SINGAPORE, 24 November 2023: Pandaw Cruises has released a new Laos Expedition video that spotlights the travel experience onboard its 10-night adventure cruise through the upper Mekong River
The video focuses on the “sights, sounds and feel of our Laos Mekong expedition in words can be very difficult and the varied landscapes, colourful culture and smiling faces sometimes need to be seen to be believed,” says the Pandara introduction.
Limited last-minute dates remain for the current sailing season that ends next April, while future dates through 2025 are selling quickly.
Pandaw’s 10-night expedition on the Upper Mekong sails between Chiang Khong on the Thai-Lao border and through Laos toward Vientiane, the old French capital. It delivers stunning scenery and opportunities to meet warm and friendly locals and learn about Laos’ national animal, the majestic elephant.
The cruise stops three nights at the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang with its intricate wood-carved monasteries before heading deep into the mountains through rapids and gorges on the high-powered but compact Pandaw vessels custom-built to navigate this majestic river.
The Laos Mekong CHIANG KHONG TO VIENTIANE 10 nights FROM USD4,360 NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ON SELECTED DATES
DUBAI 24 November 2023: Emirates takes centre stage at the ULTRAs 2023 Awards, taking home two coveted accolades; “Best Airline in the World” and “Best Airline in the Middle East”.
The world’s largest international airline won the votes of thousands of global travellers thanks to its world-class products, unmatched services, and superb value-for-money offerings.
Emirates divisional senior vice president of service delivery, Thomas Ney, accepted the awards at a ceremony held yesterday in Dubai at the Nikki Beach Club. The ceremony was also attended by other notable guests and leading members of the travel industry.
Emirates chief operating officer Adel Al Redha commented: “We’re delighted to be recognised again as one of the world’s best providers of luxury travel experiences. Emirates is renowned for always setting the bar high…We rolled out 10 A380 from our retrofit programme with completely new cabin interiors and Premium Economy seats and expanded our global network to more than 140 destinations. We remain committed to continuously introducing innovative solutions and products to enhance our customers’ journey. Thank you to our loyal customers for always choosing to fly better with us – and we look forward to raising the bar even higher.”
Best-in-class travel experiences
Emirates continues to invest in product and service enhancements to ensure customers have the best travel experience in the air and on the ground.
The accolades testify to the idea that “travel is not just about the end destination, it’s also about how you get there” – a concept brought to life in the airline’s brand advertising campaign featuring Hollywood actor Penelope Cruz.
Award-winning streak
Emirates recently won the 2024 APEX World Class Airline for delivering outstanding customer service and for showcasing the highest global standards of safety and well-being, sustainability, and service-guest experience. The airline also scooped a 2024 IFSA award for ‘Best Onboard Amenity’ in recognition of the airline’s sustainable Economy Class amenity kit.
Emirates operates the world’s largest fleet of wide-body Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft, offering spacious cabins and iconic inflight features such as its A380 Shower Spa and Onboard Lounge. The airline recently announced a record half-year performance for 2023-24, carrying more than 26 million passengers across its extensive network.
Customers on board will also enjoy the warm hospitality of the airline’s multinational crew of more than 160 nationalities, regionally gourmet cuisine, and award-winning inflight entertainment system – ice – offering up to 6,500 channels of the best movies, TV shows, podcasts and more.For more information, visit Emirates
SINGAPORE, 24 November 2023: Domestic and international businesses continued to show robust recovery in the third quarter of 2023, according to Trip.com Group reporting its unaudited financial results for the third quarter of 2023 earlier this week
Third Quarter 2023 highlights
Domestic hotel bookings grew by over 90% year over year and increased by over 70% compared to the pre-Covid level for the same period in 2019.
James Liang, Co-founder and Chairman of Trip.com Group.
Outbound hotel and air reservations recovered to around 80% of the pre-Covid level for the same period in 2019, compared to the industry-wide recovery rate of over 50% in terms of international air passenger volume for the same period.
