Sunday 31 March 2013
Guangzhou gets taste of W Hotels
<!–enpproperty 2013-04-01 11:02:15.0Caroline Berg in New YorkGuangzhou gets taste of W Hotels’ minimalist luxuryGuangzhou gets taste of W Hotels’ minimalist luxury1811048365Across Americas2@usa/enpproperty–>
The lobby of the W Hotel Guangzhou, which opened on Sunday, exemplifies the “vibrant tapestry” design throughout the hotel’s interior. Provided to China Daily by W Hotels Worldwide
Fifteen years after establishing its hip, minimalist brand, W Hotels Worldwide officially arrived on the Chinese mainland with Sunday’s opening of the W Hotel in Guangzhou.
The hotel, which has 317 rooms and suites, represents “a new style of modern luxury,” featuring cutting-edge architecture and interior design, according to the luxury chain’s owner, Starwood Hotels Corp. The newest W has a “vibrant tapestry” theme.
“One of the things I think makes it tapestry- or mosaic-like is the different interior designers we’ve used on the property,” said Brian Segrave, general manager of the new hotel in southern China. “There are fairly dramatic transitions when you go from one part of the hotel to the other.”
One of these is the entrance, which Segrave said provides guests a dramatic contrast when they exit the bustle of Guangzhou’s Pearl River New Town district and encounter a three-story, LED-illuminated waterfall. The “Wet Area”, which according to hotel management is designed with inspiration from Impressionist paintings, blends light and color in unusual ways.
“The sense of arrival is really pretty impressive,” Segrave said.
Also vying for visual dominance is a four-story bar suspended in a glass loft on one side of the hotel. Optical-fiber strands of light cascade down the inside of the translucent walls.
W Hotels Worldwide brought in a team of interior designers from New York, Toronto, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur to depict the ancient history of Guangzhou against a backdrop of a thoroughly modern commercial city.
The asymmetrical black hotel, which features architectural cutouts and bright glass highlights, is near China’s tallest building, Canton Tower.
One reason that W Hotels, whose first property was in New York in 1998, has sought to imprint the boutique brand on China is growing interest from Chinese outbound travelers, said Charlie Dang, the company’s regional vice-president of operations for Greater China.
“These travelers usually stay in hotels they are familiar with,” he said. “We have W hotels all over the world now, so it gives them the choice of whether they want to stay within the brand of their preference.”
Guangzhou is the first of five W hotels set to open in the Chinese mainland in coming years. Three – in Beijing, Shanghai and Changsha – are scheduled for 2014, while the W Suzhou is planned for 2017. The Chinese locations are nearly half of the 11 hotels in the Asia-Pacific region that the New York-based company plans to open by 2018.
Although Dang said it was mostly a coincidence that Guangzhou became the first Chinese mainland city with a link in the W chain, the city provides a suitable entry point. Many multinational and Chinese companies have operations there, and there are plenty of high-end malls, cultural treasures and fine restaurants.
A challenge Dang encountered in expanding to China was finding high-quality building materials and methods. Even more daunting, he said, was getting Chinese developers to understand the W vibe, which the company describes as “a holistic lifestyle experience that is integrated into the brand’s sensibility through contemporary restaurant concepts, glamorous entertainment experiences, stylish retail concepts, signature spas and inspiring residences”.
“We had to ensure that [the developers] understood, before they actually decided to build, that the W Hotel is not a traditional luxury hotel,” Dang said. “Each W has a story to tell based on the local environment, but the whole concept of cutting-edge design and the ‘Whatever/Whenever’ service philosophy remain the same.”
The first W in Asia opened in 2004, in South Korea’s capital, Seoul. With this weekend’s opening in Guangzhou, the region now has nine hotels and retreats – in Thailand (two), Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Maldives and Hong Kong.
“When I took my first step into a W hotel, I was amazed,” Dang said of his initial experience in Taipei. “I said, ‘Oh, the excitement is inside the hotel!’ It just woke me up, like someone gave me a shot in my arm.”
carolineberg@chinadailyusa.com
Guangzhou gets taste of W Hotels
Saturday 30 March 2013
Following The Smart Money In Asia
Follow the money. It’s a old saying in investing that’s never made a lot of sense as it often means following the latest fad and ultimately buying high and selling low. So I’m going to propose an amendment and urge you to ”follow the smart money”. By this I mean that you should study what businessmen and investors with long, successful track records are doing with their money. And possibly invest alongside of them. Unlike most investors who feel they have to chase returns to get rich, these people are already wealthy and can pick and choose which asset classes to invest in. Given this freedom, they are often attracted to assets which offer value relative to other assets. It pays to know what these people are buying and selling.
Which brings me to an important development in Asia this year. It’s become clear that many real estate investors in Hong Kong and Singapore are cashing out of property. These investors are among Asia’s wealthiest and they’re starting to exit their favourite asset. If this implies that property in Hong Kong and Singapore is close to peaking, as I suspect it does, then it has negative implications for the economies and stock markets of both cities. On a longer time horizon though, a re-balancing away from property as the primary driver of wealth generation could well prove beneficial.
Investors selling property assets
I’ve been hearing a lot of anecdotes about insiders selling out of real estate, especially in Hong Kong. So an article in The Wall Street Journal this week entitled “Big players cash out of Hong Kong property” naturally caught my eye.
The article points to a wave of property initial public offerings (IPOs) about to hit the market. The sellers include New World Development, a large conglomerate, which is hoping to raise US$1 billion in an offering of some of its hotels. Another big Hong Kong conglomerate, Hopewell Holdings, wants to raise up to US$800 million in an offering of some of its (unspecified) properties. Also, Great Eagle Holdings, owner of The Langham Hotel chain, is hoping to raise US$800 million from selling off hotels in Hong Kong.
It comes after Hong Kong residential property prices increased 120% over the past four years, while commercial property prices rose 90% during the same period. It also follows the Hong Kong government introducing more draconian measures to limit property price rises. In February, the government increased stamp duty on residential property purchases by 2x to up to 8.5%.
Hong Kong isn’t alone in witnessing an increasing number of real estate IPOs. Singapore has seen a similar pattern this year. There’s more to come as Indonesian billionaires, the Riady family, is planning to raise US$800 million in an IPO of its Singapore hotels.
Similar to Hong Kong, Singapore has struggled to bring property prices under control. Recently, the government there introduced its seventh measure – including increased stamp duty and higher down payment requirements – in the past two years to curb price rises. Residential housing prices in Singapore have started to stabilise but they’re still up 59% since bottoming in the second quarter of 2009.
Reasons for cashing out
It’s not difficult to understand the motives behind the real estate investors who are selling. The property bubbles in Hong Kong and Singapore have been fuelled by three factors:
- Money printed in the West has found a home in tangible growth assets in Asia. This has been particularly the case for Hong Kong, which pegs its currency to the U.S. dollar. This has resulted in Hong Kong money market rates closely tracking those of the U.S. even when domestic conditions diverge. This has meant significantly negative real rates (interest rates well below inflation), often a central driver to property bubbles.
