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Centara sends aid to Morocco and Libya

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 3 October 2023: Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha partnered with Red Crescent Qatar to extend vital assistance to the earthquake and flood-affected regions of Morocco and Libya. This charitable initiative aims to provide much-needed relief to the communities grappling with the aftermath of natural disasters.

To facilitate this initiative and engage its community, Centara West Bay Hotel placed donation boxes at the hotel. These boxes are accessible to in-house guests and dedicated employees, encouraging them to contribute essential items such as clothing, footwear, bags, children’s toys, and kitchen equipment. As part of this meaningful effort, the hotel has generously donated towels, bathrobes, bedsheets, and pillowcases.

Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha, General Manager Sean Spinks expressed his pride in the hotel’s ongoing collaboration with Red Crescent Qatar and organisations to support the community and enhance corporate social responsibility. He remarked: “Centara West Bay has taken steps to support Morocco and Libya during their time of need. We are committed to our brand’s values and will continue to provide support as part of our ongoing commitment. Thank you to our guests and employees for their generous contributions.”

For more information about Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha, visit https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centara/cwq

ABOUT CENTARA

Centara Hotels & Resorts’s portfolio includes 93 properties spanning all major Thai destinations plus the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, China, Japan, Oman, Qatar, Cambodia, Turkey and the UAE. Centara’s portfolio comprises six brands – Centara Reserve, Centara Boutique Collection, Centara Grand, Centara, Centra by Centara and COSI Hotels.

Thai AirAsia X moves flights to Sat-1

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 3 October 2023: Thai AirAsia X (flight code XJ) is now operating some flights* at Suvarnabhumi Airport out of the recently opened SAT-1 (Satellite 1) Building. 

Departing Thai AirAsia X passengers will continue to check in and clear immigration at the Main Terminal before connecting by the APM shuttle train (every 3 minutes) to SAT-1, where they will head for gates S101-S128 for their respective Thai AirAsia X flights.

Arriving Thai AirAsia X passengers at Suvarnabhumi Airport will also disembark at SAT-1 and connect by the APM shuttle train to the Main Terminal for immigration clearance, baggage collection and transfers.

This operational change applies to Thai AirAsia X (XJ) routes between Bangkok and South Korea (Seoul), Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo) and China (Shanghai) only.*

Thai AirAsia X  arriving and departing passengers between Suvarnabhumi and Sydney (Australia), Thai AirAsia (FD) flights, and all other AirAsia Group flights will continue to operate from the main terminal at the airport.

The new terminal comes with 28 contact gate aircraft parking stands capable of accommodating A380s and 64 passenger loading bridges.

Thai AirAsia X and Thai Vietjet are the first airlines to use SAT-1, with Thai AirAsia X operating 14 flights daily and Thai Vietjet four flights daily. Duty-free delivery counter services, duty-free shops, restaurants, and special passenger lounges are only partially open at present, but ultimately, it will have identical retail outlets as found elsewhere air side.

The APM shuttle train can handle up to 3,590 passengers per hour or 210 passengers per five-minute transfer to and from the remote satellite terminal. The SAT-1 building will benefit airlines that want to end bus transfers to remote boarding bays. International travellers not keen on the long treks in Suvarnabhumi Airport’s main terminal corridors will value the APM shuttle transfer. 

However, baggage check-in and immigration will remain in the main terminal, a notorious bottleneck of passenger congestion when checking in for flights. The airside terminal zones and buildings, which include the domestic and main terminal gates and now the remote SAT-1 gates, rarely suffer the same degree of passenger congestion.

FCM Events readies for bounce-back

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 3 October 2023: FCM Meetings & Events (FCM M&E), a specialist division of the Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG), has announced a global business expansion.

It will see industry expert Simone Seiler moving into the role of global general manager to oversee lofty ambitions and bring all the global M&E businesses into one.

Seiler is a seasoned travel industry executive with over two decades of experience. She is passionate about the business events sector, bringing her global perspective and local knowledge to dozens of countries and partner networks as the worldwide leader, supporting in-market business leaders.

Events, event travel and meetings are leading the business travel bounce back globally, with a recent white paper* by FCM M&E revealing that the MICE market size, in terms of revenue, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6% from 2022 to 2030 to reach USD1,563.3 billion by 2030.

According to FCM Asia’s managing director, Bertrand Saillet, the surge in bookings due to high demand in 2023 has continued to shape the sector.

