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Carnival rolls out energy-saving technology

SINGAPORE, 8 August 2022: Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise company, has announced the rollout of comprehensive technology upgrades called Service Power Packages across its global fleet to improve energy savings and reduce fuel consumption.

The upgrades include ongoing installations through 2023 on ships from the company’s nine cruise line brands – Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.

Carnival Corporation’s Service Power upgrade program delivers an average of 5-10% fuel savings per ship and is expected to reduce fleetwide greenhouse gas emissions by more than 500,000 metric tons each year. In addition to the environmental benefits, the programme, upon completion, is expected to generate over USD150 million in annual fuel cost savings.

Developed over the past six years, the company’s Service Power program delivers significant efficiency upgrades across the fleet, including air conditioning upgrades to the cabin and public areas and major enhancements to cooling, lighting and automation systems. Adjusting for variations in ship design, size and equipment, the company customises the Service Power Package for each ship, which combines the synergies from multiple upgrades with new operational efficiencies, all effectively supporting Carnival Corporation’s energy savings and decarbonisation strategies.

The Carnival Corporation Service Power Packages include the following elements designed to work together to reduce each ship’s overall service load – the energy required to support all onboard hotel systems – and as a result, significantly reduce both fuel usage and emissions:

Comprehensive upgrades to each ship’s hotel HVAC systems account for 25% of a ship’s energy consumption to improve hotel ventilation efficiency using sophisticated variable speed drives and on-demand systems throughout public areas, cabins and galleys. Additionally, indoor air quality is continuously monitored and maintained to the highest standards at sea, using industry-leading air filtration and ultraviolet-C treatment throughout the ship.

Technical systems upgrades on each ship using variable speed drives and on-demand automated control systems for engine room ventilation, main air conditioning chillers and cooling pumps, dramatically lowering the energy needed to deliver cooling around the ship.

State-of-the-art LED lighting systems are installed throughout each ship to reduce both power consumption and heat load generation – creating a dual benefit from lower air conditioning demand.

Remote monitoring and maintenance improvements maximise benefits from the upgrade packages, including improved instrumentation and automated management systems, with nonstop ship-to-shore connectivity. Expanded remote monitoring and analysis of each ship’s energy performance and technical status ensure peak efficiency and minimal downtimes.

The fleetwide enhancements are part of Carnival Corporation’s ongoing energy efficiency investment program and efforts to reduce fuel consumption, including over USD350 million invested in energy efficiency improvements since 2016, along with the company’s fleet optimisation strategy and design of more efficient itineraries. Together, these ongoing efforts are expected to drive a 10% reduction in fuel consumption per available lower berth day (ALBD) in the company’s first full year of guest cruise operations compared to 2019, along with a 9% reduction in carbon emissions per lower berth distance travelled.

As part of its longer-term sustainability plan and vision, Carnival Corporation has committed to significant investments to achieve its 2030 goals and 2050 aspirations, which incorporate six critical sustainability focus areas. These areas include climate action; circular economy; sustainable tourism; good health and well-being, diversity, equity and inclusion, and biodiversity and conservation.

Among these priorities, the company has committed to reducing carbon emission intensity by 20% from its 2019 baseline by 2030, supporting its efforts and aspirations to achieve net carbon-neutral ship operations by 2050.

(Your Stories: Princess Cruises)

For more information on Princess Cruises, visit www.princess.com.

Sabah on show at MATTA Fair in Johor

JOHOR BAHRU, 8 August 2022: Sabah Tourism Board led a delegation of tour operators to present holiday packages to travel consumers attending The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents’ MATTA Fair Johor, held at Austin International Convention Centre over the weekend.

Eight Sabah tour operators joined the Sabah Tourism Board team. They were: Al-Hakim Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd, Borneo Trails Tours & Travel Sdn Bhd, Century Travel Mart, Dynamic Tours Travel & Incentive Sdn Bhd, Global Lepa Car Rental & Tours Sdn Bhd, I-world Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd, Kinabalu Heritage Tours & Car Rental Sdn Bhd and Raya Holidays. They presented attractive travel packages targeting Malaysian families during the weekend travel fair.

