singapore hotel: tháng 6 2014

Thứ Hai, 30 tháng 6, 2014

S"pore remains world"s top host for meetings

SINGAPORE: Singapore has once again been named top international meeting city and country in the 2013 global rankings of the Union of International Associations (UIA), Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

This is the third year in a row that the city-state bagged the title of Top International Meeting Country and seventh consecutive year for Top International Meeting City.

Last year, 994 of meetings hosted in Singapore met UIA’s stipulated qualifying criteria, which rose 4.4% from 2012 and forming 9.4% of UIA’s database of meetings.

Singapore was also named Asia’s top convention city for the 12th consecutive year by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) in 2013.

Its record of 175 ICCA events last year was a 16.7% increase from 2012 – the strongest year-on-year growth since 2005.

Singapore Tourism Board (STB) assistant chief executive Neeta Lachmandas said the MICE industry continued to play a significant role for the tourism sector.

MICE activities gained S$3.7 billion (about US$3 billion) or contributed 1.1% to Singapore’s gross domestic product in 2012, an increase from 0.9% in 2008.

So far, Singapore has secured six world congresses including the World Congress on Brain Mapping Therapeutics (SBMT) 2016 and World Congress of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus (ISDE) 2016.

The inaugural Asian edition of SpineWeek 2016 is expected to attract over 7,000 delegates to Singapore, making it their largest meeting so far.

Upcoming Asia-Pacific congresses include the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Asia-Pacific Advancement Conference 2015, the Regional Dermatology Conference 2016 and the Asia Pacific Congress of Hypertension 2017. – Bernama

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S"pore remains world"s top host for meetings

Singapore eyes events tourism to lure Taiwanese visitors

Taipei, June 24 (CNA) Singapore aims to draw in more than 350,000 Taiwanese visitors this year — the same level it saw last year — with extended event-based tourism campaigns like the festivities surrounding the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix.

Kwan Su Min, the Singapore Tourism Board’s area director for eastern China, said Tuesday that her country is eyeing Taiwanese tourists because they have shown an increasing interest in travel options outside of traditional sightseeing when visiting the city-state.

“We have seen more diverse travel interests from Taiwanese tourists,” she said, citing major annual growth of 24 percent in incoming Taiwanese visitors last year, many of whom were attracted by large events such as the grand prix.

Growth in incoming tourists from Taiwan, one of Singapore’s top 15 sources of visitors, outpaced growth from other areas, she said.

To target Taiwanese visitors with higher buying power, Singapore is now planning more customized travel packages during the F1 championship this year, she said. One example includes attending a concert for the event that will feature Taiwan’s most beloved rock band, Mayday.

The country is also aiming for a similar marketing strategy this October for the 2014 WTA Tour Championships, a women’s tennis tournament, which will capitalize on the newly completed Singapore Sports Hub, she said.

(By Lee Hsin-Yin)
ENDITEM/WH

Singapore eyes events tourism to lure Taiwanese visitors

VISA takes flight with VietJet"s 15th Airbus aircraft - TravelDailyNews Asia

Partnership

VISA takes flight with VietJet’s 15th Airbus aircraft

Theodore Koumelis – 30 June 2014, 06:46

The new Airbus A320-200 has been emblazoned with the VISA brand and will offer exclusive benefits to its cardholders for online bookings.

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VietJet has 24 local and international flight routes. In Vietnam, VietJet has successfully connected key economic regions such as: Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Hue, Vinh, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Buon Ma Thuot, Da Lat, Phu Quoc. International flights include Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Seoul (Korea), and K’un Ming (China). VietJet is now operating 700 flights per week. Soon, it will expand international routes throughout Asia-Pacific.

VISA takes flight with VietJet"s 15th Airbus aircraft - TravelDailyNews Asia

Cash boosts under-the-counter economy: Visa

Underground economic activity accounts for a quarter of the nation’s GDP, aided by cash payments for retail transactions that remain out of the reach of tax collectors, a survey by Visa Taiwan showed yesterday.

“The informal economy made up 28.1 percent of GDP in 2012, slightly higher than the historical average of 25 percent” as retail transactions linked to cross-strait tourism strengthened after 2008, National Cheng Kung University vice president Ho Chih-chin (何志欽) said.

Informal economic activities include independent property brokerage, hairstyling, Web page design, domestic help, food and beverage supply and car-pooling, among other services, said Ho, who headed the research sponsored by the electronic payment service provider.

Family-owned factories and companies also contribute to the economy that falls outside the reach of taxation authorities, the economics expert said.

Prior to 2008, underground economic activities showed a gradual, though slow, decline, while major economic indicators such as exports, employment, wages and savings picked up, Ho said.

Minshuku, or family-run guesthouses, have mushroomed in popular tourist resorts in the wake of warming cross-strait ties, he said.

The prevalence of cash payments helped perpetuate underground economic activity because cash gives users the benefits of privacy and confidentiality, he added.

“The government should give serious thought to curbing underground economic activities, as they are unfavorable to equitable distributions of wealth and help foster tax evasion and irregular dealings,” Ho said.

Cash use helps weaken the world’s GDP by 5 to 7 percent because of costs associated with the printing, design and distribution of notes and coins, among other costs, Visa Taiwan country manager Marco Ma (麻少華) said, citing data from the Euromonitor Merchant Segment Study.

In Taiwan, cash use costs US$3 billion per year, expenditure which could be saved with the adoption of electronic payments, raising GDP growth by 0.17 percent, Ho said.

Visa said the use of electronic payments remains low in Taiwan compared with other Asian economies.

Citing the Euromonitor study, Visa Taiwan said cash remains the primary method of payment in Taiwan despite the introduction of payment cards more than 20 years ago.

Electronic payments represent only 25.8 percent of personal consumption expenditure in Taiwan, far below other Asian markets such as Hong Kong (64.5 percent), China (55.9 percent), South Korea (54.8 percent) and Singapore (53 percent), the statistics showed.

The underground economy in Poland has dropped from 26 percent to 23.8 percent after the country launched a program to double the size of its plastic payment network, Visa Taiwan said.

The government can encourage electronic payments by offering tax credits for consumers and profit-making establishments, Ma said.

Additional reporting by CNA

Cash boosts under-the-counter economy: Visa

M&C braces for Singapore haze

IN THE face of warnings about the haze returning soon in Singapore – and stronger – Millennium Copthorne Hotels (MC), which operates five hotels in the city, said it has taken a coordinated approach to protect staff and guests from the effects of the environmental pollution.

Close to 3,500 N95 masks are being distributed to staff at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Orchard Hotel, Copthorne King’s Hotel, M Hotel and Studio M.

It is also stocking its hotel lobby shops with masks for guests and will continue to update them of the hourly PSI readings via notice boards in the lobbies. Thus far, there is no disruption of business, a statement said.

At The St Regis Singapore, which is owned by parent company CDL, a set of standard operating procedures has been developed for the safety of guests and employees. The hotel is also ensuring that there are sufficient disposable N95 masks for guests and staff, while respirator test fittings are conducted for employees who need to work outdoors.

At W Singapore – Sentosa Cove, also under CDL, outdoor activities will be suspended if the PSI reaches hazardous levels of above 350. There are also in-house doctors on standby in case of guests with breathing or medical conditions.

M&C braces for Singapore haze

Electronic payment usage remains low in Taiwan: Visa Taiwan

Taipei, June 30 (CNA) The Taiwan branch of Visa Inc., the world’s largest credit and debit card company, said Monday that the usage of electronic payments remains low in Taiwan compared with neighboring Asian economies.

Citing data from the Euromonitor Merchant Segment Study, Visa Taiwan said cash remains the primary method of payment in Taiwan despite the introduction of payment cards over 20 years ago.

According to Visa Taiwan, reliance on cash-based payments can cost a nation between 5 percent to 7 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), while cash payments can impose significant processing costs at the banking and retail levels.

Macro Ma, country manager of Visa Taiwan, said the relatively low personal consumption expenditure from payment cards in Taiwan presents “a tremendous opportunity” to convert cash to safer, more reliable and convenient forms of payment.

