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Emirates at Dubai Airshow

DUBAI, 14 November 2023: Emirates is showcasing its entire family of aircraft consisting of the airline’s latest retrofitted A380, game-changer Boeing 777-300ER, Diamond DA42-VI and Cirrus SR 22 training aircraft used by the Emirates Flight Training Academy during the annual Dubai Airshow open through to 17 November. 

The Embraer Phenom 100 charter jet is also on display. Emirates B777-300ER and A380 aircraft have the airline’s newest signature livery.

The A380 aircraft on display, one of the first 10 units to have undergone a full make-over from Emirates’ ongoing USD2 billion retrofit programme features the airline’s popular Premium Economy Class cabin and refreshed interiors and enhancements across all cabins.

The Emirates exhibition stand, open to all Dubai Airshow visitors, features several Emirates divisions. A highlight this year is the employee experience. Starting with Cabin Crew training, the gamified environments inside Emirates aircraft offer visitors a glimpse into future simulated experiences, providing a cutting-edge approach to learning and service skills development. Airshow visitors also get an early look at the revamped onboarding experience for future Emirates Group employees.

The Emirates Official store also sells aircraft models and other popular aviation and travel merchandise at the stand. For the first time, the airline’s Airbus A350 die-cast aircraft model is on sale as a Dubai Airshow exclusive.

The Emirates Flight Training Academy displays its newest and most advanced training aircraft, the Diamond DA42-VI, which it received earlier this year, in addition to its single-engine Cirrus SR 22. Emirates Flight Training Academy instructors are on hand to provide information about the Academy’s world-class training programme. The Emirates Flight Training Academy is the airline’s state-of-the-art facility that is helping to meet the global aviation industry’s future requirements for skilled commercial pilots.
For more information on the airline and to make bookings visit www.emirates.com.

Sevens tickets go on sale

HONG KONG, 14 November 2023: The Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) have announced that ticket sales for the world-famous Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 will open on Friday, 1 December, via the website www.tickets.hkrugby.com

Hong Kong will be the 6th leg of the HSBC Sevens 2024 circuit, with the very best men’s and women’s teams worldwide battling it out at the iconic Hong Kong Stadium from 5 to 7 April 2024, featuring an impressive line-up of 68 World Series matches over three action-packed days.

Hong Kong Stadium.

The Men’s competition will feature defending champions New Zealand alongside Argentina, Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Samoa, Spain, South Africa and the US.

Meanwhile, Women’s defending champions New Zealand take on Australia, Brazil, Canada, Fiji, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, Spain, South Africa and the USA.

In addition to the World Series matches, the 2024 event will also include an invitational Asian Challenge Cup for the first time; reigning Asian Games Men’s Gold Medalists Hong Kong China, will take on Silver Medalists Japan and the ever-improving China, whilst Women’s Gold Medalists China line up against Thailand and Bronze Medalists Hong Kong China in a six-match round-robin format across the three days.

The 2024 Sevens will be the last at So Kon Po before the much-anticipated move to the state-of-the-art Kai Tak Sports Park in 2025. Over the years, the 40,000-seat Hong Kong Stadium has hosted many rugby legends, including Jonah Lomu, Christian Cullen, Waisale Serevi and David Campese, catalysing the development of the World Series and the sport’s inclusion in the Olympics.

Tickets for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2024 remain at 2019 levels, with a three-day pass priced at HKD1,950 for adults and HKD950 for children 12 and under. 

Cathay Pacific has announced exclusive travel packages for rugby fans within their designated territory. At the same time, the official platforms Klook and Trip.com are authorised by Hong Kong China Rugby to sell ticket packages for the 2024 event.

Changi offers free bike rides

SINGAPORE, 14 November 2023: Changi Airport offers bicycle rentals to passengers who have a layover in Singapore.

This year-long campaign offers passengers free use of a bicycle for two hours to explore outdoor attractions in the airport’s vicinity, including the Jurassic Mile and nearby beaches along Singapore’s East Coast.

With an emerging preference for sustainable and authentic travel experiences, the Changi Airport Connector cycling path that links to Singapore’s wider park connector network allows visitors to explore a diverse range of local sights such as the Bedok Jetty – a popular fishing spot, the East Coast Lagoon Hawker Centre and nearby residential neighbourhoods such as Bedok and Siglap. 

Changi Airport Airport Operations Services senior vice president Ang Siew Min said: “This initiative represents Changi’s endeavour to delight our passengers as they fly through our airport or visit Singapore. We hope our passengers can experience the tropical outdoors of our airport and its unique surrounding attractions beyond the indoor terminal offerings.”

