Tag Archives: Asia Pacific

Carlson Wagonlit Travel, the global travel management company, has announced Bindu Bhatia as its the new Managing Director, Asia Pacific, effective September 1. Bhatia succeeds Kai Chan, who will be leaving the company on August 31 after making significant contributions during her five-year tenure. “Asia Pacific is the world’s fastest-growing market for corporate travel – there are huge opportunities here,” said Kurt Ekert, CEO, Carlson Wagonlit Travel. “Bindu is perfect for her new role: with her proven entrepreneurial skills, commercial savvy, and deep understanding of the global travel market, she will hit the ground running.” Bindu Bhatia has been with the company for more than 20 years in a number of key roles, most recently serving as Senior Vice President, Global Program Management, where she has looked after CWT’s biggest global clients. Bindu has extensive leadership experience in strategic client management, operations, people management, and business development. Reporting to Kelly Kuhn, Chief Customer Officer, she will soon will be relocating to CWT’s Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore, where she will have responsibility for approximately 3,000 people across nine countries. Ann Marie Stone will be taking over Bindu’s current role, also effective 1 September, reporting to Cathy Voss, Executive Vice President, Global Program Solutions. Ann Marie has been with the company since 2000, most recently serving as Vice President, Global Program Management.

Airfares in India are forecast to see an 8.7 per cent hike in 2018, according to the 2018 Global Travel Forecast. The Asia Pacific region will see a 2.8 per cent rise in airfares in 2018, with domestic demand increasing in India and China. The report has been prepared by GBTA Foundation in partnership with Carlson Wagonlit Travel, and with the support of the Carlson Family Foundation. The report suggests that global airfares are expected to rise 3.5 percent in 2018; hotel prices are expected to be 3.7 percent higher; and ground transportation such as taxis, trains and buses are expected to rise only 0.6 percent. Jeanne Liu, Vice President – Research, GBTA Foundation said, “The most successful programs will have to keep a watchful eye on both geopolitical risks and a rapidly-changing supplier landscape as they re-evaluate strategy often and adapt as necessary.” “The higher pricing is a reflection of the stronger economy and growing demand,” said Kurt Ekert, president and CEO, Carlson Wagonlit Travel. “The global numbers from this forecast should be considered strong leading indicators of what 2018 will mean for global businesses, as we anticipate higher spending.”

About 50 travel agents gathered at Mumbai’s Ballard Pier to get onboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s luxury cruise ship called Seven Seas Voyager that made its way from Bangkok into the Indian Ocean and onwards to Rome. The agents were from Mumbai as well as other cities like New Delhi, Gujarat and even Bengaluru. They did a ship inspection followed by a sit-down lunch at one of the ship’s fine-dining restaurants while interacting with Steve Odell, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. Promoted as the most luxurious ship ever built, Regent Seven Seas was docked in Mumbai for two days and had 99 per cent occupancy.

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has set a target to achieve 200 operating hotels in its Asia Pacific portfolio by 2020 and is well on track to achieve the same, informed Thorsten Kirschke, President- Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. The Group announced strong 2016 results with 77 openings across the globe, the most since 2009 and signed 122 new properties marking its fourth consecutive year of signings increases. A steady growth was recorded for the Group in the Asia Pacific region with the opening of 14 hotels in 2016. In India, the Group holds a strong portfolio of 140 hotels in operation and in various stages of development. “Asia Pacific continues to be one of the most promising and energetic growth regions of the world,” said “The underlying hotel performance on a like for like basis has yielded robust improvements of 8 per cent (800 bps) GOP growth. We continue to be on track to achieving our goal of attaining 200 operating hotels in our Asia Pacific portfolio by 2020,” he added. Increased strength and alignment in branding and operations also resulted from the company’s successful integration of the master license agreement for the Country Inns & Suites By Carlson brand in India. The global portfolio now includes 1,143 hotels and 180,250 rooms in operation and the global pipeline remains strong with 303 hotels and 50,000 rooms under development.