- Chinese growth has also aided the bubble. Chinese investors wanting to diversify their assets outside of China have found their way to Hong Kong, Singapore and, of course, many other places.
- Governments, principally in Hong Kong, have been timid in addressing the price rises. Increasing social tensions, brought on by asset bubbles primarily benefiting the rich, have forced them to act more decisively.
The savvy real estate investors now cashing out know that the tailwinds which have driven property prices to their recent highs could easily turn in future. It’s clear that governments in Hong Kong and Singapore are becoming more concerned with property price rises and are willing to act to curb them. Also, quantitative easing (QE) won’t last forever. When QE goes, a key driving factor behind Asia’s property bubble will disappear. Finally, Chinese economic growth of +8% can’t be counted on from here on. Regular readers will know my bearish views on China’s economy in the near-term. The wealth investors exiting property may share the same concerns.
More importantly, these investors most probably realise that better value can be found elsewhere. All segments of property in Hong Kong and Singapore are undoubtedly expensive. The Economist magazine suggests they are the world’s second and third most expensive residential property markets on a price-to-rent basis, 69% and 57% overvalued versus long-term averages respectively.
In Hong Kong, the average residential property rental yield is close to 3%. Effectively, you’re paying a 33x price-to-earnings ratio for Hong Kong property. That compares to the 11x that you’ll pay for the average Hong Kong stock.
The investors exiting local property would also be able to see the much better rental yields offered outside of Asia, in the likes of the U.S.. There, they can get yields of +6% in a less frothy market and where debt is still very cheap.
Where they’ll put their money
The obvious question is: where will the real estate investors put their excess cash? The obvious answer is that they may switch from expensive property segments into less expensive ones in their home countries. Thus in Hong Kong, residential property appears among the more expensive. A switch into commercial property may make sense, particularly as upcoming supply is relatively limited. This switch is what property experts such as Colliers are betting on. This theory has some credibility. After all, property investors know property and switching between different segments would be within their comfort zones.
But I think any switch would be limited. As mentioned earlier, much of the selling by real estate insiders is in commercial property. They’re clearly not bullish on this segment either. Moreover, they’d know that if property rolls over on the residential side, it would impact the economy. Particularly in Hong Kong, where property contributes about 18% to GDP. Commercial property is very sensitive to economic conditions and would suffer if this scenario took place.
Another potential place to park the cash raised by real estate sales is in the stock market. Morgan Stanley strategist, Jonathan Garner, has taken a slightly different angle to raise the possibility of the Hang Seng Index (Hong Kong’s main stock index) reaching 50,000 by 2015 (it’s currently 22,300). Garner suggests that the Hang Seng Index has significantly lagged Hong Kong residential property prices, when historically they’ve been closely correlated (unsurprising given the importance of property to Hong Kong’s economy). He argues the stock market is due to play catch up.
My problem with this argument is that stocks may not play catch up, but property prices could fall instead. This would, inturn, heavily impact the stock market.
It depends on what you believe is more likely: a rise in stocks or a fall in property prices. My bet is on the latter and given the recent sales by real estate investors, they may well be in the same camp.
If not stocks or other property segments within their home countries, then where will the real estate investors put their money? I think overseas property markets are a fair bet.
My wife, who manages a portfolio of hotel assets for one of Australia’s largest property developers, tells me that Singapore companies have been large investors in Australia of late. Frasers Centrepoint is involved in building a massive US$2.1 billion mixed use development near the main train station in Sydney’s central business district. Recently, Ascendas Group bought a US$572 million hotel fund managed by Australia’s Mirvac Group. Far East Orchard is forming JVs to development its hotel business in Australia. And K-Reit has partnered with Mirvac in two office developments to date.
It’s clear form this that the trend of Asian real estate investors looking overseas for better opportunities has already begun. Australia is attractive to some given the low cost of debt and decent yield on offer. I would expect the U.S. and other less bubbly markets than Australia to attract more attention from investors in future.
What if property’s best days are behind it?
There’s a larger question that probably hasn’t been considered as much by the wealthy Asian property investors. And that is whether property in Hong Kong and Singapore may be close to topping out not just for a few years, but for a decade or more? Given the overvaluation of property in these markets, this possibility can’t be ruled out.
The reason that I raise this is because it would have far-reaching consequences. Asians are known to have an abiding love for property. Many suggest that it’s because property is tangible, unlike money that you put in the bank or into the stock market. I think that like the western world prior to 2008, property has realised incredible gains for investors in Hong Kong and Singapore over the past 40 years. And that’s what they’ve fallen in love with.
Consider that two-thirds of Hong Kong’s 50 wealthiest people have made their money primarily in real estate. It’s an extraordinary statistic.
No asset goes up forever though and property tends to move in very long cycles. What if we are close to the start of a major long-term downturn? (a downturn doesn’t have to mean declining prices as even stable prices will result large losses in inflation-adjusted terms). What if property isn’t the key driver to wealth in the likes of Hong Kong anymore? And what if the two-thirds of Hong Kong’s 50 wealthiest people from a real estate background, becomes one-third in ten year’s time?
Many people in Hong Kong and Singapore could never imagine some of these things happening. But I’d suggest they’re inevitable at some stage. It’s a matter of when, not if.
Such an occurrence would have some significant silver linings though. There’s little doubt that a declining or flat property market for a long period of time would have a significant impact on the economies of Hong Kong and Singapore. But I’d argue that it would be a healthy adjustment that may better balance their economies over time. Being over-reliant on one sector is never healthy.
Property’s downfall may also prove beneficial to other asset classes, such stocks and bonds. Knight Frank estimates that Asia’s wealthiest have 31% of their net worth tied up in property, compared to 16% in Europe, for instance. And they only have 15% of their wealth in stocks. A long-term shift towards stocks may make more sense, particularly when the economies of their home countries become less dependent on property asset appreciation.
Finally, less wealth coming from property would mean more wealth coming from other sectors. The wealthiest citizens may come more from manufacturing or other service industries. They’re likely to be less attracted to buying property than the current batch of real estate investors. That could prove a boon for stocks and the still under-developed Asian bond markets.
This post was originally published at Asia Confidential: http://asiaconf.com/
Following The Smart Money In Asia
Friday 29 March 2013
Taichung"s first 5-star hotel offers luxury deals
TAIPEI, Taiwan – Millennium Vee Hotel Taichung, the first five-star hotel in the city, will kick off several package services, including parties, spa treatment and delicacies to attract customers in the biggest city of Central Taiwan, the hotel announced yesterday.
From April 1 to May 31, hotel guests can enjoy package services including spa, luxury accommodation and a five-star buffet breakfast at special prices. Beginning now the hotel will also offer early-bird discounts for people who book a room at least seven days before the accommodation date.
