BANGKOK, 12 September 2023: Air India’s passengers can enjoy convenient connections with Bangkok Airways flights to 10 cities in Thailand and neighbouring Laos and Cambodia following the signing of an interline agreement.
The scope of the agreement between the two airlines includes Inter Airline Through Check-In (IATCI) implementation, which enables passengers to receive their boarding passes at the first point of departure for all the travel sectors on a single ticket and have their baggage checked in through to their final destinations.
Bangkok Airways and Air India have also entered a Special Prorate Agreement, which allows both carriers to file ‘through fares’ on routes covering each other’s networks.
Air India passengers can connect to seven destinations in Thailand via Bangkok Airways gateway airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport in the Thai capital. They comprise Chiang Mai, Lampang, Sukhothai, Trat, Samui, Phuket, and Krabi. Beyond Thailand, the agreement is applicable on Bangkok Airways flights to three destinations: Luang Prabang in Laos, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia, also from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.
In addition, Air India passengers can connect with Bangkok Airways’ flights to Samui out of Singapore and Hong Kong.
Air India operates direct daily flights to Bangkok from Delhi and Mumbai, daily to Singapore from Delhi (twice daily), Mumbai, and Chennai, and thrice a week to Hong Kong from Delhi.
Bookings are open for the check-through flights featuring end-to-end fares.
BANGKOK, 12 September 2023: The annual Thailand International Boat Show, set to take place from 11 to 14 January 2024 at the Royal Phuket Marina, will feature an expanded format to attract over 6,000 visitors.
Aligned with the Thai government’s policy to stimulate yacht tourism, organisers JAND Events are working closely with the Thai Yachting Business Association, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, as well as industry stakeholders to promote Thailand as a world-class boating hub.
“The excellent marinas and maintenance facilities, combined with the world-class cruising grounds right on its doorstep, make Phuket a leading light in Southeast Asia’s marine playground,” said the show organiser JAND Events’ CEO David Hayes.
“Thailand’s onshore-offshore appeal continues to grow amongst international boaters, and we are also seeing increasing interest amongst Thais keen to charter and explore boat ownership, further strengthening the importance of Thailand’s marine tourism.”
The 2024 Thailand International Boat Show will showcase the latest boats, marine products and luxury lifestyle offerings to visitors and igh wealthy individuals across Asia.
Industry response has been positive, with over 80% of the in-water space at the 2024 show already booked. Brokers confirmed to exhibit in-the-water include Simpson Marine, Boat Lagoon Yachting, V Yachts Asia, Derani Yachts, Lee Marine, Asia Yachting, Go Boating, Extreme Marine, The Yacht Sales Co, Leopard Catamarans and Northrop & Johnson who collectively will be representing sail, power and superyacht brands from around the world.
For the 2024 show there will be a new purpose-built air-conditioned exhibition space onshore, which will better connect the in-water, onshore and social spaces for visitors and will house a range of businesses from marine products and services to tech and lifestyle, including Hull Co. Ltd, SEA Yacht Sales, FLS Yacht, the ASA Group, Thailand Privilege, Nava by Thaicom, Flexiteek and Marine Services Asia, to name a few.
Also new this year is the Thailand Yachting Conference and the Robb Report “Best of the Best” Yachting Awards, which will take place on 10 January before the show opens to the public. The Thailand International Boat Show will run from 11 to 14 January 2024 at Royal Phuket Marina.
JAKARTA, 11 September 2023: PT Indonesian Paradise Property and Vacances Pte Ltd (Club Med) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop upscale resorts in Indonesia.
Last week, the signing ceremony took place between PT Indonesian Paradise Property president director and CEO Anthony Prabowo Susilo and Club Med CEO of East and South Asia and Pacific markets Rachael Harding.
According to the MoU, Paradise Indonesia and Club Med will eventually open more than five new resorts. The first phase consists of three resorts to be developed in the next five years in key tourism destinations such as North Sulawesi, Bali, and West Java.
