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Seven reasons to book a cruise

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 24 May 2024: Luxury cruise specialists Panache Cruises have named the seven reasons why holidaymakers should book a cruise immediately, regardless of the time of year they intend to travel.

Booking a cruise in advance is one of the best ways to get great deals, and waiting can lead to higher-priced holidays or not getting the cabin you were hoping for.

During a cost of living crisis, getting value for money becomes even more important but so is having something to look forward to, according to the experts.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Panache Cruises founder and managing director James Cole said: “Whether you are looking for last-minute deals this summer, planning to escape the British winter or thinking ahead to next year, booking your cruise now has many benefits.

“Booking as soon as you can normally only requires a nominal deposit leaving you time to save while also providing large discounts on the holiday, upgrades and free packages.

“Cruising offers some unique opportunities over other types of holidays, such as allowing you to visit multiple destinations on one trip, so getting one booked spares the debates and keeps everyone happy.

Here are seven reasons why you should book a cruise

Great deals here and now

Specialist cruise retailers often have incredible promotions you will not find by booking directly with a cruise line or via mainstream travel agents who do not focus purely on the cruise sector. Holidaymakers can benefit from discounts, cabin or suite upgrades, free onboard credit, inclusive shore excursions, unlimited premium beverages and other exclusive offers. If you book as soon as you find a great deal, you’ll likely pay less than if you waited while having the widest choice of cabins. Cabins with family-friendly facilities, such as sofa beds and interconnecting doors and balconies, often get booked quickly. Additional discounts can sometimes be found by paying the full booking balance.

Something to look forward to

A holiday is like an iceberg – the bulk of the excitement and anticipation isn’t, in fact, the holiday itself, and it’s the hidden excitement that you only get to experience once the holiday is booked. Booking a holiday in advance frees you up to spend your time planning for and looking forward to the holiday. Immerse yourself in researching each port of call, finding the right excursions and booking the speciality restaurants on board which suit you best.

You can’t pin your holiday down to just one location

The world is a big place, and most of us can only scratch the surface of the countries, cultures and experiences it offers us. You also might have family or friends that have different preferences to yourself. Booking a cruise that stops at multiple destinations guarantees that everyone can be satisfied with the holiday you have booked. Every destination offers something different, and people within your group can embark on the activities which interest them most during the day and then meet up on the ship for a relaxing dinner, show or spa treatment afterwards. A cruise holiday is hard to beat in terms of choice and flexibility for all the family.

You only need a deposit

A big advantage of booking a cruise holiday well in advance is, unlike booking a flight, you only need to pay a small deposit at the time of booking. This gives you months to save and get excited as the holiday and payment date approaches. Discounts can usually be found when paying the full balance when booking. However, don’t forget to discuss this with your specialist cruise agent.

Explore somewhere you’ve never imagined visiting

Expedition cruises can take you to places you never thought possible. Booking a cruise with an expedition cruise specialist such as Silversea can take you above the Arctic Circle or around the untamed coastline of Western Australia, leaving you free to start preparing for what you will see and learn when you are there.

There are places you want to visit but not stay

We all have places we would love to visit but wouldn’t want to spend too long there. Cruising allows you to tick off places you have never been to and sights you want to see without paying for separate flights and hotel stays. Knowing you can return to your cabin after a busy day sightseeing and travel to a new destination while you sleep is a great way to get the new experiences you want and avoid the ones you don’t.

Celebrate a big event

As we get older, we get less enthusiastic about traditional birthday celebrations and might want to change things up for our next milestone birthday, anniversary or other upcoming celebration. Knowing you don’t have to plan anything at home or worry about what you might do to mark the occasion frees you up to enjoy the event with family members, lifelong friends and newfound friends onboard.

Find out more about how you can benefit from great deals by booking your cruise right now at https://www.panachecruises.com/

Really Cool woos loyalty members

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 24 2023: Founder of the latest start-up airline in Thailand, Patee Sarasin, confirms ‘Really Cool Airlines will commence flights in Q1 2024 starting with services to Asian destinations such as Singapore, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Patee told a press conference Tuesday the airline would start flights to European destinations in 2025. It has still to decide on aircraft to serve regional and intercontinental routes.

