Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Home Blog Page 538

Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort Sets Sail

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

HONOLULU, 10 May 2022: Outrigger Hospitality Group celebrated a significant milestone last week with the official grand opening of the company’s flagship property, Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, following an extensive USD80 million transformation.

Approximately 500 VIP guests, including elected officials, key executives, partners, musicians and community members, gathered at the resort for a traditional Hawaiian blessing by Kumu Blaine Kia and a dedication ceremony for the contemporary beachfront retreat, which is rooted in Hawaiian culture. The event symbolised another exciting stride towards completion of the resort and further emphasised Outrigger’s pride of place in its hometown of Waikīkī.

L-R: Jeff Wagoner, President and CEO; Luana Maitland, Director of Cultural Experience; Markus Krebs, General Manager; Blaine Kia, Kumu; Mike Shaff, VP Operations; Monica Salter, VP Global Communications; Sean Dee, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer.

Outrigger’s President and CEO Jeff Wagoner shared words of aloha with the audience, reiterating the company’s drive for authentic hospitality and its renewed commitment to Hawaii. He said that Outrigger was spending upwards of US$300 million across its Hawaii assets to uplift the destination while preserving the vibrant heritage of the Islands.

“It is with great pride that we welcome friends old and new to celebrate our reimagined Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort,” said Wagoner. “Through this extensive transformation, our goal was to ensure that this was a place for locals and visitors alike to come and enjoy Waikīkī as it should be – where Hawaiian music lifts our spirits, where local foods nourish our bodies and local culture enriches our minds.”

In true Outrigger fashion, an exceptional lineup of award-winning local musicians performed throughout the evening. Artists included GRAMMY Award nominee Amy Hānaialiʻi with Jeff Peterson, three-time GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist Kalani Pe’a and beloved slack-key guitarist Sean Na’auao. Impromptu appearances by treasured Hawaiian music artists, including Kimié Miner, Josh Tatofi, Bobby Moderow and more, further enhanced the night’s merriment.  

A highlight of the night was the dedication of the stage at Kani Ka Pila Grille to Cyril Pahinui – a legendary slack-key guitarist who was a regular performer at Kani Ka Pila Grille and bestowed the venue its name – which means “let’s play music” in Hawaiian.

The music was complemented by ono (delicious) food provided by acclaimed chef and Outrigger partner Peter Merriman, who will spearhead the resort’s newest oceanfront eatery, Monkeypod Kitchen Merriman, which is scheduled to open in late 2022. Fresh Hawaii grown oysters from Kualoa Ranch were served and shucked by Hawaii’s one-and-only mobile oyster bar – Oysters Hawaii, alongside fresh fish stations from Superb Sushi. Guests sipped on custom cocktails, including the famous Monkeypod Mai Tai and beers from Kona Brewing Company throughout the evening.

Event partners for the Grand Opening included: Travel Weekly, Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman, Superb Sushi, Kualoa Ranch, Royal Hawaiian Helicopters, HARA, Hawaiian Agriculture Foundation, Hawaii Volcanic Water, Kona Brewing Co., Polynesian Voyaging Society, Orchid Lei Co. and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Hawaii.

Outrigger CARES – a newly established company foundation, was the event beneficiary, with USD5,000 going to support local Hawaiian and non-profit organisations.

For more information or to book a stay at the newly transformed Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, please visit www.Outrigger.com

Emirates showcases premium economy

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

DUBAI, UAE, 10 May 2022: Emirates unveiled its full premium economy cabin experience on Monday during the opening day of the Arabian Travel Market 2022.

The region’s leading travel and tourism exhibition scheduled from 9 to 12 May should welcome 20,000 visitors this year, with the theme of ‘The future of international travel and tourism’.

The Emirates stand offers members of the travel and tourism industry from over 112 countries a chance to experience the airline’s signature products in every cabin class.

Over ATM’s four days, Emirates’ executives and commercial teams will be at the airline’s stand with a busy agenda of face-to-face business meetings, taking the opportunity to network and reconnect with travel trade industry partners and establishing new partnerships in line with the airline’s work to help the industry collectively rebuild better for the future.

