40 FEATURE
hong kong & macau
has also opened Hong Kong up to more cruising business. We expect to see more stopover business for clients pre- and post-cruise.”
What’s new Hotels: The Cosmopolitan Hotel Hong Kong
(
cosmopolitanhotel.com.hk) is undergoing a complete makeover of all guest rooms. The new Grand Deluxe Room, with Victorian and Oriental design elements, is described as an ‘East-meets-West’ living space. Guests who stay in the new rooms for at least two nights will get a third night free until July 15 this year. There have been interesting developments in both destinations. In Macau, work on Phase 2 of the Galaxy Macau (
galaxymacau.com) has begun, adding 1,300 new rooms by mid-2015. Also in the Cotai area, the 3,000-room Parisian Macao (sandschina. com) is set to open in late 2015, with a Palazzo Versace hotel (
sjmholdings.com) poised for 2017. The Fisherman’s Wharf area (fi
shermanswharf.com.mo) is expected to welcome the new Harbourview Hotel at some point in 2014. Over in Hong Kong, November saw the opening
of the 91-room Mira Moon (
miramoonhotel.com), a boutique design hotel close to Causeway Bay, while nearby the similarly stylish 79-room Hotel Pennington by Rhombus (
hotelpennington.com.hk) was also unveiled in 2013. The year ahead is expected to mark the opening of the SAV Hotel (
hotelsav.com) in Hung Hom.
The 554-room/suite waterfront Harbour Grand
Kowloon in Hong Kong (
harbourgrand.com) has been voted a TripAdvisor Awards: Travelers’ Choice 2014 winner under Top 25 Hotels for Romance - China. This is the hotel’s fi fth consecutive year of TripAdvisor Awards. Online: Late last year the Hong Kong Tourism Board re-launched Partnernet (
partnernet.hktb.net), which provides UK operators and agents with tools, news and information to promote Hong Kong. It also includes details of the latest trade events, and subscribers can sign up to become Hong Kong Specialists. Last year also saw a new tourist board website for Macau (
macautourism.gov.mo), including a trip planner that allows visitors to create their own itineraries, as well as detailed sections on sightseeing, shows and dining. The site also includes details of four new themed walking tours around the destination, each taking between 90 and 130 minutes. Airlines: Cathay Pacifi c (cathaypacifi
c.com/uk) has increased its daily UK-Hong Kong service from four to fi ve fl ights, while British Airways (
batraveltrade.com) has introduced the A380 on the same route. Emirates (
emirates.com) has also increased services from Dubai to Hong Kong to fi ve fl ights daily. Elsewhere, the Hong Kong section of the rail link to Guangzhou in China is set to be fi nished in 2015, halving travel time between the two. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s large new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal began welcoming passengers in mid-2013.
“Escape the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong to the outlying island of Lantau, famous for its bronze Buddha statue
but also several good walking tracks. Half the island has been designated country parkland”
GEMMA WILSON, FAR EAST PRODUCT MANAGER, WESTERN & ORIENTAL
Tourism talk
“Last year was another successful one for Macau, with UK visitors up over three per cent and global arrivals exceeding 29
million – which just shows how Macau’s popularity is continuing to grow. The year also saw the launch of several new walking tours designed to help visitors discover local communities and traditions. Here in the UK we have another full programme of industry activities planned, from fams and competitions to updates to our Macau Specialist training scheme and events such as the dragon-boat racing day with Selling Long Haul and our friends at the HKTB.” Sue Whitehead, General Manager Macau Government Tourist Offi ce, UK
Above, clockwise from left: Shangri-La Kowloon view; Lantau’s big Buddha; Hong Kong Harbour. Facing page: Macau’s shopping; Macau temple; Fisherman’s Wharf in Macau has an amphitheatre
“Whilst there was a decrease in air services in 2012, we have since seen a tremendous uplift due to an increase in
capacity last year, from both Cathay Pacifi c and British Airways. This has helped maintain steady visitor arrival fi gures. For 2014 we anticipate this increase in capacity to have a positive effect on arrival fi gures. Hong Kong is a city of non-stop intensity, a mix of Chinese tradition and the charm of a colonial past. It’s unique, vibrant and cosmopolitan, making it an easy destination to sell year round.” Dawn Page, Director UK and Northern Europe Hong Kong Tourism Board
Where to book it TRAVEL 2 – 0800 0224 182
A seven-night package, with fi ve nights at the four-star Harbour Plaza North Point in Hong Kong and two nights at the four-star Riviera Macau, is from £779pp, including return fl ights from London, based on
www.sellinglonghaul.com
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