1.MAI signed code-share agreement with Korean Air
MYANMAR Airways International (MAI) has signed a partnership and code-share memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korean Air for daily flight between the two countries.
The official signing took place on April 8 at Korea Air’s headquarters and signed by the managing director of MAI, U Si Thu and the president and Chief Operation Officer of Korean Air, Mr Chang Hoon Chi.
MAI which established in 1992, operates seven international routes to Bangkok, Singapore, Malaysia, Guangzhou, Gaya. The MOU will enable both airlines to promote bilateral cooperation in all areas including passenger traffic, safety, inflight services, flight operations and maintenance.
Under the agreement, MAI will place its “8M” code on Korean Air’s daily flight between Seoul and Yangon. Korean Air plans to expand the code-share agreement on flights operated by MAI.
The comprehensive code-share agreement will enable MAI to strengthen its partnership with Korean Air, developing air traffic, increasing demand and improving schedules between the two countries, for both business and leisure passengers.
2.Police Commissioner’s Office Building to be turned as five-star hotel
WORKS are already starting to convert the former colonial-era Police Commissioner’s office building in Strand Road, Yangon, into a US$50 million five-star hotel.
Flying Tiger engineering company announced that the company had applied for the tender in December, 2011 and Myanmar Investment Commission selected the company from among 16 applicants.
MIC had leased the building for 50 years with the possibility of two 10-year extensions. “The terms and conditions do not allow the original structure and architectural features of the buildings to be changed,” he said.
The project is joint-venture with unknown partner company based in Singapore but the identity of the partner company will be confirmed later. The hotel will have 239 standard rooms and a number of larger suites and deluxe rooms, as well as restaurants, meeting rooms, a pool and other facilities.
The building is a sprawling two-story structure that takes up a square block down the street from well-known Strand Hotel. Construction was completed in 1931. In recent years the building has served as a court complex.
Update on the Recent Incidents in the Middle of Myanmar
Due to the public unrest lately in March 2013, a state of emergency was declared in Meikhtia District and western part of Bago Division. Over the last few weeks, the situation in those regions have been improved and normalized. Therefore, the authorities are reviewing the duration of curfew in Meikhtlila and western part of Bago regions which is very likely to be reduced in the not-too-distant future.
The authorities in Yangon region are closely monitoring and have tightened up the security in the places where Muslim communities reside and do business in order to prevent any communal violence. The civil societies, religious leaders and media are working hand in hand with the authorities and taking precautionary measures to keep Yangon free from the potential danger.
Hence, MMC would like to inform that there is no impact by the recent incidents on the tourism industry so far since all of the tourist destinations are located fairly away from those regions. Tourists are still safe to travel as in the past although foreign visitors may avoid the places of Muslim communities such as mosques, shops and markets, etc. until the state of emergency and curfew in the effected regions would be lifted.
MMC will monitor and keep the members posted although we are convinced that the situation would continue to be on the mend.
Accor signs three hotels in Myanmar
ACCOR has signed three newly built hotels in Myanmar – a MGallery hotel in Nay Pyi Taw, Novotel Yangon Max, and Novotel Mandalay Mingalar. These three developments represent yet another step towards its goal of operating 700 hotels in Asia Pacific by 2015.
The upscale MGallery hotel will be located in the heart of Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar’s capital city. The property will welcome guests with 168 rooms, 1 meeting hall, 4 meeting rooms, a cigar bar and 2 dining outlets, including an Italian restaurant. The newly-built property, expected to open this year, will be located a mere 15 minutes’ drive from the City Hall, Water Park and Gem Museum, and 20 minutes from Nay Pyi Taw International Airport.
Novotel Yangon Max
Novotel Yangon Max will be completed by the end of 2013. This newly built 366-room hotel will feature 3 restaurants – including a rooftop French restaurant – a bar, a 1,000 square meter banquet room, 8 meeting rooms, a swimming pool and wellness centre. The hotel is within walking distance of Shwedagon Pagoda, Bogyoke Aung San Market, Inya Lake, Junction Square Shopping Centre, and a 20-minute drive from Yangon International Airport.
