DUBAI UAE, 12 December 2024: Emirates will introduce a third nonstop service between Dubai and Melbourne, starting from 30 March 2025.
A newly retrofitted four-class Emirates Boeing 777-300ER, equipped with the airline’s award-winning Premium Economy product and latest generation Business class seats, will be assigned to the route.
The airline currently operates two nonstop daily flights between Dubai and Melbourne using four-class Airbus A380s and a daily flight that connects Dubai to Melbourne via Singapore with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Emirates’ operations between Singapore and Melbourne will cease on 30 March 2025, and the airline plans to operate the third direct Dubai-Melbourne flight and fourth Dubai-Singapore service with new flight numbers.*
Starting on 30 March 2025, the four-class Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft will be deployed on flights EK404/405 between Dubai and Melbourne. Emirates’ flight EK404 will depart from Dubai at 2115, arriving in Melbourne at 1740 the following day**. The return flight EK405 will depart Melbourne at 2355 and arrive in Dubai at 0700 the next day**.
The third daily nonstop flight also means customers have more convenient schedules and travel options via Dubai to 27 European cities served with multiple daily flights, including London, Paris, and Frankfurt.
Emirates’ latest refurbished Boeing 777 includes eight First Class Suites, 40 Business Class seats, 24 seats in Premium Economy, and 256 Economy Class seats. The latest introduction means Emirates’ Melbourne operations will be supported by the airline’s next-generation products.
Emirates’ Premium Economy cabins were named ‘Best in Class’s class at the 2024 Business Traveller, Asia-Pacific awards. The cream leather seats with six-way adjustable headrests boast a 38-inch pitch and are 19.5 inches wide, reclining 8 inches for more space, stretching and relaxing.
The airline’s 20.7-inch-wide Business Class seat converts to a flatbed and reclines up to 78.6 inches. Every customer has aisle access with the four-abreast layout. Customers can also enjoy their own personal mini-bar, table for dining or working, multiple charging outlets for personal devices and a 23-inch HD screen, one of the biggest in the skies. The Emirates Boeing 777 Business Class cabin will also include a small bar for customers to quickly grab mid-flight snacks and refreshments.
With the upcoming deployment of Emirates’ four-class Boeing 777 aircraft to and from Melbourne, the airline will offer 3,472 weekly Premium Economy seats across Melbourne and Sydney, enabling more travellers to experience its best-in-class features and upgraded amenities.
Emirates restores pre-pandemic Australia capacity
Emirates has also reinstated its second Perth service from 1 December and now offers nearly 12,000 weekly seats to and from the city, offering additional connections to popular points like London, Dublin, Rome and Edinburgh. The second Perth service will strengthen trade links between Western Australia and the wider world.
Emirates’ flight EK424 departs Dubai at 0915, arriving in Perth at 0010. Emirates’ return flight EK425 departs Perth at 0600, arriving in Dubai at 1310**. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft offers 354 seats across three cabins, with eight First Class Suites, 42 Business Class seats and 304 seats in Economy Class.
On 28 October, Emirates reinstated its Adelaide services, helping drive visitation to South Australia from Dubai and key inbound markets across its network.
The airline now operates 77 weekly services to and from five Australian gateways – Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. Emirates’ progressive and measured resumption of operations to and from Australia provide frictionless connectivity through multiple daily services across its gateways, boosting tourism development, fuelling economic activity and attracting business investment.
* Affected customers holding bookings on Emirates’ Singapore-Melbourne route will be offered alternative travel arrangements or a full refund.
**All times are local. For more information and to book flights, visit: www.emirates.com.
SINGAPORE, 12 December 2024: Ponant has officially kicked off its New Zealand sailing season aboard two luxury expedition vessels, Le Soléal and its Explorer class vessel, Le Jacques Cartier, for her inaugural season in New Zealand waters.
Until March 2025, the ships will embark on eight departures, visiting 23 ports of call, offering guests an opportunity to “discover the hidden treasures of New Zealand as well as two epic sailings down to East Antarctica from Dunedin”.
