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Tag: yangon

  • SMI secures five-year retail licence at Yangon airport

    SMI secures five-year retail licence at Yangon airport

    Singapore Myanmar Investco (SMI) subsidiary SMI Retail is to operate duty-free, retail and food and beverage facilities at Yangon International airport (YIA) terminal two from April 1 2016. The retail operator has been awarded a five-year licence, with the option to extend for a further  five years.

    Comprising 6,725sq m of retail space, SMI will host 43 shop units across the ground, first and second levels in T2, where it is expected to welcome more than triple the amount of international passengers travelling to Yangon. It will also provide a merchandising, management and consultancy service to local distribution partner Royal Golden Sky (RGS) Company Limited for the T2 duty-free retail space. The agreement is for five years and begins on April 1 2016.

    RGS has also been appointed exclusive distributor of duty-free merchandise for sale in the airport, including the new terminal. The agreement also begins on April 1 2016 with the renewable contract expiring on March 31 2021.

    Meanwhile, the group’s exclusive 10-year supply agreement with DFS, announced last May, has been secured and forms an integral part of SMI’s travel-retail business model. According to the company, both initiatives will augment the group’s market position in the burgeoning travel industry and increase its business presence of consumer-related services in Myanmar.

    Operations of the duty-free, retail and food and beverage outlets will commence from March 2016 and be progressively rolled-out over the next few months. In addition, the group has reached  agreements with international fashion and lifestyle brands and food and beverage franchises.

    SMI president and CEO Mark Bedingham said: “SMI has been able to use the capabilities of its senior executives, many of whom have extensive experience in duty-free, retail and food and beverage management, to make a compelling offer, through our local partners, to YIA and its magnificent new terminal. We have  provided them with a unique and exceptional range of duty-free, luxury and lifestyle brands and  introduced for the first time some world class food and beverage concepts. This will allow SMI to have full exposure to the expected rapid growth in tourism and business travel.”

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  • JV plans 20 Pizza Hut Myanmar stores

    JV plans 20 Pizza Hut Myanmar stores

    Hong Kong’s Jardine Group says its Myanmar joint venture will open up to 20 Pizza Hut restaurants across the new market within five years.

    With the first outlet just opened in Yangon, the Jardine CM Restaurant Group plans a second in early 2016 with a gradual expansion thereafter as it tests the market. If sales are high, the rollout may be sped up, according to a company spokesman.

    Jardine CM Restaurant Group is a joint venture between Jardine Restaurant Group Myanmar and City Mart Holding, which owns the Pizza Hut Myanmar franchise.

    Simon Arnold (left), Daw Win Win Tint, UMFCCI chair U Win Aung, Henry Yip and Vipul Chawla (right) hold up pizzas at the launch of Pizza Hut Myanmar.

    Vipul Chawla, MD of Pizza Hut, Asia for parent Yum! Brands, says the company sees huge potential across Asia.

    “Pizza Hut has 25 restaurants for every million people in the US. In Asia we have 11 restaurants per million people. Myanmar has huge potential with a population of more than 50 million,” he said during the opening ceremony for the first restaurant.

    Jardine Restaurant Group operates more than 680 Pizza Hut and KFC restaurants across Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.

    Henry Yip, Jardine Restaurant Group CEO, says 97 per cent of the first store’s staff are local and a majority of its ingredients are sourced locally.

    “We are also investing heavily in training and career development to ensure global best practices.”

    Recipes in the restaurant have been tailored to the local palate without removing options which those who have dined in Pizza Huts elsewhere in the world will find familiar.

    “We have researched the tastes preferred by local customers, and tailored our recipes accordingly,” said Simon Arnold, Pizza Hut Myanmar GM.

    Jardine will not be taking KFC into Myanmar – that franchise partnership was secured by Yoma Strategic Holdings, chaired by Serge Pun.

