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Sustainable hospitality experts explore a merger

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 27 March 2023: A merger is being considered by the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and GREEN Hospitality (Pangaia Solutions Limited) to combine GREEN Hospitality’s reach and experience in the Asia-Pacific with the alliance’s expertise and global network.

Meetings have occurred between the directors of both organisations, and the next steps will conclude due diligence reviews. A merger would enable the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance to establish a formal presence in Asia-Pacific, with GREEN Hospitality headquartered in Hong Kong.   

Both organisations are committed to supporting and enabling sustainability in the hospitality industry. The alliance now represents over 50,000 properties and 7 million rooms globally. 

GREEN Hospitality’s vision is to advance research, incubate innovations, and foster activities that enable the industry to achieve Sustainable Development Goals in the interest of the planet, people, and prosperity. 

Sustainable Hospitality Alliance CEO, Glenn Mandziuk, said: “We are excited to be exploring a potential merger with GREEN Hospitality, an organisation we admire and align within, driving joined-up action on sustainability in the industry. Being in Hong Kong, a merger with GREEN Hospitality would enable the alliance to better serve the hotels and organisations in the region, supporting them on the path to net positive hospitality”.

GREEN Hospitality executive director Lucia Loposova added: “We are delighted to explore this potential merger with a mission-aligned organisation, the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. The synergy of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance’s expertise in creating global partnerships and building movements and GREEN Hospitality’s on-the-ground knowledge and connection to hospitality practitioners, sustainability experts, civil society organisations, and government agencies in Hong Kong and Asia has great potential to turn the industry into a catalyst for sustainability.” 

Due diligence is underway, and an update on the merger’s progress will be available later in the year.

About the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance 

The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance brings together the hospitality industry and strategic partners to address key challenges affecting the planet, its people, local destinations and communities.

Members represent over 50,000 hotels – totalling 7 million rooms – and include world-leading companies, including Choice Hotels International, Marriott International, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, BWH Hotel Group and Radisson Hotel Group, as well as regional brands. Visit: www.sustainablehospitalityalliance.org 

About GREEN Hospitality

GREEN Hospitality is a non-profit-making organisation that sees hospitality and tourism as catalysts for sustainability by advancing Sustainable Development Goals in the interest of the planet, people, and prosperity. For more information, visit: https://www.greenhospitality.io/ 

WTTC monitors water use in tourism

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 27 March 2023: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the Saudi-based Sustainable Tourism Global Centre have unveiled groundbreaking new data detailing the total water usage of the global Travel & Tourism sector.

In one of the largest research projects of its kind, WTTC can, for the first time, accurately report and track the sector’s impact on the environment.

The findings were launched today at the United Nations in New York at the UN 2023 Water Conference.

Direct Water Use

Speaking at the UN Headquarters, WTTC director of sustainability Chris Imbsen revealed that Travel & Tourism’s entire water footprint is just 0.6% of the global water use according to the latest figures (2021).

In 2019, when the sector peaked, its total water footprint was only 50% higher, but still less than 1% of the global total at 0.9%.

Travel & Tourism’s direct water use is significantly lower – in 2019, it was 0.2% of the global total and has fallen by half to just 0.1%.

Much of the sector’s water use is indirect, through its supply chain, with agriculture and food production accounting for two-thirds of Travel & Tourism’s entire water footprint.

Between 2010 and 2019, the Travel & Tourism sector in Europe and Africa reduced direct water use. In Europe, direct water use fell by 8%, and in Africa, direct water use by the sector fell by 6%.

WTTC President & CEO, Julia Simpson said: “This groundbreaking new data reveals our sector’s water consumption for the first time, revealing that Travel & Tourism uses less than 1% of the water used around the world, with the overwhelming majority of that usage coming from the sector’s supply chain.

“The data also shows that whilst the sector has grown economically around the world, its direct-use water intensity has decreased.

“The data is the most in-depth study of the sector’s water use. Like the world-first climate footprint data we released at our Global Summit in Riyadh last year, we can also reveal individual countries’ Travel & Tourism sector’s water footprints. This will enable governments to work with the sector to reduce water usage further.”

Water Intensity

The water intensity of Travel & Tourism per unit of GDP has also fallen since 2010 across both direct and indirect use.

In 2010, the sector used 0.57m³ of water for every USD1 contributed to the global economy.

In 2019 this fell by 19% to reach 0.46m³ of water for every USD1 contributed to the global economy.

In a world first, this comprehensive research covers 185 countries across all regions and will be updated each year with revised figures.

