Minor Hotels has appointed Judd Rabbidge as the new general manager of Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort.
An Australian national, he brings a wealth of experience to his first general manager posting. Most recently, he served as the hotel manager at W Sydney, overseeing the pre-opening phase of the world’s largest W Hotel.
Nicoline Dolman has been appointed as Discova’s regional contracting leader.
She will lead the contracting team in Asia to deliver a market product range for the region that drives business growth.
Based in Bali and originally from the Netherlands, Dolman brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from working in the hospitality and travel industry for well over a decade.
Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong has undergone transformation and unveiled The Shangri-La Suite – the 222m² two-bedroom suite features a private residence, comprising a his and hers walk-in wardrobe in the master bedroom, sitting room and private bar, private dining room which seats up to ten people, kitchen, wine cellar and staff entrance for guests’ privacy.
The Shangri-La Suite is also primed with special lighting points, ceiling-mounted audio-visual speakers, perimeter hanging rails, and furniture that can be reconfigured to cater for different events.
Guests are offered an extensive programme of amenities exclusive to The Shangri-La Suite, such as a personal butler, complimentary bath amenities, pillow menu, sleep ritual gong bath and aromatherapy service.
Courtyard by Marriott Kuala Lumpur South, Malaysia
Courtyard by Marriott Kuala Lumpur South offers 278 rooms and suites, and is just a 20-minute drive from the city centre with easy access to major roads and highways.
Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool with sun deck, kid’s pool, steam and sauna rooms, F&B outlets, fitness centre, and event venues.
The hotel also has direct access to the new Bloomsvale Shopping Gallery.
Grand Westside Hotel, the Philippines
The Grand Westside Hotel is the biggest hotel in the Philippines with 1,530 rooms.
The 19-story, two-tower building is strategically located in the Westside City township development of Megaworld in Parañaque City, and is just eight minutes away from Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
The hotel boasts four dining outlets, event venues, executive lounge, gym, spa, children’s pool, Zen garden, an aircrew lounge, as well as a two-level retail and commercial space. It also has dedicated rooms designed for specially-abled guests.
Wyndham Ion Majestic Hotel, Malaysia
Wyndham Ion Majestic Hotel is nestled amid the Banjaran Titiwangsa rainforest in Genting Highlands.
The hotel features a Vertical Sky Glass Pyramid on the rooftop, a perfect venue for coupled tying the knot, as well as event venues that can accommodate up to 1,500 guests. Guests can enjoy concierge services, dining options, and wellness treatments at the hotel.
Just an hour from Kuala Lumpur, the property offers easy access to Genting Skyway, Genting Highlands Premium Outlets, Genting Skyworlds Theme Park, and SkyAvenue shopping haven. It will also soon introduce Malaysia’s first and highest dedicated 3D holographic theatre.
Royal Caribbean has launched a promotion from July 16 to August 20, offering guests up to S$950 (US$708) off for their next cruise booking for 2024-2025 travel itineraries departing from Singapore.
Additionally, guests booking cruises to global destinations (not departing from Singapore) can enjoy up to US$500 in on-board credits, which can be used to unlock a world of experiences aboard Royal Caribbean cruises, including spa services, dining, attractions, shopping, and more.
Onboard Anthem of the Seas, which is set to arrive in Singapore in November, travellers can choose to explore South-east Asia with three- to 10-night itineraries to Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Travellers can also enjoy the beaches of Phuket and Bali, walk the volcanic foothills in Lombok, and indulge in the street food culture of Penang. Adventurers can explore Bangkok’s mix of heritage and modern architecture, traverse Vietnam’s landscapes and immerse themselves in the rich history and cuisine at the ports of Ho Chi Minh City, NhaTrang, and Chan May.
Then in October 2025, Ovation of the Seas is also arriving in Singapore with new travel itineraries featuring three- to eight-night holidays to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Hong Kong.
For more information, visit Royal Caribbean.
As Middle Eastern countries look to diversify their economies, moving beyond oil wealth, tourism has emerged as a key focus segment for the governments of the region. From investing heavily on tourism infrastructure projects to cooperating with each other, destinations within the Middle East are leaving no stones unturned to draw international travellers to their shores.
Leading the aggressive tourism approach is the Saudi Arabian government which is investing billions of dollars in developing new tourist attractions, such as the Red Sea Project, AlUla, and the futuristic city of Neom. The Saudi government has set an ambitious target of attracting 150 million international travellers by 2030.
Key Asian markets including India and China are key to achieving its tourism goals. In 2023, air connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia alone reached 2.8 million seats, marking a 31 per cent increase in capacity since 2019.
