Brought to you by Tourism Authority of Thailand
Standard steps up Asia expansion
Standard International has secured two flagship projects for The Standard brand in Bangkok and Singapore, as well as debuted The Peri Hotel brand, with projects for the new brand underway in Hua Hin and Khao Yai.
Details about The Standard Bangkok and Singapore projects will be released by year-end.
Since Thai property developer Sansiri acquired its majority stake in Standard International in November 2017, the hospitality company has focused on expanding to key markets in Asia.
Joining the company’s The Standard and Bunkhouse brands, The Peri Hotel brand claims to embody the core values of simplicity and humility, while offering unique experiences deeply embedded in each destination.
The first two The Peri Hotels are set to open in October 2020, with conversions and full-scale renovations of Sansiri’s existing Escape Hotels in Hua Hin and Khao Yai, Thailand.
The Peri Hotel Hua Hin will boast a modern take on a traditional mess hall ‘Chow Lay’ (meaning ‘fishermen’ in Thai), and a tiki bar, ‘Mālō’ (Samoan for ‘hello’) – both of which will be open to both guests and outside visitors.
Meanwhile, The Peri Hotel Khao Yai will offer a smokehouse and grill, Chow Barn (‘villager’ in Thai), featuring traditional live fire cooking; the E-sarn Soul Cafe; as well as an organic farm where diners can pick their own vegetables.
Standard International’s CEO Amar Lalvani said: “We are launching The Peri Hotels at a difficult moment in the world. But it is a moment when life’s simple pleasures are appreciated more than ever. It is that spirit of simplicity and appreciation that form the foundation of The Peri Hotel brand. And the first two idyllically set, nature focused, destinations perfectly capture what The Peri Hotel is about.”
While Sansiri is the owner and developer of The Peri Hotels’ first two properties, Standard International plans to work with other owners and developers across the region to grow the brand.
Choice Hotels joins forces with Hotelbeds
Hotelbeds has signed an agreement with US-based lodging franchisor Choice Hotels International (CHH) that will allow the latter access to the bedbank’s distribution network of B2B travel trade buyers.
Hotelbeds’ network includes more than 60,000 tour operators, retail travel agents, airlines and loyalty programmes across more than 140 source markets worldwide.
Under the agreement, Hotelbeds will now be recognised as a Preferred Wholesaler by CHH.
Hotelbeds’ portfolio of travel buyers will offer CHH with incremental, high-value bookings from non-domestic markets that typically book further in advance, pay more per room, cancel less and spend more at the property. At the same time, Hotelbeds’ customers will have access to participating Choice Hotels locations worldwide.
As part of this agreement, CHH will distribute its hotel rooms through Hotelbeds’ two main channels: its wholesale distribution channel that operates under the Hotelbeds brand and its retail channel, Bedsonline, that exclusively caters to retail travel agents.
IATA helps airlines navigate new norms with health checklist
IATA has released an airline self-assessment health checklist designed to assist operators in implementing new health and safety requirements in a post-Covid world.
The 30-page checklist is intended to support the ICAO’s Take-off: Guidance for Air Travel through the Covid-19 Public Health Crisis, a global standard framework of risk-based temporary measures for governments and the air transport value chain to safely operate during the global crisis.
IATA’s director general and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac, said: “Safety is always the number one priority for air transport. And the challenges of Covid-19 have added a new dimension to our efforts. Developed with input from industry, public health authorities and governments, ICAO’s Take-off guidance is the global standard for safe operations. IATA’s self-assessment checklist is a practical implementation guide to help airlines comply.”
ICAO’s council president, Salvatore Sciacchitano, added: “A harmonised approach to health is key not only to the recovery of civil aviation but also to ‘building back better,’ which is crucially important to ensuring the future resilience of the aviation network. IATA’s health checklist for airlines will be of importance in terms of providing momentum for the implementation of the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) recommendations, of which harmonisation and resilience are the guiding principles.”
The IATA Health Safety Checklist for Airline Operators provides the standards and recommended practices, associated guidance material and other supporting information necessary for an operator to self-assess.
