Mixed reactions to Singapore’s endemic Covid outlook
• Singapore’s travel and tourism businesses are ready to transition to endemic state
• Inbound travel recovery will hinge on conditions for vaccinated foreign visitors
• Outbound travel specialists are quickly lining up packages for holiday-starved Singapore residents
It may be months before the Singapore government defines the terms for the city-state’s pandemic exit strategy and reopening of borders, following its announcement on Monday to mark Covid-19 endemic once the population is sufficiently vaccinated, but the country’s travel and tourism industry players are happy to welcome progress.
An outline of an endemic state includes fewer restrictions on social gatherings, larger dine-in groups, and lower requirements and higher capacity for events. Vaccinated individuals will be able to engage in a wider range of social activities and in larger groups, and businesses will not have to shut down premises for deep cleaning whenever new infections surface.
And more importantly for Singapore’s travel and tourism industry, which is heavily dependent on international traffic, the government may permit quarantine-free travel for fully vaccinated travellers.
Steven Ler, president of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS), told TTG Asia that Singapore’s pandemic exit strategy “would mean very tangible economic and social consequences for all of us in travel and tourism, and the wider economy”.
Kwee Wei-Lin, president of the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA), regards the government’s plans to ease travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers as a “significant move to boost global confidence in Singapore’s appeal as a tourism destination in the new era of travel”.
Both association leaders say their members are ready for the transition.
Kwee emphasised that the pandemic battle requires a “multi-faceted strategy”.
“While our hotels in Singapore are well-equipped with an arsenal of weapons to protect our guests and workforce, we must remain vigilant and nimble in response to this rapidly evolving pandemic. Singapore has one of the highest vaccination rates for the hotel workforce, where over 90 per cent of our colleagues are now fully vaccinated and undergoing routine ART tests. The critical success factor for the safe resumption of travel depends on compliance with public health protocols and our industry’s continuous digital transformation towards contactless yet efficient guest experiences,” she elaborated.
Ler shared that NATAS inbound members are already in contact with overseas partners to understand the needs of international visitors, while working with local suppliers to ensure safe management measures compliance “so that visitors may have a stress-free and seamless service experience” in Singapore.
Inbound concerns
Jameson Wong, APAC director at travel intelligence firm ForwardKeys, regards Singapore’s move to facilitate quarantine-free travel as a “significant one”, largely because it demonstrates to the “rest of the world that we are moving beyond the pandemic, will likely be ready to receive inbound travellers in the near future, and are taking the first steps in creating the foundation of reciprocity in what is otherwise now merely a unilateral bubble”.
However, he sought to temper expectations of a dramatic improvement in international inbound.
“It is not clear at this point if Singapore will allow quarantine-free entry for fully vaccinated foreigners, or limit it to just fully vaccinated Singapore residents who are returning from overseas trips. According to our data, Changi Airport Group’s total passenger traffic in 2019 stood at 68 million pax. We also know for a fact that out of the total, there were approximately 15 million inbound overnight visitors, and 11 million outbound overnight travellers in 2019. We may be looking at an impact on only the outbound overnight segment,” he elaborate.
According to Ler, inbound recovery will also depend on “the corridors of travel protocols, travel formalities, immigration controls and vaccine equities (which) must be unified and friendly enough for people to want to travel again willingly”.
Outbound hopes
For now, expectations around an outbound travel rebound appear more positive.
Once the growing population of vaccinated Singapore residents are no longer faced with compulsory quarantines upon their return from overseas, many will head out to reunite with loved ones and family, projected Alicia Seah, spokesperson of Dynasty Travel.
That first wave of outbound travel will be followed by leisure and short-haul trips. “Travellers will go in small groups with friends and relatives,” Seah said.
Some agencies are lining up tour packages that are suited to changed travelling patterns in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Mabel Cheang, lead executive, business development at Travel Wander, said post-pandemic travellers will choose to stay away from crowds and visit lesser-known places like the countryside or countries where the pace of life is slower with natural social distancing already in place.
She added: “Many would want a slower travelling pace rather than rushing through their holiday, so that they can truly enjoy being in the moment, after having been deprived of a certain amount of freedom for a while.”
“There are also changes in travelling style. Many have picked up a new sport such as cycling, hiking and running during the pandemic to let off some steam, leading them to realise how much they enjoy engaging in such activities. After exploring all they could within their own country, many will start to want to explore another destination, in their preferred way of activity, like cycling or walking.”
