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BWH extends its Middle East footprint

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TTR WEEKLY
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SYDNEY, 30 May 2024: BWH Hotels announces plans to significantly expand its portfolio in the Middle East in 2024 and beyond. 

On the heels of a successful appearance at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, which saw BWH execute signings of brand-new management deals in Saudi Arabia, BWH will soon bring eight new hotels and one new branded residence in the region into its portfolio of brands, with other development prospects in the works. 

BWH execute signings of brand-new management deals in Saudi Arabia.

BWH is demonstrating its commitment to growth in the Middle East with these new signings and associated management agreements. The new additions will feature its “core” brands and several boutique and extended stay brands. The new hotel signings include:

o   Best Western® at Taysir Hotel Makkah (150 rooms)

o   Best Western Plus® at Taysir Hotel Makkah (150 rooms)

o   Best Western Premier® at Taysir Hotel Makkah (150 rooms)

o   BW Signature Collection® Jeddah (48 rooms)

o   Best Western Makarim Palace Rabigh (91 rooms)

o   Shades, Aiden® by Best Western (120 rooms)

o   Executive Residency by Best Western®, Al Shafa Hotel Jeddah (200 rooms)

o   Best Western Kindah Hotel Makkah (420 rooms)

o   Best Western Plus Madinah Hotel (560 rooms)

The Executive Residency by Best Western, Al Shafa Hotel Jeddah, the Best Western Kindah Hotel Makkah, and the Best Western Plus Madinah Hotel reflect significant milestones for the brand as they will be directly managed by BWH. 

“As tourism continues to gain momentum in this region, our team is taking notice,” said BWH Vice President of International Operations EMEA Wytze Van den Berg. “It is important for us to grow all aspects of the brand across chain scales, from value-driven offerings and boutique options to WorldHotels’ upper upscale selections. These announcements are also exciting as BWH Hotels is pleased to be directly managing three of these properties, the first of many to come for the brand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is an exciting time of growth in the region, and we are positioning our brand as an important driver in its hospitality expansion.”

Several signings occurred at Media One Hotel in Dubai, part of the WorldHotelsTM Crafted collection. Situated in dynamic Media City, Media One Hotel Dubai has joined the WorldHotels Crafted collection, highlighting the property’s modern and eclectic design. WorldHotels Crafted properties go beyond the ordinary, curating personalised experiences in a creative, fun, and immersive way, making Media One Hotel Dubai an ideal fit for this unique collection. This edgy and stylish property appeals to business and leisure travellers and represents the first WorldHotels Crafted property in the Middle East.

For more information on WorldHotels visit: https://www.worldhotels.com/content/luxury-hotels/en_US.html 
For more information on BWH Hotel Group visit: https://www.bwhhotels.com/content/bwh-hotels/en_US.html

About BWH Hotel Group
BWH Hotels is a leading, global hospitality enterprise comprised of three hotel companies, including WorldHotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts and SureStay Hotels. The global enterprise boasts approximately 4,300 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide*. With 19 brands across every chain scale segment, from economy to luxury, BWH Hotels suits the needs of developers and guests in every market.

(SOURCE: BWH)

Summer deals with My Emirates Pass

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 30 May 2024: Emirates is bringing back its popular My Emirates Pass, valid until 30 September 2024, to ensure customers have the summer of a lifetime in Dubai via a range of exclusive offers.

My Emirates Pass allows Emirates passengers flying to, through or back to Dubai to use their boarding pass to unlock hundreds of deals and discounts at retail, leisure and dining outlets, as well as famous attractions and luxury spas across the Dubai and the UAE. From adrenaline fuelled adventures to unmissable shopping opportunities, there is something for everyone.

It couldn’t be easier for passengers to make the most of these exclusive offers. Simply present a physical or digital boarding pass and a valid form of identification at participating venues to access the deals and discounts.

If you checked in online and downloaded your mobile boarding pass to the Emirates App or Wallet, remember to screenshot it to present at participating venues as it will disappear from your apps once you’ve landed.

To enjoy summer in Dubai for less, see all My Emirates Pass offers by visiting www.emirates.com/myemiratespass.

Emirates currently operates 35 weekly flights from Bangkok to Dubai and 14 from Phuket to Dubai. 

For more information, visit emirates.com/th. Tickets can be purchased at emirates.com/th, through the Emirates Sales Office, or through online travel agents.

*Full terms and conditions can be found here: https://www.emirates.com/english/special-offers/four-experiences-to-remember-terms-and-conditions/

Airline bookings to Europe soar

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 30 May 2024: Summer travel to Europe is heading for a robust recovery as airline bookings surge, according to intelligence provider ForwardKeys.

In its latest market research released this week, ForwardKeys predicts a total return to pre-pandemic travel levels, but with notable shifts in traveller preferences.

