Hotels and Wellness Destinations Tours That Also Give Back to the Communities

An ever-changing island Plane sailing experiences Why quality isn’t enough Bali is seeing a flurry of new Amid greater global competetion, a look Delivering sustainable quality developments and plans, all with the at how major carriers in Asia-Pacific are tourism is harder than pursuing aim of uncovering new markets and reinventing their products and services growth, says Singapore Tourism opportunities for the destination at every step of the air travel journey Board’s chief executive Keith Tan PPS 1885/02/2017(025627)

No. 1767/June 2019

Down, but not out Just as Sri Lanka’s tourism is taking off big time, the Easter Sunday attacks dealt a devastating blow to the fast-growing sector and sent the lucrative industry into a tailspin. Can Sri Lanka’s tourism make a comeback from this major setback? By Feizal Samath Hosted Tour Komodo Island “INDONESIA’S LEADING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FAIR” In a journey to find tranquility, we need to take a step further east. Just like finding this hidden gem 6th BALI & BEYOND TRAVEL FAIR in Eastern Indonesia you’ll get mesmerized by what its wholesome wonders. Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara has so many wonders to offer. It’s undoubtedly a unique habitat for the infamous living dragon Komodo. This tropical paradise will never stop to surprise you. Take a chance to experience island hopping, with a 1-hour boat trip, you can reach your own personal playground in Kelor Island. Try to make the most of it by letting your inner child exploring a shoreline with a pristine sea and exciting activities. Dare yourself to reach the top of the island and get a memorable moment to share.

Karang Asem Heritage Discover the royal history of Bali’s Karangasem kingdom during visit to some of its most important shrines and palaces. Head to East Bali, where you’ll explore the kingdom’s Karangasem Palace, along with the fountains of the Tirta Gangga Water Palace, the heritage building of Sukasada Park, and the agricultural haven of Sebetan Village. During your trip you’ll have a chance to learn new insights into Balinese architecture and enjoy incredible scenery as well.

Bangli Spend a day exploring the stunning natural beauty of Kintamani, explore traditional village at Panglipuran, Revitalize your body and rejuvenate your soul while you soak in our natural hot spring pools at Toya Devasya. features four natural hot spring pools and one warm olympic sized pool. Heated deep within the earth, minerals from the colorless and odorless hot spring brings healing and curative powers. Take a relaxing dip after an adventurous day of hiking, canoeing or cycling to ease your sore muscles. Or just for a simple getaway to enjoy the majestic panorama.

Mandalika Along the south coast of the beautiful Lombok island lies a long and wide stretch of beautiful JOURNEY TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM white sand beach facing the glistening Indian Ocean. On the background are lush green hills and mesmerizing landscapes. This is Mandalika, once a surfers’ best kept secret, now it has emerged as the island’s capital of leisure. Mandalika shouts heaven from all of its enchanting BALI NUSA DUA CONVENTION CENTER corners. Blessed with a beautiful nature and enhanced by the hands of professionals, Mandalika 25th – 29th June 2019 is designed to make your dream vacation a reality. With all its exceptional splendors, a trip here will be unforgettable and will make you long for more.

There are many ways to promote travel destinations from advertisements to direct sales trips to targeted markets, but when it comes to promoting a vast nation, Tana Toraja Tana Toraja is safely protected beyond the lofty mountains and rugged granite cliﬀs of the central with its endless beauty and hidden paradises, perhaps the best way is to bring highlands of the island of Sulawesi and the home of the Toraja people. 'Discovered' and opened the audience here to see for themselves. This exactly is what the Committee of to the world from their long isolation only since the beginning of the last century, the Toraja BALI & BEYOND TRAVEL FAIR (BBTF) 2019 has envisioned for their upcoming event. today still adhere to their age-old beliefs, rituals and traditions, although many of her people are modernized or have embraced Christianity. The nobility of Toraja are believed to be It will be Indonesia’s very own travel and tourism fair that brings sellers and buyers descendents of heavenly beings who came down by a heavenly stairway to live here on earth together in a single forum. in this beautiful landscape. To keep up the energy of the land and its people, the Toraja people believe that these must be sustained through rituals that celebrate both life and death, which are attached to the agricultural seasons.

www.bbtf.or.id Bali & Beyond Travel Fair bbtfindonesia bbtfindonesia For more information about BBTF 2019 Please visit the website www.bbtf.or.id Hosted Tour Komodo Island “INDONESIA’S LEADING INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FAIR” In a journey to find tranquility, we need to take a step further east. Just like finding this hidden gem 6th BALI & BEYOND TRAVEL FAIR in Eastern Indonesia you’ll get mesmerized by what its wholesome wonders. Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara has so many wonders to offer. It’s undoubtedly a unique habitat for the infamous living dragon Komodo. This tropical paradise will never stop to surprise you. Take a chance to experience island hopping, with a 1-hour boat trip, you can reach your own personal playground in Kelor Island. Try to make the most of it by letting your inner child exploring a shoreline with a pristine sea and exciting activities. Dare yourself to reach the top of the island and get a memorable moment to share.

Experiences arms race heats up Long tail of tours & activities sector moves into digital age

he travel industry is wit- efforts, helping suppliers streamline customers, chairman and CEO Qian nessing an arms race in the the complicated process of selling Jiannong has revealed. tours and activities sector, experiences online. AirAsia, under its outspoken chief as travel providers and sell- Tremendous growth opportuni- Tony Fernandes, has never been shy Ters seek to tap opportunities in one ties and investment have been ob- about its expansion plans beyond the of tourism’s fastest-growing seg- served in the travel and activities business of flying people, including ments. According to Phocuswright, marketplace. Airbnb ventured into incorporating financial services and tours and activities make up around the space when it launched Experi- activities to build a wider brand ex- 10 per cent of the global travel mar- ences in 2016, and has been read- perience. At the recent Skift Forum ket, and steady advances over the ily expanding its portfolio to offer Asia in Singapore, AirAsia’s deputy next few years will take this segment 30,000 activities in over 1,000 loca- CEO, technology and digital Aileen to US$183 billion by 2020. tions. Tours and activities booking Omar reaffirmed the airline’s “ambi- That tours, activities and attrac- platforms Klook and GetYourGuide tious but doable” plan of being the tions sector is a piece of the travel have received massive funding in the “Amazon of travel”. pie that everyone wants a piece of past year, while Booking Holdings The online ascent of the tours and is a no brainer. Tours and activities and TripAdvisor have acquired tour activities sector has only just begun. But with most tours and activities have been one of the longest tails Tours and ac- specialist technology providers Fare- in the travel industry, as the sector’s tivities have Harbor and Bokun respectively. continuing to be booked in destina- slow rate of online adoption is en- Now, major industry players also tion and in person, how easy is it to Xinyi Liang-Pholsena been one of cumbered by challenges including the longest want a bigger slice of the action, as bring more of these offline transac- Editor, TTG Asia fragmentation of small disconnected tails in the travel corporations are starting to tions online? [email protected] suppliers and buying habits of trav- travel indus- shift their business models toward a And while most travellers have twitter.com/xinyi_pholsena ellers, who tend to book activities try, as the full-service “ecosystem” approach to no qualms about purchasing a tour www.linkedin.com/in/liangxinyi closer to their trip, which could range sector’s slow own the customer journey. lasting several hours online, they are from a few days to a few hours prior. rate of online Having tested destination devel- likely to express hesitation at buy- But changing consumer behav- adoption is opment with the “successful” launch ing longer, more complex multi-day iours, which see travellers placing a encumbered of Atlantis Sanya, Fosun Tourism tours without speaking to an agent. growing premium on in-destination by challenges Group – the leisure and travel arm Furthermore, what about privacy including of the Shanghai-based investment issues, as travel companies make use activities and experiences, is a driving fragmenta- force for the above-market growth tion of small conglomerate Fosun International of data for personalisation? rate of the tours and activities sector. disconnected – is keen to generate synergy among Everyone wants to be an Amazon, On their part, OTAs have also suppliers and its resorts, destination and tourism but who will get there? The tours been applying greater sophistication buying habits products business to create a “Fo- and activities sector is now a space to to their marketing and distribution of travellers... sun holiday ecosystem” for Chinese watch.

Coming Up 05 Down, but not out The Easter Sunday bombs dealt 20 a devastating blow to Sri Lanka tourism. Can the country make a JULY 2019 comeback from this crisis? Wellness travel A growing middle class, heightened 08 Locals take the wheel desire for a healthy lifestyle and stronger appetite for In Cambodia, more locals are tak- experiential travel is driving a new crop of health-oriented ing the lead in devising immersive hotels and wellness destinations tours that also give back to the communities. Airports Amid strong global air traffic growth and passenger demand, today’s airports are reimagining their model with a customer-focused, digital lens 09 Why quality isn’t enough 14 The missing link Amid the city’s strong tourism Thailand is putting forth a more New Zealand Sustainability becomes the top call for growth, Singapore Tourism Board’s compelling high-end proposition, New Zealand tourism as it recalibrates its visitor arrivals chief executive Keith Tan sees a with suppliers stepping up in ser- goals and focuses efforts on benefitting local communi- bigger set of challenge in boosting vice and experiential offerings. ties and social well-being ahead of tourist needs sustainable quality tourism But how is manpower keeping up? 10 Plane sailing experiences Myanmar The longhaul market is making a comeback to Myanmar, assuaging impacts that the Western boycott to In the experience era, a look at 20 An ever-changing island has brought to the country’s fledgling tourism sector and how major carriers in Asia-Pacific Bali is seeing a flurry of new once again opened up questions of ethical tourism are reinventing their products and developments and plans, all with services at every step of the travel the aim of uncovering new mar- journey kets and opportunities for the popular destination.

10 29 Hot trends in travel agency sector Exciting tech trends that will impact travel agents, according to Sabre

30 Connect Stories you might have missed, and noteworthy sustainability efforts Singapore’s new Jewel Changi Airport ANALYSIS TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 5

Charith Karunathilake/shutterstock arely a few months after Lonely Planet named Sri Lanka the top travel destination in 2019, the coun- tryB was rocked by a series of deadly bomb attacks on April 21, which killed over 250 people and sent the lucrative US$4.4 billion tourism industry into a tailspin. With visitor arrivals taking a se- vere hit – the post-attack Sri Lanka receives an average 1,800 visitors daily compared to 4,500 earlier – au- thorities are looking to expedite the launch of a destination marketing campaign to restore confidence in the country. According to Kishu Gomes, chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Promo- tion Bureau (SLTPB), there are plans to mount an aggressive destination marketing campaign as soon as travel advisories are relaxed. Contrary to the three-year-long So Sri Lanka campaign earlier unveiled, which was originally scheduled to start in mid-2019, Gomes said the new campaign will now be Down, but not out fast-tracked as a six-month offensive given the current environment where Sri Lanka was one of the world’s hottest holiday destinations until the Easter Sunday intensive marketing and promotion efforts are urgently required. bomb attacks dealt a devastating blow to country’s fast-growing tourism sector and Cabinet approval is also being travellers began shunning the Indian Ocean island in droves. Can Sri Lanka’s tourism sought to appoint a PR company and a global advertising agency to imple- sector make a comeback from this setback? Feizal Samath assesses the situation ment the US$5.6 million marketing