Total bookings on the company’s global OTA platform increased by over 100% yearly and compared to the pre-Covid level for the same period in 2019. The company delivered strong results in the third quarter of 2023. Total net revenue for the third quarter grew by 99% year over year. Net income for the third quarter was RMB4.6 billion (USD637 million), which improved significantly from RMB245 million for the same period in 2022. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter was RMB4.6 billion (USD634 million). Adjusted EBITDA margin was 34%, compared to 21% for the same period in 2022 and 33% for the previous quarter.
“Throughout the third quarter of 2023, both domestic and international travel experienced a remarkable rebound, thanks to the robust summer travel demands,” said Trip.com Group executive chairman James Liang’
“This shows just how eager travellers are to explore the world. Looking ahead, we will continue expanding our global presence and cultivating AI-related initiatives, laying the foundation for continued growth of our company.”
Third Quarter of 2023 Financial Results
For the third quarter of 2023, Trip.com Group reported net revenue of RMB13.7 billion (USD1.9 billion), representing a 99% increase from the same period in 2022 primarily due to the substantial recovery of the travel market. Net revenue for the third quarter of 2023 increased by 22% from the previous quarter, primarily due to seasonality.
Accommodation reservation revenue for the third quarter of 2023 was RMB5.6 billion (USD766 million), representing a 92% increase from the same period in 2022. Accommodation reservation revenue for the third quarter of 2023 increased by 30% from the previous quarter, primarily due to seasonality.
Transportation ticketing revenue for the third quarter of 2023 was RMB5.4 billion (USD736 million), representing a 105% increase from the same period in 2022. Transportation ticketing revenue for the third quarter of 2023 increased by 11% from the previous quarter, primarily due to seasonality.
Packaged-tour revenue for the third quarter of 2023 was RMB1.3 billion (USD182 million), representing a 243% increase from the same period in 2022. Packaged-tour revenue for the third quarter of 2023 increased by 84% from the previous quarter, primarily due to seasonality.
Corporate travel revenue for the third quarter of 2023 was RMB591 million (USD81 million), representing a 60% increase from the same period in 2022 and a 1% increase from the previous quarter.
Cost of revenue for the third quarter of 2023 increased by 94% to RMB2.5 billion (USD338 million) from the same period in 2022 and increased by 23% from the previous quarter, which was in line with the increase in net revenue. Cost of revenue as a percentage of net revenue was 18% for the third quarter of 2023.
Net income for the third quarter of 2023 was RMB4.6 billion (USD637 million), compared to RMB245 million for the same period in 2022 and RMB648 million for the previous quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2023 was RMB4.6 billion (USD634 million), compared to RMB1.4 billion for the same period in 2022 and RMB3.7 billion for the previous quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 34% for the third quarter of 2023, compared to 21% for the same period in 2022 and 33% for the previous quarter.
SYDNEY, 24 November 2023: Australia’s National Travel Industry Awards (NTIAs) 2023 celebrated the industry’s success, recognising the people in travel that made recovery happen post-pandemic.
Supported by major Sponsor Singapore Airlines, over 1,300 travel professionals and businesses attended last week’s awards presentation.
ATIA CEO Dean Long
ATIA CEO Dean Long commented: “The NTIAs 2023 was truly a night to remember. This is in no small part due to the high calibre of entries we received and the exemplary standard of travel professionals and businesses all throughout Australia.”
“It was so exciting to return to Melbourne this year and to be able to celebrate with all of the incredible travel professionals that make our industry so special.
“Events of the scale the NTIAs 2023 celebration do not just happen, and on behalf of everyone, I thank the hardworking ATIA team and the generous support of our sponsors for helping us realise our vision for this event.
“Our vibrant travel community is our greatest strength, and through events like the NTIA we will continue our focus on harnessing the skills and expertise across our network to benefit our industry, our clients and our businesses.”