In addition to the packages, a QR code was placed at all the AEON malls in Johor Bahru (Tebrau City, Bukit Indah, Kulaijaya and Bandar Dato’ Onn) that offered special travel vouchers and discounts that could be claimed at the Sabah booths to get even more discounts when they purchased any of the Sabah travel packages.

Sabah Tourism Board (STB) executives led the sales promotions at the Sabah booths focusing on Johor residents and encouraging them to buy travel packages featuring Sabah as well as flights from Johor to Kota Kinabalu operated twice daily by AirAsia.

During the fair, tourism officials confirmed that Sabah would host the World Tourism Conference from 28 to 30 November and the annual Borneo Bird Festival resumes on 22 to 23 October in Sandakan.

Visit: www.sabahtourism.com.

(Your Stories: Sabah Tourism Board)

IATA: Strong passenger demand continues in June

GENEVA, 8 August 2022: Recovery in air travel remains strong according to the latest passenger data for June 2022 released at the weekend by The International Air Transport Association.

Total traffic in June 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) was up 76.2% compared to June 2021, primarily propelled by the ongoing strong recovery in international traffic. Globally, traffic is now at 70.8% of pre-crisis levels.

Domestic traffic for June 2022 was up 5.2% compared to the year-ago period. Strong improvements in most markets, combined with the easing of some Omicron-related lockdown restrictions in the Chinese domestic market, contributed to the result. Total June 2022 domestic traffic was at 81.4% of the June 2019 level.

International traffic rose 229.5% versus June 2021. Lifting travel restrictions in most parts of Asia-Pacific contributes to the recovery. June 2022 international RPKs reached 65.0% of June 2019 levels.

International Passenger Markets

Asia-Pacific airlines had a 492.0% rise in June traffic compared to June 2021. Capacity rose 138.9%, and the load factor was up 45.8 percentage points to 76.7%The region is now relatively open to foreign visitors and tourism, which is helping foster the recovery.

European carriers’ Junetraffic rose 234.4% versus June 2021. Capacity rose 134.5%, and load factor climbed 25.8 percentage points to 86.3%. International traffic within Europe is above pre-pandemic levels in seasonally adjusted terms.

Middle Eastern airlines’ traffic rose246.5% in June compared to June 2021. June capacity rose 102.4% versus the year-ago period, and load factor climbed 32.4 percentage points to 78.0%.

North American carriers experienced a 168.9% traffic rise in June versus 2021. Capacity rose 95.0%, and load factor climbed 24.1 percentage points to 87.7%, the highest among the regions.

Latin American airlines’ June traffic rose 136.6% compared to the same month in 2021. June capacity rose 107.4%, and load factor increased 10.3 percentage points to 83.3%. After leading the regions in load factor for 20 consecutive months, Latin America slipped back to third place in June.

African airlines had a 103.6% rise in June RPKs versus a year ago. June 2022 capacity was up 61.9%, and load factor climbed 15.2 percentage points to 74.2%, the lowest among regions. International traffic between Africa and neighbouring regions is close to pre-pandemic levels.

(Source: IATA)

Klook and STB cement marketing partnership

SINGAPORE, 8 August 2022: Klook, a leading travel and leisure e-commerce platform, and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have launched a partnership to present Singapore as the preferred destination for travellers in neighbouring countries.

The partnership builds on an earlier collaboration agreement signed in 2020 and includes an integrated marketing campaign targeting travellers from key Southeast Asian markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Klook vice president marketing, APAC, Marcus Yong said: “As travel roars back, we want to continue to enable travellers in Southeast Asia to experience a sense of joy and wanderlust when they visit Singapore. As Asia-Pacific’s leading travel and leisure e-commerce platform, we are uniquely placed to help drive demand back to Singapore and lead travel recovery.”