While Travel Wander has existing small group cycling, hiking and walking tours to meet that demand, the agency is in the midst of developing a self-guided series of active holidays and has refined its tour operations to make it even more intimate with health and safety measures in place.
ForwardKeys’ Wong, too, share the expectation that Singapore’s easing of entry for vaccinated individuals will have an immediate impact on Singapore’s outbound travel businesses.
“Singaporeans can look forward to travelling to destinations that welcomes us and we can return home without too much of a hassle. Of course, we need to consider which destinations are ready for us. Tourism businesses providing services for farther afield destinations that are more open (to international travellers), such as Europe, will immediately benefit,” said Wong.
However, Seah warned that rebound in international travel could swing either way for the rest of 2021, as Covid-19 recovery across the world is still too uneven and uncertain.
Sharing results from a travel intention study conducted with Dynasty Travel’s database of 2,000 customers, Seah said 45 per cent of respondents indicated a preference to wait a few months before travelling, even if borders were reopened. Some 33 per cent would travel immediately, while the remaining 22 per cent would wait for a few weeks.
She opined that snap decisions on border restrictions are a main source of traveller uncertainty, and Singapore residents will also be watching how quickly vaccination is progressing in destinations they wish to visit.
Cheang anticipates that demand will be slow for the first few months upon the easing of border measures.
“We do not know if there will be any more variant of the virus. So while we are eager to restart travel, travellers may exercise caution for the first few months upon borders opening up. They may adopt a wait-and-see approach, and let others who are more robust about travel to proceed ahead first,” she said.
Jeremiah Wong, Chan Brothers Travel’s spokesperson, echoed that sentiment. “We expect, at least in the beginning and depending on the eventual measures, outbound travellers may cautiously weigh their decisions to travel based on individual factors such as aversion to perceived risk, health and safety concerns, cost and budget – and this evaluation will vary across different customer segments,” he said.
At the end of the day, agility is the name of the game for business survival during this crisis. Said Chan Brothers Travel’s Wong: “Outbound travel agencies will do well to be fluid, flexible and ready to grasp opportunities whenever they present in line with prevailing authorities’ measures and market sentiments at any given point in time.” – additional reporting by Cheryl Ong
Editor’s note: ForwardKeys has updated referenced data to exclude transfer percentages for clarity.
Oakwood inks deal with Sensation Group to manage two properties in India
Oakwood has signed a partnership with Sensation Group to fortify its presence in India’s key cities and accelerate its goal to double its global portfolio of managed properties by 2025.
The agreement entails the management of two properties – Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Hyderabad and Sensation Apartments Bangalore, Managed by Oakwood, which is the pilot of a new soft brand, with more projects in the pipeline. The addition of the two properties will increase the group’s portfolio within India to seven properties by the end of 2024.
Located approximately 35 minutes from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Oakwood Hotel & Apartments Hyderabad is slated for completion by June 2024. The property will comprise 350 rooms and serviced apartments, ranging from 38-90m² in size, featuring a swimming pool, fitness centre and a dining concept.
Sensation Apartments Bangalore, Managed by Oakwood is a 1,200-unit property that is slated to open in 4Q2024. Located in the Sadahalli Village in Bangalore North, Devanahalli, the property is within a 20-minute drive from the Kempe Gowda International Airport in Bangalore. The property will offer meeting rooms and co-working spaces, a dining room, a fitness centre, play area for children, and laundrette facilities.
Anantara Layan Phuket Resort launches Luxury Surfing Escape package
Anantara Layan Phuket Resort is beckoning surf enthusiasts to enjoy the swells of monsoon season on Thailand’s Andaman coastline with the launch of its Luxury Surfing Escape package featuring a 90-minute surfing lesson tailored to all individual skill levels every day of the stay.
The package also includes daily transfers to and from Bangtao Beach, a gourmet surf picnic, accommodation in a suite or villa, 25 per cent off resort dining, 20 per cent off dining at the on-site Age restaurant, 40 per cent off spa treatments, and early check-in/late checkout.
From April to October every year, the west coast of Phuket experiences South-east Asia’s best breaks, with the northwest monsoon bringing excellent surfing conditions to this part of the Andaman. The top beaches on Phuket for surfing include Kata, Kalim, Surin, Nai Harn, and Bangtao, just a short drive from Anantara Layan resort.
