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#04-07 The Capricorn
Singapore Science Park II
Singapore 117528
Tel: (65) 6395-7575
Fax: (65) 6536-2972
Website: http://www.ttgasia.com
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Six-month target for Jogjakarta's recovery
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Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2006-05-31)
INDONESIA has set a framework for the recovery of Jogjakarta from the recent earthquake to take place until December 2006.
An official statement issued by the Department of Culture and Tourism said a co-ordinated meeting headed by the Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy had set June and July as a rescue period with the priority of taking care of the victims.
This will be followed by a recovery and rehabilitation process which will take place until December during which all sectors should plan programmes and action plans.
At a press conference held in Jogjakarta yesterday, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Jero Wacik, said: "We are working with the regional governments (of Jogjakarta and Central Java) and the travel industry to create data base on the damages to tourist sites, and compiling data on cancellations of tourists.
"We have been communicating the situation to PATA and WTO."
Quized on the tourism recovery programme, director general of marketing, Mr Thamrin Bachri, told TTG Daily News: "We are working on the crisis marketing plan, and we should be able to announce the programmes very shortly."
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New MICE show for China next spring
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Singapore (2006-05-31)
SHANGHAI will host a new MICE event next year when TTG Asia Media and MP Asia launches the inaugural IT&CM (Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings) China from April 23 to 25 April, 2007.
Held at INTEX Shanghai with a venue space covering 6,000m2 for 300 booths, the show's theme is: "China to the world and the world to China".
TTG Asia Media is the organiser of Asia's premier MICE show - Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT&CMA). MP Asia is a professional exhibition organiser with offices in China specialising in local buyers and exhibitors since the 1980s.
TTG Asia Media managing director, Mr Darren Ng, said: "IT&CMA is already in its 14th year this year and doing very well", adding that it was the right time for a MICE-specific event for the Chinese market.
IT&CM China will follow elements similar to IT&CMA, including the hosting of buyers and press. The programme will also include a half-day educational conference followed by a two-day exhibition with pre- and onsite appointment scheduling.
The show has received the endorsement of the Shanghai Convention & Exhibition Industries Association and is targeting 1,200 delegates.
Meanwhile, TTG Asia Media, in a joint venture with Washington-based National Business Travel Association (NBTA), will concurrently organise the inaugural Corporate Travel & Technology World (CT&TW) in Shanghai from April 22 to 24, 2007. The event will follow a similar format to TTG's nine-year old Corporate Travel World Asia-Pacific.
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Malaysian body seeks easier licensing for budget inns
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S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2006-05-31)
THE Malaysia Budget Hotel Association called for a review of the planning and building by-laws, which it said was too stringent for compliance and the main reason why many budget hotels are operating without a licence.
"Without a licence, these budget hotels, rated as two-stars and below, cannot be registered with the Tourism Ministry which is why the government has no record of the existence of such budget hotels and find it difficult to help them to upgrade and to improve," the association's secretary-general, Mr P K Leong, said.
"Due to the low investment entry level, most budget hotels are family-owned and thus they do not have the size and scale of economics to market their products. Banks and the government are also not keen to finance them," he added.
Following a dialogue with the working committee of the National Economic Action Council (NEAC) on May 18, the association which represents 1,100 budget hotels in the country, had forwarded to the council yesterday a written statement on proposals they would like it to consider.
One proposal was that all budget hotels be given a licence under a special "budget" category. Others include a dedicated loan initiated by the government of up to RM5 million (US$1.38 million) per qualifying budget hotel to help them to upgrade, compliance with by-laws and the reduction of fire-fighting by-laws.
NEAC is a consultative body formed in 1998 that helps to identify and propose new sources of growth to enhance the economy.
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Garuda to halt Adelaide-Bali service
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Sydney (2006-05-31)
GARUDA Indonesia has announced it will suspend its Adelaide to Bali services from this coming September 1.
"Unfortunately, the Australian market as a whole has declined substantially and the decrease in numbers is most severe from Adelaide. For the time being, it is not commercially viable to operate our large capacity Airbus A330 aircraft there," Garuda Indonesia's regional manager, South West Pacific, Mr Suranto Yitnopawiro, said.
"We look forward to the time we can resume a presence in South Australia as traffic volume to Bali improves," he added.
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Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang open for bookings
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Penang (2006-05-31)
SHANGRI-LA'S Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa in Penang has announced that it is now accepting bookings for room reservations. The resort has set September 28, 2006 as its official opening date.
The 33-year old resort has been undergoing extensive redevelopment at an estimated cost of RM100 million (US$27.5 million).
When it reopens, it will be the first resort in Malaysia to feature the Shangri-La Group's exclusive CHI spa which will cover 46,500ft2 and comprise 11 treatment villas and a yoga studio.
Other amenities include a health club, golf course, 26m spa pool and spacious Rasa Premier Rooms with bath features on the balcony and private butler service.
Contact the resort at tel: (604) 881 1811; fax: (604) 881 1984; or email: rsr@shangri-la.com.
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Laguna Phuket appoints Ayling managing director
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Bangkok (2006-05-31)
LAGUNA Phuket in Thailand has appointed Mr Michael R Ayling its new managing director.
Mr Ayling currently holds various positions in the company including Laguna Phuket managing director as well as Laguna Resorts and Hotels (LRH) vice president-finance and executive director. He is also one of LRH's subsidiaries directors.
Mr Ayling replaces Mr James Batt who resigned at the end of this month to take up a new position in San Diego, California.
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KL convention centre goes green
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Kuala
Lumpur
(2006-05-31)
TO increase awareness on
environmental protection and sustainability to achieve the Green Globe
21 Standard, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre kicked off its first
green campaign called 3R (Reduce, Re-use and Recycle)
recently.
Brightly coloured bins are placed
strategically around the centre to encourage staff and visitors to the
centre to reduce wastage, re-use and recycle where
possible.
Director of Facilities, Mr Geoff Hayward,
said: "In addition to waste
management, measures are also in place to improve energy savings by
fine-tuning the current systems such as lighting control to better
match the building's operations. The building's design itself makes the
most of natural light in all pre-function areas, reducing the
artificial lighting demands.
"With the current initiatives in place,
the next step will be to keep the momentum going and constantly look
for new ways to reduce waste as well as streamlining the processes to
use less and promote energy savings through technology and new product
innovations."
Green Globe 21 is the
global Benchmarking, Certification and improvement system for
sustainable Travel & Tourism, based on Agenda 21 and principles
of sustainable development endorsed by 182 Heads of State at the United
Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit.
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Prudence Lui, Hong Kong (2006-05-30)
HYATT rounds off its latest roadshow in Singapore on Thursday, after calling on Beijing and Shanghai last week and Hong Kong today.
Some 35 properties from across Asia-Pacific, North America and Europe participated this year in the event targeting corporate travel buyers, meeting planners, travel agents and industry decision makers.
China has been a focus of expansion for the group and new openings will take place in Dongguan, Jing Jin City in Tianjin and Shanghai late this year.
There are 12 more new hotel projects under development in China. The new hotels will open over the next three years, and will include Park Hyatt Beijing, Park Hyatt Shanghai, Park Hyatt Ningbo, Grand Hyatt Guangzhou, Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, plus seven new Hyatt Regency hotels in Chengdu, Chongqing, Nanjing, Jing Jin City in Tianjin, Shanghai and Suzhou.
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Garuda has holiday treat for kids
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Sydney (2006-05-30)
GARUDA Indonesia is offering free airfares for kids travelling from four Australian cities to Bali during the coming mid-year school holidays.
The offer of a free airfare is valid for travel between June 15 and July 31, and is open to children aged between two and 12 years who travel with an adult. The promotion is for flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide and is valid for tickets booked and paid for by June 28.
Garuda regional manager South West Pacific, Mr Suranto Yitnopawiro, said: "This initiative is…evidence of Garuda's confidence in the continuing recovery of Bali tourism and an opportunity to say thank you to those families who consistently support their favourite holiday destination."
The airline's wholesaler, Garuda Orient Holidays, is also offering deals including free accommodation, breakfasts, transfers and selected tours to kids travelling from all cities in Australia. Details on www.BalionANYbudget.com.au.
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Ocean Park rides wave of popularity
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Hong Kong (2006-05-30)
OCEAN Park recorded its 4,030,001st visitor in 11 months on Sunday, breaking its previous record set June 30 last year.
The increase in attendance has come as a welcome surprise despite fears patronage at the park would drop when Hong Kong Disneyland opened its gates last year.
Ocean Park chairman, Mr Allan Zeman, said yesterday the new record dispelled any fears about competition posed by the newcomer and was thrilled to see the 29-year-old park was gaining in popularity instead. Local visitors have been the backbone of the increased attendance making up half of the ticket sales, an increase of 20 per cent since last July. The other half has been overseas visitors, 85 per cent of them from the mainland.
Local travel agents said Disneyland's first-year target of 5.6 million visitors might not be attainable as a daily turnout of at least 25,000 is needed to meet the goal. They estimate only 1.6 million people have visited the park since last September, a daily average of 7,000, compared to a daily average of more than 12,000 for Ocean Park in the past 11 months.
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CDL expands Thai presence
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Bangkok (2006-05-30)
SINGAPORE-based City Development Limited officially launched the Millennium Hilton Hotel, its first property in Thailand, last Friday. It has spent more than 1.4 billion baht (US$36.84 million) to transform the long-abandoned building on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River into the five-star, 543-room hotel.
CDL executive chairman, Mr Kwek Leng Beng, said: "The group will continue to actively seek and explore real estate investment opportunities in Bangkok and other parts of Thailand either directly or through local and foreign partners."
The company has recently invested in many projects in Bangkok. Its second hotel in Thailand, the five-star Millennium Sukhumvit Hotel with 326 rooms, is slated to be completed by the end of next year.
It has purchased a 2.4-hectare of freehold land on Sukhumvit Soi 18 in Bangkok, the site of the Millennium Residences. The project, scheduled to be completed by 2008, will feature 604 residential condominium units and a retail building. It has equity in the Exchange Tower, an office building and a retail mall, located at the Sukhumvit-Asoke intersection. Exchange Tower is scheduled to be completed in June.
Besides Bangkok, the company has also invested in the Phuket Jungcelon Project with 90,000m2 of retail space and a hotel with more than 400 rooms.
