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Centara names GM for Maldives resort

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 18 October 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts has named Francesco Pompilio as the new General Manager of Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives, an adults-only playground renowned for its intimate private villas, adventurous water activities, and exquisite dining offerings.

Pompilio brings a wealth of international hotelier experience to his new role, having worked across prominent destinations, including Italy, the UK, the UAE, and Vietnam, for over two decades. His extensive background in hotel conversions, pre-opening preparations, operational excellence, and his dedication to cultivating remarkable guest and employee interactions align seamlessly with Centara’s commitment to exceptional hospitality.

David Good, Executive Vice President – Hotel Operations of Centara Hotels & Resorts, expressed his enthusiasm for this appointment, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Francesco Pompilio to the Centara family. His track record of emphasising guest satisfaction and driving operational excellence is a testament to his expertise in the hospitality industry. With his leadership, we look forward to seeing Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives reach new heights.”

Pompilio himself is equally excited about joining Centara Hotels & Resorts, remarking, “I am deeply honoured to take on the role of General Manager at Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives. Centara’s commitment to providing unforgettable experiences aligns with my passion for creating memorable moments for our guests. I look forward to contributing to the growth of this esteemed property as a haven for honeymooners, adventure-seekers, and adult travellers seeking to live out their own private island fantasy.”

Pompilio’s appointment marks a significant step forward for Centara Hotels & Resorts as they continue to expand their presence in the Maldives, promising guests at Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives an enriching experience complemented by tantalising culinary delights and all-inclusive meal plan options, pristine white sand beaches for resort-wide activities and beach games, and a sparkling lagoon providing the perfect setting for snorkelling and thrilling water sports. At the same time, some of the top dive sites in the Maldives are a short boat ride away.
For more information on Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives, visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/crf

Royal Cliff shines in Hall of Fame

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TTR WEEKLY
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PATTAYA, 18 October 2023: The Royal Cliff Hotels Group once again shined at the 32nd Annual TTG Travel Awards 2023 Ceremony & Gala Dinner as the group received its 15th Hall of Fame Award during the glamorous event.

Royal Cliff Hotel Group CEO Vitanart Vathanakul attended the annual travel industry awards ceremony, honouring stellar organisations and individuals for their achievements and contributions to the industry. 

Photo Caption: Vitanart Vathanakul, CEO of Royal Cliff Hotels Group (centre), receives the TTG Travel Hall of Fame Award from  Millicent Cruz Paredes, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines in Thailand (left), and Darren Tan, Managing Director of TTG Asia Media Ltd (right) at the 32nd  Annual TTG Awards 2023.

For over a decade, the legendary hospitality of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group has consistently been acknowledged by its renowned peers in the travel industry and its guests from around the world. 

Standing out from an abundance of luxury hotels is no easy feat, but with its unrivalled services and facilities, Royal Cliff Hotels Group has set a benchmark for extraordinary guest experiences and elevated hospitality standards.

Since 2002, the Travel Hall of Fame award was created to establish a permanent home in honour of the region’s most exclusive and outstanding organisations. The Royal Cliff Hotels Group outshined all the stars in 2006 by receiving the TTG Travel Hall of Fame Award for the first time and has resided among an elite group of top organisations in the Asia-Pacific ever since. Consistently providing its unique brand of Thai hospitality, the Royal Cliff team has received over 280 awards from well-renowned organisations worldwide.

“Being honoured with this prestigious recognition for the 15th year is truly humbling for us,” the Royal Cliff Hotels Group CEO commented. “The greatest accolade for the Royal Cliff team is consistently meeting and surpassing our guests’ expectations. This award underlines our unwavering dedication to offering unmatched and memorable experiences. We pride ourselves in blending luxury with outstanding comfort, and this award is a testament to our commitment to setting the gold standard in guest satisfaction and service. We remain committed to enhancing our hospitality brand, ensuring every guest leaves enchanted, delighted, and fulfilled.”

Perched atop a 64-acre private estate with breathtaking views of the Gulf of Thailand, the Royal Cliff Hotels Group boasts four award-winning hotels and charming travellers from all corners of the world. Book an exceptional holiday directly with Royal Cliff with a guaranteed best price, plus exclusive value-added extras. Visit www.royalcliff.com, call reservations at (+66) 38 250 421 ext: 2732, or email [email protected].