Aviation experts in Thailand said flights to Japan made sense during the start-up phase as Japan represents a significant tourism source market for Thailand and is also probably the most popular destination for Thais booking Asian holidays.

Patee Sarasin is a popular figure in tourism circles in Thailand, having founded Nok Air and later an innovative travel company Reallycoolgo Travel promoting outbound travel to Thailand’s social media generation.

This week, Really Cool Airlines introduces the airline’s ReallyCool US Digital Membership based on an interactive app-based programme that allows members to tailor their travel experiences at an unbeatable value.

Patee told the press conference that early adoptees of the ReallyCool US Digital Membership programme will enjoy an exclusive array of once-in-a-lifetime benefits from the airline tagged “Legendary Series.”

The Legendary Series is available only to 999 members worldwide, offering money-saving features.

“By showing support for Really Cool Airlines at this early stage, members are rewarded with tangible benefits as the airline expands its network in coming years, the airline statement reads.

The estimated value of the benefits in The Legendary Series is USD15,000, but early supporters (the first 999 worldwide) – will pay only USD6,000 for a block of benefits.

Listed benefits

Two free Super Cool seats round trip to any destination Really Cool Airline flies, with no expiration date (Super Cool seats are the irline’s equivalent of business class seats)

Two vouchers for 50% off when buying return Super Cool seats, available for any destination on the network, a benefit that is awarded every year for life.

Two free upgrades to Super Cool seats when buying return Cool Seats (economy) to any destination in the network, another benefit that is awarded every year for life.

Shareholders

In response to TTRW’s questions concerning the airline’s registration and shareholding structure, the airline’s communications and public relations agency made the following official response.

“Really Cool Airlines was registered under RC Airlines Co Ltd in March 2023 with a registered capital of THB200 million. The airline is funded by a group of capitalists who have chosen not to be publicly disclosed. As such, we do not have information to share about the founding stakeholders.”

New look Sheraton opens in Japan

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 23 May 2023: Sheraton Hotels & Resorts announces the opening of Sheraton Kagoshima, the brand’s 150th property in Asia-Pacific and the first in Japan to exemplify the brand’s latest design concepts.

The hotel is located in the seaside city of Kagoshima on Japan’s Kyushu island. Just a 10-minute drive from the hotel are attractions such as Shiroyama Park, where guests can see a spectacular birds-eye view of the city, Kagoshima Bay, and Mount Sakurajima. The hotel is located approximately 40km from Kagoshima Airport and is a short walk from the Takenohashi tram station, which connects guests to Kagoshima Chuo Station.

At the heart of the new design experience at the 228-room Sheraton Kagoshima is the lobby, which has been reimagined as the “Public Square” of the hotel that welcomes guests with double-height ceiling, greenery-covered walls and warm natural lighting.

Sheraton Kagoshima’s design highlight is its Community Table, an inviting, purpose-built workspace that anchors the hotel’s lobby and allows guests to work, eat and drink.

All Emirates passengers can Wi-Fi free

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, UAE, 23 May 2023:A recent enhancement to Emirates’ inflight connectivity means that all Emirates passengers in every class of travel can enjoy some form of free connectivity once they sign up to Emirates Skywards. The development has resulted in an additional 30,000 Economy Class passengers connecting to complimentary onboard Wi-Fi every week.

Emirates has constantly been at the forefront of inflight Wi-Fi developments and has invested more than USD300 million dollars into onboard connectivity to date.

All Emirates Skywards members in every class of travel can now enjoy some form of free connectivity. Skywards members, whether Blue, Silver, Gold, or Platinum tier, travelling in any class, whether economy, premium economy, business or first class, will enjoy free app messaging. Additionally, first-class passengers will have unlimited free internet if they are Skywards members, enabling them to shop or work online during the flight.

The increase in free connectivity has been very well received by Emirates’ passengers following changes in January 2023 and the airline today sees an average of 450,000 users per month. This represents a 30% increase in passenger use in 2023 versus last year. Almost 10% of all passengers are utilising the complimentary onboard Wi-Fi. On routes through the Americas, nearly 20% of passengers connect to Wi-Fi onboard; on European and African routes, the usage is over 11% of all passengers.

