SINGAPORE, 12 June 2022: Pandaw, a river cruise pioneer in India and the Mekong Region countries, will launch a second ship in northern Vietnam in mid-2023 to explore the Red and Black River network from Halong Bay.
RV Song Hong is under construction in Hai Phong and will be fitted out with 10 staterooms slightly larger than the standard Pandaw cabin. Like other Pandaw vessels, it will have the trademark promenades running around the decks with both saloon and deck dining zones fore and aft.
It will join RV Angkor, sailing the Red and Black River waterways since 2015. Both ships share the same expedition vessel design with an ultra-shallow draft enabling them to navigate the challenging environment of the Red River.
The cruises are not cheap at USD3,222 per person for a 10-day expedition. Still, they attract travellers who appreciate taking their time to explore the key sites of Northern Vietnam from the vantage point of a river ship meandering through the Red River delta and tributaries along a fascinating route from Halong Bay to Hanoi.
BANGKOK, 10 June 2022: Bangkok Airways will launch two new routes – Bangkok-Hat Yai and Samui-Hat Yai – starting on 16 July 2022 and begin the return of international flights in September.
The soon-to-launch Bangkok-Hat Yai services will operate two flights daily, using an Airbus A319 aircraft. The first outbound flight, PG431, will depart from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 0825 and arrive at Hat Yai Airport at 0955. The return flight PG432 will depart from Hat Yai Airport at 1045. and will arrives at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 1215.
The second outbound flight, PG433, will depart from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 1300 and arrive at Hat Yai Airport at 1430. The return flight PG434 will depart from Hat Yai Airport at 1520 and arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 1650.
Hat Yai is a commercial town in southern Thailand on the main rail line between Thailand and Malaysia. Before the Covid-19 lockdown, its airport was served by several airlines out of Bangkok and by international airlines from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
Samui-Hat Yai services will operate three flights weekly (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), using an ATR72-600 aircraft. The outbound flight, PG411, will depart from Samui Airport at 1030 and arrive at Hat Yai Airport at 1140. The return flight PG412 will depart from Hat Yai Airport at 1210 and arrive at Samui Airport 1320.
Bangkok Airways also confirmed the resumption Samui-Chiang Mai route starting 1 July,
Rebuilding the airline’s international network to what it was before Covid-19 is also underway. The Bangkok-Maldives resumes on 22 July; Bangkok-Siem Reap on 1 August; Bangkok-Danang, on 1 September and Samui-Hong Kong on 1 September.
More flights to come
The Samui-Chiang Mai services will operate one flight daily.
The Bangkok-Maldives services will operate four flights weekly (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays)
The Bangkok-Siem Reap services will operate one flight daily
The Bangkok-Danang services will operate one flight daily
The Samui-Hong Kong services will operate four flights weekly (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays)
Samui-Singapore flights will increase from three weekly to daily starting from 1 July 2022 and will be adjusted to two flights daily from 1 September 2022.
Bangkok-Samui flights will increase from 98 to 101 flights weekly starting on 16 July 2022, and Bangkok-Samui (one-way) route will increase from 98 to 105 flights weekly beginning on 1 September 2022
The Bangkok-Phuket route will increase from three to four flights daily starting from 1 August 2022.
The Bangkok-Sukhothai route will increase from daily to two flights daily starting from 1 August 2022.
Bangkok-Lampang route will increase from two to three flights daily beginning on 1 August 2022.
Bangkok-Phnom Penh route will increase from three to four flights daily starting from 1 August 2022.
The Bangkok-Krabi route will increase from one to two flights daily beginning on 1 September 2022.
The Samui-Phuket route will increase from two to three flights daily starting from 1 September 2022.
KUCHING, 10 June 2022: The Borneo Jazz festival is ‘wowing’ music fans with its impressive line-up of artists and array of fringe activities since it first started in May 2006.
This year is particularly special as it will be held in a hybrid format where festival goers can enjoy in person at Coco Cabana, Miri or live-streamed from wherever they are in the world from 24 to 26 June 2022.
Borneo Jazz cutting edge vibes aim to entice the younger generation to immerse in nu-jazz, with our friends from the Land of the Rising Sun, Gecko & Tokage Parade from Japan. This new-generation instrumental jazz band is led by composer and pianist Wataru aka Gecko, with their motto “pursuit of new-generation sound”.
With Gecko at the helm, this quartet mix pop, classical piano melodies, post-rock and fusion-like guitar that crosses minimal, jazz and experimental sounds that will be sure to appeal to generation next.