Mount Lavinia Beach, near Colombo

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Athikhom Saengchai/shutterstock Industry officials say it would take a year for tourism to return to its pre-April 21 status when it was heading for nearly three million arrivals this year, up from 2.3 million in 2018. Arrivals this year are now expected to plunge 25-30 per cent to around 1.6-1.8 million. According to Cinnamon’s Mu- dadeniya, a positive factor in Sri Lanka’s tourism recovery effort is the global reduction of risk perceptions since the 9/11 attacks. “Due to the frequency and manner of these attacks, (travellers) have reduced their perception of risks,” he said. Moreover, a strong recovery plan, as well as the popular perception of Sri Lanka being a must-visit destination, could help to absorb part of negative publicity arising from the recent blasts. Krishan Balendra, chairman, John Keells Holdings, noted: “If you look at similar incidents in other countries, in about a year we should be back to where we were, assuming there isn’t a recurrence. I’m sure that it will very unlikely recur. The Easter Sunday blasts have taken a toll on Sri Lanka’s emerging tourism sector (pictured: Jamiul Alfar Mosque in Colombo) “Our rating was 1 which is a very safe country, now we have gone to a 4 if you use the US rating mechanism. campaign. Gomes added: “In order “Schools have to open, people who is also chairman of Mount La- We can go to a 2 which says terror- to build confidence we are also look- should return to parks and other vinia Hotel, one of the supporters of ist attacks are likely. For that matter, ing at offering insurance cover by Sri public places and businesses should this initiative. most of Western Europe is also rated Lankan insurers to visitors.” return to normal,” he said, adding “Until they are convinced that it at 2,” Balendra noted. Debt-ridden hotels have also been that this is key to ensuring the coun- is safe for travel, the travel advisories Abbas Esufally, group director at provided with a one-year moratori- try is back to normal, and the secu- will remain. We are hoping our alli- Hemas Holdings – which has several um on loans and interest repayments rity situation is under control. ance will help provide that assurance hotels including the Anantara brand and tax concessions as the battered However, one of the biggest chal- of security in addition to assurances under its wing – believes that once hospitality industry struggles to lenges in convincing Sri Lanka’s key from the government,” he said. the travel advisories are lifted and pick up the pieces after occupancies visitor source markets to lift travel the security situation is improved, plunge as low as 10 per cent, a dra- advisories appears to be the lack of a an aggressive destination marketing matic fall from 60-70 per cent before single voice, as sought by the indus- If you look at similar incidents in campaign should take off. the attacks. try, in explaining the status of secu- other countries, in about a year we “If this happens in the next few should be back to where we were, With security being the key to- rity in the country. weeks or months, we feel there assuming there isn’t a recurrence. wards relaxing a proliferation of President Maithripala Sirisena and would be a slow, steady recovery of – Krishan Balendra, chairman, John Keells travel advisories from key source prime minister Ranil Wickremesin- Holdings the industry and have a pickup by markets, the government is planning ghe, who represent different political winter,” he said. a security audit even as senior gov- parties in the incumbent administra- ernment leaders say the situation is tion, have provided somewhat con- now slowly returning to normal. tradictory opinions on the security In a bid to relax the travel warn- level. While Sirisena has said the situ- ings, which also hinders travel insur- ation is under control, Wickremesin- ARE AGENTS STILL KEEN TO SELL SRI LANKA? ance for tourists, military intelligence ghe has expressed the view that it is officers are holding regular briefings not fully under control. Sri Lanka is going through short- visit the country. Its beaches and with the defence attachés of foreign “Not having a unified voice on term pain at the moment, but once heritage sites used to attract Ma- missions in Sri Lanka to explain the the security threat is confusing to the Foreign Office’s (FO) advice laysians of all races. The pilgrimage security situation. us,” said a western diplomat who de- changes, there will be tremendous sites also attracted Buddhists and At press time, China, India, Ger- clined to be named. Also of concern pent-up desire to travel (there). And Hindus alike. – Stephen Thomas, many, Switzerland and Sweden have to foreign envoys is the country’s whether we like it or not, clients will managing director, Topaz Travel just announced the relaxation of intelligence gathering capabilities be looking for price incentives to & Tours Malaysia travel restrictions to Sri Lanka. which they say needs to be strength- travel; they are not being unfeeling, Security has been tightened across ened, citing media reports and pub- just seeking to maximise their value. Sri Lanka is not very popular for the island with military checkpoints lic awareness that information of a The Sri Lanka tourist board, never leisure travel, so demand hasn’t at various places while metal detec- possible Easter Sunday attack was the most active even in the best of been so affected. Some customers tors and body searches are routinely known to some political leaders and times, will need to do very little – the express interest, but they hold done. Colombo hotels have also pro- the defence establishment, but these demand will be there. back due to uncertainty. However, vided with military guards. threats were not taken seriously. I have great faith in the destina- such incidents have happened Nalin Jayasundera, vice president Meanwhile, at least 50 tourism tion and I think the future looks in other destinations before, like of Sri Lanka Association of Inbound organisations including Sri Lanka’s good, both short and long term. in Bali, and it’s never stopped Tour Operators, said that key ar- biggest local hotel chains – Jetwing My view is that now the island has travellers. It’s up to tourism eas that have to be addressed include Hotels, Heritance Hotels and Re- probably never been safer, and the bureaus and airlines to reach out convincing diplomats that the situ- sorts, and Cinnamon Hotels and security checks in place are reassur- to travel agents, have a face-to- ation is under control and to lift or Resorts – supported by international ing rather than concerning. Once the face discussion, and invite them “Once the soften the travel advisories, ensuring chains, Movenpick and Anantara FO advice changes, I would have no to see that the destination is safe. Foreign airlines keep flying to Sri Lanka with- have come together to form the Sri hesitation in travelling to the island Sri Lanka must give travellers the Office’s ad- out reducing frequencies or pulling Lankan Tourism Alliance (www. once again. – David Kevan, Chic confidence that the government is vice changes, out due to fewer passenger loads; lovesrilanka.org) to provide a single Locations UK in control of the situation. Right now, there will promotions jointly funded by the point of contact for updates to trav- everyone is still hovering with a be tremendous pent- SLTPB and tour operators; and pub- ellers and for trade overseas. What Sri Lanka needs to revive ‘wait-and-see’ mindset. – Wee Hee licity for the enhanced security meas- “We felt there was a need for an up desire to its tourism is stability, such as six Ling, CEO, Euro-Asia Holidays travel (to Sri ures at hotels to ensure guest safety. independent message from the in- months of calm, and free of terrorist Singapore Lanka).” As well, Dileep Mudadeniya, vice dustry, apart from the government’s, incidences and riots. Peace has – David Kevan, president - brand marketing at Cin- on the status in Sri Lanka because to be restored and curfews lifted, Reported by Xinyi Liang-Pholsena, Chic Locations namon Hotels & Resorts, sees a need there were different messages going before Malaysians feel it is safe to S Puvaneswary and Pamela Chow UK to build up public perception of Sri (around),” said Hotels Association of Lanka as a safe destination. Sri Lanka president Sanath Ukwatte, ANALYSIS TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 7 Locals take the wheel As Cambodia’s tourism landscape matures, more locals are taking the lead and devising innovative tours to give visitors a true taste of the country and help them discover outlying areas, while driving social and economic change at the same time. By Marissa Carruthers

ourism is becoming a empowering local communities. Ecotourism projects in Banteay Srey, near Siem stronger force for change Started in 2007 under the guidance Reap, allow visitors to see the agricultural in Cambodia as locals take of wildlife NGO Wildlife Alliance Anna Bella Betts II lifestyles of the local communities the front seat and devise (WA), the aim of the community- innovativeT tours and activities show- based ecotourism project was to casing a more authentic side to the equip locals living in the remote vil- country. lage with an alternative form of in- In recent years, more locals are come. taking the lead in Cambodia’s grow- Nestled in the heart of the Koh ing crop of community-based tour- Kong jungle, the area was notorious ism products, a contrast to barely less for illegal logging and poaching ac- than a decade ago when the majority tivities. WA set about training the vil- of such products were headed by for- lage’s hunters and loggers in tourism, eigners and NGOs. helping them open homestays, lead “In my experience, tourism is defi- (Locally led treks and hikes through the jungle, nitely being driven more locally,” said efforts) make and roll out a series of activities that Miles Gravett, Khiri Travel Cambo- tourists feel offer visitors an authentic glimpse dia general manager. He added that more con- into life in this remote part of the while NGOs and foreign organisa- nected and Cardamom Mountains. tions still play an instrumental role empowers The project is now entirely run by in helping initiatives with the initial communi- the community, comprising more set-up, many of the operations have ties.” than 40 homestays, plus trekking, today been handed over to locals. – Samnang cycling and kayaking adventures led Nuonsinoeun, “This is great,” remarked Gravett. co-founder, by knowledgeable villagers. “This Chi Phat is a shining example of Journeys of project has proven to be very ben- how community-based tourism is Change eficial to the community,” said Chin

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Meankung, CEO of Cambodian Ex- hands over operations to locals. periences. “It is a good example of While agreeing that communi- tourism providing extra income and ty-based tourism initiatives help protecting the forests and wildlife to open up new destinations and from deteriorating.” encourage longer stays, Gravett re- Cambodian Rural Development marked that most of such itineraries Team (CRDT) is another pioneer- remain a hard sell for a majority of ing locally-led initiative. The NGO travellers, “who come to Siem Reap was founded in 2001 as a voluntary and stay in a five-star hotel for two to university student initiative and has three nights and then leave”. grown into a locally-driven organi- “It’s a constant fight trying to sation working with communities build new destinations,” he added. across the country’s north-east to That is not deterring Liger Lead- help eradicate poverty and protect ership Academy student Samnang the environment. Nuonsinoeun, who launched Jour- From left: Locally-led initiatives help to drive visitors to new destinations in Cambodia As part of its mission, it provides neys of Change with fellow students tourism and hospitality training for in September 2017. It currently of- market these projects to foreign of more comfortable options. While underprivileged youth living in Kra- fers bike trips around the outskirts of travel agencies and tour operators,” many homestays still remain basic tie and the surrounding areas and Phnom Penh, led by students, and is he shared. – something Romano says can “sur- operates Cambodian Rural Discov- gearing up to launch a market tour “The industry has to help a lot prise” guests – cleanliness and hy- ery Tours (CRDTours), which are led and responsible shopping trip. of these community-based tourism giene is on the rise. “The options are by local guides and take visitors on “Tourism has the potential to projects with marketing and driving much better these days,” she added. a range of locally driven rural trips (drive) change,” said the 17-year-old. business. It takes time to develop a Meankung feels that the new wave such as homestays in villages and “It’s important that we have really new destination and that is what a lot of responsible tourists that the com- Mekong islands and visits to family- good tours capturing (the essence of these projects are doing.” munity-driven sector tends to attract run businesses and workshops. of) Cambodia and its people. We are Coralie Romano, Diethelm Siem is also helping Cambodia clean up Reap branch manager, notes a rise in its reputation as a sex tourism desti- The development of these com- seeing more and more Cambodians “The industry munity-based initiatives are also lead this... they are the ones who has to help a clients requesting community-based nation. “(The image) is much more helping to drive visitors to new live here and can show tourists the lot of these tourism activities. positive now,” he stated. “It is still destinations away from the well- authentic (aspects of life); it makes community- “We have quite a few people who seen as a cheap destination, but that trodden tourist trail. For exam- tourists feel more connected and em- based tourism want to experience at least one night is also changing.” ple, German NGO GIZ has helped powers communities.” projects with in a homestay and local activities,” The merits of locally-led tour- communities across remote parts Despite the community-driven marketing and she said. “We are seeing more and ism product development extend of Siem Reap to develop homestays tourism landscape gaining momen- driving busi- more visitors wanting sustainable beyond the industry. Gravett said: and other tourist-related activities. It tum in Cambodia, Gravett thinks a ness.” tourism experiences and to give back “Tourism can play a huge role in is also currently working with com- real challenge for many locally-led – Miles Gravett, to communities when they visit.” preserving cultural and natural her- general man- munities in Preah Vihear. After help- initiatives is marketing. “That falls ager, Khiri Travel Also helping drive the popular- itage and developing communities in ing with the set-up, the organisation back on us as DMCs to be able to Cambodia ity of homestays are the availibility Cambodia.”

Half Page (Horizonal) 5column (236mm) x 180mm VIEW FROM THE TOP TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 9 Why quality isn’t enough

As Singapore crests a multi-year wave of strong tourism growth, a bigger set of challenges looms ahead. The Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) chief executive, Keith Tan, tells Pamela Chow about his ambitious plans to boost sustainable quality tourism

How have your prior experiences That’s what I’m concerned about. You may have customers who still we need hotels to meet the future in the public sector helped you in We are quite keen to attract more want to visit the regular big-name demand. However, we don’t have your role? repeat travellers from many of our attractions, but these customers may unlimited manpower. So one of the My time in the public service has markets. For some markets, we want also want to spend a day trying teas big changes I hope to see in the near given me the ability to learn how to give first-time travellers a feel of a in Chinatown or visiting shophouses future – if we want to see more hotels Everyone was to work with different agencies and global city that’s different from Hong – is really a mindset change in how saying that in Kampong Glam. Right now, the stakeholders. In anything that STB Kong or Sydney. my job would DMCs aren’t hunting for those op- we operate hotels. does, we need to work with many be very easy portunities, so we need to work with In Asia, there’s a mindset that other government agencies. For ex- What are the biggest challenges because we them to expand their knowledge of luxury equals high touch. I was re- ample, we have NParks, Urban Re- holding Singapore back from see- had Crazy Rich such offerings. cently in New York City, in a hotel development Authority, Land Trans- ing such “quality growth”? Asians and the People can develop all of these where the fees are astronomical and port Authority and the private sector There is still a big perception that Trump-Kim experiences, but they’ll need a good they bill themselves as “minimal- (involved) in (the rejuvenation of) Singapore is a stopover destination, Summit... but intermediary like the DMCs. Oth- ist luxury”. You can do self-check in Orchard Road. and there’s not much to do here realistically erwise, they may have platforms like and check out. The room is small but My previous jobs have helped me apart from eating and shopping. I knew there Airbnb Experiences or their own everything is high-finish – beauti- understand how to build common People think that they’ll spend just was no way websites, but the reach is limited. ful sheets, Bang & Olufsen speaker, ground for seemingly different per- two or three days here, but there’s we could grow The other aspect that we need to a very Japanese aesthetic. The room spectives or even competing posi- so much more. From the big players at six to eight is maybe 20m2; if you go to a five- per cent year look at is a much greater apprecia- tions. My work as a trade negotiator like Gardens by the Bay and Singa- after year. tion of digitalisation and data. (The star hotel in Singapore, you have 37- has been very useful. pore Zoo to smaller museums, they trade has) to use digital tools more 46m2 rooms. You hardly see any staff, all have interesting events going on, effectively in order for our tourism but you still get high-quality service What pertinent concerns in the but sometimes they struggle to make industry to be able to meet the needs and experience. tourism trade do you hope to ad- them known. of the 21st century’s digitally savvy That is the mindset shift that we dress during your term? One of my biggest challenges then travellers. These travellers expect need to see in Singapore: that high- When I came here, I knew that STB is how do I get travel agents, OTAs everything to be at their fingertips – quality accommodation does not was riding on a high of at least three and DMCs, hotels and technology not just recommendations, but also equal to high personal touch. People years of good tourism growth. Every- companies to collectively work to- the accessibility to book, pay, and are still willing to pay five star-equiv- one was saying that my job would be gether to show visitors there’s so check in and out – with as little hu- alent prices even if you don’t have very easy because we had Crazy Rich much more they can do here to make man interaction as possible. somebody greeting them at every Asians and the Trump-Kim Sum- a longer visit worthwhile. It would We need our attractions to em- step. We have to (consider) how ho- mit. As statistics will tell you, there’s require an industry-wide effort to brace this. It’s not just a fad. They tels can continue always a return to the norm, which get all this rich content out there; (so may even need to change their to deliver high means that we can’t keep growing as) to create the effect that there’s so systems in order to adapt to value with at the levels that we’ve been seeing. much going on (that) visitors wish consumer expectations and half the staff, Of course, we still want growth, but they could spend one more night in use data to plan their resources and I’m realistically I knew there was no way Singapore. more effectively. I think our very happy we could grow at six to eight per cent So we’re trying to create a plat- tourism industry can do a to see that year after year. form to make all these events know- much smarter job this way. some of The question, therefore, is how do able to visitors, hotels, travel agents our ho- we get better quality growth? How do and DMCs alike. Our Tourism Infor- With Singapore’s tourism tels are we attract visitors who are willing to mation Hub reflects this market gap landscape set to undergo a already spend more time in Singapore to un- that we want to close. major transformation, what doing so. derstand and appreciate our richness accompanying changes do more? How do we continue to main- What can trade players do then? you hope this will bring to the tain tourism as a vital contributor to What we need to do is persuade sector here? the Singapore economy, even when DMCs to broaden their offerings and Let’s talk about hotels. Today, we are we feel that international visitor ar- find opportunities to work with new, running at 87 per cent occupancy on rivals would taper off or slow down? emerging and interesting providers. average. This is very high and

