BOTUM SAKOR National Park, 19 November 2024: Cardamom Tented Camp, located in Cambodia’s Botum Sakor National Park, has expanded its eco-conscious accommodation offering with three premium river-view tents.
The three new tents feature larger balconies, offering guests riverside views and a unique opportunity to experience nature up close.
One of the new tents is set 70 metres apart at the end of a 220-metre walkway, providing an exclusive retreat perfect for couples seeking extra privacy.
Each tent is perched on an elevated frame and features fan-cooled double or twin beds, hot water bathrooms, and spacious balconies designed for relaxation, birdwatching, and wildlife spotting.
“The new riverfront tents offer an unparalleled connection to nature,” says Lodge Manager Allan Michaud. “The serene setting, coupled with opportunities for bird and wildlife spotting right from your balcony, will make these tents popular among guests looking for tranquillity and immersion in the wild.”
Surrounded by lowland mixed forests, the 12 tents at Cardamom Tented Camp circle a natural grassland glade. The camp is a key player in conservation, with profits from its accommodation, riverside restaurant, and eco-activities such as kayaking and guided hikes supporting 18 forest rangers. These rangers patrol the national park, drastically reducing illegal hunting and protecting wildlife such as Asian elephants, silver langurs, and smooth-coated otters.
Guests can engage in the camp’s conservation efforts or simply enjoy the peace and beauty of one of Cambodia’s most remote and untouched environments.
The award-winning camp is accessible only by boat. Its motto, “Your Stay Keeps the Forest Standing,” reflects the ecolodge’s commitment to preserving Botum Sakor National Park’s unique biodiversity.
About Cardamom Tented Camp Cardamom Tented Camp is an ecolodge in the foothills of the Cardamom Mountains in Cambodia. The 12-unit camp, which includes a restaurant pavilion, staff dormitory, ecotourism equipment, and boat pier, uses solar power to run lodge amenities.
Cardamom Tented Camp is a three-way initiative between Minor Group, YAANA Ventures, and Wildlife Alliance to ensure the land and its biodiversity do not fall into the hands of loggers, poachers, and sand dredging operations.
SINGAPORE, 19 November 2024: FCM Travel, a large-scale business travel market specialist with over 90 countries worldwide, is now Flight Centre Travel Group’s (ASX:FLT) largest brand globally based on Total Transaction Value (TTV).
The announcement comes as FLT revealed its FY25 profit guidance at its Annual General Meeting.
FCM Travel, celebrating its 20th birthday this year, generated 31% of FLT’s fiscal year 2024 TTV, compared to around 20% in FY19. New business wins, and the onboarding of key multinational customers were the main drivers.
In FY24, the top industries that booked corporate travel from FCM Travel were manufacturing, technology, government, finance and banking, and education.
“As the alternative in business travel, FCM prides itself on being the most adaptable, responsive, and innovative travel management company in the market – we have made huge strides over the last two decades to set ourselves apart in the industry,” said FCM Travel Asia Managing Director Bertrand Saillet,
“What we’ve seen in recent times is that corporate travel is anything but discretionary; it’s very much seen as a necessity for businesses to survive and thrive while also being a key facet to winning new business, retaining staff, and growing.
“Our continued investment in our talented teams, services, and technology has only amplified our mission to offer travel buyers the capability, visibility, and flexibility to manage their business travel in the way they want – and ensure travellers are cared for along every step of their journey.
“A prime example of this is the recent launch of our global corporate-specific AI Centre of Excellence that’s revolutionising customer service, empowering our agents through smart automation, and is a key driver as we remain on track to deliver our Productive Operations project.”
Saillet concluded the breadth of offerings under the FCM Travel umbrella, namely its Meetings and Events (M&E) and consulting arms, delivered a complete suite to customers.
SINGAPORE, 19 November 2024: Oman Air plans to resume daily flights from Muscat to Singapore in September 2025. It last flew to Singapore in May 2017.
