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Centara in best employer honours list

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 14 December 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts announced its recognition as “The Best Employer in the Kincentric Best Employers – Thailand 2023” earlier this week. 

This prestigious accolade, awarded by leading global HR consulting company Kincentric, celebrates Centara’s commitment to fostering a culture that encourages individual growth and innovation among its workforce.

The Kincentric Best Employers Award arrives as the stunning culmination of Centara’s 40th anniversary year, marking four decades of providing unparalleled experiences for guests and support for its employees. This recognition underlines Centara’s ability to inspire incomparable commitment and superior performance of its team, drive business success through effective people-centric strategies, and sustain long-term growth while cultivating a thriving workplace environment.

“We are honoured to be named Kincentric Best Employer Award Thailand 2023. This accolade stands as a testament to forty years of dedication to nurturing both our guests’ experiences and our employees’ professional journeys”, said Thirayuth Chirathivat, CEO of Centara Hotels & Resorts. “We are immensely proud of this achievement and believe it reinforces our commitment to making Centara The Place To Be Best Workplace.”

Centara Hotels & Resorts executive vice president of human resources Siriwan Wangthamrong commented: “Receiving the Kincentric Best Employer in Thailand 2023 award is a proud testament to Centara’s vibrant workplace culture. Our HR team is dedicated to executing our people strategy, which revolves around four core pillars: Great Leaders, Great System and Process, Great Development, Great Culture in the workplace, and Social Sustainability. These pillars create an environment where individuals can thrive, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to our collective success.”

With over 50 years of employee research and decades of experience and specialist expertise in culture and engagement, leadership assessment and development, HR and talent advisory, and diversity, equity and inclusion, Kincentric partners with organisations to improve their health from the inside, transform at scale and achieve Best Employer levels of performance.

For more information about Centara Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com

Swans take to the Sea

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 14 December 2023: Princess Cruises has announced a dynamic new partnership with Australia’s most supported AFL club, the Sydney Swans, becoming the team’s Official Cruise Partner.

Princess Cruises will play a pivotal role in supporting the Swans during the upcoming 2024 and 2025 seasons by hosting exclusive onboard events during its cruise season, creating memorable experiences for AFL enthusiasts and players alike. Sydney Swans members can also look forward to exclusive cruise offers.

As an early demonstration of the new partnership, Princess Cruises recently hosted former Sydney Swans captain and AFL icon Josh Kennedy aboard Coral Princess. During his stay, Kennedy engaged guests with a special sports trivia event, participated in an insightful interview as part of Princess’s Discovery at Sea programme, and even lent a hand in pouring the champagne tower on a formal night.

Retired Sydney Swans star Heath Grundy was a guest speaker aboard Coral Princess on a Round Australia cruise, entertaining guests with tales of playing on the hallowed SCG field.

Airlines almost match pre-Covid traffic

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 14 December 2023 (Geneva): Globally, passenger traffic is now at 98.2% of pre-Covid levels, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports based on its latest data collected in October.

Total traffic in October 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose 31.2% compared to October 2022.

Domestic traffic for October rose 33.7% versus October 2022, driven by the triple-digit percentage growth recorded in China, and was 4.8% above the October 2019 results.

International traffic climbed 29.7% compared to the same month a year ago. All markets saw double-digit percentage gains year on year. International RPKs reached 94.4% of October 2019 levels.

“October’s strong result brings the industry closer to completing the post-pandemic traffic recovery. Domestic markets remain above pre-COVID levels. International demand is recovering, but more slowly. In particular, Asia Pacific carriers’ international demand is 19.5% behind 2019. This could reflect the late lifting of COVID restrictions in parts of the region as well as commercial developments and political tensions, ” said IATA’s director general, Willie Walsh.

International Passenger Markets

Asia-Pacific airlines saw an 80.3% increase in traffic in October 2023 compared to October 2022, continuing to lead the regions. Capacity climbed 72.5%, and the load factor increased by 3.6 percentage points to 82.9%.

European carriers’ October 2023 traffic rose 16.1% versus October 2022. Capacity increased by 14.5%, and the load factor increased by 1.2 percentage points to 85.1%.