10 NEED TO KNOW’S ABOUT KEITH TAN ■ Who in your family? My wife Fiona, my four kids, Carrot in Carrot Cake by Ruth Wan and Roger Hiew four parents (mine and my wife’s), one brother and one lop-eared rabbit! ■ How do you stay healthy? Eat cleanly! I also do three to four high intensity interval training sessions a week, plus ■ What do you do for fun? Coming to STB every day is one to two runs of 4-6 km each. Regular meditation and fun! quiet personal time. Intermittent fasting two to three times ■ Your ideal vacation Anywhere I cannot log into my a week office emails ■ Favourite food? You cannot ask a Singaporean this ■ How do you book your own leisure trips? Mostly question directly on the Internet with the hotel/airline/attraction/tour ■ A bad habit you cannot kick Drumming my finger to guide an imaginary rhythm in my head ■ What are you reading right now? (a) A Book of Lu- ■ Your pet peeve, something that never fails to minous Things: An International Anthology of Poetry, edited annoy you Cash-only payment options by Czeslaw Milosz; (b) Commonwealth by Ann Patchett; (c) Death of a Perm Sec by Wong Souk Yee; and (d) There’s No ■ Most people don’t know that you.... have a tattoo! REPORT: AIRLINES TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 10 Plane sailing experiences

As the global airline industry puts a stronger emphasis on the passenger experience, TTG Asia looks at how major carriers in Asia-Pacific are reinventing their products and services at every step of the air travel journey

ising passenger expecta- ingly important to our customers,” tions and competition are said Cathay Pacific’s general manager driving airlines to inno- for customer experience and design, vate and experiment with Vivian Lo. Rpassenger comfort experience, making the experience of flying a bit less Reimaging economy stressful and more relaxed. To ease passenger discomfort during The airline industry as a whole is longhaul travel, Air New Zealand in now placing a stronger focus on the 2011 introduced the Economy Sky- passenger experience and the indi- couch – a row of three Economy seats vidualisation of services for passen- that convert into a flat, flexible sur- gers, noted Joe Leader, CEO, Airline face that allows customers to stretch Passenger Experience Association at out in Economy cabin Skycouch – to (Travellers) the Passenger Experience Conference appeal to couples or parents travel- are paying in Hamburg earlier this year. ling with kids, said Jenni Martin, Air more atten- Below, a look at how major airlines New Zealand’s head of South and tion to their in Asia-Pacific are pushing the envel- South-east Asia. health and op in air passenger experience. More recently in 2018, the air- well-being Above: Cathay Pacific’s The line further enhanced the Skycouch whenever Sanctuary at The Pier Business they travel, Wellness on the ground product with an infant harness, belt Class lounge; Air New Zealand’s (including Skycouch seat with infant pod Australia’s flagship carrier aims to and pod, making it even more fam- considera- set itself apart by offering comfort to ily-friendly to provide additional tions) such travellers prior to boarding through comfort and protection for infants as their menu Elevated meal options its Qantas First lounges in Sydney and peace of mind for parents, Mar- choices or Culinary partnerships with chefs and Melbourne. tin told TTG Asia. how they have become a popular way for air- “Construction is underway on As air travel becomes common- spend their lines to step up the quality of their our new First Lounge in Singapore place and first class travel dwindles time on dining offerings mid air. and new premium lounges are also in popularity, premium economy be- board. In April, Air France launched operating in London and Perth to comes another way that airlines are – Yeoh Phee a year-long partnership with Ju- Teik, senior complement our non-stop services rolling out differentiated products vice president lien Royer, two-Michelin-star chef between Australia and the UK,” said and services to stand out in a com- customer experi- and co-owner of Odette, the newly Qantas head of customer product petitive market. ence, Singapore crowned champion of Asia’s 50 Best “During our wine consultants’ Airlines and service delivery, Phil Capps. Said Martin: “Air New Zealand Restaurants 2019 awards. visits to the vineyards, we also ac- Unique design elements of the recently began operating the new Under this partnership, which tively sought out smaller maisons lounge include retro-inspired avia- configuration B787-9 Dreamliner on runs until March 31, 2020, La Premi- and domaines to bring them into the tion touches like a huge engine cowl- the Singapore-Auckland route (see ère and business class passengers on SIA family, thus allowing us to ex- ing-inspired light above the entrance review on page 12), which has more Below: Qantas the Singapore-Paris route can enjoy pand the depth and range of our of- escalator, old-style flapper flight Business Premier and Premium First Lounge signature dishes specially created by ferings, and satisfy the rising demand screen boards custom-made and im- Economy seats to serve this grow- at Sydney chef Royer. Each cabin will enjoy six for more exclusive Burgundy labels.” ported from Italy, and large air vents ing demand. This December, we will International dishes rotating every six months. In addition, SIA has signed an modelled from a 1950s’ Lockheed commence a new service between Airport; sake Nicolas Ricard, Singapore country MoU with wellness brand Como constellation lining the roof of the Singapore and Christchurch using offerings from manager for Air France, told TTG Shambhala. Under the initial phase lounge. As well, Qantas’ Perth Inter- the same aircraft.” ANA Asia: “People tend to perceive in- of this partnership, commencing in national Lounge now offers a dedi- flight dining in general as being quite 2H2019, Como Shambhala’s award- cated yoga class. standard or unimpressive, but we winning wellness cuisine will be In Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific has hope this collaboration will turn this served on selected SIA flights. The recently launched The Sanctuary by on its head.” menu will be introduced across all Pure Yoga in The Pier Business Class As part of its Signature Chefs se- classes, while co-developed dishes Lounge in Hong Kong. The 65m2 ries, Air France previously worked will progressively be made available dedicated yoga and meditation space with other Michelin-star French in SIA’s Book the Cook service. is open to oneworld first and business chefs including the late Joël Robu- This comes as travellers “are pay- class passengers, as well as oneworld chon, and is currently working with ing more attention to their health Emerald and Sapphire members. other culinary names such as Ann- and well-being whenever they trav- “Wellness is becoming increas- Sophie Pic, Michel Roth, Régis Mar- el, (including considerations) such con, and Guy Martin to create their as their menu choices or how they own signature dishes. spend their time on board”, said SIA’s Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) pre- senior vice president customer expe- mium class passengers will soon be rience, Yeoh Phee Teik. presented with a more extensive se- Others like All Nippon Airways lection of artisanal wine labels. The (ANA) is keen to immerse passen- airline says it will offer the widest gers in the Japanese drinking culture selection of Burgundy wines in the as the reputation and popularity of skies, with 47 labels planned for rota- sake rice wine has taken off globally tion over a period of 18 months – a in recent years. six-fold increase from 2018. “ANA considers itself to be an un- “By expanding the range of labels official ambassador for Japanese cul- that SIA offers on board, we are able ture, which is part of the reason that to ensure a well-planned rotation we aspire to set the standard for com- of wines to keep the palates of our fort and convenience in air travel,” frequent flyers continually excited. said Yutaka Ito, executive vice presi- Customers can soon look forward to dent with responsibility for cabin a new and exciting label delivered on service and developing new products board every two months,” said SIA’s for passengers. divisional vice president inflight ser- The airline in February updated vices and design, Betty Wong. the sakes that it serves on board air- Brought to you by Hitit Computer Services REPORT: AIRLINES TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 12

craft and in its lounges, calling on the according to Keränen. “As the plane Right: Finnair knowledge of renowned sake som- approaches Helsinki, the cabin is A350 business melier Yasuyuki Kitahara to select filled with blue hues resembling the class cabin with 36 new sakes and to bring the total it Northern Lights.” mood lighting now serves up to 44. Furthermore, Finnair also recently Below, left: Garuda “The selection has been carefully created soundscapes – deemed an Indonesia’s curated to appeal to avid sake lovers essential part of the overall unique VR experience as well as those who may be trying Nordic experience – to create better system sake for the first time,” said Ito. brand awareness of the airline and ANA intends to continue to en- about Finland for Asian passengers. has been introduced on Garuda’s leviating the overall quality of servic- courage passengers to enjoy Japan’s Keränen said: “Hear the Taste is Jakarta-Haneda (Tokyo) route since es in the pilgrimage market which is washoku culture and will revise its our solution to the challenge of serv- March 28. often associated with non-premium inflight menu and drinks list in the ing delicious food, marred by the The Indonesian flag carrier is services. future, Ito added. background noise of the aircraft en- keen to integrate cabin announce- “The market has responded fa- gines which in turn, affects how we ment feature into the VR entertain- vourably to the service. Small agents Branded experience perceive taste. The low background ment system to enable passengers to are able to purchase blocked seats It’s natural that legacy carriers lever- noise decreases sweet and salty fla- be seamlessly connected, Pikri told directly from Amal if they don’t have age their ‘flag carrier’ status to show- vours, whereas bitter and umami fla- TTG Asia. the capacity to charter an entire air- case their national heritage and for vours are enhanced with it.” Futhermore, Garuda is also ex- craft. We are commencing charter passengers to experience a touch of The soundscapes are available on ploring online streaming features on flights to Jeddah and Medina for the local culture on board. the inflight entertainment system the VR facility and plans to be the upcoming Umrah season (Septem- “Sophisticated travellers also ex- and passengers can listen to it while world’s first airline to provide seat ber 2019 to June 2020). pect a touch of Nordic hospitality eating. Keränen said: “It has a bit of massage facilities on board. All these, “Within the next three years, we in the service delivery and onboard meditative impact, and the pleasant, said Pikri, are part of the airline’s ef- hope to get about 60 per cent of the experiences, and this is a key fac- somewhat ambient soundscapes en- forts to offer “more personalised ser- Malaysian market share, 10 per cent tor when deciding on implementing courages one to focus on the meal vices” for its passengers. from Indonesia and 50 per cent of new onboard innovations in Finnair,” and really enjoy the flavours while Others like Philippine Airlines the market share from Southern shared Maarit Keränen, category paying attention to the food, as op- is already offering free high-speed Thailand,” he continued. “Besides head, longhaul flights at Finnair. posed to just eating while watching Wi-Fi for all passengers on longhaul Indonesia and Thailand, our busi- Finnair’s Airbus A350 aircraft an inflight movie.” flights to the US, Canada, the UK ness plan also targets Umrah traffic from Asia to Helsinki features “dy- and Australia operated on Boeing in other countries in the region via namic ambient mood LED lighting” Immersive inflight entertainment 777, Airbus A350 and Airbus A321n- feeder services and/or wet-lease ar- with 24 light settings aligned with To enhance passenger flight experi- eo aircraft. rangements.” different stages of the longhaul flight, ence, Garuda Indonesia is rolling out Amal’s onboard experiences in- inflight entertainment technology Targeted customisation clude the invocation of inflight Talbi- with the launch of an inflight virtual Malaysia Airlines’ Amal service is yah prayers, announcement of prayer reality (VR) experience system in aimed at growing the pilgrimage times, the call to prayer (Azan), a first and business class. Sophisticated travellers business and enriching the experi- brief tazkirah (Islamic sermon), spe- According to commerce director also expect ence of umrah and haj passengers cial meals, as well as amenity kits spe- Pikri Ilham Kurniansyah, Garuda In- a touch from Malaysia and South-east Asia, cifically curated for pilgrims. The indonesia is the first and currently the of Nordic offering both chartered and sched- flight entertainment system includes only airline in Asia-Pacific to have re- hospitality in uled services to Jeddah and Madinah an interactive Quran, Islamic movies ceived safety regulations approval to the service from Kuala Lumpur using Airbus and TV series portraying good values offer such VR experience as inflight delivery and A380 and A330 aircraft. and religious music. entertainment. onboard “We believe we are the first in the Through this VR facility, passen- experience... world to offer dedicated pilgrim- S Puvaneswary, Pamela Chow, Tiara gers can watch a variety of box office – Maarit centric service,” shared Amal CEO Maharani, Rachel AJ Lee, Julian Ryall, Keranen, category films on a wide-angle screen, span- head, longhaul Hazman Hilmi Sallahuddin. “The Prudence Lui, Adelaine Ng and Rosa ning 180-360 degrees. The service flights, Finnair establishment of Amal is aimed at al- Ocampo contributed to this report

