Blog - Airways Hotel & Residences

60% INCREASE IN DIRECT BOOKINGS FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA HOTEL

Airways Hotel sought a solution to modernise its inventory and booking management and saw a significant jump once it partnered with STAAH.

Located minutes from the airport and city centre, Airways Hotel is an oasis of understated luxury in Papua New Guinea’s capital, Port Moresby. It is known for its exceptional service and passionate attention to detail.The property boasts 148 well-appointed rooms, an array of world-class resort-style facilities, including dining, a business centre and a wide range of retail outlets. Thoughtfully curated spaces make the property a refuge for business and leisure travellers alike. Airways prides itself on its highly personalised butler service.

The challenges of managing online room allotment across multiple channels
Prior to STAAH, Airways Hotel was faced with challenges relating to managing hotel bookings across multiple channels. Rates and bookings were manually entered, which was highly time-consuming for the staff. Without the right automation to manage availability, rates and restrictions, the time to market was significantly hampered. Pre-planning inventory distribution and making informed decisions without intuitive dashboards and reporting was another challenge the property faced. STAAH helped streamline these challenges, revolutionising the hotel’s operations, enhancing the guest experience and making the property competitive in the ever-changing hospitality industry. Airways was looking for a recognised hospitality technology partner to alleviate its challenges. STAAH was chosen after careful consideration, as it stood out for its innovative solutions, customer service and affordability.

Efficiency has become a key to success.
STAAH’s platform has made it easy for Airways Hotel to manage availability and restrictions, resulting in increased revenue and an enhanced guest experience. The pre-planning inventory distribution and intuitive reporting dashboards have enabled the hotel to make informed decisions quickly and effectively in today’s fast-paced business environment.

The efficiency gains have resulted in a 60% jump in direct bookings.
“STAAH’s user-friendly platform has enabled us to effortlessly manage their rates and restrictions,” says Robert O’Brien, Airways Group General Manager. “The clean and modern booking engine allows guests to easily book rooms and find better promotions on our website. The results are clearly visible.” “We would highly recommend STAAH for any hotel looking to streamline their online distribution, direct bookings and revenue management strategy,” adds Robert. Alongside the revenue benefits reaped from STAAH’s booking engine, Airways Hotel has been impressed with the STAAH channel manager that allows easy management of multiple channels from a single platform. Combined with real-time updates, this has meant time-saving for the Airways team along with reduced risks of overbookings and rate parity issues. With an expansive inventory, these features have been critical to Airways. It’s evident that Airways Hotel’s growth has truly launched, and it is ready for the next step in its growth journey. STAAH is proud to partner with Airways Hotel on this journey.

An incomparable spa experience at Bliss Spa

(L-R) Kila Vaira, Pamela Kandi, Kate Peter, Joanna Gregorio, Ralte Vanlalhruaii, Fita Andriani

Our award-winning Bliss Spa is renowned not only for its unique and calming atmosphere, but also for the utmost care and attention that our professional therapists offer.We understand that every detail matters when it comes to providing our guests with an unforgettable spa experience. It is our pleasure to have onboard a team of dedicated and hardworking spa professionals from different countries who are committed to delivering bespoke service to meet those needs.The team is led by the Spa Manager, Joanna Gregorio (Filipino) who has an extensive 14 years of work experience and knowledge in this profession. She is assisted by the other 2 senior therapists, Fita Andriani (Indonesian) with 20 years of work experience and Ralte Vanlalhruaii (Indian) with 14 years of work experience in the industry. All of them specialize in different body treatment, massage, facials, etc.We have hired a team of diverse professional spa therapists to ensure that we deliver exemplary service to all our guests. We are also committed to our goal of upskilling the talent of our National therapist and trainee therapists, Pamela Kandi, Kila Vaira and Kate Peter by providing them with the necessary trainings. These include the basics such as knowledge of anatomy of the body, core values in massage as well as more complex topics such as techniques in different massage and handling challenging guest’s request to further enhance their skills and offer career growth.With our continuous training programs and development opportunities, we are confident that our therapists will be able to deliver an incomparable spa experience to all our guests.

