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Thomas Cook adopts new logo

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TTR WEEKLY
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MUMBAI, 18 November 2022: Thomas Cook (India) Limited unveiled its new logo earlier this week, saying it was inspired by the “changing environment and renewed energy that define the company in this new era of travel.”

While the pandemic severely impacted the travel sector, Thomas Cook used the downtime to accelerate its so-called ‘Digital First’ focus, which resulted in the average age of its holiday customers falling by 10 years.

To keep pace with younger customers and the changing environment, the new logo “delivers a strong and impactful identity that is future proof, and most importantly has a digital-friendly look and feel.”

Thomas Cook (India) and SOTC Travel president & Group head – marketing, service & innovation, Abraham Alapatt said: “The pandemic has changed several norms in the travel industry, and to keep pace with the changing environment/expectations of customers; we are refreshing the familiar Thomas Cook logo with a stronger, more impactful, digital-friendly identity.”

About Thomas Cook (India) Limited

Established in 1881, Thomas Cook India) Limited offers a broad spectrum of services, including foreign exchange, corporate travel, MICE, leisure travel and visa services.

It operates leading B2C and B2B brands, including Thomas Cook, SOTC, TCI, SITA, Asian Trails, Allied TPro, Australian Tours Management, Desert Adventures, Luxe Asia, Travel Circle International Limited, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, Distant Frontiers, TC Tours, Digiphoto Entertainment Imaging (DEI), Go Vacation and Private Safaris East & South Africa. The group spans 28 countries.

Japan to welcome back cruise ships

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 18 November 2022: Japan will allow international cruise ships to dock at its ports, transport minister Tetsuo Saito confirmed on 15 November, lifting a more than two-year ban imposed at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ministry has determined that sufficient preparations have been made to accept cruise ships, with guidelines drafted by industry associations to prevent the spread of infections among passengers.

Passengers who demonstrate signs of infection need to be tested, and those with positive results and close contacts, will be quarantined. Even if an outbreak occurs, ships can continue cruise operations as long as a doctor on the ship determines the virus can be contained. However, the ship’s cruise schedule will be shortened if more than 10% of the passengers are infected.

Cruise companies will hold discussions with the local authorities of the port of call and seek approvals on docking. All crew members must be vaccinated three times against the virus, and more than 95% of passengers must be vaccinated at least twice under the guidelines.

In 2019, 2.15 million cruise passengers visited Japan, spending around USD575 million, with 1,932 stops made by foreign cruise companies and 934 by domestic ships. According to the Japan International Cruise Committee, 166 visits by foreign cruise ships are already planned to start next March.

South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong ready to welcome international cruises

In October, South Korea and Taiwan announced that they were ready to welcome international cruises again. However, due to cabotage laws, such announcements will have little impact without Japan, which is critical for cruising in Northeast Asia with approximately 100 ports of call.

This long-awaited announcement from the Japanese government will allow international cruise lines and local port authorities to begin establishing the specific policies and procedures required for the resumption of international cruising in Japan.

Taiwan had removed its ban on international cruises. At the same time, it ended mandatory quarantine for all overseas arrivals effective 13 October. The protocol rules require passengers to present a negative rapid Covid test on arrival in Taiwan or the day before. Taiwan was one of the first places globally to reinstate cruising when it approved cruises to nowhere in July 2020. Those cruises have since been halted.

It was announced on 19 October that foreign travellers would be allowed to disembark from ships arriving on Jeju Island, South Korea. Jeju will receive 32 tour cruises from Japan starting in March next year. Cruise tourism to Jeju Island peaked in 2016 with over 1.2 million passengers. However, the number dropped to 21,700 in 2018 due to Korea-China tensions escalating following the deployment of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system the year before. At the time, over 90% of arriving cruise ship tourists were from China.

Hong Kong had also earlier announced that it had lifted its cruising ban from October 2022, but the cruise terminal operator said it expects cruising to resume later. Travel agency sources in Hong Kong serving the cruise market forecast the return of cruises during the second quarter of 2023.

With the industry returning to pre-pandemic levels worldwide, mainland China remains the only major cruise market where cruising has yet to be approved.

Emirates and Air Canada launch codeshare

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 17 November 2022: Emirates and Air Canada have launched codeshare cooperation that will allow customers of the two airlines to enjoy seamless connectivity to 46 markets across the Americas, the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.

Effective last week, codeshare tickets are now available for sale to 35 markets for travel starting 1 December. Another 11 markets will be added pending final regulatory approval. Tickets are available via the carriers’ websites at emirates.com and aircanada.com, as well as via major GDS systems and travel agencies.

