HONG KONG, 10 August 2023: Langham Hospitality Group has appointed Lo Young as senior vice president of operations China, based in the group’s Shanghai corporate office, reporting directly to the chief executive officer.
He will also serve on the group’s executive committee, underlining the region’s importance to the company’s growth.
In his new role, Young will oversee the China portfolio of hotels and resorts, leading all operational aspects, including sales, revenue, marketing, food and beverage, human resources, finance, design, and technical service.
With over 40 years of hospitality experience in international hotel groups across Southeast Asia, Young is a familiar face at Langham Hospitality Group, having previously served as regional vice president of China, Macau, and Taiwan from 2011 to 2016, opening 11 hotels in the region.
BANGKOK, 10 August 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts understands that the world’s beauty lies in its people’s diversity. Everybody is different, and travellers have an almost endless choice of attractions to spark their senses and ignite their imaginations.
This is why Centara has created a diverse portfolio of hotels and resorts that cater to the needs of a wide range of guests and interests, from culture-hungry couples and fun-loving families to experience-seeking solo travellers.
Underpinned by heartfelt Thai service and world-class facilities, Centara’s extensive collection of hotels and resorts can help every guest create memories that last a lifetime.
Culture seeking in Osaka
Osaka is a historical city with a rich backstory and a unique personality, which makes it a haven for culture seekers. Having emerged as a small fishing village in the 5th Century, it flourished during the Edo period and has become a cosmopolitan global metropolis. Travellers can discover Osaka’s heritage at the dramatic Osaka Castle and elegant temples and shrines, such as Sumiyoshi Taisha and Shitennoji. The city’s contemporary vibe comes alive in Namba, the high-energy entertainment district home to Dotonbori, the waterside dining street. For a truly immersive cultural experience, the National Bunraku Theatre showcases the ancient art of Japanese puppetry.
Centara Grand Hotel Osaka is a brand-new five-star hotel that puts travellers in the heart of the city’s Namba district.
Set in a gleaming 33-storey tower, the property features rooms and suites suitable for every guest, such as solo visitors, couples and families, plus an eclectic collection of restaurants, a fitness centre and SPA Cenvaree. At the end of a day of discovery, the alfresco rooftop lounge is the perfect place to sip sunset cocktails and listen to live DJs. Rates start from USD 62++/ night.
Underwater Adventures in the Maldives
The Maldives is a dream destination for nature lovers, with vibrant underwater ecosystems that teem with exotic marine life. In the South Ari Atoll, guests can swim, snorkel in crystal-clear seas, and come face-to-face with an amazing array of tropical fish. For more intrepid excursions, visitors can head out into the cerulean sea to enjoy close-up encounters with oceanic giants such as whale sharks, green sea turtles and manta rays. It is no wonder that Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives won second place in the “House Reefs” category in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2023! PADI-certified dive courses are available for explorers as young as eight years old.
A selection of beautiful beachfront and elegant overwater villas offer direct access to the lagoon, and all ages can swim, snorkel and enjoy world-class water sports throughout their stay. Six restaurants, bars and lounges provide the perfect settings to unwind and reflect on a day of adventure. Maldives rates start from USD 222++/ night.
Family fun in Dubai
Dubai is a dazzling destination that excites and delights in equal measure. With so many unparalleled attractions and a choice of thrilling theme parks, Dubai is a paradise for fun-seeking friends and families. Guests can fly through the sky on the world’s longest zipline, the 170-metre-long XLine, which offers a bird’s eye view of the city, and kids can bounce on JumpX, the planet’s biggest bouncy castle! Branded theme parks include Legoland Resort Dubai, with over 40 child-friendly rides, Motiongate Dubai, a Hollywood-themed park; and Bollywood Park Dubai, which showcases the art of Indian movie-making. Alternatively, the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf set the stage for exhilarating water sports.
Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai, which received Tripadvisor’s “Travellers’ Choice: Best of the Best” award, is a haven of family fun. Kids can plunge into a sparkling water park with lagoon pools, waterslides, a lazy river and more.
Three kids’ clubs, an outdoor playground and Candy Spa – the colourful, sweet-themed wellness zone – offer endless entertainment for youngsters. Rates start from USD 166++/ night.
With an extensive collection of 93 hotels and resorts in diverse destinations across Asia, Centara can create the perfect vacation for every type of traveller.
BANGKOK, 10 August 2023: This year sees Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, celebrating 15 years of operating the Airbus A380.
Operating to 50 destinations worldwide, Emirates is the largest carrier of this iconic aircraft, with 116 aircraft in the fleet.
To celebrate 15 years of the Emirates A380, here are 15 fun facts about the remarkable aircraft that you may not know:
Making History: When the A380 began flying in 2008, many airports had to overhaul their runways and air bridge to accommodate, as the aircraft can weigh up to 575 tonnes – equivalent to two and a half times the weight of New York’s Statue of Liberty.
Largest Ever Capacity: With space for as many as 615 passengers in a two-class configuration, the A380 is the largest passenger aircraft ever made, with over 550 square meters of usable floor space across two full-length decks. There are up to 24 Emirates crew on every A380 flight, which means every day in the UK, over 300 crew fly on A380s to serve guests.
Widebody Wings: The A380’s wingspan is a whopping 79.8 metres – which is as wide as 32 double-decker buses or an Olympic size swimming pool.
First Class Luxury: The A380 also offers some of the world’s best in-flight experiences, with signature amenities in First Class, such as the Shower Spa, which features Emirates Private Collection Bvlgari amenity kits.
Suite Deal: There are 14 fully-enclosed Private Suites available in the A380’s First Class, where guests can enjoy an experience that gets as close as it comes to having their own private jet. You can select your own meal and bedtimes, with fine dining at any time. A short walk away is the on-board Shower Spa, as well as the ultimate Onboard Lounge.
High-End Gastronomy: 1,800 chefs create more than 12,000 recipes a year to cater for Emirates’ fleet, including the A380, catering for more than 43 million dine-in guests travelling on flights every year.
Tasting the Stars: Emirates is the only commercial airline in the world officially serving Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot and Dom Pérignon onboard, with exclusive agreements in place until 2024. Moët Hennessy Champagnes have been available for Emirates passengers onboard for over 30 years, with First Class guests enjoying unlimited champagne and caviar during their flight.
Shortest and Longest: With a flight duration of under 2 hours and 50 mins each way, the shortest route on the Emirates A380 is Dubai to Jeddah. The longest Emirates A380 route, meanwhile, is Dubai-Auckland, with an estimated flight time of over 17 hours.
A Whole Lot of Luggage: The Emirates A380 can carry up to 20,000 kilograms in baggage allowance. The A380’s vast cargo capacity also means the aircraft carry a host of items for export, including flowers, fresh meat and fish, luxury goods, and pharmaceuticals.
Entertainment for Hours: Emirates’ award-winning ice inflight entertainment system allows passengers to choose from 6,500 channels of movies, TV shows, live sports and breaking news, alongside in-flight Wi-Fi. Films available on ice that was released when Emirates first launched the A380 in 2008 include The Dark Knight, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and Mamma Mia.
In It For The Long Haul: The A380 is one of the longest-range aircraft in the world, capable of flying distances of up to 15,000 kilometres between take-off and landing.
Towering Above: With a cruising altitude of 43,100 feet, the A380 flies at over 15 times the height of the world’s tallest freestanding building, the Burj Khalifa and over 42,000ft above The Shard. The vertical tail fin stands at an impressive 24m tall, capturing attention wherever it goes.
Superpowered: The Emirates A380 is typically powered by four Engine Alliance GP72000 engines, with over 290,000 lb of take-off thrust across the wing, providing the horsepower equivalent of around 2,600 cars at 110hp each.