This research was made possible thanks to the partnership between WTTC and the Saudi-based Sustainable Tourism Global Center. Under the Saudi green Initiative, more than 60 initiatives have been launched in the past year, representing more than USD186 billion of investment in the green economy.

Taiwanese incentive tour heads for Malaysia

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TTR WEEKLY
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PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, 27 March: Participants from Taiwan’s food & beverage company, WOW Prime Corporation, make Malaysia its preferred destination with support from Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB).

The incentive trip comes in a staggered arrival from 26 March until 28 September 2023, with 3,000 participants on trips that will generate an estimated economic impact of MYR57.9 million for Malaysia’s economy.

The participants of WOWprime Corporation Company Incentive Trip 2023 will be treated to a five-star resort stay at Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson. They will enjoy various travel experiences such as a Melaka historical tour, visiting the cultural heritage sites and experiencing the night market at Alor Street.

An array of shopping experiences await them at the duty-free Genting Premium Outlets and Genting Sky Avenue Complex, followed by local chocolate product shopping and various photoshoot sessions at the Chinatown, Kwai Chai Hong, Saloma Link bridge, KLCC and National Palace.

“Thanks to the support of our Taiwanese participants, MyCEB is honoured to announce that we are the proud host to 3,000 participants of WOWprime. This is a great motivation for us to further prepare and welcome our participants in the best capacity! We hope to get more Taiwan business visitors to make Malaysia your preferred business events and corporate incentive destination,” said MyCEB chief executive officer Dato’ Sri Dr Abdul Khani Daud.

“Having WOWprime augurs well with our target in welcoming 114,000 corporate meetings and incentive participants for 2023, and we will continuously provide the support to meet your requirements so that each participant who visits Malaysia will be inspired by the destination and its endless experience from our distinctive uniqueness in each location,” he continued.

As an English-speaking yet multilingual country with a vibrant, emerging economy, Malaysia is recognised as one of the world’s friendliest nations and a great value-for-money destination.

MyCEB’s strong support, proven capabilities and creativity have paved the way for local Destination Marketing Companies (DMCs) to bring in even more corporate incentive groups in the future, the CEO concluded.

(Source: Bernama – Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau).

Dnata supports AA growth in India

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, UAE, 27 March 2023: Dubai-based Dnata, a leading global air and travel services provider, has expanded its partnership with American Airlines to support the carrier’s growing business in India.

The Texas-based airline currently operates daily flights between New York and Delhi, as well as offering domestic services through its partnership with IndiGo, with plans for further expansion.

Dnata Representation Services will provide sales and marketing services to American Airlines as its general sales agent (GSA) in India. It will act as the essential link between the carrier and local trade, supporting its commercial operations in the market.

Dnata Representation Services, part of the dnata Travel Group, has served as GSA for American Airlines in Dubai and the Northern Emirates for more than 45 years.

Dnata Representation Services is the GSA for 24 airlines with networks worldwide. The unit is integral to dnata’s overall business strategy in India. The company also offers various travel services from its Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore offices.

Hahn Air hires sales chief for Southeast Asia

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TTR WEEKLY
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DREIEICH, Germany, 27 March 2023. Hahn Air introduces Arsenio (Zen) Cabanilla Jr as its new regional vice president of agency distribution for Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines and Thailand.

In his new position, he will assist travel agents in the designated markets on how to use Hahn Air’s ticketing solutions to increase their sales. In addition, he will provide support with training and presentations, as well as targeted sales and marketing activities. His responsibility will also be developing strategic alliances with local trade.

Arsenio (Zen) Cabanilla.

“We are happy to welcome Arsenio to the team,” said Haha Air vice president of agency distribution Kimberley Long. “He complements our sales team, and he will work closely with the regional vice president agency Distribution An Ngo, who is responsible for East Asia and Vietnam.”

His track record includes seven years of sales and client service management (B2B and B2C), focusing on business development, key account management and product marketing. His experience in tourism includes positions at Legend Hotels International, Philippine Airlines and an online travel agency. Arsenio speaks Filipino and English.

“Having worked in the tourism sector for several years, I am familiar with Hahn Air and its distribution solutions for travel agencies and airlines. But I also understand the needs of travel agencies and OTAs about selling flights through the GDSs. Therefore, I am very excited to join the Hahn Air team, to communicate the Hahn Air benefits to travel agents and to support them in growing their revenues”, said Cabanilla.

