Northstar

www.travelweekly-asia.com 18 OCTOBER 2019 D AY 3 TRAVEL WEEKLY ASIA I T B A S I A S H O W D A I L I E S 2 I t's no surprise that hotel companies everywhere are eyeing the booming Asia region, but Wyndham has a unique advantage: "We're the world's leading franchisor company and we know what it takes to run franchising outfits," said Ooi Joon Aun, president and managing director, Southeast Asia and Pacific Rim (SEAPR), Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. And he's certainly not making empty claims. Within 2019, the company has already demonstrated a 'Growth is not rocket science,' says Wyndham's Ooi Joon Aun strong pipeline across the region with over 173,000 rooms and 86 openings; their 150th hotel opened just three weeks back. The more the merrier? Not necessarily so But quantity isn't the only key to success. While Wyndham is keen on rapid growth, they are cautious about where, and what, flags they plant in a particular destination. "Do we want to bring in more brands to this region? Sure, because we have nine (out of 20) now and will BY NAOMI NEOH need a few more to grow. But all 11? Certainly not. There is a lot of demand on infrastructure and support, so we're really careful about which ones we bring in to ensure sufficient critical mass," elaborated Mr Ooi. While the upper-upscale segment is currently leading Asia Pacific's hotel construction pipeline (and one that Wyndham has had success growing with the premium Wyndham Grand and Dolce properties set to open this year), Mr Ooi acknowledged that their biggest strength lies within the mid-market segment, driven largely by the brand Ramada. In Korea alone, for instance, Wyndham has over 41 properties, of which 22 are Ramada. The brand is also deepening its roots in China's Guangdong, which has been pivotal in creating familiarity among Chinese investors who are now keen As Dream Cruises takes its Asian cruise brand global, its new and larger category of ships, Global Class, could be charting new territories as far as the Baltic seas, Alaska or the Caribbean. While exact itineraries are still undecided, according to Dream Cruises' president and Genting Cruise Lines' head of international sales Michael Goh, its upcoming Global Dream ship is expected to sail worldwide from its homeport in Asia Pacific from early 2021. A sister ship will follow in 2022. Mr Goh further revealed new features on board the 208,000-gross-tonne Global Dream such as an onboard credits system that will offer passengers the flexibility to choose how they want to allocate their spend on F&B, duty-free retail and shore excursions. Another eye-catching feature is Space Cruiser, a 303m-long rollercoaster – the longest on board a cruise ship – that snakes around the ship's open deck with a top speed of up to 60km/h to give the experience of "flying over the seas". The ship will also include larger entertainment facilities such as a 1,300-seater theatre, a cinema with eight theatres and an Escape VR Lab and Arcade. Cabins will include nifty digital features such as Bluetooth locks, a mobile app that can control LED lights and temperature, and smart sensors that can automatically trigger in-room functions. Mr Goh described the new features as part of a new era of cruising as the cruise line makes a serious bid to attract a younger demographic of passengers who value greater flexibility and a less regimented cruise experience. 'Global Dream' takes shape Wyndham's president and MD of Southeast Asia and Pacific Rim gives his take on regional expansion, and why his company has a unique advantage VISIT: BOOTH R15 Wyndham Hotels and Resorts' president and MD of Southeast Asia and Pacific Rim Ooi Joon Aun shares their prudent approach to expansion. on spreading their wings to SEAPR, in particular: Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. This prudent approach, coupled with a high level of self-awareness, has helped cement the group's reputation as a trusted partner. Of all the deals that were signed this year, over 50% are with a repeat owner. "It's a good testament that even as new owners are coming in, current ones continue to invest with us," he remarked. So where does this head honcho see the next pockets of opportunities? By Lee Xin Hui "There is a lot of demand on infrastructure and support (to grow a brand successfully), so we're really careful about which ones we bring in to ensure there is sufficient critical mass." Geographically, Vietnam offers "very high potential" alongside Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand with several soon-to-open properties. On Oct 16, a deal was signed for Wyndham Sky Lake Resorts & Villas Hanoi targeted to open this December. Another area that Wyndham wants to tap: millennial travellers. According to Mr Ooi, they will be launching a new brand in China and SEAPR with tech-savvy features such as pre-selection of rooms before check-in. VISIT: BOOTH U50

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