|
|
Volume 1, Issue 8, October 30, 2008 |
   |
Just when we thought the Asian tourism sector managed to escape the credit crisis, bad news hit home. With gross domestic product growth slowing to nine per cent for the third quarter, the slowest rate in five years, the Chinese economy is starting to feel the effects of the global downturn. At the same time, China's tourism engine is showing signs of slowing. The number of Chinese tourists travelling to overseas destinations fell in August; casino operators in Macao, the former Portuguese colony that depends largely on Chinese tourists, saw revenues fall to $890 million in September, a 3.4 per cent drop from the same period a year ago and a 28 per cent drop from the previous month.
On Oct. 20, the Macao government's gaming regulator reported revenue for the city's casinos fell for the second straight quarter. According to the Gaming Inspection & Coordination Bureau, gaming revenue dropped 10 per cent, to $3.25 billion. In what could be another sign of weakness, Las Vegas Sands is reportedly putting on hold a plan to expand in Macao with four new hotels. In addition, the South China Morning Post reported on Oct. 20 that billionaire Sheldon Adelson's company, which last year opened the giant Venetian Macao on the city's Cotai Strip, is calling off a proposed $5.25 billion fund-raising because of the credit crisis. A spokesman for Las Vegas Sands says the company abandoned plans to refinance a $5.2 billion loan package and is instead trying to raise just $2 billion dollars to build two hotels. 
Philippine Airlines has re-launched direct services between Cebu (CEB) and Osaka (KIX), giving Cebu its third link to economically booming North Asia and boosting Japanese trade and tourism to southern Philippines. The service will initially operate two times per week, with flight PR 410 departing from Cebu every Thursday and Sunday at 08:05, and arriving at Osaka at 13:30. The return service, PR 409, departs Osaka on the same days at 14:30 and arrives in Cebu at 18:00. Jaime Bautista, president of PAL, said: “With Cebu now established as a major international destination, we deemed it an appropriate time to reinstate the Osaka link in order to complement our direct Tokyo and Seoul services from Cebu.”
British Airways passengers looking for extra luxury and comfort can now buy upgrades on European flights and long-haul flights from Heathrow (LHR) before they fly. For GBP 100, one-way customers can upgrade to the business class Club Europe cabin and for GBP 180, to the World Traveller Plus cabin. The option to upgrade is available on B.A's website. An upgrade to Club Europe includes access to the Galleries suite of lounges at Terminal 5 where customers can enjoy food and wine at the Wine Gallery, or check their emails in the Work and Entertainment Zone. The offer is open to customers who have booked on www.ba.com or through a travel agent.
SriLankan Airlines has launched an SMS Alert facility to keep passengers informed of flight updates. Inga Rodrigo, customer service manager, said, “SMS Alert is yet another valuable addition from SriLankan Airlines to enhance passenger convenience. Passengers will find it very useful to receive notifications of flight schedule updates on their mobile phones.” Passengers who book through travel agents should make sure that their mobile numbers are passed on to the airlines at the time of making the booking. Overseas passengers with roaming services will also be able to receive SMS alerts from the airline.
Starting today, Korean Air cabin attendants will provide passengers on selected flights information on museums, tour routes, artists and famous artworks of the destination city. Korean Air-sponsored multimedia guides were first introduced this March at the Paris Louvre Museum. Since then, Korean Air cabin attendants have been providing such service on Paris-bound flights. With the expansion, ambassadors will also be available on flights to London, Amsterdam, Madrid and Incheon. On Incheon-bound flights, cabin attendants will introduce Korean culture, museums and tourist sites, using Korean Air’s City Guidebook.
Starting Nov.1, China Airlines and its subsidiary, Mandarin Airlines, will inaugurate direct weekend cross-strait charter flights to Nanjing (NKG). Flight CI-7995 will depart from Taoyuan Airport (TPE) at 21:30 and arrive in Nanjing at 00:30, while flight CI-7996 will depart from Nanjing at 13:45 and arrive in Taoyuan at 16:45. A total of 31 round-trip weekend cross-strait charter flights to Shanghai (PVG), Beijing (PEK), Guangzhou (CAN) and Nanjing have been arranged for November. China Airlines flies Airbus 330-300 and Boeing 747-400 aircraft on the charters, providing cross-strait passengers and their families a comfortable and pleasant journey.
