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Qatar Airways unveils ferry transfer service from Shenzhen Shekou to Hong Kong Airport

Megha Paul Apr 12, 2021

Qatar Airways announced the sea-to-air ferry transfer service from Shenzhen Shekou Port to the SkyPier in the airside of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA)

Shenzhen airport sees jump in passenger traffic as Hong Kong declines

Megha Paul Sep 18, 2019

The Shenzhen airport in southern China reported significant rises in both passenger and cargo traffic, presenting a stark contrast to the airport in neighbouring Hong Kong. The disparity…

Salmon’s homecoming: Raffles Shenzhen ushers 2019 with Grand Ballroom launch

Tian Tolentino Jan 3, 2019

Raffles Shenzhen has unveiled its Grand Ballroom for its inaugural event with more than 800 social elites and professionals gathering at the stunning venue.

Hard Rock Shenzhen’s pair of aces signal commitment to success

Alastair Newport Nov 15, 2017 17

Following its opening in September 2017, Hard Rock Shenzhen have shown they intend to nail down their presence in mainland China, with a canny pair of appointments, well versed in the…

Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen talent auditions

Alastair Newport Oct 5, 2017 14

After a month of reviewing almost 100 entries, the winners of the Hard Rock Talents Auditions have been revealed.

Hard Rock International Opens Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen

Alastair Newport Sep 11, 2017

In a pioneering move, Hard Rock International announced the opening of its first hotel in Mainland China, the Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen, this week. Located within the Mission Hills …

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia celebrates 10 years in Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Jul 11, 2017

AirAsia has celebrated the 10 anniversary of flying to Shenzhen's Bao’an International Airport. The low-cost carrier first started operating to the Pearl River Delta city in July…

Hilton swallows neighbouring hotel in Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Jul 10, 2017

Hilton's waterfront hotel in Shenzhen has expanded by incorporating a neighbouring property as its new wing. The former Nanhai Hotel has now been swallowed by the Hilton Shenzhen Shekou…

Where to Stay: New hotels in KL, Shenzhen, Sydney and more…

Mark Elliott Apr 12, 2017

Mercure Kuala Lumpur Shaw Parade Location: Pudu, on the fringe of KL's Bukit Bintang retail and entertainment area Grade: Upper-midscale Keys: 213 Facilities: Restaurant, lobby…

Airlines and Aviation

China Southern to link Shenzhen with Jakarta

Mark Elliott Aug 17, 2016

China Southern Airlines will launch the first ever direct flight from Shenzhen to Jakarta next month. The new route commences on 21 September 2016 and will run four times a week,…

Airlines and Aviation

China Southern plans second Australian route from Shenzhen‏

Mark Elliott May 3, 2016

China Southern Airlines has applied for permission to launch direct flights between Shenzhen and Melbourne. If approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the new…

Star Cruises confirms first Shenzhen season

Mark Elliott Apr 20, 2016

Star Cruises has confirmed that its SuperStar Virgo cruise ship will start homeporting in Shenzhen this year. Following a recent agreement signed between Star's parent company,…

Airlines and Aviation

Air China to link Shenzhen with Frankfurt

Mark Elliott Apr 18, 2016

Air China will launch a new non-stop service between Shenzhen and Frankfurt next month. Commencing on 20 May 2016, the airline will operate the route three times a week using a…

Hyatt doubles up at Shenzhen Airport

Mark Elliott Apr 12, 2016

Hyatt has opened two new hotels at Shenzhen's Bao'an International Airport. The new Hyatt Place Shenzhen Airport and Hyatt House Shenzhen Airport both opened this week, adding almost 280…

Shenzhen to become international cruise port

Mark Elliott Apr 11, 2016

An agreement has been signed that will transform the Chinese city of Shenzhen into a major international cruise port. Genting Hong Kong, which operates Crystal Cruises, Star Cruises…

Airlines and Aviation

Air China to connect Shenzhen with Melbourne‏

Mark Elliott Feb 26, 2016

Following the recent launch of the first flights between Shenzhen and Sydney, Air China has applied for permission to launch services from the southern Chinese city to Melbourne. In…

Hong Kong, Shenzhen airports team up to provide “more options for travellers”

Mark Elliott Jan 5, 2016

A new agreement has been signed that will strengthen the aviation links between Hong Kong and neighbouring Shenzhen. Hong Kong's Airport Authority (AA) has penned a deal with Shenzhen…

Airlines and Aviation

China Southern to connect Shenzhen with Sydney

Mark Elliott Nov 25, 2015

China Southern Airlines will launch a new service connecting Shenzhen with Sydney early next year. Commencing on 20 January 2016, the new route will mark the first direct link between…

Hilton adds third hotel in Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Oct 9, 2015

The new Hilton Shenzhen Futian has opened its doors in southern China, marking the third Hilton hotel in the city. Located in the centre of Shenzhen, the 23-storey hotel is within…

Attractions & Tours

Huge leisure complex opens at Mission Hills Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Sep 26, 2015

A huge new shopping and entertainment complex has opened near Shenzhen. The MH Mall, which is located in the Mission Hills Centreville golf resort, features a range of facilities…

Airlines and Aviation

China penalises Shenzhen Airport for delays

Mark Elliott Aug 4, 2015

China's state aviation authority has announced that it will impose restrictions on Shenzhen Airport Group following a series of major flight delays. In a statement, the Civil Aviation…

Airlines and Aviation

Spring Airlines builds network at Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Feb 20, 2014

Chinese low-cost carrier Spring Airlines is increasing its capacity at Shenzhen's Bao'an International Airport. Commencing on 21 February 2014, the airline will launch new scheduled…

Airlines and Aviation

China Southern to fly A380 from Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Jan 9, 2014

China Southern Airlines will base one of its Airbus A380 aircraft at Shenzhen this year. Commencing in the first half of 2014, the Guangzhou-based airline will use the double-decker…

Hilton debuts in Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Dec 20, 2013

Hilton has opened its first hotel in Shenzhen. The 16-storey Hilton Shenzhen Shekou Nanhai is located in the centre of the Guangdong city, facing Shenzhen Bay and the Pearl River…

Airlines and Aviation

Shenzhen cargo airline to launch passenger services

Mark Elliott Dec 11, 2013

A cargo airline based in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen has been given permission to launch passenger operations. According to a statement on the Civil Aviation Administration…

Raffles to open in Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Oct 20, 2013

Raffles Hotels & Resorts has unveiled plans to launch its first hotel in Shenzhen. Opening in 2018, the Raffles Shenzhen will occupy the top floors of an 80-storey tower in the…

Four Seasons opens in Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Sep 29, 2013

Four Seasons has opened its first ever hotel in Shenzhen. Located in the centre of the Pearl River Delta city, the Four Seasons Hotel Shenzhen offers 266 rooms and suites, most of…

Hyatt brings new brand to Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Sep 16, 2013

Hyatt has formed a new partnership that will bring its Park Hyatt brand to Shenzhen. The company arrived in the southern Chinese city in 2009 with the launch of the Grand Hyatt…

Airlines and Aviation

Shenzhen Airlines to fly Beijing-Nanchang

Mark Elliott Sep 6, 2013

Shenzhen Airlines is expected to unveil a non-stop morning flight from Beijing to Nanchang in Jiangxi province on 12 September. Operated using a Boeing 737-800, the service will…

Mandarin Oriental to debut in Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Aug 20, 2013

Mandarin Oriental has unveiled plans for its first hotel in Shenzhen. Scheduled to open in 2017, the new luxury property will form part of the Shum Yip’s UpperHills mixed-use…

Marriott launches Shenzhen apartments

Mark Elliott Aug 13, 2013

Marriott International has introduced its serviced apartment brand to southern China, with the launch of the OCT Harbour, Shenzhen Marriott Executive Apartments. Located in the centre…

Shenzhen bucks Pearl River Delta hotel decline

May 8, 2013 7

Hotels in Shenzhen saw a strong rise in occupancy and average daily rates (ADR) in the first quarter of 2013, but this was not matched by other major cities in the Pearl River Delta.…

Grand Hyatt Shenzhen opens

Jan 17, 2013

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, the newest addition to its world class Grand Hyatt portfolio. A part of the prestigious City Crossing complex,…

Airlines and Aviation

Shenzhen Airlines joins Star Alliance

Mark Elliott Nov 29, 2012 12

Shenzhen Airlines has become a member of the Star Alliance. The Chinese carrier was officially inducted into the alliance at a ceremony held at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport this…

Airlines and Aviation

Shenzhen Airlines joins Star Alliance

Nov 29, 2012 0

Shenzhen Airlines has become a member of the Star Alliance. The Chinese carrier was officially inducted into the alliance at a ceremony held at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport this…

St. Regis Shenzhen launches debut offer

Mark Elliott Nov 25, 2011 15

St. Regis Shenzhen is marking its December debut with a Grand Opening Package. Starting from CNY2,888 (US$454), the Bespoke Debut package features a two-night stay in a premier room,…

Face‑to‑Face

Langham signs new hotel in Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Jul 20, 2011

Langham Hospitality Group has signed its fifth Eaton property, following a management deal with Shenzhen Warmsun Real Estate Development for the upscale Eaton Luxe Shajing, Shenzhen. The…

Shenzhen leads Chinese hotel boom

Jul 12, 2011

The southern Chinese city of Shenzhen is fastest growing market in mainland China, according to a report by Horwath HTL China and STR Global. In a study of hotel performance in 13 key…

Airlines and Aviation

Shenzhen Airlines to join Star Alliance

Mark Elliott Jul 6, 2011

Star Alliance has approved the membership application of Shenzhen Airlines. The airline, which is a subsidiary of Air China and largely serves routes in southern and eastern China, is…

Face‑to‑Face

Shenzhen mulls congestion charge

Mark Elliott Mar 9, 2011

The southern Chinese city of Shenzhen is considering implementing a congestion charge for motorists in the city. Xinhua reported the city's Traffic & Transport Commission as saying that…

Air China to increase stake in Shenzhen Airlines

Mark Elliott Mar 22, 2010

Air China will invest CNY682.1 million (US$100 million) into Shenzhen Airlines for a majority stake in the southern China airline. The company's stake in Shenzhen Airlines will rise to from…

Kempinski Shenzhen turns on Christmas lights

Mark Elliott Dec 7, 2009

December 6th 2009, Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen celebrates the holiday spirits and spreading festive greetings to the city with the grand Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Around 300 guests…

Grand Hyatt opens in Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Dec 1, 2009

London, November 2009 - Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Grand Hyatt Shenzhen, the newest addition to its world class Grand Hyatt portfolio. A part of the…

Universal Travel Group expands Shenzhen HQ

Mark Elliott Oct 7, 2009

SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Universal Travel Group (NYSEAmex: UTA) ("Universal Travel Group" or the "Company"), a growing travel services provider…

HKTB introduces Shenzhen-Hong Kong Tour

Mark Elliott Aug 30, 2009

Leveraging on the rising numbers of Southeast Asian travellers visiting Shenzhen, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has collaborated with Shenzhen Tourism Administration (SZTA) and…

Cathay Pacific adds new Shenzhen check-in service

Mark Elliott May 22, 2009

Cathay Pacific Airways has announced its latest measure to enhance connectivity between Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and the Pearl River Delta region. Travellers can now have their…

Shenzhen eases rules on travel to Hong Kong

Mark Elliott Apr 2, 2009

China has further eased rules on individual travel to Hong Kong, allowing residents of Shenzhen in southern Guangdong Province, easier entry to the neighbouring special…

Ritz Carlton opens in Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Mar 23, 2009

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company continues its expansion in China with the opening of its sixth mainland hotel in Shenzhen. Opening yesterday the Ritz 273-room & suite Carlton Shenzhen…

Shenzhen extension for HK subway

Mark Elliott Mar 20, 2009

MTR Corp., the operator of the Hong Kong subway, has agreed to invest CNY6 billion (US$878 million) to build and operate a subway extension to Shenzhen.Bloomberg reported that MTR…

JW Marriott arrives in Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Feb 23, 2009

The 411-room JW Marriott Hotel Shenzhen has opened, becoming Marriott International's fifth JW-branded property in China. The hotel boasts an…

HK-Shenzhen airport link may connect to rail network

Mark Elliott Dec 9, 2008

The planned high-speed rail link between Hong Kong and Shenzhen airports may link up with Hong Kong's local railway network in a bid to create a larger pool of passengers, the South…

Airlines and Aviation

New Shenzhen check-in for Cathay

Mark Elliott Dec 9, 2008

Cathay Pacific has introduced a new service to allow passengers to check in and have their boarding passes issued at Shenzhen International Airport for all Cathay and Dragonair flights…

Airlines and Aviation

Shenzhen Airlines launches Singapore flights

Nov 28, 2008

Shenzhen Airlines has launched flights from Nanning Wuxu International Airport, Guangxi province, to Singapore's Changi airport, the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation has reported. The…

Airlines and Aviation

Shenzhen Airlines resumes Macau-Wuxi

Mark Elliott Oct 28, 2008

Shenzhen Airlines has resumed direct daily services on its Macau-Wuxi route. The flights were suspended during the Beijing Olympic Games period due to a temporary restriction of…

Hilton to open in Shenzhen

Oct 17, 2008

Hilton has announced plans to expand their presence in China with a 300-room property in Shenzhen. The Hilton Futian Shenzhen, Guangdong province, is scheduled to open at the end of 2009.…

Charity / Sustainability / CSR

Shenzhen to invest billions in green tourism

Mark Elliott Aug 28, 2008

The southern Chinese city of Shenzhen will invest over CNY15 billion Li Xiaogan, director of Shenzhen Municipal Tourism Bureau, said that Shenzhen will invest more than CNY15…

Airlines and Aviation

Shenzhen Airlines to set up base in Chengdu

Aug 22, 2008

Shenzhen Airlines plans to commence new daily services from Chengdu to Kunming, Guiyang and Guangzhou by the end of this month, the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation has reported. The carrier…

Futian Shangri-La Shenzhen opens October

Aug 8, 2008

The five-star Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen, is scheduled to open in October. The hotel is only a short distance from thriving retail areas and office towers, and just a few minutes' walk from…

Airlines and Aviation

Shenzhen Airlines to offer in-flight phone calls

Mark Elliott Jul 25, 2008

Chinese carrier Shenzhen Airlines willoffer phone calls on three flights from Shenzhen to Beijingand Shanghai, Xinhuahas reported. The new offering follows a deal signed between the…

Airlines and Aviation

HK’s airport’s future with Shenzhen, Zhuhai

Mark Elliott May 30, 2008

Hong Kong's outgoing Airport Authority chairman Victor Fung Kwok-king has said the key maximising efficiency at Hong Kong International Airport was working with Shenzhen and Zhuhai airports…

Airlines and Aviation

Shenzhen Airlines adds two routes

Mark Elliott Feb 5, 2008

Shenzhen Airlines has opened two new routes: Xian-Xiangfan-Fuzhou and Changzhou-Fuzhou-Haikou.There are three flights a week on the Xi'an-Xiangfan-Fuzhou route on Monday,…

Airlines and Aviation

Rail link between HK, Shenzhen airports

Mark Elliott Jan 18, 2008

Talks have begun on building a high-speed rail to link Hong Kong and Shenzhen airports, The Standard reported. But the newspaper, quoting an aviation expert, said both…

Shenzhen airport expands city check-in

Nov 20, 2007

Other locations already offering this service are in Huizhou, Hong Kong and Macau, Xinhua news agency said. At city check-in locations, passengers can buy tickets and check baggage, then…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia adds to Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Sep 20, 2007

In a statement, AirAsia said the service, which started less than two months ago on July 15, , has recorded extremely high loads of over 90%, prompting the airline…

New GM for Kempinski Shenzhen

Mark Elliott Sep 18, 2007

The German national has over 24 years experience in a wide variety of hotels throughout Germany, Russia, Egypt, and Turkey.

Airlines and Aviation

Shenzhen Airlines offers OnAir services

Mark Elliott Sep 4, 2007

The OnAir service will be installed across Shenzhen Airlines' fullfleet of Boeing 737 and Airbus A320-family aircraft by mid 2009, with theintroduction of three demonstrator aircraft…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Changi Airport partners with Shenzhen Airport Group.