Siem Reap opens new airport

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TTR WEEKLY
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SIEM REAP, Cambodia, 18 October 2023: Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) officially opened for commercial flights on 16 October, with seven regional airlines successfully shifting operations from the old airport Siem Reap International Airport (REP).

As of today, AirAsia, Bangkok Airways, Cambodia Angkor, Lao Airlines,Singapore Airlines, Thai AirAsia and Vietnam Airlines are serving the new airport.

Bangkok Airways makes the inaugural flight to Siem Reap Angkor International Airport on the opening day 16 October.

However, other airlines are scheduled to fly to SAI by the end of the month, including China Eastern Airlines and Thai Airways, as it takes over Thai Smile flights across the region.

A Chinese company, Yunnan Investment Holdings Limited, commenced airport construction in July 2018. The project will cost USD880 million for the three-phase development that occupies a 750-hectare site 55 km from Siem Reap town. Siem Reap Angkor International Airport is currently the largest airport in Cambodia, capable of serving up to 7 million passengers during its first phase.

Scoot joins SQ Time to Fly Fair

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 18 October 2023: Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, joins SIA’s annual Time to Fly Travel Fair from 3 to 5 November 2023 at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre Halls 405 and 406.

Scoot will offer 200,000 seats at discounted fares to more than 50 destinations for travel between November 2023 and October 2024.

Fare deals start at SGD68 to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and SGD140 to Taipei in Taiwan. In addition, those who purchase Scoot flights during the Fair will also stand a chance to win daily lucky draw prizes, including travel vouchers worth up to SGD5,000, which can be used to redeem flight tickets and add-ons such as additional baggage allowance, in-flight meals, and seat upgrades.

The travel deals will remain be bookable on Scoot’s website between 3 and 16 November 2023.

Qatar high speeds it to Starlink

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TTR WEEKLY
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DOHA Qatar, 18 October 2023: Qatar Airways is the latest and largest airline to collaborate with Starlink to pave the way for a rollout of complimentary high-speed, low-latency internet connectivity onboard specific aircraft and routes. 

Once the service is active, passengers can enjoy ultra-fast Wi-Fi speeds of up to 350 Megabits per second, which can be used for various internet-based services such as video streaming favourite entertainment and sports videos, gaming and enriched web-browsing.

The revolutionary Starlink satellite communications system powers the high-speed and low-latency network – the world’s largest satellite internet constellation engineered and operated by SpaceX. Qatar Airways and Starlink are in the pre-launch phase of the rollout strategy across the Qatar Airways fleet.

Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar Al Baker said: “This exciting collaboration is not only in line with our industry-leading approach to technological adoption but also an unmissable opportunity to connect Starlink to our global passengers. We look forward to our passengers benefitting from this state-of-the-art addition to Qatar Airways’ in-flight experience.”

Qatar Airways is the latest airline to partner with Starlink. It is also being implemented by JSX, Hawaiian Airlines, airBaltic, and ZIPAIR.

SriLankan on winning streak at SATA 2023

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TTR WEEKLY
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DELHI, 18 October 2023: SriLankan Airlines was crowned the Leading International Airline – South Asia at the South Asian Travel Awards (SATA) in Bangalore, India, earlier this week. 

The airline also secured the Leading Airline Class – Business Class title at the awards ceremony. Touted as the region’s most prestigious travel industry award, SATA recognises the most outstanding performers in South Asia’s hospitality and travel industry annually based on the votes of industry professionals and passengers.

Having also received the ‘Visitors Choice – Airline of the Year’ citation at last year’s SATA, SriLankan Airlines continues to prove its strong position in South Asia with this year’s dual wins. 

The airline currently operates 140 weekly flights between Colombo and multiple South Asian cities across India, the Maldives, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. 

SriLankan Airlines regional manager for India, Bangladesh & Nepal,  Ravindran V, commented: “This region has been key to our progress and represents a significant percentage of SriLankan Airlines’ operations. Being recognised inspires us to remain and grow as a trailblazer in South Asia and give our customers the best Sri Lankan service and connectivity as we move forward.”

The airline’s South Asian network covers key destinations across India, including Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi; Karachi and Lahore in Pakistan; Kathmandu in Nepal; and Dhaka in Bangladesh. 