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Shroff website offers real time bookings for Philippines
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Ollie Quiniquini, Manila (2006-05-30)
PHILIPPINE travel agent, Shroff International Travel Care, has soft-launched a website offering online bookings for flights and travel services.
CEO and managing director, Mr Arjun Shroff, claims www.airlinecenter.info is the first Philippine-based travel agency website offering real-time live bookings and instant confirmation for flights from the Philippines. It will eventually have the facility to issue electronic tickets.
Powered by the Amadeus online reservations system, the website features negotiated regular and promotional fares for all airlines flying out of the Philippines. Gross fares are also available for point-to-point travel overseas. At present, payment can be made by credit card or in cash three days before departure.
Mr Shroff said the site would initially target Philippine-based travellers but will be expanded in the future to international clients. "We aim to build an active utilisation online booking system by offering rich content and very competitive and attractive fares. The actual benefits have yet to be accrued but we are proud to be the first [in the Philippines] to have this system going."
He added the website would improve his company's productivity through the automation of time-consuming transactions such as fare queries and point-to-point bookings.
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Viva Macau: 'Call me amelia'
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Macau (2006-05-30)
LOW-cost carrier, Viva Macau, has picked InteliSys Aviation Systems of America to handle its reservation and distribution system.
The company will market Viva Macau under the trading name "amelia" when the carrier begins its Boeing 767 operations later this summer with services between Macau and destinations in Asia.
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Kingfisher takes Abacus bait
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Singapore (2006-05-30)
ABACUS International has signed India's Kingfisher Airlines to its system and agents subscribed to the global distribution system can start booking the airline's inventory from August.
Abacus Distribution Systems (India) managing director, Mr Viiveck Verma, said: "We have signed up Kingfisher Airlines on Abacus Direct Connect Access…which means agents will get dynamic availability with e-ticketing functionality."
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Bangkok (2006-05-30)
ACCOR Asia-Pacific opened two hotels in China on Sunday - Sofitel Galaxy Nanjing and Sofitel Zhongshan Golf & Resort.
The hotels are in different areas of Nanjing: the 279-room Sofitel Galaxy is in the city centre, while the 140-room Sofitel Zhongshan is a 20-minute drive away.
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Earthquake sends tremors through Jogjakarta trade
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Mimi Hudoyo, Jogjakarta (2006-05-29)
THE travel trade in Jogjakarta is receiving cancellations from abroad following Saturday's devastating earthquake.
Dewatha Sakti managing director, Mr Bagus Ardhi Baliantoro, said: "In fact…our agents have also suspended travel to Jogjakarta for the next two weeks."
He added the agents wanted to make sure conditions in the city stabilised.
No hotel in the city was reported collapsed, but some suffered minor damages such as wall and tile cracks. Adi Sucipto International Airport in Jogjakarta, which was closed since Saturday due to severe damage to the runway and terminals, was opened to commercial airlines this morning. Borobudur Temple was not affected by the earthquake.
The earthquake took place on a long weekend and hotels in Jogjakarta were running at high occupancy. A Meliá Purosani spokesperson told TTG Daily News: "Our hotel was very busy with 200 out of 280 rooms occupied when it happened. We managed to evacuate all the guests and no one was injured."
Meanwhile, travel trade associations in Jogjakarta in co-operation with the Department of Culture and Tourism opened the Java Media Tourism Crisis Center to provide updates on the situation.
Jogja Promo executive director, Ms Wiendu Nuryanti, said: "We will give updates on conditions in the city post the earthquake from today. We also have four mobile clinics, which travel to remote areas to identify damages in tourism, historical, cultural and archaeological sites and help the locals around the areas."
Each mobile unit is equipped with doctors or paramedics, medicines, food supplies and two tourism authority staff.
The centre, which is open 24/7, is operated from Stuppa Indonesia, Jalan Lingkar Utara 234, Jogjakarta, Tel: (62-274) 520-907, fax: (62-274) 583-783, email: javamedia_tcc@yahoo.com.
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Accor leads agents to growth
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Raini Hamdi, Singapore (2006-05-29)
ANTICIPATING changes in global demand, Accor plans to open more than 200,000 new rooms by 2010, mainly in economy and budget hotels. Asia-Pacific is the company's major focus. The chain, which views travel agents as its most important distribution channel, continues its quest to lead them by the hand in understanding - and partaking in - the growth.
Of the 200,000 new rooms, 33 per cent will be in mature markets and 67 per cent in emerging markets.
The chain operates 470,000 rooms in more than 4,000 hotels in 92 countries. Its brands (not all of them represented in this region) include Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, Etap Hotel, Formule 1, Motel 6 and Red Roof Inns.
A 57.5 per cent growth in the number of rooms in four years is huge by any standard, and its marketing and communication are being managed, especially in Asia-Pacific, where Accor was a relatively late entrant and where it is now expanding most rapidly compared with other regions.
From the marketing perspective, a priority is "to make some sense of the development" for agents, according to Accor senior vice-president sales and marketing Asia-Pacific, Mr Ray Stone.
He added since the rollout of World of Accor (WoA), the annual expo which takes Accor hotel executives to meet travel agents in key Asian cities, there had been an overall increase in business from the agents, and a clearer understanding of the brands. But the single biggest contributor to this, he said, was Accor's rapid expansion in the region.
"We can see from the nature of discussions at WoA, agents were no longer asking so much about the brands, as they did three to five years ago, but were wanting to keep track of how and where we're growing and what new programmes we might have," Mr Stone said.
This year's on-going WoA covers 11 cities, namely Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney.
– Full report in TTG Asia, June 9
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Singapore (2006-05-29)
BANYAN Tree Holdings has launched an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of more than 380 million shares that could potentially beef up its coffers by S$467 million (US$295 million). Placement of 95 per cent of these shares will take place in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, London, Frankfurt and the US. Executive chairman, Mr Ho Kwon Ping, said: "This IPO was deferred for about two years due to the tsunami."
A sum of S$104 million is intended for further investment in existing and new resorts and other management functions including the acquisition of trademarks and working capital. At a media event in Singapore, Mr Ho disclosed that Banyan Tree Holdings had a land bank of 269 hectares of which only 44 hectares had been developed or committed. In seeking destinations in which to develop the group's two brands, Banyan Tree and Angsana, Mr Ho listed site attractiveness, high price-to-cost ratio and the opportunity to enjoy first-mover advantage as key considerations. He added: "We want to be dominant in our chosen space and manage our wholesalers instead of letting them manage us."
On tsunami-hit Banyan Tree Maldives, Mr Ho said: "revPAR at Banyan Tree Maldives reached a historic high in the first quarter of 2006, surpassing that achieved in 2004."
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Malaysia gets tough with pirates
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Kuala Lumpur (2006-05-29)
MALAYSIA is taking a tough stance against disc piracy. Anyone caught carrying pirated CDs, DVDs, VCDs and software into or out of the country is liable to be fined between RM2,000 (US$549.45) and RM20,000 for each infringing copy and jailed five years under the Copyright Act.
Even tourists are not spared, with Stop Piracy! Why Ruin Your Holidays! posters displayed prominently at major airports. These posters also warn of the consequences of flouting the law.
At a recent press conference, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry director-general, Mr Mohd Rozlan Mahayudin, said: "We want tourists to know that it is a crime to keep pirated CDs, DVDs, VCDs and software in their luggage."
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Meet the press at IT&CMA and CTW
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Singapore (2006-05-29)
DELEGATES at this year's Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) and Corporate Travel World (CTW) Asia-Pacific will have an opportunity to meet representatives from the events' official and supporting publications.
Organised for the first time, the Meet-the-Press Luncheon will be held on October 10 from 12.00 to 14.00.
Seven new publications are supporting this year, namely Business Travel 2, ICJ Mice Magazine, Meetings & Incentive Travel and MICE Poland from Europe, MeeTurkey, Meetings & Conventions from the US and MICE BTN from Australia. In addition, eTurboNews is an online media partner, extending the events' online reach and coverage.
For details, visit www.itcma.com.sg or www.corporatetravelworld.com.
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TUI China to connect Hainan and Scandinavia
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Shanghai (2006-05-29)
TUI will launch weekly chartered flights from Scandinavia to Hainan from October. TUI China CEO, Mr Marcel Schneider, told Xinhua News Agency the flights would take off from Stockholm, Oslo or Helsinki and land in Sanya via Hong Kong. Each flight will have a capacity of 180 tourists.
TUI China is a joint venture TUI formed with Beijing-based China Travel Service.
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Accor in employment drive
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Jakarta (2006-05-26)
ACCOR in Indonesia will organise Jakarta's largest hospitality employment push next week with the Accor Job Fair 2006.
Scheduled to take place from May 30 to 31 at the Balai Kartini Building, the fair is indicative of the chain's growing network in Indonesia with over 1,000 new positions to be available by year end.
Accor Indonesia president director, Mr Gerard Guillouet, said: "The Accor Job Fair will give people the opportunity to understand our brands better and a chance to join the Accor family. Accor is expanding extremely fast and we would like to invite the younger generation to develop their career in the fast growing industry which is tourism.
"This year, 16,000 students will be graduating from hotel schools...Accor needs to have motivated, talented and dynamic young people to be part of our team."
Currently Accor manages 32 hotels in Indonesia with more than 6,000 employees and by the end of this year it will manage 40 hotels.
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Unison plans new hotels in Indian metros
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Ritesh Gupta, New Delhi (2006-05-26)
UNISON Hotels is planning to invest US$114 million in three new five-star business hotels in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore as part of its expansion plans.
Each hotel would have a capacity in the range of 250 to 400 rooms and is expected to be operational within the next two years.
Managing director, Mr Umesh Saraf, said: "The company is in advanced stages of land acquisition to develop these three properties."
The company would develop, manage and operate these hotels.
Mr Saraf added that the Unison has plans to invest between US$272 million and $340 million to put up hotels in major cities. Those under consideration include Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and additional hotels in Mumbai and Delhi.
The company is currently operating The Grand in New Delhi, while it has stakes in two hotels in Nepal and five hotels in India.
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Thailand one million off the mark
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Bangkok (2006-05-26)
THAILAND recorded 11.5 million arrivals last year - one million below the target, according to recently released official figures.
