PHUKET, 23 November 2022: Pacific Edge magazine held its annual Business Achievement Awards earlier this month, honouring Outrigger Hospitality Group’s President and CEO, Jeff Wagoner, as the Hospitality Executive of the Year.
The awards focus on the accomplishments of Hawaii-based individuals and businesses. In the hospitality category, it honours an executive whose skill, foresight, agility and vision enabled them to navigate their business or organisation through changing times while contributing positively to Hawaii’s critically important hospitality industry.
Jeff Wagoner (2nd from left) at the Pacific Edge Business Achievements Awards.
Wagoner said: “The key to succeeding in good times and bad is to stay focused, do your absolute best every day – with great service, teams and leadership.”
On receiving the award in Honolulu, Wagoner said he remains optimistic about the future of travel and committed to helping travellers engage in an authentic and meaningful way at some of the world’s most iconic beach destinations: Hawaii, Thailand, Fiji, the Maldives and Mauritius. He received the Pacific Edge accolade as Outrigger celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Wagoner oversees all aspects of Outrigger’s multi-branded, global portfolio of resorts, hotels, vacation condominiums, timeshares and retail operations while steering the direction, growth and strategic priorities for a company on a journey to become the “premier beach resort company in the world”.
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 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.
BANGKOK, 23 November 2022: Emirates won an impressive five global and regional awards from two prestigious travel and aviation ceremonies recently, winning the titles of ‘Best Airline in the World’ and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East at the ULTRAs 2022 awards, and a further ‘World Class Award’, ‘5 Star Global Official Airline Rating’, and ‘Passenger Choice Award for Best Global Entertainment’ at APEX 2023 awards.
Based on a combination of certified passenger feedback and professional audits, Emirates was honoured with a ‘World Class Award’ for safety, well-being, sustainability, service, and inclusiveness, a ‘5 Star Global Official Airline Rating’ recognising all aspects of the global airline, and a ‘Passenger Choice Award for Best Global Entertainment’ for the best-in-class ice inflight entertainment system, at the recent APEX/IFSA expo in Long Beach, California. APEX is one of the world’s largest international airline associations, hosting an annual industry awards ceremony since 2018.
Emirates Patrick Brannelly – SVP Retail, IFE & Connectivity (left) accepts APEX World Class award 2023.
At the ULTRAs 2022 award ceremony in the Pan Pacific London, Emirates was honoured with two top awards – ‘Best Airline in the World’ and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East.’ Emirates was highlighted for its industry-leading services, global network, and best-in-class travel experiences. The ULTRA awards are also decided by consumer votes, an international community of two million travellers who have recognised Emirates as the leading airline in the world for luxury travel.
Emirates Airline President Sir Tim Clark accepts two ULTRAs at the 2022 awards ceremony.
Emirates has safely restarted operations to more than 130 destinations across six continents and currently operates 21 flights per week from Bangkok to Dubai and 14 flights per week from the resort island of Phuket in the South of Thailand to Dubai.
For more information, visit emirates.com/th. Tickets can be purchased on emirates.com, Emirates Sales Office, via travel agents or online travel agents.
PHUKET, 23 November 2022: The 28th Laguna Phuket Triathlon attracted 1,200 triathletes competing across three distances as the legendary event returned to its traditional slot in mid-November.
After 28 years, the popularity of the Laguna Phuket Triathlon doesn’t diminish. Mark your calendars for the next edition, which will take place on 19 November 2023
Australian Charlie Quin, this year’s winner, dominated the men’s field, while New Zealander Amelia Watkinson clinched her third Laguna Phuket Triathlon women’s title in what were tough, hot and humid conditions.
Coming second and third in the male division was Swiss triathlete Ruedi Wild (02:33.20), who had the fastest run time on the day, and Italian Massimo Cigana (02:38:35) – both past winners of the Laguna Phuket Triathlon.
Watkinson was pushed hard by Australian Dimity-Lee Duke, who often trains with Z-Coaching in Phuket, coming in second in a time of 02:47:28. Another Australian, Felicity Sheedy-Ryan, grabbed the third spot in 02:51:07.
