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Marriott plans expansion in Greater China

HONG KONG 3 April 2023: Marriott International will expand its portfolio in Greater China by adding 47 hotels in 2023, comprising more than 12,000 rooms, giving the company more than 500 properties and well over 150,000 rooms by this year’s end in the Greater China region.

Marriott already has 475 hotels across more than 130 destinations in Greater China. The footprint is slated to grow in the Yangtze Delta Region, the Greater Bay Area and the Bohai Rim Economic Circle.

Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

New destinations

Additional properties include Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve near the historic Chinese valley of Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan Province, W Macau – Studio City, and JW Marriott Hotel Xi’an.

Joining a collection of only five Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties worldwide, Rissai Valley, an 87-villa Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is expected to debut in China this year. Located in southwest China, 400 km from Chengdu in Sichuan province, Jiuzhaigou is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and World Biosphere Reserve. 

W Macau – Studio City is scheduled to open during the third quarter of 2023.

Later in the year, JW Marriott Hotels will open the 333-room JW Marriott Hotel Xi’an located in the Xi’an Economic and Technological Development Zone.

Premium Brands

Marriott International plans to add 20 properties under the company’s premium brand portfolio. It will boost properties under Westin Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Hotels, Delta Hotels by Marriott, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Executive Apartments, Autograph Collection Hotels and Tribute Portfolio Hotels & Resorts.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is slated to debut in four destinations – Beihai, Ninghai, Xuzhou and Taizhou.

Expected brand debuts in emerging cities, such as Shaoxing, Foshan and Shantou, will expand the reach of Marriott Hotels. Examples are Foshan Marriott Hotel, Guangzhou Marriott Hotel Baiyun, and Zhuhai Marriott Hotel Jinwan.

Westin Hotels and Resorts expects to debut in the historic city of Shenyang of Liaoning province and in Yantai, the core city of the Bohai Economic Rim.

Select Service Brands

Select service brands are expected to represent over half of Marriott International’s openings across Greater China this year. Twenty-four planned additions are in the pipeline focused on brands such as Courtyard by Marriott Hotels, Four Points by Sheraton Hotels, Fairfield by Marriott, AC Hotels by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, and Element Hotels. Debuts in emerging cities and destinations are key drivers of the expansion, such as in Yuyao and Zhuji in Zhejiang province and Qiongzhong in Hainan province. The additions include new areas in first- and second-tier cities, including Beijing, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou, and popular leisure destinations, such as Qiandao Lake and Jiuzhaigou. 

Centara Ubon celebrates official opening

BANGKOK, 3 April 2023: Central Pattana and Centara Hotels & Resorts have expanded their world-class collection of hotels with Centara Ubon, which is now officially open to welcome guests. This contemporary all-in-one lifestyle destination invites business and leisure travellers alike to experience the beauty and culture of Thailand’s Northeast. Centara Ubon is developed by Central Pattana – a global sustainable real estate company and developer of Central shopping centres, residential projects, office buildings and hotels across Thailand – in partnership withCentara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator.

In 2023, Centara Ubon became one of the newest additions to Central Pattana’s portfolio of mixed-use development projects with a full range of offerings.

Centara Ubon, conveniently located steps from Central Ubon Shopping Centre.

Conveniently located just 6.5 km from the Ubon Ratchathani International Airport and a short walk from food, shopping and local experiences at the adjacent Central Ubon shopping centre and nearby historic landmarks, this upscale property brings Centara’s signature warm hospitality and Thai family values to the hub of Southern Isaan.

Centara Ubon caters to the needs of every guest with 160 sophisticated rooms and suites ranging in size from 29 to 47 sqm. Each room is stylishly decorated with modern light wood décor and features a choice of a King or two Double beds and a daybed to accommodate at least three adults. Premium Deluxe Suites come fully furnished with a separate living area and private balcony with garden views, perfect for family getaways or holidays with friends.

Guests are invited to take a culinary journey with exceptional dining experiences at Centara Ubon. Open for all-day dining, the “House of Kin UBON” features Thai, Japanese and international cuisine and pastries and bakery favourites. The casual ambience of the outdoor Pool Bar, “Pineapple Cocktails Club by Teens of Thailand”, offers refreshing bites and tipples with unforgettable views of Ubon Ratchathani’s immaculate landscape. At the same time, those looking to relax in the comfort of their private dining room can take advantage of our in-room dining service.

