HO CHI MINH CITY, 19 April 2023: Vietjet welcomed nearly 400 passengers at Sydney International Airport who arrived on its inaugural flight from Ho Chi Minh City last week.
The airline also recently celebrated the launch of the Ho Chi Minh City – Melbourne service with a vibrant dance performance at Melbourne Airport. These debut flights begin Vietjet’s six weekly return flights from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest metropolis, to Melbourne and Sydney, with Brisbane twice weekly service to commence in June.
Speaking about the new flights, Vietjet Chief Operations Officer Michael Hickey said: “The first two routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Melbourne and Sydney have proved Vietjet’s strong commitment to providing multiple services for Australians to explore Vietnam and other Asian destinations.
“Vietjet’s affordable fares and dedicated services on new A330 aircraft will also ease travelling from Asia to the Pacific.”
Operating on A330s with three return flights per week, Vietjet’s flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Sydney will depart every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The return flights depart from Sydney to Ho Chi Minh City every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Vietjet’s thrice-weekly services from Ho Chi Minh City to Melbourne commenced on 8 April, flying A330s every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Return flights from Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City depart every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
HONG KONG, 18 April 2023: JW Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio, debuts in Goa, India, this week with the opening of JW Marriott Goa.
The new 151-room hotel is located on the coast of Vagator, Goa, approximately 27 kilometres from the new Mopa Airport in North Goa and 43 kilometres from Goa International Airport.
Vagator is home to the historic Chapora Fort and Chapora and is famed for its beaches, dramatic cliffs and breathtaking sunset views.
The property features four dining venues, including the JW Kitchen, an all-day restaurant with a theatre-style open kitchen. Catering to weddings and events, the hotel features 18,752 square feet of indoor and outdoor event spaces, including two meeting rooms and a 4,607-square-foot ballroom with an outdoor terrace.
JW Marriott Goa names Manav Malhotra as the general manager.
BANGKOK, Thailand, 17 April 2023: Elite Havens, the leading provider of high-end vacation rentals in Asia, owned by Dusit International, has expanded its portfolio of more than 300 luxury villa rentals by adding four outstanding new properties to its hand-picked collection of exceptional event villas in Thailand and Indonesia.
The additions include Permata Ayung Private Estate, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia; Tirtha Bayu Estate, Seseh-Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia; Infinity View, Kata, Phuket, Thailand; and Inasia, Lipa Noi, Koh Samui, Thailand. Each new property offers privacy and personalised experiences executed by Elite Havens’ expert in-house teams and event organisers.
Set within a riverside estate in the hills of Ubud, Permata Ayung Private Estate offers 12 bedrooms in individual pavilions across five hectares of land with multiple event spaces, both indoor and outdoor. It features its own standalone riverside spa with an adjoining bridal suite, a plush private cinema, organic juice and cocktail bars, colourful tropical gardens, lush coconut groves, and serene views of rice fields, making it an excellent venue for wellness retreats and large-scale weddings in a private oasis.
Also in Bali, Tirtha Bayu Estate is a spacious oceanfront estate overlooking the dramatic black sands of Cemagi Beach. Artfully blending traditional and contemporary design, it features an interconnected complex of two villas – the modern and elegant six-bedroom Villa I and the traditional and refined five-bedroom Villa II. With multiple indoor and outdoor living spaces, plus two infinity pools, the beautiful property can host events and weddings with up to 150 guests.
Over in Thailand, Infinity View is an elegant four-bedroom villa for intimate celebrations near Phuket’s Kata Noi Beach. The beautiful property certainly lives up to its name, featuring a majestic ocean backdrop beyond its crystal blue pool. Its idyllic location offers complete privacy for small family gatherings and milestone celebrations just five minutes from the beautiful white sands of Kata Noi and Kata.
Rounding out the new additions in Thailand, the latest addition to the Elite Havens Koh Samui portfolio, Inasia, is also an excellent choice for large families or groups of friends celebrating life’s special moments. Situated next to Lipa Noi Beach, it features eight guestrooms with views of the deep green sea. Shallow waters running 100 metres off the shore make it a safe environment for children to splash and play. Indoor and outdoor dining areas add variety for celebrating an intimate event.
“The last few years have left people with renewed zeal to explore more of the world and clarify the importance of celebrating each small moment with near and dear ones,” said Elite Havens CEO Maya Rigg. “Not only are travellers seeking to return to familiar locations and revisit their favourite villas, but they are also booking private venues like luxury villas at exclusive destinations to celebrate life events like weddings, family reunions, and other milestones. We expect the confidence of travellers to continue the upward trend seen in 2022, and we look forward to welcoming guests to make lasting memories at our exquisite new additions in Bali, Phuket, and Koh Samui.”
