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Almost impossible to lose luggage

DUBAI, UAE, 7 February 2024: Emirates has recently experienced its busiest winter for baggage handling in the last three years. The winter period statistics from September 2023 to January 2024 show that while handling an average of 2.7 million bags each month from Dubai to 140 global destinations, Emirates maintains a 99.9% success rate.

Emirates has an excellent statistical record for baggage handling, where 99.9% of all baggage coming from Dubai or transferring through reaches its owner on time at the correct destination. On an average Emirates journey, a customer’s luggage goes on a trip of its own. It interacts with many of the Emirates team, from a porter’s trolley to a check-in agent and baggage belt to the ‘Boss Room’ where baggage is scanned with high-tech security, then loaded into dnata baggage containers and onto the moveable dollies bound for Emirates aircraft, before it travels across the world, to meet the baggage handlers at a new destination.

Various scenarios might have occurred on the rare occasion that baggage is delayed. Sometimes baggage tags containing essential information are accidentally torn off, or occasionally, a bag could fall off the underground baggage belt as it rounds a corner at a fast pace – which is captured on camera and can be rectified immediately. A transfer flight may be unavoidably delayed due to weather or a sick passenger, making it impossible to remove and reload the bag onto the passenger’s transfer flight in time. In this case, the customer’s bag is immediately loaded onto the next flight. This is done automatically by a combination of multiple complex systems: Baggage Handling System by Dubai Airport, Baggage Reconciliation System by dnata, and Emirates Bag Connect — an Emirates product that offers a comprehensive view of the baggage journey with timely baggage status tracking, available on the Emirates app and website.

Overall, Emirates’ rate of baggage mishandling – defined as delayed, lost or misplaced baggage- is minimal at 1.3 in 1000 at the Dubai hub- almost 30 times lower than some other providers. Of the bags that are unavoidably delayed even globally – 91% are reunited with their owners within 72 hours. This rate is also significant globally because Emirates primarily manages international and international transfer baggage, so luggage often goes on long and complex journeys requiring more attention than domestic travel.

Emirates attributes its best-in-class baggage handling to robust and high-tech procedures, including a multimillion-dollar investment into software that Emirates has tailored to specific needs, providing full visibility of entire journeys. Emirates’ commitment to innovation and excellence ensures that a world-class team has consistently improved all systems and operations over the last two decades. Emirates team is also regularly trained to the highest standards in Dubai and across the globe, with ground handlers and other operational staff participating in virtual and manual training on systems, processes, standards and best practices, and introductions to new products and services. As the world’s largest international airline, flying to 140 destinations from one of the world’s busiest airports, a seamless collaboration between Emirates and dnata, Siemens technology, and Dubai Airports ensures that Emirates customers and their luggage ‘fly better’.

For more information and to make bookings, visit www.emirates.com

(Source: Emirates)

Lunar New Year bookings surge

SHANGHAI, 7 February 2024: In the lead-up to the Chinese New Year holiday season, international travel from China has risen 10 times, fuelled by more relaxed visa policies, particularly to Asian destinations Trip.com reported earlier this week.

Assessing the state of play in China’s outbound and inbound travel markets during one of its busiest travel seasons of the year, Trip.com forecasts the festive month will deliver a record 9 billion inter-regional movements, with 8 February — the eve of Reunion Day — the busiest travel day of the season.

Photo credit Xinhua: Adora Magic City at the Shanghai Wusongkou International Cruise Terminal in east China’s Shanghai.

A surge in travel across Asia 

Booking trends indicate China’s outbound travellers favour short-haul routes, with Southeast Asia, Japan, and South Korea emerging as their preferred choices. Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand are popular destinations.

Relaxed visa requirements have largely fueled the surge in bookings for trips in the Asia Pacific region. Since July last year, China has announced bilateral visa-free arrangements for more than 10 countries. Countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore have seen a spike in search volume following the announcement of mutual visa exemptions for 30-day visits. For instance, searches for Singapore tourism products increased more than 30% month-on-month shortly after the visa-free announcement between Singapore and China. Similarly, Thailand saw searches for flights and hotels rise more than six times after signing the mutual visa exemption agreement on 28 January.

