SHAKING OFF the SLEAZE Can Pattaya Shed Its Less Savoury Reputation and Morph Into a Family- Friendly and Wedding Destination?

VIEW FROM THE TOPTOP Who can best cater to the new generation with a lifestyle brand? Leave it to a luxury hotel PPS 619/02/2013(022926) company, says Robert Warman, the new CEO of Langham Hospitality Group

No. 1712/September 26, 2014

SHAKING OFF THE SLEAZE Can Pattaya shed its less savoury reputation and morph into a family- friendly and wedding destination?

HONG KONG MORE UNITS FOR PLAYTIME FOR ALL ALL GAME ABOUT

ON STANDBY NEW CLIENTS Attraction operators are clearly not CULTURE With political tensions running high, Serviced residences are becoming more worried about theme park fatigue in Macau’s efforts to promote its cultural the travel industry is bracing itself for relevant to leisure outbound agencies Asia, with more set to make their debut and creative side are still nascent, but more Occupy Central action across Asia, as new segments emerge in the coming year there’s potential to develop this

26Sept ttgAsia P01 covergc.indd 1 12/9/14 9:00 pm 26.09.2014 TTG Asia 4 Contents & editorial Want to read us on the go?

Analysis 06

Agency 11

View from the top 12

Social 29

Connect 30 14 16 22 25 Report: Serviced Guide: Destination: Destination: residences Theme parks Thailand Macau HAVE A LIFESTYLE BRAND e’ve seen how the hotel industry reinvent- up are all pitched to the upscale segment; by no means Wed the economy segment such that it does are they a limited-service economy product. But what is not look like a dump anymore. The next hottest upscale or luxurious today is indeed quite different from area of work appears to be in what the industry parlance the champagne/strawberry expectations of yesterday now terms as the ‘lifestyle’ brand. and hotel chains are quite right in trying to reintepret This brand is being crafted with the Millennial gen- the product so that they remain relevant with the times. eration in mind. Designers are furiously sketching what Today, as Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s Asia-Pacific hotel groups imagine is the product that would earn president, Thorsten Kirschke, told me, it’s not about them the loyalty of new customers. Latest contenders work-life balance anymore; it is about integrating work include Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group with its Radisson and life”, which Radisson Red is trying to achieve (read Red, Langham Hospitality Group with its new Eaton more about Red in our October 10 issue). (see View from the Top, page 12), or individual proper- Now my question is, if hotel groups keep on reinvent- ties such as Kwek Leng Beng’s South Beach Hotel opening, shouldn’t travel agencies be doing the same? Take ing in Singapore in the first quarter of next year. the retail agency shopfront, for instance. Why can’t it The lifestyle brand defies a star-rating system and also be a cross between an art gallery, cafe and work- though it has Millennials at heart, it is meant to respond station, if that is what appeals to the new generation? to any generation so long as it embraces today’s way of Are tours being redesigned such that they speak to a living that has been immensely transformed by technol- generation that is more well-educated, well-travelled, ogy. It’s an attitude, not age. If your client is someone well-informed and well-connected, i.e. the We the Liv- who expects a bottle of champagne and a plate of pow- ing Well crowd? dered sugar strawberries upon arrival, he will probably While aspects such as customer relationship man- find the lifestyle brand a bit strange – a lobby that’s most agement are important, I believe the priority should be likely a cross between an art gallery, cafe and worksta- on the product. I hope the travel trade will take time tion, or a guestroom that is small but looks spacious be- to reassess if they have the right product that meets the cause there isn’t a working table or a swivel chair but, oh market’s needs at any given time. my, the wall is a canvass for Apple TV, where work and Then, you’ll see me spending a lot more time in a Now my question is, if hotel entertainment can be done to the heart’s content. travel retail agency shopfront. But if that means that hotels can dispense with the groups keep on reinventing, niceties such as a personalised welcome greeting, they Raini Hamdi could not be more mistaken. Self-service, which Mil- Senior Editor shouldn’t travel agencies be lennials are comfortable with, does not mean that no [email protected] doing the same? service is required. The lifestyle brands that are coming twitter.com/rainihamdi

WE LIKE Last month, Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas wowed journalists and those lucky enough to get a ﬁrst look at one of this year’s most anticipated cruise ships, which is nearing completion in its German shipyard and coming to Singapore next June. Boasting innovations such as a skydiving simulator (above), an observation glass capsule that ascends and moves over the sides of the ship, as well as a huge, multi-level public space that offers 270-degree views and morphs from a living room during the day to an entertainment venue at night, other smart experiences include staterooms with virtual balconies and robots shaking up martinis at the Bionic Bar. With technology at its core, it’s not hard to imagine why Quantum is being introduced as a class of its own.

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26Sept ttgAsia p04 Contents RHgcmygc.indd 4 12/9/14 9:04 pm 28574JWT_002S09_5876 TTG Asia_Sept NH4792 P.indd 1 10.09.14 D65 10/9/14 8:25 PM 26.09.2014 TTG Asia 6 Malaysian arrivals to Japan have shot up by over 60 per Analysis cent, and are predicted to continue growing for the rest of year. S Puvaneswary ﬁnds out why JAPAN WINS HEARTS

alaysian travellers are flock- Seeking to address concerns of Muslim flights in March. AirAsia X is the only ellers have no alternative but to take taxis ing in droves to Japan this travellers, JNTO Singapore also sponsored Malaysian airline flying to Nagoya, con- that impose a midnight surcharge as buses year, registering record high a 13-episode travelogue starring local ac- necting the Japanese city to its first major and trains stop operations at midnight. arrivals from January to July tor, Zizan Razak, who will be sharing his Muslim market. “The Narita flights arrive in the morn- (16,200)M and growing 63 per cent over the travel experiences traversing Hokkaido AirAsia X’s expansion into Japan has ing, leaving travellers with plenty of time same period in 2013. to Kyushu. This series commenced this been a boon to Malaysian outbound agen- in the day for sightseeing and shopping.” What’s fuelling such figures? Besides Besides providing the needed compe- the visa exemptions for Malaysians with tition to MAS and JAL, Apple Vacations’ biometric passports introduced last year, Lee added that AirAsia X’s entry will help other reasons include the aggressive mar- pump up capacity on these routes that are keting efforts by Japan National Tourism popular with Malaysians but unfortunate- Organization (JNTO), a weakened yen ly suffer from a seat crunch during the Ma- against the ringgit and growing flight We hope that this (new TV) laysian peak travel season (March to May) connections between the two countries, and the year-end school holiday period. pointed out the trade. series will create a desire Even after ringing in double-digit With this surge in arrivals to Japan, year-on-year increases in the first half of Malaysia has moved up in source market for Malaysians to travel to the year for Japan sales, outbound travel rank to claim second spot, while Singa- Japan, and that the Muslim consultants in Malaysia are optimistic that pore has dropped to third. Among South- this same rate of growth can be achieved east Asian countries, Thailand leads. community in Malaysia will in the second half. Susan Ong, deputy director, JNTO Sin- be aware of how Muslim According to Lee, Apple Vacations saw gapore, which oversees Malaysia as well, 30 per cent year-on-year growth in the said the market is an important one as friendly the destination is. first half, and he anticipates the second Malaysians tend to buy full-board pack- half will be equally good with external ages and are long-staying visitors, chalk- Susan Maria Ong factors driving the market. The Ebola ing up an average of six nights. Deputy director, JNTO Singapore epidemic in Africa is causing travellers to In 2014, JNTO Singapore increased its look at other holiday destinations, while marketing fund for Malaysia by some 20 the downing of MAS’ flight MH17 has per cent, supporting joint activities with also made Malaysians fearful of flying airlines and outbound travel agencies. over areas where war is raging, he At the recent MATTA con- observed. sumer fair in Kuala Lumpur, Lee said his company will for example, JNTO Singapore organise six, five-day charter roped in 150 delegates from services to Hokkaido this across the travel and tour- December and January ism industry to exhibit, using MAS’ A330-300. occupying the largest He said: “Flights are al- booth space among all most full as demand is NTOs. At the upcoming very good. Charter ser- B2B Visit Japan Travel vices are the best option Mart in Tokyo, JNTO because it saves time. Singapore will also host There are no direct a large delegation from flights from Malaysia Malaysia. to Hokkaido, thus if we Said Ong: “This will go via Bangkok, Narita be an opportunity for par- or Osaka, it will take ap- ticipating travel (consultants) proximately 15 hours. With from Malaysia to network and our charter service, it takes ap- familiarise themselves with new proximately eight hours.” destinations.” Similarly, Shen said growth in The NTO also recently partnered the second half of 2014 “could be Singapore Airlines and Changi Airport double” that of the corresponding peri- to offer promotional airfares to Japan as od in 2013. He foresees Universal Studios well as airport shopping vouchers worth Japan’s latest Harry Potter themed attrac- S$40 (US$32). Exclusive to Malaysians, tion would generate interest during the this one-month campaign started on Au- year-end school holidays. The company is gust 25. also promoting new destinations such as Desmond Lee, group managing direc- month. cies, as they Nikko, a UNESCO World Heritage Site as tor of Apple Vacations & Conventions, Ong ex- anticipate that well as Nagoya, since there are now direct said the deal is especially enticing for Jo- plained: “We hope the LCC’s new di- flights on AirAsia X. hor residents who prefer to depart out of this series will create rect service between From October 1, Japan’s appeal as a Singapore because of the southern state’s a desire for Malaysians to Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo shopping haven will also receive a boost close proximity to the border. He added: travel to Japan, and that the Narita beginning November as its list of tax-free items will expand to “This promotion will help us sell pack- Muslim community in Malaysia will further stimulate the market, include food, beverages, cosmetics and ages through our company in Singapore will be aware of how Muslim friendly complementing the services of Ma- chemicals. Previously, tax-free items in- known as Apple Singapore, as Johoreans the destination is.” laysia Airlines (MAS) and Japan Airlines cluded non-consumables such as home are always price sensitive and looking for Exhibitors at the recent MATTA fair (JAL). The four-weekly flights will be in- appliances, clothing and bags. In addi- good value.” were also eager to show how Muslim creased to daily in May 2015. tion, non-residents will be exempted Meanwhile, Ong said that JNTO Sin- friendly they were. Among them was Yumi Shen Nordin, senior manager, out- from the consumption tax if the total gapore will, in the second half of the year, Takahashi, manager, aviation marketing, bound division, Japan Travel Bureau amount of consumables purchased in a reach out to more Malaysian travel con- aviation sales division at Central Japan (Malaysia), described the flights as a “re- single shop in a day is between ¥5,001- sultants based outside of Kuala Lumpur, International Airport. She said the airport freshing alternative” to AirAsia X’s To- ¥50,000 (US$47-US$469), making this a particularly those in Penang and Johor opened two prayer rooms and a pork-free kyo Haneda service, which arrives late at lower criterion than the previous exemp- Bahru, through seminars and product Muslim-friendly restaurant when AirAsia night. He commented: “By the time one tion of a minimum spend of ¥10,001 in a briefings. X commenced Kuala Lumpur-Nagoya clears customs, it is past midnight. Trav- single shop in a day.

