GOA, India, 26 June 2023: In a historic first, the world’s two leading Travel & Tourism organisations representing the global public and private sectors have agreed to work together to achieve key objectives such as job creation and talent development.
The Memorandum of Understanding, signed last week by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the World Tourism Organisation of the United Nations (UNWTO) at the G20 Ministerial meeting (Goa, India), focused on advancing public-private sector cooperation at the global level whilst promoting job creation, talent development and business opportunities around the world.
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili and WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson after signing the historic MoU.
Together, WTTC and UNWTO will promote tourism in the global and national agendas while working to progress skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment and the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient Travel & Tourism sector.
The two parties will also foster community empowerment and inclusion and collaborate around crisis preparedness, management, and recovery, building on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson said: “Through signing a historic new MOU, WTTC and UNWTO embark on a new chapter of collaboration, uniting our expertise to pave the way for a prosperous future for the Travel & Tourism sector.
“Together, we can create a powerful synergy that will shape the global landscape, opening doors to endless opportunities and benefiting travellers, businesses, and destinations alike.”
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili added: “We are only stronger if we work together to respond to the interconnected challenges facing our sector. Strong public-private partnerships are the foundation to transform tourism and build resilience, and consolidating our partnership with WTTC will achieve what we need – joining efforts to build a better future through tourism.”
The MOU was signed by WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson and UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, alongside representatives of the public and private sectors.
BANGKOK, 26 June 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, has been recognised by Tripadvisor as a 2023 Travellers’ Choice award winner for 31 of its hotels and resorts worldwide. The coveted award celebrates accommodations, attractions and restaurants that have consistently received great traveller reviews on Tripadvisor over the last 12 months, placing these winners among the 10% of all listings on Tripadvisor globally.
This year, Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok and Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai received the Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best award, an honour bestowed upon the top 1% of all listings on Tripadvisor, representing the most exceptional, highest-rated properties around the world.
Centara’s seaside and beachfront properties in resort destinations across Thailand also remained favourites this year, with 19 properties in Phuket, Samui, Hua Hin, Krabi, Pattaya, and Koh Chang receiving awards, including Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket; Centara Reserve Samui; Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin; Centara Ao Nang Beach Resort & Spa Krabi; Centara Grand Mirage Resort Pattaya; Centra by Centara Maris Resort Jomtien, and Centara Koh Chang Tropicana Resort.
The group’s global hotels and resorts also fared well, with awards given to properties in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and the Middle East, including Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne; Centara Ceysands Resort Sri Lanka; Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives; Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives; and Centara Muscat Hotel Oman.
“We are humbled and grateful to have received such overwhelming recognition from our valued guests, whose feedback and reviews have reaffirmed our commitment to delivering excellence in hospitality. The Travellers’ Choice Awards acknowledge the exceptional quality and experiences provided by our hotels and resorts, and we couldn’t be prouder of this achievement,” said Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer of Centara Hotels & Resorts. “This would not have been possible without the collective hard work and passion of every member of the Centara family and their commitment to delivering genuine Thai hospitality and gracious personalised service to our guests.”
Overall, a total of 31 Centara hotels were recognised at the Traveller’s Choice Awards 2023, an outstanding achievement for the Thailand-based international hotel group and proof that the travel market across Asia and around the world is bouncing back.
Centara welcomes guests to experience genuine warm Thai hospitality, world-class service and personalised details that have made the group a preferred choice for travellers. As the brand grows, Centara remains committed to raising the bar and setting new benchmarks in the hospitality industry, ensuring an unparalleled stay at each of its properties worldwide.
Winners of this year’s annual Travellers’ Choice Awards were calculated based on the quality and quantity of reviews, opinions and ratings collected on the world’s largest travel platform.
DUBAI, 26 June 2023: Emirates has further solidified its commitment to supporting arts and culture in Australia by extending its 21-year partnership with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra until 2025.
A cornerstone of its ongoing support of music and arts worldwide, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra is the airline’s longest-running non-sports partnership.
Emirates’ support of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra will help deliver world-class entertainment experiences to customers in Australia, connecting music lovers across the globe to the symphony’s innovative digital concert series. The partnership will also deliver the classical masterwork of one of the world’s finest orchestras to millions of Emirates passengers through the airline’s in-flight entertainment system, ice. The sponsorship will continue to offer ticket and hospitality experiences, presenting partner opportunities for the symphony’s popular concert series, as well as branding and promotional opportunities, among other benefits.