Le Soléal kicked off the season on 3 December, starting with two expeditions sailing south to explore New Zealand’s remote subantarctic islands. Destination experts, including ornithologists, join guests on visits to the wildlife sanctuaries of Campbell Island, the Snares, and Australia’s Macquarie Island.
Continuing north from Dunedin to Auckland on a New Year’s cruise, Le Soléal sails a 15-night journey from the South Island to the North Island featuring the fjord region with time spent venturing through Doubtful, Milford and Dusky Sounds, as well as visit to new port of call Oban on Stewart Island, before heading north to Akaroa, Kaikoura, Wellington, the Bay of Islands and finally, Auckland.
Joining Le Soléal this year, Le Jacques Cartier, Ponant’s Explorer-series vessel, with just 92 staterooms and suites, embarks on her inaugural season in New Zealand waters.
Sailing from Tasmania, Australia, on 2 January, Le Jacques Cartier will explore New Zealand’s North and South Islands before embarking on a new, 15-night voyage from Auckland, New Zealand, to Cairns, Australia, on 25 January, with highlights including the Bay of Islands region, Norfolk Island, and Vanuatu.
In February 2025, Ponant will venture further south, offering a 21-night expedition to Antarctica on a Dunedin roundtrip aboard Le Soléal. Guests will follow in the footsteps of legendary explorers on a polar adventure, venturing into the frozen wilderness of Antarctica. Lecturer and guide Jonathan Shackleton, a descendant of Sir Ernest Shackleton and Lucy Scott, great-granddaughter of Captain Robert Falcon Scott, will join the expedition cruise.
CHIANG RAI, Thailand: Friends of Thai Daughters (FTD) invites sports enthusiasts to participate in a “Pickle & Pedal Fundraising Tour”, a unique, eight-day journey through the breathtaking landscapes of Northern Thailand, 18 to 25 January 2025.
The event celebrates 20 years of FTD’s mission to prevent child trafficking and offers an opportunity to fundraise to support the NGO’s work in northern Thailand to end trafficking.
More than an Adventure
This event supports FTD’s life-changing work with young women at risk of trafficking. Each participant is encouraged to fundraise USD2,000, with full support provided by FTD to help them reach the goal. Proceeds will directly benefit programmes that empower and protect young women, providing them with brighter futures.
Limited to 20 places, the event combines cycling and pickleball with an inspiring cause.
What to Expect
Attendees will enjoy the following activities for USD1,999 per person (double occupancy).
Scenic Cycling Tours: Ride through the verdant hills of the Golden Triangle, with routes designed for all skill levels and a support van for added comfort.
Pickleball Matches: Engage in friendly matches, with opportunities to coach FTD’s Thai Daughters.
Luxury Accommodations: Stay at five-star resorts, including Le Méridien Chiang Rai, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort and Visama Mae Chan
Exclusive Experiences: Sunset cruises on the Mekong River. Visits to FTD’s Jasmine and Sunflower Farms. A heartwarming walk with rescued elephants. Thai cooking classes and culinary delights.
Social Gatherings: BBQs, cocktail parties, and a visit to Chiang Rai’s Night Bazaar. The programme culminates with a night at Visama Mae Chan, cocktails, and a barbecue at the Ambalama fireside social hub.
Who Can Join?
Whether you’re a seasoned athlete, a casual explorer, or simply seeking meaningful travel, there’s something for everyone:
– Cyclists can tackle routes averaging 31–37 miles (50-60kms) daily. – Picklers can choose to open-play or join matches tailored to all levels.
Register Now
Spots are limited! Secure your place in this transformative journey by registering here. Further information: Friends of Thai Daughters
SINGAPORE, 12 December 2024: Air Canada will introduce direct flights between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) in the Philippines on 2 April 2025, making it the airline’s 12 destinations in Asia Pacific and the first destination in the Philippines.
The announcement was made last week during the Government of Canada’s Team Canada Trade Mission visiting the Philippines to celebrate 75 years of Canada-Philippines diplomatic relations.
