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KDS Travel & Expense

Posted on May 23, 2013 by admin

KDS On Demand Travel & Expense

Posted in Asia Travel | Tagged business, expense, kds, travel | Leave a comment

Agoda.com offers hotel deals in the lead up to the Great Singapore Sale

Posted on May 23, 2013 by admin

SINGAPORE – Agoda.com, Asia’s leading hotel booking site and part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline Group (Nasdaq:PCLN), has announced a variety of hotel deals in the leadup to the Great Singapore Sale, one of the island nation’s biggest yearly events.

Celebrating its 20th year and taking place from May 31 to July 28, the sale – often abbreviated simply as GSS – is an annual event centered on the one thing that Singapore is known best for – shopping. Sales, specials, and super-saver deals by some of the country’s best-known retail names are spread out across the city offering shoppers a great way to stock up on their favorite brands while seeing some of the city’s most dynamic neighborhoods.

Of course, most people familiar with Singapore have heard of Orchard Road, the central shopping district of the city and one of the most iconic commercial destinations in Asia. With endless stores, huge shopping malls, and below- and above-ground connections linking them all together, the biggest crowds will undoubtedly be here seeking out deals. This includes the massive ION Orchard mall and the Mandarin Gallery.

Other areas heaving with shoppers will be favorite commercial neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Kampong Glam, Holland Village, or Little India, where shoppers can find unique objects, novelties, and handcrafted items that reflect the unique personality of the neighborhood they’re sold in. Many of these neighborhoods also offer eclectic restaurants, live music, and funky coffee shops to help shoppers recharge during their long day.

Shoppers can also check out the inaugural Singapore International Jewelry Expo 2013 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Center from July 4-7, which will showcase displays from leading designers, brands, and gemstone suppliers from around the world across 8,000 square meters of floor space.

The best part of the festival is that in order to accommodate the crowds of deal seekers, many of the stores and malls will be staying open late to maximize the shopping opportunities. No more rushing to get everything done before the stores close!

To top it all off, the grand prize of the event is the MasterCard Biggest Spender Reward, in which the biggest spender of the festival can win S$20,000 [US$15,771]. Details are available on the GSS website, but if that’s not an incentive to stock up on new supplies, nothing is! Check out the festival’s official website here: http://www.greatsingaporesale.com.sg

Don’t miss this great opportunity to see some of Singapore’s best sights, and to take advantage of some of the lowest prices the retail hub of Asia can offer. Browse the fantastic hotel deals below and get a comfortable pair of shoes ready for action!

To connect with Agoda.com for special deals on hotels worldwide, please visit www.agoda.com. Like Agoda.com on Facebook at www.facebook.com/agoda or follow Agoda.com on Google+ at http://plus.google.com/+agoda

The Sentosa Resort and Spa 5*
Early bird special! Book 21 days in advance and enjoy 15% off. Expires December 31, 2013.

Hotel Re Pearl’s Hill 4*
Limited time rate – only US$104! Expires June 30, 2013

Resorts World Sentosa – Equarius Hotel 5*
Flash Deal – enjoy 60% off! Expires December 31, 2013.

Fairmont Singapore 5*
Early bird special – book 2 days in advance and enjoy 20% off! Expires December 31, 2013.

Orchard Hotel Singapore 5*
Limited time rate – 25% off! Expires July 31, 2013.

Royal Plaza on Scotts 5*
Stay a minimum of 3 nights and enjoy 20% off! Expires July 31, 2013.

Grand Park Orchard 5*
Early bird special! Book 14 days in advance and enjoy 20% off! Expires December 31, 2013.

Rendezvous Grand Hotel Singapore 4*
Limited time rate – 30% off! Expires December 31, 2013.

Original source here.

Round 2 Sentul – Asia Dream Cup Qualifying News – 2013 PETRONAS Asia Road Racing Championship

News footage from the Asia Dream Cup Qualifying session from Round 2 of the 2013 PETRONAS Asia Road Racing Championship held at Sentul International Circuit,…

Posted in Asia America Travel | Tagged commercial destinations, dynamic neighborhoods, eclectic restaurants, international jewelry, singapore international | Leave a comment

Tiger Airways launches Hong Kong-Jakarta service

Posted on May 23, 2013 by admin

HONG KONG – Tiger Airways brings in valued travel options to Indonesia with its launch of direct service between Hong Kong and Jakarta.