In March, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor, Ms Juthamas Siriwan, forecasted Thailand would receive 12.5 million visitors in 2005. In April, she lowered the estimate by 500,000.
But the latest TAT figures show arrivals to Thailand last year dropped 1.15 per cent compared to 2004.
The number of visitors from Malaysia, Thailand's main market, fell 2.2 per cent in 2005 on the year to 1,373,946 visitors.
Arrivals from Japan, Thailand's second biggest market, dropped 1.28 per cent on the year to 1,196,654, while arrivals from third-ranked Korea plummeted 9.18 per cent to 816,407 visitors.
The UK was the kingdom's main European market in 2005, increasing 2.19 per cent on the year to 777,843.
Arrivals from the US rose 1.94 per cent in 2005 to 639,658, while arrivals from Australia fell 7.32 per cent to 428,521.
The TAT has targeted 13.8 million tourists this year.
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GlobalStar regional meeting at IT&CMA/CTW 2006
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Singapore (2006-05-26)
FOR the first time, GlobalStar Travel Management, a worldwide joint venture partnership of travel management companies, and their Asia-Pacific partners will converge at a regional meeting organised in conjunction with Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) and Corporate Travel World (CTW) 2006.
GlobalStar's meeting will be held on October 8 and 9 at PEACH, the venue for IT&CMA and CTW 2006.
The group's Asia-Pacific chairman and managing director of Global Travel Singapore, Mr Peter Choo, said: "We are encouraging our Asia-Pacific partners to bring along their key management or sales people to participate in CTW and to keep abreast of the latest developments in corporate travel management."
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New budget terminal to open in Kota Kinabalu
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Kuala Lumpur (2006-05-26)
KOTA Kinabalu International Airport's low cost carrier (LCC) terminal is expected to be ready by year-end. It will be located behind the Terminal Two building.
It is part of a RM720 million (US$199.14 million) project to build a new air traffic control tower and extend the runway.
Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, said the LCC terminal would cater to the growing passenger and budget aircraft movements.
It would have six parking bays for aircraft and the extension of the runway would allow unrestricted B747-400 aircraft landing. It is expected to accommodate up to three million passengers a year compared to the existing terminal which handles about 500,000 passengers per annum.
AirAsia chief executive officer, Datuk Tony Fernandes, said the low cost carrier terminal would facilitate direct flights from Southern China, Macau, Vietnam and Indonesia.
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Counting down to Ngong Ping 360
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Hong Kong (2006-05-26)
HONG Kong's financial secretary, Mr Henry Tang, will officiate the opening of the Ngong Ping 360 on June 24.
As part of the fanfare, a public display and countdown clock has been installed at the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Central Station.
Ngong Ping 360 combines a stunning 5.7 km cable car journey with a cultural themed village and easy access to the Tian Tan Buddha Statue.
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Singapore (2006-05-26)
TO celebrate its relaunch, the TTG Travel Club is offering members of the trade a free four-month trial membership. In addition, those who sign up for an annual membership will also qualify for a lucky draw and a chance to win more than 40 attractive prizes.
The deadline for signing up for the promotion is July 31. Register at www.ttgtravelclub.com.
Business development executive, Ms Cheryl Tan, said: "Those who sign up for an annual membership, will get a total of 16 months at only US$30, they could also be on their way to Bali, Bangkok, Sanya, Singapore or Jogjakarta."
A priority system will allow members to indicate their preferred prize for the draw, which takes place on August 1. Sponsors include Gloria Resort Sanya, M Hotel Singapore, Melia Purosani Yogyakarta, Siam City Hotel Bangkok and Sanur Paradise Plaza Hotels and Suites Bali.
Club membership is open to all bona fide travel buyers (agents, wholesalers and operators) and airline and NTO staff. Members will have access to exclusive "below-the-best" wholesale rates.
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All new TTG Travel Club unveiled
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Singapore (2006-05-25)
THE TTG Travel Club is back after undergoing a revamp, and the industry's treasure chest of superb travel deals for the trade returns in June with a new look and great benefits.
Travel Club business development executive, Ms Cheryl Tan, said: "All new is its home online at www.ttgtravelclub.com, which tantalises members with accommodation deals at below-the-best wholesale rates. The profile of participating properties can be viewed by anyone who visits the club's homepage.
"However, only club members get access to offered rates and can make bookings direct with the hotels and resorts via the club's dedicated booking engine powered by Pelican System."
With individual login codes to access the engine, each member gets connected to the latest rates and room availability information updated by the properties themselves around the clock from anywhere. "Gone are the days of waiting as the system instantly confirms all bookings made," Ms Tan said.
To top it off, all club members can now look forward to a more international selection of offers, thanks to the club's new online format. Ms Tan said the a strong promotional push was being made to grow the winning concept of offering unbeatable travel deals to the industry at rates not obtainable anywhere else.
An annual club membership is US$30. Those interested can sign up at the website for a free four-month membership trial by July 31 and also get a chance to take part in a lucky draw.
Hotels and resorts interested in participating in the Travel Club can apply online or contact Ms Tan at ttgtravelclub@ttgasia.com for more information.
Membership is open to all bona-fide travel buyers (agents, wholesalers & operators), airline & NTO staff of any position.
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Contractor gets off with slap on wrist
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S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2006-05-25)
THE lack of punitive measures against the contractor, Kumpulan Surati Sdn Bhd, who brought about the careless destruction of coral reef off Sipadan Island two weeks ago, has disappointed environmental groups who are calling for stiffer penalties.
Local dailies today carried news that the Sabah State government had been contented with an apology and charging the contractor with the cost of cleaning up the debris that the barge left behind.
Sustainable Development Network Malaysia's president, Mr Bishan Singh, told TTG Daily News: "The authorities should set an example by taking strong measures against the contractor. A small apology and paying the cost of cleanup is telling the Malaysian society that they can get away scot free after behaving irresponsibly."
Mr Bishan, who is also Malaysian Environmental Non-Governmental Organisations chairman, said the government as caretakers of sensitive ecological zones like Sipadan Island, should encourage responsible behaviour from all parties and ensure that those who break the law and damage the environment in these areas are heavily fined.
Meanwhile, World Wildlife Fund - Malaysia, national programme director, Dr Dionysius Sharma, called on the authorities to look at what the law on marine parks and protected areas provides for to penalise and apply these laws on the contractor. "Otherwise, it may look as if the authorities are favouring the contractor," he said.
At a press conference yesterday, Malaysia's deputy chief minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat who is also Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Sabah, said the contractor had been "dishonest" because he had applied to Sabah Parks on April 12 to bring in the building materials using a 33 horsepower boat but had, instead, used a large barge.
However he added the contract to build sanitary and rest facilities on the island would not be terminated because the state government would still have to work with the contractor. He was quoted saying: "I don't want to blow this out of proportion as the damage is just 0.01 per cent of the size of Sipadan."
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Starwood plans big expansion
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Shanghai (2006-05-25)
STARWOOD Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is set to sign another 50 management contracts in mainland China, bringing the total number in its network here to 100 by 2008.
Starwood Asia-Pacific president, Mr Miguel Ko, told Shanghai Daily that the US-based company is hoping that revenue from China will make up 50 per cent of the total revenue from Asia-Pacific in the next three to five years - an increase from the current 20 per cent.
Mr Ko said Starwood was planning to debut the Aloft brand in Asia-Pacific in Shenzhen, Shanghai, and Beijing. Starwood was the first global hotel management group to enter mainland China in 1985 and is currently operating 25 hotels under six brands - Sheraton, Westin, Four Points, St. Regis, Le Meridien, and W Hotels.
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Organisers collaborate to promote Pattaya events
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Singapore (2006-05-25)
THE organisers of Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) and Corporate Travel World (CTW) 2006 (October 10 to 12) and 67th SKAL World Congress (October 15 to 20) have agreed to promote each other's events - both of which are taking place in Pattaya this year.
This first ever collaboration aims to maximise international attendance of members from the SKAL fraternity and the MICE and corporate travel segments.
Skalleagues will be given access to visit the Doublebill (IT&CMA & CTW) exhibition on October 12.
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Thailand registers huge jump
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Bangkok (2006-05-25)
THE number of travellers handled by Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) members jumped 47 per cent in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, which was affected by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
ATTA members welcomed 1,018,856 visitors at Bangkok's Don Muang Airport in the first quarter compared to 690,494 visitors in the same period last year.
China once again led the way in April with 51,750 arrivals - a 47 per cent increase on last year's figure of 35,156.
The second biggest supplier in April was Korea, with the number of arrivals climbing 16 per cent on year to 24,873.
Japan was the third largest market in April, jumping 12 per cent on year to 21,373 visitors.
The UK was the largest European market in April, generating 11,322 visitors - a 22 per cent increase on last year's figure of 9,268.
The number of German arrivals in April dropped 11 per cent on year to 5,471.
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London cabdrivers turn Philippines tourism experts
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Manila (2006-05-25)
THE Philippines has extended its London Taxi Cab ads in the UK for another year in the hope that this five million peso (US$96,153) phase of the campaign will convert awareness of the country into actual trips, Department of Tourism Team Europe head, Ms Verna Buensuceso, said.
In addition to destination ads on their body, the 50 participating London cabs will also carry information on travel packages to the Philippines in their seat pockets. During the journey, the cab drivers, who are expected to be trained in the country's tourism offerings, will promote the Philippines and the travel packages and answer any queries their passengers may have. Ms Buensuceso said the use of London cabs as a marketing tool has been extremely productive as it gave the Philippines invaluable exposure to at least eight UK consumers per cab per day.
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Thailand upgrades Chengdu consular office
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Shanghai (2006-05-25)
THAILAND had its consular office in Chengdu upgraded to a consulate general, to serve the Sichuan province and Chongqing municipality.
Assistant to the Consul General, Mr Wang Shaochuan, told Xinhua Daily that it was necessary to set up the consulate general due to the increasing economic exchanges between Thailand and Sichuan. Besides Thailand, four other countries have set up consular offices in the capital of Sichuan province including Korea, the US, Germany and France.