Novotel Mandalay Mingalar
Novotel Mandalay Mingalar, a newly-built hotel scheduled to open in 2015, will have 280 rooms, 2 restaurants, 2 bars, a ballroom, 4 meeting rooms, a swimming pool, and wellness centre. Situated in a prime location, the hotel is near the Maha Muni Pagoda, Mandalay Palace, Shwenandaw Monastery, Mandalay Hill, and a 40-minute drive from Mandalay International Airport. Mandalay is located 716 km north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River and is the second-largest city in Myanmar.
Yoma moves into luxury tourism with acquisitions
SINGAPORE based Yoma Strategic Holdings Limited announced that the establishment of a new joint venture company and the proposed acquisitions of several luxury tourism products in Myanmar.
The Group has established a joint venture company, Chindwin Holdings Private Limited with First Myanmar Investment Company (FMI), a subsidiary of Serge Pun & Associates (Myanmar) Limited (SPA), said the statement released by the group on March 19.
It was said the Group will hold 70 percent of the share capital of Chindwin while FMI will hold the remaining 30 percent.
The statement said the purpose of Chindwin is as an investment holding company for tourism products jointly invested in by the Group and FMI Mr Serge Pun is the Executive Chairman and controlling shareholder of the Group and is also the Chairman and controlling shareholder of SPA and its group of companies, the SPA Group.
The Group and FMI have entered into a heads of agreement to use Chindwin, or its nominee, to acquire several connected tourism products, subject to the terms of conditional final agreements to be entered into between the relevant parties.
Chindwin intends to purchase 75 percent of the share capital of Shwe Lay Ta Gun Travels and Tours Company with a total consideration of US$10.7 million.
Shwe Lay Ta Gun operates the “Balloons over Bagan”, the only hot air balloon operator in Myanmar that offers visitors an unparalleled aerial view of Bagan’s stunning landscape from a hot air balloon.
Chindwin also intends to purchase a 75 percent interest in 21.16 acres of land located in Bagan. The total consideration to be paid will be US$3.75 million. This riverside plot is situated approximately five km from the archeology zone of ancient Bagan and offers the views of the Ayeyarwaddy river with the Yoma mountain range in the background. The Group believes the plot is ideal for the development of a luxury boutique resort hotel.
Chindwin also intends to purchase 75 percent of the share capital of Eastern Safaris Private Limited for a total consideration of US$0.1 million. Eastern Safaris is a management company that offers exclusive and luxurious adventure tours in Myanmar and Bhutan. The company is 100 percent owned by Mr Brett Melzer.
The Group’s investment in Chindwin and the proposed acquisitions will be funded through internal resources and is not expected to have any material financial impact on the consolidated net tangible products and the earnings per share of the Company for the current financial year ending 31 March 2013.
Myanmar-Lao direct flight to start soon
AS part of efforts to clinch the international market’s growing interest in Myanmar, the first time air route between Myanmar and Lao is under preparing to start from the coming peak-season.
Lao Airlines said the airlines plans to start Vientiane-Luang Prabang-Yangon services in October.
The airline is in the process of forming an interline agreement with Myanmar Airways International, and aim to launch a codeshare agreement at a later stage.
Private carrier Lao Central Airlines also plans to fly between Vientiane-Yangon and Vientiane-Nay Pyi Taw in the near future.
During a state visit by the President U Thein Sein to Lao in March last year, , the two countries reached an agreement to reopen direct flights between Vientiane and either Yangon or Nay Pyi Taw to facilitate cooperation and boost tourism.
