VIEW FROM THE TOPOP South Beach Consortium is set to raise Singapore’s ‘cool’ level PPS 619/02/2013(022926) when it soft-opens in 1Q2015. CEO Aloysius Lee searches for talent

No. 1704/April 11, 2014 AIRPORTS OF LUXURY TRAVEL ROUNDTABLE THE FUTURE How can the Asian villa product remain the ultimate stay through new Asia’s airports are redefining passenger innovations? experiences, with a strong focus on DIY services

FREERIDER DILEMMA DMCs are torn over charging fees for incentive proposals to prevent opportunistic clients from stealing ideas

HAINAN’S HIDDEN CHARMS There’s more to the Chinese island than its famous resort city of Sanya

TTG ASIA_236X90MM_DESTINATIONS CAST.indd 1 31/3/14 8:48 AM

11April ttgAsia p01 covergcredgc.indd 1 8/4/14 5:24 pm 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 2 Contents & editorial

News analysis 03

View from the top 07

Agency 08

Intelligence 09

Shop 10 Social 26 1816 12Report: Guide: Destination: Destination:22 Connect 27 Luxury travel Airports China Japan CHANGE WITH US ust like travel agencies, traditional media preferences, have a proven track record of success, and Jcompanies have been disrupted by the Inter- we don’t mind paying them for these services. net, and those that don’t stay relevant may die. In While planning a recent family holiday to Taiwan, many ways, similar predictions have been levelled at us. we opted for free-and-easy as it seemed impossible to People said newspapers would die, but they haven’t. We follow a group tour schedule with a nine-month-old in haven’t. Nonetheless, we’re not sitting here twiddling tow whose eating/sleeping/waking times are not pre- our thumbs. dictable. I blew precious hours comparing prices online, While we curate an overwhelming amount of ‘news’ researching blogs and compiling tips from friends. What to give you the most original, up-to-date stories on I needed was someone to recommend the best time of www.ttgasia.com, you will see in TTG Asia from now the day to fly with a baby, the most child-friendly airline, on a news magazine that focuses on trends/issues, case the most suitable serviced apartment...but this had to be studies, intelligence, destination ideas and incisive com- someone who knew me and who would be charging a mentaries. As part of our 40th anniversary, we’re also fair fee, not an arm and a leg. unveiling new looks and stronger content for a number There are many levels of service a travel consultant of other publications, as well as launching several initia- can provide, ranging from simply recommending must- tives such as Roomonger, a B2B e-commerce portal. try restaurants and must-see sights to drawing up a day- Since we’re celebrating 40 years of championing the by-day itinerary to all of the above plus arranging door- travel trade, allow me to share a wish as a customer: to-door transfers and executing bookings. Not everyone I hope to see more travel agencies selling their consul- requires the same degree of help in travel planning. Cus- tancy services. tomisation also shouldn’t necessarily equate to a hefty The idea of charging for proposals has been toyed price tag. It is about what you can bring to the table and with among DMCs but few have been brave enough to how you can charge for it. actually do so (see page 3). In the same vein, outbound It is with this in mind that we present you our latest We all should have someone whom operators have some thinking to do too. revamp, an in-depth magazine packed with tips, ideas, None of the friends I know (I’m a Millennial) have a inspirations for you to stay relevant and in business for we can rely on to take care of our go-to travel consultant the way they have a go-to hair- many years to come. Let’s grow further together. holidays, the way we trust (our stylist, personal trainer or financial advisor. I’m saying we all should have someone whom we can rely on to hairstylist, personal trainer or financial take care of our holidays, the way we trust someone to Gracia Chiang advisor)...We turn to them because give us a new hairstyle, improve our fitness levels or Deputy Group Editor grow our hard-earned money. We turn to them because [email protected] they take interest in who we are. they take interest in who we are, try to understand our twitter.com/graciachiang IT COMING UP MIGHT WE LIKE GET MALAYSIA Selangor’s theme parks innovate Written by someone who has his finger on the pulse of Asia, readers WEIRD MACAU Beyond the casinos will find a series of essays on the region’s real estate landscape Bill Barnett in Bill Barnett’s new book It Might Get Weird. With subjects rang- Is Egypt safe? • Luxury safaris in LONGHAUL TRAVEL ing from Listening to the Dead Presidents to the Great Toast Crisis, NEXT ISSUE: Kenya • Spain gears up to welcome Asians the founder and managing director of hospitality consulting firm C9 COLLECTED ESSAYS ON ASIA’S REAL ESTATE LANDSCAPE FROM THE PAGES OF APRIL 25, 2014 PROPERTY REPORT MAGAZINE. BEACH HOLIDAYS Guide to Langkawi, Desaru Coast, Hotelworks shows without a doubt that “Asia remains absolutely the 1 Lombok and Bintan most interesting place in the world”. VIEW FROM THE TOP Lucas Chow, group CEO and If you want to see the online version, here it is: http://issuu.com/thephuketinsider/docs/ managing director of Far East Orchard Singapore it_might_get_weird_-_bill_barnett

11April ttgAsia p02-Content4mygcmyknmygc.indd 2 8/4/14 5:32 pm 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 3 DMCs are torn over charging fees for incentive Analysis proposals to prevent opportunistic clients from stealing ideas and going direct to suppliers. By Greg Lowe FREERIDER DILEMMA s incentive budgets become needs,” he said. “But we can’t just turn the increasingly squeezed amid business down.” intensifying competition He added: “The problem is responsible and a sluggish global mar- clients end up footing the bill for those ket, DMCs are seeing a rise who take our ideas.” inA prospective clients who request for tour Just as Sara Merino, director of sales and incentive proposals only to go straight and marketing at Spanish Heritage, to suppliers in a bid to cut costs. shared that some clients request for While not a new issue to the travel a London-based programme only to trade, this trend is further compounded go direct to suppliers because they by the growing ease of access to suppli- think “England is so close they ers via the Internet, which increases the can do it themselves”, travel likelihood of clients harvesting ideas from firms in South-east Asia are DMCs and then organising their own seeing such trends too. travel programmes. Exotissimo Travel Thai- Proposals to counter this prevalent is- land MICE manager, Tim sue were discussed during the 2014 annu- Upchurch, said: “Some mar- al general meeting of euromic, a Europe- kets have no problem of get- focused association of 36 DMCs, in Cairo, ting us to do the work while Egypt earlier this year in January. having no intention of doing Ideas mooted included charging for business. This is not always about proposals and shifting DMCs’ emphasis stealing the ideas, sometimes they away from packaging products to becom- just need another proposal (for ing travel consultants who charge a fee for presentation) even if they have pret- their services. ty much decided they want to go to a Gloria Spotti, executive vice president completely different destination. of Events.com, said her company had “Singapore is probably the worse been successful in charging clients a con- (for ideas theft) – it’s a cultural thing. ceptual fee at the proposal stage and rec- They want to organise everything ommended other travel specialists to fol- themselves. We don’t really see this low suit. “If a client wants us to develop a from other markets like Hong Kong or programme for them, why should we do Vietnam,” he added. that for free?” she questioned. “It costs us Upchurch said the problem was rela- time and money.” tively rare with longhaul clients “who real- DMCs generally like the idea in princi- ly see the value in what a DMC adds,” and ple, but many believe their clients would rarer still with corporates who were much not stump up the fee, a view reflected by more willing to accept a consultancy plus those on the demand side of the process. service fee approach. David Sand, CEO of Uwin Iwin Incen- One additional problem with regional tives and former president of the Society clients who are less opposed to taking the of Incentive Travel Executives, said he had specialists’ ideas for free is that they are yet to see a DMC requesting payment for often part of a global company that may a proposal and added that specialists who generate significant business for a DMC. started to do so would likely lose business “If we upset the Singapore office, we risk as a result. upsetting the global head office and it’s Echoing Sand’s sentiments, a senior just not worth it,” he said. buyer from a major international com- When asked about the likelihood of in- pany in the US, commented: “I feel for centive houses and regional clients paying the DMCs. We always work with them in for proposals, Upchurch replied: “They an upfront way and would not take their wouldn’t wear it. A Singaporean client ideas, but I can’t see the idea of paying for certainly wouldn’t pay for it.” proposals working.” Likewise, Hans van den Born, manag- At the same time, the trade in Asia faces ing director of Diethelm Travel Thailand, similar problems and most travel special- said the company was also experiencing ists struggle with finding a solution that the same problem. While he would like to protects their company without deterring charge for proposals, it is unlikely to hap- new business. pen not only because clients would not A senior executive at a Bangkok-based support the move, but also due to a lack of DMC, who requested anonymity, said it solidarity among DMC players. was possible to sniff out and deter pro- “I certainly won’t be the first to imple- spective clients who were likely to use ment it (charging for proposals),” he said. the request-for-proposal process as a free “You may think you have an agreement ideas grab. “There are ways of dealing with with your colleagues, but you can guaran- these clients; we will spend very little time tee that if most companies start charging on the proposal and ramp up the costs so there will always be someone who stops they will be priced out, or tell them there charging to get more business. Then you is insufficient room capacity for their all have a problem.”

If a client wants us to develop a programme for them, why should we do that for free? It costs us time and money. Gloria Spotti, executive vice president, Events.com

11April ttgAsia p03 workforfreeAnalysis-xygc.indd 3 8/4/14 5:24 pm 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 4 Asia is still a high-volume destination, but Analysis CEOs of European tour operators say it’s not the flavour of the season. By Raini Hamdi THIS TIME FOR AFRICA NOT ASIA

s the Thai trade wrestles with around the time a political impasse, India anti-government with a negative image result- protestors planned ing from horrifying rape cas- their Bangkok ‘shut- es and China with pollution d o w n’. andA other issues, CEOs of German and Hotelplan Group CEO, Swiss tour operators watch their forward Thomas Stirnimann, had bookings move from one place to another, to bite the bullet and discount like pegs on a backgammon board. “massively” to Thailand in or- Thailand, India and China are by no der to fill up commited capacity means Asian backwaters; their political, on Singapore Airlines’ A380 – in economic, social and environmental on- itself a selling point for Swiss ally Marco Polo’s goings receiving due coverage in Europe. travellers. number one Asian The good news is ‘Asia’ as a whole is not “We were promoting destination. Said blanketed with a negative perception by Khao Lak or Phuket Baldus: “Last year, German-speaking tourists, even when for less than CHF800 bookings were three of its high-profile countries are in a (US$902) for a week down 15 per cent bit of a spot. all-inclusive, i.e. flights, for us, despite pric- The bad news is Asia overall does ap- transfers and hotel includ- es being 10 per cent pear “less trendy” now compared with ed, to motivate people to buy. It cheaper – what a fan- a few years ago, believed Holger Baldus, would have costed twice as much tastic value for money. managing diretor, Marco Polo Reisen. at least; Canary Islands (a low-cost This year, the decline will This time, as Shakira’s official FIFA World destination for Swiss) would be more entire trip; they do not be higher than 15 per cent, Cup 2010 song goes, it’s Waka Waka (This expensive. You would expect a boom, but necessarily take Singa- unless something is done. Time For Africa). that didn’t happen, which showed the re- pore, Malaysia or Hong This is what we also hear from Africa, Latin America, the Indian lunctance and doubt people had about Kong as a substitute.” our local partners, they are say- Ocean and the Caribbean are benefiting the security in Thailand. The world is Marco Polo saw an im- ing, c’mon government, you’ve from an Asia which has lost a bit of its transparent and bad news travels faster pact on business to Indo- got to do something. But nothing shine. Favourable currency exchange and than ever before. If you watch the news on china that uses Bangkok as is happening, which is a pity.” good pricing in the Caribbean are enough TV, you would think Bangkok is burning, gateway. “For us, Indochi- “Indochina will be stronger to drive up numbers there, said Michael which is not the case, of course, but people na is more important than for us than India for this year,” he Frese, CEO, Rewe Touristik, whose brands were influenced by it. Thailand, but the problem is added. include Dertour and Meier’s. “Those who bought came back happy Bangkok is an important hub China, said Frese, has become “This is the decisive period when book- that they had such a good deal. This might to Vietnam and Cambodia. “difficult for us to sell”. “We’re get- ings are made. By this time (March), 70 support the next season, but of course “For Thailand itself, there ting very lousy numbers because of per cent of all bookings are already in the we’ve spoilt these people now. are no new bookings for the the haze – who wants to go to Beijing if books. Thus, if in a particular booking “Such an offer cannot be repeated.” north, i.e. the traditional routing you cannot see the next building? This is season you have ‘disturbances’, people will Added Stirnimann: “We need a solid of Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Chiang what the public sees on TV; it might not be decide in favour of other destinations and and stable Thailand so that we can full- Mai, and so on. But there are still a correct, but it is what makes the consumer the bookings are gone for the year,” said heartedly and proudly promote the coun- number of bookings to the beach destina- decide whether to go or not.” Frese. try again and, indeed, South-east Asia. tions in the south,” said Baldus. Pollution aside, the fact is China has also Clients who had booked Thailand went Bangkok is the first and last stop in eve- But this does not mean that beach re- become expensive for Germans, thanks to ahead with their trips last winter but new rybody’s planning. If this is out of ques- sorts in the south are totally unaffected. a booming domestic traffic. “There was a bookings started to dip since mid-January, tion, then the public would postpone their Rewe’s Frese pointed out that 40 per cent time when China business was booming of his German clients to for us as airfares were low and hotels had Thailand do roundtrips reasonable rates,” said Frese wistfully. and in combination with Asked what their strategies are to swing resorts in the south and back business to Asia, tour operators said they all go through Bang- there is not much that can be done but to kok. “That is what’s spoil- wait out. “In business, you always have ing the numbers,” said waves of demand for certain places. A lot We need a solid and stable Thailand so Frese. “We are almost 20 of Germans have travelled to Asia. Places per cent down (for Thai- like China have become too modern. It’s that we can full-heartedly and proudly land) and I only hope also not just a question of money. promote the country again and, indeed, (Thais) will find a solu- “We had a lot of years when Asia was tion. Tourism is big busi- trendy, but now other destinations – South South-east Asia. Bangkok is the first and ness that feeds a lot of Africa, Tanzania, Namibia – are picking up last stop in everybody’s planning. If this people.” in the German market and the time has India, meanwhile, is come for them. They may be a bit more is out of question, then the public would down on average 25 per expensive than Asia, but they are good val- postpone their entire trip. cent for most German tour ue for money and if you fly from Europe operators, while China, there is no jet lag. The food is good, so is Thomas Stirnimann 20 per cent, according to the wine, and the seasonality is the same as CEO Tischler Reisen’s president, Thailand. We go to these places in winter Hotelplan Group Thomas Tischler. when it is gray and dull here. Asia will be India is tradition- trendy again one day,” said Baldus.