“In order to advocate the use of electronic payment, we are committed to continue educating the public on the benefits of electronic payment,” Ma told a press briefing.

While credit cards have become popular in Taiwan, many local retail stores will not accept credit cards because they do not want the tax authorities to know about their financial situations, Ma said.

Other forms of electronic payments such as making payments with an EasyCard –which is widely used on public transportation in Taipei –remain in an early stage of development in Taiwan, leading to the country’s low rate of personal consumption expenditure through payment cards, Ma explained.

“Visa will continue to extend the scope of its work in electronic payment to more people and businesses in Taiwan, making it easier for consumers and merchants to pay and be paid around the globe,” he added.

(By Jeffrey Wu)
ENDITEM/J

Electronic payment usage remains low in Taiwan: Visa Taiwan

2NE1"s Singapore gig a feast for the senses

SINGAPORE: Pyrotechnics, dazzling costumes and the singers’ strong vocals made for a spectacular show that had the 7,500-strong audience on its feet for nearly the entire duration of K-pop group 2NE1’s concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Saturday.

2NE1’s CL, Minzy, Dara and Bom kicked off the evening with an energetic performance of their new song “Crush” followed by “Fire” and “Clap Your Hands”.

The ultra-enthusiastic audience continued to cheer when 2NE1 launched into ballads like “Missing You” and “Come Back Home”.

So many concert goers kept trying to get closer to the action that after a while, the ushers just gave up trying to herd them back into their seats.

The audience went absolutely crazy when 2NE1 brought four male fans on stage and danced suggestively around them in a special segment.

Screams of excitement erupted from the audience when Dara sat on one participant’s lap and held him close.

It was actually quite funny to see the men try their best to keep a straight face as CL and her group mates got up close and personal with them.

Unlike most K-pop concerts that often conclude with large amounts of stage effects and pageantry, 2NE1 ended their gig with a whole lot of fan interaction instead, after belting out a series of fan favourites like “I’m The Best”, “Gotta Be You” and “Do You Love Me”.

Dressed in comfortable T-shirts and pants, they made their way around the venue, shaking hands, waving and signing autographs for concert-goers, before returning to the stage and ending the night with “Can’t Nobody”.

2NE1’s Singapore concert, which was part of their All Or Nothing world tour, was a well-balanced show with a good mix of fast and slow numbers.

The K-pop group also kept things fresh by changing the tone of the show after every few songs.

Yet, the one thing that remained constant throughout the concert was their high energy level.

All four members performed with such passion and vigour that the audience could not help but sing along or even dance to the music.

While group leader CL is definitely the best showman of the group – she knew just what to say and do to create an electrifying atmosphere at the concert – Minzy also deserves praise for her amazing performance during the show.

She was quiet and reserved at the quartet’s media conference earlier in the day, but Minzy was like a completely different person when she got on stage.

The singer was full of youthful energy, seemed much more confident than she was when the group performed here two years ago, and flaunted her powerful vocals every chance she got.

Those who missed their show need probably won’t have to wait too long to see them again.

2NE1 said they would return “very soon” and dropped numerous hints they may be bringing their YG Entertainment label mates with them.

2NE1"s Singapore gig a feast for the senses

Ruder Finn Wins Four New Retainers and Projects from Luxury Clients in China

NEW YORK, June 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – Ruder Finn, Inc., a leading independent global communications agency, today announced that it has been awarded four new luxury retainers in China, including Blancpain premium Swiss luxury watches, Boucheron high-end French jewelry, De Beers Diamond Jewellers and Diesel, the Italian alternative luxury brand. Ruder Finn also won the pitch for a series of projects from U.S. luxury fashion designer, Michael Kors.

Blancpain, a high-end, hand-crafted Swiss fine watch manufacturer, has signed retainers for both traditional PR services and digital PR with Ruder Finn. Traditional services include strategic counsel, media communication and event management, including participation in Basel World, the world’s biggest and most important event for the watch and jewelry industry, as well as other major projects. The digital retainer will cover strategic development, programs and social media. Blancpain entered China in 1996 and is perceived by Chinese consumers to be one of the leading watch brands.

Boucheron, the French watch and jewelry Maison, founded in 1858, was the first jeweler on Place Vendome in Paris, famous for its fashionable deluxe hotels and luxury boutiques. Boucheron is known for its beautiful and unique high-end jewelry, with each collection drawing from the values and history of the Maison and celebrating a modern prowess that is constantly reinvented. Boucheron first entered China in 2005 working with local dealers. Ruder Finn won the pitch for the Boucheron retainer to provide strategic counsel and serve as Boucheron’s China press office for media communications at local and international events and other projects.

De Beers Diamond Jewellers, founded in 1888, is globally known for creating the finest and most elegant diamond jewelry. Since 2001, it has been managed and operated by Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH), the world’s leading luxury goods company. De Beers entered China in 2011 and has six boutique stores in major cities. They are recognized by Chinese consumers for their expertise in diamonds. De Beers hired Ruder Finn on retainer for strategic counsel, China press communications and projects management.

Diesel, an innovative international lifestyle company, founded in 1978, is known for its creative, trendy and rebellious brand. Diesel has experienced extraordinary growth and has evolved from being a leading pioneer in denim wear into the world of premium casual wear, becoming a true alternative to the established luxury market. Diesel has signed a retainer with Ruder Finn for both the Diesel label and Diesel Black Gold, the brand’s contemporary collection. Diesel has 21 stores throughout mainland China and has plans to open more. Ruder Finn will provide strategic counsel and media communication.

Michael Kors, a world-renowned and award-winning designer brand of luxury accessories and ready-to-wear fashion, has recently launched a series of activities in China including the opening of a boutique in Beijing, a flagship store in Shanghai and the Michael Kors Jet Set Experience super event. With 25 boutiques in China already, the company intends to enter 3^rd and 4^th tier cities in China, including Taiyuan, Nanjing and Yantai.

“Some recent media reports have suggested that luxury brands are experiencing a dramatic slump in sales in China, but from the industry’s perspective, this is not really true. Although growth has slowed compared to the double-digit expansion of the past decade, the China market is still very much a key driver. In the last two years, luxury brands have continued to actively build their brands and promote their products through major global milestone events in China,” said Gao Ming, Senior Vice President and General Manager Shanghai, Ruder Finn Asia. “Despite some budget cuts in advertising, Ruder Finn has not experienced any substantial cuts in PR budgets. In fact, we’re now seeing bigger budgets being put into integrated PR communications programs,” he added.

“Our luxury work in China has evolved into a leading global practice, and these significant new wins further enhance our experience and grow our expertise in this expanding market. As we continue to build on our strong momentum throughout 2014, these accounts demonstrate our strength both in the luxury market, as well as the larger Chinese business landscape,” said Kathy Bloomgarden, global CEO of Ruder Finn.

Ruder Finn has become renowned as a luxury expert in China with clients such as Cartier, Hermes, Piaget, Bang Olufsen and Hennessy. With a dedicated luxury team of more than 80 experts, it is the largest in the region’s PR industry. Since 2009, Ruder Finn has published an annual China Luxury Forecast, which conducts in-depth analysis of consumer perceptions, spending behavior and trends in Greater China. The report has been regularly quoted in international media as the benchmark for the industry in Greater China.

ABOUT RUDER FINN, INC.
Ruder Finn, Inc. is one of the world’s largest independent communications agencies with dual headquarters in the U.S. and China. Founded in 1948, Ruder Finn serves the global and local communication needs of over 250 corporations, governments and non-profit organizations. The agency is organized around four strategic pillars that reflect its core areas of expertise: Health Wellness, Corporate Public Trust, Technology Innovation, and Consumer Connections. RFI Studios, the agency’s full-service digital practice, leads the industry in designing and developing internal collaboration platforms, building conversations and communities around brands, and staying top-of-mind in the world of mobile applications. Ruder Finn’s work, talent and culture have received industry-wide recognition, including the 2013 Bulldog Stars of PR’s Global Agency of Year Award in the Multinational Practice category and 2013 PR News‘ Top Places to Work in PR Award. For more information, visit www.ruderfinn.com and whatsnext.ruderfinn.com.

