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Hotel construction slows globally

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 17 April 2024: The Americas is the only world region that showed a year-over-year increase in pipeline activity at the end of the first quarter, according to March 2024 data from CoStar. 

CoStar is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information, and analytics for property markets.

March 2024 (% change in comparison with March 2023)

Europe

  • In construction: 172,499 rooms (-6.8%)
  • Final Planning: 99,744 rooms (-25.3%)
  • Planning: 160,404 rooms (+3.1%)
  • Total Under Contract: 432,647 rooms (-8.8%)

Among countries in the region, Germany (28,500) led in construction activity, closely followed by the UK (28,423). 

Asia Pacific

  • In construction: 502,610 rooms (+5.6%)
  • Final Planning: 109,926 rooms (+5.6%)
  • Planning: 289,041 rooms (-11.0%)
  • Total Under Contract: 901,577 rooms (-0.4%)

China leads the Asia Pacific region in total rooms in construction (315,145), followed by Vietnam (37,113).

Middle East & Africa

  • In construction: 110,783 rooms (-7.3%)
  • Final Planning: 36,173 rooms (-20.9%)
  • Planning: 81,316 rooms (-3.3%)
  • Total Under Contract: 228,272 rooms (-8.5%)

Most of the region’s pipeline activity is focused in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia (42,464) and the United Arab Emirates (19,046) have the most rooms in construction.

Americas

  • In construction: 205,998 rooms (+4.1%)
  • Final Planning: 296,374 rooms (+6.8%)
  • Planning: 378,628 rooms (+36.0%)
  • Total Under Contract: 881,000 rooms (+16.9%)

The US (156,525) holds the majority of the construction rooms in the region. After US, Mexico (13,335), Canada (7,603), and Brazil (5,799) show the highest number of rooms in construction.

For more information about the company and its products and services, please visit www.costargroup.com

About CoStar Group
CoStar Group (NASDAQ: CSGP) is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information, and analytics in the property markets. Founded in 1987, CoStar Group is headquartered in Washington DC and maintains offices in the US, Europe, Canada, and Asia.

Singapore creates Dream Sphere for Expo 2025

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 17 April 2024: Singapore’s Pavilion at next year’s Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, from 13 April to 13 October 2025, will present a compelling representation of the nation’s innovative, sustainable, and resilient qualities.

With ‘Where Dreams Take Shape’ as the tagline, the Singapore Pavilion or ‘The Dream Sphere’, aims to inspire visitors to explore the infinite possibilities of dreams and to shape the future with the city-state. The Pavilion will delight visitors with interactive multimedia and art installations featuring Singapore artists. 

Photo credit: STB. Singapore Pavilion theme: Where Dreams Take Shape.

Singapore’s Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the Singapore Pavilion, His Excellency Ong Eng Chuan, said: “Singapore and Japan enjoy robust and multifaceted ties. The strength of these ties is evident in Singapore’s strong support for the Expo 2025 Osaka, including being the first country to begin construction on our pavilion. As we approach the 60th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Singapore in 2026, Singapore’s presence at the Expo 2025 Osaka will reinforce our strong bilateral ties and benefit both our countries. I hope our friends in Japan and around the world will enjoy experiencing the Singapore Pavilion.” 

Led by the Singapore Tourism Board, Singapore’s participation at Expo 2025 on Yumeshima Island, near Osaka, presents an opportunity to share the nation’s story. 

Carrie Kwik, Executive Director, World Expo and Special Project, STB, said: “Singapore’s participation at Expo 2025 in Osaka serves as an important platform for Singapore enterprises and talents to be profiled on a global stage and a chance for companies to enhance their brand visibility and engage potential business partners. We are proud to bring Singapore to Osaka and aim to have Singapore business missions visiting Japan to network and promote collaboration between Singapore companies and Japanese guests at our Singapore Pavilion.”

Themed ‘Designing Future Society for Our Lives’, Expo 2025 Osaka is expected to attract more than 28 million visitors over 184 days. Expo 2025 Osaka will be Japan’s third Expo. It hosted the Osaka Expo in 1970 and Aichi Expo in 2005.

Norwegian orders new build ships

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 17 April 2024: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has unveiled a new build order for eight vessels, representing nearly 25,000 additional berths.