A tale of two worlds
One is a high-tech smart city in the making, the other teeming with rustic, laidback charm. One is the next international commercial hub with an emerging tourism zone, the other, primarily a leisure destination that is also primed to host business events. Despite their differences, the New Clark City and the province of Bohol share the same goals for a sustainable and responsible tourism development.
New Clark City
Just a few hours’ drive from metro Manila, the New Clark City (NCC) in Tarlac raises the bar for a carefully master planned development that strikes the right balance between innovation and sustainability.
Twice the size of Manhattan, only 40 per cent of the land area of the futuristic mega-project is being developed, leaving 60 per cent for green and open spaces including forest reserves. Ecosystem-based adaptation means it is designed to withstand natural calamities like typhoons, floods and earthquakes. Air pollution and traffic congestion are minimised by banning vehicles in many areas and by offering walkways and bicycle lanes instead.
Sharing the area is the former US military base in Pampanga that is now Clark Freeport Zone Complex, the primary district Clark Global City, and Clark International Airport.
Clark is “envisioned to be the country’s next smart and sustainable metropolis. It aims to become an international hub for companies and industries, and a major growth centre outside metro Manila,” said Vince Dizon, president and COO of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which has the mandate to develop Clark in tandem with the private sector.
NCC houses the National Government Administrative Center, an integrated national government hub that will function as a recovery and backup operations centre in times of disasters and emergencies, according to Dizon.
Driving investments and growth in Clark are the airport’s major expansion and other key infrastructure projects such as the Subic-Clark Railway and the Malolos-Clark Railway that will drastically reduce travel time between Subic and Manila, Dizon added.
Bi Yong Chungunco, CEO of the Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corp., operator of Clark International Airport, said: “We have a growing catchment area in Central and Northern Luzon, due to the rapid rise of Clark as a preferred hub for business, economic and leisure activities.
“With Clark’s strategic location at the crossroad of major expressways, as well as the soon-to-complete Manila-Clark Railway Project which will have a train station stopping in front of the airport terminal, the airport will be easily accessible and well-positioned to serve travellers and metro Manila residents.”
Dizon said Clark is being positioned as a destination for business events and sports tourism, and was well on its way to becoming one of the country’s top business events destinations before the pandemic.
The world-class sports complex in NCC, composed of the Athletics Stadium, Aquatics Centre and Athletes’ Village, have put the new metropolis on the map for major sporting events such as the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019 and the recent Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Clark and Subic have also been added to tourism circuits that once included only Pampanga and Bulacan for food mapping, farm tourism and adventure thrills.
Tourism players have welcomed the new infrastructure taking shape at Clark as “this equates to more options that we can offer our clients,” said Ritchie Tuano, general manager of Asiareps Travel Services and immediate past president of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association.
He added that these developments are also “catalysts in regaining the travel business back to 2019 (levels)”.
Bohol
Conservation, preservation and sustainability have always been integral to Bohol’s tourism development.
Permanent structures are not allowed on the 1,776 Chocolate Hills that drop over the protected area of six municipalities. When an earthquake flattened most of the province’s historic churches back in 2013, experts painstakingly restored these fragile edifices rather than build replicas.
In the gradual and systematic re-opening of tourism, Bohol is leveraging its unique attractions such as the Chocolate Hills, endangered species of tarsier, and Loboc River, while honing undiscovered destinations beyond Panglao and neighbouring Dauis. Further, efforts are underway to spice up little-known attractions and activities centered on community life, arts and crafts, culture and heritage, and ecotourism.
Bohol governor Arthur Yap shared that they are working on “high value, low density” tourism, which marks a move away from mass tourism, for both the travellers’ safety and the destination’s sustainability.
Yap said in the ongoing diversification of their tourism products, the missing piece is agri-tourism which is only possible if agriculture can be modernised. With agri-tourism, Bohol has “a fighting chance” to move into culinary tourism.
Lourdes Tuyor-Sultan, president, Bohol Federation of Travel and Tour Operators, said that by focusing on responsible and sustainable tourism, “we are trying as much as we can to minimise the negative impact of tourism. (While) tourism is one of the major economic drivers of Bohol, we are also conscious of the consequences (of its unbridled growth)”.
One of Bohol’s edge, Sultan said, is the close and strong interaction between the private sector and the local government unit currently helmed by Yap who is hands-on in working closely with the Department of Tourism (DoT) and its marketing arm, the Tourism Promotions Board.
