| September 2005 |
|
Dream fares may hit domestic tourism
With the Diwali holidays looming, upper middle class tourists are
increasingly opting for foreign vacations in South East Asia, lured by dream
airfares, affordable hotel tariffs and fun activities. |
Asia Hotel group set to lure Indians
As hoteliers are anticipating a business slowdown next year, Asia Hotel
executives hope to pick up the slack by penetrating new markets,
particularly well-heeled, big-spending Indians. Chinese and Indian tourists are the two largest Asian customer groups,
but on average the hotel's Indian guests -- mostly high-income professionals
-- spend more than the Chinese, said Chookiat Srivatjanapong, general
manager of the
Asia Pattaya Beach Hotel. |
Sofitel Metropole
Hanoi completes Refurbishment
The historic Sofitel Metropole Hanoi has completed a two-year renovation
programme to all the Metropole Wing rooms and key public areas. |
Banyan Tree Spa at The
Banyan Tree Phuket
We visited the
Banyan Tree Phuket, on the Andaman Sea in June - the beginning of the
monsoon season in Thailand. The only evidence of this was a very rough surf
and occasional overcast sky. The resort had something for everyone. |
Jetstar Asia Takes Off On Its
Maiden Flight From Kolkata
Jetstar Asia’s inaugural flight took off from
Kolkata
recently, marking a new chapter in Indian aviation as Singapore’s first
value-for-money airline to establish links with
India. The Airlines
operating a Airbus A320 has flights thrice a week (Tuesday, Thursday and
Sunday) between
Singapore and Kolkata. |
Malaysia Paradise found
Getting to paradise sure isn't easy. Three flights, one train, a kombi, a
boat and 24 long hours after leaving my front door I arrived, exhausted, on
the island of Perhentian Besar off the north-east coast of Malaysia. Chewed
up and spat out by global travel, but worth every airline meal along the way
to be dropped on a beach of white coral sand lapped by azure water. |
Novotel Clarke Quay
Singapore completes multi-million dollar renovation
The Novotel Clarke Quay Singapore has completed a comprehensive
multi-million dollar renovation to key public areas, restaurants and guest
rooms, giving the hotel a bold new look. |
Mandarin Oriental,
Kuala Lumpur, offers Unique Shopping Experience
The Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur has launched a unique MO Shopping Cart
service, which is designed to indulge guests who love to shop at Suria KLCC,
conveniently located next to the hotel. |
Jetstar Asia launch
flights to Phuket
Jetstar Asia service 3K 517 will depart from Changi Airport in
Singapore at 7:05am arriving in
Phuket at 7:45am every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The return
leg will depart Phuket at 8:45am, arriving in Singapore at 11:25am. |
Bangkok Airways expands network gems
Bangkok Airways will add two new routes to their ‘gems of Asia’ services
which will include Japan and
Malaysia links as well as starting more
convenient direct services within Thailand, it was announced yesterday at
their Happiness on the Beach function in
Sydney. |
Kuala Lumpur
International Airport
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is to undergo a major
replenishment of its IT infrastructure as it prepares for a massive
expansion in passenger numbers from 21 million in 2004 to an expected 35
million in 2008 when it will be ready to receive the Airbus A380. |
Mumbai - Lastbite with Dilip
Vengsarkar
I enjoy going out for dinner with my wife and we do that at least three
times a week. It’s a must. Last night, I went to China Garden, Haji Ali, one
of my favourite restaurants in the city. We had a really good meal with Thai
chicken curry and Pattaya prawns. I enjoy most of their fish dishes and all
their curries. The corn curd here is the best in the city; it is fried crisp
but is so soft, it melts in your mouth. |
Meritus Negara in
Singapore offers guests Mineral Water Swimming Pool
The newly refurbished
Meritus Negara is now offering guests a purified
mineral water swimming pool. Guests should now be able to enjoy a refreshing
swim free from burning eyes, dry skin, bleached hair, offensive odours,
allergic reactions, and high levels of toxins – the harsh effects of water
in regular chlorinated swimming pools. |
Complete harmony in the shogun's
backyard
Visitors reach their own Kyoto agreement - it's uplifting, Rachel Browne
writes.
