SINGAPORE, 26 September 2024: HBX Group, a leading global B2B travel technology company, announces Wednesday the launch of its Marketing Suite, a combination of marketing services designed to drive growth in the travel space.
With this launch, HBX Group aspires to become a primary retail media network within the travel industry, serving as a point of reference for hotels, DMOs, airlines, mobility providers and any business seeking to engage with travellers and travel distributors.
HBX Group Marketing Suite is composed of two key solutions: Travel Media Solutions and a Digital Marketing Agency.
HBX Group’s Travel Media Solutions offers a suite of complete advertising products in an extensive network of hard-to-reach digital spaces, with the potential to reach over 50.000 travel agencies and 3.500 tour operators across 65 countries, as well as travellers from over 100 booking websites and strategic partners.
These advertising solutions include digital banners on B2B and B2C websites, social media marketing, bespoke newsletters, email sponsorships, and landing pages.
The Digital Marketing Agency is focused on tailor-made strategies developed by expert travel marketers to accelerate business growth within the B2C audience. Services include B2C digital campaign management, marketing advisory, insights, creative services and brand management.
SYDNEY, 26 September 2024: The Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) declared on Tuesday that The Don’t Forget Travel Group Director Andrew Sullivan was the #ATAS24 social-media showcase competition winner.
ATIA’s citation said: “Andrew’s LinkedIn post made a lasting impression, standing out with a creative video highlighting the value of being ATAS-accredited and the importance of consumers dealing with an ATAS-accredited agent.”
Andrew Sullivan, Director at The Don’t Forget Travel Group is the winner of the #ATAS24 social-media-showcase competition. Credit: https://karryon.com.au
As the winner, he will travel to Singapore, flying Singapore Airlines (SIA), ATIA’s strategic partner and NTIA’s primary sponsor. ATIA also recognised other outstanding entries with ‘special mentions’.
· Simone Lewis (On The Road Travel Group): Simone’s quirky LinkedIn post showcasing her ATAS accreditation on printed T-shirts captured the value of ATAS. It assured travellers that their travel agents are committed to going above and beyond to bring them high-quality services.
· Kate Collins and Jackie Male (Angas Travel): Their Instagram post reinforced that ATAS-accredited agents meet the highest industry standards, giving clients exceptional service and the reassurance they are being looked after.
· Hastwell Travel and Cruise: Their superhero-themed Instagram entry was fun and colourful, highlighting ATAS accreditation’s superpowers to the travel industry. These powers include reassuring travellers with professionalism and expertise that can save them time and money.
· Travel with a Cause: This post uniquely reinforced the importance of ATAS accreditation, with a cute cameo from their travel dog, Toby, who explains that ATAS accreditation is like “our agency’s badge of honour, showing we meet top-notch standards in the travel biz.”
ATIA’s acting CEO, Ingrid Fraser, commented on the social media competition: “We’re thrilled by the creativity and authenticity displayed in this year’s showcase. As summed up so well by Andrew, ATAS is about having the backs of Aussie travellers, no matter where they are in the world.”
“ATAS accreditation is a mark of distinction, signalling that customers are in safe, reliable hands. We congratulate Andrew and all our special mentions for showcasing the best of our industry.
SINGAPORE, 26 September 2024: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism, has launched a new report revealing the stark impact of the pandemic on women’s and youth employment within the global Travel and tourism sector.
Almost 70 million people working in Travel & Tourism lost their jobs during the pandemic, but women and young people were disproportionately impacted because their roles were more likely to be in the worst-affected areas, such as hospitality and food services.
While the sector has broadly seen a strong recovery, the ‘Social Trends in Travel & Tourism Employment’ report found it employed 42 million women and just over 16 million young people in 2022, notably lower than the 48.4 million women (-13%) and nearly 19 million young workers (15%) supported by the sector in 2019.
While the sector remains a vital source of jobs for underrepresented groups, the report clarifies that more must be done to ensure an inclusive and equitable recovery.
The report, which examines employment trends across 185 economies from 2019 to 2022, underscores the sector’s potential as a key driver of inclusive economic growth and social progress.
According to the latest EIR data, in 2023, the Travel & Tourism sector’s GDP contribution rose 29.1% above pre-pandemic levels, outpacing the global average, which remained 4.1% below.
Yet despite this economic rebound, the social recovery continued to lag, particularly for women and young people who remain more likely to be stuck in informal, part-time, or low-wage roles without security or growth potential.
