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Brand refresh for AirAsia MOVE

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 27 February 2024: AirAsia MOVE, formerly airasia Superapp, released the refreshed look of its app icon on the App Store (iOS) and Play Store (Android) on Monday.

The new look comes as AirAsia MOVE enters another phase of its brand refresh and transformation, as was announced in September 2023.

AirAsia MOVE CEO Nadia Omer commented: “The new AirAsia MOVE app icon is the first of many changes designed to elevate and enhance every traveller’s experience. From the app layout to exciting new products, services and unbeatable deals, the new AirAsia MOVE will help you go all the way seamlessly when you travel. For those of you who already have the app on your phones, it would’ve been refreshed & updated to the new look. 

“While the app icon boasts a new appearance and AirAsia MOVE takes the spotlight as our new brand name, we would like to reassure everyone that everything you love, such as booking AirAsia flights & from more airlines, hotels, rides, managing your bookings, or even connecting with fellow travellers via the Chat & Community as well as AskBo functions remain intact.” 

In addition to AirAsia content, MOVE’s ecosystem includes OTA services such as flight bookings from over 700 airlines and 900,000 hotels worldwide, ride-hailing, dining experiences and insurance underpinned by integrated financial services by BigPay. 

Both AirAsia MOVE and BigPay are part of MOVE Digital, the digital arm of Capital A Berhad. 

Dive tourism makes a big splash

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TTR WEEKLY
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MANILA, 27 February 2024: Dive tourism has surfaced at the top of the priority agenda for the Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) as part of its commitment to gear up sustainable tourism development initiatives across the country.

In 2023, dive tourism contributed more than PHP73 billion to the country’s economy, or almost twice the PHP37 billion revenue generated from the industry in 2022.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco emphasised the importance of dive tourism during last week’s Philippine International Dive Expo (PHIDEX) opening ceremony at the World Trade Center Metro Manila.

“As one of the mega biodiverse countries worldwide, we are home to more than 500 species of corals and 2,000 species of fish. Therefore, we take this distinction for the Philippines to heart with a firm commitment to ensure not just the marketability but, more importantly, the sustainability of our dive industry,” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco explained. 

“We can look forward to yielding additional revenue from this industry, reinforcing the Philippine position as the World’s Premier Dive Destination and tourism’s role as now one of the strongest pillars of our economy, providing livelihood and employment for millions of Filipinos.”

In addition to organising the PHIDEX, the DOT introduced various dive festivals and programmes in several regions nationwide to support dive tourism, including the successful inaugural Philippine Tourism Dive Dialogue (PTDD) last September in Cebu.

“We have also expanded our dive tourism offerings to emerging and lesser-known destinations, bringing our total to approximately 120 dive destinations across the Philippines,” Secretary Frasco added.

PHIDEX 2024 delivered networking prospects for dive decision-makers, communities, and individuals through value-added components, including the Dive Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) business-to-business meetings, Dive Conference, and Dive Exhibit featuring the country’s best dive offerings.

Portugal leads the World’s top beaches

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 27 February 2024: Tripadvisor released its Travelers’ Choice® Award for 2024: the Best of the Best Beaches last week with Praia da Falésia in Olhos de Agua, Portugal, topping the global list.

Based on an analysis of all the reviews left on Tripadvisor for beaches globally over one year, the award reveals the beaches that were the highest-rated by people who had visited the beaches recently.

“Last year, Tripadvisor got millions of reviews for beaches – it’s clear that our community loves them. But as our Travelers’ Choice lists reveal, there’s no one-size-fits-all ‘beach day’: Our top 25 winners alone encompass 18 countries across five continents,” Tripadvisor head of editorial Sarah Firshein explained. “The top three beaches are all in Europe, ousting the perennially popular Caribbean from those spots—a sign that some travellers are eager to swap typical resort vacations for the coastlines of Portugal, Italy, and beyond.” 

Though winners span from Sydney to Seychelles to Hawaii, No. 1 in the World for 2024 is Praia da Falésia in Portugal. Set in the heart of the Algarve, the tiny fishing town of Olhos de Agua surrounds a sandy cove lapped by the Atlantic Ocean. This gorgeous stretch of white sand and coloured cliffs was ranked sixth in 2023.

