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Hotelbeds tracks eco-friendly travel surge

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 21 April 2023: As Earth Day approaches this weekend, Hotelbeds reports a surge in travellers booking eco-friendly hotels.

Its latest data shows that 30% more people have actively chosen to book properties that are part of the TravelTech company’s Green Hotels programme over the past 12 months compared to the previous year. As certified by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, criteria for Green Hotels properties include sustainable management and cultural impacts.

“Travellers are much more conscious of their carbon footprint and environmental impact than ever before,” said Hotelbeds CEO. Nicolas Huss.

“We started the Green Hotels programme in 2000 with 15,000 properties, and it’s since grown to more than 37,000 hotels, representing over 20% of our business as more people actively seek to protect the planet while also exploring it.”

Hotelbeds is also growing its plastic-free hotel portfolio, and this has seen a huge 84% increase over the past year versus the prior 12 months. Customers seeking a green and plastic-free hotel have grown 30% this past year.

The new data comes as Hotelbeds released its annual Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) report. The 2022 edition reports several achievements to lower the company’s environmental impact, including reduced energy by 48%, waste by 76%, water by 57% and paper by 54% in 2022 versus 2019. It is also making great strides in the Hotelbeds Forest, an initiative to plant 10,000 trees this year to assist its fight against climate change and offset some of its carbon emissions.

Hotelbeds is committed to making travel a force for good. In addition to its hotel programmes, the company has been certified as a Carbon Neutral Organisation (scope 1 & 2) by Carbon Footprint Ltd since 2018. It was also one of the first travel companies to join The Climate Pledge Commitment, co-founded by Amazon, to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

Capella makes it three in China

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 21 April 2023: Capella Hotels and Resorts will open its third property in China – Capella Nanjing – in 2025.

Designed by world-renowned British architect David Chipperfield, the 190-room Capella Nanjing will stand adjacent to Changjiang Road – the centre of the city’s historic and cultural district.

“The opening of Capella Nanjing marks a major milestone for us following the opening of Capella Shanghai and Capella Tufu Bay, Hainan… (it’s a) great opportunity to expand our presence in China,” said Capella Hotel Group president Cristiano Rinaldi.

Intrepid YouTuber explores Sabah

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TTR WEEKLY
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KOTA KINABALU, 21 April 2023: Intrepid Travel has teamed up with a British travel YouTuber to bring his audience to Sabah for wildlife and nature exploration.

Initially planned for 2020, content creator Karl Watson and his 15 followers finally embarked on an 11-day tour to the Land Below The Wind earlier this month with the help of Intrepid Travel. They were mainly from the US, UK, Germany, Czech Republic, Australia and Malta.

Watson began working with Intrepid Travel in 2019 to organise comprehensive bespoke group excursions worldwide. Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company that has been operating for over 30 years.

The company’s initiatives are centred around sustainable and responsible tourism, community engagement, and reducing their environmental impact.

He said the partnership initiative with Intrepid Travel allows him to pick his favourite destination, customise the itinerary to be more sustainable, and sell it on his website and YouTube.

“We organised the first customised group tour to Morocco since it is closer to Europe, less expensive, and exotic. When it came time to choose a second destination for a bespoke group tour, I wanted someplace very different from Morocco’s cities, marketplaces, and culture.

“I’ve been considering a trip to Borneo because I like nature. So, I looked at Intrepid’s Borneo itinerary, researched, and said to myself, ‘Yes, let’s go on a full nature wildlife adventure,” he explained.

He added that Sabah was supposed to be their second bespoke group tour destination but ended up being the seventh after the trip was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Karl, who has been creating travel documentaries for 10 years with over 227,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, said Sabah’s beauty entranced him and that wildlife watching was one of his favourite moments of the trip.

While praising Sabah for its unique wildlife and natural beauty, Karl also remarked on its rich cultural heritage and welcoming multiethnic population.

“I came for the wildlife but was won over by the people. This trip is a perfect introduction to Borneo, and I would like to come back to explore Sabah deeper, especially the national parks and off-the-beaten paths,” he said.

From 3 to 14 April, the group scaled Mount Kinabalu, went on a river cruise down the Kinabatangan River, and explored Sandakan to learn about conservation efforts at the Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and Selingan Turtle Island.

For more information, visit: www.sabahtourism.com.

(Your Stories: Sabah Tourism Board)

New Magic Theatre Show unveiled on Samui

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TTR WEEKLY
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SAMUI ISLAND, 21 April 2023: A new world-class magic show has been unveiled on the holiday island of Samui.

