Emirates Premium Economy arrives in Thailand

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June 10, 2022

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:

https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/experience/cabin-features/premium-economy-class/

(Your Stories: Emirates)

DOT chief says follow Cebu example

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TTR WEEKLY

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June 10, 2022

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.

(Source: Philippines News Agency)

IHG marks 6,000 milestone

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TTR WEEKLY

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June 10, 2022

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.

TAT booster shot will speed up recovery

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Sawapat Pimchaichon

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June 10, 2022

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.

Travel Tech Asia returns to an in-person format

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TTR WEEKLY

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June 10, 2022

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.

For more details visit: https://www.traveltechasia.com/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=edm-09062022&utm_campaign=Travel_Tech_Asia_2022_eNewsletter

Dusit’s wellness stretches out

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Press release

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June 9, 2022

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’s Centara wins top award

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TTR WEEKLY

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June 9, 2022

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 Kitchen Restaurant 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.

(Your Stories: Centara Hotels & Resorts)

Hong Kong extends lifeline for CX loan

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TTR WEEKLY

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June 9, 2022

HONG KONG, 9 June 2022: Cathay Pacific welcomes the Hong Kong SAR Government’s agreement to extend the drawdown period of the HKD7.8 billion loan facility for a further 12 months until 8 June 2023.

The government provided the bridge loan facility to Cathay Pacific as part of the HKD39 billion recapitalisation announced on 9 June 2020 to help the airline maintain its competitiveness and operations amid the industry-wide downturn due to Covid-19.

“We are grateful to the Hong Kong SAR Government for its ongoing support and its continued confidence in the long-term future of Cathay Pacific despite the short-term challenges of the pandemic. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, we have remained focused on prudent cash management,” said the airline’s chief executive officer Augustus Tang.

“Despite the difficult operational environment, we have not had to draw down the facility over the past 12 months. The further extension of the drawdown period is greatly appreciated and will provide us with the flexibility to manage our liquidity position.”

According to the airline’s media statement, Cathay Pacific Group’s liquidity remains healthy, standing at HKD30.3 billion as of the end of 2021, compared to HKD28.6 billion at the end of 2020.

Following the recent adjustments to the government’s travel restrictions and quarantine requirements, the airline is progressively adding back capacity, and we expect this will positively impact the airline’s business. Based on the airline’s preliminary assessment, it targets to reduce operating cash burn to less than HKD$0.5 billion per month for the next few months.

Tang noted: “The unprecedented impact of the pandemic has necessitated some very difficult decisions, namely our restructuring in 2020, but through this and our recapitalisation, we have created a more efficient, more competitive and more focused business. We have already recommenced hiring as we plan for the anticipated recovery in Hong Kong and global aviation in the 18-24 month period ahead. As the Hong Kong’s home airline, we remain firmly committed to keeping the Hong Kong hub safely and reliably connected, just as we have for more than 75 years.”

Norwegian lines up animal welfare goals

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TTR WEEKLY

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June 9, 2022

SINGAPORE, 9 June 2022: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd, a leading global cruise company which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, is expanding its commitment to responsible sourcing practices, including the legal, ethical and humane treatment of animals within its supply chain.

In support of the company’s global sustainability programme, Sail & Sustain, the company has strengthened its efforts with new standards and goals to promote animal welfare and sustainable sourcing across four key areas: chicken, eggs, pork and seafood.

“We are pleased to strengthen our commitment to animal welfare and responsible sourcing with concrete goals around chicken, eggs, pork and seafood. We recognise our responsibility to be good corporate citizens and our unique position to drive a positive impact across our supply chain,” said Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd president and chief executive officer Frank Del Rio. “We do not plan to stop here, and we will continue to engage with our diverse suppliers worldwide to promote and encourage sustainable practices, including animal welfare.”

Animal welfare is important to the company and its stakeholders, and the company encourages its suppliers to implement procedures to prevent the mistreatment of animals.

Current goals

100% target for chicken purchased from suppliers in the US and Canada who meet GAP standards by 2024. The company is currently phasing in updated purchasing policies for chicken using standards from the Global Animal Partnership (GAP). These standards define humane treatment for chicken housing and processing. By 2024, we plan to have all chicken purchased in the US, and Canada sourced from suppliers who meet GAP standards.

100% target for cage-free eggs from US suppliers by the end of 2025. For laying hens, cage-free confinement systems are considered to be more humane as they allow greater freedom of movement and space to express more natural behaviours than conventional methods. That’s why the company continues to identify and encourage U.S.-based suppliers to use cage-free environments for their hens.

