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Passengers trade up to Premium Economy

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, UAE, 1 August 2023: After setting new industry benchmarks in Premium Economy travel, Emirates is celebrating a banner first year of full-service operations with the highly popular cabin class.

Over 160,000 customers have traded up to fly in Emirates Premium Economy since it was introduced in August 2022, with strong demand momentum forecasted in the coming months. The airline is providing travellers more opportunities to experience its highly-acclaimed Premium Economy product, which is currently available on flights to 11 cities, with the list growing to 13 cities by the end of the year, as more retrofitted aircraft with refreshed cabins roll into scheduled service.

Since Emirates debuted its Premium Economy Class, customer response has been overwhelmingly positive, with demand exceeding expectations and bookings growing month on month, demonstrating its appeal to a broad range of traveller segments who want to try out its understated luxury and meticulously elevated experience at great value. Nearly half of the customers flying in Emirates Premium Economy are solo travellers venturing off for holidays, while couples and families constitute the other half. More than 60% of customers who booked to fly in Premium Economy in the last year were also loyal Emirates Skywards members and regular customers of the airline.

Emirates currently flies its A380s with the latest Premium Economy cabins to London Heathrow, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, Singapore, Los Angeles, New York JFK, Houston, San Francisco and Dubai, with flights regularly registering full seat loads in Premium Economy. The airline plans to make Premium Economy available to customers flying to/from Mumbai and Bengaluru from 29 October, and additional cities will be announced soon. Emirates currently operates 20 aircraft fitted with Premium Economy, 14 of which were retrofitted in-house by the Emirates Engineering team in Dubai over the course of the last nine months.

Since August 2022, the airline has operated close to 4,500 flights with Premium Economy, traversing more than 36 million kilometres around the globe. On those flights, over 192,000 meals from its carefully curated menus which include the finest ingredients, were served to customers who enjoyed regionally inspired, generously portioned dishes. Unique touches include indulgent desserts garnished with edible gold leaf, among other signature offerings. Premium Economy menus are updated every month to ensure a diversity of flavours and dishes, especially for well-travelled customers. Over 126,000 pieces of chocolates were served to round off meals for Premium Economy customers. Emirates also served 6,700 kilograms of mixed nuts and 8,650 litres of complimentary fresh lemon and mint juices in Premium Economy. The airline’s robust beverage selection in Premium Economy includes a global exclusive for Emirates customers, Australian sparkling wine, Chandon Vintage Brut 2016, and a unique white and red wine choice.

The airline’s philosophy to constantly innovate and redefine service excellence through the introduction of Premium Economy has earned it numerous top placings and accolades in the cabin category at the 2023 Skytrax Awards, Business Traveller Awards, Airline Ratings Excellence Awards, and 2022 Business Traveller Middle East awards.

In May, Emirates launched a global campaign with Academy Award-winning actor and philanthropist Penelope Cruz, featuring her enjoying the spacious seats in Premium Economy. The airline has also provided a glimpse of its Premium Economy offering through guided tours of the new cabin class to media and influencers, trade partners, airport, tourism and government officials across cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, Singapore, New York JFK and San Francisco.

The Premium Economy roll-out is a core component of the airline’s multi-billion-dollar retrofit programme, which will see the interior upgrade on 67 Emirates A380 cabins and 53 Boeing 777 cabins. By the end of the programme, over 4,000 Premium Economy seats will be installed, along with over 700 First Class suites and 5,000 Business Class seats refurbished with the latest interiors.

Tickets in Premium Economy can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents. To explore Emirates Premium Economy further, visit:  https://www.emirates.com/english/experience/cabin-features/premium-economy-class/

SO/ Maldives opens in November

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 3 August 2023: S Hotels and Resorts PCL confirms its latest resort project SO/ Maldives, will open in November as the third resort at Crossroads Maldives, a project currently under development on nine islands in the Maldives.

S Hotels & Resorts owns the USD 60 million joint venture project, which is being developed in partnership with Wai Eco World Developer (WEWD). It marks the birth of the SO/ Hotels & Resorts brand, which will be introduced to the Maldives and form part of the Ennismore Collection lifestyle brands.

SO/ Maldives is a 15-minute speedboat ride from Malé’s Velana International Airport. The new resort features a collection of beachfront and over-water pool villas ranging from 120 to 330 square metres in size. SO/ Maldives joins two existing resorts at Crossroads Maldives: SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives.