The Illusions Theatre magic show is scheduled for six nights weekly in a purpose-built 71-seat air-conditioned show theatre within the newly opened Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort on Lamai Beach.

Two shows are scheduled nightly from Monday to Saturday: 1900 for families and 2100 for adults. Each show lasts an hour with a 15-minute interval.

Resident magician of Illusions Theatre, Ed Clarke, says the 1900 family experience combines a perfect balance of visual magic, mind reading and illusions that the entire family will enjoy.

Clarke says the 2100 show, for ages 15+, will feature amazing illusions and captivating feats of mind reading. “It’s guaranteed to spark your imagination and leave you in awe,” says Clarke.

“We strive to make sure all attendees have a great time, which is why we choose not to make anyone feel foolish or embarrassed,” he adds.

In a first for Samui, close-up magic is performed live on stage inches in front of spectators. The theatre has two 75-inch (190-cm) high-definition screens so the audience can enjoy the same experience as spectators invited to participate in the magic on stage.

“Illusions is an unforgettable and one-of-a-kind experience, unlike anything seen before here in Koh Samui,” says Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort GM Leah Matters.

“There are many different types of entertainment in the world, but one that cuts through any language barrier and is suitable for all age groups is truly magic. We are delighted that the new Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort is the host venue for this experience,” she added.

Ms Matters says magic show guests can enjoy pre-theatre dining and drinks at Outrigger’s Edgewater Beach Club restaurant and bar, a beautiful beachside setting under the coconut palms. Pre-dinner and interval drinks are available at the Illusions Theatre venue.

Tickets retail to the public at THB1,200 (US$35/€32/£28) per person – the same price for all ages. Tickets can be booked on IllusionsKohSamui.com.

Adding a permanent magic show at the resort reflects Outrigger’s commitment to providing live music and entertainment at all of its resorts.

For the latest and best room rate offers at Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort, visit the property on Outrigger.com

ABOUT OUTRIGGER KOH SAMUI BEACH RESORT

Tucked away on the tranquil shores of Lamai Beach, the Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort is an elegant, colonial-style resort featuring 146 spacious rooms and suites, all with a private balcony or garden terrace. More information is found here.

(Your Stories: Outrigger Hospitality Group)

Qantas increases flights to Jakarta

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TTR WEEKLY
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JAKARTA, 21 April 2023: Qantas launches another international route out of Melbourne, offering direct flights to Jakarta, Indonesia.

The year-round flights will operate three days per week with an Airbus A330 aircraft and add to Qantas’ existing flights to Jakarta from Sydney. The flights offer customers almost 300,000 seats between Australia and Jakarta annually and the choice of ten flights per week, more than any other airline.

The new service is the fourth international route to be added to the Qantas map out of Melbourne since borders reopened and follow the launch of flights to Delhi and Dallas Fort Worth. Qantas also resumed flights from Melbourne to Tokyo last month, operating for the first time to Haneda Airport, saving passengers nearly two hours of travel to and from downtown Tokyo compared with Narita Airport, which the flight operated to before the pandemic.

The route is also expected to be popular with travellers connecting to and from other major Indonesian cities such as Surabaya and Medan.

Qantas Domestic and International CEO Andrew David said the new route would support growing business and government links between Australia and Indonesia.

“We continue to see strong demand for travel to and from Melbourne, so we’re pleased to be expanding our international network with another new route out of Victoria,” said David.

“Jakarta is becoming an increasingly important destination for our corporate travellers. These direct flights offer more choices and make it even easier for them to do business with one of Australia’s closest neighbours.

“The route is also a great opportunity for more Indonesians to explore the best of Victoria or visit family and friends, with the flights launching in time for the Lebaran holiday period.

The Qantas Group operates up to 106 return flights per week from Australia to Indonesia, including Qantas and Jetstar flights from Melbourne to Bali.

(Source: Qantas)

AirAsia SuperApp explains agent status

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 21 April 2023: AirAsia SuperApp, one of the portfolio companies of Capital, says its status as an IATA-accredited travel agency allows it to sell fares of all IATA airlines, including Malaysia Airways.

Reports surfaced last week that suggested the AirAsia booking app was not approved to sell Malaysia Airlines tickets.

In a statement released earlier this week, Airasia SuperApp said was created in October 2020 as an online travel agency to drive tourism in Malaysia and promote new travel options for millions of people in Asia.

“It has developed many product lines, including its OTA platform offering flights from other airlines, hotel & accommodation, ride-hailing, digital travel retail & duty-free, community engagement.”

