Singapore’s Amara ventures into China with Shanghai property

February 20, 2018

Singapore-based hospitality group Amara Hotels & Resorts has opened the Amara Signature Shanghai.

The property offers 343 spacious rooms and suites, with sizes ranging from 32me to 149m². Amara Club Floors guests enjoy access to the Amara Club Lounge and perks such as 24-hour butler service, and express check-in and check-out.

For meeting groups, planners can utilise 1,100m² of function space. The Grand Ballroom and 10 multipurpose function rooms are equipped with state-of-the art facilities specially designed for events and conferences.

F&B establishments include all-day dining restaurant BLU, lobby bar FLO, and a boutique shop Grab N Go. Other recreational facilities include a fitness centre that is open 24/7, and an outdoor pool.

Located at the intersection of Changshou Road and Jiaozhou Road, Amara Signature Shanghai is a few minutes’ walk from metro lines 13 and 7, a 10-minute drive away from Jing’an, a 30-minute drive from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and 50-minute from Shanghai Pudong International Airport. The hotel is also adjacent to 100AM Shanghai, a 10,500m2 complex comprising an office tower and a retail mall.

This Shanghai outpost is the first under the group’s newest luxury brand, Amara Signature.

Dreamy location for Wyndham’s second resort in Bali

By TTGmice

February 20, 2018

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Wyndham Hotels and Resorts has opened its second resort on Bali, the 177-key Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali.

There are seven room categories ranging from the 36m² Deluxe Room to the 72m² suites with extended living areas and outdoor Jacuzzis in ground level units. There are also eight one- and two-bedroom villas, each featuring its own private swimming pool.

For meetings and events, the resort has three small boardrooms, as well as a larger function room for up to 300 people for a seminar or 250 for a banquet.

Other amenities include three F&B venues, two swimming pools and the Tirta Spa, a complex with six treatment rooms and a yoga deck.

The resort’s close proximity to a variety of attractions and recreational facility makes it ideal for corporate incentives and teambuilding programmes. It is a minute’s walk to Dreamland Beach, a coastline with white sands, beach clubs and local cafes. Opposite the resort, the award-winning New Kuta Golf Course offers an 18-hole links-styled fairway terrain overlooking the Indian Ocean. Nearby too are surf spots Bingin Beach and Padang Padang (10 minutes away), and Uluwatu Temple (15 minutes away).

Wyndham Dreamland Resort Bali joins its sister Wyndham Tamansari Jivva Resort Bali on this Indonesian island.

Shinta Mani Hotels names corporate DOSM

By TTGmice

February 20, 2018

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Sophie Couturier has been appointed corporate director of sales & marketing by Shinta Mani Hotels, managed by Hospitality Management and Development Asia (HMD Asia).

Based in Siem Reap, Couturier will oversee all matters pertaining to sales and marketing for Shinta Mani Hotels, as well as new properties in the pipeline.

The French native brings over a decade of experience in Asia to her role, with senior positions throughout the region, particularly in boutique properties. Prior to joining Shinta Mani Hotels, she was group head of sales with Samadhi Retreats in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia to host 2020 International Conference on Isotopes & Expo

By TTGmice

February 15, 2018

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Malaysia has won the bid to host the 10^th International Conference on Isotopes & Expo (10ICI), the first time a South-east Asian country is hosting it.

The five-day event will be held in Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur, and will be held from February 3-7, 2020. The conference is expected to generate an estimated RM3.4 million (US$865,708) in economic impact.

The benefits of hosting this conference extend beyond tourism gains; Kuala Lumpur skyline pictured

The event will bring together over 1,000 leaders and researchers from all over the globe to discuss isotope technology and applications for interaction, find out what the latest research is, as well as explore topics such as sustainable development in the field.

Malaysia managed to secure the bid for 10ICI 2020 at the final evaluation by WCI Selection Committee held at Doha, Qatar. The conference is held every three years and has previously been hosted in cities such as Beijing, Sydney, Vancouver, Cape Town, Brussels, Seoul, Moscow, Chicago and Doha.

