Hadiprana to take over management of The Chedi Club Ubud

The Chedi Club Tanah Gajah Ubud, is set to be taken over by a brand-new hotel management group, Hadiprana Hospitality.

The formal handover from the resort’s longtime operator, Singapore-based GHM, is set to take place on January 1, 2020. The rebranded property will be called Tanah Gajah, a resort by Hadiprana.

Both the group and the resort are named after the late Hendra Hadiprana, an Indonesian architect and designer behind properties such as the InterContinental Bali Resort and the Legian Bali as […]

Vietnam’s booming domestic tourism a growing market force

Vietnam’s industry players should look to tap into the rapidly growing segment of high-spending domestic tourists which remains a key driver of growth in the country’s travel sector, claim hoteliers.

As Vietnam’s middle-class continues to grow and rising levels of disposable income are spent on travel, domestic travel is rapidly on the rise.

Domestic tourism remains key driver of Vietnam’s tourism sector; Ti Top Island at Halong Bay, Vietnam pictured

According to figures from Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, domestic tourists increased by […]

Bali tops expanding villa rental market in APAC

The overall villa rental market in the Asia-Pacific region grew by 12% in the past two years, reaching a value of US$440 million, with an increase in villa supply across various destinations, a recent study has found.

According to the Asia Pacific Villa Rental Market Research 2019 report by Villa Finder, Bali remains the biggest market with over 4,000 villas, and has grown by 18% since 2017, reaching US$162.5 million. The Bali market is also getting increasingly competitive with a 34% […]

Swiss-Belhotel unveils major Vietnam expansion plans

Swiss-Belhotel International will be expanding its portfolio in Vietnam with a series of new hotels, resorts and residences in destinations all across the country.

Currently, the group operates one hotel in Vietnam, Swiss-Belresort Tuyen Lam, an elegant upscale retreat in the country’s Central Highlands.

But the Hong Kong-based hospitality company is now planning a significant expansion of its Vietnamese portfolio, with the target of launching at least 10 hotels and resorts in the next three to four years.

Destinations under consideration include key […]

Desa Potato Head, Potato Head’s creative village in Bali to soft launch next month

Desa Potato Head, Bali’s first creative village which has been marketed as a place where music, art, design, food, wellness and sustainability will collide, will soft open to the public next month.

The Desa (which means village in Indonesian) already includes Katamama and the brand’s landmark Beach Club. The final element of Akili’s decade-spanning project is the Creative Centre, designed in partnership with Rem Koolhaas-founded OMA and led by managing partner-architect David Gianotten.

Desa Potato Head will soft open to the public […]

Asian tourism players have little cause for concern despite slowing global economy

The global economy is in a challenging state, faced with the threat of ‘slowbalisation’, where the world is turning against globalisation, and rising geopolitical risks, according to Andrew Staples, global editorial director of the Economist Corporate Network, The Economist Intelligence Unit, who spoke at the inaugural SG Tourism Leaders Engagement Series last Tuesday.

“This is an age of anxiety, due to VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity),” Staples emphasised.

The Travel Corporation Asia’s Robin Yap and The Economist Corporate Network’s Andrew Staples in discussion […]