On March 31, the hotel will hold an Easter party with Soluna – All Day Dining, with extravagant buffet at breakfast and lunch. Seasonal celebrations for this party include an egg-hunt competition, chocolate showcased in the shape of spring-themed items, and gourmet Chinese and Western food.
On April 24, the Full Moon Party, another theme activity, will take place in Taiwan’s only open-air bar, an exclusive attraction of the five-star hotel. Partygoers dressed in vampire and werewolf costumes will be given a free glass of wine.
In addition to the spa and theme events, the luxury hotel will also provide sumptuous food and the menu will change every week, with multiple choices for delicacies of all kinds.
The luxury hotel opened on March 5 and the opening ceremony was attended by Taichung Mayor Jason Hu and several heavyweight figures of local industries.
Located in the prestigious seventh rezoned district of Taichung City, the hotel is jointly operated by Taichung-based Markwell Group and the Millennium Copthorne Hotels of Singapore.
Taichung"s first 5-star hotel offers luxury deals
Photo Essay: Every Sunday
Wherever you are, everyone is one under the sun when it comes to having fun on one’s day off. Singapore’s foreign workers are no exception. Indians, Bangladeshis, Thais, Indonesians, Burmese, and Filipinos stake out their spots at the Kallang Riverside Park in Singapore which, with its shady trees and wide open spaces, has become a Sunday destination for them.
Photographer Edward Teo documents their days off, view his pictures here.
Photo Essay: Every Sunday
Thursday 28 March 2013
D-Link India CEO awarded APELA Award 2013
At the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Enterprise Leadership Awards (APELA) 2013 held in Marina Bay Sands – Singapore, Tushar Sighat, CEO, D-Link (India) was awarded with an honorary mention under ‘Build to Last’ category.
Tushar was recognized for demonstrating exemplary leadership skills and unparalleled vision for company’s growth.
Elated on receiving this honor, Tushar Sighat, CEO, D-Link (India) said, “This is indeed a proud moment for me and everyone at D-Link, as this is the outcome of a prodigious team effort. Being recognized on a global platform like this and to be evaluated by panelists that consist of distinguished global academicians is truly motivating.”
For the past year and a half we have worked rigorously towards enhancing D-Link’s business in India SAARC region, and such accomplishments inspire one to continue with the good work added Sighat.
Over 155 nominations from across the region was received, that was evaluated by the AP-EC International Judging Panel present at the awards, made up by Dr Martin Manning, Dr Ian Wilkinson, Dr Yoshio Okunishi, Dr Sanjay Jain, Dr Peter Kutnick, Professor Zhong Xin, To Kim Lien, and Kon Ying Tong.
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D-Link India CEO awarded APELA Award 2013
Wednesday 27 March 2013
Singapore"s hotels par excellence
SINGAPORE – Ever wondered what gives a hotel its five- star rating? Or how many 5-star hotels there are in Singapore?
Wonder no more as the recently released Forbes Travel Guide 2013 Star Awards shows that, for the first time, three hotels in Singapore have received a 5-star rating from the “Oscars” of the travel industry.
Founded in 1958 as Mobil Travel Guide, the Forbes Travel Guide is recognised as the gold standard for hospitality excellence due to its rigorous selection process.
The Singapore recipients of the highest accolade in the hospitality industry – Capella Singapore, The Fullerton Bay Hotel and Mandarin Oriental – were among 76 luxury hotels around the world to be recognised for fulfilling the award’s criteria of having strengths in both “hardware” and “software”.
Traditionally, hotels here are rated by the Singapore Hotel Association according to their “hardware” only, which refers to the physical amenities and standard services that the hotel boasts, including the number of rooms and facilities such as swimming pools, 24-hour room service and 24-hour reception.
The prestigious Forbes Travel Guide awards, though, also considers the “software” aspects, including the level and extent of personalised services that the hotel provides.
Among other things, hotels are judged on how long it takes for a guest to be greeted at the restaurant entrance, escorted to the table and provided with chair assistance; the ability of the staff to offer thoughtful and creative suggestions when asked for a menu recommendation; the ability of the server to discuss details of menu items and beverages, including basic ingredients and preparation methods; and the total time that service took.
Other criteria focus on the restaurant menu, which must be presented in pristine condition, free of stains and water spots and not dog-eared, as well as whether service stations, the bar counter and back bar area are always neatly maintained and appealing to the eye.
Hotels are also gauged on their ability to communicate with their guests and so the criteria include telephone greeting and conversation, which must be calm and clear; the guest is always asked permission before being placed on hold or recording; and that no telephone call should hold longer than 30 seconds without offering call back.
Other customer service qualities a hotel is evaluated on include how long the registration process took, whether the staff smiles readily and maintains an engaging expression, and if the staff member makes eye contact and keeps focused on the guest and exhibits a genuine sense of interest and concern for the guest’s satisfaction.
Michael Cascone, president and chief operating officer of Forbes Travel Guide, said: “The Forbes Travel Guide Annual Star Awards represent the best in class in luxury hospitality.
Singapore"s hotels par excellence
Garden of hi-tech trees
The giant trees at Gardens By The Bay in Singapore remind Izwan Ismail of the movie Avatar, minus the creatures
AS the sun sets, the giant concrete trees at Gardens By The Bay in Singapore come to life with a colourful display of LED lights and sounds.
It’s a sight not to be missed by those passing by the bayfront area near Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino in Singapore. The uniquely-designed hi-tech superstructures, 18 altogether, are part of a landscaping project by the Singapore Government to gather and display varieties of plant and flower species especially those from around the region.
SUPER STRUCTURE
These supertrees are tall at 25-50m high and they feature large unique canopies that look like tree branches but without leaves.
Walking among them make me feel really small and reminds me of the movie, Avatar, especially at night when the trunks and branches are lit with colourful LED lights.
There is a suspended 128m long walkway between two of the larger supertrees, giving visitors a bird’s eye view of the area.
Since it was opened to the public in the middle of last year, the place has become a huge attraction for both locals and tourists.
PLACE TO GO
While it can be too hot to walk around in the afternoon, despite the shades, the place becomes cooler in the evenings. It’s a good venue for strolling and jogging then and in the early morning. Just make sure that you have the stamina to walk. Wear suitable shoes as it is a huge park.
However, there are some nice and cosy eateries as well as bars where visitors can take a rest from their walk.
These supertrees are not just concrete and lights, but also a truly vertical garden. The big trunks are covered with live plants — 162,900 plants comprising more than 200 species and varieties of bromeliads, orchids, ferns and tropical flowering climbers which are planted on the supertrees.
The areas surrounding the trees are also planted with various species of flora, all labelled with a brief description.
The trees mimic the ecological functions of real trees through environmentally sustainable features. Some have photovoltaic cells on their canopies to harvest solar energy to provide light at night while others are integrated with cooled conservatories and serve as air exhaust receptacles.
