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HKTDC takes Hong Kong to Bangkok

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 6 July 2023: The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is taking its Think Business, Think Hong Kong (TBTHK) signature promotion event to Bangkok next week.

The event will showcase Hong Kong as a resilient innovation hub where businesses worldwide can seize opportunities. TBTHK will convene from 13 to 14 July at Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld.

Ronald Ho, Regional Director, Southeast Asia and South Asia of the HKTDC.

Hong Kong and Thai business communities will explore partnership opportunities through exhibitions, seminars and networking activities during the event.

HKTDC regional director, Southeast Asia and South Asia Ronald Ho commented: “Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has a long history of close economic ties with Hong Kong and is the city’s second-largest trading partner in merchandise trade. The TBTHK in Bangkok will highlight Hong Kong’s offerings in ASEAN and provide additional impetus for promoting regional trade and investment partnerships and creating opportunities through regional economic and supply chain integration.”

“Our main goal is to promote Hong Kong’s strengths in merchandise and services and introduce the city’s latest developments, demonstrating to the Thai business community that Hong Kong is the premier international business hub in Asia, as well as an investment and business platform for Thai enterprises to maximise China opportunities. Simultaneously, we will showcase how the Thai, mainland and Hong Kong business communities can collaborate to create mutually beneficial business opportunities and maintain long-standing close business and trade ties.”

Parkroyal on Kitchener Road record sale

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 6 July 2023: JLL announced Wednesday it advised Pan Pacific Hotels Group on the sale of the Parkroyal on Kitchener Road to Midtown Properties Pte Ltd, part of Worldwide Hotels Group.

The purchase consideration of SGD525 million (USD388 million) represents Singapore’s largest single-asset hotel transaction and the second largest in Asia Pacific in 2023.

The 542-key freehold hotel is in the heart of the historic Little India district near City Square Mall, Mustafa Centre and Farrer Park MRT station.

Adding to the asset’s attractiveness, the Parkroyal on Kitchener Road completed a major refurbishment in 2020, adding more state-of-the-art fit-outs to meet maturing guest experience demands.

“As the largest single-asset hotel transaction ever recorded in Singapore and the second largest in the Asia Pacific region in 2023, this deal underscores the enduring appeal of Singapore as a haven investment destination amidst global macroeconomic uncertainty and its status of one of the most attractive long-term hotel markets globally,” said JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group chief executive officer, Asia Pacific Nihat Ercan.

“JLL is delighted to have advised on this landmark transaction, secured through a comprehensive marketing campaign targeting active sources of capital globally and regionally. Furthermore, we see this sale as reinforcing our confidence in strong buyer appetite regionally for quality hotel assets and a willingness by investors to deploy capital into key markets and strategic assets.“

The Parkroyal on Kitchener Road transaction is also the first major agent-brokered hotel transaction in Singapore post-pandemic, and it follows JLL’s successful sale of the SHREIT portfolio in Indonesia and Vietnam, which the firm believes is indicative of stronger investment activity to materialise across the region during the second half of 2023. This transaction holds significant importance for the market, following the successful sales of the Andaz Singapore and the Oakwood Premier OUE since 2019, also brokered by JLL.

Hong Kong espies recovery in 2024

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 6 July 2023: Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) welcomes the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) latest projection of air passenger traffic for Hong Kong, which sees a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024.

AAHK chief operating officer Vivian Cheung said: “We have been communicating closely with IATA and global stakeholders about the latest developments in Hong Kong. We are delighted that IATA revised its projection to express an optimistic outlook after the government announced the new scheme that allows importation of labour to support the aviation industry.”

Previously IATA projected that Hong Kong would only surpass the pre-pandemic air passenger levels in 2027.

Passenger traffic at Hong Kong International Airport has risen since the relaxation of travel restrictions. Currently, the airport is handling over 120,000 passengers a day, representing about 60% of the pre-pandemic level.

Last week, IATA upgraded passenger traffic projections for Hong Kong to forecast recovery to pre-crisis levels by the end of 2024. This revision brings Hong Kong’s recovery in line with expectations for a faster recovery in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The situation is looking bright for Hong Kong. China’s earlier-than-expected reopening is providing a much-needed boost to the passenger recovery,” said IATA’s director general Willie Walsh.

