| Ascott expanded in China with two more properties in Chengdu and Beijing Posted: 07 Sep 2011 09:13 PM PDT |
| Movenpick Hotel & Spa Bangalore opens Posted: 07 Sep 2011 08:57 PM PDT + Click Image to Enlarge  INDIA-The Movenpick Hotel & Spa Bangalore has opened its doors, marking the Swiss chain's first hotel in India. The 182-room property, located in one of India’s fastest growing cities, will target a mainly corporate clientele.
It has an Italian restaurant, café, rooftop Japanese and Thai bar and lounge, spa and 1,000sqm of banquet facilities. The opening rate will be pegged at around US$162.
Bangalore, now called Bengaluru, is dubbed the 'Sillicon Valley of India' for its heavy concentration of IT companies and high-tech enterprises, as well as educational and research institutions.
Huge jumps in visitor arrivals in recent years have made the need for reasonably priced accommodation more urgent.
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| Vietnam to invest billions in tourism Posted: 07 Sep 2011 08:49 PM PDT + Click Image to Enlarge  VIETNAM-Officials in Vietnam have outlined ambitious plans to invest over $12 billion in tourism infrastructure over the next decade. Hoang Thi Diep, deputy head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), said the state would provide approximately 20 per cent of the total funds while the rest will come from local and foreign investors.
Hoang said the country would focus on developing sea tourism, MICE, eco-tourism and medical tourism, with priority given to infrastructure development.
According to VNAT, the country had 625 tourism projects in November last year, with total pledged capital of US$12.3 billion.
The industry has attracted many foreign investors, with a primary focus on hotel and resort development.
There is pressure now to develop these services rather than relying on natural scenery and heritage sites.
The country recently announced plans to develop a huge integrated casino resort on the southern island of Phu Quoc, which would be served by a new international airport on the island and expanded road links from Ho Chi Minh City, which is also developing a new air hub.
Another major integrated resort is being planned for Ho Tram, on the country’s southeast coast.
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| Hilton Estate and Spa signs up with Signature Life Hotels Posted: 07 Sep 2011 08:24 PM PDT + Click Image to Enlarge  Hilton Country Estate & Spa is a gorgeous, fifty acre estate situated in the serene Midlands town of Hilton. It’s colonial homes and garden cottages, are set amidst lawns and trees with a 180 degree views overlooking the city of Pietermaritzburg. Says MD Alan Vels . “ Signature Life have been looking for the “right” property in this area, as we are inundated with calls from travellers who wish to go to the Midlands area for a break or conference. This estate is perfect for our portfolio and we are delighted to be involved”
The main guest lodge offers lavishly furnished lounges and reception areas to meet, read, have tea or relax in. In addition to accommodating guests for many of the local high profile cultural and sporting events, the estate is a popular venue for families of the regional schools who travel to the Midlands for term breaks and school functions.
There are five five double bedrooms in the main house and two cosy cottages, and this caters for up to 16 guests. The spacious rooms have a large en suite bathroom with a glass shower and French doors lead onto the verandah. The house offers lavishly furnished rooms, shared lounges and reception areas, whilst the cottages cater for those in need of a little space, there are also a spa & gym on-site. One of the suites, the opulent and luxurious Presidential Suite has a floating bed in the centre of the room adorned with abundant silk dressed pillows. This suite is enhanced by an exquisite Italian Travertine bathroom - a perfect romantic getaway for two. The suite is equipped with DSTV and a DVD player.
The estate’s award wining kitchen is recognised for superb cuisine in the area, and exquisite dishes are prepared daily in the estate’s two signature styles, “The Gourmet Food Sharing Experience” and “Stylish Plated Menus”.Our fusion-food approach combines an array of different tastes, flavours and textures and we invite you to dine in the open plan dining-room-kitchen or in the garden.
The world class spa- with a steam room, rassoul room and cutting-edge, luxury manicure and pedicure chair, offers a total wellness experience. A first for South Africa, Hilton Country Estate & Spa has launched the “Wellness System Luxury Water Massage Bed’. The state-of-the-art Kinesis™ gym is open for fitness and the spas” well trained therapists, who use leading brands across all product lines, creates the ambiance for a truly memorable spa treatment. The gym is available to estate clientèle, day visitors and club members. Lifestyle training by in house fitness specialists and state of the art gym equipment make the facility a leading gym in the area.