Top 10 Beaches in the World for 2024

Praia da Falésia – Olhos de Agua, Portugal
Good for: Scenic walks, sunbathing.
Best time to visit: Spring is great for more affordable prices and fewer crowds.

Spiaggia dei Conigli – Lampedusa, Italy
Good for: Sea turtle sightings, scuba diving.
Best time to visit: The spring generally has the lowest hotel prices. But in the summer, Lampedusa becomes more accessible via direct flights from mainland cities and ferry service from Sicily.

La Concha Beach – San Sebastian – Donostia, Spain
Good for: People watching on the boardwalk, families.
Best time to visit: The spring generally has the lowest hotel prices. Plus, it beat the summer crowds.

Ka’anapali Beach – Lahaina, Hawaii, US
Good for: Wildlife sightings, water sports.
Best time to visit: It’s always a good time to visit Maui. The most affordable hotel prices are in the fall, but winter brings unbelievable whale watching – even from the beach’s shores.

Grace Bay Beach – Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos
Good for: Sunbathing, walking along the soft white sand.
Best time to visit: Summer brings blue skies, white clouds, shimmering water, and generally the lowest hotel prices from June through August.

Anse Lazio – Praslin Island, Seychelles
Good for: Sunbathing, photography, swimming.
Best time to visit: Between April and May or October and November have calmer, less windy weather.

Manly Beach – Sydney, Australia
Good for: Walking, shopping in the surrounding area.
Best time to visit: Comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds in Sydney come between March and May or September and November — which means better airfare prices, too. But January is another excellent time for those who want to warm up with the masses from winter back home.

Eagle Beach – Palm-Eagle Beach, Aruba, Caribbean
Good for: Sunbathing, jet skiing.
Best time to visit: With its location south of hurricane zones, there is always a good time to visit Aruba, but going in the winter is especially sweet. The showers are usually short, while there is a slightly rainy season from October to January.

Siesta Beach – Siesta Key, Florida, US
Good for: Sunbathing, families.
Best time to visit: Fall is great to visit Siesta Key to snag lower hotel prices and enjoy post-summer sunshine.

Varadero Beach – Varadero, Cuba
Good for: Couples, walking.
Best time to visit: US citizens still need to stay up-to-date on travel policies and jump through a few hoops to visit Cuba, but hotel prices are generally the lowest in the spring.

With 55% of global Tripadvisor users in a survey reporting that helping the environment is important to them*, this year’s award includes a new ranking of Sustainable Beaches, following the introduction of Sustainable Destinations in January. As measured by a combination of inputs from sustainable data partner BeCause (via the Blue Flag program) and Tripadvisor traveller reviews, winners stand out for their commitments to sustainability.

Top 10 Sustainable Beaches in the World

Sandbanks Beach – Poole, United Kingdom.
Radhanagar Beach – Havelock Island, India.
Saundersfoot Beach – Saundersfoot, United Kingdom.
Corniche Beach – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Galissas Beach – Galissas, Greece.
Nissi Beach – Ayia Napa, Cyprus.
Mellieha Beach – Mellieha, Malta.
Myrtos Beach – Kefalonia, Greece.
Playa Blanca – Playa Blanca, Spain.
Camp’s Bay Beach – Cape Town, South Africa.

(Source: Tripadvisor)

Emirates takes veggie farm under its wing

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI UAE, 23 February 2024: Emirates Flight Catering, one of the world’s largest catering operations, has fully acquired Emirates Bustanica, formerly Emirates Crop One, and its consumer brand Bustanica, the world’s largest indoor vertical farm.

This strategic move establishes Emirates Bustanica as a fully UAE-owned company, helping sustain the country’s vision of enhancing food and water security and its agricultural capabilities. The acquisition empowers Emirates Bustanica to leverage its local expertise and the latest tech know-how to meet the market’s growing demands.

Located near Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, Bustanica’s 330,000 sqft facility can grow more than one million kg of quality leafy greens annually, equivalent to three tonnes daily, using 95% less water than conventional agriculture.

Operating under the brand name Bustanica, the produce is available across all major retailers in the UAE, such as Spinney’s, Waitrose, Carrefour, and Choithrams. Customers on Emirates and other airlines enjoy this farm-fresh produce in their salads and meals.