Air Canada promotes its Vancouver- Manila flights, starting 2 April 2025, with a Facebook post this week: “Soar to Manila with our year-round flight.”
This new year-round service to Manila is Air Canada’s third Southeast Asia destination after Singapore and Bangkok.
Initially, the airline has scheduled four weekly flights* between Vancouver (YVR) and Manila (MNL) using the 297-seat Dreamliner 787-900s configured with Signature Class with lie-flat seats, premium economy and economy class.
Flights between Canada and Manila opened for bookings on 5 December on aircanada.com, through Air Canada’s contact centres, and via travel agents. Bookings on flights between Manila and Canada will open later.
Air Canada will face stiff competition from Philippine Airlines, established as the sole airline on the Manila-Vancouver route and offering daily services with a 393-seat Boeing 777-300.
The average fare on the route served exclusively by PAL is currently USD1,760.
Manila Flight Schedule**
*Subject to final government approvals **Flight schedules are subject to change
SINGAPORE, 12 December 2025: Scott Dunn, a global luxury travel specialist with offices in Singapore, points to its What’s Hot for 2025, identifying trending destinations worldwide.
“2025 is all about delving deeper and travelling slower’, is the overarching message from Scott Dunn. “With new and exciting travel trends on the rise, we’ve been busy exploring all the latest insights to bring you the hottest ideas for where you should go.”
Photo credit: Scott Dunn. Where next? 2025 trending travel.
Remote experiences
Underpinned by a growing interest in remote experiences, Scott Dunn points to guests being more eager than ever to step out of their comfort zone and use travel as a medium for discovery.
One of the key benefits of exploring uncharted regions is the pristine, untouched landscapes, and this has been evident in the increased interest in Australia’s Northern Territory’s evocative scenery, dramatic rock formations and waterfalls, as well as the opportunity to learn from the region’s Aboriginal communities; the oldest, continuous living culture on earth.
Safari seasonality shift
Scott Dunn has witnessed the peak safari travel month shift from December to March as affordability and unreliable weather render seasonality less relevant than ever.
According to Scott Dunn’s Senior Africa Travel Specialist Matt Shock: “I’ve been in the safari industry for over a decade, and with shifting climate patterns affecting seasonality, I’ve found that travelling during less popular months can be just as incredible, if not more so. Plus, it’s often more affordable and less crowded, making for a unique and memorable experience.”
Rise in all-inclusive stays
Bookings for all-inclusive hotels rose by 24%, while room-only bookings fell by 20% as travellers increasingly opt to pay in advance and avoid any unexpected bills at check-out. Luxury all-inclusive properties go beyond the typical ‘fly and flop’ beach hotel to encompass everything from safari camps and remote lodges to cruise journeys and wellness retreats.
Destinations to watch
Morocco’s Imperial Cities
Following the September 2023 earthquake in the Atlas mountains, Scott Dunn’s Charlotte Brook, Destination Manager for Morocco, emphasises the importance of supporting the country’s resilient communities: “With tourism so integral to Morocco’s economy, conveying the message ‘it’s safe to travel here’ is imperative”.
Islands of East Africa
Scott Dunn predicts an exciting year for the islands of East Africa, with the opening of newly renovated andBeyond Mnemba Island in Zanzibar and Voaara in Madagascar, as well as Aqua Expeditions’ new luxury yacht due to set sail around the Seychelles’ remote Aldabra islands next December.
The Seychelles will be more accessible than ever in 2025, with four international airlines resuming direct routes to the islands, including a four-times-weekly Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul. Emirates also fly four times per week from Dubai to Antananarivo in Madagascar via the Seychelles.
Australia’s North West
According to Ellen Fraser, Senior Travel Specialist for Australia and Asia: “The Kimberley and the Northern Territory are redefining Australia’s tourism landscape. Isolated yet beautiful, these special regions offer a new perspective to the classic trip ‘down under’”.
