JW Marriott Nara, Japan
The hotel offers 158 guestrooms including 16 suites, alongside amenities such as an Executive Lounge, a 24-hour fitness centre, spa, indoor swimming pool, as well as three F&B options – the all-day dining venue Silk Road Dining, Japanese speciality restaurant Azekura, and Flying Stag lobby lounge and bar. There is also a JW Garden, a plant-filled space where guests can harvest fresh herbs and greens to be incorporated into their menu choices and cocktails at the bar. For meetings and events, a ballroom and four customisable meeting rooms lead off from the main lobby via a Grand Staircase, and collectively offer 640m2 of event space.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown, New Zealand
The Holiday Inn Express brand has made its debut in New Zealand with the launch of Holiday Inn Express & Suites Queenstown. The new-build offers 227 guestrooms and suites, some of which provide views of Lake Wakatipu and The Remarkables mountain range. Guests will also have access to a fitness room, sauna, two flexible meeting rooms, self-serve laundry, dry room, onsite parking and a free business centre.
Fraser Suites Akasaka, Japan
The 224-key serviced residence in Tokyo’s CBD offers a range of rooms, from the 32m2 deluxe room to the 60m2 one-bedroom apartments. Outfitted with kitchenettes, rain showers and bathtubs, and state-of-the-art home entertainment systems, the apartments also boast large bay windows that let in natural light and offer unobstructed views of Tokyo’s city skyline, the Tokyo Skytree and Mount Fuji. Facilities include a Japanese-Italian restaurant, 24/7 gym, golf simulator and The Retreat, a conducive space for work and relaxation that comes with massage chairs.
Hotel Elcient Osaka, Japan
The second Hotel Elcient has opened in Sonezaki, Osaka, a 12-minute walk from JR Osaka Station. It offers 253 keys in total, of which 112 are double rooms, with the remaining 141 twin rooms. Facilities include a guest lounge, public bath, and gym.
Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office will conduct its first Virtual Destination Mekong Summit in the afternoon of August 25, a free-to-attend series of talks on how destinations will survive these challenging times and prepare for an accelerated recovery.
While focused on the travel and tourism industry in the Mekong Region and South-east Asia, the content remains relevant to stakeholders around the world.
Speakers lined up for the Summit include former tourism ministers of tourism, Weerasak Kowsurat and Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul; Cambodian tourism minister Thong Khon; WTTC’s Gloria Guevara; PATA’s Mario Hardy; former UNWTO director for Asia-Pacific, Xu Jing; and Mekong Tourism’s Jens Thraenhart.
The Summit will run from 13.30 to 18.00 (Bangkok/Hanoi/Jakarta times).
More information and Free Registration is available on the website.
Asia-Pacific’s domestic travel market is having its moment, as evidenced by domestic travel searches in the region eclipsing that of international searches, according to a ForwardKeys report.
In the period between July to September, travel that is taking place in the Asia-Pacific region is predominately domestic travel, with searches strongly reflecting this trend. In fact, domestic travel searches in Asia-Pacific are currently more dominant than international searches.
Holiday travel in Asia-Pacific has been led by domestic activity, with Vietnam emerging the region’s top performer with a 8.9 per cent growth this summer; cherry apricot trees lining dirt road in Da Lat Plateau, Vietnam pictured
The numbers are double, and even triple, in some cases such as in Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Thailand, and South Korea when compared to 2019.
These findings were presented during a hotel revenue management webinar co-hosted by ForwardKeys and IDeAS Revenue Solutions in Singapore to help hospitality players bounce back from Covid-19.
Focusing on the Asia-Pacific region, the latest ForwardKeys travel data highlighted the might and possibilities of further growing the domestic travel market during this “survival of the fittest” period.
The star of the region now is Vietnam. Domestic flight searches are converting to future bookings, with the South-east Asian nation showing a growth of 8.9 per cent this summer, according to tickets issued as of July 15, while others in the region still lag behind.
Closer inspection of the flight search data showed a growing demand among domestic tourists for smaller destinations in Vietnam, like Qui Nhon, Dalat, Phu Quoc, and Nha Trang.
With new cases of Covid-19 rearing its ugly head in parts of Asia again, travel trends have been thrown out of whack. Gone are the days of planning trip months in advance, with ForwardKeys data revealing that booking lead time has been dramatically cut shorter. In China, Vietnam, and South Korea, it’s now down to zero to four days prior to flying.