In Asia, Health Wellness includes Daiichi Sankyo, Galderma, Merck Serono, Roche, Sanofi and Varian. Corporate Public Trust includes L’Oréal, Michelin, ABB, Boeing, Bosch, Volkswagen, CITIC Bank, Singapore EDB, Omron and Carlsberg. Life+Style includes luxury brands like Cartier and Vacheron Constantin from the Richemont Group, and Moet Hennessy premium brands from the LVMH Group, as well as Hermes, Bang Olufsen, Bentley, Breitling, Longchamp, Lexus, Tod’s Group, DFS Group, and the Jumeirah Group. Global Connectivity includes DHL, Emirates, Beechcraft, IEEE and Contact Singapore. Those four pillars are supported by award-winning divisions such as RFI (focusing on Interactive, Social Media and ePR), CSR, Arts Culture, Activation and INSIGHT which provides training as well as research on trends, producing the annual China Luxury Forecast and other publications. For more information on Ruder Finn Asia, please visit www.ruderfinnasia.com, or our Chinese website http://cn.ruderfinnasia.com

CONTACT:
Meagan Sloan
Ruder Finn, Inc.
(212) 583-2760
sloanm@ruderfinn.com

SOURCE Ruder Finn, Inc.

StayWell contemplates new lifestyle hotel brand

Australian hotel firm StayWell is considering using its forthcoming property in the hip Shoreditch area of London as the pilot for a new lifestyle brand.

The company currently has Park Regis and Leisure Inn in its portfolio, but as other hoteliers see success with new lifestyle offerings such as AHL’s QT, it is increasingly considering taking a similar path, chief executive Simon Wan revealed.

“Like any other hotel group, we’re looking at expanding our branding,” he told Travel Today. “We’re in the process of evaluating, but we’re looking at a new lifestyle brand – that seems to be the trend of the month.”

The Shoreditch property is currently set to become part of the Park Regis portfolio when it opens in 2015.

“But I think that, because the hotel doesn’t open until next year, that there’s an opportunity for us to launch a lifestyle brand using Shoreditch as a platform,” Wan said.

According to Wan, the hotels “game” has significantly changed over the last 10 years as younger customers, more advanced technology and additional distribution channels enter the market.

“These other lifestyle brands with a warmer personality, a bit more sophistication yet still casual, are really coming into the accommodation sector,” he said. “Now people are happy to check themselves in like in an airport – that was not the case 10 years ago.”

He confirmed that if StayWell succeeds in creating the “right” branding and personality for such a brand, it would use the Shoreditch property as its launch pad before taking it to other cities around the world.

“Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore would be on top of the agenda,” Wan said.

StayWell contemplates new lifestyle hotel brand

Singapore Gays Rally Amidst Anti-Gay Laws

The LGBT world has a sense of jubilation as gay rights are celebrated through rallies and parades, including most recently in Singapore, despite laws that punish homosexuals. Although there are detractors in places where gay pride is acknowledged around the globe, Pride month is more and more being recognized as an integral part of modern society.

Pride month occurs in June worldwide in those places that it is not illegal to be gay or lesbian. The event began 45 years ago, on June 28, 1969, with riots at the Stonewall Inn bar in New York City. The protest was in response to the rough and inequitable treatment LGBT individuals received at the hands of police who regularly raided gay bars as part of the anti-homosexual legal system in the 1950s and 1960s.

Singapore’s “Pink Dot” rally

In Singapore, 26,000 people turned out on Saturday for one of the largest crowds in a civil gathering in that country’s recorded history. The assembly, called “Pink Dot” (see video below), has been held annually since 2009 in an effort to promote nondiscrimination against same-sex couples. In Singapore, sex between two men is illegal, punishable by up to two years in prison, although enforcement of the law is rare. Lesbians are not mentioned.

In prior years, the rally in which participants dress in pink and gather in a circle to form a “pink dot,” had not received resistance. This year, however, Christian and Muslim groups organized in opposition, wearing white, in protest to what they say is growing acceptance of homosexuality in Singapore.

That the event took place on the eve of Ramadan further incited the anger of the Muslim groups. The hostility, mirroring laws in many other places in the world, put a slight damper on the jubilant atmosphere of the Singapore gay rights rally.

London, England’s Pride parade was recorded as having tens of thousands of marchers and included a statement of well-wishes by Prime Minister David Cameron, noting that the institution of same-sex marriage is just one reason to celebrate. The U.K. theme this year is “freedom.” Mr. Cameron said that he was committed to improving LGBT rights “across the planet” and that he had raised his concerns with President Putin about the treatment of gays in Russia.

Tel Aviv honored LGBT people with Pride Week two weeks ago, kicked off by flying the Gay Pride rainbow flag at the U.S. Embassy in that country. The flag was accompanied by a post on the Facebook page of the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, which stated that the Embassy was “Proudly flying the colors.” The annual parade included floats, marching groups, and uplifting music.

Toronto has put together a 10-day event, called WorldPride, culminating on Sunday, June 29, spanning 25 city blocks, including art, film, a parade, and musical celebrations. By one estimate, close to a million people marched in this year’s parade. Local media report that the streets were overflowing, and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne took part in the morning Pride and Remembrance Run.

Brazil celebrated gay pride in São Paulo while the country observed the World Cup. According to one estimate, 2.5 million revelers were attracted to the event. They were dressed in colorful costumes, dancing and singing through the streets in what is claimed to be the world’s largest pride parade. The theme this year was to advocate for the criminalization of anti-gay motivated crimes in Brazil.

Boston Pride’s events also last for 10 days. This year the theme, in keeping with the global premise of greater acceptance and embracing diversity, was “Be Yourself, Change the World.” 25,000 people in over 200 groups marched in the parade, which showcased well-known U.S. politicians, including Ed Markey, Elizabeth Warren, and Joe Kennedy. The year was particularly poignant, as it coincided with the 10-year anniversary of same-sex marriage in the United States, which began in Massachusetts.

Los Angeles Gay Pride hosted pop singer Demi Lovato as Grand Marshall. At the parade, she filmed the video for her new song Really Don’t Care, engaging participants. L.A.’s Pride event started one year after the Stonewall Riots, as was true in many other large U.S. cities, and proclaimed that they had over 400,000 marchers, participants, and spectators.

Meanwhile, gay marriage continues to roll out in the United States. Earlier this week, due to the removal of a ban by a U.S. district judge, Indiana became the 19th state to legalize same-sex marriage. A federal appeals court then issued a stay on Friday, which put a halt to marriages in progress, leaving couples in limbo. The question is whether those who did get married are still legally bound.

Across the world, there are still over 75 countries where it is a crime to be gay or lesbian, and the LGBT people who live in those countries struggle and suffer daily. Only a fraction are able to leave, and those who do, worry about the families and lives they have left behind, often uncertain about their safety and their futures.

While this lack of safety is sanctioned by anti-gay laws across the globe, it is nonetheless centrally important to LGBT people – in Singapore and in the rest of the world – that they rally together to celebrate who they are, pride in their community, and safety amidst the crowd.

Opinion by Fern Remedi-Brown

Previous articles published by the author about gay rights and the LGBT community:
Gay Marriage – North-South Divide
Religion-Based Discrimination in Arizona: Serving Up Bigotry
Would an Appropriate Response Be a Sit-in or a Kiss-in?
Uganda Newspaper Identifies Gays
Texas LGBT Community Hopes for Big Win
Uganda and South Africa History of Freedom Compared
St Patrick’s Day Parade Long Time Coming for Gay Groups in South Boston
Uganda Vice President Challenges President in Anti-Gay Law
Same-Sex Marriage Pioneers Mark 10-Year Celebration
Ethiopia Anti-Gay Bill Expected to Pass Next Week
Boston Pride Happy and Unique
Uganda Latest on Anti-Gay Law

Previous articles published by the author about LGBT asylum:
England and Wales Now Open to Gay Marriage
LGBT Asylum Support Task Force
Help for Gays in Detention Seeking International Asylum
Boston Pride Still Not Safe

Sources:
Reuters
The Blaze
Pink News
Guardian Liberty Voice
About.com, Gay Lesbian Travel
Guardian Liberty Voice
Guardian Liberty Voice
Time

Singapore Gays Rally Amidst Anti-Gay Laws

Here"s what you missed at Research Asia Interactive [GALLERY]

With the market research function facing a sea of change, we thought it necessary to hold Research Asia Interactive for the second time.

