An Iconic Return. A Legendary Welcome. Raffles Hotel Singapore - ACCOR SUPPLEMENT - TTG Asia
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ACCOR SUPPLEMENT An Iconic Return. A Legendary Welcome. Raffles Hotel Singapore.
ACCOR SUPPLEMENT
Mövenpick expands
in booming Vietnam
Less than eight months after Accor is the #1 international
announcing its 1000th hotel operator in key Asia Pacific
in Asia Pacific, Accor opened markets including Australia,
its 1200th hotel with the Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore,
launch of Mövenpick Cam Ranh South Korea and Vietnam.
on beautiful Bai Dai Beach Both its geographic footprint
in Vietnam. and brand portfolio are wider
Accor has cemented its place and more diverse than its
as the largest international competitors.
operator in Asia Pacific, with a Michael Issenberg, Chairman
new hotel opening, on average, & CEO Accor Asia Pacific said,
every 2.5 days in the region. “It is fitting that our 1200th
The announcement solidifies hotel for Asia Pacific is one
the group’s presence in the fast- in a newly emerging tourist
growing Vietnamese market, destination such as Cam Ranh,
which has seen tourism arrivals because Accor has always been
grow by an average rate of 25% proud to open up new frontiers
from 2015 – 2018, one of the in tourism and invest in tier
fastest increases in the world. two destinations that spread the Movenpick Cam Ranh, Vietnam opened as Accor’s 1200th hotel in Asia Pacific
Having pioneered international benefits of tourism further.
tourism in Vietnam since “Mövenpick is a brand that hotels in all the best locations an extensive Serenity Spa. Six great snorkelling and diving.
1992, Accor is now the largest was acquired by Accor in 2018 from Hoi An to Ha Long Bay, multi-function meeting rooms Phu Quoc is another hot
operator in the country, with and already has seen a strong from Phu Quoc to Hai Phong make it perfect for conferences destination for Accor in
a network of 31 hotels and take-up by owners as it offers and from Sapa to Saigon. and events. In homage to its Vietnam, with the gorgeous
over 7600 rooms, plus a an upscale experience that is Mövenpick Cam Ranh offers origins, there is even a Swiss fishing village now boasting
development pipeline of 10 warm and authentic with a 500 rooms, including 118 Village with a beer house, four resorts, and with another
announced projects and many strong focus on great dining private pool villas and 132 fitness centre, games room and three to open this year.
more in discussion. and sustainability. Our pipeline studio apartments overlooking retail outlets. Mövenpick Residences Phu
Across Asia Pacific, Accor has for Mövenpick, especially in a gorgeous white sand beach. Cam Ranh’s international Quoc, Mövenpick Waverly
500 hotels in the development Vietnam, has exceeded our It boasts outstanding facilities airport and natural attractions Phu Quoc and Pullman Phu
pipeline and - with over 40 expectations.” including three restaurants mean it is set to become a Quoc will open in March/April.
hotel brands globally from While its most famous hotel and two bars, a multi-level hot new tourist destination, Pristine beaches, fresh seafood,
ultra-luxury to economy - can in Vietnam is undoubtedly swimming pool, tennis court, offering several golf courses, amazing sunsets and national
offer owners and investors the flagship Sofitel Legend sports field, adventure rope Nui Chua National Park and a parks filled with flora and fauna
the perfect hotel for every Metropole Hanoi, Accor’s park, water slides and two number of historic sites as well will see Phu Quoc continue to
destination. presence in the country includes separate kids’ clubs as well as as beautiful clean beaches and grow in popularity.
IN BRIEF
Lifestyle Mondrian brand arrives in Asia
Mondrian hotels are bold and brave hotels offering
instant excitement with ground-breaking design and
progressive programming. Already famous in Los Angeles,
New York, South Miami Beach and Doha, Accor is bringing
the premium lifestyle brand to Asia, with the first opening
set for Seoul and soon followed by new hotels in Singapore,
Vietnam and Indonesia. Mondrian provides a playful
framework so that guests can immerse themselves in the
culture of its city, with a mix of glamour and fantasy.
Accor’s new lifestyle loyalty programme
has arrived – when you want it ALL Accor adds nine new hotels to Philippines
Tourism in the Philippines has grown over 15% in the
Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Resort & Spa is the perfect place to experience Accor’s new lifestyle loyalty programme
ALL - Accor Live Limitless
past year, prompting an investment boom. Accor recently
announced no fewer than nine new hotels for the Philippines.
Accor has unveiled its new at thousands of Accor restaurants Presents UK and AEG Presents This will add six new hotel brands to the country, including
lifestyle loyalty programme, and bars globally, whether they are Asia as well as festival partnerships Pullman Living, MGallery, Swissôtel, Novotel Living and Ibis
ALL – Accor Live Limitless. ALL in-house or not. ALL also offers with the likes of American Express Styles. The brands currently present here are Raffles, Fairmont,
transforms the traditional concept new premium status levels to take Presents BST Hyde Park, ALL Sofitel, Mövenpick, Novotel and Mercure.
of hotel loyalty by providing a the guest experience to new levels
members will have VIP entry to
holistic ecosystem of brands, for the most loyal members.
services, experiences and rewards ALL also brings together strong the world’s biggest events.
to help members live, work and partnerships with the likes of Over the past years, Accor
play better. IMG to allow members to access has undergone a major MGallery arrives in Singapore
The programme opens doors chef masterclasses and culinary transformation, moving from a MGallery will open its first hotel in Singapore with the
across the industry’s broadest encounters; AEG to provide hotel operator to a full lifestyle upcoming launch of Orchard Hills Residences MGallery.
portfolio of 40 hotel brands as tickets to concerts and shows; services provider, by adding With 166 exquisite serviced residences, it provides an urban
well as an unrivalled collection and Paris Saint Germain football concierge, private rentals, health retreat in the city’s prime shopping district. Guests
of bars, restaurants, nightclubs club to deliver exclusive access to will be able to enjoy bespoke health and medical treatments
entertainment venues, co-work
and ‘money can’t buy’ experiences players and games. helmed by the renowned Fullerton Healthcare Group.
including epic sporting events, With venue partnerships spaces and more to its portfolio.
Natural elements are included through extensive use of stone
food festivals, concerts and more. including Qudos Bank Arena ALL is a lifestyle companion, not
and wood, lush gardens and a cantilevered rooftop pool.