As such, Bohol became one of the first Philippine destinations to establish a travel “bubble within the bubble” to spur domestic tourism and last year, hosted the country’s first international hybrid event, the Philippine Tourism Exchange.
In the gradual reopening of DoT-accredited tourism establishments, they are required to secure the Ultimate Bohol Experience seal, which proves their compliance with the requirements on carrying capacity, proper waste management, sewage treatment, use of renewable energy, and other sustainability measures.
Bohol also has a systematic method of allowing domestic tourists so people feel safe to travel, Yap shared.
Trade players call for greater clarity on Phu Quoc reopening guidelines
Vietnam’s tourism players are calling for clear guidelines to be announced as the country preens Phu Quoc for opening to vaccinated international travellers in October.
This month, Kien Giang authorities started vaccinating the island’s more than 127,000 residents as part of preliminary plans to start welcoming vaccinated tourists.
While industry leaders have welcomed the news, they are calling for concise details to be released so plans can be put into play.
Nicholas Wade, general manager of Khiri Travel, said: “We need absolute clarity from the government on what requirements and restrictions are going to be in place. There needs to be a clear plan that is attractive (enough for) the travel industry to be willing to promote.”
If the pilot scheme gets green-lit, Pham Ha, CEO of Lux Travel DMC, predicts European and Russian holidaymakers will be the first to return. However, he said it is vital the industry focuses on “quality rather than quantity”.
Wade added Phu Quoc is predominantly a “flop and drop” destination, meaning multi-night stays in one resort should not be an issue. He added: “Without the possibility of travelling to the mainland, there aren’t going to be a huge number of tourists attracted.”
Ha said another challenge is the uncertainty over which hotels will be given the go-ahead to accommodate guests.
He noted: “Big guys like Vin offer packages (ranging from) seven to 14 nights. However, our German guests don’t want to stay in these big resorts. They prefer small resorts. Unfortunately, when we contacted those, they don’t always know how to conform to the regulations.”
Jeff Redl, managing director of Diethelm Travel Vietnam, said vaccination is key to reopening. The government plans to have 50 per cent of the population vaccinated by the end of 2021 and 70 per cent by the end of 1Q2022.
He remarked: “I’m confident the country will have in place efficient procedures to reach these targets. In the meantime, Vietnam will have to finalise and communicate efficiently the procedures and conditions it requires for welcoming international travellers.”
Linh Le, founding partner of Luxperia DMC, remains hopeful the vaccination campaign will allow borders to fully reopen by March 2022. In preparation, he said it is vital to retrain key staff who moved into other sectors due to the pandemic.
He added: “Leaders need to retain relationships with employees and support their teams to re-engage with talent within the industry. Once borders reopen for vaccinated travellers, it will be those with skilled staff who will recover faster.”
Sleepless in Asia: Destination developments keep chugging on
Producing this special co-branded TTG Asia and TTG Asia Luxury issue sparked much joy for me because every piece of content on our pages focuses on what’s moving positively in the travel and tourism industry.
We know what the tough headlines are, and we know that our challenges will take a while to resolve. So, for now, let’s focus on the developments that are still happening throughout the travel and tourism landscape.
Across Asia, fresh attractions and activities have been rolled out – with more to come throughout 2021 and 2022, much to the delight of local residents who are in desperate need for uplifting entertainment to satiate their wanderlust.
Developing a destination product to excite locals is no easy task. How do you appeal to people who believe that they have seen all there is to be seen in their backyard? And if these are well-travelled people, the bar is raised even higher – can your product be more alluring than what they had experienced overseas?
It is interesting to observe the range of new draws that have emerged. Hong Kong is set on a culture and heritage route, providing a nice contrast to its urban landscape. Japan is playing up its scenic, natural environment and wide open spaces, presenting even more points of appeal for outdoorsy folks.
City-state Singapore appears to be transforming into one big playground for the young and young at heart. In fact, Singapore Tourism Board is working to enthrall young families and children, to build their desire to visit when it is possible. It recently launched a seven-part animated mini series for children in India, where popular comic character Chhota Bheem takes his birthday party to Singapore and shows off some of the destination’s most iconic locations and experiences.
Over in Vietnam, secondary destinations have come into the limelight while in Macau efforts to reposition herself for families continue.