Passengers with more time to spare and are keen to venture further can pay to extend the bicycle bookings to enjoy more local sights and sounds at their own pace. To help passengers make the most of their time, Changi Airport Group has mapped out four different routes lasting two to six hours. Each route recommends experiences that appeal to different interests, from appreciating local culture and cuisine to exploring the rustic charms of a quaint part of Singapore.

At the bicycle return point at the airport, pay-per-use shower facilities and an alfresco café and bar are readily available, making it convenient for passengers to refresh and recharge before their onward journey. Advance booking is now available on Changi Airport’s website.

Destination Mekong meets in Phnom Penh

PHNOM PENH, 14 November 2023: Destination Mekong Summit will take place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 6 to 7 December 2023, adopting the theme “Mekong in Motion, Mekong Emotions”.

The event is billed as a networking opportunity for key players in the Mekong tourism industry to connect and learn from decision-makers, investors, entrepreneurs, and other stakeholders shaping the future of tourism in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

The line-up of speakers has yet to be announced.

The DMS23 continues to be a free event for Destination Mekong full members and partners who must show they are members to get a link to register for the event without fees. There is also a virtual attendance slot, but for non-members wishing to attend in person, the event’s registration fee is USD100, according to the website. It’s the first time the organisers have price-tagged the event for non-members. An early bird, 30% discount, is available until 17  November using the code DMEarlyBird.

Hamas conflict impacts air travel recovery

SINGAPORE, 14 November 2023: Travel analytics firm ForwardKeys says the recent Israel-Hamas conflict has negatively impacted flights to and from the Middle East and caused a global slowdown in the aviation industry. 

According to its latest analysis, flight bookings have decreased by five percentage points in the three weeks following Hamas’ attack on Israel on 7 October, when compared to pre-pandemic levels. The study compared flight bookings during the three weeks before 7 October with those during the same period after the attack.

Looking at outbound travel, flight bookings from Middle Eastern countries have fallen by nine percentage points since the outbreak of war. They slowed by 10 points from the Americas, while Asia Pacific, Europe (including Israel) and Africa each slowed by two points.

From a destination perspective, the growth in bookings to all regions of the world has slowed down, apart from Africa, which has continued to recover towards 2019 levels. Flight bookings to the Americas are down by 6pp, Europe by 3pp, Asia Pacific by 1pp, and Middle East by 26pp.

Within the region affected by the conflict, Israel has suffered the worst, with many airlines having cancelled flights. In the period since 7 October, flight bookings plummeted by 155pp (*A fall in bookings of over 100% indicates no new bookings; there have also been cancellations, depleting the existing stock of bookings.) It is followed by Saudi Arabia, down 67pp; Jordan, down 54pp; Lebanon, down 45pp; and Egypt, down 35pp. Flight bookings to GCC nations have declined by 25pp.

ForwardKeys, VP of Insights Olivier Ponti commented on the findings: “This war is a catastrophic, heartbreaking, human tragedy that we are all seeing daily on our TV screens. That is bound to put people off travelling to the region, but it has also dented consumer confidence in travelling elsewhere too.”

“As of 6 October, bookings showed that global air travel in the last quarter of the year, Q4, would reach 95% of its 2019 level, but, as of 27 October, the outlook has fallen back by 7pp and stands at 88%. The equivalent change in outlook for the Middle East is much more sobering, falling back 16pp to 110%, from 126%, before the war began.”

Thai Vietjet adds flights to China

BANGKOK, 14 November 2023: Thai Vietjet responds to Thailand’s granting visa-free travel to China’s nationals by expanding its international flight network to meet the increase in travel demand on routes from Shanghai and Hangzhou to Bangkok.

The airline will introduce two new routes linking Thailand and China’s Shanghai and Hangzhou using an A320 aircraft. Flights start on 6 December to Shanghai and 20 December to Hangzhou.

On the Bangkok to Shanghai sector, daily flights will depart Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) at 1640 and arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) at 2200. 

The return flight will depart Shanghai at 2305 and land in Bangkok at 0255 the following day.

Four weekly flights will operate from Bangkok to Hangzhou International Airport (HGH) every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

Thai Vietjet offers zero fares (excluding taxes, fees, and extra add-on services) for bookings made between 15 and 24 November 2023 and valid for travel from 6 December 2023 to 30 March 2024 for the Bangkok – Shanghai service and from 20 December 2023 to 30 March 2024 for the Bangkok – Hangzhou service.

The temporary tourist visa exemption scheme for passport holders of the People’s Republic of China ends on  29 February 2024.

Airbnb upgrades bookings site

BANGKOK, 13 November 2023: Airbnb is introducing three upgrades that present accommodation favourites, revamped ratings and reviews and listing tabs. 

Guest Favorites 
Airbnb introduced a collection of 2 million most-loved homes on Airbnb based on ratings, reviews, and reliability data collected from over half a billion trips.