Here’s what was discussed.

For more pictures of the event see:

The session opened with Tyrone Almeida (pictured above), director of insights planning, Kellogg Company, Asia Pacific and S.S Africa speaking about the future of market research. Almeida advised marketers and researchers to deal with data influx by breaking down data as much as possible for meaningful insights. He also advised marketers to keep 10-20% of the research budget for experimenting with new research methodologies.

The conference then moved into interactive sessions, where hosts facilitated a series of discussions on selected topics such as the challenges and opportunities of real time research; visual storytelling; research ROI and leveraging mobile and social media for research.

Next was a panel (pictured above) on whether traditional research methods were still relevant. On the panel were Philip Steggals, insights director, Kadence International, Sohyun Song, assistant vice president market research, Group Customer Experience, OCBC Bank and Mukesh Kumar, head of marketing for MAGGI Light Meal Business, Nestle India. The three discussed their current research strategies; the challenges in the client-agency relationship as well as the challenges of integrating all data sources.

Anna Rokina, social data consultant for Lenovo’s global analytics hub spoke next on social media listening, talking about the challenges of mining social data for meaningful use, such as product or service development. Rokina also addressed the concern that such an operation needs to be a heavy investment – her team for social media data mining is a lean three person team.

Mukesh Kumar of Nestle India was up once again, speaking on competitive intelligence versus market research and how marketers still need to lead their consumers instead of relying too much on research to lead their decision making. (For more on that read: Marketers, don’t follow your consumer blindly)

In the final session, Michael Chadwick, director of brand strategy, APAC spoke on how research needs to stop being a dampener for creatives, and be fuel instead for better work. (For more on that read: Your market research should liberate creative work)

Research Asia Interactive 2014 was a one day conference held by Marketing Magazine on 27 June, at Grand Park Hotel in Singapore.

Here"s what you missed at Research Asia Interactive [GALLERY]

The Top 12 Moments From The Cairos Asian Tour

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Brisbane favourites The Cairos are currently on a national tour in support of their recently released album Dream Of Reason.

The boys recently wrapped up the ‘Good Days Tour’ which took place across Asia. Having spent a bit of time in Singapore and Hanoi last year for a showcase and the CAMA Festival, the band decided to revisit the great continent, popping by Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. Singer/ guitarist Alistar Richardson reported back on what they got up to.

The Top 12 Moments From The Cairos Asian Tour

Accordia Golf Plans Singapore Trust IPO

SINGAPORE—Accordia Golf Co., Japan’s largest golf-course operator, plans to raise up to 782 million Singapore dollars (US$626 million) through an initial public offering in Singapore for most of its golf-course assets.

The deal, if successful, would rank as Singapore’s largest IPO in more than a year, and comes amid a relatively dry spell for listings in the city-state.

Accordia Golf plans to list the assets through Accordia…

Accordia Golf Plans Singapore Trust IPO

Travel and accommodation: what you need to know

There has been a rise in holiday intention, which is now at a five-year high. Image: Thinkstock

The tourism sector contributed $42.3 billion to the Australian economy in the year 2012-13, that’s an increase of 3.7 percent, according to Tourism Research Australia. And total visitor expenditure of $98.7 billion was up 3.4 percent. So if you want to join the travel trade where should you invest? Check out these trends and statistics.

Jane Ianniello, international director of tourism, travel leisure, Roy Morgan Research, says “After declining dramatically early last year, holiday intention has recovered and is now at a five-year high, for both domestic and overseas holidays. This is particularly good news for the Australian tourism industry, which saw domestic intention hit a five-year low this time last year.

“Intriguingly, there have been no significant year-on-year increases in Australians’ overall sense of financial security or optimism about the future, or even in consumer confidence levels. Furthermore, there isn’t a specific age bracket or demographic group driving the rise in holiday intention — it appears to be a fairly general trend.”

However finding accommodation is going to be an issue, suggests Euromonitor senior research analyst Daniel Grimsey. “One concern is where are we going to put people? With the dollar down there is an increase in Asian visitors – tourists from Malaysia and Singapore saw double digit growth last year.

“Arrivals overall grew by only five percent – but this is still quite good and the strongest growth in arrivals we’ve had since the GFC.

“There’s a bit of growth in budget hotels. If you fly in on a budget airline, you need to stay in budget accommodation.”

For the business market the end of the mining boom and the cuts to government travel over the last two years have had an impact, says Grimsey.

MARKET DISRUPTERS

home-owner accommodation website Airbnb

a gamification element to online bookings: Sydney based software company Wynbox has doubled the number of room bookings for Rydges, according to BRW, with a focus on the lowest available room rate and a one in five chance for customers who book to get their room for free.

IN HOLIDAY MODE

1. Taking a greycation

Baby boomers are travelling and there will be more demand for family accommodation over the next 10 years. While the number of caravan parks is declining the value of the sector is going gangbusters: for instance, Big4 has migrated from being a caravan park to a holiday park network with resort facilities.

2. Holiday on a shoestring

New to the franchise arena in Australia is Tune hotels, a global budget hotel business focused on providing extras on a user-pays basis and owned by low-cost fares airline AirAsia.

FRANCHISE PLAYERS

Who is playing in the franchise sector? Some of the brands operating a franchise network are:

Accor

Big4

Choice Hotels

Escape Travel

Evergreen Holidays

Flight Centre

Harvey World Travel

Jetset Travel

Intercontinental

Mantra

MTA Travel

Quest Serviced Accommodation

Tune

Travel and accommodation: what you need to know

Work starts on new Vibe Hotel at Canberra Airport

The Australian gateway’s managing director, Stephen Byron, explains that the brand was chosen as it aligns best with the airport’s vision for the future.

“Canberra Airport is excited to be embarking on this venture with TFE Hotels, particularly as it strengthens the regional relationship with Singapore, one of Australia’s most important economic, intellectual and trading partners,” Byron says.

TFE Hotels is a joint venture between Australian family-owned company Toga Group and Far East Hospitality, and has a network of more than 65 hotels and serviced apartment complexes.

Byron adds: “An airport hotel has been long envisaged in our master plan and will strengthen the case for international flights and increased domestic capacity by delivering a premium accommodation option for travellers.”

Architectural firm Bates Smart will design the hotel’s building and interior design after winning a design competition conducted last year.

Situated just 150 metres from the entry to the new terminal, the building will be centred around a full height atrium featuring a large ground floor intermingle zone with reception, bar, restaurant and conferencing facilities.

The hotel will have a business travel focus and consist of 191 rooms and suites over seven storeys with sweeping views over Lake Burley Griffin to Parliament House, and across the runway to the east.

The hotel will be built by local firm Construction Control who started work last month and is expected to be completed by October 2015 with the first guests welcomed in November 2015.

Work starts on new Vibe Hotel at Canberra Airport

Fifty things we love about travel right now

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People take photographs at sunset at The Callanish Stones in Lewis, Scotland.

Countryside, Flinders Ranges Outback

Flinders Ranges Outback

Chef Ihaka Peri in his garden at Likuliku Resort, Fiji.

Tom Bradley terminal, Los Angeles.

NO MORE SINGAPORE: Dubai is a top stopover choice for many Kiwis who are flying to Europe.

The Vista Bar atop Trafalgar Hotel, London.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul.

Refurbished Shearer’s quarter at Mungo.

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From retro caravans to saving the rhinos, here’s what we love about travel right now.