WTTC President & CEO, Julia Simpson said: “This report highlights the extraordinary potential of Travel & Tourism to drive inclusive growth, but it also underscores the urgent need for action.
“Women and young people are the backbone of our sector, yet they continue to face significant barriers.
“By investing in skills, promoting inclusive policies, and fostering entrepreneurship, we can unlock the full potential of these groups and ensure that our sector leads the way in creating meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities.”
The report also highlights that women remain underrepresented in high-wage and leadership roles, with the gender split in Travel & Tourism employment nearly mirroring that of the wider economy.
Young workers, who make up a greater share of the Travel & Tourism workforce compared to the wider economy, face particular challenges in accessing stable employment.
Saudi Arabia Minister of Tourism, His Excellency Ahmed Al Khateeb, welcomed the joint report findings and emphasised the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting youth and female employment in the Travel & Tourism sector.
“Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to ensuring Travel & Tourism is a key driver of social change,” he said.
“Our substantial investments in 2024 include 375 million riyals for skills development training local tour guides who acquire deep knowledge of our nation’s rich history and landscapes. Others are becoming entrepreneurs, focusing on creativity, leadership, and digital skills.
“In 2022, Saudi women’s employment in tourism was the fifth fastest growing among G20 countries. The focus on localising services in areas like AlUla and Diriyah has created new opportunities for women in heritage tourism jobs. Through stronger partnerships, tourism can transform into a vehicle for inclusive development, creating a more equitable and prosperous future for everyone.”
This joint report calls for urgent action to address these disparities and maximise the sector’s potential as a driver of inclusive growth.
Key areas of focus for governments and the Travel & Tourism sector include:
Develop policies for skills training and gender equality
Enhance job opportunities for women and youth
Invest in education and leadership programmes
Implement inclusive hiring practices and equal pay
Support flexible work arrangements and childcare
Promote entrepreneurship through support for start-ups and small businesses
‘Social Trends in Travel & Tourism Employment’ serves as a clarion call to governments and businesses worldwide: To prioritise the inclusion of women and youth in the workforce, to invest in their skills and future, and to ensure that the benefits of Travel & Tourism are shared by all.
SINGAPORE, 26 September 2024: Air Astana, in partnership with Airbus, is enhancing the efficiency of its long-haul flights by installing additional fuel tanks on its Airbus A321LR.
This will enable nonstop flights over long-haul distances without technical stops.
The airline plans to resume nonstop flights on the Almaty to London route starting on 4 October 2024. The route has been operating with a technical stop in Aktau since March 2022.
With the new modifications, the route will become fully nonstop and more comfortable, reducing the overall flight time by one hour and 30 minutes to nine hours and 35 minutes. This will make it one of the longest narrow-body routes in the world.
This modernisation is a key component of Air Astana’s long-term strategy to enhance operational efficiency. It incorporates all necessary technical and safety aspects, providing passengers with more comfortable conditions for long-haul flights and improving the airline’s operational performance.
About Air Astana Group Air Astana Group is the largest airline group in Central Asia and the Caucasus regions in terms of revenue and fleet size. The Group operates a fleet of 56 aircraft split between Air Astana, its full-service airline that operated its inaugural flight in 2002, and FlyArystan, its low-cost airline established in 2019. The Group provides scheduled, point-to-point and transit, short-haul and long-haul air travel and cargo on domestic, regional and international routes across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Far East, the Middle East, India and Europe.
BANGKOK, 26 September 2024: Vietjet Thailand launches ‘School Holiday’s Special’, offering fares starting at THB699* across its domestic network and THB1,699* on international routes.
The airline gives very little wriggle room to book as the offer closes at midnight on 27 September, but the travel period runs from 16 October 2024 to 31 May 2025.
The fares apply on Vietjet Thailand’s entire domestic flight network from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai, Surat Thani, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, and Ubon Ratchathani and cross-country routes connecting Phuket to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, as well as Vietjet Thailand’s international network from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Vietnam, China, Fukuoka, Phnom Penh, Singapore, Taipei, and from Chiang Mai to Osaka.
SINGAPORE, 24 September 2024: Emirates has announced its continued commitment to support rugby and expand its reach to new, untapped markets by serving as the Title Sponsor of Asia Rugby.