ForwardKeys Director of Intelligence and Marketing Olivier Ponti commented: “Overall, the picture is positive for destinations worldwide looking to attract lucrative European tourism over the coming years. With the disruption to demand and bookings caused by the Covid-19 pandemic now firmly in the past, the 2024 summer season looks likely to set a new benchmark for European travel both within the region and beyond.” 

London Most Searched Destination Amidst Paris Olympics Buzz

An analysis of flight searches from January to April 2024 shows London (5% share of flight searches for travel to Europe) benefits from the greatest relative increase in the share of searches for travel in summer 2024 (+1.9 percentage points), driven by the collateral excitement of the Paris Olympics, with readily available transport links to the French capital. 

Paris shows similar popularity (+0.5 percentage points increase), although its share of searches is slightly lower as many visitors to the Games will have planned direct travel further in advance. Istanbul (+0.4 p.p.), Rome (+0.7 p.p.) and Milan (+0.7 p.p.) gain in relative popularity while destinations in Spain, Greece and Portugal (including Athens, Lisbon, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca) lose ground after enjoying great demand in the post-Covid years reflecting shifting preferences among European travellers.

However, some destinations are bucking this trend, including Tenerife (+0.41 p.p.) and Izmir (+0.25 p.p.), witnessing the largest surge in interest among mid-tier destinations. A growing interest in Northern European cities Reykjavik (+0.21pp) and Munich (+0.15pp) reflects the popularity of destinations with cooler summer temperatures among holidaymakers. In Eastern Europe, Tirana (+0.07pp), continues to grow in popularity, building on success in recent years, and is joined by Yerevan (+0.03pp) and Tbilisi (+0.09pp) – popular among both European and Russian tourists due to the combination of natural and cultural heritage available and affordable prices. 

Analysis of forward ticketing data for travel to European city destinations in July and August 2024 reveals a shift in consumer preferences towards nature (+19%) and urban (+14%) destinations over traditional sun and beach destinations (+8%). This is reflected at a subregional level as year-on-year growth in international arrivals to Central/Eastern Europe (+25%), Western Europe (+15%), and Northern Europe (+13%) outstrips that to destinations in Southern Europe (+11%).

European Outbound Travellers Focus on Asian Destinations

Outbound travel from Europe also displays clear trends, with year-on-year growth in intra-European (+14%) and long-haul travel to a diverse range of Asian markets (+16%). Forward ticket data for July and August indicates that European travellers are increasingly choosing to venture further afield to explore the landscapes and cultures of Beijing (+132%) in particular, as well as Osaka (+66%), Bangkok (+21%), Colombo (+21%), and Kuala Lumpur (+14%). These destinations benefit from various factors, including improved connectivity, visa waivers for Europeans entering China, and the favourable Euro to Yen exchange rate. Moderate growth in demand for US markets, such as Chicago (+14%) and Miami (+9%), is also notable.

Airlines declare strong April traffic

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 30 May 2024: April delivered strong demand for international passenger travel, with both business and leisure markets continuing to enjoy robust growth according to preliminary traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines this week.

Overall, 28 million international passengers flew with the region’s carriers in April, representing a 32% increase compared to the same month last year. Traffic averaged 87.3% of 2019 volumes. Demand in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) rose by 33.7% year-on-year, showing growth notably on longer haul routes. Available seat capacity grew by 30.4%, leading to a 2.1 percentage point increase in the average international passenger load factor to 81.6%.

Higher demand for consumer and intermediate goods contributed to the ongoing positive momentum in air cargo markets. For the region’s carriers, international air cargo demand, as measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), recorded a 13.7% year-on-year growth in April, while offered freight capacity expanded by 14.4%. This led to a marginal 0.4 percentage point decline in the average international freight load factor to 59.9%.

Commenting on the results, AAPA Director General Subhas Menon said: “Improving economic sentiment, coupled with high demand on major routes connecting Asia and other regions, including Europe and Southwest Pacific, drove growth in long haul travel markets, while travel demand within the region remained buoyant, underpinned by the easing of visa policies and resilient expansion in the region’s economies. Overall, the number of international passengers carried rose by 51% to 117 million for the year’s first four months.”

Menon added: “During the same period, Asia Pacific airlines also posted an encouraging 15% year-on-year increase in air cargo traffic volumes, with the pick-up in global demand supporting export activity from major manufacturing hubs located in the region, in particular, China.”

Looking to the future, he expressed optimism that positive business and consumer confidence levels were likely to fuel further growth in air passenger and cargo markets in the coming months. However, he also acknowledged the challenges linked to supply chain constraints and higher operating costs. 

Geopolitical tensions were also identified as a potential threat to the industry’s outlook. In response, the region’s carriers are committed to improving operational efficiency, maintaining safety standards, and pursuing sustainable growth.