No longer are last-minute bookers a small percentage of industry stakeholders’ marketing efforts – but in some cases, it’s their only chance to capture new customers. And with foreign and longhaul source markets showing real interest only from 1Q2021, businesses need to make the most of its local markets.
For those planning afar, it appears that despite all the drama and debacle in the UK regarding flight restrictions, quarantine, and the rise in new Covid-19 cases, the English are still dreaming of a slice of Asia-Pacific paradise in Australia and Thailand.
Thailand is high on the bucket list for holidaymakers in France, Germany, and the UK. Jameson Wong, Asia-Pacific business development director of ForwardKeys, said: “People are expecting that Covid-19 will be controlled in major Asia-Pacific destinations by (1Q2021) so they can finally travel to longhaul destinations from Europe.”
Luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent (A&K) Myanmar has launched a series of multi-day private tour experiences for domestic travellers.
Dubbed Discover Your Asia, the tour series includes Escape to Ngapali, a three-night getaway at a high-end retreat within the township; and Visions of Kalaw and Inke Lake, a four-night experience featuring private guided trekking and overnight stay at a monastery.
Abercrombie & Kent Myanmar unveils a series of private, tailor-made journeys to tourist attractions like the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, also known as Golden Rock (above)
Other offerings are the Golden Rock and Hpa An tour, a four-night journey with private transport and guide including sunset at Golden Rock, light trekking in Hpa An and cave discoveries along the way; as well as Bagan Bold, a three-night escapade in Bagan with a private guide, visiting guest-selected pagodas and an excursion to Mount Popa.
Myanmar residents are also offered the chance to cruise the Ayeyarwady River on the all-suite ship Sanctuary Ananda at a special rate. They have the option of three- or four- night journeys, with the former cruising from Bagan to Mandalay, and the latter departing from Mandalay for Bagan.
Each tour will come complete with private guides, accommodation and vehicle arrangements, and personalised service.
Severine Fallet, A&K Myanmar country manager said: “These journeys are perfect for residents who want to see and experience Myanmar in a new way. Our private guides provide in-depth insights which give travellers a new appreciation of the people and places that they visit, even if they have been to those places before.”
The company said that it has plans to offer regional tours to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos at special Myanmar residents-only rates once travel to these countries resumes.
Ctrip and more than 120 Chinese travel agencies have inked an agreement to promote cross-provincial tour safety, marking a sector-wide effort to regain travellers’ confidence and rejuvenate the country’s tour market.
The agreement laid out 16 health, safety, service and emergency response standards for the travel agency sector, according to a press release.
Chinese travel agencies sign agreement committing to health and safety protocols; tourists exploring an ecological park in Huai’an City, Jiangsu Province, China pictured
Besides reducing the size of tours, the agreement proposed that travel agencies conduct daily temperature checks while on tour, track the tour’s location in real-time, and ensure that staff complete health QR code verification before the tour.
In line with the agreement, more than 4,000 travel agencies in the country released over 100,000 new products on Ctrip.
For instance, in response to the call for smaller tour groups, China Suzhou Cultural International Travel Service pushed out themed offerings such as RV, photography and self-drive travel products, shared its chairman Qu Xiongwei in the same press release.
Ctrip said that it will distinguish products in line with the agreement’s standards on its online travel platform and at its offline retail stores.
MGM Resorts International has cast doubt on its commitment to build the integrated resort in Yumeshima, Osaka, as the industry emerges from the Covid-19 crisis.
MGM’s president and CEO Bill Hornbuckle indicated in a conference call held last month that there were numerous factors to be worked out, and were currently not moving forward with its multibillion-dollar investment, reported Asia Gaming Brief.
MGM’s president and CEO Bill Hornbuckle adopts a circumspect stance towards the company’s commitment to the Osaka IR project as the industry rises from the ashes of Covid; Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku tower in Osaka pictured
This time last year, the American hospitality and entertainment company said that it was still pursuing the integrated resort in Osaka. It is currently the only operator making a bid, after Galaxy Entertainment and Genting Singapore pulled out of the Osaka race.