For the first time, ALL members Sydney, Barclaycard Arena only when you travel but every day.
can now earn and redeem points Hamburg, ticketing rights to AEG
ACCOR SUPPLEMENT
Opulent Raffles Hotel network to double in Asia Pacific
As one of the most revered looking to relax, reconnect and has unveiled its incredible
names in hospitality, the rejuvenate. From a romantic make-over and now features
famous Raffles network is set dinner in a private cave to completely revamped suites
to double in Asia, following the clifftop yoga or the festivity and public areas plus exciting
recent reopening of the flagship square offering cultural new dining venues including
Raffles Hotel Singapore immersions, the resort’s La Dame de Pic by seven
after a multi-million dollar facilities include its own white Michelin-starred chef Anne
restoration. Raffles Bali will sand beach, signature Writers Sophie Pic; BBR by Alain
open in April 2020, perched Bar, library, Raffles Spa and Ducasse; and yi by Jereme
on a hill overlooking the Raffles Gym. There will even Leung. All those signatures
famed sunsets of Jimbaran Bay. be a Wellbeing Butler to ensure that make a stay at Raffles so
Each villa will feature its own the emotional wellbeing of all special are still there, including
private pool, outdoor cabana, guests. Raffles Bali promises an Long Bar, the Tiffin Room, the
indulgent bathroom and enchanting stay in spectacular famous Singapore Sling and the
blissful bedding. Inspired by surrounds. renowned Raffles Butlers.
nature, Raffles Bali is a unique Behind its heritage-listed In India, Raffles Jaipur will
wellness retreat for those façade, Raffles Hotel Singapore open in an area famous for its
rich cultural heritage, offering
truly palatial accommodations
on its own island. It will feature
luxurious suites, a Raffles Spa,
Long Bar, Writers Bar, pool and
deck, all within lush gardens. Raffles Hotel Singapore offers an oasis of calm in the middle of the city
Accor also announced that
Raffles Sentosa will open in
Singapore in 2022, with 61
spacious pool villas, set in
gorgeous tropical gardens
and offering views over
the South China Sea,
amazing spa facilities and
spectacular dining.
These hotels join recent
openings including Raffles
Shenzhen and Raffles Maldives
Meradhoo. Also in the pipeline
are Raffles Hotels in London,
Boston, Dubai, Jeddah and
Bahrain. Currently spanning
14 hotels globally, Raffles is
one of the most luxurious
collections of landmark hotels Afternoon Tea in the Raffles Hotel Singapore’s Grand Lobby is one of the most
Raffles Bali’s 32 luxurious suites boast stunning views over Jimbaran Bay in the world. refined experiences in the city
Accor #1 on Gold Coast
Australia’s stunning Gold family-friendly Mercure Gold
Coast has some of the country’s Coast Resort; from the French
most beautiful beaches and luxury of Sofitel Broadbeach to
lush hinterland including the Mantra Crown Tower; there
World Heritage wilderness is no one who knows the glitzy
and a vibrant street arts scene. Gold Coast better. The recent
With 26 hotels, resorts and opening of Hyde Paradiso at
apartments throughout the Gold Peppers Soul Surfers Paradise
Coast, Accor is the Gold Coast’s has brought a new Miami vibe
number one operator and to the beach, with its famous
employer. From the celebrity Bottomless Brunch serving up
haunt of Pepper’s Broadbeach Mediterranean dishes paired
with its stylish apartments, Zen with carefully crafted cocktails.
Sofitel Broadbeach combines French luxury with Gold Coast warmth Peppers Soul offers unparalleled
ocean views
garden and private cinema to the
Phuket perfection for
every taste
Phuket’s sparkling beaches can choose the Swissôtel
and sprawling resorts have Suites Phuket Kamala Beach
made it a favourite for travellers with its lagoon pool and Kids
for decades. With over 20 World amusement zone. For
resorts across the island, Accor something more secluded,
has the perfect hotel for every Avista Hideaway Phuket Patong
type of holiday. Those looking MGallery is located high on
for an Insta-worthy backdrop a lush hill, overlooking two
can’t go past the Pullman Phuket magnificent bays. This boutique
Arcadia Naithon Beach, perched hotel provides a traditional Thai
on a headland overlooking the Village atmosphere and flows
Andaman Sea. over three levels. Other options
Novotel Phuket Kata Avista include the Banyan Tree Phuket,
Resort & Spa is set into the Pullman Phuket Phokeethra,
hilltops and provides a wide Swissôtel Phuket Patong Beach
range of recreational facilities and ibis Styles Phuket.
in a secluded setting. Families Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach is one of the most Insta-worthy resorts in Thailand
ACCOR SUPPLEMENT
Magical Maldives hotels for the ultimate in tropical seclusion
Luminous turquoise waters, powdery white-sand beaches, amazing underwater gardens and unrivalled resorts. These are the things that make the
Maldives a must-see for luxury travellers. In a place where every resort is its own private island and where natural beauty abounds, Accor now
boasts five exclusive resorts for every desire.
The luxurious Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi offers some of the most spectacular private beachside hideaways to relax and unwind
For the ultimate in seclusion, artist, Jason de Caires Taylor, Noonu atoll, where the sand is
Raffles Maldives Meradhoo this installation features dazzlingly white and the coral
is one of the most exclusive sculptures constructed of reefs teeming, Mövenpick
resorts in the region, with just hundreds of ceramic ‘starfish’ Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives
37 villas. These glamorous villas with hard shells that catch fish was designed with a strong use
are some of the most spacious food. This encourages coral of bamboo and coconut.
in the Maldives, with indulgent larvae to attach and thrive, The island is less than a mile
bathrooms, elegant furnishings while nooks and crannies across, with lush vegetation
and private butlers, delivering provide a playground for a and paths that meander
a service as soft as the breeze. variety of colourful fish. through the forest, creating a
Each villa is super private and In addition to stunning true feeling of being on your
the beach villas feature some of
the largest beds you could find
for the most luxurious sleep of
your life.