  • Retail space in new Yangon theme park in hot demand

    Retail space in new Yangon theme park in hot demand

    A shopping centre due to open later this month in Yangon’s new Fun Valley Theme Park has been booked out by businesspeople hoping to capitalise on the amusement park’s popularity.

    The Kantharyar Shopping Centre will open on November 27 to include retail space, a supermarket, three cinemas, beauty salons and family KTV, said sales and marketing manager U Thet Htun Zaw.

    Of the 49 shops in the theme park, only two small spaces remain available for rent, he said, adding that retail space in the shopping centre is now fully booked.

    Phoo Pwint San Company opened the theme park in Yangon’s North Okkalapa township at the start of last month.

    Other than the outdated Happy World Amusement beside the People’s Park, this is the first theme park to open in Yangon and businesspeople are optimistic about its success.

    “I am very interested in opening a shop at Fun Valley,” said Ma Thae Su Win of War Sar Bi hot dog shop. “Children and adults alike love fast food.” However, she is unable to afford the rent, which must be paid a year in advance.

    Retail space costs K2000 to K4000 per square foot, depending on the location. Shops must hand over a year’s rent upfront, in addition to a deposit worth three months of rent.

    For now, entrance to the park is free, though fees of K500 to K1000 may be introduced later, said U Thet Htun Zaw. Rides cost between K1000 and K2000 and a water park will open soon.

    Since the park opened, it has had between 7000 and 8000 visitors, he said, adding that the company also has plans to open similar amusement parks in Mandalay and Taunggyi.

    “In North Okkalapa there are no good recreation options and some of the parks are not enjoyable to spend time in, so we decided to open the park here,” he said.

    “It’s aimed at both children and adults, and all of our games and rides are the latest editions.”

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  • Myanmar National Airlines connects to Sabre

    Myanmar National Airlines connects to Sabre

    Myanmar National Airlines will now distribute its fares via Sabre

    Myanmar National Airlines‘ expansion strategy has taken another step forward, with the signing of a new distribution deal with Sabre.

    The Yangon-based airline started distributing its fares to travel agents last month via the Amadeus GDS, and it will now be able to access even more travel agents with the Sabre GDS deal. Effective immediately, the carrier’s fares and inventory will be made available to more than 100,000 Sabre-connected travel agents across the Asia Pacific region.

    “This agreement will help us to stimulate demand within the most important retail sales channel for Myanmar, supporting our ambitious expansion plans,” said Captain Than Tun, CEO of Myanmar National Airlines.

    “Shopping for flights to our 26 corporate and leisure domestic destinations becomes easy and more transparent, while we also promote our new international routes which have just started with Singapore.”

    In recent months Myanmar National Airlines has started taking delivery of a new fleet of modern aircraft, and also launched its first international services to Singapore. It now plans to add four more international destinations within the Asia Pacific region by early 2016.

    “Myanmar has become a strategic growth market in Southeast Asia for both tourism and trade. This agreement with Myanmar National Airlines provides travel agents across the region with access to the full domestic network, while the flag carrier enjoys a boost in ticket sales,” said Hans Belle, Sabre Travel Network’s vice president of supplier commerce & strategic partnerships for Asia Pacific.

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  • The Legendary Strand Hotel Takes To The Waterways Of Myanmar

    The Legendary Strand Hotel Takes To The Waterways Of Myanmar

    The heritage of the iconic Strand Hotel in Yangon now extends to the Ayeyarwady River in Myanmar with the launch of The Strand Cruise. In early 2016, a new luxury river cruise is brought to one of Myanmar’s most visually captivating waterways steeped in history. Built locally, the vessel will offer 27 cabin suites and 24 hour butler service. The luxurious ship will also host a spacious pool deck, wellness center and wine tasting corner as well as gourmet á la carte cuisine in a restaurant with panoramic views of the river.

    The Strand Cruise is an authentic cruise experience offering exclusive and unique onshore tours curated intelligently to reduce ground transportation time andto enable maximum relaxation on-board – all while the ship is continuingly moving at the foot of the landmarks it visits.