Tried & Tested Air New Zealand premium economy

Mimi Hudoyo recently took a line will launch seasonal flights to premier economy seat on Air Christchurch from Singapore with New Zealand’s Boeing 787-9 the newly configured Dreamliner Dreamliner, enjoying a pleasant aircraft in December 2019. and entertaining journey as she flew from Singapore to Auckland WHAT Air New Zealand offers four classes on board the B797-9 Dream- liner. The business premier features WHY Air New Zealand was the fully lie-flat beds, while premium first airline to fly the Boeing 787-9 economy seats are arranged in 2-3-2 Dreamliner aircraft in 2014. In 2017, configuration with a pitch of 41-42 Air New Zealand refreshed the cabin inches and a nine-inch recline. The configuration by adding more seats seat is 19.3 inches in width and five- Premium economy seat to its two top classes in response to inch wide armrest. greater demand for these categories, The economy class has a 3-3-3 particularly among longhaul travel- configuration. The seat is 17.2 inches stretched footrest allowed me to rest seats, flight details, weather at des- lers. The carrier’s Dreamliner planes wide with a pitch varying between 31 my petite feet throughout the flight. tination, cabin crew call button and now boast 27 business premier seats and 33 inches, and a five inch recline. The lower cabin altitude, large personal light button, are located on (up from 18) and 33 premium econ- The aircraft also features the windows and wider aisle also gave the screen. Air New the aircraft a more spacious feel. Air New Zealand’s inflight enter- omy seats (up from 21). Zealand’s Economy Skycouch, which is a row Operating a daily service between Dreamliner of three economy class seats turned I like the fluffy bedroom-sized tainment menu features over 1,700 Singapore and Auckland, the air- taking off into a couch after take-off. These pillow, which supported my head hours of content, including latest seats are located on the left and right nicely when I adjusted the seat to movies, TV box sets, video, games sides of the cabin. its maximum reclining position for and a dedicated kids’ selection. sleeping. During my evening flight to Auck- HOW Flying in premium economy, The personal touch screen in land, I watched Aquaman during the my black leather-upholstered seat widescreen format serves both as an first few hours of the meal service pe- was comfortable, offering ample inflight entertainment device and an riod and used the rest of the flight to space to stow my handbag and lap- assistant. All information, whether sleep. My return flight, however, was top under the seat in front of me. The it’s a tutorial on maximising our a day flight so I could enjoy more REPORT: AIRLINES TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 13

AGENT PICKS Naomi Mano, president and for summoning a stewardess to come to inflight entertainment onboard, especially CEO, Luxurique my seat. The seats are excellent, there on longhaul flights and travellers must be If I’m travelling longhaul I’ll is plenty of leg room and the inflight able to stay connected with loved ones Lucy Jackson, co-founder & try to fly business class entertainment system is very good as on the ground. For this reason, I director, Lightfoot Travel with Emirates. On a long- well. And I like that each seat has what am most impressed by Emirates “When it comes to impressive onboard haul flight, I like to be is effectively its own mini-bar so I can Airlines, which provides limited experience, Air New Zealand comes to able to get up and talk get a drink of water even before the complimentary Wi-Fi and more mind. Their innovative Skycouch is quite around, and that bar aircraft has taken off. than 4,000 channels of movies, clever, comfortable and especially con- area on Emirates is TV shows, music and games, on venient for parents. With some economy ideal for stretching Ally Bhoonee, executive demand and in multiple lan- seats that can be turned into a couch your legs and pick- director, World Avenues guages to suit guests of dif- after takeoff, passengers can stretch ing at some food Malaysia ferent nationalities, interests out. It’s so versatile; it can be used as without feeling guilty There must be a variety of and age groups. seating, a couch or even a play area. The lovely bedding and pillows offer extra comfort to travellers. Korean Air and ANA are also incredible as they provide a great selection of delicious meals on board. Happy tummy means happy travel!”

Stephen White, partner/director of business development, Exclusive Travel Group Without a doubt it has to be Singapore Airlines (SIA) on First Class. The Suite service was always wonderful but the new suite (on the A380 aircraft) is extraordinary. You have a large bedroom with doors that close and the two front suites convert into a large double room. A 34-inch TV swivels electrically so you can see it from every angle. A comfortable arm chair and a full size bed comes out of the wall, with proper size bed linen and pillows. Unlike other airlines, SIA has a separate bed, not a seat that converts Junior Page into a bed, which I 4 column (173mm) x 280mm think is fabulous and much more like a hotel in the sky.

films and some music. The quality head- phone made me feel like watching a movie in the cinema. If I wanted, I could join my neighbour to watch the same film or listen to music simply by touching the Screen Share button. The Seat Chat button allowed me to chat with my fellow passenger on board. A handheld remote is tucked beneath the armrest, while a power point and USB connection are also available to charge my gadgets. The meals on board were fresh, tasty and generous in portion. I ordered dia- betic meals and the catering team was creative in turning the limited variety of ingredients into tantalising meals. Besides the two meals and a snack offered, passengers can also order crackers and cookies anytime during the flight. Wine lovers can also enjoy the wide range of quality New Zealand wine selections from the inflight cellar.

VERDICT A business premier seat would be an ideal choice for a longhaul flight, but Air New Zealand’s premium economy does not pale in comparison, especially when it comes to the perks. Travellers get priority check-ins, free standard seat selection, two pieces of carry-on baggage for up to 7kg each and two pieces of checked baggage for up to 23kg each. Onboard, travellers also get an amenity kit with toi- letries and comfort items inside. DESTINATION: THAILAND TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 14

lored to their personal needs.” “If we do this (offer authentic, tailored expereinces) successfully, then there is an immense feeling of discovery for guests. They are more Destination likely to go home and pass on their stories,” Basset remarked. Overall, the travel industry is becoming much more adept in boosting guest satisfaction, he observed. On the east coast of Thailand, Pattaya is expected to benefit from The missing link the Eastern Economic Corridor and expanded U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya Thailand is putting forth a more compelling high-end proposition, International Airport. Similar to Bangkok, luxury sup- with suppliers stepping up on service and experiential offerings. But is ply is growing alongside a focus on manpower keeping up? By Suchat Sritama elevated services. Kasemsak Bhamornsatit, owner of Trikaya Cultural & Academic Travel Services, said what is important now is to raise professionalisation among service providers, especially when it comes to personalisation. He further cautioned that price wars, common in the destination before its image was spruced up, will inhibit the destination’s success. The boutique travel operator has set its eyes firmly on quality over quantity. In most cases, the company will check in with customers and tai- lor packages based on their interests and preferences. The company hires only certified and experienced guides and they must be able to assist clients and respond to enquiries round the clock. Trikaya Cultural & Academic Travel Services also derives business entirely from overseas travellers, mostly from North America, Sin- gapore, the Philippines and China, Kasemsak said. As new standards emerge when it comes to service and marketing, manpower may be a growing concern in the destination. Chooleng Goh, general manager of the Athenee Hotel Bangkok, said Thailand continues to be a top-of- mind choice for both leisure and business travellers. New hotels may be opening in Bangkok every month, but growing supply has posed “no problem” to demand, Goh said. The major diffi- culty hotels are facing, according to Goh, is talent shortage. “Like many other hotels, we find it hard to (hire and retain) talented people,” she said, adding that new properties tend to poach manpower from more established hotels. Thailand’s constantly expanding luxury travel operators continue to face manpower shortages (pictured: Moon Bar, Banyan Tree Bangkok) Moreover, employing front-office staff such as chamber maids and ith Thailand matur- countries by tourism receipts. attention to guests’ individual prefer- cleaners is no easy task “because ing past its image as Against this backdrop, travel ser- ence through recent service enhance- local people don’t want to work such an inexpensive des- vice providers are finding that price ments. jobs despite them paying more com- tination, hospitality competitiveness alone is not suf- “For instance, Hyatt created a new pared to other jobs”, according to Wplayers are increasingly competing ficient to vie for quality business. Like many luxury travel advisor programme, Goh. on service standards rather than Instead, more are prioritising com- other hotels, Hyatt Privé, designed for invited cli- To retain talents within the group, price, although some continue to be pelling branding, innovation and we find it ents only. These guests get access to relocation options are made avail- encumbered by a talent shortage in enhanced service standards in order hard to (hire personal connections, local recom- able to staff who are willing to trans- the industry. to stand out in the destination’s ever- and retain) mendations and exclusive promo- fer to different Luxury Collection (a Thailand’s maturity as a destina- growing hotel supply. talented tions at Hyatt’s luxury, lifestyle and Marriott brand) properties. Moving people. tion has recently been accompanied Edouard Demptos, general man- resort hotels.” within the group is better than losing – Chooleng Goh, by large-scale efforts to polish its ager of Grand Hyatt Erawan Bang- general manager, Patrick Basset, COO for upper talent altogether, Goh stressed. image, including rebranding Pat- kok, observed that more guests are The Athenee Southeast and Northeast Asia at The Ministry of Tourism and taya from an entertainment town to looking for elevated experiences Hotel Bangkok Accor, said Thailand has built up a Sports reported that 38 million for- a family-friendly destination, repo- rather than discounts. strong heritage in hospitality as well eigners travelled into Thailand in sitioning Hua Hin to a world-class “At the same time, they are seeking as convenient access via strong re- 2018, with the number expected to beach resort, and anchoring Chiang memories and experiences, health gional flight connections. climb to 41 million this year. Mai as a new gateway for FITs from and wellness, as well as dining with a “(Over the years) Thailand has The sector generated direct and China. social responsibility aspect,” he con- transformed to offer an extensive indirect income of up to 19 per cent Previously seen as an affordable tinued. collection of high-end products and of the country’s GDP – representing destination, Thailand last year came In order to capture the higher-end services as luxury travellers seek ex- the largest portion alongside export in fourth in WTTC’s ranking of segment, the hotel is paying special periences that are authentic and tai- and agriculture. FIRST NAME IN FAMILY FUN HOLIDAYS

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ticket, 1,150 baht for 48 hours, Fresh Eyes and 1,350 baht for 72 hours. Chil- dren rates are about half the adult fare. For now, more than 80 per cent of demand is for the 24-hour option. Hop on for new business Months after Charnwit brought the concept to Bangkok, Giants City Tour rose to popularity among for- Hop-on hop-off buses only recently took off in Bangkok. The city’s pioneer discusses his inspiration for eign tourists mainly from the UK, jumping into the business, and addresses perceived challenges with congestion. By Suchat Sritama Italy, Germany, Spain, Australia, the US, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singa- pore and Indonesia. t’s possible for tourists to vist “Overseas hop-on, hop-off do not Giants City Tour currently pen- around 18 major sites within a have much onboard service but we etrates the markets though on- day in attractions-filled Bang- do. We have travel experts on the bus line channels including OTAs. It kok, but existing transport to explain attractions and assist cus- also markets offline through dis- optionsI are still not up to standard. tomers,” he said. tributing collaterals to hotels, This drove Charnwit Kanchanawat With a total investment of 48 mil- coffee shops, restaurants and attrac- to launch Amazing Bus Tour, lion baht (US$1.5 million), the bulk tions. the city’s first operator of a hop-on of which went into importing 10 The company plans to add one hop-off service in Bangkok last year. new and environmentally friendly more route this year focusing on Even though tourists visiting the buses. heritage sites. It will soon launch Thai capital have many options to The company currently uses half an application to reach more young get around, few are ideal. Charnwit the fleet for its first route, depart- tourists and FITs, as well as new said riding tuk tuk can be expensive ing from Siam Paragon to 17 major markets through introducing for- while taking taxi can take hours in attractions including Chinatown, eign languages such as Japanese and the Bangkok traffic. There is also the Chao Phrya River Walk, Giant Chinese. risk of encountering unscrupulous Swing, Bang Lumpoo, Marble Tem- drivers. ple Golden Mount, Silom, Little In- Amazing Bus Tour was launched dia and Khao San. in September 2018, months ahead “Tourists spend less When asked if the city’s traffic of another two rivals, including a money but are able congestion may present difficulties, tuk tuk hop-on hop-off. Before this, Charnwit said the road conditions Charnwit had been in the business to visit up to 18 in Bangkok’s old town is not as bad TTG Travel Trade Publishing of exporting hydroponic vegetables attractions within compared to other areas. is proud to be the travel trade for about 15 years. The main proposition is greater media partner of the ASEAN “Inspired by my personal experi- one day. This is only convenience and better accessibility Tourism Competitive Committee, encing while studying in the UK and made possible by a for the self-travelling, he said. working together to support travels abroad, I (thought to myself city tour bus.” “Tourists spend less money but the ASEAN Tourism Marketing that) Bangkok should have a good are able to visit up to 18 attractions Strategy and promote ASEAN one-stop service for city tours, where Charnwit Kanchanawat within one day. This is only made destinations for tourism and customers can easily visit more at- Founder, possible by a city tour bus.” business events tractions.” Amazing Bus Tour It costs 850 baht for a 24-hour

