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Centara Ubon opens with a special rate

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 28 February 2023: In anticipation of the opening of its newest hotel in Northeast Thailand, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is offering a special introductory rate for Centara Ubon.

Welcoming guests from 1 March 2023, the 160-key hotel brings community, sustainability and convenience to Ubon Ratchathani, the hub of the southern or lower Isaan region. Located just 6.5 km from Ubon’s airport and within steps of the food and shopping experiences at the adjacent Central Ubon shopping centre, the upscale property is set to become a sought-after destination for business and leisure travellers.

A selection of sophisticated rooms and suites caters to the needs of every guest with stylish light wood décor and a relaxed ambience. Each spacious room accommodates at least three adults, while the Premium Deluxe Suites are fully furnished with a separate living area and private balcony. Centara Ubon offers a new foodie destination in Ubon with the ‘House of Kin’ restaurant, a delectable all-day dining restaurant featuring mouth-watering Thai food, hyper-local Isaan cuisine, Japanese and Western dishes, along with indulgent desserts to delight all generations and tastes. In addition, the hotel features a breathtaking outdoor swimming pool and pool bar, a fully-equipped fitness centre, and modern meeting and event spaces ideal for hosting social, corporate and MICE events.

To celebrate its opening, Centara Ubon offers rates from only THB 2,555 net, complimentary hotel credit of THB 555 per day, early check-in and late check-out, and a complimentary minibar, among the exclusive perks. The offer runs from now to 30June 2023 for stays from 10 March 2023 to 30June 2023.

For more information and reservations, visit https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/cub/opening-offer

 (Your Stories: Centara Hotels & Resorts)

Royal Princess debut features Japan

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 28 February 2023: The lure of Japan is calling with its ancient temples, cherry blossoms, modern cityscapes and vibrant cuisine with the newly released 2024 Japan cruise season on sale now from Princess Cruises.

New for 2024, Royal Princess makes her Japan debut and marks the first Royal-Class ship to sail in the region. The cruises offer many opportunities to view the magnificent spring flowers, as well as four breathtaking summer festivals.

Royal Princess sails a new Japan & North Pacific Crossing, calling to the northern Tohoku and Hokkaido regions during the magnificent cherry blossom season with the option to combine with the cruise line’s popular Voyage of the Glaciers cruise to witness the majestic glaciers of Alaska. Guests can disembark in Anchorage (Whittier) for a 15-day voyage or continue to Vancouver, BC, for a 22-day cruise. The cruise departs Tokyo (Yokohama) on 27 April 2024.

Japan-built Diamond Princess returns to Japan for a March through August 2024 season, sailing roundtrip from Tokyo (Yokohama), calling to 35 destinations in three countries on 31 itineraries and 36 departures, ranging from seven to 23 days.

Diamond Princess kicks off the season with four 10-day Spring Flowers voyages, calling at all four of Japan’s main islands and following the blooming season as it moves from south to north.

The Japan festival season reaches its peak in the summer months, and in 2024, Diamond Princess offers guests the opportunity to experience the following festivals with late-night stays in each port:

Aomori Nebuta Festival (2  and 7 August) features Nebuta float figures accompanied by traditional music, many vibrant dancers and audience participation, all within easy walking distance from the port. 

Kochi Yosakoi Dance Festival (12 August), one of Japan’s 10 largest festivals, features teams of dancers with colourful costumes and unique performances.

Tokushima Awa Odori Dance Festival (13 August) is one of the most famous summer dance festivals that date back to the 1500s and features dancers performing throughout the city well into the night, highlighted by the famous “Fool’s Dance.”

Kumano Fireworks Festival (17 August), a display of over 10,000 fireworks visible from the decks of Diamond Princess.

Additionally, Diamond Princess will sail on nine-day Southern Islands voyages that call to two Okinawan ports and two Taiwan ports; nine-day and 10-day Sea of Japan voyages that will feature ports along the historic Kitamaebune trading route; 10-day Hokkaido voyages that will visit Otaru (for Sapporo), Hakodate and Kushiro; and the popular 10-day Japan Explorer voyages that will call to some of the country’s most iconic destinations like Shimizu (for Mt Fuji), Osaka or Kobe (for Kyoto) and Hiroshima.