Sections cover pre-arrival notification, check-in, embarkation and disembarkation, aircraft cleaning, onboard air quality, in-flight operations, flight and cabin crew – general, crew layover, and airport facilities.
The checklist is available here, and can be used free of charge by interested airlines.
Kerzner names new CEO in leadership reshuffle
Kerzner International Holdings, the owner of the Atlantis Resort and Residences and One&Only Resorts brands worldwide, has appointed its current COO, Philippe Zuber, as its new CEO.
Zuber will replace Michael Wale, who has held the role of CEO since February 2018. Zuber most recently served as the COO for Kerzner International, also overseeing Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort and the Atlantis brand globally.
Zuber originally joined the company in December 2015 as president and COO of One&Only Resorts, where he launched the evolution of One&Only beyond beach resorts, to include Nature Resorts, Urban Resorts and One&Only Private Homes.
He also led the multi-million-dollar rebirth of the One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius and introduced one of the first exclusive communities for guests to own a piece of One&Only in the destination.
Stepping down from the CEO seat at the end of September, Wale will join the board of directors of Kerzner International.
During Wale’s tenure, he oversaw the opening of Atlantis Sanya, China, as well as two resorts in Rwanda – One&Only Nyungwe House and One&Only Gorilla’s Nest.
He also introduced One&Only Private Homes at exclusive destinations around the world and signed another five confirmed resorts in the pipeline.
As well, Michel Checoury, who has held the position of CFO since October 2018, will be adding chief administrative officer to his role.
In addition to overseeing finance, Checoury will lead development, technical services, information technology and legal, reporting directly to Zuber.
An industry veteran, he has extensive luxury experience across the globe including Aman, Mandarin Oriental, Jumeirah, InterContinental, Starwood and Euro Disney.
Booking windows for Thai hotels shrink
A fast-growing shift towards last-minute travel is emerging among local holidaymakers in Thailand amid Covid-19 uncertainty, found new data from SiteMinder.
According to the SiteMinder’s World Hotel Index, of all bookings made at Thai hotels in the last two weeks, just under 38 per cent are for stays during the month of August and over 35 per cent are for September. Less than 20 per cent of all bookings made at Thai hotels to date are for stays next year.
The findings mirror those found in SiteMinder’s recent Changing Traveller Report, which surveyed nearly 600 residents and found that 59 per cent would make their accommodation reservation less than a month before commencing their trip. The survey, conducted in July, also found that close to two in three Thais were already planning their next local trip, with 74 per cent intending to travel within the country before the end of the year.
SiteMinder’s regional vice president of Asia Pacific, Bradley Haines, said: “The rapid pace of change this year has presented hoteliers with the challenges of short-term planning and spontaneous or otherwise last-minute buying behaviour among their guests. The paths to purchase are now much shorter and it is important hoteliers adapt by ensuring they are bookable through a variety of sales channels, particularly on mobile and social media where consumers are spending more time than ever before.
“The ongoing crisis has instilled in many people a newfound appreciation for what their country has to offer, and that is clear here in Thailand. Residents are showing their openness to travelling locally through this period, which is allowing for local confidence to be built incrementally as life continues to normalise. The growing trend is critical to all local operators that have reopened.”
Local residents now constitute just over 95 per cent of the country’s hotel guests, according to the World Hotel Index, which is a stark contrast to the 29 per cent seen in August last year. Thailand’s hotel bookings currently sit at 39.77 per cent of 2019 volumes, representing a growth of 573 per cent since dropping to 5.91 per cent year-on-year – their lowest level in recent history – on April 12.
Feast your way through the Kingdom
Uttaradit, Northern Thailand
As a largely agricultural province, it is little wonder this delicacy of Laplae District in western Uttaradit is derived from thoughtful food preservation methods by the locals in presenting rice in various shapes and forms. Rice vermicelli is stuffed into Khao Kap (thin wrappers made from rice flour), and then cooked in an assortment of flavours. The infusion is said to bring out the true taste of this Laplae-styled cuisine.
