Hotel industry and travel news from around the Asia Pacific region; this week: new terminal for Mumbai, Vietnam powers ahead, more hotels for Krabi - Thailand and more....

Mumbai airport opens new international terminal

Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport has launched its new international terminal, boosting capacity by close to one-quarter. The new terminal, which has a site area of 439,203 square metres, brings the airport's handling capacity to 40 million from the previous 32 million. The four-storey glass structure has 208 check-in counters, a day hotel and a transit hotel, an advanced baggage system and a dedicated six-lane elevated expressway. Apart from alleviating the space crunch at one of India's busiest airports, the enhanced capacity is also expected to attract international carriers to increase flights to the city.

Major resort project set for south central coast of Vietnam

A 200,000-square-metre site in the south central coast of Vietnam has been identified for a large-scale resort development. The project is a collaboration between petroleum company Vung Ro Petroleum and investment management firm Rose Rock Group. Located in Vung Ro Bay in Phu Yen province, the resort project offers direct links to Tuy Hoa and its airport. The resort community will comprise of a number of hotels with over 760 rooms, 4,300 apartments, 100 luxury townhouses, 350 marina berths and a range of retail shops. The development will also include space for schools, healthcare facilities, and retail and entertainment complexes.

GHM's The Chedi Sakala to open in Bali

The Chedi Sakala, the third hotel in Bali managed by GHM, will officially open at the end of February. The upscale resort occupies 2.5 hectares of land on Tanjung Benoa Beach in Nusa Dua and offers a total of 261 rooms, including 247 suites, each with a minimum of 58 square metres. The Chedi Sakala is GHM's third property in Bali, after Legian in Seminyak and The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah in Ubud.
 
Centara signs three more properties in Krabi

Centara Hotels & Resorts have signed three management contracts for new properties in Klong Muang, Krabi. The 92-unit Centara Pelican Bay Residence & Suites Krabi is due to soft open before mid-2014. The other two properties, the 210-room Centara Pelican Bay Resort & Spa Krabi and the all-villa Centara Pelican Bay Villas Krabi, are scheduled to open in 1Q2017. The company currently operates two resorts in Krabi, Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi and Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa Krabi, which opened in 2006 and 2012 respectively.

Pullman hotel opens in Ho Chi Minh City

Pullman Saigon Centre, the third Pullman in Vietnam and the brand's flagship property for South-east Asia, has commenced operation in central Ho Chi Minh City. The newly-built hotel is located in District 1 near Ben Thanh market and has 306 guestrooms, including 17 suites.

Fairmont to debut in Malaysia

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced the development of the Fairmont Kuala Lumpur, which will mark the Fairmont brand's debut in Malaysia when the hotel opens in 2017. The 750-room, 62-storey hotel will be located within the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) development.

AirAsia X increases flight frequency to South Korea

AirAsia X will increase the number of flights between Kuala Lumpur and Seoul (Incheon) from seven times weekly to double daily by the end of the year. Starting from 2 July 2014, flights on this route will be increased from seven to 11 times weekly. The double daily services will commence on 2 December 2014.

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