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Princess powers up Japan cruises for 2027

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SINGAPORE, 8 August, 2025: In a historic first, Princess Cruises announces its most expansive Japan season ever in 2027, featuring two Japanese-built, sister ships — Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess — sailing from the Tokyo region throughout the entire season. 

This is the first time that Princess Cruises will base two ships in Japan in one season. 

Photo credit: Princess Cruises.

Marking a significant milestone for the brand’s legacy in Asia, the 2027 programme includes 78 departures across 50 itineraries, with voyages ranging from seven to 28 days, making it Princess’s most robust Japan deployment to date. 

The March–December 2027 Japan season opens for sale on 20 August 2025.  Before the Japanese season 2027, both ships will homeport in Singapore from December 2026 for sailings around Southeast Asia. 

“This upcoming 2027 season is more than an expansion – it’s a homecoming,” said Princess Cruises President Gus Antorcha. “Our story in Japan has deepened over time and experience, and in 2027, we return promising unforgettable experiences, including the renowned cherry blossoms, seven spectacular festivals and journeys that immerse you in the awe and wonder of this destination.”

2027 Deployment Overview

Two Japanese-built ships: 2,670-guest Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess – both built at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipyard in Nagasaki

45 cruise destinations across six countries

78 total departures and 50 itineraries from the Tokyo region

Itinerary Highlights

Cherry Blossom Voyages (9–24 days): Timed to follow the blooming season from south to north across all four of Japan’s main islands.

Festival Cruises (8–24 days): Celebrate Japan’s most vibrant summer festivals, including the Aomori Nebuta, Tokushima Awa Odori, and Kochi Yosakoi with late-night stays.

Circle and Grand Japan Voyages (9–28 days): Circumnavigate the country with visits to Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and more.

Okinawa & Taiwan Itineraries (9–18 days): Explore the subtropical beauty of Okinawa and the cultural richness of Taipei and Hualien.

Japan Explorer Cruises (9–13 days): Discover iconic cities like Shimizu (for Mt Fuji), Kobe (for Kyoto), and Kagoshima.

Emirates partners with FC Bayern Munich

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DUBAI, 8 August 2025: Emirates has entered a landmark seven-year partnership with FC Bayern Munich, 34-time Bundesliga champions and six-time UEFA Champions League titleholders.  

The agreement positions Emirates as the Platinum Partner of FC Bayern Munich’s first team from the 2025-26 season through to the 2031-32 season.

The football powerhouse is one of the most widely supported and respected clubs worldwide, with a highly engaged global fanbase of more than 140 million people, enjoying strong brand recognition rooted in a unique Bavarian identity. FC Bayern also enjoys a robust club membership of 410,000, one of the largest in the football world, demonstrating deep community support and engagement. It also has fan clubs spanning more than 100 countries, reflecting its massive international appeal.

The multi-year partnership provides Emirates with prominent brand visibility on the perimeter stadium and LED boards seen by global audiences, as well as two premium pitch cam carpets. The agreement also includes exclusive ticket and hospitality allocations, plus a dedicated Emirates skybox at the club’s home stadium, Allianz Arena. Additionally, Emirates will have access to FC Bayern Munich’s collective player images. The airline’s branding will also feature prominently in Club TV backdrops during press conferences, flash zone interviews and other public and digital events.

Emirates Airline President Sir Tim Clark said: “We are immensely proud to partner with FC Bayern—Germany’s most iconic football club and a true global sporting giant. This landmark partnership represents far more than a commercial agreement; it embodies our deep commitment to Germany, which stands as a cornerstone of our European network. By aligning ourselves with this legendary sporting institution, we’re forging a connection to the club’s rich heritage and its extraordinarily passionate community. Few forces match sport’s remarkable capacity to unite hearts and minds across cultures and continents, and we look forward to building meaningful relationships with millions of devoted FC Bayern fans around the world, while celebrating excellence, a value that defines both Emirates and FC Bayern.”