BJ 2022 also welcomes Alemay Fernandez of Singapore along with Richard Jackson from the United States, adding their brand of soul to jazz with Alemay’s bluesy tone and Richard’s smooth baritone voice.
Alemay’s phenomenal voice has landed her on stage with the likes of music greats like The Count Basie Orchestra, David Foster and Laura Fygi. Along with her impressive resume, she is also a songwriter and is widely considered Singapore’s foremost jazz singer.
Richard, her partner in rhyme at BJ 2022, is a seasoned performer, having opened for legendary acts such as The Stylistics, Regina Bell, Tuck & Patti, Peabo Bryson, and Incognito, just to name a few. He has also performed with jazz legends Ernie Watts, Randy Brecker, Kenny Drew Jr., Al Di Meola, and Ricky Lawson. Originally from Cincinnati, USA, Richard is currently based in Singapore, making him a festival favourite in the region.
Together, Alemay and Richard bring jazz to new heights with their unmistakable chemistry and uniquely refreshing style. Expect an eclectic mix of groovy originals and jazz/soul covers, with a top-notch band featuring Euntaek Kim on keys (played with Dennis Chambers), Jase Sng on bass (played with Incognito) & Erik Hargrove on drums (played with James Broen and Bootsy Collins).
Set to wow the audience during BJ 2022, extraordinary Italian pianist Nikko Ielasi fuses jazz, gospel, pop and rock elements in one power-packed set with his headlining band NIKKOLLECTIVE. Joined by fellow superstars Italian Adriano Matkovich on bass and Malaysia’s own Arthur Kam on Drums, NIKKOLLECTIVE is sure to not disappoint.
A versatile drummer laying down grooves and beats that drive the music to another dimension, Arthur Kam is a Malaysian child prodigy hitting big stages with various artists locally and internationally. A graduate from Berklee College of Music, the New York-based drummer currently sessions for singer-songwriters, artists and bands from different genres in New York, Boston, China and Malaysia. Saxophonist Mark Hartsuch, well known for his work with Indian legend Grammy & Oscar award winner AR Rahman, produces, composes, arranges and records horns for Bollywood films and independent music artists from all over the world.
In the summer of 2019, Nikko became suddenly and irreversibly deaf on the right side with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL). Through adversity, Nikko has continued to persevere by blessing the world with his music as a leader and musical director for others.
About Borneo Jazz festival 2022
Themed “Jazz in The Jungle”, the 17th edition will be held in a hybrid format for the first time from 24th – 26th June 2022 at Coco Cabana, Miri and will be joined by performers from countries namely Singapore, Japan, France, Switzerland, USA, Hungary and India.
Borneo Jazz will also be providing fun and educating fringe activities from 24th – 26th June 2022, open to the public, such as the Eco-Art Project, Borneo Boat Lute Exhibition, Miri Sape Movement – ‘Evolution of the Sape’, Wellness Programme and Artisanal Craft Bazaar.
Jazz music lovers can start purchasing tickets for BJ starting now from the official website at jazzborneo.com or directly from our official ticket resellers, Miri City Council at [email protected] and Transworld Travel Services Sdn Bhd at [email protected].
For the public category, 1 Day Pass is priced at RM128 per ticket, 2 Day Pass is RM228 per ticket, and 3 Day Pass is RM338 per ticket. As for students and senior citizens, 1 Day Pass is priced at RM88 per ticket, 2 Day Pass is RM128 per ticket, and 3 Day Pass is RM188 per ticket.
For those who want to enjoy BJ virtually, tickets are priced at RM25 per viewing block – approximately an hour segmented into your favourite performers. For more information on the Borneo Jazz festival 2022, log on to BJ’s official website at www.jazzborneo.com.
BANGKOK, 10 June 2022: The long-awaited Emirates Premium Economy class is finally here, offering another Emirates onboard experience that opens for flight bookings from 1 August.
The new cabin class, which offers luxurious seats, more legroom, and service delivery to rival many airlines’ business offerings, will be available to Emirates customers travelling on popular A380 routes to London, Paris, and Sydney from 1 August and Christchurch from December.
This means travellers from Thailand via connecting flights in Dubai will also have a chance to book and secure seats for the new Premium Economy experience. Currently, Emirates is the only airline in the region to offer a Premium Economy cabin.
Emirates president Sir Tim Clark said: “As with everything we do, Emirates Premium Economy will be exceptional in its class, with minute attention given to every aspect of the customer experience. Customers trading up from the economy will be getting excellent value.
