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Outrigger Maldives wins best hideaway title

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TTR WEEKLY
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MALE, MALDIVES, 8 July 2022: Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort has earned the title of “Best Luxury Hideaway Resort in the Maldives, 2022” in this year’s Luxury Lifestyle Awards.

The visually stunning property comprises a collection of 81 luxury villas in five categories, including beach, pool and duplex accommodations, as well as coveted overwater bungalows.

“Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru sparkles with breathtakingly beautiful nature alongside elegant accommodations. We are so proud that our delightful hideaway has already been recognised by the experts from Luxury Lifestyle Awards,” said John Allanson, General Manager of the property.

“The Outrigger Way commitment to authentically caring for our guests, alongside the bewitching allure of our setting, has been apparent to patrons and judges alike,” he said.

Known for its uninterrupted views of white sandy beaches and a seemingly endless turquoise lagoon, Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort recently underwent extensive modernisation. It is now poised to be among the Maldives’ most sought-after vacation experiences.

Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru has all of the amenities high-end guests expect: private seaplane transfers, a diverse array of quality food and beverage outlets, plush full-spa service, a chic retail boutique, vow renewals, PADI dive centre, abundant watersports, and more.

Marine conservation and awareness building are a key part of the resort operations, which align with Outrigger’s ZONE (OZONE), the company’s long-established global marine conservation and environmental care initiative.

The resort’s marine biologist, Lynn Kessler, leads guests on snorkel and scuba trips each day. She collects data on manta rays, whale sharks and turtles, which helps Maldives-based NGOs in their marine conservation work. She also gives marine wildlife presentations to Outrigger guests twice a week and is connected with a coral planting program.

“Being environmentally responsible and leading by example is key to The Outrigger Way – caring for our hosts, our guests and our place,” said Mr Allanson.

Expert judges at Luxury Lifestyle Awards took these factors, and more, into consideration before giving the award.

ABOUT OUTRIGGER MALDIVES MAAFUSHIVARU RESORT

Discover a unique Island Experience in the Indian Ocean, offering small island charm with contemporary architecture and bespoke finishing touches. In the pristine South Ari Atoll, the 5-star Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort is a 25-minute seaplane journey from Male. It offers 81 villas in five distinct styles plus four restaurants, bars and cafes, a spa, a library lounge, a boutique, an airport lounge and transfers. More at Outrigger.com

(Your Stories: Outrigger Hospitality Group)

NCL brands end pre-cruise testing

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TTR WEEKLY
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MIAMI, 8 July 06, 2022: Norwegian Cruise Line will no longer require guests to complete pre-cruise COVID-19 testing unless required by local regulations, effective 1 August 2022.

The announcement covers Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

However, pre-embarkation testing requirements will remain in place for guests currently travelling on voyages departing from destinations with local testing regulations, including but not limited to the US, Canada, Greece and Bermuda.

The relaxation of the testing policy is in line with the rest of the travel, leisure and hospitality industry worldwide as society continues to adapt and return to a state of normalcy. NCL recommends that all guests be up to date on vaccination protocols and test at their convenience before travel.

All voyages across the company’s three brands continue to operate under its robust science-backed SailSAFE health and safety programme, which will evolve along with the public health environment. Cruises will also follow applicable local protocols at the ports and destinations visited.

www.ncl.com

HK airport releases 2021 annual report

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TTR WEEKLY
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HONG KONG, 8 July 2022: Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) released its Annual Report 2021/22 earlier this week for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2022.

As Covid-19 continued to impact international travel, passenger traffic and flight movements of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) remained significantly below pre-pandemic levels, at 1.4 million and 144,505, respectively, representing year-on-year increases of 70.4% and 13.1%. Cargo throughput rebounded to the pre-pandemic level, increasing by 7.1% to 4.9 million tonnes. HKIA was again the world’s busiest cargo airport in 2021.

Despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic, AAHK continued to take forward various development projects under the Airport City blueprint. The Three-runway System project reached another major milestone as the third runway was on schedule for commissioning in 2022.

