AirAsia to launch Flights from Singapore to Miri and Tawau
Posted July 14, 2009 , add a commentAirAsia is to launch two new flights between
Singapore and East Malasyia. The new Singapore - Miri and Singapore - Tawau sectors,
which begin 9 September, will help draw more inbound international
tourist traffic arriving from Singapore into Sabah and Sarawak.
To celebrate the introduction of the new routes,
AirAsia is offering all-in-fare for Tawau- Singapore from RM79
(Sin$42) and Miri- Singapore from RM59 (Sin$32).
Both promotional fares open for sale from
14 July to 19 July 2009 for travel between 9 September 2009 and 30
April 2010. Promotional seats are limited and available on
first-come, first-served basis.
AirAsia’s first connection between East Malaysia
and Singapore was from Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, which commenced
last November. Other existing routes include Kuala Lumpur -
Singapore, Langkawi- Singapore and Penang- Singapore.
Apart from Malaysia, AirAsia currently flies
between Singapore and the Indonesian provinces which include Bali
(2 daily flights), Jakarta (4 daily flights), Pekanbaru (3 flights
weekly), Yogyakarta (1 daily flight) and Bandung (2 daily
flights). In addition to that, AirAsia also flies to Bangkok (4
daily flights) and Phuket (1 daily flight) in Thailand.
AirAsia currently has a total of 406
weekly flights to and from Singapore.
Kathleen Tan, Regional Head of Commercial
AirAsia, said “We are proud to open-up new market as these sectors
are not served. Students, families and foreign workers can now
take advantage of our low fares and renew their social ties more
frequently or even indulge in leisure holidays to both countries.
There are countless attractions in East Malaysia and Singapore as
it entails a wonderful journey of discovery into its culture,
heritage and adventure. Our recent initiative to remove the
administration fee reiterates AirAsia’s commitment to offer big
value so everyone can fly following our move to abolish fuel
surcharge last year.”
Miri is the second largest city and
the most popular tourist destination in Sarawak. It is famous for
its national parks, heritage sites and adventure destinations for
the most spellbinding experiences in Sarawak. For instance the
Gunung Mulu National Park, is home to the world’s largest cave
system, the world’s largest cave passage and the largest natural
rock chamber in the world. Miri is also a bustling commercial
centre and boasts as the home of Sarawak’s oil industry.
Tawau is located at the northern tip of Sabah Borneo and is the
gateway to the world class diving paradise Sipadan Island and many
neighboring island resorts. Through Tawau tourists will also gain
access to a few oldest virgin forests in the world, for instance
Danum Valley, Tabin Wildlife, Maliau Basin, and Tawau Hill Park.
Fraser Place Fusionopolis Opens in Singapore
Posted , add a commentFrasers Hospitality opened its latest property
on Wednesday, the 50-unit all-loft Fraser Place Fusionopolis in
Singapore.
The d?cor at Fraser Place Fusionopolis
focuses on sleek modern interiors while in-suite facilities and
services include the latest ‘surround sound’ entertainment
systems, iPod docking stations, Nintendo Wii and WiFi and internet
telephony - all aimed at today’s tech-savvy professional.
“The opening of Fraser Place Fusionopolis is
very special from a corporate viewpoint for a number of reasons.
It is ‘homecoming’, our first property launch in Singapore since the
opening of Fraser Suites and Fraser Place in l998,” said Mr Choe
Peng Sum, Chief Executive Officer of Frasers Hospitality.
“In addition, our Gold Standard serviced
residences were first established in Singapore so it is fitting
that we set new benchmarks for product and service here where it
all began.”
Fraser Suites and Fraser Place were the first
two brands established by the company in Singapore in l998. Two additional brands
– Fraser Residence and Fraser Resorts – also come under the
Frasers Hospitality umbrella.
This year alone, Frasers has opened four
properties – in the United Kingdom, China, Thailand and Bahrain.
With the opening of Fraser Place Fusionopolis in Singapore, the
company now manages a grand total of 4,731 units in Europe, the
Far East and Australia. By end 2009, another five properties or
647 units due to open in Budapest, Doha, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and
Shanghai, will be added to the portfolio.
Baan Taling Ngam Invests Further 90 Million Baht in Upgrades
Posted , add a commentThe Baan Taling Ngam beach resort in Koh Samui,
Thailand, has invested a further 90 million Baht to continue an
upgrade programme it first initiated in late 2008.
The
new investment will be spent over the coming months to complete a
modernization programme of the guest rooms, villas, public areas
and other guest services.
Specific plans include:
▪ Construction of a 150 metre pier with facilities for dining,
non motorized water sports, visiting yachts and an on site diving
school.
▪ New in-room soft furnishings, and upgrading of all
bathrooms
▪ New restaurant concepts
▪ New retail
delicatessen and boutique
▪ In room interactive T.V.
▪ New
fitness centre
All of the above are expected to be completed without
any disruption to guests or existing services.
The resort
has already completed a 40 million baht upgrade of guest support
systems, including free high speed Wi-Fi internet access for all
guests throughout the resort, installation of the latest version
of Fidelio Opera reservations system, and purchasing new golf
carts for guest transportation around the resort.