“Since we first introduced our Premium Economy seats in January 2021, the positive response and demand have been tremendous. We currently have six A380s equipped with this cabin class, which limits our initial deployment, but our intention is to offer this experience to many more markets across our network. This November, we will begin our retrofit programme to install Premium Economy on 67 A380s and 53 Boeing 777s. At the end of the programme, Emirates will have 126 aircraft fitted out with Premium Economy cabins, as well as our latest interiors across other cabins. It is a major investment to ensure our customers continue to have the best experience in the sky.”
Emirates Premium Economy is in a class of its own, offering a signature experience unmatched in the industry.
Dedicated airport experience: Customers can look forward to a dedicated check-in area for Premium Economy at Dubai International airport or utilise one of the many convenient self-service check-in kiosks in the hall to avoid queues.
Luxurious seats: Once onboard, customers will immediately notice the quiet luxury in Emirates’ Premium Economy cabin. A wood panel finishing similar to Business Class sets the cabin’s mood, and each seat is designed to provide optimal comfort and support with 6-way adjustable headrests.
The cream-coloured leather seats have a generous pitch of up to 40 inches, are 19.5 inches wide, and recline 8 inches into a comfortable cradle position with ample room to stretch out. It also offers calf rests and footrests for additional comfort, in addition to many other thoughtful touches such as easily accessible in-seat charging points and a side cocktail table.
Comfort: Customers can get comfortable under soft, sustainable blankets made from recycled plastic bottles and snuggle into the generously sized pillow, both designed uniquely for Premium Economy. They can also refresh themselves with the complimentary amenity kits, which come in reusable, sustainable bags and contain items which are all made with some element of recycled or sustainable materials.
Dining experience: Incorporating elements inspired by Business Class, customers will be welcomed on board with a welcome drink in fine glassware. A selection of generous meals made with seasonal ingredients and regional influences will be served on chinaware, accompanied by stainless steel cutlery wrapped in a linen napkin during meal service. The drinks menu will include a selection of beverages, including premium wines and a sparkling Chandon wine. There are also liqueurs available after meals, with chocolates.
Unmatched entertainment at 40,000 feet: Each seat has a 13.3” screen, one of the largest in its class, to enjoy the unmatched array of up to 5,000 channels of music, movies, TV, news and other content on Emirates’ award-winning ice.
On a four-class Emirates A380, the Premium Economy cabin is located at the front of the main deck with 56 seats laid out in a 2-4-2 configuration. On the Emirates Boeing 777, up to 24 Premium Economy seats will be installed in a dedicated cabin section between Business and Economy.
For more information on Emirates Premium Economy, visit:
MANILA, 10 June 2022: Incoming Tourism chief Christina Frasco sees Cebu’s tourism governance as a “good model” for other destinations in the Philippines to emulate.
In the Philippines News Agency report, based on an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel, earlier this week, Frasco said coordination among tourism stakeholders and the development of lesser-known destinations are integral parts of Cebu’s model and “have bode well” to revive their tourism sector.
PNA. Incoming Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco (File photo)
She added that consensus-building and collaboration were strong to ensure that sustainable tourism is practised by local government units.
“I believe that the tourism governance that has been strongly established in Cebu could serve as a good model to be applied all over the Philippines as far as due respect and courtesy gave to local government units for the destinations within their jurisdiction (are concerned),” she said.
As the in-coming DOT secretary, Frasco said she would “bring in a local government perspective” to the department.
“Being well versed in the challenges that are faced from the grassroots can help the Department of Tourism come up with sustainable, innovative, medium, and long-term solutions to the challenges that our tourism front-liners, tourism stakeholders, and partners continue to have as a result of the difficulties of the pandemic.
“I believe I also bring with me the experience of being a local chief executive, whose main challenge is facing and trying to solve crisis after crisis,” she added.
She emphasised that President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr wants to “improve the overall tourist experience” to make it convenient for tourists to come to the Philippines.
SINGAPORE, 10 June 2022: IHG Hotels & Resorts is celebrating 6,000 open hotels by unveiling the ‘6,000 Club’.
The 6,000 Club features a collection of newly opened hotels from IHG’s portfolio, showcasing the global reach of its 17 brands.
IHG Hotels & Resorts CEO, Keith Barr, rings the New York Stock Exchange bell along with IHG executives and general managers to commemorate the brand’s 6,000 open hotels milestone.
The milestone was commemorated by IHG CEO, Keith Barr at the New York Stock Exchange on 7 June when he rang the bell to signal the close of trading, alongside local hotel general managers and colleagues.
IHG is set to grow its portfolio by a further 30%, with more than 1,800 hotels already signed in its development pipeline, illustrating how much owners value the strength of IHG’s scale and brands.