SKYCITY, the centrepiece of Airport City, continued to make progress. The Regala Skycity Hotel opened in December 2021. Adjacent to the new hotel is 11 SKIES, Hong Kong’s largest retail, dining and entertainment complex. The three grade A office towers of 11 SKIES opened in July 2022. On the other hand, AAHK continued the planning for AsiaWorld-Expo’s (AWE) phase 2 development, which will feature Hong Kong’s largest indoor multipurpose entertainment arena and new facilities for conventions and exhibitions. During the year, AAHK became AWE’s sole shareholder after the Hong Kong Government transferred all of its interest in AWE to AAHK.

In parallel, AAHK is actively preparing for passenger traffic recovery through continuous enhancement in airport facilities and services, including renovation of boarding gates and the East Hall luxury shopping zone, adding new retail and food and beverage choices, among others.

AAHK has also been actively applying technology to provide passengers with a brand-new airport experience. Flight Token has been launched this year to enable departing passengers to use their faces as identification – from check-in and bag drop to security checks and aircraft boarding – without having to present their travel document and boarding pass at every checkpoint. During the year, 5G mobile service was extended to the entire Terminal 1. In the coming year, the high-speed network will cover the airfield and other outdoor areas.

Meanwhile, AAHK and its major business partners have pledged to achieve net-zero carbon at the airport by 2050, with a midpoint target of a 55% reduction of absolute emissions by 2035 from a 2018 baseline. To achieve the target, AAHK is taking measures to reduce direct emissions, including electrification of airside vehicles and ground services equipment, energy-efficient installations and innovative energy management systems. These measures will help HKIA secure its leadership in sustainable development.

The Annual Report 2021/22, with information on financial performance, can be viewed at http://www.hongkongairport.com/en/airport-authority/publications/annual-interim-reports/annual2021

Singapore welcomes first port calls

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 7 July 2022: Southeast Asia welcomed its first cruise port call in over two years when Royal Caribbean’s (RCI) Spectrum of the Seas arrived at Malaysia’s Port Klang on 1 July.

It was followed closely by Resorts World Cruises’ Genting Dream, which will call at Indonesia’s Batam and Bintan on 2 July. Both cruise ships are based out of Singapore.

Spectrum of the Seas at Port Klang in Malaysia, taken on 1 July 2022.

Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are the first Southeast Asian countries to resume port calls since cruising was halted in March 2020. Coupled with positive discussions to resume similar calls in more ports and the alignment of health protocols across the region, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) predicts the cruise industry in Singapore to return to pre-pandemic levels between 2023 and 2024.

“The resumption of port calls is an important milestone for Singapore and the region,” said STB chief executive Keith Tan. “It has been made possible by the strong partnership and collective commitment in ASEAN to grow the cruise industry. Singapore will continue to work with our counterparts to strengthen the region’s attractiveness as a cruising destination and source market.”

Sailing towards a strong recovery

Prior to COVID-19, Singapore’s cruise industry enjoyed robust growth while over 400 cruise ships across 30 cruise brands made the destination a port of call in 2019, with year-on-year growth in passenger throughput of more than 1.8 million that year.

Singapore is now rebuilding its strong pipeline of cruise ship deployments and working with cruise lines to expand their customer base – from regional markets such as Indonesia and Malaysia to mid and long-haul markets such as India, Australia, Germany, the UK and the US.

Since Singapore restarted cruising in November 2020, over half a million passengers have sailed on nearly 370 ‘cruise to nowhere’ sailings. As more ships offer varied itineraries for cruising out of Southeast Asia, these new cruisers are expected to support a strong rebound for the industry.

“We are committed to Singapore’s vision to be a premier cruise hub in Asia. Together with STB, we look forward to growing the cruise sector, including the fly-cruise segment; and to making Singapore and Southeast Asia one of the largest year-round cruise destinations in the world,” said Resorts World Cruises president Michael Goh.