Saudia fleet expands with A321s

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 3 August 2023: Saudia, the national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, is expanding its fleet with new Airbus A321neo aircraft as the airline aims to add 20 more A321s to its fleet by 2026.

The A321neo aircraft is part of the A320 family with seating for 180 to 220 passengers in a typical two-class interior layout and delivers superior fuel performance decreasing fuel burn and C0@ by 20% per cent decrease in fuel burning and Co2 emissions.

Photo credit: Saudia

Saudia CEO Ibrahim Koshy said: “We are excited to expand our fleet with the new Airbus A321neo aircraft. Our priority is to offer the best guest experience possible and to bring the world to Saudi Arabia. We will continue to purchase state-of-the-art aircraft from the world’s top manufacturers to deliver on that promise.”

The fleet expansion comes under the Saudi Aviation Strategy objectives, which aim to turn Saudi Arabia into a leader in the global industry as the country aims to generate 330 million visits by 2030 (including religious pilgrimages).

MCEC delivers walk-around virtual tours

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TTR WEEKLY
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MELBOURNE, 3 August 2023: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre announced this week the launch of its new website, the first step towards developing an omnichannel customer experience.

Built-in partnership with design and innovation agency AKQA’s Melbourne team, the new MCEC website provides a seamless and engaging experience, offering improved accessibility and a first-hand look into the venue’s spaces.

One of the standout features is the introduction of 360-degree virtual tours filmed by SmartView Media, a leading Matterport 3D Virtual Tour provider in Australia.

Supported by Tourism Australia’s Business Events Advance Programme, the virtual tours showcase MCEC’s state-of-the-art facilities and spaces to customers from around Australia and the world. With 20% of current website users from overseas, the tours will enable customers and visitors to explore MCEC’s spaces virtually. 

Using simple navigation, customers can now understand the venue’s layout and capabilities, enhancing their event planning experience. More spaces will be added to the virtual tours in the coming months, eventually showcasing all 35 room types available to book at MCEC.

MCEC’s Head of Marketing, Liz Kozmevski said: “The website is the first touchpoint for our customers and visitors, and we wanted it to reflect the exceptional experiences they receive inside our venue.”

In addition to the virtual tours, the new website offers a wealth of information and resources to help customers plan their events. It showcases the best of Melbourne, inspiring visitors and organisers who have their eye on the city for their next event.

Visit the new MCEC website and embark on a virtual tour of the venue’s remarkable spaces at www.mcec.com.au

GHA seals points deal with luxury cruise line

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 3 August 2023: Global Hotel Alliance, an alliance of independent hotel brands including Thailand’s Minor Hotels, inked a landmark partnership between GHA and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Its the first time a cruise line has partnered with GHA, which means that loyalty programme members totalling 24 million can tap the additional benefit of earning Discovery Dollars by reserving a voyage with Regent and will be able to redeem points in any GHA hotel, including the 530 properties operated by Minor Hotels.

Photo credit: A&P Media.

The loyalty programme, GHA Discovery, now extends to the high seas after entering a landmark partnership with Regent Seven Seas Cruise, a leading luxury cruise line based in Miami, Florida.

The agreement marks the first time a cruise line has partnered with GHA, bringing together two leading luxury brands in the travel sector.

GHA Discovery members, who access 800 hotels, resorts and palaces operated by 40 hotel brands in 100 countries, are rewarded with the programme’s rewards currency, Discovery Dollars (D$1 equal to USD1).

Through this partnership, loyalty members can tap the additional benefit of earning D$ when reserving a voyage with Regent and will be able to redeem those benefits in any GHA hotel.

GHA Discovery members who reserve a Regent cruise will also be fast-tracked to GHA Discovery Titanium status, which benefits GHA hotels and resorts worldwide.

(Source: A&P Media)

SITA supports airports to cut carbon footprint

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 3 August 2023: Air transport industry IT provider SITA and Envision Digital, a Singapore-headquartered global net zero partner and Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) technology leader, have signed a new partnership to help airports reduce operational costs and support their net zero ambitions.

The companies have developed solutions allowing real-time data IoT flows, enabling airports to monitor and report their energy usage, emissions from aircraft and other vehicles, and carbon footprint. Airports can use insights from these data feeds to take action to reduce consumption costs and resulting emissions.

Photo credit: SITA.

These solutions allow airports to harness and orchestrate renewable energy sources in the future.