Since its launch in July 2022, Bustanica has become a part of UAE’s dinner table conversations, thanks to its growing range of leafy greens, herbs and microgreens that can and should be eaten straight out of the box – even tap water can contaminate the produce. Bustanica’s produce is grown without pesticides or herbicides and is 100% clean, fresh, and nutrient-rich. Bustanica produces a variety of lettuce, spinach, parsley, and kale.

Bustanica is driven by powerful technology – machine learning, artificial intelligence, and other patented technologies – and a highly specialised in-house team that includes agronomy experts, engineers, horticulturists, and plant scientists.

More recently, Emirates Bustanica was a preferred produce supplier for COP28, a recognition of its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

About Emirates Flight Catering

Operating the largest flight catering facility in the world at Dubai International Airport, Emirates Flight Catering (EKFC) is a global leader in aviation hospitality. EKFC offers a comprehensive range of services, including airline catering, airport dining, private dining and event catering, and food supplies to the HORECA and hospitality industries, complemented by support services such as laundry. Renowned for its commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainability, EKFC consistently delivers exceptional culinary experiences tailored to the discerning tastes of consumers worldwide. With cutting-edge facilities, a dedicated team of culinary experts, and state-of-the-art technology, EKFC continues to set the standard for premium dining across the aviation and wider hospitality industries.

For bookings and flight information, visit www.emirates.com.
For more information on the vertical farm, check out Bustanica 

(Source: Emirates)

Pandaw sails in the premier league

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 23 February 2024: Pandaw has been named a winner in the USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best River Cruise Line worldwide. 

Making it to USA Today’s top 10 of the world’s best river cruises, Pandaw is the only Asian boutique specialist among a stellar cast of some of the largest global operators. 

“We are proud to continue flying the flag for small ship expeditions across Asia and look forward to continuing to provide unique adventures on the waterways of Southeast Asia and India to our loyal travellers,” the Pandaw team said in a statement released on Thursday.

Pandaw gained the fifth ranking in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best River Cruise Line 2024, announced in the US on 16 February following an independent selection process by its editors and readers. 

Introducing the list, USA Today noted that “river cruising has been exploding in popularity in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. You check in, unpack your bag, and let your floating hotel take you on a journey of discovery down some of the world’s great waterways, with experiential guided excursions along the way.

“The 10 river cruise lines have been selected by a panel of cruise industry experts and voted as the best by readers because they offer stellar experiences — both on the ship and off — from comfy staterooms and top-notch cuisine to outings that are expertly led and culturally immersive.”

Pandaw, the only Asian river cruise operator in the top-10 list, was ranked fifth with the following citation:
“Adventurous travellers hop aboard any of Pandaw’s fleet of riverboats to cruise the waterways of Myanmar, India, Borneo, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Pandaw’s 17 boats, handcrafted in brass and teak, offer spacious promenades, observation decks for outdoor viewing, and expansive staterooms where every window can be opened. Local cuisine is prepared from locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.”

Check the full listing at https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-river-cruise-line-2024/ 

To book a river cruise with Pandaw and experience award-winning service and itineraries first-hand, contact pandaw.com or contact [email protected]

Download a brochure: https://www.pandaw.com/brochures?utm_source=pandaw&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=usa-today-winner-feb24 

Trip.com’s results map robust recovery

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TTR WEEKLY
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SHANGHAI, 23 February 2024: Domestic and international businesses continued to recover robustly in the fourth quarter of 2023, Trip.com Group, a leading one-stop travel service provider, reported this week in its unaudited financial results for Q4 and full year of 2023.

Domestic hotel reservations grew by over 130% year over year.

Outbound hotel and air reservations recovered to over 80% of the pre-Covid level for the same period in 2019, compared to a 60% industry recovery in terms of international air passenger volume for the same period.

Total bookings on the company’s global OTA platform increased by over 70% year-over-year.

Financial highlights Q4 

The company delivered strong financial results Q4 of 2023. Net revenue grew by 105% compared to the same period in 2022. 
Net income was RMB1.3 billion (USD189 million).

Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was RMB2.9 billion (USD401 million). The adjusted EBITDA margin was 28%, which improved from 6% for the same period in 2022.

“We are pleased with the strong results achieved across our business segments in the past year,” said Trip.com Group chief executive officer Jane Sun. “The global travel industry has shown remarkable resilience and is poised to sustain its growth trajectory. To capitalise on this trend and unlock new opportunities, we remain committed to investing in technology and product innovation, enhancing customer services, and promoting sustainable travel industry development.”

