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CX sets fares for Christchurch relaunch

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HONG KONG, 15 June 2023: Cathay Pacific resumes its seasonal direct flight from Hong Kong to Christchurch this December after the flight paused on 28 February 2020 during the initial Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.

First reported by Christchurch City Council Newsline, the airline will initially serve the route Hong Kong – Christchurch with three weekly flights scheduled from 16 December 2023 to 29 February 2024. Flights will depart Hong Kong on Monday, Thursday and Sunday.

Photo credit: Cathay Pacific. Christchurch bound this December.

Ticket sales for the service are already open on the Cathay Pacific website https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_NZ.html. Fares start at HKD23,022 one-way. The direct flight of around 11 hours and 15 minutes will be operated by the airline’s A350-900 aircraft configured with three cabin categories economy, premium economy, and business class.

CX123 will depart Hong Kong at 2105 and arrive in Christchurch at 1320 on the following day. The return flight will depart Christchurch at 1450 and arrive in Hong Kong at 2120.

Photo Credit: Cathay Pacific. Christchurch is back in the CX network.

The City Council’s Newsline quoted Cathay Pacific’s acting regional head of Southwest Pacific, Sandeep Pillay, saying it was great news for those in the region and the airline.

“Cathay Pacific has been flying to New Zealand for 40 years, and we are proud to return to Christchurch. Resuming our non-stop Christchurch to Hong Kong service is a significant milestone in rebuilding Cathay Pacific’s connectivity,” said Pillay.

Cathay Pacific already flies to Auckland, New Zealand, three times weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, departing Hong Kong at 2110 and arriving in Auckland at 1155 the following morning.

(Source Newsline https://newsline.ccc.govt.nz/)

SQ goes four daily to Hong Kong

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 15 June 2023: Singapore Airlines will add its fourth daily flight to Hong Kong on 1 July, bringing forward the launch date by one month as travel demand recovers.

The airline plans to eventually reinstate six daily departures on the Singapore – Hong Kong route, possibly by the year-end, to match the frequencies offered pre-Covid-19 pandemic.

Timetable information FlightsFrom. 4th flight was brought forward to 1 July, initially scheduled for 1 Aug.

Effective 1 July, the airline will add the fourth daily flight, SQ894, departing Singapore at 1305 and arriving in Hong Kong at 1705. The return flight (SQ895) will depart Hong Kong at 1805 and arrive in Singapore at 2240. The fourth daily flight will use a Boeing 777-300ER configured with four First Class seats, 48 Business Class, 28 Premium Economy and 184 Economy Class. Flight time is four hours and 15 minutes.

The other three daily flights are:

SQ874 departing Singapore 0725, arriving in Hong Kong at 1120 (A350-900);

SQ892 departing Singapore 0940, arriving in Hong Kong at 1355 (A380-800 on Friday, B777-300 on remaining six days);

SQ898 departing Singapore 1955, arriving in Hong Kong at 2350 (A350-900).

(Source SQ timetable)

Peru takes home gold at Chinese Awards

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 14 June 2023: Peru was awarded gold at the Chinese Tourist Welcome (CTW) awards ceremony in Guangzhou recently.

The prize rewards the efforts of the Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Exports and Tourism (PROMPERÚ) to attract high-spending Chinese travellers, mainly the segment of independent travellers.

Chinese influencers visiting Machupicchu (Photo: PROMPERÚ).

Peru maintained focus in this important market during the pandemic and opted for long-term destination positioning work, especially through digital video platforms that appeal to Chinese travellers.

As a result, two projects developed by PROMPERÚ obtained recognition from the CTW awards: the 2021 Chinese New Year Campaign and the Alpaca WeChat Livestream carried out the same year.

The New Year Campaign (‘My Memories of Peru’) promoted the regions of Lima, Ica, Loreto, Cusco, Puno and Arequipa. This campaign was launched for the post-pandemic Chinese travellers, motivating their future trips while reinforcing ties of trust and sending a message that Chinese tourists are always welcome in Peru.

The Alpaca WeChat Livestream was broadcasted from Cusco through Tencent WeChat, PROMPERÚ WeChat and Zhejiang OTV platforms and lasted 04 hours. The Chinese audience enjoyed the Andean sunrise, the impressive landscapes of Pacchanta and the Sacred Valley, where alpacas and llamas were grazing freely, with the snow-capped Ausangate as a magnificent backdrop. The richness of the ancient Andean culture and the diversity of Peruvian superfoods, such as quinoa, chia and native potatoes, were also showcased.

