Tune Hotels.com Opens At Bali’s Kuta Beach

Tune Hotels.com has opened its first hotel in Indonesia, marking the budget hotel operator’s expansion beyond Malaysia. The 139-room Tune Hotels.com Kuta, Bali is located off Jalan Pantai Kuta and is a 6-minute walk from the famous beach as well as the main shopping and dining areas.

 

Each of the 84 double and 55 single rooms offer guests a clean, comfortable bed, ensuite shower and a ceiling fan. Guests can also choose to add-on optional amenities such as air-conditioning, laudered towels, television and wireless internet access for a fee.

 

Despite being minimally-priced, the hotel also provides daily housekeeping, electronic keycard access and 24-hour security. Other hotel facilities include a transportation/tour desk and a convenience store selling food and beverages, newspapers and magazines, essentials and souvenirs.

 

Malaysia-based Tune Hotels.com currently operate 5 limited service hotels in Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Penang and Kuala Lumpur. The group will add a second Indonesian property when the 170-room Tune Hotels.com Double Six Legian opens next month.

 

For more information, visit www.tunehotels.com.

Air Astana Begins Almaty – Kuala Lumpur, Tiger Airways Resumes Singapore – Hat Yai

Air travellers in Southeast Asia now have greater options when flying beyond and within the region. Kazakh national carrier Air Astana has commenced flights from Almaty to Kuala Lumpur, while low cost carrier Tiger Airways returns to the southern Thai city of Hat Yai.

 

Air Astana Links Malaysia With Kazakhstan

Travellers now have a direct link when flying between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty. Air Astana has launched a weekly, nonstop service using a 2-class Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with 30 Business and 190 Economy Class seats.

 

The inaugural flight on 31 October 2009 was welcomed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport by Malaysia’s Minister of Transport, YB Dato’ Sri Ong Tee Keat, and officials of Malaysia Airports. Onboard the flight was the Deputy Chairman of Kazakhstan’s Committee for Civil Aviation, Talgat Lastaev, accompanied by Ibrahim Canliel, Vice-President of Marketing and Sales at Air Astana and members of the media from Kazakhstan. 

 

Flight KC 935 departs Almaty International Airport every Saturday at 0055 hrs, arriving in Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 1055 hrs. The return flight, KC 936, takes off from Kuala Lumpur at 2335 hrs, landing back in Almaty at 0625 hrs the next morning.

 

Kuala Lumpur is Air Astana’s 7th international destination in Asia and the Middle East, joining Bangkok, Beijing, Delhi, Dubai, Seoul and Urumqi. From its hubs in Almaty, Astana and Atyrau, the airline flies to 44 domestic and international destinations with a fleet of Airbus A319, A320, Boeing B757, B767 and Fokker 50 aircraft.

 

For more information, visit www.airastana.com.

 

Tiger Airways Returns To Hat Yai

Singapore-based Tiger Airways has resumed flights to Hat Yai in southern Thailand. The low cost carrier will operate 3 flights a week every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

 

Flight TR 132 departs Singapore at 1325 hrs, arriving in Hat Yai at 1350 hrs. The return flight, TR 133, takes off from Hat Yai International Airport at 1420 hrs, landing back in Changi International Airport at 1645 hrs. Tiger Airways will operate a 180-seat Airbus A320 aircraft on the route.

 

The resumption of flights to Hat Yai increases the number of Thai destinations in Tiger Airways’ network to 4, including Bangkok (served triple daily), Phuket (served double daily) and Krabi (served 4 times weekly), which was also recently restarted in October 2009.

 

For more information, visit www.tigerairways.com.

AirAsia X Begins Kuala Lumpur – Chengdu Flights

Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia X has launched flights between its Kuala Lumpur hub and the Chinese city of Chengdu. The inaugural flight, D7 2622, arrived in Chengdu International Airport at 1340 hrs with 378 passengers onboard the Airbus A330-300.

 

AirAsia X will fly the route 4 times weekly with different flight timings depending on the day of operation. Every Tuesday and Saturday, flight D7 2622 departs Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 0900 hrs, arriving in Chengdu at 1340 hrs. On Thursdays, flight D7 2626 will take off at 1800 hrs from Kuala Lumpur and arrive in Chengdu International Airport at 2240 hrs, while flight D7 2624 departs Malaysia at 1330 hrs every Sunday to arrive in the capital city of Sichuan province at 1810 hrs.