26Sept ttgAsia p06 Analysis-japanlovegcmykngc.indd 6 12/9/14 9:05 pm 26.09.2014 TTG Asia 7 With political tensions running high in Hong Kong, Prudence Analysis Lui ﬁnds out how travel and tourism players are bracing themselves for a shutdown of its business district, if it comes

cloud of uncertainty has envel- advice should there be a demonstration.” oped Hong Kong’s travel agen- Hong Kong Hotel Association execu- cies and hotels, who are making tive director, James Lu, expressed confi- arrangements to deal with the dence in the police force. He said: “Our Afallout from any further Occupy Central HONG KONG hotel members, especially those in Cen- protests if, and when, they strike. tral, work very closely with the police. The call for civil disobedience was re- They also share intelligence, so hotels can newed when the Chinese Central Govern- react and deploy staff accordingly…As far ment last month failed to adopt a genuine ON STANDBY as I know, our police is ready to cope and universal suffrage for Hong Kong’s chief has the ability to handle any situation. executive election in 2017. The campaign “I haven’t heard any concerns from was initiated as early as last year, although overseas about the political situation or it seems to have gathered momentum in any plans to cancel or postpone trips. But recent months. if the situation worsens, the story would There have been chatters of a territory- be quite different. We’ll adopt a wait-and- wide school/university boycott on Sep- see tactic.” tember 22, but details of the long-awaited In some ways, the uncertainty has al- Occupy Central action – a mass sit-in that ready hit outbound travel. With Hong will block main roads in the business dis- Kong’s disciplinary forces put on standby, trict of Central for days – have yet to be staff have been asked not to go on leave as announced at press time. Tipped to be on the city remains on high alert, thwarting October 1, the potential turnout has been the holiday plans of many. estimated at 10,000 participants. Wing On Travel Services assistant gen- Rounding up the industry to express eral manager (South-east Asia & longhaul their concerns in a meeting with the secu- operation), Simon Ma, shared: “They rity bureau, the Federation of Hong Kong were asked not to take leave in July and Hotel Owners’ executive director, Michael August. The summer holiday is high sea- Li, said: “For hotels with sister proper- son for them to travel with their families.” ties, we would also assess the feasibility Though he does not serve this segment to shift their guests from Central to other of travellers, Lotus Tours general manager, districts in case the protest happens. With Ken Ng, confirmed that this is what other such arrangements, it is vital for hotel staff travel trade members are seeing. He said: stationed at the airport to brief guests on “Based on IATA’s latest BSP settlement arrival to minimise inconvenience.” When figures, the last two weeks of August saw required, hotels are also prepared to seal drops of 16 per cent and 14.2 per cent entrances and direct guests to exits used respectively in volume. This may give us by staff, he added. some clue.” Holiday World Tours managing direc- Looking at the levy collected by the tor, Paul Leung, said he is also prepared to Tourism Industry Council on outbound refund money to clients who cancel their group tour and FIT packages, this has trips. Leung noted: “Our bookings for the also dropped by 11.4 per cent from last few months have remained slow; this HK$2,521,485 (US$325,334) in July 2013 is the same for October. to 2,234,028 in July 2014. “We worry about the situation as a Legislative councilor for the wholesale roadblock in Central may affect the sight- to are hopeful that the demonstrations trance of the hotel. These will be updated and retail sectors, Vincent Fang, said: “It’s seeing journey to the Peak. Nonetheless, would be small and short-lived. However, throughout the day as and when neces- a very challenging time for us because the city is still safe to visit given the sophis- they are not letting down their guard. sary. We will also have additional staff on the protest is related to politics, and the tication of our citizens.” Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong’s duty to escort guests arriving via Airport declaration is to occupy Central without Thankfully, business travellers seem spokesperson said: “As we expect heavy Express. disclosing the time frame. It’s unlike any unfazed. DMC – The Destination Man- traffic and road transport to be disrupted, “Hotels also have strong support from usual protest or demonstration we’ve had agement Company’s managing director, we are working hard to make sure there is the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) before, where the impact on locals’ liveli- Jenny May, said she has not received any as little impact on our guests as possible, who opened a dedicated enquiry hotline hoods would be obvious. cancellations or postponements. “No con- and we have a contingency plan in place. for concierges and from the Transport “Some tour groups have asked whether cern has been shown by our clients, and Should the Occupy Central movement Department. The Hong Kong police will shops would still receive groups during I’m not concerned too. I think it will be occur, we would keep our guests updated upload the latest information on their the incident. My answer is…(shoppers) business as usual.” on the situation through bulletin boards website to keep the public informed on al- may avoid visiting Central and go to other Most stakeholders that TTG Asia talked located in the lobby and at the main en- ternative transportation routes and safety areas.”

IS NOT SOMETHING No Rooms Available WE SAY. Please Revise Your Search or Try Again Later Find Out Who We Are On Page 28

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Take heed of tech-savvy agencies that have Agency transformed their businesses and pick up new ideas on how to do better

INNOVATORS

RIDING IN EXOTIC PLACES By Mimi Hudoyo

WHO Established in 2004 in days, combining cycling, walking, riders of all levels, the idea to cre- Ruteng, Flores, East Nusa Teng- car rides and flights. The packages ate cycling tours for international gara (NTT) Province, Flores Exotic vary from easy cycling on flat trails guests struck Nyoman and his wife Tours specialises in adventure and or downhill cycling to long, chal- one day when they were trying out ecotourism in NTT and West Nusa lenging routes for serious cyclists. their new bicycles in the Ruteng Tenggara (NTB), including Komodo The new tours are promoted area. Island and the tri-coloured Lake through both online and offline “With the help of a Swiss Kelimutu. avenues. cycling consultant, Oskar Ruch, “Flores had beautiful nature “We launched a separate web- we looked for tracks and routes and scenery but it lacked good site,” said Nyoman. “We introduced and came up with a series of infrastructure, so travelling to the the programme to our business products.” destination was an adventure,” partners at ITB Berlin in March and A separate website for the said Flores Exotic Tours director, have received positive feedback.” product is vital. Said Nyoman: “We Leonardus Nyoman, on how the A Dutch travel company has do not have a database of opera- company started. included the cycling tour in its tors or communities specialising In 2008, Flores Exotic Tours Indonesia package and a couple in this product. Having a separate started developing ecotourism of Indonesian tour operators have website gives us a bigger chance products to enable tourists to partnered Flores Exotic Tours in cy- to reach out to them through the experience the local way of life cling tours. “When they get cycling search engine. Using keywords like and culture, as such travel style clients, we will handle the tours,” ‘Flores, cycling’, it will be easier to appeals to the European travellers, Nyoman said. find us on Google,” he said. to the right target,” he said. Flores Exotic Tours’ director At present, the company can Leonardus Nyoman (far right) the company’s major market. on a cycling tour WHY Constant queries from busi- TARGET The cycling product cater for up to six participants per WHAT Flores Exotic Tours ness partners seeking new prod- is a diversification of what the group with up to two guides (for launched cycling tour programmes ucts were what prompted Flores company has been offering. long trips), who cycle and drive too. and its own website (www.flo- Exotic Tours to innovate its product “This is a special interest tour, “Since the launch we have rescyclingtours.com) last January. offerings, shared Nyoman. and it will take time for the market organised two trips and we have Covering Flores and Komodo, the As cycling is a popular activity to grow. At the moment our focus three more bookings coming up,” packages range from one to 10 in many countries and attracts is on getting the message across Nyoman said.

WHO GETS THE BOOKING?

WINNER Seeking a cruise experience for my Wing On Travel Service Travel Expert family and my aging parents, who APPEARANCE Situated in a commercial block in Tsim Sha Tsui, APPEARANCE As the only travel agency on the second floor of have never been on board a cruise the branch occupies the entire sixth floor. The décor is pretty grand Chung Fu Shopping Mall in Yuen Long, Travel Expert’s sharp and ship before, I requested for a short- and elegant as more than two-thirds of the space are dedicated to colourful shopfront draws passers-by’s attention. The design is simple briefing rooms and a lounge equipped with a travel accessories retail with a counter equipped with seven seats and four staff stationed haul, roundtrip cruise sailing from outlet. However, space for the service counter is pretty limited with to serve clients. Apart from the abundant display of travel leaflets, Hong Kong in July/August. only three computer terminal counters and six round chairs. There is posters and electronic displays, there is a dedicated stand for weekly only one pamphlet stand at the lobby so visitors need to rely on the specials or best offers. By Prudence Lui staff to print out package information at the counter. PRODUCT Only two packages were available – 4D3N Hong PRODUCT I was offered a 4D tour to Vietnam and a 6D tour to Kong to Halong Bay and 4D3N to Taichung and Kaohsiung, both on Taiwan on SuperStar Virgo. The staff informed that such limited SuperStar Virgo. While the staff did not explain the limited choices, he choices were due to the typhoon season in July-September. After recommended me to take up cruise packages inclusive of land tour requesting for a shorter cruise to Taiwan, he then proceeded to the fees and a tour guide to give more attention for senior travellers. computer and found another 4D option sailing on the same vessel. EASE OF BOOKING Within a few clicks, the staff could tell me the EASE OF BOOKING He made a call to a third party and checked room availability on the Taiwan route. The efficient flow of information availability. Service was efficient and fast. I was reminded about the via the computer enabled the staff to help clients make decisions early-bird offers 45 or 60 days before departure. When asked if there swiftly. The staff reminded me that full payment was required for was any accompanying tour guide, the travel consultant clarified that cruise bookings within 30 days of departure while early-bird bookings the above-mentioned packages were FIT offers because the company would get better rates. mostly specialised in FIT packages only. Still, he immediately printed out a 5D cruise on Voyager of the Seas to Xiamen guided by veteran travel writer Sunny Wong, departing in September. PRICE The information was very clear as all incurred fees and taxes PRICE Though the FIT packages were priced from HK$3,130 were listed on the leaflet. The staff even persuaded me to make (excluding HK$150 fuel surcharge and HK$680 port handling an immediate decision to enjoy an extra discount if I booked within charges), I was told I had to pay an extra of HK$500-800 per person the same day. For instance, a HK$1,000 (US$129) discount would if I opted for land excursions in Taiwan. be given for an inside cabin priced originally at HK$5,299, plus a HK$830 tax. The price included two city tours in Taiwan. VERDICT Though the price was dearer, I would go for Wing On Travel Service because of its service and attractive discounts offered. The consultants also explained the advantage of having a tour guide to take care of my family needs.

