BANGKOK, 28 January 2025: Minor Hotels is officially the first major international hotel company to partner with Fliggy’s brand-new booking platform, ‘Global Discovery’.
Fliggy, an online travel platform and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alibaba Group, fields an extensive portfolio of accommodation options and experiences in the Chinese travel market.
Minor Hotels and Fliggy Agreement Signing (Left to Right): Jackie Lu, Senior Key Account Manager of Fliggy; Peggy Zhang, Director of Revenue & Distribution of Minor Hotels China; Melody Tsai, China Regional Commercial Director of Minor Hotels; lan Di Tullio, Chief Commercial Officer of Minor Hotels; Zoran Zhuang, CEO of Fliggy; Johnny Zhou, VP of Fliggy & GM of Fliggy Overseas Hotels; Thomas Deng, Head of Fliggy GC & Long-Haul Destinations; Chloe Sun, Head of Fliggy Long-Haul Destinations
The agreement allows Minor Hotels to feature over 80,000 rooms across its eight brands — Anantara, Avani, Elewana Collection, NH, NH Collection, nhow, Oaks, and Tivoli — on the new ‘Global Discovery’ platform with the same rates as posted on Minor Hotels’ websites.
The agreement will also tap into Fliggy’s digital ecosystem in the Chinese market, leveraging its digital marketing capabilities to enhance the reach of Minor Hotels’ brands in China.
Minor Hotels operates four hotels in China in partnership with Funyard Hotels & Resorts, with another 12 in the pipeline.
Dubai UAE, 28 January 2025: Emirates will restart services to Beirut, Lebanon, from 1 February 2025 with a daily flight. The airline will also reinstate daily services to Baghdad in Iraq, on the same day.
From February, Emirates’ daily flights to Beirut’s Rafic Al Hariri International Airport will be served by a Boeing 777-300ER in three classes. Each week, the airline will offer more than 5,000 seats both ways and add more choice, increased comfort, and enhanced connectivity from Beirut to Dubai and onwards to its network of more than 140 destinations.
From 1 April 2025, the airline will scale up operations and layer on a second daily service to Beirut with the addition of a morning service, EK957/958, which will also operate with a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in three classes.
The airline serves Beirut and Baghdad with the following schedule (all times local).
Beirut: From 1 February, Emirates will operate daily on EK953 and EK954.
EK953 departs Dubai at 1130, arriving in Beirut at 1400. The return flight, EK954, leaves Beirut at 1530, arriving in Dubai at 2120.
From 1 April, Emirates’ second daily service EK 957 takes off at 0730, arriving in Beirut at 1030. EK958 departs Beirut at 1205, arriving in Dubai at 1655.
Baghdad: Emirates’ daily flights to Baghdad will be served by a Boeing 777 aircraft. On Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, EK 941 will depart Dubai at 0805, arriving in Baghdad at 0950.
EK 942 will then take off at 1125, landing in Dubai at 1435. On Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, EK943 will depart Dubai at 1300, arriving in Baghdad at 1425. EK944 leaves Baghdad at 1555, arriving in Dubai at 1910.
For more information or to book flights, visit emirates.com. Tickets can also be booked on Emirates App, Emirates Retail stores, Emirates contact centre, or via travel agents.
PATTAYA, 28 January 2025: Following Christmas and New Year celebrations, the festive season extends through January & February, bringing two of the most anticipated celebrations of the year: Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day.
These special occasions offer the perfect opportunity for family gatherings that create lasting memories.
Chinese New Year Feast – A Family Celebration (30-31 January 2025)
Start the year with a memorable gathering at Huang Chao Restaurant on 31 January 2025, where Royal Cliff has prepared four specially crafted set menus to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Feast on traditional favourites like Roasted Duck with Honey, Shark Fin Soup, and Wok-Fried Wagyu Beef, complemented by delicious desserts like Gingko in Coconut Cream Soup or Chilled Sago Cantaloupe in Coconut Syrup. Each set menu is designed to serve two to three people, making it the perfect choice for families and friends to enjoy a taste of tradition together.
For those who want to explore an even wider variety of Chinese dishes, Panorama Restaurant invites you to their Chinese New Year Buffet on 30 January 2025 from 1730 onwards. Indulge in an impressive array of dishes, including Crackling Pork Belly, Roasted Chinese Duck, Pork Ribs in Hong Kong Style, and Shrimp Shao Mai. Don’t forget to try the Hot and Sour Szechuan Soup to kick off your meal, followed by an assortment of decadent desserts and homemade ice creams to satisfy your sweet cravings.