Tender selling for hotel zone in popular Inle Lake
The Shan State Government has designated a 622-acre area of land near Ingyin village on the eastern side of Inle Lake as a hotel zone. Individuals interested in investing in the Inle Hotel Zone can now purchase tender forms for 5,000 kyats from the Taungyi Division General Administration Department.
Forms will be accepted until 17 March 2013, 4pm. Further information can be obtained from Taungyi Division General Administration Department by phone at +95(0)81- 2121003 and +95(0)81- 2121691.
Hilton worldwide enters Myanmar
HILTON Worldwide hotel chain signed on March 7 an agreement with LP Holding to manage Hilton Yangon in Kyauktada Township, the brand's first-ever property in the country.
The 300-room Hilton Yangon is scheduled to open in 2014. The new hotel is part of Centrepoint Towers, a mixed-use development, which includes high-end retail boutiques and offices.
Amenities include an all-day dining restaurant, two specialty restaurants, a sky bar, lobby lounge, an executive floor, a fitness centre, a business centre, a pool, a spa, meeting room and ballroom. Meeting facilities cover 1,400m2 of space, including a 850m2 ballroom.
Singapore tops dream destinations for Myanmar consumers
THE recent survey conducted by a MasterCard Worldwide mentioned that Singapore has topped a list of dream destination cities for Myanmar consumers.
Singapore is the ultimate destination of choice for Myanmar’s travelers, ahead of other popular cities such as New York, Bangkok, Seoul, and Paris.
According to the MasterCard survey, less than 1 in 5 travelled abroad for leisure in the past 12 months, with majority citing time and financial constraints as the main barrier. However, for the people who did travel abroad, nearly 4 out of 5 people intend to do so again within the next 12 months. Singapore was the top international city they plan to visit citing shopping, sightseeing, and experiencing different cuisines as the main reasons for travel.
Domestically, 73% of those surveyed have travelled in Myanmar within the past 12 months and more than 4 out of 5 people intend to do so again within the next 12 months. The top local cities of choice are Taunggyi, Mandalay, Pathein.
Accor to manage 5-star hotel in Yangon
ACCOR Hospitality, one of the world leading hotel operator based in France is in talks with Max Myanmar Group of Companies to manage a new five-star hotel in Yangon.
The proposed 366-room Novotel Hotel (Yangon) will be established in Max Myanmar's Pyay Tower on Pyay Road. Total 159 rooms would be located in the 14-storey Tower A and 207 rooms in 16-storey Tower B.
Facilities will include a ballroom, meeting room, conference rooms, a café, wine bar, French restaurant, swimming pool, fitness centre, spa and tennis court.
The design of the building is doing by Singapore based International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and the local and international engineers from Max Myanmar while the interior design and decoration will be done by Vietnam based AA Corporation.
Air KBZ added one more aircraft
AIR KBZ recently added a new ATR 72-600 aircraft to its fleet with financing from Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), a Danish finance and leasing company.
NAC has also entered into an agreement with Air KBZ for a second ATR 72-600 aircraft to be delivered in June.
The aircraft has 68-seat and will mark as the airline’s fifth aircraft. The aircraft will be used to expand existing routes as well as the new destinations such as Bhamo and Putao in Kachin State.
The airline also plans to start regional routes for the first time by launching a direct route to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand in the near future.
MAI to introduce e-ticket system
MYANMAR Airways International (MAI) will soon start to offer online e-tickets especially for the local passengers.
The airline is in discussions with KBZ Bank to apply Myanmar Payment Union (MPU) system and expects to launch in the near future.
By launching this system, MAI will be the first Myanmar airline to use the system.
VOA extended to another 22 European countries
VISA-ON-ARRIVAL (VOA) extended to citizens of another 22 countries is now available at Mandalay International Airport from February 1.
The newly eligible countries are mostly in Europe and 3-types of visa will be offered as business with US$ 50, entry with US$ 40 and transit with US$ 20 respectively.
The duration of a business visa is 70 days, while entry visas for seminars, meetings and workshops are valid for 28 days.