PHOTOGRAPHY HEAVEN
For those who are into photography, the area is a pretty sight to test out your shooting skills, especially night photography.
With the majestic Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino in the background and the bayfront and Singapore Flyer in the distance, the supertrees offer you breathtaking night photos and at sunset too.
There is no entrance fee but you have to pay for other attractions such as the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest.
GETTING THERE
The supertrees area is accessible by car and public transportation such as MRT, bus and taxi. You can walk from the Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino.
If you’re taking the MRT, alight at Bayfront MRT station and if you are coming from Marina Bay Sands, walk across the Lions Bridge on level 4, which connects to the Dragonfly Bridge, into Bay South Garden.
There are ample car parks too.
Shoot in the dark
NIGHT photography can be challenging but if you know the proper way to do it, it can be rewarding. The pictures of the supertrees featured here can be captured easily if one knows the correct way of doing it.
Many make the common mistake of not using a tripod when taking pictures of lighted structures or buildings at night and most will just use the Auto mode.
This results in shaky pictures as the camera will normally take a few seconds to capture scenes in a darker environment and your hand is not steady enough to hold it for more than a couple of seconds.
What you need is a tripod and to switch your camera mode to manual (M). A dSLR camera or more advanced point-and-shoot will have the manual function.
Once you place the camera on the tripod, make sure that everything is tight and that the camera will not move even if you point it upwards. Also make sure the tripod is placed on a solid surface — concrete floor, tarmac, pavement, etc.
Turn the mode dial to M and set the shutter speed to about 10-20 seconds, depending on the brightness of the surrounding area. Adjust the aperture opening to between f10 and f16.
Once this is set, don’t press the shutter with your finger. Use the timer instead as this will minimise any possible movement.
When the camera clicks, do not touch it until you hear another click sound and the picture appears on the LCD screen.
Take several pictures and then make adjustments to the shutter speed and aperture until you get the pictures that you want.
At night, the supertrees come to live with their colourful LED lights display. pictures by izwan ismail
The supertrees area is a photographer’s heaven.
The bridge linking two of the bigger trees.
The Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino and the Singapore Flyer are part of the Gardens by the Bay background.
Garden of hi-tech trees
Tuesday 26 March 2013
iBooknow.com Announces Best Hotel Deals And Hotel Discount Reservation ...
If you are looking for Singapore hotel discount reservation rates to go on a Singaporean Shopping Spree iBooknow.com has some great rooms for you. We not only have very affordable booking deals for Singapore, but we are also proud of our no hidden charges instant booking confirmation policy.
iBooknow.com invites all travelers to come and shop till you drop in sensational Singapore. Famous the world over for its great shops, malls and arcades Singapore is a shopaholic’s dream come true, and its tax free too.
Whatever the time of the year come to Singapore and take advantage of the shopping and the sales. Be overwhelmed by the magnitude of choices for world-class shopping malls, centers and outlet stores which offer you an eclectic selection of shopping choices. Singapore is synonymous with shopping and no one leaves empty-handed after availing themselves of the great tax-free prices and bargains galore.
Tax free? Yes, for tourists who qualify, and that is most everyone, your Singaporean shopping spree is tax-free with the government’s Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme incentive. Foreign tourists in Singapore can request a refund on the 7% Goods and Services Tax (GST) paid on all their purchases made at participating retail shops when departing from Singapore. Shoppers need only spend SGD100 (80 USD/62 EUR) or more to qualify. A handling fee for the refund service may be deducted from the GST amount. Tourists may apply for their GST refund at the departure hall of Changi International Airport and Seletar Airport. For information on the tourist’s eligibility criteria and conditions of the scheme, please visit http://www.iras.gov.sg.
Here is a list of Shopping Malls in Singapore:
- 313@somerset
- Bugis Junction
- Centrepoint
- Changi Airport Singapore
- City Square Mall
- Delfi Orchard
- Far East Shopping Centre
- FestiveWalk™
- Funan Digitalife Mall Funan Digitalife Mall
- Golden Mile Complex
- ION Orchard
- Joo Chiat Complex
- Knightsbridge
- Mandarin Gallery Mandarin Gallery
- Marina Square
- Mustafa Centre
- Ngee Ann City
- Orchard Central
- Palais Renaissance
- Paragon
- Park Mall Park Mall
- Plaza Singapura
- Raffles City Shopping Centre
- Scotts Square
- Suntec City Mall Suntec City Mall
- Tanglin Shopping Centre
- The Heeren
- The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands®
- VivoCity
- Wisma Atria
Orchard Road has been the center of shopping in Singapore for decades but remember that Singapore is a cultural melting pot and if you are the kind of shopper that enjoys cultural shopping, then checkout the shopping in these neighborhoods. iBooknow.com is assured you’ll find a variety of ethnic products, jewelry, textiles, antiques and more:
- Chinatown
- Holland Village
- Kampong Glam
- Little India
If you’re a true fashionista and shopping is just not enough for you coming up soon will be the annual AFX gathering between May 13th and 19th. AFX aims to position Singapore as Asia’s leading fashion hub, consisting of the Asia Fashion Summit (AFS), Star Creation Designer Competition, Blueprint trade show and the Audi Fashion Festival (AFF), AFX aims to enhance Singapore’s fashion industry through showcasing Asia’s talent.
Go to iBooknow.com and plan your Singapore Tax-free Shopping Spree now.
About iBooknow.com
iBooknow.com was established in 2008 as a one-stop destination for people wishing to book holidays and business trips around the globe. iBooknow.com offers a wide range of services to our customers, including discounted hotel bookings, car hire and exclusive promotional pricing not found anywhere else through our industry network and partnerships.
From the start, iBooknow.com has always been more than just a travel site. The staff at iBooknow.com care deeply about the reputation of the company, and they will always go the extra mile to ensure that you have a great stay as you travel around the world.
Unlike other travel sites, the prices that iBooknow.com offers include all fees and charges up front. With iBooknow.com, what you see is what you get. iBooknow.com will always make sure that you are getting the cheapest possible room rates, so there is no need to trawl through dozens of sites to find the best available deal.
iBooknow.com has continually grown and progressed to servicing a worldwide clientele who travels globally, but they still treat every customer as if they were a guest in their home. iBooknow.com’s experience servicing traveler’s needs and requests is philosophically local, but global in scope. Travel and Hospitality are their passions.
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iBooknow.com Announces Best Hotel Deals And Hotel Discount Reservation ...
What"s on: Tuesday"s top picks from ST Life!
LE NOIR
This jaw-dropping spectacle of Le Noir – The Intimate Side Of Cirque features performers formerly from Cirque du Soleil. Fast-paced, funny and entertaining, the show explores emotions through colours.
Where: Marina Bay Sands, Mastercard Theatre MRT: Bayfront When: Till Fri, 8pm (Tue – Fri), 7 10.30pm Admission: $38 – $138 Tel: 6688-8826 Info: www.baseentertainmentasia.com www.marinabaysands.com/ticketing
For full listings, go to ST Communities.