Emirates Airline president Sir Tim Clark said: “We are delighted to establish a partnership with Air Canada, to expand our reach into more points in North America. Partnering with Canada’s flag carrier enables us to offer customers seamless connectivity when flying to domestic points within Canada via Toronto. Besides the added-value benefits and rewarding experiences that leisure and business travellers of both airlines can look forward to, the partnership allows Air Canada’s customers to travel to destinations across Asia, Africa and the Middle East, thanks to our expansive network via our hub in Dubai.”

Emirates customers can book codeshare flights to and from Canadian points beyond Toronto, including Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver.

Air Canada will place its code on routes operated by Emirates from its hub in Dubai, expanding the airline’s reach across the Indian subcontinent and unlocking more destinations, including Colombo, Dhaka, Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore.

Seamless connectivity will also be enjoyed by Air Canada’s customers travelling to Southeast Asian destinations, including Bangkok, Hanoi, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore; the Middle Eastern cities Jeddah and Muscat; as well as destinations in Africa, namely Addis Ababa and Dar Es Salaam.

Coming soon, the airlines will introduce a reciprocal frequent flyer offering, allowing members of Aeroplan and Skywards to earn and redeem points on flights operated by Emirates and Air Canada, respectively.

Eligible passengers will be able to take advantage of reciprocal lounge access, along with select benefits for Aeroplan Elite and Skywards members when travelling on the partner airline. Launch dates will be announced later.

For more information, visit www.emirates.com.

(Your Stories: Emirates)

Outrigger names Mauritius team leaders

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TTR WEEKLY
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PHUKET, 17 November 2022: Outrigger Resorts & Hotels has appointed Michael Gaarde-Nielsen as general manager and Rory Campbell as director of sales and marketing for the Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort.

Gaarde-Nielsen holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Oxford Brookes University in England. He will be responsible for all aspects of resort operations to maximise commercial performance while delivering the best-in-class service culture.

Gaarde-Nielsen has several years of resort leadership experience in Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. He has held general manager positions in his native Denmark and Thailand, where he served as general manager for Centara Hotels and Resorts in Phuket and Krabi.

Outrigger has also welcomed back Rory Campbell to oversee sales and marketing for the resort. Campbell will develop and implement internal and external sales and marketing strategies to maximise the resort’s revenue market share and optimise profitability for all source markets.

With several years of Outrigger experience, Campbell was area director of sales and marketing for the former Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach and Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resorts; director of sales and marketing for the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort; and general manager of the Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort. 

Before joining Outrigger in 2013, Campbell worked in senior sales and marketing roles for Hilton in Spain, Anantara Hotels and Resorts in Thailand and the Eaton Hotel in Hong Kong.

ABOUT OUTRIGGER

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 to 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.

(Your Stories: Outrigger)

Carnival Venezia opens reservations

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 17 November 2022: Carnival Cruise Line opened reservations this week for the inaugural season of its next new ship, Carnival Venezia, due to sail year-round from New York City starting 15 June 2023.

The ship will offer 10 different cruise durations and 22 itineraries featuring visits to 25 ports across 14 countries.

Carnival Cruise Line opened reservations this week for the inaugural season of its next new ship, Carnival Venezia, which will begin sailing year-round from New York City on 15  June 2023.

Following a 15-day transatlantic Carnival Journeys cruise from Barcelona that will depart 29 May 2023, Carnival Venezia will sail a variety of cruises from New York’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal and, for the summer, will alternate between sailing four, five six and eight-day sailings to the Caribbean, Bermuda and ports in Canada and New England, including Halifax and Saint John.

Beginning 29 September 2023, the ship will alternate between operating eight to 12-day cruises to the Eastern Caribbean, Southern Caribbean and The Bahamas, visiting popular destinations like St. Thomas, San Juan and Aruba, along with four of Carnival’s private destinations: Half Moon Cay, Princess Cays, Amber Cove and Grand Turk.  In addition, Carnival Venezia’s nine-day cruises will feature Miami as a port of call.

(SOURCE: Carnival Cruise Line)

Celebrity lines up 2024-2025 sailings

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 17 November 2022: Celebrity Cruises announces its most ambitious season of sailings ever, with nearly 500 departures for the 2024-2025 season.

The sailings feature the line’s fleet of 16  ships, including Celebrity Ascent, the fourth ship in the Edge Series, sailing to more than 250 destinations in 70 countries. The new offerings include first-ever homeports for some of Celebrity’s Edge Series ships; new year-round offerings in Europe, with new ports; new overnights and double overnights; and new experiences across the rich cultures of every region while basking in the fullness of the Celebrity cruise experience.

Highlights of the new 2024-25 season

Year-round sailings with more than 40 different itineraries in Europe, along with overnights in 11 of the world’s most popular cities from Lisbon, Portugal, to Istanbul, Turkey, and Reykjavik, Iceland.

