SINGAPORE, 20 February 2025: American Express Global Business Travel reports the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (the “CMA”) has “provisionally concluded” that it has not identified any competition concerns with GBT’s proposed acquisition of CWT, a global business travel and solutions provider.
CMA’s final decision is required to be made by 9 March 2025.
American Express Global Business Travel’s press statement on 18 February noted: “If consummated, this transaction will accelerate investment and innovation in business travel, creating more choice and value for customers and suppliers, and more opportunities for CWT employees.”
However, the company continues to defend itself against a lawsuit filed in January 2025 by the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice (DOJ), seeking an injunction to prevent the proposed transaction.
“The updated provisional conclusions by the CMA is an important milestone toward the transaction consummation. The CMA’s revised findings reinforce the company’s belief that the DOJ’s lawsuit is fundamentally flawed, taking a narrow and outdated view of competition and disregarding the emergence of numerous significant competitors in business travel.”
The company previously announced on 25 March 2024 that it agreed to acquire CWT, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of certain regulatory approvals.
About Amex GBT Amex GBT is a leading software and services company for travel, expense, and meetings & events with travel professionals and business partners in more than 140 countries.
SINGAPORE, 20 February 2025: Travelport and Costco Travel have signed a new long-term technology agreement.
The leading North American online travel agency, Costco Travel, will tap Travelport’s multi-source content and intelligent search experiences to make it easy for Costco members to shop and compare the company’s carefully selected travel options.
“Costco Travel is focused on delivering more value to its members by giving them more choice and better offers when planning their trips, and Travelport provides the seamless, modern travel retailing experience that their customers have come to expect,” said Travelport COO – Agency, Jason Toothman.”
The new partnership will provide Costco Travel with multi-source content while expanding the flight options available to Costco members with a single connection to normalise retail-ready air content from multiple sources.
Costco Travel is expected to use the latest Travelport+ features to modernise the travel retailing experience for members, such as faster, more intelligent trip searches driven by Travelport’s AI-powered Content Curation Layer.
PENANG, 20 FEBRUARY 2025: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Penang Chapter confirms the return of the MATTA Fair Penang, to be held at the Setia Spice Arena from 24 to 25 May 2025, from 1000 to 2100.
As the second-largest MATTA Fair after the flagship national event in Kuala Lumpur, this edition promises to deliver an even bigger and more exciting experience for visitors, with over 300 booths showcasing the best travel and tourism offerings.
MATTA Fair Penang is one of the most significant tourism events in the country, reinforcing the state’s role as a second gateway to Malaysia. With strong international connectivity and numerous foreign airlines serving the state, Penang remains a prime destination for domestic and international travellers. Its strategic location further strengthens the fair’s position as a significant platform for travel industry players to connect and offer exclusive deals to eager travellers.
In line with the success of last year’s event, which attracted more than 85,860 visitors and generated MYR78 million in total sales, the MATTA Fair Penang 2025 will see a significant expansion, with 40 new booths added this year, bringing the total to 300 booths. Given the overwhelming response, there is the potential to increase booths further to 330, should the demand require it.
The debut of the Domestic Zone, where guests will have the exceptional chance to browse domestic travel packages before accessing the international zone, is a significant highlight of this year’s exhibition. This campaign supports the idea that MATTA is not solely focused on outbound travel and is in line with MATTA’s commitment to promoting domestic travel linked to Visit Malaysia 2026 celebrations. By establishing a Domestic Zone, MATTA emphasises the tremendous potential for domestic travel and tourism and the significance of promoting expansion in the regional travel industry.
“Penang’s position as a key gateway and tourism powerhouse in Malaysia naturally makes the MATTA Fair Penang the second-largest event in the country, following the national MATTA Fair at MITEC. With its vibrant tourism offerings and strong economic dynamism, Penang is an ideal destination for domestic and international travellers. The MATTA Fair Penang plays a significant role in driving forward tourism in the region and supporting Malaysia’s ongoing tourism development,” said MATTA Fair Penang 2025 Organising Chairman Datuk Hamzah.
Admission to the MATTA Fair Penang is free. For more information and updates on the event, visit the MATTA Fair’s website and social media platforms on the Facebook page at MATTA Fair Penang.
SINGAPORE, 20 February 2025: Ponant Explorations unveil a brand-new itinerary featuring southern France and the Côte d’Azur aboard the company’s three-master, Le Ponant.