CTW Awards

The CTW Award is organised by COTRI China Outbound Tourism Research Institute since 2004. COTRI is a recognised institution in China and worldwide related to the Chinese outbound travel market.

(Source: BusinessWire)

Bhutan lowers daily SDF fees for long stays

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 14 June 2023: Bhutan has adjusted its Sustainable Development Fund fees with three new tiers that offer travellers a cheaper deal on the USD200 daily fee introduced last year.

There are now three cheaper options on the daily fee that will be welcomed by travellers planning longer stays, such as eight, 14 and 30 days.

Photo credit: ICS Group

If you stay for less than eight nights, you pay USD200 per person daily. However, the following fee incentives are now available to encourage longer stays and will apply until 31 December 2024.

Red Elephant Reps* marketing and communications director Mary Eden reported details of the three SDF Fee incentives in ICS Travel Group’s latest newsletter to travel partners earlier this week.

4 + 4:  Pay SDF of USD 200 per night per person for the first four nights – and receive up to four additional nights without the daily levy.

7 + 7: Pay SDF of USD 200 per night per person for the first seven nights – and receive up to seven additional nights without the daily levy.

12 + 18:  Pay SDF USD 200 per night per person for the first 12 nights and receive up to 18 additional nights without the daily levy.

SDF is exempt for children of 5 years are exempt while. Children between six and 12 years pay 50%.

ICS is promoting a Best of Bhutan six-day/ five-night tour that is flagged as an ideal introduction for those exploring Bhutan for the first time. Highlights include travelling to look-outs to photograph the snowcapped Himalayas from the Dochula Pass, exploring the towns of Thimpu and Paro, and discovering the colourful temples and majestic fort of picturesque Punakha. The trip also includes a climb to the famed Tiger’s Nest Monastery, perched precariously on the side of a cliff.

*Red Elephant Reps is the representation company for ICS Travel Group.

(Source: https://icstravelgroup.com/ )

Health and Safety honours for Emirates

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI UAE, 14 June 2023: At the recent Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) awards ceremony in Dubai, Emirates Group Transport Services were honoured with five top awards.

They are the gold award for health and safety performance, the gold award for leisure safety, a safety influencer of the year award for one of the Emirates team members, a highly commended award in the health and safety initiative, and the trophy award for best fleet safety in the Middle East.

Emirates is the only airline globally to claim a gold award for health and safety performance in transport and has won the award annually for the last four years. The gold award for health and safety performance covers overall health and safety performance for all aspects of the service that affect both staff and customers, while the gold award for leisure safety is for health and safety performance recognises services offered directly to guests and visitors. The Influencer of the Year award went to Roshan Menon, Manager of Transport Services, for his work promoting safety in the Middle East. A highly commended award was achieved in the Middle East health and safety initiative category, for the extensive transport support and safety measures implemented during Covid-19 for the Emirates Group. The final award, the trophy for fleet safety, was presented for excellence in managing occupational road risk in the Middle East.

In the UAE, Emirates operates a fleet of over a thousand vehicles to transport passengers, cabin crew, flight deck, and other employees to and from the workplace, averaging 2.5 million road trips in an average year. One of the many benefits offered to Emirates Cabin Crew is a dedicated state-of-the-art shuttle service to and from their accommodation to the airport. Emirates’ Pilots are chauffeur-driven between their homes and the airport for their flight duties. Ground staff for both Emirates and Dnata are also transported to and from work.

Emirates Group Transport Services operates in over 167 countries, allowing Emirates customers to avail of convenient coaches with Emirates Shuttle Services and luxurious Emirates Chauffeur Drive services for First and Business Class passengers. Emirates shuttle services are comfortable coaches available in selected destinations in the UAE, Japan, the US and Canada, transporting Economy and Premium Economy passengers from the airport to nearby cities. Emirates Chauffeur Drive ensures First and Business Class customers enjoy a smooth transfer to and from the airport in a high-end vehicle like a BMW or Mercedes. Emirates also manages standards and protocols for external service providers internationally who transport premium customers to and from the airport in comfort and safety as part of the signature Emirates Chauffeur Drive service.

www.emirates.com

Top Tripadvisor ranking for Royal Wing Suites

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TTR WEEKLY
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PATTAYA, 14 June 2023: Royal Wing Suites & Spa has been recognised by Tripadvisor as a 2023 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best award winner in the luxury and top resort category.