The new ship orders across all three brands are scheduled for delivery over 10 years between 2026 and 2036. The plan includes next-generation vessels for Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises to be built by Fincantieri,

Following the delivery of four Prima-Plus class ships from 2025 through 2028, Norwegian Cruise Line is expected to take delivery of four approximately 200,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of nearly 5,000 guests, in 2030, 2032, 2034 and 2036, which are subject to financing. 

Building on the success of its Allura Class ships, the last one being delivered in 2025, Oceania Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 86,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 1,450 guests in 2027 and 2029. 

Lastly, following the award-winning Explorer Class ships, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is scheduled to take delivery of two 77,000-gross-ton ships, each with a capacity of 850 guests, in 2026 and 2029. 

The company has obtained export credit financing with favourable terms to fund 80% t of the contract price of each of the two Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships, subject to certain conditions. The ship orders for Norwegian Cruise Line remain subject to financing, which is currently underway.

FATA names new president

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TTR WEEKLY
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Photo: TheStar

KUALA LUMPUR, 17 April 2024: The Federation of ASEAN Travel Associations (FATA) announced Tuesday that Tan Kok Liang has been appointed president.

Tan assumes the presidency for a two-year term ending in 2026. He succeeds Pauline Suharno of the Indonesian Travel Agents Association, who successfully guided FATA through the post-pandemic recovery landscape.

Tan expressed gratitude for her stewardship: “Pauline has consolidated FATA through the post-pandemic stage, and we thank her for her unwavering dedication.”

FATA, established in 1983, is the umbrella organisation representing over 7,700 travel agents and advisors across Southeast Asia. With Tan’s extensive experience and global networking, including three full terms as the president of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) from 2017 to 2023 and his current positions as president of the Malaysian Tourism Federation and Deputy Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board, FATA is poised to play a crucial role in tourism promotions in all the 10 ASEAN nations.

Tan, a recipient of the prestigious Tourism Promotion Organisation (TPO) Best Tourism Industry Leader Award for his invaluable contributions to the tourism industry in the Asia Pacific region, is committed to elevating FATA’s stature. Having steered FATA during the tumultuous COVID-19 pandemic, Tan is determined to reinvigorate ASEAN tourism, positioning the ASEAN brand as an attractive choice for international travellers from the long haul markets. Initiating this new thrust through international travel trade shows in the coming months will be a priority. Promoting multiple destinations within ASEAN, each offering a unique and diverse range of recreational activities will undoubtedly appeal to tourists exploring this vibrant region.

Game-changing visa  

The FATA President champions a transformative agenda for intra-ASEAN travel. He applauds Thailand’s innovative Schengen-style visa proposal as a game-changer for selected ASEAN nations, setting the stage for a revolution in regional mobility.

“Let’s seize the moment,” Tan urges. “The pre-pandemic era saw 48 million intra-ASEAN tourists—just 7% of our robust 691 million population. Imagine the possibilities in a market ripe with affordability and a smorgasbord of experiences—from adrenaline-pumping adventures to cultural escapades, all within a stone’s throw of three to four hours.”

Tan’s vision transcends the conventional, spotlighting the untold stories beyond capital cities. “Every ASEAN country has multiple hidden gems and intriguing products in their offerings. We’re crafting an interconnected ASEAN tapestry in partnership with trailblazers like Air Asia. Our goal is to make ASEAN travel affordable and exciting to boost intra-ASEAN travel.”

ASEAN tourism strategies

Tan said he envisions FATA to be a “pivotal force in creating business-to-business opportunities for all ASEAN stakeholders.” He also wants to benchmark policy frameworks and tourism strategies, enabling member countries to assess and exchange best practices effectively. The FATA president’s strategic agenda includes expanding FATA’s influence by extending membership to other Asian countries through a reciprocal affiliation membership scheme, thereby strengthening ASEAN’s position in the global tourism arena.

Joining Tan in steering FATA towards this new era are Pauline Suharno of The Indonesian Travel Agents Association (ASTINDO) as the Deputy President, Evangeline Manotok of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) as the Honorary Treasurer, and Charles Tan of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) as the Honorary Secretary General.