Malaysia is set to host several world congresses in 2018, starting with the United Nations’ 9th Session of the World Urban Forum 9 (WUF9) this month, the 22nd Biennial Congress of the World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET) 2018, the Worldchefs Congress & Expo in July, the 84th World Library and Information Congress 2018 in August, and the 2018 World Cancer Congress and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) World Congress 2018 in October.

Marriott expands South Asia footprint with Samhi Hotels

By TTGmice

February 15, 2018

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Marriott International has signed a five-hotel conversion deal with Samhi Hotels to grow its upper-midscale tier Fairfield by Marriott brand in India.

The addition of these properties will add a combined total of 583 new rooms in Chennai, Pune, Goa, Delhi and Bengaluru.

Fairfield by Marriott Coimbatore, one of the properties currently operational under Samhi

“With the conversion of these five hotels to Fairfield by Marriott, Samhi Hotels will now have 14 hotels managed by Marriott International across a range of our brands in India as we look at further expanding across the country,” said Paul Foskey, Marriott International’s chief development officer in Asia-Pacific, in a statement.

Neeraj Govil, area vice president, South Asia for Marriott International added: “We (will) continue to focus on growing our portfolio of upper-midscale hotels in India as we foresee immense growth opportunity in this segment, fuelled by an increasing number of travellers opting for hotels positioned in this tier to cater to their business and leisure needs.”

The Fairfield by Marriott brand has nine hotels currently open across India since it debuted in 2013. In addition to 10 operational Fairfield Hotels in South Asia, there are an additional 13 in the pipeline, including these five conversions with Samhi, taking the total count to 23 Fairfield by Marriott hotels in the region.

Frasers Hospitality expands Japan portfolio

By TTGmice

February 15, 2018

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fraser-by-capri — Artist impression of Fraser Suites Akasaka (left) and Capri by Fraser, Ginza

Frasers Hospitality, a member of Frasers Property Group, has invested S$250 million (US$188 million) to develop two new serviced residences in Tokyo’s Ginza and Akasaka districts.

Capri by Fraser, Ginza / Japan, to launch under the group’s millennial-focused hotel residence brand Capri by Fraser, will have close to 200 rooms as well as social spaces such as a lobby bar. It will be situated near Ginza, with the Chuo-dori shopping street, Shimbashi Station and the Shiodome City Center located in the vicinity.

Artist impression of Fraser Suites Akasaka (left) and Capri by Fraser, Ginza

Fraser Suites Akasaka, designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates, will offer luxurious studio- and one-bedroom apartments at a central downtown location surrounded by Tokyo’s main transportation hubs and foreign embassies.

Both properties are scheduled to open in 2020.

“Frasers Hospitality is no stranger to the Japanese market. We opened Fraser Residence Nankai, Osaka in 2010. The country continues to be a priority market for us and we are looking to extend our footprint not just in Tokyo but also other key cities in Japan,” said Choe Peng Sum, Frasers Hospitality’s CEO.

Frasers Hospitality’s global portfolio, including those in the pipeline, stands at more than 145 properties in over 80 cities with close to 23,000 keys.

Parkroyal Penang unveils updated hardware

By TTGmice

February 15, 2018

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The Parkroyal Penang Resort on Batu Ferringhi beach has completed its RM55 million (US$14 million) renovation, and has launched a new logo identity marking a new chapter for the resort.

The refurbishment was done in the resort’s public guest areas, rooms and suites, all-day dining restaurant and lounge.

Each of the resort’s 308 rooms, ranging from 23m² to 94m², has been completely refurbished. The property now offers 10 room categories across 284 guestrooms and 24 suites, including the new 50m² Two-Bedroom Family Seaview unit, specifically designed to accommodate families and groups.

Parkroyal Penang Resort is also introducing Cinnamon, a 281-seat casual restaurant which emphasises fresh ingredients and the generous use of spices and herbs in its cooking to bring out authentic flavours in local and Asian cuisines. Private rooms are available for meetings and groups.

