Sri Lanka placed on lockdown as Covid-19 cases spike

August 23, 2021

Sri Lanka has imposed a 10-day lockdown allowing only essential services to operate as authorities battle to contain a wave of Delta variant cases.

During the lockdown, which kicked in at 22.00 on Friday (August 20) and will last until 04.00 on August 30, all public and private sector establishments are closed, with only essential and emergency services allowed to remain open.

Sri Lanka entered lockdown on Friday as Covid surge overwhelms the country’s healthcare system; Colombo Fort Railway Station pictured

Sri Lankan authorities has since last Monday imposed an indefinite nationwide night curfew from 22.00 to 04.00 daily, along with a ban on social gatherings, public events and seminars.

The latest lockdown follows appeals from the medical profession, trade unions, civil society groups and Buddhist religious dignitaries for tighter mobility restrictions in the face of worsening Covid-19 case numbers.

On Friday (August 20), Sri Lanka reported a record daily rise in Covid-19 cases for the third consecutive day, reporting 3,839 new cases, up from 3,435 a day on August 15; with 195 deaths. The new infections bring the total tally to 381,812 and 6,985 deaths.

Opposition parties and trade unions in the country have accused the government of under-reporting the number of Covid-19 cases.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Tourism (SLT) officials said only fully vaccinated Indians would be allowed entry into Sri Lanka, in effect since August 19. India is Sri Lanka’s biggest source market but the rising number of Covid-19 cases in India has led to this cautious approach.

In a statement, SLT said that Sri Lanka will continue welcoming international travellers during the lockdown with majority of the tourist attractions to remain open. Since reopening to tourism in January this year up to July 31, the country has received a mere 19,337 arrivals, a sharp drop from last year.

In another circular, SLT said nationals of South American countries and South African countries – South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe – are not allowed entry into Sri Lanka.

PATA unveils 8-point tourism recovery plan

By TTG Asia

August 23, 2021

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To support Asia-Pacific’s tourism industry in rebounding from the Covid-19 crisis, PATA has announced its 8-Point Industry Recovery Plan to address both the immediate and strategic needs of its members and the broader industry.

Workshop-style webinars, vaccine equity initiative among PATA’s efforts to support industry recovery

1. PATA Crisis Resource Center
Launched in May 2020, this resource centre is available to all travel sector members and provides various playbooks for various industries ranging from aviation to hospitality, covering several topics including communications resources and sector resource kits.

2. Government members-only roundtable
Earlier this month, PATA launched a roundtable series to share insights and exchange ideas across destinations on restarting travel. The first session of this series featured presentations by select destinations, including Hawaii, the Maldives, and Thailand. The second session just held on August 17 featured COVAX/UNICEF with a briefing on vaccine equity, deployment measures and community acceptance strategies.

In the coming weeks and months, PATA will continue to support its destination members by sourcing subject matter experts and supporting a pan-regional and global dialogue to support the industry recovery.

3. Innovation Workshop Series and Innovation Hub for members
PATA has just launched an Innovation Series of workshop-style webinars designed to deliver practical information to members. Upcoming topics will range from digital marketing, Covid-19 safety best practices, leadership and resiliency skills, destination development, and more.

PATA’s website now also features the Travel Innovations Hub, comprising crowd-sourced travel innovation ideas from around the globe, designed to engage and inspire its members.

4. Ongoing industry trends and forecasts for members
With the ever-changing status of multiple elements influencing tourism recovery, PATA recognises the need for frequent and diverse expert-advised trends and forecast reporting. Through live webinars and research reports supported by its vast network of industry experts, PATA will continue to regularly deliver expert-sourced intelligence reporting to keep members informed.

5. Vaccine equity initiative supporting COVAX/UNICEF
A foundational element to tourism recovery is vaccine equity, deployment, and acceptance across the region and beyond. As such, PATA is supporting the COVAX/UNICEF initiative in the form of advocacy, industry education, fundraising and, if required, logistics sourcing.

6. PATA global community connection
Like the rest of the world, PATA has pivoted from offline/real-life interactions at physical events to online webinars. The association has started hosting hybrid events and will continue to deliver in-destination physical events wherever possible; and complement it by leveraging technology platforms and content to bring its members together globally and in smaller forums to support their business development.

