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Cathay’s positive traffic trends continue

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 22 December 2023: Cathay Pacific released its traffic figures for November 2023 earlier this week, confirming the airline carried 1,633,145 passengers in November 2023, an increase of 210% compared with November 2022. 

The month’s revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) increased 148.2% year-on-year. Passenger load factor increased by 2.1 percentage points to 80.5%, while available seat kilometres (ASKs) increased by 141.9% year-on-year. In the first 11 months of 2023, the number of passengers carried increased by 709.2% against a 393.2% increase in ASKs and a 499.7% increase in RPKs, compared to the same period for 2022

Travel

Cathay Pacific’s chief customer and commercial officer Lavinia Lau said: “November is typically a slower month for our travel business. Our routes to and from the US saw reduced demand before Thanksgiving week, with less business and leisure travel around the holiday period. There were no public holidays in November, so leisure travel from Hong Kong across the network was also generally softer.

“Nevertheless, there were some bright spots within the network, including our India routes, which saw strong Diwali traffic. Our Japan routes also saw good leisure demand for the autumn leaves.”   

Outlook

“We are very excited to have welcomed several recent developments that further enhance the intermodal travel experience from the Greater Bay Area. The first was opening our first-ever Cathay Pacific ferry lounge at the Shekou Cruise Home Port in Shenzhen in November, enabling customers travelling via ferry codeshare to enjoy a premium lounge experience before their journey. The second was the launch of the ‘Fly-Via-Zhuhai-HK’ passenger service by the Airport Authority Hong Kong in December, which enables seamless connection via Hong Kong International Airport using the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge without the need for border control clearance in Hong Kong.

“Meanwhile, this December will mark the first Christmas holiday period since Hong Kong’s borders fully reopened, and we are very pleased to see that travel demand remains strong.

“Our seasonal Christchurch service returned this month – it was our first seasonal restart since the pandemic, and the response from our customers has been encouraging. We are also delighted to return our first-class service on our popular New York (JFK) flights CX830/CX831 starting from 31 March 2024.”

Find your pace in Abu Dhabi

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TTR WEEKLY
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ABU DHABI, UAE, 22 December 2023: Experience Abu Dhabi, the destination brand of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, has unveiled Find Your Pace, a brand new global campaign.

 In a press statement released Wednesday, the department said:

“Find Your Pace, Experience Abu Dhabi ignites curiosity and encourages visitors to create their own unique journey, from the known to the unknown, through ancient heritage sites and iconic modern treasures.” 

Photo credit: Experience Abu Dhabi.

Find Your Pace follows four characters as they explore Abu Dhabi for the first time, taking journeys that inspire, excite, and restore. Destination highlights include the tranquil Al Ain Oasis, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, inspiring Qasr Al Watan, and renowned Louvre Abu Dhabi, as well as the vast Green Mubazzarah and the Al Wathba Fossil Dunes, estimated to be over four million years old.

Jetstar Asia’s stats show travel is back

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 22 December 2023: Jetstar Asia reveals a list of notable statistics and achievements that have shaped the airline’s year as low-fares air travel continues to drive demand across the region.

2023 sees travellers returning to the skies as travel demand surges and Jetstar Asia continues to ramp up its operations, increasing its fleet, welcoming new team members on board, and expanding its network to meet the evolving demands of its customers.

Leisure travel was a key driver in demand as travellers prioritise experiences. Jetstar Asia responded by adding more holiday destinations. Strong demand saw the return of popular destinations in Japan and China and prompted an increase in weekly flights to popular hubs like Bangkok, Bali, and Phuket.

With the introduction of Okinawa and Wuxi, Jetstar Asia became the only airline to operate these direct routes while also relaunching services to Haikou and Osaka via Manila.

This year’s most popular routes were from Singapore to key metropolitan cities Manila and Bangkok, as business travel ramped up and family and friends took the opportunity to reconnect.

With Jetstar Asia’s website attracting over 6.7 million visits during the year, a frequency of one visit every 2.65 seconds, the airline expresses confidence that travel is back.

Accor signs deal on Mercure Icon

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 22 December 2023: Accor has signed a landmark deal with Singapore-based Worldwide Hotels Group to bring the world’s largest Mercure hotel – with 989 keys – to Singapore. 

Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre will open in Q1 2024.

Photo credit: Accor. Mercure Icon Hotel.

The latest deal strengthens the partnership between Accor and Worldwide Hotels Group, having recently signed an agreement for Novotel Singapore on Kitchener. 

Located on 8 Club Street, Mercure ICON Singapore City Centre is positioned between the historic Chinatown and the central business district, close to restaurants and hawker centres and directly connected to two stations, Chinatown and Telok Ayer, on two main transit lines.

Google to present AI insights at TTF 2024

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 22 December 2023: The upcoming Thailand Tourism Forum 2024 will be hosted in Bangkok at the InterContinental Bangkok, 1500 on Monday, 15 January 2024.

Adopting the overall theme ‘Time for Growth’, the packed speakers’ lineup begins with Aditip Panupong from Google, presenting insights on how AI is changing the country’s tourism sector.