Jane Sun CEO Trip.com Group

Q4 and full year 2023 business updates

The company’s business has recovered significantly due to the resilient travel demand, leading to a surge in travel bookings and boosting revenue in 2023.

For the fourth quarter of 2023, Trip.com Group reported net revenue of RMB10.3 billion (USD1.5 billion), representing a 105% increase from the same period in 2022, primarily due to the substantial recovery of the travel market. Net revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased by 25% from the previous quarter, primarily due to seasonality.

For the full year of 2023, net revenue was RMB44.5 billion (USD6.3 billion), representing a 122% increase from 2022.

Accommodation reservation revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 was RMB3.9 billion (USD550 million), representing a 131% increase from the same period in 2022, primarily due to the substantial recovery of the travel market. Accommodation reservation revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased by 30% from the previous quarter, primarily due to seasonality.

For the full year of 2023, accommodation reservation revenue was RMB17.3 billion (US$2.4 billion), representing a 133% increase from 2022. The accommodation reservation revenue accounted for 39% of the total revenue during 2023 and 37% in 2022.

Transportation ticketing revenue for Q4 2023 was RMB4.1 billion (USD578 million), representing an 86% increase from the same period in 2022, primarily due to the substantial recovery of the travel market. Transportation ticketing revenue for Q4 2023 decreased by 23% from the previous quarter, primarily due to seasonality.

For the full year of 2023, transportation ticketing revenue was RMB18.4 billion (USD2.6 billion), representing a 123% increase from 2022. The transportation ticketing revenue accounted for 41% of the total revenue both in 2023 and 2022.

Packaged-tour revenue for Q4 2023 was RMB704 million (USD99 million), representing a 329% increase from the same period in 2022. Packaged-tour revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 decreased by 47% from the previous quarter, primarily due to seasonality.

For the full year of 2023, packaged-tour revenue was RMB3.1 billion (US$442 million), representing a 294% increase from 2022. The packaged-tour revenue accounted for 7% of the total revenue in 2023 and 4% in 2022.

Corporate travel revenue for Q4 2023 was RMB634 million (USD89 million), representing a 129% increase from the same period in 2022 and a 7% increase from the previous quarter.

For the full year of 2023, corporate travel revenue was RMB2.3 billion (USD317 million), representing a 109% increase from 2022. Corporate travel revenue accounted for 5% of the total revenue in 2023 and 2022.

Net income for the fourth quarter of 2023 was RMB1.3 billion (USD189 million), compared to RMB2.1 billion for the same period in 2022 and RMB4.6 billion for the previous quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2023 was RMB2.9 billion (USD401 million), compared to RMB286 million for the same period in 2022 and RMB4.6 billion for the previous quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 28% for the fourth quarter of 2023, compared to 6% for the same period in 2022 and 34% for the previous quarter.

For the full year of 2023, net income was RMB10.0 billion (USD1.4 billion), compared to RMB1.4 billion in 2022.

(Source: Trip.com Group Limited)

HK reports positive passenger traffic

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 23 February 2024: Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) released air traffic figures for Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) for January 2024, recording a robust increase in passenger traffic with the highest growth from Southeast Asia, Taiwan and China.

During the month, HKIA handled 4.1 million passengers and 28,755 flight movements, representing year-on-year increases of 100.0% and 77.3%, respectively.

HKIA was named “International Airport of the Year” at the 2023 Sky Choice Travel Awards.

The growth in passenger traffic continued a steady recovery trend, with significant increases in all passenger segments compared to January 2023. The highest growth in passenger traffic was recorded on flights from Southeast Asia, Mainland China and Taiwan.

Cargo throughput maintained its solid momentum in January 2024, registering a year-on-year increase of 31.1% to 377,000 tonnes. The month also saw a substantial year-on-year increase in exports of 44.5%. In January, traffic to and from key trading regions in North America, Europe and the Middle East posted the highest increases.

On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume recorded 41 million, 443.1% higher than the previous comparable period. Flight movements and cargo throughput saw year-on-year surges of 101.9% and 7.9% to 288,620 and 4.4 million tonnes, respectively.

HKIA continues to expand its extensive air network. The airport recently welcomed two new airlines: Ruili Airlines, connecting with Nanning in Mainland China, and Cambodia Angkor Air, connecting with Phnom Penh respectively.

