CWT’s new booking app enhances domestic business travel in China

CWT Online China, the recently launched mobile booking app from Carlson Wagonlit (CWT), enables China based business travellers to book domestic travel via their smartphone, an industry first in this market.

In September last year CWT released the international online booking tool, also called CWT Online, specifically for the Chinese market, another first for the industry.

CWT China has followed suit by developing the mobile booking app to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of travellers using mobile devices to plan and purchase travel.

According to the compnay the app allows business travellers access to real time data and makes the booking process quick, easy and efficient. Booking can be done anytime, anywhere. It has plans to increase the app’s functionality to include international bookings in the near future.

Albert Zhong, general manager of CWT China, said the company was “the first and only travel management company in China to launch a mobile app to book business travel.”

Exclusive to CWT, China the app is now available to CWT travellers on iOS and Android, and will be available on Blackberry and Windows Phone soon.

Firefly geared for expansion with new ATR aircraft

Malaysia based Firefly, the fully owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, is set to fly high in 2013 with the addition of 20 new ATR 72-600s to its fleet, with delivery beginning from June this year.

The airline will use the additional aircraft to complement the growing demand for its services with newly added frequencies on its existing routes and potential new destinations.

One of the immediate move is increasing its 28 weekly flights between Subang (Kuala Lumpur) and Johor Bahru to 35 weekly flights (five times daily) from February 4, and to 38 flights weekly from February 18.

Firefly currently flies to 25 domestic and regional destinations within Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia.

Firefly’s CEO, Ignatius Ong (pictured), said the airline would continue to make Subang Airport in Kuala Lumpur its major hub to expand within Malaysia and regionally.

Air France-KLM, Amadeus renew content agreement

The renewed agreement between Air France-KLM and Amadeus guarantee travel agencies worldwide continued access to the full range of fares from both airlines and all regional airlines in the group.

Agents are also able to book the ‘’New Economy Offer’’, which gives customers the choice between a simplified product with options and an all-inclusive offer  – Economy Comfort for KLM or Seat + for Air France. The latter’s offer is available to 58 destinations on its short and medium-haul network, allowing agents to give their clients the option to choose between the all-inclusive fare and a MiNi fare.

Jean Wieviorka, SVP global sales and distribution for Air France-KLM, said the extension of the content agreement supported the airlines’ strategy to give Amadeus travel agents worldwide an efficient access to their wide range of services, fares and options.

Holger Taubmann, Amadeus’ senior vice president, distribution, added that long-term content agreements provided stability to both airlines and travel agencies alike.

Today, 80% of Amadeus bookings worldwide are made on airlines with which Amadeus has a content agreement.

Ascott strengthens China’s foothold in tie-up with Yuexiu Property

Singapore based The Ascott Ltd (Ascott), CapitaLand’s wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, is driving its expansion plans in China through a strategic alliance with Yuexiu Property Company Limited (Yuexiu Property), one of the largest property developers in Guangzhou.

Through this alliance Hong Kong-listed Yuexiu Property will leverage on its significant presence and expertise to acquire and develop serviced residences in China. Ascott will, in turn, provide its leading capabilities in managing award-winning serviced residences.

Ascott has also separately secured contracts in Guangzhou to manage two more serviced residences – Citadines LiZhiWan Guangzhou and Somerset Riviera Guangzhou (pictured). Slated to open in the second half of 2013, the two properties will propel Ascott as the largest international serviced residence owner-operator in China, with over 8,000 apartment units in 46 properties across 17 cities.

Lee Chee Koon, Ascott’s deputy chief cxecutive officer and managing director for North Asia, said China is a key market for the company as it continues to attract significant foreign direct investment, which generates increasing demand for serviced residences.

“To achieve our target of 12,000 apartment units in China by 2015 we will expand in tier one cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, as well as other high growth cities through investments and management contracts. Strategic alliances with leading developers, like Yuexiu Property, will enable us to combine our expertise and industry knowledge to further extend Ascott’s lead in China.”

PARKROYAL on Pickering opens

Another new hotel, the 367-room PARKROYAL on Pickering, opened on January 16, joining the large number of accommodation that proliferates  throughout the Lion City,

Designed by internationally acclaimed local architectural firm WOHA, the hotel  boasts over 15,000 square metres of lush four-storey tall sky-gardens, reflecting pools, waterfalls, planter terraces and cascading vertical greenery.

The hotel also breaks new ground by introducing the state’s first solar-powered sky-gardens and energy conservation features such as the use of automatic light, rain and motion sensors, rain harvesting and NEWater (recycled water).

For its innovative and sustainable design PARKROYAL on Pickering has been awarded the BCA (Building and Construction Authority) Green Mark Platinum, the highest rating for green buildings in Singapore. It is also the recipient of the Solar Pioneer Award as one of the first in the country’s hospitality sector to use a solar energy system.