Okura Nikko to open first ski resort hotel in Niseko
Come 2024, Okura Nikko Hotel Management will open a lifestyle-branded property in Niseko, a ski resort in Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido.
The Nikko Style Niseko Hanazono hotel will offer 234 guestrooms, each with a standard area of about 34m², including 16 suite rooms, on eight floors above ground. All guestrooms on the top two floors will be equipped with bathrooms featuring a private natural hot spring bath.
The hotel will also contain an all-day dining restaurant with an open kitchen offering cuisine featuring local ingredients from Hokkaido. With a circular bar counter and multiple private rooms, the restaurant will offer a variety of options for guests to enjoy their dining experience.
Other amenities will include a hot spring facility with open-air baths overlooking Mt. Yotei, a club lounge, a fitness centre, and a banquet hall.
Spanning 14,070m², the new property will be situated in the Niseko Hanazono resort, located to the northern part of Niseko United, a ski area that spreads out at the base of Niseko Annupuri. Being adjacent to the ski area, the hotel will offer guests easy access to winter sport opportunities as well as views of Mt. Yotei.
KrisFlyer charters cruise ship for members
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has teamed up with Dream Cruises to launch a two-night cruise experience exclusively for its KrisFlyer members.
The specially chartered cruise on board the World Dream will sail from November 17-19, 2021.
Members may use KrisFlyer miles to book the experience, which will include welcome packs comprising the airline’s first class and business class amenity kits and sleeper suits, as well as other SIA and KrisFlyer commemorative items. Members will also enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the cruise and SIA’s signature satay upon boarding.
Customers who book the Palace Deluxe Suites and Palace Suites will also enjoy a SIA first class inflight meal developed by Michelin-starred chef Georges Blanc on the first night.
KrisFlyer will also organise a grooming workshop conducted by SIA’s cabin crew trainers and a course in making the unique SIA batik roses. In addition, members can pay for their purchases on board World Dream using their Kris+ mobile app. They can also win up to 270,000 KrisPay miles (equivalent to S$1,800/US$1,340) at KrisFlyer Bingo games during the cruise.
As well, KrisFlyer is offering members a chance to win a free stay on this specially chartered cruise. To qualify, members must spend and earn miles at KrisShop, Kris+, or Pelago with their KrisFlyer UOB Credit or Debit Card, or any Mastercard, between now and September 30.
Members can also earn KrisFlyer miles on all regular Dream Cruises bookings from mid-September 2021. Miles can also be used to redeem cruise trips, and KrisFlyer members will enjoy benefits such as complimentary Wi-Fi and upgrades to Balcony Deluxe cabins. Customers may also make purchases with their Kris+ mobile app on board World Dream.
Redemption process for SingapoRediscovers Vouchers simplified
Singapore citizens can now use their original identification documents – NRIC, National Service identification document or Singapore passport – to redeem their digital SingapoRediscovers Vouchers (SRV) at 34 community clubs and residents’ committee centres across Singapore.
This new method complements the existing Singpass verification process, and makes it easier for citizens who are unable to access their Singpass.
In a statement, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said it had earlier reviewed the redemption process together with its five SRV authorised booking partners – Changi Recommends, GlobalTix, Klook, Traveloka and Trip.com – after receiving feedback from citizens on how to improve the scheme.
Citizens have to bring their original identification document to one of the designated 34 locations and seek assistance from an authorised SRV Ambassador for the redemption.
Their identification document will be scanned using a secure government application, and a personal voucher code will be generated. Staff from an authorised booking partner will use the code to help the citizen book their preferred SRV-eligible product.
Additionally, STB will work with the People’s Association (PA) to organise special pop-up booths at other community clubs and residents’ committee centres, to make it easier for citizens to book activities and tours. Citizens will also be able to redeem their SRV using their original identification documents at these pop-up booths. Further details will be released once finalised.
Since March 2021, STB and PA have been working together to organise SRV-eligible tours and activities. These are led by PA grassroots organisations, and include transportation to and from the community clubs or residents’ committee centres for added convenience. To date, 12 tours have been organised for over 500 participants, most of whom are seniors.
As of August 1, 2021, more than a million adult Singapore citizens have used their SRV at least once, making over 1.4 million transactions that amounted to over S$168 million (US$125 million) in vouchers and cash payments on tourism bookings.