 The airline’s SVP retail IFE and connectivity, Patrick Brannelly, commented: “Emirates has persistently worked with our service providers to optimise and improve the connectivity experience. In March, we delivered about 55% more data per customer session compared to early 2022 despite the number of sessions increasing by 68% in the same period. We will continue to work to invest in upgrades and enhancements, and our A350 aircraft will arrive with the next generation of satellite connectivity already equipped.”

Emirates also announced that it will offer new high-speed, inflight broadband powered by Inmarsat’s GX Aviation onboard 50 new Airbus A350 aircraft – scheduled to enter service in 2024. The new agreement will significantly improve the passenger experience with enhanced connectivity and greater global coverage, even on flights over the Arctic. The Airbus A350s will be the first Emirates aircraft to take advantage of Inmarsat’s Global Xpress (GX) satellite network, which powers the world’s first and only globally available broadband network, ensuring passengers can enjoy uninterrupted global connectivity, no matter their destination, including the North Pole. The advanced high-speed capabilities of the broadband will enable Emirates passengers to stay connected with family and friends, browse the internet, and enjoy social media, all from the comfort of their seats. Emirates also confirmed an investment of over US$ 350 million to equip a 50-strong fleet of A350s coming in 2024 with enhanced passenger connectivity via Thales’ AVANT Up system and Optiq – the first smart display in the industry to offer two Bluetooth connections, built-in Wi-Fi for passengers to pair multiple devices including phones, tablets, headphones or even game controllers while supporting up to 60 watts USB-C to fast-charge personal devices.

Passengers need to join Emirates Skywards – an easy and complimentary process- to access free Wi-Fi. Those interested can sign up via emirates.com, flydubai.com, the official Emirates app, or the flydubai app and directly from the Wi-Fi portal onboard.

(Source: Emirates)

On ya bike in Spain

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 23 May 2023: Cycling and holidays are more than just compatible in Spain. They are a perfect match whether you want to cycle between visits or go on cycling excursions for a few hours. You will find perfectly adapted routes and cycle touring and bike hire companies all over Spain to make the logistics easy and the experience the most memorable.

WHY SPAIN

The excellent Spanish climate makes it easier to go cycling practically all year round. There are numerous routes and trails through the countryside for all levels in Spain. The impressive scenery you will encounter on the routes is worth seeing. Spain is the country with the most Biosphere Reserves (53), not to mention its 16 National Parks, as well as some of the most beautiful and best-signposted routes in Europe (such as the Way of Saint James, where you can even find hostels that are free of charge). Numerous routes run through destinations of immense cultural and gastronomic interest. Spain abounds in charming, easygoing villages to visit by bike (both along the coast and inland).

Accommodation-wise, you have a wide selection: hotels, country house lodges, campsites, hostels, etc. There are even “Bike-friendly Hotels”, particularly in Mallorca, the Canary Islands and around the Pyrenees, which offer various services like video surveillance for bikes, washing areas, special menus for athletes, and bike hire.

BEST TIMES TO BIKE

Even though you can go cycling practically all year round, bear in mind that in summer, the temperatures can get very high in certain areas (even topping the 38ºC mark).

Some cycling tourists prefer to travel in the low season (avoiding the peak holiday months of July and August). Fewer people are on the trails, and the temperatures are lower when exploring Spain during Spring or Autumn. Daylight hours are still longer when compared to winter months.

ROUTES

– Vías Verdes (Greenways): these are over 3,200 km of old railway lines that have been converted into bicycle tourism itineraries. More than 120 itineraries are available, with distances greatly varying in length (from 1 to 100 km). You can visit the official website.

– Nature Trails: there are over 10,300 km of these trails throughout Spain. Among them you will find old railway lines, canals, cattle routes, tracks, etc. On the official website, you can download GPS files for several of the suggested routes.

– EuroVelo Routes: A lot of stretches along the Mediterranean coast of Spain are perfectly equipped for bicycle tourism, such as the EuroVelo 8, the Mediterranean Route from Cadiz to Athens, which is about 5,400 kilometres long.

-Besides these routes, you will find other tracks and rural pathways.

– Saddlebag bicycle touring is all the rage if you are into cycling routes that take several days to complete. Use a hybrid bike fitted out for transporting packs to carry your luggage.

