Mr. Jacques Mury, General Manager, Centara Grand Resort & Villas Hua Hin

This was Thailand’s 9^th Hua Hin Vintage Car Parade which was organized by the Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin together with Hua Hin Hoteliers Club and Vintage Car Club of Thailand with the support of Tourism Authority of Thailand and Hua Hin Municipality.

The event has a four-fold measure says Mr. Jacques Mury, General Manager, Centara Grand Resort & Villas Hua Hin, which includes promoting Hua Hin as a destination, promoting the magnificent car club, promoting the hotel and charity as revenue from the event will be donated to Chaipattana Foundation which is initiated by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

This was one weekend that was literally filled with “vintage-ness” as the activities and programs all had a classic touch of vintage. The activities included stops at Petchaburi province for sightseeing and lunch hosted by the Petchaburi Chamber of Commerce followed by a visit to the Hua Hin Floating Market.

The dining at the event was equally as exclusive as the parade of cars with a 50-meter long buffet for charity at the opening ceremony of Hua Hin Vintage Car Parade 2011. The exquisite dishes were cooked by gifted chefs from the five-star member hotels of the Hua Hin Hoteliers Club.

The dinner was also open to the public at just 284 Thai Baht net with revenue donated to the Chaipattana Foundation. A pre-dinner cocktail on the lawn of Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin was also arranged with an evening filled with sparkling drinks which was then followed by a Gala Dinner with a gourmet buffet, dazzling entertainment, charity auctions and lucky draws. Tickets to the dinner was priced at Thai Baht 2,200 net with revenue generated donated to charity.

As this year being the 84^th Anniversary of His Majesty the King, the parade of cars assembled together to sing the King’s anthem and were accompanied by underprivileged children. Thereafter, the cars paraded to the Phetchaburi Panyanukul School where a local community activity was held to donate lunch and souvenirs to the underprivileged children.

Enthusiastic public were able to enjoy a rare vintage car ride for Thai Baht 250 per trip which paraded Hua Hin. Revenue from this activity was also donated to charity.

Written by Kanchana Ganglani

At the press conference at Suntec Singapore, Mr. Raimund Hosch, CEO of Messe Berlin, said this showed that the exhibition is becoming more international, and serves as an important and effective platform for participating companies. “The record number of exhibitors this year and the expected number of visitors will provide our show with even more diversity, and is strong proof that the travel industry in Asia is well-poised for growth despite all obstacles,” he added.

New exhibitors from Botswana, Finland, Croatia and even Iraq were also seen this year, as well as the official partner hotel, Hilton Worldwide.

Asia Pacific has been in the spotlight with the economic downturn and devastating natural disasters. Citing the 11 March earthquake in Japan, Mr. Raimund said the country displayed “amazing resilience”. “The nation has bounced back just a few months after the tragedy. We are very honored to support them as our official partner country this year,” he said. “Japan is still a key player in the global travel industry.”

According to travel industry research consultancy PhoCusWright, Europe is still the leading travel market, but Asia-Pacific has exceeded the USA, with China and India standing out.

However, Clement Wong, PhoCusWright Director, Research, said that while Asia Pacific represents almost one-third of the global travel market, it currently accounts for only 21% of online revenue. Nevertheless, rising Internet access and purchasing would see the online travel market enjoying double-digit growth in 2012.

Despite the drastic drop in inbound travel to Japan after the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear leak, the numbers are slowly improving. Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner Hiroshi Mizohata assured the media, “The government of Japan is making every effort for full recovery.”

Several changes and improvements have been made to ITB Asia 2011. The organizers have introduced a new category of partially hosted buyers to the show this year, targeted at those with tight travelling schedules. In all, there will be about 600 buyers at the show.

Mr. Hiroshi Mizohata, Commissioner of Japan Tourism Agency at the opening press conference said for Japan that, “Not only is Japan on a steady path of recovery from the devastating earthquake and tsunami which struck in March this year, the country has also set ambitious targets for the coming years.” Mr. Hiroshi announced that the Japanese government is making every effort to reach full recovery after the March 11 disaster and there were five measures that were taken to bring about speedy recovery.