Preliminary filings posted on website timetables and online route news indicate the Middle East airline intends to launch a daily flight using a Boeing Dreamliner 787-9 aircraft. The airline has not confirmed the route on its website and ‘socials’, so the flight schedule is tentative.
Flight Filing
Flight WY861 will depart Muscat (MCT) at 2135, arriving in Singapore (SIN) at 0810 plus a day. Flight WY862 will depart Singapore at 0925, arriving in Muscat at 1210
Meanwhile, the airline confirmed in a Facebook post that it would add two direct flights from Muscat to Mumbai, India, on 17 December, giving it 12 flights weekly between Oman’s capital, Muscat and Mumbai, the financial capital of India.
BANGKOK, 19 November 2024: Thai AirAsia X (XJ) is expanding to India, with new direct flights from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport to the Capital of Delhi scheduled to launch on 15 December.
Twice-weekly flights on Wednesday and Sunday are already open for bookings, with fares starting at THB3,290 per trip. Bookings must be confirmed by 24 November to gain the lead-in fare with travel valid from 15 December 2024 to 26 March 2025 via AirAsia MOVE.
Thai AirAsia X CEO Tassapon Bijleveld explained: “Thai AirAsia X is initiating services to India with flights to Delhi, the core centre of culture, trade, and economics and home to many tourism highlights of India, such as India Gate and Red Fort.
“Thai AirAsia X believes that bridging Thailand and India will promote strong relations and increase the ease of travel between the two countries. Operating out of Don Mueang Airport, arrivals on the route will have access to Thailand’s largest hub of domestic travel and beyond on the AirAsia Group network spanning over 130 destinations.”
Flights will increase to four weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday effective 15 January 2025. The service will draw more Indian visitors to Thailand, who can book connecting services through the airline’s ‘Fly Thru’ service to domestic destinations such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Krabi, and Hat Yai.
AirAsia operates 13 routes between its Thailand home base at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok and India, including the addition of the Delhi service,
Don Mueang-Delhi will be served by A Thai AirAsia X 285-377 seat Airbus A330 on the four-hour flight,
Flight schedule
Flight XJ230 departs Bangkok Don Mueang Airport (DMK) at 1245 and arrives in Delhi (DEL) at 1550. Flight XJ231 departs Delhi at 1705 and arrives in Bangkok Don Mueang Airport at 2250.
Delhi is a historic metropolis in India that includes the country’s capital city of New Delhi. The territory is filled with exquisitely designed mosques and masjids that stand among important attractions such as India Gate, the Red Fort, the world’s largest Hindu temple Akshardham, and the timelessly beautiful marble of Bahai temple.
SINGAPORE, 18 November 2024: Resorts World Sentosa broke ground on its highly anticipated new waterfront lifestyle development on 14 November.
The groundbreaking event featured a symbolic shovel celebration officiated by Guest of Honour Alvin Tan, Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth, along with government officials, distinguished guests, as well as executives from RWS and China Metallurgical Group Corporation.
Resorts World Sentosa’s highly anticipated new waterfront lifestyle development is planned for a 2030 openingand is envisioned to set a new benchmark for Singapore and Sentosa, positioning both as iconic, must–visit lifestyle hubs for international and local visitors.
The waterfront development, targeted to open by 2030, is set to redefine luxury and lifestyle for both new and returning guests.
The new waterfront development will feature a waterfront promenade, a four-storey retail and dining podium with entertainment offerings, and two new luxury hotels with 700 rooms.
RWS Chief Executive Officer Tan Hee Teck stated, ” The new waterfront lifestyle development underscores our steadfast commitment to bolstering Singapore’s identity as a premier global lifestyle destination, which will take RWS and Singapore to the next frontier of tourism in the coming years.
With its bold, iconic design and distinctive offerings, this upcoming development project is like no other in Singapore or the region. It will be a must-visit in the global tourism landscape.”