Bill Barnett, founder of Thailand Tourism Forum

Leading stakeholders and speakers from across the industry, including Patrick Both, area general manager, Luxury & Lifestyle Thailand, IHG Hotels & Resorts, the event will be 

Speaking about TTF 2024, C9 Hotelworks Managing Director Bill Barnett said: “TTF has a bold format that speaks to Thailand’s hotel owners, operators, tourism players and across the industry. It’s a vital resource to create an impactful dialogue for the industry and should be of interest to a broad spectrum of attendees. Tourism remains the face of brand Thailand, but things are changing, and this event will put these into greater focus for understanding and hopefully creating change.”

TTF 2024’s two-hour programme features 11 segments, which include how Thailand has become Asia’s leader in lifestyle hotels and how hotel owners can evaluate the potential to reposition and brand properties in the post-pandemic tourism marketplace.

Other key segments include why hotel operators need to reinvent their organisations, data and metrics-led insights into Thailand’s hotel performance and transaction market,  emerging glamping and outdoor accommodation, and a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities of the China, Russian and Indian inbound markets.

Now in its 13th year, this annual event organised by hospitality consulting group C9 Hotelworks has continued to grow with fast-paced candid talks, a focus on industry data and a dynamic evolving format covering the latest trends.

Philippines sets 2024 tourism target

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TTR WEEKLY
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MANILA, 22 December 2023: The Philippines targets 7.7 million foreign visitors next year after exceeding its 2023 arrivals goal, the Department of Tourism (DOT) confirmed last week.

Philippines News Agency quoted the tourism chief Christina Frasco saying: “I understand that this is not yet our pre-pandemic numbers of 2019 at over 8.2 million international arrivals, but what I can assure you is that we will push as hard as we can and fully activate government agencies to reach this target.” Tourism chief Christina Frasco said during a reception in Makati City.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

During the Makati reception, Frasco noted the country has welcomed 5,069,752 international visitors since January 2023.

“Philippine tourism showed a “remarkable resilience” this year despite being one of the last in Southeast Asia to open up to tourism after the pandemic.”

(Source: PNA)

BWH signs third Pattaya property

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 21 December 2023: BWH Hotels continues its portfolio expansion in Thailand by signing the Best Western Jomtien Beach Pattaya. 

The brand-new midscale hotel is under construction on a site just a few steps from Jomtien Beach and a short drive from main bay Pattaya.

(Centre right): Olivier Berrivin, Vice President – APAC, BWH Hotels, signs Jomtien property.

A car transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok to the hotel will take just two hours.

Upon completion, the hotel will feature 200 rooms with panoramic sea views of the Gulf of Thailand and its offshore islands.

Once open, guests will have convenient access to shopping malls,  water parks, the entertainment district in Pattaya and 18-hole golf courses. There are flights from U-Tapao-Rayong-Pattaya International Airport, about 40 km south of Jomtien Bay, to connect with flights to other resort destinations in Thailand.

Best Western Jomtien Beach Pattaya joins BWH’s expanding portfolio of properties in Thailand, comprising 20 operating hotels and resorts. It will also complement the group’s two existing properties in the Pattaya area: Best Western Plus Nexen, Pattaya, and Sanctuary Resort Pattaya, BW Signature Collection.

BWH is a leading global hospitality network comprising WorldHotels, Best Western Hotels & Resorts, and SureStay Hotels.

Sustainable Christmas tree lights up

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TTR WEEKLY
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KHAO LAK, Thailand, 21 December 2023: Embracing the true spirit of Christmas and environmental responsibility, OUTRIGGER Khao Lak Beach Resort presents an elegant and sustainable Christmas tree in its lobby. 

Designed by the resort’s dedicated hosts, this innovative Christmas tree is crafted entirely from recycled plastic bottles, adorned with twinkling lights and embellished with recycled ornaments, creating a striking symbol of sustainability and holiday cheer.

CAPTION: Sustainable Santa and OUTRIGGER Khao Lak’s environmentally friendly Christmas tree.

“The tree symbolises our unwavering commitment to sustainability and is inspired by OUTRIGGER Zone, our global conservation initiative. It is a powerful reminder of the positive impact we can make by embracing eco-friendly practices in the travel and hospitality industry,” said Resort Manager Sujittra Rongmuang.

This recycled Christmas tree has become a captivating focal point, sparking meaningful conversations among guests about the urgency of reducing waste and the significance of adopting sustainable habits in daily life.

“Our Christmas tree is a testament to the power of creativity, community, the true spirit of Christmas and, most importantly, our collective responsibility to care for the environment,” said Ms Rongmuang.

Located on the serene Bang Sak beach, OUTRIGGER Khao Lak Beach Resort, a 158-key garden resort, offers a delightful beachfront setting just a 90-minute drive north of Phuket International Airport.

The resort’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond the festive season, with various eco-friendly initiatives to minimise its environmental footprint.

For example, the resort’s hosts clean the beach in front of the property; no plastic straws are used in the hotel; the kitchen reuses waste food for organic compost in its herb garden; and automatic electricity cut-out activates when guests leave their room.

