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Marriott plots 100 new hotels

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 10 February 2022: Marriott International outlines plans to expand its portfolio across the Asia Pacific, targeting to open its 1000th property in the region in late 2022.

The company expects to open nearly 100 properties in the region this year.

International for Marriott International group president international Craig Smith said: “Last year in the Asia Pacific, we signed two new development deals a week on average, with deals signed in 13 different markets across the region. This year, we expect to continue to drive demand and growth to serve property developers, owners, franchisees and partners.”

Luxury Demand Continues to Boom in Greater China

According to research by ILTM Asia Pacific, Greater China’s affluent population contributes to half of Asia Pacific’s total spending on airfare and lodging. Affluent travellers in Greater China continue to look for luxury travel in new and emerging destinations. Greater China remains an engine for the company’s growth, as it accounts for more than half of the company’s anticipated luxury openings in the Asia Pacific in 2022. Ritz-Carlton Reserve anticipates expanding its highly curated portfolio in Greater China, debuting its first rare estate in the historic Jiuzhaigou valley later this year. Additional expected luxury openings in 2022 include JW Marriott Hotel Changsha and W Macau – Studio City.

Leisure Demand Paving the Way for Travel Recovery

Research by the World Travel & Tourism Council suggests that leisure travel demand has been booming at an accelerating rate. In 2022, as leisure demand continues to outpace business travel, Marriott is poised to strengthen its presence across several leisure destinations.

In South Korea, the company expects to bring its JW Marriott brand to Jeju with the opening of JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa in May 2022. The expected opening of W Sydney in late 2022 will mark the third W hotel in Australia.

With wellness and well-being remaining a continued priority for many travellers, the company’s leading wellness brand, Westin Hotels & Resorts, is expected to celebrate two new debuts in Yokohama and Cam Ranh in 2022.

Select Service Brands Cement Their Position in the Asia Pacific

Marriott’s select-service portfolio is driving momentum for growth, providing a wide range of amenities and offerings across well-established brands such as Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, AC Hotels and Moxy Hotels. In Greater China, the openings of select-service hotels will further expand consumers’ travel choices, bringing guests a diverse range of experiences in emerging Chinese destinations. Four Points by Sheraton expects to continue its growth with five planned openings throughout the year. At the same time, Moxy Hotels anticipates continuing to share its playful spirit in destinations such as Suzhou and Xi’an.

Outside of Greater China, the company expects to debut its AC Hotels brand in Korea with AC Hotel Seoul Gangnam and in Australia with AC Hotel Melbourne Southbank. In Japan, Fairfield by Marriott hopes to continue strengthening its presence with six new properties planned to open across Nara, Hokkaido and Hyogo along ‘Michi-no-Eki’ roadside stations aimed at revitalizing the country’s local sightseeing spots and well-hidden rural destinations.

(Source: Marriott International)

THAI launches Valentine discounts

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 10 February 2022: Thai Airways International promotes discounted fares to mark the annual Valentine’s Day celebrations on 14 February.

The ‘FEBulous Week: Love is All Around’ promotion offers a 20% discount for passengers travelling with one or more companions. Solo travellers have to make do with a 15% discount. Bookings can be made until 14 February for travel from 14 February to 30 October 2022.

The 20% off deal

For roundtrip flights from Bangkok to Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo (Narita), Osaka, Nagoya, Singapore,

 Jakarta, Dhaka, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Sydney, and Melbourne, fares per person start at THB7,020 for economy class and THB17,460 for Royal Silk class

For roundtrip Europe and Australia flights from Phuket to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Sydney, fares per person start at THB22,745 for economy class and THB93,555 for Royal Silk class.

15% off – solo passengers 

For roundtrip flights from Bangkok to Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo (Narita), Osaka, Nagoya, Singapore,

Jakarta, Dhaka, Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Sydney, and Melbourne, fares start at THB7,255 baht for economy class and THB18,290 for Royal Silk class.

For roundtrip Europe and Australia flights from Phuket to London, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Sydney, fares start at THB23,595 for Economy class and THB98,630 for Royal Silk class.

Air tickets promotions for in the ‘FEBulous Week: Love is All Around’ are available only for travel on THAI Economy and Royal Silk classes with taxes and fees included.

Terms and conditions apply (taxes and fees vary based on currency exchange rate on the date of ticket issuance). Passengers will receive Royal Orchid Plus (ROP) miles under ROP terms and conditions.

Singapore hosts inaugural IBTM event

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 9 February 2022: Global meetings and trade show organiser IBTM has selected Singapore as the site for the inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific.

The event will take place from 6 to 7 September 2022 at Marina Bay Sands. It’s the sister event to IBTM World and IBTM Americas and will be coupled with the first edition of Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) X IBTM APAC, in partnership with the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS). The forum will be held on 5 September.