More details about the new properties can be found at the following links:
SINGAPORE, 18 April 2023: Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel and Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group have teamed up to bring Honolulu residents and visitors a new multi-year resident show exclusive to Hawaii.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi joined executives from both organisations to make the announcement on 10 April.
Anticipated to open in late 2024, the show will fuse the world-renowned acrobatics and innovation that Cirque du Soleil is known for with the Hawaiian islands’ natural beauty and unique culture. Native Hawaiian Aaron J. Salā, PhD, has been retained as the creative cultural producer to assist in creating this show’s storyline along with other prominent Hawaiian artists, musicians and dancers.
A joint venture is being made by both parties to create this opportunity and transform the 20,000 sq ft (1858 sqm) showroom venue at Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, previously used by Magic of Polynesia. The necessary permits for renovation work to commence and create the nearly 800-seat theatre with a state-of-the-art audio-visual system are being submitted. The venue architect is Hawaii-based G70, with project estimating done by RLB in Honolulu.
“Cirque du Soleil is an iconic company at the apex of entertainment,” said Jeff Wagoner, President and CEO of Outrigger Hospitality Group. “We are confident that the show created for Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel will delight and astound our guests and residents.”
Wagoner added: “This collaboration with Cirque was years in the making and perfectly aligns with Outrigger’s brand elevation strategy, which includes a promise to provide authentic live music and signature experiences in renowned beach locations.”
Mayor Rick Blanglardi, said: “In addition to bringing a new vibrancy to Waikiki, this project will produce significant economic impact through job creation in redeveloping the theatre space and ongoing show operations. I’m honoured and excited to welcome Cirque du Soleil as the newest Honolulu resident.”
More details will be shared in the coming months regarding the partnership, the show’s name and creative concept, and on-sale dates, with a target of December 2024 for the show’s debut.
ABOUT CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group is a world leader in live entertainment. In addition to producing world-renowned circus arts shows, the company brings its creative approach to various entertainment forms, such as multimedia productions, immersive experiences, and special events. Through its creations, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group aims to impact people, communities, and the planet positively. For more information about Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, please visit CDSentertainmentgroup.com.
ABOUT OUTRIGGER HOSPITALITY GROUP
For 75 years, Outrigger has charted a journey of discovery – expanding from Hawaii to premier resort destinations, including Fiji, Mauritius, Thailand and the Maldives. The privately held hospitality company invites guests to ‘Come Be Here’ with authentic Signature Experiences and the Outrigger DISCOVERY loyalty programme. Outrigger’s multi-branded portfolio includes Outrigger Resorts, OHANA Hotels by Outrigger, Hawaii Vacation Condos by Outrigger, Kapalua Villas Maui and Honua Kai Resort & Spa Maui while also managing select properties from top international hotel brands, including Embassy Suites by Hilton, Best Western and Hilton Grand Vacations. Find out more at Outrigger.com or visit @OutriggerResorts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
HONG KONG, 18 April 2023: The “World of Winners” air ticket giveaway campaign, sponsored by Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), landed on the Chinese Mainland last week with a spectacular celebration event held in Shanghai.
Over 1,000 people attended the launch event, which featured Hong Kong cultural performances and on-site games, with more than 100 free air tickets given away as prizes. AAHK chief executive officer Fred Lam led the AAHK presentation.
The campaign ‘World of Winners’ was created to support the Hong Kong SAR Government’s “Hello Hong Kong” promotional campaign welcoming visitors back to the city following the lifting of anti-pandemic restrictions.
AAHK has sponsored 500,000 tickets for home-based carriers to offer travellers worldwide, including 140,000 for Mainland travellers.
In addition to celebrating the resumption of passenger air traffic to Hong Kong, AAHK presented details of new airport facilities designed to enhance the passenger experience and maintain Hong Kong International Airport’s (HKIA) standing as the preferred airport for Mainland travellers.
Lam commented on the campaign, and AAHK plans: “HKIA is the city’s gateway to the world, and all of us in the airport community fully support the Government’s ‘Hello Hong Kong’ promotional campaign. We are delighted to sponsor the tickets for our home-based carriers and offer people from across the globe a chance to rediscover everything they love about Hong Kong.
“We are particularly excited to allocate 140,000 air tickets for Mainland travellers, who have long been an important and valued segment of inbound passenger traffic to Hong Kong.”
SINGAPORE, 18 April 2023: Jetstar Asia will resume services between Singapore and Haikou on 29 April 2023, following a three-year suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic, just in time for the Golden Week Labour Day long weekend.
