http://www.ttgasia.com TTG Asia RSS Feeds http://www.ttgasia.com/ en-us 23 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21042 INTENSE competition for Indian incentives to Malaysia has resulted in a price war among local inbound event specialists, with some reporting weaker bookings and thinner margins. 23 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21047 VETERAN DMC and boutique travel specialist Janet Tan-Collis, managing director of East West Planners Singapore, has been elected president of SACEOS, a post which, in the history of the association, has always been held by the head of an exhibition company. 23 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21051 AHMS Collection, a hotel development firm, will expand its operations beyond Thailand in early 2015 with the opening of its luxury private island resort in Cambodia targeting the high-end medical, beauty and wellness-focused tourism sectors. 23 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21048 THE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has appointed Thawatchai Arunyik, TAT's deputy governor for the domestic market, as the next governor to helm the NTO. 23 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21049 FOR the first time, the Penang MATTA Fair will be organised by the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents' (MATTA) wholly-owned subsidiary and business arm, Micem, instead. 23 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21050 SRI Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) is stepping up marketing efforts to India with the planned opening of three offices in India, beginning with a Mumbai launch in July. 23 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21052 RESORTS World Sentosa (RWS) has rolled out new products for travellers looking for a different experience, including getting up-close with marine life and unwinding at the spa. 23 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21054 SO YOUR client wants to know how the nerd that sat next to him on the plane got offered an upgrade to first class while he was left slumming it in cattle (I mean, economy) class. 22 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21036 SANDS Cotai Macao has rebranded itself as Cotai Strip Macao and is waiving meeting charges in a bid to drive destination demand. 22 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21037 GLOBAL corporate bookings for April posted the strongest growth since August 2011, spiking 8.8 per cent as compared to the same period last year. 22 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21038 MELIA Hotels International and China's Greenland Group have launched Qube Frankfurt as part of a pact to target inbound Chinese travellers to Europe. 22 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21039 COME September 2013, Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) will be the first airline in South-east Asia to take delivery of its Boeing 787 Dreamliner order. 22 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21040 ABU Dhabi-based Rotana Hotel Management will hoist its flag on Indian soil in 2016, as it plans to open some 20 hotels in the country within the next decade. 22 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21041 BEST Western International (BWI) is bringing its midscale Best Western brand to Myanmar for the first time, having signed an agreement to manage the Green Hill Hotel in central Yangon. 21 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21028 INBOUND traffic from Taiwan to the Philippines has plunged and three airlines plying routes between the two countries have cancelled services, following Taiwan's travel advisory against the South-east Asian country. 21 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21027 TACENTRE.COM is offering cash rewards and prizes to travel consultants who purchase travel products through its online wholesale system as part of its Great Summer Sales 2013 promotion. 21 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21029 STRONG growth in arrivals to Myanmar are likely to continue even after the country crossed the one-million mark in 2012, as evidenced by skyrocketing growth rates between January and April this year. 21 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21033 ASCOTT has bagged a management contract to operate its first serviced residence, Ascott Olaya Riyadh, which is set to debut in 2015. 21 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21030 TOURIST arrivals and US consumer confidence levels are two factors identified as always having a positive effect on a city's RevPAR, though global trends exert a high influence on RevPAR rather than local ones. 21 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21031 SAUDI ARABIA this year will begin allowing Muslim pilgrims to visit other Islamic and historical sites through its new 'Umrah-Plus' visa, in a bid to strengthen its tourism industry. 21 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21032 LOCAL hospitality brand Big Hotel has made its debut with the opening of its first property on Middle Road, Singapore, targeting design-conscious travellers. 21 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21034 PATA has announced a number of appointments, effective immediately, to meet its increased commitment to the areas of human capital development, corporate social development and corporate social responsibility. 21 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21035 KUCHING has outbid Prague to host the ICCA Congress in 2016, a win it believes will catapult the secondary Malaysian city onto the global association meetings map. 20 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21019 SHUN TAK Holdings, a household name in Hong Kong and Macau, is planning to establish its own hotel brand and management. 20 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21020 THE UK has debuted same-day visa application services at its high commissions in India, with plans to make the facility available in a handful of other countries in the near future. 20 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21021 JAPAN'S weakening currency may be the saviour of its once-faltering inbound tourism, as trade players at the inaugural Japan-ASEAN Travel Mart last week cited the yen as a major factor for the sector's strong recovery. 20 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21022 GARUDA Indonesia began Bandung-Denpasar flights on May 18 in a bid to facilitate traffic between the two cities and connect Bandung with other Garuda destinations such as Australia, Japan and South Korea. 20 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21023 FIREFLY will face stiff competition from Malindo Air when the latter commences twice-daily turbo-propeller operations to Penang, Johor Bahru and Kota Bharu out of Subang Skypark Terminal from June 3. 20 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21024 SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) and its subsidiary SilkAir have signed a codesharing agreement with Shenzhen Airlines, giving passengers a choice of two flights on the route between Shenzhen and Singapore. 20 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21025 ARCHIPELAGO International has begun welcoming guests at its fifth Favehotel, Favehotel Kelapa Gading, in the Indonesian capital. 20 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21026 MITTU Chandilya has been named CEO of AirAsia India, effective June 1, 2013. 17 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21002 INBOUND agents in Malaysia are projecting growth in the incentive business from Eastern Europe this year, thanks largely to improved air connections to the region offered by Middle Eastern airlines. 17 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21014 ALILA Hotels and Resorts has announced new team additions in India and Indonesia. 17 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21015 ANGSANA Hotels and Resorts will launch its first hot spring destination retreat, Angsana Tengchong Hot Spring Village, in Tengchong, Yunnan province. 17 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21016 PASSENGER numbers at Melbourne Airport rose four per cent in April 2013 compared to the same month last year, with a total of 2,451,847 domestic and international passengers travelling through Victoria's aviation gateway. 17 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21017 SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) has registered improved net profit of 12.8 per cent year-on-year to S$379 million (US$302.3 million) for its financial year 2012-13. 17 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21018 MALAYSIA Airlines (MAS) will increase frequency between Kuala Lumpur and Kathmandu to seven times weekly beginning June 1, 2013. 16 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20998 MINAMIZA, one of Kyoto's earliest kabuki theatres, is opening its doors to business event organisers 16 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21008 LEADERS from the global theme park and attractions industry will travel to Marina Bay Sands' Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore for c, which will be held from June 4-7. 16 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21009 BANGKOK Airways and Qatar Airways have commenced their codeshare agreement on selected flights in Thailand and within the region, effective from May 15. 16 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21011 EMIRATES Holidays and TUI India, the tour-operating arm of Emirates airline and Le Passage to India respectively, have tied up to target the Indian outbound and inbound markets. Both companies signed an MOU on May 15, 2013. 16 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21012 THE city of Bandung has formed the Bandung Tourism Promotion Board (BTPB) to develop and promote the city for tourism. 16 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=21013 MOHAMED Nazri Abdul Aziz has been named Malaysia's tourism and culture minister with Joseph Salang Gandum as the deputy minister, in the new cabinet line-up announced by the Prime Minister yesterday, following the 13th General Election on May 5. 15 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20989 SINGAPORE'S transport minister Lui Tuck Yew yesterday announced that the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) would be setting aside S$2 million (US$1.6 million) to aid airlines in developing self-service solutions at Singapore Changi Airport. 15 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20990 VISITBRITAIN is focusing on Indonesia as a new growth market in South-east Asia, a move that will be catalysed by direct Jakarta-London flights scheduled to start later this year. 15 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20991 CHAN Brothers Travel is looking to capture and retain customers by offering personalised service through a new customer relationship management (CRM) system, which will be launched within the next nine to 12 months. 15 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20992 AIMING to lure one million South-east Asian visitors to its shores this year, Japan is stepping up efforts to grow regional arrivals with the launch of the first Japan-ASEAN Travel Mart 2013. 15 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20993 ACCOR'S upmarket Pullman brand has made its debut in Phuket with the opening of Pullman Phuket Arcadia. 15 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20994 ASCOTT has deepened its reach in China, having secured contracts to manage two serviced residences in Wuxi after bagging a Nanjing property just last month (TTG Asia e-Daily, April 9, 2013). 14 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20981 MURLIDHAR Rao has been named estate manager of the The Sanchaya, Bintan, which is scheduled to open in the second half of 2013. 14 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20982 THE UK market to Sri Lanka has seen an 18 per cent year-on-year jump in the first quarter of this year, which is anticipated to grow further following the return of British Airways last month (TTG Asia e-Daily, August 14, 2012). 14 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20983 A NEW partnership between Lenovo and 3rd Planet will allow travel and tourism players to reach users of Lenovo PCs, smartphones and tablets globally through the Wonders of the World app. 14 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20984 AIRLINES around the world have begun deploying the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on their routes again, five months after an All Nippon Airways (ANA) Dreamliner made an emergency landing due to battery problems (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 17, 2013). 14 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20985 THE first Ramada property in Singapore will throw open its doors in four days' time, placing a selection of indoor and outdoor event venues in the heart of the Balestier heritage district. 14 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20986 SWISS CEO Harry Hohmeister expects the airline's daily direct Singapore-Zurich service which took off yesterday (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 13, 2013) to break even in the first year and return a profit in the third year. 14 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20987 STARWOOD Hotels and Resorts' Le Meridien brand has returned to Bali with the opening of its latest resort in Jimbaran. 14 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20988 Taking office in January for a five-year term, the new ASEAN Secretary-General Le Luong Minh will see the birth of the ASEAN Economic Community under his watch. Here are excerpts from an interview on tourism integration in South-east Asia. 13 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20975 BRAND USA will establish a foothold in the Hong Kong market through the creation of a marketing representation office within the next few months. 13 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20976 THE changing lifestyles of Indonesia's growing middle class are carving out a significant opportunity for travel and tourism players. 13 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20977 INDIAN OTA Ezeego1.com has ventured into selling sports tickets on its website by teaming up with Sports Events 365. 13 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20978 MALINDO Air will commence daily services between Kuala Lumpur and Sibu, Miri and Tawau next month, effectively ending AirAsia's dominance on these routes for low-cost flights. 13 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20979 SWISS International Air Lines' (SWISS) direct Singapore-Zurich service is launching today, marking the return of the airline to Singapore Changi Airport after a four-year hiatus. 