SINGAPORE, 24 June 2024: b0arding.com, a next-generation hotel & vacation rental booking platform in the US, has added 2 million hotels and vacation rental listings to the company’s global portfolio during the first four months of 2024.
The new listings, with more than 3 million rooms supplied by well-known global hotel chains.
“b0arding.com’s progress in 2023 shows our success in capturing the attention of the Generation Z demographic and meeting their demands,” declared b0arding.com CEO Victor Nikonets. “Enabling content through travel and tech leaders Amadeus and Booking.com is invaluable in enhancing our process, and we look forward to rapid growth in the coming months.”
In 2023, b0arding.com soft launched in the US as a booking platform for vacation rentals with a built-in loyalty programme. Since then, the company has partnered with property management software companies such as Guesty and Hostfully.
b0arding.com’s new portfolio of hotels offers operators an ability to reach young travellers by using its loyalty programme model with accessibility to video reviews making it a compelling choice for young travellers.
SINGAPORE 24 June 2024: Everyone loves to move up the ranks in travel loyalty programmes for better rewards, and Princess Cruises has announced a new Captain’s Circle Loyalty Accelerator programme that offers guests double the cruise credits with the purchase of the inclusive Princess Plus and Premier Packages.
Princess guests sailing with a Princess Plus or Premier Package on voyages between 1 August and 1 December 2024 will receive double the cruise credits to fast-track them closer to their next loyalty tier.
Photo credit: Princess Cruises.
The Captain’s Circle programme features four levels:
Gold: After the first cruise, it includes early booking offers, a members-only onboard event, and access to the onboard Circle Host.
Ruby: With three cruises or 30 cruise days, everything in Gold plus exclusive access to the Captain’s Circle help desk and Princess Platinum Vacation Protection upgrade.
Platinum: With five cruises or 50 cruise days, everything in Ruby plus 50% off MedallionNet Packages, 10% off Lotus Spa treatments, and access to Platinum and Elite Lounge.
Elite: With 15 cruises or 150 cruise days, everything in Platinum plus 10% off at the Shops of Princess, 10% off-shore excursions, priority boarding for ship-to-shore tender service, stateroom mini-bar setup, Grapevine Wine Tasting event, complimentary canapes on formal nights, afternoon tea in the stateroom, laundry and shoe polish services, and priority disembarkation.
Guests booking Princess Plus or Princess Premier add popular amenities like WiFi, beverages, speciality dining, desserts, fitness classes, crew gratuities and more at an even greater savings of up to 65% when the inclusive package amenities are purchased separately.
MANILA, 24 June 2024: The Philippines’ tourism industry has cemented its vital role as a pillar of growth and economic recovery post-pandemic, recording 6.21 million employment for Filipinos in 2023.
It’s an exponential increase, nearing its 6.3 million target employment in tourism for 2028 or almost four years ahead, as cited on the approved National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023-2028.
This was based on the Philippine Tourism Satellite Accounts (PTSA) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which were released last week.
Specifically, employment in tourism-related industries grew by 6.4%, from 5.84 million in 2022 to 6.21 million in 2023. The percentage share of employment in tourism industries in the country’s total employment last year was also recorded at 12.9%.
Similarly, tourism posted its highest growth based on the report, with an 8.6% share of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). The Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) amounted to PHP2.09 trillion in 2023, the highest since the PSA began compiling the data in 2000. The figures are higher by 47.9% compared with the PHP1.41 trillion TDGVA in 2022, when it recorded a 6.4% contribution to the GDP.
The TDGVA refers to the gross value added by tourism industries and other industries of the economy that directly serve visitors.
Meanwhile, based on the PTSA report, domestic tourism expenditure also grew by 72.3% from PNP1.55 trillion in 2022 to PNP2.67 trillion in 2023.
Among forms of tourism expenditures, inbound tourism expenditure, which refers to the expenditure of non-resident visitors within the Philippines, such as foreign visitors and Filipinos permanently residing abroad, posted a whopping PNP697.46 billion in 2023, the highest to date registering an 87.7% growth from 371.58 billion recorded in 2022, also higher than the PNP600.01 billion in 2019.
Meanwhile, outbound tourism expenditure posted a 10% \growth rate, from PNP189.29 billion in 2022 to PNP208.25 billion in 2023. Internal tourism expenditure, comprising inbound and domestic tourism expenditure, grew by 75.3%, from PNP1.92 trillion in 2022 to PNP3.36 trillion in 2023.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco noted that the new initiatives as well as the continuing yet innovative approaches done by the DOT more than two years since the new administration took office were effective not only in terms of enticing tourists by promotion, but more importantly, making the overall tourism experience worthy of an investment.