Club Med pioneered the premium all-inclusive concept with operations in 40 countries worldwide and nearly 70 Premium and Exclusive Collection resorts. It also features the legendary French sailing yacht Club Med 2.
Currently, Club Med operates two resorts in Indonesia. Club Med Bali opened in 1984, the first resort operator and key tenant to set foot on the Nusa Dua project led by ITDC – formerly BTDC, and Club Med Bintan since 1997.
In the next global business expansion for 2023–2025, Club Med will open 17 new resorts, including 10 extensions or renovations of existing resorts.
Paradise Indonesia has 30 years of experience developing and creating iconic lifestyle destinations in Indonesia’s largest cities, with 25 business units across eight cities.
“This strategic partnership with Paradise Indonesia brings together brand synergies and aligns perfectly with our mission to continue delivering exceptional experiences for our customers while continuing to accelerate our international reach to the beautiful destinations of Indonesia.” shares Club Med president Henri Giscard d’Estaing
DUBAI, UAE, 5 September 2023: Emirates announces a significant expansion in its codeshare partnership with United to include nine destinations in Mexico. Emirates customers will now have access to eight new destinations in the country, in addition to Mexico City, which the airline also serves.
The expansive codeshare network between Emirates and United currently includes many US cities. Mexico became the first country outside of the US to be added to the growing network.
The codeshare partnership enables customers to enjoy flexibility and choice with smooth connections, allowing passengers flying on Emirates to two points in the US, either Chicago or Houston, to connect onwards to exciting leisure destinations in Mexico. The new Mexican points include Cancun, Cozumel, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, San Jose Del Cabo, Leon/Guanajuato, and Queretaro.
Furthermore, the codeshare partnership also provides more flexibility on flight timings, giving Emirates customers flying to Mexico City more options when choosing flights. Depending on travel plans, passengers can fly to the Mexican capital using Emirates daily services from Dubai with a stop in Barcelona or separately book codeshare flights to Mexico City. The expansion of the codeshare network also enables customers flying from the nine points in Mexico to fly to destinations on the airline’s network via Chicago or Houston.
Tickets to codeshare destinations in Mexico are available via emirates.com and preferred travel agencies for travel starting on 14 September.
The newly expanded network of Mexican destinations now available to Emirates customers is expected to be popular amongst customers from the Middle East, India and South Africa, to name a few. The most frequented destinations for global travellers from points in Mexico include India, Israel, UAE, South Africa and select points in South East Asia.
With the addition of the new points to Mexico, the enhanced codeshare network now includes 134 destinations accessible from United’s gateways in the US. In contrast, almost 100 additional points across the US, Canada, Central and South America, and the Caribbean are available for customers to choose from on an interline basis.
Emirates offers daily services to Houston onboard its flagship A380 aircraft. Emirates recently introduced its latest offering, Premium Economy, to its services to Houston. The world’s largest international airline also operates seven weekly flights between Dubai and Chicago, utilising its other widebody aircraft – the Boeing 777 – enabling passengers to plan their travel itineraries to global destinations with seamless connectivity.
Travellers with itineraries on Emirates flights can plan their entire trip on a single ticket and take advantage of hassle-free flight benefits, including the airline’s baggage allowance, in addition to convenient bag check-through to the final destination.*
Furthermore, members of Emirates’ frequent flyer programme, Emirates Skywards, can look forward to earning and redeeming miles on flights of both airlines if booked on codeshare flights.
BANGKOK, 11 September 2023: Centara West Bay gains prestigious recognition as the ‘Family Friendly Hotel of The Year 2023 in Qatar’ from the Travel & Hospitality Awards
The prestigious award is a testament to an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional experiences to travellers worldwide, the hotel group commented in a press statement.