Air India will improve inflight medical responses

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TTR WEEKLY
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GURUGRAM India, 30 May 2024: Air India has announced a partnership with MedAire, a premier aviation medical support provider, to ensure emergency healthcare services to its passengers and crew on board its flights.

The initiative sets a benchmark in the Indian aviation sector, making Air India the first airline in India to integrate MedAire’s advanced medical assistance across its entire fleet.

Air India adds more flights from its  Mumbai hub in June

MedAire, through its app Medlink, will provide round-the-clock access to a team of on-duty emergency physicians with aviation expertise for consultation in the event of an inflight medical situation. The medical team will assist in assessing the medical situation and recommend the course of care. With Air India enhancing its nonstop connectivity to long-haul international destinations, this collaboration underscores the airline’s commitment towards passenger and crew safety.

Flights from Mumbai

Meanwhile Air India starts flying to Jammu 15 June and to Srinagar on on 16 June from its hub in Mumbai. The additional domestic flights from Mumbai will follow the introduction of the new A350-900 aircraft on the busy Mumbai-Dubai route, effective 1 June.

Air India’s A350-900.

Masala Wedding Fair ready to entertain

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 30 May 2024: Thailand’s Indian wedding exhibition, the Masala Wedding Fair, is back for its 11th Edition, promising to be the biggest and best so far. 

The two-day fair will take place on Saturday, 22 June, and Sunday, 23 June, at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park. It will bring together all the key stakeholders from the Indian wedding industry under one roof. 

This not-to-be-missed event will showcase a record turnout of exhibitors, with over 105 booths featuring the finest in ready-to-wear and couture fashion, high-end jewellery, Indian cuisine, and innovative beverages. 

For decades, the Indian wedding industry has contributed significantly to Thailand’s economy of Thailand and the recent visa-free entry concession that is likely to become permanent later this year will further boost the value of the Indian wedding market, expanding travel spend and also the revenue earned from hosting Indian weddings offshore here in Thailand. 

The Masala Wedding Fair’s 11th Edition is a one-stop-shop for anyone planning to attend Indian celebrations of all kinds. It also allows guests to peek behind the veil of what Indian weddings and events are all about. 

For several years, the Masala Wedding Fair has been held at the Thai Chitlada Grand Ballroom at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park. Over the two-day event, the 2024 edition is likely to attract over 5,000 wedding and travel content buyers, key opinion leaders, influencers, community members, and both local and foreign media. 

Key Information

Date: 22 and 23 June 2024
Location: Thai Chitlada Grand Ballroom at Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, 199 Sukhumvit Soi 22, Khlong Tan, Khlong Toey, Bangkok, 10110
Open 1100 to 2000
Admission free

Air Premia inks interline accord with KAL

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TTR WEEKLY
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SEOUL, South Korea, 30 May 2024: Hybrid airline Air Premia has signed an interline agreement with Korean Air and will begin selling connecting tickets for flights departing from the Americas, the airline’s CEO Yoo Myung-sub, Moon Bo-kook confirmed earlier this week.

Through this interline agreement, Air Premia passengers departing from the Americas (New York, LA, San Francisco) can purchase a single ticket combining Korean Air flights from Seoul to destinations in Southeast or Northeast Asia. 

Air Premia’s flights departing from New York can connect its passengers to eight routes of Korean Air beyond Seoul Incheon to Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Bangkok.

Passengers departing from Los Angeles can connect with flights (using a single ticket) to Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, and Singapore via Seoul Incheon and San Francisco hubs.

Meanwhile, Air Premia plans to complete an interline agreement with Alaska Airlines, the fifth-largest airline in the US, by the end of June. Once the agreement is concluded, interline tickets will apply to  110 US domestic routes with transfer flights to six Central and South American countries, including Mexico and Costa Rica.

About Air Premia
Air Premia is a long-haul specialised airline based in South Korea. It commenced its first international flights in July 2022. It flies to destinations such as Los Angeles, New York, Bangkok, and Narita, Tokyo, Japan. It operates long-haul routes that low-cost carriers (LCCs) typically do not cover. Starting on 17 May, Air Premia also began flights to San Francisco in the US.

( SOURCE: Air Premia)

TG refits A320s with a business-class

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 30 May 2024: Airbus has reached an agreement with Thai Airways International to retrofit its fleet of 20 A320ceo aircraft with reclining business class seats.

It marks Airbus’ first-ever cabin retrofit for a single-aisle fleet in the Asia-Pacific region. The initiative also aligns with THAI’s commitment to improve passenger comfort after it integrated its former subsidiary, Thai Smile Airways, into the parent company in January 2024.

As part of this agreement, Airbus Services will supervise the installation of 12 business class seats on each A320ceo. These seats, with a backrest that reclines up to eight inches, will provide passengers with a more comfortable sitting position, enhancing their travel experience. The retrofitting project is scheduled to kick off by the end of the year.