These include the flagship projects that were introduced to the public for the first time, such as the establishment of the Tourist Rest Area (TRA) across strategic locations, the launch of the Philippine Experience Programme (PEP) primarily to highlight emerging destinations and offerings, and the opening of the Tourist Assistance Call Center to accommodate all travel-related concerns, and the Tourism Champions Challenge to foster countrywide development of sustainable and resilient tourism infrastructure, among others.
It was also under Secretary Frasco’s helm that the DOT became very proactive in terms of equalizing tourism offerings from gastronomy, dive, film, golf, history, culture, and heritage to medical, as well as the English as a Second Language (ESL) programme.
SINGAPORE, 24 June 2024: Boosting its network, Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, launches flights to eight destinations this June, taking its operating routes this summer to 76.
Etihad adds summer routes to Antalya, Nice, and Santorini. It returns to Malaga and Mykonos and launches year-round flights to Al Qassim, Bali and Jaipur.
Etihad Chief Executive Officer Antonoaldo Neves said: “It is an exciting month for Etihad as we deliver on our plans to expand our network with eight additional locations. We are launching flights to three important places — Bali, Jaipur and Al Qassim. “At the same time, we’ve commenced operations to new seasonal destinations and returned to popular summer hotspots.”
This Eid holiday, Etihad began operating directly to summer destinations, including Nice on the French Riviera and Antalya on the Turkish Riviera, as well as returning to the Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini. Earlier in June, Etihad relaunched its services to the popular Spanish holiday resort of Málaga during the peak summer season months.
Etihad has also launched services directly in Jaipur, India, known as the pink city and a major tourist hotspot in Rajasthan State. This marks Etihad’s 11th gateway to India.
Today, Monday, 24 June, Etihad launches a new service to Al Qassim, marking the fourth destination for Etihad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Al Qassim is revered for its rich culture, lively markets, and luscious date palm groves. On 25 June, Etihad will launch its very first flight to Bali, Indonesia, offering four weekly flights.
KUALA LUMPUR, 24 June 2024: AirAsia will resume direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Sihanoukville, a southern coastal city in Cambodia, on 3 July, ending a four-year pause caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
First reported by Khmer Times last Thursday, quoting a statement issued by the group’s startup AirAsia Cambodia, AirAsia (AK), based in Kuala Lumpur, will start three weekly direct flights on 3 July, every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Khmer Times quoted the Civil Aviation Under-Secretary of State and Spokesman for the Secretariat of State Sin Chansereyvutha, saying “the airline had already flown the Kuala Lumpur-Sihanoukville flight route, but flight service was shut down due to the outbreak of Covid-19.”
“Now the economic situation seems to be improving, which is the reason the airline decided to resume its flight service,” Chansereyvutha told Khmer Times.
AirAsia will deploy an A320 with 180 seats for the nonstop flights. The flight time is one hour and 50 minutes.
Flight AK264 will depart Kuala Lumpur at 1210 and arrive in Sihanoukville (KOS) at 1300. Flight AK265 will depart Sihanoukville at 1330 and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 1620.
A Google Flights check shows the starting roundtrip fare is pegged at USD124 ex-Kuala Lumpur and USD128 return ex-Sihanoukville. Fare analysts suggest the average roundtrip fare during July will be USD99, rising to USD110 in August and eventually USD137 by December.
AirAsia Cambodia (flight code KT) started daily operations between three destinations, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville, on 2 May 2024, using two A320 aircraft based at Phnom Penh International Airport. Since then, AirAsia has increased frequencies to four daily flights between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and four daily flights between Sihanoukville and Siem Reap.
AirAsia’s international network links Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, and Sihanoukville to over 130 destinations across Asia and beyond, such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia, via the airline group’s hubs in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Bangkok, Thailand.
BANGKOK, 24 June 2024: Visits to Spain during 2023 surpassed the pre-Covid 2019 benchmark by 1.9%, as tourist arrivals reached 85,056,228, Spain Tourism reported during a recent travel agents’ product update hosted in Bangkok.
In the Thai outbound travel market, visits to Spain reached 47,000 in 2023 and are still climbing, mostly due to itineraries sold by travel agents despite rising airfares. There is also a lack of direct flights between Bangkok and Spain’s two leading gateway cities — Madrid and Barcelona.
Spain Tourism board director Marta Fernandez Martin. Photo credit: https://asianjourneys.com.sg.