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What"s on: Tuesday"s top picks from ST Life!
Monday 25 March 2013
‘Solaire’ Sets the Bar High for Integrated Resorts in Manila
March 26, 2013 by cd
If Macau has “The Sands,” Las Vegas has “Venetian” and Singapore has “Marina Bay Sands,” the Philippines can now boast of a world-class resort casino complex called “Solaire,” a French term meaning “the breeze from the sun,” located at the Manila bay area, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.
While the Philippines is now an emerging prime travel and leisure destination in Asia, the government is committed to create a multi-billion dollar leisure and entertainment zone that will entice more tourists to visit the country.
The place is called “Entertainment City,” a multi-billion dollar project that spans 961,937 square meters at the bay area of Paranaque City plus 141,250 square meters at the Aseana Business Park and Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City.
Four world-class integrated resort complexes are set to rise at this highly-anticipated entertainment district and each one has a minimum production cost of $1 billion to develop tourist attractions that will rival the best leisure hubs in the Asian region.
The first one to break ground is the 8.3 hectare five star integrated resort complex called “Solaire.” It’s a project of renowned Filipino businessman Enrique Razon in partnership with Global Gaming Asset Management (GGAM), the company which has played an integral role in the evolution of integrated resorts throughout the world and known for marvelous projects like “The Sands” in Macau and “Marina Bay Sands” in Singapore.
“Solaire” opened its doors to thousands of anticipating locals and tourists last March 16, 2013. Being one of those who witnessed the event, I must say that it was very successful. The architectural and interior components of the casino, the restaurants and the hotel are quite impressive. The design is cohesive, all of them complementing the Manila Bay vistas and the radiant sun, hence its name.
LOBBY
The architecturally stunning lobby is highlighted by a glass ceiling, and Asian-inspired facades, intriguing art-pieces, and indigenous landscaping.
CASINO
The vibrant outdoor-themed casino offers more than a thousand of the latest slot machines and nearly 300 of all-time favorite table games including Baccarat, Roulette, Blackjack, and Money Wheel. Aside from the floral appliques and other interior marvels, the use of natural light in this area provides an ambiance of excitement.
RESTAURANTS
Fine dining in Manila, on the other hand, is being redefined by Solaire’s signature restaurants headed by world-renowned chefs. Each one features stylish interiors and exquisite cuisine. The four signature restaurants are:
Strip Steakhouse – This restaurant offers prime cut meats from USA, Australia and Europe and lavish selection of seafood. It also boasts of over 3,000 bottles of the world’s finest wines on its glass-covered cellar.
Red Lantern – This restaurant offers authentic Cantonese dim sum, sea food and other Cantonese delicacies. It features 5 private dining rooms perfect for small or big celebrations and special family gatherings.
Yakumi – As what the name suggests, this restaurant offers the finest Japanese cuisine. It has a sushi and robatayaki counter and large selection of sakes managed by a sommelier.
Finestra – For those who are craving for authentic Italian food, this restaurant is the perfect place. It serves classic Italian pasta and pizza made of the finest ingredients imported from Italy. It also offers an Antipasto buffet for lunch.
And for those who’s just into casual dining, there’s “Fresh,” an international buffet served daily for breakfast, lunch or dinner; “Lucky Noodles” for those who are craving for Asian comfort food; and the “Food Court” which features six food stations that offer an array of Asian and Western quick-serve choices.
BARS AND LOUNGES
Looking for places to unwind? Then check out Solaire’s three exciting bars and lounges:
Eclipse – A bar with pulsating atmosphere and an innovative cocktail list. It features live entertainment every night.
Dragon Bar – With the magnificent dragon centerpiece which was made of 84,000 crystals, this bar is the excellent venue to see and be seen. It offers light breakfast in the morning and pastries and finest collection of imported teas and coffees throughout the day.
Sunset Bar and Grill – This outdoor bar offers the resort vibe with its exclusive cabanas overlooking the Manila Bay.
BANQUETS
Soon to open is Solaire’s 1,470-square-meter grand ballroom which provides a modern, column-free space that can hold 1,200 guests.
HOTEL
For those who are looking for luxurious accommodations, Solaire features 500 beautifully appointed deluxe guest rooms, suites and bay side villas that offer every desired indulgence in elegant and comfortable setting. The 15-stories glass encased hotel tower reflects the hues of the nearby ocean.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
Opening soon is Solaire’s recreational facilities which feature an expansive 72-meter swimming pool, a fully-equipped spa and fitness center, a 24/7 spa which offers Hamam wet scrub in six single rooms and three couple rooms; a technogym equipment, an exercise room and a relaxing steam room.
Aside from all the elegant design and state-of-the-art amenities, Solaire also promotes the outstanding “Filipino Service” by hiring our Kababayans working in hotels and leisure hubs abroad and bringing them back in the country and let them work with similar compensation without leaving their families behind.
For more details about “Solaire Resort and Casino,” visit www.solairemanila.com, like their Facebook Page or follow them on Twitter.