Mark Elliott Jul 19, 2007

The two organisations will focus on identifying and investing in mid-size Chinese airport that shows promises of strong growth. As well as get highly involved in the management of…

Shenzhen Resort built as Swiss Village opens

Jul 17, 2007

The giant resort is set in the mountainous terrain of south China, but instead of lush alpine pastures and the towering snow-capped Jungfrau, the resort is surrounded by a tea plantation.…

Airlines and Aviation

New research reveals the best airline loyalty programmes

Kanchan Nath May 31, 2023

A recent study showed the number of 2022 air passengers increased by roughly 47 per cent compared to the previous year.

H World’s First Quarter Revenue Surges 67% YoY

traveldailymedia FTRSS May 30, 2023 0

Blended RevPAR Recovers to 118% of 1Q19 SINGAPORE and SHANGHAI, May 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- H World Group (NASDAQ: HTHT; HK: 1179) announced financial results for the first quarter of…

Frasers Hospitality makes maiden acquisitions in premium rental apartment segment in China and Japan

traveldailymedia FTRSS May 23, 2023 0

Expansion into long-stay lodging segment is part of Frasers Hospitality's transformation and growth strategy SINGAPORE, May 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Frasers Hospitality, a strategic…

OTAs & Tour Operators

International and domestic travel bookings skyrocket for Chinese May Holiday

Kristin Mariano May 9, 2023

Leading travel service provider Trip.com Group reveals its Chinese mainland May Day travel trends, with strong domestic and international booking growth. Chinese outbound travellers were…

International and domestic travel bookings skyrocket for Chinese May Holiday

traveldailymedia FTRSS May 4, 2023 0

SINGAPORE, May 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading travel service provider Trip.com Group reveals its Chinese mainland May Day travel trends, with strong domestic and international booking…

Ascott to exceed current target of 160,000 units

Kanchan Nath Apr 21, 2023

The Ascott Limited (Ascott), a lodging business unit wholly owned by CapitaLand Investment Limited (CLI), has achieved its target to secure 160,000 units by 2023, with the signing of over…

BLR Airport records a 96% growth during FY 2022-2023, welcoming over 31.91 million passengers

Kanchan Nath Apr 19, 2023

During FY 2022-2023, Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (KIAB / BLR Airport) reported a strong growth in passenger numbers and maintained its leading position in processing…

Egis’ Architecture Line Opens New London Campus

Chris Head Apr 3, 2023

The renowned multidisciplinary engineering and operations company, Egis, has opened new studios in London, UK. The shared workplaces are designed to foster collaboration and design…

Airlines and Aviation

Korean Air expands its network in China

Joe Cusmano Mar 30, 2023

Korean Air has announced that they will resume service and expand their China network by the end of this month.

MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions)

China makes welcome return to Arabian Travel Market, Middle East

Kanchan Nath Mar 29, 2023

Chinese exhibitors and travel professionals are making a welcome return to Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023 which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) for its 30th edition…

Egis launches new Architecture Line at leading real estate event

Chris Head Mar 16, 2023

The renowned multidisciplinary engineering and operations company, Egis, launches line of leading architecture practices to address the challenges of urbanisation and climate change

Andaz Brand debuts in Thailand with the opening of Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach

Kanchan Nath Jan 18, 2023

The lush and tropical beachfront retreat offers well-travelled explorers and families a welcoming, invigorating destination to reconnect with nature and discover authentic Thai culture.

OTAs & Tour Operators

Trip.com Group sees surge in mainland China travel bookings ahead of Lunar New Year period

Kristin Mariano Jan 17, 2023

Trip.com Group, the leading global travel service provider, has seen mainland Chinese demand for travel continue to surge in the run-up to the Lunar New Year holiday season. This comes…

The end of China’s zero-Covid policy is fuelling flight bookings

Kristin Mariano Jan 13, 2023

China’s decision to ditch its zero-Covid policy has triggered a surge in flight bookings, according to the latest data from ForwardKeys. On 7 December, Chinese authorities announced…

Appointment announcement

Peter Pottinga appointed as the general manager of InterContinental Chiang Mai Mae Ping

Kristin Mariano Jan 10, 2023

Well-respected hospitality veteran, Peter Pottinga, has been appointed as the general manager of the soon-to-open InterContinental Chiang Mai Mae Ping hotel. Peter will oversee all aspects…

Alipay+ promotes QR code connectivity, paving ways for a cash-free, mobile friendly travel experience in Chinese mainland for Asian consumers

Kristin Mariano Jan 9, 2023

Alipay+ is striving to provide cash-free and mobile-friendly travel experiences for Asian tourists in the Chinese mainland, as it seeks to partner with more merchants and enable greater QR…

HKIA SkyPier to resume ferry transfer service to/ from Macao starting 30 Dec

Kanchan Nath Dec 27, 2022

Ferry transfer service between SkyPier of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) and Macao will resume starting from 30 December 2022, providing cross-boundary transport service for…

10 best global airports for an enjoyable layover

Kristin Mariano Nov 23, 2022

The study by ParkSleepFly analysed the busiest airports in the world, on their food & beverages, hygiene, service, customer satisfaction, shopping, and hotel availability, to reveal…

Airbus Secures 300 A320neo Orders From China’s 3 Major Airlines

Joe Cusmano Sep 23, 2022

The three largest airlines in China have made orders for around 300 brand new Airbus planes, giving the European company a significant foothold in the Chinese market. China Southern,…

CTG hotel appoints James Kim as chief operating officer

Kanchan Nath Sep 23, 2022

TG Hotel Holdings Corporation Limited (CTG Hotel) has recently appointed James Kim as the chief operating officer of CTG Hotel.

Hilton set to offer 135 properties in Greater China

Kanchan Nath Sep 12, 2022

With 98 hotels in the pipeline, nearly 1 in 3 future openings for Hilton Hotels globally will be in this market.

Airlines and Aviation

Singapore Airlines Resumes Flights To China

Joe Cusmano Aug 23, 2022

With each passing month, Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary Scoot continue their steady ascent back to pre-pandemic levels, as newly revealed financial data shows. One of the…

The Lux Collective signs first Guangzhou hotel management agreement

Kristin Mariano Aug 16, 2022

Global hospitality group The Lux Collective and Jumbo Group in China signed a hotel management agreement in July 2022 to build the first LUX* urban resort in Guangzhou, China – LUX*…

SB Architects joins Egis Group, combining forces with 10 design to strengthen architectural offering and global reach

Chris Head Jul 27, 2022

World-Renowned Architecture and Design Firm Becomes Part of a Global Collective of Leading Design Experts.

Four Chinese airlines order 292 new Airbus A320 jets

Harry Johnson Jul 1, 2022

Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Shenzhen Airlines placed an order with Airbus for 292 new A320 aircraft Four Chinese airlines order 292 new Airbus A320 jets

Singapore, Geneva and Amsterdam are the best cities to start a business

Kristin Mariano May 12, 2022

As an entrepreneur, the world can truly be your oyster. With recent technological advances and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, working remotely has become the new normal. Many business…

China-Hong Kong travellers will no longer need quarantine from 8 Sept

Megha Paul Sep 8, 2021

Travellers arriving in Hong Kong from China will no longer need to quarantine from 8 September onwards

The future of travel: How Plaza Premium is redefining airport hospitality

Chris Head Jun 29, 2021

Travel is changing – and not only because of the pandemic. Tech-savvy jetsetters expect a seamless experience in the palm of their hand. With technology evolving at breakneck speed, the…

Airlines and Aviation

Greater Bay Airlines, New Low Cost Launching in Unfavourable Time

Joe Cusmano Feb 4, 2021

Budget airline Greater Bay Airlines (GBA) applied for the rights to fly 104 routes across Asia, according to a Hong Kong government gazette.

Covid-induced, technology-enabled innovations reshaping future of business conferences and events

Megha Paul Jan 22, 2021

The alliance with Riviera is the latest move by The Delivering Group to form a powerful coalition of sales, marketing, PR, digital, distribution solutions providers targeting the travel and…

Full recovery of Chinese domestic air travel predicted in September

Harry S. Aug 27, 2020

Travel industry experts are predicting that domestic air travel in China, which has been recovering progressively in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, will reach a full recovery by the…

MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions)

ITB announces industry meet up in seven cities across China

Megha Paul Aug 5, 2020

ITB China Industry MeetUp is designed to help industry recover from economic post-Covid-19 fallout, providing unique opportunities for industry professionals to get updated on latest trend…

Hotels on road to recovery in China

Megha Paul May 26, 2020

There has been a noticeable growth in revenue per available room (RevPAR) over the past few weeks in China as the country starts to recover from the coronavirus outbreak. This was…

Japanese drug Avigan is effective for coronavirus treatment, says China

Kristin Mariano Mar 19, 2020

China's ministry of science and technology has announced on late Tuesday that favipiravir, the main ingredient in the influenza drug Avigan, showed "very good clinical results" during…

China turns to tech firms for apps to monitor health, travel

Kristin Mariano Feb 22, 2020

Chinese government are tapping tech giants to come up with an app to track the health and travel history of millions of citizens that are preparing to go back to work.

Passenger traffic rise in APAC and Middle East

Megha Paul Dec 31, 2019

Passenger traffic in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East recorded growth in October at 1.1% and 5.2% respectively, according to Airports Council International (ACI) Asia-Pacific. China’s…

Macao unfolds glittery journey with light festival

Megha Paul Dec 26, 2019

Organised by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and co-organised by Municipal Affairs Bureau, Cultural Affairs Bureau and Sports Bureau, 'Macao Light Festival 2019 – Explore the…

Thai hospitality comes to Shuangyue Bay in China

Megha Paul Dec 23, 2019

Thailand-based global hospitality company Dusit International, represented in China by Dusit Fudu Hotels and Resorts, has opened Dusit Thani Sandalwoods Resort Shuangyue Bay Huizhou,…

Hot hotel openings: Club Med opens on its own private island and more

Tian Tolentino Dec 13, 2019

This week on hot hotel openings, we've got four of the best hotels and resorts from around the world — from Shenzhen's east coast to the archipelago of Seychelles off East Africa and more.

Hyatt to expand luxury portfolio with over 20 new hotels by 2020

Tian Tolentino Dec 5, 2019

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced that more than 20 new luxury hotels and resorts are expected to open worldwide by the end of 2020.

“A perfect match”: Pullman Huizhou Kaisa opens for business

Alastair Newport Oct 29, 2019

Accor subsidiary Pullman has announced the opening of Pullman Huizhou Kaisa as its 38th hotel in Greater China. Huizhou is a central city in the Pearl River Delta and enjoys benefits from…

Iberia signs codeshare deal with Hainan Airlines

Megha Paul Oct 25, 2019

China and Spain are better connected by air now, owing to the recent codeshare agreement between Iberia and Hainan Airlines. Iberia customers can now fly direct from Madrid to Shenzhen…

China sees sharp increase in National Day travel

Megha Paul Oct 14, 2019

Transportation company headquartered in Beijing, Didi Chuxing, has released a summary of the travel data for the 2019 National Day holiday that commemorated the 70th anniversary of the…

Alternative accommodation for community living

Simon Willmore Oct 10, 2019

We talk to Tony Chisholm, COO at GCP Hospitality

Partner content

Experience Myanmar’s golden past with The Strand

Simon Willmore Oct 10, 2019

15% off best available rate for hotel and cruise bookings for TD readers

Passenger numbers up 2.1% in APAC

Megha Paul Sep 4, 2019

Passenger traffic in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East recorded growth in June at 2.1% and 8.1% respectively. According to a report by Airports Council International Asia-Pacific, in…

Didi Chuxing to roll out self-driving car in China

Kristin Mariano Sep 3, 2019

China-based ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing plans to roll out self-driving vehicles in a district of Shanghai city. The company also aims to expand the scheme outside China by 2021.

Is Hong Kong safe? The impact of pro-democracy protests on tourism

Kristin Mariano Aug 13, 2019

Over two months of occupying the streets with no peaceful conclusion in sight, Hong Kong extradition and pro-democracy protests put the country’s tourism in peril.

Cebu Pacific connects with ‘China’s Silicon Valley’

Alastair Newport Jul 18, 2019

Cebu Pacific has extended its network on mainland China with the launch of its direct commercial service between Shenzhen and Manila, responding to increased customer demand for leisure…

Experience Myanmar’s golden past with The Strand

Simon Willmore Jul 1, 2019

15% off best available rate for hotel and cruise bookings for TD readers

OYO partners with Meituan Hotels to extend reach in China

Tian Tolentino Jun 28, 2019

OYO Hotels and Homes has announced a year-long strategic partnership with Meituan, one of China's leading e-commerce platforms.

Luxury hotspot: Accor to grow the Raffles brand in Asia, adds Bali and Sentosa in portfolio

Megha Paul Jun 26, 2019

Since acquiring the legendary Raffles brand in 2016, the French hospitality group Accor has announced plans to almost double the iconic collection, with recent openings including Raffles…

Hainan Airlines eyes foreign skies, aims to launch 40 international routes by 2022

Megha Paul Jun 24, 2019

By 2022, Hainan Airlines will launch more than 40 new international flights that depart from Hainan province. Hainan Airlines Holding, China's fourth-largest carrier and the largest…

Hyatt, BTG Homeinns unveil China-centric brand UrCove

Megha Paul Jun 24, 2019

Hyatt Hotels and Chinese hotel company BTG Homeinns Hotels Group revealed the name of their upcoming upper-midscale brand, UrCove, at the recent Chinese Hotels and Tourism conference.…

Lucky Air launches flights from Pulkovo St. Petersburg Airport to Kunming

Megha Paul Jun 19, 2019

Lucky Air, the Chinese airline, started direct scheduled service between St. Petersburg, Russia and Kunming, China. Both the destination and the carrier are a new addition to the…

Alternative accommodation for community living

Simon Willmore Jun 12, 2019

Ride-sharing; home-sharing; space-sharing... the list of community-focussed words that form part of our everyday lives seems to grow on a weekly basis. It's now a regular occurence to take a…

Hot hotel openings: “Guitar pick” buildings, new wonders and more

Tian Tolentino May 31, 2019

On this week’s hotel roundup, the biggest brands go mano y mano with full-scale transformations, new villas, a building shaped like a guitar pick and more.

Raffles brings “illustrious hotel collection” to China and the Maldives

Tian Tolentino May 22, 2019

Raffles Hotels & Resorts has announced the official launch of two new landmark hotels, Raffles Shenzhen and Raffles Maldives Meradhoo.

Shanghai boon: Finnair joins forces with Juneyao Air

Alastair Newport May 16, 2019

Finnair continued to ratchet up the reach of its China Network today when it announced it had begun its new Finnair codeshare cooperation with the Shanghai based carrier Juneyao Air. As…

G Talk: “Creating a community within the hotels”

Simon Willmore May 3, 2019

We spoke to Marc Bichet, chief marketing officer at GCP Hospitality, to learn more about the GTalk initiative:

The fastest-growing operator in China according to Asian Sky Group

Tian Tolentino Apr 17, 2019

Business jet management company Sino Jet is now the fastest growing operator in China according to statistics released by Asian Sky Group at ABACE2019.

OTAs & Tour Operators

Top 5 regions best explored by rail

Kristin Mariano Apr 3, 2019

Travel activities and services booking platform Klook revealed that rail services bookings increased by more than 150% from 2018 to 2019.

“Crowded and lacked basic amenities”: Transforming Hong Kong’s Avenue of Stars

Alastair Newport Mar 25, 2019

Following the announcement, at the beginning of March, that the famous Hong Kong ‘Avenue of Stars’ (AoS) attraction had re opened following an extensive refurbishment to refresh and…

Corporate & Business

Here are the top destinations for bleisure travel

Kristin Mariano Mar 5, 2019

Tokyo ranks first out of 26 cities in the region for its combination of business and leisure—or bleisure—appeal for travellers.

DoubleTree by Hilton targets APAC in global expansion

Tian Tolentino Feb 20, 2019

Pushing for international growth, DoubleTree by Hilton has its sights set on APAC, placing nearly half of its 200 planned hotels in the region.