100% target for gestation crate-free pork by 2025. The company is actively engaging with its suppliers to source only pork products that have been raised without the use of gestation crates.

100% certified sustainable seafood by 2025. The company has made strong progress in purchasing all seafood from certified sustainable sources. More than half of its worldwide seafood purchases were certified by a recognised certification authority, such as the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), and the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), or the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA), in 2019.

“Our strong and diverse supply chain, consisting of nearly 20,000 global suppliers, form the underpinnings of our day-to-day operations,” said Carl Robie, executive vice president of supply chain and logistics of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

“It’s a natural step for us to align all levels of our business with our global sustainability program, Sail & Sustain, and we are pleased to formally define our Animal Welfare Commitment and outline our overall Responsible Sourcing Mission Statement. Through these initiatives, we can ensure responsible sourcing practices will remain deeply rooted across our entire organisation.”

The company is working with suppliers to increase the availability of cage-free eggs, GAP-certified chicken, gestation crate-free pork and certified sustainable seafood. If the supply needed to reach these goals is not available, the company will continue to work with our supplier partners to continue expanding product availability to meet demand. The company plans to provide progress updates against these goals in its annual Environmental, Social & Governance report.

Please view more details on the Company’s Animal Welfare goals and roadmap, Animal Welfare Commitment and Responsible Sourcing Mission Statement here.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. (Your Stories Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings)

(Your Stories: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd)

TMCs make gains in China’s business travel market

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TTR WEEKLY

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June 9, 2022

SHANGHAI, 9 June 2022: Trip.com Group’s corporate travel arm, Trip.Biz, has released a white paper delving into the trends defining the reviving corporate travel management sector in mainland China and the marked shift to using travel management companies (TMCs).

The Trip.Biz white paper summarises the recovery of corporate travel according to the latest industry data, focusing on China – the world’s largest corporate travel market.

Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) data shows that China led the world in business travel spending in 2021, after a 38% decline in 2020. As the domestic market recovered, in 2021, China’s business travel spending saw a growth rate of 31.7%, more than double the global growth rate.

The paper shows that 16.3% more companies in China worked with a travel management company) in 2021 compared to 2020, rising by 24.6% in first-tier cities in China such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

According to GBTA forecasts, China’s business travel market is expected to recover and surpass pre-pandemic levels by 2024, with total business travel spending exceeding USD400 billion.

Trip.com Group 2021 earnings data reflects the strong recovery momentum in China’s business travel market. It showed hotel bookings on Trip.Biz grew by nearly triple digits in the fourth quarter and full year of 2021 compared to the same period in 2019.

Accordingly, Trip.com Group increased its corporate travel supply chain investment by 86%, product technology investment by 86% and service efficiency by 110% compared to 2019.

Trip.Biz currently provides travel management services to 13,000 large enterprises and 620,000 small and medium-sized enterprises, among which over 300 are Fortune 500 companies and over 10,000 are Sino-foreign joint venture businesses.

Trip.Biz, as a Trip.com Group brand, is implementing a global growth strategy based on the group’s “Local Focus, Global Vision” approach. Core to this strategy is the efficiency, product selection, service quality and services available on the Trip.Biz app.

“The biggest industry change brought on by the pandemic is the recognition by customers of the true value of TMC offerings. Specifically, the convenience and flexibility of booking, changing and refunding, a one-stop booking experience for all products worldwide, a global travel guarantee and SOS services, and 24/7 multilingual customer support. These are precisely the areas in which online TMCs like Trip.Biz specialise,” commented Trip.Biz chief executive officer Steven Zhang.

“We are actively expanding our overseas service network through partnerships to enable our customers to efficiently connect to our local and global business travel products through the Trip.Biz app anytime, anywhere in the world. We deliver efficiency and choice, offering competitive prices and the highest global service standards, allowing travellers to enjoy a world-class business travel experience.”

Trip.Biz’s international business growth plan aims to build on existing client needs, initially focusing on regional growth across North and Southeast Asia and supporting business clients expanding in the region and globally.

To download the Trip.Biz 2021-2022 Corporate Travel White Paper in full, contact: [email protected].

(Source: Trip.com Group)

Emirates Premium Economy arrives in Thailand

DOT chief says follow Cebu example

IHG marks 6,000 milestone

TAT booster shot will speed up recovery

Travel Tech Asia returns to an in-person format

Dusit’s wellness stretches out

Doha’s Centara wins top award

Hong Kong extends lifeline for CX loan

Norwegian lines up animal welfare goals

TMCs make gains in China’s business travel market

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