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Dusit names MD for flagship property

BANGKOK, 31 October 2023: Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has appointed Adrian Rudin as managing director of two highly anticipated properties in Dusit’s portfolio – the reimagined flagship Dusit Thani Bangkok Hotel and ultra-luxury Dusit Residences. 

Currently under development opposite Lumpini Park in the heart of Bangkok, where the iconic original Dusit Thani Bangkok hotel once stood, both properties are integral components of Dusit’s most significant project to date – Dusit Central Park – a visionary mixed-use development that will also encompass a state-of-the-art office tower, a high-end shopping mall, and a sprawling public rooftop park. 

Adrian Rudin, managing director, Dusit Thani Bangkok and Dusit Residences.

Set to make its grand debut in mid-2024, the new Dusit Thani Bangkok represents a contemporary transformation of the original hotel, which first graced the Bangkok skyline in 1970 as the city’s grandest and tallest edifice, famous for housing Bangkok’s most elegant ballroom. As a testament to this storied legacy, the revitalised hotel has been meticulously designed to elevate Dusit’s standing on the world stage while redefining its heritage through a modern lens. 

Set over 49 floors and crowned with an iconic golden spire, the new Dusit Thani Bangkok will be a multifaceted destination offering an array of dining, wellness, and event facilities. This includes a breathtaking elevated ballroom affording panoramic views of Lumpini Park. Each of the hotel’s 257 spacious and exquisitely designed guest rooms and suites will also provide captivating vistas of this expansive green oasis in the city’s heart.

Drawing inspiration from Dusit’s unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality, the neighbouring Dusit Residences is also dedicated to embracing Dusit’s rich legacy. It promises to offer a seamless fusion of luxury, comfort, and convenience for residents when it opens in early 2026.

Mr Rudin, a Swiss national, brings over three decades of experience in leading luxury hotels under renowned banners such as Shangri-La and Kempinski Hotels. Pivotal positions he has held in his career include, amongst others, Hotel Manager of Shangri-La Singapore, General Manager of Traders Hotel in Singapore, and Opening General Manager of Shangri-La properties in Abu Dhabi and Beijing.

Before joining Dusit, he served as General Manager of Sindhorn Bangkok Kempinski and Vice President of Operations for China and Southeast Asia at Kempinski Hotels, where he skillfully managed the operations of 25 Kempinski and NUO Hotels while providing invaluable support for new ventures. 

With his appointment as managing director of Dusit Thani Bangkok and Dusit Residences, Rudin will play a crucial role in shaping the success of both new properties, including securing future MICE business ahead of the hotel’s grand opening next year.

“Being entrusted with the stewardship of these prestigious Dusit properties is both a privilege and an honour,” said Mr Rudin. “I look forward to working with our exceptional teams to breathe vibrant life into Dusit’s storied legacy as we curate unparalleled guest experiences, continue to redefine hospitality’s highest standards, and deliver one of the most impressive venues for memorable meetings and events in Bangkok.”

Mr Rudin holds an Advanced Certificate in Hotel Management from SHL (Schweizerische Hotel Fachschule Luzern) and an Executive Education certificate from Cornell Hotel Management School at Cornell University, New York. 

For more information about the upcoming properties, please visit dusit.com/dusitthani-bangkok (Dusit Thani Bangkok) and dusitresidences.com (Dusit Residences).

For more information, please visit dusit-international.com.

Boat races and an airline takeover

KUCHING, 31 October 2023: Hosted at the Waterfront Kuching, the three-day International Dragon Boat Regatta Race saw 60 teams from 20 countries vie for the top prizes during the Sarawak Regatta celebrations that continue to 5 November 2023. 

The event is organised by the Kuching ‘Residen’ Office and supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP). The International Dragon Boat Race saw 60 teams from 20 countries participating. Other activities during the Sarawak Regatta include the Sarawak Kitchen Festival and Borneo Textile Craft Sale, cultural performances, and the Sarawak Malay Drum Competition.

Photo credit: Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak. International Dragon Boat Regatta.

