SINGAPORE, 30 June 2022: Club Med announced this week the newest addition to its resort portfolio in Hokkaido, Japan, due to open this December.
Club Med Kiroro, Hokkaido, will be a takeover and combination of two existing properties to create one integrated snow resort with two distinctive buildings, located just a three-minute buggy ride or a short gondola ride apart.
Previously branded ‘The Kiroro’, the property was voted the best ski resort in Japan in the World Ski Awards 2021. Now it is re-branding under the Club Med flag.
Henri Giscard d’Estaing, President of Club Med, announces its Newest Resort in Kiroro Japan.
Conducted in two phases, Club Med Kiroro Peak will open this December, followed by Club Med Kiroro Grand in 2023. With the opening of both buildings, Club Med Kiroro will offer close to 400 rooms supported by more than 450 GOs (Gentil Organisateurs) and GEs (Gentil Employees) during the peak winter season.
Guests can make a reservation for Club Med Kiroro Peak starting 1 August. Club Med has three other resorts in Japan — Club Med Tomamu in Hokkaido, Club Med Sahoro in Hokkaido and Club Med Kabira Ishigaki in Okinawa.
“With the resort’s accessibility, panoramic mountain views, quality powder snow in the winter and close to travel hotspots like Otaru coastal town, there are endless opportunities to create a constant stream of activities all year round,” said Club Med president Henri Giscard d’Estaing. “As we continue to invest and grow in our ski leadership to double our mountain capacity in Asia by 2023, we are excited to include another property in Japan.”
Club Med Kiroro, Hokkaido, claims the finest powder snow in the world produced by the combination of Siberian winds meeting the cold waters of Hokkaido Island. It has the most snowfall at 21m annually on average, more than anywhere else in the country.
Located a 90-minute drive from the New Chitose Airport and easily accessible by train to Otaru Chikko Station, the ski-in-ski-out resort offers snow enthusiasts direct access to 23 courses for all skill levels, from beginners to elite skiers.
DUBAI, 30 June 2022: To mark the United Nation’s Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day, 27 June, and the vital role these enterprises play in post-pandemic recovery, Emirates is offering MSMEs an attractive incentive for new members who enrol into the Emirates Business Rewards programme.
Eligible businesses worldwide who sign up for a first-time account anytime until 10 July 2022 will receive a joining bonus of 10,000 Emirates Business Reward Points – the equivalent of one Economy Class return ticket between most destinations in the Middle East, Africa/WAIO and Dubai, a city that offers world-leading support programmes and infrastructure for entrepreneurs and SMEs.
Emirates’ offer aims to support MSMEs and recognise the integral part they play in sustainable development and the global economy and communities.
There are currently more than 30000 micro, small and medium-sized businesses participating in the Emirates Business Rewards programme, taking advantage of a wealth of benefits, including easy enrolment, accessible earning and redemptions, and flexibility and upgrade opportunities – even on last-minute bookings.
With a goal of ‘making business travel seamless’, Emirates Business Rewards enables organisations to earn points on business travel, which can be spent on future flights and upgrades on any Emirates flight, in any class, subject to availability.
Organisations are eligible to earn points whenever their employees or guest travellers fly on Emirates, which can then be spent on dynamic reward flights and upgrades. Individuals can earn Skywards Miles on the same flight if they are Emirates Skywards members. There’s no limit to how many employees can join the programme, and no minimum spend is needed. Emirates Business Rewards is free to join and can offer a significant return to budget-conscious MSMEs.
Often called ‘the backbone of our economies’, formal and informal MSMEs make up over 90% of all global firms and account, on average, for 70% of total employment and 50% of GDP. They are key actors in achieving a green recovery.
Emirates has a long track record of supporting small and medium-sized businesses, not only via its Business Rewards programme but also through its procurement of products and services across the business. Hundreds of small and medium-sized companies in a range of industries from around the world have benefitted from showcasing their products to a global travel audience with Emirates, boosting their growth plans. These products include items such as sustainable in-flight amenity kits, boutique luxury spa products, single-origin teas and artisan food products. In the UAE, Emirates prioritises SMEs as part of its tender process and is actively committed to working with government stakeholders like Dubai SMEs in identifying businesses and evaluating the performance of active suppliers regularly.
MANILA, 29 June 2020: Exhilarating water activities in Quirino province are highlighted in the latest Tourism PHL campaign posted on the social media channel Telegram.