The company recently reinvented its loyalty programme, IHG One Rewards, to offer members more choice, value and richer rewards than ever before – all powered by leading technology on a new mobile app.
IHG Hotels & Resorts CEO Keith Barr said: “I’m incredibly proud of our IHG Hotels & Resorts teams for reaching a milestone of 6,000 hotels open worldwide. With over 1,800 hotels in our pipeline, I’m looking forward to IHG’s next chapter of growth and celebrating plenty more milestones to come.”
6,000 Club
Hotels in the 6,000 Club will celebrate the occasion in the coming months by surprising select guests with 6,000 IHG One Rewards points.
Some of the Asia Pacific hotels in 6,000 Club
Regent Phu Quoc – the first all-suites-and-villas resort under the upper luxury brand in Southeast Asia, located off the southwest coast of Vietnam alongside a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve.
Sindhorn Midtown – the first Vignette Collection hotel to open in Asia is an urban sanctuary in the heart of bustling Bangkok.
voco Seoul Gangnam – the 151-room hotel is the first for the brand to open in South Korea and is located in the Gangnam district in Seoul, one of its main tourist areas and economic hubs.
Holiday Inn Resort Ho Tram Beach – marking the first resort under Holiday Inn to open in Vietnam with 561 rooms.
Six Senses Fort Barwara – a 14th-century fort in India which was converted to become a sanctuary of well-being after a significant conservation effort.
Kimpton Margot Sydney – marking the Australian debut for the brand, this art-deco hotel features a rooftop pool, wine bar, and a 1,725-square-foot “Celebrity Suite.”
Staybridge Suites Al Khobar – the brand’s second property in Saudi Arabia, the all-suites hotel is located on the shores of the Arabian Gulf in the heart of the corporate and shopping hub of vibrant Al Khobar.
PHUKET, 10 June 2022: Thailand’s tourism industry needs a booster shot, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand intends to administer a massive sales and marketing jab to accelerate recovery.
Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn commented on the opening day of the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+), saying he was “pushing for the country’s tourism recovery with plans referred to as a ‘booster shot’ to stimulate international markets. The key focus is to bring back airlines’ seats and reach out to target markets by conducting roadshows.”
The Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2022, hosted in Phuket, closes Friday, 10 June, after a conference and networking trade show that lasted three days.
Yuthasak said he had different plans to propose to the government, but the core element requires a THB100 million budget to help speed up the tourism recovery.
Following the easing of travel restrictions, TAT targets tourism to climb to around 25% of pre-Covid levels by the end of the year and 80% by next year. According to the recent estimates, the agency expects the industry will fully recover no later than 2024. It’s an ambitious undertaking as the country welcomed 39 million visitors during the 2019 pre-Covid era.
But he is confident that TAT’s ‘booster shot’ will stimulate the travel market – pushing tourist arrivals to as high as 10 million by 2022.
“For the booster shot, we are looking at several plans that we will propose to the government, such as bringing back numbers of airlines seats as air capacity is still limited, which raises the cost of travel. TAT offices in overseas countries will discuss and convince international airlines that there’s enough demand for their flights to Thailand. Also, we are looking to conduct roadshows or trade missions, especially in the target markets such as India, the Middle East and Indonesia,” said Yuthasak.
As for increasing air seat capacity, he said efforts would not be limited to just scheduled flights. TAT will work with airlines to promote charter flights or conduct co-marketing to help airlines fill the gap between their expected organic growth and the target.
There is also a plan to conduct roadshows in priority source market countries. Yuthasak said the Chinese market is showing positive signs as some provinces start to ease travel restrictions and some local authorities are approaching TAT to discuss the possibility of working on the sandbox model with Thailand.
But independent observers who have an ear to the ground in China’s travel market say the reopening date for outbound travel is far from decided as China still adheres to a zero-tolerance policy for Covid-19. It is likely to remain the dominant policy for the remainder of the year so the best-case scenario suggests outbound travel may revive during the Chinese New Year 2023 celebrations (22 January). The worst-case scenario could see outbound travel returning at full throttle in time for the annual golden week holiday in October 2023.
Yuthasak adopts the optimistic forecast, saying that if the situation and related restrictions improve by October 2022, TAT hopes to welcome Chinese tourists by early next year around the Chinese New Year holiday break.
As for the TTM+, he recommends the show expand for the 2023 edition to include a B2C sales session to help sellers capture business directly from the domestic travel market.