From May 2026, the first Relais & Châteaux labelled sailing yacht will offer 32 guests the Côte d’Azur in a new itinerary that unveils legendary ports of call and hidden harbours. With her size (88 metres bow to stern, 12-metre beam) and a shallow draft, Le Ponant can access smaller ports and secluded coves along the French Riviera.
Le Ponant catches the breeze with a new itinerary for summer 2026.
This part of the coast never fails to inspire, whether Nice, the pearl of the Riviera or Portofino and the Italian ‘dolce vita’, the picturesque queen of lemons that is Menton, Cannes with its stars and boutiques, Antibes the favourite of painters, Saint-Tropez and its stunning setting or Cassis and the intimate side of Provence in the Calanques.
“Le Ponant is a genuine sailing yacht for sailors, managing the wind and sea daily. Le Ponant is also a state of mind and connection with the marine element and environment the crew and guests share,” explains Le Ponant Captain Jean-David Lemaire.
The French Riviera under Le Ponant’s sails
From Nice to Nice Departs 7 and 23 May 2026 Seven nights
SINGAPORE, 20 February 2025: The Trip.com Group released its forward-looking report, Momentum 2025 on Wednesday, tagged ‘Travel’s Next Big Trends’ as the global travel industry strives to reinvent itself.
Based on insights from over 6,000 travellers across six Asia-Pacific markets, this report forecasts the trends and innovations shaping the future of travel, including technology-driven personalisation, niche travel experiences, and a renewed focus on meaningful, immersive journeys.
Experiential Dining to Dominate Travel Itineraries
Culinary tourism is rising, with 60% of Trip.com users searching for food-related content since early 2024. Across Asia-Pacific, travellers are drawn to food festivals (62%), hotel dining (60%), and street food tours (52%) as top culinary experiences. Urban food lovers from Hong Kong and Singapore show a particular enthusiasm for street food tours, while travellers from Japan and South Korea prioritise hotel dining for its blend of convenience and luxury.
Travellers Inspired by Media Content
The power of films and television on travel choices is stronger than ever, with 70% of travellers across the region planning trips inspired by what they’ve seen on screen. In Malaysia, a remarkable 91% of travellers credit media for shaping their travel plans, influenced by fan-favourites like Emily in Paris and Running Man.
Cruise Tourism Sees Major Growth
Cruising is set to become a significant growth segment in 2025, driven by scenic sea views, fresh ocean air, and diverse onboard experiences. According to the report, 44% of travellers value onboard dining highly, 38% are drawn to all-inclusive packages, and 31% prioritise live shows and entertainment.
Popular cruise destinations include Tokyo, Jeju Island, and the Maldives. Among Singaporean travellers, affordability (57%), scenic views (52%), and all-inclusive travel (51%) are the most attractive features of cruise holidays. Meanwhile, panoramic sea views are the top draw for 62% of respondents aged 55 to 64 in Hong Kong.
Entertainment Travel: Big Events Driving Movement
Entertainment-driven travel is set to soar, with concerts and sporting events becoming major travel motivators in 2025.
In 2024, sports tourism was driven by marquee events such as the UEFA Euro. Now, in 2025, football remains the top choice for live sports travel, followed closely by basketball and the ever-growing popularity of Formula 1.
The Social Media-Driven Explorer
Social media will continue to shape where and how people travel. Viral travel content on platforms like TikTok has already influenced 45% of travellers’ decisions. Popular destinations, including Tokyo and Bali, will further benefit from this trend, as users seek destinations with “Instagrammable” appeal. Trip.com’s social-sharing Trip Moments travel platform is expected to play a key role in fostering this community-driven exploration.
Emerging Micro-Trends for 2025
Dark Sky Stargazing: A growing number of travellers (37%) are planning trips to remote areas for optimal stargazing experiences.
Underwater Hotel Stays: Immersive travel experiences, such as underwater hotels and cultural immersion retreats, are gaining traction.
AI and Travel Innovation: AI-powered tools will revolutionise travel planning by offering hyper-personalised experiences. Over half of travellers (58%) already use AI for travel recommendations. Trip.com’s dynamic tools, like Trip.Genie, Trip.Best and Trip.Trends, are designed to enhance this journey by offering itinerary planning from real-time suggestions based on user behaviour.
