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LADA promotes February attractions

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TTR WEEKLY
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LANGKAWI, Malaysia, 15 February 2023: Langkawi is promoting three attractions this month; hidden gems on an island famous for its natural heritage and UNESCO Global Geopark.

MAHA Tower

One of the popular tourist attractions in Langkawi is the MAHA Tower or Menara MAHA, a towering 138-metre-tall steel structure located in Kuah town, according to Langsura Geopark Facebook account. The Facebook page introduces the unique tower initially opened by Tun Dr Mahathir, noting “there are no prizes for guessing the origin of the tower’s name.”

Sandbar Walk

From 21 to 22 February, travellers who wake up at dawn can experience an amazing natural phenomenon as the sea splits at Tanjung Rhu Beach, allowing visitors to walk with the sea lapping at their feet on both sides of a spectacular sandbar.

LADA, in partnership with Tanjung Rhu Resort Langkawi, will hold the Sand Bar Walk 2023 @ Pantai Tanjung Rhu Langkawi. You can witness the ‘split sea’ phenomenon and enjoy walking on the sandbank through the middle of the sea at a low tide. For more information, visit https://www.lada.gov.my/acara/sand-bar-walk-2023/

Langkawi’s tallest waterfall

ASEAN Skyline promotes the Jurassic Hidden Gem of Langkawi Island: Temurun Waterfall.

Located in the Datai Bay area, Temurun, a three-tier waterfall, features an awesome, cumulative 200-metre drop from the top ledge to the pool below. This is the tallest waterfall in Langkawi. During the rainy season, fresh mountain water cascades down the northern slope of Mount Mat Cincang, carving out a gorge from 500-million-year-old  sandstone and shale cliff and rocks.

From the car park on the main road, the first tier is only a short five-minute stroll along a paved walkway through the rainforest of Mount Mat Cincang. The ascent to the waterfall’s base is gradual, with a railing on one side.

One visitor posted on the ASEAN Skyway Facebook page, “check the weather when visiting the waterfall. During the dry season, the water is just a trickle to what you see in the video”.

Check out the ASEAN Skyway video of 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗸𝗮𝘄𝗶’s 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝘂𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹.

For more information on the Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark, visit

https://langkawigeopark.com.my/.

(Your Stories: LADA)

Centara debuts in Japan with Centara Grand Hotel Osaka

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 9 February 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is set to make its debut in Japan with the launch of Centara Grand Hotel Osaka, a gleaming 33-storey tower that will become a new landmark in this vibrant metropolis.

Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is set to make its debut in Japan with the launch of Centara Grand Hotel Osaka. This gleaming 33-storey tower will become a new landmark in this vibrant metropolis.

Scheduled to open its doors in July 2023, this contemporary five-star hotel is an architectural masterpiece that soars above the city near Namba, Osaka’s most vibrant entertainment and retail district. With its prime location, diverse dining venues, exceptional amenities and first-class event space, this will become the ultimate destination for business and leisure travellers alike.

Centara Grand Hotel Osaka features 515 rooms and suites, ranging from 28-60 sqm and comprising Standard, Superior, Deluxe, Deluxe with Bunk Beds, and Suite options – perfect for every guest, from solo explorers to couples and families. Every room is adorned with sleek, modern décor, king or twin beds, floor-to-ceiling windows and in-room amenities such as Nespresso machines, Smart TVs, rain showers and high-speed Wi-Fi. Those staying on the executive floors (26-31) will receive exclusive services at the Club Lounge.

Osaka is Japan’s culinary capital, and this new hotel will further enhance the city’s gastronomic reputation with an eclectic collection of restaurants and bars. Kunsei Kitchen is a dramatic top-floor smokehouse where innovative cuisine is paired with fine wines and panoramic views. At the same time, Whiskey Nova is a stylish 32nd-floor steakhouse with an extensive collection of whiskeys and wines accompanying prime meats. Embassy of Crab showcases succulent seafood, including its signature crab dishes, and Suan Bua reflects Centara’s proud Thai heritage with highly authentic Southeast Asian street food.

