Battle of the brands in Koh Samui
An influx of international hotel chains to Koh Samui, Thailand’s third largest island, is setting the stage for fierce brand competition.Entering the fray are well-known brands including InterContinental, Le Méridien, Conrad, Accor and Moevenpick - all with plans to set foot on the island by end [...]
Business travel prices on the rise
Business travel pricing trends for the second quarter of 2011 shows continued rate increases for flights and accommodations, as suppliers continue to take advantage of the return in demand and other market factors to raise rates.American Express Global Business Travel reveals these trendsfrom its [...]
Tipping point looming for cruise distribution and marketing
Attending the first Cruise Shipping Asia conference in Singapore last month, I sense a tipping point looming for cruise distribution and marketing in the region. There are a couple of reasons why I believe this is so.One, the competition is intensifying. While the industry remains largely supply- [...]
Taj spreads its luxury wings
India-based luxury hotel group, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, is as synonymous in India as the Taj Mahal. It is, however, fast acquiring a global presence through rapid expansion of its hotel portfolio.The expansion will see a large increase in its domestic and international portfolio of 100 pro [...]
Wego launches ‘Popular Search’ feature in Singapore
Singapore-based travel site Wego has launched what it says is a revolutionary ‘popular search’ and Singapore customers are the first in the world to enjoy the new criterion in the search for travel online.The ‘popular search’ on the wego.com.sg site enables Singaporeans to view destina [...]
Three things to consider in hotel distribution and marketing in 2012
Today’s hotel marketing landscape is changing rapidly. The advent of new distribution channels has created more options to truly personalize a strategy to suit the needs of your property. With that in mind, it was no surprise when a recent survey of Sabre Hospitality customers revealed that unders [...]
Desert-bound, minus expectations
Of late, I have been advising friends not to have high expectations of anything because then you’re invariably disappointed, I say in the voice I put on when I am attempting to be the sage I am not.However I have to admit I did arrive in Delhi, Capital of Mother India, with high expectations. I w [...]
TravelShark poised to plunge deep into Asia
TravelShark is getting set to take a bigger bite of the Asian waters with the relocation of its CEO Sue Heilbronner (pictured left) to its Singapore headquarters from Boulder, Colorado.Boulder and Singapore, two more different places you couldn’t find. One’s dry, the other’s humid. One’s [...]
Ayers Rock Resort inks deal with Accor to expand its reach
Ayers Rock Resort has appointed hotel group, Accor, to help take it to new markets, as well as maximise opportunities for Indigenous employment and development.Under the agreement Accor will provide the iconic resort and tourist attraction, which is managed by Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia [...]
Shanghai, San Diego … And Heeg?
These are the last three cities I've been dancing in.Shanghai we know. San Diego we know. Heeg? Or Heecht?Well, last night we went to the very local, the only local dance club in this small town in Friesland, a northern province in the Netherlands. We're here for a few days, supposed to be enj [...]