Promoting a video posted on YouTube, the promotion points travellers to adventure activities such as boating, water tubing and cliff diving at the Governor’s Rapids on the Cagayan River’s tributary.
Quirino province is being positioned as a must-visit soft adventure destination, and the excitement begins with a visit to the two-hectare Quirino Water Sports Complex, the first and only full-course wakeboard park in the region and the northern part of the Philippines.
Quirino is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the Cagayan Valley region in Luzon. The province borders Aurora to the southeast, Nueva Vizcaya to the west, and Isabela to the north. Long before its formal creation as an independent province in 1972, Quirino was the forest region of the province of Nueva Vizcaya, inhabited by tribal groups known as the Negritos. They roamed the hinterlands and built their huts at the heart of the jungle.
The closest airport is Cauayan Airport, 63 km from the capital Cabarroguis. There are daily one-hour flights from Manila. Fares range from USD30 to 130. The Governor’s Rapids is a 76km trip from the airport.
There are two UNESCO world heritage sites. The closest heritage site in the Philippines is Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, a distance of 90 km.
Vigan gained UNESCO World Heritage status for having the best-preserved example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. Its architecture reflects the coming together of cultural elements from elsewhere in the Philippines, from China and Europe, resulting in a culture and townscape that have no parallel anywhere in Southeast Asia.
JAKARTA, 30 June 2022: Cross Hotels & Resorts has signed a hotel management agreement with PT Origin Resorts Lombok to rebrand two properties Away Lombok Mandalika and Amber Lombok Beach by Cross Collection, to its growing portfolio.
Last April, Cross Hotels & Resort acquired a hotel management agreement for two properties in Bali. It has six properties under management contracts in Indonesia.
“We are honoured to partner with PT. Origin Resorts Lombok. With these two magnificent resorts joining the Cross family, I am confident our strong international network will help bring a new genre of holidaymaker to Lombok,” said Cross Hotels & Resorts CEO Harry Thaliwal.
Cross Hotels & Resorts’ current portfolio includes 26 hotels under five brands – Cross, Cross Vibe, Away, Lumen and Cross Collection – across Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Japan.
KUALA LUMPUR 30 June 2022: International air passenger demand strengthened amidst the lifting of travel restrictions that unleashed a robust return of travellers, according to preliminary May 2022 traffic figures released by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
During May, international passengers carried by Asia Pacific airlines increased more than five-fold to a combined 7.3 million, with demand rising to 23.6% of volumes recorded in May 2019. The jump in demand, combined with a relatively more moderate 114.8% expansion in available seat capacity, led to a significant 43.7% increase in the average international passenger load factor to 71.5% for the month, narrowing the gap to levels achieved before the pandemic brought international travel to a standstill.
By contrast, prevailing supply chain disruptions and slowing demand further stymied global trade activity. It led to a 5.6% year-on-year decline in international air cargo demand as measured in freight tonne-kilometres (FTK) in May.
Meanwhile, offered freight capacity expanded by 1.0% year-on-year compared to the same month last year, with a consequent 4.8 percentage point decline in the international freight load factor to an average of 69.4% for the month.
AAPA director general Subhas Menon commented on the results: “The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the world in many ways. Yet, what hasn’t changed is people’s desire to travel, as evidenced by the strong uplift in international travel upon the lifting of border control measures across the region.”
Menon added, “On the other hand, after a buoyant 2021, air cargo demand is facing some headwinds with export orders facing downward pressures, driven by waning business confidence levels amid an increasingly cloudy global economic outlook.”
“As the region’s airlines emerge from the deepest and most prolonged crisis ever faced, keeping a lid on costs remains vital, as escalating fuel expenditure, higher labour and maintenance costs, on top of substantially heavier debt burdens, threaten to undermine the already fragile financial recovery,” Menon explained. “ In addition, airlines face increasing operational constraints as the air transport eco-system strives to keep up with the ramp-up in demand.”
But he concluded there was good cause for optimism as the region’s airlines “continue to streamline operations while investing in improving the travel experience as part of ongoing efforts to achieve a sustainable and technology-enabled future for air transport.”
SINGAPORE 30 June 2022: Singapore Island Cruise will launch a special promotion from 1 July to 31 August 2022 to mark the country’s National Day celebrations on 9 August.
