PATTAYA, 31 August 2023: Royal Cliff Grand Hotel was recently awarded the 2023 Kayak Travel Awards by Kayak, a top-of-the-line travel booking platform that is part of Booking Holdings
Winners were determined based on reviews and ratings from real travellers worldwide, with a minimum overall rating of 80. That alone it a testament to Royal Cliff’s consistency in providing excellent hospitality and service as well as its distinguished facilities.
Photo Caption: Vitanart Vathanakul, CEO of Royal Cliff Hotels Group, together with Thibault Sellier, Hotels Group Manager, Vankamon Athikomkulchai, Marketing and PR Manager of Royal Cliff Hotels Group and Abdulhadee Wayayok, Front Office Manager of Royal Cliff Grand Hotel with the 2023 Kayak Travel Awards awarded to the Royal Cliff Grand Hotel.
Royal Cliff Hotels Group welcomed the accolade, describing it as a “stamp for travellers to trust that they will receive outstanding service when choosing to stay at the Royal Cliff Grand Hotel.”
Kayak process billions of queries across the platforms each year for travel information, helping millions of travellers around the globe make confident decisions. With every query, KAYAK searches hundreds of travel sites to show travellers the information they need to find the right flights, hotels, hire cars and holiday packages.
Photo Caption: Royal Cliff Grand Hotel accommodates business and leisure travelers with multiple meeting rooms and modern leisure facilities. All rooms and suites come with 180 degrees panoramic sea views. Importantly, the staff strives to take care of everything so that you can take care of both your business and yourself for a truly productive and relaxing stay.
The hotel group’s press statement noted, “Thailand, specifically Pattaya, is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations. Staying in the right award-winning hotel can guarantee a luxurious experience that goes above and beyond the norm.”
The Royal Cliff Hotels Group operates four luxury hotels, including the Kayak award-winning Royal Cliff Grand Hotel. Overall, the group has won over 280 national and international awards to date. This is the ideal luxury destination to discover everything you need for an exceptional holiday.
KUCHING, 31 August 2023: The countdown begins for the Kuching Marathon and Borneo Spartan Trail Classic, two high-profile sporting events hosted in October and supported by the Sarawak Tourism Board.
After a pandemic pause, the Kuching Marathon, famed for its imaginative course winding through Kuching’s riverside and downtown lanes, musters a record turnout for the 1 October race.
Suitable for families who love long-distance running, the early morning event consists of the traditional 42.195km race, a 21-km half marathon, a fast, competitive 10km race, and a more laid-back 5km race.
Now in its 8th edition, the Kuching Marathon is recognised by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) and listed on the AIMS Race Calendar at http://aims-worldrunning.org
Borneo Spartain Trail Classid 2023
The Borneo Trail Classic 2023, an international trail running the event under the Spartan Trail brand, takes place on 7 October with the starting and finishing line at the Redeems Centre in Bau a district, in Kuching Division, Sarawak.
Endurance race fans worldwide will travel to Kuching to compete in three main trail categories (50km, 21km, and 10km) to be crowned the Borneo Trail Classic champions on a challenging course through one of the world’s oldest tropical rainforests.
For families, additional events will be organised on 7 October, covering distances of just 1km and 3km, open to children five to 13 years.
On the official Facebook page, the organisers posted race details and schedule, calling on trail run enthusiasts to “mark your calendars and get ready to challenge yourself amidst lush jungles and stunning landscapes.”
Sarawak is well connected domestically and internationally, so getting to the starting line is not difficult. The largest gateway is Kuching, the state capital, a one-hour and 30-minute flight from Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. There are also direct international flights from Indonesia (Pontianak), Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei and Singapore to Kuching, the state capital of Sarawak.
BANGKOK, 31 August 2023: Trip.com rolls out an Explore with Mastercard promotion, available in 17 territories across the Asia Pacific region for one year, effective from 1 September 2023.
It’s an outcome of a collaboration agreement under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed between Trip.com Group and Mastercard earlier this year.