SINGAPORE, 10 June 2022: Travel Tech Asia, co-located with ITB Asia and MICE Show Asia, 19 to 21 October, is finalising its lineup of exhibitors and speakers to create a platform that connects travel technology suppliers and buyers, according to show organiser Messe Berlin (Singapore).
After two years, the event returns to its in-person format at the Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, hosted as a virtual event.
Travel Tech Asia conference themes feature speakers covering the must-know topics with relevant case studies linked to the latest developments in AI, AR and VR to the newest technologies in data management and cutting-edge issues touching blockchain, biometrics and super travel apps.
Messe Berlin (Singapore) presents the show as a venue to share insights on the latest travel technology trends, advice on keeping up with the ever-changing tech landscape and many more topics to help the travel industry stay relevant and competitive.
In addition to the series of tech-focused sessions, Travel Tech Asia will feature industry-focused technology talks for the hotel and airline sectors.
Travel Tech Asia is co-located with ITB Asia and MICE Show Asia, making it part of the largest travel trade show in the Asia Pacific.
BANGKOK Thailand, 9 June 2022: Dusit International’s Devarana Wellness experience goes live at the Dusit Thani Hua Hin in Thailand’s popular seaside resort of Hua Hin.
Following recent upgrades, the property is adding wellness-focused activities, services, and facilities under the Devarana Wellness banner.
They include meditation, forest bathing, Muay Thai, Kaoshikii dance, full moon yoga on the beach, and Family Day Retreats. The resort also offers wellness on-demand via an exclusive series of videos.
An Ancient Thai Massage with active stretching costs THB 3,900++ per person for three hours.
A Physical Vitality session focuses on fitness and physical recovery, including fitness classes, personal training, therapeutic massage, and active stretching costs THB 4,500++ per person for 3.5 hours.
Devarana Wellness centres are open at Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore and Dusit Thani Maldives.
DOHA, 9 June 2022: Centara’s Dalchini receives another award to add to its progressive Indian restaurant accolades.
LUXLife Awards by LUXlife Magazine is a premium lifestyle publication that focuses on a range of topics within the luxury lifestyle industry, featuring articles on; fashion, beauty, fine dining, travel and luxury real estate.
“As the only Michelin starred associated Indian restaurant in Qatar, we are proud to be able to put our restaurant and hotel on the international map with this latest award,” stated Centara’s general manager Sean Spinks. “It’s a continual journey to achieve excellence. This accolade serves to acknowledge that we are on the right path; we will maintain focus and continue to deliver exceptional guest experiences. “
Drawing on the diversity of India’s regional cuisines, the team at Dalchini Restaurant & Bar serves a selection of progressive Indian dishes developed by Michelin starred chef Alfred Prasad. The a la carte menu features both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Located on the hotel ground floor, Dalchini Restaurant & Bar welcomes guests for lunch, dinner and renowned Dalchini Social Brunch in a soothing modern environment that combines hues of green, splashes of vivid colours and dim lighting.
Executive Chef Karthik Ravi and his team working with Michelin starred chef, Alfred Prasad, developed the exciting new Dalchini menu which is guaranteed to excite you with unique tastes on each plate.
Recently, Dalchini has launched a new menu with new signature favourites, including “Tuna Bhel”, sashimi-grade diced tuna marinated in lime juice served with freshly squeezed watermelon juice, “Dalchini Kebab Smoked Platter”, for the grill, and tandoor appetiser, main classics with a twist “Spice Crusted Salmon”, Chicken tikka shredded “Murgh Khurchan”, and many more.
Centrally located in Doha’s financial and business district, with easy access to the finest shopping, cultural sights and tourist attractions, Centara West Bay is a short walk from the metro, Corniche, City Center, and new West Bay Public Beach development. Its proximity to other key locations in Qatar, such as Katara, West Bay Lagoon, The Pearl and Bidda Park.
About Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha
Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha offers affordable luxury and features comfortable bedrooms, living and dining areas, and well-equipped kitchens that make the hotel ideal for families, travellers on extended stays and the digital generation. Enjoy services and offerings designed for studios, one, two, three apartments and Penthouses. All units include kitchen amenities, dishwasher, washing and dryer machine, smart TV, iron and iron board, telephone and safe, plus tea and coffee-making facilities. Hotel Culinary journey includes, Dalchini progressive Indian cuisine developed by Michelin starred chef Alfred Prasad. The contemporary Thai KitchenRestaurant serves Thai Cuisine and International gastronomy, and the Mezze House is a modern Lebanese Resto-lounge serving masterfully handcrafted beverages, delicious mezze and grill platters; the outdoor terrace serves classic Hookah flavours and Sommelier Selection.