From 25 July 2013, Tiger Airways will fly to the capital of Indonesia four times weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with an increase to daily flights from September onwards.

“We are excited that Tiger Airways is the first low cost carrier flying direct from Hong Kong to Jakarta, one of Asia’s fastest growing economies. Our new service aims to offer best value in travel to both business travellers and Indonesian workers in Hong Kong. The competitive pricing, frequent schedule and value-added services on demand makes Tiger Airways’ flight offerings unique and certainly more cost effective,” says Kaneswaran Avili, Commercial Director, Tiger Airways Singapore.

Recognized as one of Singapore’s most punctual airlines, Tiger Airways has been rapidly expanding its network in Indonesia this year. Domestically within Indonesia, the airline flies between Jakarta and key cities including Bali (Denpasar), Medan, Surabaya, Padang, Pekanbaru and Yogyakarta.

“Popular destinations like Bali are now more accessible via Jakarta to Hong Kong holidaymakers,” added Mr Avili.

To celebrate the new service, the Airline is offering an introductory “Hong Kong – Jakarta Return for Free” promotion from 22 May to 29 May 2013. The promotion offers complimentary return (Jakarta to Hong Kong) airfare, excluding taxes, on round trips booked for travel between 25 July 2013 to 29 March 2014. The offer is available on www.tigerairways.com and subject to seat availability.

Flight Information between Hong Kong and Jakarta

Flight Start date Days of week Depart Dep Time Arrive Arr Time

RI840 24 Jul 13 Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun CGK 20:10 HKG 01:50
RI841 25 Jul 13 Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat HKG 02:30 CGK 06:30
RI840 1 Sep 13 Daily CGK 20:10 HKG 01:50
RI841 2 Sep 13 Daily HKG 02:30 CGK 06:30

Original source here.

OB Cuyapo Wells Segment on 700 Club Asia / GMA NEWS TV – 11

Posted in Asia America Travel | Tagged business travellers, capital of indonesia, commercial director, flight information, tiger airways singapore | Leave a comment

Philippines eyeing to double its tourism receipts to $8 billion in 2016

Posted on May 23, 2013 by admin

MANILA, Philippines – In line with heightened efforts to boost the country’s tourism industry, the government is eyeing to double its tourism receipts to $8 billion in 2016, a tourism official said.

Tourism Promotion Board chief operating officer Domingo Ramon Enerio III, in an interview with The STAR at the Puregold Sari-Sari Store Convention, said for this year alone, tourism receipts – money spent by foreign visitors in traveling to the country – is seen to reach $4.95 billion.

For next year, it is expected that tourist spending would further increase to $6.07 billion.

Tourism receipts have been on the rise for the past years. In 2011, it stood at $2.99 billion and grew to $3.82 billion in 2012.

Enerio said the projected increase in tourism receipts is consistent with the government’s goal to bring up the number of tourist arrivals to 10 million in 2016. For 2013, the Department of Tourism is targeting foreign arrivals to hit 5.5 million.

He said they are confident of hitting the 5.5-million mark this year since there are already about 4.3 million tourist arrivals registered so far this year.

“We are very optimistic that we can hit that target. We are doing our best to promote our country as the most attractive tourist destination in Asia,” he added.

DOT data showed that tourist arrivals reached 4.2 million in 2012, up nine percent from 3.9 million in 2011.

For the first three months of 2013, tourist arrivals grew 11 percent to 1.27 million.

Enerio also solicited the people’s help and cooperation in achieving this goal.

“Tourism is a people’s business. There is no success in all these tourism promotion efforts without the help of the citizenry,” Enerio said in his speech at the Puregold convention.

The DOT official also urged small retailers to take part in the tourism promotion of the country by developing retail products that could be patronized by tourists.

“We want an inclusive growth. The DOT’s vision and mission is for all members of the society to take part in the country’s economic growth, including growth in the tourism industry. We also want to make sure what we will do at DOT will be for the benefit of the Filipino people,” he said.

Earlier, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez said they are optimistic that the influx of foreign tourists would be sustained for the rest of the year.

“We are on track of our target of 5.5 million foreign tourists arrival for 2013,” Jimenez said. By the end of the Aquino administration in 2016, the number of tourists arrival is forecast to hit 10 million.

Original source here.