Top Thai triathlete Jaray Jearanai was looking to defend his title on his home turf and make it 11 wins from 11, and he did. In a blistering performance, Jearanai crossed the line almost six minutes ahead of his closest compatriot and seventh overall.
SINGAPORE, 23 November 2022: Royal Caribbean Group’s Save the Waves campaign celebrates 30 years this month as the founding initiative for the cruise company’s decarbonisation strategy — Destination Net Zero.
“Save the Waves has served as the strong foundation for what we have accomplished and the ambitious sustainability efforts we are committed to at Royal Caribbean Group,” said Royal Caribbean Group’s president and CEO Jason Liberty. “The programme, for decades, has helped us create a culture dedicated to environmental performance and our commitment to protecting our oceans.”
Established in 1992, Save the Waves introduced the industry’s first dedicated onboard environmental officers — to ensure waste standards are met with daily monitoring, testing, and compliance controls.
Today, Save the Waves serves as a catalyst for the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework unveiled in this year’s Sustainability Report.
The ESG framework focuses on five distinct ways to deliver great vacation experiences responsibly:
Champion communities and the environment; provide unforgettable cruise experiences; foster human rights and be an employer of choice; advance net zero innovation; and govern responsibly.
Royal Caribbean Group is made up of cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises, and it is also a 50% owner of a joint venture that operates TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.
SINGAPORE, 23 November 2022: Singapore Tourism Board and homegrown hospitality group Millennium Hotels and Resorts have jointly launched Merlion on Vacation, a virtual adventure that enables players to explore Singapore in the metaverse, win prizes and enjoy a Merlion 50th Birthday-themed room package at M Social Singapore.
Players will search for clues to locate the Merlion as he is teleported to Decentraland, a 3D virtual world platform, for a vacation to mark his 50th birthday. Singapore’s Merlion, located at Merlion Park, turned 50 on 15 September this year.
The Merlion (centre) stands at the entrance of M Social Decentraland with his friends, familiar Singapore icons (L-R), the hawker assistant, the bird watcher, and the otter.
Apart from discovering M Social Decentraland – a virtual hotel with glass exteriors and neon pink accents – players can engage in mini-games featuring Singapore landmarks such as Orchard Road, Sungei Buloh, Gardens by the Bay, and Maxwell Food Centre. Those who complete the games will enter a raffle for the grand prize of a one-night-stay at M Social Singapore, hotel and F&B vouchers and other merchandise.
M Social Singapore has also launched a Merlion 50th Birthday Package to mark the Singapore icon’s jubilee, allowing guests to experience Merlion-themed cocktail-mixing and perfume-making workshops.
The virtual adventure Merlion on Vacation builds on the opening of M Social Decentraland in May this year, which marked MHR as the world’s first hotel group to operate a hotel in the metaverse. M Social Decentraland occupies prime real estate in Decentraland as it is one tram stop from Genesis Plaza, the starting point for all visitors to the virtual platform.
“M Social Decentraland may be in the virtual world, but the campaign is grounded in real-time reaching new customers and generating new revenue sources with the metaverse as the platform. Our partnership with STB on Merlion’s virtual vacation is an example. By getting local and international guests to participate in this campaign, we are promoting destination Singapore and the M Social brand while sweetening the pot with rewards for stays and dining that can be used at our physical hotel, M Social Singapore,” said Millennium Hotels and Resorts group senior vice president, commercial, Saurabh Prakash.
“Stepping into the metaverse creates opportunities for STB to engage new audiences and connect with travellers in a novel and creative way. The tourism landscape is evolving, and to remain relevant, we must embrace emerging technologies to inspire travel to Singapore and push the boundaries of marketing innovation.
“STB is excited to collaborate with hospitality stalwart Millennium Hotels and Resorts on this metaverse pilot to reimagine our tourism offerings, and we welcome everyone to join us in exploring Singapore virtually,” said Singapore Tourism Board assistant chief executive, marketing group Chang Chee Pey.
An open call to “cover” for Merlion while he is on vacation is ongoing until 12 December 2022. You can stand in for the beloved icon through filters available on VisitSingapore and MHR Instagram accounts by using the hashtag #MerlionOnVacation.