Resorts World Sentosa’s highly anticipated new waterfront lifestyle development is planned for a 2030 opening and is envisioned to set a new benchmark for Singapore and Sentosa, positioning both as an iconic, must-visit lifestyle hub for international and local visitors.
KUCHING, 18 November 2024: “AI may not take our jobs, but those who know how to use AI will”, said PATA Director of Sustainability & Research, Pavnesh Kumar, at the recent event “AI-Driven Transformation: Empowering Sarawak’s Tourism SMEs.”
He stressed the need for tourism businesses to embrace AI and said that PATA was in a strong position to navigate the journey.
Welcome remarks by Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor, the CEO of the Sarawak Tourism Board.
UpThink CEO Matt Gibson led the sessions of an event co-organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
Through UpThink, an international consultancy specialising in AI and WordPress solutions for the travel industry, the AI capability training programme provided local tourism businesses with practical skill sets and knowledge to thrive in the digital age as part of a broader programme to support SMEs in tourism.
Over four days, participants explored powerful AI tools, discussed ethical considerations, and worked hands-on with projects to integrate AI into daily operations.
Last May, PATA and the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance sustainability in Sarawak’s tourism industry.
Photo credit: PATA. Participants proudly hold certificates after the ‘AI-Driven Transformation: Empowering Sarawak’s Tourism SMEs’ programme.
The first initiative from this collaboration was the Tourism Destination Resilience (TDR) Programme in Kuching, Malaysia, held from 20 to 24 May. The four-day training programme focused on improving participants’ risk assessment and management skills, adaptive capacity, and finance and digital skills.
Following the success of the TDR programme and participants’ enthusiasm for further hands-on training, PATA and STB introduced a new programme tailored specifically for Sarawak’s local SMEs, with an emphasis on digital skills, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI).
The event, held at the Theatre Hotel in Kuching, was designed to equip local tourism businesses with practical AI skills and to navigate the evolving digital landscape.
Sarawak Tourism Board CEO Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor welcomed participants to the workshops, saying STB recognised the “vital role of collaboration among Sarawak’s stakeholders in advancing the industry towards a more sustainable, resilient, and innovative future and underscored the value of hands-on workshops like this one in achieving that vision.”
Sixty-three participants attended the training, primarily from the accommodation sector and tour operators/travel agencies in Kuching. The training received an overwhelmingly positive response, with 98% of participants reporting that the workshop met their expectations and 93% affirming they plan to apply the AI concepts learned in their businesses.
Participants particularly appreciated the topics covered in the training, as noted by 80% of respondents, as well as the group activities and exercises, the materials and resources provided, and the networking opportunities. The most preferred topic was AI for visual content generation, which received 55% of the votes, placing it first.
Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team helmed by Giles Scott in action on Race Day 2 of the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix in Sydney, Australia. Saturday 25th February 2024. Photo: Bob Martin for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP
DUBAI, UAE, 18 November 2024: Emirates has confirmed a five-season global sponsorship with SailGP, making it the exclusive Global Airline Partner of the annual sail racing championship – a first for the league.
Emirates will continue as the Title Partner of the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix, which will take place in Mina Rashid from 23 to 24 November. This will ensure that the Dubai fixture continues to be an iconic event within the SailGP annual calendar, helping grow attendance and promoting Dubai as an attractive destination for racing fans and enthusiasts.
Ben Ainslie, driver of Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team, at the wheel during a practice session ahead of the Emirates Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 7th December 2023. Photo: Ricardo Pinto for SailGP. Handout image supplied by SailGP
The airline will also become the Title Partner of the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team’s new home event in Portsmouth. The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth will mark SailGP’s long-awaited return to the UK, bringing top-flight racing action back to British shores from 19 to 20 July 2025.
SailGP is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and entertainment properties, with 12 national teams confirmed for the 2025 season. The league’s annual competition calendar spans iconic destinations across five continents, with at least 13 events next season.