The signature Long Bar is
perched atop powdery sand
and perfectly positioned for a The Pullman Maldives Maamutaa boasts a generous all-inclusive
offer that makes a stay here even more indulgent
spectacular sunset, while you
sip a Maldivian Sling. Spread mini-bar stocked twice daily. Conveniently located adjacent
across two islands, guests can Dedicated to four wellness to Kooddoo Domestic Airport,
enjoy dining options over pillars of sleep, sport, food and it features 68 beach and
the water or on the sand. In spa, the resort is spread over overwater villas, 20 of which
the peaceful embrace of the 18 hectares including a natural have private plunge pools.
overwater spa, you will reach lake and offers extensive True to the Mercure promise
new levels of blissful relaxation, leisure facilities including a of an authentic experience,
while the picturesque gym Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru’s stunning villas feature a strong use
of natural materials and a sophisticated design to take advantage of playground, sports centre, vivid colours and local designs
overlooks the endless sea. snooker, table tennis, karaoke are used throughout and you
endless views
The Fairmont Maldives Sirru and golf simulator plus boot can savour fresh regional
Fen Fushi has all the features overwater villas, the Fairmont own deserted island. Luxurious camp activities designed to seafood at the sunset restaurant
you could desire in a luxury boasts unique tented jungle villas feature infinity plunge take advantage of the natural and bar.
resort: stunning overwater villas for those who want to pools, private decks and several beauty of the island. This resort has a chilled vibe
villas featuring copper play Robinson Crusoe – there’s aquatic viewing spots in the Mercure Maldives Kooddoo with a younger crowd, and DJs
bathtubs overlooking the sea; even a jungle cinema. overwater villas that allow you is the perfect resort for those play under the stars by a pool
the longest pool in the region; You can enjoy traditional to admire a circus of sea life seeking a more affordable studded with twinkling lights.
and incredible dining options. Maldivian treatments at the from your shower, bathroom option in one of the world’s For further information visit
However, it also has one thing gorgeous Willow Stream Spa or or living area. most aspirational destinations, www.all.accor.com
other resorts don’t: its own board a dhoni for a Champagne Another highlight of a stay without sacrificing on luxury.
magical underwater museum. cruise to watch dolphins play. here is the decadent Chocolate
Designed by renowned British Nestled in the pristine Hour, featuring a daily custom
showcase of chocolate treats
in the lobby, for those with a
sweet tooth.
Pullman Maldives Maamutaa
features 122 beachside or
overwater private pool villas,
including two amazing
aqua villas with underwater
bedrooms.
The resort’s generous all-
inclusive offer includes dining
at any of six restaurants as
often as you like, including 80
wines on offer, non-motorised
Raffles Maldives Meradhoo is one of the most exclusive luxury resorts water sports, a sunset or fishing With overwater villas featuring private plunge pools, Mercure Maldives
in the Maldives, with just 37 villas cruise, spa treatment and full Kooddoo Resort is one of the most stylish Mercure Hotels in the world
Keep calm and meet on
ITB Berlin 2020 is off, but Asian sales teams already in town will carry on with pre-arranged
business appointments, while virtual meetings have emerged an option for some exhibitors
By Karen Yue gone unanswered. Some concerned par-
As debate within the industry heats up ticipants have taken to Twitter to seek an-
over Messe Berlin’s sudden decision on swers on refunds from the ITB team.
Friday evening – or early Saturday morn- In a Twitter post on February 29, ITB
ing here in Asia – to axe its Berlin trade- Berlin said: “Due to the short notice of
show, travel and tourism players are de- cancellation and the large number of ex-
termined to carry on with their business hibitors, we ask for your understanding
activities as much as possible. that we will check these questions inter-
Asian Trails, for instance, will be con- nally. This can take from 10 days to two
tinuing with sales trips as planned. weeks.”
Laurent Kuenzle, CEO of Asian Trails, Noorzaleha Baharudin, honorary sec-
told the Daily that his team typically con- retary-general, Malaysia Tourism Coun-
ducts pre- and post-event sales trips to “as cil, said: “We now have to work on getting
many of our key clients in Europe as pos- refunds for our flights and hotels on our
sible”, and their time in Berlin is not lim- own. We do not expect Messe Berlin to as-
ited to just the tradeshow. sist us on this. The hotel we were supposed
“Since my entire team is already in Eu- ITB Berlin has been cancelled for the first time in its 54 years of existence to stay in is charging us a cancellation fee.”
rope for a week, we will continue with our Similarly, several Indonesian travel op-
sales trips as scheduled. We also have some Agents (MATTA), agrees that going digital the “cancellation of ITB Berlin is a blow to erators the Daily spoke to said that they
overseas clients who are already in Europe, is a safe bet. “We will also encourage our our European plans”. now have to shoulder the losses incurred.
and we will try to meet them as well if they members to focus more on digital mar- Wong said 30 MATTA members were Budi Susanta, corporate general man-
do not cut their trips short,” Kuenzle said, keting as this is an effective way to mar- supposed to head to Berlin to engage with ager, The Ubud Village Resort, who re-
adding that they are adapting their sched- ket, and does not require on-the-ground the trade and media. ceived the news about the cancellation
ules to the new situation. meetings,” he said. For those who oppose the cancella- upon his arrival in Munich on Saturday,
Hussein Mohd Said, director of Mega- tion, the common argument is that it runs said: “I’m lucky to be travelling with my
WaterSports Jetski Tours in Langkawi, had Mixed reactions counter to the travel trade’s persistent owner so we can rearrange our trip and
just arrived in Berlin when news of the Industry players appear split in their opin- messaging that it is still safe to travel. budget on the spot. However, many of
cancellation reached his ears. He intends ion on whether Messe Berlin did the right Luzi Matzig, chairman of Asian Trails, the Indonesian delegates are staff whose
to use his time in the city to conduct sales thing to cancel the annual tradeshow – the said: “The decision to cancel ITB was budget were set before they even left the
visits to local agents. first time it has done so in its 54- wrong. If we, the leaders in tourism, can- country.”
Singapore tour operator Ori- year history. cel our own industry events, we project a Umberto said that Messe Berlin’s last-
ental Travel and Tours will also On social media, comments very negative image to our potential cus- minute cancellation was “unacceptable”.
be keeping to sales meeting plans flew in from both sides. Those in tomers, tourists whom we would like to “(At press time,) we are unable to evalu-
in the city, and will be relying on support of the organiser’s deci- visit our own destinations in the future.” ate our losses since Messe Berlin has so far
instant messaging services to fix sion said that it was a painful but “I believe that the global media hype has avoided to address the refund issues,” he
appointments, shared co-found- responsible thing to do, as the blown the Covid-19 problem out of pro- said. - Additional reporting by S Puvane-
er Jasmine Tan. well-being of all event partici- portion, which is a sorry state of affairs. It swary, Mimi Hudoyo, and Pamela Chow
The Safer Tourism break- pants and Berlin residents were will take major recovery campaigns to get
Laurent: meetings
fast seminar, co-sponsored by going ahead at stake. travel back to normal once the situation
PATA, will proceed as planned PATA CEO Mario Hardy, has improved, and I do hope that this will
on March 5. The event will be led by Peter whose own association had just an- happen sooner rather than later.”