“By the end of 2024, we expect to see Hong Kong’s traffic return to pre-crisis levels. And it is encouraging to see the Hong Kong government preparing for this with measures to ensure that the workers needed to support the recovery are available.”\

The Hong Kong government introduced a labour importation scheme to ramp up the airport workforce by 6,300 workers from Mainland China. While demand for air travel has been strong, airlines in Hong Kong have been struggling with supply chain issues and a labour shortage.

“The last three years have been devastating for the aviation sector. As we look ahead to the recovery and prepare for future growth, it is important that the entire Hong Kong aviation community, including airlines, airports, regulators, and government, work together to address the challenges and are well prepared to tap into future opportunities. I look forward to meeting with various partners in Hong Kong in August and engaging in fruitful discussions,” Walsh concluded.

IATA and the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) are partnering to organise Hong Kong Aviation Day from 2 to 3 August 2023.

Destination Mekong names new directors

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TTR WEEKLY
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PHNOM PENH, 6 July 2023: Destination Mekong appointed four new directors to its 16-member board at its annual general meeting held online yesterday.

Destination Mekong represents the private sector travel and hospitality companies in the Mekong Region (Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam).

Eight nominees contested for four directorships that became vacant when directors completed a one-year term after the destination marketing organisation was officially launched as a legal entity in Singapore and Cambodia. Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism HQ in Phnom Penh hosts the Destination Mekong operations office.

The incoming directors are Phan Thanh Ha, partnership officer of Asset-H&C Network; Nikolas Hatz of HatzConsult and managing director lead consultant and tourism development expert GIZ; Hannah Pearson founder of Pear Anderson; and Guido Neil, director of special operations 12GO.

Destination Mekong’s CEO Catherine Germier-Hamel opened the AGM presentations by outlining the strategy going forward, saying the DMO would remain true to its founding objectives by “promoting sustainable, inclusive tourism, market capacity building and value-added branding.”

DM’s commercial marketing officer, Gerrit Kruger, noted that initially, the organisation had not concentrated on recruiting paid memberships which start as low as USD60 a year.

“Our priority was building partnerships and establishing tangible benefits for members. This has unfolded through webinars, workshops and storytelling-focused destination marketing.”

Destination Mekong will concentrate on reviving its successful Mekong Collection and other initiatives that suffered a direct hit during the Covid pandemic. At the height of its success, the Mekong Collection had 500 participating travel and hospitality experiences spotlighted in social media.

Most of the previous Mekong promotions and projects remain inactive, awaiting the pick-up of sponsors. However, the Mekong Mini Movies is now a priority to revive as quickly as possible, leading to the return of the  Mekong Mini Movie Festival. The event was launched in 2018 and gained rave reviews as it spotlighted individuals who produced videos on small budgets. Covid-19 knocked the show off the calendar, and efforts to revive it in 2022 failed. It is now a priority, with Destination Mekong seeking new sponsors.

Destination Mekong will add more working groups recruiting industry experts to review and advise on specific themes. Three new working groups are about to be established. They will focus on Cruises and River Tourism,  Ecotourism and Community-based Tourism and Tourism Hospitality Certification.

The signature event for the organisation is the annual Destination Mekong Summit, which will be held from 6 to 7 December in one of the six Mekong Region countries. The venue will be decided at the next board meeting in August. The event will adopt the theme “Mekong in Motion, Mekong Emotions.”

The new directors joining the Destination Mekong board

Once the appointment of the new directors has been ratified at the next board meeting this August, the board will consist of 15 (one vacant place). They will serve the organisation for the next two years. 

The board lineup 2023 to 2025

Oceania Cruises credits earn more shore trips

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 5 July 2023: Oceania Cruises offers more shore excursion options and a beverage package paid for by credits earned on stateroom bookings for sailings departing 1 October 2023 or later.

The Simply More deal went live on 1 July and offers a shore excursion credit of up to USD1,600 per stateroom for tours of their choice. A comprehensive beverage package for lunch and dinner featuring vintage Champagnes, premium wines and international beers.

“Thanks to the launch of simply MORE, our guests will enjoy even more value, more choice and more convenience than ever before,” said Oceania Cruises president Frank A Del Rio. “For me, the cornerstone of this exciting new value promise is the generous credit offered to every guest to be spent on shore excursions of their choice.”

Oceania Cruises offers more than 8,000 educational and tour choices in its 600-plus ports of call. Shore excursion credit amounts vary by voyage length, from USD600 per stateroom for an itinerary of seven to nine days to USD1,600 per stateroom on sailings of 31 to 35 days.

