Northstar

NEWS www.travelweeklyweb.com Best of Expedia VIP Access Hotels HONG KONG – After two consecutive years been honoured with the Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor in 2012 and 2013 for its excellent service, Cosmo Hotel Hong Kong reaches a new height as it claims another equally prestigious accolade – the Best of Expedia's VIP Access Hotels 2013 recently. The list of Best VIP Hotels reflects consistent positive feedback from Expedia Elite Plus members. "Being honoured by the world's two most influential online travel sites simultaneously is the best testament to our commitment in delivering an all round excellent experience for our guests. Our exceptional reputation is a result of each and every one of us believing and holding firmly to our service motto "Beyond Thoughtful. Anytime. Everywhere", we will continue to strive for excellence by being passionate in our endeavour to deliver quality service and continuous improvement in all aspects," said Anita Chan, general manager for Cosmo Hotel Hong Kong. "Out of the nearly 1,500 VIP Access Hotels we have available on Expedia, these select hotels provided a high-level of consistent service and exceptional experiences that we wanted to recognise," said John Morrey, vice-president and general manager, Expedia.com. "Expedia customers have chosen to collectively honor their dedication to the overall customer experience, from booking to checking out. We focus on empowering travelers with the information and tools they need to make confident travel decisions." London losing position as global aviation hub LONDON – The World Travel Market (WTM) 2013 Industry Report released an interesting feedback – nearly half of the world's travel industry believes that London's position as a leading global business and tourism hub, is under threat. One of the reasons lies in the fact that the city has long been in the running battle against Amsterdam and Frankfurt to attain the title of world's leading city for business and travel. However, places like Istanbul, which is building the world's largest runway, and Dubai, which targets to welcome 160 million passengers annually, are levelling up the rivalry stance when it comes to gaining the position as key global aviation hub, particularly with the growth that they are recording. Almost half (47 per cent) of the delegates attending WTM this week believe it makes little difference what the UK Government decides in the long-running battle over flight capacity in the south east, the capital's position as a key global aviation hub is on the wane due to increased investment and capacity in other regions of the world. Only 27 per cent of the 1,277 senior industry executives polled think London is unthreatened by increased capacity in the rest of the world. While the majority of those questioned are pessimistic about the impact of additional capacity on London's future, 52 per cent agree that the city and the south east need extra capacity. This is compared to 22 per cent who say it does not, with 56 per cent adding London's future as a global hub would be threatened without it. "No matter what the Government does, it seems the UK's position as the heart of the global aviation network is over as far as the industry is concerned. However, whether this is down to recent Governments' inability to address the situation or the massive expansion of airports we're seeing worldwide is impossible to say. What is equally important is how firmly the trade believes London and the south east needs extra aviation capacity while a third runway at Heathrow remains the most popular option," said Simon Press, senior director, World Travel Market, Reed Travel Exhibitions. The Scarlet reopens SINGAPORE – The Scarlet, Singapore's luxury boutique hotel reopened its doors yesterday, following a five-month renovation. The distinctive, 80-room heritage building along Erskine Road is nestled in the heart of Singapore's culture-rich Chinatown area. Minutes away from a bevy of traditional establishments, famous hawker joints and surrounded by trendy dining, entertainment and shopping spots, The Scarlet Singapore is conveniently and ideally situated for tourists and staycationers. www.travelweeklyweb.com Four different types of rooms and five characteristic suites are available, each lending a defining touch to the hotel's eclectic makeup. The room types – Standard, Deluxe, Executive and Premium, and particularly the suites Passion, Swank, Opulent, Lavish and Splendour, each exudes its own distinct charm, fervour and appeal. As The Scarlet beckons guests with this bold interior makeover, it looks set to give new meaning to a truly luxurious boutique hotel experience all over again. The Scarlet is located at 33 Erskine Road, Singapore 069333 DECEMBER 2013 | TRAVELWEEKLY ASIA ■ | 3

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