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Hua Hin’s Centara Grand marks 100 years

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 9 January 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is getting ready to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of its historic Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, home of the original Railway Hotel Hua Hin, with a month of spectacular events, exhibitions and entertainment lined up at the stunning seaside retreat.

Festivities began during the New Year with the “Centenary Celebration: 100 Years of Memories” at the Grand Old Lady of Hua Hin.

Events continue into January, highlights of which include the Silpakorn University String Orchestra, the return of the resort’s renowned French Buffet with a live performance by French tenor Yves Baron, and an art exhibition featuring the Railway Hotel throughout its history.

To commemorate this remarkable occasion, Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin is introducing a special logo inspired by the original Railway Hotel Hua Hin. The logo represents the seamless blend of the rich history and modern-day sophistication of the property. It features design elements from the wooden bed and mirror frames in the guest rooms, which are still visible in some areas of the resort’s Railway Wing.

“It is with great pride that we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin. This historic property offers a look into Thailand’s rich past while also showcasing the modern sophistication and hospitality that Centara has come to represent around the world. We are excited to welcome guests from Thailand and abroad to join us in celebrating and showing our appreciation for a century of support,” said Centara Hotels & Resorts CEO Thirayuth Chirathivat.

For information on the upcoming celebrations and Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, visit https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/chbr

(Your Stories: Centara Hotels & Resorts)

Batik Air flies to Australia

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TTR WEEKLY
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JAKARTA, 9 January 2023: Batik Air, a member of Lion Air Group, has launched daily direct flights from Denpasar, Bali, to Sydney and Melbourne in Australia.

Flights on the Bali to Sydney and Melbourne routes will use Boeing 737-800NG aircraft with 12 business class and 150 economy class seats.

The first flight departed Sydney on 5 January with 138 passengers on board, while on the Melbourne to Bali flight, the airline carried 140 passengers.

Travellers flying to Bali on the new service can book onward travel to Bandung, Jakarta, Kupang, Lombok, Makassar, Manado, Solo, Surakarta, Semarang, Surabaya, Yogyakarta Kulonprogo, Semarang, Balikpapan, Bima, Ende, Maumere, Tambolaka and Waingapu.

Route

Flight Number

Time Departure

Schedule Arrival

Flight Frequency

Bali (DPS) to  Sydney (SYD)

ID-6005

20.55

06.05

Daily/ 7x a week

Sydney (SYD) to Bali (DPS)

ID-6006

06.55

10.20

Daily/ 7x a week

 

Rute

Flight Number

Time Departure

Schedule Arrival

Flight Frequency

Bali (DPS) to Melbourne (MEL)

ID-6003

20.20

05.00

Daily/ 7x a week

Melbourne (MEL) to Bali (DPS)

ID-6004

06.00

08.50

Daily/ 7x a week

 

BA’s big sale flags 2023 bargains

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 9 January 2023: British Airways and British Airways Holidays have launched a sale that offers fare deals on more than 100 destinations worldwide

The sale is open to customers booking flights before 31 January 2023.

Top savings include return flights to New York from UKP342 and seven-night beach holiday packages in Europe starting at UKP199.

Travellers looking to fly across the Atlantic are being offered return flights to New York from London Gatwick from UKP342 and London Heathrow to Los Angeles and Chicago from UKP399.

European city breaks are on offer flying Club Europe (short-haul business class), highlighting Paris from UKP217 or Rome from UKP258 return. For those who’d like to cross the Atlantic in luxury, return Club World (business class) flights include London Heathrow to New York from UKP1,953 and Boston from UKP2,015.

Holiday packages include 23kg of baggage per person and can be secured with deposits from UKP60pp, with the final balance due up to four weeks before travel. Executive Club Members can earn double tier points on flights taken as a package holiday, extending the offer until 31 December 2023.

BHA lines up new board for 2023

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TTR WEEKLY
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BALI, 9 January 2023: As global tourism recovers, Bali Hotels Association says 2023 will bring substantial business growth for member hotels.

“Despite the challenges we have experienced over the past few years, we are pressing on towards greater achievements in the future,” commented Bali Hotels Association executive director Diah Ajung during the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The AGM reviewed hotel performance during 2022 and elected a new chair for 2023.

Ajung said: “It’s not easy to summarise the accomplishments of 2022 as actions were reactive and, at times, chaotic… We are still recovering, but we look to the future with renewed optimism. Our focus continues to be on creating a sustainable, thriving industry and a consistent recovery with our partners and stakeholders.”