Truyền hình vệ tinh VOA Asia 21/5/2013

Ủy ban Đối ngoại Hạ viện Mỹ đòi đưa Việt Nam trở lại danh sách Quốc gia cần Đặc biệt Quan tâm. Thỉnh nguyện thư kêu gọi phóng thích 2 sinh viên chống Trung Q…

Posted in Asia America Travel | Tagged attractive tourist destination, chief operating officer, department of tourism, first three months, manila philippines, tourism promotion board | Leave a comment

Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok offers special package for Club accommodations

Posted on May 23, 2013 by admin

Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok has a special package for its Club accommodations, with rates starting at Baht 3,560 per night for a Club Deluxe Room if they stay for 2 nights or more, along with 15 percent discount on regular a la carte treatments at Spa Cenvaree and 25 percent discount on all spa packages.

The package is available from now until October 31, 2013, and rates are subject to service charge and government tax.

Guests also receive all Club benefits, including a 10 percent discount at all hotel outlets, a welcome drink at Blue Sky rooftop restaurant and bar; access to the exclusive Club Lounge which serves 5 complimentary collations per day including breakfast, tea, and coffee throughout the day, and cocktails with canapes in the evening; plus free 24-hour Internet use; laundry service for 2 items per stay; and 2 hours daily use of the Club meeting rooms.

Guests also receive all Club benefits, including access to the exclusive Club Lounge, with complimentary breakfast, beverages throughout the day, and cocktails with canapes in the evening.

The package is available for online booking only at http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cglb/promotion.asp

The newly-renovated, five-star Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok is located near the elevated highway system, the underground Mass Rapid Transit, and the BTS Skytrain, thereby ensuring that any district within the city is very easily accessible.

Shopping here is a pleasure, with a covered walkway providing a direct link to the adjacent Central Plaza shopping complex – one of the biggest of its kind in Bangkok with 300 shops, boutiques, restaurants, and multiplex cinema.

For more information and reservations, please contact tel. 02 541 1234 or e-mail to cglb@chr.co.th .

Facebook: www.facebook.com/centarahotelsresorts
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MyCentara

Original source here.

Philippines , The Rising Tiger in Asia, is in the news again.

Posted in Asia America Travel | Tagged complimentary breakfast, covered walkway, government tax, hotel outlets, laundry service, mass rapid transit, rooftop restaurant | Leave a comment

Hanoi considering tourism police to protect tourists from street vendors

Posted on May 23, 2013 by admin

HANOI, Vietnam – The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has been asked by its department in Ha Noi to establish a tourism police force dedicated to protecting visitors who are increasingly suffering from tourist scams in the capital.

Cases are reported daily of foreign tourists being overcharged by taxi drivers and cheated by hotel employees. This has negatively affected the image of both the city and the country in the eyes of international visitors, said the department’s deputy director Mai Tien Dung.

A crackdown on security management has been conducted in hotels, hostels and resorts, Dung said, adding that despite this, inspections could only go so far to solve the problems in the absence of specific regulations.

His department has proposed that as well as forming a special police force, other measures should be implemented. They suggested that crimes against tourists, such as overcharging, stealing and harassment from peddlers should be met with heavy fines.

Colonel Dao Duy Ngoc, deputy director of the city’s police department, agreed with the proposal for the creation of a tourism police force. “This is a good idea. We will set up the force as soon as it is approved by a higher authority”.

While the establishment of the force is considered an effective measure to tackle crime in the tourism sector, some people have argued that it has limitations.

Such issues arouse partly due to the lack of authorities’ sufficient management in tourism. Major-General Le Van Cuong, former director of the Institute of Strategy and Science under the Ministry of Public Service, said that the force alone would not solve all the problems.

“The tourism industry should firstly analyse its strength and weakness. Only then will it know if co-operation from other authorities is necessary,” he said.

“Another important measure is to raise people’s awareness so that tourist businesses are fully conscious of the risks that their customers face and potential scammers know that their behaviour is unacceptable,” he pointed out.

“However, if the police are needed whenever a problem occurs, then we will definitely set up a specific police force in the future,” he added.

Original source here.

LinkAsia: News from Asia, Unfiltered and Social

How do you keep up with the rapidly changing digital landscape in our interconnected world? And how do you view news from a continent both rooted in traditio…

Posted in Asia America Travel | Tagged deputy director, international visitors, ministry of culture, security management, strength and weakness, tourism industry, tourist businesses | Leave a comment

Thailand tourism up from January to April

Posted on May 23, 2013 by admin

International tourist arrivals to Thailand posted a growth of 19.04% during January to April this year, according to Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ data.
Released late last week, the ministry’s research registered 8,841,730 trips to the country during the first 4 months, up from 7,427,772 visits during the same period last year.

