ADDIS ABABA, 12 September 2023: Ethiopian Airlines Group will start three weekly services to Bangui in the Central African Republic, effective 15 November 2023.
Bangui is the capital and the largest city of the Central African Republic (CAR). Flights will operate on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday.
Ethiopian Airlines served the Central African Republic market between 2010 and 2015. The new connectivity will, therefore, give passengers seamless flight options to more than 150 passenger and cargo international and domestic Ethiopian destinations.
SINGAPORE, 12 September 2023: Air France-KLM Group and Etihad Airways have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve collaboration opportunities across passenger operations, loyalty programmes, talent development, and maintenance.
Air France-KLM and Etihad will expand their codeshare and interline agreements introduced in 2012. As a first step, more than 40 new routes covering destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Australia are now available for booking for travel as early as the winter 2023 season starting in late October.
The MoU sets the stage for frequent flyer members of both airlines to earn and redeem miles. The airlines will also explore terminal co-location, reciprocal lounge access and ground handling, among other initiatives. Etihad operates daily flights from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Schiphol.
Air France will start operating daily flights between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Abu Dhabi International Airport from 29 October 2023.
Earlier this year, Air France-KLM announced it had signed a MoU with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism to reinforce connectivity between Europe and Abu Dhabi.
SINGAPORE, 12 September 2023: Hotelbeds has surpassed its target of planting more than 10,000 trees worldwide three months earlier than planned.
The achievement offsets more than 2,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions through the 12,000 trees donated to Tree Nation since October 2022, cementing the company’s position as a leader in environmental responsibility.
“Our Hotelbeds Forest represents an important step for us towards a stronger and healthier planet,” said Nicolas Huss, Hotelbeds’ CEO. “I’m proud of the enthusiasm and commitment shown by our global team to have reached this milestone ahead of schedule as we continue our carbon-neutral journey.”
The initiative was created to reinforce the company’s commitment to sustainability and its mission to make travel a force for good. Having initially planted a tree for every employee in countries where the company has a significant presence, it has been building its forest through staff donations and in honour of its clients and partners who attended its events, including MarketHubs. Employees have funded trees and donated their time to plant almost 1,800, boosting Hotelbeds’ planting projects in Mallorca, Italy and Thailand.
Since its inception, Hotelbeds has partnered with Tree Nation, a renowned non-profit organisation that provides real-time monitoring and tracking of each tree’s progress. From emission compensation to detailed tree specifications and locations, the transparency provided by Tree Nation has ensured the environmental impact of Hotelbeds Forest is clear and measurable.
This initiative has strengthened the company’s determination to fight climate change and fosters greater environmental awareness among its employees. Hotelbeds continues to be a sustainability leader in the travel industry, encouraging active participation through its belief that collective efforts can drive positive change on a global scale.For more information about Hotelbeds Forest and their commitment to sustainability.
BANGKOK, 12 September 2023: Air India’s passengers can enjoy convenient connections with Bangkok Airways flights to 10 cities in Thailand and neighbouring Laos and Cambodia following the signing of an interline agreement.
The scope of the agreement between the two airlines includes Inter Airline Through Check-In (IATCI) implementation, which enables passengers to receive their boarding passes at the first point of departure for all the travel sectors on a single ticket and have their baggage checked in through to their final destinations.
Bangkok Airways and Air India have also entered a Special Prorate Agreement, which allows both carriers to file ‘through fares’ on routes covering each other’s networks.
Air India passengers can connect to seven destinations in Thailand via Bangkok Airways gateway airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport in the Thai capital. They comprise Chiang Mai, Lampang, Sukhothai, Trat, Samui, Phuket, and Krabi. Beyond Thailand, the agreement is applicable on Bangkok Airways flights to three destinations: Luang Prabang in Laos, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in Cambodia, also from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.
In addition, Air India passengers can connect with Bangkok Airways’ flights to Samui out of Singapore and Hong Kong.
Air India operates direct daily flights to Bangkok from Delhi and Mumbai, daily to Singapore from Delhi (twice daily), Mumbai, and Chennai, and thrice a week to Hong Kong from Delhi.
Bookings are open for the check-through flights featuring end-to-end fares.
BANGKOK, 12 September 2023: The annual Thailand International Boat Show, set to take place from 11 to 14 January 2024 at the Royal Phuket Marina, will feature an expanded format to attract over 6,000 visitors.
Aligned with the Thai government’s policy to stimulate yacht tourism, organisers JAND Events are working closely with the Thai Yachting Business Association, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, as well as industry stakeholders to promote Thailand as a world-class boating hub.