WINNERS LIST
Most Outstanding Mobile / Home-Based Travel Advisor: Wendy Brockbank, MTA Mobile Travel Agents
Most Outstanding Travel Agency Manager: Stacey Brownsey, Helloworld Travel Mt Pleasant
Most Outstanding Travel Consultant Corporate: Lauren Zischke, TAG Travel Group
Most Outstanding Travel Consultant Leisure: Louis Teng, Connelly & Turner Travel Associates
Rookie of the Year: David O’Shea, RAA Travel
Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Air: Nick Lewis, Air New Zealand
Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Cruise: Helen Courias, Holland America Line
Most Outstanding Sales Executive – Land Supply- Mickey Mann, The Travel Corporation
Most Outstanding Employee Engagement and Recruitment Program: Flight Centre Travel Group
Most Outstanding Online Travel Agency: Webjet
Most Outstanding Hybrid Online Travel Agency: Ignite Travel Group
Most Outstanding Business Events Travel Agency: Event Travel Management (ETM)
Most Outstanding National Travel Management Company: Stage and Screen Travel Services
Most Outstanding Global Travel Management Company: Corporate Travel Management – CTM
Most Outstanding Leisure Travel Agency – Single location: FBI Travel
Most Outstanding Leisure Travel Agency – Multi-location: Helloworld Travel Hunter Travel Group
Sustainability Award – Business: Corporate Travel Management – CTM
Most Outstanding Mobile Advisor Network: MTA – Mobile Travel Agents
Most Outstanding Travel Agency Group: Flight Centre
Most Outstanding Non-Branded Agency Group: Travellers Choice
Most Outstanding Tour Operator – Specialised: Albatross Tours
Most Outstanding Tour Operator – Global: APT
Most Outstanding Wholesaler – Product / Service: Entire Travel Group AND Viva Holidays
Most Outstanding Wholesaler – Destination / Experience: ANZCRO
Most Popular Tourism Office: Destination Canada
Most Popular Accommodation Group / Chain: IHG Hotels & Resorts
Most Popular Airline – Online: Virgin Australia
Most Popular Airline – Offline: Lufthansa Group
Most Popular Ocean Cruise Operator: Viking
Most Popular River Cruise Operator: Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Most Popular Car Rental Operator: Avis
Most Outstanding Travel Industry Training Institution: TAFE Queensland
Sustainability Award – Supplier: Hurtigruten
Innovation in Travel Support Services: Cover-More Travel Insurance: Post Pandemic Support
HONG KONG, 24 November 2023: Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has released air traffic figures for Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) for October 2023.
During the month, HKIA handled 3.8 million passengers, representing a four-fold year-on-year increase, while flight movements approximately doubled to 26,265 compared to October 2022.
HKIA named “Cargo Airport of the Year – Asia Pacific.
All passenger segments experienced significant growth compared with the same month last year. Mainland China and Japan saw the largest increase in traffic to and from Southeast Asia.
The strong growth momentum of cargo throughput continued in October, rising 12.1% year on year to 393,000 tonnes. Exports and transshipments recorded 24.7% and 2.1% year-on-year increases, respectively. Traffic to and from key trading regions in Europe, North America and the Middle East posted the most significant increases during the month.
Over the first 10 months of the year, passenger volume increased 9.5 times to 31.4 million while flight movements nearly doubled to 218,370 compared with the same period in 2022. Cargo volume increased slightly by 0.1% to 3.5 million tonnes year-on-year.
On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume was 34 million, 9.4 times higher than the previous comparable period. Flight movements increased by 78.7% year on year to 247,805. Cargo throughput decreased by 5.6% to 4.2 million tonnes.
Meanwhile, HKIA was named “Cargo Airport of the Year – Asia Pacific” and “Air Cargo Technology Provider of the Year” in the 10th edition of the Payload Asia Awards. The awards, organised by Payload Asia, celebrate achievements in the air freight industry, commending industry leaders and forward thinkers of the air cargo and logistics supply chain who lead the new economy at the forefront of innovation. Winners are determined by online voting and the evaluation of an expert jury panel.
AAHK executive director of commercial Cissy Chan said: “We are delighted to be recognised by Payload Asia for our continuous efforts to enhance HKIA’s cargo capabilities through innovations and technologies. Among other new initiatives, we developed the HKIA Cargo Data Platform. This integrated platform uses blockchain and smart contracts to connect multiple parties along the supply chain for more streamlined operations and communications. We have comprehensive and advanced cold chain facilities for handling temperature-sensitive cargo to support our growth strategies. We also embrace automation technology and have introduced driverless tractors to cargo delivery on apron. We will continue upgrading our services and facilities to strengthen HKIA’s position as the world’s leading cargo airport further.”