“Meetings and Events are the core of business interactions, both in Asia and across the globe. FCM Meetings and Events is experiencing exponential growth, presenting many opportunities.”

“In Asia, we have witnessed a dynamic surge in demand for personalised, high-quality experiences, reaffirming the value of face-to-face engagements. This trend mirrors a global sentiment, showcasing the universal significance of in-person interactions.”

“By leveraging our global network, we’re confident to deliver exceptional meetings and events experiences that captivate audiences, shaping the future of business gatherings in Asia and worldwide.”

“We know we have an incredible opportunity to both grow and position ourselves as the travel management company of choice for meetings, events, and event travel and are experiencing and anticipating a steady annual growth rate of demand at 12 per cent year on year for in-person meetings, which means we have some exciting opportunities coming our way.”

FCM Meetings & Events is committed to growing its global footprint and presence in this sector. Priorities include the development of innovative technology solutions and investing in extra talent, with the company planning to focus on three core areas.  

• Meetings: Provide various services, including venue sourcing, managed meetings, basic planning, and onsite support.

• Event Travel: Offer group travel, from flights and hotels to transfers and team building.

• Events: Provide full event management services, including planning, strategies, execution, and delivery.

*White Paper* by FCM M&E reveals the MICE market size, in terms of revenue, is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.6 per cent from 2022 to 2030 to reach USD1563.3 billion by 2030

Vistara to fly from Mumbai to Frankfurt

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TTR WEEKLY
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GURUGRAM, 3 October 2023: Vistara, India’s joint venture between Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, will introduce six-weekly flights between Mumbai and Frankfurt starting 15 November 2023. 

This new route is in addition to Vistara’s six-weekly service between Delhi and Frankfurt, launched in February 2021. To introduce the route, the airline is all-inclusive return fares starting at INR54,999 for economy, INR89,999 for premium economy, and INR174,999 in business class.

Photo credit: Vistara.

With the addition of this new long-haul route, Vistara improves connectivity between Europe and India as it continues to grow its international network. 

The airline will operate its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner featuring a three-class cabin configuration, offering the choice of travelling in Business, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins. Bookings for the flights are being progressively opened on all channels, including Vistara’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents.

Vistara’s operations in Mumbai have expanded, making it an important gateway with 12 international destinations, including Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Colombo, Dammam, Dhaka, Dubai, Jeddah, London Heathrow, Male, Mauritius, Muscat and Singapore. 

In the last 12 months, the airline has added many new domestic and international connections from Mumbai, leading to an increase of 42% in departures and nearly doubling its employee strength in the station.

Vistara chief executive officer Vinod Kannan said: “We are delighted to expand our international network by launching this new service between Mumbai and Frankfurt. Our long-haul routes, connecting Delhi with London Heathrow, Paris and Frankfurt, have been very popular amongst our customers, giving us the confidence to offer similar connections from Mumbai. 

“This will be our second long-haul route from Mumbai, in addition to five weekly flights to London Heathrow…Over the past few years, we have launched several new international routes from Mumbai, especially to the Middle East. This aligns perfectly with our strategy to position Mumbai as a vital hub for international travel,” he concluded.

* All timings shown are in local time zones; exact timings may differ slightly for respective days of operations

** (+1) indicates next-day arrival

*** Subject to regulatory approvals

Thai Vietjet links Phuket and Chiang Rai

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 3 September 2023: In response to increasing travel demand, Thai Vietjet confirms it will resume cross-country direct flights between the holiday island of Phuket and Chiang Rai, Thailand’s far north mountain destination starting 29 October 

The airline will serve the route with four flights weekly, resuming a direct link suspended on 30 January 2023. The airline had attempted to revive the route during Q4 2022 as services returned following the Covid lockdown that kicked in during March 2020 and continued until 2022. 

Flights will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday with a flight time of two hours and 10 minutes using an A320. The roundtrip ECO fare starts at THB5,038 (USD136.98). The outbound sector fare from Phuket is THB1,930, and the return sector fare from Chiang Rai is THB2,829. Add fees and tax). Booking sites calculate the average roundtrip fare at USD112 during the start-up month and around USD132 in December.