AirAsia SuperApp acting CEO Mohamad Hafidz Mohd Fadzil said: “We have world-renowned airline brands such as Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air New Zealand, Citilink, KLM, Air France, Bangkok Airways and many others as our direct airline partners offering their flights on the AirAsia SuperApp OTA platform. Our database of over 72 million, one of the largest of any platform, allows our airline partners to reach a wider audience.

“The AirAsia Super App’s OTA platform holds a Travel Agent License and is also an IATA-accredited agent authorised to sell flights from any airline on its app and website. As an accredited OTA, AirAsia SuperApp’s flight inventories come from established partner aggregators and direct airline partners, a common OTA industry practice.

“Other airlines’ flights contribute a small percentage of our platform’s revenue, and to date, we have sold 1.72 million seats from more than 700 airlines that are available on our channel. As an accredited OTA in the market, we will continue to sell flights from any airline, including those we do not have direct relationships with, through our established partner aggregators and consolidators.

“We would like to clarify that the legal action Malaysia Airlines has taken against us is premised on allegations of potential trademark infringement and passing off and unrelated to the supply of inventory. We continue to call on MAS and other airlines to partner directly with the AirAsia SuperApp to achieve better efficiency and performance, and we will be happy to move our conversation forward on working together to offer Malaysians the best value when it comes to travel and win together.”

Bhutan Airlines signs Amadeus deal

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 21 April 2023: Travel sellers worldwide can now book flights with Bhutan Airlines on the Amadeus Travel Platform.

Operating out of Bhutan’s only international airport in Paro, the airline offers daily flights to Bangkok via Kolkata, India, and three weekly flights to Delhi.

This new partnership will help Bhutan Airlines gain visibility with travel sellers worldwide, including travel management companies, tour operators, retail travel agencies, and online travel agencies.

The airline is undergoing a digital transformation to improve the traveller experience. It recently launched a brand-new in-flight entertainment system allowing passengers to stream entertainment on their devices. Bhutan Airlines has two A319 aircraft with a seating capacity of 126 passengers each.

“We are excited to be in a partnership with Amadeus, which will significantly enhance the overall travel experience for our passengers,” said Bhutan Airlines chief executive officer Pema Nadik.

Amadeus vice president of airline distribution Asia Pacific, Frederic Saunier, commented: “We are confident that the Amadeus Travel Platform will help Bhutan Airlines reach more travellers with the right offer, and we look forward to supporting the carrier’s growth.”

ForwardKeys monitors China’s outbound market

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 21 April 2023: ForwardKeys, a leading travel analytics firm, announced Thursday ahead of its webinar with Dragon Trail International on 26 April that outbound China travel will grow in Q2 as more seats connect Chinese travellers to the world.

The APAC region currently holds the largest share at 81%, with a recovery rate of 43% in Q2. Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan are the best-connected destinations with China.

Northeast Asian travel destinations Japan and South Korea remain highly popular among Chinese travellers despite travel restrictions on Chinese visitors imposed by these countries earlier in the year, according to the latest consumer survey data from Dragon Trail International.

The April survey polled 1,012 mainland travellers about their plans and preferences for outbound travel. Hong Kong remained the top choice for mainland Chinese travellers in 2023, followed by Macau.

Looking beyond Greater China, Thailand is still the top country that Chinese travellers plan to visit in 2023, followed by Japan and South Korea. Like previous Dragon Trail surveys, France and Australia were the top long-haul destinations for Chinese travellers this year.

“Even though travel restrictions in Japan and South Korea received a lot of attention in January, these destinations are still very attractive to Chinese tourists,” said Dragon Trail market research analyst Yelinuer Kadeerbieke. “The results should be a relief to other destinations concerned about the impact of travel restrictions earlier this year.”

The consumer sentiment is on the money as the latest air ticketing data from ForwardKeys shows the same destinations with the highest travel demand.

Seat Capacity from China

As the airline industry commences its summer season on 26 March, seat capacity for Chinese outbound travel has been enhanced. Africa and the Middle East are set to increase the most, with 75% in Q2, although the market share is small, as only 6% of total international capacity is from China.

The United Arab Emirates is the most well-connected destination in its region, with a 44% share; while the number of seats between China and Kenya has doubled since 2019, driven by Kenya Airways; Egypt has also experienced a 10% growth, both Egypt air and Sichuan airlines in China have increased the seats. These three countries are included in the destination list of the approved group tours and have a close relationship with China through the ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative.

