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Ascott achieved record growth in 2021

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 11 January 2022: CapitaLand Investment’s wholly owned lodging business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has secured 15,100 units across 72 properties globally in 2021.

This marks the fifth consecutive year Ascott has achieved record growth in units organically despite Covid-19 headwinds in the past two years. Serviced residences continue to be Ascott’s mainstay, making up over 60% of the new signings, while the number of hotels secured grew in 2021.

Ascott also closed 2021 to achieve its highest-ever property openings, launching over 8,200 units in 40 properties across 25 cities and 10 countries. This is more than double the units opened in 2020. The properties opened in 2021 includes Ascott’s first Adoor-branded rental housing property, Adoor Apartment Heda Hangzhou (Xiasha) and its first lyf-branded coliving property, lyf Mid-Town Hangzhou, in China.

Ascott continues to see strong domestic demand in China; opens first rental housing property in the country

Out of the 28 newly signed properties in the last five months, 11 properties are located in China. Ascott’s footprint in China is set to grow to more than 39,000 units in over 180 properties across more than 40 cities.

Ascott will further strengthen its presence in Melbourne in Australia; Vienna in Austria; Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Wuhan, Wuxi, Xi’an and Zhuhai in China; Addis Ababa in Ethiopia; Bandung, Bekasi, Jakarta and Yogyakarta in Indonesia; Bangkok in Thailand; and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The properties are slated to open between 2022 and 2026.

Qatar launches global sale campaign

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 11 January 2022: Qatar Airways celebrates its 25th anniversary by launching a global sales campaign for passengers in Thailand, offering great savings of up to 25% on flight tickets.

This is in addition to special savings on seat selection, extra baggage allowance, hotel bookings and car rental for a five-day campaign period starting from 11 to 17 January 2022.

Passengers joining the airline’s award-winning loyalty programme, Privilege Club, using the enrolment promo code FLYQR22, will instantly earn an additional 2,500 bonus Qmiles in celebration of Qatar Airways 25th Anniversary. Travellers can experience Qatar Airways’ award-winning services and utilise the special promotion with guaranteed flexibility* on Business and Economy Class with savings of up to 25%* fares starting from 17,230THB on an expanding network of more than 140 destinations across Asia, Europe, Middle East and the Americas.

The Global Sale 25th Anniversary Campaign is valid on all Qatar Airways flights for travel until 31 October 2022.

Mandarin opens Shenzhen property

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 11 January 2022: Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen, the Group’s newest luxury hotel in China’s Greater Bay Area, is scheduled to open on 20 January 2022.

An opening offer is on the table that includes a daily hotel credit of CNY 1,000 to spend in the hotel’s restaurants and bars.

The hotel is located on the upper floors of a new 79-storey building in the city’s Futian business district overlooking the greenery of Lotus Hill Park, Bijia Mountain Park and Shenzhen Bay.

In addition to eight restaurants, the property’s signature feature is the Mandarin Club, located on the 78th floor, which provides a private lounge for guests. A spa offers wellness and beauty therapies, a fitness centre and an indoor swimming pool.

Mandarin Oriental, Shenzhen’s Opening Offer is priced from CNY 3,088 per night and includes a deluxe view room and daily CNY 1,000 credit on F&B outlets.

Rates are valid from 21 January 2022 through to 30 April 2022, based on double occupancy, subject to a 16.6% service charge and tax, subject to availability and conditions apply.

Sabah brings back ultra trail marathon

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TTR WEEKLY
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KOTA KINABALU, 11 January 2022: The Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon (BUTM) is returning to rustic Kiulu after a year hiatus, with hopes of attracting 800 extreme marathon enthusiasts.

Supported by the Sabah Tourism Board, the event will see marathoners racing past Kiulu villages and through the forested terrain trails. It is set to take place from 19 to 20 March.

BUTM race director Claus Pedersen said about 400 people have signed up for the marathon so far, with 25 of them being foreigners.

“The last ultra-trail marathon took place in 2020, right before the movement control order was imposed. At that time, there were 1,600 local and international participants.

“Due to the Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP) restriction, we are limiting this year’s event to 200 participants per category,” he said, adding there are four distance categories (100KM, 50KM, 30KM, and 9KM).

He said registered international participants are believed to be expatriates living in Malaysia, and they come from Australia, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Russia, Romania, Philippines, Indonesia, and Singapore, among others.

Kiulu remains the venue of choice for BUTM due to its reputation as an eco-adventure destination and its proximity to the state capital of Sabah, said Pedersen.

Recently, the BUTM committee, led by Pedersen, met with Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai to brief him on the upcoming sporting event. Pedersen assured the meeting that strict SOPs would be put in place and that all participants would be subjected to a Covid-19 test to prevent infection.

Joniston, who is also the Assistant Minister of Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment, stated the BUTM is more than just a sporting event but also a major tourism draw.

“This is wonderful for Sabah and Kiulu in particular because the BUTM event allows participants to explore Sabah’s rural destinations while participating in outdoor sporting activities in the fresh air surrounded by rivers, green trees, and mountains.