A flying start to cruise

The fly-cruise segment is also a key growth area that is expected to rebound strongly, given Singapore’s reopening to all vaccinated travellers and the resumption of port calls. Prior to Covid-19, 70% of Singapore’s cruise passengers were international visitors travelling to Singapore to take a cruise to explore Southeast Asia. The strong demand for fly-cruise will add to Singapore’s appeal as a homeport for cruise lines.

STB continues to offer the Cruise Development Fund to encourage cruise lines to homeport in Singapore. Cruise agents can tap the grant to develop and market cruise packages.

(Source: STB)

CTM acquires 1000 Mile Travel Group

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 7 July 2022: Corporate Travel Management has completed the acquisition of 1000 Mile Travel Group Ltd, expanding its interest in the business travel market.

Founded in 2015, 1000 Mile Travel is a network of independent travel experts specialising in SME business travel services across Australia and the UK, offering high-touch travel management expertise.

Their business model supports a growing workforce of travel experts who desire to manage their customer portfolio. The heightened demand for travel expertise to support the rapidly rebounding travel market makes this an attractive opportunity for CTM.

CTM founder and Managing Director Jamie Pherous said the acquisition is an exciting and complementary extension to CTM’s corporate travel services and offers 1000 Mile Travel’s agents and customers the benefits of CTM’s scale, buying power, and access to content.

“1000 Mile Travel Group is a highly successful business that has crafted a unique value proposition for those agents wanting to not only manage their own SME portfolio from home but also grow that portfolio and provide services demanded by corporate clients,” he explained.

CTM partnered with 1000 Mile Travel for nearly a year by offering a link to ‘Lightning’ online booking technology.

CTM intends to grow 1000 Mile Travel, particularly in the UK and USA.

THAI Smile heads for Kathmandu

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 7 July 2022: Thai Smile, the low-cost version of Thai Airways International, launched daily flights from Bangkok to Kathmandu in Nepal starting 1 July.

The airline takes over a route that was previously served by Thai Airways International using a Boeing 777-200 aircraft before it suspended services and entered restructuring under Thailand’s Bankruptcy Court. However, TG’s booking site displays flight schedules for the Bangkok – Kathmandu route and fares that can be booked but the service is operated by THAI Smile.

THAI Smile flies the route using an A320 with a three-hour and 30 minutes flight time. Announcing details of the new service on its Facebook page on 1 July, the airline omitted to translate the announcement for international travellers who cannot read Thai. 

Daily flights depart  Bangkok at 1030 and arrive in Kathmandu at 1240. The return flights depart Kathmandu at 1340 and arrive in Bangkok at 1825.

According to the airline’s Facebook post, the lowest one-way fare starts at THB8,940. A check of the airline’s booking website flagged a return fare of THB18,375 roundtrip in the cheapest category, including tax and fees.

It notes that tourists can obtain a visa on arrival at Kathmandu, and quarantine rules have been waived.

Revenge travel in China

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 7 July 2022: Issued air tickets from Shanghai to the Chinese resort city of Sanya surpass 2019 levels despite ongoing restrictions in the country continuing to curb domestic travel from most regions, says leading travel analytics provider ForwardKeys.

In the week of 18 June 2022, issued air tickets from Shanghai to Sanya, the southernmost city on the popular Chinese tourist island of Hainan, increased fivefold compared to the previous week, surpassing figures from the same period in 2019 by 15%.

This is despite stringent restrictions continuing to curb domestic travel from risk areas, with tickets for travel from Shanghai to China nationwide down 94% in the same week – and Chinese domestic travel in general down 67% – compared to the corresponding period in 2019.

“Eighty-four per cent of Shanghai–Sanya tickets issued in the week of 18 June were for travel between 19 June and 3 July – the very definition of ‘last minute’,” comments ForwardKeys’ insights expert

Nan Dai. “This reflects the desire of Shanghai residents to visit a sun-kissed destination after two long months of confinement in the city. However, amid ongoing uncertainty and due to the trend towards last-minute reservations, forward bookings for summer travel during July and August remain 52% below 2019 levels.”