Corporate & Business

7 reasons why foreign businesses should think twice when investing in China

Kristin Mariano Dec 19, 2018

Last week, Wall Street Journal published an interesting piece claiming that Americans who flocked to China for better opportunities are slowly calling it quits and are flying home.

Hotelbeds: Year-end review and forecast trends for 2019

Tian Tolentino Dec 11, 2018

Tech provider and distributor Hotelbeds has released industry comments and insights about the year in travel and its forecasts for 2019.

The rise of Asia’s second-tier cities as the new go-to place for tourists

Tian Tolentino Dec 3, 2018

Mastercard has released the Mastercard Asia Pacific Destinations Index (APDI) 2018 — revealing the most preferred travel destinations in Asia.

Guiyang city, China, sees outbound growth rate of 389%: Ctrip travel report

MILI SEMLANI Semlani Nov 25, 2018

According to the report on 2017 China's Outbound Tourism, jointly released by China Tourism Academy and Ctrip, Chinese citizens made over 130 million outbound trips in 2017, spending USD…

Airlines and Aviation

Scoot to take over SilkAir’s routes ahead its merger into Singapore Airlines

Kristin Mariano Nov 22, 2018

SilkAir will transfer a number of its routes to Scoot ahead of its merger into Singapore Airlines, while Scoot will be transferring some of its services to existing destinations served by…

3-in-1: World’s biggest bridge opens to connect three major Chinese destinations

Alastair Newport Oct 24, 2018

Travelling from Hong Kong to Macao can be a drag. If everything goes according to plan, the ferry crossing between two of Asia’s premier destinations can be done, in theory, in 55 minutes.

APAC tourism records fastest growth in international tourist arrivals

Tian Tolentino Oct 24, 2018

UNWTO and GTERC have presented its Asia Tourism Trends Report at the Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macao, China.

Airlines and Aviation

Kunming soon: AirAsia launches fourth connection to Southwest China

Alastair Newport Oct 22, 2018

As the capital city of Yunnan Province in Southwest China, Kunming has earnt a reputation as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region. Known locally as the 'City of Eternal…

“China remains a priority” as Rosewood adds four to Asian network

Alastair Newport Oct 17, 2018

Hong Kong based luxury hospitality group Rosewood Hotel Group is stepping up its Asia expansion with the opening of four new properties in China, Southeast Asia and India, they announced…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia strengthens Chinese coverage with beefed up Malaysian connections

Alastair Newport Oct 12, 2018

AirAsia has announced it will be pushing further into China with the launch a new direct service connecting Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia, to Tianjin from 29 October this year.

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia plunges into thriving Malaysian dive destination

Alastair Newport Oct 10, 2018

Following the news in September that Air Asia were boosting the coverage of the Malaysia product with a new service between Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan, in Pahang, the airline has now announced…

HK-China high speed rail guns for business travellers

Kristin Mariano Sep 26, 2018

The HK-China high-speed rail has commenced operation on 23 September connecting Hong Kong to 44 destinations in mainland China.

Expedition Cruising

Dream Cruises’ World Dream sails maiden voyage from Shenzen homeport

Kristin Mariano Sep 20, 2018

World Dream, Dream Cruises’ German-built, premium megaship, departs from the Shekou Cruise Homeport in Shenzhen on 18 September embarking on a journey to the scenic destinations in Vietnam.

MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions)

“Chinese visitors are coming in big numbers to Yas Island”: MeetChina 2018 organisers

MILI SEMLANI Semlani Sep 11, 2018

The seventh edition of Meet China brought together a host of the country’s top-tier travel buyers and key suppliers from across the UAE.

Early Ramadan linked to drop in APAC passenger numbers

Alastair Newport Aug 8, 2018

Passenger growth in the Middle East has experienced a decline of -4.5% according to a report from the Airports Council International Asian office.

“First impressions count” says Impiana Resort Patong GM

Alastair Newport Jun 28, 2018

Travel Daily speaks to general manager of Impiana Resort Patong, David McCallum

Ascott celebrates 20th year in China with new properties

Tian Tolentino Jun 28, 2018

CapitaLand’s The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has opened its first property in Nantong and fourth property in Suzhou, increasing its operating portfolio to more than 33 cities across China.

Robots to take over our airports by 2030

Kristin Mariano Jun 22, 2018

Robots are set to replace the current airport staff and our air travel may soon be devoid of human contact.

HKCYIA and VTC sign MoU to nurture cruise and yacht industry professionals in Hong Kong

MILI SEMLANI Semlani Jun 22, 2018

In view of the growing demand for talent in the fast-expanding global cruise and yacht industry, Hong Kong Cruise & Yacht Industry Association (HKCYIA) and the Vocational Training…

The two biggest battles in hospitality: How will Marriott compete?

Kristin Mariano May 30, 2018

Marriott International is determined to win the race by ensuring it covers all bases. The hotel giant made two important launches in the first quarter – its joint venture with Alibaba and…

Alibaba offers new training in conquering Chinese travel market

Kristin Mariano May 16, 2018

For companies that wanted to dip their hands in China’s hypercompetitive travel market and strengthen their online presence and capabilities, Alibaba announced on Monday that it offers a…

Bedsonline to launch Chinese language website aimed at TAs at ITB Shanghai

Alastair Newport May 11, 2018

Hotelbeds subsidiary Bedsonline, has announced today the launch of its enhanced Chinese language website, just in time for ITB Shanghai on16-18 May.

Ascott makes ‘most significant and game-changing move to date’

Tian Tolentino May 10, 2018

Ascott Limited (Ascott) of CapitaLand is accelerating the expansion of its Citadines brand in China through a RMB100 million joint venture with Huazhu Hotels Group and CJIA Apartments Group.

AirAsia partners with Sarawak Tourism Board to support cornerstone music festivals

Tian Tolentino Apr 25, 2018

AirAsia is partnering with the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) for the upcoming Borneo Jazz Festival to be held in Miri on 11-13 May and the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) taking place…

OTAs & Tour Operators

Ctrip tracks record-breaking growth in Chinese outbound tourism

Simon Willmore Apr 9, 2018

Chinese tourists and their money have continued to go places in 2017, according to Ctrip and the China Tourism Academy (CTA). The leading OTA of the People's Republic of China and the…

Airlines and Aviation

Opening the skies with AirAsia Group’s Spencer Lee

Simon Willmore Mar 2, 2018

Spencer Lee, head of commercial for AirAsia Malaysia, looks quiet and unassuming. But if you talk about travel, the transport industry veteran can hardly contain his excitement. We sat down…

Face‑to‑Face

‘Talk less, listen more:’ Harnessing data out of customer sentiment with Twistar

Simon Willmore Jan 28, 2018

Twistar, a mobile device that harnesses feedback into actionable data, provides engagement that businesses can customise & customers can enjoy.

Ctrip publish report into China-Europe tourism market

Alastair Newport Jan 24, 2018

Ctrip has released the "2017 China-Europe Tourism Market Data Report" alongside China Tourism Academy (CTA), a specialized institute under China National Tourism Administration (CNTA). The…

ONYX sign top Chinese developers to push Shama brand

Alastair Newport Jan 9, 2018

Thailand-based ONYX Hospitality Group and Sincere Holdings Group, the Chinese real estate company, have announced the formation of a strategic partnership, aiming to boost the serviced…

New resort to bring luxury alpine style skiing to the Changbai Mountains

Alastair Newport Dec 28, 2017 2

Baishan city in northeast China's Jilin province aims to become a global high-end snow-ice tourism destination by building a world-class ski resort complex.

Airlines and Aviation

Watch out ANZ, Singapore Airlines and Cathay — Hainan Airlines is coming for you

Alastair Newport Dec 22, 2017 2

Hainan Airlines has launched a non-stop service between Shenzhen, China and Cairns, Australia. The maiden flight of Hainan Airlines HU745, took off from Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport…

Airlines and Aviation

Air China and Air Canada build “foundation of a profound cooperation”

Alastair Newport Dec 14, 2017 11

Air Canada and Air China Limited have announced that the airlines will expand their mutual codeshare services and lounge agreement in time for the 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism,…

Hard Rock’s Asian expansion gains strategic momentum

Alastair Newport Oct 31, 2017 24

Furthering their expansion strategy efforts and commitment to growth in Asia, Hard Rock International has announced the promotion of Edward Tracy to chief executive officer in Asia.

NBA 2017 opportunities for Marriott International Loyalty Members

Alastair Newport Oct 2, 2017 2

Marriott International have announced a collection of experiences at the NBA Global Games 2017, exclusive to its loyalty program members.

Dusit signs double development on China’s south coast

Mark Elliott Aug 23, 2017

Dusit International has signed an agreement to manage a pair of new properties on China’s south coast, in Guangdong province. The Thai hotel group's Chinese subsidiary, Dusit Fudu, will…

Airlines and Aviation

Malaysian PM launches Langkawi’s new Chinese connection

Mark Elliott Aug 21, 2017

Malaysia's Prime Minister, Najib Razak, has overseen the launch of AirAsia's new direct flight connecting Langkawi with mainland China. The low-cost carrier recently commenced the first…

Airlines and Aviation

Asian air route updates from PAL, AirAsia, Hong Kong Airlines and more

Mark Elliott Jul 12, 2017

Tianjin Airlines starts flying to Vladivostok Where? Tianjin (China) to Vladivostok, pictured (Russia) When? Twice a week, effective immediately Who? Tianjin Airlines Why? Connecting…

Airlines and Aviation

Asian air route updates from Air Canada, Shanghai Airlines and more

Mark Elliott Jul 3, 2017

Air Canada adds new passage to India Where? Toronto (Canada) to Mumbai (India) When? Four times a week, effective immediately Who? Air Canada Why? National carrier continues…

Airlines and Aviation

Cathay Dragon adds trio of Chinese cities

Mark Elliott Jun 30, 2017

Cathay Dragon has added three new destinations to its route map in mainland China, as part of an expanded codeshare agreement with Shenzhen Airlines. Under the new arrangement, Cathay…

Norwegian names first Chinese cruise ship in Shanghai

Mark Elliott Jun 28, 2017

Norwegian Cruise Line’s first Chinese cruise ship, Norwegian Joy, has been officially launched in Shanghai. The naming ceremony was overseen by Frank Del Rio, Norwegian's president &…

Airlines and Aviation

Xiamen Airlines touches down in LA

Mark Elliott Jun 28, 2017

Xiamen Airlines, the fast-growing Chinese carrier, has launched its first ever flights to Los Angeles. The airline’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner touched down at LAX for the first time on 27…

Serviced Apartments

Ascott passes 100 property milestone in China

Mark Elliott Jun 27, 2017

Ascott has secured seven new contracts in China, taking its total portfolio in the country to more than 100 properties. The Singapore-based serviced apartment operator has penned deals…

Where to Stay: new hotels in China, Japan, Australia and the US

Mark Elliott Jun 26, 2017

Shenzhen Marriott Hotel Golden Bay Location: Located on the beachfront at Golden Bay, east of downtown Shenzhen Grade: Upper-upscale Keys: 317 Facilities: Four restaurants, lounge,…

Airlines and Aviation

Asian air route updates from Lufthansa, Hainan Airlines and more

Mark Elliott Jun 22, 2017

IndiGo boosts domestic network Where? Delhi to Chennai (both India) When? Daily, effective immediately Who? IndiGo Why? India's largest domestic carrier, in terms of market share,…

Hyatt ramps up roll-out of lifestyle brands

Mark Elliott Jun 16, 2017

Hyatt is accelerating the expansion of two of its so-called "lifestyle" brands, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House. In the first six months of 2017 the company opened 19 new hotels under…

Serviced Apartments

Ascott breathes new Lyf into Singapore and China

Mark Elliott Jun 15, 2017

Ascott has unveiled plans for the first three properties under its new brand, Lyf, which is designed for the millennial market. Having unveiled the new concept last November, and set…

Serviced Apartments

Frasers expands Capri brand for growing millennial market

Mark Elliott Jun 13, 2017

Frasers Hospitality has unveiled plans to add 12 more Capri-branded serviced residences across the world in the coming years, in a bid to meet "rising demand from millennial travellers".…

Hilton brings Curio Collection to Asia Pacific

Mark Elliott Jun 9, 2017

Hilton has launched its upscale Curio Collection in the Asia Pacific region, with the opening of a new hotel near Sanya, the Chinese beach resort. The new Sanya Yazhou Bay Resort, Curio…

The latest appointments from Travelport, AirAsia, Mandarin Oriental and more

Mark Elliott Jun 7, 2017

MING FOONG has become Travelport's new managing director for Greater China & Online Business Group Asia Pacific. Having joined Travelport in 2012, Foong’s most recent role was…

Airlines and Aviation

Asian air route updates: new flights from JAL, Air Astana, China Southern and more…

Mark Elliott Jun 1, 2017

China Southern adds Shenzhen's first link to Melbourne Where? Shenzhen (China) to Melbourne (Australia) When? Twice a week, effective immediately (rising to three times a week on 3 July…

Asian air route updates: new flights from Norwegian, Spring, Air China and more…

Mark Elliott May 16, 2017

Spring adds low-cost link between key Asian cities Where? Shanghai Pudong (China) to Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) When? Four times a week, effective immediately Who? Spring Airlines Why?…

The latest appointments from American Express GBT, Etihad, Movenpick and more…

Mark Elliott May 9, 2017

ELYES MRAD has been named as American Express Global Business Travel's (GBT) new senior vice president & general manager of international, overseeing the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions.…

Norwegian Cruise Line takes delivery of first purpose-built ship for China

Simon Willmore Apr 29, 2017

Norwegian Cruises has taken delivery of Norwegian Joy, the brand’s fifteenth ship and the first custom-designed for the Chinese cruise market, from Mayer Werft during an on board ceremony…

MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions)

Thailand bids to bring more MICE from China

Mark Elliott Mar 31, 2017

Thailand is targeting mainland China in an effort to enhance its MICE sector in 2017. This week, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) kicked off the fourth edition of…

Norwegian Joy embarks on journey to China

Simon Willmore Mar 30, 2017

Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Cruise Line’s first ship custom-designed for the Chinese market, began its journey to Shanghai this week. The brand new liner departed the Meyer Werft…

The latest appointments from AccorHotels, Six Senses and more

Mark Elliott Mar 15, 2017

GILLIAN MILLAR has been appointed as AccorHotels' new senior vice president for New Zealand, Fiji & French Polynesia. Ms Millar rejoined AccorHotels in 2012 following its merger with…

Airlines and Aviation

Asian air route updates: Air China, Thai Smile, SpiceJet and more

Mark Elliott Mar 6, 2017

SpiceJet links South Asian mega-cities Where? Kolkata (India) to Dhaka (Bangladesh) When? Daily, effective 23 March 2017 Who? SpiceJet Why? Low-cost carrier creates a short…

Airlines and Aviation

Asian air route updates: Vistara, China Southern, Air Niugini and more

Mark Elliott Mar 3, 2017

Vistara flies to Amritsar Where? Delhi to Amritsar, pictured (both India) When? Daily, effective immediately Who? Vistara Why? Tapping rise in trade and religious tourism traffic…

Airlines and Aviation

Asian air route updates: AirAsia, Spring Airlines, Vistara and more

Mark Elliott Mar 2, 2017

China Eastern expands operations in Sapporo Where? Nanjing (China) to Sapporo, pictured (Japan) When? Twice a week, effective 26 March 2017 Who? China Eastern Airlines Why? Another new…

Hard Rock reveals details of first hotel in China

Mark Elliott Feb 16, 2017

Hard Rock Hotels has confirmed that its first hotel in mainland China will open this summer, located in the southern city of Shenzhen. Forming part of the Mission Hills golf…

China starts fingerprinting foreign visitors

Mark Elliott Feb 10, 2017

The Chinese government has started taking the fingerprints of international visitors to the country. The programme was launched this week by the country's Ministry of Public Security,…

Airlines and Aviation

New Chinese passenger airline launches in Harbin

Mark Elliott Feb 10, 2017

A new passenger airline took to the skies in northeast China on Friday (10 February 2017), Xinhua reports. Longjiang Airlines, which is based in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang…