 

On the return leg, flight D7 2623 departs Chengdu at 1455 hrs, landing back in Malaysia at 1935 hrs on Tuesdays and Saturdays.  The Thursday evening service, D7 2627, will take off from Chengdu International Airport at 2355 hrs, arriving back in Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 0435 hrs the next morning. Every Sunday, flight D7 2625 will depart at 1925 hrs to land back in Kuala Lumpur at 0005 hrs the next day.

 

Chengdu is the 3rd destination in China for AirAsia X, after Hangzhou and Tianjin. The airline is promoting the city as a gateway to China’s western regions such as UNESCO World Heritage Site Jiuzhaigou and Tibet. AirAsia X’s short-haul affiliate, AirAsia, also connects Kuala Lumpur with Guilin, Haikou and Shenzhen.

 

For more information, visit www.airasia.com.

Garuda Indonesia To Reopen Jakarta – Amsterdam Service

Following a 5-year absence, Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is to return to Europe with the reopening of its flagship Jakarta-Amsterdam route, operated via Dubai, from June 2010. Amsterdam is the first of several European services planned by Garuda Indonesia, which was recently permitted to operate in the European Union following improvements to its safety standards.

 

Flight GA 088 departs Jakarta at 2100 hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0209 hrs the next morning before departing again at 0315 hrs for a 0800 hrs arrival into Amsterdam. The return service, GA 089, takes off from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol at 1000 hrs, landing in Dubai at 1830 hrs and departing for Jakarta at 1945 hrs, where it lands at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 0710 hrs the next morning.

 

Garuda Indonesia will operate a 2-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft, configured with the airline’s latest cabin products. Passengers will enjoy 36 full-flat beds in Executive Class, while the Economy Class seats feature a 32-inch seat pitch and 6 inches of recline. Individual touch-screen monitors deliver audio-video on-demand entertainment in both classes.

 

The airline joins several airlines already established on the route, including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. Garuda Indonesia currently flies to 17 international destinations including Bangkok, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Osaka, Perth, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

 

For more information, visit www.garuda-indonesia.com.

Refurbished Mandarin Oriental Jakarta Opens

Following a comprehensive 20-month renovation, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has reopened the Mandarin Oriental Jakarta with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and gala event attended by the Indonesian capital’s society elite. Located at Jalan M. H. Thamrin, the hotel is easily accessible to Soekarno-Hatta Interantional Airport and the business district.

 

The 272 rooms and suites have been outfitted in a classic, contemporary design by renowned interior design firm Lim, Teo & Wilkes, blending Indonesian culture with the group’s oriental heritage and modern amenities. Each room is furnished with luxury bedding, a large marble bathroom with mood lighting, separate rain shower and bathtub, in-room entertainment system with 42-inch LCD television, CD/DVD player and surround-sound stereo, iPod connectivity and multi-function data port, high-speed internet access, workdesk with telephone, in-room safe, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities. 56 spacious Mandarin rooms measuring 64 square meters in size feature a living area that can be separated from the bedroom by sliding doors, while the luxurious Oriental and Mandarin Suites also offer guests complimentary use of the Executive Club Lounge facilities and the group’s renowned personalised service.

 

The hotel’s 4 new restaurants serve a range of international cuisine, including authentic Gallic fare at Lyon, the French fine dining restaurant. Each dish is carefully prepared according to traditional techniques with fresh seasonal ingredients, accompanied by the vintage selection from the wine cellar. Specialising in Cantonese and Szechuan cuisines, guests dine on authentic dishes, premium dim sum and a wide selection of Chinese teas amidst the ornate decor at Xin Hwa. For casual dining, Cinnamon showcases classic dishes from across Asia prepared at live cooking stations, while the signature Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop returns to offer guests freshly made pastries, cakes, chocolates and savouries, paired with afternoon tea in a casual and comfortable setting. Located on the 5th floor next to the swimming pool, guests will find exotic cocktails, smoothies, fresh juices and beverages at Azure, before partying the night away to the beats of the DJs at MO Bar.

 

Business travellers at the Mandarin Oriental Jakarta have a fully-equipped business center at their disposal, with a comprehensive range of secretarial, translation and interpretation services. The hotel also offers 9 flexible function rooms, including a Grand Ballroom which seats up to 350 guests for a dinner banquet. Following a day of meetings, guests can relax in the freeform swimming pool, or enjoy a workout at the state-of-the-art fitness center. The hotel can also book a round of golf for guests at one of the numerous courses in Jakarta.

 

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group currently operates hotels and resorts around the world in the Americas, Asia and Europe, including Bangkok, Geneva, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, Manila, New York, Prague, San Francisco, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington DC. The group’s portfolio is slated to further expand with new developments announced in Barcelona, Beijing, Chicago, Las Vegas, Macau, Marrakech, Moscow and Paris.