The highly popular Emirates premium economy seat, which will be on display at ATM, is a luxurious take on the traditional cabin, providing more comfort with legroom of up to 40 inches, wide seats that span 19.5 inches with a generous 8-inch recline, and other thoughtful touches for customers to comfortably sit back and relax.

In addition, Emirates will also feature its show-stopping Boeing 777-300ER game-changer first-class fully enclosed private suite, a Boeing 777 business class seat, the newest generation A380 onboard lounge, along with other iconic products such as the first-class shower spa and its generously pitched game-changer economy class seats.

The Emirates stand is located in Hall 3, stand number ME3210 at ATM.

For more information on the airline, visit: www.emirates.com 

SAUDIA joins Arabian Travel Market 2022

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

Dubai 10 May 2022: Saudia Arabian Airlines is showcasing its new in-flight entertainment system, Beyond, its new holiday division and the latest business and economy seats during the four-day Arabian Travel Mart that opened on Monday.

SAUDIA CEO Ibrahim Koshy said: “Our ATM stand will offer travel industry visitors a chance to experience the airline’s signature products, including an all-new IFE system Beyond and SAUDIA Business, a new B2B travel solution for corporate, agency & MICE clients.”

Photo: https://menafn.com

SAUDIA will continue its efforts to promote the rich culture and tradition of Saudi Arabia to achieve the aspirations of the Saudi tourism ecosystem, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

“We have a shared objective to contribute to the Kingdom’s broader tourism plans to attract a diverse range of visitors, strengthen awareness of the country’s iconic sites, and make them more accessible through enhanced connectivity”.

The SAUDIA stand at ATM is located in Hall 4, stand number ME4310.

Established in 1945, the company is one of the Middle East’s largest airlines and is a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO). It is also one of the 19 member airlines of the SkyTeam alliance.

PATA brings back marketing forum

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

BANGKOK, 10 May 2022: The Pacific Asia Travel Association brings back its PATA Destination Marketing Forum hosted by Songkhla, a southern coastal town on the Gulf of Thailand.

Under the theme “Building Back Sustainably through Cultural Heritage and Community-based Tourism”, the in-person event will celebrate the start of a robust Asia Pacific tourism recovery with an experiential conference programme focused on sharing best practices in destination marketing and destination management in the post-pandemic recovery world.

Delegates attending the event from 2 to 4 August 2022 will have the opportunity to choose from three  destinations experiences:

Nod Na Lae Lifestyle @ Tha Hin Community: Encounter the local tribe’s traditional lifestyle and learn how they are promoting ecotourism.

Nature meets Culture @ Koh Yo Community: Explore the culture of Southern ethnic people and enjoy the authentic, unaltered village.

Heritage Singora @ Hua Khoa Community: Savour the view of Songkhla Lake Estuar and venture around the UNESCO-heritage-candidate sites.

The event will be hosted by the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Songkhla Convention and Exhibition Bureau (SCEB) and the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) with the support of Songkhla City.

Commenting on the event, PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera said: “At this year’s PATA Destination Marketing Forum, we are ready to celebrate the start of a robust Asia-Pacific tourism recovery. Our experiential conference programme highlights best practices in destination marketing and destination management in the post-pandemic recovery world. We’re here to support a sustainable recovery for the region”

Located in the southern part of Thailand, Songkhla has been proposed by the Thai government as a World Heritage Site and UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy. It is accessible by air from Bangkok, and by August direct airline access will be established from Singapore and Malaysia to the nearby gateway town of Hat Yai.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit https://www.pata.org/pata-destination-marketing-forum-2022 .

Royal Brunei flies to Borneo neighbours

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 10 May 2022: Royal Brunei Airlines has resumed flights to neighbouring Sarawak and Sabah, two of Malaysia’s top heritage and nature destinations that share Borneo island with Brunei and Indonesia.

The airline relaunched the 40-minute flights to Kota Kinabalu, the state capital of Sabah, from its home base in Brunei Darussalam after Malaysia was added to its green list countries for non-essential travel last week. Services will initially operate twice weekly on Friday and Sunday.

The airline’s acting CEO Sabirin Abdul Hamid, said in a media statement: “RB is finally reopening flights to Kota Kinabalu. As one of our top pre-pandemic destinations.”

