Hotel industry and travel news from around the Asia Pacific region; this week: Guangzhou 72-hours visa free, new airline for Cambodia, Meritus goes Riau and more....
 
New Airline to Launch in Cambodia  
 
A new airline is set to launch in Cambodia, with the commencement of Cambodia Airlines later this year. Jointly owned by Cambodian conglomerate the Royal Group and Philippines brewery San Miguel which is the part-owner of Philippine Airlines, the new airline will initially operate domestic flights connecting Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, a beach resort. There are plans for the airline to launch international routes within the region starting in 2014. Currently, the only national carrier of Cambodia is Cambodia Angkor Air, which is backed by Vietnam Airlines and was launched in 2009. 
 
Meritus to Manage Development on Riau Islands

Meritus Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with Funtasy Island Development to manage an upcoming development on Riau Islands, Indonesia. Located 20 minutes from Singapore, the development will be a mixed-use complex with residential, commercial and tourism components. The first phase will open by mid-2014 and Meritus will manage the five-star resort development, consisting of a 200-room condotel, 230-suite hotel and 413 villas. Upon completion of the first phase, daily ferry services will be provided from Singapore's HarbourFront ferry terminal to the island.
 
Guangzhou to Adopt 72-Hour Visa Free Policy

Guangzhou will be the latest Chinese city to join Beijing and Shanghai in adopting a 72-hour visa-free policy for transit air passengers. Following this policy, visitors from 45 countries will be able to stay in Guangzhou for three days, without applying for a prior visa, provided that they have an onward air ticket from the city's Baiyun International Airport. The countries included in this scheme include Australia, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea, AUE, UK and USA. This policy will only be applicable to transit passengers holding tickets to a third destination and cannot be used for round-trip tickets.  
 
More Myanmar Flight Connections for Singapore

Greater flight connections from Singapore to Myanmar are now available, following the launch of Golden Myanmar Airlines' flights to Singapore's Changi International Airport. The low-cost carrier, which was only launched earlier in 2013 and is based in Madalay, will operate daily flights on the Singapore-Yangon-Mandalay route and will become the first air link between Singapore and Mandalay. The airline plans to expand to other international destinations such as Hong Kong, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in the future. 

Sala Commences Major Expansion Plan

Thailand's Sala Resorts & Spa has begun its major expansion that will see its portfolio of luxury properties double over the next 12 months. The group currently has three properties and there are four properties currently in the pipeline. Scheduled to open later this year are the 16-room Sala Lanna Chiang Mai, the 17-room Sala Rattanakosin Bangkok which will be the group's first property in Bangkok and the 27-room Sala Ayutthaya which will be located along the Chao Praya River. Sala Resorts & Spa currently operates properties in Phuket, Khao Yai and Koh Samui, and will also introduce the Sala Samui Chaweng in 2014, which will bring its total portfolio to seven properties.

Don't Miss Out on Insights at the Inaugural Indonesia Hospitality & Tourism Investment Conference  
 
Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn insights from some of the region's leading hoteliers at the inaugural Indonesia Hospitality & Tourism Investment Conference (IHT) 2013! Join us from 7-8 May 2013 at the Ritz-Carlton Pacific Place in Jakarta to gain insights from key leaders of the hotel and tourism industry from around the region.

Organised by HVS, the world's leading hospitality consultancy organisation, IHT promises a great conference to discover the insights and development and investment opportunities in the world's largest archipelago.

Confirmed speakers at IHT 2013 include Marc Hediger - Chief Executive Officer of Lanson Place; PG Mathew - Managing Director of Oakwood Asia Pacific; Peter Henley - President & Chief Executive Officer of ONYX Hospitality Group; Guy Philips - Vice President Development Asia Pacific of Hilton Worldwide; Patrick Finn - Vice President Development of Hyatt Hotels & Resorts; Lawrence Lee - Regional Director of Development, Asia of IHG; Rajit Sukumaran - Assistant Vice President Acquisition and Development Asia Pacific of Starwood Hotels & Resorts; Thomas Meier - Vice President Operations, Raffles Hotels & Resorts; Marc Steinmeyer - President Director of Tauzia Hotel Management; Mark Lankester - Chief Executive Officer of Tune Hotels and Budi Tirtawisata - Group Chief Executive Officer of Panorama Group Indonesia.

Be there. Be seen. Be where the action is. Be on a journey to experience exponential growth and success.

Click here for more information or call +62 21 5291 7473 for assistance.

www.hvs.com