Brand-new ports of call include Pauillac (Bordeaux), France; Brindisi and Trieste, Italy; and Kavala and Volos, Greece.

Celebrity Edge will sail to Alaska roundtrip from Seattle and Celebrity Apex from London to the Norwegian Fjords and the Arctic Circle.

Discover Asia sailings

Year-round sailings from Asia, including an entire summer from Tokyo, Japan.

Homeporting in Tokyo (Yokohama) from April 2024 to October 2024, Celebrity Millennium will sail 12-night itineraries featuring Japan’s iconic Mt Fuji and overnight stays in Osaka.

Following its season in Japan, Celebrity Millennium will join Celebrity Solstice to cruise Southeast Asia on 11 to 14-night sailings visiting 32 destinations across Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India from September 2024 to April 2025. This will be the brand’s most exciting and robust Asia season with itineraries that span 32 destinations in the region, including seven new ports of call: Hanoi, Vietnam; Bangkok and Phuket, Thailand; Penang, Malaysia; Bali, Indonesia; Mumbai and India.

(source: Celebrity Cruises)

TTF registration opens

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 17 November 2022 The 12th edition of the Thailand Tourism Forum 2023, organised by C9 Hotelworks, opens for registration.

Scheduled for  16 January 2023 at the Conrad Bangkok, the event is the largest annual hospitality gathering in Thailand and attracts an international audience of tourism and hospitality leaders who are key players in the region.

Sporting an impressive lineup of speakers and content, TTF is once more a “live, in-person (no virtual option) ‘must-attend’  industry gathering,” according to its founder, C9 Hotelworks managing director Bill Barnett.

THAILAND TOURISM FORUM 2023 12TH ANNUAL EDITION

Date: Monday, 16 January 2023

Venue: Conrad Hotel Bangkok

Organiser: C9 Hotelworks Hospitality Consulting Group

Host Event Partner: Hilton

Event Partners: Horwath HTL, STR, JLL Hotels and Hospitality, QUO, Delivering Asia Communications, AMCHAM Thailand, Creative Concept AV, Phuket Hotels Association

2023 EVENT SCHEDULE AND PROGRAMME

1400: Registration Open

1500 to 1550: Prequel – Hospitality Innovation Tech Pitch Competition

1600 to 1745: Main Event – Thailand Tourism Forum 2023

WHY THAILAND HOSPITALITY MUST INNOVATE

Bill Barnett, Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks

CREATING A NEW HOSPITALITY LANDSCAPE WITH BRANDS

Wallapa Traisorat, Chief Executive Officer and President, Asset World Corporation

(Moderator) David Johnson, CEO, Delivering Asia Communications

DISRUPTION AND CHANGE IN HOTEL TECHNOLOGY AND DISTRIBUTION

Liz Perkins, Vice President – Revenue Management and Commercial Services APAC, Hilton

(Moderator) Charles Blocker, CEO, IC Partners Limited

THAI HOSPITALITY – CULTURE, DESIGN, LEGACY AND NOW REINVENTION

Ho Ren Yung, Senior Vice President – Brand and Commercial, Banyan Tree Group

(Moderator) Sumi Soorian, Executive Director, Phuket Hotel Hotels Association

READY, SET, GO (WAIT) – HOW COMPETITIVE ARE THAI HOTELS?

Jesper Palmqvist, Senior Director – Asia Pacific, STR

CHALLENGES AND CHANGES IN BEING A HOTEL OWNER

Proudputh Liptapanlop, Executive Director, Proud Real Estate PLC

(Moderator) Nikhom Jensiriratanakorn, Director, Horwath HTL

THAILAND HOTEL TRANSACTION MARKET UPDATE AND FINANCING

Chakkrit Chakrabandhu Na Ayudhya, Head of Thailand Investment Sales and EVP – Asia, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group

BRAND THAILAND MEETS ESG, HELLO CRUNCH TIME

Catherine Monthienvichienchai, Chief Branding Officer, QUO Global

CHANGING PARADIGMS IN THAI TOURISM – A LOOK AHEAD

Prab Thakral, President and Group CEO, Boutique Corporation PCL

WHAT IS THE HOTEL OF THE FUTURE?

Eric Ricaurte, Founder and CEO, Greenview

WRAP UP – THE BIGGEST BANG

1745 pm onwards, networking drinks

EVENT CO-HOSTS

Bonn Krongsak Paramacharoenroj, Country Manager, ONDA Thailand

Nida Wongphanlert, Managing Owner, 137 Pillars Hotels & Resorts

To register for the event  (attendance is free) CLICK

(SOURCE: C9 Hotelworks)

S Hotels & Resorts reports post-Covid profit

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 17 November 2022: S Hotels and Resorts PCL, the hospitality arm of Singha Estate PCL, reported revenue of THB 2,362 million in Q3 2022, a quarter-on-quarter rise, and a net profit of THB208 million.

