Northstar

NEWS www.travelweeklyweb.com IHG announces robust expansion in Southeast Asia Cebu Pacifi c fl ies fl ag for Philippines tourism in China CEBU – Cebu Pacifi c (CEB) is fl ying the fl ag for Philippines tourism in China as both the carrier and promoter for premier attractions, festivals and events. With lower fares and more frequent connections with China than ever before, the country's number one airline is partnering the Philippines' Department of Tourism (DOT) for a calendar of colourful events. Among cultural highlights, CEB is official airline of the Davao Cultural Festival, recently promoted in Beijing with a taste of authentic Davao cuisine, cultural show and eco- friendly local handicrafts. CEB was also official airline partner of a Philippines BANGKOK – IHG (InterContinental Ho- tels Group), the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced the compa- ny's robust expansion across Southeast Asia, capitalising on the ever-stronger growth po- tential of the region's tourism and hospitality industry, particularly in the mid-market and lifestyle/leisure segments. IHG will launch in the region two addi- tional brands from its portfolio: Holiday Inn Express and Hotel Indigo – both will open their doors in Bangkok by end of 2011 and in 2013, respectively. "Our strategy for expansion in the region is not about growing for growth's sake; it's about bringing the right brands, to the right destinations, at the right time," said Alan Watts, vice president Operations Southeast Asia, at IHG. "Holiday Inn Express and Hotel Indigo will further strengthen our presence in Thailand and across the region, alongside our other established and well- loved brands – Holiday Inn, InterContinental and Crowne Plaza." Holiday Inn Express Siam Bangkok and Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road are set to be their brands' fi rst in Southeast Asia – when they open, Bangkok will be the first city in the region to have all five key IHG brands in operation. The Holiday Inn Express brand has suc- cessfully enabled IHG to build a niche seg- ment for itself, with its select service propo- sition. Providing only what guests need, and not charging for what they don't, Holiday Inn Express hotels are designed as the smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travellers that require what matters 6 | ■ TRAVELWEEKLY ASIA | 21 JUNE 2011 most – comfort and convenience. Holiday Inn Express Siam Bangkok is centrally locat- ed in the city, close to the National Stadium Skytrain Station, MBK Center, and Siam Paragon. Hotel Indigo, IHG's boutique lifestyle brand, offers a unique experience for guests – each hotel is inspired by its local neigh- bourhood and allows guests to immerse in the culture and vibe of the destination. Hotel Indigo offers guests the personal service as- sociated with boutique hotels, paired with consistency and benefi ts of staying with the world's largest hotel group, such as earning IHG's Priority Club Rewards loyalty points, amongst others. Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wire- less Road is situated in one of the city's pre- mier lifestyle districts, close to a variety of dining and entertainment options, as well as the Ploenchit Skytrain Station. With the industr y on an upswing momentum and its rapidly growing hotel development pipeline across Southeast Asia, IHG has opened a new offi ce in Bangkok with dedicated resources across key functions such as sales and marketing, development, human resources and business performance. "The opening of IHG's new office in Bangkok signifi es our continuing commitment to the region," added Watts. "Our primary focus is to drive local and regional growth, as well as provide our partners the support and infrastructure necessary to deliver outstanding guest experiences. IHG's global scale will remain a key competitive advantage, with an established system in place that will help drive business into our hotels across the region." promotion at the Jinyuan Yansha Shopping Mall in Beijing showcasing three days of Filipino fashion shows and fun games from 3-5 June 2011. The showcase featured fashion designer Renee Salud with fun games that are trademark of CEB onboard entertainment – including passengers singing love songs or taking part in quizzes. An estimated 140,000 attended the three-day promotion and Jazmin Esguerra, Philippine Tourism Attache to Beijing, said: "Without CEB, the show would not have made it to Beijing. The partnership of the National Tourism Offi ce and CEB shows the Philippines is a serious player in wooing the Chinese travel market." CEB was also official airline for a wedding expo at Beijing Exhibition Hall from 27-29 May 2011. The annual event highlighting romantic destinations showcased top honeymoon options in the Philippines include Boracay, Cebu, Coron and Palawan – all with convenient fl ight connections aboard the barrier via Manila. The expo attracted a Chinese audience of 60,000 and Esguerra added: "CEB made it possible for to show another facet of the country – a glimpse of the Philippines as a modern and an amazingly romantic destination." CEB earlier participated in the Shanghai World Travel Fair. For the Shanghai World Travel Fair, CEB flew in the internationally acclaimed Bayanihan Dance Troupe, who performed at the opening ceremony and awards night, where the Philippines was voted 'Most Desirable Beach Holiday Destination' for 2011. www.travelweeklyweb.com

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