“This is part of our restart plans as governments from around our network gradually ease travel restrictions. Over time we will increase our flight frequencies and reintroduce more of our destinations back to guests.

Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment of Sabah cum Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board Datuk Joniston Bangkuai; Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment of Sabah Datuk Sr Haji Mohd Yusrie Abdullah and Sabah Tourism Board CEO Noredah Othman welcomed passengers arriving on the inaugural flight.

“We are pleased to welcome the return of this flight. The connectivity from Brunei will definitely help with transiting international passengers, especially from routes that were previously in service from Australia, the UK, the Middle East and Japan. We hope that eventually, the Brunei-Kota Kinabalu-Tawau flight may also be reinstated,” said Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.

Meanwhile, a week earlier, Royal Brunei Airlines resumed flights from Bandar Seri Begawan to Kuching starting 1 May with two flights weekly scheduled on Thursday and Saturday.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the airline offered daily flights to Kuching the state capital of Sarawak.

“This initiative is the beginning of stronger relations between Negara Brunei Darussalam and Sarawak, thus boosting air connectivity for a great business (partnership), investment and tourism activities,” said Minister for Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin in a media statement at the time of the relaunch.

(Source: Sabah and Sarawak’s tourism boards)

Thai Vietjet wins Changi award

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

SINGAPORE, 10 May  2022): Thai Vietjet took home the New Airline Award at the Changi Airline Awards 2022 hosted by Changi Airport Group in Singapore last week.

Thai Vietjet’s commercial director  Pinyot Pibulsonggram received the award that recognised the airline’s commitment to commence flight services to Changi Airport despite COVID-19, highlighting the airline’s contributions toward supporting Singapore’s air hub during the pandemic.

Thai Vietjet’s commercial director Pinyot Pibulsonggram (right) accepts the award at a ceremony at Dusit Thani Laguna, Singapore.

Thai Vietjet commenced the flights to Singapore on 28 April  2022, when travel restrictions in both countries eased. Initially, the airline offered three flights weekly between Bangkok and Singapore every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.

Services will increase to five flights per week every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, starting 2 June 2022, and daily services by 16 June.

Additionally, the airline will start a direct service between Phuket and Singapore by June 2022.

The Changi Airport Awards resumed this year after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic and took place at Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore.

Laos reopens borders for tourists

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

VIENTIANE, 10 May 2022: Lao PDR reopened the country to tourists on 9 May following a press briefing that confirmed vaccinated tourists could enter the country without a pre-flight or on arrival Covid-19 test and health insurance.

Travellers can enter and leave Lao PDR through all air and land border checkpoints. They will need to apply for a visa at the nearest Lao PDR embassy or consulate or apply for an e-Visa online. The exceptions are nationalities that are eligible for visa-free stays.

However, not all border checkpoints are open on the Thai side when you make the return trip to Thailand. You will need to register on the Thailand Pass https://tp.consular.go.th/ before travelling to Thailand from Laos. Thailand Pass lists the border checkpoints that are applicable. Chiang Rai in the far north bordering both Laos and Myanmar is not on the list, and that is not going to change until the province’s governor gives the all-clear.

All the other Mekong River border checkpoints between Laos and Northeast Thailand are open for trips to Laos, and travellers can return to Thailand, but they will need to register online with Thailand Pass.

That is likely to remain the case until late July, when reliable government sources say the Thailand Pass will be phased out. In the meantime, to enter Thailand by air or land, you will need to apply for a Thailand Pass. It requires you to download a clear jpeg image of the relevant passport page, jpeg images of your vaccination certificate and the insurance profile statement showing you have purchased insurance cover of USD10,000. Once you receive a Thailand Pass QR code sent to your email box, you are ready for the border crossing to Thailand.  

As for Laos opening up its borders, the KPL Laos News Agency noted that the government was responding to “positive suggestions from a public opinion survey and a decline in daily new cases and deaths from Covid-19.”

Deputy Minister and Deputy Head of the Prime Minister’s Office Thipphakone Chanthavongsa said Lao citizens, foreign nationals and stateless people 12 and older who do not have valid vaccination certificates must show ATK test results issued within 48 hours before departing from the country of origin.