Iberojet, a low-cost airline headquartered in Madrid, introduced a direct Madrid-Bangkok weekly flight (every Thursday) in late May. However, that caters exclusively to Spanish tourists heading for a holiday in Thailand. The airline says it will continue the weekly direct flight during the winter timetable from November 2024 to March 2025. It will be interesting to see if the airline can pick up local bookings in the Thai outbound travel market.
The recent Spain Tourism Product Update, attended by around 80 travel agents based in Bangkok, was hosted by Spain Tourism board director Marta Fernandez Martin, who leads the Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand marketing team. Turkish Airlines joined the event as the supporting airline. It offers direct flights twice daily from Bangkok to its hub city, Istanbul. Travellers from Thailand can then connect with three daily flights from Istanbul to Barcelona and Madrid.
View of the famous Alhambra, Granada, Spain.
Martin told TTR Weekly that her marketing team is lobbying Thai Airways International to consider introducing direct flights to Madrid or Barcelona.
“We need direct flights from Bangkok to Spain, either Barcelona or Madrid, to boost summer season family travel… It would make a big difference and encourage more independent travellers who stay around two weeks in Spain and explore beyond the two gateway cities. Spain is trending in 2024… Looking forward, we can expect more Thai families to visit Spain during the annual summer school holidays 2025 (April to May school and university holidays).
Thai Airways International dropped its Bangkok-Madrid direct flights in January 2015 after flying the route since the late 1988. If the airline did return to Spain, it would most likely opt for three weekly flights to Barcelona initially on a seasonal basis, starting in April and continuing through the summer timetable to the end of October.
Martin concedes airfares on routes to Spain have been higher since the Covid-19 pandemic due to rising fuel costs. “It’s the main expense for long-haul travel…We are just hoping they will come down or level off.”
Since there is only one weekly direct flight between Bangkok and Spain, travellers will need to connect through another city in the Middle East or Europe, which will add significant travel time (potentially over 15 hours).
She also recognises that some of Spain’s most popular destinations, notably Barcelona, are introducing a city tourism tax, which increases the cost of travel for families. However, this tax is not applicable to all cities and regions in Spain.
Sometimes called an eco-tax or city tax, the tax is in place in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and Valencia. Rates and regulations vary by location, but visitors pay the nightly fee when checking out of their hotel. Barcelona increased the tax to EUR3.45 per person per night in April 2024.
“The tourist tax is not a national tax. It is only paid in cities that approve it, such as Barcelona, where it is used to balance the carbon footprint and improve the environment. We promote 17 regions in Spain in Southeast Asian markets, many of which have not introduced a tourism tax.”
However, more Spanish cities and regions will likely implement a tourist tax because it helps generate revenue for maintaining tourist infrastructure, promoting sustainable tourism practices and supporting local initiatives.
The biggest expenditure for travellers visiting Spain remains the airfare, which has risen considerably since the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
But there are still some roundtrip fares below USD1000 for summer travel to Spain from Bangkok to Barcelona with a plane change in either Europe or the Middle East. See the best fare deals for July travel on Google Flights.
First-time visitor to Spain: Where to go?
Spain is a country rich in culture, history, and natural beauty. Here are some of the top destinations for first-time visitors:
Barcelona: This vibrant city is home to some of Gaudí’s most famous works, including the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. You can also explore the Gothic Quarter, stroll down Las Ramblas, and relax on the beach.
Madrid: The capital of Spain is a great place to experience Spanish culture. Visit the Royal Palace, the Prado Museum, and the Reina Sofía Museum. Take a walk through the Buen Retiro Park, and enjoy the tapas scene in La Latina neighbourhood.
Granada: This Andalusian city is famous for the Alhambra, a stunning Moorish palace complex. You can also explore the Albaicín neighbourhood, the Sacromonte caves, and the flamenco scene.
Seville: The capital of Andalusia is known for its flamenco shows, tapas bars, and beautiful architecture. Visit the Seville Cathedral, the Alcázar Palace, and the Plaza de España.
San Sebastián: This Basque city is famous for its beautiful beaches, delicious food, and relaxed atmosphere. You can also explore the Parte Vieja (Old Town), hike up Monte Igueldo for stunning views, and visit the San Telmo Museum.
Top three Spanish regions for hotel bookings
Based on the latest information from Spain Tourism, the three Spanish regions that account for 50% of all hotel bookings so far in 2024 are Andalusia (+22.9%), Catalonia (+19.8%), and the Balearics (+25.8%).