In addition to outstanding dining options, Centara Ubon also offers a stunning outdoor swimming pool and terrace with views of the surrounding environment, a fully-equipped fitness centre, and an array of contemporary event spaces, including three meeting rooms and a 297-sqm Grand Ballroom, making Centara Ubon the ideal destination for weddings, board meetings, MICE events and more. Each tastefully-designed venue can be customised to suit guests’ needs while offering exquisite facilities and modern technology.

Centara Ubon represents Centara’s upscale hotel concept, with a vibrant collection of hotels blending the colourful local character of each destination with relaxed Thai-style living. Inviting spaces and premium services ensure travellers get the most out of every stay with unforgettable memories.

“We are excited to bring the Centara brand to Ubon Ratchathani, a true hub of Southern Isaan and a key location for business and leisure in Thailand’s Northeastern region. As the hotel and travel industry continues to rebound post-Covid, we look forward to offering a unique all-in-one lifestyle experience for our guests at Centara Ubon, where comfort and convenience are our top priority for every stay”, said Centara Hotels & Resorts chief executive officer Thirayuth Chirathivat.

“With a focus on international standard service, comfort and unforgettable guest experiences, Centara Ubon is poised to become the most sought-after destination in Southern Isaan”, said Centara Ubon general manager Rutjiret Ananphong. “We are thrilled to bring Centara’s warmth and sense of community to the region with this beautiful hotel. Our team is ready to welcome guests to enjoy our stunning facilities, including our stylish rooms, delectable all-day dining, outdoor swimming pool and diverse event spaces. It will ensure each stay is met with our signature hospitality.”

To celebrate its opening, Centara Ubon announced a special introductory offer with nightly rates from only THB2,555 net, including breakfast for two, as well as other complimentary perks, which include daily hotel credit of THB555, early check-in from 1200 and late check-out until 1400 (subject to availability), a complimentary minibar, two drinks per stay and a 25% discount on laundry services. This offer runs from now to 30 June 2023 for stays to 30 June 2023.

In addition, CentaraThe1 members can take advantage of an exclusive X3 points grand opening offer. Members who log in to their account and book a room from now to 9t April for stays through 30June 2023 will earn triple points for use towards future stays with Centara Hotels & Resorts. CentaraThe1 members also enjoy member rates at 15% lower than public rates and complimentary stays for up to 2 children.

Travellers not yet members of Centara’s loyalty programme can sign up for free in less than a minute and immediately start enjoying benefits and earning points. To take advantage of all CentaraThe1 membership privileges, sign-up or sign in now at www.CentaraThe1.com

Those looking to enjoy even more exciting benefits can also take advantage of The1 membership program, Thailand’s largest loyalty platform, from Central Group and Central Pattana, during their stay at Centara Ubon. Guests will have easy access to earning and redeeming points for exciting rewards when shopping, eating and more at neighbouring Central Ubon. Non-members are invited to sign up for free at www.the1.co.th.Through this exciting collaboration, T1 members can also pay for hotel services using T1 points during their stay at Centara Ubon.

For more information about the Centara Ubon opening offer and to book an upcoming stay, please visit https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/cub/opening-offer

To learn more about Centara Hotels & Resorts, visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com

(Your Stories: Centara Hotels & Resorts)

Emirates and United activate codeshare partnership

SINGAPORE, 3 April 2023: Emirates and United have activated their codeshare partnership, allowing Emirates customers easier access to expanded U.S. destinations.

Starting last Friday, Emirates customers can fly to three of the nation’s biggest business hubs – Chicago, Houston or San Francisco – and connect easily to United’s flights to an extensive domestic U.S. network.

Tickets are available to purchase from today on emirates.com as well as through trade channels, including travel agencies.

With the launch of the partnership, Emirates customers heading to the U.S. can now look forward to access to more than 150 U.S. cities in the United network via the three gateways.

Similarly, Emirates customers in the U.S. planning trips to Dubai and beyond have many choices. They can use United’s services to connect to Emirates-operated flights bound for Dubai via Chicago, Houston or San Francisco. The world just got bigger for U.S. travellers journeying to Emirates’ extensive network beyond Dubai, including many unique destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

On the flights, passengers can enjoy Emirates’ award-winning services and a host of convenient travel benefits the agreement provides. Travellers with itineraries on Emirates’ codeshare flights can plan their entire trip on a single ticket and take advantage of the airline’s baggage allowance, in addition to convenient bag check-through to the final destination.

Emirates also enables its Skywards members to earn and redeem miles on all flights across United’s worldwide network.