Chinese expect virtual theme parks

Mark Elliott Jan 25, 2017

The majority of Chinese theme park visitors expect to be able to enjoy virtual or augmented reality rides and interact with robots in future, a new report has found. The survey by Omnico…

Serviced Apartments

Ascott kicks off 2017 with multi-property deal in China

Mark Elliott Jan 19, 2017

Ascott, the Singapore-based serviced apartment operator, has started the year strongly by securing contracts for another six properties in China. The company has expanded its…

Airlines and Aviation

Garuda eyes new routes for Chinese New Year

Mark Elliott Jan 17, 2017

Garuda Indonesia is planning to take advantage of the booming Chinese outbound travel market by launching a series of new charter flights over the Lunar New Year holiday period. The…

Airlines and Aviation

New Zealand gets multiple Chinese connections

Mark Elliott Jan 2, 2017

New Zealand is set to welcome even more Chinese visitors, following the start of a series of new flights to Auckland. The HNA Group recently launched two new routes that saw the arrival…

Airlines and Aviation

China Southern connects to another Australian city

Mark Elliott Dec 15, 2016

China Southern Airlines launched its first flight to Adelaide this week. The Guangzhou-based airline touched down in the Australian city on 13 December, marking mainland China’s first…

UK harnesses power of Alitrip to lure Chinese visitors

Mark Elliott Dec 6, 2016

The UK is aiming to increase the number of Chinese visitors it attracts by partnering with Alitrip, the tourism arm of the Alibaba Group. The tie-up between VisitBritain and Alitrip,…

VisitBritain celebrates growth in Chinese tourism arrivals

Aaron Greenwood Dec 5, 2016

VisitBritain has celebrated its milestone partnerships with Hainan Airlines (HNA Group) and Alitrip, Alibaba Group’s tourism arm, in China. Both partnerships have been established…

Airlines and Aviation

Hainan Airlines wants to launch London flights

Mark Elliott Nov 30, 2016

Hainan Airlines has applied for permission to launch its first flights to London next year. If the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) approves the bid, the Chinese carrier…

Airlines and Aviation

“Sacred bird” to take flight in Chengdu

Mark Elliott Nov 29, 2016

The skies above China are set to become even busier in future, as the fast-expanding HNA Group prepares to launch yet another airline. One of the group's existing carriers,…

Newly-launched FIT Ruums picks major partner in China

Mark Elliott Nov 22, 2016

FIT Ruums, Webjet’s new Asian B2B travel distributor, has taken a major step into mainland China by forming a partnership with DidaTravel Technology, the largest travel aggregator in…

Airlines and Aviation

Malaysia Airlines makes major play in China

Mark Elliott Nov 10, 2016

Malaysia Airlines has unveiled plans for a major expansion of its operations in China. The national carrier will launch nine new Chinese routes in 2017, while also adding more…

USA hosts mega fam trip for Chinese tour operators

Mark Elliott Nov 7, 2016

Brand USA has teamed up with United Airlines to host its first-ever mega fam trip for Chinese tour operators. The event, which took place from 19-27 October 2016, saw operators from…

Airlines and Aviation

New Chinese airline enters global stage with Dreamliner deal

Mark Elliott Nov 2, 2016

A new Chinese passenger airline has moved on to the global stage by ordering five long-haul Dreamliner aircraft from Boeing. Formerly a cargo carrier, Shenzhen-based Donghai Airlines only…

Hotel Management Company

Hotel G to make debut in Singapore

Mark Elliott Nov 1, 2016

GCP Hospitality will expand its Hotel G concept in Asia this month, with the opening of its first property in Singapore. Scheduled to launch on 17 November 2016, the new Hotel G…

Hilton grows Garden in China

Mark Elliott Oct 24, 2016

Hilton has continued to expand its midscale Garden Inn brand in China with the opening of a new property in Guangdong province. The new Hilton Garden Inn Zhongshan Guzhen joins the…

Tourico boosts Asian hotel inventory by 20%

Mark Elliott Oct 12, 2016

Tourico Holidays, the global travel wholesaler, has significantly expanded its Asian hotel inventory, with a 20% increase in its regional rooms so far in 2016. And bookings of…

Face‑to‑Face

Face-to-Face: Elisabeth Sissi Woschnagg

Mark Elliott Oct 10, 2016

This week, Travel Daily chats to Elisabeth Sissi Woschnagg, Vienna Tourist Board's market manager for China, Japan, South Korea & Arab countries, about how Asian arrivals to the Austrian…

Airlines and Aviation

Shanghai’s Juneyao Air joins Star Alliance

Mark Elliott Oct 10, 2016

Star Alliance has expanded its presence in China by signing a new partnership with Juneyao Airlines, the Shanghai-based carrier. Effective 2017, Juneyao will become a “Connecting Partner”…

Airlines and Aviation

Thai Lion Air to fly to China

Mark Elliott Oct 6, 2016

Thai Lion Air, the Bangkok-based subsidiary of Indonesia's Lion Air, will launch its first flight to mainland China later this month. The Bangkok Post reports that the low-cost…

Airlines and Aviation

Hainan Airlines to start flying to New Zealand

Mark Elliott Oct 3, 2016

China's Hainan Airlines will launch its first ever flights to New Zealand later this year. Commencing on 31 December 2016, the airline will operate three weekly flights direct between…

Airlines and Aviation

Xiamen Airlines achieves double first in US

Mark Elliott Sep 26, 2016

Xiamen Airlines' inaugural flight to Seattle takes off on Monday 26 September 2016, marking two milestones in the development of air connectivity between China and the US. Not only will…

Airlines and Aviation

Air Canada adds first Chinese service from Montreal

Mark Elliott Sep 26, 2016

Air Canada will launch its first ever direct flights from Montreal to China next year. In February 2017, the national carrier will open up a new non-stop trans-Pacific service…

Airlines and Aviation

China Southern plans second Brisbane service

Mark Elliott Sep 13, 2016

China Southern Airlines will launch its second scheduled service to Brisbane later this year. The carrier has applied for permission to launch daily services from Shenzhen to the…

Airlines and Aviation

Sydney expands Chinese links with new Hangzhou flights

Mark Elliott Sep 5, 2016

The connections between mainland China and Sydney continue to multiply. Just weeks after the announcements of new connections to the Australian city from Kunming, Chengdu and…

Airlines and Aviation

China Southern sets up base in Chengdu

Mark Elliott Sep 5, 2016

China Southern Airlines has set up a new operating base in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan province. The carrier already operates a host of domestic routes from…

The latest industry appointments

Mark Elliott Sep 1, 2016

TOMOE MAKINO has become TripAdvisor's new country manager for Japan. He joins the travel site from Twitter, where he served as senior growth director for Japan. Makino has also held…

Asia drives expansion of Hyatt brands

Mark Elliott Aug 25, 2016

Hyatt's two select-service brands, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House, expanded their global presence significantly in the second quarter of 2016, driven by new openings in Asia Pacific. Of…

Dramatic new Conrad rises on Chinese coast

Mark Elliott Aug 22, 2016

Hilton Worldwide has opened its first ever Conrad hotel in southeast China's Fujian province. The brand new Conrad Xiamen opened on 18 August 2016 as part of a dramatic 300-metre-tall…

Airlines and Aviation

New airline proposed for China’s Hunan

Mark Elliott Aug 19, 2016

Hunan province in central China could soon get its own airline. The state-run company that operates the province's airports has unveiled plans to create Zhongnan Airlines, which…

The latest industry appointments

Mark Elliott Aug 17, 2016

HENRY GRAY has become Six Senses' new vice president of operations for hotels & resorts, based in Bangkok. A British national, Gray previously served as Six Senses' area director for…

The latest industry appointments

Mark Elliott Aug 10, 2016

JEAN-GABRIEL PERES has become the new president & CEO of Kerzner International, which operates the luxury One&Only hotel brand. Peres joins Kerzner from Mövenpick Hotels &…

Airlines and Aviation

Sichuan Airlines plans NZ flights

Mark Elliott Aug 2, 2016

Sichuan Airlines is planning to launch its first flights to New Zealand. The Chengdu-based carrier has applied to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for permission to…

Novotel makes debut in Xi’an

Mark Elliott Jul 29, 2016

AccorHotels has celebrated the grand opening of the Novotel Xi’an SCPG, which marks the midscale brand's entry into the ancient Chinese city. The new hotel, which opened on 28 July,…

Airlines and Aviation

SilkAir spreads wings in China

Mark Elliott Jul 27, 2016

Singapore's SilkAir will continue to expand its network in China later this year, with the launch services to Fuzhou, the capital of the southestern province of Fujian. Commencing on…

Hyatt unveils first luxury hotel in Chengdu

Mark Elliott Jul 26, 2016

Hyatt has continued to expand its presence in China with the launch of a new luxury hotel in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. The new Grand Hyatt Chengdu marks Hyatt's debut…

Airlines and Aviation

Tigerair touches down in Zhengzhou

Mark Elliott Jun 29, 2016

Tigerair, the Singaporean low-cost carrier, has expanded its network in China with the launch of flights to Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province. Services commenced on Tuesday (28…

The latest industry appointments

Mark Elliott Jun 15, 2016

KATHLEEN TAN has been named as AirAsia's president for North Asia. Returning to the LCC following a stint as CEO of AirAsia-Expedia, she will now be tasked with building AirAsia's market…

Thailand harnesses power of Baidu to draw Chinese visitors

Mark Elliott Jun 15, 2016

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has formed a new partnership with Baidu, the Chinese internet search giant, in an effort to attract more "quality" visitors from mainland China.…

Airlines and Aviation

Hainan Airlines welcomes first new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Mark Elliott Jun 9, 2016

Hainan Airlines has celebrated the arrival of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The delivery, which took place on Wednesday 8 June 2016, makes Hainan Airlines the first Chinese…

Airlines and Aviation

Hainan Airlines reveals new Dreamliner routes

Mark Elliott Jun 6, 2016

Hainan Airlines has revealed the initial routes on which it will deploy its new fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The first of 30 new B787-9s is expected to be delivered next week,…

The latest industry appointments

Mark Elliott May 11, 2016

SHELDON HEE has been announced as Singapore Airlines' new general manager for the UK & Ireland. Hee has spent the last 18 years with SIA, including a spell as general manager for…

Raffles brings Asian luxury to another Chinese city

Mark Elliott May 9, 2016

Raffles Hotels & Resorts has unveiled plans to bring its brand of Asian luxury to the eastern Chinese city of Suzhou. Scheduled to open in 2020, the Raffles Suzhou will be a brand…

Airlines and Aviation

Xiamen Airlines reveals first US destination

Mark Elliott May 4, 2016

Xiamen Airlines will embark on its first trans-Pacific flight to the US this year, with the launch of services to Seattle. Commencing on 26 September 2016, the Chinese carrier will…

Serviced Apartments

Frasers Hospitality enters multiple new Chinese markets

Mark Elliott May 3, 2016

Frasers Hospitality, the Singapore-based serviced apartment operator, has unveiled plans to enter a series of new markets in China. At the official opening of Fraser Place Tianjin,…

Marriott makes debut in Chinese industrial hub

Mark Elliott Apr 28, 2016

Marriott International has expanded its portfolio in mainland China with the launch of its first ever hotel in Taizhou, an industrial city in the Yangtze Delta region. The new…

Airlines and Aviation

Tibet Airlines goes international with new jets

Mark Elliott Apr 25, 2016

Tibet Airlines will take delivery of its first ever twin-aisle aircraft this summer, in preparation for the launch of international flights. The Lhasa-based carrier, which is…

Airlines and Aviation

Ctrip acquires stake in major Chinese airline

Mark Elliott Apr 23, 2016

Ctrip.com International, the Chinese online travel giant, is has agreed to acquire a stake in Shanghai's China Eastern Airlines. Ctrip, which is also based in Shanghai, will pay CNY3…

Airlines and Aviation

New airline to launch in Harbin

Mark Elliott Apr 10, 2016

A new airline will take off from the Chinese city of Harbin this summer. LJ Air is expected to take delivery of its first - a 212-seat, all-economy class Airbus A321 - on 18 May,…

Conrad Hotels debuts in India

Mark Elliott Apr 7, 2016

Hilton's luxury brand, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, has opened its first ever property in India. The new Conrad Pune, which is located in the centre of the Maharashtra city, close to…

Airlines and Aviation

HNA Group to launch airline in Xi’an

Mark Elliott Apr 6, 2016

China's HNA Group has continued the rapid expansion of its airline portfolio with the announcement of plans to create a new passenger carrier in Xi'an. The new airline will be called…

Airlines and Aviation

China’s Loong Air cleared for international flights

Mark Elliott Mar 30, 2016

Loong Air, a new Chinese passenger airline based in Hangzhou, has received permission to launch international flights. The former cargo carrier moved into the passenger sector in late…

Ras Al Khaimah increases focus on China

Mark Elliott Mar 28, 2016

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority recently hosted a workshop for travel industry experts for a better understanding of Chinese tourists’ needs and expectations. This is in…

Human Resources

Tourico Holidays ramps up Asian talent search

Mark Elliott Mar 28, 2016

Tourico Holidays is ramping up its recruitment efforts in Asia through its Tourico Travel Academy. The global travel wholesaler has revealed that the number of Asia-based applicants…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia adds two new routes to Shantou

Mark Elliott Mar 27, 2016

AirAsia has expanded its presence in China with the launch of one new route to Shantou, in the populous Guangdong province, and the announcement of plans for a second. The low-cost…

Airlines and Aviation

Xiamen Airlines reveals new long-haul routes

Mark Elliott Mar 17, 2016

China’s Xiamen Airlines is stepping up its long-haul expansion with plans to launch flights to Vancouver, Seattle, New York and Melbourne in the coming months. The airline launched its…

Airlines and Aviation

Tigerair to link Singapore with Yangtze Delta

Mark Elliott Mar 9, 2016

Singapore's Tigerair is planning to expand its network in China next month with the launch of direct flights to Sunan Shuofang International Airport - the hub that serves the Yangtze River…

Finland targets Chinese visitors with 13 new visa centres

Mark Elliott Mar 2, 2016

Finland has stepped up its campaign to attract more Chinese tourists with the announcement of plans to launch of 13 new visa application centres in the country. In spring 2016, the…

Airlines and Aviation

Chinese OTA Qunar to launch airline

Mark Elliott Mar 2, 2016

Qunar, one of China's largest online travel sites, is planning to launch a low-cost airline based in Shenzhen. The company confirmed this week that it will initially invest CNY600…

Hard Rock hotel to rise in Dalian

Mark Elliott Mar 2, 2016

Hard Rock International has unveiled plans to launch its first hotel in the Chinese city of Dalian. The Hard Rock Hotel Dalian is currently under development in a seafront location on…

Airlines and Aviation

Juneyao Air spreads wings from Nanjing‏

Mark Elliott Mar 1, 2016

Juneyao Air will launch a series of new domestic and international flights from Nanjing, the capital of eastern China's Jiangsu province, later this month. The Shanghai-based airline…

Asian airport traffic jumps 8%, driven by China and India

Mark Elliott Feb 25, 2016

Passenger traffic at airports in the Asia Pacific region increased 8.0% in 2015 - the fastest growth rate of any global region except the Middle East. According to the latest data report…

Hyatt debuts in Chengdu

Mark Elliott Feb 24, 2016

Hyatt has opened the Grand Hyatt Chengdu, its first hotel southwest China's Sichuan province. Located on the 10th to 39th floors of the Chicony Square building in the city's Jinjiang…

Airlines and Aviation

Hainan Airlines to create first direct link from China to Calgary

Mark Elliott Feb 9, 2016

Hainan Airlines will launch the first ever direct flights between China and the Canadian city of Calgary this summer. Commencing on 20 June 2016, the new Beijing-Calgary route will be…

Xiamen Airlines plans Seattle flights‏

Mark Elliott Feb 2, 2016

Xiamen Airlines has applied for permission to launch direct flights to Seattle. According to a statement on the website of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the…

India drives Asian airport traffic growth

Mark Elliott Jan 18, 2016

Passenger traffic at Asia Pacific's airports increased 7% in November 2015, driven by a surge in Indian passengers. According to the latest data from Airports Council International…