13 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20980 VIRGIN Airlines has set an ambitious goal of using only clean-burning fuels on all flights by 2020, in a bid to make air travel one of the greenest industries. 10 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20974 THE Imperial Mae Ping Hotel in Chiang Mai has come up with a special charity weekend package to raise funds for 14-year-old Chaa Nay Choo, who sustained serious burns while trying to save others in the Mae Surin refugee camp fire. 10 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20968 TRAVEL consultants in Singapore are putting together more tour packages to the Philippines as statistics point to an increasing number of residents from the city-state heading there. 10 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20969 FINNAIR is preparing to launch its two new routes to Asia next month, but further expansion to this region is likely limited in the near future. 10 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20970 EMAAR Hospitality Group has launched a new four-star brand targeting young travellers looking for affordable but luxurious stays. 10 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20971 US GAMING and hospitality giant Trump Organization has secured a management deal for a golf course, spa and hotel in Dubai, which will be rolled out in phases from next year. 10 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20972 MALINDO Air is inching into travel agency territory this year, expanding its online services to include a platform that allows travellers to purchase hotels with their flights. 10 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20973 THE Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has signed a deal with Sekisui House for The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto, scheduled to begin welcoming guests in 2014. 9 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20959 HOGG Robinson Group (HRG) has appointed Singaporean Joana Yap as general manager of HRG Singapore, effective August 1. 9 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20960 TANJONG Jara Resort in the Malaysian state of Terengganu is offering a Summer Stopover promotion, dropping regular rates by 25 per cent. 9 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20961 QATAR Airways is in talks with Indian LCC IndiGo for a collaboration, but has no definite plans for a stake purchase. 9 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20962 SINGAPORE has beaten Tianjin, China and Monterrey, Mexico to secure a five-year contract to host the prestigious Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Championships between 2014-2018. 9 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20963 SEVEN of the top 10 hospitals on the 2013 World's Best Hospitals for Medical Tourists list are in Asia, offering opportunities for the travel trade to work more closely with healthcare providers. 9 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20964 INDONESIA will need 800 new hotels or 100,000 more rooms within the next decade in order to keep pace with the projected growth of domestic and international tourists to the country. 9 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20965 SLATED for completion in 2014/2015, recreational facilities at the 1,300-hectare Lagoi Bay will be ready in full force by end-2013. 9 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20966 MEDIA company 3rd Planet is set to roll out a new application that allows tablet users to explore international attractions in 3D for better trip planning. 8 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20950 FAR East Hospitality will host its first heritage festival later this year, allowing foreign travellers to gain a deeper understanding of Singapore's culture when they stay at its hotels and residences. 8 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20951 TRAVELLERS from Saudi Arabia now form the largest user base of metasearch engine Wego out of all the Gulf states, with trending overseas destinations including Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. 8 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20952 SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) is adding a new Surabaya service to its network and will increase the frequencies of outbound flights to Bali and Jakarta. 8 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20953 FRANZ Zeller has been appointed Millennium and Copthorne Hotels' (MandC) senior vice president, Asia, having come from Archipelago Hotels and Resorts, where he was managing director of the Malaysian hotel management company (TTG Asia e-Daily, October 17, 2012). 8 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20954 ASIAROOMS.COM'S survey on online accommodation bookings has found that travellers prefer to pay for their rooms upon checkout rather than at the point of booking. 8 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20955 WITH over 70 per cent of Indian arrivals still first-time tourists to Malaysia, the country's NTO will continue to push traditional destinations. 7 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20940 OUTRIGGER Enterprises Group has named Sean Dee executive vice president and chief marketing officer. 7 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20941 JESSICA Loh has been appointed director of sales for Swissotel Merchant Court, bringing with her more than 10 years of experience in sales management. 7 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20942 TRAVEL agencies across India are banding together to close for business today in protest against a cut in commissions. 7 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20943 THE number of flights between Singapore and Indonesia is going up yet again, with Tiger Airways being the latest to announce the launch of daily services to Jogjakarta and Bandung. 7 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20944 INBOUND tourism in the Middle East is on an upward trajectory, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council's (WTTC) Economic Impact 2013, which predicted a positive future ahead for the region's tourism sector. 7 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20945 A NEW charity half marathon is set to debut in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Luang Prabang this October, with proceeds pledged to go directly to the race's beneficiaries. 7 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20946 THREE-star hotel Cipaganti Legian Hotel will open its doors to guests this June in Bali. 7 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20947 YTL Hotels' Tanjong Jara Resort on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia is banking on its unique Malay cultural offerings to draw high-end incentives. 7 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20948 The only travel agency in Sai Kung, the retail experience at Travel Expert is straightforward and fuss-free, much like the decor 7 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20949 THE Empire Hotel and Country Club, Brunei has unveiled a promotion for a long, luxury weekend stay. 6 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20932 FACED with greater competition for marketing funds, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy will re-evaluate the effectiveness of the Indonesia Corporate Meetings and Incentive Travel Mart (ICMITM), a move that may see the ministry cut back on its support in the coming years. 6 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20933 HILTON Worldwide has ceased managing Hilton Maldives Iru Fushi, having terminated its management agreement with owner Sun Travels and Tours on May 3. 6 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20934 THE Department of Tourism (DoT) says it is on track to meet its 5.5 million arrivals target for 2013 based on the 1.3 million foreign tourists it witnessed during the first quarter, which marks a significant 10.8 per cent year-on-year leap. 6 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20935 BUDGET brand Tune Hotels has entered India with the opening of Tune Hotel Ahmedabad this month, tweaking its product to suit the market such as the introduction of family rooms. 6 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20936 RESEARCH has found that the travel industry has yet to fully embrace newer payment systems, which has made travel consultants, wholesalers and tour operators less competitive as a result. 6 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20937 THAILAND-based ONYX Hospitality Group's Amari brand will debut in Indonesia with the launch of Amari Pecatu Bali in 2015, a joint venture between STA Group Property Division and PR Bali Pecatu Graha. 6 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20938 TOURISM New Zealand and Qantas have launched a new campaign offering promotional air tickets from Singapore to New Zealand. 6 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20939 SHANGRI-LA Hotels and Resorts has appointed Sherryn Bates as the new director of sales and marketing at Kerry Hotel Pudong, Shanghai. 3 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20924 COME 2016, Singapore-based developer GuocoLand will roll out an integrated mixed-use development in the heart of the CBD, which will comprise a hotel, offices, apartments as well as retail and event space. 3 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20925 PLANS are afoot to convert the former colonial-era Police Commissioner's building on Yangon's Strand Road into a US$50 million five-star hotel. 3 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20926 ENCOURAGED by Vietnam's and Cambodia's growing potential as luxury travel destinations, Luxury Travel Vietnam will roll out its first set departure tours in the two countries from June. 3 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20927 SILKAIR will soon fly to two more cities in Indonesia - Semarang and Makassar - expanding its Indonesian network to 11 destinations. 3 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20928 HAVING launched its same-day hotel booking mobile application in Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia and Malaysia in March, Hong Kong-based HotelQuickly has added Vietnam and Macau to its portfolio, becoming another contender in the last-minute booking marketplace that is heating up in Asia (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 21, 2012). 3 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20929 ENTERING its sixth edition this year, the Indonesia Corporate Meeting and Incentive Travel Mart (ICMITM) has helped to introduce new cities in the country as MICE destinations. 3 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20930 THE world's largest cruise company, Carnival Corporation, is aiming for a 50 per cent share of the Asian cruise market in 2017 and intends to establish South-east Asia as Caribbean of the East, with Singapore as the hub. 3 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20931 THE Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is looking to be "more robust" in Asia, according to president and CEO Christine Duffy. 2 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20918 INDIA'S Ministry of Civil Aviation has given the green light for Indian carriers to unbundle certain services and charge separate fees for each of them, including check-in baggage, seat preference, selection of meals and beverages, and carriage of sports equipment. 2 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20919 NATIONAL carrier Garuda Indonesia recorded a net loss of US$33.7 million in the first quarter of 2013, which was over 200 per cent greater than the same period last year. 2 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20920 HOTELIERS worldwide welcomed a promising first quarter as leisure and corporate travel bookings grew over the previous year in general, according to data from Pegasus Solutions. 2 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20921 EMIRATES is set to boost its capacity to South-east Asia with the introduction of a fourth daily Hong Kong flight and a second daily A380 service to Bangkok come October. 2 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20922 HILTON Worldwide opened the DoubleTree by Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok on April 30, marking the brand's inaugural debut in the Thai capital and the company's 100th property in Asia-Pacific. 2 May 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20923 THE Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) will conduct a six-month training programme targeted at school leavers and hospitality workers to ease the manpower shortage and reskill service staff. 30 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20901 INDONESIA'S online travel landscape is heating up with the recent launch of NusaTrip.com, which claims to be the first OTA in the country to provide instant online bookings for all international and most domestic airlines, as well as the largest inventory of hotels worldwide. 30 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20902 PATINA Hotels and Resorts, a new luxury hotel chain conceptualised by the Pontiac Land Group, will launch its inaugural property in Singapore by the end of next year. 30 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20903 DRIVEN by a dramatic 93 per cent growth in arrivals from China, Thailand's visitor arrivals surged to a record 6.8 million in 1Q2013, up 18.9 per cent year-on-year, according to figures from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. 30 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20904 IN A move to tap the lucrative international golf tourism market, Accor has entered into a partnership agreement with Great Golf Courses of Australia (GGA) to promote and sell golf itineraries in potential markets such as the Americas, Europe and particularly Asia. 30 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20905 EMERGING markets in South-east Asia are now looking up as investment hotspots again, helped by increased airlift and upgraded infrastructure, according to Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). 30 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20906 BIMAN Bangladesh Airlines will resume operations to New Delhi and Hong Kong next month, having suspended its services to these two cities last year due to severe aircraft shortage during the Hajj season. 30 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20908 DUE to the Labour Day public holiday, TTG Asia e-Daily will take a break tomorrow and return on Thursday, May 2. We wish all readers a Happy Labour Day. 30 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20909 ASCOTT has appointed deputy CEO and managing director for North Asia, Lee Chee Koon, as the new CEO with effect from June 1, 2013. 