SCOTLAND

On September 18, the people of Scotland will vote “yes” or “no” for independence from the United Kingdom. Electorally, it could still go either way, but the intensity of the debate is another indicator of how dynamic the country has become in recent years. Even to outsiders, it certainly feels different from any other part of the world.

Tourists have long known all about the snow-globe prettiness of Edinburgh and the mythic vistas of the Highlands, but much of the intricate coastline remains relatively undiscovered, and the culture is always revealing fresh reserves of energy, from Glasgow’s art and music scenes to the eco-lodges now appearing in wet, wild and sun-dappled corners of the countryside. visitscotland.com. SP

LUXURY HIKES IN AUSTRALIA

There was a time when bushwalking meant leaden backpacks and monotonous bags of trail mix, but that no longer need be the case.

Luxury hikes, on which walkers carry light packs, stay in comfortable lodges or standing camps and dine on good-quality local produce and wine, have become a fixture of the Tasmanian outdoors and are spreading across mainland Australia.

In 2011, the Arkaba Walk began gently introducing hikers to the Flinders Ranges, and this month Spicers commenced its Scenic Rim Trail, a four-day guided walk through Queensland’s Scenic Rim, staying in safari-style tents and Spicers Peak Lodge. AB

IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEMS

Love goes out to the airlines blazing trails with bigger, better in-flight entertainment systems. Yes, we mean you, Lufthansa, Etihad, Garuda and Turkish Airlines. We love the fact that passengers won’t miss the World Cup final thanks to a live sports broadcast channel.

Take a bow, Emirates. Your 777s are ahead of the game with wider screens and eight live channels of news, business and sport.

Paywall Wi-Fi is being rolled out in 30-odd fleets, but kudos to JetBlue, Norwegian, Air China and Hong Kong Airlines, which offer it free.

Finally, well done to the aviation authorities who realised that watching a movie during landing isn’t a threat to safety, and respect to airlines now allowing us to watch until the aircraft touches down. MA

VINTAGE CARAVANS

Move over glamping: vintage vacations with retro caravans, from Winnebagos to silver-bullet Airstreams, are taking over.

Happy Days Retro Vacations in Britain has “sympathetically restored caravans” in Dorset, Rent an Airstream in California has Airstreams from the 1940s and 1950s, as well as modern Airstreams, to tow on your next holiday, and Vintage Vacations, on the Isle of Wight, offers cute vintage Vagabond, Spartan and Airstream caravans on a country field, along with bed and breakfast. ROA

ONLINE TRAVEL-PLANNING EVOLUTION

Flight-search websites have long been a part of travel planning, but new resources have emerged to cope with complex itineraries. One of the best is Rome2Rio (rome2rio.com), which smoothly plots journeys between any two locales, suggesting trains, planes and boats in multiple configurations.

It’s as much a daydreaming aid as a practical planner. A similar site, RouteRank (routerank.com) presents alternative itineraries and acts as a booking portal. Flightfox (flightfox.com) simulates the role of a savvy travel agent by crowdsourcing your planning, paying a finder’s fee to whichever of its selected experts can find the cheapest price for a complicated itinerary. Sorted! TR

SLEEPING IN PARKS

New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service has really hit its stride. It not only has a fancy new website but historic buildings in its care are being restored and made available as self-contained accommodation.

These include retro beach shacks in Byron Bay, lighthouse keepers’ cottages on Montague Island, an 1890s National Estate homestead in Kosciuszko and shearers’ quarters at Mungo.

While heritage accommodation in NSW is increasingly marketed towards cashed-up couples without children, these more-the-merrier alternatives can be equally charming, more relaxed and cover a broader range of prices.

Accommodation located within national parks is also perfect for travellers who love nature but not enough to sleep in its arms. nationalparks.nsw.gov.au. EC

URUGUAY

Not all Uruguayans are happy that their government’s recent landmark legalisation of marijuana drew so much attention from around the world. Generally speaking, they don’t like a fuss, and the sale of cannabis to foreigners remains illegal anyway.

More to the point, there are other, better reasons to visit, and the beaches are the biggest – they are some of the best in the world. To the south, Punta del Este draws wealthy party people from throughout Latin America, while the northern resort of Punta del Diablo has a more chic-rustic appeal, and the colony at Cabo Polonio remains almost entirely off the grid – just brightly painted shacks, a lighthouse and the stars. visit-uruguay.com. SP

LIKULIKU’S CHEF

Could Ihaka Peri at Likuliku in Fiji be the world’s best resort chef? If this talented Kiwi worked in Sydney or Melbourne, you would have to book a table weeks in advance.

At Likuliku, his superb meals are just part of the package. There’s a new lunch and dinner menu every day – love the truffle gnocchi with braised chicken, walnuts and oregano butter – but make a point of showing up for breakfast too, where choices include mud crab omelette and twice-baked cheese souffle. likulikulagoon.com. UJ

EUROPEAN PEACE WALK

You have trekked the Kokoda Trail, hiked the Inca Trail and walked the Camino de Santiago. Now, it’s time to lace up those hiking boots again with the launch of the European Peace Walk, a 550-kilometre trans-national walkway established to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War I.

The walk will be launched in Vienna on the morning of July 28, taking participants through the central European countries of Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy. A cross-border initiative, the project has the noble aim of celebrating Europe’s modern-day culture of peace and establishing its newest pilgrim route. peacewalk.eu. CM

SIDETOUR

Yet another happy addition to the share economy revolution, SideTour was founded in San Francisco and has already spread to eight other United States cities.

The platform offers experiences – workshops, demonstrations, talks and tours – that are personally curated and run by talented local people who have a skill, interest or obsession to share. They might be an hour or a day, a one-off or ongoing, but they are always at a fair price.

Tourist attractions aren’t every traveller’s cup of tea and SideTour offers alternatives, such as a tree-house building workshop in Dallas, body-painting to live jazz in New York, Mediterranean spice blending in Seattle, or whatever is happening when you are there. sidetour.com. EC

RAWLA NARLAI

Set against an elephantine hump of granite in the Aravalli Hills of India’s Rajasthan state, Rawla Narlai is a gorgeous country retreat that belongs to the Maharaja of Jodhpur and is now a heritage hotel with outstanding charm and character.

Stucco walls in faded citrus and white surround three bougainvillea-wrapped courtyards, one with a big swimming pool. Best of all, the hotel offers a window over the village of Narlai, an exotic corner in one of the most colourful parts of India. Ask for one of the new rooms in the Tower Wing. rawlanarlai.com. MG

ACTIVE HOLIDAYS

You don’t have to lie around a pool to relax. For a rapidly growing group of travellers, holiday leisure time is better spent on far more active pursuits, and travel companies are keen to cater to them.

From cycling trips through the mountains of south-east Asia to multi-day hikes through the Andes, from expeditions to Antarctica to ice-skating across frozen seas in Sweden, there has never been a better time for active, adventurous travellers to explore the world. The swimming pools can wait. BG

LONDON‘S ROOFTOP BARS

The British capital may yet lose Scotland, but it is gaining rooftop bars thanks to a new-found fondness for power towers.

The 300-metre-high The Shard in Southwark is home to the new Gong bar. From 52 floors up, drinkers can look down their noses at the rest of Europe.

The bar, operated by the Shangri-La hotel group, has Oriental furnishings, imperial prices (17 quid for a cocktail) and peerless views.

The 12th floor of the Tower of London Hilton has recently opened the Sky Lounge, featuring two spectacular terraces with views across to Tower Bridge, the Thames and, indeed, The Shard. Less lofty but equally lovely is the Vista rooftop bar atop the Trafalgar Hotel.

You are not quite going eye to eye with Lord Nelson, but you are high enough to have an iconic slice of London at your feet. Other places for top-of-the-town tipples include Paramount (the Centre Point Tower in Tottenham Court Road) and Sushisamba, on the top of the Heron Tower in Bishopsgate. MA

EATWITH.COM

Ever feel as if there is a party you are missing while travelling? Eatwith ensures you don’t miss out again.