The world was introduced to the M Social brand in 2016, starting with M Social Singapore, and has since expanded with other physical outposts in Paris, New York and Auckland. M Social Decentraland marks the first virtual location in the metaverse. MHR plans to grow the brand in more physical locations, including Suzhou, Phuket, London, Sunnyvale and key cities in the Middle East, with strong characters to capture diverse stories in vibrant and creative communities.
Millennium Hotels and Resorts (MHR) is the global brand of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels Limited (M&C), a hotel company which owns, manages and operates over 145 hotels across some 80 locations.
MALE, 23 November 2023: Leaders in the Maldives travel and hospitality sectors lost their battle to prevent an increase in the country’s Tourism Goods and Service Tax earlier this week as the parliament approved an amendment bill that raises the tax effective January 2023.
The government had earlier proposed an increase in the Tourism Goods and Services Tax (TGST) from 12% to 16%, along with an increase in the GST from 6% to 8%.
Photo credit: Creative Travel India
The Tourism Goods and Service Tax will go up from 12% to 16% effective 1 January 2023 and applies to all goods and services sold at a resort.
On Tuesday, Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ratified the amendment bill to increase the tax rates. Travel firms quoting holiday package prices worldwide will need to revise prices effective from 1 January.
In a report by the Maldives news channel PSM, Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer claimed the country’s inflation rate would remain low compared to other countries despite the tax hikes.
He estimated the tax increase would be just one of many factors raising inflation from around 3% this year to 5.4% in 2023, noting it was still well below the 11% inflation rate in the EU and the 10.4% rate in the UK.
The government expects to generate USD63 million from GST and USD136 million from TGST by next year. Therefore, the tax changes are expected to generate revenue of USD195 million.
SINGAPORE, 21 November 2022: AirAsia unveiled its latest route from Singapore direct to Sibu in Sarawak, Malaysia, during the inaugural Sarawak Fair, organised by the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS) at Suntec City earlier this week.
Starting initially with four weekly flights, this is the third route by AirAsia connecting Singapore and Sarawak after successfully launching Singapore-Kuching and Singapore-Miri earlier last April.
The Sarawak Fair, organised by the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS) at Suntec City opened on 21 November.
The Singapore to Sibu direct flight will start on 16 December, just in time for the year-end holiday and the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations.
Promotional fares from as low as SGD74 all-in for a one-way Singapore-Sibu trip are available for booking on the AirAsia Super App and website from now until 27 November 2022. Meanwhile, the return Sibu to Singapore promo fares start from only MYR99 all-in. The travel period for the promo is from 16 December 2022 up until 28 March 2023.
AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat commented on the new route: ” This is a much-awaited route for the business people, and we are very glad to be working closely with STATOS as well as the Ministry of Transport Sarawak, Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak, Sarawak Tourism Board and all other stakeholders and tourism partners in Sarawak and Singapore to make this route a success.
The airline also confirmed it would increase Singapore-Kuching flights to 11 weekly and Singapore-Miri to five weekly from December.
“Together with the four weekly Singapore-Sibu flights, we are the airline with the largest connectivity between Singapore and Sarawak. We are very happy to further to facilitate trade and commerce, travel and tourism, and reconnect families between the two regions.”
STATOS CEO Chew Chang Guan added: “We are extremely excited that AirAsia has come aboard to work closely with STATOS in realising our vision to be the main gateway for Sarawak trade, investment and tourism with Singapore and beyond, linking the State to the global market. The introduction of the Singapore-Sibu route by AirAsia cannot be at a better time as we are working hard with all stakeholders to strategise in making Sarawak the preferred destination for tourism and business. I am sure AirAsia’s presence by unveiling its Singapore-Sibu flights at our maiden Sarawak Fair here at Suntec City marks the beginning of more strategic collaborations between us in the future.”
The largest port and commercial centre in Sarawak’s Rejang basin, Sibu is a thriving modern town rich in historical and cultural heritage, vibrant food scenes and beautiful waterfront life. Sibu is the main gateway to the Central Region of Sarawak, with convenient land and river transport access to many surrounding towns and commercial centres like Sarikei, Bintangor, Kapit and Mukah. Adventurers can explore the many nature and riverine activities up the Rejang river and experience the unique longhouse living culture.
