Wink Hotels launches, eyeing Vietnam’s domestic travel boom

Vietnam’s first major lifestyle hospitality chain Wink Hotels has launched, setting its sights firmly on the domestic market, as it readies to open its debut hotel later this year.

Setting out to redefine affordable luxury, Wink Hotels touts itself as “a sleek, chic and vibrant lifestyle brand” that reflects a “young, modern and confident Vietnamese identity”.

The first Wink branded hotel will rise in Ho Chi Minh City’s Da Kao area in 4Q2020

The hotel chain is designed by AW2, conceived by developer […]

Country-wide border closures could stall global economic recovery

WTTC is urging global governments to adopt a carefully calibrated approach to country-wide border closures, and introduce localised measures only to combat Covid-19 spikes, warning that continued border closures could jeopardise global economic recovery and cripple the already battered travel and tourism sector.

The UN body said that it supports the opening of city to city “air corridors” between global financial centres where infection levels are low, such as London and Frankfurt and New York, to help restart business travel and […]

Early signs of turnaround for APAC hospitality but recovery far from certain

A rebound in local travel demand appears to have sprung up across parts of Asia-Pacific as the Covid-19 contagion comes under control, but travel executives believe it is still premature to make predictions if recovery is in sight.

That was the message from Agoda vice president corporate development Timothy Hughes during a recent webinar hosted by Travel Massive. While the Agoda executive thinks it is too early to tell how quickly the travel market would recover, he is optimistic that the […]

Pragmatism, not paranoia, key to SE Asia tourism revival

The South-east Asian travel industry could take a lesson from Thailand’s incident with Covid in Rayong the past week, where the 31-person Egyptian military delegation, containing one Covid-positive individual, exposed the previously Covid-free tourist town to infection.

The aftermath of the incident saw local Thai travellers bolting like scared rabbits – not just from Rayong but also neighbouring Koh Samet, with many hotels reporting 80-100 per cent decimation of their bookings.

Anne Somanas

The fact that Koh Samet is only reachable via a […]

IHG scales up presence in Greater China

Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is pushing ahead with plans to launch new brands and properties in Greater China, in preparation for the rebound.

While acknowledging that it would take time for the industry to recover from Covid-19, Jolyon Bulley, CEO-Greater China, IHG, said he was optimistic about the long-term development of tourism in the Greater China region and growth of China’s economy. As such, the region will remain IHG’s top markets for global expansion.

IHG […]

Nepal and Bhutan next for Wyndham’s portfolio expansion

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts will make its property debut in Nepal this August and in Bhutan come March 2021, as part of its continued expansion across the Indian subcontinent.

Ramada by Wyndham Valley Thimpu, Bhutan, will offer 41 spacious rooms, including many with panoramic views of the magnificent Himalayas. Tucked in the Thimpu valley by the free-flowing Raidāk River, its location will provide easy access to special events at the Tasichho Dzong, the giant statue of Buddha Dordenma, and the sacred […]