Emirates wins Health & Safety awards

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK 4 July 2023: At the recent Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) awards ceremony in Dubai, Emirates Group Transport Services were honoured with five top awards; the gold award for health and safety performance, the gold award for leisure safety, a safety influencer of the year award for one of the Emirates team members, a highly commended award in the health and safety initiative, and the trophy award for best fleet safety in the Middle East.

Emirates is the only airline globally to claim a gold award for health and safety performance in transport and has won the award annually for the last four years. In the UAE, Emirates operates a fleet of over a thousand vehicles to transport passengers, cabin crew, flight deck, and other employees to and from the workplace, averaging 2.5 million road trips annually.

Emirates Group Transport Services operates in over 167 countries, allowing Emirates customers to avail of convenient coaches with Emirates Shuttle Services and luxurious Emirates Chauffeur Drive services for First and Business Class passengers. Emirates shuttle services are comfortable coaches available in selected destinations in the UAE, Japan, US and Canada, transporting Economy and Premium Economy passengers from the airport to nearby cities. Emirates Chauffeur Drive ensures First and Business Class customers enjoy a smooth transfer to and from the airport in a high-end vehicle like a BMW or Mercedes.

www.emirates.com

About RoSPA

RoSPA – the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents- is a UK organisation that promotes and facilitates occupational health and safety and road, home, leisure and education safety worldwide. 

On the road exploring Spain

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 4 July 2023: From the most famous to the most surprising. There are many routes and itineraries to discover how much Spain offers.

TURESPAÑA (Spain Tourism Board) recommends a self-drive road trip to explore Catalonia. The route combines culture, nature and great food and can be completed in four to five days, covering a distance of 475 km.

Pyrenees to the Mediterranean

Explore the Catalan Pyrenees over five days, taking you through part of the provinces of Lleida and Girona. If you like hiking and outdoor activities, plenty will interest you here.

Day 1 Val d’Aran – Vall de Boí: The route begins in Val d’Aran – the Aran valley. Places of interest in this stunning mountain landscape include Vielha village and the woodland tour at Baricauba (especially in spring and summer). The N-230 takes you to Vall de Boí, a valley known for its Romanesque churches. The churches comprise a UNESCO World Heritage site, surrounded by spectacular scenery. Learn about them and how to visit them at the Vall de Boí Romanesque Centre.

Day 2. Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park: You could spend the whole day enjoying nature. For example, Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is very close to Vall de Boí. If you continue along the N-260 road, you’ll come to Pallars Sobirá. This area is very popular among fans of white water rafting and other adventure sports.

Day 3. Seu d’Urgell – Ripoll: We suggest two cultural visits. On the one hand, the route continues along the N-260 to Seu d’Urgell. This is the only wholly Romanesque cathedral in Catalonia. Further on, you can visit the Monastery of Santa María de Ripoll in Ripoll, with an outstanding Romanesque entrance and cloister. Halfway between these spots is La Molina ski resort, where you can enjoy a wide range of sports all year round.

Day 4. La Garrotxa – Besalú: The route heads into La Garrotxa, an area of striking volcanic landscapes with over 40 craters now completely overgrown. The most spectacular way to see it is by floating over the area in a hot-air balloon. We also recommend visiting some of the villages in the area, tranquil spots with medieval architecture where time seems to stand still, such as Besalú, Beget or Santa Pau.

Day 5. Costa Brava – the Dalí Triangle: The end of this route brings us to the Mediterranean and the famous Costa Brava, where you can experience the life work of the Surrealist genius Salvador Dalí. The “Dalí Triangle” consists of the Dalí Theatre-Museum (in Figueres, where the artist was born), the Salvador Dalí House-Museum (Portlligat, in Cadaqués) and the Gala Dalí Castle (Púbol).

For the full story on road trips in Catalonia, visit https://www.spain.info/en/route/catalonia-by-road/

https://www.spain.info/en/

(Source: Spain Tourism Board – Southeast Asia, Australia & New Zealand)

Air China starts Chengdu-Colombo flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 5 July 2023: Air China reinstated services between Chengdu Tianfu International Airport and Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport, scheduling three flights weekly, effective 3 July 2023.

The first flight arrived at BIA 2020, on 3 July, with 142 passengers welcomed by traditional Kandyan dancers and presented with Ceylon tea gift packs.