The luxury boutique resort maintains the top rank position on the popular travel site. The awards honour favourite destinations, hotels, restaurants, things to do, and beyond. They are based on the reviews and opinions collected from travellers and diners worldwide on Tripadvisor over 12 months. Best of the Best award winners are among the top 1% of listings on Tripadvisor, distinguishing them as travellers’ favourites for 2023.

Photo Caption: Vitanart Vathanakul, CEO of Royal Cliff Hotels Group (2nd left), together with  Thibault Sellier, Resident Manager of Royal Wing Suites and Spa (right), Natrada Pongpaew, Deputy Resident manager (2nd right) and Vankamon Athikomkulchai, Marketing and PR Manager Royal Cliff Hotels Group and PEACH (left) with the 2023 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Certificate awarded to the Royal Wing Suites and Spa.

“Congratulations to the 2023 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best winners,” said Tripadvisor chief growth officer John Boris. “The travel resurgence we’ve seen throughout the past year has even further heightened the competition. Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who matter most: your guests. With changing expectations, continued labour shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am continually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt. Cheers to another successful year.”

The Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Award is TripAdvisor’s highest honour. Royal Wing Suites and Spa provides hospitality excellence exceeding guest expectations. The property’s positive reviews are a testament to its unparalleled services and wide-ranging facilities catering to all guests’ needs.

Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Royal Wing Suites & Spa; visit https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293919-d307270-Reviews-Royal_Wing_Suites_Spa-Pattaya_Chonburi_Province.html.

Thailand, specifically Pattaya, is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations. Staying in the right award-winning hotel can guarantee a luxurious experience that goes above and beyond the norm.

The Royal Cliff Hotels Group operates four luxury hotels providing tourists from home and abroad with the ultimate experience. Its superior service has been paramount to this latest achievement, which marks an excellent start for the group this year.

Royal Cliff Hotels Group has impressively won over 280 national and international awards. This is the ideal luxury destination to discover everything you need for an exceptional holiday. Book your stay directly with Royal Cliff and get the best price guaranteed together with optional value-added extras for an enhanced hotel experience you deserve by visiting www.royalcliff.com, contacting Reservations at (+66) 38 250 421 ext: 2732 or emailing [email protected].

For more information on the Royal Wing Suites and Spa, visit www.royalwingsuites.com. 

Royal Caribbean Group ships monitor ocean health

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 14 June 2023: Strengthening a decades-long commitment to ocean conservation and environmental research efforts, Royal Caribbean Group, has announced a four-year extension of its investment in OceanScope.

The open-source data programme provides scientists with critical information to study climate and ocean conservation.

Collaborating with key program partners, including the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, NASA, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the programme’s renewal on World Oceans Day builds on over 20 years of groundbreaking ocean and marine life research from Royal Caribbean Group ships.  

OceanScope leverages a comprehensive suite of oceanographic and meteorological instruments located onboard Royal Caribbean Group ships that generates a continuous, simultaneous collection of the ocean’s vital signs, such as the structure of currents, sea surface temperature, carbon dioxide concentrations, and salinity taken along the repetitive ship routes – which allows scientists to monitor changes on scales of seasons, years, and even decades. 

“At Royal Caribbean Group, every day is World Oceans Day – and we are thrilled to renew a program as impactful to oceanic research as OceanScope,” said  Royal Caribbean Group CEO and president Jason Liberty.

“We’re dedicated to sustaining our planet and delivering the best vacations, responsibly – and our decades-long support of this unique initiative is a testament to that. We can’t wait to see how OceanScope, and our scientific collaborators progress our understanding  of ocean health and conservation.”  

OceanScope’s open-source database is available to the international scientific research community worldwide. The resulting data products and peer-reviewed research are key to informing ocean and conservation policy.  

Launched in 2002, the programme helped verify for the first time that ocean acidification – a reduction in pH over an extended period caused primarily by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere was occurring in the Caribbean Sea but at varying rates. Ocean acidification is detrimental to calcifying organisms such as oysters, clams, sea urchins, shallow water corals, deep sea corals, and calcareous plankton, and an ongoing concern for the entire food web. 

Extending OceanScope on Royal Caribbean Group ships helps ensure ongoing monitoring and changes of key ocean and atmospheric processes in critical ecosystems. 

As of 2023, data has been collected from over 100,000 nautical miles sailed from four ships, travelling across the Caribbean Sea, Galapagos, North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. Royal Caribbean International’s Allure of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Flora and Celebrity Equinox provide data to scientists at NOAA, the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, and the worldwide science community.