Singapore Island Cruise offers a 20% discount on all ferry tickets to the Southern Islands to mark the nation’s 57th birthday. Customers should purchase tickets directly from Singapore Island Cruise’s website and enter the exclusive promo code “SG20”. Ferry tickets purchased from other platforms are not eligible for the discount.
With a fleet of 14 air-conditioned vessels, the company provides scheduled ferry services and private charters to and from the Southern Islands. This service allows individuals to decide on their itinerary, arrival, and departure times.
As the country’s first, original and longest-serving ferry operator from Marina South Pier, Singapore Island Cruise has been providing scheduled ferry transport services to Kusu Island and St John’s Island daily since its establishment in 2007. For those looking for a ferry to Lazarus Island, board a ferry to St. John’s Island and cross over the causeway to Lazarus Island.
HO CHI MINH CITY, 30 June 2022: Vietjet confirmed this week it would add seven new routes connecting the central coastal city of Danang with Singapore, South Korea and India.
The airline’s media statement said direct flights would connect Danang a coastal city in central Vietnam, with Singapore, Busan in South Korea and five cities in India – New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Bangalore. Flights will commence during July with four weekly frequencies and, in some instances, daily services.
Photo Credit: Vietjet
Vietjet Vice President Nguyen Thanh Son was quoted by the Vietnam News Agency saying: “Danang is one of the most attractive destinations for international tourists in Vietnam. Vietjet has transported nearly 22 million passengers to and from Danang until now on eight domestic and five international routes. The new routes will continue to open more opportunities, promoting economic, trade and business investment between Danang city and other regions.”
The airline said it would invest in promoting Danang’s image overseas through social media, and on some routes, aircraft will be painted with images of the city’s main tourist attractions, including its stunning beaches and the world heritage culture of Hoi An.
SINGAPORE, 29 June 2022: If flight booking trends continue at the current pace, an estimated 1.5 billion more passengers globally will fly in 2022 than last year, and tourists will spend 34% more on experiences than before the pandemic Mastercard Economics Institute estimates in its latest forecast.
Mastercard says it is responding by expanding its Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services platform with new partnerships that focus on seamless travel experiences for cardholders, including WhatsApp servicing, Covid alerts and perks like lounge access when flights are delayed.
Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services is a travel planning and booking gateway, granting World and World Elite cardholders access to exclusive guarantees, amenities and upgrades, 24/7 concierge and premium offers and entertainment from top travel brands.
New partnerships offer benefits that alleviate travel stress
• Convenience: For delayed flights or relaxing in peace, cardholders have access to a global network of over 1,100 airport lounges. Recent expansions include Mastercard Flight Delay Pass, now available worldwide for complimentary lounge access on qualifying delayed flights.
• Connection: Launched first in the Asia Pacific and to other regions within the year, select cardholders now have access to complimentary global roaming data packs for use in more than 200 destinations, with a 15% Mastercard discount on top-ups through Flexiroam.
• Care: Cardholders can opt-in to receive real-time notifications and the latest in COVID restrictions and requirements, including testing locations and pricing through Sitata.
• Cash Rewards: Shop and receive cash rewards with Mastercard Travel Rewards at hundreds of marquee merchants in 19 destinations and thousands of online offers for unique savings5.
“The pandemic may have altered the way we travel, but it hasn’t changed our desire for priceless experiences when we do,” said Mastercard executive vice president, services Asia Pacific Matthew Driver. “Also, travellers want to feel connected and protected at every step of their journey. By enhancing Mastercard’s comprehensive suite of loyalty solutions, Mastercard aims to support customers and consumers with a smooth return to travel, ensuring care and convenience at every touchpoint.”
MANILA, 29 June 2022: The Philippines Incoming tourism secretary Christina Frasco promises to be a good listener who values local government units’ input when establishing tourism-related national policies.
In a speech reported by the Philippines News Agency Tuesday, Frasco underscored the importance of strong coordination between national and local governments, the latter having close grassroots contact with the tourism and hospitality players.
Photo credit: PNA. Incoming Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco (photo by Avito Dalan).
“There is the mandate by the local government code requiring prior coordination between the national and the local government, and then there is the reality,” she commented.
“What I intend to bring to the Department of Tourism is the perspective of valuing the input of local government units in the crafting of national policy, considering that the policies that are crafted nationally will be implemented by the local government units on the ground,” she added.