26Sept ttgAsia p11 Agency-xymygc.indd 11 12/9/14 9:06 pm 26.09.2014 TTG Asia 12 Who can best cater to the new generation with a lifestyle View from the top brand? Leave it to a luxury hotel company, says Robert Warman, the new CEO of Langham Hospitality Group. He tells Raini Hamdi why he’s upbeat about a repositioned Eaton WARMAN’S WAR CHEST I hear you have a war chest of US$1.5 of the new Eaton soon and by then I be- have a lifestyle brand but they are not lux- billion and that you intend to take the lieve we’ll also be able to announce at least ury hotel companies. We think our under- 10 NEED TO KNOWS company from 22 hotels now to 100 ho- five new-generation Eaton hotels, either standing of service and the customer will tels in five years, then 500 in 10 years! renovated or new-builds, four of them make a difference. ABOUT ROBERT We’re taking a dual approach: third-party city hotels and one resort, in international WARMAN management contracts and strategic real destinations. We believe we’ll have 25 to Are hotel companies imagining the estate. We think we will acquire a decent 30 Eaton hotels in five years. need for a lifestyle brand? Who’s in your family? Wife and two number of hotels, but what the total Let’s face it, there are two major influences sons amounts to is always hard to say. What is your idea of a lifestyle brand? hitting the world, one, the Chinese traveller What do you do for fun? Enjoy We would love to be in Singapore and It’s a brand targeted at those born after – you can’t ignore the one billion that have exploring Buddha, history and culture our parent, Great Eagle Holdings, would 1985 (Millennials or Gen Y’ers). What’s not travelled yet (Langham is launching a Your ideal vacation? Visiting hotels also very much like to invest in hospitality unique about these customers is they grew China brand, TTG Asia, August 22, 2014) How do you book your own leisure real estate in Singapore, which has been a up in fairly well-to-do-families, are well- – and the other is the younger generation trips? Directly with hotel and airline strong market and will continue to be so educated, have a lot of disposable income travellers and the reason is they can afford What are you reading right now? in the long term although there’s a tiny bit because they don’t bog themselves down the product and demand it. On top of that, The Hit – David Baldacci of a slowdown now. with commitments and are used to travel- the companies they work for – the Googles How do you stay healthy? Run ling, staying at five-star or luxury hotels, and the Alibabas – are just like them and when I can We reported in 2012 Langham was in going to good restaurants, so they know will move their corporate and meetings Favourite food? Italian, changing to talks for a hotel in Singapore but noth- what good service and good F&B are. business out of the traditional hotels to Chinese ing’s happened. What are the issues? They want this same lifestyle but in a where their employees are staying. A bad habit you cannot kick? Finding land, the right location – in our different environment. Don’t fool yourself Impatience business we talk to many people and it that they want less service – some hotels What does the name Eaton mean? Your pet peeve, something that takes time for the right deal to materialise. actually believe they don’t want you to say It means what we create (it to be). never fails to annoy you? Waiting in We’re also interested to expand in Eu- hello to them! They do, but it does not lines rope and North America, where we’re have to be formal. They still expect people Was the DNA decided before you joined Most people don’t know that you currently in negotiation for three and two to be friendly; they still have expectations Langham in March? can... run faster than they think. hotels, respectively. on how long they should wait in line for There were discussions. Part of my join- And like we did with our Langham service, etc. ing is to help the company expand inter- brand, we will also support the launch It’s like when when they buy blue jeans, nationally. Ultimately, we would like to be live that environment – go to the bars and of our brand, Eaton, with they still want good design, good product a hotel company that has multiple brands restaurants locals go – they want to hang our own capital. and friendly service. The jeans will cost globally and be recognised as being among out with it. more than a suit pants and sometimes the best in each of the segments. But Eaton’s been it’s got holes in them and you can’t So if everyone is looking at a lifestyle launched. wash them (laughs). By now you would have Eaton’s brand brand, how do you win? We’re reposition- So the hotel itself needs to be de- specifications. Do share. By delivering more consistently what this ing Eaton to be- signed differently. When I wake up The room size will be small, say, on aver- traveller wants. And that has to do with come a lifestyle in a hotel, I make a cup of coffee or age 30m2 as, as discussed, these custom- design, service, F&B and the environ- brand. Our exist- expect the hotel to have the ability ers do not use the room, don’t need that ment. For the luxury market and the life- ing Eaton hotels to deliver coffee in 15 minutes. I take couch, chair, table. In the luxury market style market, it’s the same: who can deliver will undergo reno- my hardcopy newspapers and spend (Warman was 18 years with Ritz-Carlton more consistently than the next guy wins. vations to match an hour reading before I leave for my Hotel Company), we build big rooms and that concept. We’ll an- meeting. So my room needs to leave a large part of them empty! I think at Langham has 22 hotels now and you’re nounce the DNA have a coffee ma- some point in time people will stop build- talking of leapfrogging that to 100, chine, chair ing big rooms, even in the luxury segment. then 500. What’s changed? and couch. Yet, the lobby area will be much bigger Our parent decided that hospitality man- They wake with a community/social hub area, a tech- agement and real estate in the hotel busi- up, roll out nology area, a little bakery where they can ness are a good long-term investment. of bed, go to grab coffee/Danish if they need a snack, the lobby to a bar and a restaurant. As mentioned, we A lot of owners think likewise. Doesn’t grab a cup of don’t see this person as economy. this explosion of hotels, brands and coffee and a And in the right location, based on models worry you? Danish, read space, we’ll also do meeting rooms be- A lesson I learnt from a previous boss was all the per- cause, again, we think the companies that that a recession and additional competi- tinent news employ this generation of people are go- tion are pretty much the same thing. that have been ing to look to hold their meetings where In a recession, people don’t stop to go sent to them on their people are comfortable to be in. out and eat. They do cut back on how their hand-held It was the same phenomenon with the many times they go out. The question is, devices, do work luxury market years ago when the senior do they cut you or someone else out? If and relate to peo- executives wanted to stay in luxury ho- they don’t cut you out, you don’t have a ple just like them in tels and corporates then started migrat- recession. Same thing with more hotels the lobby. So hotels ing their meetings to these properties. or brands opening up. What scares me is require different ar- What fuelled the growth of luxury hotels not another hotel opening next door, it is, eas of importance was the fact there were more markets for when a guest walks out, does he want to for this group. them, not just high net worth individuals come back to me? It’s really down to the We’re the only going on holidays but the corporate mar- question: do I do it better than my compe- luxury hotel ket, then the corporate meetings market. tition? And I can’t look at what’s done in company that is With Eaton, we also don’t believe it’s the past. I have to stay relevant by under- launching a life- a one-design-fits-all. Whereas the luxury standing what the new customer expecta- style brand. There customer wants some sense of place, this tions are. Plus, the market is growing all are small com- person wants to understand the neigh- the time – we spoke about the one billion panies that do bourhood of where they are staying. Chinese that have not travelled and there it, but we have are many other such markets. Thirty years the infrastruc- Isn’t that the same? ago, people said luxury was dead. At the ture that can No, the luxury customer wants to get a time Ritz-Carlton probably had five ho- support that glimpse of who a Singaporean is when he tels and Four Seasons 10 hotels. Now they growth. Other goes to a luxury hotel. This new customer have 100 hotels collectively, despite the en- bigger chains wants to stay in the neighbourhood and try of other luxury brands.

26Sept ttgAsia p12 VFTTRobert Warman 260914gc.indd 12 12/9/14 9:06 pm TAL_TTG Asia_FPFC_Coupleo.indd 1 29/8/14 12:28 PM Report Serviced residences

undreds more serviced residences will be built (see box below), but how Serviced apartments are Many serviced I don’t see the line can the product be even more relevant for Asia’s gaining more relevance apartments have blurring (between Houtbound leisure market? Xinyi Liang- for leisure travellers, booking facilities via serviced apartments and Polsena, Mimi Hudoyo, S Puvaneswary, especially families websites or dedicated hotels). The perception Paige Lee Pei Qi, Rosa Ocampo and Prudence Lui ask operators travelling together... portals rather than is mostly the same (in accommodation costs a wider distribution the Hong Kong market), Is the product more relevant to you? CHAN Serviced apartments are gaining could be shared among system. ie, serviced residences’ more relevance for leisure travellers, es- family members while standards cannot match pecially families travelling together. Not only do they provide a place for families dining costs could be hotels’ standards. to gather under one roof and enjoy the contained. comforts of a personalised space complete with all the essentials of a home, they are also value for money as the accommodation cost could be shared among family members while dining costs could be contained with the option of self-catering in the kitchenette. Some serviced apartments also have varied and ﬂexible room layouts to suit the practical needs of families.

LAM It depends, because there aren’t many destinations where we can include serviced residences in the FIT package. For instance, in Singapore, a minimum stay of seven days is required, whereas there is no such regulation in Thailand. The mix of room types also plays a piv- otal role. For example, we usually opt for a two- to three-bedroom apartment so it’s not relevant if the operator has only stu- Anthony Chan Royanto Handaya Jamie Lam dio ﬂats. But given the rising number of Group managing director President director Deputy general manager Chan Brothers Travel, Singapore Panorama Tours, Indonesia Wincastle Travel, Hong Kong new players, this means more choices for our clients.

WANIDA Serviced residences are more relevant for us in Australia and New Zea- land because these two countries have a lot of apartment offers, plus they are good for families and groups of friends. Australia is quite competitive – the MORE UNITS FOR NEW CLIENTS three- to 3.5-star apartments there are of good standards, plus there are many stage for the Indonesian market. But the to be perceived as cheaper and more suit- who care more about prices, are now open apartments in destinations such as the uptrend will continue as leisure travellers able for long-term stays than hotels. But to different types of accommodation. Gold Coast. In New Zealand, self-con- want spacious, homely and comfortable some of the new serviced apartments are tained serviced apartments like the Gold- accommodation, while business travellers now comparable to traditional hotels, SYED RAZIF It depends largely on pric- en Chain Motels are especially popular seek space, privacy and modern facilities, with better amenities and bigger areas. ing and the difference between hotel rates among those on self-drive holidays. complemented by reﬁned hotel services. They also have fewer units, thereby offer- and serviced apartment rates. Usually Travellers like serviced residences only ing a serene environment. All this is mak- individual travellers and couples prefer if they are affordable. But serviced resi- Is the line between serviced apart- ing the product attractive to families and to stay in hotels as this works out to be dences in Asia are usually in the higher- ments and hotels blurring? Are apart- friends traveling together. cheaper. end segment, hence are typically deemed ments better perceived than before? But the take-up rate for serviced apart- as more expensive and applicable for busi- LAM I don’t see the line blurring (in the WANIDA It is still a price factor as Thais, ments also depends largely on the objec- ness travellers than leisure travellers. Hong Kong market). The perception is like most Asian travellers, are generally tives of those travelling. For example, mostly the same, i.e. serviced residences’ price-conscious, and will consider ser- families with children or extended fami- ROYANTO Yes, it is a relevant product standards cannot match hotels’ standards. viced residences only if prices are compet- lies travelling together may prefer to stay for us, but only if the operators provide More families are now booking them due itive. With the growth of LCCs and online at serviced apartments if their main ob- hotel standards. There is increasing de- to a spacious room with kitchenette. bookings, there are plenty of accommo- jective is to be together as a single unit. mand from both the leisure and business dation deals online now and travellers, Or they may have certain food restric- segment, but it is still in the embryonic ANG I disagree. Serviced apartments used especially among the younger generation tions, such as halal food requirements and

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts raised the Capri by Fraser, Kuala Lumpur curtains on Cassia in June, which it billed AT A GLANCE as a new brand of extended stay accommodation. Properties are already in develop- Paige Lee Pei Qi rounds up the key expan- in China to more than 11,600 apartment ment in ﬁve destinations, namely Phuket, sion moves in this sector units in 64 properties across 21 cities. Bintan, Beruwala (Sri Lanka), Gold Coast (Australia) and Lijiang. Another seven are The Ascott Group has crossed its mile- Frasers Hospitality, which currently of- slated to come up in Brisbane, New York, stone of having 35,000 apartment units fers 16,000 apartment units in more than Japan, the Seychelles, Chiang Mai, Bang- globally and is stepping up growth in 13 gateway cities worldwide, is pump- kok and Lang Co (Vietnam). China. It has secured contracts to manage ing up supply with four more serviced four more properties with over 900 apart- residences scheduled to open next year in Oakwood Worldwide and Mapletree ment units in Taiyuan, Beijing, Shanghai Kuala Lumpur, Bangalore, Barcelona and Group Singapore announced a new joint and Dalian. This beefs Ascott’s portfolio Brisbane. venture in May that will roll out more

26Sept ttgAsia p14-15 ReportFINAL-Serviced residences-v2gc.indd 14 12/9/14 9:06 pm 26.09.2014 TTG Asia 15 The rise of markets such as family and Muslim travel, and a healthy pipeline of serviced apartments, are among factors that make the product more relevant to outbound agencies across Asia, as TTG Asia’s Roundtable shows

Not pictured: ible on Gullivers and Gateway, and make it easier for travel consultants to include The Muslim market I think they are them as a choice for clients. For exam- Wanida Hongsunirandon ple, we use Calypso to get wholesale rates, is a new clientele for becoming more Travel manager Holiday Tours & Travel, Thailand which are secured and placed into the sys- serviced apartments hotel-like, but oﬀering tem by Qantas Holidays. (because of the amenities that are CHAN To attract more leisure travellers kitchennettes), lacking in hotels. and value-for-money accommodation for looking for shorter-term accommoda- especially in destinations Serviced apartments their employees; to leisure travellers look- tion, more serviced apartments should ing for a ‘home away from home’ where recalibrate their pricing policy and make where it is diﬃcult and/ are moving in the right they could enjoy the amenities of a big- short-term rates as competitive as their or expensive to get halal direction. ger and more personalised space, to larger longer-term rates. families looking to stay under one roof. food, such as in Eastern SYED RAZIF They should offer promo- Europe. What are the pros and cons of book- tional rates and attractive commissions ing serviced apartments versus hotels to tour operators. If they offer net rates to from a tour operator’s standpoint? tour operators, these rates should be lower WANIDA Serviced apartments add more than what the travelling public gets. choices to the array of accommodation we can offer clients. But due to a smaller LAM They should offer more two or room inventory, they tend to have stricter three-bedroom units in their inventory as cancellation policies than hotels and also that’s what our clients look for. The inte- require a minimum stay. This is generally rior design and décor of some of the older the case for apartments in Europe. properties look unattractive and ordinary.