Royal Caribbean Group intends to share the programme’s learning to its more than 8 million guests annually to increase ocean literacy. 

As of 2023, data has been collected from over 100,000 nautical miles sailed from four ships, travelling across the Caribbean Sea, Galapagos, North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. Royal Caribbean International’s Allure of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas and Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Flora and Celebrity Equinox provide data to scientists at NOAA, the University of Miami Rosenstiel School, and the community. Royal Caribbean Group intends to share the program’s learning to its more than eight million guests annually to increase ocean literacy. 

Royal Caribbean Group’s conservation work extends beyond OceanScope, with the company championing a broader commitment to sustaining the planet as part of its SEA the Future platform. Royal Caribbean Group is actively working to decarbonise its business through innovation, collaborative partnerships and a transition to cleaner fuels, smarter technologies, and improved energy efficiencies. Ultimately, the company’s efforts are driving toward –Destination Net Zero – a commitment to reach net zero by 2050 and to deliver a net-zero emissions cruise ship by 2035.   To learn more about Royal Caribbean Group’s efforts to sustain our planet, energise communities and accelerate innovation, visit http://www.royalcaribbeangroup.com/SEAtheFuture.

SQ teams up with Collinson Lounge Pass

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 14 June 2023: Collinson, a leader in airport experiences and the operator of the global Lounge Pass, partners with Singapore Airlines (SIA) to offer Lounge Pass to SIA’s customers.

The partnership allows SIA passengers to pre-book airport lounge access for both their journeys’ outbound and inbound legs. All travellers flying with Singapore Airlines and their codeshare airline partners can purchase a Lounge Pass regardless of cabin class, programme status, or route.

Today, Lounge Pass offers pre-bookable airport lounge access at over 600 airport lounges worldwide, across 100 markets and countries, at over 350 airports.

As travel recovers after the pandemic, travellers seek premium experiences that add value to their journeys. Collinson’s recent Global Traveller Sentiment Survey revealed nearly 62% of travellers are willing to cut back on non-essential retail purchases to fund their travels and pay for premium travel experiences that enhance their journey. Specifically, 47% of respondents said they would pay for access to lounges, 43% for an upgraded seat and 39% for a direct flight.

The cost of access to Lounge Pass’ network of lounges starts from USD18 per visit. Lounge Pass conditions of use include that all Lounge Pass bookings must be at least 24 hours before the flight departure date/time. Group bookings (vary between lounges, but typically more than five persons) Travellers will need the Lounge Pass booking confirmation as proof to enter.

About Collinson

Collinson is a global, privately-owned company delivering market-leading airport experiences, loyalty and customer engagement, and insurance solutions for over 400 million end consumers.

Collinson operates Priority Pass, a leading airport experiences programme. Travellers can access a network of 1,300 lounges and travel experiences, including dining, retail, sleep and spa, in over 650 airports in 148 countries.  

Funding to fuel TA Network expansion

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 14 June 2023: TA Network, the cloud-based technology solutions provider for travel and hospitality, has secured SGD4.5 million Series A Funding to scale its business across Asia.

TA Network’s distribution and turnkey solutions are facilitated by robust connectivity and digital payment services, bringing together Asia Pacific hotels, travel wholesalers, operators and destination management companies in a single open travel ecosystem.

Specialising in mission-critical enterprise software systems, TA Network has raised over SGD12 million since its inception. With this latest successful Series A round, TA Network plans to use the funds to expand in other regions, including the Greater China region and Asia Pacific, where there is strong demand for its services.

TA Network’s  Co-Founder/COO Josef Foo noted: “Since inception, TA Network has established itself as a technological innovator, having developed proprietary know-how through full vertical integration, owning system development and testing operations entirely in-house. By providing maximum reliability, cost-efficiency, and agile solutions, we believe our high degree of automation allows for future scalability to serve increasing market demand.”

The funding round will accelerate the growth and adoption of TA Network platform services in Asia, which is also timely with the rising need for digitalisation as both inbound and outbound travel plans continue to gain speed across the Asian market.”

TA Network will use the investment to broaden its footprint through hiring resources and on-ground marketing activities and deepen its product offering to support its growth and geographic expansion.

About Trip Affiliates Network

Headquartered in Singapore, with offices in Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand, Trip Affiliates Network (TA Network) provides FIT/group inbound and outbound turnkey solutions and add-on direct supplier connectivity services for travel agents, wholesalers and hotels. High-performance platforms include integrated booking systems for flights, hotels, activities and transfers, dynamic packages, and digital payment solutions.