MUMBAI, 21 June 2024: The ITB India 2024 Conference will gather travel industry professionals from 11 to 13 September 2024 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India.
Trade visitors can register now and enjoy Super Early Bird rates until 2 August. For more information, visit itb-india.com/visit-register.
Under this year’s theme, “Future-Ready Travel: Embracing Innovation, Sustainability, and Global Connectivity”, thought leaders and experts from the MICE, Corporate, Leisure and Travel Technology sectors will provide in-depth perspectives on trends, challenges, and the future of the fast-growing Indian and South Asian travel market across three conference tracks.
India’s growing outbound and domestic travel
India’s travel industry is on a remarkable growth trajectory, with total travel expenditure set to reach USD410 billion by 2030[1] and outbound travel expected to surpass 80 million travellers by 2040[2]. This growth in demand has reignited the industry’s focus on targeting travellers from this dynamic region. The conference agenda promises to guide the global travel industry on current travel expectations and future trends, focusing on Indian and South Asian outbound and domestic travel.
The second in-person edition of the ITB India Conference will cover a wide range of topics, including adapting to changing contexts, emerging trends, and evolving consumer expectations, MICE tourism in South Asia in 2025, digital transformation in corporate travel, travel in the age of ChatGPT, the impact of smart technology on the hospitality industry, outlook and trends in the travel industry, as well as the interface between technology and the future of tourism.
Among the local and international heavyweights who have confirmed their attendance are Krishna Rathi, Senior Country Director – India Sub Continent & Maldives, Agoda; Harshad Donde, Country Director, India, BCD Meetings & Events; Atul Jain, Chief Operating Officer, BWH Hotels – India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka; Santosh Kumar, Country Head – Indian sub-continent & Indonesia, Booking.com; Prahlad Krishnamurthi, Chief Business Officer, Cleartrip; Kiran Bhandari, Director, India Office – Dubai Business Events, Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism; Darshana Shirodkar, Senior Director, Lodging Market Management – Southeast Asia and Indian Subcontinent, Expedia Group; Jude D’Souza, Meeting & Events Leader, India, FCM Meetings & Events; Vikram Cotah, Chief Executive Officer, GRT Hotels & Resorts; Neelu Singh, Senior Vice President APAC & Regional Lead Strategic Accounts, HRS Group; Mufaddal Dahodwala, Managing Partner, ICE India; Amaresh Tiwari, Vice Chairman, India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB); Indiver Rastogi, President & Group Head – Global Business Travel, Thomas Cook India Limited; Neil Patil, Founder & Director, Veena World; and Sunila Patil, Founder & Director, Veena World.
Three conference tracks set the stage for valuable insights: Knowledge Theatre, MICE Show India and Travel Tech India.
Knowledge Theatre, ITB India’s premier conference track, will host C-suite leaders and renowned industry experts who will share their strategic insights on travel outlook, present real-world case studies and provide views on the key considerations of today’s travellers. Attendees can look forward to learning about the latest trends and strategies shaping the future of travel, as well as the challenges and opportunities in different segments of the travel industry – from leisure to adventure, from luxury to budget.
MICE Show India will set the focus on MICE & Corporate Travel, where leading MICE and corporate travel executives from convention and venue bureaus, meeting planners, event organisers, MICE technology, travel managers and travel management companies deliver insights into the transformative innovations that are reshaping the MICE and corporate travel industry in various conference sessions. As this year’s Knowledge Partner, the Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA) will curate sessions for the MICE audience. They will also look at the pressing issues and challenges currently facing the industry and the opportunities that lie ahead for the vibrant industry in India and South Asia.
Travel Tech India will give valuable insights to digital travel leaders. Leading travel tech experts and innovators will share their views on the impact of cutting-edge technology on enhancing the customer experience in the travel industry. Attendees can expect to hear from visionary speakers who will share their perspectives on the future of travel technology and gain insight into the unique challenges and opportunities in the travel technology landscape.
Special rates are available for exhibitors: ITB India 2024 offers an Early Bird promotion: By registering before 15 July, exhibitors will receive discounted rates on booth registration and gain access to the show floor, conferences, pre-scheduled meeting slots with buyers.
For more information and exhibitor registration details, please visit itb-india.com/exhibiting. Trade visitors can register now and enjoy Super Early Bird rates until 2 August.
SINGAPORE, 21 June 2024:With the summer travel season quickly approaching for many destinations, WorldHotels’ loyalty programme – WorldHotels Rewards (WHR) – is giving members the opportunity to earn up to 20,000* points when staying at one of the brand’s acclaimed independent hotels and resorts.