“The excellent marinas and maintenance facilities, combined with the world-class cruising grounds right on its doorstep, make Phuket a leading light in Southeast Asia’s marine playground,” said the show organiser JAND Events’ CEO David Hayes.
“Thailand’s onshore-offshore appeal continues to grow amongst international boaters, and we are also seeing increasing interest amongst Thais keen to charter and explore boat ownership, further strengthening the importance of Thailand’s marine tourism.”
The 2024 Thailand International Boat Show will showcase the latest boats, marine products and luxury lifestyle offerings to visitors and igh wealthy individuals across Asia.
Industry response has been positive, with over 80% of the in-water space at the 2024 show already booked. Brokers confirmed to exhibit in-the-water include Simpson Marine, Boat Lagoon Yachting, V Yachts Asia, Derani Yachts, Lee Marine, Asia Yachting, Go Boating, Extreme Marine, The Yacht Sales Co, Leopard Catamarans and Northrop & Johnson who collectively will be representing sail, power and superyacht brands from around the world.
For the 2024 show there will be a new purpose-built air-conditioned exhibition space onshore, which will better connect the in-water, onshore and social spaces for visitors and will house a range of businesses from marine products and services to tech and lifestyle, including Hull Co. Ltd, SEA Yacht Sales, FLS Yacht, the ASA Group, Thailand Privilege, Nava by Thaicom, Flexiteek and Marine Services Asia, to name a few.
Also new this year is the Thailand Yachting Conference and the Robb Report “Best of the Best” Yachting Awards, which will take place on 10 January before the show opens to the public. The Thailand International Boat Show will run from 11 to 14 January 2024 at Royal Phuket Marina.
JAKARTA, 11 September 2023: PT Indonesian Paradise Property and Vacances Pte Ltd (Club Med) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop upscale resorts in Indonesia.
Last week, the signing ceremony took place between PT Indonesian Paradise Property president director and CEO Anthony Prabowo Susilo and Club Med CEO of East and South Asia and Pacific markets Rachael Harding.
According to the MoU, Paradise Indonesia and Club Med will eventually open more than five new resorts. The first phase consists of three resorts to be developed in the next five years in key tourism destinations such as North Sulawesi, Bali, and West Java.
Club Med pioneered the premium all-inclusive concept with operations in 40 countries worldwide and nearly 70 Premium and Exclusive Collection resorts. It also features the legendary French sailing yacht Club Med 2.
Currently, Club Med operates two resorts in Indonesia. Club Med Bali opened in 1984, the first resort operator and key tenant to set foot on the Nusa Dua project led by ITDC – formerly BTDC, and Club Med Bintan since 1997.
In the next global business expansion for 2023–2025, Club Med will open 17 new resorts, including 10 extensions or renovations of existing resorts.
Paradise Indonesia has 30 years of experience developing and creating iconic lifestyle destinations in Indonesia’s largest cities, with 25 business units across eight cities.
“This strategic partnership with Paradise Indonesia brings together brand synergies and aligns perfectly with our mission to continue delivering exceptional experiences for our customers while continuing to accelerate our international reach to the beautiful destinations of Indonesia.” shares Club Med president Henri Giscard d’Estaing
DUBAI, UAE, 5 September 2023: Emirates announces a significant expansion in its codeshare partnership with United to include nine destinations in Mexico. Emirates customers will now have access to eight new destinations in the country, in addition to Mexico City, which the airline also serves.
The expansive codeshare network between Emirates and United currently includes many US cities. Mexico became the first country outside of the US to be added to the growing network.
The codeshare partnership enables customers to enjoy flexibility and choice with smooth connections, allowing passengers flying on Emirates to two points in the US, either Chicago or Houston, to connect onwards to exciting leisure destinations in Mexico. The new Mexican points include Cancun, Cozumel, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, San Jose Del Cabo, Leon/Guanajuato, and Queretaro.
Furthermore, the codeshare partnership also provides more flexibility on flight timings, giving Emirates customers flying to Mexico City more options when choosing flights. Depending on travel plans, passengers can fly to the Mexican capital using Emirates daily services from Dubai with a stop in Barcelona or separately book codeshare flights to Mexico City. The expansion of the codeshare network also enables customers flying from the nine points in Mexico to fly to destinations on the airline’s network via Chicago or Houston.
Tickets to codeshare destinations in Mexico are available via emirates.com and preferred travel agencies for travel starting on 14 September.
The newly expanded network of Mexican destinations now available to Emirates customers is expected to be popular amongst customers from the Middle East, India and South Africa, to name a few. The most frequented destinations for global travellers from points in Mexico include India, Israel, UAE, South Africa and select points in South East Asia.