The Travel & Hospitality Awards recognise outstanding companies and organisations that consistently deliver exceptional experiences to travellers worldwide. By highlighting excellence and innovation, we aim to inspire industry professionals to raise the bar and exceed customer expectations continually. Centara West Bay is honoured to be part of this esteemed tradition.
“At Centara West Bay, we believe a family-friendly atmosphere can make a difference in a traveller’s journey. We take immense pride in offering distinguished luxurious accommodations, embracing the warmth of Thai hospitality, and delivering top-notch 5-star services to our valued guests. Thank you to our guests and the team. This accolade underscores our commitment to creating memorable moments for families and travellers alike.
We are deeply grateful for this recognition by the Travel and Hospitality Awards, and we pledge to continue raising the bar in the hospitality industry to ensure that every guest experiences the utmost comfort, luxury, and hospitality,” stated Centara West Bay general manager Sean Spinks.
Centrally located in Doha’s vibrant financial & business district, with easy access to the finest shopping, cultural sights and tourist attractions. Centara West Bay is a short walk from the metro, Corniche, City Center and North West Bay Beach, accessible directly from the hotel via the treelined Boulevard. Its proximity to other key locations in Qatar, such as Katara, West Bay Lagoon, The Pearl and Bidda Park. Large spaces, modern decor, stunning views, and an array of international dining specialities from award-winning restaurants highlight the hotel’s fully furnished apartments. The affordable luxury apartments boast spacious bedrooms, living and dining rooms, with well-equipped kitchens that make the hotel ideal for every individual, family, and traveller on extended stays in Qatar.
PHUKET, 11 September 2023: Hotels and resorts around Southeast Asia fail to understand the “green premium” and how to leverage it to attract quality guests, according to leading figures in the region’s hospitality industry.
The message that hotels and resorts are falling behind counterparts in other parts of the globe when it comes to capitalising on the benefits associated with sustainable tourism was one of the major takeaways from PHIST (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism), Southeast Asia’s largest sustainability forum, held this week at SAii Laguna where over 1,000 participants gathered.
(left): PHIST co-organisers, C9 Hotelworks Managing Director Bill Barnett and Greenview Founder and CEO Eric Ricaurte; (right) Bart Callens, Cluster General Manager of host venue SAii Laguna Phuket with Phuket Hotels Association President Bjorn Courage, also organisers of the inspirational event.
But the strong showing of hoteliers ready to pledge a commitment to sustainability in their resort operations could be just lip service as very few actually identify projects in progress when you check their websites, including hotels owned by leaders of associations who should know better. There is still the tendency to greenwash. Actions speak louder than words, the latter being in no short supply at the hundreds of events hoteliers attend that preach sustainability as the holy grail to reach the hearts of travel consumers.
A word of warning did come from Bill Barnett, managing director of hospitality and real estate advisory group C9 Hotelworks, co-organiser of PHIST, together with Greenview and Phuket Hotels Association.
“Hotel developers in Southeast Asia have broadly failed to make sustainably a must as they do in Europe or North America. It’s a massive disconnect”.
Other expert speakers at PHIST included star designer Bill Bensley and KP Ho, the founder and executive chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings and Laguna Resorts and Hotels, who urged resort owners to become more conscious of the broader benefits associated with sustainable tourism.
There’s a long list of essential must-do items to start meaningful sustainable and environmental best practices, such as pioneering green or mindful practices ranging from waste management and energy conservation to farm-to-fork dining, sourcing organic produce from local farmers, and better community engagement.
But if they succeed, resorts will enhance their appeal to clients who place a premium value on experiences that are ethical, sustainable, and — perhaps most importantly — unique. But it must be genuine, which is questionable in an industry where the bottom line dominates the financial conversation every quarter.
STR Global’s area director for Asia Pacific, Jesper Palmqvist hosted a roundtable at PHIST where figures from top resort names such as Six Senses and Soneva discussed environmental best practices moving forward. He agreed that the hospitality industry in Southeast Asia needs to be more proactive about enacting meaningful changes.