Skyscanner secures US$190m investment

Mark Elliott Jan 12, 2016

Skyscanner, the travel search site, has secured investment worth more than US$190 million from five new partners. New agreements will see global fund manager Artemis, UK-based…

Airlines and Aviation

Chinese aviation bites, including three new airlines

Mark Elliott Jan 7, 2016

Sichuan Airlines to link Chengdu with Prague Sichuan Airlines has revealed plans to launch the first direct flights between Chengdu and Prague. Scheduled to commence as early as…

Airlines and Aviation

Air China plans direct Chengdu-Sydney flights‏

Mark Elliott Dec 20, 2015

Air China intends to launch the first direct service between Sydney and Chengdu next year. The airline has applied to Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) for permission to…

Starwood opens first St Regis in Macau

Mark Elliott Dec 18, 2015

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has brought its luxury St Regis brand to Macau, as part of the Sands China's integrated resort complex. The new St Regis Macao Cotai Central becomes the…

Wyndham opens upscale hotel in Sanya

Mark Elliott Nov 23, 2015

Wyndham Hotel Group has continued to expand its portfolio in China with the opening of its first upscale Wyndham-branded property in the beach resort of Sanya. The new Wyndham Sanya…

Ajman Palace hotel kicks off five-city China road show

Mark Elliott Nov 17, 2015

In an effort to grow its share of the lucrative Chinese market, Ajman Palace hotel is participating in an exclusive roadshow in China. The road show will be held from 8-25 November…

Hilton debuts in Fuzhou with new Garden Inn hotel

Mark Elliott Nov 17, 2015

Hilton has launched its fourth Hilton Garden Inn hotel in China, and its first property in Fuzhou. The new Hilton Garden Inn Fuzhou Cangshan is located in the capital of southeast…

Starwood to launch first St Regis in Shanghai

Mark Elliott Nov 3, 2015

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement to bring its luxury St Regis brand to Shanghai. Scheduled for completion in early 2017, the new St Regis Shanghai Jingan will be…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia to connect Wuhan with Kota Kinabalu

Mark Elliott Oct 28, 2015

AirAsia will expand its Chinese operations next year with the launch of a new service connecting Kota Kinabalu with Wuhan. Commencing on 22 January 2016, the new route will operate…

Airlines and Aviation

Chinese aviation bites, including a new route to Cuba

Mark Elliott Oct 28, 2015

China Southern goes long-haul from Shenzhen‏ China Southern Airlines is planning to launch two new long-haul routes from the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen. According to a…

Airlines and Aviation

Capital Airlines to launch Madrid flights, and other Chinese aviation briefs

Mark Elliott Oct 15, 2015

Beijing Capital Airlines has applied for the permission to launch direct flights to Madrid. In a statement, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) revealed that the carrier…

深圳大中华希尔顿酒店开业

Mark Elliott Oct 12, 2015

深圳大中华希尔顿酒店正式开业，这是希尔顿全球在深圳的第三家酒店。酒店位于深圳市中心，共23层，离深圳会展中心只有步行距离。酒店拥有320间客房和套间，还拥有一个中国和国际餐厅，大堂吧，24小时健身中心以及一个加热的室外游泳池。同时，酒店20楼和21楼设有400平方米行政酒廊，为入住行政客房和套房的宾客提供免费早餐、晚间鸡尾酒和私密入住与退房服务。…

Dusit signs new upscale hotel in Guangdong

Mark Elliott Sep 18, 2015

Dusit International, the Thailand-based hotel group, has signed a new upscale hotel in southern China's Guangdong province. The new 350-room Dusit Thani Sandalwoods Resort Huizhou…

Airlines and Aviation

Chinese LCC penalised over safety breaches

Mark Elliott Sep 1, 2015

China United Airlines, the low-cost subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines, has been penalised under a new Chinese crackdown on aviation safety. The Civil Aviation Administration of…

Airlines and Aviation

First international link for China’s Nantong

Mark Elliott Aug 27, 2015

Nantong, a city in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu, will welcome its first ever international flight later this year. T’way Airlines, the South Korean low-cost carrier, will…

Frasers to double portfolio in China

Mark Elliott Aug 24, 2015

Frasers Hospitality has said that it is on track to double its presence in China. The Singapore-based serviced apartment operator is planning to grow to a collection of 30 properties…

Chinese airport suspends ops after seat burning incident

Mark Elliott Jul 29, 2015

An airport in eastern China has been forced to suspend its operations after an incident in which a passenger tried to set fire to an aircraft seat. The Xinhua news agency reports that…

St Regis to rise in Qingdao

Mark Elliott Jul 24, 2015

Starwood has continued the expansion of its luxury St Regis brand in the Asia Pacific region with the signing of a new hotel in the Chinese port city of Qingdao. The new-build St…

Airlines and Aviation

China’s Spring Airlines rolls out in-flight Wi-Fi

Mark Elliott Jul 19, 2015

Spring Airlines has launched a new in-flight Wi-Fi service on some of its domestic flights. Launched on 18 July, the new offering will allow passengers to connect to the internet via…

Hotel G unveils revamped Hong Kong hotel

Mark Elliott Jul 14, 2015

Hotels G has relaunched the Bay Bridge hotel in Hong Kong, following an extensive renovation. Styled as an "urban escape... for the new generation of millennial travellers", the…

Airlines and Aviation

Xiamen Airlines teams up with KLM for European flights

Mark Elliott Jul 13, 2015

Xiamen Airlines has signed a wide-ranging codeshare agreement with KLM, allowing it to expand its coverage in Europe. The Chinese airline will launch its first ever European flights…

Marriott adds new extended stay option in Tianjin

Mark Elliott Jul 12, 2015

Marriott has expanded its portfolio in Tianjin with the launch of a new apartment-style property for extended stay travellers. Located in the Tianjin Binhai New Area, the TEDA Tianjin…

Wyndham adds three more hotels in China

Mark Elliott Jul 9, 2015

Wyndham Hotel Group has continued to expand its Chinese portfolio with the signing of three new upscale hotels. The company has penned agreements for the 400-room Wyndham Sanya Bay on…

Onyx boosts Chinese portfolio with double deal

Mark Elliott May 19, 2015

Thailand's Onyx Hospitality Group has increased its Chinese portfolio to 18 hotels, following the signing of two new management contracts. The company already has 11 properties…

JW Marriott opens Anji resort

Mark Elliott May 18, 2015

JW Marriott has opened a new luxury resort in Anji, a scenic area in eastern China's Zhejiang province. The new 228-room JW Marriott Hotel Zhejiang Anji is located within the Phoenix…

Airlines and Aviation

China Southern flies A380 to Amsterdam

Mark Elliott May 14, 2015

China Southern Airlines will upgrade its daily Beijing-Amsterdam service next month, with the deployment of an Airbus A380 aircraft on the route. From 20 June 2015, the 506-seat…

Carlson Rezidor brings new brand to China

Mark Elliott May 14, 2015

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has announced plans to launch its first Park Inn by Radisson hotel in China, as part of a major expansion strategy in the country. The company has signed the…

The latest industry appointments

Mark Elliott Apr 29, 2015

PETER FERAN has been announced as the new general manager of the Radisson Blu Plaza Bangkok. An Australian national, Feran has had an 18-year hotel career and first joined Carlson…

Airlines and Aviation

China Eastern streamlines Kunming transfers

Mark Elliott Apr 28, 2015

China Eastern Airlines will streamline the transit experience for its passengers in Kunming next month. From 1 May 2015, the airline will enable passengers transferring to…

Mainland China limits travel to Hong Kong

Mark Elliott Apr 13, 2015

Mainland China has agreed to limit the number of its citizens that travel to Hong Kong, amid growing discontent in the former British colony. Xinhua reported a spokesperson for the…

Airlines and Aviation

Chinese start-up Longjiang Air to launch in December

Mark Elliott Mar 24, 2015

Longjiang Air, a new start-up carrier in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang province, is set to launch its first flights in December this year. The new carrier, which will be based at…

Airlines and Aviation

2.8bn Chinese trips taken during Lunar New Year

Mark Elliott Mar 17, 2015

China's roads, railways, airlines and waterways carried a total of 2.81 billion passengers during the Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year, travel period, Xinhua reported authorities as…

Airlines and Aviation

China approves new airline for Jiangxi

Mark Elliott Mar 3, 2015

Authorities in China have approved the creation of a new airline in the southeastern province of Jiangxi. Jiangxi Airlines has been given the green light by the Civil Aviation…

Hotel Management Company

Roosevelt hotel to open in Macau

Mark Elliott Feb 27, 2015

The famous Hollywood Roosevelt hotel in Los Angeles is coming to Macau, with the launch of the new Roosevelt Macau, close to the Cotai Strip. The new property is being billed as a “jetset…

St Regis to add seventh hotel in China

Mark Elliott Feb 24, 2015

Starwood's luxury brand St Regis will launch its seventh hotel in Greater China this year. The St Regis Macao Cotai Central is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2014,…

The latest industry appointments

Mark Elliott Feb 11, 2015

BUHDY BOK has been named as the new president of Costa Asia and Costa Cruises Pacific & China. The move marks a promotion for the cruise industry veteran, who previously served as…

Airlines and Aviation

春运期间深航加密深圳至宜宾及宜昌航班

Mark Elliott Jan 27, 2015

民航资源网消息：为满足广大旅客春节返乡及探亲需求，深航再增春节前后深圳至宜宾及宜昌等方向的航班，往返共200余班，具体如下：深圳=宜宾：2月4日-17日及2月22日-3月15日，新增ZH9467/9468，每日往返各一班。深圳=宜昌： 2月6日-17日及2月19日，新增ZH9157/9158，每日往返各一班；…

Carnival expands in China with two major deals

Mark Elliott Jan 27, 2015

Carnival Corporation has signed a major deal in China that could significantly expand its operations in the country's fast-growing cruise sector. The cruise company has penned a…

Serviced Apartments

Frasers embarks on major Chinese expansion

Mark Elliott Jan 10, 2015

Frasers Hospitality is eying a bigger share of the Chinese market with the addition 10 more properties across the country. The Singapore-based serviced residence operator has signed deals…

Airlines and Aviation

Chinese aviation briefs

Mark Elliott Jan 5, 2015

Chinese airlines to carry 47.5m pax over New Year Chinese airlines are expected to carry 47.52 million passengers over the Lunar New Year holiday period. The forecast, which was made…

Airlines and Aviation

Guangxi’s new airline cleared for launch

Mark Elliott Jan 3, 2015

A new airline has been given permission to commence operations in the Guangxi region of southern China. According to a statement by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC),…

JW Marriott targets Asia’s emerging markets

Mark Elliott Dec 29, 2014

Marriott International will boost its luxury portfolio in Asia's emerging markets in the coming months, with the opening of four new JW Marriott hotels in China and India. In China,…

Airlines and Aviation

Qingdao Airlines to spread wings in 2015

Mark Elliott Dec 27, 2014

Chinese start-up carrier, Qingdao Airlines, is planning to significantly expand its operations in 2015, with the addition of 15 more routes. The airline, which began operating in…

The latest industry appointments

Mark Elliott Dec 17, 2014

GARETH EVANS has been appointed as chief executive officer of Qantas International and Freight. Currently the group's chief financial officer, Qantas will be hoping Evans' financial…

JW Marriott moves into Chongqing

Mark Elliott Dec 16, 2014

Marriott International has launched a new luxury hotel in the western Chinese metropolis of Chongqing. The new 454-room JW Marriott Hotel Chongqing not only marks Marriott’s return to…

Airlines and Aviation

Boeing to break China delivery record

Mark Elliott Dec 15, 2014

Boeing expects to deliver a record number of commercial aircraft to China this year. The US planemaker expects Chinese airlines to receive 150-160 Boeing jets in 2014, up from 143…

The latest industry appointments

Mark Elliott Dec 10, 2014

CHARAMPORN JOTIKASTHIRA has been confirmed as the new president of Thai Airways International. He joins the airline with extensive business experience, having held the role of president…

Hilton arrives in Lijiang

Mark Elliott Dec 8, 2014

Hilton Worldwide has continued its expansion in China with the launch of its first hotel in the ancient city of Lijiang, Yunnan province. Hilton Garden Inn Lijiang is now open,…

Ascott acquires Jakarta property

Mark Elliott Dec 5, 2014

The Ascott Limited (Ascott) has acquired the recently-opened 185-unit Ascott Kuningan Jakarta for S$90 million under a conditional agreement with PT Ciputra Adigraha. The CapitaLand…

Corporate & Business

China’s business travel growth decelerates

Mark Elliott Dec 3, 2014

Business travel spending in China will continue to grow in 2014 and 2015, but at a slower rate than in previous years. According to American Express Business Travel's 2014 China…

The latest industry appointments

Mark Elliott Nov 19, 2014

GARY WARNOCK has been appointed general manager of the Dorsett Grand Chengdu. An experienced hotelier, Warnock spent the last seven years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where worked…

Airlines and Aviation

China buys 100 Airbus jets

Mark Elliott Nov 7, 2014

A Chinese company has placed a huge order for 100 Airbus A320 aircraft. China Aircraft Leasing Company (CALC), which supplies aircraft to carriers including Air China, China Eastern…

Airlines and Aviation

Tigerair continues China expansion

Mark Elliott Oct 30, 2014

Tigerair will continue expanding its links between Singapore and China next month, with the launch of flights to two more mainland cities - Nanning and Guilin. On 1 November 2014, the…

Airlines and Aviation

Hainan Airlines to launch a series of new flights

Mark Elliott Oct 16, 2014

This month, Hainan Airlines will launch a host of new domestic services. On 26 October, the carrier will launch six weekly flights to Haikou from the port city of Dalian in…

Marriott opens first business hotel in Hainan

Mark Elliott Oct 13, 2014

Marriott Hotels brand celebrated the opening of its first hotel in Haikou, Hainan Province, on Monday. Under a long-term management agreement with property owner, Shenzhen Tiley Real…

Airlines and Aviation

Xiamen Airlines sets up Beijing base

Mark Elliott Sep 8, 2014

Xiamen Airlines has set up a new operating base in Beijing. The fast-expanding Chinese airline currently bases seven aircraft at Beijing Capital International Airport, providing 21…

Airlines and Aviation

Xiamen Airlines to launch new Jiangxi carrier

Mark Elliott Sep 3, 2014

Xiamen Airlines has signed an agreement to create a new airline based in eastern China's Jiangxi province. The fast-expanding Chinese carrier, which recently welcomed its first ever…

深圳向港推广南山区旅游资源

Mark Elliott Aug 8, 2014

近日，深圳市南山区人民政府和深圳市文体旅游局日前于香港联合举办了2014深圳南山旅游产品(香港)推介会，向香港旅客推广南山区旅游资源，同时，宣传南山区旅游整体情况及旅游新产品、新线路、重大盛事活动，并与旅游业界人士共同商讨如何更好地开展深港旅游合作。…

Marriott hits new heights with Zhengzhou hotel

Mark Elliott Jul 31, 2014

A new JW Marriott has opened in Zhengzhou which has become the tallest hotel in central China. The 416-room JW Marriott Hotel Zhengzhou, in the capital of Henan province, is set on…

The latest industry appointments

Mark Elliott Jul 30, 2014

LILY CHENG has been appointed as TripAdvisor's new president for Asia Pacific, based in Beijing. Ms Cheng joins TripAdvisor from Expedia, where she helped develop the company's Asia…

Airlines and Aviation

深航暑运再增10余条航线航班

Simon Willmore Jul 17, 2014

为方便市民暑期出行，深航第二批暑运加班已上线销售。第二批加班航线包含呼市海拉尔、南昌、丽江、桂林、宜昌、宜宾、青岛、烟台、南京、西宁、银川、兰州等10余条航线。…

Bangkok, KL advance in world city competition

Mark Elliott Jul 12, 2014

The online campaign to find the world's best cities was whittled down to a shortlist of 21 last week, with several Asian cities still in the running. The 21 finalists of the…