The new partnership also marks Emirates’ official return to the German football league. With the club’s fanbase rapidly expanding in key markets across Asia and the US, Emirates is perfectly positioned to strengthen that connection through its extensive global network and world-class service.

Football remains one of the most celebrated sports within Emirates’ portfolio, exemplified through prestigious partnerships with global football clubs and premier tournaments. The airline’s ‘Fly Better’ logo features on the football jerseys of leading European clubs like Real Madrid, Arsenal FC, AC Milan, Benfica SL and Olympique Lyonnais, in addition to naming rights to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. Emirates’ logo will also feature on the back of Al Ain FC’s First Team’s Training Shirt throughout the 2025/2026 season. Emirates has also been the Title Partner of The FA Cup for almost a decade, known as The Emirates FA Cup, the oldest and biggest domestic football tournament in the world. In its home base of the UAE, the airline supports the UAE Pro League. For more information on the airline or to make a booking, visit www.emirates.com.

Big week for business events in Kuching

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KUCHING, 8 August 2025: BESarawak reports that the recent 14th International Conference on Information Technology in Asia (CITA 2025) and the 29th International Conference on Asian Language Processing (IALP 2025) hosted in Kuching stressed the importance of preserving the diversity of Asian languages within the development of artificial intelligence, particularly in an era where large language models shape global communication.

The opening ceremony for the CITA 2025 and IALP 2025 took place earlier this week.

CITA 2025 and IALP 2025 also highlighted the significance of AI and disruptive technologies in transforming industries and education systems, stressing the need for ethical, responsible implementation.

The CITA 2025 conference focused on information technology, with a theme of “Embracing Disruptive Technologies for a Transformative Digital Future.” It was held from 5 to 6 August 2025, at the Borneo Cultures Museum and served as a platform for researchers and industry professionals to discuss new developments in IT. Topics focused on: Artificial Intelligence; Cybersecurity; Internet of Things (IoT); Cloud Computing and Big Data & Data Science.

The 29th International Conference on Asian Language Processing (IALP 2025) is the flagship conference of the Chinese and Oriental Languages Information Processing Society (COLIPS). It focuses on advancing research in Asian language processing. The event was held from 4 to 6 August 2025, at the Borneo Cultures Museum in Kuching. Discussions and keynote presentations focused on: Natural Language Processing (NLP); Speech recognition and synthesis; Machine translation and Large Language Models

Business Events Sarawak Deputy CEO Jason Tan.

MBEW 2025

Meanwhile, during the Malaysia Business Event Week (MBEW2025), 4 to 6 August, BeSarawak’s Deputy CEO Jason Tan shared insights under the keynote address theme “Legacy Impact Through Business Events”.

The presentation outlined how Sarawak’s business events industry evolved with a powerful statement: “Economic impacts like delegate arrivals and tourism receipts are just the tip of the iceberg.

The social, economic, and environmental growth driven by this industry is tremendous yet still unspoken.

“Sarawak’s presence at the Malaysia Business Events Week goes beyond networking, but to strengthen our position as Malaysia’s legacy capital of business events.”

MBEW 2025 took place in Kuching, themed “Spicing Up Business Events” and highlighted an onsite authentic ‘Spice Market’, one of many presentations illustrating Sarawak’s appeal for meetings and incentives.

For more information, visit the BESarawak website: Business Events Sarawak 

(Your Stories: BESarawak)

PAL resumes Sapporo winter flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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MANILA 8 August 2025: Philippine Airlines is reviving its seasonal direct service between Manila (MNL) and Sapporo (CTS), Japan, effective 24  November 2025. 

The airline served the  route from 2018 to 2020 when it suspended the seasonal flights due to the COVID pandemic 

Photo credit: PAL

Three weekly flights will be reinstated during the upcoming northern hemisphere winter season that runs from 24 November 2025 to 27 March 2026.

Flight Schedule 

PAL will operate flights on the  Manila-Sapporo route three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays using a 168-seat Airbus A321neo aircraft, configured with 12 business class seats and 156 economy class seats.

PR406 departs Manila at 0630 and arrives in Sapporo at 1215.
PR405 departs Sapporo at 1315 and arrives in Manila at 1810.