“It’s important that the industry develops green champions, best practice documents and training modules that hotels can modify,” he said. “Furthermore, hotels need to be pressured into fulfilling international sustainability certification. This would show more ambition to adopt new criteria relating to the environment and thus stay ahead of the curve.”
Gaining a recognised certification is just the start of a game plan to win the confidence of the new-gen traveller. Without it, you rely on a sales pitch that often lacks substance when we quote the global sustainable tourism goals. Travellers deserve an independent certification when considering their next holiday stay.
Other discussions about ways to seize the opportunities afforded by sustainable tourism were to the fore as some of the biggest names in the region’s hospitality sector gathered for PHIST.
Banyan Tree founder KP Ho was instrumental in transforming Laguna Phuket from a barren moonscape of scarred land—abandoned by the tin mining industry and declared uninhabitable by the UN—into Southeast Asia’s leading integrated resort development.
Bill Bensley has helped curate some of Asia’s most charismatic sustainable tourism experiences. For example, his Shinta Mani Wild in Cambodia offers luxury, tented accommodation while using funds to preserve its surrounding private nature sanctuary from poaching, mining, and logging.
Workshop discussion covered issues such as the circular sustainable economy, green hotel loans and start-up funds, glamping, farm-to-table cuisine, environmental hospitality design, data and measurement, Greentech innovation, marketing sustainable hotels, water conservation and sustainable wellness.
Directly preceding PHIST, outdoor lodging practitioners gathered and agreed upon the formation of the Asia Pacific Outdoor Lodging Association (APOLA), a trade body set up to guide, promote and structure the development of the outdoor lodging sector in the region as it expands.
APOLA’s mission will be to help define the standards for the region, raise awareness, develop an accounting system for project financing and educate the industry about the advantages of this lower-impact, sustainable hospitality model. Interested developers, owners and managers in the sector are invited to submit their interest to join the association by contacting APOLA at [email protected]
TOKYO, 11 September 2023: JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group confirms it advised on a hotel sale in a prime Kyoto location concluded recently.
The firm advised on successfully selling the Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo in central Kyoto to a particular purpose vehicle (SPV)* established by Mitsui Bussan Digital Asset Management KK.
According to JLL, the hotel has been acquired with the existing master lease remaining in place and will continue to be operated under the Resol hotel brand.
Located in central Kyoto, along the highly coveted Kawaramachi-dori, the Hotel Resol Kyoto provides convenient access to the city’s key attractions, including the downtown Kawaramachi shopping district and the geisha entertainment district of Pontocho Gion. Opened in 2018, the hotel comprises 144 rooms with a modern Japanese theme.
“This asset represents an exceptional opportunity to acquire a newly built hotel in a prime tourist location in Japan. As accommodation demand recovers and financing terms remain attractive, we continue to see exceptional interest levels for Japanese hotels,” said JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group executive vice president of investment sales Asia Pacific Charlie Macildowie. “JLL is delighted to have advised on this exciting transaction, reaffirming our standing as the unmatched provider of hotel investment expertise in the dynamic Japanese market.”
According to JLL, the first half of 2023 saw JPY203 billion (USD1.39 billion) of hotels change hands in Japan, with the six-month volume representing a 65.4% increase in the first half of 2022. JLL expects this trend to continue into the second half of 2023, with several transactions already closed or agreed upon.
Mitsui & Co. Digital Asset Management, Ltd. specialises in asset management for real assets using blockchain and was established as a joint venture between LayerX and Mitsui & Co. The company has launched the “Digital Securities Project,” which focuses on issuing security tokens using blockchain technology and a dedicated fund that invests in high-quality real estate held by J-REITs.
*An SPV, or special-purpose vehicle, is a legal entity allowing multiple investors to pool their capital and invest in a single company. SPVs have multiple use cases in the business world. Public corporations sometimes use SPVs to isolate certain holdings from the parent company’s balance sheet.