Hahn Air is the market leader in ticketing solutions worldwide, providing 100,000 travel agencies in 190 markets with access to the flights of more than 350 partner airlines via the HR-169 ticket. It also allows them to choose from various payment options and enables them to book over 90 carriers under the codes X1 and H1 that would otherwise be unavailable through the GDS.

THAI cancels flights to Frankfurt and Munich from 26 to 27 March

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 24 March 2023: THAI Airways International cancels flights to Frankfurt and Munich from 26 to 27 March 2023 due to the mass transit labour strikes in Germany on 27 March.

The airline announced the cancellation of the following flights:

1. TG920 Bangkok-Frankfurt on 26 March; 

2. TG921 Frankfurt-Bangkok on 27 March;

3. TG922 Bangkok-Frankfurt on 27 March;

4. TG923 Frankfurt-Bangkok on 27 March;

5. TG924 Bangkok-Munich on 26-27 March; 

6. TG925 Munich-Bangkok on 26-27 March.   

Passengers booked on these flights should visit thaiairways.com for updates or call (66)23561111 for the THAI Contact Center (open 24 hours). 

Emirates prepares for Ramadan

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, UAE, 24 March 2023: Following the start of Ramadan, Wednesday, Emirates provides thousands of Iftar meal boxes for fasting passengers both onboard and at boarding gates, an array of religious content and Ramadan series on ice, and traditional Ramadan refreshments and meals in the lounges.

From 22 March, customers breaking their fast across all cabin classes to select Emirates destinations will receive thoughtful, nutritionally-balanced iftar meal boxes. Iftar meals will be served in bespoke boxes designed by Emirates to represent the rich Emirati heritage of the Al Sadu weavers. Al Sadu is a traditional form of weaving practised by Bedouin women of the UAE, who handmade soft furnishings and decorative accessories with distinctive geometric patterns. Reflecting the social aspect of Ramadan as family and friends gather to break the fast, the Al Sadu weavers joined in groups to spin and weave, exchanging family news, singing, and reciting poetry.

The iftar meal boxes will include light dishes and starters such as hummus and spinach bil zeit, Greek salad and cauliflower bil tahini, falafel sandwiches, pasta salad and fried aubergine with mint, zaatar chicken salad and cauliflower bil tahini, chicken musakhan sandwiches with Arabic bread, as well as staples like traditional dates and refreshing laban. A smaller box will also be served at boarding gates at Iftar time, including all the essentials to comfortably break the fast.

Emirates’ iftar box will be served to complement the regular hot meal service and menu will be refreshed weekly to ensure a best-in-class dining experience during the Holy Month. The boxes will be served on flights to select destinations during times that coincide with iftar, on flights to and from the Gulf region, as well as flights catering to Umrah groups travelling to Jeddah and Medina during the month of Ramadan. Passengers may also check in one bottle of Islamic holy water, ‘ZAMZAM’, containing up to 5 litres per person at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and various airports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Captain announcements of Iftar time

To ensure the highest levels of accuracy for fasting Muslim passengers, Emirates uses a unique tool to calculate the correct timings for imsak (the time to commence fasting) and iftar while in-flight, based on the times of the sunrise and sunset of the location the flight is passing by using the aircraft’s longitude, latitude, and altitude. When the sun sets, passengers will be officially informed of the iftar time by the captain.

Ramadan refreshments in the lounges

For customers on the ground boarding during iftar times, boxes containing water, juice, a banana, and dates will be available to fasting customers at gates for several destinations. At the Emirates lounges in DXB, traditional Arabic sweets, dates, and coffee will be offered during Ramadan. Meals available in First and Business Class lounges will include a selection of hot and cold Arabic mezzeh, lentil soup, lamb ouzi served with dakous and coriander mint raita, shish taouk with harissa red pepper dip and Emirati ouzi. Desserts will feature kunafa with pistachio and baklava ice cream, baklawa pistachio finger, sweet cashew kol w shkor and Arabic coffee and dates ice-cream. Emirates lounges are equipped with dedicated prayer rooms and ablution facilities to ensure a peaceful environment for worship.

Ramadan content on ice

Throughout March and April, Emirates ice inflight entertainment will feature special religious content, including Hadeeth Al Emam Al Tayeb, Nawafez Aala Al Hayat, Qu’ran Mubeen, Deen Al Tasamoh, Meythaq Al Hayat, Mahe Ramadan (Urdu), Ramadan Ki Fazilat (Urdu), Noor E Ramzan (Urdu) and Niyamat – E – Ramadan (Urdu). The Holy Qur’an is also available on ice.