SINGAPORE, 24 November 2023: Muscat-based SalamAir is launching flights to five key destinations in India; Hyderabad, Calicut, Jaipur, Trivandrum, and Lucknow, according to the airline’s press statement.
Actual details of the flights with launch schedules have not been released, but booking sites show details of some of the new flights to India. TTRW filed questions to the airline’s media department asking for more details on launch dates.
A search of the airline’s booking site shows the Muscat-Hyderabad flight (OV731) starts on 16 December, with four weekly flights scheduled using an A320.
The other four destinations are not drop-down menu options for destinations available on the airline’s booking site for travel from Muscat.
However, a check of independent booking sites indicates the Jaipur flights (OV783) from Muscat could start on 5 December, with two weekly services on Tuesday and Friday.
Reliable booking site schedules also suggest a new service to Lucknow (OV735) offering five flights weekly (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday) starting this week using an A321.
Not listed on SalamAir’s India expansion list is Goa, and according to booking sites, a twice-weekly flight (Tuesday and Friday) is in the timetable set for a 5 December launch.
According to the airline’s press release, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of the Sultanate of Oman played a pivotal role in facilitating the expansion roll-out that will enhance connectivity between Oman and India.
Muscat National Development and Investment Company (ASAAS) owns the airline.
This is a developing news story. More information when the airline responds to email questions.
BANGKOK, 24 November 2023: AirAsia Thailand (FD) is reinforcing its position as the airline with the widest network and highest frequency in Thailand by increasing flights on 14 popular domestic routes during the fourth quarter to cater to the year-end holiday season.
A total of 18 daily flights will be added to the service, an increase from 87 to 105 domestic flights daily.
Photo credit: AirAsia.
The airline reports a load factor average of 93% for its domestic service in the third quarter and aims for a high of 95% during the final quarter.
AirAsia Thailand head of commercial Tansita Akrarittipirom said: “The fourth quarter is a key travel season when many Thai travellers choose to travel domestically. At the same time, VISA Free schemes by the government for select groups of visitors, particularly those from China, India and Taiwan, will align with AirAsia offering a wide array of routes. Increasing frequency during the quarter is expected to attract more foreign tourists to Thailand.”
At present, AirAsia Thailand operates 32 domestic routes, including 24 routes from Bangkok and eight regional routes. The carrier’s highest frequency domestic routes are Bangkok-Chiang Mai, flying up to 18 times a day (13 flights from Don Mueang and five from Suvarnabhumi), Bangkok-Phuket, flying up to 17 times a day (13 flights from Don Mueang and four flights from Suvarnabhumi) and Bangkok-Krabi, flying up to eight times a day (six flights from Don Mueang and two from Suvarnabhumi).
In Q4/2023, Thai AirAsia will increase flights on 14 domestic routes (compared to Q3):
SINGAPORE, 23 November 2023: Oceania Cruises’ 1,250-passenger ship, Marina, will undergo a major refurbishment in May 2024, followed by summer season sailings in northern Europe.
Marina is the last of Oceania Cruises’ seven-ship fleet to be refurbished. Its eighth ship, Allura, is set to launch in Spring 2025.
Oceania Marina
The Marina refurbishment will include three new dining options: Aquamar Kitchen, the new wellness-focused dining venue which debuted on Vista this year; an expanded poolside ice cream parlour; and a new casual al fresco trattoria offering sumptuous Italian dishes, including freshly-made pizzas. Marina and her sister Riviera are credited with being the first true foodie ships in the world, the first ships ever to have an onboard cooking school.
In addition to the three new dining options, Marina’s private and public spaces will be refreshed. All upper suites will be reimagined with a revamped look to become lighter, brighter and seemingly even more spacious thanks to cleverly designed new features.
The refurbished Marina will debut on 18 May 2024, offering Summer 2024 featured sailings.
6 July: Oslo to Copenhagen, 20 days, featuring Scandinavia and the Baltic countries, from Norway’s fjords to historic Gothenburg and Gdansk.