The partnership unlocks a host of popular destinations accessible from Emirates gateways, such as Atlanta, Austin, Denver, Minneapolis and Phoenix. Emirates passengers planning trips to destinations such as Detroit can fly direct from Dubai to Chicago or Houston and simply connect on a United flight to the final destination while enjoying the hassle-free flight benefits. The reciprocal benefits extend to passengers flying out of the U.S. using Emirates services to fly to Dubai, with the same easy access from a vast network of domestic cities and connection at one of the three hubs.

Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, commented: “We are extremely delighted to activate this historic partnership with United and significantly expand our footprint in the U.S. United’s vast network across the Americas will help us to offer more choice to our customer base from across the globe, and meet demand from across segments including the leisure, VFR, corporate travellers and students who can now connect seamlessly to and from a broader network of more than 150 domestic points.”

Emirates and United have an interline arrangement that allows passengers to easily reach a wider choice of destinations in the Americas outside of the U.S. Emirates customers will be able to choose from dozens more destinations in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, while also enjoying conveniences such as the simplicity of flight itineraries on a single-ticket and smooth connections via the three hubs (Chicago, Houston and San Francisco).

Emirates currently offers services between its hub in Dubai and 12 U.S. cities, as well as five points across Canada, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

More opportunities, more rewards

Under the agreement, Emirates Skywards members can earn miles on flights while travelling across United Airlines’ international and domestic networks.

The partnership will also enable MileagePlus members to earn miles on select flights in the Emirates network when travelling from Newark (EWR) to Dubai (DXB) on United Airlines and onwards to select destinations operated by Emirates.

The award-winning loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai continues to offer its 30 million members worldwide exclusive privileges.

Emirates’ network of 17 points across the Americas includes U.S. destinations Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD), Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Dallas-Fort Worth Airport (DFW), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Miami International Airport (MIA) and Orlando International Airport (MCO). Emirates also flies to Mexico City (MEX), Toronto (YYZ), Sao Paulo (GRU), Rio de Janeiro (GIG) and Buenos Aires (EZE).

About Emirates

From its global hub in Dubai, Emirates serves customers on six continents and operates the world’s largest fleet of wide-body Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft, offering spacious cabins and iconic inflight features such as its A380 Shower Spa and Onboard Lounge and its ice inflight entertainment system available in all seats across its fleet.

Emirates is committed to environmentally-responsible operations and focuses on three areas: Reducing emissions; consuming responsibly; and protecting wildlife and habitats. For more information, visit www.emirates.com

(Your Stories: Emirates)

IHG Khao Yai names GM

BANGKOK, 3 April 2023: InterContinental Khao Yai Resort has named Sandy Liw, the resort’s new general manager.

She will provide strategic leadership to the resort’s senior management and operations teams. Leveraging on her expertise in commercial performance, she will also head the sales and marketing team to position InterContinental Khao Yai Resort as one of the best luxury resorts in Asia.

She joined InterContinental Khao Yai Resort from Vietnam’s InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, where she held the position of hotel manager for over three years.

The 64-room InterContinental Khao Yai Resort takes inspiration from the area’s historical links to the national railway line that connects Bangkok and northeast Thailand, reflected in the rail theme adopted in the room designs and the resort’s lobby and restaurants.

STB and Flight Centre join forces

SINGAPORE, 3 April 2023: Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Flight Centre Travel Group Limited (FCTG) have inked a three-year multi-million-dollar Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to drive visits to Singapore via the travel group’s global network.

It marks  FCTG’s first global agreement with a destination partner since the pandemic. The partners will jointly promote Singapore in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US, Canada and South Africa.

Photo credit: STB. (Left) FCTG’s chief executive officer, Graham Turner, and (right) STB’s Chief Executive, Keith Tan, in FCTG’s head office in Brisbane last week.

The MOU was signed between FCTG’s chief executive officer, Graham Turner, and STB’s chief executive Keith Tan, in FCTG’s head office in Brisbane last week.

Tan said, “I am thrilled with this partnership as it enables STB and FCTG to boost tourism recovery worldwide. With such a valuable and strategic partner, STB will be able to showcase the many new hotels, experiences and attractions launched in the past few years so that travellers can experience even more of our beloved Singapore – our City in Nature.”

Vistara adds direct Mumbai-London flights

DELHI, 3 April 2023: India’s Vistara Air will commence direct flights to London Heathrow from Mumbai starting 1 June 2023, according to the airline’s launch promotion at the weekend.

The airline will commission a Boeing 787-900  to serve the direct route from Mumbai to London five times weekly. Sales are now open for bookings through all channels, including the airline’s website, mobile apps, call centres, online travel agencies (OTAs) and travel agents.