SriLankan Airlines is the only international carrier to operate to both Male and Gan Island in the Maldives, making it a preferred choice of passengers heading from Europe, the Middle East, India and East Asia to the picturesque Maldives.

Bali prepares to launch tourism tax

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TTR WEEKLY
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DENPASAR, Bali, 18 October 2023: Bali’s new tourism tax comes closer with authorities confirming a 4 February 2023 launch date for all international visitors to pay USD10 (IDR150,00), according to Bali.com, an official channel linked to the Indonesian government.

Bali Tourism Department chief executive Tjok Bagus Pemayun officially disclosed this development to the media earlier this week.

Set at IDR 150,000 per person per visit (approximately USD 10), the tax will apply to foreign visitors of all ages when arriving at the island’s airport on international and domestic flights. 

For those flying into Indonesia via other cities like Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Medan, or Labuan Bajo, and subsequently taking domestic flights to Bali on or after 14 February 2024, the tourism tax will also be applicable upon arrival at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport’s domestic terminal. The tax will impact around 15,000 arriving passengers daily based on today’s passenger traffic.

Authorities have affirmed that the revenue will be invested in environmental conservation, nature preservation, cultural enhancement, and overall quality improvement. The bulk of the funds will likely be used for waste management and to reduce landfill garbage, which is becoming a severe problem for the island. 

By the end of the year, Bali will probably welcome around 4.5 million international visitors. That would give waste management a fund of USD 45 million in tax revenue to improve the system and end landfill with its fire risk.

Hitting travellers with a tourism tax is popular with governments, and linking it to sustainable tourism and improving the environment tends to silence critics. It’s for a good cause, officials tell us. Bali is not alone in introducing a tourism tax. Here are some examples from around Asia. 

Bhutan

Bhutan lowered its “Sustainable Development Fee” from USD200 per visitor per night to USD100 last September, saying the money would offset the carbon generated by visitors.

Japan

Visitors to Japan pay a 1,000 yen departure tax to expand and enhance the country’s tourist infrastructure to improve infrastructure and tackle over-tourism.

Malaysia:

The Malaysian government has reinstated the Tourism Tax (TTX) of MYR10 per room per night for all foreign passport holders for hotel stays effective from 1 January 2023.

Thailand:

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports will introduce a THB300 tourist tax sometime in 2024 once a suitable collection and transparent channel is established. The tax will provide tourists with accident insurance but it could also be invested in projects to restore tourism infrastructure.

(Source: Bali.com / Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Kompas.com)

GSTC strengthens role in Asia Pacific

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 17 October 2023: Qualmark’s Sustainable Tourism Business Criteria has become the first in New Zealand to gain GSTC-Recognised Status from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

It means New Zealand members can be confident that achieving Qualmark certification meets global sustainability standards. Qualmark is a subsidiary of Tourism New Zealand and provides evidence that a business has been independently validated as a quality tourism business. It has more than 2,000 tourism business members.

Photo credit: GSTC.
The third edition of the Sustainable Tourism Forum was held recently in Padova, Italy, with more than 150 participants. Next up: sessions at ITB Asia.

In May, Qualmark refreshed its criteria for members in alignment with the GSTC Criteria.

“The new global status gives tourism businesses another reason to be proud of gaining Qualmark accreditation and helps to support their business and New Zealand’s transition to a regenerative tourism system,” says Qualmark general manager Steven Dixon.

GSTC Chief Executive Officer Randy Durband noted: “Qualmark demonstrates its dedication to a broad and global strategy by aligning with the principles of the Four Pillars of the GSTC Criteria, proving its commitment to a more sustainable future for New Zealand.” 

Meanwhile, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council will participate in ITB Asia, presenting two sessions on Wednesday, 25 and Friday, 27 October. The trade show convenes at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

Sustainable Business Travel based on GSTC’s Framework is scheduled for 1600 to 1700 on 25 October at the MICE Show Asia. 

This session is a conversation between the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and American Express Global Business Travel (AMEX GBT) to understand better the GSTC framework for the business travel sector and how AMEX GBT’s commitment to preferring certified sustainable hotels drives change globally.

Speakers: Roi Ariel, General Manager, GSTC and  Vibhav Singh, Principal Consultant – Commercial Lead, Global Business Consulting, AMEX GBT

Standards and Criteria for Sustainability in Travel and Tourism session is scheduled from 1030 to 1130 on 27 October at the Knowledge Theatre. 

