BANGKOK, 7 July 2023: LifeStyles on 26 at Centara Grand at CentralWorld now offers fitness enthusiasts an opportunity to spice up their exercise routine with a high-energy Zumba session.
Zumba is not just about having a blast, though. It’s proven to tone your legs, arms, and abs while burning up to 600 calories an hour. That’s right; you can burn more calories than running or cycling while enjoying the beat of lively Latin music.
The expert instructors at LifeStyles on 26 are committed to making your Zumba experience the best it can be. With classes three times a week, they will guide you through all the right moves, each targeting a different area of your body.
The fun-filled dance workouts at LifeStyles on 26 are held every Monday from 1900 to 2000. The drop-in price for a one-hour session is THB400. Non-members can save big by purchasing 10 or 20-session bundles at THB3,500 and THB6,000, respectively.
LifeStyles on 26 offers a full range of bodybuilding, body sculpting, body toning, and fat-burning activities to help you achieve your fitness goals. To learn more about the services, visit us or call 02-100-6299.
SINGAPORE, 7 July 2023: Air Astana has opened ticket sales for a new direct flight from Almaty to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, which will commence on 1 October 2023.
Services will initially operate twice weekly on Wednesdays and Sundays using an Airbus A321neo aircraft.
Photo credit: Air Astana.
The flight will depart Almaty at 1840 and arrive in Jeddah at 2230, with the return flight leaving at 2330 and arriving in Almaty at 0815. All times are local. The flight time will be six hours 50 minutes outbound and five hours 45 minutes inbound to Almaty.
“Saudi Arabia has a rich and diverse cultural heritage, which will be interesting not only for the pilgrimage of Muslims to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina but also for tourists looking to visit cultural, historical and natural sites on the Red Sea,” said Air Astana vice president marketing and sales Adel Dauletbek. “Passengers travelling to Jeddah are offered convenient connections from other cities in Kazakhstan, as well as from Tashkent, Dushanbe and Bishkek. We also expect tourists from Saudi Arabia to explore Kazakhstan.”
Round-trip economy fares start at USD734 and round-trip business tickets start at USD1584. Ticket sales are now open on the airline’s website, at ticket sales offices, accredited travel agencies, and the airline’s booking and information centre. Citizens of Kazakhstan need to obtain an e-visa before travelling to Saudi Arabia.
L/R: Noredah Othman, CEO, Sabah Tourism Board, Malaysia and Dr Gerald Perez, vice president, Guam Visitors Bureau, USA.
BANGKOK, 7 July 2023: The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) confirmed the re-appointment of Noredah Othman, CEO of Sabah Tourism Board, Malaysia and the appointment of Dr Gerald Perez, vice president of Guam Visitors Bureau, USA, to the PATA Executive Board for two-year terms effective since 27 June 2023.
With 30 years of experience in Sabah Tourism, Noredah Othman is Sabah Tourism Board’s longest-serving officer. She is responsible for marketing and promotion of the destination.
Dr Gerry Perez currently serves as the vice president of the Guam Visitors Bureau and is a founding member of the Micronesia Cruise Association.
Othman and Perez join the other Executive Board members comprising Peter Semone, Chair PATA; Benjamin Liao, Vice Chair PATA and Chairman, Forte Hotel Group, Chinese Taipei, Singapore; Suman Pandey, Secretary/Treasurer PATA and President, Explore Himalaya Travel and Adventure Nepal; Tunku Iskandar Group President Mitra Malaysia Sdn Bhd Malaysia; SanJeet Managing Director DDP Publications Private Ltd India; Luzi Matzig Chairman Asian Trails Ltd Thailand and Dr Fanny Vong, President – Macau Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM), Macau, China. Non-voting members are Soon-Hwa Wong, CEO AsiaChina Pte Ltd Singapore and Mayur (Mac) Patel, Head of Asia, OAG, Singapore.