Upon completion, the A320s will feature a two-class configuration comprising 12 business class and 144 economy seats, delivering an enhanced travel experience across all cabin classes. This transformation marks a change from the previous all-economy class configuration, which accommodated between 168 to 174 passengers. As of April 2024, THAI operates an Airbus fleet of 20 A320s, three A330-300s, and 20 A350-900s.

THAI Chief Executive Officer Chai Eamsiri said: “The acquisition of 20 A320 aircraft from THAI Smile Airways has benefited THAI’s route network, strengthened fleet efficiency and enhanced our competitiveness in the market. The fleet will serve THAI’s domestic and regional operations, aiming to provide customers with seamless and convenient flight connectivity. In addition, the retrofit of reclining business seats in the aircraft will offer passengers more comfort while their travel experiences will be elevated and enhanced throughout their flight journey.”

Airbus Senior Vice President Customer Services Cristina Aguilar added: “We are thrilled to embark on this cabin retrofit project with Thai Airways. This agreement underscores our commitment to enhancing passenger comfort and delivering exceptional travel experiences. We look forward to seeing these upgraded A320ceo aircraft take to the skies, offering passengers unparalleled comfort with the new reclining business class seats.”

Bargain stays at Centara Grand Mirage Pattaya

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 29 May 2024: Centara Hotels & Resorts is introducing the ‘Pattaya Rest and Relax’ package at Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya. 

Designed for travellers seeking a beachfront escape, this exclusive offer provides the perfect blend of relaxing accommodations, indulgent spa treatments, and culinary delights.

Until 17 December 2024, guests who book at least three days in advance for stays up to 20 December 2024 will enjoy a special discount on any room category of their choice. They will also receive a complimentary one-hour Thai massage per stay for up to two persons. In addition, a daily breakfast for two is also included, ensuring a refreshing start to each morning.

Guests will also have access to the resort’s world-class amenities and activities, including the outdoor swimming pool, private beach, and various restaurants and bars. Whether splashing the day away or watching the sunset over the sea, Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort is the Place to Be for a rejuvenating holiday.

To learn more about booking the ‘Pattaya Rest & Relax’ package, visit: https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/cmbr/pattaya-rest-and-relax

ITB Asia buyer registration opens

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 29 May 2024: Buyer registration has opened for ITB Asia, co-located with MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia, scheduled from 23 to 25 October 2024 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

Around 1,300 buyers will qualify to attend, gaining access to pre-scheduled meetings with exhibitors and buyers-only events. They can also attend insightful conferences across all three events.

To qualify, buyers must be decision-makers at a company with a significant procurement volume of travel services. ITB Asia presents 35,000 business appointment opportunities over three days with a 1:1 buyer-to-exhibitor ratio. For more information, visit  the ITB Asia website.

Enjoy an Early Bird rate on a Trade Visitor pass

A Trade Visitor pass offers access to pre-scheduled meetings with international exhibitors and all the conferences held on the sidelines of three co-located shows: ITB Asia, MICE Show Asia, and Travel Tech Asia. By registering at www.itbasia.com/visit-register  until 22 September 2024, visitors can take advantage of the Early Bird rate (USD140 for three days). The full rate is USD180.

Travel Meet Asia unfolds in July

Scheduled from 3 to 4 July 2024, Travel Meet Asia offers buyers and sellers opportunities to unlock key potential in specific source markets or regions. The upcoming trade show will be held at the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE), Jakarta, Indonesia. It will welcome local and international buyers from the Leisure, MICE and Corporate sectors.

The Travel Meet Asia (TMA) was launched by Messe Berlin Asia Pacific in 2019 at regional locations within Asia. Originally organised as a conference and networking event, TMA has since expanded to a B2B trade show with exhibitions, conferences and networking opportunities for the travel trade.

Must visit shows in Asia

Travel Meet Asia
3 – 4 July 2024
Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE), Jakarta, Indonesia

The premium tradeshow is for market-focused networking, engagements, and thought leadership. Travel Meet Asia provides you with opportunities to unlock key potentials in specific source markets or regions.

ITB India
11 – 13 September 2024
Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, India

ITB India is a three-day B2B travel trade show focusing on the Indian and South Asian travel market in the MICE, corporate, and leisure travel sectors.

ITB Asia
23 – 25 October 2024
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

The annual three-day B2B trade show and convention will feature exhibiting companies globally that cover MICE, Leisure, and Corporate Travel.

MICE Show Asia
23 – 25 October 2024
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

An unmissable event for the meeting industry in APAC, MICE Show Asia is where the incentive travel, meetings and events industries come together to connect and build the future of MICE.

Travel Tech Asia
23 – 25 October 2024
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Travel Tech Asia is where the latest technologies, emerging trends, leading travel brands, and innovative startups are all at one place to create new possibilities in travel.

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