Challenges on the horizon
Empty airports and grounded planes became ubiquitous scenes over the last 18 months, with COVID-19 dramatically impacting the aviation industry financially and operationally. Many pitfalls kept airports, airlines, and governments scrambling to adapt to changing passenger numbers, entry regulations, and health requirements. From social distancing measures and PCR test validation to ensuring planes were maintained effectively while out of use and pilots didn’t become rusty due to inactivity – the challenges were varied and relentless.
As we finally see the graphs moving in the right direction, and as travel bubbles and pre-travel clearance forms become more familiar to passengers and staff, the industry must shift its focus forward to prevent an impending air travel crisis. Passenger numbers are climbing globally, particularly in western Europe, the US, and India, where short-haul and domestic journeys have shown that the demand is there.
It is evident passengers require a safe process and loosening of restrictions to return to the skies. SITA data shows The Global Air Traffic activity continues its recovery posting -32 per cent YoY from this week. India exhibited domestic improvement operating at 60 per cent of 2019 volume.
Increasing fuel costs are exacerbating the situation for airlines as crude oil remains around US$70 a barrel. While airlines remain cautious, replacing older aircraft with newer and more efficient ones will offset this cost and bring an essential cut to operating expenses in the future. We see many airlines seizing an opportunity to let go of older aircraft, modernise their fleet and reduce operating costs which will benefit them in the long run and ensure a more sustainable future.
A slow start to recovery
The lifting of border restrictions in many western countries has sparked splurges on shorthaul vacations. European vacation destination countries like France, Spain, Turkey, and Italy see the highest flight volumes in Europe as lockdown fatigued holidaymakers take advantage of newfound freedoms.
However, the Asia-Pacific region faces additional challenges without a unified regional or global approach to open travel with every country defining its own criteria for opening borders. While some countries such as Australia have done well to limit cases with good border controls, in part supported by SITA Health ETA, or Singapore, which is now looking to achieve more than 70 per cent vaccination by end of August, but quarantines and strict border restrictions remain with passenger numbers still under -90 per cent of 2019 levels.
India is recovering fast, administering around 4.5 million per day on average, and their sizeable domestic market giving respite to the carriers.
On the other hand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Thailand face severe second or third waves. South Korea, Japan, and many other countries in the region have also seen a spike in COVID-19 cases.
There is now a growing recognition that this pandemic will be with us for a long time, and countries cannot keep borders closed for too long or risk severely damaging the economy. Travel is essential for most economies to prosper, and countries will have to have a higher risk appetite, striking a balance of acceptable case numbers while opening up borders. We do now see positive signs in this area, with countries like Singapore taking the lead. We see a close coupling with opening measures linked to vaccination and ease of restrictions for the vaccinated population everywhere.
Are we ready?
Data suggests that while the industry has started a slow recovery, we expect it to quickly gain pace in the coming months with rising vaccination levels. The question is now if many airports are ready to handle it. While passenger numbers will recover slowly till the flood gates are opened, new processes with additional health regulations are here to stay. Research reveals that average passenger processing and waiting times have doubled from pre-crisis peak time – reaching three hours despite travel volumes hovering at around 30 per cent of pre-COVID-19 levels and expected to be about 5.5 hours with 75 per cent of pre-covid levels.
Airports especially are looking at a significant challenge of managing rising and eventually recovered passenger volumes, with passengers staying in the airports longer, the following distancing and going through more processing but within the same physical space. Automation and digitisation are crucial to give passengers the confidence and control back to travel and manage efficiently reduce processing times to acceptable levels ensuring passenger satisfaction.
The Asia-Pacific region is a patchy situation regarding automation and digitisation. Some countries are making good progress in investing in the right areas to allow seamless passenger travel and easy processes to adhere to multiple health regulations; others are lagging. The region needs to achieve ‘collective digital maturity in these areas, especially for international volumes to come back.
This is a critical time that will define the companies which will survive and thrive in this new and complex landscape. By investing in the right areas and creating an experience aligned with customer’s needs and expectations, airlines, airports, and governments can help reignite the travel market and boost economies in the process.