Known as Swan City, Sibu is famous for its authentic Foochow dishes such as Kampua noodles, Mee Sua or Longevity noodles, and many other varieties of noodle dishes unique to Sibu. Its Kompia buns are much sought after, as well as its “pulut panggang” (grilled glutinous rice rolls in banana leaf) have become among the must-buy items for visitors to Sibu.
Sibu can also satisfy your craving for fresh, scrumptious seafood without burning a hole in your pocket. Sibu’s Central Market is the largest of its kind in Malaysia and is a wonderland of fresh produce and exotic foodstuffs, including the sago worms that can be eaten alive or cooked – definitely not for the faint-hearted! The ’empurau’ fish, touted to be the most expensive and ‘unforgettable’ fish, is also readily available at restaurants in and around Sibu.
The seven-day Sarawak Fair by STATOS started on 21 November and runs until 27 November 2022, featuring 31 exhibitors from Sarawak’s tourism and business sectors, aimed at promoting the State as an investment and tourism destination generating sustained interest in its products and services amongst Singaporeans.
Visitors purchasing a tour package to Sarawak during the event can ‘Spin the Wheel’ for sponsored prizes worth around SGD40,000, including 16 return air tickets with AirAsia to Sibu, Kuching and Miri. Also up for grabs are resort and hotel vouchers, discount vouchers for holiday packages and sample products, including Sarawak’s world-famous bird’s nest and black pepper.
SINGAPORE, 22 November 2022: The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort, Doha, Qatar, managed by General Hotel Management Ltd, opened its doors on 12 November to guests ahead of the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2022.
Developed in partnership with Katara Cultural Village by Qatari real estate consortium Triple A Holdings, the property will strengthen GHM’s portfolio.
“With The Chedi Katara, we hope to reinforce GHM’s reputation for exceptional service and showcase A Style to Remember to discerning guests with its unrivalled lifestyle experiences,” said GHM’s Chief Executive Officer, Tommy Lai. “We aim to introduce a new experience in ultra-luxury hospitality, reflective of the charms and dynamism of each property’s locale.”
Located in the heart of Katara Cultural Village, a 30-minute drive from Hamad International Airport, The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort is close to theatres, concert halls, exhibition galleries, mosques, restaurants, shops, a park, and an open amphitheatre.
Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort named Morton Johnston as the general manager of the 91-key resort that features 59 rooms and suites and 32 villas. Located along a dramatic 300-metre shoreline, The Chedi Katara offers guests a fully serviced private beach.
The Chedi Katara Hotel & Resort is the latest addition to GHM’s portfolio of 11 properties and a pipeline of five projects in the Middle East and Asia Pacific. The Chedi El Gouna, Red Sea, Egypt, an upcoming beachfront resort, is scheduled to open next month.
SINGAPORE, 22 November 2022:Spain is full of charming villages, especially in rural areas. These postcard places encourage you to get lost in their small streets, discover their architectural treasures and enjoy their people’s welcoming atmosphere and traditions. With more than 8,000 towns, it would be impossible to name them all,
In the heart of La Alpujarra and within the Sierra Nevada National Park, this small village in Granada province is 1,500 metres above sea level, with spectacular views of the Poqueira gorge and the peaks of Cerro Mulhacén and Pichacho Veleta from its viewpoints. The town is notable for its traditional whitewashed Andalusian houses and several heritage buildings, such as the church of Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza and the Pedro Antonio de Alarcón museum house.
Albarracín, Teruel
Albarracín, Aragon
This unique place, nominated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO, is 1,182 metres high. The typically reddish houses in the old part of this town create narrow streets that frequently open up to improvised viewpoints where you can see the landscape. The village of Albarracín has been built on the side of a mountain, and its peculiar hanging houses look out over the Gualaviar river, which almost completely surrounds the town. The protected landscape of the Pinares de Rodeno and several areas of cave paintings surround the town.
