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Princess Cruises launches Ocean Treks Series 2

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 21 April 2022: Building on the success of the award-winning series Ocean Treks, Princess Cruises announced earlier this week the debut of a new digital series titled Ocean Treks Conservation Connections.

The new series running for 28 episodes, features short stories about environmental management, wildlife conservation, and sustainability. It includes original content hosted by Environmental Ambassador Jeff Corwin and Princess Cruises President John Padgett. The first episode was available for viewing Tuesday on the cruise line’s YouTube channel.

“In keeping environmental protection as one of our top priorities, we’re eager to leverage our popular Ocean Treks brand and its library to create new videos to share important sustainability stories about our fleet,” said John Padgett, Princess Cruises president. “With Environmental Ambassador Jeff Corwin, my co-host and renowned biologist, wildlife advocate and host of many award-winning television programs, we hope viewers are engaged as we discuss the importance of conservation both to Princess and us personally.”

The new Ocean Treks Conservation Connections videos will feature the following topics:

  • Recycling and sustainability
  • Food waste reduction and biodigester system
  • Conservation at Princess Cays
  • Leveraging shore power and energy efficiency
  • Advanced Wastewater Treatment System
  • Innovative fuel sources
  • Advanced Air Quality System

Ocean Treks debuted in 2016 as part of Carnival Corporation’s Ocean Originals slate of television programmes, which also includes Vacation Creation and The Voyager with Josh Garcia, which aired on ABC and NBC, respectively. The original content was part of the corporation’s focus on producing and broadly distributing engaging and compelling experiential content. The original series has been honoured with 7 Daytime Emmy nominations and 44 Telly Awards, which recognize the best in broadcast and cable TV, digital and streaming. Ocean Treks is also available on-demand in staterooms onboard Princess ships and via OceanView.

Princess Cruises depends on the oceans and is committed to environmental practices that set a high standard for excellence and responsibility, helping preserve the marine environment and air quality for future generations. The cruise industry is highly regulated, and Princess works closely with the regulatory and enforcement organizations that govern environmental regulations to ensure that policies meet the strictest requirements set forth by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and other regional and national organizations with the responsibility to protect the environment.

More information can be found at www.princess.com/environment.
Or visit the company’s website at http://www.princess.com/.

Dusit names SVP operations

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 21 April 2022: Dusit International has appointed Prateek Kumar as senior vice president of operations, responsible for properties in EMEA, India, the Philippines, Singapore, the Maldives, Japan, and selected properties in Thailand.

Prateek joined Dusit 14 years ago as general manager of Dusit Thani Manila and rose through the ranks to assume the role of regional vice president – EMEA in 2017.

In his new role as senior vice president of operations, he will continue to head business development in EMEA and India and reside in Dubai, where he will continue to serve as general manager of Dusit Thani Dubai.

Emirates rolls out Dubai Experiences

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, 21 April 2022: Emirates has launched Dubai Experience, a powerful and intuitive platform for customers to browse, create and book their own customised itineraries, including flights, hotel stays, visits to key attractions, and other dining and leisure experiences in Dubai and the UAE.

Customers can choose from pre-curated itineraries if they are first-time visitors or if they have specific interests in sports, culture, adventure, entertainment and the arts. They can also have fun creating their own unique itineraries from scratch, pulling from an extensive list of recommended activities and dining options, or mix and match, using pre-curated itineraries as a starting point.

Whether it is one of the many popular free attractions across the UAE or one that requires pre-booking and payment, the easy-to-use itinerary planner provides details such as estimated duration, location map and cost, allowing customers to confidently plan and maximise their Dubai and UAE visit.

Emirates’ Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim said: “We are proud to promote the very best that Dubai and the UAE have to offer on Dubai Experience, which is fully integrated with emirates.com. This powerful platform provides our customers the ability to plan their Dubai journeys and stopovers and benefit from exclusive rates and expertly curated recommendations.

“Through the Dubai Experience platform, Emirates aims to add value to our customers and enrich their journeys, and ultimately drive more people to visit our beautiful home and hub in the UAE. We will continue to add more exciting content on Dubai Experience and look at opportunities to launch it to customers in more markets.”

Today, Emirates’ customers in 19 countries* can build rich and customised itineraries from a selection of over 100 hotels and 200 activities – all of which can be added onto an existing Emirates flight booking or created around a new one.