Revamped ratings & reviews
A redesigned rating page with new features helps guests understand the quality of every home. Guests have left over 371 million reviews about their stays on Airbnb. These ratings and reviews are the best way to understand the quality of a home. Reviews include more information about the reviewer and their trip — including where they’re from, the length of their stay, and whether they travelled with family, pets, or in a group.

Listings tab
Here is a set of new tools for hosts to manage their listing and showcase the details guests care about most, including an AI-powered photo tour. Managing a listing is one of the most essential parts of hosting because it’s how guests learn about a home. Listings with more details can get up to 20% more bookings. But many listings are missing the details guests care about because adding them has been too difficult. The l listings tab is the solution — a set of new tools for hosts to easily manage their listing and showcase the details of their home.

Guest Favorites, revamped ratings and reviews, the new Listings tab, and additional upgrades for Hosts rolled out worldwide last week. 

“People often describe checking into an Airbnb as a  ‘moment of truth’— when you find out if the home you booked meets your expectations,” said Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky. “Too often, it doesn’t. We’re changing that today. With Guest Favorites, revamped reviews, and the new Listings tab, you’ll know what to expect every time you book.” 

Airbnb continues to see double-digit supply growth across all regions, with the highest growth in Asia Pacific and Latin America. In Asia-Pacific, Airbnb’s business has fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels as total nights booked grew 23% in Q3 2023 compared to Q3 2019.

Thailand, an Airbnb drawcard
Ahead of the upcoming winter and Chinese New Year holidays, Thailand is the #1 most searched destination for Chinese guests on Airbnb, with Phuket and Bangkok being the two top most searched cities for Chinese guests. Pattaya is one of the top 10 global trending destinations on Airbnb for upcoming end-of-year holidays. Thailand experienced year-over-year growth above 30% for gross nights booked on an origin basis.

Dusit signs four Indian properties

BANGKOK, 13 November 2023: Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed HMA and RMA agreements with Ziogreen Private Limited, a distinguished property development firm headquartered in Bangalore, to manage four properties amidst the beautiful landscapes of Karnataka state, southern India.  

Slated to open in mid-2026, all four properties will have a ‘holistic wellness’ focus and operate under Dusit’s distinctive midscale brand, Dusit Princess, known for its unique integration of local culture and character within each property. 

Together, they will become integral components of two major mixed-use development projects, each comprising a Dusit Princess Hotel and Dusit Princess Residences, culminating in 450 keys.

Located in Coorg (Kodagu) – a popular destination often referred to as ‘The Scotland of India’ – Dusit Princess Coorg Hotel, Karnataka, India and Dusit Princess Residences Coorg, Karnataka, India will immerse guests and residents in the breathtaking landscapes of the Western Ghats. 

This serene region is renowned for its rolling hills, cool climate, lush forests, coffee plantations, wildlife sanctuaries, and World Heritage sites such as Talakaveri, the source of the Kaveri River.

Located within the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary and set over approximately 182,000 sq m of verdant space, Dusit Princess Coorg Hotel and Residences will be thoughtfully designed to blend with their natural surroundings and constructed using locally sourced materials. The hotel will comprise 100 guest rooms, while the residences will feature 50 villas with 100 guest rooms. The guest and resident experience will focus on wellness, curated tours, and forest treks, making it ideal for families and group leisure trips.

Ziogreen’s second large-scale wellness-focused project in Karnakata state is a 283,000 sq m mixed-use development in Bagepalli, 50km north of Bangalore International Airport on the National Highway. Overlooking the Chitravathi River, the project includes the Dusit Princess Resort Bagepalli, Karnataka, India, and Dusit Princess Residences Bagepalli, Karnataka, India.

Setting a new benchmark for wellness-themed concepts in South India, the 100-key Dusit Princess Resort Bagepalli, Karnataka will fully embrace Dusit’s group-wide wellness concept, Devarana Wellness, to deliver holistic well-being experiences far beyond the traditional spa. The stay experience will revolve around holistic healing, ayurvedic therapies, and ancient Thai healing principles. Complementing this, Dusit Princess Residences Bagepalli, Karnataka, will serve as an exclusive senior living enclave, with 150 residential villas set alongside ‘putting greens’ and other lifestyle facilities. 

“We are delighted and honoured to partner with ZioGreen Private Limited to manage these four exceptional properties in Karnataka,” said Dusit International chief operating officer Gilles Cretallaz.

“This partnership marks Dusit’s strong commitment to expanding our footprint in India and bringing our unique Thai-inspired hospitality to areas of extraordinary natural beauty. We look forward to delivering memorable moments for guests and residents and creating a legacy of enduring value for the communities we proudly serve.”