11April ttgAsia p04 ITBAnalysis310314rhmy2gc.indd 4 8/4/14 5:19 pm TTG Asia Issue : March 2014 One Event, Unlimited Destinations Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre

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xxx ATM 2014 ad 260 x 380mm.indd 1 28/01/2014 20:17 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 7 South Beach Consortium is set to raise Singapore’s View from the top ‘cool’ level when it soft-opens in 1Q2015. The search for talent to run the hotel is on. CEO Aloysius Lee talks to Raini Hamdi about the project and finding people TALENT SCOUTING What sort of talent are you needs of such a hotel as this? EAM positions which will enable looking for? Yes. We will have, for example, the executives to become a future 10 NEED TO KNOWS ABOUT LEE As the product is different, we an EAM - sales & marketing ser- GM. This is what we want to do need people who will buy into vices, and all the customer-facing as well, i.e. groom talent. Who is in your family? One growing healthy and wealthy retir- its concept. Ours is a HIP ho- departments will be under him wife, one son ing community tel, i.e. Highly Individual Place. – sales, branding, revenue, ca- How many people do you need What do you do for fun? How do you stay healthy? Eat (When conceptualising it), we tering, front office, reservations, and how are you going to get Gossiping and walk were looking at the Hudson in concierge, VIP services (many of them in this labour crunch? Ideal vacation? Places that Favourite food? Shanghainese New York, Delano in Miami, SLS these functions are usually under We’re recruiting around 60 peo- provide the latest lifestyle trends wanton Hotel Beverly Hills and Le Royal operations). ple from now till June, includ- How do you book your own A bad habit you can’t kick? Monceau (Raffles Paris). These ing the GM and head of human leisure trips? A combination of Eating too much hotels really bring life, energy resources. By September the full travel agency and direct Internet Something that never fails to and connectivity to their public recruitment will start for around booking annoy you? Laziness spaces. They understand peo- 500 people. What are you reading? Social Most people don’t know you ple want to be ‘alone together’ It is difficult to find people. On and economical impact of the can do... Ballroom dancing (laughs) or, as some call it, ‘iso- the other hand, we must be inno- lated togetherness’. vative with our job offerings, by thinking differently about posi- strategy. And they hope you can wholesaler has low margins. What an oxymoron (laughs). deliver it for them. Some agencies are too ambi- Yes. Four and a half years ago, Sometimes it may be that they tious, going into all areas and when the executive chairman are so far ahead and running so losing their core strength. While (Kwek Leng Beng, City Devel- fast – after all, they are more sea- it is important to be sizeable, opments Limited) spoke to me soned, successful and have seen they always have to compete with about such a hotel concept, it was the world – that it is difficult for smaller agencies that have lower still a fresh trend. Now of course the executive team members to costs and compete on price. This most hotel refits are going along follow. But I believe when they has gone on for so long. these lines. speak, there is a lot of wisdom But I still think a travel agency and big value at the end of the is a good business to be in. You Won’t you be common then? day, even if they can’t justify it have all the products to choose In Asia, it’s not done to the same there and then. from, bundle and promote. So extent yet. Asian hotels are still the question is to think ahead largely traditional – the typical CDL also owns St Regis and W about which markets will be the big lobbies, halls, etc. in Singapore. How would you fastest-growing and be prepared Our three pillars are, firstly, position South Beach in this to cater to that market. I foresee, we are a designer hotel, not only collection? for example, that in the next 10 in the sense that the hotel is de- St Regis is traditional luxury years, the healthy and wealthy signed by Philippe Starck. We while W is hip, which is closer to market will be big. As well, in have, for example, the best IT South Beach, but in a different Asia, the two biggest markets of design in-house right now. If environment. the future will be the ageing pop- you are IT-savvy, you will be ex- ulation and youths. tremely happy staying with us; What rate are you looking at? we have the technology, for ex- The current rates of hotels in ample, for the TV to be mirrored the neighbourhood are around FAST FACTS: onto your own device. If you are S$400 (US$317) to S$500. SOUTH BEACH DEVELOPMENT not IT-savvy, you will also be happy as we are not one of those What’s the opportunity with A mixed-use contemporary/ hotels where you have to figure travel agencies with this hotel? ecological development comprising out how to work the technology. Service should be part of sales tions, by offering the right peo- Fundamentally, agencies need over 46,000m2 of Grade A office Our second pillar is to offer a and marketing. When I started ple an advancement when they products. We’re creating a new space; 190 residential units; fresh dining experience. We will my career with Singapore Air- join us, not just a lateral transfer, product, probably the first in a 654-room hotel designed by hopefully sign up a concept from lines in 1972, I believed the air- so they are motivated by a real Asia that offers this kind of a Philippe Starck; a retail concept; Europe soon – not a celebrity line had all services – cabin crew, new challenge. lifestyle choice. With high oc- and a private membership club restaurant – but a stylish, con- amenities, menus and so on – We’ve even set up a good pre- cupancies in Singapore, we are Developed by City Developments temporary experience that com- going under marketing, not op- opening office at the site – now a serious choice for all segments, Limited (CDL) Singapore and IOI bines shopping and dining in a erations. Marketing has a strong- we’re just waiting for the bodies be it MICE, bleasure, leisure, etc. space of 30,000 sq ft (2,787m2). er feel of the market, which it can to come in (laughs). Most new hotels that are opening Group Malaysia Thirdly, we will have a lot of drive back to operations. are smaller. We have 654 rooms Located opposite Raffles Hotel imaginative social spaces to cater What advice do you have on and are directly connected to Singapore on the Beach Road side to the need for ‘isolated together- So what does your EAM - op- working with Asian tycoons? Suntec Singapore via an over- and is directly connected to Suntec ness’. We even have such a posi- erations do? Firstly I’ve observed that tycoons head bridge. Singapore via an overhead bridge tion as head of social space. They cover F&B – again, a depar- really love talent and are passion- on the Nicoll Highway side ture from the common practice ate about the business. They are You spent a large part of your Are you reinventing hotel po- – housekeeping, engineering and open, and they like to share their career as a travel agency CEO A heritage site formerly sitions to suit the times and security. So in effect we have two thinking, philosophy, vision and (Lotus International, Morning comprising three army blocks Star Travel Services and The and the NCO Club, a favourite Travel Advisors Hong Kong). haunt for army, naval and air force What would you do if you were offices famed for its Olympic-sized a travel agency CEO today? swimming pool It depends on the niche, as there Architecture by Foster + Partners are different challenges for each. and Aedas An inbound player is subject to overseas clients and must spend Note: The hotel is currently It is difficult to find people. On the other hand, we a lot on trade show marketing. called South Beach. A decision An outbound player gets good has yet to be made on a third- must be innovative with our job offerings. cashflow through sales but must party management, franchise or spend a lot on advertising. A marketing representation

11April ttgAsia p07 VFTTAloysiusFINAL11Aprilgc.indd 7 8/4/14 5:20 pm 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 8

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

INNOVATORS

By Greg Lowe DYNAMIC PACKAGING Asialink Holidays CEO Arjen de Haan (far right) with his team WHO Asialink Holidays started off He explained: “The elements are over the past five years within in Bali in 1996. It first specialised mainly hotels and transfers, but it tourism in terms of how we have in Indonesia before expanding its could include tour guides, concert to deal with clients and what they coverage to Thailand, Cambodia, tickets or a meal at a restaurant. expect have been unbelievable,” Laos and Vietnam. “The system provides full costs said de Haan. The DMC focuses on the and instant bookings for (agencies), “If we want to survive we have longhaul trip market, mostly from so they can create and budget an to understand every level of the Northern Europe. In 2011, it itinerary for clients and book the relationship and provide more acquired East West Siam, a well- whole thing within 30 minutes.” transparency... Technology will established tour operator. De Haan said the success of play a key role in this and we have Asialink was also the the system depends very much on to innovate to stay ahead of the groundhandler for one of the the end user, which is why Asialink crowd. Netherlands’ major travel firms, is careful on picking innovative “We (travel companies) used to OAD Reisen, from 1997 until last partners that will invest the build castles in this industry. It’s September when the family-run necessary time in training their staff time to break down those walls company’s sudden bankruptcy on how to use the service. and be more transparent with the shocked the industry. “We have received very positive (costs), information and services we response so far,” he added. provide.” WHAT Over the past year or so, Asialink has invested around US$1 WHY While the DMC had already TARGET De Haan does not want million in developing dynamic started developing the system well to reveal its precise targets for packaging – an IT system that before the OAD Reisen collapse, the the system yet, given the major allows travel agencies to book most tour operator’s bankruptcy provided investment costs and proprietary elements of a tour package, for Asialink with an opportunity to forge nature of the service. groups and individuals, through its relationships with new agencies. He is also considering offering custom-designed online portal. De Haan said it is essential for his a subscription service for smaller “You can book every key firm to modernise its services so travel companies who want to element of a round-trip (through the they match the needs of the fast- make use of dynamic packaging system),” said the DMC’s owner, changing travel industry. but cannot afford to develop their Arjen de Haan. “Changes that have taken place own software.