As we continue to strive for the better, we look forward to welcoming you and assisting you to achieve the relaxation and revitalisation you deserve.

Staff wellbeing and development: Key for workplace productivity

As the leading hotel and residences in Papua New Guinea, we strongly believe that our organisation’s success depends on our staff’s growth and progress.

We recognise that our people are the heart and soul of the company therefore, we place a high value on their wellbeing and development. We strive to create an environment where they feel respected, supported and empowered to reach their full potential.Airways Hotel & Residences is committed to providing its staff with the necessary resources, training and guidance to ensure their success. Our investments in our staff include increases in pay across the group and identifying high-performing team members for internal promotions. We also offer career advancement through transfers to other departments and improving our staff benefits and amenities. Additionally, we promote collaboration and teamwork. A refresh of our recognition and reward program has reinforced our principle in people engagement having a direct link with happy team members and the levels of positive guest service they deliver. Regular staff surveys are provided to gauge satisfaction levels and an open forum where team members can share their ideas and input on how we can improve. We want them to feel like they are part of a team working together towards common goals. At Airways, investing in our staff is the key to achieving our mission of delivering exceptional hospitality experiences to our guests. We want to ensure that our staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed and contribute to the company’s success. We are truly grateful for our people’s hard work and dedication as they continue to make Airways Hotel & Residences the best of

Papua New Guinea.

Experience an exceptional butler service at Airways

Airways Hotel is proud to offer its guests unparalleled experience during their stay in our luxurious rooms. Our exclusive butler service is part of our commitment to providing guests with exceptional level of service. Our professional and experienced staff are available 24 hours a day to cater premium and personalized assistance with any tasks or requests you may have. Guests can now enjoy the utmost level of convenience of having a personal butler. Our butler service includes luggage assistance, arranging reservations for restaurant and spa, garment pressing, shoe shine, newspaper delivery in the rooms, customized bath service (applicable on selected rooms) and grocery shopping at the Stop n Shop from 8.00am – 4.00pm and varies according to the room categories. They are accessible at any hour via SMS or call. Whether you need assistance with daily errands or more specialized services, our butlers will do their best to cater to your needs. We understand that every guest is unique and requires different assistance so we offer a wide range of services that can be tailored to your individual requirements. We strive to make your stay as comfortable and convenient as possible, which is why we go above and beyond to provide personalized service to ensure your stay is a truly memorable one. Allow us to exceed your expectations and experience the best of

Papua New Guinea at Airways.

For more information, you may visit our website airways.com.pg.

Prioritise your wellbeing at the Airways Private Health Club

The luxury experience at Airways encompasses much more than just a comfortable stay. Airways offers guests a private health club, with state-of-the-art fitness equipment, a team of personal trainers, and a variety of fitness classes. Airways Private Health Club is Port Moresby’s most modern and exclusive recreational facility. Minimalist features, from its Japanese-style raked pebble surrounds to its unique horizon swimming pool, will take your breath away. Its tranquil ambience offers harmony and relaxation. It has an impressive array of facilities including tennis court, infinity lap pool, exercise studio, squash courts, sauna, steam rooms and bathrooms/showers that makes indulging in this private oasis a truly unique experience. It also caters a wide range of equipment and machines, allowing guests to get a comprehensive workout. Airways Private Health Club recently introduced an extensive selection of new fitness classes designed to help guests get back in shape and improve their overall fitness. The classes are varied and include a range of activities such as zumba, swimming, boxing, circuit, mix fitness and more. The classes are led by experienced instructor who will provide guidance and support throughout the session ensuring that each visit is tailored to your individual needs. Airways Hotel & Residences is committed to providing its guests with the best possible experience. Our team will help you kick-start your fitness journey and give you the motivation and support you need to achieve your fitness goals.