The launch of the inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific event signals the progressive return of international events to Singapore and the resurgence of the MICE industry.

Singapore is a key MICE hub and ideal location for the event because of its vibrant business culture, excellent infrastructure, and stellar track record in delivering similar high-quality events.

Before the pandemic, Singapore’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market reached USD2,523.4 million in 2018 and is expected to attain a market value of USD5,214.9 million by the end of 2027, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%.

Themed ‘Make Every Connection Count’ IBTM Asia Pacific 2022 should welcome exhibitors from over 40 countries, as well as pre-qualified hosted buyers and visitors.

The SMF X IBTM APAC will be held on Monday, 5 September, in partnership with the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS).

IBTM Asia Pacific event manager, Michael Jones, commented: “Now more than ever, making every connection count is critical for event professionals as together we rebuild our industry.”

Singapore Tourism Board executive director, exhibitions & conferences, Poh Chi Chuan said: “We value the partnership with IBTM and Singapore is proud to be the host destination for the inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific. As the global MICE industry gears up for recovery, this event will serve as a critical platform for the industry to network, learn and form partnerships.”

Club Med returns to Phuket

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 9 February 2022: Club Med has announced plans to reopen Club Med Phuket with redesigned spaces, upgraded facilities and refreshed programming.

Slated to open on 11 March this year, Club Med Phuket is located on Kata Beach, southwest of the island, just 45 minutes from the Phuket International Airport.

Club Med chief executive officer, East and South Asia & Pacific Rachael Harding announced improvements at the beachfront property, including a revamped swimming pool with themed zones for children and adults and a new tropical nomad lifestyle concept where nature and culture merge.

Club Med Phuket is also introducing an all-new Magic Tribe show, an immersive visual performance that will take the audience on an emotional journey using electronic screens, sound, and light.

Come August 2022, following the resort’s first wave of upgraded offerings; the resort will introduce an upgraded events venue. A new ‘MICE’ centre will offer greater accessibility before, after and in-between events with meeting rooms and a new conference room located on the ground floor.

Will China reopen outbound travel soon?

By
Don Ross
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CHIANG RAI, 9 February 2022: It’s exactly two years since China shut the gate on outbound travel, but travel firms and destinations are hopeful Chinese travellers will be back soon.

They are counting on a few brave forecasters who are confident some form of reopening is about to occur soon, possibly for non-essential travel limited to individual travellers. 

China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism ordered Chinese travel agents to stop the sale of outbound groups and package travel (hotel+airfare) in February 2020.

According to a Dragon Trail International update, released late last month, Ctrip’s chairman James Liang predicted China would relax international travel restrictions possibly by July 2022. Other more optimistic forecasters hope limited group tours inbound and outbound could resume after the close of the Beijing Winter Olympics, possibly by April.

Last month, China Tourism Academy forecasted outbound tourism would resume in 2022 and possibly climb from ground zero to recover 20% of the traffic recorded in 2019. The CTA forecast is considered the closest to an official source and could suggest a reopening for outbound and inbound tours is on the cards for 2022.

According to the Dragon Trail International’s update, Macau is the only destination outside mainland China where Chinese citizens can travel for leisure, with no quarantine on arrival or return.

“Adjustments to this policy are made regularly, based on if there are any outbreaks of Covid-19 in mainland China… “If there are, then travellers who have recently been in those areas are required to quarantine when they arrive in Macau. Travellers to Macau are allowed in through the Individual Visitor Scheme, so group tourism from mainland China is not operating yet as of January 2022.”

But the suggestion from China Tourism Academy that 2022 could close with China’s outbound tourism notching up 20% of the pre-Covid-19 performance offers a glimmer of hope that China is preparing to reboot its outbound travel engine.

Perhaps Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha’s government has a hint of when China will allow outbound travel to resume. This week it confirmed it was initiating “travel bubble talks with China and Malaysia in a bid to bring back tourists from the country’s two biggest supply markets. 

In 2019, Thailand welcomed just short of 11 million Chinese tourists who delivered an estimated THB543,707 million in tourism revenue. Suppose the Chinese Tourism Academy forecast on reopening outbound travel proves correct. In that case, a user-friendly travel lane between China and Thailand could generate around 2.2 million Chinese travellers by the close of 2022. That’s the best-case scenario.

Before Covid-19 crippled global tourism, China supplied to the world 145 million outbound visitors in 2019, a total that imploded to just 20 million in 2020.

Popular destinations in Asia can take heart from the latest trends measured by QYER, China’s largest outbound travel platform. The one-stop travel platform that claims to have 80 million registered users (primarily middle class Chinese) reports 68.3% of its users searched for information on outbound travel in 2021, up from just 40% in 2020.

The QYER report also confirmed that 94% of users said they wanted to travel after the pandemic stabilised, while 83.52% said they would book overseas travel within one year of the reopening.