With the cloud, information is managed securely ASK THE EXPERT in world-class data centres and REACHING FOR THE CLOUDS can be seamlessly loud technologies can revolutionise Cost management during peak periods or build a customised accessed across the way the travel industry works, With a cloud software subscription like application on Windows Azure to handle Ccombating shrinking profit margins Office 365, a business no longer pays for holiday period bookings without the need multiple devices. and ensuring that businesses can easily new versions of the software as well as to buy full on-premise software licences. support new customer expectations basic security or data backup protection. This means you can now turn on or off more today. There is no need to worry about using software services according to the seasonal Traditionally, software and data reside on outdated software when it is no longer flow of business – easy on, easy off. PCs and servers in the office, which makes supported. Companies can also fully benefit it difficult for information to be shared and from cloud-based services where they have Mobility and enhanced user for employees to be empowered to make flexible pay-as-you-use models to lower experience decisions real-time. But with the cloud, investment burden. Customers today expect better experiences in information is managed securely in world- Mandarin Oriental, for instance, is making bookings. They like to see interactive class data centres and can be seamlessly moving 5,000 staff to cloud-based brochures and real-time bookings on PC accessed across multiple devices. software for its 28 hotels, and estimates tablets, or make bookings at roadshows than Through a Microsoft survey, we it can save up to US$500,000 over five in your office. Staff are also increasingly discovered the top three myths Asian years per hotel because of less capital asking to work from home. companies have about the cloud are: expenditures and IT support. With cloud-based storage such as 1) not private OneDrive, your office data can go anywhere 2) not secure and Flexibility you need to conduct your business, be it new 3) not mature. There are fewer worries about long-term branch offices, travel roadshows or even The reality is the complete opposite budgeting when cloud applications can supporting staff working from home. in every case. Check out this URL, www. accommodate peak sales periods, so staff microsoft.com/apac/news/cloud-myths/ can begin contributing to the bottom line Cloud technologies let the cloud take care of sg/index.html, for more information on the without delay. the business of IT while employees take care facts and myths. For example, a travel agency can of the business of serving customers. And for David Boden In fact, there are three benefits to add five additional PCs with Office travel and tourism companies, the value is Industry lead, retail & consumer goods businesses running on cloud technologies: 365 subscription to take on more staff even greater. Microsoft Asia

11April ttgAsia p08 Agencykngc.indd 8 7/4/14 3:02 pm 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 9 In this tie-up with Travel Business Analyst, we crunch Intelligence numbers that matter and make them meaningful. Plus, look out for our new Hotel Barometer every month BIG growth in hotels planned

Suvarnabhumi Manila Jakarta Delhi Surprise in airport growth International passengers through airports in Asia-Pacific grew nearly 9% in 2013. rooms rooms One surprise was that despite street demonstrations 6405 5634 5721 rooms in Bangkok in late-2013, growth at the city’s two airports took it past Seoul (also two airports) to become third- largest in Asia-Pacific for 2013. The growth came from the reopening of Bangkok’s Chengdu 5088 rooms Don Mueang airport, primarily for no-frills airlines. (Bangkok’s main airport Suvarnabhumi was already big- ger than Seoul’s Incheon in 2012.) Outside the top 5, and of the larger airports (at least 5 million passengers in the year), some showed rapid Rooms will flood Asian cities growth: Growth in hotel projects in Asia-Pacific at end-Febru- • New Delhi (+15%). Much faster than the 1% growth obviously investors think growth will continue to ary was startling. Data from STR shows almost 2,050 be fast. for Chennai and 2% for Mumbai. hotels, up 15% (according to our calculations). The • Guangzhou (+16%). Almost alone on the back of expected room count is even higher, growing 19% to Notes: There are two caveats on STR’s data. One is that the growth of China Southern, which is based there. 454,000 rooms! • Kuala Lumpur (+18%). Boosted for some years by company itself does not make a comparative study with Again according to our calculations on STR data, the previous year’s totals; these are our interpretations. growth at no-frills airline AirAsia. But in 2013 the room count per hotel is also increasing, up 3% to a growth came from its full-service airline rival, Malay- This could mean that its research may be better at finding sizeable 221 rooms per hotel. This is probably related more projects, not necessarily that the total numbers are sia Airlines. to the high share of development in China – where • Macau (+12%). Does this mean the destination is fi- growing that fast. The second is that this has happened hotels are generally bigger. before. At this same time in 2012, growth was even faster: nally getting the additional traffic that it expected after STR says Shanghai has the largest number of spectacular growth in its attractions over the past 5-10 +33% for rooms, +40% for hotels, albeit -5% for average rooms being built – 8,560 rooms. That is somewhat hotel size. years? surprising as Travel Business Analyst’s hotel report • Phuket (+26%). Attracting the same markets as Bang- shows Shanghai hotel occupancy around 10 points kok – in particular from China and Russia. below Beijing’s, although average room rates are Hotel development pipeline in Asia-Pacific • Taipei (+10%). Thanks to outbound travel from Chi- closely matched. na. Year Rooms Hotels Rooms per The research company says there are another 5 hotel* Notes: The main non-reporting airport in this list is Bali’s cities with at least 4,000 rooms being built; some of Denpasar. them bring more surprises: 2014 453,790 2,049 221 • Manila (6,405 rooms). This destination is rarely Growth*,% 19.1 15.1 3.5 International passengers at Asia-Pacific’s Top 5, 2013 considered a prime visitor destination. That said, 2013 380,902 1,780 214 Airport No, mn Growth,% Share,% there has been little hotel development there over the past 15 years. Growth*,% 4.5 15.9 -9.8 Hong Kong 59.3 6.5 11.1 • New Delhi (5,721 rooms). A well-built city that has 2012 364,595 1,536 237 Singapore 52.8 5.7 9.9 experienced sizeable room growth in recent years, Growth*,% 32.7 40.1 -5.3 Bangkok 46.6 15.0 8.8 so more, and big, expansion is a surprise. • Jakarta (5,634 rooms). Same as above. 2011 274,648 1,096 251 Seoul 44.7 5.4 8.4 • Chengdu (5,088 rooms). Well known as a city with Growth*,% 12.5* NA NA Tokyo 38.5 2.5 7.2 important potential, although mainly business travel, even for domestic travellers. *At end-February of year stated. Source: STR Global, Source: Airports Council International ([email protected]) • Bali (4,686 rooms). Another well-built centre but Travel Business Analyst

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Hotel results are down on previous year when looking at fell 4%, and the resulting RevPAR also fell 4%. results there were better than could have been expected. six key cities in Asia-Pacific. Occupancy was down in Shanghai, Sydney, while aver- RevPAR, however, fell slightly. The overall hotel Travel Business Analyst (TBA)-100 age rates were down in Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney. Australia, in general, is experiencing a fall in some Index in the latest available month in 2013 (December) In RevPAR, figures increased only in Bali and Shanghai. longhaul markets (UK air travel was down 24% that stood at 98 – representing a 2% fall in comparison with Separately, Shanghai is the city that counts the highest month). However, total visitors were up 10% in that the same month in 2012. Of the three parts that make up number of hotel projects in Asia-Pacific. month, which could mean different travel patterns which the Index, occupancy was unchanged, average room rate Considering the disturbances in Bangkok at this time, are affecting hotel results.

Hotel operating results in selected cities, December 2013 Location Occupancy,% Growth,% Average Room Rate, Growth,% RevPAR, US$* Growth,% US$* Bali 68.3 2.7 188 3.8 128 6.6 Bangkok 69.7 4.5 140 3.7 93 -0.7 Hong Kong 90.6 1.4 251 -4.2 224 -5.5 Shanghai 52.6 -1.8 97 6.4 51 4.5 Singapore 83.7 2.2 182 -8.3 149 -10.2 Sydney 85.1 -5.3 236 -11.3 212 -6.3 Notes: Compared with same month, year earlier. *Calculated at contemporary exchange rates. Source: Hotels to Travel Business Analyst.

11April ttgAsia p09 Intelligencegcmygcmykngc.indd 9 8/4/14 5:20 pm 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 10 Need ideas on what to sell? Take your pick Shop and load your cart with the array of new products showcased on this page

HOTELS

Best Western Lays Foun- dations in Sri Lanka

Best Western International’s Vice PARKROYAL NAY PYI TAW, RENAISSANCE CHENGDU WAKAGANGGA RESORT, RENDEZVOUS HOTEL President International Operations – Asia & the Middle East MYANMAR HOTEL, CHINA BALI, INDONESIA SINGAPORE

Pan Pacific Hotels Group’s Marriott has launched the 348- Waka Hotels & Resorts has re- Rendezvous Hotel Singapore has Parkroyal Nay Pyi Taw has opened room Renaissance Chengdu Hotel launched the WakaGangga resort in been relaunched under Far East with 90 rooms. Located close to in south-west China. F&B establish- Bali following a multi-million-dollar Hospitality with art-inspired ele- Myanmar International Conven- ments include a café, an upscale complete upgrade and expansion. ments across multiple experiential Best Western tion Centre, the official venue of Cantonese and Sichuanese cuisine The 27-villa resort retains its low points for guests. The hotel opera- International is embarking government functions, its remaining restaurant; and a lobby lounge. density, eco-friendly concept and tor has also introduced its Far More on a major expansion 90 rooms are expected to be fully There is 1,322m2 of meeting space traditional elements that blend Perks programme. Bookings for strategy in one of Asia’s operational by end-2014. The hotel across nine rooms, including a into the natural landscape, while Club rooms via www.stayfareast. most exciting emerging offers an all-day dining restaurant, grand ballroom; a business centre; incorporating modern facilities such com are entitled to guaranteed markets - Sri Lanka. spa, gym, swimming pool and a fitness centre; and an outdoor as flat-screen televisions and Wi-Fi early check-ins and late check-outs This year, the company range of meeting facilities. swimming pool. access it did not offer previously. as well as airport lounge access. will plant its flag in Sri Lanka for the first time, with the opening of the 59-room BEST ACTIVITIES TRANSPORTATION WESTERN Elyon Hotel DANANG’S FIRST LIGHT AND VISUAL ART CONTEST STAR CRUISES’ BRAZILIANTHEMED OFFERINGS in Colombo. And this Danang City will host its inaugural Light and Visual Art Contest 2014 on To celebrate SuperStar Gemini’s first homeport deployment in Singapore will mark the start of April 26 and 27. and the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil, a new Hot! Hot! Hot! A Brazilian a major nationwide Four or five domestic and foreign teams will present their creativity Show featuring Brazilian dancers will be introduced, along with Latin-style expansion for Best through illumination displays with background music. There will also be and hip-hop dance classes. Additionally, throughout the World Cup period, Western in Sri Lanka. supporting activities such as dance and music performances, visual arts guests can attend Brazilian-themed pool parties, along with specially exhibitions as well as a gala dinner. designed games, dance classes, fun trivia challenges, and arts and crafts A development The city’s authorities will organise the event every two years on the last sessions. partnership with Elyon, Saturday and Sunday of April in even-numbered years. From April 2 to October 31, SuperStar Gemini offers five regular itinerar- a major Sri Lankan ies departing from Singapore: the 4D3N cruise to Penang and Langkawi, conglomerate, will 4D3N cruise to Kuantan and Pulau Redang, 3D2N cruise to Malacca, 3D2N spread the famous LUXURY PRIVATE JET TOUR TO EIGHT DESTINATIONS IN cruise to Pulau Tioman, and the 3D2N high seas cruise. Best Western logo 18 DAYS WITH AMANRESORTS STAYS across the country. Remote Lands and Amanresorts They will also get a special Under the agreement, have teamed up to create a farewell dinner in each resort, Elyon will identify sky-tour which takes in eight special access to off-limits areas of opportunities for destinations across four Asian Beijing’s Forbidden City and private new BEST WESTERN, countries, targeting big-spending tours in each destination. luxury travellers. Apart from the US, Remote BEST WESTERN PLUS The 18-day private jet tour, Lands is also is looking to sell the and BEST WESTERN which is limited to 18 travellers product direct to customers and PREMIER hotels in Sri each willing to pay US$49,950 for through agencies in Asia-Pacific, Lanka. the experience, runs from October notably Australia, Hong Kong and 4 to 21. Singapore, on a first-come-first- And this could Clients will only stay at Aman- served basis. JET AIRWAYS, AIR FRANCE EXPAND CODESHARE not come at a more resorts properties in locations Key sites on the tour will include PARTNERSHIP TO 12 CITIES ACROSS EUROPE opportune time. Arrivals such as Beijing and Hangzhou in the Great Wall of China, Hangzhou’s Jet Airways and Air France have expanded their codeshare partnership to to Sri Lanka are soaring, China; Thimpu and Paro in Bhu- West Lake, Bhutan’s Tiger’s Nest offer guests enhanced network connectivity to 12 major cities across Eu- and Best Western is tan; Rajasthan and Ranthambore monastery, the Pink City of Jaipur, rope and the UK: Nice, Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse in France; Barcelona delighted to be able to in India; and Galle and Tangalle in Ranthambore National Park and and Madrid in Spain; Hamburg in Germany; Prague in the Czech Republic; Sri Lanka. Galle’s Ancient Fortress. cater for this growing Dublin in Ireland; and Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle in the UK. The new codeshare flights opened for sale on April 2 for travel effective demand with a range of May 14, 2014. Currently, Air France places its marketing code on Jet Air- internationally-branded, ways’ domestic routes between Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru to Chennai, quality hotels. Hyderabad and Kolkata. TECHNOLOGY

EARTHCHECK LAUNCHES RISK APPLICATION EarthCheck last month rolled out the EarthCheck Research Institute Risk App, which helps tourism businesses prepare before, during and immedi- ately after a natural disaster. Available on Android and iOS smartphones and based on preparatory action plans loaded during normal operating times, the app will prompt users to capture time-stamped imagery, provide status updates, track un- folding events, communicate with stakeholders and map out recovery. This gives users access to emergency information in times of crisis. The white Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing label Risk App can also be modified for individual hotel clients.