In a land where vending machines supply everything from soft drinks to
schoolgirls' underwear, it's no surprise to discover a device dispensing
spiritual guidance in Japan's cultural capital,
Kyoto. |
Banyan Tree Spa tops
Spafinder's Readers' choice awards with three wins
Internationally acclaimed Banyan Tree Group has been honoured with another
three awards at the annual SpaFinder Readers' Choice Awards 2005. Based on
the poll results from readers of SpaFinder.com and Luxury SpaFinder
magazine, Banyan Tree Spa Phuket won the prestigious Crystal Award - Asia
category, as well as Top Spa - Southeast Asia. |
New Zealand's newest Ferry
New Zealand’s capital city,
Wellington, will be much more accessible to
fly-drive tourists this summer, with the introduction of a huge new
passenger ferry between the country’s North and South islands. |
Novotel Benoa Bali adds
Pool Villas and Spa
The
Novotel Benoa Bali has added eight private pool villas and Le Spa
wellness complex to the hotel. |
Australia - The Airlie bird catches the
view
Ask an
Airlie Beach resident if they've trekked the
Whitsunday Great Walk
and you'll find most people don't even know about one of the tourist haven's
greatest natural assets. |
Through the heart of Australia
The Ghan that runs through the center of
Australia holds a special place in
the hearts of train lovers. Named after the Afghan cameleers who helped
access the Australian outback, the Ghan evokes their ethos of tenacity and
ingenuity in the face of extremes of climate and geography. |
|
The Heritage
Manila celebrates 11th anniversary
This August promises to be a month packed with great offerings from
The Heritage Hotel Manila in celebration of its 11th anniversary. |
Spa at The Bale launches Green Tea
Treatments
The Bale, a Sanctuary Resort and member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the
World, is launching a 'Zen Ritual' in its Sanctuary Spa & Wellness Center. |
Thai flavour
Bangkok
has now emerged as the front-line destination for tourists in Asia. The
number of Indians headed for Thailand has been growing at such a fast pace
that airlines have increased the number of flights to this choice tourist
spot that spells urban excitement. Donald Banerjee reports after a recent
visit. |
Shangri-La named Best Business Hotel
Brand in Asia Pacific
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, has been named as the Best Business Hotel
Brand in Asia Pacific for the fifth consecutive year in the Business
Traveller Asia Pacific magazine's readers' poll. |
Philippines - DOT
eyes Russia as tourism market
The Department of Tourism (DOT) is seeing red. After launching a campaign to attract tourists from
China, the DOT is now
eyeing
Russia as its next major tourist market. |
Total Solar Eclipse To
Draw 1 Million To Antalya
Turkey's southern city of
Antalya is expecting to host about 1 million
tourists to watch the total solar eclipse on March 29th, 2006. |
The Oriental, Singapore
Renovation Indulgence Package
The Oriental, Singapore re-opens its doors after a comprehensive,
multi-million-dollar renovation. To celebrate Mandarin Oriental Hotel
Group's continual pursuit of excellence, the property is offering the
Oriental Indulgence Package which promises to pamper guests with lavish
enhanced amenities and every attention to detail. |
|
Sail Amsterdam
Every five years, enormous ships come to
Amsterdam
and form a display of tall sail ships from all over the world. Docked on the
quays are over twenty so-called tall ships, and it is not only possible to
walk by all of them, most of them can be visited as well. |
|
Mayors
Plaza Hotel in Guangzhou
Pegasus Solutions has extended its hotel representation services agreement
with the
China Mayors Plaza Hotel, a premium four-star hotel located in
Guangzhou’s new commercial district. |
Sydney’s Skywalk to open in October
Sydney’s
highest attraction, Skywalk, which will allow thrillseeking sightseers onto
the roof of Sydney Tower for the first time, is to open on 18 October 2005. |
Tiger
Airways Singapore - Phuket / Chiang Mai
Tiger Airways, a Singapore-based low cost airline, today launched the second
of its Wild Wednesday Specials with fares to
Phuket
and
Chiang Mai at S$3.98 (98baht) one way. |
Taking the next
steps to boost Alice tourism
Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Clare Martin released an action plan to
boost tourism in the
Alice Springs region. |
Banyan Tree Phuket is 'Asia's
best resort'
Banyan Tree Phuket, Thailand, is Asia's best resort, according to a new
resort and hotel guide published today. The luxury spa resort came out top in an online poll of over 64,000
travellers for the second edition of Asia's Best Hotels & Resorts. |
Lufthansa:
Football's flying ambassador
With Germany playing host to the
Soccer World Cup next year, the temperature
among football fans is nearing fever pitch. It's therefore reasonable for
Lufthansa, which operates 14 weekly flights between Bangkok and Germany, to
kick off 2006 by launching its first Airbus A340-300 on the route. And its
message to football fans around the world is clear and simple: "Welcome to
Germany." |
Sri Lanka tourism in top gear
Sri Lanka
will be forecasting a return to double digit growth in tourism arrivals when
it makes its presence felt at
London`s
World Travel Market in November. |