Destination highlights:
Lamnam Nan National Park: A place of serenity cloaked in forests and long mountain ranges, the national park features a freshwater aquarium, and is home to many waterfalls, rapids and small islands that are suitable for scenic rafting and other relaxing activities. Campsite facilities are available.
Laplae Capital Gate: A popular landmark in the province, archaeological surveys date its construction to the reign of King Rama I.
Sirikit Dam: The largest earth dam in Thailand straddling the Nan River, offering breathtaking scenary and vast spaces to enjoy the atmosphere. Rent a boat to stop by for a meal at restaurants alongside the dam.
Loei, Northeast Thailand
Over here in Loei, fermented rice vermicelli is used in serving up a long-simmered pork broth accompanied by an assortment of vegetables, herbs and staple condiments – shrimp paste, lime and fresh crushed chilies – making it a welcome breakfast treat in the chilly mountainous region.
Destination highlights:
Suan Hin Pha Ngam: Time stands still as one gazes to limestone hills and karsts that have eroded over millions of years to form a picturesque backdrop for what is also known as the “Kunming of Loei”. A trail winds through the canyon, taking visitors to the relaxing Suan Hom and Phiang Din waterfalls.
Phu Tok: Here, the clouds come rolling in at sunrise, blanketing the mountain in a sea of fog. From this vantage point, visitors will have a panoramic view of Chiang Khan and the Mekong River.
Baan Kang Pla: Located in the outskirts of Loei city, this weaving group is popular for allowing visitors to experience the traditional art of weaving, as artisans use antiquated looms to produce fabric indigenous to the province. Not just another social enterprise, the weaving group also encourages interaction between villagers of this region, when they gather for large production orders for the gift shop.
Sukhothai, Central Thailand
Another rice derivative from fermented flour; the parcel is steamed to make a thin wrapper and folded in with mixed vegetables, topped with steamed egg and clear pork broth. A healthy and delicious dish renowned in Ban Na Ton Chan, a small district north of Sukhothai city.
Destination highlights:
Sukhothai Historical Park: Housed on archaeological grounds dating back to the Sukhothai Kingdom, this UNESCO World Heritage Site depicts the grandeur of the first capital city of Thailand. Visitors will be enthralled amongst the ruins of the royal palace and numerous temples, alongside ancient walls and moats. Expect to spend a full day at this facility.
Ganesha Gallery: Exhibits here portray a distinguishingly Brahman-Hindu influence, which entered Thailand during the early Sukhothai era. In addition to the viewings, visitors can participate in celadon ware painting, which makes for a great souvenir.
Loy Krathong experience: Make your calendars for November, because, where better to experience the festival of lights than at its birthplace? Besides the historical park being the main celebration venue, the entire province will be alight with krathongs (floating water lights) and sky lanterns – quite a sight to behold.
Samut Songkhram, Southwest Thailand
This local delicacy is conceived from seablite native to the salt marshes of Samut Songkhram. The plant is cooked multiple times in water to unsalt, then dressed in a delicious medley of Thai-style spicy sauce made from lime juice, fish sauce, and palm sugar. A ladle of thick coconut milk on top usually rounds up the whole ensemble.
Destination highlights:
Rom Hoob market: This attraction boasts a couple of other associated monikers: “umbrella market”, “railway market”, or even, “risky market”, for its location along the railway track. No matter your persuasion, go there for a one-of-a-kind experience for fresh produce, and watch how the food vendors and trains co-exist with precision.
Bang Pu seaside: Good for bird watching and viewing beautiful sunsets, it also offers a rest area, dining facilities, and ballroom dancing activity every Saturday from 5pm – 8pm.
Bang Nam Pheung floating market: The charms here are the lifestyles of the villagers by the canal, and the availability of well-known community products and local food favourites. Tourists can rent a sightseeing kayak or bicycle to experience the local way of life; after all, this community has won an award for Best Urban Oasis of Asia.