SITA at Airports head Drew Griffiths said: “Today, SITA works with nearly 1,000 airports globally to manage every aspect of their operations, from baggage and passenger processing to airside and aircraft operations. Supporting airports to reduce costs and cut their greenhouse gas emissions is a natural extension of this offering and one our customers have asked for. We look forward to working with Envision in delivering this new capability as part of our wider airport offering.” 

As part of the partnership, SITA will create a new Centre of Excellence to accelerate product development and customer project delivery. The partnership harnesses Envision Digital’s strengths in energy management and smart building solutions with SITA’s strengths in air transport technology and operations to support airports and make their operation more efficient and sustainable.

Envision Digital global executive director Michael Ding said: “Airports have been progressive in their ambition to reach net zero. This partnership combines our AIoT leadership with SITA’s expertise in the air transport industry to create low-carbon aviation solutions that help the industry to reach its goal.”

About SITA

SITA is the air transport industry’s IT provider, delivering solutions for airlines, airports, aircraft and governments. With around 2,500 customers, SITA’s solutions drive operational efficiencies at more than 1,000 airports while delivering the promise of connected aircraft to customers of 17,000 aircraft globally.

Princess opens sales for 2025 Alaska cruises

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 2 August 2023: Princess Cruises has unveiled its 2025 Alaska cruise and cruise tours season, featuring three roundtrip itineraries and a new National Parks Cruisetour. Sales and bookings open on 3 August 2023.

New for 2025 is a 22-day roundtrip voyage sailing from San Francisco on Ruby Princess that coincides with the Summer Solstice and a 17-day roundtrip cruise from Seattle on Grand Princess featuring three days of scenic glacier viewing.

For guests seeking to sail from Southern California, a new 16-day roundtrip Inside Passage voyage from Los Angeles on Grand Princess is an option.

Following its debut in 2024, the National Parks Cruisetour returns in 2025 with a 15-night adventure to five of Alaska’s parks.

In 2025, seven Princess ships will sail to Alaska, including Caribbean Princess for the first time. In addition, the number of Princess homeports offering Alaska voyages expands to five with the addition of Los Angeles, with the season featuring 21 cruise destinations and four glacier-viewing experiences, highlighted by 88 visits to Glacier Bay National Park, taking more guests to this spectacular national park than any other cruise line.

Princess offers 155 departures on 18 itineraries ranging from four to 22 days.

2024 Laguna Phuket Marathon opens sponsorships

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 2 August 2023: The popular Laguna Phuket Marathon returns to Phuket for its 18th edition from 8 to 9 June 2024.

According to Paul Poole (Southeast Asia) Co Ltd, in its latest newsletter, the race is popular with professional roadrunners and amateurs alike. The event involves various race distances, including a 2-kilometre Kids Run, a 5-kilometre run, a 10-kilometre run, a Marathon Relay, a Half Marathon and a Marathon.

“Held over two days at the beginning of June, the Laguna Phuket Marathon is a very social race with a host of events lined up for participants and spectators, the newsletter explains. The night before the race, participants are invited to join the Pasta Party, allowing them to fuel their bodies with carbohydrates and socialise with fellow participants. There is also an expo showcasing the latest in running gadgets, apparel, supplements and more.”

At the core of the Laguna Phuket Marathon is the Laguna Phuket Foundation, a charitable foundation supporting projects in Phuket, including the Developing Sustainable Schools Programme, which consists of the School Partnership Project, Survival Swim with Laguna Phuket, and Laguna Phuket’s “Fully Booked!” Mobile Learning Centre.

Sponsorship experts Paul Poole (Southeast Asia) Co Ltd will manage sponsorship and partnership marketing for Laguna Phuket Marathon 2024.

“We have commercial sponsorship and partnership opportunities for brands and businesses wanting to integrate with this high-profile sporting event”, the company explained in its latest newsletter.

Paul Poole (Southeast Asia) Co Ltd. is an independent marketing consultancy based in Bangkok, Thailand, specialising in commercial sponsorship and partnership marketing, working with rights holders and brands.

This article was first published in Paul Poole (Southeast Asia) Co Ltd’s August 2023 newsletter on Linkedin.

For more information, contact [email protected].

OUTRIGGER wraps up resort purchase

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 2 August 2023: OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels has finalised its acquisition of the iconic Kā’anapali Beach Hotel, situated on the world-famous Kā’anapali Beach – recently ranked as the No 1 beach in the US and No 10 Beach in the World by TripAdvisor.