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Visit ASEAN Pass portal off to a good start
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Raini Hamdi, Singapore (2006-05-24)
THE Visit ASEAN Pass (VAP) portal (www.visitASEAN.travel) went live recently with around 800 hotel members - out of the 2,500 to 3,000 members of the national hotel associations in South-east Asia - represented.
Its "parent", ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA), is already mulling the possibility of adding a youth travel component.
At the ASEAN NTOs' Task Force for Tourism Marketing meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on May 5, Intra-ASEAN Travel Committee chairman, Tunku Iskandar, said: "We were asked to add (the component), where specially discounted air fares, hotel/hostel accommodation and tours/transfers would be featured."
With or without the component, retail agents worldwide could already enjoy special deals offered by VAP, which comprises ASEAN AirPass, ASEAN HotelPass and ASEAN TourPass.
One key strength of the portal, Tunku Iskandar said, was its concept as an "interactive shopping basket". Agents can customise programmes to meet the specific needs of clients.
For suppliers, there are no upfront fees. The portal is a non-profit initiative by ASEANTA and is designed to benefit members. They only pay when a transaction is made; the fee goes to zartmann tourism solutions, which said it had invested more than €250,000 (US$319,000) in the system.
Tunku Iskandar said: "We are very encouraged by the response to-date."
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Da Vinci movie inspires Insight tour
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Pauline Tan, Singapore (2006-05-24)
INSIGHT Vacations kicked off the week with a movie night for 200 retail tour consultants and agency bosses to view the controversial The Da Vinci Code and to promote its On The Trail Of Da Vinci tour.
Asia regional director, Mr Robin Yap, said there was a great opportunity with the movie's launch for them to sell the itinerary, which "highlights some of the best of Europe".
The fully customisable tour, a recommended 15-days should the traveller wish to take in all the European highlights mentioned in the book, can also be tailored to a shorter length by agents for their clients. But should their clients wish to go the full Monty, the trail would see the group start in Rome and end in Edinburgh, with two- to three-day stops in Milan, Geneva, Paris and London on the way.
Tour highlights would include visits to the Louvre, Versailles, Westminster Abbey and St Peter's Square.
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Clearwater unveils luxury in the Maldives
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Hong Kong (2006-05-24)
CLEARWATER Maldives has launched an all-inclusive package combining a stay on a private island with a private charter of an 86ft yacht. Called The Rania Experience, the package is for groups of up to 12 to 15 people and bears the same name as the yacht, Rania.
The package can be customised to suit personal holidays or small corporate retreats and includes up to three hours of sailing a day, gourmet dining, unlimited spa treatments and unlimited diving and instruction. A full yacht crew and island staff such as a private chef, spa therapist, PADI dive instructor and butler are also part of the deal.
A promotional rate of US$9,500 per night for two people applies from July 1 to September 30. Additional guests pay US$500 a night.
For details, call (960) 674-0555, email info@rainiaexperience.com or visit www.raniaexperience.com.
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San Michele drops wholesale business
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Sydney (2006-05-24)
SAN Michele Travel, which specialises in South-east Asia and India, has decided to discontinue its wholesale operation and concentrate on building its retail travel business instead. It also said it would close its Melbourne office in August and centralise its business operations at its Sydney head office.
Managing director, Mr Ian Norris, said airline collapses and other disruptions had prompted the company to move away from wholesale.
"San Michele has been hit by a series of negative developments affecting its prime destinations including the Corby case, Bali Nine, second Bali bombing (and) increasing fuel prices."
He added the company would honour all current wholesale bookings being handled on behalf of travel agents. He also said San Michele was negotiating with major tour wholesalers to provide products for its retail operations.
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Accor plans to grow Pearl River Delta portfolio
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Hong Kong (2006-05-24)
THE World of Accor took place in Hong Kong yesterday and drew about 300 travel agents and corporate buyers.
At a media luncheon, Accor said it would expand its network in southern China's Pearl River Delta region from 34 hotels to more than 50 in the next two years. It plans to have at least 12 Sofitel, Novotel and Ibis properties in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Dongguan by 2008.
The group also signed a partnership agreement with China Southern Airlines' frequent flyer programme, Sky Pearl, offering points for China Southern customers at Accor hotels worldwide.
In addition, it opened its first reservations centre in Guangzhou providing call-centre services for China.
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TTG opens voting for 17th Travel Awards
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Singapore (2006-05-24)
TTG Asia Media is inviting travel industry members to vote for their favourites for the coveted TTG Travel Awards 2006.
Details of the two categories and 55 awards and voting forms can be found in selected issues of TTG Asia, TTG China, TTGmice and TTG-BTmice China.
Members can also vote online at www.ttgasia.com/ttg-awards.
Votes must be submitted by August 31. All voters will be entered into a lucky draw for a chance to win a Singapore Jet Boats voucher.
The awards will be presented at a gala dinner on October 12 in Pattaya, Thailand.
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World Cup hotel bookings still available
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Hong Kong (2006-05-24)
GULLIVERS Travel Associates (gta) has negotiated hotel allocations specifically for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, even though 85 per cent of all hotel room inventory has been booked with two weeks to go to the opening kick-off.
Agents can secure hotel accommodation in all locations where matches are being played via Galileo Leisure or gta RBS. They can also book rooms in cities within easy commuting distance of match venues.
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MAS starts 'mutual separation' streamline exercise
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S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2006-05-23)
MALAYSIA Airlines (MAS) launched the country's biggest mutual separation scheme (MSS) yesterday where up to 5,000 employees may voluntarily part ways with the airline.
A total of 18,027 employees received invitations yesterday out of MAS' 22,000 employees. The national carrier was ready to make a total payout of RM850 (US$234.5) million.
Employees whose MSS applications are approved will receive a payment based on their current monthly salary, ranging from one month to three months for every year of service. MAS will also give successful applicants staff hospitalisation coverage for a year beginning August 1, a free air ticket to be used by year-end, and will buy back all unutilised leave, managing director, Mr Idris Jala, said at a press conference.
He added the severance package MAS was offering was more attractive compared to what other big companies had offered their staff. To help those leaving, Mr Idris said MAS was in talks with Qatar Airlines for job placements.
MAS reported a RM1.26 (US$0.34) billion net loss for financial year ended December 31. Under its turnaround plan, MAS aims to narrow its losses to RM620 (US$171) million for its 2006 financial year. Reducing staff is one of its measures.
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HK government urges hotels to compete effectively
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Prudence Lui, Hong Kong (2006-05-23)
THE Hong Kong Government is urging the hotel industry to enhance competitiveness in the face of keen competition from other destinations.
Speaking at the Legislative Council this week, secretary for economic development & labour, Mr Stephen Ip said: "Judging from the increase in arrival figures during the Chinese New Year and Labour Day Golden Weeks this year, hotel room rates did not have a significant impact on the number of mainland Chinese tourists visiting Hong Kong."
The average room rates during the Chinese New Year and Labour Day Golden Weeks rose 13.5 per cent and 15 per cent compared to the corresponding periods last year.
However, tourist complaints are on the rise and Mr Ip said the Travel Industry Council received 473 complaints concerning shopping from inbound group tour visitors in 2005 and 233 for January-April this year.
Meanwhile, the Consumer Council received 765 complaints concerning sales practices in 2005, and 246 for January-April this year.
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Air China soon to join Star Alliance
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Sim Kok Chwee, Singapore (2006-05-23)
STAR Alliance and Air China signed an MOU confirming an invitation to Air China to join the alliance.
This comes a week after the alliance's invitation to Shanghai Airlines was extended and accepted. Air China will become the alliance's 20th member.
Mr Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Star Alliance said, "With Air China having chosen to join Star Alliance, we have now taken the decisive step in implementing our strategy for the Chinese market." With this, Star Alliance will have a two-hub presence in the world's most dynamic aviation market.
This development dispels speculation that Air China may join oneworld due to Cathay Pacific's - a key oneworld member - 10 percent stake in Air China. The induction of the two Chinese carriers plugs a major void in the alliance's coverage in Asia and increases the alliance's coverage to 912 destinations in 160 countries.
Meanwhile, 120 common-user self-service (CUSS) kiosks will be inaugurated at the south end of Narita Airport's Terminal 1 on June 2, 2006. All 12 Star Alliance members serving Narita Airport will move into Terminal 1 except for Air New Zealand which will continue to operate out of Terminal 2.
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Typhoon 'Chanchu' stirs up trouble
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Lim Hui Sin, Shanghai (2006-05-23)
CHANCHU, the first typhoon to hit China this year, struck last week - forcing evacuations and causing death and destruction in the southern regions of the country. Flights and holiday plans were cancelled, with swaths of popular destinations in Fujian, Guangdong, and Zhejiang provinces becoming no-go zones.
Shanghai Jinjiang Travel assistant general manager, Mr Zhang Jianquan, said: "The customers have been very understanding, and all have agreed to postponement for safety reasons." He told TTG Daily News almost 80 customers from Shanghai had to change their holiday plans due to flight cancellations or damaged, inaccessible roads.
A typhoon warning was issued in Shanghai last Thursday when the effects were felt most strongly and several flights to the southern regions of China were grounded.
Spring Travel International said it had suspended tours to Guangdong province and about 200 customers were affected. Surprisingly, flights to the coastal city of Xiamen, in the severely-hit Fujian province, operated almost as usual.
Chanchu, meaning pearl in Cantonese, is considered to have arrived early in the annual typhoon season, usually in July and August.
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Doublebill confirms 'carrot culture' speaker Chester Elton
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Singapore (2006-05-23)
THE Doublebill travel trade event - the 14th Incentive Travel and Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) and 9th Corporate Travel World (CTW) Asia-Pacific - has confirmed the attendance of keynote speaker, Mr Chester Elton, a best-selling author, consultant and motivational speaker.
Mr Elton, who will illuminate his ideas on 'carrot culture' or 'recognition culture', said: "The Carrot Culture helps leaders understand that positive recognition of employees is no longer the soft side of business, but a critical communication skill for leaders to inspire the best from the people they work with."
Currently vice president of performance recognition with the O.C. Tanner Recognition Company, Mr Elton has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Fast Company magazine, and New York Times. He has written bestsellers The Invisible Employee and co-authored A Carrot a Day and The 24-Carrot Manager.