Choose your destination and your host and invite yourself to a dinner party of homemade cuisine with locals in their home, from a casual barbecue to a fine feast. ROA

SHIPPING CONTAINER CHIC

They are warm, compact and eco-friendly, and now you can check into them while on the road: shipping containers, the new building blocks of unfussy, environmentally savvy hotels. They feature in Japan’s Bayside Marina, England’s The Travelodge, China’s Xiang Xiang Xiang Pray House and Amsterdam’s citizenM Centraal.

Perhaps the most exclusive and exciting is Belgium’s wittily named Sleeping Around hotel, a village of just four rooms which pops up in a new city location each northern summer (it’s about to be erected on Antwerp’s Left Bank).

Chinese shipping containers rescued from Belgian dockyards have been transformed into luxury digs complete with box-spring beds, saunas and rain showers. It is novelty wrapped up in a tiny carbon footprint. sleepingaround.eu. CM

ITALY‘S AGRITURISMO

As more tourists look to identify with the source of their food, the Agriturismo movement is booming in Italy, where a growing number of farmers welcome visitors who want to experience authentic rural life, from sampling meals made from produce grown on site to staying for a few days.

Accommodation can range from basic to luxurious.

At some farms, guests are encouraged to join in the daily farming activities. Leading Melbourne chef Guy Grossi nominated rustic Mondragon at Tarzo, 40 kilometres from Treviso in the Veneto region, as offering the perfect Agriturismo experience. Its weekend restaurant features dishes such as house-made porchetta, gnocchi with goose ragu, and dandelion crepes all for about €20 (NZ$31) for lunch. agriturismo.it. WD

SAVING THE RHINOS

You love spotting them on safari. Now you can help save black rhinos from extinction by supporting the Africa travel experts fighting to save the species.

With more than 1000 rhinos poached in South Africa last year, safari operators are teaming up with conservation bodies and taking the drastic step of translocating them to the relative safety of Botswana, a country with low rhino densities and strict anti-poaching laws.

If successful, Wilderness Safaris’ The Wilderness Botswana Rhino Project and Beyond’s Rhinos Without Borders might bring these magnificent beasts back from the brink of extinction. wilderness-safaris.com; andbeyond.com. CM

TOM BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL

You used to have to steel yourself for a trip to Los Angeles International Airport. You would prepare for the worst – the long queues, the dodgy old terminals and the lack of food and services. Now, like a shining beacon of travel convenience, there’s the new Tom Bradley International Terminal.

Officially opened last year and serviced by the likes of Qantas, Fiji Airways and Emirates, it is everything the rest of LAX is not: a modern, spacious, relaxing terminal with high-end shops, an impressive choice of food and even art installations in the form of huge video screens in the main concourse. The queues may still occasionally be long but they feel so much more pleasant. BG

THE BOUTIQUE MINI BAR

From organic fare to local artisan products, emergency dresses and ties, sex toys and more, the mini bar has morphed into a boutique shop in more than just the average fridge. The mini bar at The NoMad Hotel in New York is found inside a steamer trunk and the mini bars at The Dylan in Amsterdam are silver leaf lined with mother-of-pearl handles.

But don’t just judge a mini bar by its cover. The Standard at East Village has David Kirsch Vitamin Powder inside its mini bars, dogs have their own mini bar at pet-friendly Fairmont in San Francisco, including rope toys and pet candles, and the W Retreat in the Maldives offers a Heidi Klein bikini among the cold drinks. ROA

ONLINE CHECK-IN

Footie fans at this year’s World Cup in Brazil will be among the first to try out Accor’s new online check-in system, with the service available at nearly all of the group’s hotels in most of the major match-hosting cities.

But travellers headed elsewhere won’t have long to wait: the technology-driven Accor Welcome Project will see guests at 1000 of the group’s hotels around the world and across its brands checking in remotely by the end of this year.

The planned result? Shorter queues, fewer formalities, more time for fun. accorhotels.com. CM

SRI LANKAN STYLE

The outbreak of seemingly permanent peace in Sri Lanka following years of savage civil war has encouraged renewed investment in not just in upmarket hotels and resorts but also the restoration of more of the island’s plethora of historical colonial-era houses. Among them is the recently opened Hill Rise, an elegantly renovated classic tea planter’s bungalow in the Sri Lanka high country.

The luxurious four-bedroom house is just below 2000 metres on a rise above a lake in Nuwara Eliya – Sri Lankan’s picturesque “Little England” hill station. Hill Rise is part of the new Edwards Collection, launched by a wealthy Sri Lankan couple who have decorated the hotel with memorabilia from their involvement in horse racing, including a display of trophies, leather saddles and old photos of bygone race meetings at the local turf club down the road. You can, if you wish, visit their stabled thoroughbreds there.

Elsewhere, in the holy capital and second city of Kandy, the couple will soon begin restoration of The Mansion, another nostalgic, colonial era property. classicsafaricompany.com.au. AD

SOLO WOMEN ON THE MOVE

Sisters are doing it for themselves, and by themselves. In tandem with the rise of the single-person household, an ever-increasing number of women are choosing to travel solo, whether it’s in the name of adventure, culture, self-improvement or idleness.

These days there are not too many tours that do not include a number of single women and they’re often the most engaged, the last to bed and having the most fun. The travel industry is catching on. Some upscale cruise operators in particular are dispensing with the single supplement in order to fill cabins in low season, and a small but growing band of specialist travel operators now organise tours exclusively for women who choose to travel on their own, but not to be alone.

All the latter are choreographed by, for and about women and the best bring creativity and imagination to their task, with themes ranging from classical music tours to shopping, food tours, yoga intensives and hardcore adventure. Google “single women travel” and prepare for take-off. MG

THE MARCH OF FREE WI-FI

Despite rear-guard inaction by some hotel groups, there are more and more places around the world offering free Wi-Fi to all. Begun by companies like McDonalds, Starbucks and Apple Stores it now extends to many others, whole shopping centres, most airports and entire cities from Perth to Paris.

So you can turn off expensive overseas data roaming and still readily check emails, search a map, call home on Skype or post another selfie on Facebook. Listed among the top priorities for business travellers, some hotels offer free Wi-Fi to guests while many more provide it to members of their loyalty programs. DMcG

THE IRISH PUBS OF ULAANBAATAR

It’s only natural to want a cold beer when you ride into Ulaanbaatar after a long, dusty tour of the Gobi Desert by jeep or horse or camel. It’s a bit of a surprise, however, to find the local bar scene dominated by Irish pubs.

In Mongolia, it seems, the very word “Irish” has become a synonym for high-quality conviviality. True to its cross-cultural name, the famous Grand Khaan Irish Pub tends to host an eclectic mix of foreign and local drinkers, but the quieter and cosier Hennessy’s Restbar felt a little more like home to this wandering Dubliner. SP

SLOVENIA

Often described as the sleeping beauty of Europe, Slovenia is one of the hottest European destinations in 2014 and its capital of Ljubljana is a beautiful old city that, unlike Budapest and Prague, is not yet over-run by tourists.

Sip crisp Slovenian white wines in one of the many bars and eateries that dot the banks of the River Ljubljanica – a pedestrian-only district frequented by the city’s fashionable young things. Ice wine and sparkling wines are also popular. Enjoy traditional Slovenian specialities such as slovenski struklji – dumplings with asparagus, cottage cheese, chives and wild garlic, or sample rabbit and veal dishes at the rustic Spajza restaurant.

The funkiest base from which to explore is Vander Urbani Resort in the heart of the old town. There’s a rooftop terrace with a pool, a yoga studio and a bar/restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. slovenia.info. WD

TRANSIT STOPOVERS

Break your long-haul flight with a visit to Hong Kong Disneyland, coffee in Singapore’s Kampong Glam, a Chinese shopover or a spot of Arabian dune bashing. Transit stopovers don’t have to follow the old sluice-and-snooze formula.

