MEDAN, Indonesia, 20 June 2023: Batik Air (Code ID) and a member of the Lion Air Group announced this week the launch of direct daily flights from North Sumatra’s Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) to Chennai International Airport (MAA) in India.
The inaugural flight will take place on 11 August 2023 using a Boeing 737-800.
A press statement issued on Monday said the airline said the new international route was part of Batik Air’s efforts to provide better travel options between Medan, Indonesia and Chennai, India. The daily flight will appeal to both leisure and business travellers.
Chennai is a city rich in India’s cultural and historical heritage, and tourists from Indonesia can visit historical sites, including temples, museums and cultural attractions such as India’s classical dance and music.
Direct flight access with daily flights will boost trade as Chennai is one of India’s most prominent business hubs. Kualanamu is one of the largest airports in North Sumatra, with an extensive flight network of flights to other cities in Indonesia.
Batik Air’s launch of Kualanamu – Chennai direct flights also supports Indonesia’s government efforts to develop the tourism sector in Indonesia and increase the number of foreign tourists visiting the country, especially from India. Kualanamu is a convenient gateway to enter Indonesia to explore tourist destinations in North Sumatra and various other popular destinations in Indonesia.
HO CHI MINH CITY, 20 June 2023: Vietjet has celebrated its maiden flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Brisbane, making it the first-ever carrier to fly directly between Vietnam and Queensland.
The new service completes Vietjet’s network from Vietnam to the east coast of Australia, with eight weekly return flights now servicing Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Flights from Vietnam to Sydney and Melbourne will increase from September.
Vietjet Chief Operating Officer Michael Hickey noted: “Vietjet’s direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Brisbane will ease the travel between the two localities, countries and across the region. Our crew and leaders warmly welcome our passengers on a comfortable, joyful journey with Vietjet.”
Operating on A330s with two return flights per week every Monday and Friday, Vietjet’s new service departs Ho Chi Minh City at 1005 and lands in Brisbane at 2110. The return flight take off from Brisbane at 2310 and lands in Ho Chi Minh City the next day at 0450 (All in local times).
Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe welcomed the new service: “Vietjet’s inaugural Brisbane services coincide with Vietnam’s booming economy and surging demand among its citizens for world-class international holiday experiences. Queensland’s great holiday lifestyle, reunions with Queensland-based family and convenient direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City are set to make Brisbane a sought-after destination for Vietnamese travellers.”
To celebrate its launch, Vietjet cuts fares by 50% (*) for its SkyBoss and SkyBoss Business fares for bookings up to 30 June 2023. The travel period opens from 15 August to 20 December 2023.
To be eligible, passengers can use promo codes SKYBOSSALL50 (SkyBoss) or BUSINESS50 (SkyBoss Business) when purchasing tickets at www.vietjetair.com or the airline’s mobile app.
In addition to the 50% off deal on the route to Brisbane, Vietjet’s ongoing campaign, valid every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, offers fares starting from just USD0 (**), applied for all international routes, including services between Vietnam and Australia.
In addition, Thai passengers can travel from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Australia with connecting flights from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
HONG KONG, 19 June 2023: Marriott International has announced the opening of its 500th hotel in Greater China – Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.
The company plans to bolster its strong position in Greater China, with 47 hotels due to open in China in 2023 – adding close to 13,000 guestrooms to the portfolio.
Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.
Situated in the southwest of China, Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, boasts 87 private villas within a nature reserve, offering immersive experiences that showcase the heritage, culture, and natural splendour of Jiuzhaigou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a World Biosphere Reserve.
“Reaching our 500th hotel in Greater China is a noteworthy accomplishment. It is a testament to the trust placed in Marriott by our owners, franchisees, and guests,” said Marriott International president Greater China Yibing Mao. “With nearly 190 hotels planned to open in the region in the next three years, we look forward to further growing our footprint in lockstep with our guests’ evolving needs and preferences in this robust market.”
Marriott has a diverse portfolio of 31 brands. Covering over 30 key leisure destinations with nearly 70 resort properties in the region, the company expects to strengthen its presence in leisure destinations with first-time entries and brand debuts in new markets across its well-established labels in the next few years, including Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Marriott Hotels, Four Points by Sheraton, and Fairfield by Marriott.
Looking ahead, The Ritz-Carlton brand is expected to expand to include more destinations, such as openings in Suzhou and Wuhan in 2025. The St Regis brand also anticipates extending its iconic exquisite lifestyle, timeless tradition, and signature services to visitors and locals alike, including in Shenzhen in 2025, setting a new benchmark for luxury hospitality in the Silicon Valley of China.