Soft landing: Each wheel from the 22 that make up the A380’s full landing gear supports around 26 tonnes of weight, equivalent to just over one and a half fully loaded articulated trucks. These allow it to complete a 180-degree turn within a width of 56.6m.
Overhauling: Emirates is carrying out a USD2 billion retrofit program, fully refreshing cabins across 67 A380s to include the latest products and interiors across all cabins, including new Premium Economy seats. There is also a new livery, which was unveiled on the first A380 in March 2023. It takes over 4,000 litres of paint to cover the entire 38,000sq ft surface of the aircraft.
SINGAPORE, 10 August 2023: Chinese tourism recovery is still in progress, but it is advancing swiftly compared to neighbouring Japan, according to the latest air ticketing data by ForwardKeys.
Reporting on the latest travel data and insights ForwardKeys shows that four weeks after the initial lifting of travel restrictions in 2022, both countries showed similar levels of outbound travel recovery, measured at approximately 15% of pre-pandemic levels.
Photo: https://www.intrepidtravel.com
However, in the subsequent months, a disparity emerged. After restrictions continue to ease, China’s outbound travel nearly reached 49% of its 2019 figures after the 21 to 28-week milestone.
In contrast, Japan recovered to around 27% of the previous year’s numbers during the equivalent period in 2022.
During Q3 2023, among the top 10 most resilient destinations for China outbound travel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) stands out by claiming the top spot with an impressive 6% growth compared to the levels seen in 2019.
“The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an approved group tour destination. It maintains a robust relationship with China by actively participating in the ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative. In the context of post-pandemic recovery, Chinese airlines have played a pivotal role by significantly restoring flight capacity to the UAE, with seat availability almost matching the levels observed before the pandemic,” says ForwardKeys’ China Market Analyst Nan Dai.
Additionally, the UAE extends the convenience of visa-on-arrival options for Chinese travellers, a feature of considerable value, particularly given the extended visa application process during the ongoing pandemic. These factors collectively reinforce the UAE’s appeal as a resilient and accommodating destination for Chinese tourists, offering a seamless and accessible travel experience.
“Chinese travellers prefer Southeast Asia as a favoured destination region, primarily due to its increased accessibility through numerous flights and relatively relaxed visa restrictions”, adds Dai.
The UK and Australia are emerging as prominent long-haul markets, showcasing notable recovery trends. This resurgence can be attributed to a substantial rise in bookings from international students who typically plan their trips to return to school in August and September.
KUALA LUMPUR, 10 August 2023: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) confirmed that Tourism Selangor will be Malaysia’s Featured Destination at this year’s MATTA Fair 1 to 3 September 2023.
The country’s top travel fair will be hosted at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre Malaysia (MITEC).
From left to right:Datuk Hamzah Rahmat, MATTA Fair Organising Committee, Nigel Wong, President of MATTA, Azrul Shah bin Mohamad, CEO of Tourism Selangor, Puan Khuzaimah binti Jamaluddin, Manager of Promotion Department.
This year MATTA Fair will witness a remarkable display of Malaysia’s tourism potential, with Tourism Selangor at the forefront. Covering an impressive area of 34 booths, and over 306 square metres of space, the Tourism Selangor pavilion will consist of thoughtfully designed and curated booths. These booths will showcase the diverse attractions, historic sites, and vibrant local culture that make Selangor and Malaysia a must-visit destination for travellers from all around the globe.
“Our vision is to catalyse the growth of domestic tourism in Malaysia by creating an environment where different facets of the industry can synergise effectively. By segmenting the domestic hall, we are providing a platform for our members to forge meaningful connections, share insights, and enhance our buyers’ overall experience to be more productive and fruitful,” said MATTA president Nigel Wong.