‘Solaire’ Sets the Bar High for Integrated Resorts in Manila
Sunday 24 March 2013
Top 10 stopover hotel stays
Top 10 stopover hotel stays
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Best for resort relaxation: Capella Singapore, Singapore: Languishing on Sentosa Island, just a 15-minute taxi hop south of the city centre, Capella Singapore hotel in Singapore feels a relaxing world away. A tranquil resort, the 112-room heritage-modern hybrid has a graceful colonial building, art works dotted around the manicured grounds and a triple-tier pool with South China Sea views. (Courtesy Capella Singapore)
Best for gourmet dining: The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong: A day-spa with 113 contemporary guest rooms, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hong Kong gives good stopover. This stylish skyscraper is in the heart of Central’s retail district. After a hard day’s shopping, bag a table at two-Michelin-starred Amber restaurant, a gold-hued space where chef Richard Ekkebus whips up modern French cuisine. (Courtesy Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group)
Best for sports-meets-shopping: Desert Palm, Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The Desert Palm hotel in Dubai is sister to the Maldives’ Huvafen Fushi. This 38-room Italo-Arab urban retreat sprawls over a private polo estate. Saddle up at the riding school, play a game of tennis or soak up views of the polo fields from the lavish outdoor pool. Juggle bargain-hunting in the souks with holistic pampering at in-house spa Lime. (Courtesy Per AQUUM)
Best for a riverside retreat: The Siam, Bangkok, Thailand: The art-deco Siam hotel in Bangkok has a calm aura thanks to its riverside setting in the exclusive royal Dusit quarter. Boasting Bangkok’s only pool villas, it has 39 spacious boudoirs with a Thai cooking school, a Muay Thai kickboxing gym, screening room and Spa by Sodashi. (Courtesy The Siam, Bangkok)
Best for chilling out: Villa Samadhi, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A sanctuary in the capital’s leafy embassy enclave, Villa Samadhi hotel in Kuala Lumpur takes its name from the Sanskrit word for ‘journey’. There are 21 private rooms arranged around a curvy, central pool. In-house Mandi-Mandi restaurant serves Malay and Italian fare or the hotel can point you to its smart sister restaurants in town. (Courtesy Secret Retreats)
Best for city buzz: Dean Street Townhouse, London, England: The ultra-central Dean Street Townhouse hotel in Soho is in the middle of the action. Surrounded by a warren of happening cafés, bars and restaurants and tempting shopping, you can access all areas here, including theatres, museums and art galleries. With just 39 rooms, this hip haven also plays host to a very British brasserie, peppered with art works by Hirst, Emin and co. (Courtesy Soho House)
Best for rooftop romance: Petit Ermitage, Los Angeles: Just off Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, Petit Ermitage boutique hotel in Los Angeles brings bohemian romance to a sojourn in LA. Dine in the outdoor restaurant which doubles as a butterfly and hummingbird haven, watch the sunset from the deck by the outdoor fireplace or sip a mojito by the rooftop pool. The owner’s art collection adds drama to the 80 suites. (Courtesy Petit Ermitage)
Best for surf style: The Modern Honolulu, Honolulu: The Modern Honolulu boutique hotel near Waikiki Beach makes for a soft landing. Surfboards decorate the lobby and the 353 white rooms star ukuleles and vibrant sarongs. Hawaiian culture continues with Lomi Lomi spa massages and there are two pools. (Courtesy Modern Honolulu)
Best for intimate affairs: Hotel DeBrett, Auckland, New Zealand: The intimate 25-room Hotel DeBrett in Auckland , right in the CBD, is just a stroll from the best shopping, bar-cruising and island-hopping. Art deco goes Pop indoors, with rainbow-bright, stripy rugs, retro furniture and kooky bedheads. Outside, High Street hosts many of the best NZ fashion labels for smart souvenirs. (Courtesy Design Hotels)
Best for a hipster haven: Hôtel Americano, New York City: Hip Hôtel Americano in New York is just a hop from artsy Chelsea. This 56-room hot spot is a hit with the fashion set. Bedrooms have a minimal ryokan feel, with sleek, low-rise platform beds and there is an edgy rooftop pool and bar. (Courtesy Design Hotels)
Spending a night between destinations in a stopover city and need a place to stay? Online boutique hotel experts Mr Mrs Smith have come up with 10 hotels for a memorable stopover.
Have you ever had an overnight layover?
Top 10 stopover hotel stays
Saturday 23 March 2013
Fly me to the dunes
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Travel
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March 24, 2013
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Stunning: Dubai mall fountains. Photo: Getty Images
With Dubai set to become the next great stopover destination, David Whitley offers this user’s guide.
Why Dubai, why now? The old kangaroo route via Singapore is dead – long live the new joey route through Dubai. From next Sunday, Qantas is routing its European flights through the Gulf megacity. This means Qantas passengers on the flights from Sydney (QF1 and QF2) and Melbourne (QF9 and QF10) to London will have to get used to a brief layover in Dubai.
It’s all part of Qantas’s move to jilt long-term partner British Airways and hook up with the younger, more attractive Emirates.
Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Photo: Getty Images
This is great news for anyone wanting to go to Europe without having to change planes in London. Qantas passengers can fly to Dubai, then seamlessly switch on a codeshare to one of 33 European airports that Emirates flies to. These include old favourites such as Rome, Amsterdam and Paris, but also the likes of Glasgow, Lisbon and Warsaw.
However, if you want to break that journey, your stopover is going to be in Dubai …
OK, show me around …
A boat on the canal by the Burj al Arab hotel. Photo: Getty Images
The city runs along the coast, north-east to south-west. The older, historical part is in the north-east, based around Dubai Creek – a rather feeble pseudo-river. Most heritage attractions can be found in Deira and Bur Dubai, the areas surrounding it. These are also the down-to-earth, occasionally rough-and-ready parts, given a multicultural vibe by the Asian and African guest workers and immigrants living there. The New Dubai sprawls beyond for about 30 kilometres – and this is the glitzy, show reel side. At the water’s edge, you have the Jumeirah Beach strip, backed up by the high-rise Dubai Marina and the Palm Islands – the ludicrous palm-shaped land-reclamation project. Inland (and closer to Bur Dubai) are the international business hubs and the new Downtown district.
Dubai’s full of absurdly OTT stuff, right?
Oh heavens yes. Downtown has the Burj Khalifa (burjkhalifa.ae) – at 829.8 metres, it’s the tallest building in the world. Save the 124th floor observation deck for a sandstorm-free day. That’s next to the world’s biggest dancing fountains show and the world’s biggest shopping mall. The Dubai Mall (thedubaimall.com) manages to fit a multistorey aquarium inside with ample room to spare. Not to be outdone, the Mall of the Emirates (malloftheemirates.com) has its own indoor ski slope.
Get me out of the malls — where can I get a cultural fix?
Most of the cultural highlights are clustered around the Creek. The pedestrianised Bastakiya quarter is brimming with traditional wind tower-topped buildings and art galleries. The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (+971 4 353 6666; cultures.ae) offers fascinating walking tours of Bastakiya and the creekside areas, as well as visits to the Jumeirah Mosque.
The Dubai Museum (+971 4 353 1862) inside the Al Fahidi Fort offers good insights into Dubai’s rapid-fire transition from tiny desert trading town to global supercity. But you’re best off getting a taxi (about AED50 ($13.10 – from Bur Dubai) to neighbouring emirate Sharjah. The Contemporary Art Museum and Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation are the kings of a 16-strong cultural collection (sharjahmuseums.ae).
And something that’s plain good fun?
Dubai is built on the desert, and the proper red dunes aren’t far out of the city. Arabian Adventures (+971 4 343 9966, arabian-adventures.com) runs a range of great four-wheel-drive dune-bashing tours. Waterparks are Wild Wadi (+971 4 348 4444; jumeirah.com/en/Hotels-and-Resorts/Wild-Wadi) and Aquaventure (+971 4 426 0000; http://www.atlantisthepalm.com/default.aspx). The Dubai Ferry (rta.ae) is basically a cruise – but the two routes offer great opportunities to gawp at the skyline.
Where should I stay?
Opulent luxury is what Dubai does best, with most of the plush resorts gathered around Jumeirah Beach, Dubai Marina and the Palm Jumeirah. Of these, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel (+971 4 348 0000; jumeirah.com) is the family favourite – its excellent beach, huge pool complex and extensive kids’ club activities are complemented by free entry to the neighbouring Wild Wadi waterpark. Expect to pay from AED1144 a night.
Couples will prefer the unfathomably beautiful One and Only Royal Mirage (+971 4 399 9999; royalmirage.oneandonlyresorts.com; from AED1263) to fulfil lavish Arabian Nights-style fantasies on top of great dining and the VIP treatment.