E Tarlow, a world-renowned speaker and nounced the cancellation of the PATA Agreeing, Umberto Cadamuro, COO
expert specialising in the impact of crime Annual Summit 2020 in Ras Al Khaimah inbound of Pacto, who was already in
and terrorism on the tourism industry, from March 31 to April 3 out of consid- Europe when the news broke, said: “Why
event and tourism risk management, and eration for the safety and well-being of it should tourists travel when stakeholders
tourism and economic development. members, admitted that the decision on in the travel industry themselves are not
As well, Kempinski Hotels has kept to event continuity was a tough one to make. doing so?”
its media breakfast event this morning at “What I have learnt in the past few Whether or not Messe Berlin’s decision
Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin. weeks is that the current situation is was right, most industry players agree that
extremely volatile and dynamic. Each the decision to cancel ITB Berlin 2020
Virtual alternatives (event) needs to be analysed individually should have been made earlier. At just
For Vox Group, virtual meet-ups will re- as there are a number of external factors five days to showtime on March 4, many
place physical meetings. Its chief market- in play. Are there a large number of active exhibitors and buyers, especially from
ing office, John Boulding, went on social cases in the area? Are there any restrictions faraway Asia, were already bound for the
media on Saturday to propose a “face-to- on entry to the destination or necessary show. Sales and marketing materials had,
face revival (of impacted business meet- quarantine requirements for the traveller as well, already been shipped up.
ings) using Google Hangouts, Skype, on their return? What are people’s senti- Several event planners the Daily spoke TTG Asia is in Berlin
Meet, etc.” ments towards travelling or attending an to suggested that a month’s notice of can- We are here in the city and mak-
Similarly, COTRI (China Outbound event? Will you be able to gather sufficient cellation would be ideal. ing the best out of a surprise. If
Tourism Research Institute) has also tak- attendance?” he explained.
en to social media to propose webinars to Wong told the Daily his organisation The aftermath
you are in town and would like to
keep conversations going. was “appreciative of the cancellation in Sources have told the Daily that calls and chat, contact group editor Karen
Nigel Wong, honorary secretary-gener- light of the economic factors involved and emails to their point of contact at Messe Yue at karen.yue@ttgasia.com
al, Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel safety concerns”, but acknowledged that Berlin for ITB Berlin 2020 have mostly
FEATURE: FORWARD VISION
Paving the path ahead
Tourism chiefs of Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos reveal to TTG Show Daily their game plan to
promote their destinations and grow their country’s tourism numbers going into 2020
HOY PHIREAK
Deputy director general, tourism development and in-
ternational cooperation, Ministry of Tourism Cambodia
How do you see the role of NTOs evolving
and why is the change necessary?
We have to stay ahead and work more with external
agencies and experts – this is a new step for the Minis-
try of Tourism. We have international companies do-
ing our digital work for us, for example, updating our
website and social media. In 2020, we are carrying out
a lot of work with different partners and strengthening
our collaborations with the private sector to really get
them involved and ensure we are on the same path. We
are building more networks with different sectors and are
expanding our representative offices, which will play an
important role in getting interest from different markets.
SENGSODA VANTHANOUVONG
What would you say is the most important Deputy director-general, Tourism Marketing
MUSA YUSOF investment an NTO today must make to Department, Laos
Director-general, Tourism Malaysia achieve its goals?
Time and budgets are restricted and no NTO can run its How do you see the role of NTOs evolving
How do you see the role of NTOs evolving business without involvement from the private sector. and why is the change necessary?
and why is the change necessary? We need to invest time into working with them closer so The role is changing a lot. We have to work with many
Traditionally, the role of an NTO is to promote tourism that we have the same vision and are going in the right di- other ministries and organisations to ensure the whole
in a strategic manner, as well as to be a contact body or rection. It takes time to build up these relationships and visitor experience to Laos is a satisfying one. A govern-
tourism organisation for a country. Today, the roles cover work together to achieve our goals. While NTOs can do ment priority is how to improve this experience and we
well beyond the traditional aspects of tourism. Mean- overall branding, the actual business side of things be- have to support them and try to develop something new.
ing, not only marketing and destination promotions, longs to the private sector. The Laos government says we must take care of visitors
but also, destination management, urban planning, crisis and tourists to Laos so that they can have an incredible
management, initiating CSR programmes, among many What is the biggest opportunity your experience, while also learning from Laos people. We
others programmes. The NTO plays an important role, destination’s tourism industry can leverage have to develop and promote our natural and cultural
especially in a developing nation such as ours, where this year for significant growth? sites more, and we are also encouraging the build-up of
tourism is not only about providing promotional sup- We want to attract seven million visitors in 2020. We will human resource capacity.
port, but also establishing clear objectives and policies. take every opportunity in 2020 to highlight Cambodia
and its developments. This year, we will start to develop What would you say is the most important
What would you say is the most important more eco-tourism sites, more infrastructure and pro- investment an NTO today must make to
investment an NTO today must make to mote more gastronomy to modern travellers. We are also achieve its goals?
achieve its goals? working with international media, including CNN and There has been a lot of government investment into
Investments must include the hardware, such as airports, the BBC, which we expect to see results from, and we are improving the country in recent years. In 2019, the gov-
sea ports, hotels and tourism attractions. But that’s not also working with ForwardKeys in Singapore to show ernment had to change the budget and we received less
all. The NTOs of today must also be up-to-date with where we can further market and promote the country. funding so that is a challenge. Now, we have to concen-
the best advertising and promotional channels or tools trate on the quality, which is very important. It wouldn’t
to reach the targeted international audience in this era matter how much money we have, if we were to only fo-
of digitalisation. We have to invest wisely to get the right cus on quantity and not quality. We have to make sure
type of audience, to reach out to the most number of we invest in developing quality products and look at the
people and at the lowest cost. I also believe in human re- right markets and spaces, and not just the numbers.
source investment to ensure a ready pool of skilled tour-
ism practitioners who are able to deliver quality services. What is the biggest opportunity your
destination’s tourism industry can leverage
What is the biggest opportunity your this year for significant growth?
destination’s tourism industry can leverage This year, we have set a target to receive more than five
this year for significant growth? million visitors. It is very important that the tourism
The year-long Visit Malaysia campaign will be in full sector and government work hard and closely with the
swing. We are targeting 30 million tourists and RM100 private sector if we are to achieve this. To do this, we are
billion (US$24 billion) in tourist receipts. These are the focusing on important markets in Asia. With a limited
biggest targets for tourist arrivals and receipts to date. We budget, we cannot attend many exhibitions in Europe;
want to see Malaysians from all walks of life as well as the but in South-east Asia countries, it is much easier for us
travel trade working hand in hand to achieve our aspira- to participate and focus on specific segments. In 2020,
tions and welcoming the world together. this will be our main focus to improve tourism in Laos.