The optimistic Asian economies have seen an increasing demand for travel and with this, more business travel, meetings and conventions are taking place. “As the Asian economy continues to grow, MICE is becoming an increasingly important sector,” said Mr. Paul Brown, Hilton Worldwide President of Global Brands & Commercial Services, and this is evident in ITB Asia’s strong focus on MICE.

ITB Asia’s first of three panel discussions took place on October 19 with key industry heavyweights addressing the pros and cons of loyalty programmes. Paul Kerr of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, kick-started the panel with his elaboration of the three tiers of their loyalty programme – SLH. Represented by the initials of “Small Luxury Hotels”, the programme is split into three guest-centric categories, ‘Special, Loved and Honoured’ which are the three stages of the group’s growing relationship with guests.

Maria Taylor of the Accor Group reviewed her 18 years of loyalty benefits for her guests which encompasses a multi-tiered and multi-planned programme with lots of room for customer feedback and soft benefits. Hilton’s Alfie Yee elaborated on the Vacation Club of Hilton and explained the advantages of consistency and easy redemption in the Hilton Loyalty Programme – Hilton HHonors.  And Sim Beng Khoon, Regional Director, Asia Pacific, Association of Corporate Travel Executives addressed the unique needs of corporate bookings and the specific expectations of frequent business travellers.

All panellists recognised the possible economic challenges facing most countries and travellers, both business and leisure.  With the wider economic climate coming under pressure, tightening of costs may come into play including the need to come up with more individual direct and targeted offers, double and triple points promotions and enhanced packages such as complimentary breakfasts, room upgrades and unlimited internet access.

Written by: Kanchana Ganglani

With the Government’s civil servants having traditionally shied away from the public stage, leaving that to Ministers or Tourism Australia, it was very refreshing last week at Tourism Directions in Canberra to see a top Government civil  servant, Drew Clarke, Deputy Secretary – Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, take to the podium.

Drew Clarke was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism in May 2008, with responsibilities across the three sectors, with his previous position being Head of the Energy and Environment Division, where he was responsible for energy market reform, energy security and energy-related climate change policy.

Drew’s previous roles included head of AusIndustry, the business program delivery agency and leadership of science agencies and he began his public sector career as a surveyor working in Australia and Antarctica.

To hear what Drew had to say to delegates at Tourism Directions 2011 in Canberra click on the video box below: -

John Alwyn-Jones, Global Travel Media Special Correspondent reporting on location from Tourism Directions 2011, Canberra

Located in the magnificent Woodlands Historic Park, Living Legends, is an awesome location, where famous champion racehorses actually retire, with Andre telling me that Living Legends retirees included Fields of Omagh, Might and Power, Silent Witness, Better Loosen Up, Brew, Rogan Josh, Doriemus, Sky Heights, and Paris Lane, and even better, all among the champion retirees you can see and enjoy when visiting this amazing equine champion retirement home.

Set in beautiful gardens with picturesque walking, biking and horse riding trails and abundant wildlife, Living Legends also offers a historic homestead still under restoration, with visiting Living Legends combining an insight into Australian horse racing history with an ideal family day out……..pack a picnic basket, plan a day trip: it’s a place where people of all ages can relax and enjoy Living Legends beautiful parklands.

The Woodlands Historic Park is also one of the most historic horse heritage properties in the southern hemisphere, with over 700 hectares in total and over 400 hectares of natural bushland, with the Homestead surrounded by magnificent gardens with the magnolias  being the oldest recorded garden plants in Victoria.

Living Legends is also an awesome event location with many exciting events and corporate functions running throughout the year.

The amazing Living Legends is open to the public 7 days a week from 10:00am to 4:00pm and Tour groups and functions may be arranged at any time.

For more information on Living Legends, visit www.livinglegends.org.au and to join me at Living Legends, and meet Andrew Clark and see if you can spot your favourite retired champion racehorses, all you need to do is click on the video box below .

My visit to Victoria to experience Living Legends, was made possible by renting a quality car from Driveaway Holidays, Australia’s leading car rental broker for domestic and international car rental, combing the best rates from all the major companies and for more information visit www.driveaway.com.au

You can’t afford to miss Global Travel Media TV goes on location from Victoria…………..right here for one more week on Global Travel Media!

John Alwyn-Jones, reporting for Global Travel Media and Global Travel Media TV on location from Victoria brought to you by Driveaway Holidays.