Tourism Selangor’s participation enables the fair’s management to introduce a revolutionary approach to domestic tourism. By strategically segmenting the domestic hall into distinct categories, including states, hoteliers, and free zones, Tourism Selangor sets the stage for a dynamic networking platform that enables enhanced stakeholder collaboration. This innovative framework facilitates streamlined engagement and paves the way for new and exciting business ventures within the domestic tourism landscape.
“As part of our commitment to drive the domestic tourism sector forward, MATTA has set an ambitious domestic target sales turnover of MYR70 Million. This target underscores the organisation’s dedication to supporting economic growth, fostering job creation, and showcasing the immense potential that Malaysia’s domestic tourism market holds,” Wong explained.
Admission is free at the fair, which will be open to the public from 1000 to 2100 from Friday to Sunday, 1 to 3 September. A shuttle bus service to MITEC will be provided from KL Sentral and Sunway Putra Mall to MITEC for fair-goers.
Visit MATTA Fair’s website, and social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or subscribe to the MATTA Telegram channels @MATTAHQ to obtain information updates.Visit https://www.mattafair.org.my/index.php/en/.
SINGAPORE, 10 August 2023: Travel is no longer about crossing destinations off a checklist for Millennials and Gen Zs in Asia Pacific.
Experiences are now the first consideration factor when planning a holiday, trumping accommodation and flight options for this group, and they’re willing to spend on it too.
According to a survey by the travel and experiences platform Klook, travellers are ready to spend big on travel. One in three Millennial and Gen Z travellers will spend more than double the average monthly income in Asia (USD1,069)2 on their next holiday, which amounts to USD2,000 and more.
Klook COO and co-founder Eric Gnock Fah said: “Embracing a new era of travel, experiences have emerged as a new coveted currency for the next generation of travellers, particularly among Millennials and Gen Zs. Unique experiences and activities take precedence in their travel plans as the first thing they look at, with 85% of travellers willing to invest in experiences during their holidays. This remarkable shift is a testament to their increasing desire for authentic experiences, with their decisions fueled by social media over traditional sources like search engines and travel guides before embarking on their next travel adventure.”
Focus on experience
As travel becomes more intentional, most travellers also prioritise experiences and make them a focal point of their trip, with 63% booking their experiences before they fly.
The Klook Travel Pulse survey was conducted in July 2023 through Milieu with a total of 2,400 respondents across 12 markets, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Mainland China and India.
More than 90% of Millennials and Gen Zs emphasise unique and memorable experiences during their travels, with 85% signalling a willingness to invest in them during their holiday.
Notably, travellers from Thailand, Vietnam, Mainland China, and India lead the pack across the Asia Pacific, with a strong desire to spend more on nature and outdoor experiences like island tours and cultural experiences such as visiting historical sites.
Splurge big on travel
Surprisingly, Gen Zs are just beginning to embark on their careers and are not far behind their Millennial counterparts in splurging on travel. One in five Gen Zs are willing to spend over USD3,000, slightly trailing one in four Millennials who share the same sentiment. The biggest spenders across the Asia Pacific emerge from Mainland China (58%) and Hong Kong (39%), taking the top spots in willingness to spend beyond USD3,000 on their next holiday.
More price-conscious travellers originate from India, Vietnam, and the Philippines, with the majority willing to spend below USD2,000, still more than double their average monthly income.
Do-it-yourself travel planning
Most Millennials and Gen Zs across the Asia Pacific are becoming do-it-yourself travel planners, with 65% planning their holidays at least two to six months in advance. Travellers ranking highest in this bracket come from Singapore (74%) and Australia (57%). In contrast, nearly half of Mainland China, Vietnam, and Thailand travellers prefer to make holiday plans in less than two months.
Millennials and Gen Zs increasingly opt to travel closer to home domestically (60%) and within Asia Pacific (30%). The top three destinations on the travel wish list are Japan, Thailand and Singapore. These findings indicate a rising trend of younger explorers focusing on the desire to explore and seek new experiences over the actual destination itself. (Source: Klook)
SINGAPORE, 10 August 2023: Post-Covid recovery momentum continued in June for passenger markets, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported earlier this week.