Tried & Tested Royal Cliff Beach Hotel

A recent facelift has given this ROOMS Stepping into my Ocean De- decades-old hotel a stronger luxe Room, I was blown away by the contemporary vibe, refreshed stunning views of the Gulf of Thai- rooms and updated amenities, land. The horizon was formed by ensuring this Pattaya icon stays a an azure sky meeting the turquoise landmark icon for years to come, sea, punctuated with speedboats and finds Xinyi Liang-Pholsena their white water trails; while a trio of crystal blue pools sparkled in the foreground. LOCATION Royal Cliff commands As part of the resort transforma- one of Pattaya’s most enviable ad- tion led by renowned Thai architect dresses from its Phra Tamnak Hill Duangrit Bunnag, Ocean Deluxe location, about three kilometres rooms – together with the Mini from the city centre where the walk- Suites – were transformed with new ed Funtasea kids club and variety Chamu for Japanese, Maharani for ing street, bars and shopping malls bathroom features installed. The of pools promise hours of fun for Indian, Huang Chao for Cantonese, are found, thus offering a tranquil ensuing result is an expansive 36m2 families. As well, the infinity pool as and Rossini for Italian flavours. beachfront stay with easy access to interior featuring a pleasing white- well as private beaches are definitely Overlooking the pools and sea, all- the city’s key landmarks. and-lightwood palette accented with popular in-resort lounging spots, es- day-dining Panorama is where inter- From Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Thai decorative touches. pecially during sunsets. national buffet breakfasts are served. Airport, it’s about a 75-minute drive I stayed at the 474-key Royal Cliff Other recreation facilities include In the lobby, which has also under- to the resort. Beach Hotel, which together with seven tennis courts, the Nah Pah going a redesign, stands a new lobby the 88-key Royal Cliff Beach Ter- Thai Cooking School, a cigar lounge bar and bakery. race, 373-key Royal Cliff Grand Ho- and luxury spas, among others. tel and 85-key Royal Wing Suites & Already a dominant player in Pat- SERVICE Service was pleasant and Spa, make up the Royal Cliffs Hotel taya’s MICE space with its PEACH efficient – and delivered with smiles. Group. convention centre on-site, Royal Cliff is now pushing into the lifestyle and VERDICT A grand dame that has FACILITIES A destination unto itself, sporting segments with the creation stood the test of time, its recent the sprawling 26ha beachfront estate of its own events – e.g. a one-night makeover has given it greater shine is home to myriad amenities. Archi- show by UK comedian Bill Bailey – as a sanctuary for relaxation. tect Bunnag once again oversaw the making it an even more attractive construction and design of the prop- destination for families and leisure erty’s new features. groups alike. No. of rooms 474 Fitness and sports fans should Rates From 4,000 baht (US$126) for head to the Fitz Club – Racquets, F&B The vast hotel complex boasts rooms with ABF Health & Fitness, which was trans- 11 restaurants and six bars, offering Contact details formed to sport an Amazon vibe in options from Asian to European fu- Tel: (62-38) 250 421 addition to fun slides. The upgrad- sion. Notable dining outlets include Email: [email protected] CMY CY MY CM K Y M C

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Premier Style onPristine Shores in Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s Quoc, Phu in “Pearl Island” TTG_June _FF_BWP PhuQuoc For more information: bestwesternasia.com 260 mm DESTINATION: THAILAND TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 18

ecent relaxation of laws govern- General manager Panida Tosnaitada ing conversion properties has said: “Our family never ran a hotel before, prompted a spate of small hotel but we are confident (of achieving suc- openings in Thailand, among cess) if we can serve and understand cli- Rwhich are residences and heritage build- ent’s needs.” ings. Changes in consumer preferences is The concept of boutique hotel ap- also boding well for business. Panida ob- peared in Thailand for the first time 30 servered that more tourists are choosing years ago, when Thais returning from not to stay in big hotels, instead preferring their education overseas began turning to experience more authentic local hospi- their own properties into tourist accom- tality and culture. modation. Staporn Sirisinha, founder of Serene It is estimated that hundreds of new Bangkok Bed and Breakfast, agreed. operators are have in recent years entered “There are so many big hotels in the mar- the market, with many more scheduled to ket, but not all meet the taste of tourists. open their doors in 2020. Today’s travellers are seeking experiences, Major factors driving the growth in- (not just in their tour itineraries), but clude the relaxation of a hotel law that will also when it comes to accommodation,” allow old building owners to repurpose Staporn said. their properties into tourist accommoda- His four-room hotel also offers spa tion and more easily obtain the necessary treatment. He sees half of business com- Baan Noppawong Hotel licences. ing from domestic guests and the other Despite many Thai destinations already half from international travellers. grappling with an oversupply, new bou- Kantasom Noppawong Na Ayudhaya, tique players believe they can survive in started operating a hotel within an 80- Hotels the market with their relevant, innovative year colonial-style house in Bangkok’s old and differentiated offers. town six years ago. He is the third genera- Montara Hospitality Group – which tion occupant of the home, but the first to operates a luxury hotel in Phuket named run a hotel business. Trisra, Phraya Palazzo riverside boutique At Baan Noppawong Hotel in old hotel in Bangkok and a museum in Lam- Bangkok, whose room rates vary between Local sojourns pang province – this year transformed an 2,000 and 2,500 baht, some 80 per cent of old movie theatre in Bangkok’s Bangrak guests hail from the US and Europe. More are converting heritage or family properties into hotels, district into Prince Theatre Heritage Stay. In Bangkok’s Huaykwang district, an- CEO Kittisak Pattamasaevi shared other creative hotel named Me Style Ga- drawn to new opportunities at a time when travellers are that the hotel offers a sense of heritage rage launched in 2018. All 75 rooms are and place in a neighbourhood that once decorated with car parts and accessories seeking a taste of local hospitality. By Suchat Sritama formed part of a commercial district in while classic cars, engines and motorbikes the Bangkok old town. are displayed in public areas. Down the line, the group intends to tap Beyond Bangkok, small hotels and into its expertise to focus more on F&B poshtels have also gained popularity in and intimate private events. other tourist cities. An example is Nhapha Another example of a repurposed hotel Khao Yai Resort in Nakhon Ratchasima is Bangkok Publishing Residence, a mu- province. seum-slash-hotel which opened its doors Managing director of the resort devel- two years ago in a shophouse that used to oper, Kawit Koudomvit, said all 10 villas house the publisher behind the long-gone are built on an old mining cliff. Each unit Bangkok Magazine. is priced over 8,000 baht including meals With only eight rooms, priced between – higher than most room rates in Bang- 5,800 (US$181) and 7,800 baht, the hotel kok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Hua Hin. sees good demand despite not accepting The domestic market makes up 70 per walk-in guests. Guests mostly hail from cent of business, with the remaining guests the US, Europe, China and Taiwan. hailing from Singapore and Malaysia.

NEW HOTELS

Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Re- sort Bangkok Mövenpick’s third outpost in Bangkok has soft-opened on June 1, leveraging Quarter Page its connection with owner Bangkok Dusit Medical Services (BDMS), Thai- 114mm x 180mm [H] land’s largest private hospital group which runs the BDMS Wellness Clinic next door, to offer a holistic suite of 4 column wellness amenities an programmes. The urban retreat in Bangkok’s Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Ploenchit area features 293 gues- Bangkok trooms outfitted with wellness amenities like mood lighting, yoga mats and launched, featuring 556 units in a bouncing balls, of which 15 suites 33-storey building. Each room is feature Mövenpick’s “first in Asia” equipped with international hotel- YouBed, a Swiss invention that allows standard fittings, a living area, pantry adjustment of softness and hardness. with microwave, and private balcony. The hotel also features a 180-seater Hotel Nikko Bangkok restaurant and a 286m2 room for Nikko Hotels International, the Japa- meetings and events. nese luxury hotel group, has expanded its footprint to Bangkok. Hotel Nikko Shama Lakeview Asoke Bangkok, owned by Grand Tower Inn Revitalisation work at Shama Lakeview Group, is located in Thonglor, Sukhum- Asoke, under Thailand’s Onyx Hospital- vit, and features 301 guestrooms and ity Group, was recently completed, suites, including 10 extended stay a year after the property’s rebrand. rooms complete with kitchenette. Conceptualised by Bangkok-based ASC Interior, the redesign of the 429-unit Centre Point Pattaya serviced residence was inspired by the Centre Point Hotel Pattaya has nearby Benjakitti Park. awaken

Packages start from THB 6,630++

Perfect tranquillity in the heart of Bangkok.

Discover a world of wellness and well-being. Book a blissful Bangkok break in one of our suites and take advantage of full club lounge access and our 24-hour check-in policy. You’ll also enjoy THB 2,500 dining credit, daily access to our healthy-life buffet and a one-day BTS Skytrain pass.

To make a reservation or enquiry, please call +66 26 663 333 or email [email protected] movenpick.com

190503_Awenken_380mm(W)x260mm(H).indd 1 3/5/19 17:46 DESTINATION: INDONESIA TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 20

BIGGER INDONESIA READ

Destination An ever-changing island From north to south, Bali is seeing a flurry of new developments and plans, all with the aim of uncovering new markets and opportunities for the popular island destination, writes Mimi Hudoyo

espite being an estab- ing 943 rooms in three- to five-star laid-back character has been its asset Above: State- hotel brands coming into Bali such as lished destination on categories, 73 premium villas and in attracting senior travellers from owned ITDC is W, Aloft and Moxi, (they are differ- the regional travel map, one presidential villa. Europe and long-staying visitors, currently draw- ent from the earlier types of hotels); private investors as well Hotel Karya Indonesia, a joint Iswandi said the new development ing ip a new even established hotel brands like Das state-owned enterprises alike con- venture between HIN and four state- is critical for the destination to ac- masterplan for Four Seasons and St Regis are repo- tinue to see tourism opportunities owned companies – Hutama Karya, commodate and tap onto other mar- Nusa Dua sitioning themselves to attract a new on the Island of the Gods, rolling out Pembangunan Perumahan, Waskita ket segments, particularly business generation of travellers. a flurry of new infrastructure and at- Karya and Wijaya Karya – is the de- events and leisure travellers. “Travellers are looking for some- tractions. veloper of the project. In the meantime, state-owned In- thing different. A lot of the guests in A major project underway in Sa- The redevelopment of the Grand donesia Tourism Development Cor- Nusa Dua may stay in the area from nur is the overhaul of the 58-year-old Inna Bali Beach, whose last renova- poration (ITDC) is in the process morning until lunch time, and then Grand Inna Bali Beach, as owning tion dated back to 1993, would en- of drawing up a new masterplan for With the re- they would head out and seek out company Hotel Indonesia Natour able the historic property to better Nusa Dua, a 350ha integrated tour- masterplan- entertainment like the Rock Bar, and (HIN) has unveiled plans to remake keep up with the competition, ac- ism estate on Bali. With the refined ning, ITDC Omnia or other trendy, bohemian- Bali’s first five-star hotel into an inte- cording to Iswandi Said, president masterplan, the resort is expected to intends to re- type attractions. We want to offer grated resort. director of HIN. attract not only MICE businesses but vitalise Nusa something of similar feel and quality To be renamed Hotel Indonesia Recognising the estate’s valuable also the leisure market. Dua and offer but still maintaining our high-end Bali, the 43ha estate will comprise the asset, location and potential, Indo- Ricky Baheramsjah, head of in- something luxury position,” he said. existing 525-room hotel and garden nesian president Joko Widodo has vestment and marketing division unique and While MICE will remain a key villas – which will be renovated and instructed the revitalisation of the at ITDC, said: “With the re-master- differentiated market for Nusa Dua as the area is from other expanded – a new mid-scale hotel hotel, and minister of state enterpris- planning, ITDC intends to revital- destinations home to two major convention cen- opening next year with 166 keys, a es Rini Soemarno came up with the ise Nusa Dua and offer something in Bali. tres, Ricky said focus will now be convention centre with a capacity of idea of turning it into a small-scaled unique and differentiated from other – Ricky given to the leisure market too. 10,000 guests, a lifestyle art market, integrated resort. destinations in Bali.” Baheramsjah, “For the hotels, leisure is part of an eco-park and a pier. Iswandi remarked: “Hotel Indo- The new masterplan will enable head of in- their business too. In order for us to vestment and The whole project is targeted to nesia Bali will not only provide a new Nusa Dua to keep up with chang- marketing divi- be competitive in the leisure market, finalise in five years with a total in- convention destination in Sanur, it ing customer preferences, explained sion, Indonesia we need to provide a more interest- vestment of Rp2.8 trillion (US$197.2 will become a new icon for Bali with Ricky. “Nusa Dua’s (existing) mas- Tourism ing and entertaining proposition, Development million). When ready, the resort will all its facilities.” terplan is 30 years old already. Corporation (offering more fun activities) in Nusa boast a total of 1,017 keys, compris- While acknowledging that Sanur’s “When you look at the type of new (ITDC) Dua.” DESTINATION: INDONESIA TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 21

WHAT’S HOT Tours & Activities Window into local culture and sights

Motorbike riding in West Java (clutch/scooter) motorbikes provided. From left: Tour articipants are then taken to Island, visitors will experience Exotic Java Trails’ five-day tour www.exoticjavatrails.com riding on two Hok Tek Ci Sen temple in Tanah the traditional ways of planting starts with a city tour of Bandung, wheels across Abang market for a look at the and picking vegetables, weaving followed by Kawah Putih (White Tanah Abang Journey West Java; evolving Chinese community that and painting caping (a traditional Crater) in Ciwidey before heading to Jakarta Good Guide’s day-long trip planting vegeta- formed the Tanah Abang to be- cone-shaped hat made of woven the Ramayana beach at sunset. The is a walk into history, as participants bles in Belitung come a trading center in Batavia. bamboo). following day, the ride up the moun- learn about the Dutch colonial vision The tour ends with a visit to Arab The itinerary also includes an ac- tain passes through tea plantations to develop a new trade centre outside Village, which has been the base tivity of Ngeremis, the local Belitung and waterfalls, rice terraces and the the Benedenstad (Old Batavia/Old Ja- camp of the Mataram army before activity of picking mussels along the Cileunca Lake. The third day begins karta) area as well as the struggle of invading the Dutch. http://jakarta- shore and fishing of ikan beluko (a early with a ride up Cukul Sunrise the Mataram kingdom when it tried to goodguide.com type of local fish). Point, followed by a visit to Malabar attack the Dutch colonial government. To know more about the local Tea factory for tea and lunch, and The tour starts in Textil Museum, Belitung highlights culture in Belitung, visit a Belitung a taste of the famous Luwak coffee and moves on to Tanah Abang market Complete a trip in Belitung with a traditional house where participants before heading back to Bandung. to visit a wholesale centre that was visit to Eggplant Creative Tourism will learn about makan bedulang, The guided tour is available for built with the permission of governor Village in Terong Village. Located a traditional way of eating. www. eight to 20 people, with 250CC general Abraham Patramin in 1735. on the northern coast of Belitung BelitungIsland.com