Fransiska Handoko Reelected chair for 2023

At the close of the AGM, Bali Hotels Association announced the reelection of Fransiska Handoko, general manager of Risata Bali Resort & Spa, as the Association’s chairwoman for a second term. Fransiska Handoko took over the chair 1 January 1, 2023, for a one-year term.

“I feel very privileged to receive the trust of our member hotels to continue serving Bali Hotels Association as the chairwoman for a second term. This is an exciting time for our industry. The successful G20 meetings are the pinnacle of Bali’s tourism in 2022 and further reassure the world that Bali is ready to welcome travellers back to the island,” she concluded.

She heads an association with 157 members from star-rated hotels and resorts in Bali, representing 25,825 rooms and 30,474 employees,

Sustainability tops the agenda

BHA envisions 2023 as the new era of Bali tourism, which focuses on quality tourism, and thus continues to advocate service excellency and sustainability practices to the industry.

“Sustainability remains on top of our agenda during 2023. We will support member hotels to manage their waste, energy, and water better and continue encouraging members and partners to adopt sustainable business practices,” said BHA vice chairman and sustainability director of Kevin Girard.

BHA updates website

To drive BHA’s vision for 2023, the association has completed several upgrades on its website – balihotelsassociation.com. The upgrade will leverage the current website to BHA members and partners and continue to provide a trusted voice for future guests coming to Bali.

A new, more comprehensive BHA Career section will allow member hotels to advertise their job openings and talented candidates to apply directly on the platform, thus reducing the hiring process time.

“The tourism outlook for 2023 in Bali remains positive. Said the incoming chairwoman Fransiska Handoko.

2023 BHA Board of Directors

Fransiska Handoko, General Manager, Risata Bali Resort & Spa

                Chairwoman, Government & Organization Relations Director

Kevin Girard, General Manager, Conrad Bali

                Vice Chairman & Sustainability Director

Joel Bartlett, General Manager, Mamaka by Ovolo

                Finance & Business Development Director

Simona Chimenti, General Manager, The Pavilions Bali

                Marketing & Media Relations Director

Franklyn Kocek, General Manager, The Stones Hotel – Legian Bali, Autograph Collection

                Security & Safety Director

I Wayan Warta, General Manager, Amadea Resort & Villas

                Scholarship, Education & Training Director

Koen Vangrysperre, General Manager, Sudamala Suites & Villas Bali

                Community Relations & Charity Director

Laurens Kritzinger, General Manager, Courtyard by Marriott Bali Seminyak

                Sports & Cultural Director

Diah Ajung

                Executive Director, Bali Hotels Association

Price hikes hit pilgrimage tours

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TTR WEEKLY
-

KUALA LUMPUR, 9 January 8, 2023: The Malaysian Association of Travel and Tourism Agents (MATTA) reports ‘Umrah’ pilgrims will face sharp increases in hotel prices in Mecca and Medina, badly impacting pilgrimage package prices.

A spike in bookings for hotels, especially in the city of Medina, followed the relaxation of Covid-19 travel restrictions as nations reviewed health regulations.

“It’s not just hotel prices that are increasing, but transport and flight ticket prices are also becoming more burdensome, especially during the peak season,” said MATTA Haji and Umrah vice president, Haji Mohd Azri bin Abd Razak. “ It resulted in a call to lower the rates for Umrah packages to maintain the prices offered by authorised travel agencies,”

Travel agencies are also facing difficulties obtaining confirmation of the booking even though the full payment has been forwarded to hotels. The sudden rate increase by hotels forced travel agencies to raise package prices for Umrah pilgrims.

MATTA says hotel rates in both Madinah and Mecca have increased substantially. The association will meet with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) to discuss the issue of rising hotel and flight costs that are now impacting the Umrah pilgrimage packages.

Thailand best in Asia for retirees

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 9 January 2023: Thailand is the only Asian destination to feature in the 2023 Annual Global Retirement Index’s top 10.

It crept into the top chart sharing the 9th position with Italy, while Portugal was the star performer taking the first place.

Now in its 30th year, Living International claims its retirement index is the most in-depth survey of its kind based on seven categories – housing, cost of living, visa/benefits, affinity rating, governance, climate and healthcare.

Portugal topped the score line with an average of 87.43, and Columbia, in 10th place, averaged 73.57.

Mexico, in second place, averaged 84.14, followed by Panama in third place with a score of 84.00. Ecuador ranked fourth with 85.57, and Costa Rica fifth with 79.14.

Three European destinations – Spain, Greece and France – took the sixth, seven and eighth slots. Thailand and Italy shared the ninth slot, and Columbia took the 10th place.