Travellers gain a discount on all flights when they pay with any Mastercard World or World Elite Consumer credit and debit cards on the Trip.com app, with a minimum spend. For details of the specific offer in each territory, see the table below.
Trip.com senior product & marketing director (Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia) Edmund Ong said: “At Trip.com, we always seek to help our customers plan the perfect trip. We hope this promotion will encourage them to explore more of the world and live their dreams, and we look forward to introducing more such programmes together with Mastercard in the coming months.”
Flight bookings on Trip.com in the first two weeks of August increased by 160% compared to a year ago, solidifying the global rebound in the travel industry.
The Explore with Mastercard promotion runs for one year, from 1 September 2023 until 31 August 2024.
Four-day Super Saver In addition, the partnership with Mastercard will deliver deals for a four-day booking window, 6 to 9 September. The upcoming 9.9 Super Saver Sale will target travellers based in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia offering discounts and promotional codes for hotels, flights, tours and tickets.
CHENNAI India, 31 August 2023: Tourism Malaysia’s Chennai office is hosting the Malaysia Food and Cultural Festival at the Crowne Plaza, Chennai, this week.
Showcasing cultural performances by Malaysian artists and culinary demonstrations by celebrated chefs, the event opened on 26 August and continues until 4 September.
Celebrity chefs from Malaysia flew to Chennai on Batik Air’s inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur. The airline has scheduled daily operations on the route since 24 August 2023.
This cultural and culinary event was opened by the Consul General of Malaysia, Saravana Kumar and supported by representatives from Crowne Plaza, Batik Air, Sama-Sama Hotel, KL International Airport, Borneo Brothers Tours & Travel and VG Maju Tour & Travels.
Tourism Malaysia director-general Dato Dr Ammar Abd Ghapar said: “With the huge demand for more flights from South India to Malaysia, we are happy to announce that Batik Air has launched daily flights from Chennai into Kuala Lumpur.”
This year, Malaysia targets 16.1 million international tourist arrivals with MYR49.3 billion in tourism receipts. India remains among the top countries contributing to tourist arrivals to Malaysia. In 2022, Malaysia welcomed 324,548 Indian tourists, while from January to May 2023, Malaysia received as many as 230,865 Indian tourists compared to 37,198 in the same period last year.
Currently, 158 flights with 30,032 seats are scheduled weekly between India and Malaysia through Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air, AirAsia and IndiGo. Indian tourists can now apply for Malaysia’s eVISA Multiple Entry Visa (MEV) through malaysiavisa.imi.gov.my/evisa.
HONG KONG, 31 August 2023: Following the hosting of the 3rd JCtrans Global Freight Forwarders Expo and International Air Transport Association (IATA) Aviation Day, AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) will welcome the Asian Logistics, Maritime and Aviation Conference (ALMAC) in November this year.
AWE’s calendar is already busy in 2024 with aviation events starting with the IATA World Cargo Symposium 2024, Aero-Engines Asia-Pacific 2024 and Super Terminal Expo 2024 staged in Hong Kong for the first time.
Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) general manager, MICE & Cruise Kenneth Wong explained: “We are thrilled that Hong Kong has become the destination of choice for multiple aviation and logistic events. The city’s status as an aviation hub with a globally connected transportation network, a future-proof Airport City development, top-notch convention venues and a gateway to the GBA makes it a strategic choice in the region to host major industry events. “
Hong Kong, an aviation hub
Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) is frequently ranked among the world’s busiest international passenger airports as it hosts some 120 airlines; it is also the busiest cargo airport in the world, with cargo throughput of 4.2 million tonnes in 2022, making it one of very few airports that’s a leader in both fields. To enhance the connectivity with the GBA and the world, HKIA is transforming itself from a city airport to an Airport City.