SYED RAZIF Serviced residences are ROYANTO They need to do some home- mainly located in cities. Choices are limit- work. Firstly, most serviced apartments ed in small towns. As the daily rates of ser- are not very aware of the leisure or busi- viced apartments are more expensive than ness segments that tour operators can their weekly and monthly rates, service generate for them. We can work together apartments are not popular for short-stay better. Secondly, they need to promote visitors. Usually hotels have more rooms themselves more in order to create aware- than serviced residences. ness among customers that they are a vi- able alternative to hotels. Syed Mohd Razif Al Yahya William Ang ANG Many of the lesser-known apart- Group managing director/group CEO CEO Are serviced residence developers Sutra Group of Companies, Malaysia Uni-Orient Travel, Philippines ments can only be booked through OTAs. building the right type of products? SYED RAZIF Yes, they are building apartments with a family concept and modern facilities you’d ﬁnd in homes such as TV, Wi-Fi, sofa bed, washing machine, etc. It is also important they are located near public transport and food marts. MORE UNITS FOR NEW CLIENTS WANIDA The apartments are good for FITs or small groups but they are still choose service apartments because of the stay in an environment similar to their ROYANTO Many serviced apartments not quite suitable for bigger or collective kitchennettes. The Muslim market is thus homes and for everyone to be together. have booking facilities via websites or groups due to their fewer facilities and a new clientele for serviced apartments, dedicated portals rather than have a wider services, for example, the lack of porters especially in destinations where it is dif- CHAN I agree. Traditionally, serviced distribution system. Hotels use a global to assist with luggage or round-the-clock ﬁcult and/or expensive to get halal food, apartments are commonly perceived as distribution system like Pegasus, Abacus, reception to receive guests at the front such as in Eastern Europe. Some Muslim most suitable for business travellers on Galileo, Amadeus, Worldspan, etc. They desk. Serviced residences should therefore single travellers do not mind paying more overseas work assignments who need also offer loyalty programmes and mar- consider recruiting more service staff. for a serviced apartment because of the longer-term accommodation. That said, keting partnerships. cooking facilities available. as serviced apartments continually look ANG I think they are becoming more Five years ago the supply of service to improve their products and services to What should serviced apartments do to hotel-like, but offering amenities that are apartments was a lot less and consequent- attract a bigger market, such as offering increase bookings from you? lacking in hotels. Serviced apartments are ly demand was low. There was not much more competitive short-term and daily WANIDA Serviced residences must work moving towards the right direction. awareness about them and the perception rates, enhancing room service menus, with inbound tour operators to promote was they were only for long-stay travellers, having a 24-hour reception, concierge, se- their apartments to Thai outbound travel ROYANTO Many Indonesians travel with such as those on business. Now, it is possi- curity services, gyms and even entertain- consultants, who prefer booking from families and sometimes extended families. ble to book serviced apartments for short ment facilities such as bars, we see a po- systems such as Gullivers and Gateway (a An apartment nearby a popular theme stays of one or two nights. This makes it tentially larger market opening up, from hotel consolidator). Also, serviced apart- park or a hospital/medical centre can of- an option for leisure travellers wishing to corporate clients looking for an optimal ments must make themselves more vis- fer an alternative option.

Capri by Fraser, Kuala Lumpur than 100 Oakwood properties globally the end of the year is the Aroma Garden within the next ﬁve years. Under the terms Serviced Suites by Lanson Place in Shang- of the agreement, Mapletree will acquire hai, which will offer 79 units. and develop serviced apartments under the Oakwood brand in markets outside of Swiss-Garden International will add North America. Oakwood Worldwide will two serviced residences in Malacca and contribute to the same portfolio for prop- Kuantan to its collection by the end of erties located within North America. this year. Its portfolio is set to grow further with the opening of D’Majestic Kuala Lanson Place, which prides its serviced Lumpur and Swiss-Garden Johor Bahru suites on a younger and sleeker look, has in 2015, while the Pavilion-Garden Suites targeted to grow them in secondary loca- in Kota Bahru and Swiss-Garden Hotel & tions in prime cities, as well as in second- Residences Cameron Highlands are slated ary cities. Scheduled for a soft opening at to welcome guests by 2016.

26Sept ttgAsia p14-15 ReportFINAL-Serviced residences-v2gc.indd 15 12/9/14 9:07 pm Guide Theme parks PLAYTIME FOR ALL River Safari, Singapore Skytrex@Perdana Quay, Langkawi

also provide transfer services to the wild- Oﬃcially opened in 2014 life parks.

How should the trade sell your theme Which markets are you targeting? park? China, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and the Tour companies may choose to bundle Philippines admission to two wildlife parks togeth-

er with meals. For example, a trip may What is your unique selling point? start with a visit to Singapore Zoo in the River Safari is Asia’s first and only river- morning followed by River Safari in the themed wildlife park. With 6,000 animals afternoon. This package includes Chi- Village where one can take a ride on the representing 200 species, it is home to Opened in August 2014 nese buffet lunch at the River Safari Tea SkyCab. unique river giants and megafishes such House. as the giant river otter, giant freshwater Operational hours There are also packages where visi- Which markets are you targeting? stingray and the critically endangered 09.00-17.00 daily tors make a trip to River Safari in the af- Those who enjoy extreme sports and out- Mekong giant catfish, all curated in the- ternoon followed by a choice of Asian or door activities, nature lovers and adrena- matic exhibits representing each river Ticket prices Indian buffet dinner at Night Safari’s Ulu line junkies from within the country and zone. Little Legend: RM35 (US$11) Ulu Safari Restaurant, before embarking overseas Key attractions include the Giant Pan- Eagle Thrill: RM45 on their tour of Night Safari. da Forest, home to Kai Kai and Jia Jia, Island Extreme: RM55 In addition to the above packages, an What is your unique selling point? Group bookings of minimum 10 people: and the Amazon Flooded Forest which The park’s three challenges comprise the additional snack set can be included in the 10 per cent discount; incentive for travel features the world’s largest freshwater Little Legend Adventure, Island Extreme River Safari itinerary. This set comes with agencies: more favourable rates through a aquarium and where manatees and ara- and Eagle Thrill. the park’s signature panda pau (bun) and contractual arrangement with Skytrex to paimas can be seen swimming among gi- Little Legend Adventure circuit has a soft drink in a souvenir cup. bring tourists to the park ant trees. The park also features two boat more than 20 fun adventure challenges rides: the Amazon River Quest and River Operational hours for all ages. Eagle Thrill, for adults only, Note: Minimum age for guests is eight Safari Cruise, both of which offer an im- 09.00-18.00 daily has more than 25 adventure challenges years old. Height requirements are mersive wildlife experience into the world with various levels of difficulty. Island of freshwater habitats. Ticket prices 110cm for children and 140cm for adults. Extreme is also for adults only and of- Adults: S$25 (US$20) fers more than 30 adrenaline-pumping How can travellers get there? Children (three to 12 years): S$16 extreme challenges. Azlan Idrus Public trains and buses are readily avail- Boat ride: Top-up fee of S$5 (adults) and Director able for visitors. In addition, bus shuttle S$3 (children) How can travellers get there? Skytrex Langkawi services by Singapore Attractions Express The park is located in the Lifestyle Pre- and Safari Gate transport visitors to and Isabel Cheng cinct of the integrated development of from the wildlife parks and selected loca- Chief marketing officer Perdana Quay, which is around 20 min- tions around Singapore. Tour companies Wildlife Reserves Singapore utes’ drive from Kuah town as well as from Langkawi International Airport.

How should the trade sell your theme park? Tour operators can combine a visit to the park with other activities such as a man- “River Safari opens another platform for us to create another experience for our guests. I sug- grove tour or visit to Langkawi Oriental gest it teams up with reputable research institutions and even NGOs, as well as bring in specialist talent to upgrade the attraction beyond its touch-and-go programme. It can provide relevant activities and tour programmes targeting guests who want greater insights.” Jaclyn Yeoh Director, Siam Express, Singapore

“This new attraction has yet to create a huge enough impact to make every traveller want to “Skytrex@Perdana Quay Langkawi attracts adventurous international visitors looking for list it as a must-do activitiy in Singapore, so I think more can be done to promote it. Perhaps it challenges. The park also gives an additional reason for business event organisers to choose is still overshadowed by the award-winning Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. Langkawi, as it can be used for teambuilding activities. However, the Amazon boat ride is a fantastic experience because it allows visitors to get re- Langkawi has always been known as a family destination. Thus, I hope the park will have ally close to the animals, yet not within reach to ensure safety – and this is an attractive point.” activities that allow everyone to participate in together as a family.” Dominic Ong Arokia Das Managing director, Star Holiday Mart, Singapore Senior manager, Luxury Tours Malaysia

26Sept ttgAsia p16-18 Guide-Themeparksknmykngcmy2.indd 16 12/9/14 9:07 pm 26.09.2014 TTG Asia 17 Attraction operators are clearly not worried about theme park fatigue in Asia, with more set to make their debut in the coming year. Paige Lee Pei Qi, S Puvaneswary, Caroline Boey, Marianne Carandang, Prudence Lui and Xinyi Liang-Pholsena ﬁnd out

Movie Animation Park Shanghai Disney Resort Kidzania Manila, Bonifacio Studios, Ipoh Global City, Metro Manila

KidZania Mexico

Opening in late 2015 Opening in early 2015

Which markets are you targeting? Families with children and young adults. We expect to at- Which markets are you targeting? tract 1.4 million visitors in the ﬁrst year, with 80 per cent Opening in late 2015 Families with kids, educators, non-proﬁt organisations from Malaysia and 20 per cent from overseas. and government agencies