Guests can enjoy light daytime bites and homemade pastries at Platform 2 Café, Automata is a futuristic self-service cocktail bar on the 32nd floor where guests can create their perfect drinks, and for genuinely unforgettable occasions, Crudo Deck is an alfresco rooftop venue where revellers can sip sunset cocktails and savour world-class cuisine as a resident DJ spins upbeat tunes. This 90 sqm rooftop venue doubles as a spectacular setting for uplifting events.

Corporate travellers and meeting planners can also take advantage of a glittering 351 sqm Grand Ballroom, which can be flexibly divided into two smaller spaces and three other meeting rooms ranging from 26 to 30 sqm. When guests are not working or exploring this compelling city, they can work out in the fitness centre or enjoy soothing therapies at the Thai-inspired SPA Cenvaree, which features four treatment rooms, a foot massage area and a Thai massage room.

With Japan’s borders having reopened in late 2022, visitors can now rediscover the many wonders of the “Land of the Rising Sun”. In Osaka, Japan’s second-largest city, an amazing array of attractions awaits, from historical landmarks like Osaka Castle and Shitennoji Temple to modern marvels such as Universal Studios and Osaka Aquarium. Namba, the downtown district that surrounds the hotel, is filled with retail malls, restaurants and bars.

To celebrate the launch of Centara Grand Hotel Osaka, explorers can take advantage of the exclusive “Osaka Opening Offer” with 25% off standard room rates, plus a complimentary room upgrade, late 1400 check-out, exclusive dining privileges and a Centara branded giveaway. This enticing offer runs until 30 June 2023 for stays taken between 1 July and 21 December 2023. Rates start from USD228 or EUR212, or JPY 30,000* Click here to book.

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

*Rates are subject to change to the exchange rate in effect at the time of booking.

(YOUR STORIES: Centara Hotels & Resorts)

Thai AirAsia slashes fares

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 15 February 2023: AirAsia launched a promotion offering flights to various domestic destinations in Thailand and international destinations from its Bangkok Don Mueang airport hub.

The following fares are up for grabs from now until 19 February 2023 for travel from 1 March to 10 December 2023, exclusively via the AirAsia Super App and its website.

One-way fares on domestic flights (FD) start from THB399 THB and International flights (FD) start from THB1,390.

Long-haul flights on Thai AirAsia X (XJ) start from THB4,590 THB, from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport to Seoul, Tokyo, Osaka, Melbourne and Sydney.

Guests who book a flight with AirAsia via www.airasia.com or AirAsia Super App from now until 19 February 2023 will receive free flight delay insurance cover of up to THB1,500* for delays over two hours with the travelling period from 1 May to 10 December 2023. 

*Review promotion terms and conditions before booking.

BA codeshares with Airlink

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 15 February 2023: British Airways has completed a codeshare partnership with Airlink, improving connectivity between the UK, Europe, North America and more than 15 destinations in Southern Africa.

With bases in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban in South Africa, Airlink is a premium regional airline with a network of cities in 14 countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia.

The agreement means British Airways’ customers travelling from or transiting through London can connect to their final destination via Cape Town or Johannesburg on a single ticket. This will offer more choice and flexibility for those travelling on to one of 18 towns and cities, such as Windhoek in Namibia and Durban in South Africa.

British Airways currently flies twice daily between London Heathrow and Johannesburg with A380 aircraft, twice daily between London Heathrow and Cape Town with B777 and A350 aircraft and three times per week between London Gatwick and Cape Town with B777 aircraft.

Members of British Airways’ loyalty programme, the Executive Club, can earn Avios when flying on Airlink flights on a British Airways codeshare journey. Avios is the programme’s currency, which can be used as part-payment towards Reward Flights or upgrades, hotel stays, car hire and more.

British Airways director of network and alliances, Neil Chernoff said: “Our flights to Cape Town and Johannesburg continue to be as popular as ever with our customers, so we’re pleased to be able to open up more options in the Southern African region. Our partnership with Airlink means customers can book a full journey on one ticket, allowing seamless travel from London to their final destination.”

In total, 18 destinations are available as codeshare options when travelling from Heathrow via Johannesburg and Cape Town.