Over the two decades of partnership, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra has performed to over 4 million people across almost 3,000 live performances. Emirates’ renewed partnership comes as the Sydney Symphony Orchestra enters a new artistic period, highlighted by its return to a reopened Sydney Opera House Concert Hall in July 2022 under the direction of Simone Young, the Orchestra’s internationally renowned Chief Conductor.
Emirates divisional vice president Australasia Barry Brown says: “Like air travel, music can lift our spirits, broaden our horizons and open up the world around us. We’re proud to continue supporting the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, which is home to exceptional standards of performance, outstanding musicians and is regarded as one of the world’s leading orchestras. Emirates is well-known for sponsoring the best in sports, but we’re also passionate about growing global music, arts and culture to enrich the lives of the communities we serve. Our Sydney Symphony partnership, now well into its second decade, is Emirates’ longest-running non-sports sponsorship, and we look forward to continuing our great work together.”
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra has been present during many of Emirates’ key milestones and initiatives over the years, including the launch of the airline’s flagship A380 aircraft in Australia and, more recently, its new Premium Economy cabin in Sydney. Performing over 150 concerts a year to a live audience of more than 350,000 people, the Sydney Symphony will work with Emirates to expand the global audience through the Orchestra’s Sydney Symphony on Demand digital platform, which features full-length concert experiences. The platform also presents special chamber music recordings with the finest musicians making new Australian work available to audiences worldwide. The platform, launched in partnership with Emirates in 2020, provides free access to a catalogue of great performances.
The partnership will also continue to offer ticket and hospitality experiences, Presenting Partner positioning for the Orchestra’s popular Emirates Master Series, and branding and promotional opportunities, among other benefits.
Music is a big part of the content offered on Emirates’ ice inflight entertainment system, with over 6,500 channels that include diverse genres like classical, opera, and jazz.
Sydney Symphony Orchestra chief executive officer Craig Whitehead adds: “We thank Emirates for its continued support and sharing the Sydney Symphony’s vision for creating musical experiences that are amongst the world’s finest. Emirates has been a significant partner in the Orchestra’s long history of bringing the greatest artists and extraordinary musical experiences to the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House. Emirates’ support has also allowed us to continue an ambitious program of commissioning and recording new work by Australian composers. We are looking forward to sharing our performances on the Emirate’s global platform, where the unique nature of our performances will be available to audiences around the world.”
With sponsorships spanning literature, film, art, culinary, and music festivals and globally renowned orchestras, Emirates is dedicated to supporting the growth and reach of cultural activities in Australia and worldwide.
Within Australia, Emirates also proudly sponsors the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, including its recent exhibition, taypani milaythina-tu: Return to Country. The partnership saw Emirates transport a precious Aboriginal object from Paris to Tasmania, 230 years after it was first removed. The artefact, a rikawa (kelp water carrier), is only one of two known to be in existence, and its new home at the museum will allow the Tasmanian Aboriginal community to reconnect with their cultural history. Emirates also has a longstanding sponsorship with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, now approaching 20 years.
For information on flights and bookings, visit www.emirates.com.
SINGAPORE, 26 JUNE 2023: Australian Federation of Travel Agents has signalled the green light to a new Constitution.
A comprehensive “yes” vote from 100% of the voting membership adopted the new Constitution at the 46th Annual General Meeting held in Sydney last week.
Richard Taylor, Dean Long with Directors James Kavanagh, Shelley Beasley, Chair Tom Manwaring, Roy Merricks, Christian Hunter, Danielle Russom, David Greenland (Directors attending in Sydney).
Meanwhile, the Association received six eligible nominations for AFTA Director. Those formally re-elected to the Board are:
Christian Hunter Graham Turner Laura Ruffles Danielle Russom Shelley Beasley Cinzia Burnes
Tom Manwaring was re-elected chair, and Christian Hunter and Graham Turner as vice chair.
AFTA chair Tom Manwaring commented on AGM outcomes: “It’s been a busy year hallmarked by extensive consultation across AFTA, the Travel Sector and more widely as we reshape the organisation to deliver for all members.”
“One of the cornerstone commitments that shape all our decisions is a focus on fairness, which is embedded in our new Constitution. The reforms are many, including at voting level with Member votes now aligned in a more balanced and fairer structure.”
“The adoption of the new Constitution is one of the most significant milestones in this organisation’s existence and cements the Board’s focus on renewal and growth over the past 12 months.”
The Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA), founded in 1957, represents the majority of travel agents and businesses in Australia and includes all major travel agency groups.
SINGAPORE, 26 June 2023: SalamAir, based in Muscat, Oman, adds Fujairah, UAE, to its route network effective 12 July 2023.