A robust expansion strategy is in place, including the three-runway system that will increase capacity by 50% to serve 120 million passengers and 10 million tonnes of cargo annually. Plans are in hand to strengthen the multimodal network with Greater Bay Area cities through state-of-the-art cross-boundary infrastructure, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge to ensure seamless travel via Hong Kong, which helps to facilitate more multi-destination exchange and excursions within the region. As part of the Airport City development, AWE – which is located right next to the international airport, is expanding to house the city’s largest indoor arena with over 20,000 seats, thus attracting more large-scale events to stage in town. These enhancements position the city as a super-connector to capture more business opportunities in both the lucrative GBA market and the world, providing growth impetus to Hong Kong’s MICE industry.
Airport Authority Hong Kong chief operating officer and Hong Kong Convention Ambassador Vivian Cheung said: “I am thrilled to bring significant industry events to our city, which reflects the role of Hong Kong as a leading aviation, transportation and logistics hub. As a Hong Kong Convention Ambassador programme member, I look forward to welcoming even more business events and delegates worldwide.”
IATA World Cargo Symposium
The IATA World Cargo Symposium in March 2024 travels to Hong Kong for the first time, and HKIA has been designated host airport for the 2024 edition. The conference should attract over 1,000 attendees worldwide to tackle subjects related to technology and innovation, security and customs, cargo operations, and sustainability.
Super Terminal Expo 2024
The inaugural Super Terminal Expo 2024 event debuts at Hong Kong’s AWE in November 2024. It’s the first of its kind, featuring dynamic networking opportunities and educational sessions and highlights important insights into trends and technologies shaping the future of cargo and passenger terminals, as well as ports, railways and building construction industries.
Informa Markets executive vice president of commercial development Michael Duck added: “The Asia-Pacific region is the largest global logistics and passenger transport market, and Hong Kong sits right at its heart. We are delighted to host the inaugural Super Terminal Expo in this thriving market. Right before the flagship exhibition, we will also host Aero-Engines Asia-Pacific 2024 as part of Aviation Week Network’s Aero-Engines series in the city in April 2024. These events present a raft of opportunities that will allow businesses to tap into the growing demand for logistics and passenger transportation services.”
BANGKOK, 31 August 2023: Thai Vietjet has extended a partnership with Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), offering a special discount code valued at THB500 for passengers travelling on Thai Vietjet’s flight between Thailand and Japan.
The deal is valid until 31 October 31, 2023, for passengers booking Thai Vietjet flights on the Bangkok – Fukuoka and Chiang Mai – Osaka routes, with travel open until 31 December 2023 (not including public holidays). To secure the discount valued at THB500, the travellers must use the discount code JPN500 when booking on Thai Vietjet’s website.
Thai Vietjet director of commercial Pinyot Pibulsonggram said: “The partnership between Thai Vietjet and JNTO will stimulate tourism between Thailand and Japan. Japan has been among Thai tourists’ dream destinations and vice versa.”
Japan National Tourism Organization Bangkok Office executive director Kei Doi added: “Thai Vietjet is a very important partner facilitating travel between Thailand and Japan. JNTO Bangkok Office will continue to introduce the diversity of Japan’s attractions to the people of Thailand.”
Thai Vietjet schedules a daily flight between Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Fukuoka. The flight from Bangkok departs Suvarnabhumi Airport at 0030 and lands at Fukuoka Airport at 0755, while the return flight departs Fukuoka at 0855 and arrives in Bangkok at 1235 (local time).
In addition, the airline flies four times weekly between Chiang Mai and Osaka every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. The flight depart Chiang Mai at 2300 and arrives in Osaka at 0620. The return flight departs Osaka on the following day at 0905 and lands in Chiang Mai at 1305 (local time). Flights between Thailand and Japan use an A321 aircraft.
KUALA LUMPUR, 31 August 2023: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) will host the much-anticipated MATTA Fair, now in its 53rd edition, from 1 to 3 September 2023 at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).
MATTA Fair September 2023 will occupy a staggering 37,000 square metres of space across eight halls, featuring an impressive lineup of 1,367 exhibition booths. With 307 participating organisations, including 199 travel and tour agencies, 12 National Tourism Organizations, seven State Tourism Offices, 44 hotels and resorts, eight theme parks, three airlines, and 34 other travel-related service exhibitors, visitors can expect a comprehensive and diverse showcase of travel and tourism offerings.
