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Cross expands Bali portfolio

DENPASAR, Bali, 10 April 2025: Cross Hotels & Resorts has signed a hotel management agreement with PT Agungwaluya Kuta Pengembang for Cross Bali Waluya, a 115-key resort in Bali’s Berawa neighbourhood. 

Scheduled to open in 2029, the resort will operate under the Cross brand.

Just a short commute from Berawa and Batu Belig beaches, the new-build property will feature one-bedroom suites, one-bedroom penthouses with jacuzzis, two and three-bedroom residences and penthouses with private rooftops, lap pools, and wellness amenities. A full range of supporting facilities will include a spa, fitness centre, infinity pool, kids’ zone, plunge pool, a restaurant and bar.

“Cross Bali Waluya strengthens our presence in Bali and amplifies our vision to be APAC’s leading alternative to global hotel operators,” said Cross Hotels & Resorts CEO Harry Thaliwal. “With a strong brand, global distribution power, and a track record of high-performing assets, this collaboration puts us on the path to long-term shared success.”

Berawa and Batu Belig beaches are located in the Canggu area of Bali and offer a variety of attractions to suit various interests.

Berawa Beach Attractions

Surfing: Berawa Beach is known for its consistent and good-sized waves, making it a popular spot for surfers of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced. 

Relaxed Atmosphere: Compared to other popular beaches in Bali, Berawa offers a calmer and more natural environment, providing a more relaxed experience away from large crowds.

Beach Clubs and Cafes: The area around Berawa Beach has trendy beach clubs where you can enjoy food, drinks, and stunning sea views. There are also smaller local food stalls and cafes along the beach. Plus, Berawa Food Street is a recently opened area with various local and international food options.

Batu Belig Beach Attractions

Sunset Drinks and Relaxation: Batu Belig is an excellent spot to unwind with drinks and friends while enjoying the beautiful sunset views without the large crowds often found in Seminyak.

Surfing: The waves at Batu Belig are generally not as big as in some other areas, making it a good place for beginners to learn surfing or enjoy bodyboarding. 

Location: It’s between Seminyak and Canggu, providing easy access to the vibrant restaurants, cafes, and shops in both areas while offering a quieter beach experience.

Beachfront Cafes and Bars: Enjoy the local vibe at the charming cafes and bars along the beach, offering meals and drinks with ocean views.

Berawa is more dynamic with its surf scene and trendy venues, while Batu Belig provides a more serene and local feel. Both have stunning Bali sunsets as a highlight. Their proximity allows visitors to experience the attractions of both beaches.

Cross Hotels & Resorts operates 28 hotels under six brands — Cross, Cross Vibe, Away, Lumen, Cross Collection, and Kaura — in Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Japan. The hotel group manages eight properties across five brands in Bali.

About Cross Hotels & Resorts
Cross Hotels & Resorts is an international hotel management company wholly owned by the ASX-listed Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG). 

Cathay scales up its digital ventures

HONG KONG, 10 April 2025: Cathay’s digital leadership journey has taken another step forward with the establishment of Cathay Technologies, a new subsidiary created to bring Cathay’s innovative digital solutions to the wider aviation industry.

Cathay leverages its aviation industry expertise to develop innovative in-house digital solutions that enhance user and customer experience, safety and operational excellence, and sustainability. 

Photo credit: Cathay.

Cathay Director Digital and IT Lawrence Fong said: “Cathay’s vision is to transform into a digital leader famous for our strong digital culture and capabilities whilst keeping our people and customers at the heart of how we use technology. We constantly seek innovative ways to enhance our services and products, staying ahead of the curve and setting new industry standards.”

As part of the Cathay Group, Cathay Technologies will commercialise signature digital initiatives and make them available to a broader aviation market. ​

Electronic Flight Folder for pilots

Cathay Technologies’ flagship product is the Electronic Flight Folder (EFF), which has been designed and developed in-house by its aviation professionals. First developed in 2019, the EFF has revolutionised how pilots access and manage flight information, resulting in faster turnaround times and significant cost savings through workflow optimisation.