Airlines and Aviation

Air India finally joins Star Alliance

Mark Elliott Jul 11, 2014

Air India has been officially inaugurated into the Star Alliance after a three-year wait. The national carrier becomes the first Indian airline to join a global alliance, and its…

Sheraton to debut in Zhuhai

Mark Elliott Jul 9, 2014

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has unveiled plans to open its first Sheraton in Zhuhai, the Chinese city located across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong and Macau. Set to open in…

Airlines and Aviation

Korean Air adds more Chinese flights

Mark Elliott Jul 9, 2014

Korean Air will increase the number of flights it offers on routes to six Chinese cities this month, including Beijing and Guangzhou. Among the 15 extra weekly flights being added,…

Australia targets high-end Chinese with new trade strategy

Mark Elliott Jul 8, 2014

Tourism Australia is embarking upon a new distribution strategy in China, aimed at building a network of high-end, specialist travel agents. Under the plan, Tourism Australia will work…

Airlines and Aviation

Lucky Air to create Chengdu base

Mark Elliott Jul 3, 2014

Lucky Air, the Kunming-based subsidiary of Hainan Airlines, has announced plans to launch a base at Chengdu’s Shuangliu International Airport. Currently, the airline offers flights to…

Marriott brings Courtyard brand to Pearl River Delta

Mark Elliott Jul 1, 2014

Marriott International has continued the expansion of its midscale Courtyard brand in China, with the launch of a new hotel in Huizhou, Guangdong province. The Courtyard by Marriott…

Airlines and Aviation

SilkAir expands links to China

Mark Elliott Jun 27, 2014

SilkAir has added another new route to China, with the launch of flights to Hangzhou. The new service to the capital of Zhejiang province becomes the Singaporean carrier's eighth…

Airlines and Aviation

China Eastern retires old Airbus jets

Mark Elliott Jun 9, 2014

China Eastern Airlines has officially retired its fleet of Airbus A300 aircraft. The final flight using the old wide-body aircraft flew from Shenzhen to Shanghai on 31 May, marking…

凯悦嘉轩酒店进驻中国

Simon Willmore May 30, 2014

…

Hyatt Place arrives in China

Mark Elliott May 29, 2014

Hyatt has opened its first ever Hyatt Place hotel in China. The launch of the Hyatt Place Shenzhen Dongmen marks the start of a major Chinese expansion for the brand, which is…

‘Festival of India’ to be held in China

Mark Elliott Apr 25, 2014

The Ministry of Culture will organise ‘Festival of India’ in China from May 2014 to March 2015. A 75 member delegation led by Secretary Culture would be visiting China in the first…

Airlines and Aviation

Tigerair to connect Singapore and Xi’an

Mark Elliott Apr 14, 2014

Tigerair will extend its reach into China next month, with the launch of a new service connecting Singapore with Xi’an. Commencing on 15 May 2014, the low-cost carrier will operate…

Airlines and Aviation

SilkAir to fly to Hangzhou

Mark Elliott Apr 9, 2014

SilkAir is launching flights to the city of Hangzhou, in eastern China's Zhejiang province. The new service, direct from Singapore, will start operating on 27 June. The route will be…

Hyatt to launch two new brands in China

Mark Elliott Mar 27, 2014

Hyatt is planning a multi-property expansion in China, with a major roll-out of two new brands – Hyatt Place and Hyatt House. China’s first Hyatt Place project will open in Shenzhen…

Mandarin Oriental profits surge in 2013

Mark Elliott Mar 7, 2014

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group experienced a sharp rise in profits in 2013 - the year it celebrated the 50th anniversary of its flagship hotel in Hong Kong. The company generated…

Indian arrivals to Hong Kong up 5% in 2013

Mark Elliott Mar 5, 2014

Indian arrivals to Hong Kong increased 5% in 2013, as compared to 2012. According to figures released by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), 434,648 Indian tourists visited the…

Four Seasons plots international expansion

Mark Elliott Jan 29, 2014

Four Seasons has unveiled plans to expand its portfolio across several continents in the coming years. The luxury hotel company, which currently operates 92 hotels, will open at least…

3.6bn Chinese to travel during Spring Festival

Mark Elliott Jan 17, 2014

More than 3.6 billion trips are expected to be taken in China during the 40-day Spring Festival, authorities have revealed. The annual event, which marks the world's biggest human…

Airlines and Aviation

Chinese airlines prepare for New Year travel surge

Mark Elliott Jan 16, 2014

Airlines in China are adding thousands of extra flights to cater for the expected surge in traffic during the Lunar New Year holidays. Described as the world's biggest human migration,…

Airlines and Aviation

New airline starts operating from Hangzhou

Mark Elliott Jan 6, 2014

A new airline has started operating from Hangzhou, eastern China. Zhejiang Loong Airlines, which is based at Hangzhou’s Xiaoshan International Airport, welcomed its first Airbus A320…

Airlines and Aviation

Zhejiang Loong Air receives first aircraft

Mark Elliott Dec 18, 2013

New Chinese passenger carrier, Zhejiang Loong Airlines, has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320 aircraft. The new single-aisle jet touched down at Hangzhou's Xiaoshan…

Airlines and Aviation

Air India resumes plan to join Star Alliance

Mark Elliott Dec 14, 2013

Air India will restart the process of joining the Star Alliance, two years after its previous membership bid stalled. At a board meeting held in Vienna on Friday, Star Alliance's…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia to fly Bangkok-Changsha

Mark Elliott Dec 13, 2013

Thai AirAsia is continuing its rapid expansion into China, with the launch of a new service to the city of Changsha. Commencing on 24 January 2014, the low-cost carrier will operate…

StayWell forms partnership for China expansion

Mark Elliott Dec 12, 2013

StayWell Hospitality Group has formed a new partnership that will accelerate its growth in China. The Australian company has signed a joint venture agreement with Hong Kong-based…

Aloft Hotels debuts in Dalian

Mark Elliott Dec 7, 2013

Starwood's Aloft Hotel brand has made its debut in Dalian, northeast China. Located in the centre of Liaoning province's popular coastal resort city, the Aloft Dalian will offer 314…

Airlines and Aviation

Tigerair expands in China

Mark Elliott Dec 6, 2013

Tigerair is continuing its expansion in China with the launch of a new route to the seaport city of Ningbo, Zhejiang province. The new service will operate three times a week direct…

China buys 258 new bullet trains

Mark Elliott Dec 5, 2013

China's state-run railways operator has placed an order with two domestic companies for 258 new high-speed trains, worth more than US$7 billion. According to a Bloomberg report, the…

Ritz-Carlton to arrive in Nanjing

Mark Elliott Nov 20, 2013

Ritz-Carlton has continued its rapid expansion in China with the signing of a new hotel in Nanjing. Following an agreement with the Nanjing New Universe Real Estate Development Co,…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia offers Bangkok connections

Mark Elliott Nov 5, 2013

AirAsia has made it easier for passengers to connect between flights in Bangkok, with the launch of its 'Fly-Thru' service. Passengers connecting from one AirAsia flight to another at…

Transport secretary in China flight talks

Mark Elliott Oct 28, 2013

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin is in talks with Chinese authorities to increase the number of flights between the country and the UK. McLoughlin is the first transport…

Attractions & Tours

New7Wonders unveils best cities shortlist

Mark Elliott Oct 22, 2013

The final shortlist has been revealed in the New7Wonders campaign to find the world's best cities. The 28 finalists have been whittled down from a long-list of 77 cities announced…

The latest industry appointments

Mark Elliott Oct 16, 2013

KEN FREER has been appointed to the newly-created role of director of global marketing for Tourism Fiji. Freer has more than 15 years of experience in Auckland, Sydney, Los Angeles and…

Ritz-Carlton opens in Chengdu

Mark Elliott Oct 9, 2013

Marriott's luxury hotel brand, Ritz-Carlton, has opened its first property in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan province. Located in a 41-storey high-rise building,…

Attractions & Tours

New7Wonders unveils city finalists

Mark Elliott Oct 8, 2013

New7Wonders has unveiled the list of cities competing for the honour of becoming one of the world's seven best urban centres. Following its previous New7Wonders of the World and…

Face‑to‑Face

Face-to-Face: David Kong

Mark Elliott Oct 7, 2013

Ahead of the launch of Travel Daily China, we chats with David Kong, president & CEO of Best Western International, about the company's development plans in China...

Airlines and Aviation

Dreamliner comes to Sanya

Mark Elliott Sep 30, 2013

The Chinese resort town of Sanya will welcome its first ever Boeing 787 Dreamliner flights today (30 September 2013). Hainan Airlines will deploy its new Dreamliner on the…

Airlines and Aviation

New Chinese airlines take off with A320

Mark Elliott Sep 25, 2013

Two new Chinese airlines have taken a major step forward in their development, with the signing of major aircraft deals with Airbus. Qingdao Airlines, based in Shandong province, and…

Airlines and Aviation

Hainan Airlines half yearly profit increases

Mark Elliott Sep 2, 2013

Hainan Airlines has announced its half yearly profits for the period ending 29 August. The group’s total operating income for the half year was US$2.35 billion, up 3.83% over last…

HK hotel sector faces overcapacity – study

Mark Elliott Jul 18, 2013

Hong Kong’s hotel sector is facing a “serious problem” of overcapacity, which is only likely to become more severe over the coming years, a new study has said. A research paper by Dr…

Airlines and Aviation

Asian aviation tidbits

Mark Elliott Jul 11, 2013

China Eastern to launch Manila flights China Eastern Airlines has announced that it will launch a new service to Manila. From 18 October, the Shanghai-based airline will commence a…

GHM plans major move into Taiwan

Mark Elliott Jul 9, 2013

Asian luxury hotel group, GHM, has signed a new deal that will see it launch in Taiwan for the first time. A contract with Taiwanese business development company, Elements Innovation…

Airlines and Aviation

China, Canada ink new aviation agreement

Mark Elliott Jul 5, 2013

China and Canada have agreed a new bilateral air services agreement (ASA) that will enable more commercial flights between the two countries. The new rules, which replace the previous…

Langham adds Yangtze Delta hotel

Mark Elliott Jun 18, 2013

Langham Hospitality Group has signed a new hotel in eastern China's Zhejiang province. Located in the city of Hainang, the new Langham Place property will form part of an integrated…

Airlines and Aviation

Shun Tak Holdings takes Jetstar HK stake

Mark Elliott Jun 6, 2013

Hong Kong conglomerate Shun Tak Holdings has taken a significant stake in the city's first low-cost carrier, Jetstar Hong Kong. The company, which was founded by Macau gaming tycoon…

Hotel Management Company

Hotels G to roll out across Asia, US

Mark Elliott May 24, 2013 0

Hong Kong-based Hotels G, which currently operates three properties in China and Thailand, has unveiled plans to embark on a major expansion of its portfolio in Asia and the US. The…

Accor on track to reach Chinese Mercure target

Mar 24, 2013 18

Accor is on track to reach its target of launching 60 Chinese Grand Mercure hotels by 2015. The European hotelier launched its Grand Mercure Mei Jue brand one year ago, promising to…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia touches down in Shanghai

Feb 20, 2013 0

AirAsia touched down in Shanghai for this first time today, marking the start of a new scheduled service from Kuala Lumpur. The low-cost carrier's long-haul unit, AirAsia X, will now…

Hotel performance dips in Pearl River Delta

Nov 27, 2012 16

Hotels in the Pearl River Delta region experienced declines in terms of revenue per available room (revPAR) in October. According to the latest data from STR Global, provided exclusively to…

Airlines and Aviation

Tibet Airlines receives new Airbus jet

Nov 25, 2012 1

Tibet Airlines has taken delivery of a new Airbus A319. The new single-aisle aircraft was assembled at the Airbus Tianjin Final Assembly Line (FALC) in China, and now becomes the fifth A319…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia X to fly to Shanghai

Nov 22, 2012 16

AirAsia X is expanding its network in China with the introduction of direct flights to Shanghai. From 19 February 2013, the low-cost carrier will commence six weekly flights from Kuala…

Airlines and Aviation

Garuda adds Pearl River Delta port check-in service

Nov 21, 2012 9

Garuda Indonesia has launched a new check-in service at five ports in the Pearl River Delta. Passengers on Garuda flights from Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) can now check-in at…

Four Seasons opens in Beijing

Nov 11, 2012 17

Four Seasons has opened a new luxury hotel in Beijing. Located in the Liangmahe area of the Chinese capital, close to the city's diplomatic precinct, the hotel's facade has been…

Airlines and Aviation

Air China receives smiling new aircraft

Oct 31, 2012 9

Air China has received a new Boeing 777-300ER with a special livery featuring the words 'Smiling China'. The livery was a joint creation by Air China and Boeing to mark the 40th anniversary…

Chinese tourist surge boosts HK

Oct 30, 2012 16

Visitor arrivals to Hong Kong have jumped 16.3% in the first three quarters of 2012, led by a tourism surge from mainland China. According to the latest data from the Hong Kong Tourism…

Hong Kong hotels surge

Oct 2, 2012 16

Hong Kong’s hotel sector continues to surge, with revenue per available room (revPAR) growing 8.7% in the first eight months of the year. According to the latest city report from STR…

Airlines and Aviation

Thai AirAsia sees surging demand from China

Sep 26, 2012 16

Thai AirAsia is aggressively exploring the China market after Chinese passenger numbers increased 34% year-on-year. Tassapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia said; “China is growing rapidly…

Hard Rock to move into China

Sep 11, 2012 21

Hard Rock International has announced plans to launch two new hotels in China. Through a collaboration with golf resort operator Mission Hills, the two new Hard Rock hotels are expected to…

Abacus poised for Chinese expansion

Sep 11, 2012 16

Abacus International has expressed optimism about the planned changes to China's airline distribution regulations. From 1 October 2012, the new Civil Aviation Administration of China's…

Four Seasons opens new Shanghai hotel

Sep 5, 2012 18

Four Seasons has opened a new luxury hotel in Shanghai. The new Four Seasons Hotel Pudong Shanghai, which becomes the sixth Four Seasons in China and the second in Shanghai, is situated in…

Travelport trials GDS airport transfer bookings

Aug 28, 2012 17

Travelport is trialling a new service which will allow travel agents to book private car transfers via the GDS. Targeting selected Galileo-connected travel agents in Asia, the new…

Four Seasons to open new flagship property in Toronto

Mark Elliott Aug 25, 2012 1

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts celebrates a homecoming of sorts with the opening of a new 259-room flagship hotel in Toronto, Canada, where the company was founded more than 50 years ago.…

Airlines and Aviation

THAI Smile aims to fill gap in the market

Jul 11, 2012 19

Newly-launched airline THAI Smile is aiming to satisfy the growing regional demand for flights to and from Thailand, according to the carrier’s Managing Director, Captain Woranate Laprabang.…

The Changing Chinese Traveller

Jun 28, 2012

By Jens Thraenhart, Co-Founder, DragonTrail.com & Publisher, ChinaTravelTrends.com The Chinese middle class is already larger than the entire population of the United States. In…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia X touches down in Beijing

Jun 25, 2012 16

AirAsia X has launched its inaugural flight to Beijing. The low-cost carrier touched down in the Chinese capital on Saturday (23 June), following a flight from Kuala Lumpur. The airline…

Wyndham adds four Ramada hotels in China

Jun 18, 2012 0

Wyndham Hotel Group is continuing its expansion in China with the signing of franchise agreements for four new Ramada hotels in the country. The new properties in Chengdu, Huizhou, Kunming…

Hotel rates in Pearl River Delta continue to rise

Jun 2, 2012 16

Hotel rates in four key cities in the Pearl River Delta region continued their upward trajectory in April 2012. According to the latest data from STR Global, provided exclusively to Travel…

Airlines and Aviation

Tibet Airlines signs deal with emergency company

May 16, 2012 0

Tibet Airlines has signed a new partnership with CSOS - a Shenzhen-based emergency assistance company. The deal will see CSOS appointed as Tibet Airlines' exclusive medical service…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia X to launch Beijing, cut Tianjin

May 16, 2012 17

AirAsia X is making alterations to its network in China with the introduction of direct flights to Beijing, but the cancellation of services to Tianjin. From 22 June 2012, the long-haul…