Hornbuckle was quoted by the report as saying that MGM will only move forward with the project if it is deemed to be profitable and able to meet the company’s expectations. Should the deal proceed, MGM will hold a 40-45 per cent stake in the operation.
Hornbuckle expects the Osaka RFP process to move ahead in early 2021, but hinted that he expects the Japanese government to reconsider its regulatory framework for IR development.
A recent survey by the Korea Tourism Association has identified the country’s senior citizens as a profitable segment that could support domestic tourism rebound during the ongoing hospitality crisis.
Elderly South Koreans are avid explorers who favour short but frequent trips
Yoon Young-ho, president of the Korea Tourism Association, told TTG Asia that active seniors have a spending power of about US$104 billion in 2020.
The survey has also found that 43.7 per cent of those aged 60 and above prefer short and frequent trips, while 22.5 per cent like to visit the same places multiple times.
Half of all respondents – 55.6 per cent – enjoy history and culture programmes, and to have their spouses as their main travel companion as opposed to friends or a travel community.
“It will be important (for tourism players) to accurately identify and respond to their demands”, noted Yoon.
Among the first to respond to this promising trend is education company Kyowon Group, which launched a travel brand, Yeohaengdaum, to target senior citizens keen on domestic tourism.
Yoon: local tourism players should understand and respond to the unique needs of silver travellers
Kyowon’s travel packages allow customers to experience the traditional culture of each region as well as visit hidden attractions and must-visit places across the country, and are led by a specialist storyteller.
The company claims to be the only domestic travel agency in the country to have a professional storyteller leading the tour group throughout the programme.
Kyowon Group president Jang Pyeong-soon said: “Our goal is…to provide a real travel experience and maximum satisfaction for our active seniors.”
To that end, Kyowon provides a variety of services tailored to the needs of the older generation, such as customised breakfast sets and heightened hygiene and safety measures.
Bearing in mind senior citizens’ vulnerability to the Covid-19 virus, Kyowon vehicles are disinfected after every ride, safe distancing is maintained, daily temperature checks are conducted, and mask and hand sanitisers are provided and used.
Hospitality and tourism companies returning to business in a post-lockdown world are driving a growing demand for talents equipped with knowledge in health and safety as well as technology, with new positions opening up to support fresh or evolved revenue streams.
Patrick Basset, Accor’s chief operating officer for upper southeast & northeast Asia and the Maldives, said the company has created a new role for an ALLSAFE officer as a part of its new global safety and sanitation label.
New skills will be in demand as tourism rebounds from the pandemic, and jobs are already evolving
An ALLSAFE officer will be positioned at all Accor’s properties to ensure that the hotel abides by best practices in terms of cleanliness and safety, and covers the 16 main areas of focus under the programme.
Along the same lines, housekeeping and operational roles may require more resources as recovery begins, opined Andrew Chan, founder and CEO of ACI HR Solutions.
“At Marriott International, digitally-savvy individuals are increasingly relied upon for certain functions as a result of travel in the new normal,” added Regan Taikitsadaporn, chief human resources officer – Asia Pacific. “As guests are increasingly looking to minimise physical interactions when they book and travel, tech-savvy teams will help make such transitions seamless.”
New F&B services such as home delivery and takeaway programmes are also presenting new roles that must be filled, shared Regan.
At the same time, hirers are paying greater attention to specific traits like adaptability, resilience, empathy and an ability “to maintain a sense of infectious positivity even when things look bleak”, shared Arthur Kiong, CEO of Far East Hospitality.
“Other new skill sets needed in the hospitality business include creative thinking, market and financial planning, communication, social sciences, data analysis, basic understanding of law,” added Kiong.
However, Chan pointed out that talent requirements by hotels would likely continue to evolve as operations return to normalcy.
Readying new blood
Kaye Chon, dean and chair professor of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) as well as Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, believes his students have little to worry about fitting into a hospitality world of tomorrow.
“This crisis presents an opportunity for us to reorient our curriculum and the way we teach, but the hospitality and tourism industry has already been moving towards technology and digitalisation in various aspects, from marketing to HR and finance management. The crisis has merely forced the industry to speed up its technology revolution.
Chon: hospitality is a spirit that will never grow out of trend and relevance
“Our school has been ahead of this trend and we have added courses that focus on digital management, marketing in a digital age, and big data analytics, among others (to prepare our students for future employment),” said Chon.
