Monday 7 November 2011

TravelRave 2012 Closes

TravelRave, a Singapore-based mega travel and tourism festival, came to a close on Sunday after a weeklong celebration of Asian tourism.

In its second year, TravelRave 2011, consisting of ten events, each with their own unique, yet synergistic attributes, started with the Singapore Experience Awards, and culminated on a high note with the Cornell Hotel Society Asia Pacific Regional Conference.

The festival saw more than 9,500 attendees, representing a 15% growth over 2010.

?It has been a fruitful week of meaningful discussions and meetings. Many who attended TravelRave this year have made valuable contacts and gained useful insights from the various sessions. All in all, we have seen the industry really coming together to make TravelRave a success, and it would not have been possible to achieve this without the strong support of all our partners,? said Ms. Aw Kah Peng, Chief Executive of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). ?With the satisfactory conclusion of TravelRave 2011, we look forward to an even bigger and extensive edition in 2012, as the cluster of events grows into a platform for Asian tourism.?

The by-invitation only Asia Travel Leaders Summit once again gathered leaders for an intimate dialogue on issues pertinent to the Asian travel and tourism industry. Leaders in attendance included Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWO), David Scowsill, President and Chief Executive Officer of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), Zhuang Chenchao, Co- Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Qunar, and Rattan Keswani, President of Trident Hotels.

Speaking from the viewpoint of someone who attended TravelRave for the first time, Mr. Henning Boysen, Chairman of the Kuoni Group, said ?The way TravelRave has been put together and run has been seamless, professional and very efficient. The whole set up has been organized the way we try to put together travel experiences for our guests - seamless travel. Absolutely, if you want to grow and develop your business in this region, you'll greatly benefit from participating at TravelRave.?

Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the UNWTO, added ?UNWTO is very happy to have been part of TravelRave with the organization of a High Level Meeting dedicated to debate tourism opportunities and challenges in Asia. TravelRave is an innovative initiative and a perfect platform to leverage the dynamism of Asian?s tourism. According to UNWTO?s longterm forecast Tourism Towards 2030, Asia will be the fastest growing region for international tourism within the coming two decades. TravelRave enables the sector to harness this vast growth potential."

Apart from congregating travel and tourism industry professionals and opinion leaders to leverage the growth presented in Asia, there is also a need to develop and interest the next generation of industry leaders. To this end, a regional youth competition, the inaugural TravelRave Talent Challenge, was launched this year.

The challenge winner was a student from Singapore Management University, and sharing her experiences in TravelRave, Ms. Mabel Fu said, ?It was a great opportunity for me to attend the events held during the TravelRave week. I was exposed not only to the business side of travel and tourism, but also to more in-depth industry insights, the current issues prevailing, entrepreneurial ideas and the future of the sector. Through interaction with these thought leaders, I have gained a better understanding of the sector and it has opened my eyes to parts of the business I never knew existed. Their passion for the travel industry is truly inspiring. I would definitely consider joining the industry upon my graduation.?

Mr. Kerry Gumas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Questex Media Group, said, ?Without question, for anybody who has not been to TravelRave, the key business benefit of coming here is that you have all of the different participants in the industry here at one place, at one time. Although they are different events, they take place at one very convenient, fun, informative location where you can get all of your networking and business meetings done while having a good time. We think it has been a total success, and we are very much looking forward to coming back again in 2012.?

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Travelport Signs Six New Test Partners in Asia Pacific

Travelport has signed agreements with six travel agencies in the Asia Pacific region to participate in the regional testing and development of its Travelport Universal Desktop.

The new contracts follow successful agency trials and positive feedback from global launch partner, Flight Centre and UK beta test customer Global Travel Management in the UK.

The new Travelport Universal Desktop test partners in the Asia Pacific region are: MP Travel and Orba Travel Brokers in Australia, Quotient Travel and Serangoon Air Travel in Singapore as well as SkyJet and Shalom in Hong Kong.

 All customers are expected to commence beta testing shortly.

Travelport Universal Desktop provides travel agents with an intuitive interface and access to multi-source content and pricing. It is designed to improve efficiencies and boost productivity, through its introduction of clever travel management tools and streamlined workflow processes.

?Travelport Universal Desktop delivers our travel partners with a revolutionary new way to search and book travel. It reflects our ongoing investment in innovative technology and builds on our position as Asia-Pacific?s leading GDS,? said Simon Nowroz, President and Managing Director, Asia-Pacific, Travelport. ?We are committed to ensuring Travelport meets customer needs in today?s marketplace, but also identifies the opportunities of tomorrow.?

The desktop tool is currently being launched across the Flight Centre global network following a successful pilot program. UK travel management company, Global Travel Management has also just commenced accessing a live version following its own successful beta trial.

