Hotel industry and travel news from around the Asia Pacific region; this week: The hunt is on for the Millennial business, 3D printed planes, JTB buys Dynasty Travel and more...

Hotels sharpen strategies in hunt for millennial business

Classified as the generation born between 1981 and 1995, millennials would be a key market segment in the future to come when they enter their peak earning and spending years over the next decade. Dominating the travel industry during their prime in a few years, hoteliers must find new ways to attract and capture their attentions in order to stay competitive in the industry. Hospitality leaders like Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide are aware of this market's high usage of online social media and are reinventing ways to integrate technology better into the hotel experience for this future generation.

Airbus plans to make aircraft using 3D printers

New ways of exploring 3D laser printing in the commercial aviation sector will be made possible through the collaboration of Airbus and the North Western Polytechnical University (NPU) in Xi'an, China. The university located in China's aerospace hub will begin testing phase of manufacturing titanium alloy parts for Airbus with its ‘Laser Solid Forming' technology. If proven successful, 3D printing could be used as a means of producing cost-effective spare parts for out-of-production aircraft. The breakthrough could possibly result in cheaper component costs and more than 50% lighter compared to the parts produced using traditional manufacturing methods.

Pirates to land at Shanghai Disney

Being the first Disney theme park in mainland China and the largest in the world, spanning 3.9km2, the resort to be situated in Pudong will feature the world's first attraction based on the Hollywood movie franchise, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean'. The first of the park's six themed zones that was recently announced will be named ‘Treasure Cove'. It will include a variety of experiences with a combination of the latest technology and innovation to appeal the Chinese guests as well as pay tribute to the Disney heritage. It is expected to open at the end of 2015.

JTB buys Dynasty Travel, appoints Dennis Law as global inbound GM

Japanese tour operator giant, JTB has revved up its global expansion plans by acquiring Singapore's Dynasty Travel and announced new appointments within its Singapore-based operations. JTB's senior manager, corporate planning department, Tadaaki Zaima, will be appointed as Dynasty's executive director and general manager of corporate planning. At the same time, the managing director of JTB's Star Holiday Mart, Dennis Law, was named executive officer and global inbound general manager. Both Dynasty and Star Holiday Mart's are expected to continue to run separately. However, JTB will utilize this recent acquisition by tapping on Dynasty's outbound businesses to move forward as a global player.

Gaming investors take a fresh look at Vietnam

The decision made in last August by the Communist Party's Politburo to allow locals who meet certain criteria to gamble in casinos has raised interests amongst gaming investors who are vying for venture options. This decision naturally opens up a broad untapped cliental base for the industry and has attracted multinational corporations abroad to cash-in on this opportunity. The country has currently numerous applications for casino licenses. With the easing of regulatory framework, there is now renewed interest in the country for integrated resorts among investors.

Luxury brand Radisson Blu to debut in Bangkok

Well-positioned at Sukhumvit, Bangkok's entertainment and shopping district, the 290 rooms will boast luxury experiences with meeting spaces and be well accessible with public transports within in the city. The meeting facilities will include 420m2 ballroom with reception area that showcases its floor-to-ceiling views of the bustling city as well as smaller spaces which provide inbuilt kitchen facilities. This lifestyle hotel is the latest addition to the brand's portfolio of more than 350 hotels in operations and development. It is set to open on 1st May, 2014.

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