The airline will schedule four weekly flights, comprising morning and evening flights on Mondays and Wednesdays. With the latest addition of Fujairah, SalamAir will serve 39 destinations across 13 countries.
Flight OV251 will depart Muscat at 0800 every Monday and Wednesday and arrive in Fujairah at 0855. The evening Flight OV253 will depart Muscat at 1830 and arrive in Fujairah at 1925. Flight time: 55 minutes. The cheapest no-frills one-way fare starts at around OMR41, and the highest fare in the “Benefit” category is around OMR55, according to the airline’s website.
Fujairah is the latest addition to SalamAir’s growing list of destinations, offering travellers an opportunity to experience the culture, history, and natural beauty of the United Arab Emirates. The launch of this new destination comes in response to the rising demand for economical and practical air travel options among both leisure and business travellers.
SalamAir CEO Captain Mohamed Ahmed commented: “Introducing Fujairah to our network is part of our strategic plan to expand our reach within our regional routes. We are certain that this new route will be a popular choice for all travellers, especially given the convenient connections from Fujairah to some of our most sought-after destinations.”
Fujairah travel tips
Fujairah City is the capital of the emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. It is the seventh-largest city in the UAE, located in the Gulf of Oman. It is the only Emirati capital city on the UAE’s east coast. ((Source: Wikipedia)
The airline’s scribes describe the city as a treasure of the Arabian Peninsula with an “illustrious history that extends back thousands of years”.
Natural attractions: The destination is best known for its stunning beaches, clean oceans, and rugged mountain terrain. Tourists visit Fujairah to enjoy its beaches, which offer a variety of water sports like windsurfing, snorkelling, and scuba diving.
Heritage: It is also famous for its markets and distinctive culture and heritage. Markets are packed with spices and textiles. There is also a thriving trade in gold and jewellery in the city’s busy marketplaces. The Fujairah Fort and the Al-Bidya Mosque, the oldest mosque in the United Arab Emirates and a tribute to the city’s rich cultural past, are just two of the city’s historical sites.
Bookings opened last week on SalamAir’s website for the new destination. The airline’s network consists of 39 destinations.
Domestic destinations: Muscat, Salalah, Suhar, Duqm, and Masirah.
International destinations: Dubai, Fujairah, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, Shiraz, Tehran, Mashhad, Istanbul, Rize, Trabzon, Khartoum, Alexandria, Beirut, Almaty, Baku, Kuala Lumpur, Prague, Sarajevo, Bangkok, Phuket, Chattogram, Dhaka, Colombo, Jaipur, Karachi, Kathmandu, Lucknow, Multan, Sialkot, and Trivandrum. SalamAir also flies directly from Suhar to Salalah, Shiraz, Trabzon, and Salalah to Calicut and Bahrain.
SalamAir commenced its commercial operations in 2017. In six years, SalamAir has achieved growth in its operations and expanded its region’s reach with its fleet of six A320neo, five A321neo, and an Airbus A321 freighter.
KUALA LUMPUR, 26 June 2023: AirAsia won the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2023 (Skytrax) held in Paris last week for an unprecedented 14th consecutive time.
As a global benchmark of airline quality and excellence, the final award results include more than 325 airlines, with AirAsia emerging on the top in its category. Over 100 nationalities of travellers participated in the online survey, with 20.23 million eligible entries counted in the results from September 2022 to May 2023, when AirAsia steadily increased its network back to over 130 destinations.
Capital A CEO, Tony Fernandes received the award in Paris last week.
In accepting the award at a ceremony at the Paris Air Show 2023 in France last Tuesday, Capital A CEO, Tony Fernandes said: “We are immensely proud and grateful for this meaningful award given to us by the Skytrax organisers, voters, and the incredible supporters of AirAsia. Getting an award of excellence for 14 consecutive years is a remarkable achievement, one that fills our hearts with joy and humility. This is an extraordinary feat for any company in any industry, even more so for our proudly ASEAN brand.”
With 170 planes back in service across the Group, AirAsia expects to have all 204 reactivated by the end of August this year. Not only will it achieve 100% of pre-pandemic capacity in the coming months, but the airline is also looking to spread its wings even further by adding 19 new planes which will take flight this year, including four Frontier planes.
To celebrate winning the award for the 14th time, the airline cut fares to say thank you. Thailand dropped fares to THB414 on domestic routes, but the deal expired on 25 January.