Klook: Millennials and Gen Zs are culture vultures

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 14 June 2023: Summer typically brings to mind the sun, sand, and sea, but this year, Millennial and Gen Z travellers across Asia-Pacific are embracing their inner culture vultures to seek inspiration from their travels. Klook unveils insights into the vibrant travel motivations of these demographics for this season.

“More than half (53%) of Millennials and Gen Zs are ready to travel abroad this summer, and they are looking to make their summer holidays more colourful and memorable through inspiring experiences,” shares Klook vice president of global marketing Marcus Yong.

“This summer marks a milestone as Asia fully reopens after three years, and we witness these travellers ramping up on their plans for an unforgettable holiday season.”

The search for inspiration is a powerful motivator for many Millennial and Gen Z travellers in APAC, with 1 in 4 travellers actively seeking it out on their journeys.

2023’s summer palette seeks to inspire

When planning a holiday, many travellers focus on practical details such as accommodation, transportation, and a well-planned itinerary. However, one aspect often overlooked is the power of using colours and the feelings they can evoke.

This summer, purple takes centre stage as the symbol of inspiration, with Millennials and Gen Zs eagerly embracing cultural experiences to find inspiration during their travels.

“Traveling is a gateway to self-discovery and personal growth, with a growing trend among Millennials and Gen Zs seeking inspiration through immersive experiences. They crave connections with diverse cultures, artistic expressions, and the inspiration that the world offers,” says Marcus Yong.

Some of the ways travellers find inspiration is by being out in nature and exploring a city. Interestingly, Millennials (49%) prefer being out in nature compared to Gen Zs (39%). They lean towards city-based activities. One-third of these travellers are interested in immersive experiences such as museum visits and art jamming workshops, with Klook seeing over a 30% increase in bookings for these cultural activities in 2023 compared to the end of 2022.

Regarding regional differences, travellers from Hong Kong (44%) are most likely to find inspiration by hitting the concrete to get to know a city better. In comparison, travellers from the Philippines (55%) are more drawn to the outdoors and nature. Some top outdoor experiences across APAC include island hopping and boat tours, strolls through botanical gardens and canopy walks.

Getting that perfect summer holiday with colour psychology

When it comes to making this summer holiday one to remember, colour can play a big role in shaping travellers’ experiences.

According to Principal Psychologist Dr Geraldine Tan from The Therapy Room, colour can influence travellers in subtle but significant ways, affecting their mood, behaviour, and overall enjoyment of their trip.

“The colours and environments we come across during travel can strongly affect our emotional state and influence our actions, making us more inclined towards certain activities. On a beach vacation, the cool colours of the ocean and sky might help travellers feel free and calm and be more inclined towards relaxing activities. Or when they visit a bustling city, the bright colours might make them feel energised and excited and more inclined to participate in hands-on experiences.” says Dr Geraldine Tan.  

Here are some ways travellers can use colour psychology to hack that holiday feeling they are after.

Seek blue for freedom

Blue evokes a sense of freedom and limitlessness. 52% of travellers across Asia Pacific associate blue with the feeling of freedom during their summer journeys, with top holiday activities being beach days and road trips. In 2023, road trips are one of the most sought-after activities, with car rental bookings growing more than a third since the start of the year. 

Embrace purple for inspiration

Purple symbolises inspiration and creativity. It sparks the imagination and encourages the exploration of new experiences. The top destinations with travellers searching for inspiration through cultural activities this summer are Vietnam (33%), Singapore (28%) and Thailand (28%). 

Find peace in green for relaxation

The colour green is often linked to nature, which brings about healing and renewal, and can evoke a sense of peacefulness. Travellers from Singapore (60%) and the Philippines (57%) seek relaxation through wellness-based activities such as a spa session, while travellers from Taiwan (32%) and Thailand (30%) find it through nature-based physical activities like hiking instead.  

Discover joy in orange

Bright colours like orange evoke feelings of joy, happiness, and optimism. While joy is a significant holiday feeling for 47% of travellers across APAC, the experiences that bring them joy vary. Gen Zs prefer seeking joy through the adrenaline of theme parks (46%) compared to Millennials (32%), who find more delight in being outdoors in nature.

By understanding and utilising colour psychology principles, travellers can chase that perfect summer vibe and create unforgettable memories.

What does your summer palette look like? Find your shade of summer on Klook now.

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