The new multi-year partnership allows the airline to enable Asia Rugby to invest in stage 7s and 15s series tournaments and Asia Rugby Championships, with participation from 36 countries in Asia.
From left to right: Asia Rugby President, His Excellency Qais Al-Dhalai and Emirates Airline President Sir Tim Clark.
Emirates Airline President Sir Tim Clark said: “Emirates has a long history of supporting rugby, dating back to our early days as an airline. Since then, we’ve deepened our presence within the sport across every level, from supporting global organisations and tournaments like World Rugby, five consecutive Rugby World Cups, and the global 7s series to headlining the Emirates Dubai 7s and growing the footprint of the UAE Rugby Federation.
“We’re particularly proud to extend our support to Asia Rugby to take the sport into new markets and boost its appeal, as well as open untapped possibilities for younger athletes to develop their skills and realise their full potential. And this is just the start. We will continue harnessing the power of grassroots sporting activities that forge strong bonds with the communities we serve to contribute meaningfully to their growth and resilience.”
Asia Rugby President, His Excellency Qais Al-Dhalai said: “I am delighted to welcome Emirates as the Title Sponsor of Asia Rugby. This partnership marks a significant milestone in our mission to expand the reach and impact of rugby across our 36 members and across Asia. With Emirates’ support, we are poised to bring the excitement and values of rugby to a new generation of athletes and fans. Our growing reputation for reliability, credibility and professionalism has given Emirates the confidence to associate their brand with ours. With the UAE serving as the headquarters of Asia Rugby, this partnership with Emirates feels like a perfect synergy. The UAE has become a centre for rugby activities, providing a strategic base to coordinate and grow the sport across the continent. Emirates is synonymous with premier rugby events globally, and this collaboration is set to elevate the sport’s profile across Asia.”
He continued: “In the last five years, we have established Asia Rugby as a brand with more tournaments and increased our social media reach with all our events live-streamed to bring rugby to Asia. Our shared goal is to empower athletes, build a robust talent pipeline, and cultivate a passionate fanbase to sustain the sport for years.”
As part of the agreement, the airline will be the title sponsor across Asia Rugby competitions and tournaments, including the Asia Rugby Men’s and Women’s Championships, the Asia Rugby Sevens Series and age-grade competitions cutting across several age groups. These tournaments offer a pathway to premier regional and global competitions such as the Rugby World Cup, the Rugby World Cup Sevens, the Olympic Games, the Asian Games, the HSBC SVNS Series, and the World Rugby Sevens Challenger.
The airline’s iconic ‘Fly Better’ branding will appear on match official jerseys, match balls, support staff bibs, post pads, and stadium branding, among other benefits, for 21 different tournaments over the span of three years.
The first of more than 20 tournaments where Emirates will have a strong presence is the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series Men’s and Women’s Round 2, set to begin on 21 September 2024 in Hangzhou, China. The tournament will feature the top eight men’s and women’s teams fighting for ranking spots for the final round, which will be played in Bangkok, Thailand, in November.
Asia Rugby, the regional association of World Rugby, is based in Dubai and represents 36 member unions across the continent, including China, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan, to name a few. The association organises a mix of Sevens and Fifteens competitions for both men and women across different age groups, including U18s and U20s.
With Asia home to 60% of the world’s population and 80% of its youth, the potential to cultivate a new generation of players and enrich the pipeline of talent and love for the game through a strong fanbase in local communities is in line with Emirates’ shared objective with Asia Rugby to empower athletes from the ground up.
Emirates can be found at the centre of the action at almost every international rugby match. Globally, Emirates has been sponsoring the Rugby World Cup (RWC) since 2007 and in 2011 became RWC’s worldwide partner, further cementing the airline as one of the world’s biggest supporters of rugby. The airline also sponsors the jerseys of World Rugby’s Match Officials, who take them to the field in their Emirates ‘Fly Better’ kits. Emirates’ strong rugby partnerships extend to the South African Emirates Lions and their home venue, Emirates Airline Park.
In the airline’s home base of Dubai, The Emirates Dubai 7s tournament has been running for more than 50 years. Emirates was an active partner in growing its international status when it first began its support in 1987 cooperation with World Rugby. Through clear focus and a strong commitment from the airline, the Emirates Dubai 7s has become the largest sports event in the region, with over 100,000 fans joining the three-day tournament every year. In addition, Emirates’ longstanding sponsorship of the Dubai Hurricanes Rugby Club is part of its commitment to growing the sport and connecting young people to the game in local communities in the UAE.