Meanwhile, HKIA was named “International Airport of the Year” at the 2023 Sky Choice Travel Awards organised by CAAC Inflight Magazine, the official inflight publication of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The awards celebrate achievements in the aviation, hotel and travel sectors, commending leaders and forward-thinkers steering post-pandemic economies in industry development, innovation, quality service and customer experience. Winners are determined by online voting, with evaluations by an expert jury panel and the magazine’s editorial team.

AAHK chief operating officer Vivian Cheung said: “We are delighted that HKIA has been named ‘International Airport of the Year’ at the 2023 Sky Choice Travel Awards. As an international aviation hub, we are committed to offering and continuously enhancing the airport facilities and services through innovation and technology.”

(Source: AAHK)

Vietjet signs MOU to buy A330neo widebodies

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 23 February 2024: Vietjet Air has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus to purchase 20 A330-900 wide-body aircraft. 

The aircraft will serve the carrier’s growing long-range network and high-capacity regional services. They will replace the current fleet of leased A330-300s and support network expansion. 

Vietjet chief executive officer Dinh Viet Phuong said: “The new A330neo aircraft is a strategic addition to comprehensively modernise Vietjet’s fleet, enhancing operational capabilities to support our global flight network expansion plan. Its fuel-efficient new-generation design aligns with our sustainable development strategy and ESG goals, aiming for net-zero emissions by 2050. With the introduction of the A330neo, passengers can look forward to longer-range, well-equipped flights with excellent services at more competitive fares.”

Powered by the latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the A330-900 can fly 7,200 nm/13,300 km nonstop. At the end of January 2024, the A330 Family had accumulated 1,771 firm orders from more than 130 customers worldwide.

US Airlines return to Stockholm Arlanda

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 23 February 2024: Flight connectivity between Sweden and North America will substantially increase in mid-April when two new long-haul routes will be added to the existing supply from Stockholm Arlanda airport. 

Both United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are returning and will operate routes from Stockholm Arlanda to Newark and JFK during the summer season of 2024.

The return of the two airlines will raise departures from Stockholm to North America by five flights per day or close to 30 per week. 

The news that United Airlines and Delta Air Lines business and leisure travellers, particularly families, during the summer holiday season. 

During the summer season, Stockholm Arlanda Airport will have direct routes to several hubs in North America. Air Canada, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines will operate routes to Toronto, Montreal and New York several times a week starting on 10 April (Delta Air Lines), 6 June (United Airlines) and 13 June (Air Canada), respectively, in addition to the routes already served by SAS (Toronto and New York).

India’s Vistara launches Points Fest

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TTR WEEKLY
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GURUGRAMม India, 23 February 2024: Vistara’s loyalty programme announced one of its biggest annual campaigns this week – Points Fest 2024 across its bank/hotel point transfer partners. 

The Club Vistara campaign is open through 31 March 2024, offering members and Vistara flyers (post-enrolment) the chance to earn a bonus of up to 100,000 CV points (per transaction per eligible points transfer partner) when transferring bank/hotel reward points to CV points. 

The campaign allows members to earn up to 40% bonus CV points (up to 100,000 CV points per partner and 11,00,000 CV points with all points transfer partners) on eligible bank/hotel reward programmes with a minimum transfer of 5000 CV points. The eligible points transfer partners include American Express, AU Bank, Club ITC, FAB, FI Money, HDFC Bank, HSBC, IndusInd Bank, SBI AURUM, SCB UAE, and Yes Bank.

Vistara’s chief commercial officer, Deepak Rajawat, said: “In the last three years, our annual Points Fest has become a much-anticipated campaign amongst the members of Club Vistara. This year, we are delighted to launch yet another edition of this campaign with bigger customer benefits and rewards. This is our way of expressing gratitude to our loyal customers for their continued support and love over the last nine years.”

With the accumulated CV points, members can enjoy various redemption options, such as award flights and upgrade awards across all Vistara destinations. 

Additionally, participants can win prizes, including a weekly raffle where two lucky winners will receive a Vistara Purple Ticket Gift Card worth INR 5000 each. The top five Club Vistara members with the highest CV points transferred across eligible partners until 31 March 2024 will each receive a Vistara Purple Ticket Gift Card worth INR 10000.

(Source: Vistara)

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