7. Knowledge share and collaboration with global organisations
PATA is in regular collaboration with World Bank, ADB, GIZ and other development organisations and consulting firms on industry leading topics to support the recovery. The association regularly engages with the global tourism and travel task force meetings along with leaders from WTTC, IATA, ACI, WEF, ICAO and others.

8. PATA’s destination resilience initiative
In conjunction with GIZ, the programme initiated development in June with PATA project managing an expert team of 20 subject matter experts. This framework addresses the pillars for resilience including: environment, economy, community, visitors and health & safety. The pilot will be launched in four PATA member destinations.

Braydon Holland returns to NCL as senior sales director Asia

By TTG India

August 19, 2021

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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has appointed Braydon Holland as senior director sales for Asia.

Reporting to Ben Angell, vice president and managing director NCL APAC, Holland is responsible for driving the sales strategy throughout the Asia region (China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, India, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia).

From Club Med to Contiki to Star Cruises to Genting Hong Kong, Holland brings more than 28 years industry experience to his new role – including 20 years in cruise and nine years based in Asia.

When he was sales & marketing director for Star Cruises and NCL, he helped to grow the brand to become an established business in Australia and New Zealand. He then took on the role of vice president sales at Genting Hong Kong, where he led the sales performance for the multi-brand cruise division – including Star Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Dream Cruises and Crystal Cruises – across the Asia Pacific.

Singapore Food Festival returns in hybrid format

By TTG Asia

August 18, 2021

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Into its 28th edition, the Singapore Food Festival (SFF) will take place in a hybrid format for the first time over three weekends from August 27 to September 12.

With the theme Savour Singapore In Every Bite, SFF 2021 will feature more than 50 gastronomic and drinking experiences on a hybrid platform – double the number compared to last year’s virtual edition.

This year’s festival line-up comprises four components: live masterclasses, virtual food experiences, partner events and workshops, and SFF food merchandise.

A range of live masterclasses, some free-to-view and others pay-to-view, will feature renowned chefs, bartenders, and food personalities on Singapore’s culinary scene. Selected masterclasses will also offer ingredient boxes and food bundles that participants can purchase and get delivered to their doorstep in Bangkok, Chengdu, Manila and Singapore.

The festival will also showcase virtual food experiences in interactive formats, including a docu-feature spotlighting Kok Fah Farm, a soil and hydroponics farm; and recipe videos like Kitchen Insider: Sustenir, which educate foodies on modern farming in Singapore, suggesting ways to incorporate local produce into everyday dishes.

There will also be virtual food tours of Little India and Tiong Bahru presented by popular food host, Nikki Muller.

Some of these virtual tours will also be presented in physical formats as part of partner events held across the island. Foodies can learn more about the colourful spices that go into Indian dishes at the Heritage Tour of Little India, or embark on the Kim Guan Guan Factory Tour to uncover the history and heritage behind one of Singapore’s oldest kopi (coffee) suppliers.

For a hands-on experience, SFF workshops will also be held islandwide. Foodies can try their hand at making the traditional red turtle cake nyonya-style at the Make Your Own Ang Ku Kueh Workshop by Ji Xiang Ang Ku Kueh, held at CapitaLand Bugis Town. Cocktail lovers can learn how to mix their own Hendrick’s gin and ice cream cocktails at the Museum of Ice Cream’s MOIC Cocktail and Ice Cream Pairing Workshop: Sips and Scoops.

Exclusive SFF food merchandise will also be available for purchase. Local small-batch granola brand Nommish has partnered with Kim Guan Guan to present Kopi Granola and their own rendition of Milo Granola – the Malted Chocolate Granola. Meanwhile, local bakery Old Seng Choong has created Nyonya Sambal Nasi Lemak Cookies, a unique rendition of the classic local dish.

Paying tribute to the iconic pandan flavour that Singaporeans love, bubble tea brand LiHO Tea will push out two new drinks, Singa-Pandan Lime and Singa-Pandan Shake, which will be available in LiHO stores in Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, and Shanghai.

For the full list of activities, visit singaporefoodfestival.sg.