They include:

London Heathrow to Durban via Johannesburg or London Heathrow to Port Elizabeth, South Africa, via Cape Town or Johannesburg; London Heathrow to Skukuza, South Africa, via Cape Town or Johannesburg;
London Heathrow to Windhoek, Namibia, via Cape Town or Johannesburg;
London Heathrow to Walvis Bay, Namibia, via Cape Town or Johannesburg;
Codeshare tickets are available to book for travel from 15 February 2023 onwards.

Bedsonline strengthens sales in the Philippines

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 15 February 2023: Bedsonline, a leading global provider of online accommodation, has appointed Worldrep Inc as its general sales agent (GSA) in the Philippines.

Worldrep Inc will now represent Bedsonline in all sales and commercial activities, helping to grow the accommodation provider’s business in the Philippines. Bedsonline will also benefit from extensive marketing support from its new partner while expanding Worldrep Inc’s footprint thanks to its network of more than 300,000 hotels worldwide.

“Working with Worldrep Inc will strengthen our position in the Philippines at this critical time for tourism growth in the region,” said, Bedsonline’s regional director for Asia-Pacific, Peter Jones.

“We’re looking forward to building our presence here to serve our customers better and introducing our network of 320,000 hotels and ancillary products to more customers around the country.”

Worldrep Inc president Teresa “Tisha” Escalona said: “We are confident that Worldrep, Inc. will upgrade the service provided to Bedsonline customers across the Philippines with high professionalism. Its extensive success in the industry and established experience and expertise will help us better serve this market thanks to the global knowledge of our local talent.”

Philippine travel agencies already working with Bedsonline will continue to book all their accommodation, activities, transfers and car hire via www.bedsonline.com.

About Bedsonline

Bedsonline is a global provider of accommodation and complementary travel products exclusively catering to travel agents. Its online platform distributes accommodation, excursions, tickets and transfers to more than 60,000 travel agencies backed by local sales teams in over 30 countries covering over 100 markets.

Penang Roadshow tours India

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TTR WEEKLY
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PENANG, Malaysia, 15 February 2023: The Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) is once again hosting the Penang Roadshow to India 2023 in four different cities this week through to 20 February.

Now in its sixth edition, the roadshow kicked off in Mumbai on 13 February, followed by New Delhi (15 February), Chennai (17 February) and Hyderabad (20 February). The roadshow will engage in a networking session in each city to connect with Indian buyers from the MICE industry.

Penang’s second virtual roadshow to India early last year attracted 24 buyers and trade visitors from various travel trade sectors in India.

By resuming an in-person format, the sixth edition recruited 14 registered exhibitors, together with Team PCEB. They will network with an estimated 800 buyers and trade visitors during the four-city roadshow in India.

During the Penang Roadshow to India, PCEB will launch its very own campaign, ‘Chalo Penang’ in all four cities to position Penang as the preferred meeting & leisure destination for Indian travellers.

The Penang State Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy Yeoh Soon Hin said: “PCEB will launch the latest meeting and incentive packages to re-establish connections with the Indian business events market.”

Around 2500 events with 260,000 delegates should take place in Penang this year, with an estimated economic impact of MYR1 billion.

This conveys a message of confidence that Penang is ready and reflects its capability to host large and world-class events.

For example, V-Convention, one of the largest events hosted bi-annually in Penang, attracts around 15,000 delegates, mainly from India.

“PCEB is strategising comprehensive blueprints to position Penang higher in the Indian market. The growth and advancements of the tourism industry in Penang are rapidly moving forward now,” said  Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau CEO Ashwin Gunasekeran.

Penang is working closely to improve airline connectivity with India. Malaysia Airlines has identified Penang as a key player in attracting business events from India, the UK, China, Australia, North Asia and ASEAN countries.

Exhibitors  joining this year’s roadshow include:

1. Apollo Holidays

2. Fantastic Holidays

3. Shangri-la Rasa Sayang

4. Courtyard by Marriott

5. Tourism Malaysia

6. DU Digital

7. Melia Hotel

8. The Wedding Asia

9. Malaysia Airlines

10. Lexis Group of Hotels

11. Malabar Restaurant

12. DIYA Malaysia

13. Setia Spice Convention Centre

14. Ace Conference & Events

Routes Asia lands in Chiang Mai

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TTR WEEKLY
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CHIANG MAI, 15 February 2023: After twice rescheduling in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic restrictions, Routes Asia finally arrived in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Tuesday for its 2023 edition, 14 to 16 February.