Who better to confirm this view than a man who has spent a large part of his working life, living in China, representing the Australian Government as the Australian Ambassador to China, Geoff Raby, who was in that role from February 2007 until August 2011.

Raby has held a number of associated positions in China and Australia, including with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in several positions as head of the Chinese Embassy’s economics division (1986–1991), head of the Northeast Asia Analytical Unit (1991–1993), First Assistant Secretary, Trade Negotiations Division (1995–1998), Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organisation (1998–2001) and First Assistant Secretary, International Organisations and Legal Division (2001–2002), Ambassador to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (2002–2004), and Deputy Secretary of the Department (2002–2006).

While based in Beijing from 1986 to 1991, he worked with Kevin Rudd, who served as Australia’s Prime Minister and later Minister for Foreign Affairs while Raby was Ambassador to China.

After retiring as Ambassador to China, Raby was appointed as the Beijing-based Executive Director of Riverstone Advisory Pty Ltd, an adviser to law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Co-Chair of the firm’s China practice, and a Vice-Chancellor’s Professorial Fellow at Monash University.

He is also a non-executive director of Fortescue Metals Group, OceanaGold and SmartTrans Holdings Ltd and  He founded a consulting firm Geoff Raby & Associates in Beijing, and retained the Queensland Investment Corporation as a client.

John Alwyn-Jones, Global Travel Media Special Correspondent reporting on location from Tourism Directions 2011, Canberra

He went on to say that this was not an altruistic motive, with the Government recognising tourism’s direct GDP contribution to the Australian economy as immense – around $35 billion directly and $72 billion when direct and indirect contributions are combined and that it is a job creator, central to the welfare of regional Australia and an export earner.

With employment in the tourism value chain around 900,000 people, or 8% of the workforce, directly and indirectly employed in the industry, Senator Sherry said that promoting is not just about marketing and definitely not about trying to pick winners, with his theme being focusing on the admirable strength of the industry to survive during the bad times and on plotting a steady course for the future – no matter the shocks which are bound to hit us along the way.

Senator Sherry emphasised that the industry should focus on things it can influence and on the opportunities ahead and it needed to be made more attractive to investors and job seekers needed to meet tourism’s demand for skills, to take advantage of the new opportunities such as those offered by the National Broadband Network.

To hear more about what Senator Sherry had to say including in the areas of; Skills for growth and resilience and Tourism Research Australia’s The State of the Industry Report and the Deloitte Access Economics report for the Labour and Skills Working Group;  measures to improve skills; the digital economy; and investment skills, highlighting the ability to predict, and capture investment opportunities becoming one of the most sought-after skills in the Australian tourism industry over the next decade……..all you have to do is click on the video box below: -

John Alwyn-Jones, Global Travel Media Special Correspondent reporting on location from Tourism Directions 2011, Canberra

• Daniel Gschwind, CEO Queensland Tourism Industry Council
• David Beirman, University of Technology Sydney and leading global Crisis Management Specialist and Consultant.
• Geoff Buckley, Management Consultant, KPMG.
• John King, Chair, Australian Tourism Export Council.
• Peter Harbison, CAPA.
• Rob Giason, CEO Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
• Satwant Calais, leading international tourism consultant.

To hear what they had to say about Tourism Directions 2011 in Canberra all you have to do is click on the video boxes below: -

Daniel Gschwind

David Beirman

Geoff Buckley

John King

Peter Harbison

Geoff Buckley

Rob Giason

Satwant Calais

John Alwyn-Jones, Global Travel Media Special Correspondent reporting on location from Tourism Directions 2011, Canberra

If anyone has any doubt about Mr Scowsill’s credentials to be able to provide a truly global perspective, he became President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council in November 2010, with before that a professional non-executive director, building an extensive network in private equity and venture capital, whilst working on specific deals in the retail, consumer, technology and travel sectors, with his deal experience ranging from pre-revenue start-ups to $4.5bn buy-outs.

From 2005-2010, David served on the board of private equity and venture capital backed businesses: chairman of PrivateFly (private equity), director of On the Beach Holidays (ISIS Equity Partners), chairman of Yuuguu.com (sale to Powwowow), non-executive director of ilG Digital (ECI Partners), vice-chairman World Hotels AG (sale to KP Capital 2008), and non-executive director Venere.com (Advent International acquisition 2006, sale to Expedia 2008).