Therese Tan Assistant Editor, TTG Content Lab SA LES & M A R KETIN G P UBLI S HI NG S ERV I C ES
Pamela Chow Reporter, Singapore Pierre Quek Publisher and Head Integrated Solutions Jonathan Wan Head, Operational Support Services
Cheryl Ong Sub Editor Chimmy Tsui Publisher Kun Swee Qi Publishing Services Executive
Caleb Richard Lai Photographer and Head Integrated Solutions (China) Nur Hazirah Web Executive
Redmond Sia, Goh Meng Yong Jonathan Yap Senior Business Manager Katherine Leong Circulation Executive
E D I T O R IA L Creative Designers Shirley Tan Senior Business Manager
Karen Yue Group Editor Lina Tan Editorial Assistant Seth Leow Business Manager TTG AS I A MEDI A
S Puvaneswary Editor, Malaysia/Brunei Cheryl Lim Advertisement Administration Manager Darren Ng Managing Director
Mimi Hudoyo Editor, Indonesia CO N TR IB U T O R S Carol Cheng Manager Administration and Marketing
Rachel AJ Lee, Assistant Editor, Anne Somanas, Marissa Carruthers, Cheryl Tan Corporate Marketing Manager For sales & marketing enquires, please contact
TTGmice, TTGassociations Rosa Ocampo, Rohit Kaul, Prudence Lui Jade Ye Marketing Executive traveltradesales@ttgasia.com
2 • MARCH 4, 2020 ITB BERLIN
TTG Show Dailies_380 x260mm_FA_200204.pdf 1 2/7/2020 10:05:11 AM
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Sentosa.
Singapore’s
getaway island.
Picture the perfect holiday, all on one island.
From thrilling rides to relaxing sights, Sentosa has got
everything that you need for an idyllic day out, or even
two. Conveniently located only 15 minutes away from
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good vibes and sunshine in just a snap.
Plan your next getaway at sentosa.com.sg
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REPORT
Adapting to the future
Intelligent retail promises
a future of predictive and
customised bookings, changing
the ways that travellers shop
and buy their trips and holidays.
But that also means big changes
are necessary for travel agencies
in their thinking and strategy
to remain relevant and survive
an ever-evolving wave of
technological disruption, finds
Pamela Chow
A
t the Sabre Technology Exchange towards intelligent retailing, the level of board the NDC train, their efforts are still such technology. General manager of
in Las Vegas in July 2019, Sabre awareness among the travel agency com- not being sufficiently matched by dis- Brunei-based Century Travel Centre, Foo
unveiled a brand-new solution munity about its impact and the available tributors. Jeff Lobl, managing director of CP, said that the degree of engagement
that promises to catapult the hospitality digital strategies is still at a worrying low, global distribution for Delta Air Lines, la- between technology providers and travel
industry into an age of advanced retail- expressed travel technology providers. mented: “There are customers who prefer agents leaves much to be desired, result-
ing. The SynXis Intelligent Retailing tool, Solutions centred on IATA’s New Dis- premium products – we see overwhelm- ing in little awareness of options in the
slated for an early-2020 launch, will ena- tribution Capability (NDC) standards ing numbers on our direct channels – but market.
ble hotels to sell not just room ancillaries, and the Airline Tariff Publishing Com- 99 per cent of agencies are dominated by He noted: “Attending more events
but also present a guest with highly tar- pany’s (ATPCO’s) New Generation Store- the practice of showing the lowest fare (with technology providers) would be
geted travel products in real time during font (NGS) capability can allow agencies first. good to help us see what solutions there
the booking process. to sell unbundled air fares, products and “But customers don’t always want that. are (in the market).”
These recommended products are ancillaries, thus enabling them to provide The lowest fare is no longer as attractive The benefits of NDC application pro-
determined through machine learning, customers with a more customisable and a product as before, and offers can now gramming interfaces (APIs) and NGS
based on a customer’s own preferences flexible booking experience. be personalised and exciting. But if these capabilities are still sinking in, but with
and the purchasing patterns of similar us- However, the magnitude of these ben- cannot be displayed properly and cus- the advent of intelligent retail, the agency
ers. The menu is all-encompassing, rang- efits is lost on a concerning portion of tomers can’t see it, then they’re not buy- community may no longer have the lux-
ing from couples’ massages and celebra- agents. Rakesh Narayanan, Sabre’s vice ing.” ury of time. The ability to provide smart
tory champagne to family ticket bundles president, regional general manager, In Asia, the chief reasons for slow in- and dynamic travel retailing will soon be
and, notably, day tours and activities. South Asia and Pacific, travel solutions dustry take-up are a lack of Asia-specific bestowed to hospitality players – and they
The result is a shopping and booking airline sales, stressed: “While Sabre is in- outreach and the high cost of adopting may be quicker to the draw.
process that is personalised, dynamic and vesting heavily in training and education
instantaneous. This development opens for its community of agents, a lot of work
up possibilities for more players along the still needs to be done to ensure that all in-
travel booking chain, but it also poses the dustry players are up to date on NDC. At
uncomfortable implication that machines this stage, both travel suppliers and travel
will soon know what tours and products agencies have to become better acquaint-
a traveller will likely buy – faster and with ed with the complete benefits brought on
At this stage, both travel
more accuracy than a travel agent. by NDC, and how to make these oppor- suppliers and agencies have
Sundar Narasimhan, senior vice presi- tunities a part of their strategy.” to become better acquainted
dent, Sabre Labs and Product Strategy Vi- Similarly, Rob Brown, global vice presi-
sion, declared that Sabre is casting a heavy dent and managing director of OTA busi- with the complete benefits
focus on intelligent advanced retailing, ness, Travelport, observed that although brought on by NDC, and how
and that SynXis Intelligent Retailing is travel agencies have “strong motivations”
one of the first concrete steps towards the to provide a smarter and faster retail ex-
to make these opportunities a
goal of making it an industry-wide main- perience, “the primary focus of many is part of their strategy.