Valentine’s Day – A Romantic Dinner by the Sea (14 February 2025)
Two weeks later, celebrate Valentine’s Day by the poolside, with the ocean as your backdrop and a stunning sunset to set the mood. This year, Royal Cliff’s Valentine’s Dinner theme is “An Evening in Venice.” Let the timeless beauty of Venice sweep you away as the soft glow of candlelight, the sound of gentle water, and gondola-shaped centrepieces create a dreamy, intimate atmosphere. Every detail—from shimmering gold accents to whimsical Venetian masks—sets the stage for a truly enchanting 5-course dining experience.
Delight in the flavours of a specially curated menu featuring an exquisite selection of dishes such as Herb-Crusted Australian Lamb Rack, Grilled Wagyu Beef Tenderloin with Foie Gras, or a vegetarian option of Over-Baked Layered Eggplant. Each dish is crafted to make this night special for you and your loved one.
Whether you’re welcoming the Lunar New Year with family or sharing a romantic evening with someone special, Royal Cliff’s exclusive dining experiences are designed to make these moments unforgettable. Seats are limited, so be sure to reserve your spot today.
Celebrate love, tradition, and togetherness at Royal Cliff — where every meal is a memory in the making.
HONG KONG, 28 January 2025: SITA, a global leader in air transport technology, and Cathay Pacific signal a significant milestone with an agreement that supports a substantial increase in network bandwidth at airports, improving current capacity by up to five times while maintaining cost efficiency.
This initiative aligns with Cathay Pacific’s strategic direction of increasing the adoption of Cloud applications while ensuring optimal performance for legacy systems.
Photo credit: Cathay Pacific.
Cathay Pacific was an early adopter of the original SITA Connect solution, and this renewed agreement demonstrates confidence in SITA as it moves to the newly launched SITA Connect Go service.
This new collaboration will provide Cathay Pacific with enhanced network connectivity across 51 global airports through the SITA Connect Go at Airports product. This product will combine dual Internet connectivity to provide bandwidth up to 300 Mbps. The new contract includes a planned 12-month design, build, test, and implementation period to cover all airports involved in the project.
SITA Connect Go will facilitate a substantial bandwidth increase of up to five times the current capacity. This improvement will ensure enhanced efficiency and connectivity while maintaining cost optimisation. Using the new SITA airport infrastructure will allow Cathay Pacific to continue its smooth transition to Cloud applications, enhancing overall operational efficiency and scalability.
Connect Go also includes three Gateways designed to ensure optimal performance for legacy applications. These gateways facilitate the continued use of existing systems while achieving improved performance and connectivity globally.
“This agreement with Cathay Pacific is a true testament to how we are able to help airlines maximise their network infrastructures, which are key for their ongoing operations. The fact that Cathay Pacific was one of our first clients for SITA Connect and is now one of the first adopters of SITA Connect Go is a clear sign that our technology is delivering valuable results. Airlines and airport networks in APAC are facing challenges with legacy network infrastructure. SITA Connect Go offers a robust, scalable, and secure SD-WAN platform to meet the need for the growing bandwidth demand and helps airlines shift their focus towards their customers,” said SITA Asia President Asia Pacific Sumesh Patel.
“Airlines worldwide have a clear need for strong and robust airport infrastructure so that we can centre our attention on providing the optimal passenger experience,” Cathay Pacific IT Infrastructure and Security General Manager Rajeev Nair noted. “SITA Connect has been helping us deliver efficient operations at airports for several years, and we are confident that this renewed partnership with SITA will allow us to significantly increase the network capacity of our existing network and most cost-effectively.”
The implementation phase started in April 2024 and should be completed in Q2 2025 and become fully operational across 51 airports simultaneously.
SYDNEY Australia, 28 January 2025: The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) reports the latest statistics for the ATIA Accreditation scheme to underscore the rigorous standards and robust processes that maintain ATIA Accreditation as the gold standard in the travel industry.
The November and December 2024 figures reflect the stringent criteria ATIA-accredited businesses must meet to ensure the highest level of consumer trust and excellence. Of those who apply, 25% are rejected, highlighting the robustness of achieving ATIA Accreditation.