There are plenty of good high-end options in the Downtown area around Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa, too – but you may as well go for the beach resorts if you’re splashing out.
Solid, less expensive options within a shopping bag’s hurl of Dubai Mall include Al Murooj Rotana (+971 4 321 1111; rotana.com; from AED576) and the Thai-themed Dusit Thani (+971 4 343 3333; dusit.com; from AED480).
And if I’m on a budget?
The bad news is that Dubai is an expensive place to stay. The low season rates above can double in the November to February peak season. Rates at the apartment hotels that cluster around the Bur Dubai area tend to be more stable, however. Most have spacious, perfectly decent but unexciting rooms, free wi-fi and cooking facilities.
The numerous Golden Sands Apartments (+971 4 355 5553; goldensandsdubai.com) are classic examples, and are available from AED360 a night.
Be wary of bargain options in Deira – many hotels there have the emphasis on the “ho”. A gorgeous exception is the Ahmedia Heritage Guest House (+971 4 225 0085; ahmediaguesthouse.com/hotel.aspx; from AED330). Occupying a traditional Arabic building around a central courtyard, the combo of antique furniture and lovingly-detailed charm is a winner.
Where should I eat?
For the experience, head up the Burj Khalifa for high tea at At.mosphere (+971 4 888 3444; atmosphereburjkhalifa.com), the highest restaurant in the world. Dubai is also big on outposts of celebrity chef empires. Rhodes Mezzanine (+971 4 399 8888, grosvenorhouse-dubai.com) at the Grosvenor House is the pick of these because Gary Rhodes is regularly in the kitchen.
Of the home-grown, non-chain options, Table 9 (+971 4 212 7551; table9dubai.com) at the Hilton Dubai Creek is the biggest treat.
For affordable dining, ditch the hotel restaurants and venture into often shabby-looking joints that cover the world from Sri Lanka to Somalia. Lebanese restaurants are usually the safest bet – huge grilled meat platters with absurdly large accompanying salads are standard fare. To properly explore the best examples of dishes from Iran, Jordan, Yemen and more, however, do yourself a favour and book in for the brilliant evening foodie walking tours with Frying Pan Adventures (fryingpan adventures.com).
And if I fancy a drink?
Dubai does a terrible job of pretending to be booze-free. But you can only get alcoholic drinks inside bars attached to hotels – and prices are steep. For ultra-showy cocktails with a view, hit the Skyview bar (+971 4 301 7600; jumeirah.com) at the Burj Al Arab. Perhaps pass on the AED4950 Diamonds Are Forever concoction of gold and century-old cognac. Barasti (+971 4 318 1313; barastibeach.com) at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi in Dubai Marina is a big party joint, while the Double Decker inside Al Murooj Rotana is an expat favourite.
Is it worth extending my credit card limit?
If shopping’s your thing, Dubai’s malls will sell you pretty much everything you want. By global standards, the bargains on offer are perhaps overplayed – designer goods can be found for similar prices in most hot shopping cities. But compared to prices in Australia, it’s an oversize cavalcade of steals. The souks straddling the Creek in Bur Dubai and Deira offer a more local feel, but stalls flogging Chinese-made tat are creeping in. The hundreds of sparkling shops in the gold souk are the true shopper’s highlight – serious jewellery bargains are available if you’re prepared to barter.
Am I going to get arrested for something ridiculous?
Despite the scare stories, generally if you get arrested in Dubai you probably deserve it. Work to a “don’t be a goose” principle, and you’ll probably be fine.
Culturally insensitive behaviour isn’t necessarily illegal. But keep swimwear for the beach and pool, pick something a bit less fleshy than hot pants for a trip to the mall, and avoid public displays of lusty affection. Homosexuality is illegal – public displays of affection particularly applies to same-sex couples.
Is it going to be unbearably hot?
In the summer months, yes. Between May and September, temperatures routinely soar above the 40-degree mark. There’s a reason for all those airconditioned malls. Between November and March, however, you can expect the sun without the soaring heat – with temperatures regularly sitting in the low- to mid-20-degree range.
What’s going to be surprisingly enjoyable?
Standards are high – shonky tour operators have no chance of survival. Both mass tourism experiences and personalised alternatives are pulled off extremely well.
And even to a cynic, Dubai looks incredibly impressive – gawping at the incredible skyscrapers along Sheikh Zayed Road and around Dubai Marina gets you buying into the Gulf glamour vision alarmingly quickly.
What’s going to really annoy me?
Queues at the airport – it’s not uncommon to wait for up to two hours to get out. Anyone who likes to walk around is in for a nasty shock, too – aside from the Creekside parts of Bur Dubai, this is pedestrian hell.
Taxis may be cheap – a trip across town will rarely cost more than $20 – but you have to catch them pretty much everywhere; often just to travel a block across a multilane highway. Also, make sure you are prepared to encounter prices quoted without 10 per cent taxes and a 10 per cent service charge – meals and hotels are sold to look much cheaper than they are.
Do I need a visa?
Australian passport holders get a free 30-day visa on arrival – there’s no need to apply in advance.
What else do I need to know?
Qantas frequent flyer points can now be earned and spent on Emirates flights. Also, there’s no need to worry about knowing Arabic – due to guest workers coming from all over the world, English is by far the most spoken and best understood language.
For getting around the city, the Metro is a dirt cheap alternative to taxis. It serves the airport and many of the key visitor favourites. The problem can be getting to and from the Metro stations – walking to them can involve lengthy detours around busy roads.
Stopover wars
Price-wise, Dubai and Singapore are surprisingly similar. Drinks cost slightly more in Dubai, as does local food (there are no bargain hawker food courts in Dubai). But outside the flash hotel restaurants, dining out in Dubai is pleasingly inexpensive. Decent lower-end accommodation is arguably slightly cheaper in Dubai due to the glut of apartment hotels — but the lavish high-end accommodation will set you back more in Dubai.
Singapore is much stronger on historical and cultural attractions, and has a gentler feel. Unless you’re prepared to spend big, it’s better for kids, too. Dubai is better on organised tours and activities, and feels much more dynamic and exciting. It’s also better for shopping, even though that’s Singapore’s traditional strong suit.
For weather, it depends when you go — Dubai is more pleasant between November and March; Singapore is consistently sweaty year-round. And on the draconian legal front, Singapore is arguably more harsh on wrongdoers than Dubai.
If you still prefer to fly through Singapore, British Airways (1300 767 177; britishairways.com) stops there between Sydney and London. From Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, Singapore Airlines (13 10 11; singaporeair.com) goes via Singapore to 14 European destinations, including London, Paris and Amsterdam.
More information
qantas.com.au, emirates.com, definitelydubai.com.
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Fly me to the dunes
Friday 22 March 2013
Singapore to see 53000 hotel roooms by 2015: Knight Frank
SINGAPORE–The number of hotel rooms in Singapore is expected is to grow by more than 20 percent to about 53,000 rooms by 2015.