Routes is a UK-based company that hosts worldwide aviation and airline events. The 19th edition of Routes Asia welcomes 100 airlines, mainly top executives responsible for network planning, who will hold meetings and network with airport and destination partners from around the region.

Thailand won the bid to host Routes Asia in 2020 following the 2019 host Cebu Philippines, but the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 forced the host Airports of Thailand to reschedule twice. Routes Asia 2022 successfully resumed in the region in 2022, hosted by Danang in central Vietnam, when AOT confirmed new dates for Thailand to host the event in 2023.

The Routes Asia 2023 meetings platform features virtual meeting opportunities, enabling airport and tourism delegates to undertake meetings with 13 of China’s leading carriers which, due to travel restrictions, will take part virtually in meetings hosted during the event in Chiang Mai. Virtual meetings will be available with Chinese airlines such as Air China, China Eastern, China Southern Airlines, and more.

Airline decision-makers worldwide will attend networking sessions, while Routes Asia 2023 features over 40 speakers from trade associations, airline boards of directors, airports and government ministries, who will deliver more than 15 hours of actionable insight for delegates across the three days of the event.

The speaker lineup includes

  • Woranate Laprabang, Chief Executive Officer, Thai Vietjet
  • Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, President, Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited
  • Sarun Benjanirat, Deputy Director, The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand
  • Tao Ma, Regional Director of Asia Pacific, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
  • Stefano Baronci, Director General, Airports Council International Asia-Pacific (ACI)
  • Subhas Menon, Director General, Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA)
  • Senthil Balan, Chief Commercial Officer, MYAirline
  • Aaron McGarvey, Director of Business Development, Finnair
  • Jay L Lingeswara, Director Commercial, VietJet Air
  • Thiti Arayakhun, Director of Network Planning and Business Development, Thai Smile Airways
  • Dinh Xuan Thuy, Director of Corporate Planning Division, Bamboo Airways
  • Neil Hathi, Marketing Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Boeing
  • Ignacio Bosch Nacenta, Head of Networking and Scheduling, AirAsia Group
  • Pinyot Pibulsonggram, Head of Commercial, Thai Vietjet
  • Krislen Keri, Senior Commercial Manager, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi
  • Anthony Chan, Head of Network Planning, HK Express

Routes director Steven Small said: “Asia-Pacific carriers enjoyed a strong and welcome international travel recovery in 2022. The picture for Asia-Pacific’s airlines, airports and destinations is one of real optimism heading into 2023. Routes Asia 2023 comes at the ideal time for the route development community to negotiate new and existing air services that will continue to build on this momentum.”

Emirates celebrates Valentine s Day

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 14 February 2023: Passengers will enjoy sweet treats onboard flights today as Emirates celebrates Valentine’s Day by serving up love-themed desserts in the lounges, exquisite rosé champagne, tempting gift-giving offers, and an array of romantic movies and music.

Throughout February, love is in the air on ice as Emirates passengers can immerse themselves in feel-good movies, such as the 2022 romantic comedy ‘Ticket to Paradise’, starring Hollywood heartthrobs Julia Roberts and George Clooney. There is a selection of more than 70 romantic comedies and dramas available, including new releases ‘Meet Cute’ starring Kaley Cuoco and Pete Davidson and ‘Ask Me to Dance’, as well as all-time classics ‘When Harry Met Sally’, ‘Bridget Jones Diary’ and ‘The Notebook’.

On Valentine’s Day, onboard passengers in all classes will be treated to luscious brownies or red velvet cupcakes adorned with red and pink hearts in their own Emirates mini gift box while red mood lighting lights up the aircraft. Up until midnight on 15 February, Emirates Lounges worldwide will raise the romance with a beautiful array of themed treats, from chocolate hearts to Valentine’s mud cake and chocolate-covered strawberries.