In April alone, there were 2,013,012 trips, up 19.38% compared to 1,686,268 visits during the same month in 2012. The Songkran Festival in mid-April was identified as the key driver that drew tourists in a month when temperatures soar to almost unbearable levels in the Thai capital.

China delivered a substantial growth of 91.05%, supplying 410,173 visits from 214,689.

Considering markets by regions, East Asia, Europe, and the Americas reported gains.

East Asia continues to be the top supplier, (ASEAN included), with a growth of 29.39% from 931,286 to 1,204,996 visits. All identified source markets in the region posted growth except for Cambodia (-23.86%), Laos (-14.58%), and the Philippines (-0.11%).

Trips from Myanmar grew 42.58%, Taiwan +37.73%, followed by Indonesia (+31.31%), Vietnam (+23.13%), Malaysia (+20.86%), Brunei (+20.83%), Japan (+9.65%), South Korea (+9.36%), Hong Kong (+5.44%), and Singapore (+4.13%).
Europe posted a growth of 19.44%, although some markets posted declines:
Ireland (-2.69%), Spain (-5.24%), Switzerland (-8.26%), and the United Kingdom (-5.42%).

The top 5 key markets that grew were: Finland (+72.87%), Sweden (+70.85%), Russia (+47.98%), East Europe (+33.16%), and Denmark (+24.55%).

The Americas recorded a slight growth of 0.19% to 91,268 from 91,097 visits. The main markets, USA and Brazil, posted an increase of 4.11% and 1.49%, respectively.

However, arrivals from Oceania, South Asia, Africa, and the Middle East reported a decline of 19.61%, 5.98%, 5.88% and 5.45%, correspondingly.

TTR reported the tourism ministry recorded international tourists to Thailand at the country’s gateway: Suvarnabhumi Airport reached 1,354,673 visits in April increasing 21.81% from 1,112,081 visits during the same month last year.

Original source here.

Round 2 Sentul – Asia Dream Cup Practice News – 2013 PETRONAS Asia Road Racing Championship

News footage from the Asia Dream Cup Friday Practice at Round 2 of the 2013 PETRONAs Asia Road Racing Championship held at Sentul International Circuit, Indo…

Posted in Asia America Travel | Tagged international tourist arrivals, international tourists, ministry of tourism, songkran festival, substantial growth, suvarnabhumi airport, unbearable levels | Leave a comment

Thawatchai Arunyik named next governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand

Posted on May 23, 2013 by admin

BANGKOK, Thailand – Thawatchai Arunyik, deputy governor for domestic marketing at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, has been selected as the TAT’s next governor to replace Suraphon Svetasreni, whose contract with TAT will end on December 21.

The decision to appoint Thawatchai to the top post at the state enterprise will not come as a surprise to the tourism industry, as he had been seen as the favourite from the moment a successor to Suraphon was first considered.

He is believed to have strong connections with the Chart Thai Pattana Party, led by veteran politician Banharn Silpa-Archa. The party has long controlled the Tourism and Sports Ministry, which looks after the TAT.

Pensuda Prai-aram, chairman of the TAT’s board of directors, said yesterday that Thawatchai was the most qualified person for the post.

His vision and ability would help move the TAT forward in the changing tourism industry, he added.

There were only two candidates for the governorship, the other being Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT’s deputy governor for international marketing for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas.

The candidates each had to present their vision for the authority to a five-member selection committee, chaired by Suwat Sidthilaw, permanent secretary of the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

Their confidence, leadership, crisis management and ability to cooperate with the private and government sectors were also considered.

Suwat said Thawatchai had won the race because he had convinced the panel of his leadership and strong confidence. He also proposed a practical plan for cooperating with other players in the tourism industry.

The State Enterprise Policy Office will now consider his salary and draw up a work contract.

If all goes to plan, Thawatchai – who has been with the TAT for 30 years – will take office on December 22, becoming its ninth governor.

His main challenge is to push for the generation of Bt2 trillion in tourism revenue in 2015, in line with the government’s stated goal.

As a TAT insider, he should be able to move quickly in implementing policy because he understands the authority’s culture and workforce well.

He will be evaluated every six months. However, as he is currently 57 years and 10 months old, he will not complete a full four-year term because he will have to retire at 60.

Suraphon, meanwhile, will continue at the TAT’s helm. His final evaluation takes place next month.

Original source here.