What is your unique selling point? Which markets are you targeting? What is your unique selling point? The park will be Asia’s first animation theme park, com- The population of 330 million who live within a three- KidZania believes in the power of play in child develop- prising 40 attractions and rides including the world’s first hour drive or train ride from Shanghai is our core market. ment. It is an interactive kids’ play city that offers nearly DreamWorks-dedicated zone featuring The Croods, Mr 100 role-playing activities in more than 60 establish- Peabody & Sherman, Casper and Megamind. It will also What is your unique selling point? ments, featuring real brands, with various levels of dif- feature Asia’s first car stunt show and a one-of-a-kind live The resort will be a world-class family vacation destina- ficulty to meet the abilities and interests of every child. TV broadcast. tion that combines classic Disney characters and story- It combines fun and learning for children aged three to It will also serve as a springboard for Malaysia’s grow- telling with the uniqueness and beauty of China. F&B 14 years. ing creative industry, including projects with local anima- and merchandising will incorporate many Chinese ele- There is the credibility of the brand to boot as well – it tion studios and a performance stage concept dedicated ments. has over 500 partners around the world with hundreds to young adults. Unique features include the largest and most immer- of major international and regional brands that authenti- sive castle at any Disney park around the world, the iconic cate the content at the park, including American Airlines, How can travellers get there? central attraction Enchanted Storybook Castle, the first Avis, Coca-Cola, Domino’s, Dunkin Donuts, Duracell, The park is about 2.5-hours’ drive from the heart of Kuala pirates-themed land in a Disney park and the first Disney Fuji Film, Gillette, Honda, HP, Johnson & Johnson, Mat- Lumpur and 15-20 minutes from Ipoh city, Perak. It will Broadway-style theatre, which will stage the global pre- tel, McDonald’s, Mitsubishi, Nestle, Nike, HSBC, Unile- be within walking distance of the new Amanjaya Bus Ter- miere of The Lion King in Mandarin. ver, Seiko, Sony and Wal-Mart. minal served by intercity bus companies. By air, Firefly In short, it is a mega resort comprising a variety of connects Singapore to Ipoh with two daily flights. products under one roof – a theme park, two themed How can travellers get there? hotels, a large retail, dining and entertainment venue, a By public transport; there’s also a shuttle bus going How should the trade sell your theme park? theatre and outdoor recreation areas. around Bonifacio Global City. The park is about 20-30 We aim to put Perak on the list of Malaysia’s top five des- minutes by car from Ninoy Aquino International Airport tinations for international tourists when the park opens. How can travellers get there? Terminal 3, but a bit longer if coming from Terminals 1 The park can be combined with Ipoh Heritage Trail, A high-speed rail line will connect Shanghai Disney Re- and 2. Royal Belum Rainforest and Taiping Zoo. There are a sort to the city, and Disney Express rail services will con- number of new hotels in Ipoh, including Ibis Styles Ipoh, nect the attraction to other Chinese cities. Operational hours Casuarina @ Meru and Best Western Premier The Haven Kidzania operates by five-hour shifts Ipoh, making it easy to stay overnight and create pack- Operational hours Mondays-Thursdays: One shift ages. To be confirmed Fridays-Sundays: Two shifts

Operational hours Ticket prices Ticket prices To be confirmed To be confirmed To be confirmed Maricel Pangilinan-Arenas Ticket prices Frances Li CEO and president To be confirmed, along with incentives for travel agencies Director, communications Play Innovations, Inc Shanghai Disney Resort Ramelle Ramli KidZania Japan Director, Animation Theme Park

“Shanghai is known as a business destination, so the resort will add a fresh family travel dimension. Widely travelled Sin- “It will be a stopover destination for those travelling from gaporeans have visited Disney theme parks in the US, Europe south to north or vice versa, or from the east coast of penin- and Asia, so the resort may have limited appeal for them. sular Malaysia to the south or vice versa. However, it might appeal to the Malaysian and Indonesian Being Asia’s ﬁrst animation theme park will make the park markets; we need more information to repackage tours to a must-see attraction for Perak. Currently, there is no single Shanghai when the resort opens. attraction in the state that is a real crowd-puller. We do not Unfortunately, I foresee the opening of the resort impacting see much demand for Perak now; I hope this will change our inbound business from China.” when the park is open. It will create a lot of spillover business Nancy Tan Li Keng for the local tourism industry, beneﬁting the hotels, restau- Managing director, Ik Chin Travel, Singapore rants and transportation-related businesses. In time, I hope there will be adjoining hotels to the theme park, making it “The resort can help to attract younger tourists and encour- easier to package it with overnight stays. age families to travel to Shanghai. However, I doubt it will Perak should ride on the park’s presence to showcase have a big impact on international visitors. other products in the state to draw longer-staying travellers.” Still, we will promote the resort to family travellers. Of “It will do well if it is sold to schools. For foreigners, it can be course, special rates and promotions will help us sell it.” attached to day tours of the city, offered to families.” Syed Mohd Razif Al Yahya Group managing director and group CEO Voo Wei Keong Thaemar Achacoso Sutra Group of Companies, Malaysia Director, WTS Travel, Singapore Operations manager, Travelhub Inc, Philippines

26Sept ttgAsia p16-18 Guide-Themeparksknmykngcmy2.indd 17 12/9/14 9:07 pm 26.09.2014 TTG Asia 18 Guide Theme parks

DreamPlay by DreamWorks, Vana Nava Hua Hin Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, Entertainment City, Manila Water Jungle Hengqin, Zhuhai

Opened in March 2014 Soft opening in October 2014 Which markets are you targeting? Opening in late 2014 Which markets are you targeting? Mainly China, Hong Kong and Macau. We are developing About 70 per cent Thai and 30 per cent foreigners from the Taiwanese and South-east Asian markets. Our target Germany, China, Hong Kong, the UK, Australia and segments include families with kids for school holidays; Which markets are you targeting? Scandinavia young adults in non-school holiday seasons and MICE Besides the large domestic market, we anticipate key mar- groups. kets for leisure-seeking visitors and families will include What is your unique selling point? overseas markets such as South Korea, Japan, Singapore, The park is Asia’s first water jungle concept combining a What is your unique selling point? Malaysia, China and Thailand, among others. lush tropical environment with modern design, world- The Whale Shark Aquarium claims to be the world’s class attractions, interactive facilities and latest technol- largest acrylic panel, which in turn sets a record for the What is your unique selling point? ogy to create ‘an oasis of fun’ for all. world’s largest aquarium window. It also features the larg- DreamPlay by DreamWorks will be the first of its kind It features over 19 attractions, such as Thailand’s first est underwater viewing dome where visitors can enjoy in the world. Inspired by the mantra of learning through and only Aqua Course, a multi-level challenge and inter- the experience with a spectacular underwater view. play, it represents a revolutionary approach to family en- active adventure; one of Thailand’s longest lazy rivers; tertainment. Asia’s tallest man-made waterfall; and Thailand’s first How can travellers get there? The park also represents an exciting blend of integrat- Abyss, one of the world’s most popular and award-win- Located on Hengqin Island, the park is near Macau and ed live and digital play spaces, featuring popular charac- ning slides. only a 30-minute ride from Taipa/Hengqin Port to Heng- ters and creative storytelling combined with innovative qin Chimelong. At Taipa Ferry Terminal, board the Taipa educational play appealing to children and adults alike. How can travellers get there? Chimelong shuttle bus (departs hourly from 10.25 to Interactive environments, featuring the very latest digi- From Bangkok, the park is 2.5-hour drive away or 40 17.25) to Macau Lotus Port and through to Zhuhai Heng- tal technologies, will enable kids to engage in a wide range minutes by private jet to Hua Hin Airport. It is just five qin Port, disembarking at both ports for immigration of thrilling activities, interacting with beloved characters minutes from Hua Hin’s city centre. formalities. After completing the immigration procedure, from DreamWorks Animation’s world-famous franchises board the Taipa Chimelong shuttle bus to Chimelong. including Kung Fu Panda, Shrek, Madagascar and How to How should the trade sell your theme park? Train Your Dragon. The park can be bundled with accommodation and How should the trade sell your theme park? Each experience is designed exclusively for City of transfers or as an optional tour offer. Guests can spend an They may promote the FIT package for one night’s ac- Dreams Manila. entire day in the park for its other facilities besides the 19 commodation at Chimelong Hengqin Bay Hotel inclu- attractions, such as the double flow rider, restaurants and sive of return ferry tickets, shuttle bus transfer, admission How can travellers get there? cafes, lounges, private sala, weekend market and concerts. to Chimelong Ocean Kingdom and Chimelong Hengqin By taxi, it is 15-20 minutes away from Ninoy Aquino In- International Circus City. The group tour package may ternational Airport, or 10-15 minutes from SM Mall of Operational hours (tentative) include transportation, Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, Asia. Waterpark (Wet) Zone: 10.00-18.00 from Sundays to Chimelong Hengqin International Circus City and Zhu- Thursdays and 10.00-21.00 on Fridays and Saturdays hai cuisine. Operational hours Adventure (Dry) Zone: 10.00-21.00 from Sundays to To be confirmed Thursdays and 10.00-23.00 on Fridays and Saturdays Operational hours 10.00-21.00 Ticket prices Ticket prices To be confirmed To be confirmed Ticket prices Adults: RMB350 (US$57) Melco Crown Philippines Usa Boonchalakulkosol Children (height 1m-1.5m): RMB245 Director of sales and marketing Seniors (65 years old or above): RMB245 Holders of registration card for people with disabilities: RMB245

“This may be a nice addition for Hua Hin, Cha Am and Pranburi residents and tourists. The area already has other smaller water theme parks that are very popular with mainly the Thais. I’m sure this new park will be ‘invaded’ by weekend guests from Bangkok. “The new park has generated more tourist traffic to Zhuhai, Will this lead overseas guests to choose Hua Hin instead which had been lacking new tourism products like theme of Pattaya or Phuket? I don’t think so; after all it’s not Disney parks. It also draws many domestic travellers who extend World right?” their visit to Hengqin Island after touring around Guangdong province. I observe that Chinese travellers now tend to stay Hans van den Born longer than before. Managing director, Diethelm Travel (Thailand) This new attraction also draws traffic from Macau and Hong “I don’t think this park will be a game changer, especially Kong. Business is good with high demand for weekend pack- for the international market. It will not be the deciding factor ages. However, the park needs to improve accessibility given “It’s time we came up with something relevant, and I am for it. when foreign travellers decide where to spend their beach its remote location on Henqin Island. It’s an issue for FITs, and I Kids these days know all the fads and can be hard to please. break. But it will be very interesting for the domestic market, hope to see more shuttle bus or public transportation connect- If Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia have theme parks, and will have more influence on people’s decision for short ing to the park. The shuttle service from Taipa Ferry Terminal is then this is our way of stepping it up.” breaks from Bangkok.” not frequent.“ Dino Manila Michael Lynden-Bell Wing Wong Head of sales and marketing, Rajah Travel Corp, Philippines General manager, Thailand, Exotissimo Travel Managing director, W Travel, Hong Kong

26Sept ttgAsia p16-18 Guide-Themeparksknmykngcmy2.indd 18 12/9/14 9:07 pm

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Destination Thailand A TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE

oteliers are making moves to shake off Pattaya’s long-held reputation as a slea- zy, adult-oriented destination and reimagine the Gulf of Thailand resort town, or at least its northernH part, as a family-friendly location which is also ideal for hosting MICE events and Indian weddings. North Pattaya Alliance (NPA) – comprising seven hotels including Amari Pattaya, Cape Dara, Dusit Thani Pattaya, Holiday Inn Pattaya, Pullman Pattaya Ho- tel G, The Zign Hotel and Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort – was officially launched in July. Supported by the Tour- ism Authority of Thailand, Thailand Con- vention & Exhibition Bureau and Pattaya City Hall, the alliance is focused on estab- lishing the destination under the North Pattaya – More than you think branding campaign. David Barrett, executive director for events at Onyx Hospitality Group, who played an instrumental role in form- ing the alliance, said the cluster of high-end internationally brand- ed hotels in the city’s north creates a different experience to that which may be more commonly associated with the destination. “Pattaya has been changing for some years now, but we’re making a concerted effort to get people to take another look (at the destination),” he said. “(NPA) has a synergy of products. All (mem- MY WAY ber hotels) have meetings space; all are targeting corporate members and Indian weddings.” Alex Chakrabarti He added: “There’s also a lot more for General manager, Hotel Baraquda Pattaya Pattaya has built up a raucous reputation over families to do around Pattaya these days. the years (above); the North Pattaya Alliance is The opening of new major attractions like keen to overcome this perception by wooing Cartoon Network (Amazone) water park families to the destination How do you spend your days off in Pattaya? I love using my weekends to get away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Pattaya. This is surprisingly easy. My family and I usually head to Bang Saray Beach which is about a 20-minute drive from town in good traffic. It’s very relaxing there and less crowded than Viewpoint Pattaya Beach. To round the day off we tend to swing by Silverlake Vineyard on the way back and open a bottle or two of wine at the Italian restaurant there. Can Pattaya successfully rebrand itself as a family-friendly destination? What are the good restaurants downtown? There are a lot of good places to eat in Pattaya. I like Momento Beach Peter de Ruiter, managing director, Oriental Travel Thailand off Theprasit Road; it serves a good range of mostly western food “It’s not the first time that they’ve wanted to attract more families. Many things would have to at very reasonable prices. Woodlands Hotel & Resort change (to achieve that), and I think that will be rather difficult as it seems that most hotels has La Ferme, a very good French restaurant – they have a cafe and bakery too if you want are quite happy with the situation as it is right now. Why do we have to change it into a more to stop by for a snack during the day. family(-targeted) destination knowing it will be difficult to change? For family holidays, it’s better to concentrate on Hua Hin or some other nice places.” Are there many reputable bars or clubs that visitors can go to? Certainly, Pattaya has changed a lot in recent years. There are plenty of upscale places. Of Roman Czabaj, business development manager, ITC course, I recommend you start off at Sunset Bangkok Lounge, our open bar on the sixth floor which is “I think the seven hotels have a huge potential for attracting perfect for a couple of cocktails. Then there’s Differ Indian weddings or MICE groups, but I just don’t see how they Koh Lan can attract families. Pattaya is simply not a family destination.”