November & December 2024 changes
New members: ATIA welcomes five businesses to the ATIA Accreditation community. They are Helloworld Travel Ascot Vale, Helloworld Travel Highton, Let’s Travel Jindabyne, Snowsea Cruises and Travellers Lounge.
Revocation & voluntary withdrawal of accreditation:
Accreditation has been formally revoked for one business, The French Experience (ABN: 11624848433).
Additionally, three firms have voluntarily withdrawn their participation from the accreditation scheme, ATIA reports.
For the complete list of entities whose accreditation has been cancelled or withdrawn, check the official registry here.
Monitoring agreements: Currently, 19 members are accredited under monitoring agreements. These members are obligated to provide quarterly financial and operational disclosures.
The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) is the peak body representing Australia’s AUD69 billion travel industry. ATIA represents the majority of Australian travel agents, corporate agents, tour operators, wholesalers and ITOs.
ATIA administers the ATIA Accredited programme, Australia’s largest and most representative accreditation scheme for travel businesses. ATIA represents over 1,120 ATIA-accredited members and more than 28,000 workers nationwide, directly supporting 16.98 million Australian travellers every year.
SINGAPORE, 28 January 2025: Take your pick. Dragon Trail International’s latest Sentiments Report says 22% of Chinese travel agents interviewed reckoned China’s outbound travel market would make a full recovery during the first half of 2025, 35% hazarded a guess it would be during the second half, and another 22% thought it was more likely to be back at pace in 2026.
It is not very reassuring if your business relies on Chinese travellers boarding flights in their millions, as was the case in pre-Covid 2019. But the good news is that just 10% of the agents thought recovery was hiding around the corner in 2027.
Dragon Trail International’s Chinese Outbound Travel Trade Survey, which sought the views of 465 travel agents currently selling outbound travel for mainland Chinese travel agencies, was officially released earlier this month and is available on its website.
Dragon Trail International’s researchers opted for the more optimistic outlook, saying the outbound market was “full of promise and potential for new developments. From those who know it best, this optimism about China’s outbound tourism market bodes well for the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday from the end of January 2025, and the rest of the Year of the Snake.”
Key insights from the report
On the threshold of recovery: More than half of Chinese travel agents think the outbound market will fully recover by the end of 2025. Survey data shows a positive outlook on the Chinese outbound travel market. 66% of survey respondents expect the market to have returned to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2025. However, the anticipated recovery varies by world region, with Asia (excluding the Middle East) expected to see the quickest recovery, followed by Europe.
Optimism about the economy: Chinese travel agents are optimistic about the economy and consumers’ buying power but also looking for the best price
China’s economic environment and consumer confidence are seen by the majority (71% and 68%, respectively) of travel agents as factors that will positively impact the outbound travel market in 2025.
Young travellers turn to cruises and luxury travel: 43% of travel agents say that the post-00s generation is already part of their core customer demographic, and post-00s and post-90s stand out as the main cohort for island travel. Young travellers also make up a key subset of the luxury travel market and are even increasingly interested in cruises.
Silver generation on big pensions: The silver travel market shows high potential, but special considerations come into play when designing tour products. China’s silver travel market is rapidly growing and rich in untapped potential. Retired and soon-to-retire luxury travellers with large pensions are less price-sensitive than other market segments and seek high-quality travel experiences. However, suppliers must consider key factors such as safety and comfort when catering to this market.
Luxury travel is a diverse market: China’s luxury travel market is not a monolith. According to travel agents, it comprises three distinct demographic groups based on age and background, and each is looking for different kinds of services and experiences.
New sales channels offer the best conversions: Nearly half of the survey respondents have embraced new social media platforms, Douyin and Xiaohongshu, for travel sales and conversion rates are above average. Selling directly via WeChat and at offline events is also particularly effective.
Chinese-language services are a must: Whether a hotel can offer Chinese-language services is one of the top factors Chinese travel agents consider when choosing partners to work with. Chinese-language services and Chinese catering are both in demand for travel products.
(Source: The Chinese Outbound Travel Trade Survey: January 2025 published by Dragon Trail Research (a division of Dragon Trail International).
SEOUL, 28 January 2025: Korean Air introduced its Airbus A350-900 on commercial flights on 27 January, starting with the popular Seoul Incheon-Osaka route.
On Monday, KAL confirmed that the first aircraft would operate on the Seoul Incheon-Osaka route twice daily, while a second A350-900 will serve the Seoul Incheon-Fukuoka route once daily.