stay by 2025. still solely on converting website visitors Rakesh Narayanan
to bookers, which already makes them fall Vice president, regional general manager,
Time is running out behind the competition”. South Asia and Pacific, travel solutions
While the industry makes a gradual march And while airlines have been eager to airlines sales, Sabre
4 • MARCH 4, 2020 ITB BERLIN
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Langham Hotels in Hong Kong has
already been working with Sabre to pilot
the SynXis Intelligent Retailing tool since
Integrate closely with your For the record
its launch at STX 2019, after which it will
run on a test-and-learn phase for the next data team, whether in-house “Ninety-nine per cent of agencies
two quarters. By 2020, the solution will be or a third-party supplier. are dominated by the practice of
released to the market, helping more hos- showing the lowest fare first. But
pitality players achieve “retailing beyond With the right data and customers don’t always
the room, or even without the room”, analytics strategy, agencies want that.”
– Jeff Lobl, managing director of
described Jeff Henley, manager, solutions
consulting, Americas at Sabre Hospitality
can transcend the traditional global distribution, Delta Air Lines,
Solutions. travel agency business to lamenting the lack of visibility of
premium bundles among OTAs
And even before hotels begin to roll offer much greater value for and travel agencies
out smarter in-destination offerings, the
role of the travel agent – whether a travel customers during every stage
“It’s definitely expensive. We dare
designer, consultant, specialist or desti- of their travel experience. not even think about it.”
nation expert – has already come under Rob Brown – Wilson Tee, founder and advisor,
threat. More OTAs now enable travellers Global vice president and managing Focal Travel, on investing in digital
to easily shop, plan and book innumer- director of OTA business, Travelport solutions such as omni-channel
able permutations of transport and itin- technology
erary options with several clicks of the
mouse. Travel API, and the partnership aims to add value to their travellers. Referring “It’s very cost- and time-saving
“At the stage of booking, a new and execute the API’s full functionality of to advice Travelport offers to its agency for us. Our staff don’t have to
growing OTA model is to deliver a com- end-to-end booking flow and servicing, partners, Brown stated: “Integrate closely key inputs manually, resulting in
petitive search response that includes which includes cancellations, exchanges with your data team, whether in-house or significant time savings.”
multimodal itinerary combinations and and ancillaries. a third-party supplier. With the right data – Kennix Hong, operations
connection points for one-way, roundtrip Travelport has also pushed out the first and analytics strategy, agencies can tran- manager, Pegasus Travel
or multi-leg travel. The booking may phase of ATPCO’s NGS capability with scend the traditional travel agency busi- Management, on the value
consist of tickets from multiple suppliers multiple airlines and partners, includ- ness to offer much greater value for cus- Travelport’s SmartPoint and
ing online booking tool WhereTo and tomers during every stage of their travel TripAssist brings to the company
and is a good way of increasing conver-
sion among price-conscious travellers,” global developer Travel Technology & experience.”
Now, the question remains as to where “We’re a small company with
described Brown. Solutions. As the ATPCO standards con-
limited resources and digitising
With such extensively autonomous tinue to evolve, Travelport is working to the old-school travel advisor stands, and
processes is a cost and time-
travel planning available at their finger- enable exact comparisons across airlines’ agents are exhibiting uncertainty about saving initiative for us. We
tips, customers would soon be increas- full range of products, whether for on- their future in this age of dynamic digital would prefer the human touch in
ingly inclined to skip the middleman al- line agencies, corporate booking tools or distribution. engaging personally with clients
together. Travelport’s desktop solution for offline Grace DeVita, vice president of Flor- and designing extraordinary
agencies, Smartpoint. ida-based Post Haste Travel, said that holidays for them.”
NDC, NGS critical lifelines Displaying a full range of airline prod- while NDC-enabled content has allowed - Lim Hui Juan, co-founder and
As more retailing solutions come online, ucts and ancillaries may just be the first her to “do more and more for customers” COO, Quotient TravelPlanner, who
NDC-enabled tools and NGS capabili- step, but it is critical for online agencies and “add more value to my company and sees a need for travel agencies
ties are fast becoming a critical lifebuoy that wish to maintain their “advantaged my clients”, she is also concerned about to balance digital and personal
for agencies to stay afloat. Mid-2019 had position”, asserted Brown. He explained the changing expectations of customers. retailing
seen tech juggernauts roll out a wave of that it is “essential for OTAs to present “Our clients’ expectations are different
NDC-enabled and NGS developments in travellers with the branded fare options now. They go on the websites and they see
attempts to ‘future-proof ’ travel distribu- available across multiple airlines”, as it what’s out there, then they come back to
tors. would “eliminate the need for travellers to us and say, ‘I can do this myself when I go
In April 2019, Sabre launched its first visit the websites of airlines and compet- online’. Even the big leisure agencies have
set of NDC APIs with United Airlines’ ing agencies to compare offers”. the same issues,” she expressed.
global flight network, which has been He continued: “Our research shows Advisors acknowledge that change is
made available to its Beyond NDC agency that 73 per cent of travellers would re- imminent, although they do not know
partners via Sabre Red 360. 2H2019 had book with an OTA if they could book the how. Jemima Leonard-Thomas, travel
seen scaled-up additional APIs that sup- whole trip in one place. OTAs need to consultant, Carib-World Travel, said:
port voluntary and involuntary flight work more effectively to exploit this posi- “Everybody in travel knows that it’s part
changes, refunds and voids. tion.” of our gig – our work is constantly chang-
Meanwhile, a month after the July 2019 What agencies should do is immedi- ing. I’m not worried because we knew this
launch of the Amadeus Travel API for ately get acquainted with the ins and outs was going to happen eventually, we just
travel agencies, Amadeus announced a of NDC to understand how to maximise have to adapt to it.” human touch. The future of retail travel
retailing partnership with American Air- their mileage from it. Sabre’s Narayanan agencies in Asia Pacific (now) requires an
lines and American Express Global Busi- advised: “The first step for agents to fa- A balance of digital and physical optimal integration of human talent and
ness Travel. The companies shared that miliarise themselves with what NDC is There may not be a clear answer in the technology enablers to deliver a personal-
American Express Global Business Travel and isn’t, is to participate in industry-led crystal ball for now, but experts forecast a ised, frictionless and memorable experi-
has successfully processed live book- sessions, such as the ones hosted by Sabre. likely scenario where the successful agen- ence, underpinned by an omni-channel
ings of American Airlines’ NDC-enabled “Then, start an open dialogue with cies will marry technological strategy and customer service strategy.