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Generally, villas are Make luxury more Asian villas rank higher developing quickly in affordable without than those in Europe or Sri Lanka and are fast sacrificing any of the South Africa in terms becoming investments important components. of size, individuality he luxury Asian villa product, for expats in the region. Advocacies and social of design, quality of most would agree, is a unique, (On innovation), any responsibilities are also service, personal space aspirational accommodation offering sought-after by dis- innovation that pushes such a big turn-on now and the sheer opulence cerning clients. the service levels even that a lot of properties of being close to nature. TIn recent years, however, there has been a proliferation of Asian villas in the region higher (is needed). are getting themselves and, as with everything plentiful, the Asian involved with the issues. villa product suddenly does not look that special anymore, with arguably little dif- ferentiation between one villa to the next. This raises a question: How can the Asian villa product remain the ultimate stay through new innovations? In a survey conducted by our sister publication, TTG Asia Luxury, the three strongest suits of the Asian villa have been its service (78.4 per cent of votes from buyers), a tie between location and de- sign/architecture (72.1 per cent) and its ability to provide unique experiences to guests (64 per cent). What new innovations are needed to make the Asian villa product even better in the future? TTG Asia’s roundtable with five luxury buyers gives some answers.

What is it about Asian villas that sets them apart from other luxury accom- modation types and villa products in the world? JACKSON The personalised service in villas is hard to replicate in hotels.

ANG Impeccable service is what really sets the Asian villas apart from the rest.

RAMNANI Asian villas rank higher than Lucy Jackson Simon Ang Rakesh Ramnani those in Europe or South Africa in terms Director & co-founder Managing director-operations Director of sales-leisure of size, individuality of design, quality of Lightfoot Travel, Hong Kong Celebrate Life Travel & Leisure, Philippines Vensimal World Travel, India service, personal space and the sheer opu- lence of being close to nature.

LEE The comfort, personal service, dis- cretion and the opportunity to enjoy unique travel experiences. Pick the five areas you feel the Asian CAN ASIAN VILLAS BE BETTER? villa product is best at, 1 being the best. JACKSON (1) Design/Architecture (2) European villas are too close to civilisation naire on pillow types, activities they are luxury market, for example, ‘Couples Service (3) Location (4) Guest facilities/ in the modern sense and therefore not re- interested in, etc. Only’, ‘LBGT’ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and services (5) Pricing ally away from it all. May be there can be a personalised mo- transgender), ‘Privacy’, etc, in order to bile app so that villa managers can pre- differentiate themselves from the generic ANG (1) Service (2) Design/Architecture LEE Cultural innovation. This is innova- empt requests of fresh coconuts and wet ‘Asian villa product’ perception. (3) Guest facilities/services (4) Location tively incorporated not only into the phys- towels during the day, or G&Ts (gin and (5) CSR ical environment such as the architecture tonic) in the evening. LYNDEN-BELL I really think having a lo- and furniture, but also into the experience, cal feel or sense of place is very important. RAMNANI (1) Unique experiences (2) with the five senses being stimulated – for ANG Top of my head, pricing – make lux- If people are in Thailand, then they should Room design (3) Location (4) Guest fa- example, the smell of incense, the taste of ury more affordable without sacrificing know that they are in Thailand when they cilities (5) Service lemon grass tea, the touch of teak and the any of the important components. are staying in a villa. Value-added services, sight of paddy fields from the rooms. Another would be creating or stylising such as nannies, butlers, cooking classes, LEE (1) Design/Architecture (2) Unique Another innovation from Asian villas unique experiences that are a trademark etc, are also key. experiences (3) Guest facilities/services is bringing the local community into the for that particular property or brand. You want to create an indoor/outdoor (4) Location (5) Service house, even if it’s an effort as simple as Advocacies and social responsibilities experience which is the unique aspect of running errands to the morning markets are also such a big turn-on now that a lot staying in a villa. This is especially impor- LYNDEN-BELL (1) Unique experiences to get the freshest local produce, or the of properties are getting themselves in- tant for European guests: they want to (2) Design/Architecture (3) Vision (4) guest’s favourite local fruits. volved with the issues. have a homely feel to the place but it has Service (5) Location to offer them something different – a con- What innovations would you like to see LEE Vision and branding are where the temporary property that really has a sense What are the biggest innovations Asian in the Asian villa product? Asian villa product needs to differenti- of place about it. villas have brought to the industry? JACKSON Any innovation that pushes ate itself. Discerning guests not only want RAMNANI Location innovation – a true the service levels even higher. Usually this their dream holidays fulfilled but also to Which villa product in Asia has wowed feeling of being away from it all and being is about knowing what the clients want be delighted with memorable surprises. you the most and why? immersed in pristine tranquillity. The dis- before they know it themselves, often aid- Asian villas should have the vision JACKSON Generally villas are developing tance from large towns is a plus as many ed today by having a pre-arrival question- to develop various niche themes for the quickly in Sri Lanka and are fast becom-

11April ttgAsia p12-13 Roundtable LuxuryVillasrh-redgc.indd 12 7/4/14 3:03 pm 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 13 In this report, we field a Roundtable on whether the Asian villa product, the quintessential Asian experience, can outdo itself in the future. Plus, a review of the new wing of an old favourite, The Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang

(Asian villas) should I really think having a TRIED & TESTED have the vision to local feel or sense of develop various niche place is important. If themes for the luxury people are in Thailand, market, for example, then they should know ‘Couples Only’ , ‘LBGT’, that they are in Thailand ‘Privacy’, etc, in order to when they are staying differentiate themselves in a villa. Value-added from the generic ‘Asian services are also key. villa product’ perception.

The Victory Annexe, E&O Hotel Penang Raini Hamdi checks into the new wing guests staying at The Victory Annexe. It of The Eastern & Oriental Hotel (E&O), seemed like everybody’s favourite time Penang too, for there we all were, enjoying a cool drink and the sea breeze in the outdoor LOCATION In the heart of George Town terrace of the lounge. and the only hotel in this UNESCO I love the stylish, private pool in the World Heritage Site that fronts the An- new wing as well as the gym studio, daman Sea. Built by the Sarkies brothers which has all the latest equipment. in 1884/85, E&O Hotel, with 100 suites, The new wing also has six contempo- reopened in 2001 after a major refur- rary meeting rooms, all sea-facing, ac- bishment. The Victory Annexe, which commodating 20 and 600 pax. the brothers added in 1922 with 40 rooms, reopened F&B A must-try is Sarkies, one last year, with thrice the of Penang’s best-loved eateries Lee Choon Loong Michael Lynden-Bell number of rooms (122 featuring local and interna- President/CEO General manager suites). It’s here that I tional fare, which has made DiscoveryMICE, Malaysia Exotissimo Thailand checked in, after a mere its new home in The Vic- 20-minute drive from tory Annexe. For traditional the airport. English afternoon tea or an elegant dinner, head straight ROOMS I love heritage to 1885 in the Heritage Wing. makeovers. If it’s done well, it’s like looking at an old photograph; SERVICE Genteel and attentive, befit- the faded colours and blurred details ting the hotel’s grand tradition and CAN ASIAN VILLAS BE BETTER? suddenly take form again and a bygone big-hearted Malay hospitality. The staff era appears. I must admit this did not I met, among them, Duminda, Feisul ing investments for expats in the region. ing spectacular views of the ocean and immediately happen when I stepped and Johan, interacted naturally with me, Villa IF and Auraliya have the best beaches mesmerising sunsets. It is the ultimate for into my Corner Suite. The living room were helpful and have beautiful smiles! but renting the whole of Kahanda Kanda privacy and luxury. looked sparsely decorated because its As well, group director of sales & is the best in Lightfoot’s view because of space was huge and long, and the Vic- marketing, Andy Teh, is an old hand its privacy, service, food and management. LYNDEN-BELL The Tamarind in Bang torian or colonial feel was missing. But in handling partners and their clients. Saray just past Pattaya, Thailand. There’s as I explored the rest of the 123m2 suite Knowing that I was in-house, he was not ANG Baan Cheep Chang in Chiang Mai, nothing like it in Thailand. There are nine (yes it’s that big), it was then that I was too busy to meet up, personally took me Thailand. Fantastic rooms, almost perfect rooms and each is decked out in a differ- transported into a charming period. on a site inspection of the property and service, great food. Quiet and yet you can ent theme, e.g. Japanese or Balinese. It’s The details employed to create the effect hosted me for dinner at 1885. I realised easily go into the city if you need some very rock star. The pool is actually cooled. were meticulous – the claw-footed long that having a veteran hotelier in-house noise. Guests often find the pool water too warm bath on black and white Victorian floor who is of the ‘old school’ hospitality can when they stay in a hotel or villa, so this is tiles, white plantation shutters that open make a huge difference when you send RAMNANI Song Saa Private Island, Koh a nice touch. to sea views while you luxuriate in the clients to a hotel or decide to hold an Rong, Cambodia. The villa offers full butler services; you bath, pedestal ceramic basins, lazy ceil- event there. The over-water villas are unique in can have your meals cooked or buy in for a ing fans, two-poster bed and many other their layout, environmentally responsible barbeque, which it will also do for you. Al- features. VERDICT A victory for E&O – and for and luxurious. You can step into the ocean cohol is sold at near-cost too. I like the fact History aside, a breathtaking aspect luxury clients who love heritage hotels. from your balcony. The size is more than that the owners and staff are very relaxed of the Corner Suite is its expansive bal- 150m2 which is much larger than most in how they deal with the guests. The ser- cony that offers a 270-degree view of the European villa products. vice is great, but you never feel pressured sea. Ideal for a private cocktail party. Name Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang The marine safari, rainforest encounter, by them. There are three tennis courts, a The new wing has four Corner Suites No. of suites 221 Rack Rates From kayaking in the mangroves and full moon massage sala and gym. It’s a bit far away and 118 Studio Suites (55m2). RM930++ (US$283) for a Studio Suite; experience are all very unique offerings. from the beach, but the pool is nicer any- from RM1,530++ for a Corner Suite way. – By Raini Hamdi, Rosa Ocampo, S FACILITIES My favourite time of the Contact details Tel: (60-4) 222-2000 Email: LEE The Istana, Bali, a private estate with Puvaneswary, Greg Lowe, Prudence Lui day was 17.00, when cocktails and cana- [email protected] Website: www. a strategic 60m drop cliff location offer- and Shekhar Niyogi pes are served at The Planters Lounge to eohotels.com

11April ttgAsia p12-13 Roundtable LuxuryVillasrh-redgc.indd 13 7/4/14 3:03 pm NEW Disney_DPS(p14&15).pdf 1 4/4/14 2:04 pm

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REDEFINING PASSENGER EXPERIENCES ON THE GROUND

Singapore By Paige Lee Pei Qi Hong Kong By Prudence Lui Malaysia By S Puvaneswary