Amid the global travel surge, travel to the Middle East is also on the rise, with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) emerging as a focal point due to favourable visa policies and convenient arrival procedures. Dubai and Qatar are popular destinations, with the United Arab Emirates recording one of the highest volumes of guided tours.

Family travel leads

Furthermore, family-centric travel has taken centre stage during the Spring Festival, constituting 47% of all travellers this year – a 5% increase from the previous year. This shift underscores the growing significance of family-focused journeys during the holiday season. Families make the most of their holidays by embracing various travel preferences by renting cars for flexibility, opting for customised tours to cater to their unique needs, and hiring local guides to curate personalised and memorable experiences.

Spring Festival attractions 

The top Spring Festival attractions differ between Asia and Europe, with theme parks in Asia’s spotlight. Europe beckons travellers with its rich cultural heritage and history, predominantly showcasing museums, historical landmarks, and city sites. 

For tourists exploring Asia, iconic names like Universal Studios Singapore, Warner Bros Harry Potter Tokyo, Tokyo DisneySea, and South Korea’s Everland are the star attractions. These attractions are top-rated among tourists from Malaysia, Thailand, China, South Korea, and Japan. In contrast, European destinations favoured by Asian tourists are museums and enchanting cityscapes, where landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Palace of Versailles, and Musee d’Orsay are preferred.

Cruises more popular

Cruise tourism, too, emerged as a major draw during the Spring Festival, with sold-out schedules for cruise ships sailing from Shanghai and strong demand in Hong Kong and Singapore. The famous Italian cruise line Costa Serena and RWS’ Genting Dream depart from Hong Kong and Singapore. The two ports are nearly at total capacity with limited availability remaining. This year, the average window for bookings is 35 days earlier than in 2019, indicating a substantial increase in early cruise reservations and growing demand.

About Trip.com Group
Trip.com Group is a leading global travel service provider comprising of Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner, and Qunar. 

Vistara adds flights to Kolkata

SINGAPORE, 7 February 2024: Vistara will start daily direct flights between Bengaluru and Kolkata on 11 March.

The airline confirmed on its Facebook page that it had scheduled three daily flights between the two cities with one-way fares on the route starting at INR6599 (excluding taxes and fees). Bookings are already open on the Vistara website and Trip.com.

Flights will depart from Bengaluru at 0540, 1450, and 1640 and arrive in Kolkata at 0815, 1450, and 1915. The airline deploys an A320 with a single economy class cabin for the two-hour, 35-minute flight.

The airline already flies multiple daily flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Kolkata.

The Bengaluru – Kolkata route is already crowded and competitive, with four airlines (IndiGo, Spicejet, AirAsia India and Starlight Airlines) scheduling 17 daily flights, according to independent booking sites. Vistara will add another three daily flights.

Bengaluru 

Also called the Garden City, or Green City, because of the beautifully landscaped gardens and parks, Bengaluru has much to offer visitors, from historical monuments to magnificent palaces, lush green gardens to upmarket fashion streets, buzzing pubs, glitzy malls and multiplexes.

Visit the Bengaluru palace, a majestic architectural landmark, and spend a relaxed evening at the Lumbini Gardens, located on the banks of the Nagawara Lake.

Kolkata

Historically and culturally rich, Kolkata is India’s third most populous city. As the erstwhile capital of British India, the city exudes a colonial old-world charm like no other. One of the friendliest cities in the country, its relaxed and easy-going atmosphere is hard to miss.

Get a feel of Kolkata’s theatre, or see art exhibitions in popular city art galleries like the Birla Academy of Art and Culture and CIMA. You can also take cultural tours or heritage walks, tracing the history, food, art, and local culture.

Victoria Memorial is one of Kolkata’s long-standing icons, built during the British era to commemorate Queen Victoria’s death. A manicured garden surrounds it and houses a museum tracing the city’s colonial history. 

Cruise line names global marketing agency

SINGAPORE, 7 February 2024: Holland America Line has hired Allied Global Marketing, a full-service marketing agency working with the world’s largest entertainment, culture and lifestyle brands, as its agency of record for partnerships. 

Allied will partner with top brands to maximise Holland America Line opportunities for partnerships and collaborations.

Photo credit: Holland America Line.

Holland America Line is launching several new initiatives, including a new global fresh fish programme, onboard initiatives, and regional enhancements.  Partners connected to these categories will be part of these initiatives, giving consumers a chance to experience all that Holland America Line offers guests. 