Some of these developments will help to push traveller traffic away from the usual popular haunts – so important in a safe-distanced, post-pandemic world – and into areas that can stand to benefit from some tourist income.
Amid the creation of all things bright and shiny, it is heartening to see that tourism authorities have not forgotten their commitment to build back tourism better and in a more responsible way that benefits the environment and local communities for generations to come. Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand are setting with good examples.
Another positive development for the travel and tourism industry is the growing population of high net worth individuals across Asia-Pacific. Their travel desires have only intensified throughout the travel freeze. The luxury travel market is clearly still buzzing, with many buyers moving now to restart travel programming for their VIP clients. The strong interest to participate in July’s ILTM Asia-Pacific is proof.
As initial travel resumption would be pricey and time consuming to prepare for, the industry will need to count on luxury travellers – those with the resources to navigate the complex web of post-pandemic travel regulations – to lead recovery.
Karen Yue is group editor of TTG Asia Media. She sets the editorial direction for the company’s stable of travel trade titles and platforms, and produces content for them as well.
Meliá creates 240 jobs as it readies to open five-star hotel in Chiang Mai
Hundreds of hospitality workers in Chiang Mai and across Thailand are vying to secure jobs at Meliá Chiang Mai as the hotel prepares to start welcoming guests in the final quarter of this year.
Owned by Thailand’s real estate group Asset World Corporation and launched by Meliá Hotels International, the 260-key hotel will open with about 150 employees, and will employ a total of 240 people in light of its construction and pre-opening phase.
The opening of Meliá Chiang Mai presents an opportunity for hotel employees, especially those displaced by the Covid-19 pandemic, to secure roles spanning F&B, housekeeping, spa and wellness, sales and marketing, human resources, engineering, and many more.
“We have already received hundreds and hundreds of job applications from people in Chiang Mai and across Thailand, and admittedly, we have not yet done very much in terms of advertising positions and hosting recruitment drives,” said general manager Edward Snoeks.
He said the hotel project not only helps to create jobs and stimulate the local economy, but also provides a morale boost for the battered local tourism industry.
With many hotel owners putting hotel projects on hold amid the current uncertainty, Meliá Chiang Mai will be the first five-star hotel to open in Chiang Mai this year.
According to Snoeks, more than 99 per cent of the hotel’s employees will be made up of Thai nationals, with the only two foreigners being the F&B director and himself.
Ahead of the hotel’s opening, staff will be trained on the stringent anti-Covid safety protocols in place under the hotel group’s Stay Safe with Meliá programme that was developed in collaboration with certification, inspection and testing company Bureau Veritas, shared Snoeks.
With international recovery still on shaky ground, the domestic market will remain a major focus for Meliá Chiang Mai for the foreseeable future. But, at the same time, the hotel is also preparing for the eventual upturn. Already, it has lined up a programme called PengYou by Meliá which specifically targets leisure travellers from China.
Since July, Thailand has embarked on a phased reopening plan to reopen to vaccinated visitors without quarantine, in a bid to revive its economy. Chiang Mai is among several cities and provinces set to join the plan later this year, following the reopening of Phuket under the Sandbox reopening scheme as well as Koh Samui as part of the Samui Plus programme.
Malaysia projects most states to move into final phase of National Recovery Plan in October
The Malaysian government anticipates that most of the country’s 13 states will move into the final phase four of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) in October.
Prime minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, said the projection is based on the smooth running of the national immunisation programme as well as the government’s efforts to implement the recovery efforts.
The three indicators to be fulfilled for transition into phase four of the NRP are that 80 per cent of the state’s adult population must have been vaccinated, the number of new cases must drop below 500, and the healthcare system is at a safe level with enough beds in ICUs.
In phase four, economic activities such as domestic tourism, performances with live audiences as well as group sporting activities will be allowed. At the moment, eight states – Perlis, Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak – are in phase two. Interstate travel is currently banned nationwide to control the spread of Covid-19.
On Monday (July 26), the country reported 14,516 new Covid-19 cases, with a record high of 207 deaths, bringing the national death toll to 8,201.
Earlier this month, in her keynote address at the Halal in Travel Global Summit 2021, tourism, arts and culture minister Nancy Shukri said that Malaysia is exploring the idea of making Langkawi as the pioneer location for the country’s Covid-19 Free Destination Programme, with the successful rollout of vaccinations for the island’s population.
No timeline has been set yet on when domestic and international travel to Langkawi can resume.