26Sept ttgAsia p22-24 Thailand-xy_REDgc.indd 22 12/9/14 9:09 pm 26.09.2014 TTG Asia 23 Can Pattaya shed its less savoury reputation and successfully morph into the family-friendly and wedding destination that it desires to become? Greg Lowe reports

this year and Ramayana (Water Park) next October 11-12. year will help bring in more families.” Despite being one of Thailand’s lower- While DMCs support the initiative, end destinations, Pattaya still attracts rea- they are sceptical about how much the sonable MICE business and that segment alliance can achieve. Rebranding Pattaya may respond positively to the alliance’s A TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE as a family destination is considered to initiatives, said Roman Czabaj, business be a much harder task than attracting the development manager at ITC Bangkok. MICE and wedding markets. “Pattaya is a good choice for our short- While Pattaya’s major, Ittipol Khun- staying incentive groups, staying ﬁve pluem, admits that there are some less nights, where we combine Bangkok, Kan- Destination in numbers desirable elements that “do not help at- chanaburi and Pattaya,” he said. tract tourists, especially family groups”, “Pattaya has been very successful in he believes the NPA cluster presents a new attracting Russian, Chinese and Indian 15% offering that can pull in families, with the tourists when it comes to the numbers, Pattaya’s share of Thailand’s Indian City Hall prepared to put its money where but on the other hand Pattaya has come wedding market its mouth is. to be seen as a Russian and Chinese “We fully support the initiative and destination that is not quite suitable for have set up a special budget for the alli- other markets – Europe, Australia, the 1,197 ance,” said Ittiphol. Americas,” Czabaj added. “That is a chal- The number of properties in Pattaya, of NPA has outlined some ambitious lenge: how to balance and diversify the which only 187 are legal hotels goals. It is targeting Pattaya to become markets?” Thailand’s top Indian weddings destina- Peter de Ruiter, managing director of tion. Currently the city is ranked third Oriental Travel Thailand, which focuses 1,200 with 15 per cent of the market after on the Benelux markets, agrees that the The number of hotel rooms coming Phuket and Hua Hin, which account for city is attracting more tourists from new online in Pattaya in 2014 40 per cent and 30 per cent respectively. It source markets, but this changing face of is also investing heavily in marketing and the destination could hamper NPA’s at- promotions, including printing 20,000 tempts to draw in higher-spending guests brochures and developing social media to its hotels. and digital platforms such as www.pat- “Before we sent many groups and FITs tayamore.com and dedicated YouTube (to Pattaya),” he said. “Now our groups are channels. Festival of Rice, a culinary cel- going to Hua Hin and Cha-Am, and just a ebration of the grain, will take place from few FIT clients are visiting Pattaya.”

Pub, which is popular with high-society Thais and expats. It’s a good place to enjoy some champagne, good wine or whisky while listening to great music. For clubs, I recommend Mixx. It is on Walking Street but it’s bringing in top international deejays. It’s the best club in town.

Are there any activities that adventurous visitors should try? We love island hopping on a catamaran. It’s surprisingly good value. If you have a group of 20 to 25 people it’s only a couple of thou- sand baht each, and that includes the crew. Silverlake Vineyard So you can have some bottles of Veuve Clic- quot on ice while the barbecue sizzles away at the back. We tend to visit the local islands such as Koh Lan and Koh Krok, or just jump in and do some snorkelling. We always use Serenity Yachting for this. It’s great for leisure groups and MICE. If you like golf, there are plenty of top-class courses around Pattaya. More people are now coming here for golf than Phuket.

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26Sept ttgAsia p22-24 Thailand-xy_REDgc.indd 23 12/9/14 9:09 pm 26.09.2014 TTG Asia 24 Destination Thailand

How to sell NEWS IN A MINUTE Cartoon Network Amazone, Cadillac Cafe & Bar one of South-east Asia’s largest offers a solid selection of Thailand Travel Shield 3 Central Embassy water parks, recently opened American and Thai home 1 DO EAT The Tourism Authority of Thailand After several delays, Central Embassy just outside of Pattaya. When all phases cooking all served in slightly lurid Miami has partnered four local insurance finally opened its doors in May to of- are complete, the 5.7ha development will South Beach-style surrounds. The food is companies – Muang Thai Insurance, fer a new luxury shopping option feature 10 themed zones and more than 150 good and prices are very reasonable in this Chao Phaya Insurance, Siam City In- in Bangkok. The mall offers eight different water features. Other attractions restaurant which is suitable for families surance and Krungthai Panich Insur- floors of upscale retail brands, both include meet-and-greet activities with key and small groups. ance – to provide instant online cov- international and domestic, scores Cartoon Network characters, the Foodville erage for foreign visitors who cannot of high-end restaurants, bistros and dining facility and live acrobatic shows. Prices Silverlake Vineyard buy travel insurance from overseas cafes as well as Embassy Diplomat start from 1,590 baht/1,190 baht (US$50/ makes for a decent insurers as Thailand remains under Screens for an indulgent cinematic US$37) for adults and children respectively. SEE afternoon out. Located martial law. Thailand Travel Shield experience. The connecting Park just outside of Pattaya, it features a winery, offers a range of policies from 650 Hyatt Bangkok is set to debut next Cartoon Network guesthouse, community mall, restaurants baht (US$20) to 12,000 baht for du- year. Amazone and wide expanses of vineyards and rations varying from one day to a manicured gardens. Vineyard and winery year, available for online purchase at 4 Longer visa exemption tours run throughout the day, and are best www.tourismthailand.org/Thailan- The Thai Immigration Bureau has rounded off with a tasting of the local vino. dTravelShield. announced a new regulation that permits tourists to extend their stay 2 Vana Nava Hua Hin in the country by another 30 days, Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin Jungle water effective since August 29. Under Pattaya, one of park will debut in Hua Hin come this new ruling, tourists from 49 STAY the destination’s November, hot on the heels of Car- countries who enter Thailand un- newest properties, features 567 guest toon Network Amazone’s recent der the 30-day visa exemption can rooms and targets family and business debut in Pattaya. Located in the city extend their stay for another 30 days travellers. It has three swimming pools, six centre near InterContinental Hua – instead of the former seven days – bars and restaurants, and a kids eat free Hin Resort and Cicada Market, the which allows an effective stay in the policy. Events facilities include a workshop 3.2ha jungle-themed water park country without a visa for up to 60 meeting floor with a 950-pax ballroom and boasts over 19 attractions designed stays. Visitors holding the 60-day three flexible meetings rooms. by Canadian water park specialist, tourist visa will also be eligible for WhiteWater West. Highlights in- the 30-day extension. clude Thailand’s first Abyss slide, a surf shack with a surf simulator, 5 Terminal X a 1,600m2 wave pool, a multi-level Phuket International Airport ex- aqua course and a 345m lazy river. panded its facilities with the opening Other facilities include an open-air of Terminal X in February. All inter- concert venue, F&B outlets, massage national charter flights will now be pavilions and souvenir shops. channelled through the 1,320m2 terminal, which has 10 check-in counters, a waiting area and baggage stor- 3 ages space, plus a processing capacity of 1,000 passengers per hour.

6 Hyatt Regency Hua Hin The 12-year-old Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, which ﬁrst opened its doors in December 2001, has completed a comprehensive makeover in July to boast an entirely new look and feel. The remodel started in 2010 with the overhaul of the Regency Club rooms and suites, and continued in 2012 with the restoration of the Presiden- tial Villas. Activity then ceased until earlier this year, when construction began on the refurbishment of 79 Hyatt Guestrooms and the establish- ment of 50 Deluxe Rooms, a new room category at the 213-room sea- side resort.

26Sept ttgAsia p22-24 Thailand-xy_REDgc.indd 24 12/9/14 9:09 pm 26.09.2014 TTG Asia 25 While laudable, Macau’s eﬀorts to promote its cultural Destination Macau and creative side are still nascent. There’s potential to develop this further, writes Prudence Lui

St Anthony’s church, considered to be Macau’s very first church Destination in numbers 12,851,806 The number of visitors Macau welcomed in January-May 2014, up 8.8 per cent year-on-year 85.9% The average occupancy rate of Macau’s hotels in 1H2014, up six per cent year-on-year 12% The year-on-year rise in Macau’s average room rate in 1H2014, to MOP1,599 (US$200) mangaganath/123RF.com ALL GAME ABOUT CULTURE acau is bent on hibition, sale and exchange of ceramics, it provides another option for us to sell we welcome here on fam trips. refreshing its while the nearby G32 Gallery is a creative Macau.” “We also try to show independent trav- image as a des- space converted from a local’s home with In fact, Macau Government Tourist ellers this side of Macau through tools like tination not just original features and household items. Office’s (MGTO) efforts to promote the our website and the Step Out, Experience for gaming fa- Kevin Chan, deputy general manager creative and cultural industries kicked off Macau’s Communities (programme); the cilities but also of Hotel Royal, which is straegically lo- in 2010, when a development team was latter comprises two (out of four) walking for culture and cated near the historic Tap Seac Square, set up, a dedicated website was created tour routes, namely A Tour of Arts and Cul- creativity. said: “I think it is a good start to present and flexible subsidies were provided to ture and A Tour of Nature and Creativity.” M In the latest initiative, the Cultural Af- something other than gaming to tourists. I nurture related talents. In recent years, the Tina Fu, instructor and coordinator fairs Bureau launched in April the Macao would not say the majority of our tourists bureau has also realigned cultural spaces for creative and IT studies, Tourism and Cultural and Creative Map, along with a are looking for cultural activities or that and unutilised facilities, promoting them Hotel School, Institute for Tourism Stud- mobile app version, to facilitate locals’ and these cultural elements will draw tons of alongside UNESCO sites. ies, said: “We observe that the cultural and tourists’ discovery of Macau’s cultural and tourists at this moment. But it is certainly For instance, the Ruins of St Paul’s is creative policy is working, and is motivat- creative spaces. The map is distributed in refreshing to put together a map for inter- positioned as the centre of three cultural ing the growth of the industry. However, 158 locations in Hong Kong and Macau, ested parties. tourism walking routes from the east, west as the initiative is still at a developmental including checkpoints, museums, hotels, “Macau has always been a cultural and south of the city. From the Ruins, the stage, there is lots of room for improve- travel agencies, and cultural and creative melting pot due to our Portuguese colo- walks direct visitors to Tap Seac Square’s ment, like creating more (job) positions entities. nial heritage. Culture is, however, not only Glass House, which is being revitalised to for the cultural and creative industries.” It covers seven parishes and their re- history; it is evolving with everyday life, house cultural and creative shops, book- She suggested: “It is important to link spective cultural and creative spaces trends and most importantly, people.” stores, special F&B outlets, exhibitions cultural heritage spots with (relevant) cul- through text and pictures. It also pro- China Travel Service (Macau) deputy and workshops. This project is expected tural and creative elements (such as work- vides information about the city’s World general manager, Huang Can-hui, said to be completed in 2015. shops where tourists can try their hand at Heritage sites, museums and bus routes he had already been incorporating crea- Said a spokesperson: “MGTO’s promo- making arts and crafts or souvenir shops), for sites like Our Lady of Fatima Parish, tive and cultural elements into his Macau tions abroad take local artists along and so tourists will find it interesting at each St Anthony Parish, St Lazarus Parish, The programmes. Nevertheless, he added: showcase many made-in-Macau crea- spot along the route. I’d also suggest ex- Cathedral Parish and St Lawrence Parish. “Any product that supports tourism is tions. Additionally, MGTO does its best to tending this concept to more cultural and For example, St Lazarus Parish houses welcome. This dedicated map is a kind of make Macau’s cultural and creative spaces creative locations in order to develop new the G17 Gallery which provides the ex- gimmick for us to impress clients. Indeed, known to many opinion industry leaders routes.”