About Allied Global Marketing
In business for over 30 years, Allied has built upon its roots in advertising and publicity for movie studios to become a global leader in entertainment, culture, and lifestyle marketing. Allied has a global team of over 400 specialists working in 23 North America, Europe, and APAC offices.

Thai AirAsia expands its Asia network

BANGKOK, 7 February 2024: AirAsia launched new routes this week with direct flights from Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport to Shanghai in China and Kaohsiung in Taiwan. The airline is scheduling five weekly flights on the route to Shanghai and four weekly flights to Kaohsiung. 

Thai AirAsia flies an A320 on the Bangkok (DMK)-Shanghai route that supplements the Thai AirAsia X flight on the Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi)-Shanghai route served by A330 aircraft.

On the flights from Bangkok (DMK) to Shanghai, the airline is selling a promotional fare of THB2,990 one way for booking purchased through 11 February 2024 for travel from 15 to 30 March 2024. 

On flights to Kaohsiung, the airline offers a 20% discount for bookings confirmed through 11 February for travel from 1 March to 30 September 2024.

Gen X driving force for tourism growth

DUBAI, 7 February 2024: The GCC outbound market is forecast to grow exponentially over the next five years, driven by Gen X travellers, according to recent research, says Arabian Travel Market (ATM). The ATM trade show will run from 6 to 9 May at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

According to findings by New York-based Research Nester, generation X comprises people born between 1965 and 1980, leading to significant growth in outbound travel from the GCC countries. 

The report highlights numerous reasons why this generation has a dominant share of the GCC’s outbound market, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabian markets.

Regarding the report, Arabian Travel Market exhibition director Danielle Curtis said: “Within an age range of approximately 43 years to 58 years, many Gen Xers hold senior positions within companies and, as such, tend to travel overseas regularly on business trips. 

“Also, with responsibility comes reward; many have high earning potential and disposable income. Many successful entrepreneurs at this stage in their careers also have built significant wealth and can afford to travel frequently.  

“Many industry commentators are focused on Millennial and Gen Z travellers, but, logically, Gen X would dominate the GCC outbound market value given the region’s demographics, particularly expatriate senior management.”   

Members of Gen X are also changing their lifestyles, with considerable numbers now looking for a more sustainable work-life balance. This often means spending more leisure time with their families, including holidays and combining business with leisure, significantly growing travel’s bleisure segment. 

To illustrate these points, Gen X will be responsible for USD11.1 billion, 41% of Saudi Arabia’s total outbound market value of USD27 billion by 2028, according to the report. It is similar to the picture in the UAE. Gen X will spend USD18.2 billion, 60% of the total market value of USD30.5 billion by 2028. 

“It is also worth considering that as this generation begins to age and subsequently retire, naturally, it will be Millennials who will begin to dominate outbound market share in the decade ahead,” added Curtis.

Overall, Saudi tourists favour Europe as a destination, accounting for USD13.2 billion in market value by 2028, compared with just USD7.4 billion in 2019. Other top destinations for GCC travellers include the UK, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the US, India, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa. The trend of increasing outbound GCC business has certainly not gone unnoticed by many international destinations. 

“In 2023, we welcomed 76 national pavilions covering approximately 55% of the total show floor space, with 1,350 participating companies. This year, with the return of national pavilions from Spain and China and several African destinations, we have allocated additional floor space to accommodate this growth,” added Curtis.

To support the outbound sector further, ATM is also organising a market insights summit, covering India, China and Latin America and the latest generational travel trends. 

In line with its theme, ‘Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’, the 31st edition of ATM will once again host policymakers, industry leaders and travel professionals from across the Middle East and beyond, encouraging them to forge new relationships, exchange knowledge and identify innovations that can reshape the future of global travel and tourism. 

More than 40,000 travel trade professionals, including 30,000 visitors, attended the 30th edition of ATM in May 2023, setting a new show record. The exhibition attracted more than 2,100 exhibitors and representatives from over 155 countries, providing a global platform for unveiling ATM’s net-zero pledge.

(Source: ATM)

Wyndham opens in Pattaya

SINGAPORE, 6 February 2024: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, a global hotel franchising company spanning more than 95 countries, announced the grand opening of Wyndham Jomtien Pattaya, the newest addition to the Wyndham portfolio. 