The EFF is now trusted by pilots across the Cathay Group’s airlines, including Cathay Pacific, Cathay Cargo, HK Express and Air Hong Kong. The establishment of Cathay Technologies marks the next step in commercialising the product to the broader industry.

Supporting startups 

Cathay Technologies partnered with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park (HKSTP) on its Co-Acceleration Programme Fund. Cathay Technologies is among four investing firms and enterprise partners of the Co-Acceleration Programme Fund, which was launched at a ceremony at HKSTP on 7 April 2025.

The strategic partnership with HKSTP underscores Cathay’s continued support for advancing technological innovation to spur the city’s economic growth and development.

Cathay General Manager Digital Ventures and Cathay Technologies Chief Executive Officer Navin Chellaram said: “Cathay has a long-standing commitment to supporting Hong Kong’s technology ecosystem and fostering innovation and economic growth in the wider Greater Bay Area, including through our signature Cathay Hackathon and our successful graduate trainee programme.”

As a strategic partner of the HKSTP Co-Acceleration Fund, Cathay Technologies will explore potential proof-of-concept opportunities with relevant startups, provide strategic advice, and provide industry insights. Additionally, through its direct investment in the fund, Cathay Technologies offers financial support that will help startups scale their operations and bring their products to market.

Cambodia Airways adds route to Hong Kong

HONG KONG, 10 April 2025: Cambodia Airways has launched a three-weekly Phnom Penh — Hong Kong service, the airline’s third direct service to China’s Greater Bay Area cities.

The airline’s website flags flights to Shenzhen and Guangzhou, two major cities in the GBA region. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area is one of China’s most economically active regions and a major export hub for China. 

Photo credit: Cambodia Airways

“The Greater Bay Area (GBA) is a megalopolis comprising nine cities and two special administrative regions in South China. It is the largest and most populated urban area in the world, with a total population of approximately 86 million people. It encompasses nine mega cities of Guangdong province (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Huizhou, and Zhaoqing) as well as two special administrative regions, Hong Kong and Macao.” (Wikipedia)

The newest route, Phnom Penh — Hong Kong, started on 1 April. Three weekly flights, using an A319 with 150 seats, are scheduled on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

The airline will face tough competition from Cathay Pacific, which schedules 10 weekly services from its Hong Kong base to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia (six weekly mid-day flights and four evening flights). The average roundtrip fare on the route is USD420.

Flight schedule

KR507 departs Phnom Penh (PNH) at 0745 and arrives in Hong Kong (HKG) at 1125.
KR508 departs Hong Kong (HKG) at 1125 and arrives in Phnom Penh (PNH) at 1400.

AirAsia links Adelaide and Bali

ADELAIDE, 10 April 2025: South Australians will soon have more airline choices flying to Bali now that Indonesia AirAsia has confirmed it will commence flights between Adelaide and Denpasar starting 25 June 25.

Indonesia AirAsia will introduce four flights a week to the Indonesian holiday destination using the 180-seat A320-200 aircraft, creating more than 74,000 visitor seats annually through Adelaide Airport. 

Photo credit: AirAsia.

Flights on the new route are on sale starting from just AUD199*. The Flights will depart Adelaide every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and return every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Flight time is four hours and 50 minutes.

This is the first time Indonesia AirAsia has operated a service out of Adelaide. The flights to Bali will connect to popular destinations across the AirAsia Group network, which includes over 130 destinations in Asia and beyond. 

The new AirAsia route will compete with Jetstar’s 11 flights weekly out of Adelaide. The average roundtrip fare on the Adelaide — Denpasar route is USD450.

Indonesia AirAsia CEO Veranita Yosephine said: “We are thrilled to touch down in Adelaide and South Australia soon for the very first time. Australia is one of our most important growth markets, with the recent addition of Cairns, Darwin, and Perth to our network. 