STB executive director, Southeast Asia John Gregory Conceicao added: “Visitors from Southeast Asia accounted for nearly half of all international visitor arrivals in Singapore for the first six months of 2022 and continue to drive Singapore’s tourism recovery efforts. STB will continue to work with leading platforms like Klook to tap on new trends as we invite travellers to reimagine what Singapore has to offer.”

Since the pandemic, Klook says it has doubled the number of Singapore experiences, events and accommodation options available today to 1,200. Bookings on Klook for Singapore from Southeast Asian markets for the first half of 2022 have grown by an average of two to three times.

Klook is partnering with over 20 in-market Influencers and content partners to create engaging and immersive content. To further drive travel recovery from these markets, Klook is giving away more than SGD60,000 worth of deals, promotions and giveaways for visitors to Singapore till the end of December this year.

For additional information on in-market campaigns, five unique landing pages on Klook have been created to enable visitors to discover and book their trips seamlessly. The pages act as a central repository for travel-related information, content, precinct itineraries, experiences, events, accommodation, and promotions – enabling visitors to travel easily by having all the information they need at their fingertips.

●      Indonesia

●      Malaysia

●      Philippines

●      Thailand

●      Vietnam

Visitors can also select from more than five Klook-exclusive Multi-Passes that centre around the themes of attractions, wildlife, playgrounds, adventure, and wellness. Additionally, the campaign will showcase the lesser-known and unexpected sides of Singapore with specially curated experiences centred around Singapore’s cultural precincts (Chinatown, Joo Chiat/Katong, Kampong Gelam, Little India).   

Vistara doubles flights to Europe

DELHI, 8 August 2022: India’s Vistara will double frequencies to and from Frankfurt and Paris as it gears up to receive its third Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which has been leased recently.

Starting 30 October, Vistara will operate six weekly flights between Delhi and Frankfurt, up from the current three weekly, while connectivity between Delhi and Paris increases flights from twice weekly to five weekly.

Vistara opened sales for these additional flights across all channels, including its website, mobile app, OTAs (online travel agencies), and other travel agents at the weekend.

Vistara chief commercial officer Deepak Rajawat said, “Europe has been a key focus market for us since the beginning. We are glad that our customers appreciate our offerings on these long-haul routes. We have wanted to ramp up frequencies on these sectors, and we are delighted to be able to do that finally.”

In May 2022, the airline scaled up frequencies on several international routes, including Delhi-London and Mumbai-Singapore, to daily flights, besides bolstering its other international and domestic routes. Earlier this week, Vistara inaugurated services between Mumbai and Jeddah, as well as on the Mumbai-Bangkok route.

Vistara’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner comes with a three-class cabin configuration, giving customers the choice of Business, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins. The new aircraft will also feature fully-flat business class seats, each with direct aisle access and a separate Premium Economy cabin.

REVISED SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE 30th OCTOBER 2022

Sector

Flight No.

Day of Operation

Departure

Arrival

DELHI (DEL) – PARIS (CDG)

UK0021

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

1430 Hrs

2010 Hrs

PARIS (CDG) – DELHI (DEL)

UK0022

Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

2305 Hrs

1040 Hrs (+1)

DELHI (DEL) – FRANKFURT (FRA)

UK0025

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

1320 Hrs

1840 Hrs

FRANKFURT (FRA) – DELHI (DEL)

UK0026

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

2040 Hrs

0815 Hrs (+1)

*Subject to regulatory approval

*+1 indicates next day arrival.

*All timings shown are in local time zones

One day to grab Vietjet fare

BANGKOK, 8 August  2022: Thai Vietjet is selling an ‘8.8 Special’ promotion, offering special fares starting from THB588 (inclusive of taxes and fees) for travel on the airline’s entire domestic flight network in Thailand.