Chinese hotel revenues soar

Mar 27, 2012 16

Chinese hotel revenue is soaring, with four key Chinese cities posting room revenue growth of more than 30% in 2011, according to consultancy firm Horwath HTL. During a presentation at the…

Serviced Apartments

Ascott expands in Pearl River Delta

Mark Elliott Nov 21, 2011 0

The 186-unit Ascott M-City Foshan Ascott has signed contracts to manage two more properties southern China's Pearl River Delta region. The 186-unit Ascott M-City Foshan will become Ascott's…

Westin conducts Heavenly Bed roadshow in China

Mark Elliott Nov 14, 2011 8

Starwood's Westin Hotels & Resorts brand has conducted a new roadshow in China celebrating the Westin Heavenly Bed. The 'Out of Home' China campaign ran from 5-13 November 2011, and…

MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions)

MICE sector growing strong in China

Mark Elliott Nov 10, 2011 16

Events companies have been capitalising on growth in China's business environment this year and are optimistic about the future of the MICE industry. Reed Exhibitions has taken on a number…

Westin embarks on China roadshow

Mark Elliott Nov 8, 2011 9

Westin Hotels & Resorts has launched a new roadshow in China that showcases its trademark 'Heavenly Bed' and promotes the brand across the fastest growing luxury goods market. The Westin…

Lufthansa Technik scouts Indian partner

Mark Elliott Oct 24, 2011 17

Lufthansa Technik, the provider of technical support services for aircraft, is scouting for a local partner in India. Local news poertal, zeenews-india.com, reported company spokesperson,…

Face‑to‑Face

Face-to-Face: Roland Jegge, Worldhotels

Mark Elliott Oct 4, 2011

Roland Jegge, Vice President Asia Pacific, Worldhotels1) Can you please tell us about Worldhotels' portfolio expansion so far in 2011? 2011 will be marked as a…

The latest industry appointments

Mark Elliott Sep 29, 2011

IAN ALEXANDRE (pictured) has been appointed to the newly-created position of Vice President for Sofitel Pacific. Alexandre, who also becomes General Manager of the Sofitel Sydney…

Wyndham signs contract on China property

Sep 27, 2011

Wyndham Worldwide Corporation yesterday announced the signing of an agreement to manage a new 401-room property in southern China. The Wyndham Grand Foshan Gaoming will feature 98…

MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions)

China MICE sector grows, but room for improvement

Mark Elliott Sep 1, 2011

China's meetings and events sector is expanding, but the country needs to improve its facilities in future if it is to become a MICE powerhouse, according to a recent survey by Reed Travel…

Face‑to‑Face

Hertz plans to bring electric car hire to China

Mark Elliott Aug 24, 2011

Hertz is planning to offer electric vehicle rental in China, and will expand the number of charging stations in the country needed to run them. The US-based car rental company today signed…

Airlines and Aviation

New policy to enhance travel between China and SARs

Mark Elliott Aug 19, 2011

HK will have closer links with Guangdong and Macau New policy framework for Guangdong province, Hong Kong and Macau will have a direct impact on the travel and tourism sector. The Chinese…

HKIA sees record traffic in July

Mark Elliott Aug 15, 2011

Passenger traffic and flight movements at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) increased 5.7% and 8.1% year-on-year respectively in July 2011 to new single-month records of 5.0 million…

PATA Travel Mart attracts key growth markets

Mark Elliott Jul 30, 2011

The PATA Travel Mart in New Delhi promises to be a great business proposition with strong presence expected from Indian and Chinese representatives. PATA Interim CEO, Bill Calderwood…

Airlines and Aviation

Shenzen Airlines to join Star Alliance

Mark Elliott Jul 7, 2011

Shenzen Airlines is to become a member of the Star Alliance after approvals by the group's chief executive board. The new addition is part of the alliance's strategy to expand its network in…

Airlines and Aviation

Air China to launch new carrier in Dalian

Mark Elliott Jul 6, 2011

Air China has signed an agreement with authorities in the northeastern port city of Dalian to set up a new regional airline. The move will see the launch of Dalian Airlines, which will…

Face‑to‑Face

Beijing subway escalator accident kills one

Mark Elliott Jul 5, 2011

One person has died and 28 others were injured - two seriously - in an escalator accident in Beijing. Xinhua reported that several people were sent tumbling down the escalator at Beijing Zoo…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia contests IndiGo for flights to India

Mark Elliott Jun 29, 2011

AirAsia plans to boost flights to India, paving the way for a contest with IndiGo after the two low-cost airlines placed record orders for Airbus planes at the Paris airshow last week.…

Face‑to‑Face

Pearl River Delta hotels see surging revPAR

Mark Elliott Jun 28, 2011

Hotels in the four major cities of the Pearl River Delta saw double-digit gains in terms of revenue per available room (revPAR), when measured in US dollars, in May 2011. According to data…

Marriott plans 24 new hotels in Asia Pacific

Jun 27, 2011

Marriott International's signature brand, Marriott Hotels & Resorts has announced a global pipeline of nearly 50 new hotels and resorts to open in the next four years, almost half of…

Airlines and Aviation

Tiger Airways marks milestone

Mark Elliott Jun 9, 2011

Low-cost carrier Tiger Airways has honoured its 20 millionth passenger at Singapore Airport.Lock Sau Lai, a regular Tiger passenger, was returning to Singapore from Phuket with her family on…

Face‑to‑Face

IHG to open three new academies in China

Mark Elliott May 31, 2011

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the signing of three new IHG Academies in China. The three facilities are being developed in partnership with the Tianjin Vocational…

Airlines and Aviation

White tigers flown to Kaohsiung

Mark Elliott May 28, 2011

China Airlines (CAL) has transported two white tigers from Guangzhou to Kaohsiung. The tigers, named Zhaohai and Huanle, were given by Guangzhou's Xiangjiang Safari Park as a gift to the…

Airlines and Aviation

Kolkatta to get second direct China flight

Mark Elliott May 10, 2011

Kolkatta will have a second direct flight to mainland China next month, when Hainan Airlines starts its service to Shenzhen in the southern province of Guangdong."We will start our…

Appointments w/e 28 April 2011

Mark Elliott Apr 28, 2011

CHRISTOPHER RYND has been appointed Commodore of the Cunard Line fleet, comprising Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. A New Zealand national, Rynd has served as a captain for…

Face‑to‑Face

Accor holds ibis forum in Shanghai

Mark Elliott Apr 20, 2011

Accor has held its first ever 'Manchise Forum' for its budget hotel brand, ibis. The event, held in Pullman Shanghai Skyway Shanghai, was intended to bring the brand into contact with…

Pearl River Delta airports join forces

Mark Elliott Mar 27, 2011

Senior management of the five major airports in the Greater Pearl River Delta (GPRD) region, including Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and Zhuhai, have agreed to strengthen…

Face‑to‑Face

Bombardier delivers first Challenger 300 jet to China

Mark Elliott Mar 9, 2011

Bombardier Aerospace has delivered the first Challenger 300 jet to be operated from China to Donghai Jet Co, Ltd. based in Shenzhen. The aircraft is the first of five Challenger 300 jets…

Hong Kong records over 530,000 Indian tourists in 2010

Mark Elliott Feb 28, 2011

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) recently announced that India proved as the best performer in the South and Southeast Asia markets, as arrivals grew by 44.8% to over 530,000. The…

Serviced Apartments

Ascott launches two new properties in China

Mark Elliott Feb 28, 2011

The Ascott Limited has opened two new serviced residence properties in the Chinese cities of Shenzhen and Shenyang. The 199-unit Ascott Maillen Shenzhen, located in the Shekou commercial…

India best performer for HKTB

Mark Elliott Feb 22, 2011

Tourist arrivals to Hong Kong from India grew by 44.8% to over 530,000 in the year 2010 making the country Hong Kong's best performer in the South and Southeast Asia Markets. The robust…

Tokyo rents are world’s most expensive

Mark Elliott Feb 16, 2011

Rents are on the rise in Asia spurred on by strong economic growth among most of its economies, according to the latest accommodation reports published by ECA International. Tokyo is the…

Worldhotels hosts first China conference

Mark Elliott Jan 28, 2011

Three hundred leading independent hoteliers converged on the first Worldhotels Global Annual Conference to be staged in China. Hosted at Beijing's Loong Palace Hotel & Resort from 20-23…

Airlines and Aviation

China Airlines launches Wuhan flights

Mark Elliott Jan 27, 2011

China Airlines (CAL) yesterday inaugurated direct scheduled flights between Taipei's Taoyuan International Airport and Wuhan, Hubei province. The airline's CAL President,…

Hong Kong arrivals hit record 36 million in 2010

Mark Elliott Jan 26, 2011

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced today (26 January) that visitor arrivals in 2010 reached a historic high at 36,030,331, 21.8% more than in 2009. The growth was…

Face‑to‑Face

Chinese airline punctuality worsens

Mark Elliott Jan 26, 2011

The punctuality of Chinese airlines has dropped to its lowest level in five years, according to recent data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Reported by the China…

Worldhotels adds Sunshine to China portfolio

Jan 20, 2011

Worldhotels has increased its portfolio in China, with the addition of Sunshine Hotels Group's four properties in Sanya, Changsha, Zhangjiajie and Shenzhen as new affiliates. Joining…

Hong Kong arrivals surge 22% in 2010

Jan 7, 2011

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced today (7 January) that provisional total arrivals in 2010 reached 36.03 million, a 21.8%-increase compared to 2009. These were made up by…

HBA launches mid-market design brand in New Delhi

Mark Elliott Sep 28, 2010

Award winning global interior design firm HBA has spotted a creative void in the market for budget conscious owners and developers in China and India thirsty for stylish cutting-edge design…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia announces launch of services to Hyderabad

Mark Elliott Jul 5, 2010

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, July 1, 2010 /India PRwire/ -- After creating a buzz in most of the other markets in the country, AirAsia the World's Best Low Cost Airline…

Airlines and Aviation

China Airlines launches new cross-Strait route

Mark Elliott Jun 14, 2010

June 14, 2010 - China Airlines today inaugurated new direct cross-strait scheduled service from Taipei Songshan Airport to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, marking a historic milestone…

Japanese cities still most expensive – survey

Mark Elliott Jun 14, 2010

Hong Kong has fallen in the cost of living stakes but high prices in the SAR are still detracting from its competitiveness as a business location, according to the latest Cost of Living…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia launches Delhu flights with free seat promo

Mark Elliott Jun 7, 2010

New Delhi, Delhi, June 3, 2010 /India PRwire/ -- Riding high following the successful launch of operations across seven markets in India, AirAsia, the World's Best…

AirAsia X launches Delhu flights with free seat promo

Mark Elliott Jun 7, 2010

New Delhi, Delhi, June 3, 2010 /India PRwire/ -- Riding high following the successful launch of operations across seven markets in India, AirAsia, the World's Best…

Kempinski donates to quake-hit Yushu

Mark Elliott Jun 1, 2010

Kempinski Hotels in China has raised funds for earthquake victims in Yushu. Reto Wittwer, Chairman and CEO of Kempinski Hotels, and Rene Schmitt, President of Kempinski…

Tiger launches more Greater China routes

Mark Elliott Jun 1, 2010

Tiger Airways announced plans to introduce even more destinations to Greater China, following the huge popularity of its existing routes.Rosalynn Tay, Managing Director of Tiger…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia lands in Bengaluru

Mark Elliott May 20, 2010

Sepang, May 20, 2010 - Continuing to spread its wings in the Indian market, AirAsia, the World's Best Low-Cost Airline, flew into the Silicon Valley of India…

HK tourism receipts hits US$20bn in 2009

Mark Elliott Apr 27, 2010

Figures released by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) today (27 April) show that the Total Expenditure Associated to Inbound Tourism (TEAIT) increased by 3.2% year-on-year to HK$162.89…

HK tourism receipts hit US$20bn in 2009

Mark Elliott Apr 27, 2010

Figures released by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) today (27 April) show that the Total Expenditure Associated to Inbound Tourism (TEAIT) increased by 3.2% year-on-year to HK$162.89…

Six Chinese airlines cut domestic fuel surcharges

Mark Elliott Apr 7, 2010

Six Chinese airlines have lowered fuel surcharges on domestic flights from CNY50 to CNY40 (US$7.31 to US$5.85) for routes in excess of 800km. The Shanghai Daily reported that Air China,…

Serviced Apartments

Ascott brings Somerset brand to Chengdu

Mark Elliott Apr 5, 2010

Singapore, 5 April 2010 - CapitaLand's wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has expanded into Chengdu, China, with its latest property in the country -…

Visa offers Asian golf deals

Mark Elliott Feb 23, 2010

SINGAPORE, 23 February 2010 - Golfers now have even more reason to get on the course to practice their swing and sharpen their short game with Visa's 2010 special deals for its…

First direct flight from China arrives in Adelaide

Mark Elliott Feb 21, 2010

19 Feb 10 (TravMedia.com): The first direct passenger flight from China arrived in Adelaide on 16 February, providing a non-stop air link into South Australia from the world's most…

Tiger’s growth continues in January

Mark Elliott Feb 10, 2010

Singapore, 10 February 2010: Tiger Airways Holdings today announced strong operating statistics for January 2010, continuing the momentum of growth from the quarter ending 31…

HKTB predicts 10% rise in Chinese NY arrivals

Mark Elliott Feb 10, 2010

In response to media enquiries about the projected visitor arrivals during the Chinese New Year Golden Week (Lunar New Year's Eve to Day 6 of the Lunar New Year), Mr Anthony Lau,…

AirAsia increases Hangzhou flights

Mark Elliott Feb 10, 2010

Sepang, 10th February 2010 - To cater to the increasing demands and encouraging load factor from its guests, AirAsia's long haul, low fare affiliate, AirAsia X will…

Sichuan Airlines takes delivery of first A330

Mark Elliott Feb 5, 2010

4 February 2010: Airbus today delivered to Sichuan Airlines the very first widebody aircraft, an A330-200, to add capacity to its existing all-Airbus Single Aisle fleet. The A330…

Tiger Airways launches Singapore-HK flights

Mark Elliott Feb 2, 2010

Hong Kong and Singapore, 1 February 2010. Tiger Airways Singapore today commenced twice-daily flights between Singapore and Hong Kong. Rosalynn Tay, Managing Director of…

Hong Kong arrivals rise in 2009

Mark Elliott Jan 31, 2010

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) released today (29 January) the final visitor arrivals for 2009, which totalled 29,590,654, representing an increase of 0.3% on the…

Universal Travel Group acquires Hebei agency

Mark Elliott Jan 20, 2010

SHENZHEN, China, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Universal Travel Group (NYSE:UTA) ("Universal Travel Group" or the "Company"), a leading travel services provider in…

AirAsia launches Kota Kinabalu-Taipei flights

Mark Elliott Jan 15, 2010

Sepang, 15th January 2010 - AirAsia, the world's best low cost airline today celebrates its maiden flight to Kota Kinabalu from Taipei with a celebration at the Kota Kinabalu…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia Celebrates Inaugural Flight to Kota Kinabalu from Taipei

Mark Elliott Jan 15, 2010

AirAsia, the world's best low cost airline today celebrates its maiden flight to Kota Kinabalu from Taipei with a celebration at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport; establishing…

HKTB announces 2009 tourist arrivals

Mark Elliott Jan 4, 2010

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced today (4 January) that the provisional total arrivals in 2009 have reached 29.59 million. The figure represents an increase of 0.3% over 2008 and…

HK arrivals exceed predictions

Mark Elliott Jan 4, 2010

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced today (4 January) that the provisional total arrivals in 2009 have reached 29.59 million. The figure represents an increase of 0.3% over 2008 and…

Amadeus reveals travel industry’s top hurdles

Mark Elliott Dec 21, 2009

Bangkok, Thailand (Asia Pacific), 21 December 2009: Consistency between brand promise and product delivery is the most important factor to provide effective customer service in…

Hong Kong welcomes first of expanded IVS arrivals

Mark Elliott Dec 16, 2009

Riding on the Mainland's implementation of the arrangement to allow non-Guangdong residents ordinarily residing in Shenzhen to apply for endorsement under the Individual Visit Scheme…