Asia Pacific region’s highly anticipated hotel exhibition, the AccorHotels Showcase 2017 will take place in India on March 22 at Sofitel Mumbai BKC and March 24 at Pullman New Delhi Aerocity. Joined by AccorHotels’ executives from across 95 countries representing more than 4,100 hotels and resorts worldwide, the event will offer attendees an insight into the group’s new developments, products and services. Entering its 14th year touring the region, AccorHotels Showcase is designed to provide travel agents, wholesalers, corporate clients, tourism partners and MICE organisers an exclusive opportunity to discover AccorHotels accommodation trends, news and stunning hotels & resorts from around the world. In 2016, over 1,200 AccorHotels delegates representing nearly 4,100 hotels and resorts worldwide attended the showcase with more than 7,000 clients in attendance. The event in 2016 capped a milestone year for AccorHotels in which the Group acquired the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissotel brands; invested in the private rental space through One Fine Stay, Oasis Collections and Squarebreak; and announced innovative new lifestyle brands including Jo&Joe, John Paul and 25Hours Hotels. This year, AccorHotels commences its 12-destination series as it moves through vibrant and cultural cities, visiting landmark AccorHotels across Asia Pacific. In India, exhibitors from globally sought after destinations such as France, Spain, Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE and Singapore will be present at the event, representing celebrated hotels like Fairmont Ajman, SO Sofitel Singapore & Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort and Spa, Pullman Paris Eiffel Tower, Swissôtel The Bosphorus Istanbul, Novotel Madrid Center and more. Over 400 guests comprising top corporates from India, Travel Management Companies, Travel Agents and Tour Operators, PCOs and Wedding Planner are set to attend the event in each city. “The AccorHotels Showcase is …

According to IATA, India’s domestic passenger market ranks number four with a double-digit annual growth of 26.2 per cent and PLF level of 84.5 per cent in July. This has been propelled by strong growth in real consumer spending and because airlines are adding lots of airport-pairs and frequencies, which cuts journey times for passengers and has the same effect on demand as a large cut in fares. International traffic flown by Asia Pacific airlines rose by 9.8 per cent year-on-year in July, with signs that the upward trend in seasonally-adjusted traffic is reasserting itself. Reports suggest that Asian passengers are being put off by terrorism in Europe: traffic on the Europe-Asia route fell by 0.9 per cent year-on-year in June (latest available), and it has been the weakest-performing major route so far in 2016. It appears that Asian travellers may be substituting to destinations closer to home: international traffic growth within Asia accelerated to a four month-high of 8.1 per cent year-on-year in June.

Expressing disatisfaction over the Budget ’16, Conrad Clifford, Regional Vice President, Asia Pacific, International Air Transport Association (IATA), said, “The budget had a minimal focus on aviation. We hope the government will do a better job with the National Civil Aviation Policy. While the NCAP is a step in the right direction, there are areas of concern, especially where it adds costs to the industry or where it deviates from well-established global standards. We hope the government will address three priority areas – retract the 2 per cent Regional Connectivity Fund levy, abandon the plan to auction traffic rights, and allow AERA to perform its functions independently by not enshrining any ‘Till’ for airport charges in the Policy document.”

SAMHI and Marriott International have introduced the first ever integrated property – Courtyard by Marriott and Fairfield by Marriott in Bengaluru, as part of their joint venture. The 336-room integrated property is set in the commercial hub of Bengaluru. Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Outer Ring Road features 170 rooms that comprise 134 deluxe, 24 executive deluxe rooms and 12 suites. The property is strategically located in Outer Ring Road of the city in the commercial IT hub. Craig Smith, President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Marriott International, who was present at the launch, said, “Marriott International has always been at the forefront of driving innovation in the hospitality industry in India and to further this commitment, the Marriott International group has for the first time, invested in a property in the country.” He further added, “The property, which is our first integrated hotel complex in India, is set to provide an unrivalled hospitality experience to the office-goers in Bengaluru with its state-of-the-art facilities and a commitment to customer experience excellence.” Fairfield by Marriott Bengaluru Outer Ring Road is the 2nd Fairfield by Marriott hotel in the city and comprises of 166 guest rooms including 112 deluxe rooms and 54 deluxe pool view rooms.  Courtyard by Marriott and Fairfield by Marriott together bring to guests a luxurious Mediterranean restaurant called BG’s which offers a splendid ambience that is available in an indoor and outdoor setting and a magnificent spread of Mediterranean cuisine prepared by a specialty chef.