Travellers seeking a harmonious blend of luxury service and eco-conscious hospitality can learn more about OUTRIGGER Khao Lak Beach Resort and make reservations at OUTRIGGER.com.

This sustainable Christmas tree initiative showcases OUTRIGGER Khao Lak’s dedication to promoting eco-tourism and sustainable practices, providing guests with a meaningful and environmentally conscious holiday experience.

ABOUT OUTRIGGER KHAO LAK BEACH RESORT
OUTRIGGER Khao Lak Beach Resort nestles on the pristine shores of Bang Sak Beach, a 90-minute drive north of Phuket airport. The 158-key resort offers an exquisite escape where the sand meets uninterrupted views of the breathtaking Andaman Sea. Learn more about your captivating getaway at www.OUTRIGGER.com. 

ABOUT OUTRIGGER RESORTS & HOTELS
For 76 years, OUTRIGGER has charted a journey of discovery – expanding from Hawai‘i to premier resort destinations, including Fiji, Mauritius, Thailand and the Maldives. Find out more at www.OUTRIGGER.com  or visit @OUTRIGGERResorts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

‘Life’ rebranding for Centra by Centara

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 21 December 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts, a leading hotel operator headquartered in Thailand, has rebranded Centra by Centara as Centara Life, revealing a fresh and exciting new brand identity and a commitment to delivering flexible and seamless stays that are accessible to everyone.

Centara Life will retain its core “Elevating the Essentials” concept to help guests travel and stay seamlessly. In addition to “exceptional essentials”, this includes offering “daily delights” to put a smile on the face of every traveller, promising “value for all” with first-class amenities at a preferential price point, and “fresh environments” with lively, social spaces that allow everybody to unwind and interact.

The rebranding process will involve the complete and vibrant refresh of the brand’s visual identity, which will permeate the brand’s physical and digital presence. The new look will ooze vigour and life and features a bold teal and turquoise primary colour palette, accented with splashes of orange and amber to signify energy and joy, orchid and lavender for a sense of balance and relaxation, and mint and leaf green to represent peace and nature. A series of new signature guest experiences will be rolled out over the coming months to accompany the visual makeover, focusing on four core pillars – Life Essentials, Life Surprises, Life Flexibility, and Life Connectivity – which will include extra sleeping comforts, complimentary local delicacies, flexible breakfast hours, community immersion and much more. Stay tuned for further updates!

“The rebrand of Centra by Centara to Centara Life is a strategic move that serves not only to breathe new energy and life to our upper midscale brand offering and better cater to its diverse audiences’ evolving needs but also to better align this dynamic and core Centara brand with our wider family of Centara-named brands, with which many synergies and values are shared. This has been an extensive process, which even included inputs from our valued guests, as we sought to refresh the brand in a way that would ensure long-term appeal and relevance to both existing and future customers.” said Centara Hotels & Resorts vice president of brand, marketing & digital Tom Thrussel.

First launched in 2010, Centra by Centara has become a popular option for guests seeking comfortable and convenient stays. Following this rebranding, which will take place iteratively over the next quarter, Centara will ramp up the expansion of Centara Life worldwide, in line with its five-year goal of doubling its global portfolio and becoming a top 100 global hotel operator by 2027.

To learn more about Centara Hotels & Resorts, please visit https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/.

Diamond Princess begins its Singapore season

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 21 December, 2023: Diamond Princess kicked off her Singapore sailing season last week after arriving from Japan. 

Diamond Princess’ Singapore season features 10 to 14-day cruises in the region throughout December 2023 and up to early March 2024.  

For December 2023, Diamond Princess sails two 10-day cruises that visit Koh Samui & Laem Chabang (Bangkok) in Thailand and Phu My (Ho Chi Minh City) and Danang in Vietnam. 

Fourteen-day Malaysia, Thailand & Vietnam cruises will be highlighted in January and February 2024. These cruises will take guests along the Straits of Melaka, visiting Langkawi and Penang in Malaysia and Phuket in Thailand. After which, the ship will sail the South China Sea, visiting Koh Samui, Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang in Vietnam. 

Diamond Princess will then end her Singapore season with a 13-day repositioning cruise from Singapore to Yokohama on 5 March 2024. The ship will arrive on 18 March 2024, in time for Japan’s cherry blossom season and the start of her Japan sailing season. 

Princess ships visiting Singapore 

Coral Princess will sail a 33-day Southeast Asia, Hawaii and Pacific Crossing cruise from Singapore to Los Angeles in October 2024, visiting destinations in Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Hawaii before arriving in Los Angeles. This segment also offers a 12-night sailing from Singapore to Fremantle (Perth, Australia).   

Island Princess‘ World Cruise will visit Singapore from Australia on 29 February 2024, after which the ship will sail on to Dubai. Guests can choose to sail on the 11-day cruise from Singapore to Dubai. Island Princess will return to Singapore again for its 2025 World Cruise.  

One of the newest Princess ships, Discovery Princess, will make her maiden call to Singapore in October 2025 while on her way to Australia for her deployment in the Pacific. 

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