 

For more information, visit www.mandarinoriental.com.

Best Western Expands Vietnamese Presence

Best Western International is set to expand its presence in Vietnam with the opening of a new property in Hanoi and the announcement of new developments in Dalat, Lao Cai and Nha Trang.

 

Best Western Muong Thanh Hanoi

The new Best Western Muong Thanh Hanoi is the group’s second Vietnamese property and is located in Linh Dam district near the city’s bus and railway stations.

 

The hotel offers 168 rooms, including 22 larger suites to guests, which are fully wheelchair-accessible. Each room is furnished with comfortable bedding, spacious bathrooms, satellite television, direct-dial telephone with voicemail, workdesk with dataports, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities. Adjoining rooms are available to families or guests travelling in a large group.

 

For dining, there are 3 restaurants located within the property. Peppercorn’s serves western cuisine and grill dishes, while Basil and Cilantro offer a selection of Asian cuisine. In the vicinity, various restaurants offer Vietnamese cuisine and specialty food from the mountain regions, with numerous lounges and watering holes serving alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages paired with live music entertainment.

 

Best Western Muong Thanh Hanoi also boasts an indoor swimming pool and the Savasana Spa & Wellness Center where guests can relax following a day of business in the city. Meeting and banquet facilities, including a spacious ballroom, can cater to events of various sizes and is supported by a fully-equipped business center.

 

New Developments

In addition to properties now open in Haiphong and Hanoi, Best Western International will open 3 new hotels in Vietnam in 2010. The group is focusing on the gateway cities of Da Nang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as Vietnam’s World Heritage areas of Halong City and Halong Bay, Hoi An and the ancient capital, Hue.

 

The Best Western Sapaly Hotel Lao Cai, Best Western Premier Nha Trang Plaza and Best Western Dalat Plaza Hotel reflect the group’s optimism on Vietnam’s growing tourism industry. When completed, the 3 hotels will add 460 rooms to Vietnam’s hotel inventory.

 

Best Western International currently operates more than 30 properties across Asia in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

 

For more information, visit www.bestwestern.com.

New Southeast Asian Route Updates From KLM, Silkair

Beginning in December 2009, KLM and Silkair will add new flights to Bali and Penang respectively. The new services mark KLM’s return to the Indonesian resort island, while Silkair takes over the morning flight from sister carrier Singapore Airlines.

 

3 Times Weekly Amsterdam-Singapore-Bali Flights From KLM

Following a 12-year absence, KLM resumes services to Bali in Indonesia from 6 December 2009. KLM will operate a 2-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft configured with 35 seats in World Business Class and 390 seats in Economy Class on the route.

 

Flight KL 835 departs from Amsterdam at 2100 hrs on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, arriving in Singapore at 1620 hrs the next day before taking off at 1730 hrs for a 2010 hrs landing at Ngurah Rai International Airport. The return flight, KL 836, departs Bali at 2130 hrs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, landing in Changi International Airport at 0005 hrs the next morning before continuing back to Amsterdam at 0120 hrs where it arrives at 0800 hrs.

 

The tropical destination is popular amongst Dutch and European holidaymakers. With the new flights, KLM will operate 10 flights each week between the Netherlands and Indonesia, where it also flies to the capital Jakarta via Kuala Lumpur.

 

For more information, visit www.klm.com.

 

Silkair To Fly Triple-Daily On Singapore-Penang Route

Singapore-based regional carrier Silkair will increase flights on the Singapore-Penang route from 1 December 2009 when it takes over the daily morning service from affiliate Singapore Airlines. Rich in culture, history and heritage, Penang is one of Malaysia’s top tourist destinations with its charming colonial buildings and famous food such as the Penang laksa and char kway teow.

 

Flight MI 352 will depart Changi International Airport Terminal 2 at 0850 hrs, arriving in Penang International Airport at 0930 hrs. The aircraft returns as flight MI 351 at 1025 hrs, landing back in Singapore at 1150 hrs.

 

Passengers who have made bookings to travel between Singapore and Penang on Singapore Airlines will be re-accomodated on Silkair flights. The airline, which began flying the route in June this year, currently operates an afternoon and evening flight using a 2-class Airbus A320. Silkair also flies to Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Langkawi in Malaysia.

 

For more information, visit www.silkair.com.

Taj Hotels, Resorts And Palaces Teams Up With Etihad Guest

The Indian Hotels Company has joined the award-winning Etihad Guest frequent flyer program of Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways as its latest hotel partner.