As FATA embarks on this transformation journey, it reaffirms its unwavering commitment to nurturing the interests of ASEAN’s dynamic travel and tourism sector. This new chapter is not just about growth. It’s about fostering cooperation and camaraderie among industry stakeholders, propelling ASEAN to the forefront of global tourism.

More nonstop flights from India to Vietnam

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 17 April 2024: Air India has opened sales ahead of its planned launch of direct flights between Delhi, India, and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, due to commence on 1 June 2024.

India’s national airline will fly the route five times weekly: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The airline will use an A320 neo aircraft with 162 seats — 12 in business and 150 in economy.

Earlier, the airline filed a schedule for the DEL-SGN-DEL route, with flights due to launch on 1 May. Independent timetable information noted that it would fly a daily service. That has now been revised to five weekly flights starting 1 June.

Air India’s PR Department ignored emails seeking clarity on the launch details. However, the airline posted information on its social media channels confirming flight details. A check of independent booking sites indicates the service is bookable for flights commencing 1 June, and a roundtrip fare starts at USD281. Air India will compete head-on with Vietnamese carriers — Vietnam Airlines (three weekly flights flying A321s and A350-900s) and Vietjet (four weekly flights using an A330).  

Air India flights DEL-SGN-DEL

Flight AI388 departs DEL at 1315 and arrives in SGN at 1955.
Flight AI389 departs SGN at 2055 and arrives in DEL at 0030 plus a day.

(SOURCE: OAG and Google Flights.) 

Qatar Air launches Kinshasa flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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DOHA, 16 April 2024: Qatar Airways will expand its network this June to include Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), enabling greater frequencies and increased capacity to Luanda, Angola.  

This latest network expansion provides passengers with greater travel choices within a key region of Africa, opening up a new entry point for international travel from Africa to China, Europe, and the Indian Subcontinent, using Doha, Qatar, as a gateway. 

Starting 1 June 2024, Luanda will see a frequency increase from one weekly flight to four weekly flights, with a combined service to Kinshasa, which Qatar Airways will serve for the first time. The new route will be served by a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, equipped with 22 business class seats and 232 economy class seats. 

Flight Schedule:

Solo sailing without a price penalty

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TTR WEEKLY
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16 April 2024: Travelling solo doesn’t have to be limiting or come with a heavy price tag increase. Pandaw is recognised as one of the best solo cruise operators in the small river ship category worldwide* due to its user-friendly policy for singles and solo travellers.

It delivers ‘no single supplement’ on the widest range of dates in river cruising, including travel dates during peak seasons.

Meeting like-minded travellers is easy thanks to the famous ‘Pandaw spirit’ spacious and comfortable community areas plus daily cocktail hours. Special single tables are available as an option during meals upon request.

(*2023 WAVE awards, Pandaw nominated ‘Best for Solo Travellers’).

To view available dates with no single supplement, choose your preferred itinerary and navigate to the dates where you will find dates labelled: Singles welcome. No Single Supplement.

You don’t have to pay more to travel solo as Pandaw offers a comprehensive list of No Single Supplement departure date options in Asia, covering all of Pandaw’s destinations and even including departures in peak months.

Also, Pandaw’s distinct vessel design and famous ‘Pandaw Spirit’ encourage communal camaraderie, meaning solo travellers quickly make new friends and future Pandaw travel companions. 

Luxury small-ship river cruises in Asia

For over 25 years, Pandaw has been the leader in Asian River Cruising. It currently operates 17 beautiful ships exploring amazing countries — India, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

India

In 2019, Pandaw launched three new routes using its small luxury ships in Northern India, covering nearly all of the main waterways: the Lower Ganges River or Hooghly, the Upper Ganges.

The Mekong River Southeast Asia

The mighty Mekong River wends its way through six countries, and a Pandaw cruise allows you to explore remote parts of these countries that the average traveller wouldn’t get to see.

Vietnam and Cambodia

Vietnam and Cambodia are countries brimming with a complex culture and extreme landscapes. Pandaw cruises explore the great towering limestone islands of Halong Bay and sail the Red River. They journey to the majestic, awe-inspiring Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, sailing the Mekong River and Tonle Sap. Cruises navigate the maze of channels floating villages in the Mekong Delta at the southern tip of Vietnam.