The new executive board members were ratified at the PATA Annual General Meeting held online on 27 June 2023.
SINGAPORE, 7 July 2023: Vietjet increases frequencies to 34 flights per week to Australia, starting with an upgrade to daily flights on the routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Sydney and Melbourne, effective this December.
Flights to Brisbane will also increase to three weekly The three Australian cities have been named among the top 10 most liveable cities by Economist Intelligence Unit.
The Ho Chi Minh City-Sydney flights will increase to daily services starting 5 December 2023.
The flight departs Ho Chi Minh City HCM at 1905 and arrives in Sydney at 0805 the following morning (local time). From Sydney, the flight departs at 1115 and lands in Ho Chi Minh City at 1615 (local time).
Effective 1 December 2023, direct flights from HCM to Melbourne also increase to daily. The flight departs HCM at 1050 and arrives in Melbourne at 2335. The return flight departs Melbourne at 0130 and arrives in HCM at 0620 (local time).
The HCM to Brisbane flights increase to three flights per week. Starting 6 December 2023, the flight departs HCM at 1055 and arrives in Brisbane at 2210. The return flight departs Brisbane at 2340 and arrives in HCM at 0505 on the following day.
From now until 15 August 2023, passengers can gain a 50% discount on fares to Australia when entering code SKYBOSSPROMO50 for SkyBoss tickets and code BUSINESSPROMO50 for business tickets.
SINGAPORE, 7 July 2023: IndiGo will introduce a new service linking Mumbai in India with the Indonesian capital Jakarta starting 7 August.
In a press statement released last week, the airline said it would be its 28th international destination and the first service to link India’s financial capital Mumbai with Jakarta.
Photo credit: Indigo Facebook
This week, sales for the new daily flight opened on the airline’s website. The direct service will reduce the flight time between the two countries and encourage an increase in Indian business and leisure travellers to visit Jakarta.
The shortest flight duration on the route Mumbai-Jakara is eight hours and 50 minutes on a one-stop service with a change of plane in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Flying Singapore Airlines with a plane change in Singapore, the flight time extends to 10 hours and 55 minutes. Once Indigo launches a direct service, the flight time will reduce to six hours and 45 minutes with a roundtrip fare starting at USD404.
Jakarta is Southeast Asia’s capital and largest city, while Indonesia is a favourite leisure destination for Indian tourists.
IndiGo head of global sales Vinay Malhotra commented: “We are excited to unveil Jakarta amongst the newest destinations within our expanding international network. As India and Indonesia look at
strengthening bilateral ties and increasing direct connectivity, the opening of this new route will enable easy access and promotion of trade and tourism across the two nations.”
India is one of the top five source markets generating visits to Indonesia. This year Indonesia is targeting 8.5 million foreign tourist visits.”
Flight schedule
About IndiGo
IndiGo has a fleet of over 300 aircraft operating over 1800 daily flights and connecting 78 domestic destinations and will soon further grow its international footprint to 32 international destinations. India by IndiGo.
BANGKOK, 7 July 2023: Thai Airways International increased flights to Osaka, Japan, from seven to 13 weekly to meet the growing demand by both business and leisure travellers.
Osaka is one of the top and most popular destinations for tourists, cargo services, and connectivity to other destinations worldwide.
To celebrate the additional six weekly flights on the Osaka route, the airline served fudge bar chocolate specially designed for THAI by Kanvela Chocolate.
THAI has been serving the Bangkok-Osaka route since 2022, with daily flights departing midnight from the Thai capital. This week, the airline adds six weekly flights ( Monday to Saturday) on the route, offering passengers an early morning departure from Bangkok.
Weekly schedules
Bangkok – Osaka TG622 departs daily from Bangkok at 2359 and arrives in Osaka at 0730 plus one day (local time). TG672 departs from Bangkok at 0825 and arrives in Osaka at 1555 (local time), Monday to Saturday.