Self-boarding Self-service bag drop Self-service check-in/bag drop Passengers at Changi Airport will soon be able to board their Last December, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) kick- Klia2, touted as the world’s largest purpose-built airport flights faster. From this month, self-boarding gates will be started a six-month trial for a self-service bag drop. terminal for low-cost carriers, is scheduled to open in May progressively introduced in common gatehold rooms of the A spokesperson from Airport Authority Hong Kong said: with comprehensive self-service offerings. airport’s three terminals. “Four bag drop counters have been set up in Terminal 1, and Travellers will be able to check-in using self-service According to Robin Goh, assistant vice president, cor- Cathay Pacific Airways is now taking part in the test runs. kiosks, tag their own bags and (in 4Q2014) deposit them porate communications, Changi Airport Group (CAG), trials Passengers who have checked in online or at self-check-in at a self-service bag drop. “The technology will be able to have been conducted in Terminal 2 with Lufthansa since May kiosks can print a baggage tag from the counters’ machines, measure the weight of the luggage to ensure it is within the 2013, and the results have been very encouraging. affix the tag to their luggage and drop it onto the belt. airlines’ allowances and should there be any discrepan- He said: “We have saved time for the passengers, and “Four other airlines, including China Airlines, Air France, cies, it will reject the bag,” said Azlan Zainal Abidin, general increased efficiency for the airlines.” KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Mandarin Airlines, will join the manager, IT division, Malaysia Airports Holdings. With the new gates, passengers will just scan their board- trial later.” This technology will help travellers save time queuing at ing passes using barcode readers before they proceed to According to HKIA, around half of departing passengers check-in counters, improving their experience. The fully in- board their flights. no longer use traditional counters to complete their check- tegrated system utilising Common Use Passenger Process- Goh said the time taken for passengers to board their in process, and there are already some 88 self-service ing System will also reduce manpower and errors such as planes can be reduced by up to 50 per cent. He added that check-in kiosks installed in the airport as well as off-site in baggage loss. the system’s user interface has been designed with the locations such as hotels. first-time user in mind, with a “highly intuitive process that Wi-Fi for more uses minimises confusion and disorientation”. Mobile app for flight information From 2Q2014, Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s (KLIA) Offering passengers an additional avenue to get latest flight Wi-Fi service will be available for heavy Internet usage such e-Inspection updates, the airport launched its first mobile application, My as video and audio streaming. Currently, Wi-Fi is compli- Instead of manually recording inspections and faults across Flight, for smartphones running on Android or iOS platforms mentary for browsing Internet, checking emails and logging the terminals, e-Inspection shortens the turnaround time in 2013. into Facebook. before problems are rectified, explained CAG’s Goh. “With the new real-time technology, when faults or ser- Baggage handling High-tech flight information display system vice failures are discovered during inspections, service staff In 2010-11, HKIA completed an upgrade of its baggage In 2012, KLIA launched Skymap, a high-tech flight informa- can now flag them instantaneously, using a specially created handling system, doubling its capacity from 8,000 to 16,000 tion display system. Skymap tabulates accurate estimated e-Inspection app on their smartphones,” he said. bags per hour. Forty-two new vertical sorter and merge units time of arrival from different airlines to display flight arrivals Upon this flag, an alert will be triggered to their supervi- as well as 20 new scanners that read radio-frequency iden- in real-time or predictive format with consideration for mul- sors’ smartphones, where resources are deployed imme- tification baggage tags were installed as part of the project. tiple legs and stopovers. It also incorporates real-time global diately to perform corrective actions. Visual aids such as A year later, the airport also installed an enhanced weather patterns, local time, weather and temperature at photos and videos can be included to expedite assessments. contingency system for the computer that runs the baggage major or selected cities around the world. Goh said since the implementation of e-Inspection in sorting system. Skymap will also be available at klia2. 2010, repairs can now be carried out promptly and tracked consistently with 90 per cent of negative feedback acknowl- edged by supervisors within 20 minutes, adding that the response time has improved by a marked 30 per cent since Spokesperson, HK Express Abdul Rahman Mohd Ali e-Inspection was introduced. “We’d like the local airport authority to carry out hand bag- Group CEO, Poto Travel & Tours gage allowance checks prior to the main security check. Our “For long departure delays, Malaysia Airports Holdings ground staff also needs more support from the authority and should work with the airlines to ensure that passengers are the Hong Kong police when dealing with unruly passengers. given refreshments and kept updated with the latest news. Clifford Neo We’d also welcome an incentive programme to encour- The facilities of Muslim prayer rooms at all airports in Ma- Managing director, Dynasty Travel age airlines to achieve on-time-performance, which would laysia should also be upgraded and made more comfortable. “If I have to point out any concerns, I would request for night lead to improvement in airport parking/landing slot utilisa- Current prayer rooms are generally too small.” buses from Changi Airport after midnight, as the MRT is also tion.” closed by then. This forces travellers to use the taxi.” Chandran Rama Muthy Richard Willis CEO, Malindo Air Spokesperson, Singapore Airlines Vice chairman, Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents “There may be initial teething issues when klia2 opens this “Good airport infrastructure and technology, instant con- “(HKIA is) lacking in sufficient manned immigration desks for year, and we are willing to work with Malaysia Airports Hold- nectivity, intuitive way-finding tools such as signages and visitors, resulting in long queues. Also, there is inadequate ings to resolve any issues that may arise.” guides, as well as alerts to remind passengers of their policing of touts (unlicensed private car transfers).” departure time.”

11April ttgAsia p16-17 Guide2gcmykn1gc.indd 16 7/4/14 3:03 pm 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 17 TTG Asia reporters look at how Asian airports are incorporating the latest technology in their operations, while Sim Kok Chwee offers a glimpse at what others around the world are doing REDEFINING PASSENGER EXPERIENCES ON THE GROUND

New cutting-edge technology can today be integrated create an unprecedented passenger experience and pre- into existing airport terminals or embedded into the de- sent the airport with a non-aeronautical revenue stream. sign of new terminals for maximum efficiency, informa- It is also viewed as a fitting tribute to the airport’s status tion and entertainment, as well as improved travel experi- as the gateway to Hollywood. ence and security. And at Dubai International Airport, which is currently In February, Virgin Atlantic launched a six-week test connected by more than 140 international airlines to over of wearable technology for its concierge service at Lon- 260 destinations, its new Smart Gates system allows regis- don Heathrow airport. The airline equipped each con- tered holders of machine-readable passports to be speed- cierge staff member in its Upper Class Wing with either ily cleared in 20 seconds using iris- and facial-recognition a Google Glass or Sony Smartwatch 2 that will display technology. Currently available to residents in the UAE the individual passenger’s information via an integrated, and the five member states of the Gulf Cooperation purpose-built dispatch app developed by SITA and Vir- Council, this will eventually be extended to citizens from gin Atlantic. 32 countries who are issued visa on arrival. This allows concierge staff to greet passengers by name While not as new, frequent flyers or holders of a Qantas and begin the check-in process once they arrive at the Platinum, Gold or Silver card have benefited immensely airport, as well as provide them with their latest flight in- from the roll-out of the airline’s Next Generation Check- Qantas’ Next Generation Check-in formation, weather and local events at their destination. in platform in 2011. The Next Generation Q-chip em- In future, the service could extend to displaying informa- bedded Qantas Card serves primarily as a frequent flyer or immigration checkpoints and proceed to the airline’s tion about a passenger’s dietary and refreshment prefer- membership card but for those checking in at the airport, lounge or browse through the airport’s facilities. ences. all that is needed is a quick scan of this card at a machine When boarding, the Qantas Card serves as a board- Meanwhile, in Los Angeles World Airport’s newly re- reader. The Qantas Card instantly becomes the boarding ing pass that can be machine read, and a ‘receipt’ with developed Tom Bradley International Terminal, an Inte- pass and a short message is sent to the traveller’s mobile the assigned seat number is issued. This Next Generation grated Environmental Media System comprising 1,104m2 phone with flight details. check-in option has proven to be popular with travellers of LED tiles display 60 ultra-high resolution multi-media Qualified frequent flyers are also issued two perma- on Qantas’ domestic network. productions totalling more than four hours of original nent luggage tags that replace current thermal paper tags While the future holds far greater potential, coopera- content. It is strategically located at the Antonio Vilarai- used in most airports. Made of hardy plastic, such tags tion between airlines and various agencies within the air- gosa Pavilion where there are more than 60 premium din- allow travellers to speedily send off their luggage at drop- port environment is key to the successful implementation ing, retail and duty-free outlets. The system is designed to off locations. One is then free to clear through security of cutting-edge technology in the pursuit of efficiency.

11April ttgAsia p16-17 Guide2gcmykn1gc.indd 17 8/4/14 5:22 pm Destination China MORE THAN JUST SANYA

Sanya’s busy harbour and scenic skyline

hile the buzz from Singapore in January, Wuzhishan in overnight visitor numbers last year, is started direct flights there.” in Hainan has Municipal Tourism Development Bureau drawing attention to its strengths in na- Hainan Airlines is looking to develop centred on director, Chen Jian, said the destination ture, as it has a forest coverage of 70.5 per Haikou as its hub for Asia-Pacific flights, Sanya in re- received only a small number of inter- cent; culture, with its concentration of tal- in view of the increasing number of tour- cent years, far- national arrivals last year, which mostly ents in tai chi, table tennis and oil paint- ists from this region and the rise in the ther inland are hailed from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singa- ing; agriculture, for its organic leisure island’s outbound travellers, according to several desti- pore, South Korea, France and Germany. farms; crystal mining sites; and specialty Min Dongxu, the airline’s Singapore office nations that are fast being discovered for “This year, we have planned more fa- cuisine. general manager. theirW unique offerings. miliarisation trips for the trade from In the east, Qionghai is showcasing its Haikou Meilan International Airport Statistics from Hainan Tourism Devel- countries such as Singapore, South Korea rural tourism bests in slow-paced small opened a new international terminal opment Commission (HTDC) indicate and Russia,” he revealed. towns and clean neighbourhoods; signa- building late last year, but Hainan Airlines’ that in 2013, Sanya continued to welcome Hedy Zhang, Singapore-based ASA ture Jia Ji duck, one of four famous Haina- only direct international services from the highest number of overnight visitors Holidays’ senior executive for China prod- nese dishes; numerous hot springs; as well there are to Taipei and Singapore. – about 12.3 million, representing a year- ucts and FITs, said: “To break away from as MICE capabilities through the BFA Meanwhile, tourist hotspot Sanya, with on-year rise of 11.6 per cent. Following the usual coastal tourism theme of Hain- (Boao Forum Asia) International Con- its alluring beaches, top-notch hotels and closely was capital Haikou, with about an tours, our company launched last year vention Center and two supporting five- array of entertainment and F&B options, 10.4 million visitors, a year-on-year rise of a new itinerary adding Wuzhishan, and star hotels, BFA Hotel and Golden Coast has not been resting on its laurels. It con- 9.6 per cent. received positive response from first-time Hot Spring Hotel. tinues to see groundbreaking projects like However, other destinations that sur- as well as repeat visitors to Hainan. Our Grace Xu, manager (China planner), Phoenix Island, new international hotel passed Sanya’s year-on-year growth in- customers adored the rural simplicity, CTC Travel Singapore, said: “We can pro- developments in Haitang Bay and Yalong cluded Tunchang (52.4 per cent), Baoting fresh air and natural scenic beauty there. mote Hainan’s ecotourism and indige- Bay, and recently witnessed the opening (22 per cent), Wuzhishan (17.1 per cent) “From this fam trip, I believe the nous culture to Singaporeans. Qixianling’s of a massive theme park, Sanya Romance and Qionghai (12.4 per cent), to name Boundary Islet (in Lingshui), Boao (near nature is good for health, while Qionghai Park, in its city centre. just a few. Qionghai) and Sanya Romance Park too can be promoted for its culture. Wuzhis- Sanya Tourism Development Commis- Less than two hours away from Sanya can be considered for addition to our han has potential, but it still needs infra- sion deputy director, Tang Sixian, said the is Wuzhishan. Known for its Five-finger Hainan itineraries. As for Tunchang, it still structural improvement. NTO is willing to offer grants to subsidise Mountain and untouched rainforests, needs improvement in its hardware.” “Our outbound business to Hainan has advertising and promotion costs of tour ecotourism opportunities abound. Central Hainan’s Tunchang, which improved in the last three years, especially operators, subject to its approval of their Speaking to tour operators and media recorded the highest year-on-year rise since Jetstar, Tigerair and Hainan Airlines proposals.

11April ttgAsia p18-20 destination CHINAgcmy2knmygc.indd 18 7/4/14 3:04 pm 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 19 Pack a good pair of walking shoes, and get ready to take in fresh air and scenic views. Hainan’s appeal extends beyond its famed resort city, discovers Kathy Neo.

Destination in numbers TRIED & TESTED 10.6% Year-on-year increase in overall overnight arrivals for Hainan, which hit 36.7 million in 2013 13.4% Year-on-year increase in total tourism revenue for Hainan, which amounted to RMB428.6 billion (US$70.4 billion) in 2013 -2.3% Year-on-year drop in percentage point for Hainan hotels’ average occupancy, which reached 56.1 per Yanoda Rainforest cent in 2013 Kathy Neo experiences her first rainforest we finally reached the rainforest. There- ity – the flying fox. It was equally thrilling hike in Hainan’s Baoting county after began the hike through stretches to watch tiny bodies with dangling legs of pure greenery on a combination of zipping across the greenery metres above WHY This rainforest is part of the Hain- planked walkways, suspension bridges us. After about 30 minutes, the hike an Yanoda Rainforest Cultural Tourism and zig-zag stone steps. ended with a unique ‘herbal tonic’ lunch Zone, which is a major attraction granted Along the way, short stops were made buffet at the canteen, basically a spread five As in 2012 by the National Tour- for the guide to point out some of the comprising largely of healthy vegetable ism Administration – the highest rainforest’s flora, such as age-old varieties. rating for China’s tourist desti- trees with above-ground gar- nations – based on popular- roting roots and several rare HOW ity and quality of service and plants with medicinal prop- Yanoda may appeal to a range of special cultural heritage. It is also erties. I loved that visitors interest travellers such as ecotourists, one of the main attractions were allowed to hang small hikers, the health-conscious and scen- chosen by Hainan Tourism wooden cardboards of love ery lovers. It is also a refreshing alterna- Development Commission notes and well wishes along tive for those tired of hanging out at the for promoting wedding tour- the suspension bridges, add- beach and playing golf, especially when ism in 2014. ing a sea of colours to the area. in Sanya. Staff we met at every corner cheerfully WHAT Located about 35km away from called out “Yanoda!” as a form of greeting, VERDICT downtown Sanya where free shuttle bus which pretty much urged me on despite Lung cleansing indeed, but the legwork services make transportation convenient the humidity. may pose a problem for the elderly or for visitors, the 45m2 tourist zone is an It seemed those not satisfied with just a those with knee problems. Otherwise, ongoing RMB3.9 million (US$0.6 mil- hike could also have a go at another activ- good for outdoor lovers. lion) project by the Chinese government comprising a rainforest, an orchard, in- digenous Li-Miao cultural exhibits and Name Yanoda Rainforest hotels, among others. Rates RMB170 (US$28) per adult; RMB98 for those aged 60-69 years and children between A bus drove us about 10 minutes along 1.2-1.5m tall; free entry for those above 70 years old and children under 1.2m a seemingly endless, winding road before Contact details Tel: (86-898) 8388-3333 Email: [email protected] Website: www.yanoda.com