Ayala Avenue Corner Makati Avenue, Makita City, Manila, Philippines
Tel 63 2 840 0884
www.shangri-la.com/en/property/manila/makatishangrila
Located in the heart of Manila's business district and just 20 minutes from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), Makati Shangri-La is a good pick for business and corporate travellers.
Hotel facilities are excellent. The gym is top-notch, very well-equipped, with treadmills, steppers, upright bikes, indoor rowers and strength training equipment. It is definitely one of the best I’ve seen at a hotel. The pool is expansive and the water was clear. There is also a grass tennis court on one of the upper floors, as well as a huge Jacuzzi with a decadent marble waterfall by the side. I particularly liked dining at the Inagiku restaurant, which served fantastically fresh sashimi and sumptuous sushi.
My guestroom was a little unspectacular though, and seemed in need of a make-over to bring it to a standard matching the lobby and the public areas. Waterfalls and the relaxing scent of lavender creates a welcoming ambience in the hallways, but the blanch decor inside my room was a bit uninspiring. The room comes with a full-sized work desk, ergonomic chair and in-room fax machine, as well as high-speed Internet access and satellite television.
Security was tight. The hotel has a system of writing the taxi cab's information down before you get in, in case you loose something in the cab. The staff are very professional and I always felt secure whether outside or inside the hotel. There are security cameras everywhere and the corridors are well lit.
Score: ••••• Joyce Woo
Cathay Pacific and sister airline Dragon Air have launched a World Pass fare promotion in Hong Kong. Open for bookings until Nov. 3, the promotion is part of an effort to provide good-value deals for customers in Cathay’s home market. World Pass offers a choice of four ticket bundles starting from HKD 7,880 in economy class and HKD 36,880 in business class. The promotion covers more than 50 destinations served by the two airlines.
The Mövenpick Hotel Saigon has launched a Relaxing Weekends’ promotion, with room rates starting from USD 135 per night. The package includes breakfast for two, access to the Saigon Gym, unlimited use of the sauna as well as the expansive outdoor swimming pool and Internet access. There is no need for guests to rush through the weekend, either; the special rate extends from Friday to Sunday evening, with the option of a Monday morning checkout. The Mövenpick Hotel Saigon is located just 10 minutes from the international airport and downtown.
Sala Resort in Phuket has opened an indulgent day retreat, Sala Spa. Featuring more than 1,200 square metres of space, the spa sits in the centre of a Chinese water garden along nine km of pristine Mai Khao beach. Guests can choose from one of the five luxurious treatment rooms each with a private garden and relaxation area, or venture outside to the beachside Sala for open-air pampering. Look out for the three-day Sala Lifestyle Journey priced at BHT 12,000. It combines therapies and treatments to stimulate, rejuvenate and detoxify the body, release tension, revive skin cells and improve circulation. Visit www.salaphuket.com for details.
Delta Air Lines’ SkyMiles members now have greater flexibility and more options when redeeming miles for Award Travel to destinations worldwide. The airline has launched a new three-tiered award structure that allows customers to combine dates, as well as economy-, first- and business-cabin seating at various mileage levels to create their ideal itineraries. The new system allows passengers to book last seats on a flight using their redeemed miles. “Our new three-tiered Award structure offers SkyMiles members what they’ve been asking for — increased flexibility in Award Travel redemption,” said Jeff Robertson, Delta’s vice president of Loyalty Programs.
Nam Hai Hotel, Vietnam, is celebrating Christmas and New Year in decadent style with gala dinners of gastronomic cuisine and premium wines. Christmas specials are served in The Restaurant, with a resident pianist performing live as well as a Vietnamese buffet served at The Beach Restaurant priced at USD 55. Christmas Day features an exquisite festive dinner with prestige wines, priced at USD 175 (or USD 130 without wine). Main course choices include spicy roasted organic goose and venison loin on braised root vegetables, with Terrazas, Alto Malbec. Dessert is traditional Christmas pudding or a selection of fine European cheeses served with Noval Tawny Port.