SINGAPORE, 11 September 2023: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched “Global Retail Tourism: Trends and Insights”, a report set to change how we think about shopping tourism.
The joint research between WTTC and the Hospitality & Tourism Research Centre of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, in collaboration with The Bicester Collection, was published during a recent event which took place at La Roca Village, part of The Bicester Collection in Barcelona, Spain, to coincide with the Village’s 25th anniversary.
In 2019, retail tourism represented a substantial USD178 billion, comprising 6% of the Travel & Tourism sector’s value and exceeding 15% in some destinations. Despite this significant boost to economies globally, it has historically been under-researched, leading to a lack of critical data for strategic foresight.
The latest WTTC report addresses this gap, offering insights into travellers’ shopping habits, including visits to out-of-town retail destinations, and highlights emerging trends such as sustainable retail.
The report sheds light on the immense untapped potential of retail tourism for both destinations and businesses. The shopping segment began to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic in most markets in 2021, with the Americas and Europe leading the way. Demonstrating remarkable growth, it outpaced overall economies in almost all markets pre-pandemic, showcasing its resilience and future growth prospects.
Retail tourism is playing a pivotal role in the recovery of the Travel & Tourism sector, which saw inbound tourism revenues surging by 82% in 2022. Shopping is no longer just a leisure activity; it shapes travel decisions, enhances destination appeal, boosts foreign exchange earnings, and supports local brands and products.
The report highlights emerging themes, including ‘retailtainment’ – the fusion of retail and entertainment – to incentivise shopping and enhance the customer’s experience.
WTTC president & CEO Julia Simpson said: “Retail tourism is no longer just about buying souvenirs; it’s a driving force behind the recovery of the Travel & Tourism sector, contributing significantly to revenue, job creation, and overall economic growth.
“This report underscores the untapped potential of retail tourism and the need for stakeholders across the Travel & Tourism sector to adapt to changing traveller preferences. Travellers are looking for authentic brands that capture the culture and uniqueness of their destination and luxury brands in a luxurious setting.
The report provides valuable insights into today’s shopping tourists’ spending patterns and preferences. It underscores the merging of experiential tourism with shopping, meeting the demands of retail tourists.
While high-street shops remain popular shopping destinations, out-of-town retail is also gaining popularity, with around one-third of survey respondents reporting visits to such destinations. Additionally, online shopping complements rather than substitutes traditional retail experiences.
It also offers valuable recommendations for stakeholders in retail tourism, guiding how to navigate these emerging trends successfully.
While the future of retail tourism looks positive, it’s essential to acknowledge and address certain obstacles, including challenges related to labour laws and the impact of tax-free shopping policies.
SINGAPORE, 11 September 2023: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the post-Covid-19 recovery momentum continued in July for passenger markets.
Total traffic in July 2023 (revenue passenger-km or RPKs) rose 26.2% compared to July 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 95.6% of pre-Covid levels.
Domestic traffic for July rose 21.5% versus July 2022 and was 8.3% above the July 2019 results. July RPKs are the highest ever recorded, strongly supported by surging demand in the Chinese domestic market.
International traffic climbed 29.6% compared to the same month a year ago, with all markets showing robust growth. International RPKs reached 88.7% of July 2019 levels. The industry’s passenger load factor (PLF) reached 85.7%, the highest monthly international PLF ever recorded.
“Planes were full during July as people continued to travel in greater numbers. Importantly, forward ticket sales indicate that traveller confidence remains high. And there is every reason to be optimistic about the continuing recovery,” said IATA’s director general Willie Walsh.
International Passenger Markets
Asia-Pacific airlines saw a105.8% increase inJuly 2023 traffic compared to July 2022, continuing to lead the regions. Capacity climbed 96.2%, and the load factor increased by 3.9 percentage points to 84.5%.