As well, the 80-seater Javana Lounge has been refreshed and now features versatile seating. There are also sofa beds and spacious work stations which overlook the resort’s outdoor gardens and swimming pools.

ITB China 2018 introduces Business Travel Day

By TTGmice

February 15, 2018

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ITB China will debut the inaugural Business Travel Day on May 17 this year, offering corporate travel managers in attendance panel discussions among industry experts, practical workshops and networking opportunities.

Topics include how to balance new technologies with operational realities, and how travel management companies and their clients will find a balance between convenience and regulation, mobility and security, multiple payment methods and data integration.

(From left) BCD Travel’s Jonathan Kao; CITS American Express Global Business Travel’s Kevin Tan; and Carlson Wagonlit Travel China’s KJ Wu

This year’s exclusive partners are CITS American Express Global Business Travel, Carlson Wagonlit Travel China and BCD Travel.

Admission to the Business Travel Day is free for visitors of ITB China. ITB China will be held from May 16-18, 2018.

Beyond Asia: Mandarin Oriental, Viña del Mar, Hotel Park – Urban & Green, and Iran International Exhibitions and BolognaFiere

By TTGmice

February 15, 2018

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Mandarin Oriental to manage second Chilean property
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will manage a new urban resort that is currently under development in Viña del Mar, on central Chile’s Pacific coast.

The property, scheduled to open in 2020 with 195 keys, will boast an oceanfront location with direct beach access. Facilities include an all-day dining venue and bar, spa, fitness centre, indoor swimming pool and a range of flexible meeting facilities.

Hotel Park – Urban & Green refreshes conference room
The Hotel Park – Urban & Green in Ljubljana, Slovenia has refurbished one of its conference rooms to reflect a RRR – reduce, reuse, recycle – theme.

The conference room sports wooden wall fittings and is furnished with coffee break tables made from old pallets. At 36m², it offers various set-ups for up to 35 attendees.

Iran International Exhibitions and BolognaFiere collaborate
BolognaFiere and Iran International Exhibitions – the Iranian government agency that manages the Tehran fair district with over 100 events in its portfolio – have renewed their MoU for 2018.

This new agreement consolidates the collaboration between the two exhibition centres and increases the number of events subject to commercial agreements. The collaboration will be extended to events related to the construction, automotive and cosmetics and beauty sectors.

AMEX GBT makes move on Hogg Robinson Group

By TTGmice

February 13, 2018

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Global travel management company American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has announced that it will acquire Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) PLC, a global B2B services company specialising in travel management.

The combined acquisition is expected to accelerate growth by utilising complementary footprints and solutions to provide additional benefits to clients; combine two advanced travel technology and development platforms to create better products and services to serve clients and travellers; deliver synergies through cost savings and scale benefits; and maximise efficiencies across the business.

The combined American Express Global Business Travel and Hogg Robinson Group would create a powerhouse in corporate travel

Doug Anderson, CEO of American Express GBT, said in a statement: “The complementary geographical footprints of each company will improve the global scale and reach of our business, enabling us to achieve efficiencies across a best-in-class platform and accelerate growth. The technology roadmaps of each business provide a powerful platform from which to drive future innovation.

“We will deliver a superior client and traveller experience through fully-integrated travel management solutions, including booking and expense management products.”

The acquisition is conditioned on receipt of antitrust and other regulatory approvals and is expected to close in 2Q2018.

Singapore’s Amara ventures into China with Shanghai property

Dreamy location for Wyndham’s second resort in Bali

Shinta Mani Hotels names corporate DOSM

Malaysia to host 2020 International Conference on Isotopes & Expo

Marriott expands South Asia footprint with Samhi Hotels

Frasers Hospitality expands Japan portfolio

Parkroyal Penang unveils updated hardware

ITB China 2018 introduces Business Travel Day

Beyond Asia: Mandarin Oriental, Viña del Mar, Hotel Park – Urban & Green, and Iran International Exhibitions and BolognaFiere

AMEX GBT makes move on Hogg Robinson Group

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