First giant panda cub born in Singapore

By TTG Asia

August 18, 2021

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Singapore welcomed her first giant panda cub born to parents Kai Kai and Jia Jia on August 14 at the River Safari.

The gender of the cub, which weighs about 200g, is yet to be determined and will be announced later, according to a release by Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), which manages the River Safari. Meanwhile, mom and baby are in an off-exhibit den to give them time to nurse and bond.

Singapore’s first giant panda cub was born at 07.50 on August 14 at the River Safari (Photo Credit: Wildlife Reserves Singapore)

In April this year, 13-year-old Kai Kai and 12-year-old Jia Jia displayed signs of being in heat, officially entering their seventh breeding season. Working closely with the China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Panda (CCRCGP), WRS’ animal care team initiated the breeding plan for this year, emphasising natural mating with assisted reproductive technology as back-up if required.

There was optimism that the pandas would naturally breed this year, after the pair had shown improvements in their mating techniques the year before.

To make the most of the once-a-year breeding season, CCRCGP experts advised WRS’ vets to perform artificial insemination before the end of the receptive period. The procedure was carried out by the in-house veterinary team at WRS’ Wildlife Healthcare and Research Centre, using frozen semen collected from Kai Kai before the mating season.

Caring for Kai Kai and Jia Jia in Singapore contributes to the conservation efforts of giant pandas which remain a threatened species, WRS said. It cited a recent study suggesting that giant pandas in the wild are more fragmented and isolated than they were 30 years ago, and that the species continues to face a high risk of extinction.

Radisson Blu Resort Maldives welcomes new GM

By TTG India

August 18, 2021

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Radisson Blu Resort Maldives has appointed Gavin Sanders as General Manager, who brings more than 30 years of extensive experience in all areas of hotel management, operations and sales.

Prior to this move to the Maldives, Sanders was general manager of Radisson Golf and Convention Centre Batam commencing July 2017, his first international assignment.

Sanders embarked on his hospitality journey in 1987 at Radisson Edwardian Vanderbilt Hotel in London. He built his career at Radisson Edwardian Hotel Heathrow from 1989 to 2012, holding various positions until he became general manager. He was then assigned to Radisson Blu Edwardian hotels in New Providence Wharf, Bloomsbury, and Kenilworth.

Vietnam’s first Bill Bensley art gallery arrives at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort

By TTG Asia

August 17, 2021

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An exclusive new art gallery featuring a collection of original artworks by prolific architect and interior designer Bill Bensley stands ready to open at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort.

Located at the Sky Level of the resort, the Bensley Outsider Gallery will house 50 colourful and bold artworks, including prints and paintings, which can be viewed and purchased by in-house guests and visitors alike. Visitors can also hear the story behind each artwork through a unique interactive storytelling approach that uses QR codes and YouTube videos.

InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort to showcase Vietnam’s first and only Bill Bensley gallery

Prices for the featured artworks start from US$250, with proceeds to go to wildlife charities, including those dedicated to combating poaching in South-east Asia.

Bensley is known for creating some of Asia’s most iconic hotels and resorts, including the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort. He took up painting just three years ago and the gallery’s name, “Outsider”, reflects his feeling that he is not a classically trained artist, and considers himself an outsider in the art world.

The Bensley Outsider Gallery will be open from 09.00 to 18.00, Wednesdays through Sundays, upon the reopening of the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, when conditions allow.

Etihad Airways trials Affinidi’s Covid-19 verification solution

By TTG Asia

August 17, 2021

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Etihad Airways has partnered with Singapore-based technology company Affinidi to advance the aviation industry’s ability to process Covid-19 test results more efficiently for a more seamless traveller experience.

Currently, travellers are required to book pre-departure tests at accredited healthcare institutions and present the health reports with negative test results to airlines and immigration authorities before they can board their flights. However, the lack of a global standard for digital health credentials impedes the verification process.

Etihad Airways is the first airline to participate in Affinidi’s Healthcare Network Assessment programme

Affinidi’s travel verification and interoperable solution reads and authenticates various verifiable QR codes on health reports in a confidential manner, regardless of the issuing authority and format, allowing airlines to process health credentials more seamlessly.