The property marks Wyndham’s debut in Pattaya and the brand’s largest franchised property in Thailand, representing a significant step in Wyndham’s expansion in Pattaya. 

Photo credit: Wyndham Jomtien Pattaya.

In 2024, Wyndham will introduce three more hotels in Pattaya – Trademark Collection by Wyndham, Ramada Plaza by Wyndham, and a second Wyndham – further strengthening Wyndham’s operational presence in Thailand. The new hotel complements Wyndham’s footprint in other major Thai cities, such as Bangkok and Phuket.  

The 630-room Wyndham Jomtien Pattaya is located just a short walk from Jomtien Beach, around 6 km south of main-bay Pattaya. It’s a 32km transfer from U-Tapao–Rayong–Pattaya International Airport and 125km from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, the country’s main aviation gateway.

Centara backs international golf event

BANGKOK, 6 February 2024: Thailand’s famous beach resort Hua Hin will host the 9th edition of the Centara World Masters Golf Championship from 9 to 15 June.

One of Asia’s largest amateur golf tournaments will tee off at two of Hua Hin’s most distinguished championship courses — Black Mountain Golf Club and Banyan Golf Club.

Black Mountain Golf Club.

Since its inception in 2014, the Centara World Masters has welcomed 2,000 golfers. This year, the organiser Golfasian expects the tournament to welcome many returning players, some participating for the third, fourth, or fifth time. 

Golfasian, Thailand’s leading golf tour operator, and Go Golfing, the Australian golf event specialist, co-hosted the tournament with Centara Hotels & Resorts as the headline sponsor.

The tournament’s structure is designed to reflect the grandeur of professional tour events, complete with sponsor billboards and caddies donning players’ bibs, yet it retains a friendly and enjoyable atmosphere. 

Competitions are divided into three age divisions for men (A, B, and C grades) and two for women (A and B grades), ensuring a fair and competitive environment for all. Participants will vie for prizes worth over USD30,000.

This year’s event will draw international golfers from Australia, Norfolk Island, Pakistan, New Caledonia, Qatar, Japan, Malaysia, Portugal, New Zealand, India, the UK, UAE, USA, Thailand, Germany, Papua New Guinea, and South Africa.

Golfasian managing director Mark Siegel commented: “The triumphant return of the Centara World Masters marks a significant moment for Thailand’s tourism, bringing together a global community of golfers and affirming our nation’s status as a premier golf destination.”

The Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, a symbol of heritage and elegance, is a preferred accommodation for many participants and the central venue for post-tournament functions. Centara Hotels & Resorts continues as the headline sponsor, reflecting its commitment to the event’s success and Thailand’s golfing heritage.

“As we prepare to tee off at the 9th Centara World Masters, we are honoured once again to play host and headline sponsor of this prestigious event, standing alongside our esteemed partners in showcasing Thailand’s rich golfing and hospitality heritage. This event highlights Thailand’s status as a premier golfing destination and exemplifies Centara’s dedication to curating remarkable experiences for our guests,” said Centara Hotels & Resorts CEO Thirayuth Chirathivat. “It is wonderful to witness the convergence of golfers from around the world, and we look forward to welcoming players and guests alike to indulge in a week of exceptional golf, unparalleled luxury, and the warm embrace of Thai hospitality at our iconic Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin.”

The event is also supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Banyan Thailand, Chang, Coca-Cola, and Fenix.

For more details on the tournament and to register, visit www.thailandworldmasters.com

For hotel information and bookings, visit https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/chbr 

(Source: Golfasian)

Jakarta hosts Travel Meet Asia 2024

SINGAPORE, 6 February 2024: Travel Meet Asia (TMA) 2024, a travel networking and business insights event for individual travel markets of key Southeast Asian destinations, will draw 500 industry professionals to Jakarta’s  Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) from 3 to 4 July 2024. 

In collaboration with the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) and the Indonesian Travel Agents Association (ASTINDO), the B2B event integrates conferences and dynamic business matchmaking, fostering lasting connections and influencing the future of travel. With over 500 attendees, it features a selected group of over 200 Indonesian buyers across leisure, MICE, and corporate segments.