For more information, you may visit our website a irways .com.pg

Sustaining the Sir Theo Foundation to preserve its founder’s legacy

A charitable foundation is a great opportunity to show our commitment to the community and make a difference in the lives of others. At Airways, it’s been a part of our company’s tradition to help other people in any way we can. Apart from the charities that we are supporting, one of the company former owners, the late Sir Theophilus George Constantinou established his own charitable foundation which was named after him. His passion about Papua New Guinea drove him to launch the Sir Theo Foundation in 2014. He was a great believer in the health and wellbeing of people in Papua New Guinea. He was passionate about making sure that everyone had access to quality healthcare and delivering better health outcomes. He worked tirelessly and devoted considerable resources to make this a reality. Sadly, Sir Theo passed away in 2019 before his vision could be fully realized. However, our dedicated team is committed to ensuring that his goals are achieved. We are determined to fulfill and carry on his legacy of health mission.

Sustaining a charitable foundation is no easy task. It takes time, effort, and most importantly, money to ensure that the foundation achieves its goals. Sir Theo Foundation relies on donation to continue its mission, maintain its programs and expand its reach. We have made great progress over the years, and we are proud of our accomplishments however, there are still much work to be done. We will continue striving and we hope that you will join us on this journey – your support is invaluable to the foundation. Together, we can keep Sir Theo’s legacy alive for generations to come and let the people of Papua New Guinea experience the best that Papua New Guinea can offer them.

For more information about the Sir Theo Foundation and the work they do, please visit their website www.sirtheofoundation.org.pg.

Staff Highlight – Peter Ovo

So much to enjoy, so little time. That’s the dilemma for busy business people staying in the luxury Dakota Wing at the Airways Hotel. There are three – yes, three – first-class lounges for guests to use on a complimentary basis. The lounges are called ‘Touch’, ‘Sound’ and ‘Sight’. The ‘Sight’ lounge, located on level three at the top of the wing, was recently rejuvenated, but no matter which lounge you choose you’ll be spoilt with stylish interiors and relaxed ambience. The lounges are a perfect place to unwind after a flight into Port Moresby, or a day of business meetings. The daily Martini Hour in the Sight lounge (it’s actually two hours, from 5 to 7pm) has become an essential Port Moresby experience. If you’re travelling solo, as many businesspeople do, it’s a good place to socialise with like-minded guests. You’ll be rubbing shoulders with CEOs, executives, industry leaders and even politicians. If you are lucky enough to be travelling with your partner, the Martini Hour is an indulgent way to start the evening, perhaps before you move on to the hotel’s numerous restaurants.The Martini Hour includes full bar service with wine, beer, spirits, cocktails and bubbly, of course. There’s a selection of hot-and-cold canapes, including sushi, seafood, dips, cheeses, pastries and Asian and Indian delights such as flavoursome mini spring rolls and curry puffs.The food is constantly replenished by the friendly and attentive staff who will also pour your drinks.The Sight lounge offers pastries in the morning, with freshly brewed coffee or tea, or you could, perhaps, start the day with a Champagne breakfast. At lunchtime, an antipasto spread is available with cuts of premium meat, cheeses, olives and more.The seating is comfortable (you’ll never want to leave), with plush sofas and chairs scattered around the lounges in small groupings.The ‘Touch’ lounge, on the first floor, is a giant games room, with a snooker table and chess set. One floor up you’ll find the ‘Sound’ lounge, which has a TV and lots of space for chatting and socialising.
The lounges are Wi-Fi enabled and there are airport and mountain views to soak in with your drink.

AIRWAYS | Hotel & Residences welcomes Executive Chef Galo Guerron.