BUSAN, 19 June 2023: The sustainable management strategy for businesses, known as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) management, is spreading throughout the MICE industry. Along with the infrastructure, costs, and service levels, the application of ESG is gaining prominence as a key consideration when selecting MICE destinations. As a result, international organizations such as the United Nations Environment Assembly and the European Union, as well as governments around the world, are providing guidelines for sustainable MICE events. In line with this trend, Busan is actively taking steps to implement and expand ESG practices in the MICE industry.
Moving Beyond Green to Sustainable MICE!
Busan MICE Sustainable Management Declaration.
Since 2020, Busan has been a leader in the implementation of environmental practices by aiming to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy efficiency through its eco-friendly MICE campaigns. In 2022, Busan took a significant step towards sustainable management by announcing a joint ESG declaration with public and private entities, including the MICE industry. The goal of Busan’s sustainable MICE approach is to prepare environmentally-responsible events, while maximizing community participation and the overall impact. Fulfilling social responsibilities during MICE events and reporting the effectiveness of ESG at MICE events are also included in these objectives.
To achieve these goals, the Busan Tourism Organization (BTO) has developed the “Sustainable MICE Guidelines for Busan” that are tailored to the realities of the Busan MICE industry. These guidelines, which can be directly utilized by event organizers, PCOs, convention centers, hotels, and other relevant parties, have been distributed to those involved in the industry since the end of last year.
MICE Guidelines for Step-by-step Sustainability Assessments and Implementation
The sustainable MICE guidelines developed by Busan, which are the first of their kind in the region, are designed to assess and implement every stage of MICE events in a sustainable manner, from the preparation and planning to the organization and operations, as well as monitoring and reporting on the ESG performance. The guidelines provide detailed examples and recommendations to assist companies that may encounter challenges in establishing the ESG strategies and goals for events, as well as assistance in preparing operational manuals. Furthermore, they are presented in a checklist format, listing the key considerations for sustainability practices tailored to those involved in events, thereby enhancing their usability. In addition, the guidelines provide detailed guidance on incorporating ESG principles into event planning and different operational stages. This includes addressing aspects such as registration and entry procedures, integrating ESG into conference and exhibition programs, as well as planning for food, beverage and accommodation services.
Busan ESG management guidelines training.
The BTO has also conducted the “Training on ESG Management Guidelines for Busan” that is targeted industry professionals based on these guidelines. A range of initiatives is being promoted to expand ESG practices in the MICE industry, such as by organizing a relay of MOU signing ceremonies for ESG management practices with nine tourism and MICE organizations.
The implementation of the “Sustainable MICE Guidelines for Busan” is expected to further vitalize the planning and operation of sustainable MICE events in Busan. Through these efforts, Busan is aiming to evolve into a MICE-centric city that is in alignment with global trends.
BANGKOK, 19 June 2023: Centara Hotels & Resorts and Thai Vietjet have joined hands to launch a marketing partnership, offering special benefits to Thai Vietjet’s passengers and Centara’s customers throughout the year.
In line with the new marketing partnership, passengers of Thai Vietjet can benefit 19% discount on Flexible and The Place To Be room rates when logging in as CentaraThe1 members and booking through Centara’s website at www.centarahotelsresorts.com/vj.
The deal applies to participating Centara hotels & resorts in Thailand, UAE, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Oman, the Maldives, Japan and Vietnam. CentaraThe1 members can enjoy a special discount code of 20% off when booking domestic and international tickets with Thai Vietjet applied at https://th.vietjetair.com/
Centara also offers Thai Vietjet’s passengers additional special perks when staying at Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne (Vietnam), including a complimentary hotel upgrade to the next upper category (subject to room availability upon check-in) and a 10% discount applied for spa treatments during their stays (for reservation in advance) when presenting Vietjet’s boarding pass upon check-in.
The partnership between Centara and the airline took to the skies with Thai Vietjet flight VZ110 from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Chiang Mai on 6 June 6, 2023, with a lucky draw activity for a special prize of a complimentary voucher from Centara for a two-night stay at Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne, and two round-trip complimentary tickets from Thai Vietjet presented by Pinida Pettanagul, Corporate Director of Marketing & Creative Services of Centara Hotels & Resorts and Pinyot Pibulsonggram, Director of Commercial of Thai Vietjet.