Travellers with vaccination certificates may enter Lao PDR without taking a Covid-19 test, either before departing the country of origin or when arriving in Laos.

There are no stipulations on buying health insurance, but it would be wise to stay on the safe side and buy a policy. Private hospital fees in Laos and Thailand are astronomical. (You will also need insurance when re-entering Thailand).

Laos also warns that foreigners diagnosed with Covid-19 would need to undergo treatment at a state or private hospitals or in-home isolation depending on the Ministry of Health guidelines at their own expense. 

Jazz festival hatches Miri music hub

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

KUCHING, Sarawak, 9 May 2022: The upcoming Borneo Jazz festival promises to keep building on the music tourism ecosystem in Miri to elevate the resort city as a cultural and music hub.

Bringing musicians of diverse cultural backgrounds together to celebrate jazz music and empower the local community, a new artist residency programme called FAB LAB will be an intense six-week interactive workshop in Miri for 30 musicians starting 9 May to 18 June 2022.

The Fab Lab Open Day was held on 8 May at Tegas Digital Innovation Hub Miri to allow music enthusiasts to meet the two musicians and also enjoy a preview of what was to come from 9 May to 18 June.

FAB LAB is led by two international musicians, Chris Stalk, a saxophonist, composer and arranger from France and Jules Vulzor, a bassist, DJ and performer from Switzerland.

Sarawak Tourism Board chief executive officer Puan Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor said: “The FAB LAB programme is in line with STB’s goal to promote music tourism through our iconic music festivals, which includes Borneo Jazz. By embedding a knowledge-sharing environment, we hope to create a sustainable jazz culture for our Sarawakian musicians and provide an international platform to increase their musical growth.”

It is hoped that the music workshops and masterclasses offered by the FAB LAB will not only teach confidence in expression but serve to bridge the gap between the age-old indigenous oral tradition with the contemporary and evolutionary sounds of jazz and hip-hop.

“I strongly believe in fostering Jazz ExChange to advocate cultural diplomacy and promote sustainable growth in the arts within the local community. Borneo Jazz Artist Residency programme will indeed cultivate the connection between the international artists with the musicians’ community in Miri, Sarawak,” says Evelyn Hii, founder of No Black Tie and artistic director of Borneo Jazz festival.

FAB LAB aims to empower and enliven musicians before the Borneo Jazz festival through four workshops: Music Appreciation – Listen and Make It Your Own; Methodology – How to FEEL Free Playing Music; Sound Engineering- Make It Sound Good!; and Performance Module- Let’s Play.

For more on Sarawak’s tourist attractions visit: https://sarawaktourism.com/

(Your Stories Sarawak Tourism Board)

Hong Kong presents recovery plan

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

HONG KONG, 9 May 2022: The Hong Kong Tourism Board held its annual Tourism Update event online last week and announced a revival plan to make the city a top-of-mind destination for worldwide travellers when travel resumes.

With the theme “Together Towards New Horizons”, Tourism Update 2022 attracted 3,200 trade representatives from travel agencies, attractions, hotels, airlines, retailers, restaurants, and meeting and exhibition organizers from Hong Kong, Mainland China, and overseas markets. The HKTB shared insights into the latest tourism trends and its work plan for the coming year.

Hong Kong Tourism Board Chairman Y K Pang (left) and Executive Director Dane Cheng (right) shared the revival plan of HKTB with 3,200 trade representatives, highlighting Hong Kong’s vibrant developments and new experiences.

In his opening remarks, HKTB Chairman  Y K Pang focused on Hong Kong’s path to normality.

“The fifth wave of the pandemic is subsiding,” he said. “Hong Kong’s daily life and economic activities are now gradually returning to normal, allowing us to stage large-scale events and prepare to welcome back visitors.

“Throughout the pandemic, Hong Kong never stopped building and upgrading its tourism infrastructure. We will see the grand opening of the Hong Kong Palace Museum this summer, while the third runway at Hong Kong International Airport is expected to go into service within the next couple of years. With these new infrastructure elements and the support of the Central and Hong Kong SAR Governments, Hong Kong’s competitive edge has held firm, and we can head towards new horizons with confidence.”