Flights are scheduled from 1 June to 29 October, departing from Mumbai five times a week – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. There are already daily departures to London Heathrow from Delhi using the Boeing 787 that recommenced in late 2022 after Covid-19 lockdown measures eased.

On the Mumbai-London-Mumbai route, the roundtrip fare starts at INR 57799 or UKP459, ex London roundtrip.

The roundtrip all-inclusive fares for the Delhi-London-Delhi route start at INR67199 or UKP559 ex London roundtrip

Mumbai-London flight details

Flight No.Start DateEnd DateDays of OperationFromDepartureToArrival
UK 151-Jun-2327-Oct-23Thu, FriMumbai14:30London19:45
UK 161-Jun-2326-Oct-23Tue, ThuLondon22:05Mumbai11:00 +1
UK 162-Jun-2327-Oct-23Fri, SunLondon21:55Mumbai11:00 +1
UK 154-Jun-2324-Oct-23Tue, SunMumbai14:30London19:55
UK 155-Jun-2323-Oct-23MondayMumbai13:50London19:10
UK 165-Jun-2323-Oct-23MondayLondon20:55Mumbai10:15 +1

All timings are in the respective city’s local time. The schedule is subject to regulatory approval.

Delhi-London flight details

Flight No.Start DateEnd DateDays of OperationFromDepartureToArrival
UK 171-Apr-2328-Oct-23SaturdayDelhi15:10London20:25
UK 172-Apr-2328-Oct-23Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, SunDelhi15:10London20:20
UK 181-Apr-2328-Oct-23Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, SunLondon22:20Delhi10:55+1

All timings are in the respective city’s local time. The schedule is subject to regulatory approval.

APG bags TAP Portugal GSA account

SINGAPORE, 3 April 2023: APG, a global general sales agency for airlines, has clinched the TAP Portugal account in 18 markets in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Under the agreement, APG will provide the airline with sales and marketing support in Morocco, Australia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, Guinea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Slovenia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Tunisia.

APG Thailand’s Manob Song-Im confirmed on his Facebook page that APG Thailand was “pleased and honoured to be appointed General Sale and Service Agent (GSSA) for Thailand effective from 1 April 2023.”

TAP and APG APAC comments

“TAP selected APG as GSA to represent her and develop its sales in 18 countries worldwide. In this joint force, TAP aims to improve its presence in the markets and grow its revenue”, said TAP director of commercial strategy & distribution Justin Jovignot. “TAP is flying directly to some of the markets where it has appointed APG as GSA, but the focus is also on offline markets, where TAP is still not flying to and where growth potential is a key element for future business development”.

Kuala Lumpur-based APG Network APAC regional vice president Tunku Iskandar added: “Significantly, the Asia-Pacific markets have been recognised by TAP Air Portugal to have strong potential business and leisure traffic to Europe and beyond coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ten of APG’s APAC offices in Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand will be actively providing sales and marketing support to TAP Air Portugal’s services in addition to Morocco, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, Guinea, Malta, Slovenia and Tunisia.”

Last month, Air Mauritius announced the appointment of APG as its GSA Sales and Marketing in Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain. Before the latest agreement signed in March, APG represented Air Mauritius in the USA, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany.

Starting in October 2023, Air Mauritius will commence two weekly flights to Geneva and increase frequencies to London to a daily flight to London Gatwick Airport effective 29 October 29, 2023.

APG is a global firm with more than 100 offices in over 170 countries.

AirAsia flies direct from Malaysia to Queensland

KUALA LUMPUR, 3 April 2023: AirAsia X (AAX), a leading medium-haul low-cost airline in Asia, launched Saturday the long-awaited return of services on the airline’s first-ever route to Gold Coast, Australia, after a hiatus of more than two years due to the pandemic.

The inaugural flight departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Terminal 2) at 1125 local time and landed at Gold Coast International Airport at 0925 local time. In celebration of the newly resumed services to the coastal city, all guests on the inaugural flight were treated to a special send-off ceremony before boarding and a welcoming event on arrival.

(From left) Dato’ Fam Lee Ee, AirAsia X Board of Director; Amelia Evans, Queensland Airports Limited CEO; Stirling Hinchliffe, Queensland Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport; Benyamin Ismail, AirAsia X CEO; and Karen Bolinger, Destination Gold Coast Interim CEO at the Gold Coast Airport to celebrate the resumption of AirAsia X flight from Kuala Lumpur to Gold Coast today.

The Gold Coast is the airline’s fourth destination in Australia. With the relaunch of this service, AAX is set to strengthen its position as the leading low-cost airline connecting Australia to Asia’s key destinations and the only carrier flying direct between Malaysia and the state of Queensland.