PAL’s press statement says reinstating the route is a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the Philippines-Japan geo-market. “It provides a convenient travel option for Filipino tourists and overseas workers, offering direct access to Hokkaido, a popular winter destination known for its skiing resorts and the famous Sapporo Snow Festival.” 

PAL already has a comprehensive network of flights to other major Japanese cities, including Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Fukuoka

Bangkok is Agoda’s top destination for return visits

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BANGKOK, 8 August 2025: Digital travel platform Agoda has unveiled its latest Repeat Visitor Ranking, spotlighting the Asian city destinations that travellers just can’t resist revisiting. 

Based on booking data from the first half of the year, the ranking reveals the top 10 destinations with the highest number of repeat visitors. Topping the list for the second consecutive year is Bangkok, followed by Tokyo, Seoul, Bali, and Osaka, each offering their charms that keep travellers revisiting.

Photo credit: Agoda. 2025 Return Visitor Rank

Top 10 destinations for revisits*

Bangkok Thailand

Tokyo Japan

Seoul South Korea

Bali Indonesia

Osaka Japan

Taipei Taiwan

Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Da Nang Vietnam

Johor Bahru Malaysia

Hong Kong

*Agoda Repeat Visitor Ranking

Repeat visits are a positive benchmark for tourism boards that see a high percentage of return visits as an endorsement for their promotional strategies.

Travellers often find themselves drawn back to their favourite destinations, year after year, or explore lesser-known destinations having already visited the capital city or main resort destinations. Agoda’s data shows that many travellers even return to the same destination multiple times.

Bangkok, the perennial favourite, continues to captivate visitors with its street life, dining, and cultural landmarks. This year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is launching special promotions and campaigns with industry partners aimed at boosting inbound travel. 

In addition to Bangkok, Agoda’s data found that Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Hat Yai also saw high numbers of return visitors, underscoring the country’s broad appeal across diverse regions. Thailand is enhancing transportation infrastructure, particularly inter-city rail systems, domestic airport upgrades and improvements to public mass transit systems.

Agoda, Country Director Akaporn Rodkong shared: “Nothing speaks more to a destination’s success than the loyalty of returning travellers. Bangkok’s enduring popularity reflects its vibrant culture, exceptional cuisine, and the collaborative efforts of Thailand’s tourism sector and government to deliver experiences that leave a lasting impression and invite travellers back time and again.”

Agoda’s “Repeat Visitor Ranking” is a study and report that highlights destinations with the highest number of repeat visitors. This ranking, based on Agoda’s booking data and surveys, reveals which cities or countries travellers are most likely to revisit.

Key takeaways 

Top Destinations: The ranking frequently features major travel hubs in Asia, with cities like Bangkok, Tokyo, Seoul, and Bali often appearing at the top of the list.

Reasons for repeat visits: Agoda’s surveys have identified several key reasons why people revisit their favourite destinations. The most common factors cited are:

  • Ease of travel
  • Local cuisine
  • Convenient location
  • Safety and cleanliness
  • A previous positive experience

Traveller demographics: The data often provides insights into the behaviour of different nationalities. For example, reports have shown that a significant percentage of travellers from places like the Philippines, Vietnam, and India are eager to revisit their favourite spots. The purpose of these trips also varies, with reasons like “adventure,” “food,” and “reuniting with family/friends” being frequently mentioned.

Loyalty programmes and benefits: While the Repeat Visitor Ranking is a report on travel trends, Agoda also has customer loyalty programs that reward frequent users. The Agoda VIP programme, for instance, has different tiers (Member, VIP Silver, VIP Gold, and VIP Platinum) that are achieved based on the number of bookings a user makes. Higher tiers offer exclusive discounts and other perks. Agoda also has a “PointsMAX” feature, which allows customers to earn airline miles or other loyalty points from partner programmes when booking accommodations

Air Astana declares Q2 and HY results

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ALMATY, Kazakhstan, 8 August 2025: Air Astana and its subsidiary FlyArystan announced this week financial results for the second quarter and six months ended 30 June 2025.