This town is situated inside one of the largest volcanic craters in the Canary Islands. It is notable for its spectacular scenery, including Roque Nublo, one of the symbols of Gran Canaria. This is a monolith that was created during the volcanic processes that took place on the island. Just a few kilometres from here is Roque Bentayga, a larger natural monument that was once a sacred place for the native people of the Canary Islands. Its natural beauty combines the historical aesthetics of its white buildings and traditional roofs to make Tejeda one of the places where the aesthetics of the Canary Island villages are preserved.
This village contains valuable classicist architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries and is located at the foot of two small hills: Marimón and Cotillamón, commonly known as “Las Tetas de Liérganes”. Its old town, known as “El mercadillo”, has vernacular mansions, palaces and churches. It also has a famous spa, which uses water from the Miera river.
Plaza Mayor in Almagro, Ciudad Real
Almagro, Castilla – La Mancha
The history of this city, whose Arabic name alludes to the red clay used to construct some of the buildings, is tied to the theatre. The Corral de Comedias is the only theatrical courtyard that has remained intact and active, providing interesting dramatised tours since the early 17th century. It is worth visiting the National Theatre Museum and attending the International Classical Theatre Festival, which attracts hundreds of tourists every year. The Plaza Mayor is also exceptional and is one of the most beautiful squares in Spain, with its columns and green-painted windows.
Frías, Burgos
Frías, Castilla y León
Situated on a rock on the edge of the Ebro river, Frías is the smallest village in Spain. The village is outlined by the Humión peak, the tallest in the Montes Obarenes Nature Reserve. Its architecture mixes Roman and Medieval elements, most notably on Los Velasco castle and the church of San Vicente Martír. In between these buildings, hanging houses crowd together.
Despite being only 50 kilometres from the capital city, Chinchón is one of the most picturesque villages in the region. Its Plaza Mayor, with its irregular shape and medieval style, with its urban landscape of intricate alleyways and clusters of houses grouped on hills, makes it an essential trip. Its most notable tourist attractions include the church of Nuestra Señora de La Asunción, with a Goya canvas in pride of place over the main altar, the Clock Tower, the Lope de Vega Theatre, and the castle of Los Condes. The monastery of San Agustín and the convent of Las Clarisas.
Did you like these villages? Click here to see many more beautiful villages all over Spain. (Your Stories: Turespaña)
SINGAPORE, 22 November, 2022: The newly-refurbished Diamond Princess welcomed guests onboard on 20 November for its inaugural sailing from its new homeport, San Diego in California, USA. This sailing milestone completes the Princess Cruises’ 15-ship fleet’s return to service.
For its first sailing, Diamond Princess offers a seven-night cruise to Mexico that includes visits to Cabo San Lucas, La Paz and Loreto before returning to San Diego on 27 November, after which the ship sails a unique 20-day cruise to Central America, roundtrip from San Diego. This cruise features visits to several ports in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and Guatemala, including Manzanillo, Puntarenas, Panama City and Puerto Quetzal.
Diamond Princessis offering a series of new cruise itineraries ranging from five- to 16-days and calling at ports along the Mexican Riviera, California Coast, and the Hawaiian Islands through February 2023.
“Whether you’re looking for four-, five- or seven-day convenient West Coast (USA) vacations, or vacations that extend to Hawaiian or South Pacific, Princess Cruises has you covered at incredible values,” said Princess Cruises president John Padgett.
Diamond Princess delivers the ultimate in effortless, personalised cruising featuring the world-class dining and entertainment the cruise line is renowned for, all elevated with the Princess MedallionClass Experience. All Princess ships feature the Princess Medallion that enables everything from expedited contactless boarding to locating loved ones anywhere on the ship, as well as enhanced service like having whatever guests need delivered directly to them, wherever they are on the ship. In addition, guests can share their favourite cruise moments using MedallionNet, stay connected with friends and family back home, work remotely anywhere on the ship, quickly post content and stream favourite movies and shows.
Diamond Princess features the largest open-air Japanese bath at sea – an 8,800 sq. ft bath and garden complex offering indoor and outdoor Japanese bathing experiences, including steam rooms, saunas and hot tubs with spectacular ocean vistas. Guests can experience Diamond’s distinctly Japanese offerings, such as Kai Sushi, an authentic sushi bar, and various other dining options while enjoying the warm, welcoming service synonymous with Princess.