From left to right: Shazlin Ahmad, Country Manager, South East Asia;Sien Vee Loc, Head, Consumer Finance, Group Community Banking;Datuk Tan Kok Liang, MATTA Fair Organising Chairman;Nigel Wong, President of MATTA;Syazwan Ahmad Sabri, Head of Airlines Global Sales;Luqman Haqem, Assistant Manager Promotion, Tourism Selangor;Massine Yap, Marketing Manager, AmLeisure Media.
“This year, MATTA Fair introduces a new horizon of segmentation in the domestic hall. With categories like state, hoteliers, and free zone, the fair aims to showcase how this strategy will stimulate the growth of local domestic tourism stakeholders. This segmentation highlights the diversity of domestic offerings and underscores our commitment to nurture and further promote local tourism,” said MATTA president Nigel Wong.
Key partners and sponsors include: – Malaysia Aviation Group (Official Airline Partner) – RHB Bank (Exclusive Platinum Sponsor) – Selangor (Malaysia’s Featured Destination) – Saudi (International Destination) – AmLeisure (Media (Media Partner)
As a new addition to this year’s event, MATTA Fair will host the MATTA Tourism Career & Education Fair at Hall 9, Level 3, on 2 September 2023. This event will bring together industry professionals, educators, and aspiring students in tourism. It will serve as a platform to exchange knowledge, insights, and opportunities within the tourism sector, providing students with valuable information to effectively shape their educational paths and careers.
In partnership with MITEC, MATTA Fair is committed to ensuring visitor convenience. Ample parking facilities are available at the North and South Entrance Basement parking in MITEC, MITI Basement parking, and MATRADE Open car park. Visitors are encouraged to use the free shuttle services from KL Sentral and Sunway Putra Mall to alleviate traffic congestion.
There will be daily talk shows and various multicultural performances from STOs and NTOs at Level 1 & Level 3. Visitors can engage with representatives from various countries and regions, learn about their unique offerings, and gain valuable insights into your next travel adventure. These include a performance by The Sky Band from Menara KL, Ayda Jebat sharing a session about Taiwan, a mesmerising Sape’ Performance from Sarawak Tourism Board, and many other exciting performances.
“Renowned for its value-for-money travel packages, MATTA Fair September 2023 will live up to its reputation. All tour and travel exhibitors participating in the fair are licensed by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, ensuring consumers can confidently purchase. Visitors will be spoiled for choice with an array of new destinations and tour products on display,” said Wong.
Visitors to the fair can take part in the MATTA Fair Buyers’ Contest. Visitors can join the Buyers’ Contest with every minimum purchase of RM 100 on any travel package. Look out for the buyers’ contest booths at the foyer of each level to submit online entries and stand a chance to win the grand prize of return business flight ticket from Kuala Lumpur to London courtesy of Malaysia Airlines, besides other ticket prizes to a wide variety of destinations and attractions.
“Don’t miss this unparalleled opportunity to explore the world of travel and tourism. MATTA Fair September 2023 promises to deliver unforgettable experiences, unbeatable deals, and a chance to discover Malaysia and the world in a whole new light,” Wong concluded.
To encourage the use of the shuttle service, there will be daily lucky draws for those who use our shuttle service, and lucky winners stand a chance to win MYR100 Travel Vouchers for redemption with our Domestic Exhibitor companies. The voucher is valid until 31 March 2024.
It is free admission to the fair open from 1000 to 2100 for three days, Friday to Sunday. For more information, visit the MATTA Fair’s website and social media platforms on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or subscribe to MATTA’s new Telegram channels @MATTA_Fair. Visit the MATTA Fair website: https://www.mattafair.org.my/index.php/en/
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 August 2023: AirAsia X reported its financial results for the Second Quarter of 2023 ended 30 June 2023, earlier this week saying it posted a net profit of MYR5.5 million for the quarter.