Laos River Cruises

Pandaw’s spectacular Laos river cruises allow you to discover the undiscovered as you travel on the Upper Mekong River from Vientiane in Laos to Chiang Khong in Thailand.

Discover where Pandaw sails

To book visit pandaw.com or engage with the Pandaw team through the email [email protected].

Trip.Biz simplifies business travel bookings

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 16 APRIL 2024: Trip.Biz, a rapidly growing digital travel management company under the Trip.com Group banner, unveils its all-new app, which promises to disrupt how businesses handle travel arrangements.

In its introductory press statement, Trip.Biz says it is poised to revolutionise corporate travel management with its easy-to-use technology and extensive offerings while prioritising sustainability.

Trip.Biz’s new innovative app offers a range of benefits with its 24/7 customer support in multiple languages. It empowers users to streamline their processes and ensure a seamless corporate travel experience.

From the booking perspective, the app boasts features like flight and hotel booking, with options to modify, cancel, or request refunds seamlessly. Employees can book point-to-point, roundtrip, or multi-point journeys. The app provides a user-friendly and convenient interface for managing itineraries, enhancing the overall experience for travellers.

On the management side, the app offers powerful approval functions, allowing for personalised approval processes. This means approvals can be managed centrally, even across different countries and cost centres, streamlining the workflow for managers. The flexible approval workflow ensures adaptability to varying organisational structures and requirements.

Alongside the app’s debut, Trip.Biz  unveils its fresh new logo, a striking symbol of its commitment to meeting corporate travel needs. The logo embodies Trip.Biz’s core values: people, technology plus inventory, and sustainability, represented by orange, blue, and green, respectively.

Trip.Biz also offers a massive inventory of offerings, providing an extensive range of content from hotels, flights, car services, and more, giving businesses the power of choice.

Trip.Biz Chief Marketing Officer Violet Zong said: “Trip.Biz empowers users to navigate the complexities of corporate travel with ease. Our commitment to user-centric experience is further echoed in our fresh new logo, symbolising our dedication to meeting the ever-changing needs of modern businesses while upholding our core values.”

Trip.Biz displays international flights to 147 countries. Additionally, its network of business travel hotels spans 230 countries and regions and partners with around 2 million hotels worldwide. Its international ride-hailing services are available in over 60 countries and over 600 cities.

To experience its latest features, download the app, which is now available on IOS and Android.  

About Trip.Biz
Trip.Biz is a digital TMC powered by Trip.com group. Headquartered in Singapore, Trip.Biz is elevating business travel management through human-centric technology, rich inventory and sustainable solutions on one platform. With roots dating back to 2006, Trip.Biz has already garnered the trust of over 15,000 large-scale corporations and more than 980,000 small to medium-sized enterprises in business travel worldwide. Our global customer service POSs cater to clients across different time zones.

Airlines avoid Iran air space

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 16 April 2024: Airlines home-based in the Asia Pacific are rerouting their flights to Europe due to closed airspace in the Middle East following Iran’s recent air raids on Israel.

At the weekend, airlines in the UAE have either cancelled or rerouted flights due to closed or restricted airspace over Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, and Iraq. 

All major Middle Eastern airlines reported rerouting flights, which lengthened journeys to European capitals and North America. They have also cancelled direct flights to Tel Aviv and neighbouring Amman, Jordan.

Qantas rerouted its direct Perth to London service, adding a stop in Singapore, although the return flight from London can still fly nonstop to Perth due to favourable jet streams that reduce fuel burn.

Southeast Asian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Malaysia Airlines and Thai Airways International have rerouted flights to Europe to avoid Iranian airspace, which has lengthened flight time. According to local media reports, “Singapore Airlines has stopped using Iranian airspace as a “’precautionary measure’ amid Middle East tensions and is diverting flights to alternative but longer flight paths, effective 13 April.”

The Israel-Hamas war risks escalating into a wider conflict after Iran launched more than 200 drones and missiles at Israel since Saturday. Iran has vowed retaliation over an Israeli strike on 1 April, which levelled an Iranian diplomatic building in Syria, killing seven members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, including two of its generals.