Regattas in Sarawak dates back to 1872 during the James Brooke era. Initially, the intention was to stop racial wars among local tribes where headhunting was largely practised. 

Ruler James Brooke instructed all tribes to challenge each other through boat races to prove their power and strength rather than headhunting which brought lasting peace to the area.

Speaking at the launching ceremony at the weekend, The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari, Premier of Sarawak, noted that due to flight constraints, Sarawak had to limit the number of regatta participants saying the recent MasWing acquisition and the changes in aviation in Sarawak should increase participation and boost the economy in the future

The aviation reference touched on a government announcement first reported by the Borneo Post on 29 October that confirmed a recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Sarawak government, Malaysia Aviation Group and Hornbill Skyways for the acquisition of shares in MASwings.

It’s a significant step forward in addressing accessibility concerns in Sarawak,” the Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Dr Ammar Abd Ghapar told the media.

Speaking to reporters Ammar expressed his optimism about the collaboration, emphasising the importance of increased accessibility to the region.

It will lead to a significant improvement in domestic flights on Borneo island once the takeover of MASwings by the Sarawak government and a new airline is established. In the short term, the airline will concentrate on opening up more flights in Sarawak province but will ultimately fly to other neighbouring destinations offering more competitive fares, he explained.

https://regatta.sarawaktourism.com/

(Source: Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak).

Vietjet Air expands fleet

SINGAPORE, 31 October 2023: Vietjet took delivery of its 101st aircraft, a new 240-seat A321neo ACF aircraft that landed last Friday at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

The airline has 384 aircraft on order from leading manufacturers worldwide, and despite the challenges faced during the three-year Covid pandemic, Vietjet has flown 178 million passengers.

Vietjet’s brand-new A321neo ACF aircraft was welcomed by a water cannon salute upon arrival at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

New aircraft will support flight network expansion to destinations such as Australia, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Southeast Asia.

In addition, the new A321neo ACF aircraft cuts fuel consumption by 16% with noise reduced by 75% and achieves 50% in emission savings.

(Source: Vietjet Air)

KAL bags APEX awards

SINGAPORE, 31 October 2023: Korean Air has won a five-star global airline ranking in the latest APEX Official Airline Ratings, becoming one of just a few airlines to earn the highest rating for a seventh consecutive year.

Headquartered in New York, APEX (Airline Passenger Experience Association) is a non-profit association with 482 airline industry members, including airlines and aircraft manufacturers. Since 2018, APEX has compiled an airline rating programme based on passenger feedback via the mobile application “TripIt.”

APEX collects passenger feedback from more than 1 million flights across 600 airlines worldwide in areas including seat comfort, cabin service, in-flight meals and in-flight entertainment. Based on the feedback, the APEX Official Airline Ratings is compiled and certified by a professional external auditing company.

Korean Air has maintained its five-star status for the seventh consecutive year since 2018, a distinction only a handful of global airlines share, including Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific Airways, and Etihad Airways.

JLL: Headwinds slow hotel investment

SINGAPORE, 31 October 2023: Hotel investments in Asia Pacific will cool to USD10.1 billion for 2023 due to external factors, representing a year-on-year decline of 14%. 

According to JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group’s recently published Hotel Investment Highlights Asia Pacific, a decline in both transactions and investment volumes versus 2022 is mainly attributable to the combined headwinds of interest rate increases, cost inflation, and macroeconomic uncertainty. 

JLL data and analysis suggest that most major metrics are down in 2023 year-on-year. As of October 2023, investment volumes tracked by JLL stood at USD5.9 billion, significantly down on the same period of 2022 of USD9.8 billion. The average price per key or room was also less during 2023 to date at USD291,600 versus USD368,900 in 2022. According to JLL, 130 hotel transactions have been recorded across 13 markets in Asia Pacific, down from 168 deals during the same period in 2022. Furthermore, the number of hotel keys transacted in 2023 year-to-date stands at 24,800 versus 27,990 during the comparable time in 2022.