This is according to a research report by property consultancy Knight Frank.
It says mid-tier hotels like Dorsett Regency Hotel, Ramada Singapore, and Changi Cove Hotel, will form almost half of the total future supply.
With an influx of new rooms in the market over the next two years, Knight Frank expects occupancy rates to drop marginally but still above the 80 per cent mark.
Average occupancy rate stayed firm at 86 per cent in 2012 from a year earlier.
However, average room rates grew 5.7 per cent on year to S$261 last year.
But Knight Frank says average room rates may also fall marginally to account for the lower occupancy levels.
This comes on the back of the stronger Singapore dollar affecting budget sensitive tourists.
Meanwhile, investment sales of hotel real estate remained active last year with a total transacted value of S$1.45 billion – a decline of 7.6 per cent from a year earlier.
Major transactions included Klapsons The Boutique Hotel, Hotel Grand Pacific, and Hotel Windsor.
1,200 new hotel rooms were also completed in 2012 of which 70 per cent were located in W Singapore, Equarius Hotel and Beach Villas on Sentosa.
Looking ahead, Knight Frank says the outlook for the hospitality sector remains bright despite the reduction in room rates and higher cost of operations arising from higher foreign labour levy. CHANNEL NEWSASIA
D-Link India CEO awarded with the APELA award
At the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Enterprise Leadership Awards (APELA) 2013 held in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, Mr Tushar Sighat, CEO, D-Link (India) Limited was recognized for demonstrating exemplary leadership skills unparalleled vision for company’s growth. Mr. Sighat was awarded with an honorary mention under ‘Build to Last’ category at APELA 2013.
Elated on receiving this honor, Mr Tushar Sighat, CEO, D-Link (India) Limited said, “This is indeed a proud moment for me everyone at D-Link, as this is the outcome of a prodigious team effort. Being recognized on a global platform like this and to be evaluated by panelists that consist of distinguished global academicians is truly motivating. For the past year a half we have worked rigorously towards enhancing D-Link’s business in India SAARC region, and such accomplishments inspire one to continue with the good work”
Mr Tushar Sighat was awarded under ‘Build to last’ category for his entrepreneurial skills leading the company towards astonishing success. Build to last awards are awarded to outstanding individuals who have demonstrated entrepreneurial attributes that serve as role models for emerging entrepreneurs, including the tenacity and perseverance to continue innovating. These individuals provide unparalleled vision and direction to their companies and demonstrate corporate values which have been established over the decades.
D-Link India CEO awarded with the APELA award
Thursday 21 March 2013
W Hotels to more than double hotels in Asia over next 5 years
This is the W Barcelona hotel in Spain, operated by Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide Inc.The W brand is about to get a big expansion push in Asia.
On the heels of recent W Hotel openings in Singapore and Bangkok, W Hotels Worldwide said it plans to more than double its presence in Asia by the end of 2018 to nearly 20 W Hotels and Retreats in nine countries in the region.
W Hotels will open 11 new properties in the Asia Pacific region by 2018, and the company said more than half of the brand’s global pipeline is slated for Asia Pacific, including the first W Hotel in mainland China opening in Guangzhou later this month, followed by other China openings in Beijing, Shanghai, Changsha, and Suzhou over the next five years. Additional W Hotels are also planned in India, Indonesia and Malaysia.
“Asia is a rapidly growing market, long known for exemplary, traditional service in hospitality,” Paul James, global brand leader for W Hotels Worldwide, St. Regis, and The Luxury Collection, said in a statement. “With each new W Hotel opening, we are able to reinvent the luxury hotel landscape, offering cutting-edge design, whatever/whenever service, and insider access to what’s new and next for both our guests and locals alike.”
The W brand first entered Asia in 2004 with the opening of W Seoul – Walkerhill. Since then, W Hotels has strengthened its presence in the region with eight hotels and retreats in seven countries, including properties in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Maldives and Hong Kong.
“The growth spurt of W Hotels in Asia Pacific reflects a significant growth in demand for stylish luxury brands,” said Stephen Ho, president of Asia Pacific at Stamford, Conn.-based Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT), which owns the W Hotel brand.
W Hotels currently has 43 hotels and retreats, including 15 W-branded residences, and plans to have 60 hotels by the end of 2015.
W Hotels to more than double hotels in Asia over next 5 years
Wednesday 20 March 2013
Number of Singapore hotel rooms to hit 53000 by 2015: Knight Frank
Number of Singapore hotel rooms to hit 53,000 by 2015: Knight Frank
Posted: 20 March 2013 1951 hrs
SINGAPORE : The number of hotel rooms in Singapore is expected is to grow by more than 20 percent to about 53,000 rooms by 2015.
This is according to a research report by property consultancy Knight Frank.
It says mid-tier hotels like Dorsett Regency Hotel, Ramada Singapore, and Changi Cove Hotel, will form almost half of the total future supply.
With an influx of new rooms in the market over the next two years, Knight Frank expects occupancy rates to drop marginally but still above the 80 percent mark.
Average occupancy rate stayed firm at 86 percent in 2012 from a year earlier.
However, average room rates grew 5.7 percent on year to S$261 last year.
But Knight Frank says average room rates may also fall marginally to account for the lower occupancy levels.
This comes on the back of the stronger Singapore dollar affecting budget sensitive tourists.
Meanwhile, investment sales of hotel real estate remained active last year with a total transacted value of S$1.45 billion – a decline of 7.6 per cent from a year earlier.
Major transactions included Klapsons The Boutique Hotel, Hotel Grand Pacific, and Hotel Windsor.
1,200 new hotel rooms were also completed in 2012 of which 70 per cent were located in W Singapore, Equarius Hotel and Beach Villas on Sentosa.
Looking ahead, Knight Frank says the outlook for the hospitality sector remains bright despite the reduction in room rates and higher cost of operations arising from higher foreign labour levy.
- CNA/ch
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Number of Singapore hotel rooms to hit 53000 by 2015: Knight Frank
World Architecture Festival Takes Place in Singapore October 2-4
-By
Holly O’Dell
The World Architectural Festival (WAF) will celebrate architectural excellence October 2-4, 2013, at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The event includes a live awards competition where architects will present more than 400 commercial and institutional projects to an international judging panel. The WAF Festival Gallery will display all award entries.
Show attendees also will have access to a variety of lectures, discussions, and seminars given by influential architects such as Charles Jencks, Dietmar Eberle and Jeanne Gang. Scheduled topics include “The Values of Architecture,” “The Purpose of Architecture,” and “Designing for Growth and Change.”
Other event highlights
include the Festival Hall, home to exclusive installations, product showcases, and new materials; live student charrettes; networking parties and receptions; and an awards ceremony. In addition, the Inspire show— the World Festival of Interiors—will be co-located with WAF.
For more information, visit www.worldarchitecturefestival.com.
World Architecture Festival Takes Place in Singapore October 2-4