While the new masterplan for Nusa expected to stimulate the arrival of more Dua may not be ready until the year-end, infrastructure and facilities, which is still some “revitalising” programmes have lacking in north Bali. been introduced. Amid its push for better infrastructure The peninsula area, for example, has and modern facilities for the destination, been landscaped in such a way to be able the Bali regional government, on the other to host large-scale events. hand, is also working to cultivate the is- Recent launches that will appeal to in- land’s core strengths in tradition, culture vestors include the launch of the Manarai and attractions. Beach House, a beach club run by the Is- As part of the government’s aim to maya Group, pointed out Ricky. disperse tourist footfalls away from the is- “With the investors, we are also looking land’s packed south, the Bali Government at revitalising the Bali Collections (shop- Tourism Office, together with academics ping, dining and entertainment centre), to and experts in the field, has selected lo- make it more attractive to the new mar- cal events and attractions across different ket,” he added. destinations for promotion. Meanwhile, ITDC is already in the early Dewa Ayu Laksmiadi Janapriati (Laks- stages of developing north Bali as a cruise mi), head of marketing, Bali Government tourism destination, with plans to develop Tourism Office said: “We are identifying a resort similar to Nusa Dua with about local attractions and festivals in Bali, par- 10 to 12 hotels, F&B and entertainment ticularly in areas less popular to travellers.” Quarter Page facilities, a marina or a proper cruise ter- She shared a few examples, among minal. The resort will stand on a 100ha which is Jembrana in west Bali, an area 114mm x 180mm [H] piece of privately owned land, expandable known for its cattle breeders and a tradi- to 250ha, near Menjangan National Park. tional bull race festival. To attract visitors 4 column Ricky explained: “The lack of sea ports and stimulate the locals to develop tour- in Indonesia means that any cruise ships ism, a Governor’s Cup is planned for Jem- going from Singapore or Thailand to brana this year. Australia and South Pacific bypasses In- To showcase the community-based donesia almost completely, which is a ecotourism that Pemuteran, West Bali is loss of opportunity. If we provide stopo- known for, the Pemuteran Bay Festival vers across Indonesia, these will provide was held last year featuring activities like a great opportunity to capture the cruise underwater art parade, underwater expo market.” and biorock reef conservation. However, accessibility is currently In the meantime, the assimilation of the North Bali’s greatest development chal- Balinese and Chinese cultures is shown in lenge, as the airport lies on the island’s the Balingkang Kintamani Festival, a cul- south, from where it takes about three tural parade depicting the romantic leg- hours to drive to the Menjangan area. end between King Jaya Pangus with Kang ITDC hence considers north Bali more Cing We of China. accessible by cruise ships. And with con- “We collect local (traditions and at- temporary cruise ships offering many tractions) from each regency in Bali, man-made entertainment on board, the categorise them into local, national and beaches, nature and national park in the international events, and promote them north will make attractive drawcards for accordingly,” said Dewa Ayu, citing the cruise passengers, Ricky aded. promotion of Balingkang Kintamani Fes- Furthermore, the area’s development is tival to the China market as an example. DESTINATION: INDONESIA TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 22 Tiara Maharani nection, inbound agents fear that the positive momentum Belitung is starting to see Destination for the international market in the past six months will be lost. “The number is not in hundreds, but every week there are (overseas) groups that come (to Belitung),” said Yudianto Evan Setiawan, director of Billitonesia Natural playground Tour. “A few groups were planning to visit Belitung in June-July, but this (service) closure inevitably made them cancel their Now that Belitung has become a hot domestic destination, the next step is for trip and we lost the business.” the destination to step up its pursuit of the international market. Does Belitung Without a direct link, Singapore and overseas clients are now “thinking twice” have what it takes to attract more foreign visitors to its shores? about selling Belitung, as domestic flights Tiara Maharani finds out via Jakarta are more expensive and time consuming, he added. “At this moment, the dream to make Belitung an international destination is broken,” Yudianto said. “Now we’re rely- ing on AirAsia, said to launch flights from Kuala Lumpur in August. Hopefully the regional government will truly realise the cooperation with AirAsia.” Airport capacity is another key challenge, Isyak pointed out, as the annual number of passengers has reached A popular domestic destination in recent years, 800,000, outstripping H.A.S. Hanand- Belitung now wants to woo international visitors joeddin International Airport’s capacity of 250,000 passengers. State-owned Angkasa Pura II has taken aving emerged as a hot do- ted to growing tourism in Belitung, with Arief Yahya, minister of tourism, said: over the management of HAS Hanand- mestic travel destination in Tanjung Kelayang earmarked as a prior- “We will build Tanjung Kelayang as an joeddin Airport to unveil a 400 billion recent years, Belitung – an is- ity destination. There, the Ministry of integrated resort destination, which will rupiah (US$28.4 million) development land east of Sumatra – is now Tourism has unveiled grand ambitions to be home to high-end hotels and resorts, plan beginning next year, which will see Hset on transforming itself to make its mark create a new Nusa-Dua-like complex in a a retail village as well as international res- the addition of a new terminal that will in the international travel community. 324ha area, which will also embody the taurants, conference centre and other at- accommodate three million passengers, The central government has commit- concept of sustainable tourism. tractions.” an apron and a taxi way. As well, Arief believes that Tanjung As well, Isyak is planning to form the Kelayang, situated along a pristine beach- Belitung Tourism Board to market the front, is well placed to capture the grow- destination, as more new attractions and ing “bleisure” market, benefiting from its travel products come online. unique mix of corporate and leisure facili- Karmila Santy, chairman of Association ties and strategic location. of the Indonesian Tours an Travel Agen- The Tanjung Kelayang area will be built cies (ASITA) Belitung Chapter, sees strong gradually, with the first phase expected to potential in the destination’s natural as- be completed in five years. By end-2019, sets, with Tanjung Kelayang Beach, Batu the destination will see the launch of the Berlayar, Kelayang Beach, Lebong Island 180-room Sheraton hotel, which will be and Lengkuas Island among the key at- followed by Sofitel and MGallery proper- tractions. ties next year. Karmila said: “Belitung has 200 islands, Arief commented: “The recent devel- and most of them have not been explored, opment of Tanjung Kelayang has further so the tourism potential is still large.” raised Belitung’s attraction as a fresh des- While Belitung is not lacking in attrac- tination, which can be seen from the (in- tions, Herry Sulistya, director of sales of creasing) number of visits to Belitung.” Fairfield by Marriott Belitung, opined that Belitung received a total of 380,941 tour operators are still offering standard arrivals in 2017, comprising 371,338 do- island-hopping packages with some pho- mestic visitors and 9,603 foreign visitors. to taking and snorkelling opportunities This was an increase over 292,885 visi- thrown in. “These kind of itineraries are tors in 2016 arrived, made up of 285,773 only suitable for first timers with staying Quarter Page domestic and 7,112 foreign visitors, he less than three days,” he said. shared. Agents should exercise greater creativ- 114mm x 180mm [H] Belitung’s tourism growth has had a ity in designing packages to attract repeat positive ripple effect on the hotel industry. travellers, opined Yudianto. 4 column According to the Central Bureau of Statis- “Besides beaches and islands, they must tics, there were 1,940 star hotel rooms in think creatively to sell new attractions, 2018 – up from 1,781 rooms in 2017. such as combining nature and culture, so The geographic proximity to Jakarta – that packages are more varied and travel- an hour’s flight away – has also facilitated lers are also not bored.” Belitung’s growth as a tourist destination, Yudianto suggested that activities such attracting hospitality brands like Golden as kayaking, diving and visiting turtle Tulip, Fairfield by Marriott, Santika Pre- breeding spots can be combined with miere, and the latest, Swissbel Hotel. village tours for tourists to immerse and To grow air connectivity, the regional learn about the local culture, hence en- government has approached a number of hancing the overall Belitung experience. airlines to mount flights to the destina- Already, Fhia LF, director of Belitung tion, including AirAsia as well as carriers Archipelago, is developing an adventure flying to Thailand, Isyak Meirobie, deputy tour package that combines visits to a ge- regent of Belitung, told TTG Asia. “China opark, local coffee plantations, waterfalls is one of them. At this point, we are still in and a tarsius conservation area. talks,” he said. “The government efforts to register the However, at press time, Garuda Indo- Belitung geopark (for UNESCO consid- nesia has just announced the axing of the eration) received good response from ad- the four-times-weekly Singapore-Belitung venture tourists,” said Yudianto. “We also service, which had only began operations see a lot of scientists who are interested in October 2018. in coming to research the nature of Beli- With the closure of this Singapore con- tung.” DESTINATION: INDONESIA TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 23

platform for hospitality recruiters to give an assessment, whether the hotel Fresh Eyes hire ready and educated staff to com- gives a reasonable fee, treats workers plete daily jobs. well, among others. This is to ensure Through the platform, hoteliers can the welfare of our members.” access a ready pool of qualified work- Both hotel or workers can submit ers, who have been interviewed, fil- complaints, which will be followed Hospitality gigs tered and tested for their abilities. For up by an Hore! staff to mediate and young people, Hore! offers a flexible seek a solution for both parties. way to earn money and build up their Workers who have received com- A platform seeks to be the Go-Jek of Indonesia’s hospitality sector, experiences while providing flexibility plaints will be temporarily suspended matching hotel jobs with workers seeking them, writes Tiara Maharani in work hours. and sent to a training or workshop, Wing elaborated: “Hore! Indonesia Wing told TTG Asia. is similar to Grab and Go-Jek. Hotels To date, 1,350 workers have joined aving spent more than 15 select the workers, who will then re- Hore! Indonesia as members. The years working in the hos- spond whether he or she can or can- platform has also established coop- pitality industry, Wing Hore! Indonesia is similar not do the work.” eration with 40 hotels, 10 restaurants, Prakoso, co-founder at to Grab and Go-Jek. Hotels To become members, interested two event spaces, and one catering HHore! Indonesia, only knows the staff- hotels and workers just have to sign up service in Surabaya, while in Jakarta it ing issues in the sector too well. select the workers, who will on the website. How then does Hore! has partnered with seven hotels, one He said: “It is difficult to get com- then respond whether he or ensure that its pool of workers are event space and one catering service. petent daily workers, especially when she can or cannot do the competent and ready for hire? Going forward, Wing hopes to hotels have events or are fully booked. Wing explained: “Every worker attract more young people to join The problem is not because no one work. who registers as a member of Hore! the platform and increase the work- can be employed, but because mil- must go through several stages before ers’ hourly wages, which are cur- lennial workers lack motivation and Wing Prakoso being allowed to find work. First, they rently paid at an average of 120,000 commitment to work, and also have Co-founder, must fill in the profile data and be in- (US$8.40) to 150,000 rupiah. attitude problems.” Hore! Indonesia terviewed by our team, who then gives Next on the start-up’s agenda is On the other hand, he is also con- a review and rating. After that, we will expanding into other cities, such as cerned about the growing number provide training (to them) based on Yogyakarta, Bandung and Bali. of vocational school and university reviews and ratings.” “We hope to work more with big graduates who remain unemployed Hotels or parties can also rate the (hotel or restaurant) brands. We also as hotels cut back on manpower amid services of the workers. The higher the intend to collaborate with tourism current economic situation. rating, the higher the renumeration institutes and vocational schools. Keen to address this challenge of rate for a worker. The rating also de- “We aim to be the platform that supply and demand, Wing and two termines the quality and performance will empower young generations for a friends in January 2018 launched of the worker. greater good and to contribute to In- Hore! Indonesia (which stands for He added: “The rating also applies donesia’s hospitality industry,” Wing Hire On Ready & Educated) as an to hotels. Workers have the right to concluded.