The 2024 Japan programme also features trips to nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Mount Fuji (from Shimizu), Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (from Kobe or Osaka), Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area (from Kobe or Osaka), Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (from Kanazawa or Toyama), the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, and the newly inscribed Iriomote Island (from Ishigaki) and Jomon Prehistoric Sites (from Aomori or Hakodate).

Hello Hong Kong campaign takes off

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 28 February 2023, As part of the Airport Authority of Hong Kong’s 500,000 free tickets, Cathay Pacific offers 80,000 round-trip air tickets to Hong Kong to residents across Southeast Asia.

The initiative supports Hong Kong Tourism Board’s (HKTB’s) “Hello Hong Kong” campaign that welcomes tourists back to the city now that travel restrictions have been lifted.

In Southeast Asia, the campaign will launch in phases, beginning with Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines on 1, 2 and 3 March, respectively, and then with Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia in stages two weeks later.

 The “Hello Hong Kong” promotional campaign is being rolled out worldwide to send the positive message that Hong Kong is back with a signature and new exciting experiences awaiting visitors.

Welcoming offers from over 16,000 outlets across the city have been bundled in the HKTB campaign to welcome back visitors. Among which, at the initial stage, at least 1 million “Hong Kong Goodies” visitor consumption vouchers will be given out, covering a complimentary welcome drink at participating bars, restaurants, and hotels or a cash voucher to be redeemed in the transportation, culinary and retail sectors, as well as attractions.

To join the airline’s specific campaign, participants must be Cathay members. The campaign runs from 1 March 2023 to 7 March 2023, or until 17,400 registrations are received, whichever is earlier.

During the period, members must visit the campaign website, sign in using their Cathay membership details and answer three questions correctly. The prize will be awarded to up to 17,400 entrants with correct answers. 

The winners will be announced on the campaign website on 17 March 2023, and they will also receive an email with details on how to redeem their prizes.

A summary of key dates is highlighted below:

Phase 1:

 ThailandSingaporePhilippines
Campaign start date1 March 2023 (12:00 local time)2 March 2023 (12:00 local time)3 March 2023 (12:00 local time)
Winner Announcement17 March 202320 March 202321 March 2023

Phase 2:

 IndonesiaMalaysiaVietnamCambodia
Campaign start date15 March 2023 (12:00 local time)16 March 2023 (12:00 local time)17 March 2023 (12:00 local time)18 March 2023 (12:00 local time)
Winner Announcement31 March 20233 April 20234 April 20235 April 2023

Cathay Pacific’s regional general manager for Southeast Asia, Dominic Perret commented: “As Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong emerge from the past three challenging years and markets begin to recover…we are proud to be part of this campaign to promote Hong Kong in Southeast Asia.”

AAHK chief operation officer Vivian Cheung added: “As part of the relief package for Hong Kong’s aviation industry during the pandemic, AAHK provided liquidity support to home-based carriers in 2020 by sponsoring air tickets in advance.”

The air tickets are now being used to promote traffic recovery as the pandemic subsides.

MATTA Fair welcomes Tourism Philippines

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 28 February 2023: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) confirms Tourism Philippines is returning as the gold sponsor of the MATTA Fair from 17 to 19 March 2023 hosted at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), Kuala Lumpur.

Tourism Philippines has booked 12 booths in the MITEC International Halls (Level 3) to promote and sell tour packages exclusively targeting travel consumers attending the fair.

Malaysia remains one of the top 10 markets for the Philippines, with 139,882 visitors recorded in 2019. This year, MATTA Fair aims to entice 200,000 Malaysian to visit the Philippines, which will strengthen the country’s tourism economy to its pre-pandemic level.

MATTA recognises the Tourism Philippines as a strong partner in reinvigorating the travel industry and opens up a new chapter between the two nations’ trade relations.

Admission is free to MATTA Fair, billed as Southeast Asia’s biggest consumer travel show. The show will be open from 1000 to 2100, 17 to 19 March. A shuttle transfer service will operate during the opening hours from KL Sentral and Sunway Putra Mall to MITEC

Visit the MATTA Fair’s website and social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or subscribe to MATTA’s new Telegram channels @MATTAHQ to obtain information updates.