30 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20911 ITB Academy is organising two complimentary webinars on the topic of German-speaking source markets in Central Europe - understanding tourists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland in May and June respectively. 29 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20894 GOVERNMENTS across Asia are being urged to review the future manpower needs of the travel and tourism industry, which continues to create millions of jobs for the economy. 29 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20895 TOURISM Tasmania is refocusing its tourism strategy, pulling resources from New Zealand, Japan and the UK to increase its reach into China and South-east Asia. 29 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20896 ASIA'S medical tourism market is growing, with many of the opportunities lying within the region itself. 29 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20897 BUDGETS have become less important to travellers, who now care more for the types of attractions, quality of scenery and rich cultural experiences that a destination offers, according to Visa's latest Global Travel Intentions Study 2013 of 12,631 travellers from 25 countries. 29 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20898 PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) has confirmed flights to more points in the Middle East as part of an expansion to 12 cities worldwide, including previously announced routes to Australia, China and Malaysia. 29 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20899 MALINDO Air will roll out more destinations in India following the launch of its first international route between Kuala Lumpur and New Delhi in June. 26 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20888 CHINATOWN Food Street in Singapore will be shut for renovations from May 1, though traffic along Smith Street will continue as per normal until further notice. 26 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20889 THAILAND welcomed 15 per cent more arrivals from India between January and March this year, and is stepping up efforts to woo even more travellers from the market. 26 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20890 A gloomy economic climate notwithstanding, 38 per cent of travellers foresee higher travel-related expenditure this year, says a global study by CNN on travel and tourism patterns of consumers. 26 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20891 PATA has come together with Hong Kong Polytechnic University's (PolyU) School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) to release a joint publication, Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2013-2017, which, according to the collaborators, will help tourism practitioners anticipate future trends of the visitor economy. 26 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20892 INDONESIA Lion Air Group launched its full-service subsidiary, Batik Air, yesterday, with a twice-daily Jakarta-Manado flight slated to be the latter's first service come May 3. 26 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20893 A NUMBER of international sport events will take place in Vietnam this year, bringing with them hopes of stronger foreign arrivals into the country. 25 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20881 AYALA Land and the Makati Tourism Foundation are banding together to increase Makati's visibility as an arts and culture destination through the year-long Make It Makati campaign, offering up event spaces that can also be booked by groups. 25 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20882 ACCOR'S board of directors has given chairman and CEO Denis Hennequin the boot and instituted an interim team, following differences over the implementation of the group's strategy. 25 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20883 THE Indian government has given the go-ahead for the introduction of visa-on-arrival (VOA) service at five more international airports - Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi in Kerala, Goa, Hyderabad and Bengaluru - with a formal notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs expected this week. 25 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20884 OCCUPANCY, average daily rate (ADR) and RevPAR for hotels in Asia-Pacific fell in March, although South-east Asia boasted positive growth. 25 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20885 MARRIOTT International has launched the Marriott Institute of Hospitality Education in partnership with Anhui Zhong-Ao Institute of Technology in China, and will begin with an intake of 300 students this year. 25 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20886 TAIWAN'S China Airlines will today sign an agreement with Russia's Transaero Airlines to codeshare and launch a jointly operated flight. 25 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20887 RAMADA Plaza Menam Riverside Bangkok has promoted Klaus Sennik to general manager. 24 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20870 HOGG Robinson Group (HRG) has picked John Harvey as marketing director. 24 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20871 AUSTRALIA'S regulatory authority has approved Virgin Australia's 60 per cent stake in Tiger Airways Australia, a move hoped to tame the latter's unprofitability and transform it into an effective competitor to Jetstar. 24 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20872 A LOCAL working group established this month in Jakarta will partner the Jakarta provincial tourism and culture office and related shareholders to revitalise the historic Old Batavia area in the capital. 24 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20873 MALAYSIAN inbound operators strong in the Indian inbound market have reported an increase in bookings for summer, the peak travel period for Indians. 24 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20874 AIRASIA Indonesia will revive its Darwin and Bali connection on July 1 with four weekly flights, having axed the service last year. 24 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20875 PAN PACIFIC Hotels Group will launch the 180-key Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Beach Road on May 7, in a lively district rich in Islamic history and culture. 24 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20876 TWO more properties will open under the GHM-backed Ahn Luh brand by 2015 - the 99-key Ahn Luh Lanting in Shaoxing, Zhejiang and 35-villa Ahn Lu Zhujiajiao in a historic Shanghai suburb. 23 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20862 FOLLOWING massive cancellations on Monday due to a widespread warning strike in Germany, Lufthansa says it expects operations to return to near-normal levels on Tuesday. 23 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20863 THE Philippines will play host to a world-class golf championship for the next five years as a result of a new deal sealed between Resorts World Manila and Asian Tour to title sponsor a US$750,000 tournament. 23 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20864 THAILAND-based Sala Hospitality Group has rolled out two new Sala boutique branded properties in Chiang Mai and Bangkok, with another slated to open in Ayutthaya early next year. 23 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20865 BRITISH Airways (BA) will trim capacity on its Bangkok services by 22,568 seats annually in each direction between London and Bangkok from October 27. 23 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20866 HILTON Worldwide has made its maiden foray into Pune with the signing of a franchise agreement for DoubleTree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad, slated for opening in June. 23 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20867 OAKWOOD has picked a new colour for each of its brands in Asia, launching a summer promotion and consumer campaign to promote its properties. 23 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20868 CREATING a pipeline of unique and innovative content is one of the priorities set for Singapore's tourism industry in the medium term, as the country seeks to sharpen its leisure and business event offerings in pursuit of quality growth. 22 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20854 TRAVEL-related Internet searches among Thailand-based consumers have doubled in the past two years, driven by a jump in searches via mobile platforms, shows a new study by Google Thailand. 22 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20855 MORE travel experts are now offering a greater variety of add-on options during hotel bookings in order to attract and retain customers, with airport transfers and sightseeing tours representing the biggest cross-selling opportunities. 22 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20856 GARUDA Indonesia will launch one regional and eight domestic routes, having taken the delivery of several new aircraft. 22 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20857 CROWNE Plaza Resort Xishuangbanna in China's Yunnan province has opened its doors to guests, becoming the pioneer Crowne Plaza Resort in China and also the first five-star resort in China's southernmost region. 22 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20860 Service at H.I.S (Philippines) Travel was adequate, but more attention should be paid to the finer details 22 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20858 CHINESE conglomerate HNA Group and Spanish hotel chain NH Hoteles are taking a second stab at collaboration, with details of the tie-up to be revealed in September. 22 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20859 NEW Zealand's prime minister and tourism minister, John Key, has announced that the country will inject some NZ$158 million (US$133 million) into the tourism sector as part of an internationally-focused growth package targeting different types of tourists across various markets through its 2013 budget. 22 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20861 THE Peninsula Hotels has launched its Summer Moments promotion at all Peninsula Hotels worldwide. 19 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20848 THE uncertain economies in Europe and the US have done little to affect longhaul MICE travel to China, say buyers at ITandCM China. 19 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20849 TRAFFIC from China to the Philippines is on the path of recovery, having grown 40 per cent year-on-year as of mid-April, according to Kelly Jiao, marketing manager from Philippine Tourism Office, Shanghai. 19 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20850 AN AUSTERITY drive led by the Chinese government as well as rising regional competition has impinged on Macau's MICE traffic. 19 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20851 HELPED by better air access, tourism in the Maldives is picking up this year, after a dismal first quarter in 2012 owing to political tensions. 19 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20852 BEST Western International is enlarging its presence in Cebu with a second hotel opening, hot on the heels of its debut property. 19 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20853 TRAVEL consultants in Asia will soon be invited to experience Mystic Point, the new themed land at Hong Kong Disneyland that brings together a trackless state-of-the-art ride as well as new characters such as the eccentric explorer, Lord Henry Mystic, and his monkey, Albert. 18 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20834 NU SKIN has chosen Phuket as the destination for its 3,000-pax incentive, which will take place from April 20-25, barely a year after the Thai island played host to more than 15,000 top achievers from Amway China. 18 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20840 LION Air Group has pushed back the launch of subsidiary Batik Air to April 22, in order to focus on managing the fallout from the Bali crash. 18 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20842 CHINESE hoteliers and travel consultants appear sanguine about the prospects of business travel to Shanghai despite the current H7N9 scare. 18 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20843 INTERNATIONAL and domestic corporate travel in China is on the rise, as companies' travel budgets are buoyed by strong business takings. 18 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20844 TRAVEL management companies (TMCs) are witnessing changes in the way business travel is being bought in China, as clients no longer go for price alone. 18 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20845 ROYAL Caribbean Cruises has unveiled its new Quantum class of ships, which come with a host of first-ever amenities and next-generation staterooms. 18 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20846 SOMSAK Pureesrisak has indicated that visitor safety and security will be a primary concern under his tenure, having taken the top job at Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports since April 9. He replaces Chumpol Silpa-archa, who passed away in January. 17 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20827 TRADE players are stressing the need for Shanghai's MICE sector to adopt standards and norms that will support the burgeoning business events industry. 17 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20828 THE intense government crackdown against extravagant functions, lengthy meetings and unnecessary overseas travel in the public sector that began late last year has dampened MICE business, say the trade. 17 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20830 ASIA showed the most growth in air travel between 2011 and 2012, and is also the world's most competitive aviation market, according to a study by Amadeus. 17 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20829 SINCE its release in December 2012, the unexpected Chinese biggest box-office hit, Lost in Thailand, has sent a ripple across the entire tourism industry in Thailand. 17 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20831 A MARKETING representative in China for the Sarawak Convention Bureau (SCB) and the Sarawak Tourism Board may be established towards the end of 2013 as part of the Malaysian state's move to focus on developing MICE business out of the massive market. 17 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20832 AIRASIA X will launch its second service to South Korea on July 15, linking Kuala Lumpur to Busan with the first direct flight between the two cities. 