“As domestic tourism in Thailand is rapidly recovering, the travel demand between the two destinations has started to pick up again,” Thai Vietjet chief executive officer Woranate Laprabang. “We believe that the resumption of the flight service between Phuket and Chiang Rai will significantly boost the tourist numbers in both cities, facilitating business & leisure travellers with a more convenient choice of travel”.

Currently, Thai Vietjet offers 11 Thailand domestic routes, including flights from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Udon Thani, Hat Yai, Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, and Surat Thani, cross-country flights from Phuket to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. The airline is expanding its international flight network to many destinations across Asia-Pacific, connecting Thailand with Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, Japan, Taiwan and other top destinations.

Air India drops Amsterdam service

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 3 October 2023: Air India has suspended direct flights between Delhi and Amsterdam just months after resuming four weekly flights on the route back in June 2023.

Aviation news sites said the decision was reportedly due to being unable to secure slots for the upcoming winter timetable from 27 October 2023 to 30 March 2024.

The airline fails to mention details on its corporate website or social media channels. Still, independent booking sites clearly show the airline will discontinue the DEL to AMS service, with the last flight scheduled for 27 October. The airline flies the route four times weekly on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday using Boeing 787-8 aircraft.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic locked down travel in early March 2020, Air India had served the DELI – AMS route for 26 years.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport’s slot times for airlines totalled 303,000 for the summer season but have reportedly declined to 189,514 for the upcoming winter timetable, according to the ACNL. The non-profit agency is the airport slot coordinator of the Netherlands responsible for slot allocation and slot monitoring at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS), Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) and Eindhoven Airport (EIN).

KLM continues to fly daily on the AMS – DEL route throughout the winter timetable. The average roundtrip fare on the route up until 27 October is USD1,250 based on both Air India and KLM flights. However, during the last quarter, the average airfares will rise to USD1,414 in December.

Air India is promoting its new flight connecting Kochi, the commercial hub of Kerala, with Doha, the capital of Qatar, through social media channels. The daily service is due to start on 23 October 2023. Bookings are open on the airline’s website.

The airline also reports it will fly from Delhi to Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, four times weekly starting 28 October. Flights will depart Delhi on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Flight time for the direct service is two hours and 20 minutes. 

AI fakes worry heritage experts

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 2 October 2023: Heritage tourism experts grappled with complex issues of presenting culture and heritage to tourists at an international gathering held last week in Valencia, Spain.

Dozens of delegates from 30 countries debated the latest issues, trends and opportunities affecting the sector, which accounts for 40% of all tourism activity, according to UNWTO data.

The role of technology, not least artificial intelligence, was centre stage at the summit, where presenters shared the latest cultural and heritage tourism insights from Iceland, Belize, Finland, Spain, Morocco, Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE, and other destinations.

Certain issues unite all destinations

“We should be more worried about artificial intelligence than climate change,” said Visit Oulu, Finland CEO Yrjotapio Kivissari.

He admitted that while many operators, including his organisation, use artificial intelligence, the technology is being abused by destinations which were happy to mix fake images with real ones in their marketing.

However, he predicted that AI would quickly remove language barriers in cultural tourism settings.

Also, on technology, Wanderlust magazine revealed 3D headsets which allowed destinations to show 360-degree immersive visual and sound experiences. To great effect, Wanderlust executives used samples from Petra, Fiji, the Norwegian fjords and the Holi festival of colours from India to show how immersive headset technology is transforming destination marketing.

Delegates learned that new technology can serve traditional local artisans and communities. For example, ResiRest has established itself as a social enterprise that helps 9,000 families in 50 countries by connecting them with tourists who want an authentic destination dining experience with a local family in their house.

Similarly, the Tuzmo website allows tourists to meet local artisans such as wood carvers, weavers and sculptors and makes it easy for them to order and ship any artefact they buy from the artist.

On attention span issues, delegates said museums and built attractions needed to convey a narrative story with emotion and empathy, preferably with multiple access points to the story. Stephen Ryan, heritage design director at Freeman Ryan Design, Australia, told the audience that the average time duration for museum video clips was always decreasing.

Heritage tourism is worth around USD570 billion per year, said SWA Development president Scott Wayne. Within the sector, 51 to 70-year-olds generate 60% of its revenue. However, 73% of millennials were interested in visiting cultural and historical places.

On heritage tourism finance, delegates admitted that the fight for adequate funding was perpetual. It was imperative for governments and donors not to just think about ROI in terms of money. It should also be expressed in job creation, a sense of ownership and pride, training and employability, cultural value, environmental gain and social inclusion.