Viewpoint How to sell

Sanya is not all hotels and Hainan Tourism Development Commission is striving to beaches. An alternative to make the island an international tourist destination, but DOwinding down in this city is its local neighbourhoods, which offer domestic Chinese tourists still form the bulk of arrivals. plenty of small wellness outlets. Take for What are the limiting factors? instance, this one-stop haven, Hai Zhi Let your hair down and flow Meng – literally ‘Dreams of the Sea’ – a with the breeze at Sea Story few minutes’ walk from Sanya Eadry Resort SEE(above), a bar and restaurant in Hotel. It offers an 80-minute hair, facial and Qionghai’s Boao that entices as much with its Jane Chang, manager, marketing communications, foot/body massage services all at merely nautical theme décor as its seafront location. Chan Brothers Travel Singapore RMB158 (US$26). Be pleasantly surprised Here, customers down mugs of beer seated “The bulk of the island’s strong infrastructure is concentrated by its unique eye-cleansing ritual, a part of within discarded wooden boats, watching and in Sanya, which is fast becoming saturated. The disparity in the facial. listening to the shore-crashing waves. If the quality of infrastructure and attractions between Sanya and other area outside the bar gets a tad chilly for you, regions can be significant, thus efforts could be placed in levelling Detox with a meal at Hui find an alternative in the cosy interior. Tel: (86- up the appeal of areas outside of Sanya.” Feng Leisure Farm in 898) 6270-8909 EAT Tunchang. Try organic homegrown favourites such as sugarcane, Those shy to use the public Du Lin Huan, manager, outbound, Hainan Kangtai sweet potato, rare vegetable varieties, hot spring will be delighted International Travel shallow-water shrimp that can be eaten STAY with Narada Resort & “A factor limiting inbound traffic is the lack of good tourism unshelled, as well as tender poultry and Spa Qixian Mount in Baoting. This resort software in terms of service quality and foreign language- other meat dishes. Savour Hainanese fare nestled in scenic Mount Qixianling National speaking staff. Also, China’s new tourism regulations, though that is typically lightly braised and stir-fried Forest Reserve offers a private hot spring good for ‘cleaning out’ the industry and streamlining the here, which bring out the freshness and and Jacuzzi tub on its villa balcony. Enjoy an necessary, has imposed a time-consuming adjustment process original flavour of the ingredients. www. ultra skin-softening soak amid a forest setting onto various stakeholders.” hfxxny.com complete with lung-cleansing negative ions.

11April ttgAsia p18-20 destination CHINAgcmy2knmygc.indd 19 7/4/14 3:04 pm 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 20 Poll on ttgasia.com Access 98% Variety of tourism products 0% Which aspect of Hainan’s Destination China NTO’s support & promotional efforts 1% tourism industry do you most want to see a boost in? Service quality 1% Total number of responses: 770 NEWS IN A MINUTE

6 “once-in-a-lifetime must-see”, with bought with or without the frames. drama, song and dance enhanced by Each shop has a resident oil painter 3D and 4D special effects, and tied to demonstrate and also teach the to the rich cutural history of Sanya. art form to interested visitors, who can then take their masterpieces 3 Phoenix Island, Sanya home as souvenirs. In Sanya Bay, head to Phoenix Is- land, dubbed ‘Oriental Dubai’. This 5 Coral Aquarium on Boundary artificial island modelled after Palm Islet, Lingshui Jumeirah spans a massive area of al- Boundary Islet has opened a coral most 400,000m2 and is connected to aquarium alongside its Dolphin the shore by a 395m bridge and sur- Gulf. The aquarium is designed and 4 rounded by a harbour commended positioned in such a way that visi- as the best in China. tors will first pass through a stretch 5 Expected to complete construc- of colourful coral exhibits set tion this year, the private luxury de- against a backdrop of beautiful wall velopment costing an investment of murals of mermaids, before pro- about US$464 million will offer six ceeding to see the dolphins, whales stunningly designed buildings con- and sea lions. Expect to snap beauti- sisting of seven-star hotels and five- ful pictures at this aquarium offer- star boutique apartments, an amuse- ing a vibrantly coloured setting. ment park, a sports centre and an international yachting club, among 6 Wuzhishan Yatai Rainforest other world-class facilities. Resort Regarded as the epitome of San- This 199-key five-star resort opened ya’s and China’s progress, the island in 2013 at the foot of the famed also boasts a remarkable centrepiece, Five-finger Mountain within the 1 Hainan Airlines develops 2 Sanya Romance Park a 50m-tall fire phoenix sculpture. National Nature Reserve in Yabin Haikou hub, adds frequency Opened last September, this massive area. It is about 40 minutes’ and Hainan Airlines added three more theme park located in the city centre 4 Oil Painting Street, Tunchang two hours’ drive from the city flights from Singapore to Haikou city on Yingbin Road has added a new A concentration of talent for oil centre of Wuzhishan and Sanya on April 1, bringing the total number dimension to Sanya. It boasts one painting and its potential to be de- respectively. Fresh air, year-round of Singapore-Haikou flights to six of the world’s largest state-of-the- veloped as a cultural tourism prod- cool temperature (at an average weekly. The flights take off at 16.45 art performance theatre comprising uct was discovered in Tunchang, and of 22.4°C) and scenic greenery on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 4,700 seats; a hotel; specialty F&B since 1984, the local government has amid a lush rainforest setting are and at 05.35 on Tuesday, Thursday outlets; indigenous Li and Miao cul- cultivated more than 5,000 painters. the greatest draws here. There is and Sunday. The only other direct tural settings; and various simulated The recently developed Oil Paint- also a multi-purpose hall that can international flight from Haikou is experiences at Elephant Canyon, ing Street along Xingye Road gathers accommodate up to 320 people Taipei, offered four-times-weekly at Battle of the Pirates and Technol- several shops selling pieces of hu- for meetings, a spa with 10 sauna 18.50 on Tuesday, Thursday and Sat- ogy Centre; among many others. Its man portrait, nature and still life on rooms, as well as Chinese and urday, and at 20.30 on Sunday. theatre performance claims to be a varying sizes of canvas, which can be Western F&B outlets.

MY WAY He Peng General manager Hainan Kangtai International Travel Service

Where do you go on your days off? than its cooking methods, and special local food is For the past two to three years, Hainan has attracted such rapid aplenty in the various counties and cities. hotel development that almost every two months one would I recommend Haikou Shizilu town’s marinated hear about a new property opening. Many of the hotels display boiled chicken, Wenchang Tangniu’s classic chicken rice, individuality in architecture, design and services, which has cre- Qionghai Qingge’s stone crab, and Lingshui’s sour noo- ated for me the hobby of scouting for newly opened hotels on dles, to name just a few. Additionally, Hainan is the main my days off. producer of coffee for China, so whenever I am tired from all the driving, there are many coffee shops along the island’s What’s a typical outing like? highways for a short break. On a typical rest day, I usually set off in the morning with my family, driving our car along Hainan’s endless stretch of capti- What do you do to unwind? vating coastline to lively music blasting from the stereo. After The day’s travel ends in fatigue for me, but that’s when about an hour’s fun drive, if we do chance upon a new hotel, it Hainan’s ready supply of a large number of spa/massage will then be where we take a break. We love exploring the hotel’s outlets comes to the rescue. Most of the outlets boast trained facilities, and if there were a large garden within, my son and I therapists and masseurs. I especially love to hop into one would then offload our bicycles from the car to enjoy a little ride such health club in Haikou’s Longkunbei Road known for and workout there. its superb skills in foot reflexology. It charges a mere US$12- $16 for a 90-minute session, inclusive of a cup of rejuvenat- Where would you take your meal? ing tea specially concocted based on the season at the time. Hainan’s cuisine is known more for its freshness of ingredients Good value for money, indeed.

11April ttgAsia p18-20 destination CHINAgcmy2knmygc.indd 20 7/4/14 3:04 pm 17th CTW Asia-Pacific 30 Sep – 2 Oct 2014 Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld Bangkok, Thailand

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CTW2014Ads_Eng_260X380.indd 1 6/3/14 10:20 am Destination Japan

urrently synony- or cow tongue, while ramen fanatics will Viewpoint mous with “earth- want to make the pilgrimage to Kitakata quake” and “radia- in Fukushima prefecture (see next page). tion” in the eyes of Tohoku is also popular for its agricultural What does Tohoku need to do to attract more tourists? many Asian travel- produce such as pears from Yamagata and lers, Tohoku makes apples from Aomori. Kozo Baba, director, per cent. Shanghai flights were also ended an excellent desti- A silver lining has emerged from the Fuku-no-Shima due to the deterioration in Japan-China nation for travellers dark clouds of the Great East Japan Earth- Project relations. The resumption of international looking for a more rustic experience or to quake as well. Prefectures worst hit by the “We suffered great flights to Fukushima as soon as possible seeC post-disaster recovery efforts. twin disasters are now ripe as unique dis- damage not only holds the key to the revival of Fukushima’s Tohoku comprises the prefectures of aster tourism and voluntourism destina- from the earthquake tourism.” Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata tions. and tsunami but also and the now-famous Fukushima, al- The Fuku-no-Shima project, an or- the nuclear accidents. In Mihoko Hirashima, owner, Experience though Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) un- ganisation comprising Fukushima-based addition, visitor numbers Japan Australia der the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, agricultural producers, hotels, travel agen- to Fukushima prefecture have dropped “The Tohoku region Transport and Tourism also counts arriv- cies and the like, was unveiled at Visit Ja- significantly. The fourth disaster is stigma and needs to focus on als from Niigata into Tohoku statistics. pan Travel Mart in November last year to the fifth is indifference. promoting one major The Great East Japan Earthquake in tackle the stigma of radiation in the To- Asiana Airlines’ twice-monthly charter unique site as the 2011 levelled important infrastructure hoku region. flights to Seoul were suspended in October biggest problem is including the Sendai airport. Although Fuku-no-Shima has rolled out a series due to the leaking of contaminated water not many people the airport has since been restored and of tourism products and possible itiner- from the nuclear plant in summer even know what to see opened, visitor arrivals have not matched aries ranging from industry inspection though the boarding rate was more than 80 there.” the facility’s rate of recovery. tours to state-of-the-art medical facilities JTA figures for the July to September to showcasing the Aizu culture and tradi- 2010 period show that total arrivals to the tion in Fukushima. The group can also Tohoku region (including Niigata) num- organise visits to 3/11 affected zones such bered 141,900, but international visitors as Minamisoma City and Iwaki City, and for the same period in 2013 was halved to put together tours led by survivors for a 75,410. first-hand understanding of the impact of the disaster. Meanwhile, the recent loosening of visa requirements for citizens of South- east Asian nations has borne fruit. Japan’s FINDING ITS FEET AGAIN core markets in South-east Asia – Singa- Visitors hike up the 1,000 stairs to the pore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Buddhist temple atop Yamadera Philippines and Vietnam – all boasted double-digit year-on-year growth in (Tohoku) needs arrivals last year, while foreign arriv- als hiked 24 per cent year-on-year from to promote itself, 8.4 million in 2012 to a record 10.4 mil- lion, based on statistics from the Japan then will travellers National Tourism Organization. However, despite Japan’s welcoming understand and attitude to foreign visitors, popular senti- ments on the ground indicate that Tohoku come (to the still has far to go in terms of destination awareness as travel consultants shared that the Golden Route still tops the travel destination). wishlist for the typical first-time Asian visitor to Japan. And while tour itineraries featuring Tokyo, Kyoto and Hokkaido are The slow return of tourists to the region a dime a dozen among tour operators in has been crippled by reports of water leak- Asia, few are offering any options to the ing from Fukushima’s nuclear plants, fear Tohoku region. of the effects of radiation, and perhaps Miao Hongfeng, general manager of more importantly, a lack of awareness of Harbin Merchants International Travel what the region has to offer. Service China, noted that while Chang- The largest city in Tohoku and gateway chun, a city in Jilin province bordering to the region, Sendai in Miyagi prefecture HeilongJiang province, is a mere two- is accessible from Tokyo via a 100-minute hour flight away from Sendai, most Chi- Shinkansen train ride or under two hours nese prefer the Golden Route instead. on domestic flights from other major cit- He said: “Chinese travellers (especially ies. those from the landlocked Heilongjiang Tohoku offers diverse attractions to ca- province, of which Harbin is the capital) ter to specific interests. Nature lovers can like to do three things in Japan: eat sea- pick cherries or admire ‘snow monsters’ food, enjoy the hot springs, and shop for – trees entirely encased in hoar frost and Japan-made products that are cheaper unique to Zao in Yamagata prefecture. and higher quality than Chinese ones.” History buffs can head to the ‘samurai city’ While Tohoku holds immense po- of Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima prefec- tential for tourism – specifically the “ice ture, where battles of the Boshin war were monsters” in Zao – the region still “needs fought, while Kakunodate in Akita prefec- to promote itself, then will travellers un- ture is home to traditional merchant and derstand and come”, Miao opined. samurai houses that are particularly sce- Likewise, although outbound French nic when set against the autumn foliage. traffic to Japan was doing “great” for Asian fans of the long-running Japanese Planet Veo France, which sent 1,100 drama Oshin, which was recently remade travellers in 2013, “not a lot are coming to as a movie, have also toured filming loca- Tohoku”, according to product manager, tions across Yamagata prefecture includ- Yasmine Maroldt. ing Shonai Eigamura, a film location that “We sent 10 people last year to Mat- is still used for movie production. suhima, Sendai, etc. People don’t want to For the gourmand, Sendai is renowned go to Fukushima because they are afraid,” among the Japanese for excellent gyutan she added.