Photo credit: Korean Air.
The A350-900 is a next-generation aircraft offering superior fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions compared to similar aircraft and is expected to advance Korean Air’s sustainability efforts.
The addition of the A350-900 to Korean Air’s fleet addresses growing passenger demand and will strengthen the carrier’s fleet capacity as it continues its integration with Asiana Airlines.
Initially deployed on short-haul routes to Japan, the A350-900 will begin servicing Taipei in March, along with long-haul destinations, such as Madrid and Rome, in the year’s second half.
The A350-900 showcases Airbus’s most advanced technology in a wide-body aircraft designed for long-haul operations, with versatility to operate efficiently on regional routes. With an operational range exceeding 12,000 kilometres, the aircraft can operate direct flights to all European destinations and most cities in North America.
The A350-900 accommodates 311 passengers, with 28 Prestige class seats and 283 economy class seats. Prestige class features a 1-2-1 staggered configuration, ensuring unobstructed aisle access. These seats offer 22 inches (56 cm) of width and extend to 77 inches (195.5 cm) in bed mode, delivering privacy and comfort.
Economy class features a 3-3-3 layout with ergonomic seats that maximise personal space. The seats adapt to passenger movement for enhanced comfort, with a generous 32-33 inch (81-83 cm) pitch and 18-inch (45 cm) width throughout the cabin.
Prestige class seats have 18.5-inch displays and touchscreen remote controls for enhanced accessibility. Economy Class features Panasonic’s eX3 entertainment system, offering a wide selection of movies, music and TV programmes.
Korean Air will continue expanding its fleet with A350-900 and A350-1000 variants.
SINGAPORE, 28 January 2025: Thailand-based low-cost airline Nok Air partners with Sabre’s Global Distribution System for the first time to deliver its flight and fare content to travel agents worldwide.
By joining Sabre’s travel marketplace, Nok Air will gain visibility among travel agencies, corporate buyers, and travellers worldwide, driving bookings and revenue growth. Until now, the airline has depended on its website sales to cater mainly to the domestic Thai market.
Photo credit: Skyball and Naan Togo. Nok Air operates a Boeing 737-800 fleet for domestic and international flights during 2025.
In an official media statement posted by Sabre Nok Air’s CEO Wutthiphum Jurangkool said: “By making our content available via Sabre’s GDS, we’re broadening our global and market segment reach and ensuring both leisure and corporate travellers have more ways to discover and book our flights.”
Established in 2004, Nok Air started its journey in the turbulent Thai aviation market with Thai Airways International as a strategic shareholder. However, it has since been taken over by private Thai investors led by the Jurangkool family, which holds the majority stake (74.86%). TG continues to hold 8.91% of the shares.
Nok Air began its first international service on 31 May 2007, with daily flights to Bangalore, India, but suspended international flights in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It serves 24 domestic routes in Thailand using 14 Boeing 737-800s with 189 seats per aircraft.
According to a Wikipedia update, on “30 July 2020, Nok Air filed for bankruptcy and was delisted from the Thai Stock Exchange on 9 January 2025, following a final seven-day window for its trading operations from 27 December 2024 to 8 January 2025.” *
SET announcement: “8 January, 2025, is the last trading day for trading the securities of NOK PRO before delisting.”
Flights are operating normally, and despite its delisting, the airline’s financial performance has shown signs of improvement.
KUCHING, Sarawak, 27 January 2025: The Sibu and Miri Visitor Information Centres under the Sarawak Tourism Board presented the Lunar New Year Market: Spring in the City, a pop-up celebration on 25 to 26 January at the VIC Sibu Garden and VIC Miri Garden.
Over the two festive nights, the event featured cultural performances and displays by artisan vendors, with VIC Sibu hosting 12 vendors and VIC Miri showcasing 22 vendors. Together, they presented a welcome celebration before the start of the Year of the Snake on 29 January.
Visitors enjoyed the festive atmosphere through captivating performances, including the Lion Dance, Dragon Dance, San Tai Zi — an energetic and theatrical dance from Chinese folklore — and an exhilarating Wushu demonstration.
The event also highlighted the talents of local artisans, providing a chance to explore Sarawak’s creativity and take home handmade crafts.
As a family-friendly celebration, the Lunar New Year Market delivered a memorable experience for locals, tourists, and the entire community.