Lufthansa and its subsidiaries Swiss Air and Austrian Airlines also use alternative flight paths to avoid Iran’s airspace. Lufthansa said it was suspending flights to and from Tehran up to and including Thursday, 18 April. ” a company spokesperson said.

Emirates Airlines, which had cancelled some of its fights and rerouted others due to temporary airspace closures in the region over the weekend, is now resuming scheduled operations to and from Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq.

The situation in the Middle East is fluid, but as of 15 April, several airlines were diverting flights bound for Europe due to airspace closures. Airline passengers are advised to contact their airlines if they are booked on connecting flights from airline hubs in the Middle East, such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.

Airlines that suspended flights to specific regions:

Emirates, Etihad Airways, and flydubai (all UAE-based). Most flights have resumed effective 15 April.
Lufthansa (Germany), Austrian, Swiss International Air Lines.
El Al (Israel).

General diversions reported:
Qantas (Australia)
Kuwait Airways
Lufthansa Group

These airlines diverted flights by using airspace over Saudi Arabia and Egypt instead of the usual paths through Iraq, Iran, or Israel.

Southeast Asian airlines that are diverting flights to avoid Iran air space:
Singapore Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Thai Airways International
Vietnam Airlines

More airlines will likely avoid Iranian airspace in the near future until tensions in the Middle East decrease. 

Here’s why

Safety Concerns: The recent missile strikes and drone attacks raise concerns about potential danger in the region. Airlines prioritise passenger safety and may choose to avoid areas with heightened risk.

Insurance Costs: Insurance companies might raise premiums for flights going through Iranian airspace, making it a less economical option for airlines.
Airspace Closures: Neighbouring countries like Iraq and Jordan might close their airspace again if tensions escalate, forcing airlines to reroute flights anyway.

Air Canada flies to Singapore year-round

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 16 April 2024: Air Canada is flying a direct Vancouver (YVR) – Singapore (SIN) service, the airline’s longest flight, covering a distance of 12,818 km and a flight time of 16 hours and five minutes.

Four weekly flights operate out of Vancouver year-round on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The return flights depart Singapore on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.

A Star Alliance founding airline, Air Canada has codeshare connections with alliance partner Singapore Airlines to offer connecting flights to cities in Southeast Asia, India and Western Australia. 

Air Canada has established Vancouver as its Pacific hub for services to Asia, including Japan, Hong Kong and Bangkok (seasonal flights).

“The reality of directly connecting Singapore, Southeast Asia’s most active economic gateway and financial hub, with British Columbia, Canada’s gateway to the Pacific can mean limitless opportunities. This new direct flight opens fresh opportunities for travel and tourism, business collaboration, and access to global markets that will directly benefit people in Singapore, Southeast Asia, and throughout our province,” said British Columbia Minister of State for Trade Jagrup Brar during the inaugural ceremony on 4 April.

“I am pleased Air Canada has chosen YVR to host the only nonstop flight between Canada and Singapore,” said YVR President and CEO, Tamara Vrooman. “This new route will generate CAD18 million in economic output and support jobs across the sector. We welcome this new service, which will grow tourism, support increased trade, and, importantly, connect families and friends across the Pacific region. The service launch to Singapore speaks to the continued investment Air Canada is making in Vancouver, which benefits our community and the regional economy.”

Schedule: Vancouver-Singapore

The Vancouver-Singapore route is operated with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with 298 seats in a three-class configuration — business premium economy and economy.

Bangkok served by seasonal flights

Meanwhile, the airline serves the Vancouver-Bangkok route with seasonal daily flights from December 2023 to May 2024. Seasonal flights to Bangkok were first introduced in December 2022 with just three weekly frequencies. The airline subsequently increased frequencies to daily from 8 January 2024 to 28 February 2024 and then back to four weekly flights through to mid-May 2024.

First reported by Aviation Week, the airline confirmed last week that it intends to bring forward the launch date for seasonal flights to Bangkok for the winter season of 2024/2025. It will commence three weekly flights on the YVR-BKK route starting 27 October 2024 and will increase to five weekly flights in November 2024, continuing until the end of the winter timetable on 30 April 2025.

Asia flight changes from December 2023 to Oct 2024

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