He has also been interim sales and marketing director at easyJet airlines and group marketing director at Manchester Airports Group, in addition to previously being CEO of Opodo, the pan-European online travel company owned by nine of Europe’s leading airlines, between 2002-2004, building the business from start up to a €500mn transaction turnover in two years, before the business was sold to Amadeus, the travel industry technology provider.

Two years prior, David was appointed CEO of the private equity owned Minit Group Plc (UBS Capital), a multi-service global retailer, with 3700 owned and franchised shops in Minit Colors, Mister Minit, Montre Service, Sketchley and Supasnaps brands and between 1997-1999, he joined the board of Hilton International as senior VP sales, marketing and IT, driving a step change in the approach to sales, marketing, distribution and technology, leading the brand re-unification programme between Hilton Group Plc and Hilton Hotels Corporation, and in addition, he was a director of the joint venture companies – Hilton Marketing, Hilton HHonors, and Hilton Reservations Worldwide.

David was Regional General Manager Asia/Pacific for British Airways from 1993 to 1997 and he established the first global airline alliance with Qantas, negotiating the Joint Services Agreement between the two airlines, which has become the model for BA/IB/AA recent agreements.  He then became director Europe/Middle East, with profit responsibility including Deutsche BA in Germany and TAT/Air Liberte in France.

He joined American Airlines in 1991 as managing director, Europe Middle East and Africa, when it acquired the transatlantic route network from TWA and he launched new sales, distribution and marketing strategies, to firmly establish the new transatlantic airline’s profile throughout Europe.

To hear what David had to say to delegates at Tourism Directions 2011 in Canberra click on the video box below: -

John Alwyn-Jones, Global Travel Media Special Correspondent reporting on location from Tourism Directions 2011, Canberra

If you have never heard of The Travel Corporation, that is not surprising, as they do not use the overall corporate name as a consumer brand, but for certain you will have heard of some of their consumer brands and check them out below!

Brett is the third generation of his family in the business and I had the honour of working with members of his family, when I worked in New York, with Brett having over 30 years of experience right across the industry.

The Travel Corporation operates and represents hotels around the world as well as travel operators who specialize in the niche travel market, with operations including river cruises, escorted coach tours and independent sightseeing trips, including Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, AAT Kings, Contiki Holidays, Insight Vacations and Trafalgar Tours and more!

Another company, Red Carnation Hotels, operates 12 small luxury boutique hotels in Europe, South Africa and the United States and Brett says that the company continues to look for opportunities to increase their collection of special hotels that can meet the specific needs of the niche traveller.

Brett is also a member of the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Executive Committee and he holds the position of vice chairman of membership.

He also helped establish the Conservation Foundation of The Travel Corporation, with its role being helping protect and preserve destinations to where the Travel Corporation brand’s clients travel and also to help build awareness of the importance of all travellers reducing their respective carbon footprints when on vacation.

To hear what Brett had to say to delegates at Tourism Directions 2011 in Canberra click on the video box below: -

John Alwyn-Jones, Global Travel Media Special Correspondent reporting on location from Tourism Directions 2011, Canberra

MR. Itthiphol Kunplome

To start off, Pattaya has already started promoting the mice industry. Working together with Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Pattaya city is preparing itself to hold events, keeping in mind having held the IT&CMA and CTW events before already.

The tourism industry of Pattaya has always been blooming. No matter which time of the year, to get a good hotel during the weekends is always a 50-50 chance. Despite the image of Pattaya going towards the negative side, it still attracts its tourist. Maybe it’s the magic of the finger licking cuisine or the cheap and wide variety of seafood or the lively beaches, Pattaya has always captured its tourist.

For some who haven’t got a chance to visit Pattaya in a while, would be delighted to know that now, there are spotlights available on the beaches, for people to sit and eat at night. And for those who enjoy walking around the streets of Pattaya, there is a zoning project in hand which will have the shops re-arranged. Also from next year, there is a project to recruit lifeguards at the beaches as well but don’t get too happy, you won’t be seeing them in “Baywatch” costumes.

Written by: Kanchana Ganglani