Process digitisation and automation
A simple and mobile enabled process to declare health and travel credentials is key along with reducing wait times in the airport. It is essential to digitise and automate passenger processing, to ensure the same physical space can handle the recovery and passengers have control over their journey. Also, passengers should have time and energy to use the airport retail and other facilities for an enjoyable experience helping airports to survive with additional revenue streams.
Automating the passenger processing health process from submission to validation and verification – mitigates forged paper certificates and cuts inefficiencies associated with manual document checking. This in turn offers passengers peace of mind about meeting all requirements and gives governments the ability to automate policy application and checks.
Touchless and connected onboard experience
Another key area is the onboard passenger experience and improving passenger safety with a connected experience using the passenger’s own devices minimising touchpoints onboard. SITA’s Passenger IT Insights 2020 showed that more than two-thirds of all passengers opt to use their own device onboard to stay connected or access entertainment. Touchless and personal device enabled experience onboard is clearly the market demand and is fast becoming the new industry standard. Passengers now expect to be connected while using their own apps of choice and not be limited in the content available to them.
Operational efficiency
Doing more with less, is the common goal for the industry now, but as traffic recovers those in the industry who have truly adjusted to leaner operations and better infrastructure will reap immediate benefits and bounce back quickly. Airports and airlines must ensure their technology infrastructure is flexible with cloud and API enabled platforms and next-gen connectivity solutions, to enable the use of next generation common use capabilities, remote and mobile enabled operations coupled with cost efficiency and flexible operational scalability.
For any airline, their fleet is by far their biggest capital outlay. There is immense opportunity to leverage the connected aircraft to drive new cost efficiencies. Given the cost pressure on airlines, it is not surprising that there is a growing demand to provide solutions which help airlines to do so. In addition to more efficient newer aircraft, new systems such tablet enabled weather monitoring applications give pilots better visibility on weather conditions and chart better route changes leading to large fuel savings in each flight.
At SITA we remain committed to help the industry recover and thrive and continue to bring new solutions and strategies for the industry. Our ‘Runway to Success’ website takes a deeper look at the key challenges faced by the industry.
Meliá hires cluster DOSM for brand’s first two Thai properties
Meliá Hotels International has appointed Wuttipong Tanteraponchai as the cluster director of sales and marketing (DOSM) for both Meliá Koh Samui and Meliá Chiang Mai, the brand’s first two properties in Thailand.
The Thai most recently worked as DOSM at The Sukhothai Bangkok, leading a team of sales and marketing communication professionals to manage the hotel’s transition to a hybrid alternative state quarantine (ASQ) hotel in the wake of Covid-19.
Prior to that, he worked at The Okura Prestige Bangkok for more than seven years, firstly in the role of director of sales (DOS) for two years before being promoted to DOSM. He has also spent time as cluster DOS at Pan Pacific Hotels Group Singapore, DOS (corporate & MICE) at The Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa, and DOS at The Westin Grande Sukhumvit, Bangkok.
Wuttipong embarked on his hospitality career in the early 1990s as a tour coordinator at The Royal Cliff Beach Resort. From there, he steadily rose up the ranks as a guest service agent at The Mansion Kempinski Bangkok and The Royal Orchid Sheraton & Towers before becoming the assistant front office manager at The Embassy Suite Windsor Palace.
He then progressed to senior sales management positions with The Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, The Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa, and The Oriental Bangkok.
Tour operators appeal to Indonesian president for financial aid
The Indonesian Inbound Operators Association (IINTOA) has sent a letter to president Joko Widodo seeking financial relief for its members, after repeated cries for support to help alleviate some of the stress caused by Covid-19 went unheard.
In the letter sent last weekend, cc’d to the minister of finance and minister of tourism and creative economy, IINTOA chairman Paul Edmundus Talo and secretary general Ricky Setiawanto pleaded for grants and soft loans to enable their members to restart their businesses after the pandemic.
In a dialogue with the media last week, Paul said the pandemic had forced the majority of tour operators in the country to cease operations, with many forced to switch industries or change careers in order to survive.
Kuswadi Rawit who runs tour agency Batu International Wisata in Malang, East Java, for example, had to let go of all his staff due to the economic impact of Covid-19 and he now uses his office space to pack staple food packages for sale. Elsewhere, in North Sulawesi, Jouvendi Rompis, owner of Adventurindo Tours, has pivoted to become a chicken farmer.