Even with the enhanced curriculum on technology capabilities, Chon emphasised that “hospitality is a spirit”, and so the need for soft skills “will never grow out of trend”.
“It is important that we strike a balance between imparting soft skills and service philosophy, and technology know-how. We are not grooming students in computing, we are not raising technocrats, and we don’t want to lose our versatile students to the technology industry,” he remarked.
Echoing similar beliefs, Somkiat Wongjeeraphat, head of the president office at Bangkok’s International Hotel and Tourism Industry Management School, said the pandemic would not completely alter basic human needs, and therefore “all of the traditional roles in the hotel and tourism sector will still be needed”.
Weak hiring appetite
What worries academic chiefs is the poor job market in the hospitality and tourism industry, which has seen many companies imposing pay cuts or laying off staff.
Chan shared that more retrenchments than recruitment are happening today, and hiring demand is down across the region and sector.
Naturally, graduates of James Cook University (JCU) are today most concerned about their employability, said Abhishek Bhati, campus dean and head (Singapore) learning, teaching and student engagement.
And with many organisations turning to digitisation and technology to reduce human reliance, especially in back-office operations, fresh graduates will face an even tougher job market.
“We are preparing JCU students and graduates to be resilient and to (be) innovative to improve business outcomes. They will be welcomed in different roles as long as they can add value to businesses,” said Abhishek, adding that he has advised his students to “consider all opportunities without being too picky and be prepared for unconventional roles”.
To help place JCU graduates, the school relies on its local and regional alumni networks, and offers networking opportunities through virtual platforms. These efforts are paying off, as several students are in discussion with JCU’s industry partners for careers and assignments immediately or in 4Q2020.
Kiong: strong performing hospitality companies now have a better crop of graduates to choose from
Despite the state of the hospitality industry, Kiong emphasised that employment could still be found, especially with companies that were savvy enough to turn crises into gold.
“For many local or regional hospitality companies, the pandemic presents opportunities to pick up new management’s contracts, sell auxiliary services, or acquire hotel assets that are strategic to their brand expansion. Such companies will have a better crop of hospitality graduates to choose from since the usual international brands may not be recruiting as aggressively,” opined Kiong.
Chan also encouraged job seekers, be they fresh graduates or displaced professionals, to cast their eyes – and curriculum vitae – towards the luxury travel sector, which is primed to be the first to rebound once international borders reopen.
“Also, I’m seeing more tech-related start-ups in the industry that could potentially offer some relief to displaced talents in the short to medium term,” he added.
Training gaps
Another problem presented by the pandemic and tourism crisis is a weakened corporate appetite for interns. Ten SHTM students who were on an internship programme between January and July this year were let go before the completion of their stint. The school had to step in with alternative arrangements with other employers.
Chon said internship programmes during these challenging times must be flexible, so students are allowed to take on remote projects with relevant companies.
The school is also relying on close relationships with industry leaders to lend support in internship and job placements.
Far East Hospitality, which has been an active contributor to hospitality education, has maintained its internship programmes with hospitality and tourisms schools it supports. Kiong said: “We have always played an active role in nurturing young industry professionals. Even during this pandemic, we did not stop the programme, as we know that this is an important part of (education). In fact, we have several ex-interns whom we have hired as permanent staff after they graduated.
“We also have a well-resourced Learning and Development Team which reports directly to me. This makes a difference as I take personal responsibility for how many new graduates we recruit each year, the content of our management development programmes, and their progress and promotions into leadership positions. This is the core of what makes us different and manifest into the brand of hospitality we ultimately deliver – Singapore-inspired.”
Far East Hospitality’s training emphasis has, however, shifted in response to the crisis – from customer experience focused to crisis, safety, and hygiene management.
The company’s commitment to grooming talents extend to its existing team, with the down time now used to provide staff with cross-training between departments. “(We also) take the approach of train-the-trainer to continue building up staff capabilities,” shared Kiong.
PATA Youth Ambassador, Aletheia Tan, urged hospitality and tourism companies to not freeze their internship and talent development programmes now, even though times are difficult. Doing so would create a dearth of talents in the future, when the industry is ready to return to business.