“While we all know Bali is a number one holiday destination for Australians, we are also connecting South Australia to the world of AirAsia with over 130 destinations across Asia and beyond, using Bali as a key hub to look to fly somewhere different at great value prices.

 FlyThru international connecting services from Adelaide to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok and Phuket via Bali mean travellers can reach their destination on the same day seamlessly without transferring luggage or checking in for the second flight to get there. That includes destinations in Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, which will be in affordable reach for South Australians on the AirAsia Group network.

Indonesia AirAsia Flight Schedule from Bali (DPS) to Adelaide (ADL)

Carnival unveils new ship features

SINGAPORE, 9 April 2025: Carnival Cruise Line has unveiled details of its newest ship, Carnival Festivale, featuring a new outdoor zone on the top three decks named the Sunsation Point.

The cruise line also provided details of its five-year plan for new ships, deployments, and fleet enhancements.

Carnival Festivale will feature a new outdoor zone on the top three decks.

“Since our inception in 1972, we have defined and led the modern cruise industry, and our plans for the next five years and beyond are no different,” said the cruise line’s President, Christine Duffy. “Having just integrated two ships into the Carnival fleet in Australia, we now stand at 29 cruise ships, the largest global fleet in our history. 

“Looking ahead, we have the delivery of our fourth and fifth Excel ships in 2027 and 2028, and then the introduction of three ships in our new platform, Project Ace, beginning in 2029, plus fleet enhancements and new investments at some of our existing destinations.”

New Ships

Duffy revealed that the fourth ship in Carnival’s award-winning Excel class ships will be named Carnival Festivale, continuing the tradition of giving these ships the names of the first Carnival ships that popularised cruise vacations for so many Americans.

Carnival Festivale will debut in spring 2027 and sail from Port Canaveral, Florida. Reservation and itinerary details will be released this summer. 

Catering to the family market, it will feature 1,000 interconnecting rooms, nearly 70% more than on the first three Excel ships. The expanded interconnecting rooms will replace the Family Harbor staterooms on the existing Excel ships. Carnival Festivale will also feature a new outdoor zone on the top three decks, Sunsation Point. 

Duffy also revealed that the name of the line’s fifth Excel class ship would be Carnival Tropicale, also one of the original names of early Carnival ships. The homeport and open-for-sale date will be unveiled well ahead of the scheduled delivery of the ship in spring 2028. Many of the new features of Carnival Festivale will also be included in Carnival Tropicale, as well as some new concepts and theming.

Looking further ahead, Carnival’s exclusive new ship platform, currently called Project Ace, includes three ships at 230,000 gross tons, each being built by Fincantieri and delivered in 2029, 2031, and 2033, respectively. With over 3,000 guest staterooms, the new ships will be the largest in the Carnival Corporation global fleet. When carrying almost 8,000 guests at full capacity, they will be able to deliver fun to more guests than any ship in the world. 

Deployment Updates 

When Carnival Festivale is delivered in spring 2027 and begins sailing from Port Canaveral, Mardi Gras will move to offer short cruises from the same homeport.

“As new ships are introduced, this will allow us to upgrade capacity and hardware in key markets, with a particular focus on short cruises,” explained Duffy. “With short cruises on Mardi Gras, our guests who may not have the time to take a weeklong vacation can experience all the amazing features of our Excel class.”

Qatar’s 777 Starlink rollout is almost complete

DOHA, 9 April 2025: Qatar Airways is just a few aircraft away from completing its Boeing 777 fleet-wide Starlink upgrade and will expand to its Airbus A350 fleet later this month.

Qatar Airways operates the largest Starlink-equipped fleet of Boeing 777s in the world, completing over 6,000 flights in the airline’s network of over 170 destinations.

The airline’s rapid rollout reinforces in-flight innovation leadership and marks one of the fastest and most ambitious Starlink installations in the aviation industry.