    A schedule of regular sailings of three and four nights between Bagan and Mandalay will commence in early January 2016. Also known as The Elephant River, The Ayeyarwady River flows through the center of Myanmar and its banks are lined with hundreds, if not thousands of temples, stupas and nats. The Strand Cruise will moor in exclusive locations along route, right by Old Bagan itself, as well as at the foot of one of the most ancient Buddhist monasteries on Sagaing Hill when in Mandalay, and at a remote and picturesque riverbank for a private farewell dinner.

    The Strand Cruise will have 10 Deluxe Cabins, 13 Strand Cabins, two State Suites and two Strand Suites. The spacious cabins each with floor to ceiling windows and outdoor balconies are tastefully decorated with Burmese craftsmanship and Teakwood floors and furnished with pieces of original, local art. Each cabin offers an en-suite bathroom, complimentary Wi-Fi and international TV channels.

    Special activities for guests include evening BBQ’S on the upper deck as well as outdoor afternoon tea. The upper deck will include a wine tasting corner with temperature controlled cellars and on-board sommeliers creating special pairing menus for all occasions. The Lounge and Library will showcase exclusive cocktails made famous at the sister property, The Strand Hotel. The Spa facilities will offer massages and treatments in either individual rooms or double rooms for couples. A reflexology station on board will offer foot massages to help rejuvenate weary feet.

    “Having operated The Strand Hotel in Yangon for the past decade, we know that there has been a steady growth in demand from luxury travellers to explore the ancient monuments of Myanmar by using the Ayeyarwady’s waterways,” commented Jerome Seban, general manager of The Strand Cruise. “This demand presented us with an opportunity to reinvent the legendary style and unique personality of The Strand Hotel within a contemporary river cruise experience.

    “What makes a journey along the Ayeyarwady River so special is the fascinating landscape through which you glide, from ancient temples to daily life of the communities living at the water’s edge. Every aspect of The Strand Cruise is designed to echo this, with floor to ceiling windows welcoming in the views of the river banks and our colour palette reflecting the natural beauty of the waterways,” continued Seban. “We are working with Myanmar craftsman as much as possible and are using traditional materials such as locally carved teak, some of which will be detailed with gold leaf, connecting the golden age of the Strand to Myanmar’s golden land.”

    Named after its sister property the iconic Strand Hotel in Yangon, The Strand Cruise offers the same level of premium luxury in one of Myanmar’s most stunning destinations.

     

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  • World-class duty-free coming to Myanmar airports

    World-class duty-free coming to Myanmar airports

    Singapore Windsor Holdings has signed a 10-year agreement with DFS Group to develop and operate duty-free retail outlets at Yangon International Airport and Nay Pyi Taw International Airport.

    DFS Group is a Hong Kong-based luxury travel retailer, majority-owned by conglomerate Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH).

    “In addition to a duty-free store at Nay Pyi Taw International Airport, we will open duty-free outlets at the existing departure and arrival terminal of Yangon International Airport, followed by a much larger duty-free retail space when the new terminal at Yangon International Airport is completed towards the end of this year,” said a notice on the Singapore Exchange (SGX).

    By the end of 2015, Singapore Windsor will operate almost 2000 square metres of duty free retail space at the two airports. The notice did not mention plans to introduce duty-free services to Mandalay International Airport.

    The new international terminal in Yangon airport is expected to handle three times the current passenger traffic volume. Myanmar’s airports already offer duty-free alcohol and tobacco, but not yet to an international standard, according to the notice.

    DFS is headquartered in Hong Kong and has offices in Hawaii, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. Singapore Windsor is a Singapore-listed, Myanmar-focused company, with interests in telecom infrastructure construction, trading, distribution and retail, serviced offices, and car hire and rental services.

    Last week, the group’s wholly owned subsidiary SMI Auto Services signed a five-year franchise agreement with Europcar, to provide vehicle rental and limousine services throughout Myanmar. The deal is renewable for another five years, if both parties agree to it.