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Thai Vietjet ramps up international flights

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK 12 May 2022: Following the phasing out of Thailand’s Test & Go’ scheme and other travel restrictions, Thai Vietjet has increased international flights from its Bangkok home base.

This week, the airline confirmed that it introduced daily flights between Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Phnom Penh. It follows the introduction of three weekly flights from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Singapore service in late April.

The Singapore flights will increase to five per week from 2 June 2022 and up to daily flights starting 16 June. In addition, the airline will launch three weekly flights on the Phuket-Singapore route in June.

 “Many countries have now lifted travel restrictions, reopening borders for international tourists again. Thai Vietjet, as the leader in a market recovery, has thoroughly prepared for the resumption of international air travel. In the first quarter of 2022, we have launched and re-launched a variety of international flight services and will continue to introduce our service to many more new destinations in the region,” said Thai Vietjet’s chief executive officer Woranate Laprabang.

In cooperation with its parent Vietjet Group, Thai Vietjet has established stable flight schedules between Thailand and Vietnam. Currently, the airline operates three daily flights on the Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City route. In addition, the airline resumed three weekly direct flights from Bangkok and Danang last March. The services operate Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

By July, the airline plans to operate direct flights from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Fukuoka (Japan), starting with three weekly flights on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

Phnom Penh timetable

Flight No.

Origin

Destination

Departure

Arrival

Days of Operation

VZ720

Bangkok

Phnom Penh

08:30

09:40

Daily from May 2022

VZ721

Phnom Penh

Bangkok

10:40

11:55

VZ620

Bangkok

Singapore

09:45

13:10

Tue/Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun from 2 June, 2022 and Daily from 16 June, 2022

VZ621

Singapore

Bangkok

14:10

15:30

Biodigesters board Carnival fleets

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TTR WEEKLY
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Singapore 12 May 2022: Carnival Corporation, the world’s largest cruise company, has installed nearly 600 food waste biodigesters across its fleet in support of ongoing food waste management and reduction efforts as part of its overall commitment to environmental compliance.

The innovative technology has been added to 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.

The biodigester technology uses a natural aerobic digestion process inside each machine to efficiently break down food waste using a mix of beneficial microorganisms, enabling the systems to process anything that can be consumed by a human.

Able to perform automated digestion 24 hours per day, the biodigesters are strategically placed in key areas of the ship where food is processed, further improving onboard operations by making it easier and more efficient for crew members to manage and control food waste. Additionally, the machines capture non-food items or other materials accidentally mixed with food waste, providing an additional layer of protection for environmental compliance on each ship.

Since first piloting the technology in 2019, Carnival Corporation and its nine global cruise line brands have continued to expand the use of these systems across its fleets. Most recently, the company’s namesake brand, Carnival Cruise Line, announced it is the first major cruise line to employ biodigesters across its entire fleet as the brand returns its final of 23 total ships to guest operations this month.

As Carnival Corporation’s entire fleet returns to operations this year, its full lineup of brands will continue to see benefits from improved food waste management as additional biodigesters come online, further strengthening environmental performance across the company’s global operations.

The fleetwide biodigester installation supports Carnival Corporation’s aggressive food waste management objectives in its 2030 sustainability goals. These goals support the company’s circular economy focus area by including a commitment to achieve a 30% reduction in unit food waste by 2022 and a 50% reduction in unit food waste by 2030, as outlined in the company’s latest sustainability report. These new goals build on the company’s latest achievement of reducing food waste per person by over 20% at the end of 2021, which doubled its original goal of reaching a 10% reduction in food waste by the end of last year, relative to a 2019 baseline.

In addition to food waste management objectives, the circular economy focus area also includes an ongoing commitment to significantly reduce non-essential single-use plastic items, along with long-term 2030 sustainability goals and 2050 aspirations detailed in the latest sustainability report, including the following:

  • Increase fleetwide coverage of Advanced Waste Water Treatment Systems to over 75% by 2030
  • Send a larger percentage of waste to waste-to-energy facilities where practical by 2030 and aspire to send 100% by 2050
  • Partner with primary vendors to reduce upstream packaging volumes and aspire to partner with primary vendors to ensure near 100% reuse of packaging materials by 2050
  • Aspire to build ships without the need to discharge to the ocean or air (zero-emission ships) by 2050

As part of its longer-term sustainability plan and vision, Carnival Corporation has committed to significant investments to achieve its 2030 sustainability goals and 2050 aspirations, which incorporate six critical sustainability focus areas overall, including climate action; circular economy; sustainable tourism; good health and well-being; diversity, equity and inclusion; and biodiversity and conservation. Among these priorities, the company and its brands have committed to reducing carbon emission intensity by 40% by 2030 and have aspirations to achieve net carbon-neutral ship operations, supporting its efforts to establish a path to zero-emission cruising by 2050.

AirAsia rolls out Super+ deal

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 12 May 2022: AirAsia is adding value to its SUPER+ subscription, ranging from domestic and international flights to unlimited free AirAsia food deliveries and even Covid-19 related cancellation cover for up to one full year.

The SUPER+ subscription also delivers one-year unlimited free seat redemption from an increased seat allocation and more available dates. On offer until 15 May, the added value deal kicks in when you purchase a THB5,555 fare.