Through 2 September 2024, WHRmembers can earn 10,000 points when staying three nights (which do not need to be consecutive) at participating properties, with a limit of 20,000 points over six nights. WHR members must register for the offer before their first eligible stay, either online at worldhotels.com/10k-pointsor directly at participating hotels.
Photo credit: WorldHotels.
“We encourage our WorldHotels Rewards members to take that once-in-a-lifetime trip this season at one of our unique and immersive properties in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations,” said President of International Operations and WorldHotels. Ron Pohl.
“This promotion allows our loyal rewards members to earn even more points during their travels through 2 September, bringing them closer to their next trip.”
WorldHotels includes the Luxury, Elite, Crafted and Distinctive collections. Each is carefully curated and features some of the finest independent hotels and resorts worldwide. With a collection of properties in more than 170 iconic destinations worldwide, WorldHotels offers travellers the opportunity for exciting discoveries in the most unexpected places. WorldHotels provides guests with unparalleled upscale and luxury experiences worldwide, whether it is enjoying a stay at Ness Walk among the majestic Scottish Highlands or savouring the sunshine at luxury-crafted resorts in Asia
*Earn 10,000 points after completing any three nights – with a maximum of 20,000 bonus points.
About WorldHotels WorldHotels is a privately held hotel soft brand within the BWH Hotels global enterprise. Founded by independent hoteliers dedicated to the art of hospitality, WorldHotels offers one of the finest portfolios of independent hotels and resorts around the globe, expertly curated to inspire unique, life-enriching experiences that connect people and places. WorldHotels is comprised of four unique collections, each with its own personality and style to appeal to the needs of today’s traveller. The collections include WorldHotels™ Luxury, WorldHotels™ Elite, WorldHotels™ Crafted and WorldHotels™ Distinctive.
MELBOURNE, 21 June 2024: Thousands of Lions and Leos descended on Melbourne on Friday for the Lions International Convention 2024 (LIC2024) hosted in Melbourne from 21 to 25 June.
The city welcomes over 10,500 Lions members and participants for the mega event held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).
Photo credit: Melbourne Convention Bureau.
The convention is expected to contribute AUD68 million to the local economy and drive hotel occupancy during the typical low-season period.
Melbourne Convention Bureau Chief Executive Officer Julia Swanson said the Lions International Convention will be one of the most significant global business events for the year, a testament to the impact of Lions International.
“Preparations for this event have been underway for several years, and we are confident that our top-tier facilities, exceptional event infrastructure, and city-wide cooperation will guarantee an unforgettable experience for all attendees.”
Festivities kick-off with The Parade of Nations on Saturday, 22 June 2024, when thousands of Lions members from every corner of the globe will gather along the Kings Domain Gardens in a street parade to honour a year of service and showcase the rich tapestry of their diverse cultures and talents.
The Melbourne Convention Bureau led the bid to host the event for the first time in Melbourne, with support from the Victorian State Government. This is only the third time the event has been held in an Australian city in 33 years.
SINGAPORE, 21 June 2024: Agoda, a leading digital travel platform, and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have reaffirmed their commitment to promoting Singapore as a top travel destination in Southeast Asia.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) earlier this week marks the renewal of their partnership, which will be instrumental in driving travel to Singapore through Agoda’s innovative digital marketing strategies and its extensive partner networks.
The agreement renewal was signed on 18 June in the presence of Agoda CEO Omri Morgenshtern and STB CEO Melissa Ow.
This latest agreement involves a year-long commitment to spotlight Singapore brands and attractions, leveraging Agoda’s expertise in online travel and its partner networks.
“This renewed partnership with STB is a testament to our shared vision of showcasing Singapore to the world through innovative means. As a Singapore-headquartered company, Agoda is thrilled to leverage our digital marketing expertise and global platform to bring new and returning visitors to Singapore, ensuring they see the world for less while experiencing more,” stated Agoda.CEO Omri Morgenshtern
The strategic partnership aims to amplify the travel experience in Singapore by introducing travellers to the city’s diverse experiences. Agoda and STB established the partnership in 2022 by offering a variety of accommodation options at discount prices.
In the first phase of the new partnership, some of Singapore’s local brands and attractions, such as Bee Cheng Hiang, Gardens by the Bay, Jewel Changi Airport, PAZZION, and Sentosa Development Corporation, will offer exclusive perks and discounts on the Agoda platform. STB and Agoda will also roll out co-branded marketing campaigns and targeted digital campaigns to pique visitors’ curiosity.