The estate is ten minutes from Pietermaritzburg, 45 minutes from Durban and four and a half hours from Johannesburg, Business conferencing facilities are regularly used by local and national companies, finding the environment an ideal retreat for focus, fun and relaxation. It is a venue for exclusive occasions, t and the entire estate can be reserved, creating a highly sophisticated banqueting and entertaining environment.
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| Con Dao to welcome 200,000 arrivals by 2020 Posted: 06 Sep 2011 09:49 PM PDT + Click Image to Enlarge  VIETNAM-Côn Äảo, an Islands District of Bà Rịa-VÅ©ng Tàu province, is expected to welcome 200,000 visitors a year from now to 2020. The plan, which is the adjusted planning scheme of Côn Äảo, sets to house some 20,000 residents by 2020 and the figure is to rise to 30,000 by 2030.
Côn Äảo includes 16 islands and islets, with the largest one being Côn SÆ¡n Island, which are also accessible by plane.
The development of the district must be attached closely with the preservation of historic and cultural relics, forest-maritime ecosystem and national defense and security, according to the plan.
The district will features a multi-center model which can be divided into preservation area and urban space.
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| Vietnam Airlines offers discount on UK route Posted: 06 Sep 2011 08:01 PM PDT + Click Image to Enlarge  VIETNAM-The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines on Sept. 5 announced its promotion programme on direct flights to the UK. The promotion programme, under which return tickets are sold at the price of 12,500,000 VND (roughly 599 USD), including taxes and other charges, is to mark the opening of the Vietnam-UK direct air route in December.
The discount price is applied to tickets sold from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 for flights departing from Dec. 8 to Dec. 31.
The national flag carrier said it will operate four flights per week from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Gatwick airport in London as from Dec. 8 using Boeing 777 aircraft. With the two new routes, London will become Vietnam Airlines’ fourth gateway to Europe.
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| Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi invites to the first Japanese Food Festival Posted: 06 Sep 2011 07:51 PM PDT + Click Image to Enlarge  VIETNAM-The upscale Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi celebrates a week of irresistible and authentic Japanese gastronomy prepared by Master Chef Kittisukd Sujaritvetee from the 12th to 16th of September. Japanese Master Chef Kittisukd Sujaritvetee from the sister property, the Mövenpick Hotel Saigon, invites food lovers and enthusiasts to sample an extensive selection of traditional and creative Japanese delicacies featuring a lavish buffet display of over 20 kinds of Sushi, assorted Sashimi such as Salmon, Tuna, Shime Saba, Tako Sashimi (Octopus), Ika Sashimi (Squid), Kani Shashimi (Crab Stick), combined with various kinds of Miso Soups, Salads, Tempuras, Kanikamas and many other Japanese classics.
During the five-days festival, the talented Master Chef Kittisukd Sujaritvetee will prepare Japanese dishes using only the freshest ingredients in order to tantalize the taste buds of Hanoi’s food connoisseurs. The Japanese Food Festival at the Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi will not only showcase an array of authentic and sumptuous Japanese cuisine but also features elements of Japanese culture and art. Nicolas Martin, Executive Assistant Manager at the Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi, said that the hotel is delighted to introduce yet another culinary highlight to the city after the very successful Thai, Swiss and Chinese Food Festivals in the past months. “With strong focus placed upon freshness and natural flavours, Japanese cuisine is nutritionally well-balanced and healthy. It is known for its seasonality and high quality of the food products and ingredients used,” he said.
An extensive selection of authentic Japanese delicacies will be served buffet style for only VND 690,000++ including free flow of wine, draught beer and soft drinks every evening from 6.30pm to 10.30pm on September 12th to 16th 2011 at the Mangosteen Restaurant located on the 2nd floor of the hotel.
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, an upscale hotel management company with over 12,000 employees, is represented in 30 countries with over 90 hotels existing or under construction. Focussing on expansion in its core markets of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, the international hotel group specialises in business and conference hotels, as well as holiday resorts. Of Swiss origin, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts positions itself in the upscale segment and stands for quality, reliability and care with a personal touch. The hotel group is owned by Mövenpick Holding (66.7%) and the Kingdom Group (33.3%)
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| WTTC launches 2012 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Posted: 05 Sep 2011 09:21 PM PDT + Click Image to Enlarge  The World Travel&Tourism Council (WTTC) is inviting tourism businesses, organizations, and destinations worldwide to apply for its 2012 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. Each year, WTTC recognizes best practices in sustainable tourism - its Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are one of the highest accolades in the global travel and tourism industry.