Trip.com slashes holiday costs

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUALA LUMPUR, 28 February 2023: Trip.com is launching its 3.3 Super Saver Sale (“Sale”) running from 28 February 2023 to 3 March 2023, giving users access to deals for hotels, flights, tours and attraction tickets across Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam and Australia.

Daily flash deals released at four-time slots – 1200, 1500, 1800 and 2100 – will run for a limited time only and on a first-come-first-serve basis so be sure to mark your calendars!

Users can expect up to 50% off hotel deals, with rates going as low as MYR33 a night at hotels in Malaysia or hotels in neighbouring Indonesia and Thailand.

Participating airlines are offering up to 30% off fares. Airlines include Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, MY Airline, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, All Nippon Airways and STARLUX Airlines. Users can also enjoy an extra MYR100 off with promo codes on selected airfare promotions.

Tours and tickets for selected attractions at up to 30% off are also available, and users can get an extra MYR10 off with promo codes.

Promo codes for discounts up to MYR100 are released daily at 1000 and 1700 and will be up for grabs on a limited basis. Secret promo codes are also available through the Trip.com Telegram group (https://t.me/TriptalksMY).

(English) https://my.trip.com/w/sss-tg or (Bahasa Malaysia) https://my.trip.com/w/sssms-tg

THAI narrows deficit but Thai Smile losses mount

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 28 February 2023: Thai Airways International and its subsidiaries reported a net loss of THB252 million or THB0.12 per share in its operational performance results for the year ended 31 December 2022.

The deficit was mainly due to Thai Smile Airways’ operating loss of THB4,248 million in 2022.

The national airline announced it intends to merge THAI Smile with THAI to cut losses. That could result in regional and domestic flights returning to the parent airline, possibly by the start of the fiscal year 2024.

For the year ended 31 December 2022, THAI reported the total revenue, excluding one-time transactions of THB97,514 million, higher than that in 2022 by 341%, mainly due to a significant increase in passenger and cargo revenue. 

Total expenses, excluding one-time transactions, amounted to THB86,307 million baht, which was 127% higher than the previous year, mainly due to variable expenses of fuel price, which escalated to the highest rate in years and cost of transportation service as a result of higher production. 

The operating profit (EBIT) was THB11,207 million, higher than last year, which reported an operating loss of THB15,906 million.  EBITDA after deducting aircraft lease payments was a profit of THB19,689 million, higher than the projection in the Rehabilitation plan.  If the company’s EBITDA, after the aircraft lease payment deduction, is higher than THB20,000 million within twelve months, THAI’s operation under the Rehabilitation Plan can be terminated.

However, such loss was better than the projection in the Rehabilitation Plan.  Profit per share in 2021 was 25.25 baht.

As of 31 December 2022, the total assets of THAI and its subsidiaries stood at THB198,178 million baht, which increased by 22.9% compared to the figure as of 31 December 2021. 

The total liabilities stood at THB 269,202 million, an increase of 16%.  Shareholders’ equity of THAI and its subsidiaries amounted to THB -71,024 million, a decrease of THB227 million, while the shareholders’ equity of THAI was THB -63,493 million, which is a decrease of THB3,165 million compared to the figure as of 31 December 2021.

Cash and cash equivalent totalled THB34,540 million, an increase of THB29,025 million mainly due to the company’s business operation.

Available Seat km (ASK) were 243% higher than last year, and  Revenue Passenger km (RPK) were 1,118% higher than last year.  Cabin Factor averaged 67.9%, higher than 19.1% last year.  The total number of passengers was 9.01 million, higher than the previous year by 449%.  Available Dead Load Ton-km (ADTK) was 249% higher than the previous year. 

In the Summer Programme 2023, THAI will operate flights to 39 destinations worldwide with increases in flight frequencies in intercontinental and regional routes such as Tokyo (Narita and Haneda), Osaka, Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kolkata and Mumbai. 

THAI will also resume flight services to destinations in China, namely Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming, Chengdu and Guangzhou, in response to continually rising travel demand. 

Meet the Winemaker on NCL cruises

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 27 February 2023: Norwegian Cruise Line announces an exciting lineup of its popular Meet the Winemaker series, the one-of-a-kind programme featuring renowned winemakers and culinary experts who share their knowledge with an intimate group of guests on board NCL’s newest ships.