Beyond the festivities, the event also underscored the evolving role of Sarawak’s Visitor Information Centres as dynamic community hubs. Originally established to provide travel information, the VICs have grown into hubs that actively collaborate with stakeholders, celebrate Sarawak’s rich culture and attractions, and host events that strengthen community connections while promoting regional tourism.
Aligned with the Sarawak Tourism Board’s commitment to sustainability, the Lunar New Year Market strongly emphasised eco-friendly practices, embodying the Board’s vision for a responsible and dynamic tourism ecosystem.
Through partnerships with regional stakeholders and support for local artisans, the VICs continue to enhance Sarawak’s tourism offerings while cultivating a robust and collaborative network.
DUBAI UAE, 27 January 2025: Emirates has officially debuted a new uniform designed for its Premium & VIP Passenger Services team, who are responsible for the seamless transfer of Premium & VIP personnel through Dubai International Airport (DXB).
The new uniform echoes the iconic Emirates cabin crew look. However, it exclusively represents Emirates’ elite unit that caters to high-profile customers.
A new look for an elite team
Emirates’ Premium & VIP Passenger Services in Dubai are a busy and in-demand team, with Dubai lauded as the premier destination for high-net-worth individuals and a central hub for world-class meetings, incentives, conferences and events. The sophisticated uniform introduced at Emirates’ hub reflects the elevated service and attention to detail offered to Premium & VIP customers, as they arrive in Dubai or transit through.
Designed in-house by Emirates’ uniform standards team, there are 3 different variations of the uniform – a stylish A-line skirt suit for ladies, a chic pantsuit for ladies, and a tailored 3-piece suit for gentlemen. Just like the cabin crew uniform, the VIP Passenger Services uniform is designed in warm sand shades, symbolising the desert dunes of the United Arab Emirates, with a subtle red collar and matching cuffs for ladies. The suit is accented by the iconic Emirates red hat with a gold pin showcasing the Emirates logo, and an elegantly draped cream-coloured chiffon scarf, representing the local culture. The look is completed with red leather shoes and matching handbags where Ambassadors can carry iPads and essential documents for their clientele. In the VIP Passenger Services female uniform – fans will notice a red pleat in the A-line skirt, allowing the busy Ambassadors to walk comfortably around the vast airport, and a red leather belt at the waist, adding a stylish touch. The menswear is tailored to perfection and made to measure for each Ambassador, featuring a jacket, pants and waistcoat, accented with a red pocket square and muted tie.
Managing travel for high-profile VIPs
The 145-strong team at Emirates has been meticulously trained to handle high-profile VIP passengers and Premium First Class connecting passengers at Dubai International Airport, offering exceptional service and hospitality to more than 150,000 Premium and VIP passengers annually.
Within the team of 120 Ambassadors and additional operational staff at the Control Centre, there are more than 50 nationalities speaking a myriad of languages to the international First-class connecting passengers and VIPs, across various areas of Dubai International Airport.
VIP Passengers departing Dubai, flying into Dubai and transiting through can include all kinds of dignitaries and heads of state from members of Royal families worldwide, Presidents and former Presidents, international Ministers, Ambassadors, celebrities and public personalities, athletes and actors, and even globally recognised influencers and vloggers. As well as regular VIP travel which occurs throughout the year, the VIP Passenger Services team also carefully plans and prepares for an international calendar of notable events with high levels of VIP travel, like the World Government Summit, Formula 1, Dubai World Cup and Dubai Film Festival, as well as events on the global stage, from the World Sports Events, G20 Summit, EXPO 2025 to the G7 Summit and the World Sustainable Development Summit.
First-class passengers also enjoy a seamless transit experience in Dubai. As connecting travellers, they benefit from dedicated services such as expedited security and escorts to their departure lounge.
Premium & VIP Ambassador services
The core operations consist of two teams: One team manages the Premium First-Class connecting customers at the airport’s airside, and the other manages the high-profile VIP customers.
The VIP team manages pick-ups, drop-offs, check-in, airport transportation, lounge access and departures, connections and arrival formalities for VIP passengers, ensuring their journey is as smooth as possible with privacy and security as high priority.
The Premium team excels at delivering a first-class experience for connecting customers. This encompasses a range of services, from personalised greetings upon arrival to expedited security checks through fast-track lanes and premium transfers utilising Mercedes Viano or buggies based on gate distances and connection times.
For airline information and to make bookings, visit www.emirates.com.