 

One of Asia’s largest hospitality groups, the group operates under the umbrella of Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces. Through the Taj, Taj Premium and Gateway Hotel collections, the group comprises more than 60 hotels in 45 locations across India and 15 international hotels in Africa, Australia, Bhutan, Malaysia, Middle East, UK and USA.

 

Etihad Guest members will now be able to earn miles when staying at the group’s hotels. 500 miles are awarded for each stay at any Taj property, including the flagship Taj Mahal Palace and Tower in Mumbai. Members will also earn 250 miles per stay at Taj Premium and Gateway Hotels.

 

The new partnership complements Etihad Airways’ continued expansion in India, where it currently operates flights to 6 destinations including Chennai, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, New Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram. The airline will begin flights to Hyderabad later this year from November 2009.

 

For more information, visit www.etihadairways.com or www.tajhotels.com.

Malaysia’s First Hard Rock Hotel Opens

The Malaysian island of Penang is home to the newest addition to Hard Rock International’s hotel portfolio. Adorned with pieces from Hard Rock’s world-famous memorabilia collection and set amidst the beaches of Penang’s famed Batu Ferringhi district, the 6-storey Hard Rock Hotel Penang is 45 minutes from the airport and 30 minutes from Georgetown.

 

233 guestrooms and 17 suites feature contemporary design and modern amenities. All rooms feature the brand’s signature Sleep Like a Rock bedding, a spacious bathroom with Hansgermany rain shower, 32-inch LCD television, CD/DVD player, iPod docking station, complimentary streaming music, high-speed internet-access, in-room safe, IDD telephone, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities. Guests staying in the Kings Club enjoy privileges such as the exclusive use of the Kings Club Lounge and premium room amenities, while Suite guests enjoy the privacy of a separate living room. Most rooms offer private balconies and views of the beach, with the ground floor rooms facing the swimming pool having swim-up patios with wood trellis covers.

 

Leading the selection of dining options at the hotel is the signature Hard Rock Cafe serving authentic American specialty dishes, with live band performances every night. An all-day dining venue, the Starz Diner, offers Asian and International cuisine with a show kitchen for guests to observe the chefs at work, while the Lobby Lounge commands an unsurpassed view of the Andaman Sea. The Pizzeria and The Shack ensure guests enjoy pizzas, snacks and beverages by the hotel’s poolside.

 

Hard Rock Hotel Penang is home to the island’s largest free form swimming pool at 2,400 square meters, complete with its own sand islands, water slides and poolside cabanas. The hotel also features the Body Rock Gym and Rock Spa, where guests can have their treatments in gazebos facing the sea, before finishing with a hair and beauty session at the Hair Salon. Younger guests have their own spaces at the Lil’ Rock Kids Club and Teens Club to keep them busy with activities while the adults shop at the 2 Hard Rock merchandise stores.

 

Meeting and event planners have up to 350 square meters of space at their disposal, including a unique marquee ballroom capable of accomodating up to 300 guests, pre-function garden area and 3 meeting rooms. All venues feature state-of-the-art audio-visual techonology and are supported by a full service business center.

 

The Hard Rock Hotel Penang is the brand’s 3rd property in Southeast Asia, joining the Hard Rock Hotel Bali and Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya. There are now 12 Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos around the world, with new properties upcoming in Atlanta, Dubai, Hungary, Palm Springs, Panama and Singapore’s Resorts World integrated resort.

 

For more information, visit www.hardrockhotels.com.

AirAsia X To Commence Abu Dhabi Flights In November 2009

Malaysia’s AirAsia X has announced it will begin flights from its Kuala Lumpur base to Abu Dhabi from 23 November 2009, marking its entry to the Middle East. The airline will fly the route 5 times a week and has indicated an intention to establish a hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport to support its international expansion.

 

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, flight D7 2402 will depart Kuala Lumpur at 2200 hrs and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 0130 hrs the next morning. The return flight, D7 2403, takes off from Abu Dhabi International Airport at 0255 hrs, landing back in Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 1355 hrs in the afternoon. All flights will be operated with AirAsia X’s Airbus A340-300 aircraft configured with 30 XL Class premium seats and 256 Economy Class seats.

 

The capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi offers travellers excellent connectivity to other destinations within the Middle East, as well as cities in Africa, Europe and Central Asia. AirAsia X joins UAE national carrier Etihad Airways on the route and the flights are expected to boost traffic between both cities, as well as regional destinations in Asia served by the airline and its short-haul associate AirAsia.

 

For more information, visit www.airasia.com.