Photo credit: ITB Asia. Exhibiting opportunities to shape the future of travel at TMA 2024.

Established in 2019 as a conference and networking event across Indonesia, the Philippines, and Malaysia, TMA evolved into a series of successful virtual gatherings in 2020 and 2021. Since 2023, it has blossomed into a distinguished B2B event, embracing exhibitions, conferences, and networking opportunities for travel trade professionals. Building on the success of last year’s event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the stage is now set for a grand gathering in Jakarta as TMA paves the way to ITB Asia 2024 – Asia’s premier travel trade show scheduled for October in Singapore.

Travel Meet Asia provides diverse exhibiting opportunities for NTOs, Convention Bureaus, Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Hotel Groups, Airlines, Transportation Services and Travel Technology. Through a personalised business matching system, they will establish valuable connections with Indonesian buyers, ensuring 100% pre-scheduled guaranteed meetings with top buyers and all other attendees before the event.

Key exhibiting companies include Bintan Resorts, Frasers Hospitality, Galagents Galapagos Cruises, Global Destination Management Corporation, MIZE, Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort, Pullman Hotels and Resorts, Royal Caribbean International, Singapore Tourism Board, SiteMinder, SUNRATE, Vio Travel, VisaGenius, and many more.

In enhancing exhibitor visibility at the event, Travel Meet Asia has introduced a variety of sponsorship packages, encompassing everything from networking opportunities to prominent branding placements. For more information, visit www.travelmeetasia.com/sponsorship.

Booth prices start from USD 2,250, offering exhibitors diverse options, from shell scheme booths to customisable raw spaces. To learn more and secure your participation, visit www.travelmeetasia.com/exhibitor.

Exploring trends in the Southeast Asian travel landscape The Travel Meet Asia Conference delves into the Southeast Asian travel market, where industry leaders discuss trends sparked by today’s travellers. Presenting a curated conference programme discussing crucial insights to capture the Indonesian and SEA outbound market, covering significant topics such as market overview, sustainability, wellness tourism, hospitality, experiential events, corporate travel, travel technology, and more. The conference envisions a two-day agenda dedicated to exploring the outlook and opportunities within the Southeast Asian travel landscape.

Early Bird rate is now available for Trade Visitor registration, visit www.travelmeetasia.com/visitor to get your pass or click here
For more information, visit www.travelmeetasia.com.

S Hotels & Resorts sets bumper targets

BANGKOK, 6 February 2024: S Hotels and Resorts PCL, an international hospitality company under Singha Estate PCL, is gearing up business strategies targeting THB12 billion in revenue for 2024.  

S Hotels & Resort Public Company Limited chief executive officer Michael Marshall said: “The continued resurgence of the global tourism industry throughout 2023 and the advantageous locations of our hotels in leading tourist destinations have contributed to S Hotels & Resorts’ notable successes. 

Photo credit: S Hotels & Resorts.

“We have achieved a THB10 billion revenue milestone and maintained our position as the No 2 Thai hotel operator in terms of revenue. The renovation of core hotel assets has been a major booster to the Average Daily Rate (ADR), which rose by 20%. 2023 also marked another milestone for the company with the opening of a five-star SO/ Maldives resort in November, representing the completion of the CROSSROADS Maldives collection.” 

During 2024, S Hotels & Resorts’ primary focus is boosting profitability. The company aims to generate THB12 billion in revenue by continuing to drive efficiency and focusing on growth.

The company plans to accelerate EBITDA potential with a 3-5% margin. The Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) is expected to grow 25%, driven by strong pick-up from business on the books in the Maldives for the first quarter and the projected 20% uplift in overall ADR from room improvements in Fiji and Thailand. 

The renovation plans in Thailand will continue at SAii Laguna Phuket and SAii Phi Phi Island Village. At the same time, properties in prime locations of major tourist destinations in the UK will be evaluated for repositioning and rebranding. 

Beyond Borders

Additionally, the company targets 50 additional properties within five years, some of which will be under the asset-light platform through hotel management agreements (HMA), joint ventures (JV), and the remaining under quality asset acquisition. 

S Hotels & Resorts has allocated THB15 billion for M&A opportunities over the next five years, with high-potential leisure destinations in European countries, the UK, Fiji, Asia-Pacific countries, and countries in the Indian Ocean being its primary targets.