Half Page (Horizonal) 5column (236mm) x 180mm DESTINATION: INDONESIA TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 24

nesia Hotels and Resorts, said: “The Hotels airfare hikes have particularly affected our properties outside Java, such as in Makassar, Bangka and Be- litung. “Business travellers (from Jakarta) used to travel twice to three times a month now they travel once a Connection gains month. Some even make a visit once every two months,” she added. The high domestic airfares pose a particular challenge for Lombok, where domestic travel still remains offset slowdown stymied following last year’s natural disaster, noted Made Pudjayanti, Amid a domestic travel slump, Indonesian hotels are finding cheer in more group director of marketing and communications at Jayakarta Hotels international air services linking up the country to new markets. By Mimi Hudoyo & Resorts. “Luckily for our hotel on the island, we are strong with the govern- hile high airfares ment meetings,” she remarked. continue to hinder But Indonesian hoteliers are find- domestic tourism, ing positive momentum in the new the Indonesian hotel air connections coming into the industryW is generally upbeat about country, especially Bali. business prospects this year, find- Aeroflot and Rossiya Airlines have ing bright spots in the crop of new earlier launched their joint services air connections which are expected between Moscow and Bali. Virgin to open up new markets to the des- Australia has commenced its sea- tination. sonal Darwin-Bali service on April Indonesia’s domestic market has 10, and VietJet started its five-weekly been a traditional stronghold for the flights from Ho Chi Minh City to the hospitality sector, although surging island on May 29. Coming up, Turk- domestic ticket prices this year have ish Airlines will commence its Istan- affected the travelling patterns and bul-Bali service in July. demands on the homefront. A deluxe room Bali, Lenny Willyana, director of Sudarsana, general manager busi- in Jambuluwuk sales and marketing at Discovery ness development of Santika Indo- Thamrin, Jakarta Kartika Plaza Hotel in Bali, hopes

Half Page (Horizonal) 5column (236mm) x 180mm DESTINATION: INDONESIA TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 25

NEW HOTELS

Swiss-Belresort Tanjung is a “glamping” accommodation Binga concept with seven tents/villas. Nestled 150m from the Tanjung The property has been designed Binga Beach in Belitung, the and built with natural materials such four-star Swiss-Belresort Tanjung as nipa palms, coconut leaves and Binga has a total of 77 rooms, dolken logs. Some furnishings have many of which have their own bal- been handcrafted from waste timber, cony with beach views. Amenities with driftwood also used for part of include three restaurants, as well the artistic decorations. as swimming pool, a spa, 24-hour Facilities include beachfront res- fitness centre and a jogging track. taurants, outdoor function spaces, The property also has three and watersports activities such as function spaces, including the banana boat and snorkelling. The airfare hikes have Kelayang Ballroom which can particularly affected our accommodate up to 200 guests. Artotel Wahid Hasyim Swiss-Belresort Facilities include Meet- properties outside Java, such The hotel is a 45-minute drive The Indonesia-based Artotel Group Tanjung Binga Space, an event space for up as in Makassar, Bangka and from H.A.S. Hanandjoeddin Inter- has opened the Artotel Wahid to 50 people; Artspace, an Belitung. national Airport. Hasyim – Jakarta, its second prop- art gallery for the local artist – Sudarsana, general manager business erty in the capital city. The hotel community and a mandatory development, Santika Indonesia Hotels Eco Beach Tent has 122 rooms starting from 20m2, fixture at Artotel properties; and Resorts Located on Tanjung Kelayang all of which were decorated by five and the 24-hour Bang Bang Beach, Belitung, Eco Beach Tent emerging local artists. Restaurant & Bar. that the crop of new direct international connections will encourage longhaul customers to stay longer in the destination. “Travellers will have more days and choices to explore more parts of the island.” Mella Purwanaika, vice president marketing of Jambuluwuk Hotels & Resorts, is “excited” about AirAsia’s Perth-Lombok service commencing on June 9. “We are hoping this would give good impact to Jambuluwuk Gili Trawangan (during the summer peak season), as the island is recover- ing (from natural disaster last year),” she noted. Traffic from the UK market is starting to pick up for Jambuluwuk, while in Bali the hotel group is working with inbound operators special- ising in the Indochina market to capture new markets, Mella shared. Meanwhile, having identified In- dia as a new source market, Jambu- luwuk Hotels & Resorts is now expanding into India. Mella explained: “Apart from China, the Indian market to Bali has been growing (in the last couple of years), so we started participating at SATTE since last year.” Santika Indonesia Hotels and Re- sorts, on the other hand, is looking to Eastern Europe as part of its market diversification strategy. Among its new openings this year, the Kayana Lombok – an upmarket villa resort under Santika’s Royal Collection brand – will launch in July to coincide with the European summer high season, Cita Dewantoro, general manager corporate sales and marketing told TTG Asia. “This is a resort targeted for the European market. Samaya Ubud and Anvaya Seminyak, which are also part of the Royal Collection brands in Bali, are popular with this market,” said Cita. Seeing the healthy growth of the Middle Eastern market, Jayakarta Hotels & Resorts is tapping the Ira- nian market, particularly for its Bali property as well as The Jayakarta Inn & Villas Cisarua, Mountain Resort & Spa near Bogor – the latter is a popular destination with the Middle East market – according to Made. She also sees opportunities for properties in Lombok and Labuan Bajo (Komodo) with the European and Australian markets, thanks to the improved accessibility in West and East Nusa Tenggara. DESTINATION: INDONESIA TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 26

Tried & Tested InterContinental Jakarta Pondok Indah

InterContinental Jakarta Pondok ROOMS My Club InterContinen- Indah recently opened its doors tal room on the 23rd floor offered a in south Jakarta, marking the clear view of the surrounding area return of the brand into the through the full-length windows. capital. Mimi Hudoyo checks into The colour scheme and the elegant 2 the high-end hotel interiors combine to make the 47m room feel even more spacious than it already is. The room is equipped with a large LOCATION The hotel is located in screen IP TV and mobile platform Pondok Indah, south Jakarta, where access to a range of personal experi- upmarket residences, international ences, such as the sound bar. schools, reputable hospitals and en- The bathroom is not only large tertainment facilities call home. but also has features expected of a South Jakarta has increasingly be- luxury property, such as separate coming a popular location for com- bathtub, shower and toilet. the chefs are not shy about playing FACILITIES The most outstanding panies to open their businesses, but things up with the variety of sambal facility is the meeting and banquet only a few upmarket hotels are cur- F&B The all-day dining Sugar & chilli sauces. (A word of caution: the facilities. Not only does the hotel rently operating in the area. Spice is located on the Level 1, serv- chilli is really hot.) have a huge ballroom with an 11m- The hotel itself is strategically in- ing buffet breakfast, lunch and din- The Indian food is sumptuous high ceiling that can host up to 3,500 tegrated within a high-end commer- ner with cuisines from across the five and the papadam is so light and people and multiple breakouts, it cial complex where the well-known continents. A teppanyaki ‘speakeasy’ crunchy, not to mention the creamy also has a dedicated wedding lounge, Pondok Indah Mall, an office tower, a bar will come soon be added. home-cured salmon. and wedding gallery displaying water park and a 18-hole golf course The Indonesian selection offered I had a taste of the chef’s new wedding elements as well as bridal are inter-connected. authentic tastes and for spice lovers, menu item of the BLT soup (bakso changing rooms. A Chef Table, meatball, lidah ox tongue, tunjang a dedicated food-tasting room is tendon), which was still in its test available for planners of big events, kitchen. The soup was surprising- with direct access to the banquet ly light and fragrant, while the ox kitchen. tongue was tender and the tendon Other facilities include the Inaria melted in my mouth. This dish, in Spa with Jacuzzi, steam and sauna, my opinion, should be included in fitness centre and swimming pool. the menu. The Planet Trekkers, the signature I checked on the breakfast spread children’s facilities include swim- at the restaurant and found such a ming pool and playground on Level tempting selection that I chose to 8, and an indoor play area near Sugar dine at the Executive Lounge, just and Spice. so that I could rein in my appetite by tucking into the fresh and healthy SERVICE The hotel soft-opened last options – and equally delicious food. December but it has been keeping The Lounge at the lobby level is a a low profile in the past months to great spot to connect with friends or overcome any glitches a new ho- business partners. Trolleys feature a tel might have. And based on my variety of single-origin coffee and tea stay, this strategy worked out fine. throughout the day as well as gin in The services are top notch: smooth the evening, plus a selection of cana- check-in and out, quick response to pés. DJs and live bands will perform enquiries, requirement and orders. on Wednesdays to Fridays, but the sound system is set in such a way that VERDICT A business hotel boasting patrons could easily talk over drinks luxury comfort, surrounded by play- and music. grounds for children and adults. The Lounge also serves daily af- ternoon tea and on weekends, offers a buffet of light meals like sate, dim No. of rooms 311 sum, samosa and mini chocolate Rates from US$149 fondue. Contact details Two additional F&B facilities, The Tel: (62-21) 3950-7355 Aqua Lounge by the pool and a roof- Email: rsvn.intercontinentaljakart top dining venue, are coming soon. apondokindah @ihg.com

WHAT’S NEW

Surabaya-Penang, Banyuwangi- from Soekarno Hatta International development. A dedicated terminal Kuala Lumpur and Surabaya-Kuala Airport and arrive in Chubu Centrair for Umrah will also be built. Airlines Lumpur. International Airport at 07.25 the According to OAG data, this route following day. On the return, GA885 Wi-Fi on Sriwijaya flights connecting both capital cities was will leave Nagoya at 10.00 and arrive Sriwijaya Group will introduce free Citilink Indonesia links the fifth busiest route in the world, in Jakarta at 15.00 on the same day. Wi-Fi on board its flights next year. capital cities up which saw 19,849 flight frequencies The airline company recently Citilink Indonesia has commenced in 2018. Dedicated LCC terminal at launched its new SJ inflight En- four-times-weekly Jakarta-Kuala Garuda Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta tertainment, a wireless streaming Lumpur services in February, mark- Indonesia’s Garuda goes to Nagoya International Airport inflight service which allows passen- ing its sixth regional services after Airbus A330-300 On March 23, Garuda Indonesia Terminal 2F of Jakarta’s Soekarno- gers to connect their devices to the Denpasar-Dili, Jakarta-Penang, aircraft started a direct service between Hatta International Airport has been network in order to access content Jakarta and Nagoya, Japan’s fourth operating as an LCC terminal since such as movies and TV shows, mu- largest city and a major industrial May 1. sic, videos, games and e-magazines, and manufacturing hub. According to Muhammad Awalud- or chat with other passengers on The four-times-weekly service is din, president director of Angkasa board. operated on Tuesday, Friday, Satur- Pura II, the airport authority, having The AirFI system, touted as the day and Sunday with an Airbus A330 different terminals is a segmentation latest system in the aviation busi- aircraft, providing 36 business class strategy for the Soekarno-Hatta ness, is compatible with different seats and 186 economy class seats. airport, which already has Terminals operating systems like iOS, Android, GA884 will take off at 23.35. 1, 2 and 3, and Terminal 4 is under Windows and Linux. DESTINATION: INDONESIA TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 27

NTO Making most of events

In a Q&A with Mimi Hudoyo, Rizki Handayani, deputy minister for marketing development for South-east Asia, Australia, Oceania and Indonesia (domestic travel), talks about how events can be better marketed and promoted to travel trade and consumers alike

Indonesia is targeting 20 million In Banyuwangi, East Java (which Indonesian regions to participate arrivals this year. What are your is part of Greater Bali), we are start- in this event. If the regional govern- marketing plans, particularly for ing to include beach cleaning in our ments are into tourism, they should Bali, which contributes 40 per cent marketing promotion. support the industry to take part. of arrivals to the country? There is still room for improve- Our strategy Our marketing programmes con- ments (in event promotion) though. is to cre- How else can BBTF grow? TTG Travel Trade Publishing tinue to be (focused on) branding, We used to think that travel agents ate content BBTF is a B2B event organised by is proud to be the travel advertising and selling, In some mar- and tour operators should and would related to an association, which is growing in trade media partner of the kets we highlight (Lombok) West promote events, but the fact is that events and terms of the number of buyers and ASEAN Tourism Competitive Nusa Tenggara, giving them updates most travellers today are FITs and rely disperse sellers. The event needs to grow Committee, working together on the latest situations like the infra- on digital (information), we need to informa- much bigger. to support the ASEAN Tourism tion through structure development, and hotels increase the use of social media. In my opinion, the event Marketing Strategy and VITO. The promote ASEAN destinations for reopening and renovations following Meetings with our Visit Indonesia targets are should not only be handled tourism and business events the disaster last year. Tourism Officers (VITO) revealed South-east by ASITA Bali Chapter, but the na- We also inform business partners that we have not been optimising our Asia and tional board, because the aim is to on the regional government’s com- digital marketing efforts. We are still Australia, showcase the whole of Indonesia to mitment during an emergency situ- engaged in destination branding but markets the world. products. It needs to have a theme ation, such as providing free accom- lacking in product content. which can The organiser needs to look at related to current issues and trends. modation for stranded passengers as Our strategy is to create content make quick current trends. Apart from the con- The issue of the day is sustainabil- per SOP. related to events and disperse infor- decisions ventional (brick-and-mortar) travel ity and Bali is currently doing a “no Other programmes span famil- mation through VITO. The targets (to travel to companies, they should also invite plastic” campaign. BBTF can bring iarisation trips to Bali and Lombok are South-east Asia and Australia, Indonesia). OTAs to take part. The trend today this into the show by using sustain- as well as joint promotions with air- markets which can make quick deci- is more FITs than group tours, so able exhibition materials, organising lines, be it boosting seat load factors sions (to travel to Indonesia). more travel companies handling FITs related workshops and at least 50 per of existing flights, or promoting new should be invited as buyers. cent of the products can be related services such as VietJet Air’s service How can Bali and Beyond Travel More importantly, in order to to sustainable environment. (Such to Bali and AirAsia’s Perth-Lombok Fair (BBTF) play a part in achieving grow, the organiser needs to think efforts) will reflects the sustainable route. the tourism targets? beyond just a market selling tour development goals (SDG) that Indo- We have conducted sales missions This event gives us two things. First nesia has adopted. to Vietnam and Australia and famil- of foremost, it is a business event, There are NGOs in Indonesia iarisation trips for tour operators and which will strengthen Bali’s status as supporting communities to develop media to Indonesia. We also support a business events destination. Sec- sustainable environment. In Flo- the airlines’ below- and above-the- ondly, on the leisure travel part, it res, for example, there is a group of line promotions. provides product knowledge to the women helping the local community buyers on what Indonesia can offer. to develop their traditional weav- The Ministry of Tourism has rolled This is the place where they can find ing. There are tour operators selling out a calendar of events since last new products, develop them into volunteer tourism products, and year. How much has this helped to packages and sell to the clients. more buyers today are looking for boost arrivals, especially to great- The benefit of having such an products, which support SDG. They er Bali? event here as compared to attending should take the space in the show. Bali alone has a lot of events, not just a mart overseas is we can showcase I even think they should invite or- culture but also music, sports and the destination. Sellers who cannot ganisations such as UNDP to open a culinary. We promote not only the participate overseas have the chance booth (showcasing sustainable ini- ones compiled in the (national) cal- to showcase their products here (at tiatives) and speak at the workshop. endar of events, but also other inter- the show). All this will elevate the credibility of national events. I would like to encourage more the show.