Chantaburi, Southeast Thailand
An iconic provincial cuisine made from pork belly or collar, it is simmered with Bai Chamuang (cowa fruit), which is native to Chantaburi, giving the dish a distinctive sour note and fragrance.
Destination highlights:
Red eagle watch: You haven’t been to Chantaburi if you never saw a red eagle there. Go on an eagle-spotting boat trip in the mangrove forests of the Welu River basin, available all year round, and they usually make their appearances at around 3pm.
Pink Rock Terrace: The bay of Kung Krabaen is coveted by nature lovers and photographers, when morning and late-afternoon ebb tides reveal brilliant hues of arkosic sandstones. Best visited from the months of February to June.
Chantaboon Waterfront Community: Buildings on this 300-year-old street date back to the Rattanakosin era, and feature a blend of Thai, Chinese, French and Vietnamese architectural designs. Many of them are transformed into boutique accommodation, local museums and hip cafes today, where a visit to UNESCO merit award winner for cultural heritage preservation, Baan Luang Rajamaitri, should not be missed.
Phuket
Aptly named after its village of origin, Sapam, this dish exudes Hokkien-Chinese influences by stir-frying thick egg noodles with seafood, pork, eggs and Chinese cabbage together. Another delicious rite of Phuket delicacy.
Destination highlights:
Laem Phromthep: Also known as Brahmas cape, it is located on Phuket’s southern-most tip. Visitors can savour breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea, and it is a popular observation point at sunset. A notable landmark is Kanjanaphisek Lighthouse, which gives a 360-degree unobstructed view of the cape, as well as an exhibition inside the lighthouse documenting its construction, amongst other maritime trivia.
Ban Bo Dan Hot Springs: Located in Tambon Na Toei on the Andaman coast, the water from the natural hot springs are laden with minerals, and are believed to relieve rheumatism, numbness and help reduce tension of both body and mind. Mineral baths are available daily.
Koh Si-Re: Make a trip to this destination for fresh seafood, and a glimpse into the lives of the oldest (and largest) community of sea gypsies (Chao Le) south of Mergui Archipelago. An additional attraction is the large reclining Buddha at the hilltop temple. The island is easily accessed from Phuket main island via a causeway.
For more on Thailand’s delicacies and other tourist initiatives, visit the Amazing Thailand Facebook page.
Philippine tourism players lock horns with Congress over reallocation of US$206m bailout fund to infrastructure
The stars are conspiring for the tourism industry to get the 10 billion pesos (US$206 million) lifeline it desperately needs to stay afloat.
While the Senate Bill No. 1564 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (dubbed “Bayanihan 2”) allotted that amount to bail out micro, small and medium tourism enterprises (MSMEs) with soft loans, the House of Representatives’ Bill No. 6953 diverted that fund to the infrastructure programmes of the Department of Tourism’s investment arm, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).
Bayanihan 2 was already passed in the House and Senate. It will soon undergo a bicameral conference hearing to reconcile the Senate and House versions before signing it into law.
But in an August 11 letter to house speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, TIEZA COO Pocholo Paragas declined the amount and instead appealed for the prioritising of financial assistance to the tourism industry.
“Without the direct financial support from the government, the tourism MSMEs cannot rebuild their businesses and pay for the salaries of their workers,” Paragas said.
Another ray of hope is the groundswell of public opinion against diverting the tourism fund into TIEZA’s infrastructure programmes, with government officials, politicians, lawmakers, former tourism secretaries, leaders of various industries and think tank groups, and the public in general throwing their support behind the embattled tourism sector.
At the Philippine Tourism Stakeholders Forum last week, Tourism Congress of the Philippines president Jojo Clemente said they will appeal to the bicameral committee. Tourism is on the brink and needed a lifeline urgently; infrastructure can come in later, he added.
Triple Star Travel and Tours general manager Bing Miranda lamented that tourism is considered as non-essential because many only see the hotels, tours, and glamour, but not its multiplier effect on the economy.
Stakeholders said that last year, tourism contributed to 13 per cent of the Philippines’ GDP; three trillion pesos to government coffers, and generated 5.7 million jobs directly.