With the addition of the new points to Mexico, the enhanced codeshare network now includes 134 destinations accessible from United’s gateways in the US. In contrast, almost 100 additional points across the US, Canada, Central and South America, and the Caribbean are available for customers to choose from on an interline basis.
Emirates offers daily services to Houston onboard its flagship A380 aircraft. Emirates recently introduced its latest offering, Premium Economy, to its services to Houston. The world’s largest international airline also operates seven weekly flights between Dubai and Chicago, utilising its other widebody aircraft – the Boeing 777 – enabling passengers to plan their travel itineraries to global destinations with seamless connectivity.
Travellers with itineraries on Emirates flights can plan their entire trip on a single ticket and take advantage of hassle-free flight benefits, including the airline’s baggage allowance, in addition to convenient bag check-through to the final destination.*
Furthermore, members of Emirates’ frequent flyer programme, Emirates Skywards, can look forward to earning and redeeming miles on flights of both airlines if booked on codeshare flights.
BANGKOK, 11 September 2023: Centara West Bay gains prestigious recognition as the ‘Family Friendly Hotel of The Year 2023 in Qatar’ from the Travel & Hospitality Awards
The prestigious award is a testament to an unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional experiences to travellers worldwide, the hotel group commented in a press statement.
The Travel & Hospitality Awards recognise outstanding companies and organisations that consistently deliver exceptional experiences to travellers worldwide. By highlighting excellence and innovation, we aim to inspire industry professionals to raise the bar and exceed customer expectations continually. Centara West Bay is honoured to be part of this esteemed tradition.
“At Centara West Bay, we believe a family-friendly atmosphere can make a difference in a traveller’s journey. We take immense pride in offering distinguished luxurious accommodations, embracing the warmth of Thai hospitality, and delivering top-notch 5-star services to our valued guests. Thank you to our guests and the team. This accolade underscores our commitment to creating memorable moments for families and travellers alike.
We are deeply grateful for this recognition by the Travel and Hospitality Awards, and we pledge to continue raising the bar in the hospitality industry to ensure that every guest experiences the utmost comfort, luxury, and hospitality,” stated Centara West Bay general manager Sean Spinks.
Centrally located in Doha’s vibrant financial & business district, with easy access to the finest shopping, cultural sights and tourist attractions. Centara West Bay is a short walk from the metro, Corniche, City Center and North West Bay Beach, accessible directly from the hotel via the treelined Boulevard. Its proximity to other key locations in Qatar, such as Katara, West Bay Lagoon, The Pearl and Bidda Park. Large spaces, modern decor, stunning views, and an array of international dining specialities from award-winning restaurants highlight the hotel’s fully furnished apartments. The affordable luxury apartments boast spacious bedrooms, living and dining rooms, with well-equipped kitchens that make the hotel ideal for every individual, family, and traveller on extended stays in Qatar.
PHUKET, 11 September 2023: Hotels and resorts around Southeast Asia fail to understand the “green premium” and how to leverage it to attract quality guests, according to leading figures in the region’s hospitality industry.
The message that hotels and resorts are falling behind counterparts in other parts of the globe when it comes to capitalising on the benefits associated with sustainable tourism was one of the major takeaways from PHIST (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism), Southeast Asia’s largest sustainability forum, held this week at SAii Laguna where over 1,000 participants gathered.
(left): PHIST co-organisers, C9 Hotelworks Managing Director Bill Barnett and Greenview Founder and CEO Eric Ricaurte; (right) Bart Callens, Cluster General Manager of host venue SAii Laguna Phuket with Phuket Hotels Association President Bjorn Courage, also organisers of the inspirational event.
But the strong showing of hoteliers ready to pledge a commitment to sustainability in their resort operations could be just lip service as very few actually identify projects in progress when you check their websites, including hotels owned by leaders of associations who should know better. There is still the tendency to greenwash. Actions speak louder than words, the latter being in no short supply at the hundreds of events hoteliers attend that preach sustainability as the holy grail to reach the hearts of travel consumers.
A word of warning did come from Bill Barnett, managing director of hospitality and real estate advisory group C9 Hotelworks, co-organiser of PHIST, together with Greenview and Phuket Hotels Association.
“Hotel developers in Southeast Asia have broadly failed to make sustainably a must as they do in Europe or North America. It’s a massive disconnect”.
Other expert speakers at PHIST included star designer Bill Bensley and KP Ho, the founder and executive chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings and Laguna Resorts and Hotels, who urged resort owners to become more conscious of the broader benefits associated with sustainable tourism.