Osaka – Bangkok TG623 departs daily from Osaka at 1145 and arrives in Bangkok at 1535 (local time). TG673 departs from Osaka at 1735 and arrives in Bangkok at 2125 (local time), Monday to Saturday.
BANGKOK, 6 July 2023: Singapore Airlines says it’s time to pack your bags and prepare for your next getaway by tapping fare bargains at the airline’s ‘Time To Fly Travel Sale’.
Up to midnight on 19 July, travellers in Thailand can buy all-inclusive return airfares starting from THB7,890 to popular destinations such as Los Angeles, Nagoya, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Zurich, and other destinations across the Singapore Airlines Group network.
Photo credit: Singapore Airlines
Promotional fares are offered in Business Class, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class.
Purchasing fares during the travel sale using credit cards adds benefits on shopping, dining, hotel stays, lifestyle and travel experiences. The exclusive perks include:
• Receive a sign-up bonus of SGD15 for new sign-ups for Kris+.
• Enjoy 20% off when you book your travel experiences on Pelago.
• Get a 30% discount for your stay at Cross River Kwai, Cross Chiang Mai Riverside, Cross
Pattaya Oceanphere, and Cross Pattaya Pratamnak.
• Enjoy 10% off at Drop By Dough, a freshly made doughnut store in Bangkok.
• Receive THB1,000 dining discount at Michelin-starred IGNIV Bangkok, the St.Regis
Bangkok.
• Enjoy 10% off food and beverage when you spend a minimum of THB 500 on a single bill at Nana Coffee Roasters.
• Receive up to THB 300 shopping E-Coupons at Emporium, EmQuartier, and Paragon Department Store.
• Get up to THB17,000 cash back when you book your tickets at singaporeair.com or the SingaporeAir mobile application and pay by UOB and Citi Credit Cards.
For more details on the perks, click on this link.
To plan your travel and book fares visit singaporeair.com, SingaporeAir mobileapplication or appointed travel agencies by 19 July 2023.
Sample fares
*The above fares are per person in Business Class, Premium Economy Class, and Economy Class and include the air ticket price, as well as associated taxes and surcharges, accurate as of 28 June 2023. Valid for travel from now till 30 June 2024. Stated fares are available on singaporeair.com and SingaporeAir mobile application.
BANGKOK, 6 July 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, in collaboration with Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines, three of the world’s leading international airlines, is proud to announce a limited-time Double Rewards offer exclusively for CentaraThe1 loyalty programme members.
From today to 31 July 2023, members will receive 600 airline miles or Avios for every 5,000 CentaraThe1 points they convert, double the usual 300 miles or Avios offered through these strategic airline partnerships. This enhancement to Centara’s loyalty programme provides more opportunities for members to maximise their points and indulge in extraordinary travel experiences faster.
Centara Hotels & Resorts continues to pioneer new ways to offer personalised travel to its guests while staying committed to delivering the utmost value, service and warm Thai hospitality at each of its properties worldwide. With the CentaraThe1 loyalty programme, every stay, dining experience, and spa treatment at the group’s world-class hotels and resorts earn members valuable points. These points can now be effortlessly converted into airline miles for flights with these three esteemed airline partners: Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
Signing up for the CentaraThe1 loyalty programme is free and offers various travel rewards and possibilities. Members can take advantage of this exciting Double Miles offer and have exclusive privileges, including 15% off room rates, complimentary room upgrades, and more.
To take advantage of all CentaraThe1 membership privileges, sign up now or login to your existing account at www.CentaraThe1.com
DUBAI UAE, 6 July 2023: The Emirates Group is laying the groundwork for its next big growth phase with a mammoth drive to recruit the best minds and talent globally across 180 unique roles. The Group is looking to cherry-pick cabin crew, pilots, engineers, IT professionals and customer service agents at Emirates and dnata.
Despite tough labour market conditions globally, the Emirates Group ended its financial year on 31 March with more than 102,000 employees after welcoming 17,160 people in various roles.