The new stopover cities of Guanghzhou and Dubai are going gung-ho with relaxed transit visas and budget hotel offers, while the old hands of Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong are offering easy transit visas and tours to show off their towns. Expect cheap hotels and hop-on, hop-off buses in Singapore, free rail cards and kick-boxing shows in Bangkok, or Emirates’ and Qantas’ Dubai hotel packages. Most offers are limited to travellers flying on the country’s national airline. BJ

OSLO

Yes, it’s cold, yes, it’s pricey, but the Norwegian capital is a sleeper hit for its food, architecture and design. Fly in with thrifty Norwegian Air, ogle starchitect Renzo Piano’s new Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art or squeal with your hands over your ears alongside Edvard Munch’s The Scream.

If Michelin-starred Maaemo is out of your league, try organic Kolonihagen Grunerlokka for new Nordic tapas: think mini elkburgers and dainty seafood, or go budget on gritty Storgata, aka Kebab Street. Hipsters bunker down at The Thief Hotel, then go old-school to sip coffee and shop Nordic design at Fuglen.

Grab a window seat in the Grand Hotel’s cafe to channel Ibsen and world peace (the Nobel Peace Prize laureate snoozes here each year). visitoslo.com. BJ

PARIS MACARONS

If you’re a macaron, Paris is the world’s fashion catwalk, but the traditional pastel-coloured versions from the classy Laduree stores are feeling the bite from flashy upstart Gerard Mulot.

With several shops throughout the city, including the Marais, Mulot has sold his soul to the sugar fairies, such is the lightness and delicacy of his fruity fillings, and quelles couleurs! Ooh-la-lah!

gerard-mulot.com MG

DREAMLINER

It can’t take all the pain out of flying but Boeing’s Dreamliner 787 does live up to the hype. Traveller has done a few legs now, including Qatar Airways (Edinburgh to Doha) in early June.

Virtually all the major airlines are now flying 787s on select routes. Jetstar took delivery of its first 787s in December last year.

People ask, What’s so good about it? To start with, state-of-the-art technology sensors that adjust the plane during turbulence, limiting movement and motion sickness.

It is much quieter than other planes and uses 20 per cent less fuel. Larger cabin windows (about 30 per cent bigger than traditional aircraft) dim at the touch of a button and the LED lighting and vaulted ceilings make for a more pleasant, calming interior. Cabins have more oxygen with more moisture in the air, meaning you don’t get that shrivelled, dehydrated feeling.

Many sinus sufferers have reported a far better flying experience on 787s, given the cabins are pressurised at an altitude of 6000 feet, compared with 8000 feet for similar aircraft.

Enough reasons? FC

CITY BIKES

Those Danes always go one better. More than 600 cities worldwide now offer public bike systems; this year Copenhagen is trialling electric-powered city bikes featuring built-in tablets with GPS and internet.

Meanwhile, intrepid cheapskate travellers are happily lumbering round on Velibs in Paris, Bicings in Barcelona, CityCycles in Brisbane and GZs in Guangzhou. They may not be speedy steeds, but once you’ve worked out the system they’re convenient, cheap city-centre transport.

They’re adventures in themselves, making you feel you’re caring for your body and the environment, and saving money you can later blow on something unhealthy and indulgent. RT

MESH PROTECTION

Want to enhance the theft-proof capability of your check-in baggage, or secure it to a luggage rack when it’s beyond your watchful gaze? Pacsafe eXomesh is a lockable, stainless steel wire spiderweb that wraps around the whole bag, available in different sizes from Paddy Pallin, The Luggage Professionals and Travelgear. MG

CHEAP ROAMING

Global roaming charges are a traveller’s worst nightmare but more third-party operators are taking a chainsaw to the cost. If you’re galloping around Europe, LeFrench Mobile (lefrenchmobile.com) charges calls within the EU at €0.19 a minute and also offers cheap text messaging and EU data roaming at just €0.07 per MB.

Want data only? Simply Roam (simplyroam.com) is a prepaid global data sim card that gives you internet access throughout Europe, or in more than 95 countries.

Plans start from €14.99 for 200 MB in Europe to the Globetrotter, €29.99 for 100 MB. MG

THE CANTON ROUTE

Guangzhou, in southern China, is the heartland of the Canton Route, a wallet-friendly rival to the traditional Kangaroo Route from Sydney to London via Hong Kong or Singapore. China Southern Airlines also now flies Guangzhou to Moscow, Frankfurt and New York (from August 6).

Aussies are already snapping up free 72-hour transit visas to scoff Cantonese nosh and explore the surrounding Guangdong Province. BJ

CANBERRA – CAPITAL OF COOL

It’s reputed that some European nations once designated Canberra a hardship posting for its diplomats. But now Australia’s bush capital is all bushy-tailed having transformed itself into a capital of cool.

Dull apartment hotels pitched at public servants on parsimonious per diems have been usurped by the likes of QT Canberra, Hotel Hotel and East pitched at the design and food devotees on weekend getaways while the strident New Acton development has redefined the city’s architectural ethos.

Even The New York Times has gone a little Canberra crazy, recently recommending to its readers they spend 36 hours there at places such as Lonsdale Street Roasters and Mocan Green Grout, a suggestion that not long ago would have been dismissed by some, nay many, as 36 hours too long. AD

DONGDAEMUN DESIGN PLAZA IN SEOUL

In 2010, Seoul became a UNESCO City of Design. In March 2014, that title was crowned with the opening of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, on the site of a former baseball stadium. A vast, curving building designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, its futuristic exterior resembles a silver spaceship from a design-savvy galaxy far, far away.

A product of the most advanced computer design, it sits in a beautifully landscaped park in the city’s traditional fashion hub and is fascinating to walk around. Inside, there’s plenty more to see. The interior is split into three zones – the Art Hall, Design Museum and Design Lab.

The first is for big events such as fashion shows; the museum hosts an exhibition of priceless Korean artwork and historical artefacts; and the Design Lab showcases the work of local designers, with their work for sale. The accompanying Design Market is a quality collection of shops and eateries.

All up, the DDM is a top place to experience the magic of great design. seouldesign.or.kr/eng/. TR

APP ACCESS TO LOCAL BUSES

It’s always been easy to figure out how to use public transport in a foreign city – as long as it ran on rails. Train and tram routes were easy to decipher, but local buses remained an impenetrable mystery.

As more and more cities around the world make their transport data available to Google Maps, however, that puzzle has largely been solved. Tap in a query about getting from A to B, and the app will tell you which buses to catch and where to transfer. It opens up a whole new way of getting around in the company of locals. TR

50 YEARS OF THE POPPY

Everyone’s favourite Finnish design house’s iconic poppy print – Unikko – celebrates its half century this year. The fun, light-hearted poppy design is one of the most stylish looks you can boast as you wave your loved ones adieu.

Whether it be a silk scarf, a billowing maxi dress, a cheeky kaftan – or one of Marimekko’s many canvas backpacks, toiletries and cosmetic bags or cute clasp purses (perfect for keeping foreign coins separate) – there’s no better time to splurge on a Marimekko item. unikko.marimekko.com. FC

REPURPOSING

Travellers are increasingly keen to eat and sleep in repurposed buildings, but without being buffered from the structure’s history. We want to slumber in what were once Slovenian military prison cells at Ljubljana’s Hostel Celica, drink at Denver’s former mortuary of Linger, munch brunch at school desks in the old New York City primary classroom that’s now M. Wells Dinette, stay in a bank vault, cave, brothel, church, castle.

Trends swing back and forth with our changing sensibilities and right now, in response to the mind-numbing monotonies of the generic-homogenous-chain era, travellers crave authenticity. Repurposed buildings feed that need and, if the walls want to tell stories, we’re interested. EC

BALLARAT, VICTORIA

This Australian city has swapped its dated country town cuisine for an impressive food scene. Some of the best new venues to eat and drink include smooth wine bar Mitchell Harris; cool laneway restaurant The Lane; Jackson’s Co with its stylish dining in a renovated 19th century pub; Rebellion Brewery, which makes its own gluten-free beer; and atmospheric pizzeria The Forge.