11April ttgAsia p22-25 destination JAPAN-xygc.indd 22 7/4/14 3:04 pm 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 23 The Tohoku region wants visitors to look beyond its recent disaster- stricken past and instead find inspiration in its rich offerings ranging from ramen to snow monsters. By Hannah Koh

How to sell

Yamadera, which literally encouragement as you soldier on. The Bigger cities like Fukuoka or means ‘mountain temple’ in autumn foliage, roaring river and serene Sapporo tend to dominate the DOJapanese, has long been a pit temples make Yamadera a picturesque EAT spotlight when aficionados stop for those seeking peace of mind and destination. Restaurants in the vicinity also from overseas discuss their favourite ramen. where celebrated Japanese poet Matsuo offer a convenient place to refuel. But among the Japanese, the small city Basho composed his most famous haiku. of Kitakata, which is also known for its Completing the The Kamakura Snow historic warehouses, is a colossus on the 1,000-step trek Festival takes its name ramen scene and especially the shoyu-based up to the temple SEEfrom the kamakura, a small variety. Local authorities provide walking at the mountaintop igloo-like structure that is hollowed out after guides highlighting 45 of the city’s ramen room category except the Western Twin will will not only offer snow is packed tightly into a mound. Dotting establishments, making for a fun and filling accommodate between four and five guests, sweeping views of the town of Yokote, Akita prefecture, they gourmet experience for any food-loving Asian which spells good news for families or groups the surrounding were traditionally used as shrines to honour traveller. of friends travelling together. The sole villa Yamagata the water gods during the Lunar New Year Yuan also features a private hot spring. The prefecture, but a period. During the festival, held annually in The upscale Kai property has daily shuttle services to Hirosaki, chance to meet February, children will sit in the kamakura Tsugaru in Aomori a nearby fortress town, and also offers friendly locals and invite passers-by inside for amazake, a STAY prefecture offers a two-hour samisen lessons and performances who are likely sweet fermented rice brew, and mochi rice dose of traditional Japanese hospitality for those interested in traditional Japanese to offer some cakes. and the chance to enjoy hot springs. Each music. FINDING ITS FEET AGAIN

Destination in numbers 10.4 million The number of foreign arrivals achieved by Japan in 2013, a record for the country 74% Visitor arrivals from Thailand surged 74 per cent year-on-year last year, following Japan’s visa waiver for Thai nationals 3,000 The number of monitoring posts set up throughout Fukushima prefecture to display radiation levels at all times

11April ttgAsia p22-25 destination JAPAN-xygc.indd 23 7/4/14 3:04 pm Destination Japan

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NEWS IN A MINUTE

1 New budget hotel in Sendai 3 Ritz-Carlton debuts in Kyoto plex will consist of four buildings return flights take off from Ho Chi Fujita Kanko has opened the 223-key The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto opened in and include the Toyosu outer mar- Minh City at 13.55 to touch down in Sendai Washington Hotel, located February 2014 on the banks of the ket featuring 120 stores from Tsukiji Tokyo at 22.00. The airline has also opposite the JR station in Sendai. Kamogawa River as a peaceful sanc- fish market and 20 new stores, a food increased its Bangkok and Singapore All guestrooms come with free Wi- tuary offering views of the river and court for 1,000 customers, cooking flights out of Haneda from seven to Fi while a women-only section offers Higashiyama Mountains. Set in the schools, a multilingual tourist infor- 14 weekly, while halving frequencies rooms with amenities and décor ca- heart of the city, the hotel is located mation centre, one of Japan’s larg- at Narita airport to seven. tering to the female traveller. The ho- close to downtown areas Gion and est hot-bath facilities, food-related Jetstar Asia will begin daily flights tel also features a restaurant serving Kawaramachi-dori. stores, and a market dedicated to from Singapore to Fukuoka via local products and Sendai specialties. Architects and designers have pre- traditional Japanese handicrafts such Bangkok on June 26, while Viet- Fujita Kanko operates another served the aesthetic of a Meiji house as pottery. Tokyo’s government said nam Airlines is ramping up Hanoi- eight Washington hotels in Tohoku and courtyard with its interiors fea- it expects Senkyaku Banrai to attract Fukuoka flights from twice to four- region, including the upscale Towa- turing patterned motifs by local ar- some 4.2 million visitors, both local times daily between August 1 and da Hotel in Akita Prefecture. tisans, Zen rock gardens and water and foreign. September 29. features such as the four-storey wa- 2 Okinawa Naha Airport gets terfall that runs through the heart of 5 JNTO sets up shop in Jakarta 7 Staying connected in Japan new international terminal the hotel. In March 2014, Japan National Tour- Travellers no longer have to fear the Okinawa’s Naha Airport raised the The 134-room hotel also comes ism Organization (JNTO) launched dearth of free Wi-Fi spots in Japan, curtain on its new international with a seven-room spa nestled at the its 14th overseas office in Jakarta to with more companies offering ser- terminal on February 17 this year foot of the waterfall, a bar complete promote Japan as a destination for vices that will have the traveller con- in response to growing interna- with a wine cellar, and fine-dining Indonesian travellers. The office nected right from the airport. tional traffic in recent years. Span- establishments Mizuki highlighting already has a busy schedule – it is One such company is b-Mobile, ning 23,700m2, the new four-storey Japanese cuisine and La Locanda fo- scheduled to host a MICE seminar in which sells visitor SIM cards allow- terminal boasts a floor space nearly cusing on Italian. Four event spaces June, participate in consumer travel ing travellers to connect to the In- four times bigger than the previous and a wedding showroom are also fairs in Indonesia, and will work with ternet without activation. Cards can one. It also commenced construc- available. outbound tour operators to create be delivered to major airport, postal tion on a second runway end-March brochures. It has set up a Facebook offices, hotels or any other specified – expected to complete in 2019 – and 4 Tsukiji market finds new home page in Indonesian too. address in Japan. Meanwhile, Global is considering the construction of a Come March 2016, Tokyo’s iconic Advanced Communications rents link between the domestic and new Tsukiji fish market will be rehoused 6 New South-east Asian flights smartphones, SIM cards and pocket terminals. within Senkyaku Banrai, a new shop- Japan Airlines has launched a daily Wi-Fi devices, and can have them Okinawa Prefecture and Singa- ping and entertainment complex in Tokyo (Haneda)-Ho Chi Minh City delivered ahead of arrival. pore Changi Airport inked an MoU the Toyosu district of Koto ward. service since March 30, with flights Visit www.bmobile.ne.jp/english/ in March with plans to commence According to Japanese daily The leaving Haneda at 01.25 and arriving index.html or www.globaladvanced- direct scheduled flights in future. Asahi Shimbun, the 1.7 hectare com- in the Vietnamese city at 05.15, while comm.com for more information.

11April ttgAsia p22-25 destination JAPAN-xygc.indd 24 7/4/14 3:04 pm 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 25 Poll on ttgasia.com Okinawa 86% Tohoku 2% What is the next hot Kyushu 6% destination in Japan (besides the Golden Route & Hokkaido)? Others 6% Total number of responses: 316

Takanori Ogasawara Director MY WAY Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization What do you like best about the Tohoku region? have time to soak in the baths this time though. Diversity in seasons. In spring, you can enjoy the views of cherry blossoms against a backdrop of snow-covered moun- What is the top must-try delicacy of Tohoku and where tains or snow walls. In summer, there are dynamic summer can you have it? festivals in every part of Tohoku, and I especially like Nebuta This is a very difficult question. Since the Tohoku region is festival in Aomori featuring lantern floats, taiko drums and rich in crops and fish, you can find a variety of delicious cui- dancers. In autumn, there’s the sight of beautiful autumn sine and fruits. But I want to recommend you the kiritanpo leaves along rivers/gorges or by very-blue lakes. In winter, you hotpot. Kiritanpo is mashed and toasted rice that is formed can enjoy variety of snow festivals. The juhyo (silver frosts) or into a cylindrical shape around skewers. ‘snow monsters’ are also fantastic. With hinai jidori (one of the top three home-bred chick- en breeds in Japan) soup stock, kiritanpo, hinai jidori cicken Which lesser-known place in the Tohoku did you last visit meat and vegetables, you can enjoy a warm and delicious on a day trip? hotpot. This hotpot is famous mainly in Akita prefecture. I’ve just visited a really nice place called Yuki-Hatago or ‘snow hotel’. There were buildings made of snow and they What are your hobbies? just looked like Japanese old-style hotels for travellers called My hobbies are playing the Chinese violin and studying hatago. The snow-white buildings lit up from the inside by languages. I’m trying to learn Chinese right now and will try small candles were a really beautiful and fantastic sight. Thai next. Yuki-Hatago is located in Gassan Shizu Hot Springs at When I can take holidays, I travel abroad. I just visited Thai- Mount Gassan in Yamagata prefecture and although you can- land and Cambodia for three weeks. I also enjoy little trips not stay in the snow structures at Yuki-Hatago, you can stay at around the Tohoku region too. There are a lot of places worth the real onsen ryokans and enjoy good hot springs too. I didn’t visiting and many kinds of delicious food in Tohoku.

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

The best show Great platform to we have participated at with explore venues for our We Are All About Results true quality buyers association’s Ark Travel Express Inc, Philippines upcoming regional & international congresses. Maria Paz R Alberto, President Strong Business Generation International League Against Epilepsy, Ireland 86% of 2013 exhibitors expect to receive orders over the next 6 to 12 months Richard Holmes, International Director of Meetings Good mix of Proven Procurement Platform buyer profiles. An excellent event that Over 40% of buyers confirmed purchases at the event Genuine buyers, with zero no-shows improves every year. POP Inc, Japan Go Vacation, Thailand Robert Cotter, International Editor Quality Exhibitors and Business Appointments Sarinya Holloway, Group & Events Manager according to 90% of buyers Correct decision Excellent calibre of Fresh Procurement Opportunities makers present. speakers 60% New Buyers + 47% New Corporate Travel Managers Exhibitors are one of the best in the region covering relevant topics. Travel Warehouse, Inc., Philippines Accenture Australia Pty Ltd, Australia Jaison Yang, General Manager Katherine Hopcroft, Travel Management Specialist

Exhibitors MICE, Luxury Travel and Corporate Travel | Buyers MICE, Associations and Luxury Travel | Corporate Travel Managers Conference Delegates Corporate Travel Professionals and Corporate Travel Suppliers | Industry Media Scan This QR Code To Find Out More About Participating At The Show

Organised By Supported By Host Country Official Airline Official Venue Endorsing and Supporting Associations

Media Affiliates Contributing Media Official Media

ITCMA2014_C2_Ad_236x180.indd 1 1/4/14 4:54 pm

11April ttgAsia p22-25 destination JAPAN-xygc.indd 25 7/4/14 3:05 pm 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 26 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