“We recognise the immense potential of the Asian markets. The leisure travel has emerged as the strongest segment showcasing a splendid performance from the Asia-Pacific region, especially India. Our approach involves a multi-faceted strategy that focuses on promoting Saudi’s unique cultural heritage, historical sites, natural landscapes, and modern attractions such as entertainment hubs, theme parks, opening of ultra-luxury resorts, among others,” said Alhasan Aldabbagh, president – APAC, Saudi Tourism Authority.
As per HBX Group, one of the leading B2B players in travel tech space, the most popular destinations in the Middle East are Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi among travellers from the Asia-Pacific. Meanwhile, interest is growing the fastest for Makkah (mainly with travellers from Indonesia after the end of Ramadan), Doha, Madinah, and Ajman (among the Chinese).
In fact, Chinese outbound tourism growth for the Middle East is fast approaching pre-pandemic levels. Suki Lin, senior director, APAC at Nativex, a digital marketing platform, said: “Dubai is top of mind among Chinese travellers (due to) new products like the Museum of the Future. Saudi Arabia comes in second, with Red Sea and Neom catching the attention of Chinese social media platforms.”
Lin added that Saudi Arabia’s e-Transit Visa for up to 96 hours has brought Chinese travellers to Riyadh. Turkey and Qatar are also growing in popularity among Chinese leisure tourists.
Following last year’s announcement at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting in Oman, the six GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) are now close to implementing a unified Gulf tourist visa regime and will jointly promote the region for tourism.
This unified visa will be named GCC Grand Tours – it was announced during the Arabian Travel Mart 2024. GCC destinations expressed confidence that the new visa regime will encourage tourists to explore multiple destinations within the region.
Sarah Ahmed Buhiji, CEO of the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, said her destination is ready to excel, having witnessed “incredible infrastructure developments”, such as the new terminal at the Bahrain International Airport, which expanded passenger handling capacity to 14 million a year.
“We have the Exhibition World Bahrain, one of the largest exhibition centres in the region. Today, we are promoting Bahrain as a MICE hub,” she said.
“Working together with the GCC offers a lot of opportunities. We are working on building packages that will attract more tourists to come to the region and experience multiple destinations. A traveller can visit Bahrain and stay for two to three nights, and then explore Amman or Saudi Arabia. The accessibility between many GCC countries is easy. For example, Bahrain to Saudi Arabia takes just 40 minutes by car,” she added.
Dreams of stronger tourism performance is aided by growing air capacity.
OAG Aviation noted that total seats available in Middle East stood at 194,210,303 in 2014, up from 254,811,576 in 2023 – reflecting an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 2.7 per cent between 2014 and 2023.
“The Middle East region is growing above the global average,” said Mayur Patel, head of Asia, OAG Aviation.
Still, Nick Flynn, hotel manager, Shangri-La Al Husn, Muscat, hopes to see more flights from China.
“The key market for us in Asia is India, where we are recording strong demand from FIT, wedding and MICE segments. Although we have welcomed a handful of guests from Singapore, we are not seeing a pick up in demand from South-east Asia as well as China. Absence of direct air connectivity between Oman and China is a bottleneck in growing tourist arrivals from the Asian giant,” said Flynn.
There are strong stirrings in the Middle East hotel front too, as more hotel companies step in to make the most of tourism opportunities in the region. To facilitate its entry into the Middle East, hotel representation firm Heavens Portfolio recently acquired The Travel Collection, an established representation agency in Dubai.
“We are growing our operation in GCC countries including Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Inbound tourism to GCC countries is poised to grow further and with our presence in the region, we expect to be a part of tourism growth in the Middle East,” said Christine Galle Luczak, founder and CEO, Heavens Portfolio.
As new developments emerge, sustainability remains a hot topic and sits at the core of tourism roadmaps drawn up by Middle Eastern destinations.
With the UAE’s Year of Sustainability extending into 2024, Dubai has embarked on campaigns like Refill for Life, promoting the use of reusable bottles and encouraging people to refill via 50 water fountains established throughout the city.
Oman is showing commitment to sustainability through projects like The Sustainable City-Yiti – which has been described as the country’s first net-zero energy city.
Apollo and The Travel Corporation (TTC) have entered into definitive agreement on July 16 for Apollo-managed funds to acquire the long-established travel and tourism firm, thus ending 104 years of private ownership of the founding Tollman family.
The transaction is comprised of 18 brands, including Trafalgar, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Contiki, Insight Vacations as well as other global travel brands and supporting business entities. Certain brands are not included in the sale; notably The Red Carnation Hotel Collection will remain under the continued stewardship of the Tollman family.
TTC chairman Brett Tollman said: “For more than 104 years our family has built TTC into an industry leader known for exceptional service and innovation. Without a next generation to lead TTC, the time has come in our strategic succession plan to select a new owner with a proven track record and who shares in our vision and customer-first values. We will support a seamless transition and are confident the team at Apollo will continue driving the business forward to meet growing global demand for touring, river cruising and specialist and adventure travel.”