Arrivals in the first seven months plunged 72.8 per cent to 1.32 million, from 4.8 million over the same period in 2019, causing a 71.5 per cent dive in tourism receipts to 81.05 billion pesos, from 284.82 billion pesos over the same period last year.
Tourism revenue from March to July was only 6.9 billion pesos, from 196 billion pesos over the same period last year, representing a whopping 190 billion pesos loss. Revenue would be much lower for the rest of the year.
Almost 70 per cent of tourism stakeholders are in the MSME category. As of April, of the more than one million registered MSMEs, 40 per cent of those which accounted for 70 per cent of the tourism workforce had already bitten the dust, according to Cesar Cruz, president of the Philippine Tour Operators Association.
Without the 10 billion pesos lifeline, Clemente questioned how jobs could be provided to the 5.7 million-strong tourism workforce when unemployment is on the rise, forcing a number of overseas Filipino workers to return to the country.
Secondary destinations are not spared. PAR Travel and Tours general manager, Pia Lourdes Partoza-Montano, said tourism sales in Davao are expected to drop by 80 to 90 per cent this year due to lack of business and that 35 per cent of travel agencies and tour operators were forced to shutter.
While the congressmen defended their preference for the 10 billion pesos to go towards tourism infrastructure, saying that the move will stimulate the economy and generate jobs, various quarters suspected that infrastructure projects are susceptible to corruption and pork barrel politics.
As former tourism secretary Narzalina Lim said: “To me, this is nothing but another shameless and brazen exercise to embed pork barrel in Bayanihan Act 2”, noting that the authors of the House bill also voted last month against renewing the franchise of ABS CBN, the oldest and largest television and broadcasting network in the country with 11,000 employees.
Lim stressed: “Vigilance is needed. We may find that the billions of pesos needed to implement Bayanihan Act 2 will go to the pockets of the unscrupulous who do not care a whit about the millions of suffering, hungry and desperate Filipinos.”
Malaysia travel players in hot pursuit of high-end pie
Tour operators in Malaysia are activating their creative juices to craft value-add packages and unique experiences to spur the high-income segment who usually holiday overseas to explore their own backyards.
Mayflower Holidays general manager, Abdul Rahman Mohamed, said his company is working with banks to tap their high-net-worth customers.
He shared: “These high-end customers expect to be pampered and with that in mind, we include added value offerings into the packages such as free spa treatments and late check-outs. The response has been encouraging.”
According to the Central Bank of Malaysia, the country’s GDP had contracted by 17.1 per cent in the second quarter, mainly due to the nationwide lockdown as part of Covid-19 containment efforts.
However, Abdul Rahman said that the high-end consumers “are not much affected, and they have money to spend.” The challenge, he added, is to satisfy the needs of this demanding segment which is “not easy to please.”
Also hoping to get a slice of the high-end pie is Apple Vacations & Conventions, as the interruption of outbound travel forces it to focus on the domestic market for now. Its group managing director, Koh Yock Heng, said: “Domestic high-end tourists will use an agent when they are looking for a unique holiday experience. Otherwise, they will travel on their own. It is also not about pricing, but experiences and content.”
As such, experiential tourism seems to be the way to go in winning the hearts of affluent travellers. “We have done sunset dinners in a paddy field and private dinners in traditional villages, with the villagers mingling with our clients and sharing lifestyle experiences,” said Koh.
Other offerings by the agency include soft adventure packages to Mulu Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Sarawak; Mount Kinabalu National Park, and Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Sabah.
Sunflower Holidays managing director, Mint Leong, shared that there are dedicated personnel in its office to cater to the high-end segment, as they “tend to make last-minute bookings and changes to their itinerary.”
“Sometimes we get enquiries (from high-end clients) three days before the trip,” she said, adding that in this respect, they were different from their inbound counterparts who usually made their bookings ahead of time.
Virtual Bingo Tour
Why
The Covid-19 pandemic has spawned a whole generation of online tours that enable consumers to ‘visit’ destinations from the comfort and safety of their own homes. Many of these tours, however, feature pre-recorded walkthroughs with little audience engagement.