Photo credit: Bandaranaike International Airport. Kandyan dancers welcome Chinese tourists.

The airline has deployed an A320 on the route with 157 seats for the six-hour and 5-minute flight. Flights operate every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Fight CA425 departs Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU) at 1735 and arrives at Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) at 2055. The return flight CA426 departs CMB at 2215 and arrives in TFU at 0615 the following morning.

Photo credit: Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport.

The most stressful airports in Europe

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 5 July 2023: A new study released Monday reveals the 10 most stressful airports in Europe, with Charles de Gaulle in Paris leading the stress ranking.

Holiday car rental experts at StressFreeCarRental.com analysed the 10 busiest airports across Europe and ranked them based on what gets holidaymakers stressed before take off.

The popular observation suggests most travellers can tolerate a packed out departure lounge if the travel time to the airport is quick, parking is cheap, and there are restaurants to unwind in with wifi access. The research reveals this isn’t always the case, with many of Europe’s busiest airports far away from city centres with poor facilities and expensive parking. Summer peak season travel in Europe, plus the influx of Asian and North American travellers during July and August, will add to airport stress.

Charles de Gaulle Airport in the French capital has been named the most stressful airport for holidaymakers to fly from, with over 57 million passengers passing through annually. The Paris airport is around 40 km from the city centre, making it tricky for tourists to travel easily and boasting relatively few restaurants for its size.

London Heathrow is the second most stressful airport with the worst record for delays in Europe’s busiest airports.

Ranking third most stressful is Gatwick Airport – at 45.7 km, it is the furthest away from urban districts in London, meaning passengers often arrive tired even before they check in.

Frankfurt Airport in Germany ranks 7th and is the most expensive to park for a week (EUR234) – a vast difference from the cheapest spot at Leonardo Da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy, costing just EUR20 for a week.

Frankfurt is also the airport closest to the city centre, at just 13.3 km from the city, followed by Barcelona at 13.7 km and then Istanbul at 17.2 km.

Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport in Spain is ranked the least stressful airport across Europe, with some of the lowest passenger traffic numbers, cheap parking, and few departure delays, and being close to the city centre (Barcelona).

Ranking fifth most stressful, Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam greets over 52 million passengers annually. It scores 2.1 for departure delays and expensive parking charges at over EUR110 per week.

Despite the slow wifi, Munich has the second-lowest score for plane departure delays (1.7). It serves  31 million passengers and has 65 restaurants on site. Comparatively, Heathrow Airport in London serves  51 million annual passengers in 47 restaurants.

StressFreeCarRental.com  CEO John Charnock said: “The whole airport experience can be very stressful, and wait times, expensive fees and slow wifi for entertainment can quickly dampen the holiday mood.

“We’ve found that Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris is the most stressful spot in Europe, with pricey parking, few restaurants and over 40 km away from the city centre.

“However, Barcelona Airport has been named the least stressful, with low departure delays, fast wifi and significantly cheaper parking.

“This year, holidaymakers should consider a staycation or using other means of getting to their destination – such as hiring cars for the ultimate summer road trip, where you can take your time and not be bothered by the anxieties of an airport.”

To find out more about the most stressful airports in Europe, head over to https://www.stressfreecarrental.com/

(Sources)

Shanghai Airlines touches down in KK

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TTR WEEKLY
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KOTA KINABALU, 5 July 2023: Shanghai Airlines (FM) landed at Kota Kinabalu International Airport on 4 July, launching the first direct service to Sabah from its home base Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).

The airline deployed a Boeing 737-500 aircraft for the four-hour and 25-minute flight. Flights are scheduled daily between Shanghai and Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah, Malaysia.

Photo credit Shanghai Airlines. KK welcomes the inaugural flight from Shanghai.

Departing Pudong Airport at 2015, Flight FM867 arrived at Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI) at 0030. The return flight FM867 departed BKI at 0130 and arrived at Pudong Airport (PVG) at 0555.

Meanwhile, AirAsia introduced daily flights from Kota Kinabalu to Beijing’s Daxing International Airport on 3 July using an Airbus A320neo aircraft.

Flight AK1560 departs Kota Kinabalu at 1800 and arrives in Beijing (PKX) at 2315. Flight time is five hours and 15 minutes. The return flight AK1561 departs Beijing at 0015 and arrives in Kota Kinabalu at 0545.

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