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First Wynn Macau offices in China open
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Shanghai (2006-05-23)
WYNN Macau, a luxury resort set to open in September, has opened three representative offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. This also marks the first foray into mainland China for the resort's parent company, Wynn Resorts Limited.
The company also launched a reservation hotline to cater to travel agents and individual travellers throughout Asia.
Wynn Macau executive director of hotel operations, Mr Markland Blaiklock, said: "China is an important market for Wynn Macau. We want to establish representative offices in key cities to forge closer ties with prospective guests and travel organisers looking for an entirely new and luxurious resort experience. We've had an overwhelming response from China in the lead up to the grand opening."
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China Southern starts Hainan-Singapore route
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Shanghai (2006-05-23)
CHINA Southern Airlines has added a twice-weekly Hainan-Singapore flight.
Departing on Tuesday and Friday from Haikou in Hainan, the route will be served by Boeing 737 aircraft.
The carrier has also added a weekly flight between Urumuqi in the Xinjiang autonomous region, and Baku, capital of Azerbaijan. A Boeing 757 will be used on the route, available every Tuesday.
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Happier Malaysia My Second Home sales hoped
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S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2006-05-22)
TO prevent abuse of the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, the Tourism Ministry has introduced a special licence to regulate tour operators, property developers and other private companies serving potential buyers and marketing this programme abroad.
Licencing is the ministry's solution to the numerous complaints it has received from participants over exorbitant charges and poor service rendered.
Tourism Ministry's secretary-general, Datuk Dr Victor Wee, said: "In our guidelines, we recommend that companies do not charge more than US$2,000 for their services," adding that more than 180 travel agents are affected by the new regulation.
To apply for the licence, companies must register a new company with the words MM2H in brackets. "This is to ensure that companies are fully dedicated to selling Malaysia as a second home destination and not merely selling their own products for personal profits," Datuk Dr Wee said.
There are 8,574 MM2H expatriates. The majority are from China (1,779), followed by Bangladesh (1,088), UK (773), Taiwan (558), Singapore (510) and Indonesia (409). Most have chosen to reside in Penang and Sabah.
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Golden Tulip forays into India
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Ritesh Gupta, New Delhi (2006-05-22)
GOLDEN Tulip Hospitality Group has opened a development office in New Delhi. The company has formed a joint venture, Golden Tulip Southern Asia, with New York-based Leyland Group, to achieve a portfolio of 40 hotels in five years by converting existing hotels into Golden Tulips and Tulip Inns and developing new ones.
The JV will focus primarily on India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The office in New Delhi will develop the necessary infrastructure to provide support to franchisees and owners.
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Pong is new HATA chairman
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Prudence Lui, Hong Kong (2006-05-22)
HONG Kong Association of Travel Agents (HATA) has re-elected Mr Freddy Pong of Sunpac Tours and Travel as chairman, replacing Mr Richard Willis of Kuoni Travel (China). Mr Willis has resigned due to his recent relocation to Guangzhou.
Holiday World Tours managing director, Mr Paul Leung, succeeds Mr Pong as vice president of HATA.
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No doubt left over those airline taxes
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Singapore (2006-05-22)
GALILEO International has a new automated service fee solution to give airlines greater control of their displayed surcharges and in turn assure travel providers of up-to-date airline charges for pricing.
The new solution, in line with the Airline Tariff Publishing Company's (ATPCO) industry standards, will address YQ/YR fees used by airlines for fuel and insurance surcharges.
Airlines can now code their service fee structure directly with ATPCO and the information along with the daily fares and rules transmissions, will be automatically updated in the Galileo 360° Fares database.
Previously the data was sent to Galileo on an ad-hoc basis, where it had to be manually filled in. This new process now gives end users greater confidence that fees seen, are exactly as the airlines intended.
To further aid end users, the GDS has also updated its Fare Guarantee Policy to include a new component where YQ/YR surcharge costs agents see when they issue an air ticket, will be the final costs they pay.
This new policy, effective May 1, applies to tickets issued from January 12.
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Sol Melia celebrates 50 years
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Singapore (2006-05-22)
SOL Melia celebrates 50 years with the theme, Passion for Service, and the entire team in Asia-Pacific conducted a road show in Malaysia and Singapore last week to thank supporters.
Sol Melia vice president sales Asia-Pacific, Ms Sharon Lee, said: "We are a strong company because we know how to manage assets, people and enchance tangible and non-tangible aspects."
The company ventured in Asia-Pacific 1985 with the Melia Bali Villas & Spa Resort.
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Expansion in store for Nok Air
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Bangkok (2006-05-22)
BUDGET carrier Nok Air plans to add two more aircraft to its fleet in the fourth quarter as part of an ambitious expansion plan.
The two jets, each with a capacity of 150-160 seats, follows the introduction of its fourth 149-seat Boeing 737-400 jet and a 66-seat ATR-72 propeller plane earlier this year.
The Thai airline, partly owned by Thai Airways International, plans to add one jetliner to its fleet in each quarter next year.
Nok Air is expected to open its first overseas route – Bangkok to Bangalore – in October.
It is also considering a second Indian destination next year and a Bangkok-Macau service in the third quarter next year.
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Lion City lures Indonesians to shop till they drop
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Mimi Hudoyo, Jakarta (2006-05-19)
THE Singapore Tourism Board (STB) expects double-digit increases in the number of visitors and revenue from Indonesia during the two-month Great Singapore Sale, which starts on May 26.
STB regional director ASEAN (Islands), Mr Chooi Yee Choong, said: "The Great Singapore Sale this year offers more attractive bargains, shopping until very late at night and extra services."
More activities are being mounted to promote the event in Indonesia including the Great Singapore Sale Travel Fair in Jakarta, Medan, Manado and Jambi; the Great Singapore Shopping Challenge in Bandung, and advertising in the local media.
Indonesia contributed 300,000 visitors who spent an average S$1,500 (US$948) per person per visit (including meals, accommodation, etc), during the event last year, making it the biggest regional/international market.
The figures represent a 10 per cent increase in arrivals and 20 per cent in average expenditure over 2004.
The Great Singapore Sale attracted 1.6 million international arrivals to Singapore last year, and generated revenue of around S$650 million from shopping alone.
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Air France KLM open joint Bangkok office
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Bangkok (2006-05-19)
AIR FRANCE KLM yesterday opened a joint city office in Bangkok at Vorawat Building on Silom Road, housing the management and the reservations, ticketing, sales, marketing and administrative departments of both airlines.
The two airline teams is headed by Air France KLM general manager for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, Mr Francis Richard.
KLM vice-president and area manager Asia-Pacific, Mr Harm Kreulen, said Air France KLM was solidly positioned as the number one European airline group in Asia-Pacific. "Co-ordination, harmonisation and integration between Air France and KLM is progressing steadily all over the world. The co-location in Bangkok and the integrated management for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar are a fine example."
Air France executive vice president international commercial affairs, Mr Patrick Alexandre, said: "Our merger with KLM was the great challenge of last year. The objective today is to respond better to new customer expectations and to enhance the efficiency of our organisation in a context of profitable growth."
Air France KLM yesterday announced revenues increased 10 per cent to €21.4 billion euros (US$27.4 billion) for the 2005/06 financial year.
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Penang's Rasa Sayang open for bookings
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Kuala Lumpur (2006-05-19)
SHANGRI-LA'S Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa at Batu Feringgi Beach in Penang has started accepting room bookings for October onwards.
The resort, which closed late last year is completing the final stages of its redevelopment programme.
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All-inclusive packages for new Hong Kong attraction
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Hong Kong (2006-05-19)
THE soon-to-open Hong Kong attraction Ngong Ping 360 will partner Lantau Island's New Lantao Bus Co (NLB) to launch full-day explorer packages. This pairs the Ngong Ping Skyrail with NLB's explorer passes.
Two different types of packages are being offered: the Lantau Package which combines Ngong Ping 360 with unlimited travel on NLB bus services throughout Lantau, and Tai O Packages which add unlimited bus journeys between Ngong Ping and Tai O to the Ngong Ping 360 experience.
The packages, which cost between US$13 and US$15 can be combined with either roundtrip or one-way journeys on the spectacular Ngong Ping Skyrail.
Ngong Ping 360 is scheduled to open at the end of June.
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Chongqing to protect tourist rights
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Shanghai (2006-05-19)
UNDER a new draft measure to protect tourists' rights, the Chongqing municipal government has announced that admission prices to tourist sites can only be increased after consultation with the community and the tourism authorities.
Increase will have to be posted at least 60 days in advance, and tour agencies will have to provide a list of items not included in package tour prices.
Agencies are also prohibited from transferring customers to other agencies without their consent, as was the common practice in the past.
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Luxe adds two Singapore hotels to network
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Hong Kong (2006-05-19)
THE 525-room Furama RiverFront and the 354-room Furama City Centre in Singapore have joined Luxe Worldwide Hotels network - a representation company of independently owned and operated hotels.
Luxe provides global sales, reservations, marketing and eBusiness services to hotel members throughout the world.
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Typhoon disrupts travel out of Shanghai
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Shanghai (2006-05-19)
TYPHOON Chanchu has grounded several flights in Shanghai to southern China and Hong Kong.
Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines cancelled at least 22 flights yesterday, while Spring Travel has suspended tours to Guangdong province until further notice, according to media reports.
Conditions are expected to improve by Saturday.
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Malaysia to improve Sepang low-cost terminal
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Kuala Lumpur (2006-05-19)
MALAYSIA'S transport ministry will improve facilities at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) in Sepang.
Deputy minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar, told the Dewan Negara (Senate) the ministry will look into a covered passage from the terminal to the aircraft parking bay to provide shelter for passengers during heavy rain and thunderstorms.
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Hotel owners happy at last
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Raini Hamdi, Singapore (2006-05-18)
THIS morning's Asia-Pacific Hotel Investment Conference in Singapore organised by Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels ended on a high note, with the mood for hotel investment in the region clearly upbeat and owners reportedly happier with their hotels' current performance than ever.
Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels' outlook 2006 of the Asia hotel trading market cycle shows not one Asian market where RevPAR (revenue per available room) is falling or declining/slowing. RevPAR is rising in every single Asian market, particular in Tianjin, Shanghai, Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai, and even in the more difficult markets such as Jakarta, Bali and Kuala Lumpur.
