Indonesia-based Sahid Hotels & Resorts is set to foray outside the country with an Uzbekistan property opening mid-2019. Under the Operational Management Agreement signed in Jakarta on September 19, Sahid Hotels & Resorts will manage a three-star hotel owned by Royal Palace in Samarkand, one of the largest cities in Uzbekistan. The 65-room Sahid Royal Palace Samarkand will be the company’s launch property. There are also plans for further expansion in the city, including a 200-room hotel in the memorial complex of Imam al-Bukhari. Vivi Herlambang, director of business development, sales & marketing of Sahid Hotel & Resorts, shared that Sahid Royal Palace Samarkand will target travellers from China, Europe, Japan, and countries around Central Asia. Hariyadi Sukamdani, president director Sahid Hotel & Resorts, said that as a country that has just opened up after being separated from the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan has seen extraordinary development. He remarked: “The government is committed to developing the country and strongly encourages tourism to advance and become the main sector. After doing research, we see the big and untapped potential of Uzbekistan. The […]

Following years of delay and cost overruns, the 26km rail link connecting Hong Kong to mainland China’s high-speed rail network was finally launched on Sunday. With the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link (XRL) now complete, travellers will be able to ride from Hong Kong to 44 destinations in mainland China destinations without changing trains, making the city an ideal starting point for multi-destination journeys through China. In particular, the new rail link puts Hong Kong in easier reach of nine neighbouring cities in Guangdong province and heralds a major boost to tourism in the Greater Bay Area. With frequent direct high-speed trains linking Hong Kong to Shenzhen and Guangzhou in as little as 48 minutes, travelling within the Greater Bay Area will be faster and more convenient than before. The Hong Kong section of the High Speed Rail network runs from West Kowloon Station. Visitors can enjoy views of iconic Victoria Harbour by walking along the Sky Corridor on the station’s rooftop. The tourism hub of Tsim Sha Tsui ls is a short walk away from the station, which is […]

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has formed a strategic partnership with Alibaba’s online travel subsidiary Fliggy.com, following last week’s conference between TAT and Fliggy Holiday at Alibaba’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China. The development followed the meeting between Thai prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Alibaba Group founder and executive chairman Jack Ma in Thailand earlier this year in April, which concluded with a possibility for TAT to team up with Alibaba to establish an online Thailand tourism platform. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT governor, said the meeting in Hangzhou confirmed the partnership between the TAT and Fliggy Holiday, with discussion covering various dimensions aimed at improving Chinese tourists’ quality travel experience in Thailand and promoting emerging secondary Thai tourist destinations. The partnership will allow TAT to enhance the awareness of major Thai destinations including Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai, and also to promote emerging secondary cities such as, Chiang Rai, Satun, Hat Yai, Ratchaburi, Buri Ram and Chanthaburi. Besides taking the lead in promoting new itineraries to Thailand, Fliggy also plans to launch its first title-sponsored event in Thailand, the New-year Electronic […]

For Soonie Wattanahongsiri, who counts 15 years of experience in major DMCs in Thailand – including Exo Travel, Khiri Travel and Abercrombie & Kent – a trusted reputation and word of mouth referrals are the most valuable tools to attract business for Blackrice Travel, a boutique travel agency she founded in early 2018. The Bangkok-based startup offers customised trips to Thailand and South-east Asia for both travellers and corporate agents alike. “We have no fixed tariffs or modules. It’s all about customisation,” said Soonie. Designing each holiday around a client’s needs and preferences, Soonie is adamant that she gives “a personal touch” to each booking, whether it’s welcoming clients upon their arrival at hotels or giving personalised souvenirs – think wicker placemats and fans embroidered with their names. In an era where competition is intense and the travel market rife with OTAs, Soonie firmly believes there remains a clear market demand for bespoke travel agents like her. Her extensive product knowledge and operations experience accumulated during her years with the region’s leading DMCs give her access to a ready pool […]

Kiedy otrzymaliśmy zaproszenie na tradycyjny koncert charytatywny w hotelu The Sukosol w Bangkoku – byliśmy mocno zaskoczeni. Rzecz niecodzienna – jedna ze znanych osobistości świata tajskiej muzyki zaprasza na swoje własne show. Hall hotelu The Sukosol wypełniony gośćmi; największa sala konferencyjna w hotelu przekształcona w salę koncertową (jak się później okazało z dobrą akustyką) była w stanie pomieścić niemałą orkiestrę wraz z fortepianem. Początek koncertu zaskoczył nas. Mocny i donośny głos o stanowczym tonie wywierał bezdyskusyjny wpływ na otoczenie. Nasze próby ujrzenia „źródła” głosu z oddali były sporym wyzwaniem. Dopiero później okazało się, iż słynna w Bangkoku i całej Tajlandii pani Kamala Sukosol jest osobą wzrostu Napoleona. Za to podobnie jak Napoleon – potrafi być osobowością wśród innych, którzy stworzyli podwaliny sukcesu gospodarczego Tajlandii. Pierwsze kroki rzeczywiście nie były łatwe – wymagały siły woli znaczniej większej niż u Napoleona. Ale zacznijmy od początku… Rok 1975 – po studiach w Nowym Jorku na Uniwersytecie Kolumbia oraz wcześniejszej szkole średniej w Anglii, do Bangkoku ogarniętego gorączką różnorodnych zmian, powraca Kamala Sukosol i staje przed sporym wyzwaniem. W jaki sposób dorównać swojemu ojcu, […]