Air Astana CEO Peter Foster commented: “We continue to perform strongly with rising revenues and improved margins in H1, driving growth of 24.1% in EBITDAR and 132% in PAT. This is underpinned by an increase in both capacity and traffic of 17.8% and 17.3% respectively, despite the widely publicised macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges. 

“Our performance highlights once again the benefits of our central location and agile approach as we successfully optimised costs and allocated capacity to our key markets to maximise margins. 

“The increase in passenger numbers alongside capacity demonstrates the demand for our new routes across the fastest-growing regions in Asia, particularly the megamarkets of India and China, as we offer connectivity with the CIS region. Our codeshare agreement with China Southern Airlines, announced last week, is another essential step in developing this connectivity further.”

Group passengers carried increased 15.6% to 2.5 million (Q2 2024: 2.2 million) with average load factor remaining stable at 81.9% (Q2 2024: 82.8%).

Astana Group’s fleet now consists of 61 aircraft, made up entirely of Airbus A320 family and Boeing 767s, and is expected to increase to 63 aircraft by the end of 2025 and to 84 aircraft by the end of 2029.

H1 Highlights

Strong growth and continued focus on yield management deliver 24.1% increase in EBITDAR

Total revenue and other income increased 12.1% to USD658.2 million (H1 2024: USD587.2 million).

 EBITDAR increased 24.1% to USD157.0 million (H12024: USD126.5 million). 

EBITDAR margin improved by 2.3 pp to 23.9% (H12024: 21.6%).

PAT increased 131.9% to USD10.7 million (H12024: USD4.6 million).

ASK up 17.8% to 10.3 billion (H12024: 8.7 billion).

RPK increased 17.3% to 8.4 billion (H12024: 7.1 billion).

Unit revenues continue to be managed ahead of unit cost inflation, extending the positive trend from Q4 2024, demonstrating the effectiveness of the group’s ongoing efficiency measures and currency hedge.

  • RASK decreased 4.9% to USD6.41¢ (H12024: 6.74¢).
  • CASK decreased 6.2% to USD5.97¢ (H12024: 6.36¢).

Group passengers carried increased 11.6% to 4.5 million (H12024: 4.0 million) with a stable average load factor of 81.7% (H1 2024: 82.0%).

Group fleet expanded to 61 aircraft with the delivery of six A320 family aircraft.

Q2 Highlights

Robust revenue growth and double-digit EBITDAR expansion – underscoring increasing demand, cost efficiency and operational resilience.

Total revenue and other income increased 13.5% to USD365.8 million (Q2 2024: USD322.4 million).

EBITDAR increased 17.2% to USD97.1 million (Q2 2024: USD82.8 million). 

EBITDAR margin improved by 0.8 pp to 26.5% (Q2 2024: 25.7%).

PAT increased 11% to USD18 million (Q2 2024: USD16.2 million).

ASK up 21.7% to 5.6 billion (Q2 2024: 4.6 billion).

RPK increased 20.4% to 4.6 billion (Q2 2024: 3.8 billion).

Despite the impact of geopolitical uncertainty, unit revenues and costs remain well-balanced, reflecting operational resilience.

  • RASK decreased 6.8% to USD 6.57¢ (Q2 2024: 7.05¢), driven mainly by local currency depreciation.
  • ASK decreased 6.5% to USD 5.87¢ (Q2 2024: 6.27¢) due to efficiency measures as well as the reduction in Tenge-denominated costs and lower fuel costs.

Group passengers carried increased 15.6% to 2.5 million (Q2 2024: 2.2 million) with average load factor remaining stable at 81.9% (Q2 2024: 82.8%).

Air Arabia expands services to Bangkok

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SINGAPORE, 8 August 2025: Air Arabia will increase flights from Sharjah, UAE, to Bangkok, Thailand, with the addition of a third daily frequency starting 26 October 2025.

The increase to three daily flights between Sharjah International Airport and Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok underscores Air Arabia’s commitment to offering enhanced connectivity, greater convenience and more flexible travel options between the UAE and Thailand.