“The post-pandemic recovery of the Asia Pacific hotel industry has been extremely encouraging in 2023, but the strong performance of the sector is not translating into comparable investment volumes. Investors have more frequently cited higher borrowing costs, lingering inflation and the uncertainty of the global economy as influencing factors during the past 18 months. We’re now witnessing concerns translate into a more subdued investment market. However, we believe investor confidence remains very high in the longer-term due to strong operating performance and traveller demand,” says JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group, Asia Pacific CEO Nihat Ercan.

The business performance of the market stands as a further testament to the longer-term confidence of investors in the hotel sector. As of YTD September 2023, revenue per available room (RevPAR) recovery is at 95% of pre-pandemic levels, with many markets far ahead of this number and setting new RevPAR benchmarks, and with average daily rates (ADR) reaching new highs.

Japan’s hotel market has performed strongly year-to-date, with RevPAR already ahead of pre-pandemic levels and transaction volumes crossing USD2.2 billion. JLL forecasts USD2.9 billion in transactions in Japan for the full year.

Investment activity has been more muted in Australia and New Zealand despite strong ADR growth and steady occupancy recovery in major cities. Year-to-date, JLL estimates investment volumes of USD960 million and forecasts 2023 activity to close at over USD1.7 billion.

Hong Kong’s reopening represents more of a stable recovery in the hotel sector, with visitor arrivals now exceeding 2019 and RevPAR in the luxury segment on par with pre-pandemic levels. JLL believes that transactions in Hong Kong will finish 2023 at USD900 million as lingering concerns about rates offset the return of travellers to the territory.

Singapore hotel’s solid operating performance, with RevPAR up 13% versus 2019, has been one of Asia Pacific’s least-traded major markets. Despite the closing of PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road, which represented the largest single-asset transaction in Singapore, transaction volumes are expected to decline by 45% in 2023 to $500 million as assets remain tightly held.

The Maldives was one of the first markets to recover following the pandemic, and tourism is up a further 14% so far this year. After a strong year of transactions in 2022, the investment volumes are now projected at USD95 million for 2023, down 54%, yet with several transactions in the pipeline.

“Looking to the balance of 2023 and 2024 ahead, there are more tailwinds than headwinds, including a levelling of interest rates, high amounts of impending debt maturity and substantial dry powder capital, which will influence investment decisions. We’re confident of the ongoing recovery in the sector and see investment volumes crossing USD10.4 billion in 2024,” says Ercan.

Lufthansa flies the A380 to Bangkok

BANGKOK, 31 October 2023: Lufthansa German Airlines resumed daily A380 flights to Bangkok on 26 October, increasing seating capacity on the direct route between the Thai capital and Munich, the state capital of Bavaria.   

Based on growing travel demand on the BKK-MUC route following the Covid pandemic, the airline switched aircraft type from the 293-seat Airbus A350-900 to the 509-seat A380, making the Thai capital the first destination in the Asia Pacific to receive the A380 aircraft with 509 seats. Reintroducing the A380 on this route brings back the first-class cabin on services to Thailand. 

The A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine jet that is the world’s largest commercial passenger aircraft. Its upper deck extends along the entire length of the fuselage. Seating configuration offers eight first class, 78 business class, 52 premium economy and 371 in the economy class cabin (total: 509) 

The A350-900 is configured with 48 business class, 21 premium-economy and 224 economy class seats (total 293)

Lufthansa Group general manager Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and the Mekong region Anlee Do commented: “We are the only airline group operating the A380 non-strop between Thailand and Europe, and this signifies our strong commitment to the Thai market”.

With existing connections by Lufthansa Group carriers Swiss International Air Lines and Austrian Airlines, LH773 increases the capacity between Thailand and Europe, whereby 21 weekly flights are offered, giving passengers direct connections to the major European cities of Zurich, Vienna and Munich.

Skyscanner: Travel spending accelerates

SINGAPORE, 31 October 2023: Travellers from India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE, and the US are the most intent on 2024 travel, according to Skyscanner’s latest report released on 26 October.