FAMOUS AREAS

There are particularly famous cycle touring routes you might like to do. Here are a few examples:

– St James Way: the famous Camino comprises several different routes ending at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral (Galicia), including the French Way, the Primitive Way, the English Way, etc. You might be interested in our report on “St James Way by bike”.

– The Way of El Cid: this route follows in the footsteps of El Cid Campeador through Castilla-León, Castilla-La Mancha, Aragon and the Region of Valencia.

– Canal de Castilla: once a major transport artery, this canal is now one of the most attractive routes in Castile and Leon.

For the full report and extra tips on cycle rules within the country, visit

https://www.spain.info/en/discover-spain/cycle-touring-spain/

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

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

KAL extends a helping hand to Nepal

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 23 May 2023: Korean Air fulfilled its commitment to giving back to the communities with its employees repairing facilities and serving as educational volunteers at a children’s daycare centre in Chitwan, Nepal, from 15 to 20 May.

Nestled at the foot of the Himalayas, Chitwan is located approximately 150 km southwest of the capital city of Kathmandu and is known for its well-preserved natural landscapes.

The Korean Air volunteer team installed water heaters and classroom audio equipment for underprivileged children at a local daycare centre, taught English and Korean, and provided essential vitamin supplements and medical supplies to the area residents.

Before the pandemic, the airline built a playground and invited children from the Nepali daycare centre to Busan, Korea, for a sightseeing trip.

In addition to this project in Nepal, the airline is committed to multiple community engagement and philanthropic work, both domestic and overseas. Last year, the volunteer team conducted facility maintenance and educational programs in the Battambang region of Cambodia. In 2020, the airline helped construct a dorm at an orphanage in Sulawesi, Indonesia.

About Korean Air

Korean Air is one of the world’s top 20 airlines, carrying more than 27 million passengers in 2019, pre-Covid. With its global hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN), the airline serves 120 cities in 43 countries on five continents with a fleet of 157 aircraft and over 20,000 professional employees.

Korean Air is a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance and has grown into one of the largest transpacific airlines through its joint venture with Delta Air Lines.

Resort World Sentosa wins award

By
TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 23 May 2023: Resorts World Sentosa has clinched the Outstanding Employer title in the Singapore Tourism Awards 2023 for its exemplary dedication to strengthening human capital capabilities.

It follows a revitalised focus to ramp up efforts to upskill and re-skill its employees – in line with the integrated resort’s move to gear up its expansion plan and as Singapore tracks its path of economic recovery beyond the pandemic.

Resorts World Sentosa team members undertook close to 300,000 hours of training in 2022, marking a jump of more than 50% from 2021.

Singapore Tourism Awards, organised by Singapore Tourism Board, are the country’s most prestigious awards for the tourism sector and recognise the industry’s best in delivering exceptional experiences and achieving enterprise excellence.

RWS’ chief people officer Lee Shi Ruh shared: “This award is a mark of recognition for our strategic approach towards inspiring and nurturing our team members as we chart the path towards our next growth phase. We have ramped up efforts to address skills scarcity needs and advance skillset transformation for our employees as travel restrictions ease and the tourism industry recovers.”

In 2022, RWS employees undertook nearly 300,000 hours of training, marking a jump of more than 50% from 2021. In line with Singapore’s call to boost mid-career support, the integrated resort also works closely with industry partners such as Workforce Singapore and Singapore Hotel Association to offer a suite of job-redesign initiatives and career conversion programmes. To date, more than 100 team members have undergone cross-training opportunities – intending to enrich their job roles.

The prestigious Outstanding Employer award by the Singapore Tourism Board is the latest recognition conferred on the integrated resort. In 2022, RWS was honoured with two awards: NTUC May Day – Partner of Labour Movement and SkillsFuture Employer Award (Gold) by SkillsFuture Singapore.  

(Source: RWS)

Etihad Airways confirms new route to Japan

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 23 May 2023: Etihad Airways will fly from Abu Dhabi to Osaka five times per week beginning 1 October 2023, a route supporting trade and tourism ties between the countries.

Etihad already flies to Tokyo using its Boeing Dreamliner 787-9s, configured with 28 seats in business class and 271 in economy.

Photo credit: Etihad.