content by leveraging the new Amadeus corporate customers so they know that human interaction. Furthermore, there “Successful retail travel agencies must
you are proactively analysing the chal- will remain a segment of customers who combine technology enablers and hu-
lenges and opportunities related to NDC. would pay for personalised service from man intelligence in a way that creates a
Also speak to airline (partners) and tech- a travel designer, and a number of des- convenient and cohesive experience no
nology providers to understand how they tinations that would require destination matter how, when or where a customer
plan to NDC-enable their processes and expertise and guidance. reaches out.”
applications.” Champa Magesh, vice president, Asia This seamless booking experience ex-
Travelport’s Brown urged that agen- Pacific Retail Travel Channels, Amadeus, tends even into an agency’s physical space,
cies should also take a closer look at their elaborated: “The entire retail travel agen- where a customer should be inspired to
data strategy and reconsider how they can cy business model has been about the travel while enjoying a personalised plan-
ning session.
Magesh added: “Now it’s about com-
bining the physical, digital and human.
(Agencies) need some form of human
The future of retail travel agencies in Asia Pacific interaction, but they also need to be
omni-channel – working across multiple
(now) requires an optimal integration of human talent channels, online, mobile and brick-and-
and technology enablers to deliver a personalised, mortar.
frictionless and memorable experience, underpinned “This is a tipping point; the time for
change is now. ‘New Retail’ is the future –
by an omni-channel customer service strategy. where physical spaces are used to inspire
Champa Magesh customers, regardless of whether they
Vice president, Asia Pacific Retail Travel Channels, Amadeus make their booking in store or online.”
6 • MARCH 4, 2020 ITB BERLINyour
Indonesian
home
Borobudur Temple - Central Java
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Community heroes
Beyond chasing dollars, these hospitality organisations have invested resources
to make the world a better, happier place, TTG Show Daily reporters find out
WERKUDARA NIRWANA SAKTI, INDONESIA
I Gusti Putu Yaktianuraga (Bagus), Hence, Werkudara established an in-
managing director of Werkudara Nir- ternship programme that allowed the stu- PULLMAN LUANG
wana Sakti, said: “Werkudara Care is our
way of creating value for the community.
dents to enrol, where they could practice
the language while learning how to man-
PRABANG, LAOS
Beyond donating money, we want to give age events. Since opening, the property has intro-
back to the society in a sustainable way “We also want them to acquire a strong duced several CSR initiatives that include
that helps them to grow.” mentality and positive attitude, not just authentic activities, locally-sourced cui-
Citing an example of the programme’s skills,” he added, believing that the event sine and unique opportunities for guests
long-term commitment, Bagus said profession’s need for creativity, discipline, to interact with the local community in a
through CarEducation the company teamwork and long hours will teach the responsible and sustainable manner.
hired an English language teacher to con- students all that. For example, the hotel’s executive chef
The event company based in Yogyakarta duct courses for high-school students in Offering another example of how focuses on local, seasonal and organic
conducts the Werkudara Care CSR pro- an orphanage, and then selected 30 to Werkudara Care invests in building self- ingredients, including Lao herbs, vegeta-
gramme which focuses on three pillars: take a written test issued by the University sustainability, Bagus said CarePreneur bles and tropical fruit grown onsite. The
Care for Share, which routinely distrib- of Cambridge. provides short courses on budgeting, resort’s terraced paddies produce rice for
utes funds and items to the needy; CarEd- “While six passed the written test, they marketing and product quality control the restaurants, and guests – including
ucation, a social programme that assists failed the interview. This got us thinking for small-scale, community-based busi- corporate groups – can help with harvest-
school children with their studies and that apart from equipping them with the nesses. Besides arming them with better ing. Rice husks, a by-product of the culti-
provide internship opportunities in the ability to write in English, we also need business acumen, Werkudara also engag- vation process, are donated to MandaLao
company; CarePreneur, which empowers to build their confidence in speaking the es these community-based businesses as Elephant Conservation. The property
community-based businesses. language,” shared Bagus. partners to serve corporate clients. also sources several types of cheese from
Lao’s first buffalo dairy farm, and guests
can visit the socially-responsible enter-
PAN PACIFIC LUXURY TRAVEL VIETNAM prise which provides support and educa-
HOTELS GROUP In September, the company stepped in as The company is also joining the Trave-
tion to local farmers.
In line with Accor’s Planet 21 initia-
Pan Pacific Hotels Group (PPHG) has a Gold Sponsor for World Clean Up Day life certificate, the global programme tives, Pullman Luang Prabang also sup-
been delivering its Eat Well With Us com- 2019 in Hanoi, which combats the global managed by ABTA. Its essential man- ports the local children’s hospital, wildlife
munity programme since 2015, launched solid waste problem, including the prob- agement requirements comply with ISO conservation efforts, and local handi-
in partnership with Singapore’s National lem of marine debris. 14001 and EMAS III standards, including crafts.
Council of Social Service, to impart OECD Corporate Social Responsibility
healthy recipes through regular chef visits guidelines that include labour conditions,
and culinary training at charity homes. human rights, environment, biodiversity
From serving just four charity homes and fair business practices.
then, Eat Well With Us today benefits 20. The company recently launched sus-
Its latest project was a month-long effort tainable action plans for its travel servic-
in July 2019 that saw six senior chefs from es, such as replacing plastic for recyclable
the group’s hotels in Singapore conduct materials for every tour, as well as on its
10 hands-on classes to arm cooks from 20 ships under Heritage Cruises and Emper-
charity homes with tasty local recipes that or Cruises. It also works with a range of
eventually fed 4,000 residents on National social partners to combine tour activities
Day, August 9. and environmental protection activities.
Corporate executive chef, Tony Khoo led
the effort, utilising a central training kitch-
MEMORIES GROUP,
en sponsored by Unilever Food Solutions.
MANILA MARRIOTT HOTEL, PHILIPPINES
Recipes were tweaked to suit residents, MYANMAR
featuring tasty blended dishes, healthy veg- For the past eight years, Manila Marriott that abound in the city.
etarian dishes and nutritional soups. Hotel has been quietly but consistently So far, the donated food, apart from This integrated tourism company imple-
donating excess food monthly to the Phil- reducing the hotel’s food wastage, has ments a range of projects in remote areas
ippine Red Cross in Pasay City. served a total of 17,534 beneficiaries, par- that aid people and the environment.