The special fares will expire midnight on 9 August, but the travel period runs from 16 August to  31 December 2022.

For international flights, the special fares start from THB1,888 with the same booking window ending on 9 August. The travel period ends on 25 March 2023. Both the domestic and international fare deals are not applicable on public holidays.

Domestic deals apply to Thai Vietjet’s entire domestic flight network from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Hat Yai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, and Ubon Ratchathani, cross-country routes connecting Phuket to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, and Udon Thani, together with flights from Hat Yai to Chiang Rai.

International fare deals apply on flights to all destinations in Vietnam, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Singapore, Fukuoka in Japan, Ahmedabad in India, and Taipei.

After a long break from COVID-19, Thai Vietjet has recently expanded its international flight network to more destinations, including Phu Quoc (Vietnam), Fukuoka (Japan), Ahmedabad (India) and Taipei (Taiwan).

Norwegian Viva: First splash of water

SINGAPORE 5 August 2022: Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), the innovator in global cruise travel, announced earlier this week that Norwegian Viva, the second of six vessels in its groundbreaking Prima Class, floated out from her dry dock at the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera (Venice), Italy, marking a major construction milestone and the first time the new vessel touches water.

To celebrate the occasion, a commemorative coin was welded into Norwegian Viva in a traditional maritime ceremony, presided over by Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line and Antonio Quintano, shipyard director of Fincantieri.

The float out signifies the completion of Norwegian Viva’s external work and painting decoration, including the striking hull artwork designed by Italian graffiti artist Manuel Di Rita, commonly known as “Peeta.” Construction continues on Norwegian Viva’s interior fittings and guest accommodations before she is officially delivered to the cruise line and commences sailing in 2023.

“The float out of Norwegian Viva has been much anticipated, and it’s an incredibly proud day for us all,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of NCL. “As our nineteenth ship and the second in our innovative Prima Class, Norwegian Viva continues to represent our ongoing commitment to giving guests the best holiday experience imaginable. With Norwegian Viva’s name meaning ‘to be alive,’ and her motto being ‘Live it Up,’ we simply cannot wait to put this into practice and welcome guests on board soon for the vacation of a lifetime.”

For more information about NCL’s award-winning 17-ship fleet and worldwide itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call Hong Kong on +852 2165 6000 and Southeast Asia on +65 3165 1680 or visit www.ncl.com

(Your Stories: NCL)

Trafalgar celebrates 75 years

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA

SINGAPORE, 5 August 2022: Trafalgar celebrates 75 years of curating tours for over 5 million travellers and is introducing new travel experiences.

New active and hiking tours in the USA offer guests a higher level of physical activity as they explore the culture and heritage of indigenous and African American history, past and present.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA

TTC Tour Brands managing director Asia Mae Cheah explains: “We’re seeing a rise in interest from Asia-based travellers who want to plan in-depth tours of the USA and Europe. After being deprived of exploration for several years, travellers are looking to fully immerse in the culture of each destination they visit. A nice hotel does not cut it anymore. Our guests are looking to be challenged and excited.”

Active & Hiking tours

Trafalgar’s Active & Hiking itineraries combine adventure and fitness for the ultimate adrenaline-fueled trip. Guests can embrace the wonders of the great outdoors, with endless hiking trails and opportunities for rock climbing, rafting, and mountain climbing through some of the USA’s most iconic locations.

Trafalgar’s 11-day Colorado Active Adventure is a key highlight, offering access to some of America’s most epic natural landscapes. The spectacular trip incorporates hiking at Mesa Verde, a UNESCO-listed site, and cider tasting at Talbott’s Cider Company.

Culture & Heritage trips

Connecting travellers with Indigenous experiences and African American history, Trafalgar’s Culture & Heritage trips use food, art and stories as vehicles to immerse guests in the history of the USA.