Many have sold their business assets and shed workers. Horas Tours, for instance, has lost 77 per cent of its staff, according to executive director Indra Fadjar. That loss in trained and experienced talent means inbound players like him would face difficulty restarting their businesses in the wake of the pandemic, he said.
Meanwhile, Freddy Rompas, inbound general manager of Pacto, opined that it will be a challenge for inbound operators to approach foreign business partners again post-pandemic without the government’s assistance because it is costly.
IINTOA’s Paul said the association had approached banks for soft loans, but was rejected. As such, the association formed a task force to approach and lobby officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and State-Owned Banks Association for financial aid, he added.
During their meetings, the government had agreed to help inbound tour operators, but failed to follow through with that promise, revealed Jongki Adiyasa, deputy chairman of IINTOA.
Tour operators, for example, were left out in the grant scheme given to the tourism and creative economic industry, according to Jongky. As well, the government’s promise to fund a programme rewarding health workers with tour packages offered by association members did not materialise.
In a last-ditch attempt to have their voice heard, IINTOA has sent the aforementioned appeal letter directly to the president.
Museum of Ice Cream
We are submerged waist-deep in a giant pool, bordered by millennial pink walls. Except this is not your typical pool. It is brimming with sprinkles, and fully-vaccinated visitors like us can frolic in multi-coloured plastics shaped like the dessert toppings.
Dubbed the sprinkle pool, the pièce de résistance at the newly-opened Museum of Ice Cream (MOIC) Singapore – the first MOIC outpost outside of the US – was inspired by founder, Maryellis Bunn, who dreamt of swimming in an ocean filled with sprinkles.
Why
MOIC started out as a New York pop-up in 2016, marketing itself as “a playground of boundless creativity for the ice-cream obsessed”.
Since then, MOIC has become a cultural phenomenon, creating a new type of experience called “experiums”. It has welcomed more than two million visitors to locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and New York. As one of the world’s most Instagrammed museums, MOIC has copped more than a little sprinkling of celebrity stardust, with fans like Beyoncé, Katy Perry, David Beckham, Ryan Reynolds, and the Kardashians.
Now, the newest, creamiest attraction to hit our local shores promises to bring some sweet relief to a travel-deprived local crowd.
Bunn said: “Ice cream is a universal symbol of joy that brings happiness to everybody, regardless of age and across all walks of life. Museum of Ice Cream is for the kid in all of us, and in a time when every little dose of positivity is needed, we hope to uplift spirits, and bring people together to make the world a happier place, one ice cream at a time.”
What
Located at 100 Loewen Road, in the tranquil neighbourhood of Dempsey, MOIC Singapore is 5,574m² of whimsy doused in every shade of pink.
Each room in this ode to the frozen dessert transports visitors to a different space. Scream’s Diner, furnished with retro pink payphones and a vinyl jukebox, is a throwback to the 1920s soda fountain shop that was a landmark of American culture.
Nostalgics will also love the unicorn playground, a striking spin on the iconic dragon playgrounds that dotted Singapore’s public housing estates in the 1970s.
Elsewhere, the Melted Infinity room treats visitors to a Yayoi Kusama-esque mirrored vista of seemingly endless melted ice cream – neon-lit, no less.
Free-flow ice cream is the cherry on top of an MOIC Singapore visit. The frozen dessert served at this establishment come with a local twist, such as pulut hitam potong ice cream, as well as lychee bandung and taro milk tea ice cream sandwiches.
How
Every nook and cranny of this pinked-out paradise serves up a photo opportunity. Think banana swings, a potong playground, and an arch-shaped banana split-inspired tunnel made up of 10,000 artificial bananas in yellows, pinks and reds.
Upon entry, visitors navigate an interactive experience, from creating a virtual ice cream to stringing together letters on a magnetic alphabet wall. They can also build their own MOIC ice cream truck and a Mercone – an amalgam of a Merlion and an ice cream – standee out of cardboard as unique momentos to take home.
The Mercone also fronts some of the merchandise at the retail shop, from lapel pins to caps, as well as limited-edition activewear, under a partnership with local brand Kydra. MOIC Singapore has also collaborated with other homegrown brands to push out exclusive merchandise such as a pink guava and raspberry flavoured beer with Brewlander, and a citrus grapefruit scented candle with Artisan of Sense.