26Sept ttgAsia p25-27 Macaukngcmygc.indd 25 12/9/14 9:10 pm Destination Macau

How to sell Viewpoint

What challenges does Macau face in promoting its culture and creative side to tourists?

Tina Fu, instructor and coordinator for creative and IT studies, Tourism and Hotel School, Institute for Tourism Studies “Macau’s challenge is eliminating the image of a mono-industry, i.e. gambling. The economy relies heavily on the gambling industry that has been growing fast over the years. It may thus be difﬁcult for us to change people’s perception and arouse their interest in our creative and cultural events. However, we should still continue to reinforce cultural and creative development, and put more Fado effort into making this industry outstanding, e.g. strengthening the promotion of cultural and creative activities to local and overseas mar- Rebranded Newly opened Gardens, parks kets. By doing this, we can also provide more choices for our tourists.” from The Fado excites and verdant STAY Westin EAT guests’ palates SEEsquares are Resort Macau to Grand Co- by offering traditional Portuguese aplenty in Macau. The Suzhou- loane Resort in June, the resort cuisine with a contemporary twist. style Lou Lim Leoc Garden completed its makeover for all 208 Situated in Hotel Royal on the in the downtown area offers a Johnny Choi, director of sales, guestrooms and suites last Decem- Macau Peninsula, it’s one of the restful respite, while the Seac Estoril Tours Travel Agency ber. Each room and suite now newest restaurants helmed by Chef Pai Van Park in Coloane Island “I reckon only upmarket or sophisti- has a Philips 40- or 46-inch full Luis Americao and Marco Gomes houses a zoo and an agrarian cated travellers like association groups HD LED television, brand new from Portugal. The 120-seat outlet museum. For those wanting may be interested in the creative and carpets and armoire, and accent features four private rooms and something challenging, embark cultural industries, which are not for the wallpaper. Located on the quiet boasts ingredients like squid and on one of the walking trails sur- masses. Travel consultants are seldom side of Coloane and adjacent to olive oil imported directly from rounding the Alto de Coloane approached by the Cultural Affairs Hac Sa Beach, the resort has no Portugal. A live cooking demonstra- hill. The trails offer different Bureau, but I hope both MGTO and the gaming facilities, but is an ideal tion is available when ordering the levels of physical endurance bureau could work together to organise some escape from the hustle and bustle bolinhos de bacalhau (a type of along with beautiful views and seminars for us and teach us how to promote and market this segseg--

of downtown. codﬁsh pastry). rejuvenating fresh air. ment. It’s hard for us to do it alone.” cescassawin/123RF.com

MY WAY

Senado Square

Rutger Verschuren General manager Which part of Macau are you most familiar with? Grand Lapa Macau I am most familiar with Taipa, where I live, and of course with Coloane and even downtown Macau, near my office. Macau isn’t very difficult to What are your hobbies? get around with its mere 30km2 of land, and one can’t really get lost. Hav- When you have a busy job and a family like me, free ing said that, Macau Peninsula can be hard to grasp due to a labyrinth of Naam, Grand Lapa’s Thai restaurant time is definitely for the family. My kids are young and small one-way roads in the residential areas. they fill my spare time with lots of joy and action. Any favourite place you enjoy hanging out at? Where do you usually go for your hobby? Senado Square (San Malo), as well as Old Taipa and Old Coloane Village My family and I love to go out and stroll downtown, no matter how where there are many small and historical streets with shops, restaurants busy the streets are. We enjoy watching people, trying out small eateries, and churches. These are where one can still feel the Macanese lifestyle and shopping around without a shopping list, watching a movie and swim- culture, and forget that one is in one of the world’s busiest tourist destina- ming at the gorgeous pools of Grand Coloane Resort or Grand Lapa tions. Macau. Where do you go for an authentic taste of your favourite food? Where do you go to destress? I love Thai food, and it’s no secret that Naam, Grand Lapa’s Thai restau- I can very easily relax anywhere, but the best is with a pool or a garden rant, serves the best and most authentic Thai cuisine in town. Additionally, nearby. I love green spaces and nature, so Coloane is one of the best Café on 4 on Macau Tower’s fourth floor is such a hidden place – it offers options for me. Although just a short drive from Macau’s city, it is an views of the sea, a peaceful ambience, and nice food and drinks at the most ultra-relaxing whole new world! reasonable prices!

26Sept ttgAsia p25-27 Macaukngcmygc.indd 26 12/9/14 9:11 pm 26.09.2014 TTG Asia 27

NEWS IN A MINUTE

1 Macau Fisherman’s Wharf transfer time of only 80 minutes, 1 Redevelopment of Macau Fisher- while passengers without checked man’s Wharf is under way, and is baggage need 65 minutes. slated for completion in 3Q2016. Furthermore, four new Airport The project will welcome three ho- Route counters have been deployed tels – Harbourview Hotel (3Q2014), on level two of the departure hall Legend Palace Hotel (2Q2015) and at Macau Maritime Ferry Terminal. Legendale Hotel (2016). The four- These will shorten passengers’ wait- star Harbourview Hotel is modelled ing time, facilitate check-in for ferry after 18th century architure in Prague and flight, and improve baggage pro- and will offer 445 rooms, F&B out- cessing efficiency. lets, a health club and retail spaces. Existing facilities and buildings 3 Macau Open Top Bus at Macau Fisherman’s Wharf will Macau Open Top Bus, operated by also be refurbished, and visitors can Goldspark Macau Tours, will have expect to see new restaurants. Once two new buses coming into opera- complete, the attraction will increase tions soon. This will mean an en- in size by about 23,500m2 to approx- hancement of the tour bus service’s imately 133,000m2. schedule and bus routes, including new tourism hotspots. There are 2 TurboJET also plans to launch a Taipa route TurboJET has made improvements soon. to its passenger experience, offering Currently, Macau Open Top Bus free Wi-Fi connection on board its takes passengers on a 75-minute able in English, Mandarin, Canton- per adult and passengers can en- full fleet and shortening its sea-to- tour of the Macau Pennisula, cover- ese, Korean, Italian, French, Ger- joy free Wi-Fi on board. A special air minimum connection time by ing 10 attractions such as the Macau man, Japanese, Russian and Spanish. two-day package, which expires on 10 minutes. Passengers with checked Science Center, Kun Lam Statue and There are 10 departures per day, October 5, bundles tickets to the baggage using the Upstream Check- The Red Market. from 09.30 to 16.15. Transformers 30th Anniversary Expo in Service in Macau will require a An audio commentary is avail- The tour costs HK$150 (US$19) at The Venetian Macao. TRIED & TESTED Wynn Macau

Prudence Lui checks into Wynn Macau windows ensured abundant daylight in the shower, walk-in closet and an LCD televi- Flower and Wing Lei are Michelin-starred and experiences its extravagance after the suite’s bar, bedroom, massage room and sion. The space was even bigger than the restaurants. completion of its first major refurbish- entertainment space. With the revamp, my bedroom. ment since inception in 2006. suite boasted simple décor, while the spa- SERVICE Attentive service was given cious living area complete with new sofas FACILITIES The hotel’s signature Spa when I mistakenly walked into the Wynn LOCATION Located next to the and carpeting was cosy enough for a boasts a new and refreshed look. The Tower lobby for check-in. I was swiftly eastern end of Nam Van Lake, small party of friends. There was treatment rooms have new wall coverings escorted to the Wynn Club, which had a Wynn Macau enjoys a promi- also a large LCD television, an and carpeting. The massage rooms feature separate entrance and reception desk. nent downtown spot with a iPod docking station and a a new in-wall iPod docking station con- panoramic view of the lake. BluRay player in a custom- nected to well-designed speakers for the VERDICT The hotel stayed true to the It is only five minutes by taxi designed media console. complete spa experience. brand’s image and is worth the expense. from Macau Ferry Pier in Wynn’s attention to detail For business travellers, the hotel offers smooth traffic. Neighbour- and sense of luxury is reflected a 2,000m2 multi-purpose meeting space ing establishments include in its hardware. I am a tea lover catering for small- to medium-sized func- Name Wynn Macau MGM, Lisboa and Grand Lis- so I was naturally impressed by tions. No. of rooms 594 (Wynn Tower) boa. the array of Chinese and Western tea Rates HK$5,276 (US$678, including service provided. It would be nice to have a couple F&B I was spoiled for choice given the charge and tax) ROOMS I stayed in a 185m2 one-bed- of cushions on the sofa though. range of casual to fine dining options avail- Contact details room suite in the Wynn Tower facing the As a female traveller, a spacious bath- able. Many of the chefs have been working Tel: (853) 2888-9966 stunning Nam Van Lake, Hengqin Island room is an advantage, and mine featured a at the outlets since the hotel’s opening. Email: [email protected] and Macau’s skyline. The floor-to-ceiling dressing area with bathtub, glass-enclosed Out of the eight dining outlets, the Golden Website: wynnmacau.com

26Sept ttgAsia p25-27 Macaukngcmygc.indd 27 12/9/14 9:11 pm 260x380.indd 1 29/8/14 10:44 am 43 mm

26.09.2014 TTG Asia 29 From the newest executive movements to recent trade Social celebrations and major upcoming events, we round up the latest happenings to keep you plugged in

GALLERY TRAVELRAVE ROUNDTABLE As a preview to TravelRave 2014, the Singapore Tourism Board held a panel session in Jakarta on August 26 to discuss the trends behind the new generation of travellers in Asia and how businesses can tap onto the growing market. This rounds off a series of dialogues held across Asia.