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Vladivostok Air Launches Flights to Singapore

Russia?s Vladivostok Air has launched twice-weekly services between Singapore and Vladivostok via Hong Kong.

Vladivostok Air will operate the A320 aircraft in a two-class configuration on the route, departing Vladivostok International Airport on Tuesday and Friday mornings to arrive in Changi Airport at 18:20 on the same day.

 The return flight will depart Changi at 20:10 hours to arrive in Vladivostok the following morning.

Vladivostok, in the Russian Far East, is the ninth new city link for Changi this year. Since the launch of the Russia-Singapore Business Forum in 2006, bilateral trade between the two countries has more than doubled to reach Sin$5.2 billion in 2010.

With several Singapore-based companies already establishing inroads to the Russian Far East, Changi?s new connection to Vladivostok will stimulate further business links between Singapore and Vladivostok as well as the greater Primorsky Krai region ? the largest economy in the Russian Far East.

Passenger traffic between Singapore and Russia reached an all-time-high of 65,000 in 2010, representing a 31% growth year-on-year. Singapore also welcomed 55,000 Russian visitors in 2010, an increase of 9% compared to 2009. During the first eight months of this year, air traffic movements and visitor arrivals from Russia increased by a further 34% and 5% respectively compared to the same period last year.

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Wyndham Signs Five New Ramada Hotels in China

Wyndham Hotel Group has signed franchise agreements for the following five new construction hotels in CHina under the company?s Ramada brand.

The 227-room Ramada Taizhou East, set to include 35 suites, will offer easy access to Jiangsu?s key cities, including Nanjing and Suzhou and will feature a spa, fitness center and game room as well as a restaurant with all-day dining options. Owned by Jiangsu Huangting Real Estate, the hotel is due to open October, 2012.

The 212-room Ramada Plaza Rizhao, set to include 12 suites, will be located just a short distance from Rizhao beach and will feature an indoor swimming pool, sauna, spa, fitness center, a ballroom and a roof-top lounge. Owned by Rizhao Wingfat Real Estate Development, the hotel is due to open December, 2012.

The 201-room Ramada Yangzhou Baoying will lie within the heart of the city?s new development area and will offer guests an indoor swimming pool, fitness center, and tennis court as well as a grand ballroom. Owned by Yangzhou Saierda Real Estate Development, the hotel is due to open in March 2013.

The 220-room Ramada Wuxi City Center, set to include 18 suites, will be situated in Wuxi?s city center, within walking distance to the main shopping malls, and will feature six meeting rooms, a fitness center, spa and game room. Owned by Wuxi Hengwei House Development, the hotel is due to open October, 2013.

The 300-room Ramada Plaza Dongxing City Center, set to include 32 suites, will be situated along the China-Vietnam boarder and feature one of the largest Chinese restaurants in the area. The hotel will offer six meeting rooms, a fitness center and game room. Owned by Dongxing Huida Real Estate, the hotel is due to open November, 2015.

The properties will join Wyndham Hotel Group?s 43 Ramada hotels already in operation in China.

?China continues to be an important growth market with an abundance of development opportunities for a number of our brands,? said Ken Greene, president and managing director for Wyndham Hotel Group in Asia Pacific. ?We are thrilled to announce the signing of these five new properties, which will not only cement the Ramada brand?s position in China, but will strengthen the greater Wyndham Hotel Group portfolio in the Asia Pacific region.?

Wyndham Hotel Group currently has a portfolio of 425 hotels and over 61,700 rooms in the Asia Pacific region under the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Ramada, Howard Johnson, Days Inn, Super 8, Microtel Inns & Suites and Dream brands.

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Sunday 6 November 2011

Wyndham Signs New Hotel in Turkey

Wyndham Hotel Group has signed an agreement to open a second franchised Wyndham Hotels and Resorts property in Turkey.

The Wyndham Istanbul Kalamis Marina owned by Reisler Deri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Siketi, is due to open in autumn 2012.

The signing of the Wyndham Istanbul Kalamis Marina adds to Wyndham Hotel Group?s steady growth in the country, following last month?s announcement that Turkey?s first Wyndham hotel, the Wyndham Petek Istanbul, is set to debut in 2012. Wyndham Hotel Group currently has seven hotels open and operating in the country under the globally renowned Ramada brand.

With views of the Marmara Sea, this five-star property will be located directly across from the exclusive Kalamis Marina on the Asian side of Istanbul.

The hotel will feature 211 rooms over five floors, one presidential suite and eight meeting rooms. A large spa and fitness centre will offer 12 treatment rooms, one indoor pool and one rooftop pool. Dining options will include three restaurants: one offering all-day dining and two speciality restaurants. A lobby bar and room service will also be available.