Middle Eastern airlines posted a 24.1% rise in traffic in October 2023 compared to a year ago. Capacity rose 22.2%, and load factor climbed 1.2 percentage points to 80.6%. There was little impact at the regional and global levels from the Israel-Hamas war despite reduced airline operations to/from Israel.

North American carriers had a 17.5% traffic rise in October 2023 versus 2022. Capacity also increased by 17.5%, and load factor was stable at 83.9%.

Latin American airlines’ traffic rose 21.2% compared to the same month in 2022. October capacity climbed faster — up 22.3% —  pushing load factor down 0.8 percentage points to 85.3%, the highest among the regions.

African airlines saw a 25.3% traffic increase in October 2023 versus a year ago. October capacity was up 32.4%, causing load factor to decline 4.0 percentage points to 70.3%, the region’s lowest.

(Source: IATA)

Elves wanted for Santa’s Post Office

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 14 December 2023: Santa’s Official Post Office in Rovaniemi, Finland, is as busy as ever, sorting 30,000 letters daily from children and adults worldwide and recruiting elves for Santa Claus Cabin. 

In a bid to attract novice elves, Santa Claus’ Cabin has been listed on Airbnb for guests – free of charge – to roll up their sleeves, lend a hand with the backlog of letters and experience the joy of the holiday season from the Arctic Circle.

Santa Claus’ main post office’s chief elf and Airbnb host Katya said: “The elves have been working around the clock to transform Santa Claus’s Cabin into a winter wonderland. 

“We want this to be a magical and immersive experience for a family in search of the ultimate yuletide experience. Guests will sleep in Santa Claus’ Cabin and enjoy a sneak peek behind the scenes of the world’s official Santa Claus’ Post Office during our liveliest time of the year.”

About the stay

Guests will be invited to roll up their sleeves and become fully-fledged elves for a day at Santa Claus’ Post Office. Guests will be given a crash course in ‘elfing’ by Chief Elf and Host Katja, and will work with her team to help sort through the letters from children and adults worldwide – cross-referencing with Santa Claus’ naughty and nice list.

Guests will also participate in all kinds of tasks, such as emptying mailboxes and helping the elves stamp the post with the special Arctic Circle postmark before it goes to Santa Claus, and learn about the day-to-day workings of the Post Office. After tending to their elf duties, guests will be treated to traditional Finnish meals, a snowmobile activity, a trip to see the northern lights and – the most Finnish experience of all – a traditional sauna.

About Santa Claus’ Cabin

Guests will stay in Santa Claus’ Cabin, just a hop, skip and a jump away from Santa Claus’ Post Office. The room in the cabin has been given a Yuletide makeover complete with traditional Lapland decorations, a wardrobe of elf-wear and all the accessories you could ever expect from a cozy elven bolthole in the depths of the Arctic circle. The stay at Santa Claus’ Cabin will be free of charge.

Guest Rules

  • Please ask Santa nicely before taking an elfie with him.
  • Boots off in Santa Claus’ Cabin – ‘Yule’ be sorry if you trample snow into the handwoven Lapland rugs.
  • Roasting chestnuts by the open fire is permitted.
  • An elf is always an elf: a felt hat with a jingling bell and a freshly ironed tunic is the preferred attire in Santa Claus Village.

How to book

The exclusive stay in Finland is still bookable for a three-night stay from 18 to 21 December 2023. Guests will receive complimentary return flights to Rovaniemi from London Heathrow Airport via Finnair – thanks to Visit Finland. The stay is suitable for up to two adults and two children and will be free of charge, with breakfast and dinner included.

Airbnb general manager Northern Europe Amanda Cupples said: “Staying in Santa Claus’ Cabin in the Arctic Circle, amidst the magic of Finland, is not just a holiday, it’s a journey to the heart of the holiday spirit. We’re thrilled that the Chief Elf has decided to share their space on Airbnb and invite a family to experience this unique festive stay, where they’ll help sort through Christmas letters from children worldwide and participate in unforgettable adventures like snowmobile excursions, northern lights sightings and traditional saunas – creating memories that will last a lifetime along the way.”

Air Canada boosts flights to Asia

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 14 December 2023: Air Canada will deploy 11 weekly flights on the Vancouver-Hong Kong route beginning this week while capacity nearly doubles between Canada and Japan during the winter schedule ending April 2024.