“Kiulu is known for its commitment to community-based tourism. The villagers could use this opportunity to promote their places, homestays, and culture, allowing participants to stay longer and enjoy our rural destination.

“While we encourage Malaysians to visit Sabah, we also recognise expatriates as our prospective tourists while the international tourism border remains closed. Therefore, we must continue to promote potential events that will attract expatriates and pique their interest in Sabah,” he said.

BUTM 2022 registration is open until February, and the registration procedure can be found at https://www.borneoultra.com/butm/registration.

(Your Stories: Sabah Tourism Board)

MICE at Sea gets safer

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 11 January 2022: Dream Cruises confirms its World Dream cruise ship is the first to receive the SG SafeEvent Certification launched by the Singapore Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (SACEOS).

The certification ensures hygiene benchmarks and safe-distancing best practices are upheld at business events and deliver MICE event solutions that adhere to STB’s CruiseSafe guidelines.

“We have re-imagined MICE At Sea cruises in anticipation of regional cruise resumption to welcome international fly-cruise MICE event delegates to Singapore onboard World Dream once again,” said Dream Cruises president Michael Goh.

To support MICE At Sea Dream Cruises adopts the following guidelines:      

Full vaccination for all passengers and ship crew;
Same day COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Testing for guests;
Staggered cruise embarkation/disembarkation times;
Deployment of safe distancing and crowd control Cruise Ambassadors and dedicated Hotel Event team during events;
Contactless contact tracing technology such as TraceTogether Token / App, Tracey Tokens, Cabin Key Cards and CCTV surveillance records;
100% fresh air ventilation in each cabin and public areas with no re-circulation of air;
A well-equipped 24-hour medical centre with Covid-19 testing capability, two doctors including an infection control officer, isolation wards and quarantine cabins;
Increased frequency of sanitation at high-touch points using hospital-grade disinfectants.

AirAsia Philippines responds to Covid-19 surge

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TTR WEEKLY
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MANILA, 11 January 2022: AS Covid-19 cases in Metro Manila and Calabarzon spiral AirAsia Philippines has raised its internal response alert to ensure the health and safety of its employees and passengers and prevent flight cancellations.

AirAsia Philippines has also established a Safety Plus 24/7 Team composed of different department leaders. Medical teams strengthen support and monitoring of the health and well-being of employees, including by distributing medication and vitamins to those who have contracted the virus.

The airline is now enforcing an online daily health check form that monitors the health condition of all its staff, including those who are on work at home status. Its flight operations department also clusters schedules and does regular onsite Antigen tests for flight deck and cabin crew.

AirAsia Philippines Spokesperson Steve Dailisan said, “Adequate planning and anticipation are key to mitigating the risks entailed on the unprecedented surge of Covid-19 cases. Thankfully, we have initiated the reintegration training of our hibernated staff as early as December and gradually this January, which will complement the requirements for manpower.”

AirAsia Philippines also prioritised securing booster shots for all of its employees who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 while also offering enhanced flexibility for guests who wish to move their flights amid this developing situation.

AirAsia Philippines guests travelling over the next few days are strongly encouraged to check their flight status and visit the AirAsia fly safe page for the latest updates on travel requirements.

Since 10 January 2022, all AirAsia Philippines destinations continue to observe enhanced mobility among fully vaccinated individuals, accepting vaccination cards as a primary travel requirement, with the exemption of Caticlan and Kalibo, which now requires negative RT-PCR test results taken 72 hours before departure, regardless of vaccination status.

Singapore launches Art Around the City

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 10 January 2022: The National Arts Council (NAC) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have partnered to launch Art Around The City, a series of visual art installations and programmes across key precincts in Gillman Barracks, Orchard Road, Little India and Chinatown.

Drawing on their history, culture, and landscape, the public art activations will add vibrancy to each iconic precinct, engage with the public, and spotlight Singapore-based artists and curators.

Gillman Barracks.

Art Around The City, which runs through to April this year, brings the identities of the four precincts to life. Each site-specific installation sits at the intersection of Art, culture and heritage, to resonate and connect with each precinct’s community.

At Gillman Barracks, The Forest Institute presents a large-scale architectural installation by artist Robert Zhao Ren Hui and architect-artist Randy Chan. A culmination of four years of research, it elaborates on how nature co-exists alongside urban life. Visitors will be able to sign up for special programmes that include morning nature walks with the artist.

Hyphen BB curates and showcases The Non-Season in a vibrant take-over of Design Orchard in Orchard Road that features a diverse range of artists presenting fun yet thoughtful installations and artworks. The artist list includes Howie Kim, Ee Shaun, Masuri Mazlan and others presenting mixed media artworks – within the store as well as window displays – inspired by the ecological and commercial histories of the Orchard Road precinct. The public can join various programmes by artists and retail collaborators featuring tours, exclusive merchandise, workshops, and performances.