Fraser recommends the Paspaley Pearl boutique expedition cruise by Ponant, which sails through The Kimberley and is hosted by expert naturalist guides.
Southwest China
Scott Dunn has seen major growth in bookings to China, up 400% globally and 125% in the Asia market alone in 2024, as guests are increasingly looking for alternatives to Japan. Yunnan is a “melting pot of ancient history, rich cultures and spectacular natural beauty.”
Scandinavian Summer
‘Coolcationing’ continues to influence travel, recording a 26% rise in bookings for Finland and Norway travel this past summer. The allure of temperatures in the mid-20s, a weakened currency against the sterling, and fewer tourists leads Delphine Combes, Destination Manager for Northern Europe, to confirm that “Scandinavian summer is not just a passing trend, but now a perennial favourite.”
European Islands: Sardinia & Lanzarote
Josh Peacock, Regional Destination Manager, has Sardinia on his radar: “The island is a sleeping beauty awakened, with a host of new luxury hotel openings, including Cheval Blanc’s new Pitrizza, and Rocco Forte’s Porto Cervo, set to open in 2026”.
Lanzarote, renowned for its year-round warm weather, beaches and volcanic landscape, is another destination to watch next year as it follows suit with exciting new hotel openings.
Greenland’s High Arctic
‘Eclipse chasing’ has grown in popularity, with travellers venturing across the globe to experience these rare celestial events. Looking ahead, we predict Greenland’s High Arctic will be the new cool-cation hotspot, with the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse visible from the region’s remote, light-pollution-free shores.
Baja California Sur Peninsula
Demand for Mexico has jumped 18% in Scott Dunn’s Asia market this year, driven mainly by couples and groups of friends seeking a mix of adventure, great food, and cultural immersion all in one trip. For more information on Scott Dunn travel trends 2025 and the focused destinations visit: Scott Dunn travel trends 2025
SINGAPORE, 12 December 2024: Pakistan International Airlines will resume its Paris service on 10 January 2025, with twice-weekly flights from Islamabad after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted an EU-wide ban in place since 2020.
PIA announced its decision to resume flights to Paris in a statement on its Facebook account: “We are thrilled to announce that EASA has officially lifted the ban on Pakistan International Airlines, which is a significant milestone enabling the airline to resume flights to Europe.”
First reported by Reuters on 6 December, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Britain retracted a ban on Pakistan’s national flag carrier imposed in 2020 due to safety concerns following an air crash in Karachi.
The EU aviation regulator withdrew PIA’s permission to operate in the region after Pakistan began probing a scandal over the validity of pilots’ licences in the aftermath of a plane crash that killed 97 people.
Initially, PIA will fly to Paris every Friday and Saturday. PIA said in a press statement that flights will later increase based on passenger demand.
The airline will deploy a Boeing 777-200 with 320 seats on the Islamabad-Paris route. The roundtrip fare starts at USD981, quoted by PIA’s website (Skyscanner search).
Flight schedule
Flight PK749 departs Islamabad (ISB) at 1130 and arrives in Paris (CDG) at 1555. Flight PK750 departs Paris (CDG) at 1755 and arrives in Islamabad (ISB) at 0630 (plus a day)
“We have got approval for the first flight’s schedule we had filed,” PIA spokesperson Abdullah Hafeez Khan was quoted by Reuters, adding that the airline opened bookings on 9 December.
According to the Reuters report PIA will approach Britain’s Department for Transport (DfT) for permission to resume routes to the UK. Once cleared by the DfT, he added that London, Manchester, and Birmingham would be priority destinations. The EU and UK ban cost the loss-making airline 40 billion rupees (USD144 million) annually in revenue.
SINGAPORE, 12 December 2024: Profitability will strengthen slightly for airlines during 2025 amid ongoing cost and supply chain challenges, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports in its latest financial outlook for the global airline industry.