Emirates Group senior vice president of human resources Oliver Grohmann said: “The Emirates Group has built an extraordinary reputation as an employer of choice and a trailblazing force in aviation. People aspire to be part of the Group’s growth story and its ambitions and work and live in Dubai, one of the world’s safest, most cosmopolitan and most dynamic cities. In the last financial year, we received around 2.7 million applications globally for roles across the organisation. We use the latest technologies, such as digital assessments, artificial intelligence and other top-notch recruitment systems, to shortlist, select and respond to candidates most efficiently and effectively. Our focus is recruiting the best talent, the brightest minds, and those most fit for the various roles supporting and driving our future growth and expansion.”
The fresh callout for cabin crew and pilots comes at one of the most exciting times in Emirates’ history – a year of record financial results and profit share, projected growth, network expansion, delivery of the new fleet of Airbus A350s and Boeing 777-Xs starting in 2024, a buoyant travel market and an optimistic outlook overall.
Cabin crew
Emirates is organising open days and invite-only events across six continents, covering hundreds of cities all year round, in search of the brightest talent to offer customers an unmatched onboard experience. The recruitment process is designed to be completed within a day, and candidates are contacted within 48 hours of the assessment.
As part of the world’s largest international airline, Emirates’ cabin crew community represents over 140 nationalities, speaks around 130 languages and delivers the airline’s signature services with excellence and empathy. Aspiring cabin crew can browse the recruitment events calendar, view benefits and eligibility criteria, and apply here.
Pilots
Emirates is holding a series of open days to recruit pilots in the UK and Ireland – Dublin, Manchester, London Gatwick and London Stansted – in August after successfully running these events in Budapest, Madrid and Lisbon in June. An online information session is slated for 19 July at 1300 Dubai time.
Emirates’ pilots fly one of the world’s youngest and most sophisticated fleets, with 260 all wide-body aircraft of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, to six continents, 150 destinations, and across all terrains, including the North Pole. Since 2022, the airline has welcomed over 900 new pilots on its three recruitment programmes – Direct Entry Captains, Accelerated Command, and First Officers.
A380 Direct Entry Captain: designed for captains with recent command experience on Airbus fly-by-wire Wide Body such as the A330, A340, A350, and A380.
Accelerated Command: for experienced Airbus Captains who currently command narrow-body aircraft on regional routes.
First Officer: for those with multi-engine, multi-crew aircraft experience and a valid Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL).
For more info on benefits and eligibility criteria and to register for the online information session, click here.
KUALA LUMPUR, 6 July 2023: Trip.com Group announced Wednesday a childcare subsidy for its global employees.
Malaysian employees who have been with the company for three years or more will receive an annual cash bonus of MYR10,000 for each newborn child every year from the first birthday until the child reaches the age of five.
The company plans to invest MYR1 billion as subsidies to support its employees in family planning and promote working families.
Trip.com Group executive chairman James Liang said: “Employees are our greatest asset to the company, and we are committed to creating a better and more supportive working environment for them. By introducing this new childcare benefit, we aim to provide financial support to encourage our employees to start or grow their families without compromising their professional goals and achievements.”
At Trip.com Group, building an inclusive and supportive workplace is always a top priority. This childcare subsidy is a further commitment to empowering our employees to balance their family and professional lives.
As a family-friendly company, Trip.com Group also supports working mothers and cares for pregnant employees. In recent years, Trip.com Group has implemented pro-family policies such as hybrid work and assisted reproduction benefits.
To enhance employee happiness and satisfaction, the company implemented a hybrid working scheme through which employees across various markets could opt to work remotely on certain days of the week. The hybrid working model was introduced with the aims to improve employee satisfaction, contribute to family care and promote work-life balance. The global group was the first internet company in China to implement the scheme. While initially introduced in mainland China, the policy has now been adopted by Trip.com Group in 14 regions and countries, including Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, and Australia.