In Little India and Chinatown, the public artworks will respond to the precincts’ unique culture and deep-rooted traditions. Singapore-based creative agency Texture Media invites the public to experience The Rangoli Movement, an installation incorporating the sounds and vibrant colours of Little India with master artist Vijaya Mohan.

At Kreta Ayer Square in Chinatown, The Gathering features Singapore artist Wong Lip Chin and curator John Tung recreating a teahouse set within a traditional Chinese garden that will serve as a gathering point for the public to take in tea and incense experiences.

Tay Tong, Director of Sector Development (Visual Arts) at NAC, said, “The series of art installations and activations at the key precincts enables Art to be present in the urban spaces where the public can experience Art in different and appealing ways. We hope that the public artworks will activate the imagination and encourage people to pay attention and perceive more deeply the environment that they occupy.”

STB director arts & cultural precincts Lim Shoo Ling said: “In line with our efforts to enhance Singapore’s destination attractiveness, STB continues to support a variety of experiences that contribute to Singapore’s leisure offerings and showcase our unique arts and cultural heritage. We hope that both locals and visitors will enjoy the line-up of unique art experiences at “Art Around The City” and take time out to explore and rediscover our precincts.”

Macau shuts shop for 14 days

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TTR WEEKLY
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MACAU, 10 January 2022: Macau has cancelled all international flights and all inbound travellers outside of China for 14 days ending 23 January.

The only exception is mainland China where residents can continue to visit Macau. All arrivals to Macau must provide a valid negative Covid-19 PCR test. You may need to undergo medical screening or observation at a designated venue. Restrictions may change at short notice.

The 14-day ban on all civilian flights from foreign countries started on 9 January and will be in place until midnight on 23 January following

Macau’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre’s announcement last week in response to the surge in Omicron variant infections worldwide which now poses a severe public health threat to Asian nations.

Despite the ban on all international flights, several positive cases of Covid-19 have been detected requiring foreign arrivals to enter strict hotel quarantine. They were mainly from the UK, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand.

Macau’s ban on all international arrivals is stricter than measures imposed by Hong Kong that limited its ban to just arrivals from eight countries – Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK and the US.

Hong Kong’s ban started a day earlier, on 8 January. Vaccinated Hong Kong residents who are living overseas can return if they have not been resident in any of the eight countries. Arrivals must undergo between seven and 21 days of quarantine in a designated facility, depending on their vaccination status and travel origin. They are also required to take multiple Covid-19 tests, both upon arrival and throughout quarantine.

Non-residents, meanwhile, are only allowed to travel to Hong Kong if they are not coming from one of 140 countries included in the government’s high-risk Group A category.

The Maldives reaches million plus milestone

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TTR WEEKLY
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MALE, The Maldives 2022: The Maldives welcomed 1.3 million tourist visitors during 2021, despite the many challenges faced this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A ceremony was held at Velana International Airport for the 1.3 millionth visitor, Constantin Stelian Emil, who was welcomed by the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation chief executive officer and managing director Thoyyib Mohamed.

A ceremony was held at Velana International Airport to welcome the 1.3 millionth visitor, Constantin Stelian Emil and family from Romania.

“Despite all the challenges, 2021 has been a great year for the Maldivian tourism sector, achieving many milestones and receiving many accolades and awards, one of which was the prestigious World Travel Awards leading destination 2021 title. Reaching 1.3 million visitors is not a small achievement considering how volatile the global tourism situation has been throughout the year.”

As the parent company responsible for marketing the Maldives as a destination abroad, MMPRC generated over 400 different marketing activities in 24 global markets this year, including fairs, roadshows, familiarisation trips, marketing campaigns, webinars, and interviews. This year MMPRC plans over 60 in-person events, including 17 fairs, roadshows, and events scheduled for just the first quarter of 2022.

Swiss-Belhotel expands in Indonesia

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TTR WEEKLY
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JAKARTA, 10 January 2022: Swiss-Belhotel International Indonesia recently sealed a management agreement for Swiss-Belhotel Airport, Yogyakarta, with the owning company PT Adhiraka Graha Sejahtera.

Scheduled to be opened later this year,  the four-star 167-room hotel project is located just minutes away from Yogyakarta’s international airport within the Kulon Progo Airport hub complex.

From left to right Emmanuel Guillard, Matthew Faull, Whari Prihartono, Devi Arlitawati, Ratu Reny.

“Swiss-Belhotel International is proud to be the appointed operator for this exciting project. This hotel will become our third hotel in Yogyakarta, and it will add our brand collection in this city after the presence of Swiss-Belboutique and Zest Yogyakarta,” said Swiss-Belhotel International senior vice president of operations and development for Indonesia, Emmanuel Guillard. “We will accommodate the increasing demand of travellers to this city with the presence of Swiss-Belhotel Airport Yogyakarta, especially with the new airport operations and the rapid city development in recent years.”

Key facilities at the hotel include a ballroom and meeting rooms, an all-day dining restaurant with indoor and outdoor sitting options, in-room dining, a rooftop swimming pool, and a fitness centre.

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