2025 standouts
Net profits should reach USD36.6 billion in 2025, representing a 3.6% net profit margin. That is a slight improvement from the expected USD31.5 billion net profit in 2024 (3.3% net profit margin). The average net profit per passenger is expected to be USD7.0 (below the USD7.9 high in 2023 but an improvement from USD6.4 in 2024).
Operating profit in 2025 will total USD67.5 billion for a net operating margin of 6.7% (improved from 6.4% expected in 2024).
The return on invested capital (ROIC) for the global industry is expected to be 6.8% in 2025. This is an improvement from the 2024 ROIC of 6.6%; the global industry returns remain below the weighted average cost of capital. ROIC is the strongest for airlines in Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, where it did exceed the cost of capital.
Total industry revenues should reach USD1.007 trillion. That is an increase of 4.4% from 2024 and will be the first time that industry revenues top the USD1 trillion mark. Expenses are expected to grow by 4.0% to USD940 billion.
Passenger numbers are expected to reach 5.2 billion in 2025, a 6.7% rise compared to 2024 and the first time that the number of passengers has exceeded the five billion mark.
Cargo volumes are expected to reach 72.5 million tonnes, a 5.8% increase from 2024.
“We’re expecting airlines to deliver a global profit of USD36.6 billion in 2025. This will be hard-earned as airlines take advantage of lower oil prices while keeping load factors above 83%, tightly controlling costs, investing in decarbonisation, and managing the return to more normal growth levels following the extraordinary pandemic recovery. All these efforts will help mitigate several drags on profitability outside of airlines’ control, namely persistent supply chain challenges, infrastructure deficiencies, onerous regulation, and a rising tax burden,” said IATA’s Director General Willie Walsh.
“In 2025, industry revenues will exceed USD1 trillion for the first time. It’s also important to put that into perspective. A trillion dollars is a lot—almost 1% of the global economy. That makes airlines a strategically important industry. But remember that airlines carry USD940 billion in costs, not to mention interest and taxes. They retain a net profit margin of just 3.6%. Put another way, the buffer between profit and loss, even in the good year that we are expecting in 2025, is just USD7 per passenger. With margins that thin, airlines must continue to watch every cost and insist on similar efficiency across the supply chain—especially from our monopoly infrastructure suppliers who all too often let us down on performance and efficiency,” said Walsh.
IATA highlighted the broad benefits of growing connectivity. The most recent estimates show that airline employment is expected to grow to 3.3 million in 2025. Airlines are the core of a global aviation value chain that employs 86.5 million people and generates USD4.1 trillion in economic impact, accounting for 3.9% of global GDP (2023 figures). Connectivity is an economic catalyst for growth in nearly all industries.
Outlook Drivers
Financial performance is expected to improve in 2025 due to lower jet fuel prices and efficiency gains. However, forced capacity discipline resulting from unresolved supply chain issues is holding back further increases. This limits growth opportunities and drives up several cost areas, including aircraft leasing and maintenance.
Net profitability will also be squeezed as airlines are expected to exhaust their tax loss carryovers from the pandemic era, leading to an increase in tax rates in 2025.
Revenue
Revenues are expected to grow by 4.4% to USD1.007 trillion in 2025. Passenger Revenues are expected to reach USD705 billion (70% of total revenue) in 2025, with an additional $145 billion (14.4% of total revenues) from ancillary services. Travel continues to become more affordable as the passenger yield is expected to fall by 3.4% (ticket and ancillaries). Unit revenues are expected to fall by a more moderate 2.5%.
Seen a different way, the average airfare in 2025, including ancillaries, is expected to be $380, 1.8% lower than in 2024. In real terms (adjusted for inflation), that represents a 44% drop compared to 2014, indicating that significant value is being passed to consumers in the industry’s continued effort to improve efficiency.
Passenger demand (RPKs) is expected to grow by 8.0% in 2025, which is ahead of a 7.1% expected expansion of capacity (ATK). Aircraft departures are forecast to reach 40 million, an increase of 4.6% from 2024, and the average passenger load factor is anticipated at 83.4%, up 0.4 percentage points from 2024.