European carriers’ July traffic rose 13.8% versus July 2022. Capacity increased 13.6%, and the load factor edged up 0.1 percentage points to 87.0%.
Middle Eastern airlines posted a 22.6% increase in July traffic compared to a year ago. Capacity rose 22.1%, and load factor climbed 0.3 percentage points to 82.6%.
North American carriers had a 17.7% traffic rise in July 2023 versus 2022. Capacity increased by 17.2%, and load factor improved by 0.3 percentage points to 90.3%, the highest among the regions for a second consecutive month.
Latin American airlines’ traffic rose 25.3% compared to the same month in 2022. July capacity climbed 21.2%, and the load factor rose 2.9 percentage points to 89.1%.
African airlines saw a25.6% traffic increase in July 2023 versus a year ago, the region’s second-highest percentage gain. July capacity was up 27.4%, and the load factor fell one percentage point to 73.9%, the lowest among the regions. For a second month, Africa was the only region to see capacity growth outrun traffic demand.
BANGKOK, 11 September 2023: Award-winning travel photographer, podcaster, blogger and filmmaker Ric Gazarian confirms Bangkok as the host city for the second Extraordinary Travel Festival (ETF), scheduled to take place from 15 to 17 November 2024.
The festival will bring together the world’s most avid, accomplished, and adventurous travellers during three days of experience sharing and learning.
Bangkok’s Ambassador Hotel The ETF official festival hotel.
Speakers and attendees will share insights on strategies to visit all 193 of the world’s sovereign countries – a feat accomplished by fewer than 300 known people living today. The festival will also welcome explorers with other ambitions and motivations for seeing more of the world.
In Bangkok, the Extraordinary Travel Festival will host more than 20 speakers who will engage, inform, and inspire their fellow attendees through keynotes, breakout sessions, and panels.
“Imagine the world’s modern-day Marco Polos gathered in a single location,” said Gazarian, whose website GlobalGaz features stories and images from his colourful travels to 170 countries.
“The energy, enthusiasm and vast knowledge exchanged about travel and country-collecting at the first event was like nothing I’ve seen before.”
Here are some of the outstanding speakers taking the stage in Bangkok.
Thor Pedersen recently finished his nearly 10-year journey to every country without flying. Barry Hoffner has built 17 schools in the fabled city of Timbuktu. Renee Bruns has travelled to over 130 countries in a wheelchair.
The largest mega-travel clubs will be represented at the event as well, including @Every Passport Stamp (20,000 members), @NomadMania (50,000 registrations), and @Travel Massive (60,000 members).
“We intend to strengthen this incredible community of mega-travellers by bringing us together in one place while sharing strategies for advising and inspiring the travel fans who follow us. Many of us explore the world as solo travellers. Still, we are far from alone in wanting to spread the word about the eye-opening power of going further in our travels,” added Gazarian.
The ETF is building on the success of the inaugural event hosted in 2022 in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Feedback showed all attendees responded that they would attend the next event and would recommend friends join.
While 90% of guests or presenters originated from North America and Europe, the Extraordinary Travel Festival attracted attendees from six continents. Ages ranged from 20 to 80, with a 60/40 split between men and women.
In addition to the busy schedule of speakers, attendees will be entertained with lively parties and a gala dinner. Attendees will also have the option to explore greater Bangkok and the region beyond.
Ambassador Hotel, located on Sukhumvit Road, the city’s ‘golden mile’ of hotels and entertainment, is the official festival hotel.
Travelers wishing to reserve a spot can now purchase tickets online at: https://extraordinarytravelfest.com/tickets/. Use code BANGKOK to save USD120.
“This festival offers the opportunity to connect and promote your destination or brand to the world’s most accomplished and expert travellers,” Gazarian added.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
http://www.extraordinarytravelfest.com/
(SOURCE: Extraordinary Travel Festival LLC. Ric Gazarian Organiser & Co-Founder)