The Meet the Winemaker series provides wine enthusiasts and foodies of all skill levels with an exclusive opportunity to engage with winemakers and connoisseurs through enriching seminars and activities. The immersive programming offers guests intimate wine tastings, wine-paired dinners, interactive culinary demonstrations and meet-and-greets on board. Guests can also purchase wines on board that are otherwise only available by visiting the wineries directly.

“Our Meet the Winemaker series is back and better than ever,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “Every year, we aim to elevate this exclusive experience, and I believe we’ve done just that as we enter the programme’s seventh year with an impressive guest lineup. These unique sailings offer a rare opportunity to get one-on-one exposure to esteemed winemakers and their collection of wines, all while visiting multiple destinations and enjoying an unforgettable vacation.”

A new and noteworthy addition to this year’s series includes special guest Emma Walker. Walker, a Master Blender at Johnnie Walker, the highest rank in whisky craftsmanship, has spent over a decade perfecting whisky production, maturation, and blending processes. She leads the Johnnie Walker Whisky Specialist team based in Menstrie, Scotland, where she has access to more than ten million casks of maturing Scotch whisky. She will join the 17 September 2023 sailing on NCL’s award-winning new ship, Norwegian Prima, in Northern Europe for NCL’s first-ever Johnnie Walker cruise, where guests can learn the brand history and savour the wide range of aged whiskeys. 

Also new to the programme is Chef Ashley Breneman, who began her career studying at Le Cordon Bleu culinary institute and has worked for numerous celebrity chefs, including Gordon Ramsay on the hit show “Master Chef.” Now, she serves as the Executive Chef at Certified Angus Beef, one of the top meat brands in the country. She will join returning winemaker Antonio Hidalgo for the 9 July 2023 sailing aboard Norwegian Encore to Alaska to add a culinary component to the Meet the Winemaker experience.

Fourth-generation winemaker Miguel Torres, who pioneered planting Cabernet Sauvignon in Spain, creating ‘Mas la Plana’ in 1970, will also debut in the culinary programme aboard Norwegian Encore’s 9 April 2023 Eastern Caribbean voyage. The Miguel Torres Chile family winery has a presence in over 100 countries. Over the past 30 years, it has established itself as one of the main producers of high-quality wines and is committed to environmental and social responsibility.

Returning fan-favourite hosts include celebrity chef Aaron Sanchez; world-class winemaker and member of the historic fashion house Salvatore Ferragamo; Napa Valley icon Michael Mondavi of the Michael Mondavi Family Estate; and “The Drinks Business” Master Winemaker of the Year 2023 recipient Gérard Bertrand, among others.

Guests can savour unique culinary experiences sponsored by the Certified Angus Beef® brand on board the cruises to Alaska. With each course paired with wine, they will learn from a master sommelier while enjoying some of the best beef available. NCL proudly serves the Certified Angus Beef® brand at Cagney’s Steakhouses across the fleet.

The complete 2023 Meet the Winemaker series lineup includes:

*Guests will can partake in a special wine-paired dinner featuring Certified Angus Beef.

For more information on Meet the Winemakers, please visit here.

(Your Stories: NCL)

Tawau is more than a pass-by place

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TTR WEEKLY
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TAWAU Sabah, 27 February 2023: A well-thought-out strategy is required to promote Tawau as a must-see destination on the east coast of Sabah, said state Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.

Joniston emphasised Tawau has a significant amount of untapped tourism potential, and it should not merely serve as a passing point for tourists who typically fly to Tawau to visit Semporna.

“I must say that whenever we attend (tourism) roadshow, there always seems to be a great deal of interest in Semporna, while Tawau is overlooked.

“Hence, Tawau needs to expand its attractions, and we need to design a strategic plan to encourage tourists to stay and discover all that Tawau has to offer,” he said.

Joniston, who is also chairman of the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), said this after visiting the Batu Bersusun attraction and Tagal Kampung Balung Cocos here on Friday.

He was accompanied by Ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary Mary Malangking; STB deputy chief executive officer Julinus Jimit; and Federation of Rural Tourism Association Sabah (FeRTAS) president Walter Kandayon, who is also a board member of STB.