Costs
Costs are expected to grow by 4.0% to USD940 billion in 2025.
Non-fuel: Higher costs were seen across the board in 2024, outside of fuel, putting pressure on margins. Key cost issues included intense salary pressure and one-off expenses related to several airline employee strikes in 2024. Additionally, aircraft groundings and an ageing global fleet have sharply increased maintenance costs. Overall non-fuel unit costs rose 1.3% in 2024 for a total of USD643 billion. Non-fuel unit cost increases in 2025 are expected to be limited to 0.5%, reaching USD692 billion.
The largest of the non-fuel costs is labour. In 2025, labour costs are expected to total $253 billion, up 7.6% from 2024. With productivity gains, however, average labour unit costs are likely to rise by only 0.5% in 2025 compared to 2024. The airline labour force is anticipated to rise by 4% to 3.3 million people.
Fuel: Jet fuel prices fell to USD70/barrel in September 2024 for the first time since the start of the Russia-Ukraine War. In 2025, jet fuel is expected to average USD87/barrel (down from USD99/barrel in 2024), based on a jet fuel crack spread of USD12 per barrel and a crude oil price of USD75/barrel (Brent). As a result, airlines’ cumulative fuel spend is expected to be USD248 billion, a decline of 4.8% despite a 6% rise in the amount of fuel expected to be consumed (107 billion gallons). Fuel is expected to account for 26.4% of operating costs in 2025, down from 28.9% in 2024.
The cost of compliance with CORSIA (purchasing carbon credits) started to be realised in 2024 and is estimated at USD700 million, rising to USD1 billion in 2025. The costs for the limited quantities of sustainable aviation fuel available are expected to add USD3.8 billion to industry fuel costs in 2025, up from USD1.7 billion in 2024.
Risks
With strong geopolitical and economic uncertainties, the most significant risks to the industry outlook include:
Conflict: A worsening of prospects should the wars in Europe and the Middle East spread. Conversely, achieving peace in either conflict is likely to have a positive impact, particularly in the case of the Russia-Ukraine War.
Trump Administration: The incoming Trump Administration in the US brings several significant uncertainties. Tariffs and trade wars would likely dampen air cargo demand and potentially impact business travel. Should these policies rekindle inflation with higher interest rates as a policy response, negative impacts on demand would be exacerbated. However, should the business-friendly stance of the first Trump administration continue into this term, gains from deregulation and business simplification could be significant. There is uncertainty regarding government support for aviation’s decarbonisation efforts in the US until the new administration’s path becomes clearer.
Oil Prices: Lower oil prices and fuel costs are a major driver of improved airline prospects in 2025. Should these not materialise for any reason, considering the industry’s thin margins, the outlook could change significantly.
Regional Roundup
All regions are expected to show improved financial performance in 2025 as compared to 2024, and all regions are expected to deliver a collective net profit in both 2024 and 2025. Profitability, however, varies widely by carrier and by region. For example, the collective net profit margin of African airlines is expected to be the weakest at 0.9% while carriers in the Middle East are most likely to be the strongest at 8.2%.
Asia Pacific is the largest market in terms of RPK, with China accounting for over 40% of the region’s traffic. In 2024, RPKs grew by 18.6%, fueled in part by market stimulus from visa requirement relaxations for entry to several countries, including China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. Chinese carriers reported net losses in the first half of 2024 due to supply chain issues, over-supply in the domestic market, and a limitation of 100 weekly frequencies from China to the US (a third lower than pre-pandemic). Asia-Pacific has also experienced the sharpest drop in yields in 2024. Thanks to strong demand and increasing load factors, a slight improvement in profitability is likely in 2025.
Samui, Thailand, 11 December 2024: Centara Reserve Samui, the first in Centara’s curated luxury collection of hotels in Thailand, will celebrate its third anniversary this December.
It has achieved a remarkable milestone — Winning 12 prestigious awards and nominations in two luxury categories in just one year.