Since March 27 this year, Etihad has been trialling Affinidi’s travel verification solution to authenticate the digital health credentials of passengers travelling from Singapore to Abu Dhabi.

Through this partnership, Etihad was the first airline to trial Affinidi’s Healthcare Network Assessment programme in Bahrain, Cairo, the Maldives, Manila, and Jakarta. Etihad said that it will continue to extend the Affinidi Healthcare Network Assessment across more destinations in its network “over the coming months”.

International travel searches on the rise, finds Expedia report

By TTG Asia

August 16, 2021

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Travel search volumes globally continue its growth momentum, fuelled by vaccine rollouts and easing of international travel restrictions, according to Expedia Group Media Solutions’ 2Q2021 Travel Recovery Trend Report.

The quarterly report combines Expedia Group first-party data and custom research with actionable insights to help travel marketers on their road to recovery.

New data by Expedia finds searches globally are growing, with international searches showing signs of a rebound

“Throughout Q2, we continued to see strong global search growth, rising international searches and lengthening search windows, among other key milestones,” said Wendy Olson Killion, senior vice president, media solutions. “Our optimism for the near-term travel rebound remains strong, and the latest Travel Recovery Trend Report will provide travel brands with insight into shifting traveller behaviours and attitudes around the world, while also highlighting industry accomplishments and progress to-date.”

Among key findings from the report are that travel searches globally are growing. Building on the momentum seen in Q1, monthly global search volumes continued to grow in Q2, increasing more than 70 per cent quarter-over-quarter. The ongoing rollout of Covid-19 vaccines and changes to travel restrictions around the world further drove searches, contributing to steady week-on-week volume.

In Q2, positive global search volume was seen during 11 of the 13 weeks in the quarter – a sharp contrast to the fluctuations seen throughout Q1 and 2020.

The sustained quarter-over-quarter global search volumes also align with a more optimistic consumer attitude for post-pandemic travel. According to Expedia Group’s Traveler Value Index Research, which surveyed respondents in eight countries around the world, 72 per cent of consumers are planning on travelling over the next 12 months.

As travellers continued to opt for trips closer to home in Q2, half of global searches again fell within the 0 to 21 days search window. However, the global search window is lengthening, indicating that traveller confidence is rising, and they are taking advantage of summer travel and starting to plan trips further out. Global searches 22 to 90 days out accounted for more than 35 per cent of searches in Q2, up nearly 25 per cent quarter-over-quarter.

Fifty-five percent of global domestic searches fell within the 0 to 21 days search window, while searches 22 to 90 days out increased by nearly 20 per cent quarter-over-quarter. Global international searches for the 31 to 90 days out search window increased 30 per cent from Q1. In Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), searches 22 to 90 days out represented more than 40 per cent of international searches in Q2, up from 15 per cent in Q1.

Although travel shoppers continue to show preference for domestic travel, global international searches in Q2 show signs of a rebound. During multiple weeks in Q2, global international search growth outpaced domestic, likely in part due to broadening global vaccine distribution, growing green lists and easing international travel restrictions in parts of the world.

The positive impact of vaccination progress is visible in Q2 international search data. When compared to search volumes during 2Q2020, EMEA, Asia-Pacific (APAC) and Latin America (LATAM) all saw increased search volumes from America in 2Q2021, showing that travel to destinations within these regions represent an attractive opportunity for vaccinated Americans.

During Q2, beach and city destinations made up the top 10 booked destinations around the world, though more cities are entering the top 10 or moving up in ranking in each region, including Chicago and Atlanta; Seoul and Jeju City; Copenhagen and Paris; and Houston and Mexico City. New York made the list of top 10 booked destinations globally, and within all regions, except APAC.

Regionally, the top 10 booked destinations were primarily for destinations within the same region, following Q1 trends. However, LATAM travellers booked more international trips in Q2 compared to the predominately regional bookings seen in Q1. New York, Miami, Las Vegas and Orlando appeared on the LATAM top 10 list in Q2, while Houston and San Antonio again made the list.

The growing popularity of city destinations dovetailed with rising hotel demand during Q2. Global hotel demand increased more than 10 per cent quarter-over-quarter, while global hotel length-of-stay remained consistent with the average trip duration seen in Q1.

