The report finds that there is minimal fare movement on most routes
The Air Monitor 2019, published by American Express Global Business Travel (AMEX GBT), finds that fare levels should remain stable on many of the world’s major air routes in 2019.
Capacity and growing competition, including new low-cost carriers on longhaul routes, will likely restrain fare rises on key routes from Europe and Asia-Pacific, even as the global economy is forecast to grow and airlines face rising operating costs. However, current economic and political uncertainties and developments may impact the forecast.
The report finds that there is minimal fare movement on most routes
There are some exceptions to the projection of stable air fares: demand growth in premium classes across North America is forecast to outstrip capacity growth, meaning buyers could see significant price rises on these fares within the region and to Europe. In contrast, fares to Middle East destinations are forecast to fall from all regions, in both business and economy classes. Overcapacity on Middle Eastern routes is the chief factor in the expected price fall.
For the Asia-Pacific, despite expecting both India and China to grow at a slower pace in 2019, a forecast growth rate of 6.3 per cent still makes the Asia-Pacific region the fastest growing set of countries. The outlook for fares across the Asia-Pacific is stable, supported by the strong economies of India, China and Australia. Meanwhile, fares are likely to reduce in price across Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore due to the impact of financial sector slowdown and the loss of premium class traffic.
To generate the forecast, the Global Business Consulting team scanned AMEX GBT’s data lake to examine five years of flight transaction data. This analysis was combined with variables including oil prices, economic projections and airline strategies to forecast price changes on key business travel routes around the world.
For comprehensive details and analysis of the conditions impacting air fares over the coming year, download the Air Monitor 2019 here.
A rendering of the upcoming Citadines Calangute Goa
Singapore-headquartered Ascott has secured contracts for another 26 properties with over 4,600 units across 18 cities and 11 countries.
The new additions boost its portfolio to over 100,000 units.
A rendering of the upcoming Citadines Calangute Goa
In 2018, Ascott added over 30,000 units across 189 properties.
Ascott has entered the Netherlands market with the signing of Citadines Sloterdijk Station Amsterdam, a franchised property in Amsterdam. It has also expanded its presence in China, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the UAE and the UK. The company’s global footprint now extends to 172 cities across 33 countries.
The company is on track to achieve its target of 160,000 units worldwide by 2023, said Ascott’s CEO Kevin Goh, in a statement.
Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa has launched its latest meeting package, Team Build and Bond.
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Hilton Hua Hin Resort and Spa
Premier ocean view king
Outdoor event venue
Ballroom
For events booked from January 5 to March 31, 2019 and held by December 30, 2019, delegates enjoy the following package benefits:
Triple Hilton Honors loyalty program points to organiser for each event held
One complimentary guestroom with every 20 paid guestrooms per night (subject to availability)
Complimentary room upgrade to Executive Room with VIP lounge benefits (subject to availability)
Complimentary refreshing welcome tropical drink and cold towel
A choice of team bonding activities such as sunrise yoga, aqua aerobics, office syndrome relief stretch and more
Additional benefits company logo ice carving, one live cooking station and free-flow soft drinks when topped with dinner package
A minimum booking of 20 rooms per night and 40 delegates per day applies.
Situated on the beach, Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa offers 295 rooms and amenities including seven restaurants and bars, spa, large free-form lagoon swimming pool, fitness centre, and tennis and squash courts. Meeting planners may avail the property’s 486m2 of meeting space across five meeting spaces.
Soar above the Kayah State, home to no less than 10 ethnic groups
Balloons Over Bagan, under Myanmar-based Memories Group, has launched a new hot-air balloon flight in Kayah State.
Hot-air balloon rides in Loikaw take off at sunrise on a daily basis throughout the year and can carry six to eight passengers per flight. Air time lasts one to two hours, and balloons will reach a maximum altitude of 10,000 feet. Flights cost US$300 per person. Private charters for groups up to eight persons can also be requested.
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Soar above the Kayah State, home to no less than 10 ethnic groups
View over Loikaw
Balloon Safaris Loikaw is the fourth option hot-air balloon adventure from the tour operator, following Bagan, Inle Lake and a two-day “balloon safari” in Shan State.
Situated on a 914m-high plateau surrounded by mountains and rice paddies in eastern Myanmar, Loikaw is home to ethnic groups including the Kayan, whose “long-necked” women are famed for the brass coils around their necks and colourful traditional costumes.
Sheandy Satria has joined The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali as chef de cusine of the Ikan Restaurant.