As overtourism becomes a growing challenge in Asia’s tourist hotspots, industry stakeholders are calling attention to the importance of tourism management. “While it’s right to understand ‘overtourism’ (literally), what it basically means is a lack of tourism management,” said Willem Niemeijer, founder and CEO of Khiri Travel. Promoting new destinations is one way to ease crowding, but it is far from the full solution. Niemeijer said governments need to step in with measures to jump-start development in lesser-known destinations. “The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) 12 Hidden Gems campaign is great, but we still need to get international brands in (to attract travellers from around the world)…There should be tax holidays, investment incentives in (the secondary destinations) they want to promote.” Moreover, Carl Needham, general manager of Peak DMC’s office in Thailand, pointed out: “TAT has done a good job making these new areas look attractive. Still, once people start (flocking to the next new place), there comes question of where’s next, and (so on).” Some DMCs TTG Asia interviewed at the recent PATA Travel Mart shared that while more […]

Nearly two decades since Star Cruises took delivery of the SuperStar Virgo, Genting Cruise Lines will transform the ship into the Explorer Dream, which will join the Dream Cruises fleet in spring 2019 as a pathfinder for the brand’s global aspirations. The SuperStar Virgo will undergo a US$30 million dollar transformation in March 2019 that will incorporate new facilities including The Palace, Dream Cruises’ signature, luxury private enclave featuring 50 suites and butler service. Guests will be able to enjoy new East-meets-West F&B options and a new Crystal Life Spa. Taking the first step to bring Dream Cruises outside Asian waters, in autumn/winter of 2019, Explorer Dream will homeport in Sydney and Auckland where she will embark on 21 seven-night itineraries. Explorer Dream will feature a multi-lingual crew conversant in English, Putonghua and other Asian languages and entertainment options reimagined to appeal to Asian passengers. With pre and post stays available in Sydney and Auckland, Dream Cruises’ seven-night itineraries in Australia and New Zealand is set to be an important cornerstone for Asian travellers who typically enjoy nine- to 14-day […]

Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) governor Yuthasak Supasorn and Expedia Group’s director of market management Pimpawee Nopakitgumjorn, yesterday signed an MoU to boost tourism to secondary cities in the country, aligned with the TAT’s direction. As part of the MOU, the collaboration will include the sharing of traveller-centric insights and trends that will boost TAT’s capabilities to plan effective promotional campaigns to attract more travellers and encourage longer stays in Thailand. Both parties are also expected to embark on joint destination marketing campaigns to spotlight Thailand’s hidden and unique tourist attractions in its secondary cities, promoting the variety of lodgings to Expedia Group’s 675-plus million monthly visitors globally. Expedia Group will also launch key programmes in destination marketing and skills transfer to the local hospitality industry in secondary cities. Workshops for local hotel partners will include ways to leverage Expedia Group’s Partner Central platform to accelerate skills development and build revenue and hotel management capabilities among local SME hotels. Other aspects of the cooperation include a joint corporate social responsibility campaign aimed at enhancing environmental consciousness among hotels in Thailand […]

Myanmar has introduced the Be Enchanted brand, replacing Let the Journey Begin launched five years ago. According to a statement from the Myanmar Tourism Marketing Association, the new brand “portrays Myanmar as a friendly, charming, mystical and as-yet-undiscovered destination”. “Be Enchanted is as much a promise as it is an invitation. It’s realisation. It’s a memory. It’s a moment. The word ‘enchanted’ holds within it the true heart of Myanmar,” the statement read. The logo font is based on the shapes and identification of the Myanmar alphabet. The new brand will be used officially in Myanmar’s marketing activities such as travel shows, tourism road shows and any digital marketing related to tourism promotional activities/events. source: TTG Asia

Hotel Ramada Plaza Bangkok Menam Riverside od lat uczestniczy w programie edukacyjnym Sprzątanie Świata, realizowanym w Bangkoku pod nazwą Clean Up Bangkok River 2018. – Włączenie się w sprzątanie rzeki Chao Phraya (Menam), nad którą leży nasz hotel, jest czymś naturalnym nie tylko przy okazji tej społecznej akcji. Dbamy o czystość rzeki cały rok – powiedziała podczas targów IT&CMA Pornnapa Sastraruchi, dyrektor Ramada Plaza. Jose De Jesus Ting, dyrektor sprzedaży i marketingu Ramada Plaza dodał, że hotel jest jednym z partnerów akcji w Bangkoku współpracujących m.in. z Urzędem Miasta Bangkok, Ambasadą Stanów Zjednoczonych, Eco Capitals Forum, Uniwersytetem Mahidol oraz innymi organizacjami społecznymi w celu usuwania śmieci z rzeki Menam. Akcja obejmuje także sprzątanie ulic, przestrzeni publicznych i kanałów. Angażuje się w nią wielu wolontariuszy studentów, którzy są najlepszymi ambasadorami troski o naturalne środowisko Bangkoku. Na całym świecie Sprzątanie Świata (Clean Up the World) to program społeczny zwracający uwagę na zanieczyszczenie naszego globu. Program ma na celu edukację mieszkańców globu, aby osiągnąć stałe angażowanie się społeczeństwa w troskę o czystość środowiska naturalnego. Kulminacja programu przypada na trzeci weekend września. Polega na […]