Onxy signs Indian property

BANGKOK, 3 February 2012: ONYX Hospitality Group, a Thailand based hotel management company will step into the India market with a management contract with Apna Punjab Resorts company.

Located in Ludhiana, Punjab region, the hotel is the group’s first property featuring 127 rooms. It is due to open in the second half of 2012.

“This project will mark the entry of the Amari brand into India and it is a very significant milestone for us,” noted ONYX Hospitality Group president and chief executive officer, Peter Henley. Read more

Cebu Pacific opts for long-haul

CEBU, 3 February 2012: Philippines’ low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific, will commence long-haul flights in the third quarter of 2013. The airline will lease eight Airbus A330-300 aircraft to serve new markets. “We are exploring cities where large Filipino communities reside — Europe, Middle East, Oceania and the US. Data indicates that more than half of Filipinos deployed in these regions take multiple stops and connecting flights because no home carrier can fly them there nonstop,” said Cebu Pacific president and CEO, Lance Gokongwei. Read more

Garuda cuts sole Euro service

Jakarta, 2 February 2012: Garuda Indonesia will reduce flights to Amsterdam in March and expand its Asian network including new services to Japan and Taiwan.

Blaming economic conditions in Europe  Garuda said it was reducing  its daily service Jakarta – Dubai – Amsterdam to four a week starting 1 March.

Amsterdam is Garuda’s only destination in Europe, launched in June 2010 after the airline was removed from EU’s safety blacklist. Read more

Dusit strengthens Swiss link

BANGKOK, 24 January 2012: Dusit International’ educational subsidiary, Dusit Thani College, has reached an agreement with Switzerland’s Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne to introduce a new hospitality curriculum in Thailand

Details of the agreement were announced by the hotel group last week. The new programme leading up to a Bachelor Degree on Hotel and Resort Management will start with the 2012 student intake.

Dusit executives said the partnership aims to raise the bar of hospitality education in Thailand and will be open for international students. Read more

Xieng Khouang adds attractions.

VIENTIANE, 23 January 2012: Xieng Khouang province will promote Keng Mountain in Phonsavanh village, in Paek district as a new tourist attraction to help draw more visitors to the Plain of Jars.

The site is located 14km from the provincial capital and has 43 stone jars.

According to a report in Vientiane Times, the  site needs better road access and electricity but despite the drawbacks it was officially opened to tourists, 18 January. Read more

Air Berlin and Etihad Integrate FFP

BANGKOK, 20 January 2012: Air Berlin and Etihad Airways have integrated their frequent flyer programmes from 15 January as part of the roll out of their recent partnership.

Etihad Guest and Air Berlin’s topbonus frequent flyer programme members will earn awards and status miles when flying either airline.

Etihad Guest Silver, Gold and Gold Elite members will get additional benefits such as use of Air Berlin’s priority check-in, priority boarding and increased baggage allowances on all routes. Read more

Sea Pearl names GM

PHUKET, 20 January 2012: The Sea Pearl Villas Resort, a stand-alone property in Phuket, named Wouter Hazenbroek as its new general manager last Tuesday.

Mr Hazenbroek has over 20 years experience in management and sales. Prior to joining the resort, Mr Hazenbroek was the general manager of the Amari Boulevard Bangkok.

He has also worked for InterContinental Hotels Group, Golden Tulip International and Bilerberg Hotels & Restaurant.

Read more

UNWTO: Tourism motors on

MADRID, 19 January 2012: International tourist arrivals grew by over 4% in 2011 to 980 million, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer. With growth expected to continue in 2012,  but at a slower rate, international tourist arrivals are on track to reach the milestone 1 billion mark at the end of this year.

International tourist arrivals grew by 4.4% in 2011 to 980 million, up from 939 million in 2010, in a year characterised by a stalled global economic recovery, major political changes in the Middle East and North Africa and natural disasters in Japan.

By region, Europe (+6%) was the best performer, while by sub-region South America (+10%) topped the ranking. Contrary to previous years, growth was higher in advanced economies (+5%) than in emerging ones (+3.8%), due largely to the strong results in Europe, and the setbacks in the Middle East and North Africa. Read more

Absolute names sales director

BANGKOK, 19 January 2012: Absolute Hotel Services named Anan Phongsuriyahchote as its Thailand its director of sales – leisure.

Mr Anan started work last week overseeing sales strategies for leisure markets and travel agency markets in Thailand for properties under the Eastin Hotels & Residences as well as U Hotels and Resort brands.

He has 20 years of experience working for Crowne Plaza Hotel Bangkok, Holiday Inn Bangkok Silom, Meritus Suites State Tower, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket and Furama Hotels International. Read more

Ibis beefs up Thai group

BANGKOK, 17 January 2012: Ibis Hotels Thailand has named three directors to beef up support services for eight properties in Thailand.

The three appointments are group director of revenue, group director of sales and group director of marketing and communications.

Read more

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