A press conference held at Gold Coast Airport to celebrate the event was attended by Stirling Hinchliffe, Queensland Minister for Tourism, Innovation and Sport; Amelia Evans, Queensland Airports Limited CEO; Karen Bolinger, Destination Gold Coast Interim CEO; Dato’ Fam Lee Ee, AirAsia X Board of Director; and Benyamin Ismail, AirAsia X CEO amongst other key airport and tourism stakeholders.

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said AirAsia X was predicted to generate AUD45.6 million for the Gold Coast’s visitor economy.

“These direct services from Kuala Lumpur have been secured by the Palaszczuk Government’s AUD200 million aviation war chest in partnership with Gold Coast Airport.

“We’re backing AirAsia X because of the airline’s commitment to increasing its Gold Coast flight schedule to five flights per week by the end of the year.”

AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail called it an “incredibly important day for AAX” as it returns to the Gold Coast – the airline’s first-ever route launched in November 2007.

“Our newest route now provides the most affordable and convenient air travel option for guests who want to explore one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations and for Australians seeking to visit Malaysia or continue on throughout Asia with our vast global network, including leisure favourites like Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, India and more.

“The resumption of this route today will not only attract a significant number of visitors from Malaysia and other Asian countries but also strengthen the ties between Malaysia and Australia,” Mr Benyamin Ismail concluded.

Queensland Airports Limited CEO Amelia Evans noted that the return of AirAsia X to the Gold Coast would initially provide three return flights between Kuala Lumpur and the Gold Coast each week, bringing 58,000 additional seats into the region each year.

To celebrate the return to one of its most popular destinations, AAX offers great value all-in* fares between Kuala Lumpur and the Gold Coast from MYR699 all-in* one-way for economy or MYR2,999 one-way for a Premium Flatbed.

Flight schedule between Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Gold Coast (OOL)

*All-in fares include airport taxes, fuel surcharges, and other applicable charges. Terms and conditions apply. Booking period from now until 10 April 2023 for travel period between now and 14 December 2023.

Disney ship calls Singapore home

SINGAPORE 31 March 2023: Disney Cruise Line will homeport the former Global Dream in Singapore for five years starting in 2025 after construction of the unfinished ship is completed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany.

Last November, Disney announced the acquisition of the partially completed ship known as Global Dream from receivers handling the defunct Dream Cruises assets. Once ready to sail with Disney’s trademark themes and onboard attractions, it will be renamed. It is expected to set sail in 2025 as the seventh ship in the Disney fleet.

Photo credit: Singapore Cruise Society. (Left) Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Experiences and Products, Disney Parks and (Right) Keith Tan, Chief Executive, STB.

Disney Cruise Line estimates the passenger capacity of the 208,000-gross-ton ship to be approximately 6,000, with around 2,300 crew members.

Singapore Tourism Board and Disney Cruise Lines announced the homeporting accord on 29 March following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that confirms the Disney cruise ship will homeport exclusively in Singapore for at least five years.

The addition of a Disney Cruise Line ship in Singapore can add millions of local and foreign cruise passengers across the five years, including fly-cruise passengers who arrive in Singapore by air.

About Disney Cruise Line

Since launching in 1998, Disney Cruise Line has acquired a fleet of five ships — the Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish. Three more are in the pipeline. The Disney Cruise Line fleet sails to destinations in The Bahamas, the Caribbean, Europe, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii, the South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand.

LADA celebrates 33rd anniversary

LANGKAWI, 31 March 22, 2023: Langkawi Development Authority celebrated its 33-anniversary last week with a traditional Malay theatre performance highlighting the success story and the agency’s team spirit.

The anniversary speech was presented by YBrs Tuan Wan Kamarul Faisal bin Wan Kamardin Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Planning & Development). He called on the LADA family to remain committed while moving forward to create more success stories to benefit Langkawi’s varied communities.

Corporate video released by LADA during 33rd-anniversary celebrations. Watch the video:

Photo credit: LADA. Time to celebrate success stories.
Photo credit: LADA. Eostre incentive group visits Langkawi.

Meanwhile, Muar Holiday Tours & Express Transport led a group of 409 people from Eostre, a Malaysia-based distributor of smart healthcare products, on a recent incentive travel visit to Langkawi. Muar Holiday Tours & Express Transport Sdn Bhd is a Johor travel agency that organises MICE groups to Langkawi.

The Langkawi Development Authority (LADA) provided the group with MICE incentives in the form of cultural performances and admission tickets to the Langkawi SkyCab.

https://naturallylangkawi.my/

(Your Stories: LADA)