Dubai Experience platform takeaways

  • Flight benefits: 10% savings on their new Emirates flight bookings.
  • Hotel benefits: Exclusive hotel benefits include discounted rates, free cancellation up to 72 hours before check-in, complimentary breakfast, and 24-hour check-in at over 100 hotels, ensuring that their room is ready no matter what time they arrive in Dubai.
  • Activities: Discounted rates and exclusive pricing on over 200 activities.
  • One-stop planner on emirates.com: A unique itinerary planner with an hour-by-hour view of the trip, allowing customers to plan their travel in a granular way that inspires confidence and maximises their time. Customers can view and add to their itinerary at any time on emirates.com through their flight booking.
  • Curated recommendations: Over 200 top Dubai suggestions include free things to do, pay at the door options, and pre-pay attractions for complete convenience, with more listings being added all the time. Dining recommendations can also be booked directly with the restaurant and added to the bespoke itinerary.

Explore Emirates’ Dubai Experience platform: www.emirates.com/dubai-experience/

* Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Kuwait, Lebanon, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Sudan, Switzerland, Tanzania, Uganda, USA, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

(Your Stories: Emirates)

Oceania Cruises refits two ships

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 21 April 2022: Oceania Cruises, a culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, announced the stem-to-stern refit of the 1,210-passenger ships Riviera and Marina, this week.

Returning to service in December 2022 and November 2023, respectively, Riviera and Marina will “become better-than-new ships in a re-inspiration without peer,” the cruise line said in a media statement.

The comprehensive rebuilds will yield 1,210 new suites and staterooms and transform public spaces in the two ships.

Debut Sailings

Riviera will debut on 7 December 2022 on a 16-day Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Caribbean cruise from Rome to Miami. Riviera will recommence the popular seven- to 14-day Caribbean sailings from Miami to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America for one final season before returning to Europe in late March 2023. Riviera then charts an inaugural season of Asian explorations during late 2023 and early 2024.

Marina will debut on 13 November 2023 on a seven-day cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon. From Lisbon, Marina will sail to Miami to kick off her annual South America season on 3 December 2023.

Emirates Holidays names PSAs in India

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TTR WEEKLY
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MUMBAI, 21 April 2022: Thomas Cook (India) Limited and its group company, SOTC Travel, have been appointed Preferred Sales Agents (PSA) for the Indian market by Emirates Holidays, the tour operating arm of Emirates Airlines.

The partnership focuses on India’s fast-growing outbound travel market for outbound travel to tap India’s leisure and business travel segments.

  • Thomas Cook & SOTC will offer a wide range of premium packages curated by Emirates Holidays for holidays across Emirates’ global network of more than 120 destinations.
  • The PSAs gain a wide range of ready-to-book and personalized holidays, offering Emirates’ signature hospitality on flights, 24*7 assistance on holiday, premium accommodation, transfers, excursions and sightseeing.
  • A 20% bonus on Emirates Skywards miles is added advantage for frequent flier programme members.
  • Optional add-on services include Meet & Greet at Dubai International Airport (for Dubai destination only) and ‘Land and Leave’ baggage services.

Thomas Cook (India) Limited president & country head, holidays Rajeev Kale said: “Being appointed the Preferred Sales Agents (PSA) for Emirates Holidays in India is a special win for us. This partnership reflects the confidence of Emirates Holidays in our leadership brands, the strength of our consumer base and our extensive reach across B2C and B2B segments pan India.

“With India positioned as one of the fastest-growing outbound travel markets, the announcement of our partnership is perfectly timed: the reopening of India’s skies ushering in the revival and growth of tourism.”

SOTC Travel president & country head, holidays Daniel D’souza added: “We intend to target families, millennials, groups of friends, young professionals, seniors, business and b-leisure travellers with an Emirates Holiday designed to delight. Our partnership brings a host of complimentary offers, special add-ons, and bonus reward points to benefit our valued customers.”

About Emirates Holidays

Emirates Holidays is the tour operating arm of Dubai-based Emirates Airline offering holiday options in Dubai, the Indian Ocean and beyond.

Centara cooks a healthy menu

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 20 April 2022: Centara Hotels & Resorts supports a royally endorsed initiative by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn with the introduction of Camellia Seed Oil a healthy cooking oil alternative also known as “Tea Seed Oil”, in 13 hotels and resorts across Thailand.

