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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
BUSAN, 20 April 2022: Busan has long
been referred to as the maritime capital of Northeast Asia. The city has a
brand identity of ‘International
industrial Logistics City’, thanks to its location, which is a
centre of logistics between China and Japan, near the pacific rim.
Pivoting around the West Busan, where the Busan port and Gimhae international airport are located, the west strait serves as a land, sea, and air hub from Asia to Africa, and the east one plays a role as a gateway from the Pacific Rim to Korea to Japan. The northern area is a starting and ending point for the Silk Road connecting to the Eurasian Continent as well as an outpost for the logistics of the East Sea in the era of the unified Korean Peninsula.
With the economy and traffic developed throughout the city, Busan has experienced the development of the shipping and port industries, which are the foundation for tourism, convention, and cultural industries. It has earned another name in each field and has long been referred to, such as ‘Asia’s 4th largest tourism and convention city’, ‘Asian Hollywood’, and ‘Korea’s first international tourism city. Busan, a centre of maritime logistics with natural tourist attractions, has a unique charm that plays a key role in maintaining its superiority in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conference & Exhibitions) industry, encompassing all business events.
Busan’s maritime MICE is an attractive
product in the global market as it is one of the few maritime ‘Bleisure Cities’ where both business
and leisure are available. Some cities may provide bleisure travel, but only a
few are destinations for maritime bleisure. Busan has iconic beaches not only
Haeundae and Gwangalli, but also Songdo, Cheongsapo, Songjeong, and Dadaepo,
which remind visitors from home and abroad of the sea. One of Busan’s strengths is its
unmatched tourist attractions, with numerous hotels and local restaurants
serving various menus along the beach.
When the
Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism(MCST) selected an ‘International
Tourism City in Korea’ in 2020, Busan was named the
country’s first international tourist city. The city was
officially recognized as one and only MICE destination after going viral.
Recently,
the sea of Busan has been reborn as a core infrastructure that leads the MICE
industry beyond a tourist destination. In the same year, after the MCST chose
Busan as Korea’s International Tourism City, the ministry
also designated an area of the same city as an International Conference Complex
Zone to make the best MICE city, where ‘HAEVENUE’ (Haeundae International Conference Complex)’
is an area with a size of 2,390,000㎡ including BEXCO in
the Centum City business district, Nurimaru APEC House, and luxury hotels in
Haeundae. Busan’s potential for MICE was highly evaluated
with the successful hosting of APEC South Korea 2005, 2012 Lions Clubs
International Convention, 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit.
In
particular, ‘World Ocean Forum (WOF)’,
considered the Davos forum in the maritime sector, is a good example of
combining the sea of Busan with its MICE industry. The WOF approached the sea,
a tourist attraction, as a source of human prosperity, gathering global marine
and environment experts and ranking officials to come up with solutions. The forum,
held 15 times until last year, created new values and global business.
As such,
Busan, which has a higher future potential as a MICE destination, is about to
host a series of international events to raise its global status as a ‘maritime city Busan’ and ‘MICE
city’.
First, the ‘FIATA World
Congress 2022’ is the
so-called ‘Logistics Olympics’, in which FIATA, the world’s largest logistics
organization, established in 1926, participates in 40,000 members from 108
countries and tours its member countries annually. This year’s congress, under
the theme of ‘Uniting for Global Solutions’, will be attended by 2,000 experts,
government officials, and international organizations at BEXCO from 11
September for six days to discuss changes and innovations in the global
logistics industry after the 4th industrial revolution.
@ 7IMDC official website
Following the FIATA World Congress 2022, another maritime-related global conference, ‘the 7th International Marine Debris Conference (7IMDC)’ will be held in Busan. The conference, which has been hosted exclusively in the United States since 1984, is being held for the first time in another country this year. Busan didn’t miss this chance. Ideas and practices in all areas of marine waste prevention and management, including monitoring, R&D, public-private cooperation, education, and the policy, will be shared and disseminated by approximately 700 experts and stakeholders from the Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other governments, NGOs, international organizations, research institutes, and corporations.
Busan
received high praise for its experience and know-how in hosting large-scale
international events. In addition, it has offices in oceans and fisheries and
is leading marine environmental policies based on excellent tourism and MICE
infrastructure.
An
official from the Busan Convention Bureau said, “Busan, the hub of marine
logistics in Northeast Asia, with beautiful sea and abundant tourist
attractions, has built MICE infrastructure for a long time and collected data
based on the evaluation of global visitors. I am confident that the city will
emerge as a global MICE destination leading the post corona era.”