For the Bangkok lounge, business and first-class passengers can look forward to special menu items, including salmon wellington with a delicious cream cheese and spinach filling, red velvet cream cheese cupcake, and chocolate cupcakes like a shot of love potion right to the heart.

For more information, visit www.emirates.com.

(Your Stories Emirates)

Centara wins GSTC certification

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK 14 February 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, announced its approval for certification by Vireo SRL, a GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council) – Accredited certification body, for meeting global standards for sustainable travel and tourism known as GSTC criteria. This certification represents a major milestone in Centara’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.

The Centara Hotels & Resorts corporate office and 12 hotels are currently approved for certification. The organisation continues to work toward its long-term goal of achieving full certification by 2025. The 12 hotels recognised for meeting the GSTC Criteria are:

  1. Centara Grand & Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld
  2. Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok
  3. Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi
  4. Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin
  5. Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya
  6. Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket
  7. Centara Villas Samui
  8. Centara Villas Phuket
  9. Centara Hotel Hat Yai
  10. Centra by Centara Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre Chaeng Watthana
  11. Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives
  12. Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives

Being certified means Centara’s products and services comply with the highest social and environmental standards. The four main GSTC criteria for hotels include:

• Demonstrate effective, sustainable management

• Maximise social and economic benefits to the local community and minimise negative impacts

• Maximise benefits to cultural heritage and minimises negative impacts

• Maximise benefits to the environment and minimises negative impacts

In honour of this prestigious certification, Centara hosted a celebratory handover ceremony between Dr Luigi Mazzaglia, Group CEO of Vireo, and top Centara executives, including Supatra Chirathivat, Senior Executive Vice President – Corporate Affairs & Social Responsibilities of Centara Hotels & Resorts. This special event took place on 7 February 2023 at Centara Grand CentralWorld.

“We are honoured to be recognised by Vireo SRL for our continued efforts to meet GSTC Criteria and achieve an international sustainability standard throughout the entire Centara Hotels & Resorts organisation. With our corporate office and 12 hotels already approved for certification, we are more than optimistic that we will reach our goal of 100% certification by 2025. By adopting sustainable, green practices, we are actively choosing to be more aware of our environmental impact and aligning our values and vision for a more mindful and ecologically conscious future,” said  Centara Hotels & Resorts senior executive vice president – corporate affairs & social responsibilities Supatra Chirathivat.

“At Vireo, we are focused on proposing the best and most credible certifications to promote sustainability and social responsibility in tourism. We proudly certify Centara Hotels & Resorts and 12 of their hotels for GSTC certification. We believe that Centara has made impressive efforts in their commitment to sustainability and look forward to following their continued successes as they continue to work toward certification across their entire organisation,” said Vireo SRLGroup CEO Dr Luigi Mazzaglia.

For more information about Centara’s commitment to environmental sustainability, please visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com/sustainability

(Your Stories: Centara Hotels & Resorts)

SIA and Vietnam Airlines sign MoU

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 14 February 2023: Vietnam Airlines and Singapore Airlines (SIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) earlier this month to establish codeshare flights as part of a wider commercial agreement.

Introducing codeshare flights between Vietnam and Singapore would improve connectivity and give SQ passengers more options when booking flights from Singapore’s Changi airport to key cities in Vietnam. In the long term, the agreement could extend to codeshare flights from SIA’s other destinations

Mr Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister, Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and Dr Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore, witnessed the exchange of the signed MoU during the Vietnam-Singapore Business Forum on 10 February 2023.

Vietnam Airlines and Singapore Airlines have enjoyed a long-standing partnership for over 20 years. As international border restrictions eased in 2022, both airlines sought opportunities to expand their bilateral cooperation to provide quality service for their customers travelling between Vietnam and Singapore.

Singapore Airlines chief executive officer Goh Choon Phong said: “Singapore Airlines and Vietnam Airlines have well-established networks, which can support one another to strengthen the connectivity between the two ASEAN countries and to key markets around the world. These win-win arrangements will offer more options and greater value for our customers, support economic growth, and bolster initiatives that facilitate tourism activities.”

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