It represents a return to net profit and turnaround when compared with the net loss of MYR652.5 million during the same quarter last year.
In 2Q23, the company registered revenue of MYR512.9 million, over four times higher year-on-year, driven by a recovery of scheduled flight operations as more aircraft were redeployed as of 30 June 2023.
The airline had 11 aircraft activated, compared to five aircraft during the same period last year. Overall, this quarter’s turnover marks a recovery rate of over 50% compared to the performance in 2019.
Compared to the same period last year, the earnings increase was primarily attributable to the surge in seat capacity, which grew by over 26 times YoY to 818,422 seats flown as more aircraft were operational, and the airline’s network was optimised. During the quarter under review, the company carried 621,984 passengers, delivering a surge of 70 times YoY, consequently posting a healthy passenger load factor (“PLF”) of 76%, which is 47 percentage points higher than the 29% PLF reported for the corresponding quarter ended 30 June 2022.
As seat capacity grew along with the recovery of the company’s network, Available Seat Kilometres (“ASK”) was recorded 25 times higher YoY, standing at 3,509 million, with a recovery rate of 42% against the corresponding period in 2019.
In 2Q23, AirAsia X continued to advance its network recovery strategy, launching flights to Bangkok, Beijing and the Gold Coast, on top of establishing increased frequencies of up to seven times weekly to Sydney, between Sydney and Auckland, to Melbourne as well as to Osaka to meet the significant demand for these sectors. Compared to the same period last year, the number of sectors flown has increased by over 27 times from 81 sectors to 2,234 sectors as of 30 June 2023.
As passenger traffic on China routes continues its gradual recovery, the company is ramping up operations on routes to China.
In terms of costs, the company’s cost per available seat kilometres (“CASK”) has normalised compared to the preceding year, standing at 11.75 ‘sen’ in 2Q23. Compared to the preceding quarter, CASK has increased, driven by higher maintenance costs due to increased utilisation-driven maintenance cost components. Revenue per Available Seat Kilometres (“RASK”) recorded 14.61 ‘sen’ as the average base fare rationalised to MYR533 this quarter on the back of an increase in ASK capacity, in addition to second quarters in calendar years typically delivering softer earnings due to seasonality, requiring a targeted sales and dedicated pricing strategy.
AirAsia X Thailand reported overall revenue of MYR351.9 million, five times higher than the same period last year and demonstrated a strong recovery of over 90% from 2019. In 2Q23, TAAX had posted a net operating profit of MYR33.5 million as the airline recovered. However, driven by unrealised foreign exchange losses, TAAX reported a net loss of MYR73.6 million. That being said, its operational metrics were robust; in 2Q23, TAAX carried 311,337 passengers, up by 28 times YoY, while ASK capacity grew by 44 times YoY to 1,805 million on the back of a ramp-up of TAAX’s scheduled flight operations. During the quarter under review, TAAX launched flights to Shanghai and increased Tokyo flights to 14 times weekly.
AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail said, “We continue to focus on our consolidated growth strategy to build yield and enhance the recovery of our network capacity gradually in line with demand in our core markets as our first priority. Our revised business plan continues to highlight improvements across all key metrics. In the last 12 months, we have been prudent by reinstating services from initially two destinations and three times weekly flights. Comparatively, we now have 18 destinations with 96 weekly flights, and this exponential growth is expected to grow further as more aircraft are brought to service and connectivity with FlyThru will be further amplified.”
PHUKET, 30 August 2023: The farm-to-fork campaigners will take centre stage at PHIST 2023 as leading chefs demonstrate how to raise the bar to deliver sustainability and social responsibility in Thailand.
PHIST 2023 (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism), a leading sustainability event in Southeast Asia, returns to Phuket on 4 September at the SAii Laguna Phuket.
Caption (From left): Xavier Charest-Rehel, Executive Chef at Banyan Tree Phuket; Tipaporn Phianthong, Head Chef of Banyan Tree Phuket’s Saffron Restaurant; and Rick Dingen, Executive Chef at Jampa Restaurant.
