Author: Alicia

  • Capri by Frasers expands into Vietnam

    Following the successful launch of its Capri by Fraser brand in Singapore, Frasers Hospitality is celebrating the outlet of its first residence in Vietnam.

    Capri by Fraser, Ho Chi Minh City caters to the always-on lifestyle needs of the e-generation traveller in an urban-inspired, high-tech and intuitive hotel residence.

    The property brings an intensive range of hotel facilities and services such as the relief and convenience of an entire serviced residence to offer travellers with the power to determine how they wish to rest, relax and recharge.

    Generously appointed for comfort, the 126-suite Capri by Fraser, Ho Chi Minh City/Vietnam features spacious studios, one bedroom and two bedroom suites.

    Each residence have been specially designed to add well-defined living spaces that reach to well-thought-out workspaces with large work desks and spacious bathrooms with an array of pampering Malin+Goetz bath amenities.

    The suites come complete with state-of-the-art home entertainment systems and entirely equipped kitchenettes with cooktop and hood, microwave oven and fridge, to enrich the experience of staying in.

    Designed to fulfill the work-life balance needs of industrial travellers, Capri by Fraser, Ho Chi Minh City/Vietnam provides guests with three floors of in-property leisure and business facilities.

    This features a business centre with the most recent audio-visual capabilities, a 24×7 Hot Spot lounge with iMac workstations, a 24×7 gym complete with steam and sauna rooms, and self-service laundrettes where guests can prefer to do their very own laundry at their convenience.

    Capri by Fraser, Ho Chi Minh City/Vietnam also offers numerous dining options, together with the all-day-dining restaurant Caprilicious, a Deli serving snacks and beverages, and Drinx, an amazing venue to unwind on the end of an afternoon.

    Located inside the heart of District 7, within the new urban development of Phu My Hung, Capri by
    Fraser, Ho Chi Minh City/Vietnam is within walking distance to offices, the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, FV Hospital and academic institutions including Saigon South International and the British International School.

    Situated just about local attractions corresponding to Ben Thanh Market, the Museum of excellent Arts and Mariamman Temple, and major shopping centres including Parkson Paragon, Crescent Shopping center and Annam Gourmet Market, Capri by Fraser, Ho Chi Minh City/Vietnam could also be surrounded by restaurants and cafes serving up delectable local and international cuisine.

  • The Ascott boosts China offering with Wuxi properties

    CapitaLand’s wholly-owned serviced residence business unit, The Ascott, has entered Wuxi in China by securing contracts to regulate two serviced residences within the city.

    The 134-unit Ascott Central Wuxi and 169-unit Somerset Wuxi are slated to open within the second 1/2 2015.

    The new properties in Wuxi will further strengthen Ascott’s leadership position because the largest international serviced residence owner-operator in China with greater than 8,600 apartment units in 48 properties across 19 cities.

    Lee Chee Koon, Ascott deputy chief executive, said: “As China continues to draw strong foreign direct investment, it’s far expected to enjoy healthy demand for quality accommodation.

    “Revenue per available unit for our serviced residences in China increased by four per cent within the first quarter of 2013 in comparison to a similar period last year.

    “Besides Ascott Central Wuxi and Somerset Wuxi, we are going to open 19 more serviced residences in China by 2017.

    “By strengthening our network in China, we will be able to achieve greater economies of scale and reinforce Ascott’s leadership position.”

    Strategically located within the Yangtze River Delta region, Wuxi’s economy has grown by a median of greater than 17 per cent annually within the last ten years.

    The city has also attracted foreign direct investment of greater than RMB20 billion every year from 2008 to 2012.

    “As Wuxi continues to remodel itself right into a thriving regional hub with an increasing number of multinational corporations, large local enterprises and trade exhibitions, we predict strong demand for our international-class serviced residences by expatriates and native business travellers,” added Lee.

    Catering to top business executives, the exclusive Ascott Central Wuxi has a main location in Chong An District.

    Situated along Zhong Shan Road in Wuxi’s city centre, the serviced residence is surrounded by office buildings, shopping malls, banks, hospitals and schools.

    It is a part of the Yunfu Mansion mixed development which comprises stores, restaurants and offices, and is attached to the interchange stations of the approaching metro lines 1 and a couple of.

    Ideal for families, Somerset Wuxi is easily located in Bin Hu District near Wuxi’s city centre, new Taihu central business district, and Wuxi New District where many multinational corporations are based.

    The serviced residence is a part of Vanke’s The Canal mixed development that is designed by the well-known Kengo Kuma & Associates and comprises retail shops, restaurants, museums and offices. Somerset Wuxi also provides a scenic view of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and Liang Xi River,  and is near shopping malls, a global school, Union Hospital and conventional Chinese medicine clinics.

  • News: Holland America Line and Seabourn celebrate partnership renewal

    In recognition of Earth Day, Holland America Line and Seabourn today are announcing the renewal in their partnership with Marine Conservation Institute. The partnership with the Washington State-based organisation began in 2010 with the “Our Marvelous Oceans” program, and should continue with the signing of a brand new three-year agreement that runs through 2016.

    The goal of “Our Marvelous Oceans” is to foster greater understanding of the marine environment through guest and staff education and commitment to sustainably sourced seafood on shipboard menus. The partnership also incorporates a new “Saving the Ocean’s Gems” program to be rolled out in fall 2013 that promotes Marine Protected Areas — parts of the sea put aside to give protection to endangered species, special habitats and/or cultural heritage sites — especially along the ships’ itineraries.

