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 6 B HMA Hotels & Resorts made headlines in June this year when it announced its rebranding to Cross Hotels & Resorts, marking its successful transition into the global Flight Centre Travel Group business. Even before the Cross Hotels & Resorts to go 'capital light' after rebranding Amara Singapore's Premium Executive guest rooms feature a a soothing neutral colour palette and organic wood finishes. rebranding, the business already saw an increase in its operating portfolio of hotels by 39% – of which eight hotels opened across three brands in FY 2019. New destinations included Phuket, Vietnam and Bali, as the brand seeks to grow its footprint in key capital BY LEE XIN HUI Travelodge checks in to Singapore Travelodge Harbourfront Singapore is undergoing rebranding in Q3 2019. BY BROOKE THIO cities globally. Currently, Cross Hotels & Resorts manages 24 hotels across three distinct brands in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia. In the next 12-18 months, Cross Hotels & Resorts will focus on Asia, Japan, Australia and the Pacific, with possible Amara Singapore is angling for greater sustainability with 27 new Premium Executive guest rooms. Rolled out in August, these rooms offer a first look at the 388- room hotel's progessive refurbishment that will take place through 2020. While guest rooms feature eco-friendly initiatives such as refillable glass water bottles, daylight- maximising full-height windows, and motion- activated lights that automatically switch off once a guest leaves the room, a standout feature Travelodge Hotels Asia has planted its first flag in Singapore with the rebranding of Bay Hotel to Travelodge Harbourfront Singapore. The 319-key hotel, located in southern Singapore, will undergo a major refurbishment and rebranding in Q3 2019. The upgrading works will cover the guest rooms, main public areas such as the lobby and guest drop-off point, as well as the all-day dining restaurant. Singapore is the 11th operating hotel in Asia for the brand, which has rapidly expanded since owner SGX-listed ICP Ltd acquired the brand in 2015. "We have been looking for the right opportunity to launch the Travelodge brand in Singapore, where we are headquartered and have built a strong corporate infrastructure and presence for the last two years," said Marcus Aw, managing director of Travelodge Hotels Asia. The group has opened properties every two months on average in the last two years in cities such as Bangkok, Batam, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Pattaya, Penang, Ipoh and Seoul. It aims to grow its portfolio to 50 hotels in Asia by 2025.. is the movable desk on castors that allows corporate travellers to create their own workspace. Sustainability has emerged as one of the biggest buzzwords in the hospitality industry in recent years, but comfort remains important for upscale and luxury hotels. "We will be rolling out more green initiatives across our VISIT: BOOTH F32 VISIT: BOOTH E28 VISIT: BOOTH Q15 Amara Singapore embarks on green transformation Hotel group to focus on Asia, Japan, Australia and the Pacific in the next 12-18 months BY NATALIE JOY LEE major acquisitions deals inked "for Flight Centre-led destinations and a more capital light strategy that is driven by hotel markets," a spokesperson commented. Kicking things off is Phuket, with the X2 Vibe Phuket Patong Center expected to welcome guests by mid 2021. Next on the list is Vietnam, following September's announcement of a hotel management agreement for the X2 Vibe Halong Bay, also the brand's fourth property in the country. Catering to both leisure and MICE travellers, the 39-floor, 470-key property is set to open in late 2023. Cross Hotels & Resorts will be signing three more properties in Vietnam by end 2019. other hotels without compromising our guests' stay experience," shared Dawn Teo, senior vice president, Amara Hotels & Resorts. Amara has also embarked on behind- the-scenes sustainability initiatives: the company uses eco-digester machines to turn food waste from Amara Singapore and its adjacent mall 100 AM into liquid fertiliser for plants. This year, Amara Singapore and 100 AM mall attained BCA Green Mark GoldPlus certification, which is the second-highest tier for environmentally-friendly buildings in Singapore. CREDIT: AMARA RESORTS & HOTELS Cross Hotels & Resorts announces fourth property in Vietnam, X2 Vibe Halong Bay.

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