Hotel industry and travel news from around the Asia Pacific region; this week: Mixed-use complex for Changi, Best Western enters Myanmar, Sydney welcomes Sichuan Airlines and more....
Changi Airport Group and CapitaMalls Asia to jointly develop Project JewelChangi Airport Group and CapitaMalls Asia have signed a joint venture agreement to develop an iconic mixed-use development at Changi Airport. Project Jewel is to be built on the surface car park fronting Changi Airport Terminal 1, which measures about 3.5 hectares. The complex will have five storeys above ground and five basement storeys, comprising about 17,000 sqm of facilities for airport operations, 22,000 sqm of attractions, 5,000 sqm of hotel space and 90,000 sqm of retail space. Project Jewel is scheduled to begin construction in the second half of 2014, and is targeted to open by the end of 2018.
Best Western debuts in Myanmar Best Western International (BWI) has officially launched the Best Western Green Hill Hotel, Yangon – its first hotel in Myanmar. The contemporary midscale hotel is located in the heart of Yangon, offering 189 guest rooms and suites with a range of modern amenities for international travellers. The hotel also features a restaurant serving Asian and international cuisine, and three meeting rooms offering more than 200 sqm of function space.
New luxury resort ‘Velaa Private Island' opens in the Maldives An exclusive private luxury retreat, Velaa Private Island, has opened in Noonu Atoll, north of Male. The resort features 45 private villas, houses and exclusive residences, combining local materials with contemporary style, each with their private swimming pool, including 18 built on stilts over water. A highlight of the resort is its signature gastronomic dining, with three restaurants, two bars and a wine cellar. Additional amenities include a distinguished spa brand, yoga pavilion with personal training and other recreational facilities such as the Velaa Golf Academy and a PADI dive centre.
Singapore Airlines signed agreement to boost tourism in Japan Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) signed their first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at boosting tourist arrivals into Japan from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. SIA currently serves five destinations in Japan, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Tokyo-Haneda, with 56 weekly flights. From 30 March 2014, the airline will add a third daily flight to Tokyo's Haneda Airport, bringing the total number of weekly services to Japan to 63. The two parties have also agreed to commit funds to support advertising and promotional campaigns, as well as familiarisation programmes for trade and media, among other initiatives.
ANA and Garuda Indonesia agree comprehensive partnershipFrom 30 March 2014, ANA will operate new route between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Jarkarta Airport, following by Garuda opening the same route from first semester 2014. These new flights will increase the number of weekly flights operated by the two carriers between Japan and Indonesia to 53, comprising of 14 ANA flights and 39 Garuda Indonesia flights. Among the improved customer service concurrent with this agreement, both airlines will also codeshare on flights between the two countries, allowing passengers to collect and redeem miles on Frequent Flyer Program of both airlines.
Sydney welcomes Sichuan Airlines Sichuan Airlines's first Chengdu-Chongqing-Sydney service, a new route that offers visitors from Western China direct access to Sydney, Australia, landed at Sydney Airport on 20 December 2013. The airline is a new service for Sydney and New South Wales (NSW), which will provide two flights per week on its Airbus A330-200 aircraft and 50,000 seats annually. Sydney Airport estimates this will bring around AUD 36.5 million in visitor expenditure to the NSW economy each year.
www.hvs.com