Seeing a gap in this space, Monster Day Tours has rolled out a series of Virtual Bingo Tours in Singapore, where tour guides stream live commentaries from both beloved and lesser-known places, and participants stand to win prizes by playing along with a Bingo card and trivia games.
What
The Virtual Bingo Tours are hosted on Zoom, with each ticket priced at S$10 (US$7). Participants can win a variety of mini-prizes, as well as a grand prize of S$1,000. The first tours, covering the one-north district, have been held twice a month since July and were sold out. The next tour will be held on September 5.
The following series will visit St John’s Island, with dates to be announced. More attractions, including behind-the-scenes visits, are being developed.
How
I joined the first Virtual Bingo Tour that explored the unique region of one-north. With my own Bingo card loaded on one half of my screen and the Zoom tour on the other half, I dove into the depths of Singapore’s “Silicon Valley”, led by Monster Day Tours’ co-founder, Byron Koh.
As Koh introduced the history of one-north and how it came to be the country’s hotbed for innovation, I kept my ears peeled for boxes on my Bingo cards that I could cross out. The cards were populated with a mix of key words – to be marked once they were mentioned – as well as numbers.
The numbers could be checked off during intervals, when a number wheel was spun or when co-founder and ‘moderator’ TY Suen dropped the group a trivia question. The first two respondents to send the right answer in the chat could each pick a number to be crossed out. At some junctures, we could even receive discounts from featured merchants.
By the second leg of the tour, Bingos were called across the chat. Every player who struck out a row of five boxes would be entitled to one spin on the mini-prize wheel, with prizes ranging from Grab and Starbucks vouchers, to even fresh fruit delivered to one’s doorstep.
Players who mark off three lines on their Bingo card will be entitled to one spin on the grand prize wheel. Unfortunately, none of the guests on our tour were quite so lucky.
Verdict
A tour in Singapore might ordinarily be a hot and humid affair in the sun, but from the comfort of my room, the two-hour Virtual Bingo Tour flew by too quickly. The Bingo game and trivia questions were excellent ways to keep participants immersed and engaged, while ensuring they kept up with the contents of the tour.
Both Suen and Koh, serving as our guides, were highly personable and enjoyable to have on the tour. Some segments were even reminiscent of a casual TV shopping experience as we grew curious about creations such as a recycling compactor and an environmentally friendly air-cooling unit.
The guides instructed participants to turn on their cameras, which was not explicitly stated before the session. Participants should ensure that their computer cameras have decent video quality, or inform Monster Day Tours beforehand if they are not comfortable with having their camera activated.
Rate: S$10
Contact:
Website: https://www.monsterdaytours.com/singapore-virtual-tours
Hospitality and tourism marketing company The Delivering Group (TDG) has activated a global partnership with European-based AI-powered chatbot platform HiJiffy to accelerate post-pandemic sales for hotels across Asia-Pacific, Greater China and North America.
HiJiffy enables hotels to convert existing website traffic into immediate direct sales through AI-powered live chat, creating a fast-track revenue stream for hotel chains and individual properties looking to regenerate business flows post-Covid-19.
It also helps hotels to dramatically improve customer engagement by providing 24/7 communication access throughout the journey, from planning stage to post-stay. Customers can connect via laptop or mobile devices in multiple languages including traditional and simplified Chinese.
Currently, HiJiffy works with more than 500 hotels and resorts across 15 countries, and is now looking to enter the Asia-Pacific market.
TDG co-founder Mark Simmons said HiJiffy brought the missing piece to the puzzle, particularly, the engagement and conversion of customers directly, quickly and cost-efficiently.
He added: “There is no point having a wonderful sales and marketing plan if you don’t have the tools to convert business at the property/chain level in real-time, which the HiJiffy AI chatbot does brilliantly for chains and independent hotels and resorts.
“Now that we are starting to see progress in the fight against the pandemic, our combined potential for growth in this part of the world is substantial.”