More codeshare flights on Emirates and United

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September 11, 2023

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.

For more information: www.emirates.com

(SOURCE: Emirates)

Centara wins family-friendly hotel award

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 11, 2023

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.

For more information or to book a stay at Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha, visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/cwq/ or contact us at [email protected].

Stay connected with us on social media as well for the latest updates on IG @centara.westbay.

Hotels need to work harder on sustainability

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 11, 2023

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]

JLL advises on prime Kyoto hotel sale

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 11, 2023

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.

WTTC unveils the power of retail tourism

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 11, 2023

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.

(SOURCE: WTTC)

IATA chief: Planes were full in July

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 11, 2023

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 a 105.8% increase in July 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 a 25.6% 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.

World’s hardcore travellers head for Bangkok shindig

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September 11, 2023

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)

Trip.com tracks recovery in Q2 2023

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September 7, 2023

SHANGHAI, 7 September 2023: Trip.com Group, a global one-stop travel service provider, announced its unaudited financial results for the second quarter on Monday, showing a robust recovery trend.

Key highlights Q2/2023

Domestic and international businesses continued to show a robust recovery during the second quarter of 2023.

Domestic hotel bookings grew by 170% year over year and over 60% compared to the pre-Covid level for the same period in 2019.
Outbound hotel and air reservations recovered to over 60% of the pre-Covid level for the same period in 2019, surpassing the industry-wide recovery rate of 37% in terms of international air passenger volume for the same period.
Air ticket bookings on the company’s global OTA platform grew by over 120% year over year and nearly doubled compared to the pre-Covid level for the same period in 2019.

The company delivered strong results in the second quarter of 2023

Total net revenue increased by 180% year over year and exceeded the pre-Covid level for the same period in 2019 by 29%.
Net income for the second quarter was RMB648 million (US$91 million), which improved from RMB43 million for the same period in 2022.
Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter was RMB3.7 billion (US$507 million). Adjusted EBITDA margin was 33%, compared to 9% for the same period in 2022 and 31% for the previous quarter.

“During the second quarter of 2023, the demand for both domestic and international travel remained resilient,” said Trip.com Group executive chair James Liang. “Despite limited air capacity recovery, the robust rebound of travel activities reflects travellers’ strong desire to explore the world. We remain optimistic about the enduring demand for travel and the long-term market outlook.”

“We are encouraged by our solid results in the second quarter,” Chief Executive Officer Jane Sun noted. “With the thriving market demand and our outstanding performance, we are poised to take the lead in driving the industry’s recovery and actively creating an abundance of job opportunities alongside our esteemed business partners.”

Second quarter results and business updates

The company’s business continued to recover significantly since the pent-up demand for travel remained strong, which led to an increasing volume of travel bookings, primarily due to the substantial travel market recovery.

For the second quarter of 2023, Trip.com Group reported net revenue of RMB11.2 billion (USD1.6 billion), representing a 180% increase from the same period in 2022 and a 22% increase from the previous quarter.

Accommodation reservation revenue for the second quarter of 2023 was RMB4.3 billion (USD591 million), representing a 216% increase from the same period in 2022 and a 23% increase from the previous quarter.

Transportation ticketing revenue for the second quarter of 2023 was RMB4.8 billion (USD664 million), representing a 173% increase from the same period in 2022 and a 16% increase from the previous quarter.

Packaged-tour revenue for the second quarter of 2023 was RMB722 million (USD100 million), representing a 492% increase from the same period in 2022 and an 87% increase from the previous quarter.

Corporate travel revenue for the second quarter of 2023 was RMB584 million (USD81 million), representing a 178% increase from the same period in 2022 and a 31% increase from the previous quarter.

Cost of revenue for the second quarter of 2023 increased by 106% to RMB2 billion (USD277 million) from the same period in 2022 and increased by 23% from the previous quarter, primarily due to the substantial recovery of the travel market. Cost of revenue as a percentage of net revenue was 18% for the second quarter of 2023.

Product development expenses for the second quarter of 2023 increased by 67% to RMB3 billion (USD407 million) from the same period in 2022. They increased by 10% from the previous quarter due to increased product development personnel-related expenses. Product development expenses as a percentage of net revenue was 26% for the second quarter of 2023.

Sales and marketing expenses for the second quarter of 2023 increased by 185% to RMB2.4 billion (USD325 million) from the same period in 2022. They increased by 34% from the previous quarter, primarily due to increased sales and marketing promotion expenses. Sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of net revenue was 21% for the second quarter of 2023.

Net income for the second quarter of 2023 was RMB648 million (USD91 million), compared to RMB43 million for the same period in 2022 and RMB3.4 billion for the previous quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for the second quarter of 2023 was RMB3.7 billion (USD507 million), compared to RMB355 million for the same period in 2022 and RMB2.8 billion for the previous quarter. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 33% for the second quarter of 2023, compared to 9% for the same period in 2022 and 31% for the previous quarter.