In its favour, Thailand topped the cost-of-living category with a score of 96, while France was the most expensive (56), but it shed points in four categories; housing (62), visas (58), climate (58) and health care (76) to a smaller degree.

Living International estimated a couple could enjoy retirement in Thailand on a budget of USD2,500. At the top end of the chart, retirees could live in Portugal on a budget between USD2,000 and USD3,000.

Survey chart: Living International

BA boosts flights from Gatwick

By
TTR WEEKLY
-
Street view with Triumphal Arch during the sunrise in Montpellier city in Occitanie region of France

SINGAPORE, 6 January 2023: British Airways’ Gatwick-based subsidiary, BA Euroflyer, has added Montpellier, Corfu, Mykonos and Innsbruck to its short-haul route network in addition to a new summer Salzburg service.

Montpellier, in the south of France, is a new addition to British Airways’ network, operating three times a week in the summer from 27 May 2023.

The service to Mykonos bolsters the existing summer routes from London Heathrow and London City, while Corfu is in addition to the existing London Heathrow service. Innsbruck sees the addition of eight new weekly flights in the winter season, which complements the current six-times weekly service from London Heathrow.

BA Euroflyer’s summer service to Salzburg will complement the existing winter services from London Gatwick and London Heathrow.

The airline has also put its short-haul Gatwick winter schedule on sale today, offering 21 destinations to customers looking to book winter holidays and city breaks. Ski hotspots include Geneva and Turin, while winter sun destinations include Tenerife and Lanzarote.

Flying to nearly 40 destinations throughout the year, British Airways is the only airline at Gatwick to offer business and economy cabins on all short-haul flights.

Flights are on sale now

Start date

Flight number

Departing LGW

Arriving at destination

Flight number

Departing destination

Arriving LGW

London Gatwick (LGW) to Montpellier (MPL): Summer 2023

27 May 2023

Three per week

BA2620

Tue: 0720

Thu: 0715

Sat: 1350

Tue: 1005

Thu: 1000

Sat: 1635

BA2621

Tue: 1210

Thu: 1205

Sat: 1735

Tue: 1255

Thu: 1250

Sat: 1820

London Gatwick (LGW) to Corfu (CFU): Summer 2023

30 May 2023

Three per week

BA2812

Tue: 0715

Wed: 0835

Sat: 1700

Tue: 1230

Wed: 1350

Sat: 2215

BA2813

Tue: 1325

Wed: 1445

Sat: 2315

Tue: 1440

Wed: 1600

Sat: 0030

London Gatwick (LGW) to Mykonos (JMK): Summer 2023

10 June 2023

One per week

BA2814

Sat: 0820

Sat: 1420

BA2815

Sat: 1520

Sat: 1725

London Gatwick (LGW) to Salzburg (SZG): Summer 2023

28 March 2023

Three per week

BA2618

Tue: 1115

Thu: 1640

Sat: 0930

Tue: 1410

Thu: 1935

Sat: 1225

BA2619

Tue: 1505

Wed: 2025

Sat: 1400

Tue: 1610

Wed: 2130

Sat: 1505

London Gatwick (LGW) to Innsbruck (INN): Winter 2023

08 December 2023

Eight per week

BA2620

Mon: 0710

Wed: 0945

Thu: 0840

Sat: 1235

Sun: 0840

Mon: 1015

Wed: 1255

Thu: 1150

Sat: 1545

Sun: 1150

BA2621

Mon: 1105

Wed: 1345

Thu: 1240

Sat: 1645

Sun: 1250

Mon: 1210

Wed: 1445

Thu: 1340

Sat: 1750

Sun: 1350

BA2622

Fri: 1310

Sat: 1425

Sun: 1520

Fri: 1615

Sat: 1730

Sun: 1825

BA2623

Fri: 1705

Sat: 1830

Sun: 1925

Fri: 1810

Sat: 1930

Sun: 2025

 

Emirates earns perfect score

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 6 January 2023: Emirates, the world’s largest passenger airline, has completed its latest IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) with zero findings – the equivalent of a perfect score.

Emirates Airline president Sir Tim Clark said: “Safety is one of Emirates’ core values. Since day one, we’ve continually invested in ensuring that our operations meet the most rigorous safety standards. To complete the IOSA audit with zero findings is a notable achievement, especially in the context of our rapid operational upscaling post-pandemic and the global nature of Emirates’ network. It’s a credit to our internal teams and external partners who contribute to Emirates’ safe transport of thousands of people and tonnes of goods around the globe each day. We’ll continue to work hard and contribute to ensuring a safe and sustainable aviation industry.”