In the early years of his career, Sheandy trained with several Michelin-star Chefs. He was also tasked with creating special menus and cooking for members of royalty and heads of state during his tenure at The Oberoi Hotel, Bali.
Marriott has opened the new 225-room Fairfield by Marriott Hotel in Busan.
The property comprises 224 guestrooms that offer city and ocean views. All are furnished with 49-inch flatscreen TVs, work areas with ergonomic desks and chairs, minibars and safety deposit boxes.
Twin Room
Facilities include a restaurant and fitness centre, while business travellers can avail the flexible workspaces in the lobby.
A fully-equipped meeting room for up to 30 people is also available in the hotel.
The new Fairfield by Marriott Busan is located in the heart of Haeundae, a 40-minute drive from Busan’s international airport. Nearby attractions include Moontan Road, MIPO railroad trekking course, Busan Aquarium and The Bay 101 Yacht Club shopping, dining and entertainment complex. The Haeundae subway station is a seven-minute walk away.
The Courtyard by Marriott brand made its Cambodian debut with the opening of Courtyard by Marriott Siem Reap in January 2018. The 233-key property is a welcome addition to Siem Reap’s mounting business event offerings, boasting a range of activities and facilities for event planners seeking a chic and contemporary setting that pays testament to its Cambodian home, coupled with excellent service.
Rooms
I stayed in a deluxe room with a balcony overlooking the resort’s large swimming pool. Upgraded options include the executive room, and courtyard and presidential suites. The room was spacious and light, furnished with a corner work space with a desk and chair, and a 43-inch flatscreen TV.
Courtyard by Marriott Resort Siem Reap
MICE facilities
It is clear that Courtyard by Marriott Siem Reap has heavily invested in its business events facilities, presenting more than 850m2 of meeting space spread across seven function rooms.
Its 410m2 ballroom – said to be Siem Reap’s only ballroom with natural light, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows – has a five-metre high ceiling complete with stunning crystal chandeliers. It is equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and flatscreen TVs. Planners will appreciate that use of the hotel’s event spaces comes with support from a full in-house events team.
An additional five function rooms – or Think Spaces – can accommodate up to 460 guests. Boasting modern designs, the flexible spaces can be adapted to planners’ requirements.
The resort’s Upper Deck rooftop bar also provides a great spot for private events, affording panoramic views that take in iconic Angkor Wat.
Other facilities
A range of F&B outlets run throughout the property, with Lok Lak being the main restaurant. A spa and fitness centre are onsite. Trips, tours and activities, including an in-house cookery class, can be organised by the resort’s team.
Service
Warm and welcoming.
Number of rooms 233 Contact Tel: (855-63) 968-888 Website: marriott.com/hotels/travel/repcy-courtyard-siem-reap-resort/
Four Seasons has appointed Alejandro Bernabé as the new general manager of its Seoul property.
Prior to joining Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, the Spaniard was group director of Avani Hotels and Resorts in Thailand, and was later promoted to its vice president operations.
The seasoned hotelier’s career first began in Asia as a restaurant manager at Colombo Hilton in Sri Lanka, before moving to Kempinski hotels where he took up his first general manager posting at the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz Gozo in Malta.
Bernabé rose up the ranks over the two decades with Kempinski Hotels to become vice president South-east Asia in 2013 and then CEO in 2014.
The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) has a new strategy that sees it intensifying destination promotion in Asia, particularly South-east Asia. Why?
South-east Asia has a population of 622 million, a GDP of US$2.39 billion and total trade worth US$2.6 trillion. It is the third largest economy in Asia and the seventh largest in the world.
With such a huge potential coming from within this region and the Asian market, we believe it is important to look nearer to home when it comes to a strategic, targeted effort.
Zulkefli Sharif
How does your action plan look like?
MyCEB’s role is far from just observing and appreciating the growth of a state. Our objective includes rallying all business events players to come together as one and push Malaysia globally.
Therefore, we are targeting our key markets strategically in order to bring high-yield business events to Malaysia.
For the incentive segment, our target sectors are direct selling companies, and the finance and insurance corporations from China and South Korea. For our convention business, we continue to focus on medical, health, and oil & gas. For our exhibition business, we see furniture, defence as well as oil & gas as key markets.
We will continue to take part in the prominent tradeshows, as well as road shows and sales missions in key markets such as China and South Korea.
Does this mean reduced attention to Europe and the US?