SEPANG, 26 June 2023: Aviation Group’s AirAsia Malaysia, AirAsia Thailand, AirAsia Indonesia and AirAsia Philippines are flying high again, with 157 aircraft reactivated as of 1Q2023, according to a recent Capital A financial update to shareholders attending the AGM.
Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes told shareholders that “with enhanced profitability amid rationalised airfares and stabilising external factors”, the airline group had activated 229 routes so far with a target to operate 290 by the close of the 4th quarter of 2023.
Photo credit: AirAsia. Capital A CEO Tony Fernandes
On the airline group’s health check, he told shareholders attending the recent AGM: “2022 has truly been a defining year for Capital A for many reasons: the company generated strong revenue ofMYR2.6 billion and recorded the first full year of positive EBITDA since the beginning of the global pandemic.
All businesses within the group have benefited from the robust return of air travel and delivered stronger margin levels. As we overcame all odds of not only surviving but growing, despite the unprecedented challenges of Covid and other macroeconomic headwinds without any government support, we are proud to announce that we have successfully progressed from an airline to now a low-cost, high-value inclusive aviation and travel group.”
He confirmed ‘Move – AirAsia Digital’ has received board approval to be renamed MOVE. It will cover the business activities of AirAsia Superapp and fintech provider BigPay to provide an accessible, affordable travel app, to meet the needs of all travellers, including on-ground travellers with ride-hailing offerings on AirAsia ride.
He made the comments in a presentation at the close of the Capital A 6th Annual General Meeting earlier this month when the financial results of FY2022 were received and passed by its shareholders.
Fernandes confirmed that the group’s latest airline venture, AirAsia Cambodia, should start scheduled flights during the last quarter of 2023, possibly by mid-December, almost a year after the official launch of the new airline.
“We are expanding across ASEAN based on a wide network and a strong brand, with the launch of AirAsia Cambodia expected to start operating in Q4, we are looking for opportunities in the remaining ASEAN countries that deserve an airline,” he told the AGM.
Capital A Berhad will own 51% of AirAsia Cambodia in partnership with hospitality group Sivilai Asia which will hold the remaining share, according to a report in Laotian Times.
The joint venture agreement with Sivilai Asia was signed last December by Tony Fernandes and Vissoth Nam, director of Sivilai Asia at Rosewood Phnom Penh.
Media sources in Kuala Lumpur have reported that AirAsia Cambodia, the group’s fifth airline venture, will start flights to destinations in Asia within a four-hour flight time perimeter using A321-200 aircraft. AirAsia has not confirmed details so far, but it is understood the airline could eventually fly 15 aircraft flying to neighbouring countries from Siem Reap, Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh.
HO CHI MINH CITY, 26 June 2023: It’s official; Vietjet’s Facebook post confirmed last Friday the airline plans to increase flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Australia starting this December to meet growing travel demand on the routes to three Australian cities.
By December, flights to Melbourne will increase from three to four weekly.
Flights to Sydney from Ho Chi Minh City will increase from three to daily. The service launched on 12 April, just days after the launch of a service to Melbourne from the southern hub of HCMC on 8 April.
In December, flights to Brisbane will increase from two to three per week from the airline’s Ho Chi Minh City hub.
Vietjet launched the twice-weekly service from Ho Chi Minh City – Brisbane on 16 June. All the Australian services use A330 aircraft.
BANGKOK, 23 June 2023: Thailand’s delegation to the travel show IMEX Frankfurt 2023 concluded positively according to the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau’s post-event evaluation.
Fielding one of the largest delegations since 2019, TCEB claimed Thailand netted 120 leads that could yield 61,141 overseas MICE visitors over the next two years. It estimated 109 meeting and incentive groups (21,561 persons), and 11 convention groups (39,580 persons) were in the pipeline resulting from discussions initiated during the show.
TCEB said Thailand’s sales team logged 866 appointments with overseas buyers during the three-day show, 23 to 25 May 2023, while the TCEB team logged 94 roundtable discussions with event organisers.
The Thailand sales team comprised 29 exhibitors – nine hotels from Bangkok, five from Phuket, and one each from Samui and Khao Lak. In addition, seven destination management companies, three venues, the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TICA), Thai Airways International and TCEB participated.
TCEB president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya said: “Thailand had one of its best showings at IMEX this year. The Thai Team chalked up impressive appointments and leads – a sign that Thailand continues to command great interest among international buyers.”
Last May, Bangkok ranked third and Phuket 10th in Cvent’s Top 10 Meeting Destinations in Asia-Pacific.