Schedule to Bangkok, effective 26 October 2025 (all times local):

Air Arabia Group Chief Executive Officer, Adel Al Ali, said: “We are glad to expand our service to Bangkok and remain dedicated to enhancing the travel experience of our customers while also contributing to the growth of trade and tourism ties between the UAE and Thailand”.

Air Arabia operates a fleet of 83 Airbus A320 and A321 neo-LR aircraft. The cabin configuration across the fleet provides added comfort with one of the most generous seat pitches of any economy cabin. 

In addition to ‘SkyTime’, its complementary in-flight streaming service, and ‘SkyCafe’, its onboard menu. Passengers benefit from ‘Air Rewards’, the airline’s loyalty programme in the region.

Customers can now book direct flights from Sharjah to Bangkok by visiting Air Arabia’s website, calling the call centre, or through a travel agency.

Ponant selects Smartvel’s EntryDocs

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SINGAPORE: 8 August 2025: Smartvel (www.smartvel.com), a global leader in travel content solutions, is expanding its collaboration with Ponant Expeditions. 

Ponant has now adopted the new EntryDocs for Cruises, Smartvel’s comprehensive, cruise-specific travel documentation solution, to help deliver a smoother, more stress-free travel experience for its cruise guests.

Photo credit: Ponant.

EntryDocs for Cruises is a fully embedded solution that provides real-time entry and documentation requirements, not only for every destination along the cruise itinerary, but also for air travel to the embarkation point and the guest’s return journey home.

“We are using Smartvel’s solution to verify the travel documentation required for our guests — not only for boarding our cruises, but also for their full journey, including international flights to the point of embarkation and any additional countries visited en route,” said 

Ponant Expeditions Superviseur Priscila Martin. “The solution is intuitive, reliable, and reflects our commitment to delivering a seamless and stress-free travel experience — from departure to return.”

Integrated across Ponant Expeditions’ digital touchpoints, the EntryDocs widget can be embedded on individual cruise landing pages, preloaded with the itinerary and customised to match the Ponant Expeditions brand. 

Guests can instantly access official government links and all relevant entry requirements in just one click, enhancing clarity and confidence as they prepare for their journey.

EntryDocs for Cruises features

  • Tailored documentation requirements for every country in the cruise itinerary.
  • Personalised results based on passenger nationality and residence.
  • A widget and API for flexible integration options.
  • Pre-filled traveller details for pre-departure communications.
  • Embedded links to insurance or visa providers.
  • On-demand updates and support for new routes and itineraries.

“We are excited to support Ponant Expeditions in their commitment to providing a world-class guest experience,” said  Smartvel CEO Iñigo Valenzuela. “With EntryDocs for Cruises, our goal is to remove complexity and create clarity — helping both travellers and cruise operators navigate today’s dynamic travel landscape.”

About Smartvel
Smartvel is a B2B travel technology company delivering innovative content solutions across the travel industry. Its EntryDocs platform provides up-to-date health and travel documentation requirements for airlines, cruise lines, OTAs, hotels, and government entities. 

About Ponant
Ponant has been committed to more responsible tourism and purposeful voyages of exploration for over 35 years, featuring a fleet of 14 French-flagged small ships, fitted with the latest environmental technologies.

Vietjet Thailand expands Asian flights

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BANGKOK, 8 August 2025: Vietjet Thailand is accelerating its international expansion with the launch of several new direct routes connecting to major cities across Asia. 

By enhancing air connectivity with key geo-markets such as Japan, South Korea, and India, the expansion will stimulate tourism, supporting broader efforts to revitalise and grow the tourism economy.

Photo credit: Vietjet Thailand.

“Our expanding international network underscores Vietjet Thailand’s strong momentum in regional growth and market presence,” said Mr. Woranate Laprabang, Chief Executive Officer of Vietjet Thailand. “Each new route allows us to serve more travellers, strengthen our competitive position, and contribute to tourism and economic exchange.”