Qatar Airways will begin equipping its Airbus A350 fleet with Starlink Wi-Fi later this month, becoming the first airline in the world to offer this cutting-edge connectivity to passengers onboard the aircraft type.

With over 80% of its Boeing 777 fleet equipped with Starlink, the airline has operated over 6,000 global flights with unparalleled and fastest gate-to-gate internet Wi-Fi connectivity, unmatched by any other airline in the MENA region.

ATPI embarks on Asian expansion

SINGAPORE, 9 April 2025: ATPI, a travel and events solutions provider, is accelerating its expansion across Asia to reinforce its commitment to one of the world’s fastest-growing business travel markets.

With the Asian corporate travel market showing steady regional growth, valued at USD737.1 billion in 2024 and projected to reach USD848.16 billion by 2025*, ATPI is expanding its footprint in mainland China, Taiwan and South Korea while expanding operations in India and Indonesia.

ATPI Regional Managing Director, Asia Ali Hussain.

The scaling-up supports the company’s long-term vision to better serve regional and international clients through a robust global network and local partnerships. ATPI is increasing its presence in India with four new offices and one in Balikpapan, Indonesia. Strengthening its presence in these dynamic markets allows ATPI to deliver tailored travel solutions that support local businesses and multinational organisations.

ATPI operates across various specialist sectors, with core service offerings in corporate travel, marine and energy, and event management. In Indonesia, the new office in Balikpapan positions ATPI in the heart of the oil, gas, and mining industries, while Chennai’s expansion taps into Southern India’s booming IT sector.

Next-Gen Online Booking Tools

ATPI partners with cutting-edge booking technology providers to deliver an integrated travel and expense platform which automates workflows provides comprehensive spending visibility and delivers an intuitive, frictionless experience.

Travel Hub:  A single-platform dashboard for organisations to manage business travel.
Halo: CO2 measurement, reduction and compensation services for sustainability.
Alerts: This service empowers corporate travel managers with pertinent information, enabling them to swiftly respond to unforeseen travel crises and strategically plan for optimal efficiency.

ATPI Asia Managing Director Ali Hussain said: “Our growth underlines ATPI’s longstanding commitment to Asia’s rapidly evolving travel and events landscape. The new markets are strategically important as they permit us to fully cater to our regional clients, share our know-how on domestic market essentials and support them with customised, industry-leading solutions”.

About ATPI
The ATPI Group delivers innovative and tailored solutions across various industries, including corporate, marine, energy, sports, group travel, and event management services. Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Manchester, UK, ATPI employs approximately 2,400 people and has an operations network of 100 locations on six continents.

*(source: GBTA Asia-Pacific Business Travel Forecast 2024-2025)

Hoeborn leads Conrad Singapore Orchard team

SINGAPORE, 9 April 2025: Conrad Singapore Orchard announces the appointment of Thomas Hoeborn as General Manager. 

With over four decades of global experience, Hoeborn brings extensive expertise in luxury hospitality operations, talent development, and delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Thomas Hoeborn

Most recently, he spearheaded operations at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, emphasising innovation and exceptional guest service. 

Before his role at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, he played a crucial role in the successful launch of Conrad Shanghai, one of Hilton’s landmark openings. His track record includes senior roles heading multi-property portfolios across China, Southeast Asia and Japan.

“It is an honour to join the team at Conrad Singapore Orchard, a hotel renowned for its architectural legacy and vibrant culinary landscape, ”said Hoeborn. “I’m thrilled to be part of its next chapter, focused on creating meaningful stays and building lasting connections with our guests and the community, all while continuing to deliver the thoughtful service that defines the Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand.”

Opened in December 2023 and located within an enclave along Orchard Road, Conrad Singapore Orchard features 445 residential-style rooms and suites, 11 dining and bar concepts, and a signature collection of curated programmes celebrating Singapore’s rich cultural heritage.

SITA and NEC speed up digital ID adoption in travel

GENEVA, 9 April 2025: SITA, a leader in air transport technology and border management, and NEC Corporation (NEC), a developer of biometric authentication technologies, have signed an agreement to accelerate the adoption of digital identity technology in the travel industry. 