“It is our great pleasure to announce our second partnership campaign with Thai Vietjet to offer their customers an opportunity to explore exciting destinations in Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, UAE, Qatar and Oman. As we see the international travel sector continuing to grow, with further collaboration between the two companies, we look forward to welcoming more and more guests to our hotels & resorts and ensuring Centara’s signature of Thai hospitality and family value service are at the heart of every stay,” said Centara Hotels & Resorts corporate director of marketing & creative services Pinida Pettanagul.
Centara’s customers can book Thai Vietjet’s air tickets and receive a 20% off discount by redeeming a special discount code until 20 December 2023, with the travel period also expiring on 20 December (excludes public holidays, and terms apply).
The special discount code is applicable to the entire Thai Vietjet’s domestic and international flight networks, including flights from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Krabi, Surat Thani, Khon Kaen, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Fukuoka, Osaka, Taipei, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, and Phnom Penh.
DELHI, India, 19 June 2023: Passengers carried by India’s domestic airlines grew 36.10% from January to May 2023 and expanded 15.24% during May, a performance the Ministry of Civil Aviation described as impressive.
Reporting on the aviation sector’s recovery, the ministry quoted traffic data provided by domestic airlines reached an impressive milestone of 63,607,000 from January to May 2023. It represented a significant annual growth rate of 36.10% compared to January to May 2022. During that period in 2022, the passenger count reached 46,737,000.
The ministry also reported that passenger complaints decreased in May 2023 compared to May 2019. In May 2019, 746 passenger-related complaints were registered by scheduled domestic airlines compared with 556 passenger complaints in May 2023.
Commenting on the recovery data in the aviation industry, Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia said:
“The collaborative efforts of all stakeholders have played a crucial role in propelling the growth of the aviation sector and establishing India as a prominent global aviation hub. The consistent expansion of the domestic airline industry and the birth of regional airlines are strengthening our economy, connecting people throughout the nation and ensuring last-mile connectivity through the UDAN Scheme.”
PENANG Malaysia, 19 June 2023: Penang has won the bid to host the next International Advertising Association (IAA) World Congress, making it the first time the prestigious event visits Southeast Asia.
The event will be Scheduled from 6 to 8 March 2024, jointly hosted by IAA Malaysia, Penang State EXCO Office for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE) and Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB).
Yeoh Soon Hin, the State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy.
An official industry networking event hosted by PETACE and PCEB was held at the Amari Spice Hotel on Thursday, 15 June, to confirm the 45th IAA World Congress would convene in Penang.
In attendance was the Honorable Yeoh Soon Hin, the State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy, who commented: “With our diverse multi-faceted multi-cultural heritage and culture, Malaysia is a destination that offers much for business event visitors. Penang is proud to host the 45th IAA World Congress 2024, for it will further cement the reputation of both Penang and
Malaysia as Southeast Asia’s most advantageous, preferable and safe Business Event destination.”
The International Advertising Association was established in 1938 and is the only global association representing all marketing and marketing communications industry spheres.
LE BOURGET, France, 19 June 2023: With a resurgence in international traffic and domestic air travel back to pre-pandemic levels, Boeing projects global demand at 42,595 new commercial jets by 2042 worth an estimated USD8 trillion.
Boeing released its 2023 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO), the company’s forecast of 20-year demand for commercial aircraft and services, on the eve of the Paris Air Show from 19 to 25 June.
The new CMO comes three years after the pandemic grounded most global fleets.
Key takeaways
Passenger traffic continues to outpace global economic growth of 2.6%.
The global fleet nearly doubles to 48,600 jets, expanding by 3.5% annually.
Airlines are replacing about half of the global fleet with new, more fuel-efficient models.
“The aviation industry has demonstrated resilience and adaptability after unprecedented disruption, with airlines responding to challenges, simplifying their fleets, improving efficiency and capitalising on resurgent demand,” said Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing Brad McMullen. “Looking to the future of air travel, our 2023 CMO reflects a further evolution of passenger traffic tied to the global growth of the middle class, investments in sustainability, continued growth for low-cost carriers and air cargo demand to serve evolving supply chains and express cargo delivery.”
Regional demand and key trends
Asia-Pacific markets represent more than 40% of global demand, with half of that total in China.
South Asia’s fleet will expand more than 7% annually, the world’s fastest rate, with India accounting for more than 90% of the region’s passenger traffic.
North America and Europe will account for about 20% of global demand.
Low-cost carriers will operate more than 40% of the single-aisle fleet in 2042, up from 10% 20 years ago.
After omitting demand for Russia and Central Asia in last year’s CMO due to uncertainty in the region, this year’s forecast covers Russia and Central Asia in the Eurasia region, which comprises about 3% of the global fleet by 2042.
