourism industry, Singapore will build on its existing Singapore Green Plan 2030, introduced in 2021, to launch the Tourism Sustainability Programme (TSP), which provides tourism businesses with resources to identify strategic areas for sustainability efforts.

In line with Singapore’s ambition to become one of the world’s most sustainable urban destinations, the TSP will focus on three main areas: capability and growth; innovation; and education and awareness.

Capability building and training will be supported through Training Industry Professionals in Tourism (TIP-iT). TSP will also offer grants such as Business Improvement Fund (BIF) to improve companies’ resource efficiency and competitiveness.

To foster innovation, TSP will support the development and test-bedding of innovative sustainable solutions through the Singapore Tourism Accelerator. Innovative technology providers and tourism businesses will work together to develop solutions in areas such as waste, water, energy and carbon emissions management that can be scaled up across the industry.

To continuously educate and provide information on best practices and focus areas to inspire industry players to consider new opportunities, the Hotel Sustainability Roadmap jointly launched by STB and Singapore Hotel Association in March, sets out sustainability targets for the hotel industries and strategies to help them achieve these goals.

Singapore’s sustainability focus will include collaboration with other tourism segments to set “ambitious” targets and strategies, noted STB’s Tan. Initiatives include the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers’ move to align its MICE Sustainability Certification with internationally-recognised standards; participation in the Global Destination Sustainabilty Index to benchmark performance against other business events destinations; and certification of Singapore as a sustainable destination under the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s Destination Criteria.

Workforce focus
As Singapore strengthens her destination appeal, STB is working to ease manpower pressures on industry stakeholders.

Tan noted that the tourism industry lost a third of its workforce over the past two years.

While the reopening of land borders with Malaysia will alleviate some staffing bottlenecks, it is imperative that Singapore continues to build up her future-ready workforce capabilities, he opined.

To this end, STB worked with the National Trades Union Congress and Workforce Singapore to set up the Tourism Careers Hub (TCH) late last year.

Tan encouraged industry players to reach out to TCH to help find workers with the right skills or to upskill their staff to meet their needs.

Through the TCH, STB works with the tripartite partners to extend end-to-end job facilitation, training and support for the sector’s workforce.

Digital transformation focus
Firms keen on digital transformation have benefited from STB’s Tourism Technology Transformation Cube (Tcube), which was launched last year. This digital transformation support has been further enhanced with a programme that supplements tourism businesses’ Augmented Reality (AR) capabilities.

STB has developed 100 3D models of points of interests, and these are available via the Tourism Information and Services hub for industry players to utilise for free. The concept has been expanded into Extended Reality (XR), which encompasses Augmented, Mixed and Virtual Reality.

To create engaging interactive content, STB is also keen to pilot proof-of-concepts with the sector. It has worked with S.E.A. Aquarium on an AR app for visitors to interact with marine animals digitally, and learn more about marine life.

To expand these efforts, STB launched a grant call, The Next Experience, in February with the purpose of creating XR-enabled experiences that motivate people to visit multiple points of interest. STB has received healthy interest ahead of the proposal deadline on April 23. – Additional reporting by Karen Yue

Japan airlines make move on SAFs

By Kathryn Wortley

April 6, 2022

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Japan’s main airlines have teamed up with a cross-sector group of Japanese corporations to launch a voluntary organisation that aims to decarbonise the aviation sector via sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Established in March, Act for Sky is working to commercialise, promote and expand the use of domestically produced SAF. Its 16 members, who hail from diverse industries including engineering, energy and F&B, aim to raise awareness among companies and the public of the importance of SAF, carbon neutrality and achieving a circular economy.

ANA and JAL join Act for Sky’s efforts to decarbonise the aviation sector via sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

The four founding companies – engineering firm JGC Holdings Corporation, biodiesel specialist Revo International, and national airlines All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) – will coordinate the activity of other member companies.

“A rapidly growing global need to reduce CO2 emissions has called for the aviation industry to accelerate the development, production, distribution and use of SAF,” said ANA in a statement, adding that the domestically produced fuel would be sourced from sustainable resources such as tallow (animal oils and fats), used cooking oil, biomass, municipal solid waste, exhaust gases and CO2.

The move comes amid growing interest in SAF around the world, particularly in Europe. EU regulators require jet fuel supplied to EU airports to be two per cent SAF by 2025, increasing at five-year intervals to reach 63 per cent in 2050, according to professional services firm KPMG. Japan, however, has not kept pace.

“As global SAF demand grows, a stable supply of domestically produced SAF is considered essential in Japan. However, domestically produced SAF has not been commercialised yet, and establishing stable supply chain, from procurement of feedstock to supply of SAF, remains an urgent issue. Compared to Europe and the US, where SAF is already being commercialised, and its awareness is relatively strong, it is necessary to raise awareness of SAF in Japan as well,” stated JAL.

Each of Act for Sky’s members has a specific function, ranging from research around SAF and production to supply chain development. JAL and ANA are tasked with SAF procurement and utilisation.

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