New services to Northeast Asia

Connecting Thailand to more major hubs across Northeast Asia, the following routes are scheduled.

Direct flights from Bangkok to Seoul (Incheon) will start on 1 October. 
Bangkok to Osaka (Kansai) flights start on 1 December.
Bangkok to Tokyo (Narita) flights start on 15 December. 

These destinations are not only key inbound markets but are also extremely popular among Thai travellers, reflecting strong two-way demand. 

Three destinations in India

A new route between Phuket and Mumbai will start on 14 August. Flights from Bangkok to Kolkata begin on 16 November.
Ahmedabad joins the route network on 4 December, flying from Vietjet Thailand’s home base at Suwarnabhumi Airport (BKK).
These additions mark a continued expansion of Vietjet Thailand’s footprint in India — one of the region’s fastest-growing travel markets — and further strengthen connectivity between Thailand and key Indian cities.

Cathay announces solid 2025 interim results

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HONG KONG, 7 August 2025: The Cathay Group announced its 2025 Interim Results on Wednesday, together with an exercise of purchase rights for an additional 14 Boeing 777-9s, bringing Cathay’s total commitment to 35 aircraft.

Cathay Group Chair Patrick Healy commented: “Over the past few years, we have embarked on an all-encompassing fleet renewal and expansion plan, which includes orders for over 100 new narrowbody, regional widebody, long-haul widebody and large freighter aircraft. 

Photo credit: Boeing.

“This new order brings our total investment to well over HKD100 billion, which also includes new cabin products, lounges and digital innovation, further strengthening the Hong Kong international aviation hub and elevating the customer experience to new heights.

“As a Group, our passenger airlines, Cathay Pacific and HK Express, have launched or announced 19 new destinations so far in 2025, with more still to come. We now fly to more than 100 passenger destinations globally, as we continue to enhance Hong Kong’s connectivity with the world. ​

“We are also delighted to have been recognised in multiple renowned industry rankings and awards. Cathay Pacific was named one of the world’s top three airlines, as well as being recognised for having the world’s best Economy class and the world’s best in-flight entertainment according to Skytrax. Meanwhile, Cathay Cargo was again named Cargo Operator of the Year by Air Transport World, and HK Express was named one of the top five low-cost airlines in the world by Airline Ratings. These achievements would not have been possible without the steadfast support of our customers and the dedication of our people, for which we are extremely grateful.”

First-half results

As a group, Cathay reported an attributable profit of HKD3.7 billion in the first half of 2025, a similar level to the first half of 2024.

The group’s first-half result was attributable to increased passenger capacity and volumes, albeit at lower yields, a resilient cargo business and lower fuel costs.

Meanwhile, the results from associates, the majority of which are recognised three months in arrears, reflected an attributable loss of HKD181 million, compared with a loss of HKD342 million in the first half of 2024. 

The group’s first-half result has allowed it to announce a first interim dividend payment to ordinary shareholders of HK20 cents per ordinary share, totalling HKD1.3 billion. This is the same amount per ordinary share as the first interim dividend paid in 2024.

Customer experience

Cathay Pacific’s new Aria Suite Business class cabins and in-flight entertainment system have received various recognitions in prestigious design industry awards. Building on these achievements, the airline will be introducing brand new cabins and a flat-bed Business class product on its existing Airbus A330s in 2026, followed by a world-leading First class experience onboard its Boeing 777-9s when the first aircraft is expected to arrive in 2027.

Additionally, Cathay Pacific has been rolling out refinements to the design of its current regional Business class on selected A330-300 and 777-300 aircraft with an updated look and features, which are expected to be completed this year. Furthermore, starting this month, Cathay Pacific is one of the very few airlines in the world to offer both 100% seatback inflight entertainment and 100% inflight connectivity across its entire fleet. ​

On the ground, Cathay Pacific has commenced an extensive redevelopment plan for its lounges. Earlier this year, The Bridge was opened at Hong Kong International Airport following a complete redesign. The redesigned Beijing flagship lounge is scheduled to open this month, while a brand-new flagship lounge will be launched in New York next year.

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