“Seat capacity recovery to Europe is driven by Chinese airlines, as European airlines are facing a significant hurdle: far longer flights due to the closure of Russian airspace, while Chinese airlines can still use that airspace. Also, some of the European airlines are having challenges with a shortage of staff, strikes and hub airport constraints,” says  ForwardKeys China market expert Nan Dai

Capacity to the Americas in Q2 is set to recover only 10% of pre-pandemic seats. The United States is a major destination, and many airlines have yet to restore their capacity in the China-US market.

ICN connects Chinese travellers with the world

Due to the absence of direct flights between China and the US, Hong Kong (HKG) and Seoul (ICN) are becoming even more popular for connecting traffic.

Analysing airport hub performance in the China-Europe airline market reveals that the busiest hubs are AMS, DXB, FRA, IST, and ICN. ICN has gained popularity by achieving an impressive 375% increase in connecting travellers compared to 2019 levels.

“Most Chinese passengers who use ICN as a connecting hub are travelling to France and the UK in Europe, as direct capacity from China to these two destinations has decreased by 85% and 58%, respectively,” adds Dai.

What does this mean for the upcoming Labour Day Holiday? What role will domestic tourism have now that the floodgates are open for long-haul travel?

ForwardKeys will share more insights to answer questions on outbound China travel next Wednesday, 26 April, in a joint webinar with Dragon Trail International. Registration is free, and webinar attendees will receive a copy of the complete consumer report following the presentation. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wFv-yVZZTiWfeBeF1UNZUA#/registration

Airbnb monitors boost in solo travel

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 21 April 2023: New data from Airbnb shows the return and evolution of travel in Southeast Asia presents fresh opportunities for communities across the region.

Nights booked across Southeast Asia on Airbnb doubled in 2022, up from 2020, according to new internal data from the platform. This is an encouraging sign of ongoing recovery in the region, as travel continued to climb back to pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

The US ranked as the #1 country of origin for international Airbnb guests visiting Southeast Asia in 2022, followed by Australia, the UK, Germany and South Korea.

Intra-Southeast Asia travel remained popular with avid travellers visiting neighbouring countries close by. Notably, Singaporeans flocked to Airbnb to book their getaways, with Singapore-Malaysia emerging as the top intra-Southeast Asia travel route on Airbnb, followed by Singapore-Thailand and Singapore-Indonesia.

  • Group travel gains
  • With a big focus from many travellers on connecting and reconnecting with loved ones, group travel in Southeast Asia more than tripled year-on-year in 2022. This comes as family travel on the platform increased by 60% in 2022 globally compared to pre-pandemic, with more families booking Airbnb stays for their value and space.
  • Solo travel on the rise
    Solo travel in the region also grew by more than 2.6x, up from the year before.
  • Travellers stay longer
  • Many travellers across Southeast Asia are staying for longer and more deeply engaging with local communities. In 2022, long-term stays of over 28 days in the region grew by more than 2.5x year-on-year.

Ahead and during holidays and festivals throughout the region, there is strong travel momentum amongst Airbnb guests to travel within Southeast Asia. Guest searches for the March-April summer travel season in the Philippines surged almost 400%. This Ramadan, guest searches increased by almost 600% in Malaysia and over 500%  in Indonesia.

Sun Princess to sail the Caribbean in 2024

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TTR WEEKLY
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Sun Princess

SINGAPORE, 20 April 2023: Princess Cruises’ largest ship – Sun Princess – will make her US debut in October 2024, sailing to Caribbean destinations on seven- and 14-day itineraries out of Ft Lauderdale.

The ship is the first in the line’s new Sphere class and will homeport at Port Everglades for the winter, following a season of Mediterranean and Europe cruises when she launches in February 2024.

Highlights of the Sun Princess Caribbean season, on sale 19 April 2023

5-day Caribbean Getaway kicks off the Caribbean season with visits to Amber Cove and Grand Turk.

7-day Eastern Caribbean with St. Thomas, including a late night in San Juan and a visit to our private island resort Princess Cays.

7-day Eastern Caribbean with Bahamas visiting Amber Cove, Grand Turk and a visit to our private island resort Princess Cays.

7-day Western Caribbean with Mexico, including Cozumel, Belize City and Roatan stops.

Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the 175,500-ton, 4,300-guest Sun Princess will offer new dining, entertainment and activity offerings, staterooms, and suites across a broad spectrum of categories.

Inaugural 2024 Sun Princess cruises to the Mediterranean and Europe are currently on sale, and Caribbean voyages opened for bookings on 19 April 2023.

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