“Whereas most Chinese cities retain strict rules for travellers from risk areas, Sanya has become one of the first cities in the country to ease restrictions on tourists from Shanghai. As per the latest requirements, visitors from four Shanghai districts deemed risk areas are required to take a PCR test within 48 hours of departure and a second test three days after arriving in Sanya, while travellers from elsewhere in Shanghai need only take a PCR test upon arrival.

“Another reason for the surge in ticket bookings from Shanghai to Sanya, explains Nan Dai, is the inaugural Hainan International Outlying Islands Duty-Free Shopping Festival, which began on 28 June and ran for six months, featuring over 50 promotional activities.

“Perhaps unsurprisingly, considering Hainan is a duty-free shopping haven, many of the tourists travelling from Shanghai to Sanya are affluent,” explains Nan Dai. “Tickets issued for premium-class travel have grown by 174% compared to 2019, with this type of travel increasing its market share from 6% to 17%.”

For those travelling in premium classes, family is the dominant travel profile with a 55% share, Nan Dai adds, followed by couple (25%), solo (12%) and group (8%). Shares for the family travel profile have grown by the most significant margin, with an increase of eight percentage points compared to 2021 attributable to ‘revenge’ travel.

Meanwhile, with airlines deploying larger aircraft to accommodate travel demand, seat capacity from Shanghai to Sanya in July and August has increased by 53% compared to summer 2019.

Domestic travel is set to benefit further from the Chinese government’s decision to remove the indication of coronavirus risk from digital travel passes, meaning the ‘Big Data Itinerary Card’ will no longer reveal whether a traveller has recently entered a city with Covid-19 cases.

“Regarding international travel, the government this week announced its intention to reduce international quarantine to seven days in a dedicated quarantine facility and three days of home monitoring from the long-standing ‘14+7’ requirement,” says Nan Dai. “These changes to the normalised Covid-19 prevention and control measures bring the hope of a wider market recovery.”

(Source: ForwardKeys)

Outrigger names senior appointments

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TTR WEEKLY
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PHUKET, 7 July 2022: Outrigger Hospitality Group has announced several senior-level appointments to support its long-term growth strategy and the recent expansion of branded properties across the Asia Pacific.

In the last 10 months, the group added five properties to its global portfolio: Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort, Outrigger Surin Beach Resort and Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort in Thailand; the five-star Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort; and Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa on Hawaii Island.

Senior appointments

Tony Pedroni, vice president operations – APAC

Jason Zvatora, vice president commercial strategy – APAC

Mike Shaff, senior vice president operations – Americas

Jenna Villalobos, senior vice president commercial strategy

“As Outrigger continues its strategic expansion, getting our toes in the sand with new beach resorts across the globe, having the right leadership team is imperative,” said Outrigger Hospitality Group president and CEO Jeff Wagoner. “From operations to revenue management, I have full confidence in the expertise of Mike, Jenna, Tony and Jason to navigate Outrigger towards our mission of being the premier beach resort brand in the world.”

As vice president operations – APAC, Tony Pedroni will oversee and direct all hotel operations in the Asia Pacific region. He first joined Outrigger in 2013 as general manager of the then Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort. He is an experienced global hospitality professional, having served as general manager for JW Marriott in Thailand; at the Renaissance in South Korea and the Waiohai Beach Club a Marriott Vacation Club Resort in Hawaii, as well as hotel management positions in Kuwait, the United Kingdom and Washington, DC, USA.

Pedroni rejoined Outrigger last year as area general manager – Thailand when Outrigger became owner and manager of three Outrigger Resorts in Khao Lak, Surin Beach and Koh Samui. Pedroni has led the renovation of all three properties.

As vice president commercial strategy – APAC, Jason Zvatora returns to Outrigger and is based in Australia. Zvatora is responsible for driving APAC performance by leading and driving top-line revenue strategies, staying ahead of market trends and directing the property commercial teams to success.