In the past year or so, many of Ballarat’s attractions have also been renewed or transformed. The shiny new Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka (MADE) stands on the site of the Eureka Stockade rebellion of 1854. Outside the city, the once naff Kryal Castle has been given a thorough makeover, fine-tuning its mock-mediaeval theme with a large dose of fairytale. visitballarat.com.au. TR

CHILD-FREE ZONES

Love them as we do, there are some children that can inflict pain and suffering on airline passengers and a couple of discount carriers now offer child-free tranquillity zones.

Scoot (flyscoot.com) has a ScootinSilence cabin, a no-go area for children under 12, located behind business class, with the added bonus of 10 centimetres extra legroom per seat. Aboard Malaysia-based AirAsia X (airasia.com), seats in the Quiet Zone offer the same child-free factor, plus soft, ambient lighting and the promise of a swifter meal service.

Apart from the “hot seats” located at the front of the cabin, which come at a premium since they offer extra legroom, Quiet Zone seats are free of charge. MG

DOWNTOWN LA

Travellers used to shun Los Angeles’ Downtown, but the city centre has been rediscovered by locals and is re-emerging as one of LA’s most vibrant (and walkable!) districts. Use the ever-expanding subway and light rail network to go downtown, emerging at magnificent Union Station.

In nearby El Pueblo, the new America Tropical Interpretive Centre showcases a controversial 1932 mural by Mexican artist David Siqueiros. LA’s own Broadway is lined by beautiful theatre and cinema facades, now being restored to their century-old glory.

The Grammy Museum is a wonderful tribute to the power of music, and it sits within the sprawling LA Live complex of entertainment venues. Food is following the upward trend, with new eateries such as Maccheroni Republic, Alma and Bestia joining classics like Water Grill and the ultra-cheap taco stands of Grand Central Market. Finish the day with a beer at the rooftop beer garden of the Standard Hotel. TR

HASHTAG HOTELS

Social media-savvy hotels are giving back to those who spread their word. 1888 in Sydney streams #1888hotel Instagrams on flat screens in their lobby and offers a free night for the best photo each month. Guests at Sol Wave House in Majorca get their own Twitter app at check-in to communicate with staff via different hashtags and can chat with other guests too. Post #fillmyfridge and voila, your mini bar is replenished. ROA

POCKET SCANNER

Scanner Mini by Readdle turns your iPhone or iPad into a portable scanner. Shoot an image using the app and presto, it converts to a PDF – ideal for storing your passport photo page, itinerary, tickets and collecting must-do hints to enhance your travels. While the app is free, you’ll need to upgrade to the $6.99 Pro version to send your scans to Dropbox or attach to an email. readdle.com. MG

INLE PRINCESS RESORT

Exit the generals, and it’s cue Myanmar opening up, travellers flooding in and overseas-owned hotels multiplying. That’s it, right? Not quite. A luxury sustainable resort and hospitality project at Myanmar’s renowned Inle Lake is so innovative, its remarkable founder has been plucked from obscurity and awarded the coveted Goldman Sachs Fortune Global Women Leaders Award in the US.

Mi Suu Yin’s Inle Princess Resort breaks with business convention and breaks new ground by insisting that development should not come at the cost of local culture; that environmental protection, collective activism, training the unemployed and profit go hand in hand. Yin’s new Inle Heritage Vocational Training Centre is adjacent to her resort, built to exacting environmental standards and accommodates students who learn high-end hospitality and tourism skills. Travellers heading to Inle Lake can book a stay at one of six guest bungalows attached to the training centre or stay at the resort itself.

Longer term, Yin is developing a “Thahara” network of boutique places to stay in Myanmar, each designed and built to be sustainable, and each in the care of local owners who offer insight and introduction to travellers keen to experience local life. inleprincessresort.net. LW

UPFRONT CRUISING

Pre-paid drinks’ packages take the sting out of big bar bills on a cruise. While cruise lines are set to discount fares to fill all those ships heading Down Under in the next 18 months, passengers can often rack up double the fare on alcohol, soft drinks and decent coffees. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line and MSC Cruises have daily packages that are reportedly better value than buying an equal number of drinks at normal bar prices.

MSC has the best prices at about $38 a day; others range from $46 with different prices for standard and top-shelf drinks. The move follows the lead of luxury cruise lines such as Crystal, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Sea Dream and Silversea, which have included drinks in their fares for several years. CG

TREKKING IN NEPAL

In 2015 Nepal celebrates a little-known anniversary, marking 50 years since the first commercial trek in the country.

In the half-century since Colonel James Roberts led a group into the Himalayas, trekking has boomed, declined during the Maoist insurgency and is now booming again. Everest Base Camp remains the big-ticket target, but the country is veined with trails, from remote Kanchenjunga – the world’s third-highest mountain – in the east to the legendary lands of Peter Matthiessen’s The Snow Leopard in the west. It’s even possible now to trek the country’s length on the new 1700-kilometre Great Himalaya Trail. AB

SKIING IN CHILE

The world-class slopes of Chile might be a blind spot for us but with nine direct flights a week with Qantas from Sydney to Santiago, its tourism body says the Andean slopes are worth a second look.

Flights from June to September are considered low season for both countries, planes are not full and fares average at about US$2300 (NZ$2621) a person return including taxes, according to Tourism Chile’s Pablo Retamal. Resorts are within striking distance of the capital.

One of the best, Valle Nevado with more than 9000 hectares of skiable terrain, is just 46 kilometres from the city and costs between US$80-$90 a day for an adult lift pass. La Parva is 38 kilometres away with tickets from about $60 a day.

Further afield, the Pucon resort at Villarica, more than 700 kilometres from the capital, skiers can descend the active volcano, complete with smoke coming from the crater. And for the sun-lovers there’s no sacrificing summer in the southern hemisphere. chileanski.com/eng. JR

SUITCASE STYLE

With black fabric suitcases at saturation point, it’s no surprise carousel conversation has been reduced to “Is that ours?” So we say “Huzzah!” for growing numbers of hard-shell polymer case fashioned into new and often outlandish creations.

Big ups for the R2D2 wheelie (“Robot Trolley” from salvadorbachiller.com) the washing machine (with clothes inside – from sooperdesign.com.au) and the woofer speaker (loveluggage.com.au).

And “plaudits with reservation” for the giant stickers of questionable taste from cheeky.com: applied to a corner of your case, they suggest it has been torn to reveal contents that include a kidnapped air hostess, great bundles of dollar bills and bags of cocaine. Ahem. MA

CHEAP MICHELIN EATS

Even Michelin-star-restaurant hunters can’t resist a deal, and we love the rise of little cheapies creating expert food on a salaryman’s budget.

The cheapest is said to be Hong Kong’s celebrated Tim Ho Wan, hot property for its pork buns (three for under $3), otherwise, check out the one-star Arbutus, the bellwether of London’s so-called recession restaurants, with the plat de jour and wine for 10 quid, or New York’s first gastropub, The Spotted Pig, a one-star constant since it opened a decade ago.

The Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand listing spots restaurants that are dishing up non-starred all-stars serving two courses and wine for less than $40, fertile hunting ground for eaters with dieting wallets. BJ

FIRST TRACKS APP

Skiers and boarders know that when it comes to powder, all social graces are off. First in gets first tracks.

The geo-tagged First Tracks Powder Alarm from Helly Hansen for smartphones will check the weather all night while you’re sleeping. If there’s fresh snow, your alarm will go off an hour earlier than you set to put you first in line. ROA

Contributors: Max Anderson, Andrew Bain, Elspeth Callender, Fiona Carruthers, Anthony Dennis, Winsor Dobbin, Michael Gebicki, Ben Groundwater, Belinda Jackson, Catherine Marshall, Rachael Oakes-Ash, Stephen Phelan, Tim Richards, Richard Tulloch, Jane Reddy, Lynne Whiley, David McGonigal, Caroline Gladstone, Ute Junker.

– FFX Aus

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Fifty things we love about travel right now

Thứ Hai, 30 tháng 6, 2014

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