Closing the summit, WATCH CEO  Nigel Fell announced Johannesburg in South Africa as the host city for the 2nd WTACH Global Leaders Summit, which will be held in September 2024.

WTACH chairman and founder Chris Flynn concluded: “ We will build on the success and take the important work of culture and heritage in tourism to the next level in Johannesburg next year.”

Season starts for Upper Mekong cruises

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TTR WEEKLY
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CHIANG KHONG, Thailand, 2 October 2023: Pandaw’s winter season cruises got underway in earnest last week, sailing from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang on the 10-cabin RV Laos Pandaw.

The luxury riverboat sails the Upper Mekong between Huay Xai on the Lao side of the Mekong River and Luang Prabang, the UNESCO World Heritage town, where it takes a three-night break before continuing the sail to the Lao capital, Vientiane. The 10-night sail is scheduled in both directions up and downstream.

Travellers joining the season’s first upper Mekong sailing started their journey by private tour bus from Chiang Mai, the largest town in North Thailand, a distance of around 270 km from the Mekong River in Chiang Rai province, where they boarded RV Laos Pandaw.   

“Last week, we welcomed the beginning of our sailing season on the Upper Mekong between Thailand and Laos with the departure of the 10-cabin RV Laos Pandaw. Purser Mr Say welcomed a full contingent of Pandaw members following transfers from Chiang Mai with a special traditional Thai classical performance and welcome cocktails,” Pandaw’s cruise team explained. 

After crossing into Laos along the Mekong River, the 10-night itinerary explores rural Laotian villages, the Buddhist sanctuary of Pak Ou and the Mekong Elephant Park, a certified elephant rescue sanctuary.

RV Laso Pandaw docks in the UNESCO Heritage City of Luang Prabang for three nights and then continues downstream to the Lao capital, where guests can explore the city or continue their holiday in Laos or neighbouring Thailand. 

Limited cabins are available for bookings during the peak 2023/24 season. 

The Laos Mekong
CHIANG KHONG TO VIENTIANE
10 nights
FROM USD4,360.00
No single supplement on selected dates

For more information on the Thailand – Laos Mekong cruise.

To book visit pandaw.com, email [email protected] 

What About Kuching festivities take off

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TTR WEEKLY
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KUCHING, 2 October 2023: What About Kuching (WAK) is back for month-long festivities in the heart of Kuching City, kicking off on 1 October to mark Sarawak’s 60th Anniversary of Independence celebrations.

With the tagline ‘Celebrate Arts, Culture and Lifestyle’ for the WAK 5th edition, 38 performers and celebrities from Sarawak, Sabah, Peninsula Malaysia, with international participation from Scotland, will showcase talents across 40 events spanning music, dance, theatre, arts, crafts and gastronomy.

For the full itinerary of What About Kuching, log on to www.aboutkuching.com to download its digital calendar programme or catch the festival’s updates at @aboutkuching on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube.

Driven by its guiding principle, “By the Community, For the Community, WAK aims to become one of the largest open-access festivals in Asia in the years to come. Through such a platform, local artists can aspire to world-class standards in their respective genres as they showcase and perform alongside world-class talent. 

Creative and performing arts enthusiasts will participate in many events leading up to the finale on 31 October 2023. One of the highlights is the workshop series led by musical theatre performer Abel Law, who has performed as “Montparnasse” for the ‘Les Misérables’ musical at the Sondheim Theatre. Another is the ‘Acoustic Guitar Artistry: An Interactive Workshop’ by guitar maestro Az Samad. 

The spotlight also shines on the Tuak Crafting Workshop, Haunterland, Hip-Hop Night (All Eyes on Us), Ani-Fiesta 2023, An Evening of Songs, Enchanting Fitness: Ballet Fusion & Barre Magic, ‘An Evening of Songs’ with the Dolce Chanticleer Choir, a Masterclass on production with Belle Sisoski, ‘Colours of Life’ organic tie-dye and beads-making activities for kids, ‘Pour Over’ coffee brewing workshop, Padawan Raft Safari and many more. 

About WAK

WAK is an annual festival celebrating arts, culture, and lifestyle in Kuching, Sarawak, with a mission to promote these elements to a global audience. 

Visit www.aboutkuching.com.  