16 July: London to London, 44 days, featuring the best of the North Atlantic and Northern Europe.
26 July: Copenhagen to Tromsø, 10 days, visiting Norway on a journey that spotlights its extraordinary fjord country, fishing villages rich in Viking heritage hidden in beautiful fjords guarded by colossal mountains.
5 August: Tromsø to Reykjavik, 15 days, cruises the rugged Arctic shores of the Svalbard archipelago to the volcanic terrain of Iceland and the s hinterlands of Greenland.
About Oceania Cruises
Oceania Cruises’ small, luxurious ships carry a maximum of 1,250 guests and feature more than 600 marquee and boutique ports in more than 100 countries on seven continents on voyages that range from seven to more than 200 days. Oceania Cruises is a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
LANGKAWI, 23 November 2023: Langkawi is attracting more business events in the post-Covid era, with meeting organisers taking a closer look at the island’s convention and accommodation options.
Famed for its duty-free shopping and the UNESCO Global Geopark, Langkawi is attracting more airlines and positioning the island as an attractive destination for corporate incentives.
Supported by Langkawi Development Authority, Yayasan Inovasi Malaysia (YIM) welcomes delegates to the Innovation Forum and Exhibition hosted from 28 to 30 November at Langkawi International Convention Centre (LICC), Westin Langkawi Resort & Spa.
YIM, an agency under Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), is the organiser of the two-day event and is targeting the Langkawi community, students, teachers, community leaders and tourism industry players to join the ASEAN-India Grassroots Innovation Forum (AIGIF).
AIGIF is an annual business event focusing on innovation and collaboration between the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI), the Government of India’s Department of Science & Technology (DST) and the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) India.
In February 2024, LADA and the Malaysia Airports are jointly hosting RoutesAsia. This week-long event brings together airline and airport executives and is pivotal in highlighting destinations that could lead to new airline routes to power tourism expansion. LADA views the event as a crucial element that will help it reach its long-term goal of attracting more airlines to fly to the northern Malaysia island.
Earlier this year, the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2023) was hosted from 23 to 27 May 2023, marking the return of business tourism to the island following the Covid pandemic.
More than 200 weekly flights serve Langkawi from Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Ipoh, Kota Bahru, Johor Bahru, and Singapore.
In addition, Flydubai will introduce direct flights from Dubai to popular island destinations in Malaysia in early 2024. The low-cost airline schedules daily service to Penang and Langkawi starting 10 February 2024. The flight will stop in Penang before flying to Langkawi and returning to Dubai via Penang.
Langkawi is renowned for its pristine beaches, lush rainforests and stunning geological formations. Visitors can enjoy activities such as island hopping, cable car rides to the Sky Bridge and exploring the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park.
BANGKOK, 23 November 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts, a leading hotel operator headquartered in Thailand announced this week the appointment of Chen Thipvarodom as the general manager of the Centara Ayutthaya.
Set to open at the end of this year, the new property is another collaboration between Central Pattana, a global sustainable real estate company and developer of Central shopping centres, residential projects, office buildings and hotels across Thailand and Centara Hotels & Resorts.
Chen Thipvarodom.
Chen brings over 15 years of valuable hospitality expertise to this new role with a career in the hotel industry driven by a profound passion for connecting with people from various corners of the world, understanding diverse cultures, and ensuring exceptional guest experiences.
In his previous role as director of business development and cluster general manager at Furama Hotels & Resorts International Management Thailand, Chen exhibited exemplary leadership qualities and a keen eye for operational excellence. His commitment to surpassing guest expectations and delivering the highest level of service make him the ideal candidate for the soon-to-be-opened Centara Ayutthaya.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chen as the general manager for Centara Ayutthaya. His extensive career and unwavering dedication to excellence align perfectly with our commitment to providing exceptional hospitality,” stated Central Pattana Hotel Properties in Thailand director of operations Wuthisak Pichayagan. “We believe his leadership will play a vital role in making Centara Ayutthaya a standout destination.”
“I am honoured to join Centara family as General Manager for Centara Ayutthaya”, Chen commented. “I look forward to working hand in hand with the exceptional team to grow this new hotel and create unforgettable moments for our guests through my industry expertise and deep passion for hospitality”. For more information on Centara’s properties, visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com/.