Frasco visited the DOT Monday morning to meet with officials and regional directors. She will join the Cabinet of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when the latter assumes office on 30 June.
At the press briefing, Frasco said she “plans to work hard” to realise Marcos’ vision of expanding countryside development, developing the Philippines’s tourist sites, and giving equal opportunities to lesser-known destinations.
Watch the press briefing.
“This means giving focus to all regions in the Philippines, including Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, to replicate best practices in tourism that have already been proven successful in the various regions and to introduce innovations and digitalisation where necessary,” she said.
Frasco said she would also push with her plans to develop Mindanao as a tourist spot while supporting efforts to achieve peace and order in the region.
“[I will] work with the people of Mindanao to prove to the world that they are fully deserving of the attention that they have so needed and deserve,” she said.
SINGAPORE, 29 June 2022: Princess Cruises has announced an online contest through its social media channels offering the chance to win an eight-day cruise vacation in Australia onboard Majestic Princess for two guests.
Departing on 12 November 2022, the cruise winners will stay in a balcony stateroom, sail a return trip from Sydney and visit captivating destinations in Tasmania such as Hobart, Great Oyster Bay & Freycinet Peninsula (Scenic Cruising), and Eden.
The giveaway is timely as Princess recently celebrated the restart of cruising in Australia and the greater relaxation of the border and travel restrictions for the region.
“Australia offers close-to-home voyages for guests in Southeast Asia, making it an ideal option for a delightful vacation. We are also offering a range of fly-cruise options, creating the perfect opportunity for guests to extend their stay in Australia which is a much sought-after and popular dream destination,” said Princess Cruises country director for Southeast Asia Farriek Tawfik.
“We are thrilled that public confidence is back, too, with a surge in interest for cruises in Australia, Alaska, the Mediterranean, Europe, and other global sailings. We are also hoping to attract first-time cruise guests with this contest by creating brand awareness and what Princess offers,” he added.
The contest takes place from 1 July to 31 August 2022 and is open to all legal residents of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Brunei who are 18 years of age or older. Entering the giveaway is accessible by simply completing an online form. There is no requirement to purchase a cruise.
Registrants can enter this contest through various online communication platforms, with each unique email address counting as one entry. The online platforms include:
Banner on Princess Website
o Sponsored post on Facebook
o Sponsored post on Instagram
o Sponsored ad on Youtube
Registering at princess.com/winacruise
Official rules can be found on princess.com/winacruise. The winner will be selected randomly in a draw on 14 September 2022. The prize includes round-trip economy class airfare from the winners’ local departure city to Sydney but does not include onboard expenses, taxes, cruise or air service fees, visa arrangements and other relevant expenses.
Guests have a huge variety of over 50 Australian itineraries and 70 sailings to choose from
Princess Cruises offers over 50 itineraries and 70 sailings on three ships sailing in Australia in 2022-23: Coral Princess commenced sailing from Brisbane on 16 June, after which the ship will then be based in Sydney from August till October. Grand Princess will sail from October 2022 to April 2023 out of Melbourne and Adelaide, and the Royal-class Majestic Princess sailing from October from Sydney and Auckland, New Zealand.
Majestic Princess offers unique features such as the SeaWalk, which is a dramatic over-the-ocean glass walkway, the first of its kind at sea. At 18m long, nearly 40m above the waves and extending 8.5m beyond the edge of the ship, it affords thrilling views of the seascape. The 3,560-guest ship also features many exceptional dining options, such as authentic French bistro-style dining at Bistro Sur La Mer, created with Chef Emmanuel Renaut, whose Flocons de Sel restaurant has received three Michelin stars, as well as a Chinese speciality restaurant.
Princess delivers the ultimate in effortless, personalized cruising featuring world-class dining and entertainment, all elevated by the Princess MedallionClass Experience. The Medallion enables everything from expedited, contactless boarding to locating loved ones anywhere on the ship, as well as enhanced service like having whatever guests need to be delivered directly to them, wherever they are on the ship. In addition, guests can share their favourite cruise moments using MedallionNet, the best WiFi at sea, stay connected with friends and family back home, work remotely anywhere on the ship, quickly post content and stream favourite movies and shows. Princess has offered MedallionPay contactless payment for all onboard purchases on MedallionClass since the Princess MedallionClass Experience debuted in late 2017.
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling +65 6922 6788, or by visiting the company’s website at http://www.princess.com/.