In June, global traffic stood at 94.2% of pre-Covid levels, and for the first half of 2023, total traffic was up 47.2% compared to the year-ago period.
Total traffic in June 2023 (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose 31.0% compared to June 2022. Domestic traffic for June rose 27.2% compared to the same month a year ago and was 5.1% above the June 2019 results. Domestic demand was up 33.3% in the 2023 first half compared to a year ago.
International traffic climbed 33.7% versus June 2022, with all markets showing robust growth. International RPKs reached 88.2% of June 2019 levels. In the first half of 2023, international traffic was up 58.6% over the first half of 2022.
“The northern summer travel season started in June with double-digit demand growth and average load factors topping 84%. Planes are full, which is good news for airlines, local economies, and travel and tourism-dependent jobs. All benefit from the industry’s ongoing recovery,” said IATA’s director general Willie Walsh.
Asia-Pacific airlines had a128.1% increase inJune 2023 traffic compared to June 2022, easily the largest percentage gain among the regions. Capacity climbed 115.6%, and the load factor increased by 4.6 percentage points to 82.9%.
European carriers posted a 14.0% traffic rise versus June 2022. Capacity rose 12.6%, and load factor climbed 1.1 percentage points to 87.8%, the second highest among the regions.
Middle Eastern airlines’ June traffic climbed 29.2% compared to June last year. Capacity rose 25.9%, and the load factor improved by two percentage points to 79.8%.
North American carriers saw traffic climb 23.3% in June 2023 versus 2022. Capacity increased by 19.5%, and the load factor rose 2.7 percentage points to 90.2%, the region’s highest.
Latin American airlines had a 25.8% traffic increase compared to the same month in 2022. June capacity climbed 25.0%, and the load factor rose 0.6 percentage points to 84.8%.
African airlines’ traffic rose34.7% in June 2023 versus a year ago, the region’s second-highest percentage gain. June capacity was up 44.8%, and the load factor fell 5.1 percentage points to 68.1%, the region’s lowest. Africa was the only region to see a decline in the monthly international load factor compared to a year ago.
BANGKOK, 9 August 2023: An enterprise described as a manufacturer and rice mill entrepreneur, Dunamis 777 Thailand LP, has been named the operator of a charter series between Bangkok and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, using Thai Vietjet aircraft.
Dunamis 777 Thailand, registered in Thailand in 2018 with a capital of THB3 million, appointed Skyfun Travel as a key booking channel for the flights operating every Sunday for the remainder of August.
The weekly charter flight using a Thai Vietjet A320 (VZ8311) departs Bangkok every Sunday at 0210 and arrives at Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, at 0900.
The return flight from Ulaanbaatar departs at 1000 and arrives in Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport at 0235 on Monday morning. (local times).
Sky Fun Tour Co Ltd, a Thailand-registered travel agency, offers flights both ways that appeal to Thai tourists wishing to explore Mongolia in the summer and business and leisure travellers resident in Ulaanbaatar planning to visit Thailand. The company’s online registration details show it was issued with a Tour License No 11/11185 on 6 October 2022 and has developed a portfolio of package holidays in Asia in the first year of operations.
The Bangkok to Ulaanbaatar one-way fare sells for THB20,000, including 20 kg checked baggage, 7 kg carry-on baggage, and an in-flight hot meal. A round-trip fare sells at THB32,000 per person, valid until 31 August 2023, bookable at www.skyfun.travel.
Established on 16 March 2022 with a registered capital of THB1 million, Sky Fun Tour Co Ltd manages the online travel website Skyfun.travel, offering flights, hotel deals and attractive travel packages across Asia. Its website is in both Thai and English.
Acting as the charter operator and hiring the aircraft from Thai Vietjet, Dunamis 777 (Thailand) Limited Partnership has a registered office is 9 Prasert-Manukit Road, Khlong Kum Subdistrict, Bueng Kum District, Bangkok.