16 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20821 INDONESIA'S travel consultants expect the Lion Air crash to have only a short-term dent on the airline's bookings, predicting that the LCC will bounce back quickly due to its affordable fares and extensive route network. 16 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20822 FILIPINO tour groups and FITs shaken by North Korea's threats to attack its southern neighbour and the US have cancelled their trips to South Korea over the last two weeks. 16 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20823 THE newly launched four-star Dorsett Singapore is expecting bookings to pick up from this week, pushing occupancy into the 90 per cent range. 16 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20824 ENCOURAGED by last year's 25 per cent year-on-year growth in Indian arrivals, the Philippines is looking at increasing flight connections between the two countries and easing its visa requirements. 16 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20825 SHANGRI-LA Hotels and Resorts is slated to open its new flagship hotel in Shanghai - Jing An Shangri-La, West Shanghai - in June. 16 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20826 THE Straits Trading Company (STC) and Far East Organization are tying up for a stronger presence within Asia's hospitality scene, with the setting up of a joint venture company. 15 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20814 TRAVEL consultants who will face a loss of income when their passport-processing rights are phased out are being encouraged to diversify their revenue streams. 15 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20815 RAJASTHAN is breaking the mould of lauding its heritage draws, as it gears up to promote itself as a destination for wildlife, eco- and adventure tourism, while dangling incentives for hotel development. 15 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20816 BEST Western International has secured its first Yangon deal, a conversion of the 189-room Green Hill Yangon to its core brand, Best Western, by the third quarter. 15 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20817 PAN Pacific Hotels Group will manage Parkroyal Pecatu Bali Resort, the group's second property in Bali and the fourth in Indonesia. 15 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20818 ACCOR has announced its intention to open a second Pullman-brand property in Vietnam, rebranding Lifestyle Resort Danang to Pullman Danang Beach Resort. 15 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20819 TURKISH Airlines will introduce a new Istanbul-Kuala Lumpur service on April 25. 15 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20820 KINGFISHER Airlines is making an attempt at a comeback, having submitted a plan to India's civil aviation authority to restart operations. 12 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20807 MEETING planners in Singapore will benefit from a new incentive scheme jointly developed by the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Thai Airways (THAI). 12 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20809 PHILIPPINES tourism has received a booster shot in the form of a US$7.1 million technical assistance grant from the Asian Development Bank and Canadian International Development Agency. 12 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20810 DESPITE having finally secured a gaming licence, the question of when the Asian Coast Development (Canada) (ACDL) Ho Tram integrated resort (IR) project will throw open its doors to the public remains unanswered. 12 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20811 TRAVELPORT yesterday unveiled the Travelport Merchandising Platform, which promises to transform the way airlines deliver their products and how these products are displayed to travel consultants. 12 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20812 THAILAND'S shopping temptations are too much for one-third of the country's tourists, who say they are likely to bust their holiday budgets. 12 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20813 QANTAS yesterday unveiled its A$9 million (US$9.4 million) new Singapore Lounge at Singapore Changi Airport's Terminal One. 11 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20798 DORSETT Hospitality International has entered into an affiliation programme with US-based vacation ownership company Diamond Resorts International that will provide the former with brand exposure and the latter, hotel inventory. 11 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20799 TOURISM Authority of Thailand (TAT) will launch its Bangkok and Beyond strategy in June, with hopes to extend the duration and expenditure of tourists by promoting destinations within a few hours' drive of the capital. 11 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20800 GTA and Jin Jiang International Hotels yesterday signed a partnership agreement to incorporate 20 Jin Jiang properties throughout Shanghai across three-, four- and five-star categories into the former's databases. 11 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20801 LOCAL low-cost carriers are taking advantage of the recent announcement of the Malaysian general election date of May 5 to increase their loads, rolling out varied offers to entice travellers. 11 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20803 KOREAN Air has inked a partnership and codeshare MoU with Myanmar Airways International (MAI) to promote bilateral cooperation in all areas including passenger traffic, safety, inflight services, flight operations and maintenance. 11 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20805 STARWOOD Hotels and Resorts has concluded the month-long immersion of its senior leadership team in Dubai, from where over 200 of the company's senior leaders and general managers ran day-to-day operations. 10 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20790 THE rise of the Internet has not eclipsed the role of traditional distribution channels, which still play an important part in Australia's inbound tourism sector. 10 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20791 MICROTEL by Wyndham aims to almost double its number of hotels in the Philippines to a total of 20 within the next three years, as domestic and Asian travellers continue to drive demand for limited service accommodation. 10 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20792 AMADEUS has acquired the customer relationship management and loyalty solutions division of Turkey-based Hitit Computer Services, absorbing Hitit Loyalty's operations as part of Amadeus' emerging airline IT business. 10 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20793 VIETJET Air will launch its second international route in summer, connecting Hanoi and Bangkok on a daily basis beginning June 1. 10 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20794 HARRIS Hotels has come up with a service allowing customers to consult with doctors online, in line with its focus on healthy lifestyles. 10 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20795 TIGER Airways Australia yesterday restarted four-times-weekly domestic flights from Melbourne and Sydney to Alice Springs, answering requests from the Central Australian community for a low-cost travel option. 10 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20796 CARMEN Lam has been named vice president, sales and marketing, Asia-Pacific for Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. 10 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20797 MARTIN Jones is taking over Ivan Walters as senior vice president for global sourcing and product development at GTA, Kuoni's Global Travel Services division, with immediate effect. 9 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20780 HONG Kong generated the most interest from Chinese travellers this year, taking tops in the number of page views researching holiday destinations in the period leading up to and during the Lunar New Year. 9 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20781 NOT content with just launching its Sweet Bed, Ibis now wants to sleep with you - through its new app. 9 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20782 PARK Hotel Group has sold Park Hotel Clarke Quay to Ascendas Hospitality Trust (A-HTRUST) for S$300 million (US$241.9 million), but will continue to manage the hotel. 9 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20783 SCOOT has announced its 11th destination and fourth Chinese city - Nanjing - with thrice-weekly direct flights kicking off from June 3. 9 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20784 LAO Airlines is resurrecting flights to Myanmar in October, 33 years after axing the once unprofitable route. 9 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20785 HILTON Worldwide has opened South-east Asia's first Hilton Garden Inn branded hotel in Hanoi, which also marks its second Hilton property in Vietnam. 9 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20786 ASCOTT will make inroads into Nanjing in the second half of 2014 with the opening of its first serviced residence in the city, having recently signed a contract with Nanjing Lek Yuen Property Development to manage the property. 9 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20787 PRINCESS Cruises will debut a free online training programme in Singapore next month ahead of the company's first homeport season in the city-state in 2014. 8 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20774 CHINESE expenditure on travel abroad reached US$102 billion in 2012, recording a 40 per cent jump from 2011's US$73 billion and clinching top spot as the world's largest tourism source market in terms of spending. 8 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20775 COMPETITION is heating up between legacy carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) and budget airline Cebu Pacific (CEB), as the latter has filed applications to fly international routes that PAL is already serving or intends to serve. 8 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20776 OUTRIGGER Hotels and Resorts Asia-Pacific opened its first investment property in Asia last week in a strategic shift that will see the company focus on purchasing properties for regional expansion. 8 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20777 MALAYSIAN hotel management company, Ri-Yaz Hotels and Resorts, is looking at expanding westwards into the Middle East, with three hotel management contracts currently under negotiation. 8 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20778 TOURIST arrivals to Indonesia jumped 14.5 per cent year-on-year to 678,415 in February on the back of the Lunar New Year holidays. However, this works out to be a less-than-desirable 3.8 per cent growth in year-to-date arrivals. 8 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20779 JAKARTA'S hotel scene is getting a new competitor with the soft opening of the 245-room JS Luwansa Hotel and Convention Center on April 1. 5 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20768 INDIA'S Ministry of Tourism officially launched a web-based system for hotel approval and classification on April 3, allowing hoteliers to log in to track their application statuses real-time. 5 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20769 THAILAND has benefited the most from a deluge of tourists from East Europe into South-east Asia, with Phuket receiving over 650,000 Eastern European visitors spending US$1.2 billion last year. 5 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20770 POSITIONED as Asia's first sports hotel, Thanyapura Sports Hotel in Phuket officially opened in late March and is taking aim at professional athletes and active leisure tourists. 5 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20771 INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group (IHG) has begun adding its entire global portfolio of 4,600 properties to China's largest OTA, Ctrip.com. 5 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20772 AS PART of celebrations for Hilton Worldwide's 25th anniversary in China, the hotel company has raised the curtains on a new tour package, Flavors of China, offering travellers the option of pairing their stays with local attraction visits. 5 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20773 TRAVEL providers hooked up to Amadeus systems can now allow customers to make a micro donation to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) when paying for travel online. 4 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20759 TTG Asia Online finds easy accessibility and excellent service at Panorama Tours' new retail outlet in Kuala Lumpur 4 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20760 IMPERIAL Hotel has appointed Tetsuya Kobayashi as chairman and Hideya Sadayasu as president, effective April 1. 4 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20762 TRAFALGAR has seen bookings by Asian travellers leap 25 per cent from 2011 to 2012, with Singapore contributing the biggest share. 4 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20763 VISITOR numbers and tourism expenditure are expected to swell by up to 20 per cent during the Songkran festival, which will be celebrated from April 12-16. 4 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20764 MERITUS Hotels and Resorts yesterday signed an agreement with Funtasy Island Development (FID) to manage the latter's upcoming accommodation facilities on Riau Islands, Indonesia, located 20 minutes from Singapore. 4 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20765 VARIOUS industry members have come out to flay reports citing a fall in tourist arrivals to India, mostly based on a survey recently released by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). 4 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20766 KOREA Tourism Organization (KTO) has sought to reassure travellers that the entire country remains stable and all tourism facilities are operating as normal in the face of escalating tensions with North Korea. 4 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20767 THE World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) will launch its inaugural training programmes in Malaysia from June 17 to 29 in Sabah. 3 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20743 DESPITE the shorter month of February, global hotel bookings and rates surpassed those of the same month last year, with year-to-date bookings for both leisure and corporate exceeding levels recorded in previous years through 2007, pre-downturn. 3 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20744 MAJOR Japanese OTA Rakuten Travel has seen revenue for its Singapore affiliate shoot up by 55 per cent since it was set up in March last year as its sales and marketing hub for South-east Asia. 3 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20745 SHANGHAI-based Juneyao Airlines has included a third Thai destination - Chiang Mai - to its international flight network as Thailand continues to climb in popularity among Chinese tourists. 