In his presentation of the work plan for the coming year, HKTB executive director Dane Cheng described how the HKTB will focus on Hong Kong’s profile globally by launching “Hong Kong Summer Treats.” The campaign will provide a wide range of discounts and promotional offerings and will begin with “Arts in Hong Kong” – a campaign that supports international art and cultural events, such as Art Basel, which will return in a physical format.

When social distancing measures are further relaxed, the HKTB will arrange more world-class events in phases, including the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival and Hong Kong WinterFest, and give its support to other high-profile events such as the Hong Kong Sevens.

Cheng stressed the importance of ensuring a recovery at home in the run-up to the return of worldwide visitors.

“These promotions will generate a positive ambience in Hong Kong and demonstrate how we have returned to normal. The HKTB will then launch extensive promotions, including the tactical ‘Open House Hong Kong’ campaign, to welcome back visitors when the time is right.”

Guest speakers from major organizations also outlined new developments to enhance Hong Kong’s world-class tourism infrastructure further.

The West Kowloon Cultural District is one of Hong Kong’s major arts and cultural projects. Its contemporary art museum M+ opened last year, and the Hong Kong Palace Museum will welcome its first visitors this summer. Speaking at the event, West Kowloon Cultural District chief executive officer Betty Fung said: “As a unique cultural hub with unrivalled connectivity in Hong Kong and Asia, WKCD presents the best of the eastern and western culture to visitors, from Chinese arts and antiquities to contemporary visual culture, and offers visitors a holistic experience blending arts and culture with retail, dining and entertainment.”

Hong Kong International Airport plays a pivotal role in maintaining the city’s status as a leading international aviation hub. Airport Authority Hong Kong executive director (airport operations) Vivian Cheung said: “In addition to maintaining our aviation hub status, our strategy is to transform Hong Kong International Airport from a city airport into an Airport City, developing ourselves into a destination in itself for visitors. The Airport City aims to attract global visitors through its wide range of offerings in retail, dining, entertainment and leisure while providing a business platform through its convention and exhibition facilities. In parallel, we are further enhancing the airport’s sea and land connectivity with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, to facilitate a seamless journey for the 70 million people in the region to visit the Airport City.”

The integration of culture, sports, and tourism is a key development direction. Kai Tak Sports Park general director (commercial)  James Irvine, said: “As one of the most significant sports infrastructures in Hong Kong, Kai Tak Sports Park will add vibrancy to the city’s dynamic tourism landscape with its world-class sports, leisure and entertainment experiences. A first-of-its-kind destination set in the city’s heart will bring the global community to Hong Kong.”

(Source: Globe Newswire)

Emirates lands in Bali

By
TTR WEEKLY
-

BALI, Indonesia, 9 May 2022: Emirates landed in Bali last week for the first time since the suspension of flights in 2020.

Emirates flight EK398 landed at Denpasar International Airport (DPS) at 2220 and was welcomed by a water cannon salute to mark the airline’s return.

The operating cabin crew of the flight and the passengers were welcomed at the airport with the traditional ‘joged bumbung’ dance performance, reflecting Bali’s unique culture and rich heritage, followed by a cake-cutting ceremony in attendance of representatives from DPS Airport.

 The resumption of Emirates’ services to Bali comes with easing international travel restrictions and ramping up of global operations as Covid-19 pandemic infections begin to wane.

Emirates flight EK398 departs Dubai at 0910, landing in Bali at 2129. The return flight EK399 departs Bali at 0005, arriving in Dubai at 0500. The airline is currently operating five-weekly services and will scale up its operations to the island with a daily service starting from 1 July 2022.

Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, Emirates sales offices, via travel agents, and online travel agents.

1...537538539...599Page 538 of 599

Stay ahead with the
latest travel news
on Southeast Asia.

Subscribe now


Contact Us
TTR Weekly (TTRW) is published in Bangkok, Thailand, registered since 1978.
/ month
placeholder text
/ month
placeholder text
Press releases, announcements, events for calendar should be sent to: [email protected]
/ month
placeholder text

Copyright © 2023 TTR Weekly, all rights reserved.