Joniston was on an official work visit for a tourism products update and to inspect facilities improvement funded by the Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry (KePKAS) under its Rural Tourism Development Programme.

In addition, he was also briefed on Tawau’s potential to develop its community-based tourism (CoBT) based on a study conducted by Tawau Polytechnic.

The Tawau Polytechnic director Dr Hajah Nor Haniza B Mohamad briefed that they identified Kampung Tinagat, Kampung Batu Payung, and Kampung Membalua as potential villages for CoBT.

She stated that the villagers in these places have indicated that they are ready to promote their particular village as a tourism attraction, adding that the residents strongly agreed that tourism would boost their source of income.

“We are ready to support (KePKAS and STB), especially on training and to develop CoBT in Tawau,” she said.

On this note, Joniston encouraged Tawau Polytechnic and relevant quarters to engage with FeRTAS and to learn from the success stories of established CoBT.

Also present were Tawau Municipal Council engineer Mohd Ikhsan Wahap; Tawau Tourism Association chairperson Hazlina Ismail; Tagal Kampung Balung Cocos chairman Rasid Medical; and Kampung Balung Cocos chief Takun Austin, among others.

https://www.sabahtourism.com/

Qatar Airways soups up motorsport sponsorships

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 27 February 2023: Qatar Airways is now the global partner and official airline of Formula 1 through to the 2027 season and title sponsor for both Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix and Qatar MotoGP.

As part of the global partnership, Qatar Airways will be the Title Sponsor of three Grands Prix™ this year: The Qatar Airways Emilia Romagna Grand Prix (19-21 May), the Qatar Airways Hungarian Grand Prix (21-23 July), and the Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix (6-8 October).

This season, Formula 1 boasts its most global racing calendar to date with 23 races across 21 countries and five continents, mirroring the motorsport’s rapidly growing footprint worldwide and the extensive global connectivity offered by the Qatar Airways oneworld Alliance, which serves over 150 countries.

In addition to the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023, the Lusail International Circuit will host the Qatar Moto GP on 17-19 November. Other motorsport events in Qatar include the Geneva International Motor Show Qatar in October 2023 and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) World Endurance Championship in 2024.

To celebrate the extended partnership, Discover Qatar, the airline’s destination management company, is offering tickets to the Formula 1 Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix 2023.

Discover Qatar has launched a range of hotel and ticket-inclusive packages to global retail partners, which include Grandstand and prestigious Paddock Club tickets. All packages include a free entry pass to the Geneva International Motor Show Qatar in Doha from 5 to 14 October, courtesy of Qatar Tourism.

Qatar Airways Holidays’ all-inclusive travel packages allow global fans worldwide to attend the event and partake in exclusive experiences such as pit lane walks, guided track tours and access to special events with appearances by top F1 drivers. The Ultimate F1 Experience packages include return flights with Qatar Airways, premium hotel options, race tickets and other exciting experiences and benefits. 

Jetstar tests flights Changi T4

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 27 February 2023: Ahead of Jetstar Asia’s relocation to Terminal 4 on 22 March 2023, the airline operated two orientation flights from T4 last week.

The orientation flights saw 300 passengers experience the end-to-end operations process, including check-in, baggage drop and immigration clearance.

Customers were notified by email and SMS that they were among the first Jetstar passengers to fly in and out of Changi Airport’s T4 before the official move.

Jetstar Asia Head of Flight Operations, Geof Lui commented: “These operational trials are critical for Jetstar Asia, Changi Airport Group and our partners to ensure the kiosks, baggage- and cargo-handling systems are ready for use.

“In the coming weeks, a second orientation flight will be conducted to ensure our crew and teams are trained to manage the terminal move from day one.”

Jetstar Asia will initially operate more than 200 weekly services in and out of T4, to and from key destinations in Southeast Asia, including Bali (Denpasar), Bangkok, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Phnom Penh.

It will also operate from T4 and continue to fly between Singapore and Melbourne up to six times a week, with the popular route being operated by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, carrying more than 200,000 passengers each year between the two cities.

The airline operates services to 11 destinations in Southeast Asia and Australia.

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