3 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20746 EMIRATES increased its number of services between Dubai and Kuala Lumpur from 26 to 28 weekly flights on April 1, its fourth frequency increase in four years. 3 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20747 INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group (IHG) has opened Holiday Inn Bangkok Sukhumvit 22, marking its third Holiday Inn hotel in the city and 10th in Thailand. 3 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20748 CENTARA Hotels and Resorts has signed a management contract with Sweet Water Point Company to operate Centara Grand Modus Resort and Spa Pattaya, due to open in the third quarter of 2013. 3 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20751 IVAN Walter has been appointed CEO of GTA, Kuoni's B2B provider of ground products and services for FITs. 2 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20733 ZUBIN Karkaria, CEO of VFS Global Group, has been made a member of the executive board of Kuoni Group, effective March 21, 2013. 2 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20734 INDIA'S tourism business has taken a 25 per cent hit over the last three months, while the number of female foreign visitors is estimated to have dropped by 35 per cent due to the perception of deteriorating safety levels and ongoing global economic woes. 2 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20735 WORK has begun on the National Museum of Natural History, which will come up in the neo-colonial Department of Tourism building in old Manila at Rizal Park. 2 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20736 THE Indian state of Gujarat will dedicate a war chest of US$100 million to tourism infrastructure development and promotion this year, a marked increase since its budget of US$6 million in 2006. 2 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20737 TO TAP the burgeoning hotel market in Asia, international real estate management firm Savills has set up Savills Hotels Asia Pacific, specialising in hotel sales and investments, consultancy, asset management and valuation. 2 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20738 TAUZIA Hotel Management has officially opened Harris Hotel and Conventions Malang, the second-largest city in East Java after Surabaya. 2 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20739 LOW-cost carrier Golden Myanmar Airlines will launch its first international route on April 5, connecting Singapore to Yangon and Mandalay with daily flights. It is also eyeing Bangkok, New Delhi and Hong Kong. 2 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20740 International Air Transport Association (IATA) senior vice president, industry distribution and financial services, Aleks Popovich, addresses the misperceptions surrounding IATA's New Distribution Capability 1 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20725 VISITENGLAND wants to grow its MICE business from India and will leverage its Asia-Pacific office in New Delhi to broaden its network of trade partners. 1 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20726 INTERSTATE China Hotels and Resorts is looking to expand across China into secondary cities like Chengdu and Xiamen by banking on its "highly flexible relationship" with owners. 1 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20727 IN A bid to tap the growing global popularity of cycling tourism, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is holding the inaugural Bangkok Bike Expo 2013 in collaboration with NCC Exhibition Organisers. 1 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20728 DESTINATION Asia today made available its new online booking engine called eDA, which allows its trade partners to complete multiple country bookings with a single PNR. 1 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20729 INTERNATIONAL travellers have voted in favour of a Fat Tax, which would see horizontally challenged passengers pay more for their flights. Happy April Fools'...Not. 1 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20730 PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) and PAL Express are aligning their schedules on the Manila-Kuala Lumpur route to offer daily services between the two carriers, following PAL Express' recent rebranding (TTG Asia e-Daily, March 18, 2013). 1 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20731 RESORTS World Genting has introduced a multi-currency pricing solution for its online reservation system to facilitate payment in Malaysian ringgit, US dollar or Singapore dollar. 1 Apr 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20732 FRASERS Hospitality is offering a 15 per cent discount at all its properties worldwide for Fraser World members, to mark its 15 years of operations. 28 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20715 THOSE looking to tap Indonesia's growing number of Internet users must ensure that multi-payment systems are in place first, said participants at yesterday's Web in Travel (WIT) Indonesia conference. 28 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20716 THE International Air Transport Association (IATA) is rallying government and industry players to come together to raise the standards of aviation in India in the areas of safety, security and efficiency. 28 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20717 PUTERI Harbour in Nusajaya will soon see the arrival of Traders Hotel Puteri Harbour and entertainment complex Little Red Cube, both under the investment portfolio of Destination Resorts and Hotels (DRH) and worth more than RM400 million (US$130 million). 28 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20718 THAILAND, Indonesia and the Philippines dominate the top 10 island destinations in Asia, although they fail to make a dent in international rankings. 28 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20719 BANYAN Tree Hotels and Resorts will open Chongqing's first internationally run hot spring resort in summer 2013. 28 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20720 THAILAND'S Centara Hotels and Resorts has opened the four-star Centara Ras Fushi Resort and Spa Maldives. 28 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20721 DUE to the Good Friday holiday and Easter weekend, TTG Asia e-Daily will be taking a break on March 29, 2013. 28 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20722 BRITISH Airways has unveiled a promotion on fares between Singapore and Sydney. 28 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20723 THE Philippines secured a record number of arrivals for the first two months of the year, posting 854,187 visitors in January and February 2013. 28 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20724 MEDITERRA, a tour operator and wholesaler specialising in Mediterranean itineraries, is offering travel consultants a six-day fam trip to Turkey. 27 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20702 TOURISM New Zealand is offering a raft of discounts from 400 of New Zealand's tourism operators for international travel consultants and media, through its Explore New Zealand programme. 27 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20703 THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACC) has approved of the partnership between Qantas and Emirates for a period of five years, following a six-month review process that began in 2012. 27 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20704 MALAYSIANS are increasingly exploring new destinations, driven by air developments in the region. 27 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20705 KINGDOM Property has sold The Suites Tower, part of its Southpoint Pattaya twin tower project, to a local Thai investor for development into internationally managed serviced residences. 27 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20706 COSTA Cruises' Costa Atlantica will be sailing into Singapore in May, offering passengers a series of shorthaul voyages around the region. 27 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20707 WORLDHOTELS is bringing its branded hotel concept to Indonesia, kicking off plans to open 30 Worldhotels in the country with the announcement of Worldhotel Balangan, which will launch in early 2014. 27 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20708 SINGAPORE'S integrated resorts and attractions continue to exert a strong pull on visitors, with sightseeing/entertainment (including gaming) coming in as the top-contributing component to tourism receipts in 2012. 27 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20709 THE largest KidZania in Asia is due to open its doors on March 29 in Siam Paragon in Bangkok. 26 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20695 Satisfactory service at Chan Brothers Travel's flagship store, but the cruise centre could use some sprucing up 26 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20696 THE Five Country Conference (5CC), consisting of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and US, has collaborated with VFS Global to set up a visa application centre in Singapore. 26 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20697 RIVER Safari, said to be Asia's first river-themed wildlife park, will open its doors to the public in a soft opening on April 3. 26 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20698 ADMISSION fees for Hong Kong Disneyland Resort will be revised upwards from tomorrow. 26 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20699 SLOVENIA-based Adria Airways has appointed Dex Aviation as its general sales agent (GSA) for India, even as the two countries work towards improving air connectivity. 26 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20700 ARCHIPELAGO International launched its inaugural Hotel Neo by Aston property yesterday with the soft opening of Neo Hotel Cideng Jakarta. 26 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20701 THAI Airways International's sub-brand, THAI Smile, will commence three new routes to India, and one each to Malaysia and Myanmar from March 31. 25 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20688 AIR China is solidifying its foothold in North America by launching a new route from Beijing to Houston in July 2013. 25 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20689 THE Hong Kong Sevens draws the biggest influx of longhaul travellers into Hong Kong every year for a single event, with arrivals that week only surpassed by those during the Easter period and October-November tourist season. 25 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20690 SINGAPORE will get its first low-cost flights to Seoul, with the launch of Scoot's thrice-weekly service from May 29. 25 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20691 THE Malaysian travel trade is looking to tap Philippine Airlines' four-times-weekly direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Manila, commencing May 1. 25 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20692 THE German National Tourist Board is investing half a million euros (US$645,029) in the Indian market in 2013, with 60 per cent of this going to trade activities. 25 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20693 NOW we know where Dharma and Budi Tirtawisata got their good looks from. 25 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20694 W HOTELS Worldwide has unveiled plans to roll out another 11 W Hotels in Asia by 2018, beginning with W Guangzhou Hotel and Residences, set to launch on March 31. 22 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20681 TOUR operators in India are concerned about the spate of travel advisories issued recently by major inbound travel markets against the destination in the wake of high-profile rape cases in the country. 22 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20682 ESCORTED tours to Europe are seeing healthy growth in demand from the Malaysian market, partly due to the depreciation of the euro and US dollar against the ringgit. 22 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20683 SINGAPORE-based Yoma Strategic Holdings has rolled out plans to buy travel companies and land in Myanmar under its newly-established joint venture company, Chindwin Holdings. 22 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20684 AFTER a lacklustre 4Q2012, Singapore's hotels and serviced residents are in for a challenging year with flat demand expected for 2013. 22 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20685 DORSETT International is set to open a 10-storey, midscale hotel in Singapore on March 28. 22 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20686 INDONESIA'S national airline will offer increased access between Bali and Australia through its new route to Brisbane and greater frequencies for services to Melbourne. 22 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20687 KEMPINSKI Hotel Chengdu has announced two new appointments, effective March 11. 21 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20673 MARCUS Bauder has stepped up as hotel manager of Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. 21 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20674 INDONESIA'S state-owned airport authority, Angkasa Pura Airports, is dipping its toes into the hospitality industry by developing airport hotels across the country. 21 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20675 BRITISH Airways (BA) continues to spread its wings across Asia, reporting "business as usual" even as its 17-year alliance with Qantas (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 6, 2012) draws to a close on March 31. 21 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20676 CHINA plans to set up a national paid vacation system by 2020 as part of a recently announced strategic framework aimed at nurturing the country's tourism sector. 21 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20677 FLIGHT Centre, which now has almost half of its network located outside of Australia, has seen a doubling of sales from its Asia/Middle East leisure travel business between July and December 2012. 21 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20678 PREMIUM food festival, Thailand Splash and Spice, will be extended beyond Bangkok to the cities of Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket this year, offering tourists dining and accommodation promotions for the event's three-month duration. 21 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20679 BEST Western International opened its first hotel in Cebu today with the launch of the upscale Best Western Plus Lex Cebu Hotel. 