The new flights from Abu Dhabi (EY830) will depart for Osaka on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The return flights (EY831) will depart Osaka on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“We’re delighted to introduce flights to Osaka,” said Etihad Airways chief executive officer Antonoaldo Neves. “As one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities, visitors will enjoy exploring its heritage and sampling some of Osaka’s renowned hospitality. Equally, the new route opens up Abu Dhabi to visitors from Osaka, and we look forward to welcoming guests to our vibrant home and giving them access to our growing, global network.”

Known as the ‘Kitchen of Japan’, Osaka boasts a world-class culinary scene, with Michelin-starred restaurants and eclectic eateries offering delicacies such as takoyaki (octopus balls), okonomiyaki (savoury pancakes) and sushi.

Beyond its gastronomic delights, visitors to Osaka can step back in time at Osaka Castle to experience the samurai era, visit the vibrant Dontonbori district, with its neon-lit streets and countless entertainment options, or indulge in retail therapy in one of the many shopping districts dotted across the city.

A roundtrip fare, Abu Dhabi – Osaka, will cost around AED5995. Flight time is nine hours and 15 minutes on the outbound sector and 10 hours and 30 minutes on the return sector to Abu Dhabi.

The direct EY830 flight will depart Abu Dhabi at 2140 and arrive in Osaka at 1155 plus one day. The return flight EY831 will depart Osaka at 1725 and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 2255.

Hong Kong’s passenger traffic revives

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 23 May 2023: Hong Kong International Airport handled 3.1 million passengers during April, marking a year-on-year surge of around 24 times, the Airports of Authority of Hong Kong reported on Monday quoting the latest traffic figures posted on its website 

Compared to the same month last year, flight movements more than doubled to 21,545, while cargo throughput declined by 7.7% to 347,000 tonnes.

All passenger segments experienced significant growth in April, especially Hong Kong residents. Traffic to and from Southeast Asia, Mainland China, and Japan recorded the most significant increases.

Cargo volume remained impacted by global economic uncertainties. Overall cargo volume declined in April, with import cargo decreasing by 24% compared to last year. Traffic to and from key trading regions in Southeast Asia and Taiwan saw the most significant decrease during the month.

Over the first four months of the year, the airport handled 10.1 million passengers, an increase of around 26 times compared to the same period in 2022. Flight movements increased by 83.1% year-on-year to 74,200, while cargo volume dropped by 6.7% to 1.3 million tonnes.

On a 12-month rolling basis, passenger volume increased year-on-year by more than nine times to 15.4 million, while flight movements rose 19.3% to 172,395. Cargo throughput saw a decrease of 16.4% to 4.1 million tonnes.

AAHK executive director of airport operations Steven Yiu said: “Following the resumption of normal travel, passenger volume and flight at HKIA have been picking up gradually. In April, the airport handled over 100,000 passengers and 700 flights per day, respectively, representing 50% and 60% of pre-pandemic levels. We are excited that air traffic continues to increase, and we look forward to welcoming more travellers to Hong Kong or using our wide network for transferring to different destinations.”

To meet rising demand, airlines operating at HKIA have been expanding their networks by adding more destinations, such as those in Japan, South Korea and Thailand, and increasing flights. New routes have also been launched, including a direct service between Urumqi and Hong Kong.

(Source: AAHK)

AirAsia Thailand restarts Colombo flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 23 May 2023: AirAsia will resume flights from Bangkok (Don Mueang) to Colombo on 9 July 2023 with a promotional fare starting as low as THB2,990*.

The low-cost airline will offer four weekly flights between Bangkok and Colombo, operating four times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

From now until 4 June, the airline offers loyalty programme members a one-way fare of THB2,990 for travel from 9 July to 28 October 2023 via Airasia Super App or www.airasia.com.

Flights to Colombo stopped during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Flight FD140 will depart Don Mueang Airport (DMK) 1945 and arrive at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) in Colombo, Sri Lanka 2200. The returning flight FD141 will depart from Colombo at 2300 to arrive at Don Mueang at 0405 the following day. The airline uses A320s on its regional routes.

*Starting fare (single) available to registered AirAsia members only and includes airport tax but excludes auxiliary services, credit, debit and charge card fees. Terms and conditions apply.

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