Airways Hotel is going to extraordinary lengths to protect guests and staff from COVID-19. The hotel has embraced innovative technology, including self-sanitising door handles and ultraviolet wands that are designed to kill germs. The self-cleaning anti-bacterial door handles are used in high-traffic areas of the hotel. They have a silver ion coating that works 24/7 and combats pathogens left on the surface, thereby preventing cross-contamination. Laboratory tests have reported that 99.9% of bacteria is killed by the silver technology. The handheld ultraviolent wands are waved over surfaces such as beds, curtains and remote-control TV units to destroy the virus with UV radiation. They are being used to disinfect rooms, restaurants, reception, the health and fitness club and other public areas of the hotel. The high-tech measures are in addition to standard COVID-19 safety measures, which include the cleaning of public areas up to four times a day, wearing of masks, temperature checks on entry, social distancing, and sanitisers widely distributed around the hotel. Staff are briefed daily on preventative measures, and on arrival at work must sanitise and be temperature checked. They need to go straight to the staff changing rooms to freshen up and change into work uniforms. Guests undergoing 14-day quarantine must remain within their rooms, are not allowed to have visitors, and receive their meals in food containers in paper bags with disposable cutlery. There is contactless delivery, with meals left on a chair outside the door. Security personnel are stationed on each floor that has quarantine rooms. The hotel is also developing a contactless check-in service to further protect guests.

Experience the Best of Papua New Guinea

By Gabriella Munoz

To keep offering the best possible service and thrive in today’s challenging environment, Airways Hotel & Residences is about to deliver on a promise to business and leisure travellers who are now on the lookout for: COVID-safe accommodation. With the majority of our staff fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and stringent hygiene protocols implemented throughout the hotel, including a UV cleaning system, temperature checks, mandatory use of face masks, and hand sanitiser provided for all guests and staff, Airways is leading the way in hospitality services. For extra peace of mind, staff who have received the jab wear a badge that says ‘I have been vaccinated’.

And that’s not all.To keep its promise of being a COVID safe space, when the staff opt to get the vaccine, Airways Hotel General Manager, Mr Sunilkumar Panda, organises transportation to and from the vaccination facility. Airways Hotel & Residences also provide free onsite COVID-19 rapid tests for in-house guests.‘This is in line with our perennial commitment to protect the well-being of our guests and staff, and supports the campaign of COVID-19 vaccination,’ says Mr Panda.Mr Panda led by example by becoming the first Airways employee to take the vaccine and has been very vocal about its benefits. His efforts have helped made Airways Hotel & Residences the talk of town.‘At this difficult time, we want to assure all our guests that it is safe to stay in the hotel and we are taking utmost care to follow all the guidelines set by the government and health authorities. We remain attentive in our commitment to provide a safe, hospitable environment and we take serious steps to mitigate risks to both guests and staff,’ says Mr Panda.And for those who are looking for the perfect spot for a business lunch or for a leisurely dine & wine option, all Airways Hotel & Residences restaurants follow the same strict protocols and keep it as a part of our ever evolving operating procedures to safeguard our guests and staff.‘Our guests are very happy when they come to restaurants because they see the staff is wearing the badge. They feel more comfortable and say “This is really nice because the place is safe for us.’

Reconnecting with the Business Community: Our Best is Your Best

They are being used to disinfect rooms, restaurants, reception, the health and fitness club and other public areas of the hotel. The high-tech measures are in addition to standard COVID-19 safety measures, which include the cleaning of public areas up to four times a day, wearing of masks, temperature checks on entry, social distancing, and sanitisers widely distributed around the hotel. Staff are briefed daily on preventative measures, and on arrival at work must sanitise and be temperature checked. They need to go straight to the staff changing rooms to freshen up and change into work uniforms. Guests undergoing 14-day quarantine must remain within their rooms, are not allowed to have visitors, and receive their meals in food containers in paper bags with disposable cutlery. There is contactless delivery, with meals left on a chair outside the door. Security personnel are stationed on each floor that has quarantine rooms. The hotel is also developing a contactless check-in service to further protect guests.