Applicants should illustrate how they are demonstrating sustainable tourism practices and management, including maximizing social and economic benefits for local people, reducing negative impacts to the environment, and supporting the protection of cultural and natural heritage, by entering one of four award categories: Global Tourism Business, Conservation, Community Benefit, and Destination Stewardship. Interested award applicants can submit their entries online at www.tourismfortomorrow.com until December 1, 2011.
David Scowsill, President&CEO of WTTC, said: “The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are unique with their rigorous three-step judging process that includes an expert on-site evaluation. Finalists are carefully chosen by an international team of approximately 20 judges representing a wide range of professional backgrounds and sustainable tourism expertise in the travel and tourism industry. I am delighted that over the past years the awards, which recognize sustainable tourism practices, have grown immensely. WTTC is proud to honor and celebrate its winners at this year’s WTTC Global Summit in Tokyo from April 16-19, 2012.”
Winners will meet government and industry leaders at the prestigious Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Ceremony, receive outstanding international media exposure, and are invited to submit case studies to WTTC’s website.
“An emerging global green economy is now underway, with sustainable tourism helping to chart the way forward. Each year, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards recognize the highest levels of innovation and leadership in sustainable tourism best practice from around the world, transforming the travel and tourism industry in positive ways for local people and the planet,” explained Costas Christ, Chairman of Judges.
“Winning a Tourism for Tomorrow Award is like winning an Oscar or Emmy - it's a big deal in the travel industry. I'm personally very proud of our win because it recognizes a goal that we have been committed to since day one of Intrepid," said 2011 Global Tourism Business Awards winner Geoff Manchester, Intrepid Travel's General Manager and Co-founder.
In 2011, Alpine Pearls won in the Destination Stewardship category, Guludo Beach Lodge won the Community Benefit Award, and Singita Pamushana won the Conservation Award.
Strategic partners for the 2012 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are Travelport and the Travel Corporation’s Conservation Foundation.
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| Government plan set to rescue Air India Posted: 05 Sep 2011 08:44 PM PDT + Click Image to Enlarge  INDIA-Air India is set to receive an equity boost of Rs6,600 crore (AU$1.36 billion) from the Indian Government in a move that would eliminate the carrier’s outstanding debts to vendors and oil companies. The payment is part of a “three-pronged approach” by the government to revive the beleaguered carrier and would be in addition to the Rs1,200 crore promised the airline for the 2011-12 financial year.
With Air India currently operating at a loss of Rs21 crore per day, the carrier would be asked to “make better use of its aircraft and manpower” as part of the bailout, the newspaper reported.
Also in line for reform is the airline’s hotel business, which at present employs “hundreds” of consultants at “exorbitant” salaries.
2011 has not been kind to Air India; earlier in the year the airline faced industrial action by 700 of its pilots, whilst last month, the carrier was denied membership into Star Alliance.
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| Death toll continues to rise following Japanese Typhoon Talus Posted: 05 Sep 2011 08:00 PM PDT + Click Image to Enlarge  JAPAN-Authorities in Japan are continuing the search for survivors following Typhoon Talus, which claimed 36 lives over the weekend. As many as 56 people are still believed to be missing following the impact of the weather system over the weekend.
Japanese Police, firefighters and the Self-Defense Forces their search earlier, focusing on the Nara and Wakayama prefectures which were hardest hit.
Talus was the ninth typhoon of the season.
Areas around the Kii Peninsula, south of Osaka, were also hit, wit reports of flooded rivers, damaged roads and mudslides hampering relief work.
Typhoon season runs from June to December.
The Japan Meteorological Agency provides information and forecasts - in English - about approaching storms.
The damage caused by Talas is the worst since Typhoon Tokage left a total of 98 people dead or missing in October 2004.
Earlier the typhoon changed into an extratropical cyclone, although the Japan Meteorological Agency continued to issue warnings of heavy rain through today for Hokkaido Prefecture and its vicinity.
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