Last October, Emirates renewed its support for the UAE Rugby Federation (UAERF) as title and jersey sponsor of the UAE national 15s and 7s teams (men’s and women’s), including the all-Emirati Shaheen and Al Maha teams. It will also remain the federation’s official airline until the end of 2026.
KUCHING, 24 September 2024: The Sarawak Tourism Board hosted a welcoming reception at Pending Port, Kuching, for 126 passengers from the Heritage Adventurer, part of Noble Caledonia’s “Wonders & Wildlife of Borneo” cruise.
Arriving from Singapore, the passengers — mainly from Australia, America, and Britain — were greeted with a traditional garlanding ceremony and a cultural performance, offering a vibrant introduction to Sarawak’s rich music and dance heritage.
Passengers are enjoying cultural performances by the port, which represents the 6 major ethnic in Sarawak.
The welcoming event featured a cultural performance representing Sarawak’s six major ethnic groups: the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Malay, Melanau, and Chinese. This performance aims to provide an authentic and immersive experience, showcasing the region’s diversity and renowned hospitality as passengers descend from the cruise.
During their stay, cruise guests explored iconic destinations such as Kuching City, Fort Margherita, Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, and Bako National Park, with convenient city shuttle services available throughout their visit.
These curated excursions created a memorable experience and fostered positive word-of-mouth publicity about Sarawak’s tourism appeal.
The “Wonders & Wildlife of Borneo” cruise continued its journey from Kuching to Bandar Seri Begawan, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Derawan Island, Sulawesi, and Bali.
Operated by Noble Caledonia, a UK-based company, the Heritage Adventurer is a 124-metre vessel that can accommodate up to 140 passengers and 84 crew members. It provides an intimate and comfortable travel experience to remote destinations.
For the rest of the year, Sarawak will welcome another two cruise ships, cementing its status as a premier destination for travellers seeking unique cultural experiences and natural beauty.
Sarawak is a kaleidoscope of culture, adventure, nature, food, and festivals. It comprises 34 ethnic tribes with unique traditions, lifestyles, music, and food while sharing warm hospitality. Malaysia’s largest state, Sarawak, is endowed with some of the oldest rainforests on Earth.
Its vast landscape spans over 120,000 sq km, with towering mountains and cool highlands, jagged limestone formations and mysterious cave systems, winding rivers and quiet beaches, where adventures are waiting to happen.
Festivals are hosted throughout the year to celebrate the eclectic blend of modern and traditional culture, food, music and religious practices that can be found nowhere else. In Sarawak, there is always ‘More to Discover’.
BANGKOK, 24 September 2024: Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, has officially launched Centara Life, its fresh and exciting new brand identity that will “Elevate the Essentials” with innovative, guest-friendly concepts at hotels and resorts across Thailand and beyond.
An evolution of Centra by Centara, Centara Life is set to revitalise the guest experience with a series of unique offerings that empower couples, families, friends and solo explorers to travel and stay seamlessly.
Every Centara Life hotel will offer check-in anytime and enjoy a full 24-hour stay, providing full flexibility for travellers arriving on late-night or early-morning flights. Guests can use their room until the same time on their day of departure. Continuing the stress-free concept, Centara Life will provide Flexible Breakfasts available until 1600 to suit everyone’s unique schedule. Daily Delights will feature a choice of snacks free of charge throughout the day at the hotel’s restaurant, including local specialities, and Night-time Noodles offer instant noodles to cater to late-night cravings.
With its commitment to comfort, convenience and value for money, Centara Life will surely put a smile on every traveller’s face. Every hotel will feature bright interiors and social spaces that allow guests to unwind and interact.
To celebrate the launch, the “Centara Life: Uplift Your Everyday” promotion is available for bookings until 31 October 2024 and stays taken through 20 December 2024. Members of CentaraThe1 who stay for three nights will only pay for two nights. In addition to the brand’s unique offerings, guests will enjoy “buy 1 get 1 free” deals on selected food and drinks, plus double CentaraThe1 points on every stay. For more information and reservations, visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centara-life-elevating-essentials.
“At Centara Hotels & Resorts, we are committed to delivering exceptional hospitality in every market sector, underpinned by our 40-year heritage of warm and heartfelt Thai service. With the launch of Centara Life, guests can now experience bright, inviting and stress-free stays that work to their schedule. We look forward to working with our esteemed partners to introduce this versatile brand to attractive destinations across Thailand and worldwide,” commented Centara Hotels & Resorts CEO Thirayuth Chirathivat.