SINGAPORE, 20 February 2025: Royal Caribbean has revealed the name and debut lineup of the third Icon Class Legend of the Seas that will sail year-round from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, starting in November 2026.
The signature itineraries are a six-night Western Caribbean and an eight-night Southern Caribbean vacation. Before her Caribbean debut, Legend of the Seas will offer summer cruises in Europe with seven-night Western Mediterranean vacations from Barcelona beginning August 2026. Legend’s debut lineup will soon open on Royal Caribbean’s website.
Legend of the Seas.
“On the heels of celebrating one year of the record-breaking Icon Class, we are thrilled to announce the name of Royal Caribbean’s third Icon Class vacation,” said Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley. “Legend of the Seas is the next bold step in this exciting era of vacations and the continuation of the Icon Class legacy, and we look forward to bringing the revolutionary lineup of experiences to more families and adventurers across Europe, the Caribbean and beyond.”
Legend of the Seas is currently under construction in Turku, Finland.
BANGKOK, 19 February 2025: TCEB introduced its business events campaign “Meet Well at AIME 2025” in Melbourne, Australia, from 10 to 12 February.
The initiative focused on increasing business events with a wellness theme geared to delivering mindful and meaningful MICE encounters.
Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) headed a group of 12 Thai exhibitors from Bangkok and Phuket who pitched for business leads from potential buyers attending AIME 2025.
TCEB president Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya stated that the “bureau crafted the campaign to deliver professional collaboration and industry expertise in Thailand to ensure clients holding events in Thailand can achieve mindful and meaningful MICE journeys, making Thailand a truly high-value-added destination.”
The campaign capitalizes on Thailand’s world-renowned medical treatment and wealth of luxury wellness products and services, which adopt a holistic or mind-focused approach. These can be featured in pre- or post-tours and workshops for event delegates.
SINGAPORE, 19 February 2025: Air Astana will launch direct flights from Atyrau in Westen Kazakhstan to Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, on 27 May 2025.
The service will operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays using Airbus family aircraft.
Photo credit: Air Astana.
The airline currently offers flights from Atyrau to Istanbul, Dubai and Amsterdam.
With a flying time of one hour and 50 minutes between Atyrau and Tbilisi, flight KC125 will depart Atyrau at 0800 and arrive in Tbilisi at 0850. The return flight, KC126, will depart Tbilisi and arrive in Atyrau at 1240. All times are local.
Round-trip fares, inclusive of all taxes and fees, start from USD213 in economy class and from USD587 in business class.
Tickets are available on the airline’s website or through authorised travel agencies.
Summer schedule frequencies to Tbilisi will total 15 weekly services, with departures from three cities in Kazakhstan: Nine flights per week from Almaty and three weekly flights each from Astana and Atyrau. Kazakhstan citizens can stay in Georgia visa-free for up to one year.
Air Astana continues to enhance international connectivity from other regional cities, including scheduled flights from Shymkent to Jeddah and Medina and charter flights to Doha.
SINGAPORE, 19 February 2025: Jetstar Asia confirms it will resume its Singapore – Broome Western Australia flights for a second season starting 1 April 2025.
It follows a successful inaugural season for the direct flights launched in June 2024 and pitched at Singaporean leisure travellers looking for off-the-beaten-track destinations to explore
Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm celebrates Broome’s pearling heritage.
Available from 1 April to 25 October 2025, the new season will cater to the high demand for travel to Western Australia, delivering 10,800 inbound seats, representing a 67% increase compared to last year.
Using Jetstar Asia’s A320s with 180 seats, the flight time between Singapore and Broome is four hours and 10 minutes. Departures from Singapore are twice weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
The demand increase reflects Western Australia’s popularity as a destination for Singaporeans. The International Visitor Survey June & September 2024 results revealed Western Australia to be the most popular travel destination within Australia for Singaporeans, attracting 105,000 visitors by September 2024.
Broome is quickly becoming a sought-after destination, with new tours and activities catering to international visitors.
Jetstar Asia (3K) launched the first direct flights from Singapore to Broome, Western Australia, on 25 June 2024.
It made Jetstar Asia the only airline to operate international flights to regional Western Australia. Significantly, it marked the first time scheduled services have been established between the two destinations. The airline said it intended to deliver season two in April 2025.