    “Over the past three years we now have learned an important amount from the Marine Conservation Institute about protecting our oceans, and it’s only fitting that we renew our partnership on the earth Day,” said Stein Kruse , president and CEO of Holland America Line, and chairman, Seabourn. “It is essential that we continue to present information to our guests and crewmembers about what we will all do to give protection to and improve the health of our oceans, and we’re fortunate to have the international experts on the Marine Conservation Institute working with us as section of our many environmental endeavors.”

    “We are delighted to continue the committed partnership that we have got forged previously three years with Holland America Line and Seabourn,” said Dr. Lance Morgan , President of Marine Conservation Institute, located in Seattle, Wash.  “We share a powerful interest in healthy oceans, and this partnership has provided an innovative opportunity to advance the conservation message and has had real-world impact toward furthering our mission through projects corresponding to sustainable seafood purchasing.”

    Morgan added, “We look forward with enthusiasm to developing the programming around ‘Saving the Ocean’s Gems’ inside the next year.”
    Both Holland America Line and Seabourn strive to make sure that seafood menu selections served aboard both lines are responsibly sourced, promoting the continuing viability of fish species necessary to a biologically diverse marine environment. The Marine Conservation Institute determines the sustainability of a selected seafood item by touching on well-established seafood sustainability ratings. They then apply their professional expertise and judgment to make sure the sustainability of the choice. 

    The educational component of the “Our Marvelous Oceans” program is rich in content. A video series broadcast on all Holland America Line ships and at the line’s websites introduces ocean issues and highlights important marine conservation topics that relate to the ships’ itineraries.

    As a part of the lines’ onboard enrichment programs, Marine Conservation Institute board members, executives and staff present lectures and conduct question-and-answer sessions on select itineraries, creating a chance for guests to have interaction with and learn from world-class scientists.

    With the hot “Saving the Ocean’s Gems” focus, Marine Protected Areas in and near the lines’ most traveled itineraries might be identified, and Holland America Line and Seabourn will work with Marine Conservation Institute to produce enrichment opportunities for guests to be informed more in regards to the areas.

    Recognised during the cruise industry for his or her environmental efforts, Holland America Line and Seabourn’s Environmental Management Systems are certified to evolve to the ISO 14001 standard by independent registrars – Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance and Det Norske Veritas, respectively. The Environmental Management System is the gathering of all environmental policies, training and procedures for each shipboard significant environmental aspect. This certification recognises the robust environmental standards, commitment to continual improvement and policy to avoid pollution.

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  • Britain is #1 European shopping destination

    Britain is the easiest place in Europe to go to for shopping, per YouGov’s latest EuroTrack survey, which tracks public opinion within the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway.

    The findings come an afternoon after official figures showed economic growth in Britain has doubled because the start of the year, and a report by YouGov and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) found that consumer confidence in Britain is at its highest level since early 2010.

    Asked to select as much as three European countries, and on average a 3rd (32%) of respondents said the united kingdom was the suitable place in Europe to go to for shopping, followed by Italy (20%) and France (20%).

    France, Italy and Spain top choices for holidaymakers

    The survey also asked the very best places in Europe to go to for great weather, with Spain (56%) popping out on top, followed by Greece (44%) and Italy (32%).

    Italy is #1 for food, at 48%, followed by France (45%) and Spain (26%).

    For ‘good fun, socialising and parties’, Spain (41%) is the most well-liked choice, followed by Greece (18%) and Italy (16%).

    Italy (36%) is the fitting place in Europe for sightseeing, per the EuroTrack survey, with France (33%) an in depth runner-up and the united kingdom (25%) in third place.

    Asked what the most effective place in Europe is to go to for learning a brand new language, and on average respondents chose Spain (35%) as their first choice, followed by the united kingdom (28%) and France (27%).

    Commenting at the EuroTrack findings, YouGov Director of Political and Social Research Joe Twyman said: “The proven fact that Europeans see the united kingdom because the best place to go to for shopping can be another small little bit of good economic news this week, which no question most Britons feel is long overdue. It also shows that Britain has a distinguishing factor advantage as a vacation destination, whereas Italy, France and Spain dominate in most other categories.”

  • News: Priceline.com ticket booking data revelas “untethered” mobile-equipped traveler

    They’re younger than their desktop brethren, and lots of them don’t need to be tethered to pre-set, round-trip flight itineraries.  That’s what priceline.com present in its latest study of airline ticket booking trends among travelers equipped with iOS, Android and other mobile devices.

    The airline tickets data is analogous to what priceline.com saw in earlier studies of hotel reservation trends and paints an image of a mobile device-equipped consumer whose travel booking practices and preferences are very different from travelers who plan their trips using desktop computers and laptops.

    “Mobile-equipped consumers are what we call ‘untethered’ travelers,” said priceline.com’s Travel Ekspert Brian Ek.  “They desire to create their travel experiences at the fly, as opposed to follow itineraries planned far ahead.  Hotels are usually chosen towards check-in day (even at the same day), and plenty bookings are made while at the road or after arrival on the town.  Mobile-equipped travelers are inclined to book their airline tickets somewhat closer-in than desktop users. And the alternative of 1-way tickets allows mobile travelers to regulate their length of stay or even return from yet another city.”

    Priceline.com’s study of airline ticket booking activity among mobile-equipped travelers found that:
    *  Mobile air bookers averaged 32 years of age, or six years younger than the common desktop air booker;
    *  Almost half mobile air bookers booked one-way tickets, and
    *  Mobile air bookers paid less for his or her tickets (average $283) when compared with desktop users (average $315).

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