BANGKOK, 5 May 2022: Centara Hotels & Resorts celebrates Centara The1 members’ month with special point transfer rates from The1, and over 27% point value boost from 5 to 31 May 2022.
Centara invites The1
members to transfer their The1 points to CentaraThe1 points with a 1:1 transfer
ratio, starting from just 1,000 points. By transferring The1 points, members
can enjoy Centara benefits during May,
including redemption for stays across all Centara hotels and resorts in
Thailand, the Maldives, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Oman, and Qatar.
Centara is also applying a
CentaraThe1 point value boost of over 27%, which means for every 1000 Centara
The1 points redeemed by members will be worth THB 150 towards their next
Centara holiday. The free 27% points boost is applicable for all online
bookings and can be used as pure point, as well as point + cash redemptions.
In addition to points
redemption privileges, CentaraThe1 members enjoy special member pricing, lower
than any publicly available rates. To take advantage of all CentaraThe1
membership privileges, sign-up or sign in at www.CentaraThe1.com
The1 Members can transfer The1 points to CentaraThe1 via The1 mobile application with the normal transfer rate of 1 The1 point: 0.8 Centara points. The remaining 20% bonus points will be automatically credited to the member’s account within five working days.
MANILA, 5 May 2022: The Department of Tourism (DOT)
forecasts a substantial boost in tourist arrivals as more flights serve Clark
International Airport following the opening of the new passenger terminal on 2
May.
Two of South Korea’s largest low-cost airlines are among the
new air carriers added to operate direct flights from Clark.
Jeju Air will launch its Incheon-CRK-Incheon route every Thursday and Sunday, while Jin Air will fly the same route starting 16 May, five times weekly (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday).
Other foreign flights are moving services to the new passenger terminal, including Singapore-bassed Jetstar and Scoot; Qatar Airways flying from Doha, Qatar; Air Asia out of Kuala Lumpur; and Emirates out of Dubai.
Local airlines Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines have
also switched their flights to Clark’s new passenger terminal.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the opening
of the new passenger terminal would be a boost aiding the recovery of the pandemic
hit tourism sector.
“Clark was one of the destinations featured recently in
the now-concluded World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit. More
than just a freeport zone, this place is an emerging tourism hub with great
potential to bring huge gains for the tourism industry,” she said in the
department’s media statement.
BANGKOK, 5 May 2022: Thailand’s famous dessert Mango Sticky Rice has turned into a “trending topic” on Twitter after a not so ‘soft power’ push by Thailand’s teenage rap star Danupha Milli Khanatheerakul. She closed a recent music festival performance by devouring the dessert on stage.
Mango Sticky Rice gained sticky status with more than 1.39 million tweets in just a matter of days. No wonder Thai Thai Airways International decided to jump on the social media band waggon by announcing it is serving the popular dessert throughout May for passengers travelling Royal First Class and Royal Silk Class from Bangkok to European destinations.
Royal First class passengers travelling from Bangkok to
London on TG910 will have the choice of Mango Sticky Rice made from ripe
“Nam Dok Mai” mangoes and “Kiew Ngoo” sticky rice from
Chiang Rai cooked in sweet coconut milk accompanied by pandan lava cake and
traditional Thai desserts (Luk Choob, Thong Yod, Khanom Tien Salad Nga) served
with coconut ice-cream.
Royal Silk Class passengers can enjoy Mango Sticky Rice as
part of the all-day dining menu service on flights from Bangkok to London,
Paris, Brussels, Zurich, Frankfurt, Munich, Copenhagen and Stockholm.
SINGAPORE, 4 May 2022: Jetstar Asia’s flight 3K779 rolled up to Clark International Airport’s Terminal II on 2 May, making it the first airline to deliver international passengers to the brand new terminal.
Jetstar Asia currently operates six weekly
flights between Singapore and Clark.
The new terminal is located a 15-minute commute away from the current terminal (T1), which will be closed. Passengers are advised to check-in at the airport three hours before departure.
The new terminal can serve up to 8 million
passengers per year, doubling Clark Airport’s existing capacity.
Jetstar Asia currently operates services to
15 destinations in Southeast Asia and Australia.
BANGKOK, 4 May 2022: Red Elephant Reps, a hotel and travel representation company headquartered in Bangkok, has expanded its global sales team with the appointment of Nico Steenkamp as director of sales for South Africa.
He will be responsible for executing sales
and marketing strategies throughout South Africa to drive growth and provide
brand awareness for clients.
Commenting on the new appointment, Red
Elephant Reps’ chief executive officer Ian Paul Woods said: “Nico’s
extensive knowledge and expertise in hospitality combined with his strong
entrepreneurial background will be crucial in helping us to grow within the
region.”
Having worked with sales and marketing
companies and international hotels throughout South Africa for over 28 years,
he has accumulated a wealth of knowledge of the travel industry within South
and East Africa and is a familiar face at travel industry workshops and shows
across the continent.