It has a website https://dunamis777.co.th/ under construction that currently features a Mongolian photo gallery and airport photos of the inaugural flight, but no text, contact information or ‘About Us’ details other than a banner headline on the homepage proclaiming, “Fly like an Eagle to Mongolia”
SINGAPORE, 9 August 2023: Saudia launched its first direct flight to Beijing, China, last week as the airline improves connectivity to China under the national airline’s strategy to boost tourist arrivals from Asian markets.
The inaugural Saudia flight from Jeddah to Beijing (SV0886) took off from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) on 4 August. The aircraft was welcomed at PKX with a water salute, where guests were greeted with flowers and giveaways.
Effective 7 August, Saudia operates four weekly flights to Beijing from Jeddah and Riyadh using a Boeing 787 configured with 24 business class seats and 274 seats in economy.
The Jeddah-Beijing flight departs every Friday and Monday at 0015 and arrives in Beijing at 1650. The return flight departs Beijing at 2345 and arrives in Jeddah at 0540. One-way fare USD1,008.
The Riyadh-Beijing flight departs Sunday and Wednesday at 0220 and arrives in Beijing at 1650. The return flight departs Beijing at 2345 and arrives in Riyadh at 0445. One-way fare USD1,050
Saudia Group Director General Engr. Ibrahim Al-Omar commented on the new flight: “We are proud to expand our operations and offer new destinations to our guests. China is a significant route for Saudia, and introducing the new direct flights to and from Beijing boosts tourism and facilitates increased travel, trade, and fostering stronger bilateral relations.”
Tourism is a pillar of the Saudi Vision 2030 strategy, and China is ranked among the top global sources of tourists. This new route will be another significant step towards Saudi Arabia’s ambitious economic diversification agenda to achieve growth with more Chinese vacationers coming to the Kingdom.
“We are also very grateful for the continuous support provided by the Air Connectivity Programme, which enables us to continue to grow as we work towards achieving our objective to bring the world to Saudi Arabia.” the airline’s director general added.
Saudi Tourism Authority president of APAC Markets Alhasan Aldabbagh stated: “Fueled by an ambitious Vision 2030 plan, Saudia’s historic ‘Wings of Connection’ expansion to Beijing will help us welcome over 4 million Chinese visitors to Saudi by 2030.”
SINGAPORE, 9 August 2023: Pandaw has announced new dates for its popular combination river cruises in India for the season 2024/25.
Sales have accelerated for the 14-night Lower Ganges & Brahmaputra combo and the special ‘All India’ 19-night Upper Ganges & Brahmaputra combo for departure dates during the coming season. In response, Pandaw has added new forward dates to meet the increase in booking requests. Both combination cruises include a domestic flight in India and transfers.
The Upper Ganges and Brahmaputra River New 19-night Pandaw Combo River Cruise From USD10,445.00 No single supplement on selected dates
This grand tour of India sails for 19 days along the glorious Ganges and mighty Brahmaputra rivers. Including flights and transfers between Kolkata and Guwahati, Pandaw’s newest combo cruise invites travellers to experience the best of India’s waterways aboard Pandaw’s timeless colonial vessels. Add on one of the pre and post-cruise packages to Dehli and the golden triangle to complete the ‘All India’ experience.
The Lower Ganges and Brahmaputra River New 14-night Pandaw Combo River Cruise From USD6,369.00 Save up to 10% and no single supplement on selected dates Free internal flights & transfers between ships
There can be no river in the world as sacred as the Ganges, and an expedition on the Lower Ganges or Hooghly is one of the prettiest river journeys imaginable. The river meanders through the lush countryside of West Bengal, with its culturally significant towns crammed with temples and palaces. Combine this with the mighty Brahmaputra River in Northern India, which originates high in the Himalayas before flowing through the scenic Assam Valley, where UNESCO-protected national parks and remote rural communities provide the traveller with the most authentic expedition.