Since its grand opening in December 2021, the resort has set new standards in personalised, design-led hospitality, delivering extraordinary experiences that have captured the hearts of discerning travellers worldwide.
Award-Winning Excellence
Centara Reserve Samui has garnered several prestigious awards in just three years, cementing its status as one of Thailand’s leading luxury resorts. The accolades include:
No. 7 of Thailand’s Beach Island Resorts – Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau’s Luxury Awards 2024
Best Luxury Island Resort in Ko Samui, Thailand – Luxury Lifestyle Awards
Best Wedding Hotel Destination – AROUND Awards
Best Lifestyle Hotel – Koh Samui – TTG Travel Awards 2024
Recommended Restaurant – Sa-Nga – Restaurant Guru
No.1 for Luxury for Centara Reserve Samui – Smart Travel Asia Awards 2024
Top Producing Hotel in Koh Samui & Top Revenue Generations Awards – Trip.com
Best of the Best 2024 – Centara Reserve Samui – Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards
Travellers’ Choice Awards 2024 for Salt Society Beach Bar & Kitchen – Tripadvisor
Nominations in two luxury categories, including Best Resort in Thailand by the DestinAsian Readers’ Choice Awards and People’s Choice of the Year – Hotels & Retreats by Destination Deluxe Awards.
These awards reflect the resort’s dedication to curating unforgettable experiences and setting a new benchmark in luxury hospitality in Thailand and beyond.
A New Era in Luxury Hospitality
Nestled in a serene seafront location at the tranquil end of Chaweng Beach, Centara Reserve Samui introduced a new concept of bespoke luxury escapes. Crafted for travellers who seek meaningful experiences in exclusive settings, the resort tells the story of its destination through its design, service, and immersive experiences. Through the vision of renowned design firm AvroKO, the property seamlessly blends colonial inspiration with traditional Thai woodcraft and contemporary elegance.
From the moment guests enter the light-filled lobby adorned with handcrafted wooden lighting to the spacious suites and pool villas featuring white-washed oak and intricately carved wood details, every corner of the resort exudes sophistication. Outside, alfresco pavilions and living areas frame stunning ocean views, providing a serene backdrop for relaxation and reflection.
The resort also offers six extraordinary culinary journeys, all with diverse dining experiences across three distinctive venues. Salt Society Beach Bar & Kitchen is the island’s bespoke destination, offering a chic, laid-back vibe with fresh seafood, handcrafted cocktails, and unmissable Sunday Brunches set against a backdrop of spectacular oceanfront views. Encapsulating Samui’s laidback ambience is relaxed piazza-style dining at The Terrace, where comfort food from around the world is on the menu. Sa-Nga, meaning “elegant” in Thai, presents Thai tapas with a modern twist crafted by master chefs from an open kitchen. For the ultimate steakhouse experience, Act 5 – The Grill showcases imported meats, premium Thai Wagyu beef, and fresh seafood grilled to perfection in KOPA ovens, delivering signature smoky flavours in an intimate setting. For gin connoisseurs, then The Gin Run, with over 35 house-blended gins, is the place to be for an immersive experience and personalised gin-based cocktails made by our resident mixologist, while the Pool Bar is the ideal place to soak up the picturesque island vibes in-water and poolside with refined refreshments, creative cocktails and light bites. Or if it’s a night relaxing in your luxury villa, then the Kitchen Table menu offers an extensive range of international cuisines.
These venues, along with the resort’s other culinary offerings, create memorable dining moments rooted in local flavours and luxurious settings, making every meal a celebration of Samui’s finest produce.
Wellbeing is also at the heart of Centara Reserve Samui where the world’s first Reserve Spa Cenvaree is a serene sanctuary that boasts its own Organic Herb Garden, where skilled therapists escort guests to personally select and handpick their treatment ingredients, which are then blended and infused in oils and clays for their own inspiring spa journeys that pamper and cultivate a deep sense of wellbeing.