Net income attributable to Trip.com Group’s shareholders for the second quarter of 2023 was RMB631 million (USD89 million), compared to RMB69 million for the same period in 2022 and RMB3.4 billion for the previous quarter.

(SOURCE: Trip.com Group Limited)

Sabah goes Giphy at the MATTA Fair

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TTR WEEKLY

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September 7, 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 September: The Sabah Tourism Board (STB) has embarked on a dynamic digital arts initiative to enhance its marketing strategies.

Unveiled at the MATTA Fair opening Friday, 1 September, STB introduced its inaugural collection of Graphic Interchange Format (GIF) on the dynamic creative platform Giphy to promote tourism products and attractions in Sabah.

The new initiative was jointly launched by Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) secretary-general Datuk Roslan Abdul Rahman and Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.

Given Giphy’s widespread integration with popular social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Facebook – channels frequented by travellers and other users – the move aligns well with STB’s aim to resonate with its audience.

“This trend adoption enables a stronger connection with their followers,” said Joniston, who is also STB chairman.

STB is the first tourism board in Malaysia to venture onto the Giphy platform to promote Sabah’s tourism products and attractions.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) Secretary-General Datuk Roslan Abdul Rahman (left) and Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (right) launching the Sabah Tourism Board digital arts initiative at the MATTA Fair in Kuala Lumpur, on Friday (1 September).

In collaboration with four talented Sabahan artists – Iffah Hazirah and Adora Chloe from Kota Kinabalu, Rachel Rayner from Beaufort, and Nelson Lip from Tawau – STB has brought to life animated content that encapsulates the essence of Sabah.

These freelance artists have each crafted 10 distinctive designs, representing different aspects of Sabah – from adventure and culture to islands, beaches, and nature – all rendered in their unique artistic styles.

Searching for @sabahtourism or other keywords related to Sabah, Malaysia Borneo will provide customised GIFs/Stickers that users can use on their social media postings.

During the MATTA Fair, the Sabah Tourism Board also ran an online contest on social media, offering winners the opportunity to claim special artisanal products from Sabah’s small business owners at the travel fair.

“The Sabah Tourism Board is always seeking inventive and innovative ways to promote Sabah, and for this campaign, we partnered with our creative local communities.

“To successfully market Sabah, we must adopt a cooperative, integrative strategy. Sabah is home to many creative talents, and we want to give them the tools they need to spread the word about what a great place Sabah is,” said Joniston.

Coinciding with the MATTA Fair from 1 to 3 September 2023, visitors could win prizes from the Sabah Tourism Board when they uploaded a photo of themselves at the Sabah Pavillion and applied for the Sabah Tourism Giphy stickers.

Sabah Tourism encourages social media fans to add fun to their travel tales by incorporating the @sabahtourism stickers in their posts.

https://sabahtourism.com/

Centara makes leadership team moves

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September 7, 2023

BANGKOK, 7 September 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is delighted to announce strategic leadership changes within the organisation to reinforce further its commitment to delivering the highest standards of service across all its brands across Thailand and overseas.

Centara’s strong family values have been at the core of its success for the past 40 years, and the company believes that internal mobility is crucial to driving business success. By nurturing its employees’ talents and affording ample opportunities to grow within the organisation, Centara has positioned itself as The Place to Be for its guests and employees.

As part of Centara’s goal of becoming a top 100 global hotel operator by 2027, the company has made the following internal personnel movements:

Robert Maurer-Loeffler, General Manager of Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at Central World, has been promoted to vice president of operations for Centara Grand properties in Thailand.
David Martens has been promoted to senior director of operations for Centara properties and assumes the position of general manager of Centara Karon Resort Phuket.
Wuthisak Pichayagan, general manager of Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok, takes on additional responsibilities as director of operations for all Central Pattana hotel properties in Thailand.
Sebastien Scheeg, general manager of Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai, expands his scope with promotion to director of operations for all Middle East and Maldives properties.
Chaiphun Thongsuthum has been appointed General Manager of Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya
Bernd Rudigier has been appointed as General Manager of Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket

“Congratulations to each of our team members for their remarkable accomplishments. At Centara, our success is driven by the dedication of our people, and we take immense pride in cultivating an environment where individuals evolve and grow within our organisation,” said Centara Hotels & Resorts executive vice president – human resources, Siriwan Wangthamrong.

“As we continue on our journey to becoming a leading global hotel operator, we remain committed to creating the best possible workplace for our employees.”

This new structure reflects Centara’s dedication to internal mobility and cultivating a dynamic work culture supported by family values, enabling the company to provide a seamless and consistent guest experience at each of its properties worldwide.

Find out more about Centara at www.CentaraHotelsResorts.com

More codeshare flights on Emirates and United

Centara wins family-friendly hotel award

Hotels need to work harder on sustainability

JLL advises on prime Kyoto hotel sale

WTTC unveils the power of retail tourism

IATA chief: Planes were full in July

World’s hardcore travellers head for Bangkok shindig

Trip.com tracks recovery in Q2 2023

Sabah goes Giphy at the MATTA Fair

Centara makes leadership team moves

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