Over 1,000 standards and recommended practices were assessed by an International Air Transport Association (IATA) accredited audit organisation over five days to determine how well the Emirates operational management system complies with the IOSA Standard and Recommended Practices (ISARP).

With this strong audit report, Emirates has demonstrated the rigour of its systems and processes to ensure safe operational practices and the airworthiness of its modern fleet of Boeing 777s and Airbus A380s.

Emirates is an award-winning international airline with a global footprint across six continents, connecting passengers and facilitating global trade to and through its modern hub, Dubai, to 140 destinations. Most recently, the airline was honoured with a ‘World Class Award’ for safety, well-being, sustainability, service, and inclusiveness at APEX 2023 awards. Emirates went on to further scoop accolades for ‘5 Star Global Official Airline Rating’, and ‘Passenger Choice Award for Best Global Entertainment’. In addition to winning two titles at the ULTRAs 2022 awards, including ‘Best Airline in the World’ and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’.

For more information, visit www.emirates.com.

(Your Stories: Emirates)

Sea Bunny graces Ang Pao designs

By
TTR WEEKLY
-
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

SARAWAK, 6 January 2023: To usher in the Year of the Rabbit, Sarawak Tourism Board is featuring the rare “Sea Bunny” called Jorunna Parva, a type of soft-bodied marine slug for its 2023 ang pao packets design this year.

Bearing an uncanny resemblance to the rabbit due to the little flaps on its head and fluffy-looking ‘coat’, the 1 cm long rare sea bunny can be found at Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park in Miri, Sarawak.

Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor, Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Tourism Board said: “The ‘sea bunny’ ang pao design will be the sixth edition to STB’s ang pao series, which features flora and fauna unique to Sarawak. We look forward to creating new and truly Sarawakian ang pao designs every year to make it a collectable while promoting Sarawak’s priceless biodiversity and wildlife to the world.”

“The rise of ecotourism has seen a surge in demand for eco-retreats, with Sarawak’s natural beauty and sustainable outlook. As we welcome another year of great discovery, we invite visitors to explore Sarawak’s unique Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food and Festival offerings filled with exciting green tourism activities such as deep-sea diving, caving, biking, and hiking,” she added.

Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park is the second-largest offshore national park in Sarawak, with 33 identified dive sites. It is considered to be one of the popular dive destinations due to its abundance of pristine patch reefs and its incredible marine life, and the breeding ground for 800 species of hard and soft corals.

It lies at depths ranging from 7 to 30 metres with an average visibility of 10 to 30 metres, where divers can discover a variety of underwater species such as Gorgonia sea fans, bubble corals, barracudas, Napoleon wrasse and butterfly fish. Some popular diving sites include Eve’s Garden, Belais, Sunday Reef, Anemone Garden, Siwa Reef, Kenyalang Wreck. The best time recommended to dive here is from March to October.

The limited 2023 ang pao packets will be available for collection at STB’s visitor information centres in Kuching, Sibu and Miri from 4 January 2023 onwards while stock last.

For more information about Sarawak, log on to Sarawak Tourism Board’s website: https://sarawaktourism.com.

(Your Stories: Sarawak Tourism Board)

Centara Osaka’s opening bargain

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

BANGKOK, 6 January 2022: Looking forward to the opening of its first-ever hotel in Japan, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is offering an exclusive introductory rate for its debut property – Centara Grand Hotel Osaka.

Opening in July 2023, the 515-key hotel is an architectural masterpiece soaring 33 floors above downtown Osaka mere steps from Namba, the city’s vibrant shopping and entertainment district. Poised to become a sought-after destination for leisure and business travellers alike, Centara Grand Osaka is a breathtaking urban escape offering an eclectic selection of world-class bars and restaurants, including rooftop venues with spectacular skyline views.

An elegant selection of rooms and suites caters to the needs of every guest, each featuring stunning floor-to-ceiling windows and modern comforts to ensure a restful stay. In addition to the award-winning SPA Cenvaree, a fully-equipped fitness centre and co-working spaces, this hotel is also ideal for hosting social, corporate and MICE events with customisable meeting rooms, a Grand Ballroom and the exquisite rooftop Sky Event space.

To celebrate its opening, Centara Grand Hotel Osaka is offering 25% off standard room rates, complimentary room upgrades, late check-out until 1400, dining privileges, branded giveaways and other exciting perks. This offer is valid until 30 June 2023 for stays from 1 July 2023 to 21 December 2023.

For more information, visit https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/

(Your Stories: Centara Hotels & Resorts)

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