GSTC General Manager Roi Ariel will share insights into the importance of standards and how they serve as a compass, guiding destinations, businesses, and travellers towards making a more sustainable tourism industry.

About GSTC

The GSTC is a United Nations-initiated program established in 2007 to develop and manage worldwide sustainable travel and tourism standards through its GSTC Criteria. 

Sabah video takes home gold award

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TTR WEEKLY
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KOTA KINABALU, 17 October 2023: Sabah Tourism Board continues to shine on the global stage, having secured a prestigious gold award from the Pacific Asia Travel Association last week at a presentation during the PATA Travel Mart hosted in Delhi.

The state agency was selected by PATA’s independent judging panel as the 2023 PATA Gold Award Winner in the category of ‘Travel Video – Catching Sabah’ in conjunction with its travel event.

From left to right: PATA chairman Peter Semone; Sabah Tourism Board CEO Noredah Othman; Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister and Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai; Macau tourism director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes. 

Collaborating with Huntwo Studios, STB crafted a captivating 5:45-minute video portraying Sabah’s diverse allure, encompassing urban exploration and nature’s wonders.

The video also showcases wildlife encounters, underwater marvels, a culinary paradise, cultural heritage, and the state’s multiethnic communities.

Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister cum STB chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai accompanied by CEO Noredah Othman, received the award during the PATA Gold Awards Lunch.

In his remarks, Joniston highlighted the transformative power of STB’s promotional videos.

“Winning such an award emphasises the need for STB to maintain its momentum and live up to expectations, showcasing our agency’s capable leadership and dedicated team in driving the state’s tourism.

“The board will persist in creating innovative and creative marketing and promotional efforts to showcase Sabah from every angle,” he affirmed.

Joniston stressed that the board’s mission is to exhibit the abundance Sabah has to offer, adding STB is actively engaged in creating video content with fresh perspectives to appeal to travellers across all categories, be it for leisure or business.

Last month, STB won Asia’s Leading Regional Tourist Board at the 30th Annual World Travel Awards in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

It also won bronze for Best Communication of Social Media at the 4th ASEAN PR Excellence Awards with its “Fly Me To Sabah” campaign.  

Joniston led the STB delegation attending PATA Travel Mart to build valuable business connections with key players in the travel industry, fostering a deeper understanding of travel trends.

Also present were deputy chief executive officer Julinus Jimit and senior marketing manager Humphrey Ginibun. 

For Sabah travel information, visit: www.sabahtourism.com  

Pandaw sets new sailing dates

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 17 October 2023: Asia’s riverboat cruise specialist, Pandaw, has released new dates for its popular Halong Bay, Red River & Laos Mekong 21-night combo cruise. 

With inclusive flights, hotel and transfers between two 10-night expeditions in Vietnam and Laos, the cruise appeals to travellers who seek an in-depth exploration of this beautiful region. 

New combo cruise dates are open for bookings through to the end of March 2025, but demand for the combination cruise is expected to be high. 

Book online and reserve a stateroom with Pandaw by visiting pandaw.com or contacting the Pandaw team at [email protected] 

The 21-night trip explores the key sites of northern Vietnam by river ship traversing the Red River delta and its main tributaries, connecting the wonders of Halong Bay with the thrill of exploring downtown Hanoi, and then on into the interior, well off the beaten track. It delivers scenic beauty, lively and interesting (sometimes industrial) life of the river and exploring rivers where no other tourist craft operates.

In addition to the Red River cruise in Vietnam, the combination cruise adds a three-country expedition. Travellers will traverse Laos to touch Thailand and Myanmar at the once-notorious Golden Triangle. From there, the cruise sails downstream to Pak Beng and then to Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage town on the banks of the Mekong River. After a break to explore the former royal town of Luang Prabang, the cruise continues to Vientiane. 

This trip included flights between Hanoi and Vientiane with a one-night hotel stay.

Halong Bay, Red River &  Laos Mekong
HALONG BAY – VIENTIANE
21 nights
FROM USD10,008

For full details and itinerary, visit

https://www.pandaw.com/expeditions/halong-bay-red-river-laos-mekong?utm_source=pandaw&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=red_river_and_laos_combo

Click here for sailing dates and book online

https://www.pandaw.com/expeditions/halong-bay-red-river-laos-mekong/cruise-dates

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