Verdict
Despite being an imported attraction, MOIC Singapore is no mere copy-and-paste clone, boasting never-been-seen exhibits, some with a distinctly local flavour. In particular, this museum will draw in the social media-obsessed crowd and families with young children.
But while MOIC Singapore is less educational institution, and more selfie playground, there is more to this museum than Instagrammable installations.
Trivia about the frozen dessert presented in bite-sized chunks line the walls across 14 multi-sensory installations. Which country buys the most ice cream in the world? How much ice cream can a single cow make in a lifetime? Whoever knew that soft serve was born out of a flat tire? Or that air is an important ingredient in ice cream?
So even if you are not into selfies, or jumping on a Barbie pink bouncy castle and grooving in a disco room is not your kind of fun, you can still binge on fun ice cream facts in this Insta-worthy wonderland.
Rate: From S$38 (US$28) per person; free entry for children aged two and below
Dates: Thursdays to Sundays, from 10.00 to 23.00 (last entry at 21.00)
Website: www.museumoficecream.com/singapore
Booking.com spotlights inspiring travel stories to reignite wanderlust
In a bid to spark travel inspiration, Booking.com has launched the Booking Explorers campaign, unveiling a series of powerful stories by leading personalities in Asia-Pacific.
The campaign celebrates trailblazers and explorers, showcasing how they have remained explorers at heart and continue to responsibly experience the world – or their backyards – despite challenges brought about by the pandemic. It is a celebration of their mindset and spirit of travel – embodying a relentless desire to experience and explore.
The campaign showcases Amazing Race Australia winners, Tim and Rod, who have travelled the world proudly representing the freedom to love as well as advocated making travel more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community.
Other featured personalities include Indian multiple Grand Slam champion, Sania Mirza; Korean alternative pop band, Leenalchi, Vietnamese global fashion model, Chau Bui; as well as Japanese illustrator Kaori Watanabe.
“As we begin thinking about a return to travel, this campaign is a heartfelt reminder of its transformational impact and celebrates the spirit of travel through the voices of our Explorers,” said Laura Houldsworth, managing director and vice president for Asia Pacific.
“Like many of us, they were forced to look inwards during this time and found new inspiration in travel where it was possible, while advocating for their greatest passions from home. With travel slowly resuming, it is my hope that these stories will bring a message of hope to our Asian travellers; and continue to broaden our horizons on how we can still experience our world responsibly, when it’s safe to do so.”
Six Senses takes the hassle out of travel
Six Senses guests now enjoy the option of travelling light by sending their bags ahead of time to any of the brand’s properties worldwide, hence skipping the hassle of carrying and claiming baggage at the airport, thanks to the hospitality group’s partnership with Luggage Free.
The convenient door-to-door shipping service also covers a wide range of items including golf clubs, skis and snowboards.
With a team fluent in international shipping policies, Luggage Free will also complete any required customs paperwork when travelling abroad.
Guests can book this service under the ‘Destination/How to get there‘ tab on sixsenses.com, after selecting the resort of their choice on the website.
Luggage Free’s online booking platform allows guests to generate a customised quote or process an order in seconds. Reservations may also be placed over the phone with a personal travel concierge or at any Six Senses destination.
Luggage Free offers no-contact pickups at the guests’ preferred time of day from a residence, business, hotel, resort, and more. The service also includes complimentary insurance, real-time tracking, and an on-time delivery guarantee.
Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore has partnered GTRIIP, a digital identity software provider, to launch an innovative solution that provides guests with contactless access into the property, using only their own smartphones.
Contactless check-in solutions are gaining traction in the hospitality industry due to health and safety concerns from the coronavirus. GTRIIP’s digital identity software allows guests of Dusit Thani Laguna to check in to the hotel with their smartphone selfie, which integrates necessary information to Singapore Tourism Board’s E-visitor Authentication Service.
Guests will also be able to request for a selection of services or book facilities through their mobile phones via the software.
For hoteliers, the technology promises greater efficiency at the front desk by eliminating the need for paperwork, and enhances security with GTRIIP’s hotel biometric check-in software.
Being a software-as-a-service product where no new hardware is required, it is also inherently more scalable and sustainable for properties to enjoy the full benefits of the solution without incurring extra capital expenditure.