Hotel industry and travel news from around the Asia Pacific region; this week: Golden Tulip enters Indonesia, Marriott debuts Autograph in Asia, Accor and more....

Golden Tulip Enters Indonesia Market

Tulip Group is set to enter the Indonesian market in 2014 with its 4-star brand, Golden Tulip Hotel, which targets both business and leisure travellers. The group, which merged with Louvre Hotels Group in 2011, has signed eight deals in Indonesia, with an additional 15 undergoing negotiations. Golden Tulip will debut in Indonesia with the opening of four hotels in Bali, one hotel in Bekasi, one hotel in Bandung, one hotel in Yogyakarta and one in Bogor. Louvre Hotels Group is owned by Starwood Capital Group and currently has more than 1,050 hotels in 42 countries. 
 
Mandala Airlines to Increase Routes in December

Indonesian based Mandala Airlines will open four new flight routes in December that will connect West Sumatra and Bali with other major cities in Indonesia and Singapore. The new routes will be: Padang-Jakarta, Padang-Singapore, Denpasar-Surabaya and Denpasar-Singapore. Mandala Airlines, which is the Indonesian subsidiary of Singapore-based Tiger Airways, expects the new flight routes to contribute to the growth of the economy of Padang and the West Sumatra province. The province is anticipating infrastructure and human resource improvements to handle the increase in tourist arrivals to Padang. 
 
Marriott Debuts Autograph Collection in Asia

Marriott's brand for independent hotels, Autograph Collection, has made its debut in Asia with the opening of The Stones Hotel Legian in Bali. The property is Marriott's 36th property under the brand's global portfolio and the brand is expected to expand to 40 hotels by the end of 2012. Autograph Collection is Marriott's exclusive portfolio of independent hotels and each hotel has its own distinct identity. The Stones Hotel Legian features 330-rooms and suites, and the focal point of the hotel is the 3,000 square metres pool which is surrounded by private cabanas. Located adjacent to one of the island's most popular beaches, The Stones Hotel Legian is situated 20 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport and within walking distance to shopping, restaurants and leisure activities located in Kuta, Legian and Seminyak. 
 
Thomson and First Choice to Fly Direct to Phuket

UK-based Thomson and First Choice is set to launch direct flights from London Gatwick to Phuket from November 2013, making them the only UK holiday company to fly directly from the UK to Phuket. The new flight will be on the company's newly acquired fleet of Thomson 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which is preparing for service on long-haul routes to Florida and Mexico from May 2013. Thomson and First Choice will also be incorporating the flights with its concept hotels in the region, such as First Choice SplashWorld and a Thomson Couples property in the resorts of Krabi, Khao Lak and Phuket.  
 
Accors Expands into Bangladesh

Accor has announced that it will expand into Bangladesh with the opening of two properties - Novotel Dhaka Gulshan Avnue and Novotel Chittagong, making the destination the group's 17th market in Asia Pacific. Both properties will be under management contracts and will add over 350 rooms to the capital, Dhaka, and Chittagong, both being the two largest cities in Bangladesh. The Novotel Dhaka Gulshan Avenue will be located in the diplomatic and business district of Dhaka and will have 185 rooms, while the 170-room Novotel Chittagong will be located in the city's main business direct. Bangladesh has enjoyed significant economic expansion over the last ten years and is currently the second largest exporter of textiles globally. Accor will operate over 560 hotels in Asia Pacific by 2012, including 19 hotels in India. The group aims to operate 700 hotels in the region by 2015, including a target of 90 hotels in South Asia.

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