Sarawak Happenings in October- November 2023

A string of events will take place across Sarawak from October to November.

Kuching Marathon (KM) returned for its eighth edition on 1 October, attracting 11,000 domestic and international participants across its four categories.  

The Borneo Trail Classic 2023 in Bau takes place on 7 October as the seventh stop of the Spartan Trail World Championship under the Spartan Trail brand, where racers from all across the world will compete in its 50KM, 21KM, 10KM & 7KM categories. 

The Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta takes place from 27 to 29 October, and the Sarawak Regatta from 3 to 5 November 2023. 

For more information on Sarawak visit www.sarawaktourism.com. 

Dusit Thani debuts on China peak

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TTR WEEKLY
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HUZHOU, China, 2 October 2023: Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, represented in China by Dusit Fudu Hotels and Resorts, has continued its expansion in China with the opening of the highly anticipated Dusit Thani Mogan Mountain, Huzhou – the 11th luxury Dusit-branded property in China.

Designed to appeal to business and leisure travellers who appreciate superior levels of comfort and unique opportunities to enhance their physical and mental well-being, Dusit Thani Mogan Mountain is located at Ying Valley Resort (the east foothills of Mogan Mountain) in the heart of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Shanghai’s economically thriving region. Just a short 20-minute drive away lies Huzhou city centre, while Hangzhou can be reached in one hour and Shanghai in two hours. The high-speed railway station (Deqing) is conveniently accessible within 30 minutes.

Mogan Mountain is celebrated for its pristine, unspoiled environment and abundant tea plantations. In this lush, green landscape, the air carries a remarkable negative oxygen ion concentration, measuring approximately 60,000 ions per cubic centimetre – six times higher than the city. This abundance of pure, refreshing air is another boon for travellers seeking to enhance their well-being and rejuvenate in a serene sanctuary away from the stresses and strains of modern life.

Thoughtfully designed to blend seamlessly with its stunning natural surroundings, the beautiful eco-friendly Dusit Thani Mogan Mountain boasts 22 deluxe guest rooms decorated in a contemporary Thai style, plus three spacious villas with sweeping views of Lion Lake and the adjacent tea plantations. The next phase of the property development, including 100 guest rooms and nine villas, is slated to follow in stages. 

Reflecting Dusit’s group-wide focus on wellness, Dusit Thani Mogan Mountain will also soon open its exclusive Devarana Wellness Centre, offering a wide range of Thai-inspired massage therapies and beauty treatments. This tranquil space features a traditional Thai healing spa, hot water pools, a fitness and movement centre, an outdoor swimming pool, and dedicated spaces for mindful and energising activities such as Yoga, sound healing, and meditation. 

Making the most of the resort’s natural surroundings, guests can also arrange multi-day retreats and wellness programmes supported by invigorating activities such as minigolf, bike riding to Tiger Lake, hiking to Mogan Mountain, and paddle boarding on Lion Lake. 

Following the three core pillars of Devarana Wellness – Pause, Focus, and Growth – the resort also provides spaces for holistic, multisensory wellness experiences, supporting positive lifestyle changes while helping guests to disconnect and reconnect mindfully.

Embracing a farm-to-table concept and working with top local suppliers to source the finest and freshest ingredients, the resort boasts a Chinese Restaurant and an all-day dining restaurant serving local and international delicacies. Complementing this diverse culinary selection is a dedicated wellness menu thoughtfully crafted to invigorate and promote optimum health. The resort also offers ample space for conference activities, weddings, and business and social functions, with one banquet hall and a camping site.

“We are honoured and delighted to continue our expansion in China and bring our unique Thai-inspired, gracious hospitality to the beautiful hills of Mogan Mountain,” said Dusit International chief operating officer Gilles Cretallaz. “As an exquisite retreat catering to discerning business and leisure travellers alike, Dusit Thani Mogan Mountain, Huzhou, offers a tranquil haven where guests can rejuvenate their bodies and minds amidst nature, indulging in a transformative experience rooted in holistic wellness.”

To celebrate its opening, Dusit Thani Mogan Mountain, Huzhou, is offering a special ‘Dusit Experience’ room package starting at only CNY 1,388 (USD189) per night for a Lake View Deluxe Room with breakfast for two and a complimentary minibar. This offer is valid until 31 December 2023.

For more information and reservations, please visit: Dusit Thani Mogan Mountain, Huzhou.

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