As senior vice president operations – Americas, Mike Shaff will lead both the hotels and resorts operations for The Americas region with a focus on creating positive guest experiences through programming, renovations and repositioning, while driving strong financial performance to ownership. Shaff also assumes oversight of the Hawaii Vacation Condos by the Outrigger division.

As senior vice president commercial strategy, Jenna Villalobos will develop the global commercial strategy for both corporate and property, focusing on the disciplines of revenue strategy, global contact centre, CRM (customer relationship management), business intelligence and website technology.

Further information here.

(Your Stories: Outrigger Hospitality Group)

Centara names GM for Korat opening

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 7 July 2022: Centara Hotels & Resorts names experienced hotelier Thawintorn Kanungkid as the opening general manager of Centara Hotel Korat in the Northeast Thailand gateway city of Nakhon Ratchasima.

Scheduled to welcome its first guests in September 2022, Centara Hotel Korat is being developed by Central Pattana – a global sustainable real estate company and developer of Central shopping centres, residential projects, office buildings and hotels across Thailand – in partnership with Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator.

Thawintorn brings two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, most recently as the resident manager at Sukosol Bangkok Hotel, where for five years, he managed day-to-day operations for the hotel, as well as supported the hotel’s F&B and sales & marketing teams.

No stranger to the Centara family, he first joined the hospitality business in the front office team in 2006 and again in 2013 as the rooms division manager in the pre-opening team of one of Centara’s Pattaya properties.

“We are delighted to welcome Thawintorn, or Khun Natt as we know him, back to the Centara family to helm our first hotel in Korat. With his reputation for excellence and knowledgeability in both operations and revenue generation, we are confident he will succeed in establishing Centara Korat as the new Place to Be in the region,” said Centara Hotels & Resorts’ executive vice president – hotel operations David Good.

Ideal for business, family, or leisure travellers, Centara Hotel Korat, offers 218 rooms and suites, including many with kitchenettes, ideal for long-stay guests. Guests enjoy a choice of varied dining options, including House of Kin, the brand new social dining concept offering a high-quality family buffet experience in a contemporary setting and a signature rooftop restaurant and bar, as well as facilities including a rooftop swimming pool and a stunning sky garden. A large fitness centre comes complete with training areas, where boxing and yoga classes are offered. With its enviable position integrated with CentralPlaza Nakhon Ratchasima, guests will also have access to a shopping centre, outdoor lifestyle market and park.

Over the past two years, Centara has introduced its unique brand of Thai-style hospitality to new destinations in Thailand and the Middle East. More expansion is planned as the company intends to double its properties with new hotels and resorts expected in Japan, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, the Maldives, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

The latest executive appointment will help to ensure that Centara is well-positioned to meet its ambitious goal to become a top 100 global hotel operator within five years.

Find out more about Centara at www.CentaraHotelsResorts.com

(Your Stories: Centara Hotels & Resorts)

Vietjet resumes more flights to Japan

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TTR WEEKLY
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HO CHI MINH CITY, 7 July 2022: Vietjet relaunched flights from Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, to Fukuoka and Nagoya earlier this week.

It follows the recent reintroduction of flights connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Tokyo and Osaka.

Three weekly flights from Hanoi to Fukuoka are scheduled on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. At the same time, the Hanoi – Nagoya route is served by four weekly flights on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Flight time is around five hours on both routes.

(Photo credit: Vietjet). Ribbon cutting for the new routes to Japan

Currently, Vietnamese travellers are eligible for a visa-free stay of 15-day for business, education and visiting relatives. Detailed regulations for people entering Japan can be found here.

Japan is a favourite destination for Vietnamese tourists, and Fukuoka on the northern shore of Japan’s Kyushu Island, is known for its beaches, ancient temples and the rich culture and historical legacy of Kyushu.

Nagoya is Japan’s third most populous urban area with a developed industrial economy and is well-known for its signature landmarks, including Nagoya castle and Atsuta shrine.

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