Apollo private equity partner Michele Raba said: “TTC has a leading collection of brands that we believe we can take to the next level as an Apollo Funds portfolio company, leveraging our extensive experience in the travel, tech and hospitality sectors.”
The transaction is subject to satisfaction of certain closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close 4Q2024. Financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.
Airports Council International (ACI) World’s latest ACI World Airport Traffic Dataset has ranked the airports of Dubai in the UAE, Guangzhou in China, and Incheon in South Korea among the world’s top 20 busiest airports.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the US takes top spot, and is followed by Dubai International Airport in second place, and Dallas Forth Worth in the US in third.
After reaching the top of the rankings in 2020, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport went down to 58th position in 2022. It takes 12th spot in 2023.
The biggest jump in the top 20 rankings is recorded by Incheon International Airport. The airport takes the 20th spot in 2023, up from its 99th position in 2022.
ACI World director general and CEO Luis Felipe de Oliveira said: “International passenger traffic has now almost fully recovered from the pandemic, and the regional disparities are gone. China’s reopening fuelled much of 2023’s strong growth and has propelled Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport back into the Top 20. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport continues to lead the way, but the revival of Middle East and Asia-Pacific hubs is the standout takeaway from 2023 figures.”
Total global passenger traffic for 2023 was close to 8.7 billion, representing an increase of 30.5 per cent from 2022 or a recovery of 94.2 per cent from 2019. Performance was propelled by several factors, including the anticipated benefits from the reopening of Asian markets and a growing inclination towards travel despite macroeconomic conditions.
The top 20 airports processed 16 per cent of global traffic (1.41 billion passengers) in 2023.
De Oliveira added: “However, whatever position in the rankings an airport occupies, each is integral to the communities it serves. Airports are resilient, adaptable and support social and economic development. ACI World continues to advocate for airports worldwide to ensure their societal benefits are enjoyed by as many people as possible.”
Meliá Chiang Mai is offering a host of benefits ranging from discounts on spa and dining to access to its executive lounge for guests who stay for seven days or more.
The hotel’s Travel Slow in Chiang Mai package affords guests daily 20 per cent discounts on spa treatments, minibar items, laundry, and F&B at the hotel’s two restaurants, two bars, lobby lounge and in-room dining.
Guests staying in The Level Room categories also enjoy exclusive access to The Level Lounge on the 21st floor, which offers all-day snacks and beverages accompanied by panoramic vistas of the city and famed Doi Suthep Temple on the mountaintop to the west.
The executive lounge’s amenities and experiences include a private breakfast service, and cocktails and canapés for adults in the evening.
Fresh complimentary fruits in the room on arrival and a late check-out until 14.00 are also among long-stay benefits.
Meliá Chiang Mai is located on the Charoen Prathet Road by the River Ping and Night Bazaar, and is located six kilometres from the Chiang Mai International Airport.
For more information, visit Meliá Chiang Mai.
Ayala Land Hospitality has named George Aquino as its new president and CEO.
A seasoned hotelier, he brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously served as vice president and managing director of AHC Hospitality in the US.
Under his leadership, Aquino will prioritise the renovation of the 51-room Lagen Resort.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has added two Crowne Plaza hotels to its Sydney premium estate portfolio, following an agreement with Frank and Wade Huang of Star Millennium.
Two well-loved hotels at Sydney Airport and Macquarie Park will be rebranded as Crowne Plaza Sydney Airport and Crowne Plaza Macquarie Park, respectively.
Holiday Inn Sydney Airport will be rebranded as Crowne Plaza Sydney Airport in September 2024. The 252 guestrooms have undergone refurbishment in 2022 and are already at a Crowne Plaza standard, while the lobby and restaurant will be updated to complete its transition into the premium segment.
Meanwhile, the 196-room Crowne Plaza Macquarie Park is set to open in early 2025, transitioning from the Courtyard by Marriott to the Crowne Plaza brand. This rebranding will include a comprehensive refurbishment of the lobby and guestrooms.
The hotels will move to franchise, with Star Millennium appointing Trilogy Hotels to operate both hotels.
Cameron Burke, director of development at IHG Hotels & Resorts, commented: “It’s exciting to see the Crowne Plaza brand continue to go from strength to strength, building on its reputation as one of the world’s best known and loved premium hotel brands among corporate and leisure travellers alike. We look forward to further strengthening our wonderful partnership with Frank and Wade in the coming years.”
“Crowne Plaza Macquarie Park will set a new standard for quality in the Macquarie Park business precinct, and Crowne Plaza Sydney Airport will enhance its legacy as a Holiday Inn by delivering a premium guest experience,” added Wade Huang, director of Star Millennium.