The event will deliver a full-day agenda packed with debates and exhibitions, headlined by some of the industry’s biggest names, such as Banyan Tree founder KP Ho and design icon Bill Bensley.
The latest update from the organisers confirms delegates will also be treated to a showcase of world-class farm-to-fork gastronomy by three of the region’s most highly acclaimed celebrity chefs: Rick Dingen, executive chef at Jampa Restaurant, who has earned a Michelin Green accolade for his commitment to zero-waste cuisine; Xavier Charest-Rehel, Executive Chef at Banyan Tree Phuket, who manages the Veya Pharm organic garden which focuses on clean farming methods; and Tipaporn Phianthong, Head Chef of Banyan Tree Phuket’s Saffron Restaurant.
At PHIST 2023, these celebrated chefs will stage cooking demonstrations. Guests will learn why sustainable, farm-to-fork and zero-waste dining while sampling the chefs’ culinary creations.
PHIST 2023 co-organiser and managing director of C9 Hotelworks Bill Barnett said: “We are excited to feature these three farm-to-fork chefs at PHIST. Travel to resort islands in Asia has moved beyond the beach; for many guests, trying amazing artisan food gives them a true sense of place. Adopting sustainable practices isn’t just great for the planet; it can help restaurants create authentic dining experiences, support local suppliers, and attract travelling foodies.”
Organic cuisine is at the heart of Banyan Tree Group’s culinary ethos. Xavier Charest-Rehel, Executive Chef at Banyan Tree Phuket, has established the Veya Pharm, which focuses on highly nutritious ingredients such as mushrooms, passionfruit, tomatoes, mulberries, chillies and a wide variety of herbs and spices, all of which are used in the resort’s restaurants and staff canteen.
Chef Xavier commented: “At Banyan Tree Group, we have been committed to using seasonal, regional produce in our kitchens for years, and we are dedicated to finding sustainable alternatives that positively impact the environment and local communities. I am looking forward to showcasing our farm-to-table strategy at PHIST 2023.”
Phuket Hotels Association, the co-organiser of PHIST 2023, actively promotes farm-to-fork dining and zero waste. Under its “Green Planet School” project, the association also helps Phuket’s schools manage small organic gardens, allowing children to learn about growing their own food and protecting the environment. This initiative has already been rolled out to four schools, each assigned to one of the association’s member hotels.
SINGAPORE, 30 August 2023: Pandaw, a leading river cruise specialist in Asia, is promoting its Indian signature cruise on the Lower Ganges or Hooghly River as it is known.
Considered a sacred river, it flows through India’s West Bengal, branching off from the mother river, The Ganga.
In its latest promotion, Pandaw underscores the message that cruising the Hooghly is the best way to experience the diverse cultures and scenery of West Bengal.
“You discover places difficult to reach by road from the comfort of your own home from home on the river,” Pandaw explains in its latest newsletter.
“The Lower Ganges or Hooghly is one of the prettiest river journeys imaginable. The river winds through the lush countryside of West Bengal, visiting culturally significant towns crammed with temples and palaces. A vibrant rural life abounds, and there is never a dull moment as the cruise explores the heritage-rich waterways.”
Pandaw’s seven-night Lower Ganges expedition takes travellers to the heart of West Bengal for in-depth river exploration, an entirely different experience from typical tour bus road trips. There are also several special offers on the table, such as no single supplement for solo travellers and a “10% discovery discount available on select dates.”
Combine cruises – Lower Ganges and Brahmaputra
To turn the trip into a broader exploration of India, Pandaw offers an option to extend the Lower Ganges expedition with a sailing along the Brahmaputra River.
“Adding the Brahmaputra river cruise in Northern India provides travellers with a distinctive and authentic expedition on a river that originates high in the Himalayas before flowing through the scenic Assam Valley, home to UNESCO-protected national parks and remote rural communities.”
Or, it is also possible to continue the trip by joining Pandaw’s Highlights of India Tour, that highlights Delhi and the famous Taj Mahal.