21 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20680 BETWEEN April 1 and October 31, guests can book three consecutive nights for the price of two at participating SilverNeedle Collection Hotels: Riva Surya Bangkok, 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai and Kiridara Luang Prabang. 20 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20654 FOLLOWING the creation of an international division last year (TTG Asia e-Daily, December 5, 2012), the Myanmar Tourism Federation has named Peter Tay tourism ambassador of Myanmar for Singapore. 20 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20655 DORSETT Hospitality International has named Hugo Gerritsen as area general manager of Dorsett Grand Subang and Dorsett Grand Labuan, and Alfred Paulsen as general manager of Dorsett Grand Labuan. 20 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20657 CEO and co-founder of Khiri Travel, Willem Niemeijer, files a plea to the newly re-elected Bangkok governor for six changes he would like to see in the Thai capital 20 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20658 HOTELS today must go beyond providing high-speed Internet access in the guestrooms and simple websites to meet the needs of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) travellers, advised a speaker at Hospitality Investment World Indonesia. 20 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20659 INDONESIA'S tourism authority is pointing hotel investors and operators beyond Bali, in tandem with the government's drive to improve infrastructure and facilities in these destinations. 20 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20660 SRI Lanka's national airline has slashed Chennai-bound flights from 28 to 14 services a week following a spate of attacks on visiting Buddhist monks and pilgrims. 20 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20661 THAILAND'S cabinet yesterday okayed the construction of a high-speed train network to connect the entire country, which will also see links to Malaysia and Laos. 20 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20662 ASIAN accommodations ranked third in being optimistic about their business prospects in 2013, with 42 per cent of providers indicating they plan to increase room rates. 20 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20663 PRICE is a major factor in travel decisions for Chinese travellers, according to a recent publication by Cornell University's Center for Hospitality Research, which also studied the Chinese tourist's preferences in destinations, activities and accommodation. 19 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20648 SIGNS are pointing to a revival of India's aviation sector this year thanks to Air India's recovery, a flood of new seat entitlements and measures that will tackle the hot-button issue of high aviation turbine fuel (ATF) sales taxes. 19 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20649 ADAPTING an LCC to the local market is critical as a cookie-cutter approach would not work in Asia, agreed panellists at the Routes Asia Strategy Summit. 19 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20650 SWITZERLAND saw impressive double-digit growth in arrivals from Singapore in 2012, which it hopes to further nurture with its e-learning course for travel consultants, launched in January. 19 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20651 THE Ascott has debuted the Citadines brand in Indonesia and Malaysia with the opening of Citadines Rasuna Jakarta and Citadines Uplands Kuching. 19 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20652 MARRIOTT International launched the Courtyard by Marriott Hong Kong Sha Tin yesterday, the second biggest property under the Courtyard brand. 19 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20653 JAPAN National Tourism Organization (JNTO) has published its Japan Travel Guide for Muslim Visitors as part of the country's efforts to attract more Muslim visitors from South-east Asia (TTG Asia e-Daily, October 8, 2012). 18 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20640 SINGAPORE is planning for even busier air traffic as the government ponders a fourth runway, in addition to upcoming developments such as a new mega terminal and third runway. 18 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20641 MALINDO Air is set to take to the skies later this week with cheers from the trade, who welcome the increased capacity and promotional fares on the airline's first routes to Sabah and Sarawak. 18 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20642 INDONESIA'S Lion Air will today sign a deal with Airbus for over 200 A320 medium-haul jets. 18 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20643 SOFITEL Philippine Plaza is taking aim at the burgeoning medical tourism sector in South-east Asia by opening its own in-house aesthetic centre. 18 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20644 AS PART of a strategic move to align service standards with Philippine Airlines (PAL), Airphil Express is now officially PAL Express, effective March 15. 18 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20645 ROYAL Caribbean International has announced 34 itineraries for the Alaskan cruise and cruise-tour season between May and August 2014, which are already open for booking. 18 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20646 THE average price of a hotel room in Asia climbed two per cent in 2012 to 109 points on the Hotel Price Index (HPI), lagging behind the global growth average and a far cry from its 2007 HPI ranking of 131. 15 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20634 HOTEL transaction volume in Asia in 2012 fell to almost half of 2011's, dropping from US$3.7 billion to US$1.9 billion, dragging down the global total. 15 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20635 THE Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) has rolled out incentives targeted at the wedding and student segments. 15 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20636 JAPAN may have ceded its position as Asia-Pacific's largest travel market to China, but it will retain the crown as the region's biggest leisure and unmanaged business travel market for online bookings. 15 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20637 JETSTAR'S subsidiaries will commence domestic flights to new destinations in Asia - Buon Ma Thuot in the Central Highlands of Vietnam and Matsuyama in Japan. 15 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20638 TRIPZILLA is stomping into Malaysia with a localised version of the travel deal search site, my.TripZilla.com, its first overseas market after Singapore. 15 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20639 INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group (IHG) has outlined emerging categories of travellers moulded by socioeconomic trends of the day in a new report, The new kinship economy: from travel experiences to travel relationships. 14 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20626 NEW Zealander Dominic Sherry will lead Hilton Worldwide's sales force in Asia-Pacific as its new head of sales for the region, based in Singapore. 14 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20627 THE International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed "disappointment" over the European Commission's (EC) proposed changes to its passenger rights legislation. 14 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20628 AS HOTELS clamour for a slice of Myanmar's real estate, experts warn that those keen to invest should do so with their eyes wide open. 14 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20629 MAKEMYTRIP has partnered OneAssist to offer customers credit card and smartphone protection in case of loss or theft, becoming the first Indian travel company to provide such a service. 14 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20630 SINGAPORE continued to see an upward march in visitor numbers and tourism receipts for 2012, but this has dropped to single-digit growth. 14 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20631 FOUR hotels in Christchurch are scheduled to reopen by year-end after repairing damage wrought by the 2011 earthquake, bringing the number of hotels in the city's three- and four-star segments to 19. 14 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20632 THE Philippines has the largest pipeline of luxury and upper upscale rooms in Asia-Pacific after China, but industry watchers say what is needed is more branded accommodation that caters to its swelling domestic market. 13 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20614 PATRICK Pahlke assumed the role of hotel manager at Grand Hyatt Guangzhou on March 1, where he will look after overall hotel operations. 13 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20615 TOP officials at Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) have indicated their willingness to twin Clark International Airport with Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), a system representing one possible solution to address critical congestion at the latter. 13 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20616 MALAYSIA Airlines (MAS) is upping frequencies and capacities on routes out of Kuala Lumpur to Asia-Pacific destinations for the summer season. 13 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20617 SINGAPORE has emerged as the top destination that Myanmar travellers want to visit, with shopping, sightseeing and experiencing different cuisines being the main motivations. 13 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20618 VISITOR arrivals to Indonesia in January 2013 showed a 5.9 per cent year-on-year decline to 614,328. 13 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20619 HOTEL and serviced apartment operator V Group has opened V Wanchai2 in Wanchai, Hong Kong, the group's first full-fledged hotel. 13 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20620 THAI hotel chain Centara Hotels and Resorts has laid hands on a third property in the Maldives through a partnership with RPI. 12 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20607 ACCOR has announced three new signings in Myanmar, joining other companies like Best Western International and Hilton Worldwide who have also revealed plans to open properties in the country. 12 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20608 KOREA Tourism Organization (KTO) is targeting 100,000 arrivals from India in 2013, having identified a wide range of offerings that will appeal to the market ranging from traditional homestays to cuisine. 12 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20609 SRI Lanka's third-largest hotel chain Jetwing Hotels is in expansion mode, with plans to nearly double its room stock over the next 24 months. 12 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20610 TRAVEL consultants will be able to search and book hotel content from multiple sources in a single screen with Amadeus Hotels Plus (Multisource), a new solution that integrates Amadeus' GDS hotel properties with content from leading hotel aggregators. 12 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20611 LUXURY cruise line Crystal Cruises is out to net more Asian travellers who are strapped for time with its new and shorter itineraries. 12 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20612 PHILIPPINES' AirAsia (PAA) announced yesterday its intentions to acquire 49 per cent of Zest Airways and 100 per cent of Asiawide Airways, which would allow the Clark-based low-cost carrier to benefit from Zest's operations out of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and its strong domestic network. 12 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20613 THE Asia-Pacific region posted groundbreaking growth in 2012, welcoming 350 million international visitors to the region, according to preliminary statistics by PATA. 11 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20599 WITH the integration of GTA behind him, GTA's CEO, Rolf Schafroth is now gunning for "substantial" growth. The business, now solely FIT, has better prospects, he said. 11 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20600 DESTINATION Resorts and Hotels' (DRH) upcoming developments in Nusajaya and Desaru Coast in Malaysia's southern state of Johor are set to appeal to both longhaul and shorthaul markets, using Singapore as a gateway. 11 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20601 THE new streamlined visa application process for Chinese nationals applying to visit the US will help to stimulate more outbound growth from the market, said tour operators at last week's Guangzhou International Travel Fair (GITF). 11 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20602 INDIA unveiled a new Incredible India-Yes Bank Travel Card for inbound travellers at ITB Berlin last week, the first and only card launched in conjunction with the country's NTO. 11 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20603 KOREAN Air's flights between Seoul and Colombo, Sri Lanka restarted on Saturday (TTG Asia e-Daily, December 7, 2013) as part of a triangle route including Male in the Maldives. 11 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20604 JAPAN'S and Taiwan's NTOs are leveraging the services of Scoot and online travel organiser and accommodation hosting site Qiito to offer Singaporeans affordable two-destination itineraries. 11 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20605 MALAYSIA'S Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) is keen to attract more charters to the island, having launched the Langkawi Charter Flight Incentive Programme (LCFIP) early last year. 11 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20606 Hotel branding is much more than just putting a logo everywhere. Clarify your brand standards carefully and clearly, and sell them internally then externally. Hotel brands tend to be so ubiquitous that they have lost their soul and uniqueness. 8 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20590 BRAZIL'S TAM Airlines will leave Star Alliance to join oneworld, along with its Paraguay subsidiary. Their transition is expected to be completed during 2014's second quarter. 8 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20591 WITH the launch of the Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2014 campaign in January and growing air links from Kuala Lumpur to major European gateways, Tourism Malaysia is now stepping up promotional efforts in Europe. 8 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20592 LAO Airlines plans to start Vientiane-Luang Prabang-Yangon services, as part of efforts to clinch the international market's growing interest in Myanmar. 