5column (236mm) x 90mm DESTINATION: INDONESIA TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 28

BBTF spotlight Balinese inspiration

With the Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) taking place this month, TTG Asia checks into key hotels and venues in the destination for their latest updates

Tie the knot at Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel Weddings are a key segment at the 318-room Discovery Kartika Plaza Hotel, which enjoys a private seafront location in Kuta. With the Indian Ocean as a picturesque backdrop, the seafront property makes an ideal wedding location for couples, and is famed for its spectacular sunset cer- emonies. Apart from outdoor locations, couples can choose to hold lavish indoor celebrations in the Kharisma Ballroom, or for a smaller nuptial celebrations of 20 pax or less, intimate events can take place on the lawn of the Discovery Beachfront Villa, which has direct access to the beach.

Pramana Hotels & Resorts celebrates sixth anniversary Green push for Hyatt Regency Bali Established in 2013, Bali-based hotel management When Hyatt Regency Bali reopened in 2018, the hotel aimed to operator Pramana Hotels & Resorts has a wide remind guests of Bali’s lush, laid-back and rustic spirit of the 70s collection of luxury resorts and villas in Bali. Each and 80s. A major part of the hotel’s sustainability efforts involves property in the Pramana portfolio boasts their keeping operations and sourcing local and green. Apart from cut- own unique and intimate settings, offerings guests ting down on the usage of plastics and using recyclables, the team a sense of culture and relaxation that is unique to is also committed to using locally sourced ingredients to minimise Bali. Marking its sixth anniversary in 2019, Pramana the hotel’s carbon footprint while lending a hand to economic Experience has set its sights on growing its business development in the local community. in Bali and beyond.

Beach break at The Jayakarta Lombok The Jayakarta Lombok Beach Resort & Spa is situated within the unspoiled natural beauty of Lombok island, and offers direct access to the Senggigi Beach. The 171- room hotel is divided into a main building and several bungalows surrounded by tropical lush gardens, with most of them offering a private balcony overlooking the pool and sea. The property also features a swimming pool, sand pool, kids’ pool, jogging tracks and bicycle hire, among others.

Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre gets events technology upgrade Following a recent events technology upgrade, Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre is now equipped with advanced Wi-Fi infrastructure that allows users to upstream/ downstream up to 10Gbps through 485 unit access points available across the entire complex. Fibre optic network is also now available in all function rooms for real-time audio visual and raw data transfer between rooms, which enables two or more simul- taneous events to be seamlessly connected over a period of time. TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 29

due to branded fares, à la carte ancillar- partners are creating an industry standard ies, bundling, and soon, dynamic NDC for a storefront that displays all relevant offers, the travel industry faces another airline offers and the information needed Hot trends driving challenge – how to display the diverse to easily compare offers from the same or offers in an easily comparable way? Next- different airlines. Generation Storefront will make this travel agency sector possible by better presenting, sorting Looking forward and finding the airline content that trav- With technology driving the travel indus- Sundar Narasimhan, senior vice president and president ellers are looking for, which will give trav- try developing so quickly, now is the time of Sabre Labs and Product Strategy rounds up the hottest el agents a cohesive retailing experience. for industry players to be audacious and adopt innovative solutions that will trans- technology trends that travel agents should watch out for Why it matters Sabre and other industry form the future of travel.

ising affluence among a new generation of Asia-Pacific consumers means the global travel industry can expect nearly 90 millionR new travellers by 2025. Competi- tion is fierce and travel providers need to level up to keep up with what’s headed their way. Here’s a look at some of the hottest travel technologies shaping the future of the industry.

Agency managed commission (AMC) AMC is a highly complex commission calculator that shows travel agents the amount of commission generated from each booking through an easy-to-read user interface. By inserting the commission amount in the ticket, it can also capture the commission for the agency. AMC is used to enhance agency sales, and can be used to generate detailed reports for con- sulting purposes.

Why it matters Money and time! Agents are entitled to commissions and may not be collecting them, or worse, they are col- Junior Page lecting the wrong amount. In addition, 4 column (173mm) x 280mm time spent on commission-based ADMs can be a thing of the past.

Multi-modal reservations, or “virtual interlining” This complex backstage technology will soon become widely available to travel agents, connecting both full-service carriers and participating LCCs to train routes, car rental services and alternate modes of transportation within the same itinerary. As it evolves, virtual interlining will provide customers with a stress-free journey from point to point.

Why it matters Combining tickets into a single booking provides a complete overview of the trip, with all confirma- tion data compiled under one booking number. Virtual interlining makes it easier for travel agents to rebook or reschedule legs of a trip should flights be missed, for example. It optimises the booking process and allows more flexibility from all parties involved in the transaction – changing the face of customer support!

NEXT-Generation Storefront Smartphone adoption in Asia-Pacific is likely to hit two billion users this year. This massive growth is changing everything – from the way people communicate to the way they shop. As consumers expect more from their shopping experiences, suppliers are, more than ever, focused on en- hancing their shopping capabilities. As air content becomes more complex

Now is the time for industry players to be audacious and adopt innovative solutions that will transform the future of travel CONNECT TTG ASIA JUNE 2019 • 30

non-operational responsibility of chairman to focus full time on his C O ENN CT current role as CEO of Yaana Ven- tures, Khiri’s parent company.

From July 1, Herman Hoven will EDITORIAL become the new CEO of Khiri Travel. Attention grabbers Karen Yue Group Editor Hoven, who has been with Khiri for [email protected] five years, is currently general man- Xinyi Liang-Pholsena Editor, TTG Asia [email protected] ager of Khiri Travel Indonesia. S Puvaneswary Editor, Malaysia/Brunei Hoven will work closely with Kea- [email protected] ardiwebs/shutterstock gan Willemsen, who will become Mimi Hudoyo Editor, Indonesia MOST READ [email protected] CFO on July 1 after being Khiri Trav- Pamela Chow Reporter, Singapore [email protected] el’s international efficiency head for Rachel AJ Lee, Yixin Ng Sub Editors over a year. [email protected], [email protected] Jakarta hotels put up brave Richard Brouwer will continue Adelaine Ng Correspondent, Australia front amid election fallout [email protected] as chief commercial officer of Khiri Marissa Carruthers After riots erupted in Central Ja- Travel, which was founded by Nie- Correspondent, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam [email protected] karta on May 21 and 22 in protest of meijer in 1993 and now has over 200 Prudence Lui Correspondent, Hong Kong president Joko Widodo’s re-election, staff in 17 offices in seven countries [email protected] in Asia. Rohit Kaul Correspondent, India tourism stakeholders in the city are [email protected] keeping their chins up. Meanwhile, founder Niemeijer Suchat Sritama Correspondent, Thailand will devote his energies full time to [email protected] The protests broke out in Ja- Tiara Maharani Correspondent, Indonesia Yaana Ventures, where he and CFO lan Thamrin, near the office of the [email protected] Mark Remijan are developing new Julian Ryall Correspondent, Japan Election Supervisory Body, before [email protected] Protests in Jakarta Central on May 22 projects in the responsible tourism Rosa Ocampo Correspondent, Philippines spreading to the neighbouring Tanah and hospitality sphere. [email protected] Abang, Petamburan, Wahid Hasyim Feizal Samath Correspondent, Sri Lanka/Maldives Maldives hospitality [email protected] and Sabang. Redmond Sia, Goh Meng Yong Creative Designers At press time, Canada, the US, the investments hit new high Lina Tan Editorial Assistant UK and Australia have issued travel The Maldives’ hospitality industry SPECIAL PROJECTS DIVISION advisories to their citizens in light of is on course to see its most active Paige Lee Pei Qi Assistant Editor, Special Projects the violent protests in Jakarta that left year with more than US$450 million Lau: [email protected] worth of resort transactions either stepping six dead. SALES & MARKETING completed or under offer, accord- down from However, the majority of hotels in Publisher and Head Integrated Solutions July 31 Pierre Quek the Ring 1 area that TTG Asia spoke Compared to ing JLL. Traditionally dominated by [email protected] his prede- Ar-lene Lee Senior Business Manager to claim that impact on business has Asian investors, the Maldives is now [email protected] been minimal. cessors, Lau attracting new sources of capital Jonathan Yap Senior Business Manager Although the riots are contained maintained from Europe and the US. In the past [email protected] closer contact Shirley Tan Senior Business Manager within an area in Central Jakarta, six months, investments from new [email protected] with the trade sources of capital represent US$300 Top exec leaves HKTB Chelsea Huang Marketing Executive Krishnadi, chairman of Association ... Hopefully, [email protected] of Indonesian Hotels and Restau- million, compared to the annual av- Delia Ng Digital Marketing Strategist his successor Hong Kong Tourism Board’s [email protected] rants (IHRA) Jakarta chapter, ac- will carry on erage deal volume of US$120 million (HKTB) executive director Anthony Cheryl Lim Advertisement Administration Manager per year. [email protected] knowledged that the unrest could this style of Lau is stepping down, shortly after Carol Cheng Assistant Manager Administration and Marketing affect city-wide hotel occupancy. leadership.”” Nihat Ercan, managing director Peter Lam was succeeded by Pang [email protected] and head of investment sales, Asia, He remarked that the extent of – Wing Wong, Yiu-kai as chairman of the NTO. PUBLISHING SERVICES chairman, Hong impact can be mitigated by law en- JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group, Lau, who joined HKTB in 2007, Jonathan Wan Head, Operational Support Services Kong Association forcement securing Jakarta and ar- said: “The tightening of yields in will step down upon completion of Kun Swee Qi Publishing Services Executive of Registered Tour Nur Hazirah Web Executive resting perpetrators of the unrest. Coordinators core markets across the globe, par- his contract on July 31, 2019. Katherine Leong Circulation Executive ticularly in Europe, is causing in- During his tenure, Lau was well- vestors to look further afield in TTG ASIA MEDIA liked by agents, who say Lau brought Darren Ng Managing Director search of higher yielding opportuni- a welcome style of accessible leader- [email protected] ties. Our clients outside of Asia are ship to HKTB. starting to show increasing interest in OFFICES He has been responsible for the SINGAPORE the Maldives. We’re confident that in- organisation’s strategic direction 1 Science Park Road #04-07 The Capricorn, vestor demand will continue to rise.” Singapore Science Park II, Singapore 117528 over the past 12 years. Tel: (65) 6395-7575 Fax: (65) 6536-0896 According to figures from the HKTB acknowledged his role [email protected]; www.ttgasia.com HONG KONG Ministry of Tourism, the Maldives in keeping the organisation ahead 8/F, E168, 166-168 Des Voeux Road Central, posted a 15 per cent year-on-year in- through a series of innovative strat- Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2237-7288 Fax: (852) 2237-7227 crease in visitor arrivals in 1Q2019. egies and campaigns, in addition to strengthening the NTO’s relation- TTG Asia is a product by TTG Travel Trade Leadership changes at Khiri Publishing, a business group of TTG Asia ships with a wide spectrum of stake- Media. It is mailed free on written request to readers Khiri Travel has announced several holders. who meet predetermined criteria. Paid subscriptions are available to those who do not meet the criteria. Annual Finolhu Maldives, acquired by German-based senior executive changes, with CEO The NTO is on a “global search” airmail subscriptions are US$180 to Asia and US$199 elsewhere. Cover price US$5. Seaside Hotels & Resorts Willem Niemeijer moving into the for Lau’s successor. MCI (P) 010/09/2018 • PPS 1885/02/2017(025627)

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In addition, inspired by children Intrepid pledges to become Travel Hall of Fame ‘climate positive’ around the world striking for climate Since 2002, TTG Asia Media has honoured action and the new documentary, luminaries that have won the prestigious TTG Melbourne-based Intrepid Travel Travel Award for at least 10 consecutive times for has committed to becoming climate 2040, Intrepid Travel will also donate the same award title in the Travel Hall of Fame. 40 per cent of all profits from their At present, these exceptional organisations positive by 2020. In other words, it is and their years of induction are: aiming to surpass its current carbon- family holidays booked by the end of • Singapore Airlines (2002) June 2019. • Singapore Changi Airport (2002) neutral status and create environ- • Hertz Asia Pacific (2005) mental benefit. • Royal Cliff Hotels Group (2006) Joining forces with the Cli- Guatemala partners UNWTO • Star Cruises (2008) to launch Sustainable Tourism • Sabre Travel Network Asia-Pacific (2009) mate Foundation and the Uni- • SilkAir (2010) versity of Tasmania, The Observatory • Lotte Tour (2011) • Hong Kong International Airport (2013) Intrepid Foundation is crowdfunding The city of La Antigua Guatemala • Raffles Hotel Singapore (2013) for a new marine permaculture initia- has joined the UNWTO network of • Regal Airport Hotel (2015) tive that will regenerate marine eco- Sustainable Tourism Observatories. • Banyan Tree Spa (2015) • Qatar Airways (2016) systems in Tasmania and sequester Led by the Instituto Guatemalteco View from then be used to assess how tourism • Thai Airways International Public Company carbon from the atmosphere. All do- de Turismo and supported by the Cerro de la can best be used to help drive sus- Limited (2016) Cruz, La Anti- • Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (2016) nations made to the project through Guatemalan government, the Obser- tainable growth and development. • Royal Plaza on Scotts (2018) the Foundation will be matched dol- vatory will periodically collect data gua Guatemala Moving ahead, the observatory will • Royal Caribbean International (2018) and scientific evidence to monitor TTG Asia Media is pleased to announce that it has set up a lar for dollar with the goal of raising work with an interdisciplinary group virtual TTG Travel Hall of Fame (www.ttgtravelhof.com), which will A$350,000 (US$240,575). the impact of tourism. This data will of local experts. enable us to showcase the accolades, artefacts and memorabilia of the region’s most exceptional travel organisations in a far more effective way and to a global audience.

OSALES3693_Reg_TTG2019_FPFC 260x380mm (KK) R8 Highres.pdf 1 16/5/19 11:06 AM