The Singapore-based low-cost airline expects to fly more than 70,000 customers each year between the two popular destinations, operating four weekly return services to meet the pent-up demand for travellers wanting to return to the port city and capital of China’s island province of Hainan.
Jetstar Asia has launched special one-way fares from Singapore to Haikou from SGD128, available on jetstar.com from today until 24 April, to celebrate the restart of services to China.
Jetstar Asia’s regional general manager for Southeast Asia and Greater China, Xu Haibing said: “Haikou was the very first Chinese city Jetstar Asia flew to in 2009, and as the first international airline to provide low-cost travel to customers in China, we have a long-standing relationship with the city of Haikou.
Haikou remains an important port for Jetstar Asia and a popular destination for many Singaporeans with Hainanese heritage.
Passengers from China will enjoy direct flights to Singapore and connectivity through the Changi hub to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Jakarta, Denpasar and Surabaya.
Last month the airline relocated operations to Terminal 4 at Changi International Airport.
The new Jetstar Asia services will operate on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, departing Singapore at 0725 and arriving at Haikou at 1105. From Haikou, the Jetstar Asia service will depart at 1200 and arrive in Singapore at 1530.
Before the pandemic, Jetstar operated more than 80 weekly services to six destinations in Greater China, including Haikou, Shantou, Sanya, Xuzhou, Guiyang and Taipei.
DOHA, 18 April 2023: Qatar Airways flights to Birmingham, England, will resume on 6 July 2023, operating daily throughout the summer season.
The airline will use a Boeing 787-8 with 254 seats (22 business class and 232 economy class seats) on the route.
Photo credit: Qatar Airways.
Flights resume to Birmingham just three days before the iconic British Grand Prix takes place on 9 July at the legendary Silverstone circuit, located only one hour from the city’s main airport.
The second largest city in the UK, Birmingham, is a significant commercial hub, especially for the silversmith profession located in the city’s Jewellery Quarter, which produces 40% of the UK’s Jewellery. Birmingham is also home to the Bullring, one of the largest shopping centres in Europe, making it one of the top three shopping destinations in the UK.
Qatar Airways Holidays offers travel packages which include flights, hotels, premium seats at the race, gourmet hospitality, Paddock Club Pit Lane Walk and an exclusive event with appearances by F1 legends or drivers.
Qatar Airways Group is the global partner and official airline of Formula 1.
On Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, QR33 will depart Hamad International Airport at 0805, arriving in Birmingham at 1315. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, QR35 will depart Hamad International Airport at 0220, arriving in Birmingham at 0730.
On Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, QR34 will depart Birmingham at 1445, arriving in Doha at 2340. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, QR36 will depart Birmingham at 0900, arriving in Doha at 1755.
SINGAPORE, 18 April 2023: According to new independent research commissioned by Travelport, a technology company that powers bookings for travel suppliers worldwide, consumers want the travel industry to deliver an easy, modern travel retail experience.
The study, entitled “What Consumers Want,” revealed multiple gaps that explain customers’ lack of trust in travel retailers, namely the lack of simplified and intuitive experiences, easy support and transparency.
This insight offers valuable considerations and opportunities for the travel industry to generate more sales and customer loyalty.
“Commenting on the challenge to get modern and give consumers the simple, easy and supportive experience they expect,” Travelport chief marketing officer Jen Catto said: “According to new research commissioned by Travelport, customers prefer shopping in every other retailing sector over travel. Now that the industry is recovering, there is an enormous opportunity for travel brands to reinvest in their customer experiences, earning them customer loyalty while increasing their revenue simultaneously. It’s a win-win.”
Key Study Findings
Time and transparency prioritised over price
Supporting the belief that ‘time is money,’ Travelport’s study confirmed consumers spend more time online searching rather than buying — consulting reviews, seeking recommendations, and looking into other factors of what an offer includes. The study revealed that the majority (69%) of consumers research a purchase online daily or weekly, with very few (only 2%) stating that they never research a purchase online.
Travelport also found that nearly all consumers (93%) believe that the best modern retailers make it easy to find what they want. Full transparency is what most consumers (90%) desire most, meaning modern retailers must share full product information upfront to help consumers save time and gain confidence in their purchases. Doing so will pay off for retailers. Most respondents (59%) said that getting what they want is more important than how much they pay for it.
Even Gen Z wants convenient, human-led customer support
Most study respondents (77%) have interacted with a chatbot regardless of age. However, just a quarter of theoretical “digital natives,” ages 18-41, use them frequently. Three-quarters of all respondents prefer to speak with a human (via chat or phone) when something goes wrong, but what was unexpected is that more (83%) of younger consumers ages 18 to 41 want more human support than their elders, age 42 and above. Furthermore, consumers in this study shared the importance of easy returns and exchanges (43%), filtered options (40%) and personalised offers (29%). These factors indicate more personal support is valued at every stage of the retail journey, from research to purchase and post-purchase experiences.