Vancouver-Bangkok flights will operate daily during the winter peak season months, 8 January to 28 February 2024, and a new route to Singapore will launch in April 2024. Early seasonal resumption of Osaka service starts in May 2024

Photo credit: Air Canada.

Air Canada underscores its strategy to boost its Asia-Pacific network capacity starting 15 December and continuing until the end of next summer, 2024.

“Air Canada’s Asia services continue to reflect strong demand, and we are boosting capacity to this geographic area as we deploy our international diversification strategy,” said Air Canada executive vice president of revenue and network planning Mark Galardo.

“This winter, we offer up to 57 flights per week between Canada and Asia, and up to 64 flights per week next summer. Air Canada will have up to double daily flights to Hong Kong and larger aircraft operating to Shanghai during the December holiday and Lunar New Year travel periods.

“Capacity to Japan increases by 96% this winter compared to last year. Next spring, seasonal Osaka flights will resume earlier, and larger aircraft will operate to Narita and Seoul.

A successful launch of the Vancouver-Bangkok route underscores the airline’s continued commitment to investing in fast-growing markets in Southeast Asia. Starting 8 January, the airline will increase frequencies on the route to Bangkok from five weekly to daily for the duration of the peak holiday season ending 28 February.

The airline confirmed the following schedule for the daily Boeing 787-9 flights to Bangkok.

Flight AC065 departs Vancouver at 2245 and arrives in Bangkok at 0610+2 (Flight time: 16 hours and 25 minutes).

Flight AC066 departs Bangkok at 0835 and arrives in Vancouver at 0650 (Flight time 13 hours and 15 minutes).

(Source: Air Canada)

Qantas Group braces for summer travel boom

By
TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 14 December 2023: Qantas and Jetstar are preparing for one of their busiest Christmas holiday travel periods in years.

More than 8.5 million people are expected to fly on Qantas and Jetstar services throughout December and January on nearly 70,000 flights. This is more than half a million more people than the same time last year and the most since 2019-20.

The single biggest day of travel across the group in the coming weeks is expected to be Friday, 15 December, with more than 150,000 customers flying throughout the day.

More international flights

In line with the continued strong demand for international travel, the Qantas Group is operating significantly more international capacity this summer than last year.

It has more than doubled its Australia-Japan flights, with thousands of Australians heading off on a skiing holiday in the coming months.

Flights to New York from Sydney (via Auckland, New Zealand) and the Shanghai-Sydney flights have resumed.

Jetstar will also start flying between Melbourne and Fiji this week.

As previously disclosed, the group’s international capacity is expected to return to pre-Covid levels by the middle of next year and is currently around 90%.

Popular destinations

Some of the most in-demand international destinations these holidays include Bali, Auckland, Singapore, Tokyo and London.

Across the domestic network, some of the most popular summer holiday spots are the Gold Coast, Cairns, Melbourne and Perth.

Throughout December and January, more than 1 million people will fly for under AUD100 on Jetstar, and frequent flyers will use hundreds of thousands of Classic Reward Seats across Qantas, Jetstar and partner airlines.

Jetstar still has one-way fares from AUD66 from Sydney to Gold Coast and AUD199 from Melbourne to Singapore in January and Qantas has one-way fares from AUD55 from Sydney to Melbourne and AUD169 from Adelaide to Hobart.

Cunard sets maiden voyage date for Queen Anne

By
TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 13 December 2023: Cunard has announced the first event voyage on Queen Anne with a special British Isles Festival to coincide with her maiden voyage around the British Isles that sets sail on 24 May 2024.  

Signalled a new chapter for Cunard, Queen Anne will depart Southampton on 24 May 2024 for her maiden 14-night sailing around Great Britain and Ireland in a one-of-a-kind British Isles circumnavigation. Queen Anne is the newest addition to the Cunard fleet, with a 3,000-guest capacity across 14 decks.

Throughout her maiden season, starting May 2024, Queen Anne will sail from Southampton on itineraries to the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, the Canary Islands, and the Norwegian Fjords, visiting more than 60 destinations in 16 countries – taking in several of Europe’s most enchanting ancient cities.

There are currently three Cunard ships: Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria.