Exploring the latest trends in global travel, Skyscanner Horizons: 2023/4 Destination and Booking Insights combines a consumer survey and proprietary search and booking data to pinpoint what travellers are thinking about their plans for the next 12 months. 

Survey data from 18,000 consumers in 15 markets reveals insights about key indicators such as travel propensity, spending, trip type, mobile device actions and the trip planning process, including the top sources of destination inspiration. Skyscanner search and booking data is overlayed to provide additional information about booking windows by long and short haul type, trending destinations, as well as snapshots of three important travel markets – India, Saudi Arabia and the US. 

Skyscanner director of destination marketing, Mike Ferguson, commented: “2023 has been a seminal year in travel. In all regions, we see that travellers are highly engaged in the booking and planning process, searching for destination inspiration from various sources and planning long-haul trips further in advance. Destination choice is increasingly influenced by not only cultural factors but also the particular ‘vibe’ that aligns with individual preferences and motivations.” 

Key report findings  

Travel planning 

There is a positive outlook for 2024 regarding travel demand, with 42% of travellers planning to travel more and 39% planning to spend more. 

Globally, the expected number of trips is set to increase to 2.7 from 2.3. 

Insurance, seat selection, food, baggage, and lounge are the top flight ancillary requests. 20% of surveyed travellers were willing to upgrade to business or first class. 

Airfares (30%) and hotel (21%) costs are the biggest decision-making factors in travel planning.

Travellers surveyed highly engaged on mobile devices in the travel planning and booking process, researching destinations (48%), comparing flight and hotel options (47%), and booking (40%), with a fifth (22%) having used an AI chatbot. 

Destination planning 

Cultural experiences top the 2024 agenda, with destination choice influenced not by just the weather (60%), food (58%) and culture (54%), but the overall ‘vibe’ (41%). 

In-destination activities also play a role, in particular local cuisine (46%), sightseeing (42%) and beach (40%). 

Globally, YouTube is the top source of travel inspiration, followed by word-of-mouth recommendations (35%) and Instagram (33%). However, there are big variations by market. Guidebooks (27%) and TikTok (21%) also feature. 

Skyscanner has identified seven travel vibes and trip types that travellers are seeking in 2024: gig tripping, main character energy, budget bougie foodie, destination zzz, analogue adventurers, celebration vacationers and lux-for-less seekers. 

Booking windows 

EMEA travellers are booking flights further in advance, with most booking over 90 days ahead for short and long-haul trips.  

AMER travellers are booking further ahead for the long haul, with 90+ day booking windows exceeding 2022 levels.  

APAC travellers show greater volatility in short-haul booking windows compared to other regions. For long-haul flights, there’s been a surge in last-minute bookings. 

Trending destinations 

EMEA travellers are seeking out smaller hidden gems away from larger cities. Top destinations include Rayong (Thailand), Ouarzazate (Morocco), Pristina (Kosovo), and Klagenfurt (Austria).  

AMER travellers are looking towards Asia and island getaways. Top destinations include the Cayman Islands, French Polynesia, Osaka (Japan), and Tokyo (Japan). 

Japanese destinations dominate the top 10 list for APAC travellers, with six cities featuring. This is evident in Japan’s recent bounce back after lifting its Covid restrictions.

To view the report online or download a PDF copy, visit https://horizons.skyscanner.net/

Spanish peaks: Connect with nature

SINGAPORE, 26 October 2023: Holidays as a family, couple or with friends. If your plan for your trip to Spain is to breathe the pure mountain air with the best company, here are some suggestions. 

In the rural areas of Catalonia, you can enjoy a trip rich in tranquillity and connection with nature. You will discover the best views of some of the best-known mountains in the area to explore its forests. 

Montserrat

To discover this unusual mountain, you can take the rack railway (mountain railway) from Montserrat in Monistrol. It takes you to the top, to the tourist centre. From there, you can choose from several options to continue with your visit: take the Sant Joan funicular that takes you to the Shrine of Sant Joan and the natural viewing point or stay around the Monastery and Montserrat Museum

You will be amazed by its history and its surroundings but, best of all, you can delve into nature. Many excursions start from the same place, and you will be able to travel unique paths. 