Among major trends in Asia are the increasing popularity of branded residential real estate, a pick-up in development in secondary-tier markets in China and more funds from the Middle East into Asia, according to Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels' managing director Asia, Mr Scott Hetherington,
Asia-Pacific chiefs of the global hotel chains, when asked during a panel what the key frustrations of owners now were, were cheerful in answers.
Marco Polo Hotels' president, Mr Jeffrey Flowers, said: "There are no major complains, business is pretty good, so there are many pretty happy campers out there. There's always just that question of how we can do a little better."
InterContinental Hotels Group CEO Asia-Pacific, Mr Patrick Imbardelli said not all owners were created equal. Some are very hands-on and he noticed a trend where owners were taking a longer-term view of their assets and relied on the chain to come up with new strategic options for various spaces of the hotel to maximise the ROI years down the road.
- Full report on Asia's hotel investment climate in TTG Asia next issue
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Angelini 'safeguards' an expanding Shangri-La brand
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Raini Hamdi, Singapore (2006-05-18)
THE owner-operator model, a focus on people development and expansion in a strategic way are what will safeguard the Shangri-La brand as the hotel group doubles in size in the next few years and goes beyond its familiar Asian ground to other continents.
So said Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts' CEO and managing director, Mr Giovanni Angelini, in an interview with TTG Daily News, following his win as Hotelier of the Year presented at Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels' Asia-Pacific Hotel Investment Conference at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore today.
Mr Angelini was recognised as the Asia-Pacific hotelier who "has had the greatest impact on the region's hospitality industry". His contribution included the best profitability in the history of the group and one of the lowest staff turnovers in the industry. His leadership also saw Shangri-La going international.
Shangri-La now has 47 hotels worldwide, 37 owned by the group through Hong Kong-listed Shangri-La Asia. It is rolling out another 40 hotels. Two-thirds of these will be in China and India, and the rest in new regions including North America, Europe and the Middle East.
- Full report on how Angelini safeguards the brand in TTG Asia, June 9 issue
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Indo Asia Leisure Services plans major investment
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Ritesh Gupta, New Delhi (2006-05-18)
NEW Delhi-based Indo Asia Leisure Services (IALS) has set aside US$20.45 million to open 10 new travel agencies across India and to expand its hotel brand - Heritage.
Director, Mr Sunirmol Ghosh, told TTG Daily News the company has marked US$225,000 for a new office in Mumbai and US$112,500 for one in Ahmedabad.
"These two offices in western India will be operational by July. We are aiming at October-November season. We feel out of the five million leisure and outbound segment in India, 30 per cent comes from western India," he said, adding that he expected the two cities to contribute US$900,000 and US$450,000 respectively in the first year of operation.
IALS already has offices in Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Goa and Kolkata. Apart from Mumbai and Gujarat, new ones are being planned for Hyderabad, Amristar and Lucknow. Overall, US$9.1 million will be invested in new offices.
The company handles 10,000 inbound tourists and 3,000 outbound and domestic tourists annually. A turnover of US$19 million is expected for the financial year 2006/07.
IALS, which has two existing three-star hotels in Bikaner and Coorg, is considering new properties in Jodhpur, Jaipur and Hampi. "We will be setting up eight new Heritage hotels over the next three years. For this we have budgeted US$11 million. These new hotels would be in Rajasthan and Karnataka and maybe Goa."
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Business as usual for Nepal Tourism Board
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Kathmandu (2006-05-18)
THE Nepal Tourism Board has issued a statement saying it has resumed its normal operations since yesterday.
It read: "We express our deep regret for inconvenience caused to all. If you have any query regarding Nepal Tourism Board, tourism industry of Nepal and other related issues, please feel free to write us...We are committed to forge ahead collectively to continue our responsibilities entrusted to us in the spirit of public-private partnership."
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GlobalStar appoints African partner
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New York (2006-05-18)
THE SA Travel Centre Group (SATC) has joined GlobalStar Travel Management - a global partnership of independent business travel agencies.
SATC is the largest travel agency on the African continent. Their 136 locations (30 business travel locations) cover South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Kenya, Mauritius, Lesotho, Malawi, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania.
GlobalStar Worldwide vice-president, Mr Martin Metzler, said: "We are very pleased to have attracted such a strong, professional partner who literally provides us with coverage of the entire African continent."
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Bangkok (2006-05-18)
THE Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) vice-president - development, Mr Peter Semone is leaving after four years with the organisation "to seek a fresh professional challenge".
Mr Semone said: "Now that I have completed my contract and PATA is squarely on track for a promising future, it is the right moment for me to take on a new challenge."
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Fly to Guangzhou daily from Amsterdam
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Beijing (2006-05-18)
CHINA Southern Airlines will be increasing its four times weekly services from Amsterdam to Guangzhou to five times weekly on June 24 before making it a daily service on August 14.
The flights will be operated on a Boeing 777 with a stopover in Beijing before continuing onward to Guangzhou.
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THAI plans new subsidiary, launches prepaid card
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Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok (2006-05-17)
THAI Airways International (THAI) is studying the establishment of a subsidiary airline, tentatively called Euarng Luang (Royal Orchid).
Its new president, Mr Apinan Sumanaseni, said the new airline would be positioned between THAI and its low-cost offshoot Nok Air. It was expected to start operations out of Bangkok International Airport later this year. Mr Apinan added the new airline was intended to take over domestic routes and some flights to neighbouring countries currently operated by THAI, while THAI focused on mid- and long-haul international routes.
THAI is also investing some 350 million baht (US$9.2 million) to obtain Sabre Airline Solutions' flight scheduling technology – AirFlite. Mr Apinan said the software would provide THAI the tools to evaluate the profitability of a proposed flight schedule, optimise seat capacity, manage code-share flights, manage slots at different slot controlled airports and the ability to maximise fleet management and profitability across all its domestic, regional and intercontinental routes.
Implementation of AirFlite would be completed in May next year, and would be followed by a five-year maintenance contract.
Meanwhile, THAI has launched a prepaid value card in response to increased competition on regional routes. The THAI Value Card, which the airline hopes will also improve low-season revenue, can be used for travel to Vientiane, Phnom Penh, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Singapore, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Five round trips cost 30,000 baht (US$790) for economy travel and 70,000 baht for business class travel. The economy class card is valid until September 30 while the business class card is valid until December 31.
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'Protect Hong Kong from low fare scams'
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Prudence Lui, Hong Kong (2006-05-17)
A TOP agent is urging government to curb low-fare inbound tour groups, fearing they would jeopardise Hong Kong's future as the Chinese mainland's most popular destination.
Hong Thai Travel Services deputy general manager, Mr Daniel Chan, said half the inbound mainland tourists during the Labour Day Golden Week visited as part of such tour groups. Of these, he claimed about 80 per cent paid lower than the actual cost of the tour while handling agents made up profits from commissions earned bringing their clients to designated shops giving up to 50 per cent commission from sales.
Mr Chan said this practice, a variation of zero-fare tours, touted unfairly high-priced goods to the tourists and would hurt Hong Kong's reputation as a premier shopping city in the long run.
He was adamant government had to take steps to limit tour agents and retailers flogging such schemes. He also urged shops to pay travel agencies a lower commission rate to make goods more reasonably priced.
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Houseboats setting sail in Maharashtra
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Anand & Madhura Katti, Mumbai (2006-05-17)
THE Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) will launch Houseboats in Tarkarli-Nerur Par and Aronda Creek by October this year.
This will be the Indian third state to introduce houseboats after Kerala and Karnataka. Its 80-foot long houseboats will be made of wood and natural fibre and will be equipped with central air conditioning.
MTDC managing director, Mr Bhushan Gagrani, said: "Initially, we will introduce two standard houseboats and one luxury houseboat. Both types will have two bedrooms to accommodate six people. The price of accommodation on houseboats is being worked out and will be of a three-star hotel rate, inclusive of all the meals."
The vessels will have an upper deck, kitchen and spacious dining area. Housekeeping staff and lifeguards will also be onboard.
The houseboats can be booked online at www.maharashtratourism.gov.in, and through other MTDC distribution channels, from September 2006.
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IATA reports e-ticketing growth
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Hong Kong (2006-05-17)
IATA says global electronic ticketing (ET) penetration in its Billing and Settlement Plans (BSP) increased by 10.4 per cent, reaching 49 per cent worldwide in the first quarter of 2006.
The result was announced at its Simplifying the Business conference for travel industry members held in Hong Kong from May 16 to 18.
E-ticketing in Europe has grown 25 per cent in volume, North Asia (22 per cent), Africa (20 per cent), Asia-Pacific (16 per cent), Americas (12 per cent) and Middle East (6 per cent). In Asia-Pacific, 42 per cent of BSP flights are now ticketing electronically and in North Asia specifically, 27 per cent. IATA said Middle East and North Africa were the areas lagging the most in adopting the technology.
In North Asia, just eleven of the 24 airlines that use IATA's BSP issue electronic tickets.
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Sichuan authorities fight for tourist rights
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Beijing (2006-05-17)
SICHUAN is working to stamp out the practice of bundling transport and admission fees to scenic sites without offering alternatives.
Tourists have been forced to purchase return tickets on transport or to pay for cable car rides within parks when trying to pay for admission to parks, Sichuan News reported. The Sichuan municipal tourism bureau has announced a new rule that aims to eliminate the practice among some scenic sites.
The new regulation also stipulates that any increment in fares and prices would have to be announced three months in advance, and notices should be displayed at the affected sites prominently.
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Hogg Robinson reshuffles key posts
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Singapore (2006-05-16)
FOLLOWING the relaunch of its brand on April 3, the Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) has announced the restructuring of some key management.
Mr Chris Fry has been named commercial director maintaining his key role responsible for major client relations and business development. Mr Keith Burgess adds corporate administrative responsibility to his existing role of company secretary and general counsel. Mr Mike Platt, formerly managing director of HRG UK, takes up a newly created role as group industry affairs director, while Ms Jacqui Higgs is promoted to group marketing director.
Three regional presidents have been appointed: Mr Tom Gleason, president North America, will focus on the continuing integration and development of the businesses formerly known as Sea Gate Travel, Robustelli World Travel, Partnership Travel Consulting and BTI Canada. Mr Kevin Ruffles, formerly central services director, relinquishes his previous responsibilities (to Mr Keith Burgess) to enable him to take on the role of regional president for Asia-Pacific. Mr Reto Bacher becomes regional president for Europe, including the UK market.