Ziogreen Private Limited executive director Balaji Reddy said: “Dusit’s unique approach to hospitality and unwavering commitment to holistic wellness aligns seamlessly with our vision for these properties. We aim to create unparalleled experiences in Karnataka’s natural paradises, where guests and residents can enjoy the beauty of these serene landscapes while enhancing their overall well-being. Together with Dusit, we look forward to having a positive impact that extends far beyond the walls of our properties.”

Dusit International presently manages a group of luxury villas in Goa, India, under its subsidiary, Elite Havens. The first Dusit-branded hotel in India, the 80-key dusitD2 Fagu, Shimla, is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2024.

For more information: www.dusit.com

Centara: The last day for 11.11 flash sale

BANGKOK, 13 November 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts 11.11 Flash Sale, offering travellers the opportunity to experience the best of Thailand and beyond at unbeatable rates, runs until 13 November 2023, valid for stays until 31 October 2024.

The 11.11 Flash Sale offers unrivalled rates across Centara’s six distinctive brands, each marked by world-class service and signature warm hospitality. Uniquely designed to meet the needs of every traveller and lifestyle, stays start at THB1,111 net at COSI Pattaya Wong Amat Beach and COSI Samui Chaweng Beach, while Centara Korat, Centara Udon and Centara Ubon offer contemporary rooms in Isaan starting at THB1,411 net. Guests looking for a serene beachfront getaway will enjoy rooms from THB3,111 net at Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa Krabi and THB4,111 net at Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin. Not to be missed either are the exceptional prices in Centara’s international destinations, including Vietnam, the Maldives, Dubai, Oman and beyond!

As part of Centara’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its CentaraThe1 loyalty programme, members will also enjoy an extra 15% savings applied on top of the already discounted room rates when logged into their accounts before booking online. Not yet a member? Sign up for free today to take advantage of this exciting offer and an array of exclusive members-only privileges: https://centara1card.com/.

In addition to the 11.11 Flash Sale, Centara is extending another special offer whereby CentaraThe1 members can redeem 1,111 Points in exchange for a THB 200 cash voucher for rooms, dining, laundry services, spa treatments and more worldwide. Normally requiring 2,400 points for the same value, this voucher is valid for six months until 30 April 2024. For more details on points redemption, members can visit: https://centara1card.com/reward.

For more information on Centara’s 11.11 Flash Sale and or to make a booking at any of the participating hotels during this five-day event, please visit: https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/11-11-23-flash-sale

AI reshapes the travel experience

SINGAPORE, 13 November 2023: Attending the World Travel Market (WTM) 2023 for the first time, Trip.com Group is making inroads, capturing market share in Europe and reshaping the transformative role of artificial intelligence in the booking process.

Held last week in London, the WTM provided a platform for Trip.com Group to articulate its vision of reshaping the travel experience with advanced AI technology and solidifying its position as an emerging key player in the European travel market.

Boon Sian Chai, Managing Director and Vice President for International Markets at Trip.com Group, addresses the audience at the Technology Summit (PRNewsfoto/Trip.com Group).

Trip.com Group managing director and vice president for international markets Boon Sian Chai took centre stage at the WTM Technology Summit, presenting the pivotal role AI plays in revolutionising the travel sector, enhancing customer service through intelligent chatbots, and improving overall service experiences while also providing insights on the resurgence of outbound travel from China.

The introduction of TripGenie, Trip.com Group’s AI assistant, earlier this year marked a significant enhancement in the company’s technology suite. TripGenie has improved user engagement and conversion rates by personalising travel experiences and simplifying travel planning. The group plans to enhance TripGenie’s features further, augmenting its capability to provide bespoke travel arrangements.

“Our AI-driven tools, such as our curated travel lists, Trip.Trends and Trip.Best, transcend mere technological evolution,” Chai stated. “They foster a sense of community and enrich the travel experience, adding a personal touch to each journey our customers undertake.”

Chai highlighted the impressive impact of “Trip.Best,” which has markedly increased traffic and bookings for partner hotels, and the success of “Trip Moments,” which has actively involved a substantial segment of the app’s users in creating and sharing content. The Group’s strides in AI for customer service, celebrated for their accuracy in understanding user queries and high rates of resolving inquiries autonomously, have further cemented their dedication to improving customer interactions.

Influencing growth in the European Market

Although still in the growth stage across Europe, Trip.com Group’s booking data reveals a significant uptick in travel activity from Europe, with the UK experiencing a 67% increase in flight bookings and a 62% rise in hotel reservations from 2022 to 2023. This figure dramatically eclipses pre-pandemic levels registering 604% growth in flights compared to 2019. Similar upward trends are evident across other key European markets, including Germany, France, Spain, and Italy, which collectively have seen a 40% rise in flight bookings and a 60% increase in hotel bookings year over year.