Bubble troubles

Thailand plans to hold travel bubble talks with China and Malaysia this month, following last week’s reintroduction of the revised Test & Go scheme. It requires travellers to test twice in the space of five days during pre-paid hotel stays. It’s far from ideal. Users complain of hours wasted filling out forms or uploading certificates to the Thailand Pass app. It’s a poor advertisement for Thailand’s “Smart Hub” aspirations for anyone who has spent hours struggling to get their documents uploaded and accepted for consideration. One tech specialist called it “clunky.”

If the travel bubble proposal is to succeed it would need to skirt around the Thailand Pass bottleneck to stand a chance of winning the hearts of QYER’s travel community, and other social media savvy travellers. They would conclude the time-wasting Test & Go app was a no go. You could call it a serious deterrent and go elsewhere.

The top 10 international destinations for Qyer users once outbound travel resumes:

1) Japan
2) Thailand
3) Italy
4) Spain
5) Australia
6) USA
7) UK
8) France
9) South Korea
10) Singapore

Emirates extends partnership with Amadeus

By
TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, 9 February 2022: Emirates has signed a new agreement with the global distribution system Amadeus that extends their partnership to offer the travel trade community more flexibility, choice, and future capabilities.

As of last week, all trade partners on Amadeus will access Emirates’ content free of surcharge.

The new agreement will also see Emirates’ NDC (new distribution capability) content integrated into the Amadeus Travel Platform, with NDC content being made available to travel sellers over the course of 2022.

Emirates chief commercial officer Adnan Kazim said: “We are pleased to refresh our partnership with Amadeus. It is another step forward in our goal to empower our trade partners in delivering even better customer experiences. In today’s environment, and particularly as the industry rebuilds post-pandemic, everyone in the travel services chain will benefit from flexible models of engagement, multiple means to access dynamic rich content, and the ability to offer differentiated products and services.”

Vist: www.emirates.com 

Russian market on slow recovery track

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 9 February 2022: This year, Russian outbound travel is expected to increase by 64% when compared to 2021 and 96% when compared to 2020, according to ForwardKeys’ latest forecast data.

Commenting on the timeframe for recovery to 2019 levels, ForwardKeys China Market Expert Nan Dai says: “Looking at the current pattern and pace for bookings, it is expected to recover to 2019 levels approximately in three to four years.”

The Top Performing Destinations in APAC in 2021

Thailand, as the top Asian destination for Russian travellers in 2019, accounted for 37% of the market shares of all destinations in Asia. Back then Sri Lanka represented merely 3%, ranking 9th in the top Asian destination list, according to ForwardKeys’ Total Air Market (TAM) data.

However, things shifted in 2021, with Thailand’s market share decreasing to 11%, while Sri Lanka increased its shares to 4%, jumping to the fourth position in the ranking.

During the pandemic, travel restriction has been a major concern and barrier for holidaymakers. Russia is not included in Thailand’s Test and Go Approved Countries list. Russians are only allowed to arrive at certain locations in Thailand through the Sandbox programme and stay there for at least seven days before travelling to other areas in Thailand.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka proactively launched tourism promotion initiatives with Russia last September. More importantly, Sri Lankan Airlines has returned to Russia with direct flights since last summer, after a break of six years.

Is the outlook for 2022 better?

Thailand has been the old favourite for Russian travellers, although the number of travellers is still much behind the pre-pandemic level.

“But I think that is mostly because Thailand’s reopening time was later than the other destinations in the region, such as the Maldives and Sri Lanka,” comments Dai. “Thailand’s Sandbox programme started last July, and the country launched the ‘Test and Go’ programme last November 2021; Sri Lanka in January 2021 and Maldives in July 2020.”

In 2021, Russian travel to Asia, in general, has recovered only 3% of a pre-pandemic level. Major destinations such as Thailand are recovering by 4%, Singapore by 18%, Indonesia by 4% and Vietnam by 1%.

Forward-looking air tickets for Russian outbound travel in January and February 2022 capture a preference for sun and sea leisure destinations.

Sri Lanka does appear with a 30% growth in issued tickets for holiday travel from Russia in January and February, but the share volume is the same as last year, just 4%.

The UAE is the most booked destination, with a slight 2% decrease compared to 2019’s number. Thailand ranks second, followed by the Maldives, which saw a dramatic increase of 142%!

In 2021, the Maldives was the only destination seeing an increase in Russian arrivals when compared to 2019. Its success has been attributed to a wise move on the part of marketing activities to new source markets.

“According to Visit Maldives, a client of ForwardKeys, due to the pandemic, they altered their focus to utilize online & digital platforms to maintain the destination presence and partnered with some of the leading Russian tourism-related organizations, operators, travel agents and travel TV channels to spread the knowledge about the Maldives to boost arrivals from Russia,” adds Dai.