8 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20593 GERMAN tour operators are banking on another four to five per cent increase to Asia this year ­- the same rate of growth as in the past few years - with no major surprises expected. 8 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20594 UK tour operators are reporting phenomenal increases for Danang in central Vietnam, but waning interest in Bali for summer business. 8 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20595 TRAVEL metasearch engine Wego and Expedia subsidiary, Hotwire, have formed a partnership to integrate the US-based discount travel website's inventory into Wego's platform. 8 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20596 HILTON Worldwide has sealed a deal with SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation to launch and manage the first Conrad property in the Philippines. 8 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20597 EXOTISSIMO Travel has gained a foothold in Kyoto, marking its second office in Japan. 8 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20598 PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) will roll out six new international flights over the next few months, upping its total number of international services to 34. 7 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20580 GERMAN and Swiss tour operators are reporting a huge spike in stop-sale notices, particularly from Thai beach resorts, which they say is hindering growth. 7 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20581 ACCOR Asia-Pacific has launched Indonesia-centric brand, Grand Mercure Maha Cipta, with the new-build, 483-room Grand Mercure Jakarta Harmoni set to debut in a few months. 7 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20582 TAIWAN Tourism Bureau (TTB) has unveiled a series of non-compulsory guidelines for Taiwanese tour operators running tours for visitors from China, who now form the destination's largest source market. 7 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20583 SRI Lanka's second international airport, Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, will open in Hambantota on March 18, with a number of airlines already firming up plans for flights. 7 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20584 INDIA may soon grant travellers from 16 more countries visas on arrival (VoAs) if the Ministry of Tourism's request to the Ministry of Home Affairs gains approval. 7 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20586 INTERCONTINENTAL Hotels Group's (IHG) Hotel Indigo will roar to life in Hong Kong in May, set in a building that is said to be at the forefront of environmental design. 7 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20587 FAMILY-owned Thai hotel group Sukosol Hotels will open the doors of its fifth property, Wave, on Pattaya Bay in April. 7 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20588 PHILIPPINE operators are cheering after the lifting of air safety concerns on the country by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the scrapping of the common carrier tax (CCT), both of which have vastly affected longhaul market growth. 7 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20589 CRYSTAL Cruises has kicked off a new Sell 6/Sail Penthouse promotion to reward travel consultants who sell six staterooms on any 2013 voyages with a free cruise in a butler-serviced penthouse. 6 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20561 DEMAND for air travel continues to be on an upward trajectory this year, with Asia-Pacific airlines capturing over half of the growth in demand for international travel between October and January. 6 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20562 CARLSON Rezidor Hotel Group and Panorama Group have deepened their collaboration, committing to develop 20 new hotels in Indonesia within seven years under the midscale brands of Radisson and Park Inn by Radisson. 6 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20563 HILTON Worldwide today signed an agreement with LP Holding to manage Hilton Yangon in Kyauktada Township, the brand's first-ever property in the country. 6 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20564 MANDARIN Oriental Hotel Group will open Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai in the second quarter of this year, comprising a 362-room hotel and 210 serviced executive apartments. 6 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20565 TRAVELLERS to Myanmar now have an additional option for transactions, after MasterCard and Co-operative Bank (CB Bank) began a rollout of 500 point-of-sale (POS) terminals throughout the country, to be completed by end-2013. 6 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20566 TOURISM New Zealand (TNZ) is intensifying its trade engagement efforts through an overhaul of its Kiwi Specialist training programme and increased incentives. 6 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20567 PAN Pacific Singapore has announced the appointment of Jessie Khoo as director of sales. 6 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20568 ROBERT Khoo has stepped down from his post as CEO of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS). 6 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20569 IN A tie-up with Visa, Cebu Pacific (CEB) is dropping airfare prices by 75 per cent on routes between Greater China and the Philippines for its "Embark on an Awesome Adventure" promotion. 5 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20551 MAJOR Philippine outbound operator, Rajah Travel Corporation, has soft launched a new website selling both inbound and outbound products. Offering both B2C and B2B functionalities, the site is expected to be fully operational by June. 5 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20552 GENTING Group has completed the purchase for a piece of the glitzy Las Vegas Strip with intentions to establish Resorts World Las Vegas on the 35-hectare property. 5 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20553 TAYLOR'S University and Destination Resorts and Hotels (DRH) yesterday signed an MoU to develop a school for hospitality, tourism and culinary arts in Desaru Coast. 5 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20554 SPANISH travel group Barcelo Viajes may have acquired its rival, Orizonia, but the buyout will not include any of its former Asian outbound operations. 5 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20555 KOREAN Air yesterday made an official bid for a 44 per cent stake in the wholly government-owned Czech Airlines (CSA). 5 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20556 ITB Berlin will open tomorrow with Indonesia as the official partner country for this year's show, the first time a South-east Asian country has held the position. 5 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20557 SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) and Virgin America are building on their codeshare agreement with a new frequent flyer programme partnership. 5 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20558 MALAYSIA Airlines (MAS) has rolled out a 30 per cent discount on flights from India to destinations in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, among others. 5 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20559 THE Charterhouse Causeway Bay is offering guests a Disney treat with its new Special Room Package until, June 30. 5 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20560 GHM has appointed Katharina Kustos as director of sales and marketing for both The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah and The Legian on Bali, while Debbie Chee will assume the same role at The Nam Hai in Vietnam. 4 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20544 INBOUND travel into Sabah is holding up despite the ongoing standoff between Filipino followers of the sultan of Sulu and Malaysian police forces. 4 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20545 INDIA'S Ministry of Civil Aviation is initiating negotiations with the governments of Singapore and Sri Lanka for additional flights, even as the country's capacity to Japan is set to increase soon. 4 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20546 SPANISH hotel chain Melia Hotels International will be opening its first Innside hotel in Asia in Jogjakarta. 4 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20547 EMIRATES has increased its Jakarta-Dubai direct services from twice to thrice daily from March 2, providing more options for passengers continuing their journey from the Middle Eastern hub. 4 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20548 JETSTAR Asia is set to add six more weekly services between Singapore and Perth beginning April 1. 4 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20549 PREMIER Hotels of Asia has been appointed the sales and marketing representative for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (MOHG) in India. 4 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20550 BRITISH Airways (BA) has appointed Robert Williams as its regional general manager for South-east Asia. 1 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20533 UZBEKISTAN Airways is planning to mount direct flights between Singapore and Tashkent late this year. 1 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20534 THAI Smile, a sub-brand of Thai Airways International, will commence direct flights from Phuket to Mumbai and New Delhi, which trade sources say will boost travel to the already popular beaches in the south. 1 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20535 GHM today announced the termination of its management of The Strand Yangon in Myanmar. 1 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20536 PATA has teamed up with the producer of Digital Innovation Asia (DIA), E-Tourism Asia, to stage a series of digital events ahead of its own annual summit in April. 1 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20537 JAPAN Airlines (JAL) has tweaked its flight schedule for the period of March 31 to May 31 to accommodate operational adjustments after grounding its Boeing 787 Dreamliners in January (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 17, 2013). 1 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20538 BEST Western International's newest Indonesian property, Best Western Star Hotel, has opened its doors in the city of Semarang, Central Java. 1 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20539 LUXURY resort Anantara Bophut Resort and Spa Koh Samui will close its doors from April 16 to November 15 for a 170 million baht (US$5.7 million) renovation. 1 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20540 DIETHELM Travel has named Edyta Peszko as group contracting director, effective February 15. 1 Mar 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20541 Veteran hotelier and independent consultant, Giovanni Angelini, offers pearls of wisdom on how to stay afloat in today's competitive industry. 28 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20525 WANGARATTA in north-east Victoria is looking to lure more business events to the city and its surroundings, having launched its first Conference and Event Planner Guide four months ago. 28 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20526 THE International Maritime Exposition (Pacific), held every year at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, will remain in the Australian city even when the venue is shut for major redevelopment of the Darling Harbour precinct (TTGmice e-Weekly, September 27, 2012). 28 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20527 FOR the first time in history, travel and tourism now supports one in 11 of all jobs in the world, with more than 10 per cent of all new jobs created last year coming from the industry. 28 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20528 HONG Kong's financial secretary, John C Tsang, yesterday outlined the territory's plan to strengthen tourism, which includes increasing hotel room supply, building new attractions at Ocean Park and Hong Kong Disneyland, as well as boosting the city's capabilities as a cruise hub. 28 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20529 SOUTH-east Asia's LCCs could raise as much as US$750 million in total through initial public offerings (IPOs) this year, predicted Malayan Banking's investment bank. 28 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20530 LEADING DMC Pacific World has established a strategic partnership with a local inbound expert, Kims Travel, to expand into the growing MICE destination of South Korea. 28 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20531 DISPELLING reports of a hold-up due to security concerns, JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity is set to open in April 2013, with its eye trained on MICE business. 28 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20532 AUSTRALIA-based Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School (BMIHMS) is planning to open four hotel management schools in India. 27 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20518 THE Asia-Pacific region will drive demand for larger and more eco-efficient aircraft over the next 20 years, accounting for 35 per cent of new airline deliveries globally or approximately 9,870 aircraft totalling US$1.6 trillion. 27 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20520 THE Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) is estimating a significant 20 per cent increase in sales over 2012 at its recently concluded Philippine Travel Tour Expo 2013, where takings were buoyed by the favourable exchange rate and a dramatic rise in domestic travel. 27 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20519 BUSINESS Events Cairns and Great Barrier Reef (BECGBR) has reported rising interest and bookings for Chinese meetings and incentives this year, driven by factors including improved air access and strong trade links between the city and China. 27 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20521 ANOTHER section of the planned pan-Asian railway network has been completed after seven years of construction, linking Yuxi and Mengzi in China's south-west Yunnan province. 27 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20522 THE inaugural Borneo International Bird Race is due to take place in May and June across Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak, and has already confirmed participation from international bird enthusiasts. 27 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20523 MOVENPICK Hotels and Resorts has signed two new agreements to manage properties in Asia - one in Enshi City, China and another in Hua Hin, Thailand. 27 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20524 JAPANESE-backed Pulchra Da Nang is one of the latest newcomers to Danang, which has seen a room boom over the last year (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 25, 2013). 