Studies done by The Tea, Oil and Vegetable Oil Research and Development Centre at the Chaipattana Foundation have found that Camellia Seed Oil, well known in China for over 1,000 years, has many benefits, earning it the nickname “Olive Oil of the Oriental World”.

Low in saturated fats and high in unsaturated fatty acids, Camellia Seed Oil is found to lower LDL (bad cholesterol) while increasing HDL (good cholesterol). High levels of HDL are known to remove other forms of cholesterol from the bloodstream and lower the risk of heart disease. Camellia Seed Oil also contains a mix of important Omega-3, Omega-6, and Omega-9 fatty acids, which helps support the brain, heart and skin, and other health functions.

The versatile oil is ideal for high heat cooking such as deep frying but can also add flavour to marinades and salads.

Camellia Seed Oil will be showcased in special dishes created by the hotel chefs and placed at salad bars for guests to sample themselves.

“We have seen an increased awareness of wellness and healthy living in the hospitality industry, and we are honoured to be supporting the royally endorsed initiative and introducing Camellia Seed Oil to our guests. We hope by taking small steps like this, we are able to strive for a healthier tomorrow,” said Centara Hotels & Resorts senior vice president – corporate affairs & social responsibilities Supatra Chirathivat.

Camellia Seed Oil will be introduced at select Centara properties in Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Samui, Phuket, Krabi, Udon Thani, and Mae Sot throughout April 2022.

Find out more about Centara at www.CentaraHotelsResorts.com

(Your Stories: Centara Hotels & Resorts)

Okura Nikko opens in Chonburi Thailand

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TTR WEEKLY
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TOKYO, 20 April 2022: Okura Nikko Hotel Management, a subsidiary of Hotel Okura Co Ltd, is accepting reservations for its latest addition Hotel Nikko Amata City Chonburi due to open on 1 June in the Amata City, Thailand complex.

The new hotel is located in Amata City Chonburi Industrial Estate, covering an area of approximately 4,000 hectares and is home to around 750 international companies, of which more than half are Japanese firms.

The property is also close to Amata Spring Country Club and a 45-minute car drive from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The hotel features 220 rooms and has three executive floors with an executive lounge. Other signature features include a Japanese restaurant, event space and a ballroom.

Hotel Okura Co Ltd, founded in 1958, opened its flagship Hotel Okura Tokyo in 1962 as a first-class hotel. It closed its doors in August 2015, and after a four-year remake, reopened as The Okura Tokyo in September 2019.

Okura Nikko Hotel Management Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Hotel Okura, operates 80 properties (54 in Japan and 26 overseas) encompassing some 24,525 guest rooms (as of 1 April  2022) under three hotel brands or groups: Okura Hotels & Resorts, Nikko Hotels International and Hotel JAL City.

Manila tops the Hot Spot list for Southeast Asia

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 20 April 2022: Manila, Philippines, is the top hot spot in Southeast Asia according to booking trends monitored by Travelport during the first quarter of the year.

A global technology company powering bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide released its latest trend data on Monday that identifies the top 10 hot spots in Southeast Asia that are gaining bookings as travel restrictions ease.

Manila came out top due to easy entry rules followed by Singapore. Thailand’s capital Bangkok, gained the third spot while booking trends placed the Thai beach resort Phuket in eighth place.

Travelport excluded Brunei and Myanmar from its booking data analysis. Both countries lagged far behind in easing restrictions, while Myanmar’s recovery remains a non-starter due to civil unrest and opposition to the ruling military junta following the 1 February 2021 coup.  

According to Travelport’s booking data, the top 10 destinations in Southeast Asia for international travellers to visit in 2022 are:

  • Manila (Philippines)
  • Singapore (Singapore)
  • Bangkok (Thailand)
  • Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)
  • Jakarta (Indonesia)
  • Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
  • Hanoi (Vietnam)
  • Phuket (Thailand)
  • Bali (Indonesia)
  • Angeles/Mabalacat (Philippines)

Travelport reports that for the first quarter of 2022, international flight bookings to Southeast Asia showed an upward trajectory with the Philippines taking the lead by regaining 42% of its international bookings when compared to the first quarter of 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Philippines and Thailand were among the earliest countries in Southeast Asia to ease border rules, although Thailand’s travel industry said more should have been done to streamline entry requirements. 

However, in the first quarter of 2022, these two countries alone represent over half (51%) of all international flight bookings to the region, according to Travelport findings.