Popular Ramadan series and dramas will also be available on ice, such as Al Wade’ Mustaqer – Season 2, Nasiby Wa Qesmetek – Season 4, Tahqiq, Rivo, 25 Soual, and Fil Sayara. Amongst the diverse content on ice, there are over 5,000 channels of on-demand entertainment, including 742 Arabic channels featuring movies, TV, podcasts, and music.

Ramadan Awareness Training

Emirates provides Ramadan awareness training for its cabin crew and on-ground teams in Dubai and its network. Special training resources have been provided to ensure operational teams are aware of the Holy Month, understand the cultural significance and nuances of this time and recognise specific practices that Muslims engage in so they are prepared to provide the highest levels of service to customers at all touchpoints of their travel journey.

https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/experience/seasonal-occasions/ramadan/

(Your Stories: Emirates)

More South Koreans visit Sabah

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TTR WEEKLY
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KOTA KINABALU, 24 March 2023: South Korean visitors to Sabah are rising, as the count hits 21,541 arrivals during January 2023.

It represents a significant increase as the total is nearly half of the 55,152 South Korean tourist arrivals recorded in 2022.

“The Korean market is significant to us as it was the first country the Sabah Tourism Board team visited when the border reopened in April of last year to engage with airlines and travel agents there,” said Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.

“The surge in Korean tourists is largely thanks to the increase in scheduled direct flights to Sabah, and of course, this would not have been possible without a close engagement,” he said, adding Kota Kinabalu is also well connected via Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, China, Taipei, and Brunei.

Joniston, who is also the assistant minister of tourism, culture, and environment, made the comments during an interview with the media team of the Korean-based Coceuco company, which had organised an incentive trip to Sabah for 450 top achievers.

Coceuco manufactures and sells multi-functional skin care products under the brand Repove.

Regarding scheduled flights, Joniston stated that there are currently 30 weekly direct flights from Korea to Sabah, with Kota Kinabalu connecting via Incheon and Busan.

This contrasts with the previous year when there were only 16 weekly flights between Kota Kinabalu and Incheon.

Joniston added Sabah’s islands, beaches, and golf courses are popular among Korean tourists.

Before the pandemic, Sabah registered 396,700 tourists from South Korea in 2019 and 337,100 in 2018, representing the second-largest international arrivals after China.

For more information visit www.sabahtourism.com.

(Your Stories Sabah Tourism Board)

THAI presents new story for ticketing agents

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 24 March 2023: Thai Airways International hosted a networking session recently for ticket agents themed “Explore the Endless Horizon.”

Designed to boost sales and marketing activities and showcase its new products and inflight services, the airline reached out to 140 THAI local and international ticket agents from Asia, Australia, and Europe markets.

THAI’s top executives briefed the agents on the company’s progress under the court’s rehabilitation plan and its commercial strategies to boost ticketing sales through B2B channels.

The airline also presented its Royal Orchid Holidays tour packages and updated agents on its revamped Royal First and Royal Silk inflight offerings.

MATTA signs MOU with Indonesian agents

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 24 March 2023: MATTA has embarked on an initiative to achieve close cooperation with other travel agency associations in the ASEAN region and Europe.

The latest Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) in the tourism industry was signed last week between the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) and the Indonesian Travel Agents Association (ASTINDO), and the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA).

From left to right: Datuk Tan Kok Liang, President of MATTA; HE  Bapak Sandiaga Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, The Republic of Indonesia; Pauline Suharno – President of The Indonesian Travel Agents Association (ASTINDO).

MATTA said it would ensure cooperation grows between the associations in Indonesia and Malaysia.

“ By doing so, we will be able to combine assets and expertise to accomplish shared goals promoting tourism for both countries.,” said MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang.

MATTA recently embarked on a mission to secure an understanding and close working relationship with European counterparts, particularly in Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, and Finland.

“This will assist our members in building for full recovery in important markets… We are interested in working together to promote tourism as well as to share information related to tourist-related issues and conduct information exchanges.”

MATTA’s president pointed out that before the Covid19 pandemic, Indonesia was the second largest market for Malaysia, trailing only Singapore, with 3,623,277 visitors.

“Similarly, the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy reports that 2.6 million Malaysian visitors visited Indonesia in 2019. As a result, we anticipate a large rise in arrivals for both countries following the signing of the MOU,” explained Tan.

MATTA’s  Selangor Chapter held a B2B roadshow in Jakarta, Jogjakarta, and Surabaya late last year, and MATTA will continue to host B2B roadshows to the Sumatera, Java, and Kalimantan islands in the next few months.

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