Traditionally popular destinations such as Turkey and Egypt also top the list. Where bookings to Turkey is down by 20% compared to 2019 levels, Egypt has experienced an increase of 272%.

“It appears the sun and sea of the Maldives and Egypt are winning over Russian travellers this year,” adds Dai.

Winners for hotel profit and recovery

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 9 February 2022: Miami and Dubai led the major global markets in hotel profit recovery for 2021, according to STR’s full-year P&L data release.

Miami’s gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) beat 2019 levels by 14 percentage points, while Dubai reached 95% of its pre-pandemic comparable.

Europe

Moscow’s GOPPAR (USD38.88) was 80% of its comparable 2019 level. Paris (USD60.00) was the next closest market at 33%. Amsterdam (USD10.53) recaptured just 10% of 2019 GOPPAR. 

Middle East

Helped by Expo 2020, Dubai’s GOPPAR reached USD89.68, which was 95% of 2019. Qatar (USD42.07) came in a close second at 94%. Oman was the only market to show a negative GOPPAR level (-USD2.77), 107% below 2019.

Asia Pacific

Shanghai’s GOPPAR (USD29.67) was 75% of its pre-pandemic comparable, followed by Beijing (USD19.33), which reached 38%. Bangkok’s GOPPAR level was in negative territory for the year (-USD12.24), which was 122% below pre-pandemic levels.

North America

Miami’s GOPPAR reached USD116.81, 114% of the pre-pandemic comparable. Behind Miami, Tampa’s GOPPAR level (USD76.51) came in at 92% of 2019. San Francisco/San Mateo’s GOPPAR (USD1.78) was furthest away from its pre-pandemic comparable at just 1%.

South America

Rio de Janeiro’s GOPPAR came in at USD11.66, which was 49% of the pre-pandemic comparable. São Paulo (USD7.06) saw the next-highest GOPPAR comparison (27%). Lima (USD6.53) was at just 16% of 2019.

(Source: STR)

AirAsia boosts flights to Sarawak

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SEPANG, Malaysia, 9 February 2022: AirAsia is increasing services to Sarawak, offering 319 flights a week to Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri starting on Valentine’s Day, 14 February.

Flights connecting Peninsular Malaysia to the four cities in Sarawak can be booked through the AirAsia Super App by clicking on the ‘Flights’ icon with one-way fares from MYR108 or paying with 10,800 AirAsia points. Guests with credit accounts may use them to redeem for these flights as well.

Flight Frequency To Kuching (Weekly)

Flight Frequency To Sibu (Weekly)

Flight Frequency To Bintulu (Weekly)

Flight Frequency To Miri (Weekly)

Aside from the additional frequencies into Sarawak, AirAsia also has promotional fares to celebrate Valentine’s Day with one-way fares from as low as MYR18 or pay with only 1,800 AirAsia Points for domestic flights to destinations Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Miri and more.

International flights to Bangkok, Phuket, Phnom Penh, Singapore are also available with one-way fares from MYR99 or with only 9,900 AirAsia Points. Guests can book this promotional fare from now until 13 February 2022 and travel from 14 February 30 September 2022.

Australia’s reopening boosts travel confidence

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 8 February 2022: Australia will reopen its international borders to welcome fully vaccinated tourists on 21 February, almost two years after introducing strict lockdowns.  

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement just weeks after the country eased entry for citizens, permanent residents and their families and subsequent added international students and migrant workers, including ‘gap year’ travellers seeking a working holiday experience.

Travellers must be double vaccinated to enter Australia and the prime minister said the definition would not be changed for tourists to enter the country.

“We’ve been cautious looking at the impact, particularly when Omicron hit, and how that would flow through,” he said.

“But the fact is here in Australia, the variant is here, and for those who are coming in who are double vaccinated, they don’t present any greater risk than those who are already here in Australia.”

 IATA’s regional vice president for the Asia Pacific, Philip Goh welcomed the move saying: “Today’s announcement by the Australian government to open its borders to all vaccinated travellers from 21 February 2022 is welcomed by the airline community and a big step forward.  

“The Asia Pacific region has been very cautious in its approach to border restrictions so far, but in recent weeks, we have seen growing momentum towards relaxation of travel restrictions – in the Philippines, Thailand, and to some extent, New Zealand. 

“We urge other governments in the Asia Pacific to look at similarly further easing their border restrictions to enable aviation businesses to accelerate their much-needed recovery and to bring maximum benefits to their economies.”

Singapore’s CNA news channel said the announcement sent shares of travel and airline stocks surging, with Qantas up more than 5% and travel operator Flight Centre rising more than 7%.

The past week had seen a slowdown in daily infections and hospital cases. Australia reported just over 23,000 new cases on Monday, the lowest tally since the New Year and far away from a peak of 150,000 in late December.

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