At IMEX 2023, TCEB highlighted two upcoming events – the ICCA Annual Congress scheduled for 12 to 15 November 2023 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, and the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group scheduled for 2026 in Bangkok.
DUBAI UAE, 23 June 2023: Gearing up for a busy summer travel season, Emirates is launching customer experiences that echo Emirates’ sentiment of ‘travel is not just about the end destination; it’s also about how you get there’.
Making journeys magically memorable, Emirates passengers will enjoy delightful moments this summer, including complimentary ice cream in the airport, duty-free summer specials, delicious seasonal delicacies and summer mocktails onboard, and the world’s best library of movies and bingeable box sets on ice.
Scoop a complimentary Emirates ice-cream
Travel through Dubai International Airport on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday and scoop a free Emirates ice-cream for the whole family. From 23 June to 16 July, Emirates will have six eye-catching ice-cream carts positioned around the various Departures areas to offer passengers a refreshing treat of vanilla, Arabic coffee and dates ice cream, or mango sorbet before setting off on the summer holiday.
Binge a box set or blockbuster movie
For the thousands of passengers embarking on summer vacations, Emirates is making every journey special with endless entertainment onboard – as ice just got even better. By far the biggest library of content in the air, ice offers up to 6,500 channels of on-demand, multi-language entertainment, with each one hosting heaps of episodes, more than 45 Academy Award® winning films, over 2,000 movies, 650 TV shows, and 4,000 hours of music, podcasts, and audiobooks across 40 languages.
This summer, passengers can enjoy thousands of movies, including new releases Avatar: The Way of the Water, Shazam! Fury of the Gods, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Super Mario Bros. Movie. There is a vast selection of movies for kids and kids-at-heart, including an all-new Disney Classics collection, plus Marvel Studios and Star Wars collections, and the complete Harry Potter movies series. There are also lots of new kids and preschool kids TV from CBeebies, Nickelodeon, Disney TV, Cartoon Network and more. Adults can settle in to enjoy all seasons of award-winning hit TV series Succession on HBO Max, inspire a holiday mood with series like White Lotus, or relax with awe-inspiring nature documentaries from BBC Earth, on top of content from new streaming partners Discovery+, Bloomberg Originals, BBC and Shahid.
Sports and news fans won’t miss a moment of action with five channels of live TV, including news channels BBC, CNN and Sky News Arabia, and live sports coverage on Sport 24 and Sport 24Extra. Summer live sports highlights include Formula 1, Wimbledon and The Open Championship.
Indulge in seasonal specialities onboard
Passengers onboard Emirates will be treated to various delicious dishes like fresh, seasonal strawberries and burrata. For a refreshing respite from the summer heat, Emirates summer mocktails Tropical Twist, Rose Iced Tea, Citrus Twist, Raspberry Spice, and Mint Lemonade will feature on all flights in July and August.
In July, all passengers flying to and from the UK with Emirates will enjoy the luscious indulgence of fresh, ripe strawberries. The strawberries are grown perfectly in Bustanica vertical farm in Dubai, without pesticides or herbicides. A British summer staple, First Class passengers will enjoy flavourful strawberry tarts with compote or rhubarb and strawberry charlotte served with whipped cashew cream and custard. Business Class passengers will be offered white chocolate cheesecake served with strawberry basil confit or strawberry éclair, a choux pastry filled with crème anglaise, topped with fresh seasonal strawberries. Premium Economy passengers will also enjoy éclairs or strawberry panna cotta. Economy passengers can tuck into succulent strawberry cheesecake topped with crumble or fresh strawberries with vanilla whipped cream and hazelnut streusel. Even the lounges will get in on the strawberry passion, serving a Strawberry and Basil Gin Fizz alongside classic strawberries and clotted cream with a dollop of almond butter crumble.
Throughout August, First and Business Class passengers on routes to and from Italy will be treated to the perfect summer dish – smooth and creamy Burrata and fennel salad with grapefruit and orange segments, garnished with a tapioca crisp.
Scent of summer in the air
This summer, EmiratesRED.com has more than 70 new luxury products onboard from Tom Ford, Jo Malone, La Mer, Tumi, Secrid, Alexandre J, Dolce & Gabbana and many more. Passengers can take advantage of summer specials and save $15 off any two fragrances purchased. Passengers can pre-order duty-free Shopping on EmiratesRED.com and get access to exclusive duty-free products, which are then delivered to their seats once in the air. The pre-order service is available on most flights, and passengers can shop from 21 days up to 40 hours before their flight. Passengers need to provide their flight details during checkout, and the orders are delivered by cabin crew directly to the passenger’s seat in flight.