The 11-acre (4.5ha), the 432-room property will now sail under the banner of OUTRIGGER Kā’anapali Beach Resort, allowing travellers to experience the soulful essence of authentic Hawaiian culture fused with OUTRIGGER Signature Experiences.

The completed purchase on 26 July further anchors OUTRIGGER in its mission to be “The Premier Beach Resort Company in the World” and heralds a new chapter in its global voyage of delivering barefoot luxury with unparalleled hospitality across Hawaii, Fiji, Mauritius, Thailand and the Maldives.

“As a Hawaii-based company for 75 years, we have cultivated a profound appreciation for this enchanting place and its people,” said Jeff Wagoner, president and CEO of OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group. “We understand the responsibility of being exceptional stewards of this treasured land and embrace the opportunity to continue the tradition of excellence at this extraordinary property. The Kā‘anapali Resort area is undeniably a sought-after destination, captivating travellers from across the globe with its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. We are committed to elevating this experience to new heights while being a collaborative community partner.”

One of the cornerstones of every OUTRIGGER resort is a must-visit beach bar. Maui Brewing Co., a beloved local brand with a deep island heritage, will be the primary restaurant at OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort. Set to open later this summer, the beachfront space will further enhance the allure of the resort, offering a family-friendly dining experience for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as live music.

In addition to premium culinary offerings, OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort will also remain true to The OUTRIGGER Way by continuing to provide enriching cultural activities for all guests, as well as sustainability measures to protect and preserve the shores of Kā‘anapali Beach through the company’s global OUTRIGGER Zone initiative. This includes offering complimentary reef-safe sunscreen from its partner Raw Elements and metal water bottles and reusable bags at check-in for guests to practice sustainability. For more details and bookings for  OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort, vist: www.outrigger.com.

Dnata expands travel options in Spain

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, UAE, 2 August 2023: Dnata Travel has partnered with TURESPAÑA, the official tourism authority of Spain, to deliver travel products and services in Spain for residents of GCC countries.

TURESPAÑA revealed that the number of tourists from the GCC market increased by 15% yearly, a trend that continued in the first quarter of 2023. 

Dnata Travel head of retail and leisure UAE Meerah Ketait commented: “We have seen a significant increase in bookings to Spain by GCC travellers across and beyond the UAE. The Balearic Islands of Mallorca and Ibiza are trending, offering travellers world-class resorts alongside beautiful beaches. The Canary Islands have also become increasingly popular, providing ideal destinations for nature lovers with hiking trails that wind through ancient forests and volcanic landscapes. The north of Spain, also known as ‘Green Spain’ where incredible nature meets unforgettable gastronomy, is also gaining traction and curiosity from this region.”

TURESPAÑA director Daniel Rosado added: “The UAE has always been one of the top tourism markets for Spain, and we expect 2023 to be the best year ever for tourism from across the GCC. Air connectivity has significantly increased recently while our countries have fostered cultural exchanges and collaborations. These initiatives include art exhibitions, music festivals, and educational programs, which help promote tourism and mutual understanding.”

TURESPAÑA and dnata Travel’s recommended itinerary for one week in Spain this summer for GCC travellers, ‘Exploring Andalucía’, is detailed as follows:

Days 1-2: Marbella

A luxurious lifestyle city popular with GCC travellers, Marbella is a great starting point. Visit the Puerto Banus marina, lined by luxury yachts, haute cuisine restaurants, and exclusive designer boutiques.

Day 3: Ronda

Visit the traditional Andalusian town of Ronda, surrounded by mountains and featuring an iconic bridge for a picturesque and dramatic backdrop.

Day 4: Beach tour

Head out to the famous beach resorts of Benalmadena, Torremolinos, and Estepona, which make up the most visited coastline in Spain.

Days 5-6: Granada

Drive to Granada, located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Known for its UNESCO World Heritage site, the beautiful Alhambra Palace, this is a rich, cultural city with lively tapas bars and Arabian-inspired tea rooms.

Day 7: Cordoba

Travel to Cordoba, home to the stunning Great Mosque of Cordoba. 

Discover more of Spain with dnata Travel, where its latest, recommended holiday offers for GCC travellers include starting points in the popular cities of Barcelona, Madrid and Marbella, at www.dnataTravel.com.

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