On a nine-day excursion from Memphis to Atlanta, the Journey Along the Civil Rights Trail incorporates moving, first-hand accounts of the Civil Rights Movement, with musicality a key component of the stories told. An afternoon with the Carlton Reese Choir will shed light on the importance of song in the African American community.

Commenting on the anniversary CEO Gavin Tollman said: “As we mark 75 years delivering exceptional travel experiences has been in Trafalgar’s DNA since the beginning; with each of more than 300 worldwide itineraries planned by a team of experts with the connections and knowledge to ensure guests unlock the best of every destination.

From now until 15 September, Trafalgar is offering a 10% discount on all year-end holidays to Europe and the USA booked through www.trafalgar.com/en-sg.

Tripseed tackles accessible travel

CHIANG MAI, Thailand, 5 August 2022: Thailand-based tour operator Tripseed has launched ‘accessible travel’ programmes to make visiting the country more inclusive for elderly and disabled travellers.

In a media statement, the company says it will help those with disabilities overcome barriers to travel and forms a part of Tripseed’s mission to grow travel back better.

“We are committed to growing travel in a direction that is open and welcoming for everyone,” says Tripseed founder Ewan Cluckie. “Tripseed has always been about breaking down barriers and creating new opportunities.”

Tripseed goes far beyond the basics of just labelling what accommodation is wheelchair friendly. Extensive accessibility audits have been conducted across properties, tour locations and transportation – to evaluate everything from ramp inclinations, availability of grab bars, manoeuvrability clearance and many other important aspects to advise agents and partners on the most suitable travel options based on the level of assistance required.

Tripseed is also offering specialised guides that are trained in American Sign Language (ASL), British Sign Language (BSL) and Thai Sign Language (TSL & MSTSL), as well as guides trained to assist with any other audio-visual impairments.

In addition to accessibility audits of existing travel products, the company announced brand-new experiences designed from the ground up to deliver daytime city tours of Bangkok or evening street food experiences in a fully electric Tuk-Tuk, specially outfitted with a built-in wheelchair ramp and unique wheelchair restraint system.

Travellers can book a snorkelling or diving experience alongside a dive master fully certified by Disabled Divers International. Or they can opt for a private tour through 200 acres of botanical gardens in a vehicle fully equipped for accessibility, alongside many more specially designed accessible touring options.

Tripseed is a ground operator and tailor-made holiday specialist based in Thailand. Founded in 2021 by three veterans of destination management in Asia, with over two decades of combined experience designing and operating travel for some of the world’s leading travel agents and tour operators.

Ascott expands portfolio

SINGAPORE, 5 August 2022: CapitaLand Investment Limited’s (CLI) wholly owned lodging business unit, The Ascott Limited (Ascott) is acquiring a freehold asset in Tokyo, Japan, via the Ascott Serviced Residence Global Fund (ASRGF), Ascott’s private equity fund with Qatar Investment Authority.

The asset will be refurbished to introduce Ascott’s first lyf-branded coliving property in the city. The acquisition follows Ascott’s signing of over 7,500 units in 1H 2022, a 32% increase compared to last year.

Ascott opened 20 properties with more than 4,500 units in the first half of 2022, a 56% year-on-year increase in units. In addition, Ascott has recently completed its acquisition of Oakwood Worldwide (Oakwood) in July 2022, expanding its portfolio by about 15,000 units to over 153,000 units across over 900 properties. The newly signed and opened properties and the addition of Oakwood will further boost Ascott’s recurring fee income.

The 140-unit co-living property to be named lyf Ginza Tokyo is ASRGF’s fourth acquisition in 2022, deploying close to SGD400 million across four countries in under five months. Slated to open in June 2023, lyf Ginza Tokyo is set to meet the lodging demand of conglomerates and start-ups located nearby and cater to leisure travellers visiting the capital city. With the acquisition of lyf Ginza Tokyo, ASRGF will hold 12 properties with over 2,300 units across 91 countries.