The group called it a “significant rebound from the previous quarter and year-on-year,” adding that the outlook for Q4 remains positive with strong confidence in exceeding the revenue target of THB8,500 million.

S Hotels & Resorts has announced its financial results to the Stocke Exchange of Thailand, reporting revenue of THB 6,123 million for the first nine months of 2022, doubling the performance of the same period in 2021.

Crossroads Maldives, Hard Rock Hotel Maldives and  SAii Lagoon Maldives were the key performers driving the January to September revenue growth. Meanwhile, the company saw strong pent-up demand in Fiji, Mauritius and Thailand, increasing revenue to THB1,012 million – 22 times higher than in the same period last year.

S Hotels & Resorts forecasts a strong Q4, driven by the robust recovery of its Thai hotels, which is reflected by a 44% increase in international tourism arrivals in October 2022 compared to the previous month, to reach 3.1 million – almost the same level as average monthly tourist arrivals in 2019.

The company saw its average occupancy in Thailand reach 71% in October 2022, led by SAii Phi Phi Island Village and SAii Laguna Phuket, which registered occupancy of 81% and 77%, respectively. Occupancy is expected to continue its upward trend in Q4 2022 and Q1 2023, with strong ADR surpassing pre-Covid levels.

PG reports 2022 operating losses

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 17 November 2022: Bangkok Airways reports an operating loss of THB1,191.4 million for the nine months ending 30 September 2022, according to a statement to the Stock Exchange of Thailand posted on 14 November.

However, it represented an improvement of THB1,396.1 million or 54% when compared with quarters one to three in 2021 due to a boost in revenue of THB4,649.3 million, up 133.9% over 2021.

During the nine months of 2022, airline passenger revenue grew by 794.8%, airport business revenue by 622.9% and airport-related business revenue by 63.2%.

However, expenses increased by 60.3% (THB3,667.6 million), mainly due to escalating fuel use and prices along with aircraft maintenance expenses. The company reported a net loss of THB2,274.5 million, of which the loss attributable to the equity holders was THB2,260.4 million. Loss per share for the period was THB1.08.

In its executive summary to the SET, the airline reported that during the third quarter of 2022, it increased flights to match growing travel demand on its Bangkok-Samui, Bangkok-Chiang-Mai, Bangkok- Phnom Penh and Samui-Singapore routes.

It also reinstated routes such as Bangkok-Maldives, Bangkok-Siem-Reap, Bangkok – Yangon and Bangkok- Danang.

Additionally, the airline launched new routes from Bangkok to Had-Yai and Samui to Had-Yai in July 2022.

Flights and passengers for the third quarter of 2022 increased by 910.4%  and 2,950.8%, respectively.

For the nine months of 2022, the airline carried 1.7 million passengers and completed 19,648 flights, up 528.1% and 302.1%, respectively, compared to last year. The overall load factor was 74.2, up by 19.1 percentage points from the previous year.

Centara partners with Go First

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 16 November 2022: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is partnering with Go First, India’s ultra-low-cost airline, to offer passengers huge savings on stays in Thailand, Oman and the Maldives, as well as the chance to win a free holiday package.

The partnership is the latest addition to Centara’s growing airline network, which already includes Thai Airways International, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Thai Vietjet, Myanmar Airways International, and Vistara Airways.

“It is with great pleasure that we announce our partnership with Go First to offer their customers the opportunity to explore exciting destinations in Thailand, the Maldives and Oman. As we see continued growth in the international travel sector, we are looking forward to welcoming guests back with incredible savings and exclusive privileges at Centara, The Place to Be.” said Centara Hotels & Resorts vice president – brand, marketing & digital Tom Thrussell.

Under the Centara x Go First promotion, CentaraThe1 members can enjoy 40% off all-inclusive rates at Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives and Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives; and a guaranteed 19% discount on publicly available rates at participating hotels and resorts in Bangkok, Phuket and Muscat, Oman. 

To enjoy these privileges, guests must be signed into their CentaraThe1 member account at https://centara1card.com/ and book and stay from now to 20 December 2022.

In addition to these Centara savings, travellers who travel with Go First from now to 20 December 2022 and stay at any participating Centara properties during this period will be eligible to win a free holiday package. Guests simply show their Go First boarding pass at check-in, and they will be automatically entered for a chance to win free roundtrip airfare for a complimentary three (3) nights and four (4) days stay at either Centara Grand Beach Resort, Phuket or Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at Central World, Bangkok.

To learn more about this Centara x Go First offer, visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com/gofirst-2022.

(Your Stories: Centara Hotels & Resorts).

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