In addition to the Group Executive Management Team, additional changes include the promotion of Mr Peter Kite as managing director HRG UK and Mr Ian Windsor as operational director for Europe. Mr Dan Green (formerly CEO of Sea Gate Travel) will head up HRG's ongoing acquisition programme in North America.
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China Airlines boosts Japan services
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Taipei (2006-05-16)
CHINA Airlines will increase services this summer to help ease the peak season traffic, including resuming the Taipei-Osaka route five times weekly on the A330-300 aircraft.
This route will be operated on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday on flight CI 156, departing 08.25 from Taipei, arriving in Osaka at 11.55. Return flight CI 157 will leave Osaka the same days at 13.15, arriving in Taipei at 15.05.
Starting from July 1, the airline will introduce the Taipei-Sapporo route with six weekly flights. On July 2, the airline will also launch new services for Kaohsiung-Nagoya twice weekly. Both inaugural operations will utilise the B737-800 aircraft.
The new CI 130 will depart from Taipei every day of the week except on Mondays at 09.10 and arrive in Sapporo at 14.00. Return flight CI 131 will leave Sapporo on the same days at 15.00, arriving in Taipei at 18.05.
CI 152 will depart every Wednesday and Sunday from Kaohsiung at 08.20 and arrive in Nagoya at 12.25. Return flight CI 153 leaves Nagoya the same day at 13.25, arriving in Kaohsiung at 15.45.
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Singapore (2006-05-16)
SWISS International Air Lines has announced a string of new updates, including added services and the introduction of e-ticketing issuance for its Santiago de Chile destination.
SWISS now flies to Shanghai as part of a codeshare agreement with Lufthansa on its daily service from Munich. Flight LX4048/LH726 leaves Munich at 21.15 and arrives at Shanghai's Pudong Airport at 14.55 the next day. Return flight LX4049/LH727 departs Shanghai 22.15, arriving in Munich the next day at 05.30.
Meanwhile, the airline has added two weekly flights, in addition to the present six weekly, between Zurich and Tokyo, operated by codeshare partner Japan Airlines (from June to end September).
Other changes include added services to New York, which is now thrice daily; to Madrid and Barcelona via codeshared flights with Spanair; and thrice daily flights four times weekly to Dresden via Cirrus Airlines. For details, visit http://www.swiss.com
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Bangkok (2006-05-16)
CENTRAL Hotels & Resorts has named Mr Christoph Spiess the new general manager of Central Karon Beach Resort, Phuket. He was previously general manager of Central Samui Village in Samui.
Meanwhile, Mr Marco Groten has been appointed general manger of the Evason Hideaway & Six Senses Spa at Yao Noi, an island in Phang Nga Bay situated between Phuket and Krabi in Thailand. The resort is slated to open in early 2007 and features 55 pool villas, several f&b outlets, wine cellar and a Six Senses Spa village. Mr Groten was most recently resort manager of Soneva Gili & Six Senses Spa in the Maldives.
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Educational forum on Islam for tour guides
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S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2006-05-16)
TO give tourist guides a better understanding about Islam and to help them answer related questions posed by tourists, the Selangor Tourist Guides' Association is planning a one-day educational forum for all guides with the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia in the second half of the year.
The first half of the session will be in question and answer format while the second half will be on Islam Hadhari - an approach that emphasizes development, consistent with the tenets of Islam and focused on enhancing the quality of life, the association's honorary deputy chairman, Mr Muhammad Kamal Muda, said.
He added that many tourists become curious about Islam after they were taken on guided tours to mosques. "We're organising this talk to help tourist guides provide correct information to tourists."
The association is currently seeking approval from the Tourism Ministry to make this event part of the Continuous Travel Related Education for tourist guides.
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Ban on unlicensed filming of China's scenery
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Shanghai (2006-05-16)
CHINA'S Ministry of Construction has announced a ban on filming at scenic spots without approval.
Films, television series, and live commercial performances will be affected by the ban. The ministry has also ordered provincial construction authorities to investigate some recent incidents in which the environment was allegedly damaged by film crew.
The move appeared to have been triggered by the environmental damage caused by the film crew of acclaimed director Chen Kaige's latest film "The Promise", China Daily reported.
Last week, the vice-minister of construction criticised the film crew for causing damage to the environment at Bigu Tianchi in Yunnan province.
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Tohoku targets Asia traffic
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Singapore (2006-05-15)
JAPAN'S Tohoku region in northern Honshu is keen to beef up its visibility in South-east Asia, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The region has six prefectures, namely, Aomori, Iwate, Akita, Miyagi, Yamagata and Fukushima.
Tohoku District Transport Bureau's Tourism Promotion Division director, Mr Norimitsu Kikuchi, said: "The Tohoku region hopes to modestly increase its share of international visitors into Japan from the current four per cent to five per cent or half a million international visitors by 2010."
JTB has organised four promotions since 2002 and Mr Tatsuhiko Saito, manager at its Group Tours Office in Sendai, said: "For the first time, the latest promotion involving 58 agents and more than 20 journalists targets South-east Asia and we are keen to promote Tohoku's nature and onsens (hotspring spas)."
Thai Travel Agents Association president, Mr Anake Srishevachart, said: "Due to a lack of publicity, awareness of the Tohoku region is low and the absence of direct flights into the region makes it a little more expensive. Tohoku does offer a rich mix of cherry blossoms, fruit and autumn scenes that are very popular with Thais."
In China, the Tohoku region appointed actor, Hu Bin, tourism ambassador.
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New DoT project whets appetites
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Manila (2006-05-15)
THE Kulinarya project of the Asia Society and the Department of Tourism (DoT) aims to create awareness and appreciation for Filipino food and position the Philippines as a prime culinary destination.
The multi-phased project starts with a standard guide for 40 Filipino dishes. Seven of the country's top chefs will research and prepare recipes for all 40 dishes and then sample and critique each other's preparations. They will submit their top three recipe recommendations for each dish for a tasting session next month. In October, the chosen recipes will be published in a cookbook. The DoT will endorse hotels and restaurants that adopt the recipes.
Asia Society executive director, Mr Theo Arnold, said, "By setting standards in taste and preparation, the dishes will become more recognisable. It is our hope that Philippine cuisine will receive the recognition it deserves."
The DoT will develop culinary tour packages, conduct an inventory and upgrade of the quality of existing Filipino restaurants, and facilitate investments in fine-dining Filipino restaurants overseas. It will also establish a website on Filipino cuisine, invite international editors on editorial food trips and hold an international food expo next year to promote Filipino cuisine.
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APEC Tourism Working Group sets ministerial meeting agenda
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Shizuoka (2006-05-15)
THE Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) plans to launch a tourism fair. Proposed by APEC's Tourism Working Group (TWG), details will be ironed out during the 4th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Hoi An, Vietnam from October 12 to 19.
TWG members met in Shizuoka, Japan on May 10 and 11 to discuss the priorities for the ministerial meeting. They also proposed holding an APEC Tourism and Investment Forum on the margins of future ministerial meetings to help draw investments for the ongoing development of tourism in Asia-Pacific. Also on the agenda is a strategic review of the six-year-old APEC Tourism Charter.
TWG Meeting chairman, Mr Pham Quang Hung, said: "The strategic review of the 2000 Tourism Charter will ensure a work programme that will identify and address the challenges affecting tourism in the coming years."
Mr Pham, who is also Vietnam National Administration of Tourism director of international co-operation, said one area identified by TWG was to promote intra-regional travel by reducing unnecessary red tape. "This includes streamlining business procedures, connecting tours and opening direct flights between the world cultural heritages in member economies."
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Monthly passenger throughput at HKIA hits all-time high
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Hong Kong (2006-05-15)
HONG KONG International Airport (HKIA) welcomed 3.8 million people last month, a 14.1 per cent growth over the same period last year and an all-time-high record for monthly passenger throughput.
This is attributed to robust passenger growth driven by holiday and business travels as the Easter holiday and Guangzhou Trade Fair fell in the same month.
Daily passenger traffic reached a record high of 154,000 on April 14. Aircraft movements grew 10.6 per cent to 23,580.
Airport Authority of Hong Kong commercial director, Mr Hans Bakker, said visitor traffic growth would continue with a steady increase in passengers from South-east Asia and Australasia.
According to Airports Council International (ACI), the international association for the world's airports, air passenger traffic worldwide will grow at an annual rate of four per cent in 15 years' time, with Asia-Pacific enjoying the highest growth rate.
For the past 12 months ended April 2006, HKIA handled 42.1 million passengers, a rise of 9.2 per cent over the previous year.
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Ascott sells London property
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Singapore (2006-05-15)
THE Ascott Group has sold the 56-unit Ascott Mayfair in London for £65.8 million (US$121 million). Ascott will continue to manage the eight-storey property until the transaction is completed in the middle of the year.
The group's deputy chairman, Mr Liew Mun Leong, said the sale was in line with Ascott's asset light, asset right strategy. "The proceeds from the divestment are significant and will help Ascott expand its serviced residence business by investing into higher-yield assets and high growth markets."
Ascott managing director and CEO, Mr Cameron Ong, added the group would seek other properties in London and expand into other gateway cities in Europe that had a high volume of business travellers.
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TAT governor may stay another year
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Bangkok (2006-05-15)
TOURISM Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor, Ms Juthamas Siriwan, may have her employment contract extended by another year.
The TAT's executive board will discuss the extension at its board meeting this month, according to tourism and sports minister, Mr Pracha Maleenont.
Ms Juthamas' current term is scheduled to end on September 1. She has held the position since September 2002.
Mr Pracha praised Ms Juthamas' performance, saying she was a key person in the implementation of the ministry's strategic policies.
He also said she had good relations with international tourism agencies.
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The Venetian Macao rolls out event contracts
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Las Vegas (2006-05-15)
LAS Vegas Sands Corporation has signed contracts for five multi-year trade shows at The Venetian Macao. They include Asian Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo, CMP Asia Jewelry and Watch Show and Global Gaming Expo Asia.