With seven treatment rooms complete with steam and sauna facilities, the 100% organic spa menu includes body treatments, scrubs and wraps accompanied by healthy snacks and organic drinks. Spa Cenvaree is a multi-award-winning operator delivering exceptional spa journeys inspired by traditional Thai healing with over 35 spas in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Dubai, UAE, 11 December 2024: Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has announced plans to deploy its retrofitted Boeing 777 on flights EK125/126 between Dubai and Vienna starting from 3 January 2025. This will make Vienna the fourth city in the airline’s European network to receive its enhanced, four-class Boeing 777 aircraft.
Emirates’ flight EK125 departs from Dubai at 1540 and arrives in Vienna at 1850. The return flight EK126 departs from Vienna at 2145 and arrives in Dubai at 0625 the following day. All times are local.
Tickets can be booked on emirates.com, the Emirates App, or via both online and offline travel agents as well as at Emirates retail stores.
Emirates’ latest products
With the introduction of the retrofitted Boeing 777 on flights to Vienna, Emirates will further serve the city with its best-in-class products, including its award-winning Premium Economy, refreshed interiors, and enhanced cabins across other classes. The four-class Boeing 777 features 8 First Class suites, 40 Business Class seats in 1-2-1 configuration, 24 spacious Premium Economy seats and 256 ergonomically designed Economy seats.
On a four-class Boeing 777 aircraft, the 24 Premium Economy seats are arranged in a 2-4-2 layout with 6-way adjustable headrests for added comfort and space – making it an ideal choice for both business and leisure travellers.
The new Emirates Boeing 777 Business Class is inspired by the fresh, open and contemporary design elements of Emirates’ iconic A380 experience, featuring soft leather cream seats accented with champagne trim, lighter wood panelling, a mini-bar, and other technology touches that deliver an elegant and engaging experience. The 40 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration ensures every customer has direct access to the aisle. Seats convert to a spacious flatbed, which reclines up to 78.6 inches. The Business Class seat’s 23-inch HD screen, one of the biggest in the skies, helps deliver the ultimate in-flight entertainment experience.
As part of Emirates’ largest known fleet retrofit project, the airline has so far rolled out 10 upgraded Boeing 777 aircraft into service, currently flying to Geneva, Zurich, Brussels, Haneda, Riyadh, Kuwait, Dammam and Chicago.
Emirates currently serves Austria with two daily flights operated by a mix of Boeing 777s and A380s, offering over 1,000 daily seats between Dubai and Vienna. The airline has recently celebrated 20 years of operations in Austria, having launched its services to Vienna in 2004 and so far carried more than 5 Million passengers on over 20,500 flights between Vienna and Dubai, as well as beyond across the airline’s global network.
SINGAPORE, 11 December, 2024: Regent Seven Seas Cruises has unveiled its new branding with a bold ‘Unrivalled at Sea’ tagline.
In addition, Regent launched its ‘Nobody Does It Better’ global brand campaign on 5 December across marketing and sales channels, including print and digital advertising, social media and connected TV.
Photo credit: Regent Seven Seas.
Unrivalled at Sea: A bold new brand positioning, Regent’s new tagline, ‘Unrivalled at Sea’, along with its new logo and black and white brand colours are bold and striking, allowing its new creative to be distinct, standing out in the cruise line’s competitor set.
Nobody Does It Better: A global brand campaign, Regent’s global brand marketing campaign, ‘Nobody Does It Better’, launches with a captivating film that tells the story of a couple who are cared for and pampered from the very start of their voyage.
“Over the past few years, we have embarked on a bold journey of transformation in our product, marketing and messaging, providing our guests with more flexibility, choice and personalisation to fit their definitions of luxury while also repositioning Regent to stand out in an ever more competitive ultra-luxury cruise landscape,” said Regent Seven Seas Cruises Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer Jessica John.
One standout feature, the All Inclusive Fare, was identified in Regent’s research that led to the creation of the new fare category officially launched in July 2024.
The All-Inclusive Fare offers guests inclusions throughout their cruise, such as unlimited shore excursions, speciality dining and premium beverage options, valet laundry service, and gratuities.