Montseny Nature Reserve

The Montseny massif lies between the counties of Vallès Oriental, La Selva and Osona. In this Biosphere Reserve, you will find different peaks with various activities on offer. The main options are hiking and ATBs (All Terrain Bikes), while always enjoying a full day surrounded by nature. 

You can climb to the tops of Matagalls, Turó de l’Home, Les Agudes or Llano de la Calma to get incredible views. 

And here, where there is green, there is culture. You can see the megalithic constructions of the Sierra del Arca, the Roman villa of Can Terrers and medieval castles, for example. It is very nice to visit it in autumn, with the tree leaves dyed in different colours.

Montseny Nature Reserve between the counties of Vallès Oriental, La Selva and Osona, Catalonia.Montseny Nature Reserve between the counties of Vallès Oriental, La Selva and Osona, Catalonia.

Pedraforca

This iconic mountain is located between the municipalities of Gósol and Saldes (Berguedà, Barcelona). It is part of the Sierra del Cadí, within the Cadí-Moixeró Nature Reserve. Its surprising shape means it’s one of the most recognisable in all of Catalonia.  

It is a perfect destination for walking. You can take several marked routes. Some of them are at the foot of the mountain and will give you the opportunity to discover the towns in the area. If you like rock climbing, you can climb different routes on the north face and south face (the south face is the most popular). 

Near Pedraforca, you can go to the source of the Llobregat River and then to Castellar de n’Hug (its views will leave you speechless), or find out about the influence of the textile industry in Catalonia at Colonia Vidal. 

Pica d’Estats

In the heart of the Pyrenees, Pica d’Estats is the highest mountain in Catalonia. The most common route starts from Sotllo, in the province of Lleida. Climbing this mountain requires a level of expertise, but it is also irresistible for anyone who wants to mark peaks in their mountaineering passport. 

The best time to climb a peak is always from May to September, but you can plan a getaway for any time of the year. When are you booking your holiday to Spain?

(Source: Spain Tourism Board – Southeast Asia, Australia & New Zealand)

https://www.spain.info/en/

Pandaw’s RV Kalay suite wins accolade

SINGAPORE, 26 October 2023: Following its recognition on the Conde Nast reader’s choice awards winners list, Pandaw’s Owners Suite on RV Kalay Pandaw has been voted the World’s Best River Cruise Suite at the 2023 World Cruise Awards. 

In a press statement, the river cruise specialist for India and Southeast Asia said it was honoured to win such a prestigious award… and believes it was a “testament to our understated yet characterful and comfortable stateroom design.”

Kalay Pandaw was built in 2013 by Pandaw’s shipbuilders in Myanmar. Despite being the smallest ship in the fleet, it has quickly become a favourite amongst Pandaw Members for its intimate set-up. 

“Kalay and our other vessels in Myanmar are now securely moored and maintained by our dedicated local team, ready and waiting for when the time is right for guests to return to this wonderful destination,” the Pandaw management explained.

Pandaw embarks on the 2023 – 2024 winter season, offering curated luxury cruises on 10 vessels reflecting similar design concepts pioneered by the original Kalay. 

Popular sailings explore Vietnam & Cambodia, Thailand & Laos, India & Bangladesh.

To book visit pandaw.com, email [email protected].

Download Pandaw’s brochures

https://www.pandaw.com/brochures?utm_source=pandaw&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=kalay_pandaw_wins

Regent Seven Seas Cruises upgrades WiFi

SINGAPORE, 26 October 2023: Regent Seven Seas Cruises has installed Starlink on board Seven Seas Mariner, providing guests with high-speed WiFi in time for the ship’s 2024 World Cruise, which sets sail in January.

In addition, connectivity for guests and crew will be elevated on board Regent’s newest ship, Seven Seas Grandeur, with the installation of SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet before its launch in November.

Starlink uses advanced low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to improve the capacity, speed, and reliability of on-board internet, offering guests a connected, high-speed experience. All six ships are expected to be equipped with Starlink by the end of 2024.