Definitely not. The European and North American markets remain important to us, especially for the convention segment.
We will continue to take part in key tradeshows to maintain our position as the preferred business events destination in Asia, (emphasising our) tremendous value-for-money proposition, world-class services and facilities, as well as many other unique selling propositions to planners and organisers.
Malaysia has three state convention bureaus. How does MyCEB support them?
As a national bureau, MyCEB takes on the leading role in strengthening the business events industry. We strategise on policy implementation and work on destination branding and profiling, promoting the country on a larger scale. We hold regular meetings with our state counterparts to discuss strategic direction to secure more events. We support events at the state level as well.
We also provide industry training and other education platforms for staff of the state bureaus. These programmes give participants an opportunity to network with industry players.
The state bureaus are all different and are focused on selling their destination and promoting their set of unique selling propositions.
For example, Sarawak concentrates on (courting) association conferences on the back of the successful hosting of the ICCA Congress in 2016, while Penang and Sabah offer appealing attractions for corporate incentive tours. They all have their own strengths and pull factors.
Does MyCEB encourage collaboration among stakeholders, particularly in lead sharing?
Yes. We work with our partners on lead generation and focused efforts on ‘Team Malaysia’ for future bids. This is necessary. We have to work closely to come up with a winning bid to differentiate Malaysia from other destinations that are also vying for the same meeting.
Indeed, the establishment of MyCEB outlines the country’s priorities towards the development of Malaysia as a high-income nation, primarily as an economic contributor and catalyst for job creation and employment.
Hence, we continuously invite our industry stakeholders to join us for tradeshows, road shows, sales missions and any other sales and marketing activities that we take the lead on.
How do you see the business events industry evolving, and what steps are being taken to prepare players for the near future?
Public-private partnership is essential to ensure that the business events industry continues to progress dynamically and strategically.
By 2020, the industry is expected to contribute RM3.9 billion (US$934 million) in Gross National Income to Malaysia.
For a destination to be successful (in business events), it must have a strong profile and brand, high performance and strong value offerings. And it needs a broad local commitment, understanding and support from the larger community.
To achieve our 2020 target, these initiatives need a very strong industry-government partnership and support from industry players. A collective effort of all business events industry stakeholders, including various ministries and all industry players, is needed.
Kicking off networking events targeting young professionals
With manpower shortage continuing to be a pertinent challenge in Singapore’s hospitality sector, Skal International Singapore is ramping up its outreach via Young Skal initiatives.
“Young Skal is a category of Skal International specially for students and young professionals directly related to the travel and tourism industry. The idea behind Young Skal is to ensure that clubs (around the world) attract new and young professionals training for or working in the industry who, when qualified, will automatically graduate to Active membership, thus ensuring a continuous supply of new and younger members,” said Tony Cousens, president, Skal International Singapore.
Kicking off networking events targeting young professionals
Cousens – who is also general manager of Wyndham Hotel Group’s Ramada and Days Hotels Singapore – shared that as the hospitality industry is “scraping the bottom of the barrel” when it comes to manpower in Singapore, such initiatives are particularly important.
Last month, the association kicked off the first in a series of events targeting young career professionals, and it also announced that it was setting up a Young Skal executive committee in the city state.
The inaugural Young Skal mixer in Singapore was a casual affair that enticed participation from young career professionals with opportunities “to learn the art of making cocktails”, as well as for “networking and mentoring”.
More of such events will take place over 2019. “The Young Skal committee will organise their own events for the year and generate more members. These shall be after-office fun events at trendy and hip venues, (and act as) a platform for networking opportunities in a more relaxed manner,” Cousens shared.
Young Skal members will also be invited to the association’s traditional monthly luncheons and dinners, and be paired with senior members as mentors, he added.
Within the Skal Singapore executive committee, team Young Skal is made up of Michelle Sandhu, HMC Asia Pacific director; Andrew Chan, founder & CEO of ACI HR; Andrew Jeffery, co-founder and CMO of InsiderTV; and Angeline Tang, regional director for leisure travel & partnerships at Avis Budget Group, Asia.
According to Cousens, the team will strive to move Young Skal forward this year, firstly by identifying capable candidates for a Young Skal committee, which would comprise a president, secretary, treasurer and a couple of committee members.
The newly-opened Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok anchors the One Bangkok development with cosmopolitan elegance. Featuring the city's largest ballroom and a spectacular new penthouse suite, it delivers exceptional hardware and deeply authentic, soulful service for business and leisure travellers alike
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