Serviced Apartments

Ascott signs new Citadines Xi’an

Mark Elliott Dec 13, 2009

Singapore, 11 December 2009 - CapitaLand's wholly owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has clinched a contract to manage Citadines Xi'an Xingqing Palace,…

Serviced Apartments

Ascott to open Citadines Xi’an

Mark Elliott Dec 13, 2009

Singapore, 11 December 2009 - CapitaLand's wholly owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), has clinched a contract to manage Citadines Xi'an Xingqing Palace,…

Serviced Apartments

Ascott opens fifth Beijing property

Mark Elliott Dec 2, 2009

Singapore, 2 December 2009 - CapitaLand's wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott), is celebrating the opening of its fifth serviced residence in Beijing,…

HKTD ramps up Xmas promotions

Mark Elliott Nov 30, 2009

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced today (27 November) the staging of Hong Kong WinterFest. Organised by the HKTB for the eighth consecutive year, the mega event runs from…

COTRI, Dragon Trail sign partnership

Mark Elliott Nov 25, 2009

November 23, 2009. Two leading research and consulting organizations for the Chinese tourism markets have agreed to join forces during the CITM, held in Kunming from November…

HKTB welcomes expanded Individual Visit Scheme

Mark Elliott Nov 20, 2009

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) welcomes the announcement by relevant Mainland authority on allowing non-Guangdong residents in Shenzhen to apply for endorsement under the Individual…

LOHAS Forum to open in Beijing

Mark Elliott Nov 18, 2009

Beijing, China - 17 November 2009 (TravMedia.com) -- The 2nd International LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability) Forum, China will be held on December…

Serviced Apartments

Frasers to open new Shanghai served residences

Mark Elliott Oct 30, 2009

Singapore, October 30, 2009: - Frasers Hospitality Pte Ltd (Frasers) today became the largest branded international operator of serviced residences in Shanghai with the signing of its new…

Air China expands route map

Mark Elliott Oct 28, 2009

BEIJING, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- In step with the speedy recovery of the Chinese aviation industry over the past six months, Air China has announced that it will be expanding…

Fourth Eco Expo to open in HK

Mark Elliott Oct 23, 2009

The fourth edition of Eco Expo Asia, Hong Kong's only trade fair devoted to the Asian environmental protection industry, will open from 28 to 31 October at AsiaWorld-Expo. The…

China leads SPG growth

Mark Elliott Oct 15, 2009

China has become the richest source of new, loyal travelers for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), according to an analysis on the enrollment and travel…

Tiger relaunches Chinese website

Mark Elliott Oct 12, 2009

SINGAPORE, 12 October 2009: Tiger Airways Singapore has launched its new and improved Chinese website to reach out to Chinese-conversant customers and in response to feedback from…

HK National Day arrivals rise 15%

Mark Elliott Oct 11, 2009

The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced today (9 October) that visitor arrivals from Mainland China during the eight-day National Day Golden Week holiday period this year (1-8 October)…

China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines to Launch Lunar New Year Charter Flights to Mainland China

Mark Elliott Oct 1, 2009

To greet the 2009 Chinese Lunar New Year, China Airlines and its subsidiary Mandarin Airlines are launching Lunar New Year charter flights directly to mainland China. 27 round-trip…

China to launch its own Nasdaq

Mark Elliott Sep 29, 2009

China will launch its long-awaited Nasdaq-style board, ChiNext, in Shenzhen at the end of October. A new round of firms seeking to list on the board will publish their prospectuses…

Visa releases China Tourism Outlook

Mark Elliott Sep 24, 2009

Singapore, 24 September 2009 - International tourists in China spent more than $4.6 billion in2008 on their Visa-branded payment cards across all merchant segments,up seven…

Face-to-Face: Chris Hart, Senior Vice President, Operations - Asia Pacific, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific

Mark Elliott Sep 22, 2009

1) What expansion plans does the group have for the Four Seasons brand in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions? In Asia Pacific we hope to…

Four Points by Sheraton makes entry in India

Mark Elliott Sep 15, 2009

WHITE PLAINS, NY, Sep 14, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announces the debut of its Four Points by Sheraton brand…

Serviced Apartments

Agoda and Frasers announce online partnership

Mark Elliott Sep 6, 2009

BANGKOK, Thailand (September 04, 2009) - Agoda.com, a leading, Asia-based, online hotel reservation service and part of Priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN), today announced an agreement with -…

Universal Travel Group expands in Chongqing

Mark Elliott Sep 4, 2009

SHENZHEN, China, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Universal Travel Group (Amex: UTA) ("Universal Travel Group" or the "Company"), a growing travel services…

EVA Air to launch scheduled flights to China

Mark Elliott Aug 31, 2009

TAIPEI, TAIWAN (Aug. 24, 2009) -- EVA Air and UNI Air will both begin launching scheduled flights to China on Aug. 31, 2009. The two carriers will serve 12…

China’s Juneyao Airlines buys first A320

Mark Elliott Jul 20, 2009

Juneyao Airlines, a Shanghai-based privately-owned carrier, has taken delivery of its first purchased Airbus A320. The carrier currently operates a fleet of 10 leased Airbus…

Sabah gets China tourism boost

Mark Elliott Jul 13, 2009

China's Shenzhen Airlines has boosted the tourism industry in Sabah with the launch of direct services from Shenzhen to Kota Kinabalu. Bernama reported Tourism Malaysia's State Director for…

Serviced Apartments

Ascott unveils two new Somersets in China

Mark Elliott Jul 2, 2009

The Ascott Group Limited has opened two Somerset-branded properties in Chongqing and Shenzhen, its first in the two cities. The Somerset JieFangBei, Chongqing, is the first serviced…

Three killed in China train crash

Mark Elliott Jun 30, 2009

Two passenger trains collided in central China yesterday morning, leaving at least three people dead and 60 injured. Xinhua reported that the accident took place at Chenzhou railway…

Regular direct flights between Taiwan and China start in July

Mark Elliott Jun 4, 2009

Thelaunch of the regular flights is the result of one of the agreements signedbetween Taiwan and China last April 26 in NanjingA totalof 270 flights a week will be provided, with…

IHG launches 25th China academy

Mark Elliott May 20, 2009

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the launch of its 25th IHG Academy in Chengdu, China. The new IHG Academy is established in partnership with the Chengdu Vocational…

Ritz-Carlton strengthens position in China

Mark Elliott May 13, 2009

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company has added more than 1,000 luxury rooms to its inventory in China in the past 12 months with new openings in Guangzhou, Sanya and Shenzhen. This…

China Southern eyes 40 new routes

Mark Elliott Mar 30, 2009

China Southern Airlines will launch 40 new routes and increase flight frequency in key markets as part of plans to expand operations from its twin hubs. According to a Shanghai Daily…

JW Marriott celebrates with three new hotels

Mark Elliott Mar 13, 2009

Marriott International's luxury brand, JW Marriott, has celebrated its 25th anniversary by announcing three additions to its portfolio. The new properties are the 150-room JW…

Malaysian hotel group gets more contracts

Mark Elliott Mar 2, 2009

Despite the global economic downturn, Malaysian hospitality group, Holiday Villa International, has signed management contracts in Vietnam and China and is preparing for…

Cathay welcomes HK tourism initiatives

Mark Elliott Feb 27, 2009

Cathay Pacific has respondent positively to the second Budget Speech by Hong Kong's Financial Secretary, John Tsang. In the speech Tsang outlined the need to implement various major…

Staff Appointments w/e 26 February 09

Mark Elliott Feb 26, 2009

STEVE HALLIDAY has been announced as Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts' new Executive Vice President of Development for North America. Halliday, and first joined Pan Pacific back in 1984.…

HK takes measures to boost tourism

Mark Elliott Feb 26, 2009

Hong Kong wants to stimulate its tourism industry by strengthening travel from neighbouring Guangdong province and Macau, CCTV.com reported. Tourists from the Chinese mainland form the…

AirAsia X launches new China route

Mark Elliott Feb 16, 2009

Malaysia's long-haul, low cost carrier, AirAsia X, will launch a new route from Kuala Lumpur to Tianjin from 2 April, Bernama reported. The launch of services to Tianjin…

Staff Appointments w/e 24 Dec 08

Mark Elliott Dec 24, 2008

JEAN-MARC BUSATO has been announced as President and Managing Director of Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific. Busato, who will take up his new position in January,…

Airlines and Aviation

China Southern boosts services

Oct 28, 2008

China's largest carrier, China Southern Airlines, is adding more flights and routes for the winter season, Xinhua has reported. From 26 October to 28 March, the airline will add 18 new…

Staff Appointments w/e 16 October 08

Mark Elliott Oct 16, 2008

EDWARD JUSUF has been appointed Amadeus' new General Manager for Indonesia. Based in Jakarta and with more than a decade of industry experience, Jusuf will be tasked with expanding…

HKIA and SZIA launch Airports Link

Mark Elliott Oct 9, 2008

Hong Kong International Airport and Shenzhen International Airport have jointly launched the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Airports Link, a service that enables passengers at HKIA or SZIA to check…

Airlines and Aviation

Xining launches first HK service

Mark Elliott Oct 2, 2008

Shenzhen Airlines has launched the first service connecting Xining Caojiabu Airport in China's Qinghai province with Hong Kong. Xining was the last Chinese provincial capital city to launch…

Four markets key to Thailand recovery

Sep 23, 2008

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has identified four key growth markets it hopes will continue to drive arrivals growth in 2009. The Bangkok Post has reported that continued healthy…

TAT aiming to boost ‘slow’ markets

Mark Elliott Sep 15, 2008

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has said it will revise its strategies to boost tourists from slowing markets, following the recent slump in visitor arrivals. The Nation has…

Travelex first with Chinese license

Aug 22, 2008

China has granted its first foreign exchange license to Travelex in a move that liberalises the market and improved access for business. The Telegraph said the license, approved by Chinese…

HK Disneyland’s mainland boost

Mark Elliott Jul 31, 2008

Hong Kong Disneyland may start to see more visitors from the neighbouring mainland city of Shenzhen, Bloomberg has reported. The boost is a result of an agreement to allow…

Bangkok Airways cuts flights

Mark Elliott Jul 28, 2008

Thai carrier Bangkok Airways willsuspend some of its international routes as it continues to struggle with highfuel costs, the Bangkok Post has reported. From 15 August its three…

Marriott signs 9 more in China

Jun 12, 2008

Marriott International is expanding its China portfolio with 18 new hotels from now through 2012. Nine of these new hotels were just confirmed on Tuesday. When all 18 hotels are opened, the…

Relief for earthquake victims

Mark Elliott May 26, 2008

The Boeing Company, Shenzhen Airlines, Medical Teams International, and Mercy Corps are delivering nearly three tonnes of medical supplies for victims of the recent China…

Airlines and Aviation

Jet Aviation selects OnAir

Mark Elliott May 23, 2008

The agreement will enable business jet owners and their passengers to use their own mobile phones and BlackBerry-type devices to make and receive calls, and to send and receive text…

First Holiday Inn Express in SE Asia

Mark Elliott May 13, 2008

This makes Thailand the first country in the region and the first in Asia Pacific outside Greater China and Japan to welcome the entry of the Holiday Inn Express brand. Available in over…

Thai AirAsia looks to consolidation

Mark Elliott Apr 15, 2008

Bangkok Post reported him as saying that the airline also did not have the aircraft capacity to fly new routes, possibly to Bali, Dhaka, Kunming and India.Last month, it…

Avis at Chinese airports

Apr 8, 2008

Car rental company Avis has opened two new locations - the new international Terminal 3 at Beijing International Airport and the recently completed Terminal 2 at Pudong International Airport…

IHG Academy expands in China

Mar 27, 2008

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has launched its 12th IHG Academy, this time in Shenzhen. The partnership with the Shenzhen Tourism College of Jinan University marks the Academy's entry…

Shanghai-Hangzhou rail link by 2010

Mar 14, 2008

The high-speed rail link connecting Shanghai and Hangzhou will be completed by 2010, railway officials were quoted saying by China Daily. The express link will allow travelling speeds of…

Ritz-Carlton in Guangzhou

Mar 12, 2008

Ritz-Carlton has opened its new property in Guangzhou, company's fourth property in mainland China. The Ritz-Carlton, Guangzhou - the 70th property in The Ritz-Carlton portfolio - is near…

Tokyo to be most populous megacity in 2025: U.N.

Mark Elliott Feb 29, 2008

It now has 35.7 million people and should rise to 36 million by 2025, according to the UN's 2007 "Revisions of World Urbanisation Prospects".An official quoted by Japan Times said Tokyo…

Serviced Apartments

Another Ascott in China

Mark Elliott Jan 29, 2008

The Ascott Group (Ascott) is to manage a 219-unit serviced residence, to be named Ascott Shenzhen Maillen, in Shenzhen, China. The serviced residence is targeted to open in the second half…

Mega resort project in southern China

Jan 14, 2008

Some RMB1 billion (US$138 million) is being invested in a high-end resort area combining leisure, meetings, hotspring, and residence facilities in the Tangquan area of Huizhou within three…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia direct to Guangzhou

Mark Elliott Dec 19, 2007

AirAsia is starting direct daily flights to Guangzhou via Baiyun airport from the LCC Terminal in Kuala Lumpur from January 16. This will be the fourth destination to mainland China after…

A third Ritz for China

Dec 13, 2007

Ritz-Carlton has opened its third property in China, in Beijing's central business district. The 305-room Ritz-Carlton, Beijing, joins the company's hotels on Beijing's Financial Street and…

Three Gorges airport ready for international flights

Nov 26, 2007

The Three Gorges (Sanxia) Airport has received regulatory approval from several agencies for regularly scheduled international flights, Xinhua reported. The airport has invested about 100…

New Chinese rail lines cut travel time

Nov 26, 2007

China has started to build two new railway lines in Fujian Province on the southeastern coast, which will slash travel times between the coastal and inland areas. One of the railways…

Airlines and Aviation

China to fully open domestic air routes

Mark Elliott Nov 6, 2007

The General Administration of Civil Aviation (CAAC) said on its website that airlines don't need approval for new domestic flights and instead be required to only submit plans to do so,…

Chinese look forward to Olympic windfall

Mark Elliott Oct 16, 2007

Between July and September 2007, Visa conducted a total of 1,300 door-to-door interviews in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen on people's attitudes towards the…

Fraser extends reach in China

Sep 20, 2007

The 10 service residences will be in Beijing, Nanjing, Chengdu, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Currently, Frasers operates two properties in Shenzhen. Of the Beijing…

2 Summits hotels in China

Sep 12, 2007

The Dong Fang Hotel in Guangzhou and the Parkyard Hotel in Shanghai join three existing Summit Hotels & Resorts in Shenzhen and Shanghai. The 699-room Dong Fang Hotel was recently…

Airlines and Aviation

China Southern’s flexible ticket service

Mark Elliott Aug 30, 2007

One Ticket Service gives the passenger the "ultimate flexibility" in their flight plans, it said. Available now through 31 December 2007, One Ticket Service passengers can…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia launches HK Services

Mark Elliott Aug 24, 2007

Fernandes added that the move was a long-held ambition for the airline, which entered the greater Chinese market with flights to Macau and Shenzhen, but had previously…

Airlines and Aviation

E-Tickets for Japan routes

Mark Elliott Aug 20, 2007

It anticipates a completion of E-Tickets implementation on all routes by May 2008. PG, in accordance with the IATA's requirement that all airlines replace the traditional paper tickets…

New rail to link HKG and Sth China

Mark Elliott Aug 6, 2007

The express rail link is planned to be built between Hong Kong and the Southern China cities of Shenzhen and Guangzhou. Train travel between Hong Kong and Guangzhou, will be…

Airlines and Aviation

AirAsia expands into China

Mark Elliott Jul 18, 2007

Yesterday theregional LCC leader announced a second daily flight from Kuala Lumpur to Shenzhen Group CEO TonyFernandes told the Malaysia Star that AirAsia has already applied for…