Commercial Services forecasts a total served market worth USD3.8 trillion, including digital solutions that increase efficiency and reduce cost; robust demand for parts and supply chain solutions; growing maintenance and modification options; and effective training to enhance safety and support the pilot and technician pipeline.
Also, in the 20-year forecast period, Boeing anticipates demand for these models:
New single-aisle aircraft will account for more than 75% of all new deliveries, up slightly from the 2022 outlook and totalling more than 32,000 aircraft.
New widebody jets will be nearly 20% of deliveries, with more than 7,400 aircraft enabling airlines to open new markets and serve existing routes more efficiently.
SINGAPORE, 19 June 2023: Growing demand for one of the most successful traveller offerings in recent years – lifestyle hotels – has fuelled the accommodation comeback as global occupancy rates in Q1-2023 neared pre-Covid levels, according to FCM Consulting’s latest Global Trends Report.
Insights showed global hotel occupancy for the first quarter of the year was at 60.46%, only four percentage points below the levels of 2019.
“Corporate travellers looking to experience something unique are booking lifestyle hotels with different offerings such as lobbies that encourage interaction, green initiatives, slick technology, and well-being choices.
Newer hotel offerings such as The Clan Hotel Singapore and the upcoming The Singapore Edition are challenging the legacy style hotels,” said FCM Asia managing director Bertrand Saillet.
Q1-2023 average room rates saw all six regions surpass data for Q4-2022 by 4 to 26%, with Asia up 26%, the Middle East rising by 22%, Europe up 19%, Latin America increasing by 12%, Australia/New Zealand up 12%, and North America rising 4%.
“As China opened borders, the rebound across Asia was significant, with an increase of 26%. Room rates in Tokyo averaged USD294, Singapore at USD269, Seoul USD239 and Hong Kong at USD224, making Tokyo the most expensive city to stay in Asia,” said Saillet.
“This demand indicates that business travellers are willing to shop differently based on price and the value of service offering, creating significant supplier changes in corporate travel programs worldwide,” added Saillet.
The latest FCM Consulting quarterly report draws on global data sourced from FCM and Flight Centre Travel Group corporate booking data for travel from January to March 2023 (Q1-2023). The report uses Cirium aviation schedule data as of 24 April 2023. Airfare pricing variations exclude all taxes.
The hotel average room rate (ARR) quoted is the average booked rate using FCM and Flight Centre Travel Group corporate booking data. Variations in rates booked reflect seasonality, supply and demand, booking lead times and variations in exchange rates.
Unless otherwise stated, all fares and rates are reported in US dollars. STR hotel data and content quoted as of 26 April 2023.
SEPANG, 19 June 2023: AirAsia X continues to expand its medium-haul network by resuming direct services from Kuala Lumpur to Amritsar in northern India.
From 3 September 2023, the four times weekly services will provide access to Amritsar, a destination with strong potential in terms of religious significance, tourism attractions, commercial opportunities, and trade prospects.
As the second destination to India after New Delhi, this route will deliver an additional annual capacity of 157,263 seats between Kuala Lumpur and Amritsar for AAX.
AirAsia X chief executive officer Benyamin Ismail said: “We are pleased to restart our direct services to Amritsar, home to the world-famous Golden Temple. Amritsar holds a monumental cultural and religious significance, and this route not only provides the opportunity for our guests in the region to visit the holy city affordably but also for the people in Amritsar to visit amazing holiday destinations with the best value fares, including Perth, Melbourne, Bali, Bangkok and more with our Fly-Thru service.
“The restart of this route is also part of our efforts to strengthen AAX’s position in South Asia, complementing our robust network in North Asia. We are optimistic that this route relaunch will enhance our medium-haul destination offering with affordable fares and contribute to the overall business growth.”
To celebrate the route recommencement, AAX offers promotional all-in*fare from MYR299* one-way for the economy seat and MYR999* one-way for Premium Flatbed. In addition, guests travelling to/from Amritsar will also enjoy 50% off check-in baggage when they book from today until 2 July 2023 for the travel period from 3 September 2023 to 30 March 2024.
Amritsar is one of Punjab’s top destinations in northwestern India, which but underserved by airlines from the Asia Pacific region. The city is also home to Sikh’s most sacred shrine, the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple), and has plenty of historical monuments, including Jallianwala Bagh, Wagah Border and Gobindgarh Fort.
Flight schedule between Kuala Lumpur (KUL) and Amritsar (ATQ):
*The all-in fare is for one-way travel only, including airport tax, MAVCOM fee, fuel surcharge and other applicable fees. Terms and conditions apply.