There’s a long list of essential must-do items to start meaningful sustainable and environmental best practices, such as pioneering green or mindful practices ranging from waste management and energy conservation to farm-to-fork dining, sourcing organic produce from local farmers, and better community engagement.
But if they succeed, resorts will enhance their appeal to clients who place a premium value on experiences that are ethical, sustainable, and — perhaps most importantly — unique. But it must be genuine, which is questionable in an industry where the bottom line dominates the financial conversation every quarter.
STR Global’s area director for Asia Pacific, Jesper Palmqvist hosted a roundtable at PHIST where figures from top resort names such as Six Senses and Soneva discussed environmental best practices moving forward. He agreed that the hospitality industry in Southeast Asia needs to be more proactive about enacting meaningful changes.
“It’s important that the industry develops green champions, best practice documents and training modules that hotels can modify,” he said. “Furthermore, hotels need to be pressured into fulfilling international sustainability certification. This would show more ambition to adopt new criteria relating to the environment and thus stay ahead of the curve.”
Gaining a recognised certification is just the start of a game plan to win the confidence of the new-gen traveller. Without it, you rely on a sales pitch that often lacks substance when we quote the global sustainable tourism goals. Travellers deserve an independent certification when considering their next holiday stay.
Other discussions about ways to seize the opportunities afforded by sustainable tourism were to the fore as some of the biggest names in the region’s hospitality sector gathered for PHIST.
Banyan Tree founder KP Ho was instrumental in transforming Laguna Phuket from a barren moonscape of scarred land—abandoned by the tin mining industry and declared uninhabitable by the UN—into Southeast Asia’s leading integrated resort development.
Bill Bensley has helped curate some of Asia’s most charismatic sustainable tourism experiences. For example, his Shinta Mani Wild in Cambodia offers luxury, tented accommodation while using funds to preserve its surrounding private nature sanctuary from poaching, mining, and logging.
Workshop discussion covered issues such as the circular sustainable economy, green hotel loans and start-up funds, glamping, farm-to-table cuisine, environmental hospitality design, data and measurement, Greentech innovation, marketing sustainable hotels, water conservation and sustainable wellness.
Directly preceding PHIST, outdoor lodging practitioners gathered and agreed upon the formation of the Asia Pacific Outdoor Lodging Association (APOLA), a trade body set up to guide, promote and structure the development of the outdoor lodging sector in the region as it expands.
APOLA’s mission will be to help define the standards for the region, raise awareness, develop an accounting system for project financing and educate the industry about the advantages of this lower-impact, sustainable hospitality model. Interested developers, owners and managers in the sector are invited to submit their interest to join the association by contacting APOLA at [email protected]
TOKYO, 11 September 2023: JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group confirms it advised on a hotel sale in a prime Kyoto location concluded recently.
The firm advised on successfully selling the Hotel Resol Kyoto Kawaramachi Sanjo in central Kyoto to a particular purpose vehicle (SPV)* established by Mitsui Bussan Digital Asset Management KK.
According to JLL, the hotel has been acquired with the existing master lease remaining in place and will continue to be operated under the Resol hotel brand.
Located in central Kyoto, along the highly coveted Kawaramachi-dori, the Hotel Resol Kyoto provides convenient access to the city’s key attractions, including the downtown Kawaramachi shopping district and the geisha entertainment district of Pontocho Gion. Opened in 2018, the hotel comprises 144 rooms with a modern Japanese theme.
“This asset represents an exceptional opportunity to acquire a newly built hotel in a prime tourist location in Japan. As accommodation demand recovers and financing terms remain attractive, we continue to see exceptional interest levels for Japanese hotels,” said JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group executive vice president of investment sales Asia Pacific Charlie Macildowie. “JLL is delighted to have advised on this exciting transaction, reaffirming our standing as the unmatched provider of hotel investment expertise in the dynamic Japanese market.”
According to JLL, the first half of 2023 saw JPY203 billion (USD1.39 billion) of hotels change hands in Japan, with the six-month volume representing a 65.4% increase in the first half of 2022. JLL expects this trend to continue into the second half of 2023, with several transactions already closed or agreed upon.
Mitsui & Co. Digital Asset Management, Ltd. specialises in asset management for real assets using blockchain and was established as a joint venture between LayerX and Mitsui & Co. The company has launched the “Digital Securities Project,” which focuses on issuing security tokens using blockchain technology and a dedicated fund that invests in high-quality real estate held by J-REITs.
*An SPV, or special-purpose vehicle, is a legal entity allowing multiple investors to pool their capital and invest in a single company. SPVs have multiple use cases in the business world. Public corporations sometimes use SPVs to isolate certain holdings from the parent company’s balance sheet.