For travellers from Singapore, Broome is the gateway to the Kimberley region. It is famous for its breathtaking natural beauty, including the white sands of Cable Beach, the dinosaur footprints at Gantheaume Point, and whale watching in the Indian Ocean.
The route also provides a direct link for residents from Australia’s Northwest to Singapore, opening up new international travel opportunities with easy access to Jetstar Asia’s extensive network and many partner airlines through Changi Airport. As a destination in its own right, Singapore offers an incredible shopping and dining scene as well as exciting nightlife.
Roundtrip fares during season one averaged between USD258 to USD249.
Flight schedule April 2025
3K161 departs Singapore (SIN) at 0950 and arrives in Broome (BRM) at 1400 on Tuesday. 3K167 departs Singapore (SIN) at 1215 and arrives in Broome (BRM) at 1635 on Saturday.
3K162 departs Broome (BRM) at 1500 and arrives in Singapore (SIN) at 1910 on Tuesday. 3K168 departs Broome (BRM) at 1725 and arrives in Singapore (SIN) at 2135 on Saturday.
Broome in 2025
Many destinations claim to be a cultural melting pot, but Broome / Rubibi, the western gateway to the Kimberley, is a vibrant mix. The town dates back to the pearling settlements of the 1800s, with the Aboriginal culture and landscape dating back millennia. Today, Broome is one of the world’s finest Australian South Sea Pearls producers, rich in Aboriginal culture and Asian heritage. Broome has launched several new experiences for visitors to enjoy.
Discover the Beauty of Broome Pearls
Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm will celebrate Broome’s pearling heritage as part of Pearls and Plates, a series of exclusive culinary and cultural events hosted by two Western Australian pearling families.
From 30 May to 31 May, enjoy a curated menu of pearl meat and foraged foods created alongside the local Bardi Jawi people of the Dampier Peninsula, and admire the Australian South Sea pearls grown at the Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm.
Explore Aboriginal Culture
Experience Broome’s unique Aboriginal culture on a tour with Mabu Buru Tours. Binba Mayi is a new coastal foraging experience which includes a half-day 4WD tour along Broome’s mudflats and mangroves. Guests will learn traditional foraging techniques from an Aboriginal guide and enjoy a conventional bush barbecue.
Adventure in Broome
Broome Adventure Cruises has cruising adventures that take you through the blissful scenery of Roebuck Bay and its secluded bays, stopping to find perfectly preserved 120 million-year-old dinosaur footprints. Broome is one of the best paleontological sites in the world for discovering preserved dinosaur footprints.
Breweries and beach clubs
The Spinifex Brewery Cable Beach and Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa are ideal locations to relax in comfort and style, serving up delicious food and top-tier ambience.
Spinifex Brewery is known for its fresh, straight-from-tank-to-tap beer, brewed at its onsite 6HL brewery. Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa offers not only luxury accommodations but also a variety of restaurants serving different cuisines, with Sunset Grill the ideal location to take in a golden Broome sunset over Cable Beach.
2025 Season of Staircase to the Moon
Astrotourism WA has announced the 2025 dates for the breathtaking natural phenomenon ‘Staircase to the Moon’. Witness the magic over Broome’s Roebuck Bay as the full moon rises across the exposed tidal flats, creating the impression of a staircase leading to the moon. Staircase to the Moon Markets in Broome are also held on full moon nights from April to October.
Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, is set to launch direct flights between Iloilo and Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport, offering travellers from the City of Love a faster and more affordable way to explore Thailand.
Starting 31 March, CEB will operate flights between Iloilo and Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport (DMK) three times weekly — every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
This will make CEB the only airline that offers nonstop flights between Iloilo and Bangkok.
In addition to direct flights from Iloilo to Hong Kong and Singapore, Bangkok is the third international destination that CEB will serve from Iloilo.
“We are thrilled to offer more travellers the opportunity to explore the majestic city of Bangkok. Strengthening our Iloilo hub allows us to connect even more passengers from the Western Visayas region to exciting destinations across our international network,” said CEB President and Chief Commercial Officer Xander Lao
The airline introduced the new route Iloilo—Bangkok with a fare promotion from 12 to 16 February. The promotion pegged the one-way fare, excluding taxes and fees, at PHP1 for travel from 31 March to 25 October 2025.
CEB currently flies to 37 domestic and 26 international destinations across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