“We are delighted to officially launch Centara Life, which will breathe new energy and life into the upper-midscale hotel sector. Following an extensive evaluation process, including input from our valued guests, we have crafted an innovative and inviting brand identity that removes unnecessary barriers and gives travellers exactly what they want: complete convenience, comfort and flexibility at an attractive price point,” said Centara Hotels & Resorts Brand, Marketing & Digital Vice President Tom Thrussell.
Centara Life hotels can now be booked in Bangkok, Krabi, Koh Samui, Cha-am, Pattaya and Mae Sot in Thailand, and Muscat in Oman, with more destinations set to follow in future. This brand launch forms part of Centara’s five-year goal of doubling its global portfolio and becoming a top 100 global hotel operator by 2027.
BANGKOK, 24 September 2024: The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok, which opens in Thailand’s capital this November, has hired six seasoned hospitality experts for its management team.
The 260-room Ritz Carlton, managed by Marriott International Luxury Group, overlooks the city’s Lumpini Park.
From left to right: Lewis Quinn, Leon Chan, Tina Liu, Evelyne Hahang, Clément Larre, Glen Cooper.
The newly appointed General Manager, Tina Liu, has 24 years of experience with Marriott. Fluent in Thai, Liu was recognised as Asia Pacific’s first female General Manager for Marriott’s W Hotels.
The Ritz Carlton Bangkok named Lewis Quinn its hotel manager. His 15-plus-year hospitality career has taken him to Switzerland, the US, Singapore, the Maldives, and Thailand.
Evelyne Hahang joins as the hotel’s Director of Rooms and brings with her 15 years in hospitality in the UK, France, Australia, and Thailand.
Leon Chan joins the management team as the Director of Sales & Marketing. Singaporean-born Chan has 15 years of experience in hospitality sales and business development at hotels in Singapore and Hong Kong. He joins Ritz Carlton Bangkok from a previous position in China.
Clément Larre joins as the Director of F&B, and the appointment of executive chef goes to Chef Glen Cooper.
HONG KONG, 24 September 2024: Asia’s first blind-box-style tour, organised by AirAsia and Hong Kong-based CLS Holiday, took off from Hong Kong last Friday. Twenty guests were on the surprise ‘No Clue Escape’ journey to the Indian Ocean island paradise of the Maldives, with a short stopover in Kuala Lumpur.
AirAsia and CLS Holiday announced the ‘No Clue Escape’ last month, inviting guests to sign up for the surprise trip without revealing the actual destination.
The group only discovered their mystery destination after they boarded AirAsia flight AK139 from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur.
AirAsia created special blind boxes and unique souvenirs as teasers for each guest on the special flight. he ‘No Clue Escape’ group departed from Hong Kong International Airport at 1155 on an AirAsia flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia before connecting to their final destination the Maldives.
Throughout their five-day stay in the Maldives, guests stayed at Bandos Maldives.
Through the “No Clue Escape” campaign, AirAsia aims to enhance awareness amongst travellers in Hong Kong for the airline brand and its extensive network across Asia and the Pacific. Travellers can access up to 130 destinations in the AirAsia network. Hong Kong is connected to all of AirAsia’s key hubs, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila, and soon Jakarta, from which guests can connect to destinations across Asia, Australia, and Africa.
The ‘No Clue Escape’ tour marks CLS Holiday’s inaugural partnership venture with AirAsia. The mystery package costs HKD4,888 (including tax) and covers return airfares, 20kg of luggage, meals, accommodation, and local transportation.
CLS Holiday is a new venture by Flyagain Travel Limited and part of the renowned travel website Flyagain.la.
The AirAsia Hong Kong to Maldives flight is a FlyThru service with a seamless connection in Kuala Lumpur. The Fly-Thru is an AirAsia service that conveniently connects passengers’ flights from one AirAsia flight to another without the hassle of collecting bags at the transit hub. It is also available at selected transit stations.
AirAsia currently operates direct flights in Hong Kong/Macau to Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Penang, Bangkok (Don Mueang), Chiang Mai and Manila, and will soon launch its first flights to Jakarta and Bali, Indonesia this October, marking the first low-cost carrier providing direct services between Hong Kong and Indonesia.