Through this collaboration, NEC joins SITA’s Digital Travel Ecosystem, an open, interoperable framework that connects various systems for real-time digital identity verification. Developed in partnership with Indicio, SITA’s ecosystem eliminates the need for direct integrations between issuers and verifiers, simplifying adoption for airports, airlines, and governments.  

Photo credit: SITA.

At the core of the ecosystem is the Trust Network, which governs how digital credentials are shared securely worldwide. Built with a privacy-by-design approach, it gives travellers control over their data, including when and with whom they share their credentials. A strong emphasis on data security and privacy means that personal information remains protected and in the hands of the traveller. 

With 28% of airlines and 43% of airports planning to implement biometric identity management solutions in the next 12 months (SITA Air Transport IT Insights 2024), demand for interoperable systems is growing. A lack of standardisation has slowed widespread adoption, but the SITA-NEC collaboration addresses this challenge through a scalable framework for secure identity exchange.

“After years of investment, aviation and other travel stakeholders are now seeing the full potential of digital identities, and the industry is gearing up to scale,” said SITA Senior Vice President of Borders Jeremy Springall. “With NEC’s biometric expertise and SITA’s industry-leading footprint of biometric touchpoints worldwide, we’re well-positioned to accelerate the transformation of digital travel.” 

“NEC brings more than 125 years of innovation and a global track record in identity technologies,” said NEC’s DID Department Senior Director Nanaumi Nagamine. “With SITA, we’ve delivered proven biometric solutions at airports worldwide, creating secure and seamless travel experiences for thousands of passengers daily. This expanded collaboration will accelerate global adoption and set a new standard for trusted digital identity in travel.” 

By addressing longstanding interoperability challenges, the SITA and NEC collaboration will increase passengers’ adoption of digital identities, helping the industry reduce bottlenecks, improve security, and enhance the passenger experience at every touchpoint.  

For more information visit SITA.

(Source: SITA)

New Manila-Danang flights start on 1 July

MANILA, 9 April 2025: Philippine Airlines will introduce nonstop flights between Manila and Danang beginning 1 July, serving the coastal city that serves as a gateway to heritage attractions in the central coastal region of Vietnam. 

Initially scheduling three flights weekly, the airline ultimately intends to match the daily flights Cebu Pacific offers on the route. 

The new Manila-Danang route is the third major expansion move in Vietnam this year for the Philippine flag carrier. PAL recently upgraded its Manila-Hanoi-Manila route to a daily service and will launch flights between Cebu and Ho Chi Minh City starting 2 May. 

“We at Philippine Airlines are excited to strengthen our close relationship with the Vietnamese people by introducing direct Manila-Danang flights,” said PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Capt Stanley Ng. “PAL is committed to offering greater connectivity and promoting tourism and commerce between our capital city and the central Vietnamese heartland. We look forward to welcoming more leisure and business travellers onboard our flights to Danang.”

Danang offers a mix of rich history, picturesque beaches, and modern attractions. It is a lively coastal city close to renowned landmarks like the Marble Mountains and Golden Bridge. It is also the gateway to several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Hoi An, the archaeological ruins of My Son and the fabled Imperial City of Hue.   

PAL will offer travellers daytime flights for greater convenience and to maximise their time in Danang. They will also have a choice of business class and economy class services. 

PAL’s Manila-Danang flights depart from Ninoy Aquino International Airport every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, deploying Airbus A321 with 199 seats.  

In addition to the new PAL Manila-Da Nang, Cebu-Ho Chi Minh City routes and the daily Manila-Hanoi services, PAL also operates eight weekly flights between Manila and Ho Chi Minh City.

Flight schedule

PR585 Manila – Danang – every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, departing Manila at 1110 and arriving in Danang at 1245.
PR586 Danang – Manila – every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, departing Danang at 1335 and arriving in Manila at 1710.