APPOINTMENTS GALLERY

J Edward Brea Sheryl Lim Jerry John Thorsten Kirschke Mark Meehan

EDMOND IP guna Phuket and resident manager Princess Cruises, based in Santa THEN Ip spent 40 years in the at Banyan Tree Phuket. Clarita, California. hotel industry in a range of senior NOW He has been appointed the executive and development roles general manager of Banyan Tree JEANMARC MAPOON for companies such as Hyatt Macau in Cotai. THEN With over 13 years of International, InterContinental experience with Starwood Hotels Hotels Group, Hilton Worldwide and THORSTEN KIRSCHKE & Resorts, Ma-Poon most recently (Above and left) Top-performing trade partners of Hong Kong Disneyland Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts. THEN For the past four years, served as the hotel manager for W Resort were rewarded with awards NOW He has been appointed Kirschke has led Carlson Rezidor Retreat & Spa – Bali in Indonesia. and exotic performances at its annual vice-chairman of Artyzen Hospitality Hotel Group as president of the NOW Ma-Poon is heading up W Celebration of Sales Excellence event Group. Americas. Retreat & Spa Maldives as general at Adventureland last month NOW He has assumed the role of manager. J EDWARD BREA president for the group’s Asia- THEN With over 30 years of ex- Pacific region. YVES THOMA perience in the hospitality industry, THEN Thoma was previously Brea was most recently general SHERYL LIM general manager of the Happy Val- manger of Jing An Shangri-La THEN Lim was director of sales- ley Clubhouse under the Hong Kong Hotel, West Shanghai. groups, conventions and event at Jockey Club for six years. NOW Brea has taken the helm Hilton Kuala Lumpur and director NOW He has been appointed as general manager of Shangri-La of sales for national sales office resident manager at Marco Polo Hotel, Bangkok. Malaysia of Hilton Worldwide. Hongkong Hotel. NOW She has been promoted to MARK MEEHAN director of business development of PIUS LUECHINGER THEN Meehan was last based in Hilton Petaling Jaya. THEN Luechinger was last general Dubai as the managing director for manager at Sareeraya Villas & Africa, Travelport. DEREK FLINT Suites in Koh Samui. NOW He is based in Singapore as THEN The hospitality veteran most NOW He has assumed the role Travelport’s new managing director recently served as the general of general manager at Centara for Asia-Pacific. manager of The Ritz-Carlton Key Koh Chang Tropicana Resort in Biscayne, Miami. Thailand’s eastern seaboard. TIMOTHY RAWLINSON NOW Flint has taken charge of THEN A British national, Rawlinson The Portman Ritz-Carlton, Shanghai JAYNE O’BRIEN was last operations manager at as general manager. THEN She was chief marketing Maafushivaru Resort Maldives. officer, Dubai Properties Group, a NOW He has been appointed ANTHONY KAUFMAN master developer of destinations general manager of Centara Villas THEN Kaufman was formerly Prin- and districts across Dubai. Samui in Koh Samui. cess Cruises’ senior vice president NOW InterContinental Hotels of commercial affairs. Group has named O’Brien senior JERRY JOHN NOW He has been appointed to vice president of global brands, John was previously the the newly created position of senior (Above and right) Cotai Strip Resorts Macao executives raised glasses to THEN overseeing brand vision and strat- successful partnerships with key trade partners and salespersons during its general manager of Angsana La- vice president, Asia operations for egy for the group’s nine brands. annual trade appreciation dinner hosted at Conrad Macao last month

TRADE CALENDAR SEE YOU AT...

IT&CM China WTTC Global Hospitality Arabian Travel April 15-17, Shanghai Summit Investment World Mart Held at Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & April 24-25, Hainan April 28-30, Jakarta May 5-8, Dubai Convention Cente and organised by TTG Asia Media, the show brings together 3,000 The summit will examine the role of the travel The third annual conference is a platform The largest travel event in the Middle East, Chinese and international MICE professionals industry as a force for good, with headline for over 200 hotel operators, owners and the show is dedicated to unlocking busi- from sectors including DMCs, PCOs, corpo- contributions from Kofi Annan, Jeffrey Kat- hospitality experts to share knowledge of the ness potential in the region for inbound and rate travel, and 400 hosted delegates. zenberg, Yao Ming and Dame DeAnne Julius. Indonesian hospitality market. outbound tourism professionals.

11April ttgAsia P26 Social_v6-xymy3gc.indd 26 7/4/14 3:05 pm 11.04.2014 TTG Asia 27 ICYMI: Tune in to what’s been going on at Connect www.ttgasia.com and on cyberspace. Plus, we end off on a light-hearted note

HEADLINES

IF TRAVEL CREATES DESIRE FOR SEX...DO IT SOFITEL SO JAKARTA LIKE THE DANES Sofitel Luxury Hotels has signed a EDITORIAL You may have seen it – the patriotic Do It For Denmark video management agreement to operate the Karen Yue Group Editor [email protected] exhorting Danes to take a holiday, get it on, and rescue the first Sofitel So in Indonesia. Coming up in Gracia Chiang Deputy Group Editor nation’s declining fertility rate. Adam Tan suggests ASEAN mixed-use development The Hundred, [email protected] Hannah Koh Assistant Editor, TTG Asia Online does the same and comes up with his own slogans, including Sofitel So Jakarta is expected to [email protected] Turn on for Thailand, Make Love For Malaysia or Stand Up complete in 2018 in the heart of Paige Lee Pei Qi Assistant Editor, Singapore [email protected] For Singapore Mega Kuningan Xinyi Liang-Pholsena Assistant Editor, Thailand [email protected] Kathy Neo Copy Editor IATA CONVENES TASKFORCE ON LUFTHANSA STRIKES FORCE [email protected] S Puvaneswary Editor, Malaysia/Brunei AIRCRAFT TRACKING AFTER MH370 CANCELLATIONS FROM ASIA [email protected] IATA director general and CEO, Tony Tyler (left) The largest strikes in Lufthansa’s Mimi Hudoyo Editor, Indonesia [email protected] said MH370 had proven the airline industry history by the German pilots’ union Sim Kok Chwee Correspondent-at-large [email protected] has two clear challenges – aircraft tracking led to massive cancellations across Greg Lowe Correspondent, Thailand and passenger data. IATA will put together the airline’s international network, with [email protected] Marianne Carandang, Rosa Ocampo a taskforce including ICAO participation to flights to and from Asian metropolises Correspondents, The Philippines examine available options. “We cannot let such as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur [email protected], [email protected] Prudence Lui Correspondent, Hong Kong another aircraft simply vanish,” said Tyler also affected [email protected] Shekhar Niyogi Chief Correspondent, India [email protected] Rohit Kaul Correspondent, New Delhi FUSION HOLIDAYS VISITOR FLOWS FOR ASIA WILL GROW 15 PER CENT [email protected] Thomas Cook India’s new Fusion YEARLY WITHIN NEXT DECADE Feizal Samath Correspondent, Sri Lanka [email protected] Holidays marries the price advantage Macro trends driving industry growth over the next decade by Amadeus Redmond Sia, Goh Meng Yong Creative Designers of group rates for fixed departure predicts that international travel will rise by at least 5.4 per cent annually for Lina Tan Editorial Assistant tours with the freedom for travellers to the next 10 years, while visitor flows for Asia will hit 15.1 per cent, twice the SALES & MARKETING customise their itineraries rate of the preceding 10 years Michael Chow Group Publisher [email protected] Marisa Chen Senior Business Manager [email protected] Shirley Tan Senior Business Manager [email protected] Karen Cheung Business Manager [email protected] WHO’S SAYING WHAT Jonathan Yap Business Manager [email protected] Cheryl Tan Corporate Marketing Manager [email protected] Stephanie Toh Marketing Executive [email protected] Most commented Instagram Tweets Cheryl Lim Advertisement Administration Manager [email protected] Carol Cheng Assistant Manager Administration and Marketing SCHENGEN MIGHT ROLL OUT Look left, look right, [email protected] HERE’S WHAT TWITTERERS HAD ONEYEAR VISA, STREAMLINE look cute. Happy PUBLISHING SERVICES TO SAY ABOUT GOOGLE’S NEW APPLICATIONS birthday to our group Tony Yeo Division Manager STREET VIEW FOR ANGKOR WAT: [email protected] “Genuine tourists avoid countries that editor Karen Yue! Nancy Lee Desktop Publishing Executive have cumbersome visa procedures. Easy @chamnanmuon [email protected] Carol Wong Senior Circulation Executive processes and low visa costs result in higher It’s a great gift from Google Street [email protected] footfalls and more income generation for View for #Cambodia historical site, TTG ASIA MEDIA respective countries. If European countries #AngkorWatTemple for the upcoming Darren Ng Managing Director need to increase the number of tourists, they Our publisher Michael Khmer New Year 2014 [email protected] should simpify their visa procedures.” Raini Hamdi Senior Editor celebrates his birthday [email protected] - Kumar, Tamil Nadu @yennieyow and in true TTG style, OFFICES Take a trip to one of my fave places on we kicked up a fuss SINGAPORE 1 Science Park Road #04-07 The Capricorn, earth minus #humidity and #bugs. #cambo- Singapore Science Park II, Singapore 117528 MAHARASHTRA DEBUTS in the office to mark SEAPLANE SERVICE dia #angkorwat Tel: (65) 6395-7575 Fax: (65) 6536-0896 his special day. Happy [email protected]; www.ttgasia.com “With many of the water bodies being popu- HONG KONG Unit 2001-2005, 20/F Harbour Center, birthday Michael! @DistBroad 25 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong lar tourist destinations and not connected Tel: (852) 2237-7174 Fax:(852)2237-7227 by air, the (seaplane service) offers good Now this is pretty cool :) Google Street business potential for Maharashtra! And I Prost! TTG toasts to View Visits #Cambodia’s #AngkorWat believe this was launched between Mumbai Singapore Tourism and Aamby Valley? What could be better! This Board’s big five-o TTG Asia is a product by TTG Travel Trade Publishing, a business group of TTG Asia Media. It is mailed free entire region is the ‘heaven of Maharashtra’, at the NTO’s Tour- on written request to readers who meet predetermined criteria. Paid TWITTER.COM/TTG_ASIA subscriptions are available to those who do not meet the criteria. and has always been the hot cake for inter- ism Fifty function in Annual airmail subscriptions are US$180 to Asia and US$199 #Berlin FACEBOOK.COM/TTGASIA elsewhere. Cover price US$5. national tourists. A great step by MTDC! Hope MICA (P) 145/10/2012 • PPS 619/02/2013(022926) to try it out soon.” - Priyanka Ghosh, Pune INSTAGRAM.COM/TTGASIA Printed by Times Printers Pte Ltd 16 Tuas Avenue 5, Singapore 639340

Compiled by The Fox Travel Hall of Fame Since 2002, TTG Asia Media has honoured luminaries that have won the prestigious TRAVEL TRIVIA TTG Travel Award for at least 10 consecutive times for the same award title in the Travel Hall of Fame. At present, these exceptional organisations LETTERLITE • Mirgin. UK airline looking to partner with 92 million? and their years of induction are: A light-hearted section where we take a another airline. 4. France-based EADS aviation group has • Singapore Airlines (2002) word, alter it by adding, cutting, or changing • Singapore Changi Airport (2002) • Pali. Friendly island destination in just changed its name to what? • Hertz Asia Pacific (2005) just one letter - and giving it a new definition: Indonesia. • Royal Cliff Hotels Group (2006) 5. Name the now-defunct low-fare-airline • Star Cruises (2008) based in Bangkok in the 1970s? • Abacus International (2009) • Taigei. Campaign to attract LGBT visitors QUIZ • SilkAir (2010) in Taiwan’s capital. • Lotte Tour (2011) 1. Which two regional hotel groups got new • Hong Kong International Airport (2013) • Dune. Brand name for AirAsia’s hotels in CEOs this year? • Raffles Hotel Singapore (2013)

with A300s and DC10s. Stopped operating in 1976. in operating Stopped DC10s. and A300s with TTG Asia Media is pleased to announce the Middle East. (5) Air Siam. Operated primarily to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Los Angeles Angeles Los Tokyo, Kong, Hong to primarily Operated Siam. Air

2. Taiwan’s high-speed railway starts in January. that it is setting up a virtual TTG Travel Hall of

• Dullman. Accor’s new hotel brand for non- in Company) Space and Defence Aeronautic (European EADS from Changed

Fame, which will enable us to showcase the (4) Airbus Group. Group. Airbus

Taipei and ends in which city? routes. international on were 10%, up million, 7.6 which

accolades, artefacts and memorabilia of the (3) 92 million. In fact 91.8 million, up 6%, of of 6%, up million, 91.8 fact In million. 92 trendy travellers. 2015. in due are more four

region’s most exceptional travel organisations (2) Kaohsiung. There are currently eight stations open; open; stations eight currently are There Kaohsiung.

3. In 2013 did China Southern Airlines carry Warman. Robert

• Flion. The act of travelling on an Indonesia in a far more effective way and to a global (1)

airline. 52 million passengers, 72 million or Langham; Kong’s Hong Schroeder. Bernold Pacific; Pan Singapore’s audience.

11April ttgAsia p27 connect-V4hhgc.indd 27 8/4/14 5:40 pm