Best Western to set foot in Shah Alam, Malaysia

By Glenn de Souza Best Western International’s Vice President International Operations - Asia & the Middle East

From left: Gracia Chiang of TTG Asia Media moderating the media session with panellists Singapore Tourism Board’s Neeta Lachmandas, Google’s Nicolas Oudin, Panorama Group Indonesia’s Budi Tirtawisata and McKinsey & Company’s Ajay Sohoni Best Western International is delighted to launch its SICHUAN-THEMED OUTLET OF SUNFLOWER TRAVEL first hotel in Shah Alam, just 50km from Kuala Lumpur, Panda, anyone? Hong Kong’s Sunﬂower Travel Service recently revamped its Causeway Bay shopfront in line with its Sichuan travel promotion. Some 1,599 pandas (representing the population of pandas worldwide) are up for grabs for customers who sign up for luxury tour packages to Sichuan. This Malaysia. Strategically offer lasts until November. located in the economic hub and capital of Selangor, BEST WESTERN i-City Hotel & Suites Shah Alam will be a modern midscale hotel offering optimum comfort, convenience and service

356 mm excellence.

Scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2014, this new-generation hotel will feature 3 meeting rooms (for up to 120 delegates), as well as a Coffee House restaurant serving local and international dishes in contemporary surround- ings. The hotel will feature APPOINTMENTS a total of 214 guest rooms and suites, all equipped Thai Airways International and with the latest amenities, Nok Air including complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, 32-inch LUCIA FRANZISKA LCD TV, minibar, desk, NOW General manager, Ban- and tea & coffee making jaran Hotsprings Retreat Ipoh facilities. THEN Managed Le Planteur Restaurant in Yangon along- Erik Anderouard Bernard Rodrigues Vincent Lelay Edwina San Lucia Franziska side her Michelin-starred chef With four hotels already husband, Felix Eppisser, who open in this exciting, fast- ERIK ANDEROUARD JEFF CHENG VINCENT LELAY is now Banjaran’s culinary growing country - and a NOW Senior vice president, NOW General manager, Fairmont NOW Cluster general man- director further ten in the pipeline- operations, Pan Pacific Hotels Yancheng Lake ager, The Singapore Resort & we look forward to serving Group (PPHG) Hotel manager at Fairmont Spa Sentosa and Sofitel So THEN ANDREAS FLAIG the needs of ever more THEN Vice president, hotel Nanjing Singapore NOW Executive vice operations, United Capital Corp THEN Project liaison man- president, development, Asia Malaysian and interna- GRAHAM HEWITT ager, The Singapore Resort & Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel tional guests in the future. TIMUR SENTURK NOW General manager, Fairmont Spa Sentosa Group NOW Vice president, opera- Nanjing THEN Managing director tions, ASEAN, PPHG THEN Various positions at The EDWINA SAN for advisory, Asia and China, THEN Managing director, In- St Regis Beijing, Sheraton Wenzhou NOW Director of sales & mar- Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels terstate China Hotels & Resorts and Le Meridien Angkor, among keting, Park Hyatt Melbourne and Hospitality Group others THEN General manager, ANGIE VAUX commercial partnerships, Mel- CHERYL ONG NOW Commercial director, BERNARD RODRIGUES bourne Convention Bureau NOW Director of sales & APAC, TripAdvisor for Business NOW General manager, New World marketing, Raffles Singapore THEN Senior director, busi- Millennium Hong Kong PIYA YODMANI THEN Director of sales ness unit head, South-east THEN General manager, The Char- NOW CEO, NokScoot & marketing, The St Regis Asia, SAP terhouse Causeway Bay Hong Kong THEN Leadership positions at Singapore

26Sept ttgAsia p29 Socialgckngc.indd 29 12/9/14 9:12 pm TTG Asia Column

26 SEP 43 x 356 mm 5 sep Shah Alam, Malaysia issue date size deadline content proofread 26.09.2014 TTG Asia 30 ICYMI: Tune in to what’s been going on at Connect ttgasia.com and the social media space. Plus, we end oﬀ on a light-hearted note

HEADLINES

Videos are a growing catalyst for travel purchases with viewers looking to connect with creators and travel brands, said MyTravelRe- search.com, who has released a guide on how to latch on to video as a vehicle for marketing. EDITORIAL Karen Yue Group Editor According to Google statistics based on the US market and [email protected] Gracia Chiang Deputy Group Editor released in August, two out of three US consumers now watch online [email protected] travel videos when considering taking a trip. Hannah Koh Assistant Editor, TTG Asia Online [email protected] Other statistics related to travel videos have skyrocketed – views Paige Lee Pei Qi Assistant Editor, Singapore of travel-related content on YouTube are up 118 per cent year-on- [email protected] Xinyi Liang-Pholsena Assistant Editor, Thailand/Indochina year; and travel video watching has increased 97 per cent on smart- [email protected] phones and 205 per cent on tablets. Kathy Neo Copy Editor [email protected] Google also found that 67 per cent of travel-related views are for S Puvaneswary Editor, Malaysia/Brunei [email protected] brand or professionally released videos, while 71 per cent of travel- Mimi Hudoyo Editor, Indonesia related searches on YouTube are for destinations. [email protected] Sim Kok Chwee Correspondent-at-large Furthermore, video-watching is not a one-off affair, and most want [email protected] to stay in the loop by subscribing to YouTube channels. Greg Lowe Correspondent, Thailand [email protected] Most popular travel videos are those featuring authentic, real-life Marianne Carandang, Rosa Ocampo stories, and almost 50 per cent of travel subscriptions are to video Correspondents, The Philippines [email protected], [email protected] blogs that feature personal travel experiences. Prudence Lui Correspondent, Hong Kong [email protected] Meanwhile 88 per cent of YouTube travel searches focus on Caroline Boey Senior Correspondent, China & Special Projects destinations, attractions, points of interest and general travel ideas in [email protected] Shekhar Niyogi Chief Correspondent, India that order. [email protected] Rohit Kaul Correspondent, New Delhi [email protected] Feizal Samath Correspondent, Sri Lanka/Maldives [email protected] Redmond Sia, Goh Meng Yong Creative Designers WHO’S SAYING WHAT Lina Tan Editorial Assistant SALES & MARKETING Michael Chow Group Publisher [email protected] Instagram Tweets Shirley Tan Senior Business Manager [email protected] Karen Cheung Senior Business Manager [email protected] Jonathan Yap Senior Business Manager [email protected] Cheryl Tan Corporate Marketing Manager [email protected] Stephanie Toh Marketing Executive [email protected] Cheryl Lim Advertisement Administration Manager [email protected] Carol Cheng Assistant Manager Administration and Marketing [email protected]

PUBLISHING SERVICES Tony Yeo Division Manager Haze Loh Senior Creative Designer Lynn Lim Web Executive Carol Wong Senior Circulation Executive

TTG ASIA MEDIA Darren Ng Managing Director [email protected] Raini Hamdi Senior Editor It’s a champagne and confetti affair at the launch of the Bangkok- [email protected] Khon Kaen Isan Indulgence media fam trip, as part of the Thailand Booking.com (@bookingcom) reached out to the Twittersphere OFFICES - MICE United alliance to boost the country’s #MICE industry. Seen this month with what may be the most fun 30-day questionnaire SINGAPORE 1 Science Park Road #04-07 The Capricorn, Singapore Science Park II, Singapore 117528 here from left are Thai Airways’ Charles Pamonmontri, Thai Ministry of in recent times, if there are indeed other 30-day questionnaires Tel: (65) 6395-7575 Fax: (65) 6536-0896 [email protected]; www.ttgasia.com Foreign Affairs’ Sek Wannamethee, Thailand Convention & Exhibition out there. Users respond to a different topic every day in HONG KONG Unit 2011, 20/F Harbour Center, Bureau’s Nopparat Maythaveekulchai and Ratchaprasong Square September with the hashtag #30stays. Here are some of the 25 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong Trade Association’s Chai Srivikorn interesting answers we found: Tel: (852) 2237-7174 Fax: (852)2237-7227

@life_muses #30stays best freebie-In Sydney upgrade 2 TTG Asia is a product by TTG Travel Trade Publishing, glamour suite with amazing view & treats cause @ check- a business group of TTG Asia Media. It is mailed free on written request to readers who meet predetermined criteria. Paid in they saw it was my birthday!! subscriptions are available to those who do not meet the criteria. Annual airmail subscriptions are US$180 to Asia and US$199 elsewhere. Cover price US$5. @AdventureJca #30stays Weirdest place I’ve woken up: In MCI (P) 098/09/2014 • PPS 619/02/2013(022926) a hotel made out of salt in southern Bolivia. Printed by Times Printers Pte Ltd 16 Tuas Avenue 5, Singapore 639340 @TravelEater Why I love solo #travel: when something goes wrong, no one complains! #30stays Travel Hall of Fame Since 2002, TTG Asia @endesignonline My favorite Media has honoured luminaries that have won the prestigious TTG Travel Award for at least 10 consecutive times for the same travel buddy overlooking the award title in the Travel Hall of Fame. Saar after a hike in South At present, these exceptional organisations and their years of induction are: Germany #puppies #30stays • Singapore Airlines (2002) • Singapore Changi Airport (2002) • Hertz Asia Pacific (2005) Molecular gastronomy meets traditional Indian cuisine in a mad • Royal Cliff Hotels Group (2006) explosion of flavours at the newly opened Saha on #Singapore’s • Star Cruises (2008) • Abacus International (2009) Duxton Hill. We suss out its #MICE potential in the October issue of • SilkAir (2010) #TTGmice • Lotte Tour (2011) @lifeonashelf My most exciting holiday was seeing Mount • Hong Kong International Airport (2013) Everest. I will never forget the way it felt seeing it. #30stays • Raffles Hotel Singapore (2013) TTG Asia Media is pleased to announce that FACEBOOK.COM/TTGASIA it is setting up a virtual TTG Travel Hall of Fame, @Ayundya #30stays the trip that changed my life! London which will enable us to showcase the accolades, 2010; really opened my eyes that people should be broad artefacts and memorabilia of the region’s most TWITTER.COM/TTG_ASIA INSTAGRAM.COM/TTGASIA exceptional travel organisations in a far more minded! effective way and to a global audience.

26Sept ttgAsia p30 CONNECThhgc.indd 30 12/9/14 9:12 pm Incorporating Luxury Travel The 22nd IT&CMA and 17th CTW Asia-Paciﬁc www.itcma.com • www.corporatetravelworld.com 30 September - 2 October 2014 Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, Bangkok, Thailand

Association Days @ IT&CMA 1 & 2 Oct | Wednesday & Thursday Visit Us On For Association Executives

• Learn how PCOs can assist in organising overseas Trade Days association meetings. • Discover the secrets of achieving global outreach. AND ENJOY ACCESS TO: • Find out why Thailand’s association meeting was such a success. • 2 Days of Educational Forums • Understand how sustainability drives value for your Association Days and Corporate association. Performance @ IT&CMA on 1 and 2 Oct

• Exhibition Showcase Corporate Performance Forum @ ITCMA • Over 2800 delegates 2 Oct | Thursday from across 60 countries For Incentive & Corporate Executives

• Learn how to incorporate creativity in incentive travel programmes and boost effectiveness. • Explore the values of co-locating business meetings with your incentive travel itinerary.

www.itcma.com/visitfree Scan This QR Code Find out how you can attend IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2014 for FREE

Organised By Supported By Host Country Official Airline Official Venue Industry Partner

Endorsing and Supporting Associations Official Media

Media Affiliates

Contributing Media

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VIEW FROM THE TOP Who can best cater to the new generation with a lifestyle brand? Leave it to a luxury hotel PPS 619/02/2013(022926) company, says Robert Warman, the new CEO of Langham Hospitality Group

No. 1712/September 26, 2014

SHAKING OFF THE SLEAZE Can Pattaya shed its less savoury reputation and morph into a family- friendly and wedding destination?

HONG KONG MORE UNITS FOR PLAYTIME FOR ALL ALL GAME ABOUT

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