Centara opens hotel in Ayutthaya

By
TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 13 December 2023: Central Pattana, a global sustainable real estate company and developer of Central shopping centres, residential projects, office buildings and hotels across Thailand, together with Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, proudly unveil for the first time images of the fresh and contemporarily designed rooms at their newest property, Centara Ayutthaya. 

The new property opened its doors to guests on 8 December 2023, marking the fourth addition to Central Pattana’s esteemed portfolio under the renowned Centara brand.

Nestled in the heart of Thailand’s historic former capital, a short one-hour drive from Bangkok and less than 15 minutes from the city’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, Centara Ayutthaya delivers contemporary comfort and convenience. With a selection of restaurants and bars, including all-day dining and a stunning rooftop pool bar, a fully-equipped fitness centre, and state-of-the-art MICE facilities, Centara Ayutthaya is set to become a sought-after destination for independent travellers, leisure guests, business travellers, corporate and government organisations, group tours and more.

In addition to providing a comfortable base for guests to explore some of Ayutthaya’s most famous landmarks, including Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Wat Maha That, and the adjacent Central Ayutthaya shopping centre, this 224-key property boasts a range of rooms and suites, each offering a harmonious blend of modernity and design details paying homage to Ayutthaya’s storied past.

“Centara Ayutthaya stands poised to offer an exceptional experience, blending international standards of hospitality with the rich tapestry of Ayutthaya’s heritage,” said Chen Thipvarodom, General Manager for Centara Ayutthaya. “We are thrilled to open our doors and welcome guests to immerse themselves in unparalleled comfort while creating lasting memories during their stay.”

To celebrate its grand opening, Centara Ayutthaya is offering introductory rates starting at THB2,520++ per night. CentaraThe1 members enjoy an extra 15% discount, while every room booking comes with a THB 500 hotel credit per stay, perfect for indulging in sumptuous dining and drinks. Plus, guests are invited to enjoy a leisurely departure with complimentary late check-out until 14.00 hrs. This special offer is available from now until 31 March 2024 for stays until 30 June 2024.
For more information and to make a reservation, visit https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/cay

Masters tennis breaks records at Royal Cliff

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TTR WEEKLY
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PATTAYA, 13 December 2023: The 6th edition of the ITF MT700 Tennis Masters Championship was successfully hosted at Fitz Club – Racquets, Health and Fitness. 

Sponsored by AssetWise and Carabao Group, the tournament brought together an outstanding lineup of over 200 Tennis players from over 20 countries, exceeding all ITF Masters attendance records for events held in Thailand. The oldest competitor was 80 years old. New and returning athletes, lively spectators and great sportsmanship made the tournament another smashing blockbuster event!

The MT700 ITF tournament is considered the highest category in the Asia Pacific region and offers the highest level of elite international competition. The event, organised by Royal Cliff Hotels Group CEO Vitanart Vathanakul, allows more senior players the opportunity to stay active, improve their game, get more socially connected and help reinforce Pattaya and Thailand’s reputation as a premier sports and wellness destination, with a particular focus on tennis.

Highlights of the tournament included the Men’s 35+ Singles between Maxim Khamutov of Russia, a dark horse in the competition and Shrikant Kumawat, top seed in the category. Maxim exhibited amazing finesse to overpower the number-one seed and win the championship. 

The most thrilling match was between Vitanart Vathanakul and. Prakash Aswani. Despite sustaining an injury, Vitanart displayed remarkable resilience and determination, ultimately triumphing after a gruelling four-hour battle. 

In the Men’s Singles 60+ category, Rashid Ahmad Malik, a former Davis Cup Captain from Pakistan, boasting an undefeated record in over 70 matches, secured an effortless 6-1, 6-1 victory against the world’s former second-ranked ITF player,  Simon Arms. 

The award ceremony featured the esteemed Chief Human Resource Officer of AssetWise Public Company Limited as a distinguished guest. 

Participants were treated to complimentary massages, courtesy of AssetWise, enhancing their relaxation experience. Various food and drink choices were available alongside state-of-the-art sports amenities for exercise, relaxation, and socialising. One of the event’s highlights was the exceptional BBQ Buffet on the tournament’s second evening, where tennis players, their families, and friends convened to savour an array of exquisite dishes. This gathering was further enlivened by the live broadcast of the Cricket World Cup final 2023 between Australia and India.