Registering significant growth in fan engagement, global broadcast and digital reach, and ticketed attendance at its events, SailGP events also enjoy a strong crossover with major destinations on the Emirates network.
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline & Group, said: “Our expanded relationship with SailGP is based on a shared commitment to bring the growing sport of sailing to a broader global audience on and off the waters. SailGP is emerging as a pioneering force in the sport, focusing on establishing connections with a new legion of loyal SailGP fans through impactful experiences. Emirates and SailGP also have a common vision and brand promise – to ‘sport better’ and ‘fly better,’ driven by excellence and innovation.
We’re also a proud Title Partner of the events in Dubai and Portsmouth, which will kickstart the competition in our home city and bring sailing back to the UK in 2025 to become a permanent fixture on Sail-GP’s vibrant global calendar. We look forward to seeing sporting talent display their strength, passion, and technique at the highest level over the coming seasons.”
Sir Russell Coutts, CEO of SailGP, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Emirates on board as SailGP’s Official Airline Partner, strengthening an enduring relationship with the world-class carrier heading into our most exciting season to date. Emirates has a long-standing association with some of the world’s most-loved sporting clubs, tournaments, and events, and we are enormously proud to join the Emirates family. Emirates will be a key partner in helping SailGP reach new audiences through a shared passion for sporting excellence and a commitment to innovation.”
As a Global Partner and Airline Partner of SailGP, Emirates will have an expanded brand presence across SailGP’s Emmy award-winning LiveLine broadcast production. Features including “Emirates Finish” and “Emirates Fly Time” will make their television debut in the upcoming season-opener in Dubai.
Emirates will continue its proud association with sports officiating by becoming SailGP’s official Umpire partner, working closely with the league to amplify the role of its officials – working remotely from SailGP’s broadcast studio in London – and further explaining the sport for fans in SailGP’s 212+ broadcast territories. Emirates will also allow racing fans to watch SailGP races on all flights via the airline’s award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice.
The airline will have onsite branding across the SailGP Race Stadium, trophy presentation, and numerous other prominent areas. In addition, the Emirates’ logo will appear on all of SailGP’s high-tech F50 catamarans competing in the Title Events in Dubai and Portsmouth.
Other benefits include marketing, digital, and social media rights, as well as world-class hospitality at SailGP’s top-tier hospitality offering, the Adrenaline Lounge. Emirates and SailGP will also collaborate to deliver community programmes that are in line with SailGP’s local impact strategy.
Emirates has been a staunch supporter of sailing, with its first sponsorship dating back to 2004 as the naming sponsor of Emirates Team New Zealand, five-time America’s Cup champions. Emirates is also a proud sponsor of the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team, one of the league’s most successful sailing teams. The airline will continue to support the team for the next three seasons of the racing calendar. Emirates’ signature “Fly Better” logo is visible on all the Emirates GBR F50, with prominent branding on the team’s clothing, sailing apparel and equipment.
SailGP’s 2025 Season gets underway on November 23-24, unfolding over two action-packed days on the pristine waters of Mina Rashid. The Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix, presented by P&O Marinas, is set to be a flagship event on the regional sporting calendar – the third time SailGP has visited the city and the second edition with Emirates as Title Partner. The remaining tickets are on sale now at SailGP.com/Dubai.
Tickets for the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth go on sale next month (pre-sale on 9 December 2024 and general sale on 11 December 2024). For more information, visit SailGP.com/greatbritain
SINGAPORE, 18 November 2024: Trip.com, an online travel service provider, has introduced a new feature highlighting sustainable hotels and accommodations certified by a GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.
This initiative aims to make it easier for travellers to identify and book sustainable hotels and accommodations, promoting responsible tourism choices. Only hotels and other accommodation facilities with a GSTC-accredited certification will be eligible for inclusion in this feature.