The Philippines fully reopened its borders to vaccinated travellers on 10 February. Within a week of the announcement, international flight bookings to the country rose by 114%. By 28 February, the country saw a 294% increase in daily flight bookings.

Thailand reintroduced its Test & Go programme on 1 February, which required tourists to have a negative PCR test for entry and a subsequent antigen test on the fifth day of travel. In the 24 hours following that announcement, international flight bookings to Thailand grew by 37%. On 7 March, the Thai government further revised the measures, dropping the testing requirements on the fifth day. With that change, international flight bookings grew 128% compared to booking on the first announcement.

The top five countries travelling to Southeast Asia are the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea. Solo travellers made up 44% of international flight bookings for the first quarter of 2022.

About Travelport

Travelport is a global technology company that powers bookings for hundreds of thousands of travel suppliers worldwide. Headquartered in the UK it operates in more than 180 countries worldwide.

Sabah’s Rotary climbers on a mission

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TTR WEEKLY
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KOTA KINABALU, 20 April 2022: Thirty members of the Rotary Club will climb Mount Kinabalu this Friday as part of a charity mission to raise funds and awareness for polio.

Additionally, the climb should also see climbers setting a Rotary record by holding “the highest meeting” at the mountain’s summit during the climb.

The participating Rotarians are from Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, and Kuala Lumpur. The ascent of the second highest peak in Southeast Asia will commence on Friday, 22 April.

Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (left) received a copy of the ‘East Kinabalu: A Guide To The Eastern Part of Mount Kinabalu’ book from Dr Ravi Mandalam (right).

Last week, Kota Kinabalu Rotary Club member and the charity climb’s coordinator, Dr Ravi Mandalam, and senior Rotarian Datuk Abdullah Sibil, met with Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai to invite him to flag off the charity climb at a ceremony on 21 April.

Dr Ravi stated that most participants are first-time climbers and that Mount Kinabalu would be an excellent choice to start climbing endeavours while also promoting Sabah’s iconic charm.

The radiologist, who hails from India, is no stranger to Mount Kinabalu, having scaled the peak 56 times and written a book ‘East Kinabalu: A Guide To The Eastern Part of Mount Kinabalu.’

Dr Ravi, who has lived in Sabah for 28 years, stated at the meeting that the Rotary Club decided to climb Mount Kinabalu after learning about his experiences through his book.

“To me, Mount Kinabalu is the crown jewel of Sabah. It is the state’s treasure, a botanical paradise, and a biodiversity hotspot,” said Dr Ravi.

Meanwhile, Joniston stated that Mount Kinabalu is an iconic destination in Sabah and that many people have organised a climbing mission or charity climb to the peak for a good cause.

“It’s also an excellent way to introduce Sabah and our heritage mountain to Rotarians who have never been here or climbed the summit.

“Mount Kinabalu, in particular, is a popular destination for international climbers. With our international borders now open, we hope to see a resurgence of foreign climbers in addition to Malaysians,” he said.

During the meeting, Joniston received a copy of the East Kinabalu book, which Dr Ravi co-authored with two others.

For more information visit: https://www.sabahtourism.com/?locale=en

(Your Stories: Sabah Tourism Board)

Water Week accelerates Singapore’s climate action

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 20 April 2022: Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) and CleanEnviro Summit Singapore (CESG) opened on Monday at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, with Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu delivering the joint opening keynote address.

Fu emphasised the importance of global partnerships and innovation in tackling climate change and highlighted the actions that Singapore is taking towards its climate ambition and sustainability agenda through the Singapore Green Plan.

Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Singapore, delivered the opening address of the Singapore International Water Week and CleanEnviro Summit Singapore 2022.

“Singapore’s efforts to advance our sustainability agenda and grow our environment and water sectors are underpinned by partnerships with the rest of the world,” said Fu.

She added that “international events such as CESG and SIWW could play an important role in bringing together thought leaders, experts and practitioners from governments, academia, and industry to exchange ideas and co-create solutions.”

Following the opening ceremony, Fu officiated at the launch of the RSK Centre for Sustainability Excellence at SIWW’s Water Expo and witnessed the launch of Hyperscale, Asia’s inaugural waste-tech accelerator programme by StartupX at CESG.

The 9th Singapore International Water Week and the 5th CleanEnviro Summit Singapore are being held at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, until  21 April.

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