26 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20511 MELBOURNE Convention and Visitors Bureau has dropped 'visitors' from its name to accurately reflect its role, and will follow the name change with stronger branding efforts through the launch of new initiatives. 26 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20512 STRENGTHENING business performance among corporates in the Philippines is spurring greater demand for overseas meetings and incentives, said MICE specialists at AIME 2013. 26 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20513 ABACUS International has rolled out a first-of-its-kind automated exchange solution for non-published fares, aimed at tackling the rising trend of net fares flooding Asian markets. 26 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20514 GLOBAL travel wholesaler GTA has extended its partnership with Santika Indonesia Hotels and Resorts to offer more than 50 accommodation options in Indonesia. 26 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20515 RAFFLES Hotels and Resorts is eyeing a slice of the booming tourism pie in China's Hainan province and will leverage its serene location on Clearwater Bay to set it apart from the competition. 26 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20516 SOUTH-east Asia's second Premium Outlets is being planned for Penang, to be located within Batu Kawan's Bandar Cassia, the newest and largest township on mainland Penang. 26 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20517 MALAYSIAN corporates are reacting to news of a possible general election between March and May with a freeze on outbound meetings and incentives, said Malaysian MICE buyers at AIME 2013. 25 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20503 IN TANDEM with its evolution to an independent micro-market separate from New Delhi, Gurgaon achieved the highest RevPAR in the five-star hotel segment nationally last year. 25 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20504 THE Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has taken its Only in Singapore - Right Now! campaign to Malaysia, following similar moves in China, Australia, India and Indonesia to launch marketing initiatives specific to key sources. 25 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20502 SALES and visitorship figures at last weekend's NATAS Travel 2013 may have fallen short of expectations, but travel consultants observed that longhaul business continues to perform well. 25 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20505 MALAYSIA-headquartered MICE Hubs Travel and Tours, which specialises in managing events for the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, has established a Singapore branch to grow its business reach. 25 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20506 NO-FRILLS budget chain Tune Hotels has entered into a 60-40 joint venture with Apodis Hospitality to open 22 hotels in India, beginning with the first in Ahmedabad in 1Q2013. 25 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20507 AZAMARA Club Cruises will premier a series of free night touring events on its itineraries for the Europe 2013 season. 25 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20508 CARLSON Rezidor Hotel Group has renewed its team with the appointment of KB Kachru as chairman and Raj Rana as CEO for the group's South Asia branch. 25 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20509 FREE WI-FI reigns as the most desired hotel amenity, according to travellers polled by Hotels.com. 22 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20495 THE NATIONAL Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) will officially launch an accreditation programme for Singapore agency professionals on March 14. 22 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20494 MEMBERS of Hilton Worldwide's loyalty programme, Hilton HHonors, can receive a 30 per cent discount off bed and breakfast rates under its newly-launched Dream Resorts Promotion. 22 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20496 JET Airways' price-slashing move earlier this week has sparked a price war among Indian carriers. 22 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20497 AIRASIA X plans to build multiple hubs in Asia which would enable it to feed on shorthaul AirAsia's massive network, strengthen group presence and brand in Asia-Pacific and dominate intra-regional travel. 22 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20500 RAJAKAMAR International Group has appointed William Newley as CEO. Newley will manage the group's subsidiaries, which include MG Holidays, RajaKamar Indonesia, Abacus Room Deals and Byress. 22 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20498 ACCOR is in talks with local partner Max Myanmar Group of Companies to open a Novotel in Yangon within a property belonging to the latter, according to a Max Myanmar spokesperson. 22 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20499 BEST Western Sea and Sun Nha Trang opened today, marking the chain's fifth property in Vietnam. 21 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20491 ANANTARA Xishuangbanna Resort and Spa has opened its doors in China's Yunnan, ramping up the brand's expansion in China (TTG Asia e-Daily, December 12, 2012). 21 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20492 LIFESTYLE and entertainment TV channel, Hello! Japan, will be launched on Singapore's StarHub TV from February 25, even as the Japanese government has pledged to step up awareness of the destination among Asian markets through broadcast media (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 7, 2013). 21 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20487 MALAYSIA'S AirAsia has entered into a joint venture agreement with Tata Sons and Arun Bhatia of Telestra Tradeplace to set up an airline in India to tap the country's growing aviation sector. 21 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20488 THE growing number of consumer travel fairs in Indonesia are playing a significant role in creating a low-season market, with Indonesians enticed by cheap airfares, hotel offers and zero per cent interest on instalments for up to six months or more. 21 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20489 QANTAS Group will upgrade its entire fleet of Airbus A330s and order new Boeing 737-800s to drive its international and domestic strategy. 21 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20490 FOLLOWING a record three million tourists from China over the Lunar New Year holiday to Hong Kong and Macau, which resulted in considerable strain on infrastructure, residents in both cities are calling for the authorities to review visa rules for Chinese visitors. 20 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20472 KHIRI Travel is offering a seven-day Into the Thai Heartland fam trip for travel consultants taking them through the historic political centres of Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Sawan, Kampheng Phet, Sukhothai, Lampang, Lamphun and Chiang Mai. 20 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20473 THE proposed high-speed rail system linking Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in 90 minutes is set to be a game changer for travel between the two cities, as airlines and bus companies mull over how to remain competitive. 20 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20474 ZAMBIA Tourism Board is in the final stages of sealing a deal with Mumbai-based Blue Square Consultants for market representation in India. 20 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20475 WITNESSING its first-ever annual profit since its 2005 opening, Hong Kong Disneyland (HKDL) saw an 18 per cent growth in revenue for the year ended September 29, 2012. 20 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20476 PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL) and OTA Agoda.com have joined forces to offer the airline's passengers access to the latter's 100,000-strong inventory of hotels. 20 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20477 PANORAMA Group and Booking.com have formed a strategic partnership to launch Bookpanorama.com, with an initial investment of about US$2 million. 20 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20478 A JAPANESE delegation from Kansai visited the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) headquarters yesterday to promote travel to the Kansai region, which includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Hyogo and Shiga. 20 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20479 SIX SENSES Hotels Resorts Spas will launch its Six Senses brand in the Caribbean, South America and Bhutan as it embarks on an expansion strategy that will see it add five new-build properties in five countries by 2016. 20 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20480 HILTON Worldwide today announced Chris Ehmann as general manager of the soon-to-open Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok and DoubleTree by Hilton Sukhumvit properties. 20 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20481 FRANCIS Dehnhardt will succeed Anton Partono as executive vice president of Aerowisata Hotels and Resorts. 19 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20462 SILVERNEEDLE Hospitality has selected Colombo as the location for its second Next Hotel, the group's new flagship brand designed for the business traveller. 19 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20463 TWO fiercely-competing NTOs, Japan and South Korea, have joined hands to offer a single vacation combining the two destinations. 19 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20464 FOR the first time, World Islamic Tourism Mart (WITM) and Malaysia International Tourism Exchange (MITE) will be integrated as a four-day event from June 6-9 at Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur. 19 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20465 WITH an eye on China's burgeoning outbound tourism, Hotelbeds has acquired JBS, a US-based company dedicated to the Chinese accommodation wholesaler market. 19 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20466 HOLIDAY Inn Express Phuket Patong Beach Central has opened its doors, marking the brand's first property on Phuket and second in Thailand following the launch of Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Siam last year (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 20, 2012). 19 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20467 PARK Hotel Group (PHG) has promoted Mohd Rafin from senior vice president to chief corporate officer effective February 7, 2013. 19 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20468 ONLINE luxury travel flash sales site ImpulseFlyer has launched the ImpulseFlyer Collection, a selection of luxury and boutique hotels in the Asia-Pacific region, bookable by members all year round. 18 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20456 PATIENTS from neighbouring Asian countries now make up the top five nationalities of medical tourists in Singapore instead of Americans and Britons, as growth in their home economies outstrip developments in healthcare. 18 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20457 A FOUR Points by Sheraton survey has found Asia's road warriors are the friendliest, with Indian and Chinese business travellers more likely to share a flight with a co-worker, keep in touch with a contact made on the road and hang out with colleagues in their free time. 18 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20458 POPULAR leisure attraction Sunway Lagoon Theme Park in Petaling Jaya is on a drive to attract more meetings, incentives and events by going direct to corporate clients. 18 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20459 LOCAL and foreign travel consultants alike can now secure permits to visit the Puerto Princesa underground river through a new automated online booking system. 18 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20460 TRAVEL metasearch engine Wego is bulking up operations in India with the opening of its new and larger Bengaluru office in Indiranagar, and plans to double its employee headcount in the country this year. 18 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20461 UNIVERSAL Studios Singapore (USS) will strengthen its Sesame Street experience with the world's first immersive Sesame Street-themed indoor ride to open on March 1, 2013. 15 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20448 AMR Corporation-owned American Airlines and US Airways will join forces to become the world's largest airline operating under the American Airlines brand. 15 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20449 LYNX Space Programme is offering Indonesia's ultra-wealthy an out-of-this-world space travel programme, after its launch in Singapore last year. 15 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20450 NEW hotels in New Delhi's Aerocity are making losses as they wait for security clearance and a certification of completion from relevant government authorities. 15 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20451 HILTON Worldwide earlier this week inked a management agreement with BG Group of Hotels to manage four hotels in Australia's Northern Territory (NT), marking the group's first entry into the region and the debut of Australia's first DoubleTree by Hilton property. 15 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20452 WITH the NATAS consumer show just around the corner, Singapore outbound agency Chan Brothers Travel has unveiled its trend forecast for the year ahead, pointing to the return of Japan as a major destination and the rising popularity of cruises, exotic locales and holidays with local celebrities. 15 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20453 AFTER month-long refurbishment works, Star Cruises' SuperStar Libra has returned to Penang and will embark on two new tours to Myanmar later this year. 15 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20454 AS PART of Lunar New Year festivities, Hong Kong Disneyland is dangling offers for stays and admission into the theme park. 15 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20455 ONLINE travel site TripAdvisor has compiled a list of the top attractions in Malaysia that have set the tongues of travellers around the world wagging. 14 Feb 13 http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=20441 THE Indian High Commission has rejected an appeal by the Malaysian Indian Tour and Travel Association (MITTA) against the new 30-day maximum stay ruling for Malaysian tourists to India (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 3, 2013).