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has also selected Pangkor Island in Perak to be phase two of the Covid-19 Free Destination Programme, following the pilot destination in Langkawi. It is expected that 80 per cent of Pangkor’s local population of 11,500 would have been fully vaccinated by September, thus achieving herd immunity, and paving the way for the island’s reopening.
Meanwhile, Pahang is also looking at reopening in phases. Tourism areas with small local populations, such as Taman Negara National Park, Tioman Island, Kuala Gandah and Fraser’s Hill, are expected to reopen ahead of other areas with larger populations.
However, no reopening date has been set. One of the main criteria for reopening is that at least 80 per cent of the local population must have been vaccinated, and that there are clear SOPs and guidelines in place.
Pahang State Tourism Exco, Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin, said the state government is in the midst of fine-tuning SOPs and guidelines for the planned reopening, and welcomed feedback from the private sector.
The state is also looking at establishing a travel bubble between Tioman Island and Singapore.
Singapore aims for quarantine-free travel by September
Singapore is considering to allow quarantine-free travel for those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 from as early as September, as authorities look to further ease virus restrictions amid the successful national vaccination rollout.
The city-state projects that 80 per cent of its population would have been vaccinated by then, putting it in good stead to proceed with its reopening plans, finance minister Lawrence Wong told Parliament on Monday.
Singapore will establish travel corridors with countries or regions that have Covid-19 under control, and vaccinated residents may be exempted from quarantine or allowed to isolate at home, said Wong.
With the higher inoculation rate, authorities are also set to review current Covid restrictions in early August, including allowing fully vaccinated people to gather in larger groups and to dine out at restaurants.
Currently, under the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), which kicked in on July 22 and will last until August 18, dining-in at F&B establishments is banned and group sizes for social gatherings are capped at two.
Fairfield by Marriott South Binh Duong, Vietnam
Fairfield by Marriott marks its brand debut in Vietnam with the opening of the Fairfield by Marriott South Binh Duong. Located in the Binh Duong province, the hotel features 181 rooms with separate work and rest areas. The property’s public spaces boast open layouts, multifunctional spaces and natural light.
The hotel features two signature restaurants and a poolside bar. ORYZAA, the all-day dining restaurant, presents a fresh take on local Vietnamese delicacies and Western classics, featuring an international breakfast buffet and an à la carte menu of Asian cuisine for lunch and dinner. For meetings, conferences and social events, the hotel offers 120m2 of function space. Leisure amenities include an outdoor swimming pool and open-air pool bar, 24/7 fitness centre, and The Market, a 24-hour convenience store.
Radisson Blu Resort Dharamshala, India
Located on the foothills of the Dhauladhar Range in Himachal Pradesh, Radisson Blu Resort Dharamshala features 120 rooms overlooking the Kangra Valley. Spread over 30,000m2, the resort offers rooms across standard, superior, deluxe, suite and presidential suite categories. It features three banquet halls with capacity between 80 to 100 pax; and an outdoor venue, The Banquet Deck, offering views of the Kangra Valley.
In addition to 24-hour room service, the resort houses several on-site dining options including The Edge, an all-day dining restaurant serving a range of local and western dishes; Italian Crust, a pizzeria; and All Out, a lounge bar offering a selection of wine and spirits along with small bites. Radisson Blu Resort Dharamshala will feature The Spa at Radisson Blu, a full-service branded spa. Other amenities include a meditation room, a fitness studio and a temperature-controlled infinity pool. The resort offers a range of family recreation options such as an outdoor kids’ play area, family picnic spots in the serene pine forest, and a cozy cards room.
Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long, Vietnam
Best Western Premier Sapphire Ha Long is a 31-storey property in the heart of Ha Long city, located on the waterfront of Hong Gai overlooking Ha Long Bay. The hotel offers 1,008 rooms and suites, all with private balconies. All rooms include complimentary Wi-Fi, IPTV channel selection, and large windows offering panoramic views of the bay or city views. A selection of two-bedroom suites are ideal for long-stays or short family breaks. Each room has two bedrooms and an on-suite bathroom, living room, and private balconies.
The hotel features heated indoor pool and seasonal outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, kids’ club, and a spa (opening 2022). Two restaurants and a lobby bar serve up a selection of culinary delights including Vietnamese, Asian, seafood and international cuisine. There is also an executive lounge, business centre and meeting facilities with video conferencing available.