Businesses certified by a GSTC-accredited certification body that meets all the GSTC criteria (or GSTC-recognised standards) have the highest level of assurance and credibility available. With an accredited certification, customers and buyers are assured that the business was certified in a credibly verified procedure in a transparent, impartial, and competent manner.
By showcasing properties with accredited certifications, Trip.com responds to the growing demand for sustainable travel options and provides an added incentive for hotels to pursue sustainability certifications. The partnership between Trip.com and GSTC emphasises the growing importance of sustainability practices within the travel industry, empowering travellers to identify and choose sustainable accommodations easily.
By joining the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Trip.com Group commits to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The partnership with GSTC builds on Trip.com Group’s broader commitment to sustainability, including lower-emission travel solutions across transportation modes—cars, trains, and flights—and other initiatives to promote more sustainable travel.
The Trip.com platform will display “Certified Sustainable” labels for hotels certified by GSTC-accredited certification Bodies, allowing travellers to search, view, and choose sustainable options easily.
GSTC Market Access Programme
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Market Access Programme is designed to help certified tourism businesses, such as hotels and accommodations, gain increased visibility and access to markets that value sustainability. Through this program, GSTC facilitates connections between certified entities and key players in the travel and tourism industry, such as Trip.com, Booking.com, Traveloka, and AMEX GBT, among others. This initiative ensures that certified hotels/accommodations are valued by partners who prioritise responsible travel, enhancing their competitive edge.
Trip.com at the GSTC2024 Global Conference Singapore
Trip.com Group Vice President Edison Chen participated in the GSTC2024 Global Conference’s session “Driving Profitable Sustainability: Business Opportunities in ASEAN’s Sustainable Tourism” as part of the tourism conference held in Sentosa, Singapore, from 13 to 16 November.
SINGAPORE, 18 November 2024: Air Astana has opened The Shanyrak, its first-ever business lounge at Almaty Airport, representing a milestone in its 22-year history.
The lounge is exclusively designed for Air Astana’s business-class passengers and eligible Nomad Club loyalty members departing on the airline’s international flights.
Photo credit Air Astana.
The Shanyrak is a luxurious business lounge offering a full range of services to meet the expectations of international travellers. Visitors to the lounge can relax and enjoy a tranquil atmosphere enriched with Kazakh cultural style before their flights. Lounge features include areas for work and rest, a parent-and-child room, showers and facilities for passengers with limited mobility, and flight information displays. Guests are offered a selection of hot meals, snacks, and beverages.
The lounge can accommodate over 100 guests and is open 24 hours a day. Local and international partners have been engaged to manage the lounge, meeting standards tailored to passenger preferences and the airline’s longstanding reputation for delivering outstanding passenger service.
SINGAPORE, 18 November 2024: SalamAir, Oman’s low-fare airline has introduced its lowest-ever fare for travel between Muscat and Salalah starting at OMR9.99 (USD 25.98).
The Omani Rial 9.99 Light Fare is valid for one-way flights between Muscat and Salalah starting 1 December 2024.
This new starting fare is not a limited-time promotion but rather a permanent step in SalamAir’s commitment to offering affordable and flexible travel options. By providing low fares, SalamAir aims to encourage more travel between Muscat and Salalah by making flights affordable.
“We are pleased to introduce this new, super low fare to Salalah, which is just one of the many steps we are taking to reaffirm our low-cost business,” said SalamAir CEO Adrian Hamilton-Manns. “Our goal is to provide passengers with more affordable travel options while offering flexibility and exceptional value for money. We have been working hard to change our business back to being low-fare focused to make air travel more affordable.”
This new fare is part of SalamAir’s broader strategy to develop its low-cost model that allows customers to tailor their travel experiences according to their needs. SalamAir is also introducing additional services to provide more flexibility and convenience for its passengers.
Passengers can book their flights from Muscat to Salalah starting 1 December through SalamAir’s website, SalamAir.com, or mobile app. Early bookings are encouraged to secure these super-low fares and to take full advantage of the new travel options.