These are not leftovers, but excess food ticularly children, pregnant women and For example, it currently operates
from banquet events and staff canteen the elderly. Victims of natural calamities a sailing clinic that offers medical care
that are prepared by the culinary team like typhoons and flooding also benefit. around the Mergui Archipelago, and in
in the same way it is prepared for hotel The hotel also embarks on biannual 2018, launched Moken Kids, an ongoing
guests. donation drives, community outreach initiative to preserve and understand the
Red Cross then distributes the monthly and feeding programmes in support of Moken (sea gypsies) culture by handing
food donation to depressed communities the Philippine Red Cross. out waterproof cameras to Mokan chil-
dren. The ultimate aim is to publish a cof-
fee table book with proceeds going back
to the community.
SOFITEL PHNOM PENH PHOKEETHRA, CAMBODIA Rainforest and marine conservation
projects are also carried out, including
The capital city-based property has car- The property has also held three Mu- a clean-up campaign to rid the waters
ried out a range of CSR activities through- sica Felice Charity Concerts to support around Mergui Archipelago of ghost nets,
out 2019. These include donating goods local NGOs, schools, and social asso- or ALDFG (abandoned, lost or discarded
to organisations, such as soap to Indochi- ciations. Environmental efforts include fishing gear), include fishing nets, lines
na Starfish Foundation and linen to NGO fighting against plastic waste by collecting and traps left in the ocean. The first clean-
L’Ecole du Bois. Eco-friendly charcoal bri- 1.5-litre bottles for donation to Malaria up saw 300kg of ALDFG removed from
quettes made from coconut shell to pro- Consortium Organisation, using paper surrounding reefs.
tect Cambodia’s natural forest have been straws in its restaurants and bars, recy- Memories Group’s Community Light
introduced to its restaurants, and fresh cling food waste and using it as fertiliser, Centre also helps the 84 per cent of rural
eggs are bought from cage-free chickens and using LED light throughout the hotel households in Myanmar that have no ac-
at Eggscellent to promote local products. to slash energy consumption. cess to electricity by installing solar lights.
8 • MARCH 4, 2020 ITB BERLINFo r
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To advertise, contact traveltradesales@ttgasia.com or +65 6395 7575Tourism treasure trove
From a hot new party venue on Sentosa island to the latest Accor additions in Asia, here are a
plethora of tourism products that travel buyers can add to their next tour programme
1–V:U
Asia welcomes a new party destination with 1-V:U (pronounced “one view”) situated
at The Outpost Hotel. It is the first Day Club concept in Singapore to occupy the entire
rooftop of a luxury hotel property, as well as being Sentosa Island’s first and only roof-
top vibe dining destination. A one-stop social destination, it is perfect for networking
functions or corporate celebrations.
On arrival to the Day Club, a wrap-around terrace welcomes visitors to stunning
views of the Singapore Straits, as the open-air oasis boasts an infinity pool accompanied
by vibrant sun beds and private cabanas. Pulsing in the air is a cerebral brand of dance
music curated by 1-V:U’s music director, DJ Sherpa, a familiar face in international
music festivals and clubs renowned for his unique spin of electronic music.
Progressive Asian cuisine takes centre stage at the 60-seater smart casual dining facil-
ity aptly named, Restaurant. Helmed by Singaporean chef Ace Tan, familiar flavours of
the region are reinterpreted into sharing menus and divided into two territories, “Terra”
(Land) and “Aqua” (Sea). For special occasions, look to seasonal tasting menus which
take one through a thought-provoking culinary journey of Asia. A collection of five
to seven courses representing progressive Asian philosophy and techniques, highlights
include yellowtail Hamachi with homemade koji kaffir shoyu and kabocha rice and tsu-
ONE FARRER HOTEL kemono with ‘Lei Cha’ thunder tea.
A luxury retreat designed for the discerning traveller, this five-star urban resort offers
an intuitive approach towards lifestyle and hospitality, with unique and distinct accom-
modation, F&B and conference venues. One Farrer Hotel offers 249 chic contemporary
rooms within a ‘Hotels within a Hotel’ concept, comprising Urban Hotel, Loft Apart-
ments and Skyline Hotel & Sky Villas. Nourishing both body and soul, the hotel and
its surroundings resonate with notes of serenity with 14 gardens located over 20 levels,
offering lush greenery, flowing waters and reflective spaces, including a 1,031m2 operat-
ing urban farm.
BINTAN LAGOON RESORT
Corporates can take advantage of the host of attractive meeting and teambuilding pack-
ages by Bintan Lagoon Resort to foster a meaningful bonding experience among em-
ployees.
The Work & Play Package includes a one-night stay in a Deluxe room for up to two
persons, two-way ferry tickets and land transfers, usage of meeting rooms with three
coffee breaks and teambuilding session for up to three hours, two buffet lunches and
one private barbecue buffet dinner, 20 per cent off F&B and recreation activities, 10
per cent off Kedaton Spa and complimentary access to Silk Club, starting from S$290
(US$209) nett per person.
The Get Energised Package includes two-way ferry tickets and land transfers with
express immigration clearance, a teambuilding sesion for up to three hours, one buffet
lunch, one coffee break, energy booster, and certificate of participation at S$135 nett
per person.
The Experiential Dining Package includes private experiential theme dining with
venues of your choice, buffet dinner, a live culinary dining experience, live band perfor-
mance and fireworks display starting from S$75 per person.
With the convenience of direct transport – only a 75-minute ferry ride on the Re-
sort’s own private service from Singapore – these packages are designed to offer great
value for companies in search of relaxing venues to conduct fun and spirited activities
or experience sensorial dining delights. Terms and conditions apply.
Packages are available for bookings until December 31, 2020. Terms and conditions
apply.
BALLOON SAFARIS LOIKAW
Amidst much success in Bagan and Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most iconic adventure
tour operator Memories Group has launched a new hot-air balloon safari in the state
of Kayah.
With Balloon Safaris Loikaw, travellers can experience sunrise over a scenic plateau
surrounded by mountains and rice paddies in eastern Myanmar.
Air times are expected to last one to two hours and balloons will be guided to heights
of up to 1,530m. Celebrate this enchanting experience with a glass of sparkling wine
after landing.
Flight cost US$300 per person and private charters for groups of up to eight people
are available.
10 • MARCH 4, 2020 ITB BERLINYou can also read