Exacerbated talent drain
The job crisis in the hospitality and tourism industry is likely to force new graduates to consider alternative career paths, exacerbating a talent drain that the industry already suffers.
“We have found over the years that our students do not necessarily move on to jobs in this industry. Some who find immediate employment in hotel and tourism may also not stay on,” he shared, adding that hospitality knowledge is a tool that helps students open doors to many other industries, particularly that of luxury retail.
Skipping the beleaguered industry for greener pastures now is a practical approach that must be taken by anyone who dreams of a career in tourism, opined Tan.
“Students, youths and fresh graduates…are passionate but due to the current situation the industry isn’t hiring. (They) are facing one of the worst job markets in history, so they are taking the skills they have learnt and applying them in other ways and pivoting to different industries. They don’t really want to, but they have to,” she said.
However, Tan believes that the truly passionate would eventually return to fulfil their dreams.
Sharing a similar view, Kiong regards the pandemic as a test of one’s dedication to the hospitality industry, saying that it would “attract those with the genuine aptitude and passion for it”. – Additional reporting by Anne Somanas
Travellers taking AirAsia’s inaugural weekend Chiang Mai-Hua Hin flight will be able to access discounts and perks at Anantara Hua Hin Resort and Anantara Chiang Mai Resort.
Anantara Chiang Mai Resort is set on the banks of the Mae Ping River
With a show of their boarding passes, travellers can avail to a 15 per cent discount on the best available room rate, F&B and spa treatments as well complimentary breakfasts, transfers to and from the airport, and a glass of sparkling wine or house wine upon arrival.
The new flight between Thailand’s Chiang Mai and Hua Hin is timed with the weekend to facilitate relaxation and sightseeing between the two popular destinations.
The Chiang Mai-Hua Hin flight departs every Friday and Sunday at 09.40; Hua Hin-Chiang Mai departs every Friday and Sunday at 15.10.
Anantara Chiang Mai Resort is conveniently located on the banks of the Mae Ping River, giving guests easy access to the temple-filled old city, Lanna heritage, artisan villages and mountain hill tribes. Anantara Hua Hin Resort is modelled on a traditional Thai village, with low-rise gabled pavilions set among lush tropical grounds, lotus-filled lagoons, and meandering pathways through exotic foliage.
Both resorts have implemented Anantara’s Stay with Peace of Mind programme, with enhanced health and safety measures that have been certified by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. In addition to enhanced levels of sanitation to ensure guests’ health and safety throughout their stay, social distancing has been implemented in all public spaces, and maximum flexibility is offered for rebooking stays.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation will open its first Hyatt Regency branded hotel in Doha, Qatar this September 15, and is currently taking reservations.
Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha is now open for reservations for stays from September 15
Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha, the third Hyatt property in the Middle East, features 400 rooms and 12 luxury suites, a multitude of social spaces, several F&B concepts, as well as 1,000m2 of event facilities, including a state-of-the-art business centre, two ballrooms and 11 meeting and conference rooms.
It is located close to Hamad International Airport and a few minutes from the heart of the city, the palm-fringed corniche and Doha’s vibrant business district.
Srdjan Milekovic, senior vice president operations EAME, Hyatt, said in a press statement: “We believe that Hyatt Regency Oryx Doha will become a key destination in the city, satisfying the needs of on-the-go business travellers with an exemplary setting for meetings and leisure, and attracting local guests looking for modern dining experiences.”
The property will apply Hyatt’s multi-layered Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment to further enhance its operational guidance and resources around colleague and guest safety and peace of mind.
Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office will conduct its first Virtual Destination Mekong Summit in the afternoon of August 25, a free-to-attend series of talks on how destinations will survive these challenging times and prepare for an accelerated recovery.
While focused on the travel and tourism industry in the Mekong Region and South-east Asia, the content remains relevant to stakeholders around the world.
Speakers lined up for the Summit include former tourism ministers of tourism, Weerasak Kowsurat and Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul; Cambodian tourism minister Thong Khon; WTTC’s Gloria Guevara; PATA’s Mario Hardy; former UNWTO director for Asia-Pacific, Xu Jing; and Mekong Tourism’s Jens Thraenhart.
The Summit will run from 13.30 to 18.00 (Bangkok/Hanoi/Jakarta times).
More information and Free Registration is available on the website.