The automotive and gaming events will be held in 2008 and 2009. They will follow the formats of their US counterparts. The automotive show is the 34th largest trade show in the US, occupying close to 46,000m2 of exhibition space and attracting more than 2,000 exhibiting companies and 80,000 visitors. Global Gaming Expo is the 78th largest trade show in the US, occupying close to 27,000m2 of exhibition space and attracting 720 exhibiting companies and 17,000 visitors.
The jewellery and watch show will take place in January 2008. Organised by CMP Asia, it will complement the Hong Kong Jewelry and Watch Fair. Last year, the Hong Kong event attracted 811 exhibitors and 19,603 visitors.
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Virgin launches upper-class suites in India
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Anand & Madhura Katti, Mumbai (2006-05-11)
VIRGIN Atlantic has launched its upper class suites product for its flights serving India.
The reclining leather seats in the suite convert to flat beds with a mattress at the touch of a button. An onboard bar, a relaxing massage and a chauffeur-driven transfer service are also included in the suite services.
Virgin Atlantic general manager (India), Mr Joe Thompson, told TTG Daily News: "The suite represents the return of glamour and luxury to longhaul flying. There is a big market for quality here and we could no longer deprive India of our premium product. With this launch, we expect a 15 to 20 per cent increase in upper class sales from India this year."
The A340-300 aircraft operating on the Indian routes is configured with 34 upper class suites, 35 premium economy seats and 171 economy seats. Virgin flies daily nonstop Mumbai-London and New Delhi-London routes. It is planning to launch services to a South Indian city soon.
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Macau Showcases Heritage and Business Tourism
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Macau (2006-05-11)
MACAU Government Tourist Office (MGTO) director, Mr Joao Manuel Costa Antunes, says the NTO would launch another consumer promotion during the second half of the year - the "World Heritage Passport".
The MGTO hosted a five-day Mega Media Fam Trip in April 2006 for 94 journalists from Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. Timed to coincide with the official opening of the Macau Business Tourism Centre, Mr Antunes said: "The growing MICE infrastructure brought about by the massive investments in the gaming industry together with Macau's designation as a UNESCO Heritage Site in July 2005 give us the opportunity to offer a more diverse and multifaceted product."
Lending substance to this promise of diversification, journalists were offered a varied menu of walking tours, site inspections of convention and gaming facilities, visits to Coloane where quaint Chinese and Portuguese settlements co-exist harmoniously just a short drive from the upcoming Cotai Strip, a 1.3km stretch that will have up to 20,000 guestrooms in its first phase.
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Hilton plans Ulanbaatar entry
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Singapore (2006-05-11)
HILTON Hotels Corporation has signed an agreement with Star Estates Company to manage Hilton Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia's capital.
Scheduled to open in May 2008, the hotel will be located in downtown Ulanbaatar, adjoined to a residential complex.
It will have 240 rooms, four f&b outlets, and meeting facilities will include a 500-seater ballroom and seven meeting rooms.
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Spooky attraction for Shah Alam
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S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur (2006-05-11)
AN exhibition bordering on the supernatural is expected to attract tourists to the usually quiet Selangor State museum in Shah Alam, Muzium Sultan Alam Shah.
Planned to open early June, the exhibition focusing on ghosts, genies and coffins is targeted to attract 500,000 visitors, which is nearly triple the number of visitors to the museum for the whole of last year.
Foreign tourists are expected to account for more than 30 per cent of the turnout, Selangor Tourism Action Council Promotion and Marketing manager, Mr Mohammad Isa Abdul Halim told TTG Daily News. The council will use its allocation of RM40,000 (US$11,119) to print and distribute promotional materials at entry points into Selangor. Entry points such as Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Kuala Lumpur Sentral and other high traffic areas frequented by tourists will be flooded with posters.
In 2003, a somewhat similar exhibition focusing on ghosts was held at the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur. It recorded 800,000 visitors during the three-month period, Ethnology of the Malay World Museum curator, Ms Rosidah Abdullah, said.
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Thai research body: 'Keep an eye on China'
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Bangkok (2006-05-11)
CHINESE tourists could pump 26 billion baht (US$687.6 million) in revenue into the Thai economy this year – a 30 per cent increased on the year, according to the Kasikorn Research Center.
Supporting a Tourism Authority of Thailand forecast, the centre said the number of Chinese tourists would jump to one million from 800,000 last year.
Thailand's mainland China market has grown an average of 20 per cent over the past five years, and is one of the country's ten largest tourism markets. The research centre said most Chinese visitors to Thailand were low-income earners, first-time travellers or part of large tour groups. Most were leisure travellers, but the MICE, FIT and repeat visitor markets were growing, it added.
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Indonesia seeks to improve aviation safety standards
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Jakarta (2006-05-11)
IN a move to improve aviation safety standards in Indonesia, the Department of Communications is banning all new requests by domestic carriers for permits to lease and import old Boeing 737-200 aircraft.
The government will not allow an aircraft which has had a cycle of more than 50,000 flights. Minister for Communications, Mr Hatta Rajasam was quoted in the local media as saying the new rule was taken due to frequent trouble affecting passenger safety the old aircraft were causing. He also said the old aircraft consumed a lot of fuel. There are 80 B737-200 aircraft operating in Indonesia.
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Shanghai Airlines to join Star Alliance
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Shanghai (2006-05-11)
STAR Alliance has invited Shanghai Airlines to join the coalition.
Shanghai Airlines chairman, Mr Zhou Chi, and Star Alliance CEO, Mr Jaan Albrecht, said in a statement the two carriers would work toward the formal entry of Shanghai Airlines to the alliance over the coming months, but no dates were listed.
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Mumbai (2006-05-11)
JET Airways has appointed Mr Dale Moss chief operating officer, based in Mumbai. He will be responsible for passenger sales, cargo and operation, information technology, IT network and communication.
His was formerly British Airways director of worldwide cargo sales and marketing.
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Skills upgrading planned for Malaysian industry
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Kuala Lumpur, S. Puvaneswary (2006-05-10)
MALAYSIA will spend RM35 million (US$9.76 million) over the next two years to raise the service standards of frontliners in the tourism industry.
Those who will benefit include civil servants, tourist guides and receptionists, said Tourism Ministry secretary-general, Datuk Dr Victor Wee, at the inaugural Malaysian Tourism Symposium held recently in Penang.
This initiative is part of the "Malaysia Welcomes the World" hospitality training programme initiated by the ministry to raise the service standards, upgrade the skills and talents and to change the mindsets of those involved in tourism-related industries.
"We want to elevate Malaysia as a premier, value for money destination in this region. Tourists must feel welcome and safe so that they will want to come again," said Datuk Dr Wee.
He added that existing products to be enhanced include marine tourism and eco-tourism. "We are also developing the accessibility of certain areas so tourists can enjoy nature and the natural surroundings that they will not find in their country," he said.
Tourists arrivals for 2007 is targeted at 20.1 million. This is expected to grow at an average rate of 8.4 per cent per annum to reach 24.6 million arrivals by 2010. The number of hotel rooms is expected to increase from 170,873 from last year to 247,008 by 2010.
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Sleepy island wakes up to tourism
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Tran Ngoc Son, Hanoi (2006-05-10)
A RAFT of incentives have been introduced to turn the sleepy island of Phu Quoc into a world-class destination that can attract up to three million tourists annually.
Foreign tourists visiting Phu Quoc for less than 15 days will no longer need visas and tourism investors will enjoy 50 per cent off land rentals. The announcement was made by Mr Bui Ngoc Suong, chairman of the Kien Giang People's Committee yesterday.
The conference drew more than 600 potential investors.
Mr Suong said a 10 per cent corporate income tax levy will be applied to investors in Phu Quoc instead of the normal rate of 28 per cent elsewhere in Vietnam
For the first time in the country, foreign investors would be eligible to purchase houses in Phu Quoc, he said. 3,800 hectares of land will be set aside for construction of resorts, golf courses, a race track and entertainment complexes.
Mr Karl John, CEO of investment consultant TCK Group, said: "For sure, Phu Quoc has the potential to be another Phuket or Bali in ten years time."
Mr John is working with a local company on three developments in Phu Quoc, one of them will cost more than US$250 million to build.
Meanwhile, construction of the island's international airport is expected to begin in 2008.
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Beijing and Hong Kong (2006-05-10)
CHINA'S recently concluded week-long May Day holidays saw record transport figures chalked up.
The General Administration of Civil Aviation said that three million passengers undertook air travel during the week, up 10.5 per cent from the same period last year.
A further 42 million people travelled by rail, according to the Ministry of Railways, an increase of 10 per cent. 2,250 trains were put into service to deal with the increase, 1,590 more than last year.
Meanwhile the Hong Kong Tourism Commission said between the period of April 29 and May 8, 415,466 Mainland arrivals were recorded, only a six per cent increase over the same period last year.
The Commission attributed the smaller than usual increase to more Mainland visitors choosing to come to Hong Kong during off-peak seasons on the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS).
A spokesman said: "IVS is becoming more popular and has accounted for about half of the total Mainland visitors. As Mainland visitors become more mature travellers, the 'Golden Week effect' is expected to diminish gradually."
According to Hong Kong Hotels Association, the average hotel rate increased by 15 per cent during the holiday period and average occupancy was around 85 per cent.
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Cox&Kings in new online venture
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Ritesh Gupta, New Delhi (2006-05-10)
COX&KINGS will launch a new online meta search site , www.ezeego1.com, with booking capabilities and real time web-based booking engine in the second half of May.
Ms Neelu Singh has been appointed COO of the new venture.
Ezeego1 is headquartered in Mumbai and with branches in New Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. The total investment in the travel portal is expected to be US$22.7 million. So far US$4.54 million has been invested.
Ezeego1's business model is based on three parameters. The B2B, where travel agents are provided with an email ID and password. "All products on the site are commissionable to the agent and they would enjoy preferential pricing," Ms Singh said. "We see an opportunity for small and medium size agents to use the ezeego1 technology and products. What's more, they can brand it as their own product and promote it to the end consumer."
The second is the franchisee route where close to 100 franchisees would be appointed across India in the first year of operation. These locations would be called Ezeego1 shops.
Finally, the B2C model allows customers to book air travel, hotel accommodation, car rental and also obtain his travel insurance.
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