Televisions are also being replaced with the latest LCD flat
screens with full HD and digital surround sound.
Nearly 1.2
kilometers of wooden railings throughout the resort will have been
replaced by the end of July to ensure that Baan Taling Ngam is
100% compliant with the very strict health and safety requirements
of the UK and European Union.
“While many resorts on Koh Samui are
now cutting back on investment plans, we are actually heading in
the opposite direction and have embarked on the next stage of a
major programme designed to upgrade the hotel,” said veteran
British hotelier, Nigel Tovey, General Manager of the Baan Taling Ngam.
“We believe in the future of Ko Samui as an outstanding
holiday destination – and we’re showing this by putting
our money where our mouth is.”
Orient-Express launches Promotions Around Asia
Posted , add a commentOrient-Express is matching competitively priced
air fares around South East Asia with tailor-made packages to suit
a range of tastes and preferences at its six resorts in Bali,
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
For the spa addict,
hours of indulgent pampering and yoga twinned with first-hand
experience of the magical spirituality and culture of Bali are on
offer in the ‘Bali Harmony’ package at Ubud
Hanging Gardens.
The package also
includes a private guided tour to sacred Balinese villages, a
special private picnic and two 3-course dinners for two for those
booking at least five nights. The deluxe villas have their own
private infinity pools overlooking terraced gardens and
spectacular lush green scenery, with prices starting from US$456.
A ‘Romantic Hideaway‘ package on the beautiful
white sands at Jimbaran Puri Bali is
designed for couples looking for privacy and intimacy.
The Romantic Hideaway showcases the resort’s
ew thatched villas (one or two bedrooms), each with
their own private swimming pools set in a traditional
Balinese garden with courtyard, and comes complete with
a romantic two-hour ‘Balinese Spa Delight’ treatment for
two plus sparkling wine and sunset dinner at the
resort’s Beachfront restaurant. Rates start at US$457 a
night including daily breakfast.
If nostalgic
journeys of olden-day romance, conjure up images of timeless
elegant of train travel, meander through the heart of Asia with
the Eastern & Oriental Express train. Packages vary from one to
three nights and include sumptuous 3-course dinners, delightful
afternoon teas and absolute romantic chivalry.
Book selected Singapore-Bangkok or Bangkok-Singapore journeys now
and receive two free nights at the 5 star Mandarin Oriental Hotel
(or similar hotel) in Singapore, two free nights at the 5 star
Peninsula Hotel (or similar hotel) in Bangkok - plus all station
transfers. Prices start from US$2,210.
A
‘Family Package’ caters for couples
with children at the Napasai in Koh Samui, Thailand.
The promotion includes a day-long island tour for four, Thai carving
classes for the family, one private villa dinner and one dinner at
the resort’s Thai restaurant. Adults are pampered with Thai
massages and children are treated to an ‘Angel Bliss’ massage.
Round trip airport transfers are also included. Prices for a
minimum stay of four nights start from US$490 for a Garden Cottage
Suite or US$880 for a two-bedroom private pool villa.
For culture fiends, La Residence d’Angkor at Siem
Reap in Cambodia takes guests on a voyage of
‘Cultural Discovery’ around one of the most
beautiful and beguiling landscapes in the world, famed for world
famous man-made wonder Angkor Wat.
Priced from US$234 per
night in a delightful Riverside Room, the package includes entry
to Angkor Wat with a private full-day tour guide, as well as a
private picnic, three-course dinner and airport transfers.
In August 2009, Orient-Express will re-launch its
ultimate cultural exploration, the Road To Mandalay.
Cruising the Ayeyarwady River from the pagoda city of Bagan and royal Mandalay
this breathtaking voyage through Burma can be enjoyed for three,
four or seven nights, with the option of additional nights in
historic Yangon, Ngapali and Inle Lake.
After an
extensive 12 month refurbishment by teams of local craftsmen, the
river boat launches with even more understated glamour and
grandeur, but moreover spectacular scenery and a once in a
lifestyle travel experience. Book any cruise departing prior to
April 2010 before 30th September and receive a complimentary
2-night Yangon Extension at the luxurious Governor’s Residence
Hotel, plus transfers and sight seeing tours before or after your
cruise.
Set amongst the mountains in Luang
Prabang, Laos, La Residence Phou Vao has a great value
‘Stay
Another Day’ package where guests staying three nights earn a
complimentary fourth night – plus the three nights will be
pre-discounted by 25%. Also included in this package is
daily breakfast and a morning spa treatment for two in a private
villa, complete with steam bath, subject to availability.
Best Western Hotels in Asia launch Buy One Get One Promotion
Posted , add a commentBest Western has launched a new campaign that
offers guests one free room night for one paid room night at
hotels and resorts in eight prime countries across Asia - Bali,
China, India, Japan, Macau, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
To qualify, guests must book between 20 July
and 2 August
2009 for travel between 20 July and 31 October 2009.
The offer is
on a first come, first served basis and is dependent upon
availability.