SINGAPORE, 4 May 2022: In an imaginative ceremony hosted last Friday at the Port of Los Angeles, television stars and show hosts united as godparents and officially named Discovery Princess.
The godparents comprised of fashion designer Randy Fenoli, chef Alex Guarnaschelli, special effects designer and fabricator Adam Savage, and real estate broker and flipper extraordinaire Page Turner.
Standing together at the
Retreat Pool on the open deck of Discovery Princess with the ship’s Captain
Gennaro Arma, they pronounced, “We name this ship Discovery Princess. May God
bless her and all who sail on her.” They then sent a giant Nebuchadnezzar-size
bottle of champagne against the ship for the celebratory smash, officially
welcoming Discovery Princess into the
fleet of Princess Cruises, the world’s leading international cruise line and
leader on the west coast.
The “Discover Our World” themed ceremony blended maritime tradition
with contemporary elements, celebrating the cruise line’s exclusive, seven-yearDiscovery at SEA™ program – bringing the spirit of curiosity and
exploration to every cruise through branded experiences like Shark Week at Sea,
exclusive shore excursions and onboard activities such as the Camp Discovery
youth centres and Stargazing at SEA.
“Today is a celebration to remember as our
newest ship, Discovery Princess, is officially named by this talented group of
experts and personalities – Randy, Alex, Adam, and Page,” said John Padgett,
Princess Cruises president. “We can think of no more fitting godparents to mark
this significant milestone.”
About Discovery Princess
Discovery
Princess expands the cruise line’s fleet of MedallionClass ships to 15, offering
elegantly appointed accommodations, world-class entertainment, gourmet dining
and cocktails, extensive alfresco dining areas and expansive views from the
cruise line’s largest balconies at sea in the Sky Suites.
The
3,660-guest Discovery Princess was built at the Fincantieri Shipyard in
Monfalcone, Italy, and is the sixth and final Royal-Class newbuild sharing all
of the spectacular style and luxury of her sister ships – Enchanted Princess®
Sky Princess®, Majestic Princess®, Regal Princess® and Royal Princess®.
As
part of the leading cruise line on the west coast, Discovery Princess debuted
in Los Angeles on 27 March, sailing a series of Mexican Riviera and California
Coast voyages from 27 March to 24 April. After the naming ceremony in Los
Angeles on 29 April, the ship will head up the Pacific coast to begin a season
of seven-day Alaska cruises from Seattle, making her the newest ship sailing in
the Alaska region.
With
an array of innovative new experiences, guests will enjoy 270-degree sweeping
views from the Princess’ largest balconies at sea in the Sky Suites, unwind in
ultimate comfort at The Sanctuary and indulge the senses with world-class
dining options. Plus, Princess live entertainment presents mesmerizing
Broadway-style production shows that can only be seen in the state-of-the-art
Princess Theater, including the newest show, Spotlight Bar.
In
addition, Discovery Princess delivers Princess MedallionClass Vacations which
begin with the Medallion™ wearable, a quarter-sized device 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, the best Wi-Fi at
sea, as well as stay connected with friends and family back home, work remotely
anywhere on the ship, quickly post content and stream favourite movies and
shows.
Discovery
Princess also offers signature Princess venues and amenities, including the
Piazza, Lotus Spa, The Sanctuary, Movies Under the Stars, Gigi’s Pizzeria, Good
Spirits at Sea Bar, Vegas-Style Casino, The Shops of Princess, Camp Discovery
Youth & Teen Center and Discovery at SEA™ programs.
KUCHING, 4 May 2022: Organisers of the 17th edition of the Borneo Jazz Festival 2022 have extended the submission deadline for the Borneo Jazz Talent Search (BJTS) to 15 May 2022.
The BJTS platform provides musicians from
all over Malaysia, Brunei and Kalimantan with an opportunity to participate and
compete in an open category plus categories for Jazz and DJs.
Winners of Borneo Jazz Talent Search 2022
will not only win cash prizes but will also have the opportunity to attend a
MasterClass by an international band on 24 June in Miri, Sarawak, and perform
during Borneo Jazz Festival Stage on 25 June.
Four prizes will be awarded, first second and third plus best original composition with cash prizes worth more than MYR10,000.
A jury panel comprising renowned
international and Malaysian artists will evaluate participants based on originality,
creativity, musicality, stage presence and interactivity.
Interested groups must submit a
high-quality performance video of the required repertoire and duration, a
written solo artist/band profile and a high-resolution photo on or before 15
May.
On 22 May, the organiser will select
winners for three prizes plus one special prize.
HO CHI MINH CITY, 4 May 2022: Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company says it kicked off 2022 with a great performance in the first quarter of 2022, reporting a leap of 113% in pre-tax profit.
The year-on-year improvement was mainly due
to the rapid recovery of passenger transport and robust cargo business, which
grew by 76% and 94%, respectively, during the first quarter.
In the first quarter, Vietjet’s
consolidated revenue reached USD197 million, while the after-tax profit was
USD10.6 million increasing by 12% and 98% YOY, respectively.