Travellers are also increasingly interested in sustainable travel practices, whether that’s reducing their carbon footprint or easing the burden of overtourism in a travel hotspot. Recent research from Expedia Group and Wakefield shows that nearly three in five travellers are willing to pay additional fees so their trip can be more sustainable, indicating that they consider environmental and social consciousness to be worthwhile.

APAC hotel construction pipeline drops slightly in 2Q2021

By TTG Asia

August 16, 2021

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Asia-Pacific’s hotel construction pipeline, excluding China, registered a slight decline in 2Q2021, dropping to 1,701 projects and 364,487 rooms, down 11 per cent and 10 per cent respectively, year-over-year, found a recent report by Lodging Econometrics (LE).

At the end of 2Q, the region has 852 projects with 195,940 rooms under construction. Projects scheduled to start construction in the next 12 months stand at 390 projects with 73,447 rooms, while projects in the early planning stage stand at 459 projects with 95,100 rooms.

Jakarta has the largest hotel construction pipeline among Asia-Pacific markets in 2Q2021

Countries in the Asia-Pacific region continue to face the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic to varying degrees. Some border closures and other travel restrictions have had a significant impact on the region’s economies, which rely heavily on tourism.

While breakouts, emerging variants, and slow-to-rollout vaccines have prolonged the road to recovery for many countries in the region, there are positive signs for the industry’s recovery and post-pandemic future, as many developers are optimistic and ready to move forward with long-delayed plans.

Countries with the largest pipelines in the Asia-Pacific region, excluding China, are led by Indonesia with 318 projects (51,197 rooms). India follows with 282 projects (37,617 rooms), then Vietnam with 180 projects (70,135 rooms). Next are Thailand with 135 projects (32,135 rooms) and Japan with 133 projects (27,567 rooms). These five countries account for 62 per cent of the pipeline projects in the Asia-Pacific region, excluding China.

Asia-Pacific markets with the largest construction pipelines are led by Jakarta, Indonesia with 71 projects (12,376 rooms). Next is Seoul, South Korea with 63 projects (12,300 rooms); and Bangkok, Thailand with 48 projects (12,033 rooms). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia follows with 45 projects (13,406 rooms); and Phuket, Thailand with 30 projects (6,637 rooms).

The top franchise companies in the region, accounting for 47 per cent of guest rooms in the total construction pipeline, are Marriott International with 260 projects (56,159 rooms); Accor with 217 projects (49,819 rooms); InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) at 142 projects (29,154 rooms); and Hilton Worldwide with 90 projects (21,089 rooms); and Hyatt Hotels with 72 projects (14,297 rooms).

Top brands in Asia-Pacific’s construction pipeline, excluding China, are IHG’s Holiday Inn at 51 projects (10,229 rooms); followed by Accor’s Novotel and Ibis brands with 49 projects (10,879 rooms) and 40 projects (7,980 rooms), respectively. Marriott International’s top brands at the close of 2Q are Fairfield Inn with 40 projects (6,334 rooms) and Courtyard at 37 projects (7,950 rooms).

Additionally, during 2Q2021, the Asia-Pacific region, excluding China, saw 44 new hotels accounting for 7,010 rooms open. The region had 103 new hotels (18,534 rooms) open in 1H2021. There are another 216 new hotels (46,273 rooms) expected to open in 2H, bringing the expected total for new hotel openings to 319 new hotels (64,807 rooms) by the end of 2021.

The LE forecast anticipates new hotel openings to continue ascending with 330 projects (67,241 rooms) expected to open in 2022 and 350 projects (64,635 rooms) in 2023.

Sri Lanka placed on lockdown as Covid-19 cases spike

PATA unveils 8-point tourism recovery plan

Braydon Holland returns to NCL as senior sales director Asia

Singapore Food Festival returns in hybrid format

First giant panda cub born in Singapore

Radisson Blu Resort Maldives welcomes new GM

Vietnam’s first Bill Bensley art gallery arrives at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort

Etihad Airways trials Affinidi’s Covid-19 verification solution

International travel searches on the rise, finds Expedia report

APAC hotel construction pipeline drops slightly in 2Q2021

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