?Turkey plays an important role in our plans to expand Wyndham Hotel Group?s portfolio in Europe and the Middle East and continue providing travellers with first-rate accommodations around the world,? said Eric Danziger, president and chief executive officer of Wyndham Hotel Group. ?The opportunities in Istanbul make for an exciting time to introduce a second Wyndham hotel here. With its incredible location and five-star offerings, the addition of Wyndham Istanbul Kalamis Marina further demonstrates our commitment to work with respected partners to bring high-caliber products to key, vibrant markets.? 

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AirAsia X Moves from Stansted to Gatwick

AirAsia X has moved its station in London from London Stansted International Airport to Gatwick Airport.

To commemorate this event, AirAsia X, the Malaysian-based long haul, low cost affiliate of AirAsia, is offering travellers the opportunity to walk the streets of London and explore the wide variety of museums and monuments for RM 689 (?151) from Kuala Lumpur to London.

Travellers who prefer a more luxurious long haul flying experience can grab this opportunity to try the Premium Fly Flat bed seats from Kuala Lumpur to London for RM 3,389 (?743). These seats are equipped with standard business class specifications of 20? width, 60? pitch and stretches out to 77? in full recline position. The Premium Fly Flat bed seats also includes universal power sockets, adjustable headrests and built-in personal utilities such as tray table, drink holder, reading light and privacy screen.

AirAsia X?s decision to switch from Stansted to Gatwick Airport is to provide guests with a larger variety of connectivity options as travellers arriving into London via Gatwick Airport can conveniently choose to either connect domestically or internationally from its wide range of available flights, trains and buses to get into London City, Europe and beyond.

With better connectivity to various countries and cities, AirAsia X hopes to drive in more passengers from its feeder network in South East Asia to visit and explore the vast travel opportunity in London and Europe via Gatwick Airport.

Head of Commercial AirAsia X, Darren Wright said, ?From our first flight into London back in March 2009 till today, we are strong supporters of our Kuala Lumpur ? London route and are always looking for ways to improve ourselves to increase passenger traffic in and out of London. With that being said, we believe that our move into Gatwick Airport will help this route grow as we are now providing guests with greater choices for connectivity such as better and faster rail and bus connections into London, Europe and beyond via Gatwick Airport.?

Travellers from Australia, New Zealand, China and Taiwan can also take advantage of this celebration with Fly Thru flight deals with fares to London from Australia (Perth, Melbourne) from as low as A$539, New Zealand (Christchurch) for N$669, China (Hangzhou) for RMB 2,679 and Taiwan (Taipei) for T$11, 490.

These Fly Thru flights provides guests transiting in Kuala Lumpur with a seamless connection to their onwards flight into London by eliminating the need for immigration clearance or a transit visa when they arrive in Malaysia. Upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, guests will be given access to the transit hall linking to the departure lounge where guests can rest, eat and shop before their connecting flight arrives.

AirAsia X will commence flights from Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) to Gatwick Airport with 3 flights weekly for the month of November and increasing it up to 5 or 6 flights weekly during winter from December 2011 till March 2012.

The promotional fares are available until 30 October 2011 for travel between 10 January ? 31 March, 2012.  Terms and conditions apply.

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Air New Zealand Launches Paraparaumu - Auckland Flights

Paraparaumu today became the 27th destination on Air New Zealand?s domestic network with the launch of direct services between Paraparaumu (Kapiti Coast) and Auckland.

The new service is being operated by Air New Zealand regional subsidiary Air Nelson, with 18 return flights per week between the Kapiti Coast and Auckland.

Air Nelson General Manager, Grant Kerr, says it?s an exciting time for those living on the Kapiti Coast, with the new direct service set to save customers time and money. ?Those living on the Kapiti Coast will no longer have to make the one-hour drive into Wellington Airport - instead they?ll be able to fly direct to Auckland in one hour ten minutes,? he said.

There is a large catchment area for the new service, with around 110,000 people living in the area that stretches from Levin in the North to Tawa, near Wellington.

?I genuinely believe this airport will have a huge impact on the Kapiti Coast for many generations to come,? said Kapiti Coast Airport owner, Sir Noel Robinson. ?The Kapiti community has got so many things going for it?a new airport, great rail services and future national roading improvements as well as 46kms of beautiful beaches, wonderful park lands and a fantastic climate. It?s a great place to bring up families ?and now with the airport up and running I know it?s going to be one of the most sought-after destinations to visit and live in New Zealand.?

Passengers choosing the new service instead of a jet service will benefit from Air New Zealand?s FastBag service - which allows Gold Elite, Gold and Koru members travelling on Link services to drop their bags off at the aircraft and pick them up right after landing. The will also be eligibile for the Starfish Discount, which enables all travellers flying between regional destinations to obtain up to a 30% discount off each flight.

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