Regarding its airline transport business,
Vietjet’s revenue for 1Q was USD145 million, helping nail the after-tax profit
of the parent company at USD1.7 million.
Vietnam’s aviation and tourism sectors have
fully reopened since late last year to meet pent-up travel demand. During the
first quarter of 2022, Vietjet resumed its entire domestic network and
relaunched scheduled international services. It has operated 20,000 flights
carrying more than 3 million passengers on 60 domestic and international routes.
The airline’s flights and passenger uplift
in 1Q2022 already passed 50% and 55%, respectively, of the 2021 performance,
marking a milestone of strong recovery post-Covid-19 pandemic. Regarding cargo
transport, Vietjet has airlifted more than 12,500 tons of cargo in the first
quarter of this year.
Vietjet also reports it has deployed the
first of two A330s and is expected to add a third A330 later this year.
The airline also announced its 2021 audited
financial statement, with the parent company reporting revenue of USD394
million and an audited post-tax profit increase by 91% over the compiled
financial statement due to gains in financial activities.
Meanwhile, Vietjet’s consolidated revenue
and after-tax profit in 2021 reached USD556 million and USD3.47 million,
respectively. Rising costs from deferred income taxes resulted in a lower
consolidated after-tax profit than in the 2021 compiled statements.
As of 31 December 2021, Vietjet’s assets
totalled nearly USD2.25 billion. Its debt-to-equity ratio stayed at 0.9 while
the liquidity ratio was at 1.6, which were considered good indicators in the
aviation industry.
In 2021, Vietjet operated nearly 42,000
flights across its network with more than 5.4 million passengers on board. The
airline has reported over 66,000 tons in cargo transport, achieving fast growth
with cargo revenue, in particular, rocketing by over 200% YoY.
HO CHI MINH CITY, 4 May 2022: Vietjet Air resumed flights to Bali last week, ending a two-year pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and travel restrictions.
Flights to Bali launched in May 2019 and
were popular with Vietnamese travellers who could fly directly to Bali without
connecting with flights in Bangkok or Singapore.
Travel restrictions have been eased in
Vietnam, and Indonesians can now visit the country for 30 days visa-free.
Flights operate four times weekly (Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday), departing HCMC at 0814 and arriving in Bali
at 1305. Flight time is three hours and 50 minutes. The roundtrip fare starts
at USD236.
Meanwhile, since the reopening of Bali’s I
Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport on 3 February 2022, the airport has recorded 859
flights and handled 133,083 passengers.
Including the VietJet Air flights, the
airport musters 10 scheduled international routes, namely Singapore, Melbourne,
Sydney, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Istanbul, Perth, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh
City.
VietJet Air is the 13th airline connecting
Bali with cities worldwide, after Garuda Indonesia, Singapore Airlines, Jetstar
Asia, KLM Royal Dutch, Scoot, Malaysia Airlines, Jetstar Airways, Qatar
Airways, AirAsia, Turkish Airlines, Thai AirAsia, and Qantas.
SYDNEY, 4 May 2022: Qantas’ next-generation
distribution platform is now available for international travel agents,
unlocking capabilities for agents globally to offer more personalised customer
service and access new revenue opportunities.
The Qantas Distribution Platform – built
using IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) standards – went live Monday in
the UK, US and South Africa and will progressively roll out in other markets in
the coming months.
The platform has been designed to enhance
the service agents provide to customers with a wider range of products, including
special offers for Qantas Frequent Flyers, ancillary products and dynamic
commission opportunities.
It gives travel agents worldwide access to
more automated processes and improved functionality across Qantas bookings,
including automated refunds and ticket revalidation.
The Qantas Distribution Platform is already
available in Australia and New Zealand, enabling agents to take advantage of
dynamic commission opportunities and special offers for customers, such as a
20% discount on particular routes.
The rich content and new features of the
Qantas Distributed Platform can be accessed via Qantas’ growing network of
technology partners, already delivering Qantas NDC to agents in Australia and
New Zealand.
Qantas executive manager, global sales
& distribution Igor Kwiatkowski said rolling out the platform
internationally would help agents worldwide better serve customers with Qantas
bookings as the airline’s international network ramps up.
“Despite the significant impact of
COVID over the past two years, we have continued to invest in our new
distribution capabilities and are pleased to offer these to our international
trade partners,” said Kwiatkowski.
“The Qantas Distribution Platform is a key
part of our strategy to support agency partners with richer content, new
features and revenue opportunities that help them deliver a better and more
bespoke experience for customers.
“We know that customers expect an
increasingly personalised, flexible and seamless experience, and we’re
committed to providing travel agents around the world with the tools to offer
this service.
“We will continue to roll out new
capabilities and features for our agency partners as the industry evolves the
service it offers travellers.”
Travel agents registered in the Qantas
Channel can connect to the Qantas Distribution Platform via either an approved
technology partner or by developing a direct connection to Qantas’ NDC XML
Application Programme Interface (API).