Consumers will travel longer and spend more for sustainability
Climate change and sustainability are top of mind for consumers, especially those passionate about travel. Travelport’s study revealed that nearly half of all consumers surveyed (49%) would choose to spend more and even more (60%) would take longer, indirect transport routes to their destination to save on carbon (CO2) emissions when travelling. This varies by age group, as the study results show (33%) of consumers ages 18–41 would travel two to three hours longer to save on CO2 emissions, compared to only (19%) of consumers 42 and older.
SINGAPORE, 18 April 2023: Global Citizen Solutions unveiled its 2023 list of the 10 most powerful passports in the world, with Germany topping the chart.
The Global Passport Index, created by data-driven investment migration consultancy Global Citizen Solutions, uses a robust quantitative scoring system to evaluate a country’s investment opportunities, quality of life indicators, and the number of visa-free countries accessible through each nation’s passport.
The top 10 passports ranked in the Global Passport Index are:
1. Germany 2. The United States 3. Sweden 4. Denmark 5. The Netherlands 6. Finland 7. The United Kingdom 8. Canada 9. Norway 10. Switzerland
The 2023 ranking, compared with the Global Passport Index from 2022, revealed some interesting changes in the top 10 best passports in the world.
With a total score of 93.7, Germany took the pole position in 2023, taking over from the 2022 leader, the USA. Germany emerged as the world’s strongest passport, performing well in investment opportunities, quality of life, and travel mobility.
Sweden climbed three positions this year from its previous ranking due to exceptional performance in the Enhanced Mobility Index, pushing Canada down to 8th place.
Each index that was evaluated as part of the overall study that ranked Germany on top included:
• The Enhanced Mobility Index (Germany placed 3rd): A German passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 198 countries or territories.
• Quality-of-Life Index (Germany placed 5th): Germany ranks highly in many aspects analysed in the Global Passport Index relating to the overall quality of life, including sustainable development, freedom, environmental performance, migrant acceptance, and happiness, but it ranks very high in the cost-of-living parameter due to the average costs in the country
• The Investment Index (Germany placed 11th): With a Gross National Income (GNI) of $59.090 and personal taxation of 45%, Germany is the most favourable option for investors.
Each of the three indexes evaluated can be used as a standalone ranking where users can filter results for individual country statistics. The final list was developed in collaboration with senior STI data analysts Roberto de Pinho and Vladimir Lopez-Bassols and is based on data from various institutions and multilateral organisations, including The World Bank, The World Economic Forum and The Sustainable Development Report.
“Our Global Passport Index is a valuable tool for anyone looking to make an informed decision about a second citizenship or simply considering relocation temporarily or permanently to another country. The latest findings are based on rigorous research and evaluation that takes into account factors beyond travel mobility, such as taxation, quality of life, sustainability, and cost of living,” explains Patricia Casaburi, CEO of Global Citizen Solutions
*Methodology – The Global Passport Index offers readers key insights on travel mobility and tax benefits when opening a business. Using a robust quantitative scoring system, this methodology determines the attractiveness of a passport using three indexes: (1) Enhanced Mobility Index (2) Investment Index, and (3) Quality of Living Index.
SINGAPORE, 17 April 2023: Holland America celebrates its 150th anniversary on Tuesday, 18 April 2023, as MS Rotterdam VII make a port of call in its namesake city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.
Holland America Line President Gus Antorcha will host the gala party the celebrations in the shipping line’s birthplace city, attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, Rotterdam’s godmother; Ahmed Aboutaleb, mayor of Rotterdam; and descendants from two families of Holland America Line’s founders.
Photo credit: Holland America Line. MS Rotterdam
Holland America Line was founded in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and from 1873 to 1989, it operated as a Dutch shipping line, a passenger line, a cargo line and a cruise line running primarily between the Netherlands and North America.
“Holland America Line is a company that takes great pride in our heritage and respects the role we played in history, so our 150th-anniversary events honour our tradition while recognising the brand we are today,” said Antorcha.
Upon Rotterdam’s arrival at Rotterdam on 18 April, the 150th Anniversary celebrations begin at Hotel New York, home to Holland America Line’s historic headquarters. The cruise line will present a commemorative 150th Anniversary bell — in the style of a traditional ship bell — to be permanently displayed at the hotel. At the event, Princess Margriet will follow Holland America Line’s ritual of blessing the bell before it is donated to Hotel New York.