Royal Cliff Hotels Group manages four luxury properties, offering domestic and international tourists a sublime holiday experience. The group consistently contributes positively to its communities and aims to enhance the recreational experiences of the senior demographic. This is achieved through fostering friendly competitions that bolster both physical and mental health via sports. In collaboration with AssetWise Public Company Limited and Carabao Group, Royal Cliff champions the cause of senior athletes, promoting healthy, active lifestyles and leveraging its top-tier facilities to advocate for physical fitness at various levels. Through these sporting endeavours, they consistently uplift many, offering them opportunities for enjoyment, building friendships, and fostering a lifelong passion for sports.

About Fitz Club- Racquets, Health & Fitness

Fitz Club – Racquets, Health & Fitness, an elite sports centre under the Royal Cliff banner, has been a preferred choice for renowned ATP players such as Nikolay Davydenko, Mikhail Youzhny, Dmitry Tursunov, Denis Istomin, among others. These players have previously conducted tennis camps at this facility. With tennis courts on par with those at the Australian Open, Fitz Club is a go-to for top-tier players aiming to acclimate themselves to grand slam tournament conditions. Besides tennis, the club boasts a rich history of hosting an array of sports events, encompassing both Junior and Senior Tennis contests, Squash championships, and Table Tennis duels.

Enchanting Bhutan: Happiness in the air

By
Andrew Wood
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BANGKOK, 13 December 2023: In the heart of the Himalayas lies a kingdom shrouded in mystical and enchanting clouds, with brightly painted temples and snow on the ground. 

In a courtyard, the only sounds are birdsongs and the chanting echos of monk’s prayers and occasional chimes that shatter the silence, the air heavy with incense; monks go about their daily rituals, dedicated yet resplendent in their dark red robes. This is Bhutan. 

With clean air, glacial streams of stunning purity, the world’s tallest mountains as a backdrop, wonderful treks and forest walks and a population of less than 1 million people, this small landlocked country is nestled deep in the mountains between India and China. 

Exploring Bhutan this week, I immediately recognised this tiny land-locked nation has not lost any of its magical charm. The trip is a 10-day  visit in December 2023 after a gap of nine years. 

The Iron Chain Bridge and Prayer flags at Tachog Dzong, Paro  Photo: A J Wood.
The lobby of Bhutan’s 5 star Zhiwa Ling Heritage Hotel Paro.

Being a mountainous region in the Himalayas, you should brace yourself for the purity of the air, but it is also thinner at an altitude of 2,000 to 3,000 metres. Our tour includes walks and sightseeing, so it’s not a major issue, but you have to pace yourself and drink plenty of fluids. 

The guidebooks remind us that since Bhutan shifted to a democratic constitutional monarchy in 2008, the country has embarked on a development strategy founded on the principle of Gross National Happiness under the guidance of its much-loved royal family. 

Bhutan is not a rich country. Other than the capital, Thimphu, there are few roads, and traffic lights are rare. Economic growth in Bhutan has reduced poverty, helped by a rising GNP with the sale of excess hydropower to India and strong services performance, including tourism.

Along mountain passes, bridges, monasteries, stupas, temples, mountain peaks and homes, we are greeted everywhere with the sacred prayer flags and their blessings. These vivid flags not only add colour and energy with their flutterings but they are infused with important religious and cultural significance and should be treated with respect.

The prayer flags are made of block-printed fabric using traditional printing techniques from centuries ago. They are inscribed with auspicious and sacred emblems and mantras. You will receive good karma and will benefit from the blessings as they are carried from the flag via the wind to you and the heavens.

Bhutan is sometimes called the Land of the Thunder Dragon, a reference to the mixture of folklore and observations of the frequent mountain storms. 

Folklore tells us that one of the strongmen who came down from Tibet in the 17th century encountered a severe thunderbolt on the way to his new land – the sparking lights of the thunderbolts were made by red fire coming out of a dragon. It describes the Bhutan experience: a sparkling light of enlightenment as you experience genuine happiness and awe-inspiring natural wonders.  

(Source: Andrew Wood)

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