“The SUPER+ promotion has been very well received, with this latest round aimed at those who missed out during the previous registration period. Promotional seats have been adjusted to be two to 30 per flight, providing even more value,” commented Thai AirAsia CEO Santisuk Klongchaiya.

“SUPER+ subscribers can redeem unlimited free flights immediately after the purchase (all flights require an advance redemption of 14 days). Existing SUPER+ users will gain added privileges automatically to stimulate travel and tourism as many countries reopen and end quarantine requirements, and as AirAsia increases its available routes and flight frequencies.”

SUPER+ subscribers can redeem for domestic and ASEAN routes served by Thai AirAsia (FD), AirAsia Malaysia (AK), AirAsia Indonesia (QZ) and AirAsia Philippines (Z2), covering more than 100 routes, an average of 270 flights daily, or over 3 million seats per year.

Download the AirAsia Super App from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store or Huawei AppGallery.

Meanwhile, earlier this week, the airline group issued a travel advisory saying it has revised business cooperation plans between Thai AirAsia X (flight code XJ) and the AirAsia rewards programme.

“Guests who reserve seats and spend with Thai AirAsia X will no longer be able to accumulate flown sectors, AirAsia points or redeem existing points for flights with Thai AirAsia X flights until further notice.”

However, passengers can still enjoy accumulating AirAsia points and redeem benefits with Thai AirAsia (flights code FD) and AirAsia Group, including various lifestyle products and services via the AirAsia Super App as usual.

Sarawak accelerates digital game plan

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TTR WEEKLY
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SARAWAK, 12 May 2022: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) charted another milestone this week by launching its online data management platform, STB InTel and an E-learning platform.

The platform is powered by Lotus Voyager Group (LVG) as part of STB’s ongoing efforts to digitalise the tourism industry.

Karim (3rd from left) launching STB InTel and E-Learning Platform with Lotus Voyager Group (LVG). Also in the picture is Sharzede (3rd from right) and MTCP Permanent Secretary Hii Chang Kee (2nd left)

These data-based initiatives will further enhance Sarawak’s destination visibility globally through digital strategies and also position STB as an organisation moving forward in “smart tourism” together with Sarawak tourism stakeholders, in line with the Sarawak Government’s digital transformation agenda.

The digital initiatives were launched by the Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. Also in attendance were the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Hii Chang Kee and  Sarawak Tourism Board chief executive officer Puan Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor.

During his speech, Abdul Karim said STB InTel would provide another component in Sarawak’s digital tourism strategies. The government to business (G2B) data-sharing initiative will enable ministry and tourism industry stakeholders to leverage the data compiled from government agencies and tourism websites, in addition to Google Analytics, to monitor the effectiveness of tourism strategies, identify new key opportunities and create new initiatives and policy recommendations in the near future.

“A data sharing platform such as STB InTel will help ensure a cohesiveness between the public and private sector as we work together to create more informed strategies and develop more targeted products,” he added.

The LVG partnership will create a learning and networking platform for tourism professionals to promote destinations and tourism products. Sarawak is the first state in Malaysia to use the learning management system at the B2B level to connect and collaborate with tourism professionals worldwide.

“Since the onboarding of these modules in early April, there are currently 1,346 outbound tour operators in the region who are ready to enrol in the course. We expect over 10,000 selective travel agents to be trained under the course by year’s end on 31 December 22. The programme will assign 1,000 new users for the course every month with promotions lined up in India, the Nordic market, and the UK in the months to come.” Abdul Karim said.

“I would like to praise Sarawak Tourism Board for this effort, and I look forward to more digital transformation initiatives that will increase the tourism sector’s efficiencies and productivity,” Abdul Karim added.

On the partnership with LVG, STB chief executive officer Puan Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor was confident that the e-learning platform would provide the relevant information on how to promote Sarawak to international travel tour operators, especially LVG’s current subscribers, which includes those from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia.                                               

Under this initiative, five modules on Sarawak’s Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food and Festivals (CANFF) have been created to highlight the wonders of Sarawak. The modules will take participants through a detailed tour of Sarawak and make Sarawak a priority when it comes to promoting preferred destinations.

For more information on Sarawak’s tourism visit www.sarawaktourism.com

(Your Stories: STB)

Etihad tweaks economy experience

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TTR WEEKLY
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ABU DHABI UAE, 12 May 2022: Etihad Airways unveiled its new economy class soft furnishings and tableware, which will be launched during this year’s fourth quarter.

The announcement was made on the opening day of the Arabian Travel Market, a trade event for the travel and tourism industry taking place this week in Dubai.

The economy class experience will be upgraded with new soft furnishings, including a 35% larger pillow with a 200 thread-count cotton cover made locally in the UAE. This is complemented by a soft blanket made from recycled plastic for additional comfort on all flights.

Etihad’s new dining experience features reusable tableware made from high-quality recycled plastic and eliminates the use of single-use plastic. The tray, serving plates, and their lids are part of a closed-loop recycling system. At the end of their lifecycle, they are collected, washed, ground and reused to make new replacement products.

Etihad is also introducing quality stainless-steel cutlery into the economy cabin, which upgrades the experience and reduces single-use plastic.

In 2019, Etihad committed to removing 80% of single-use plastic from its operation by the end of 2022. Introducing this new inflight equipment ensures the airline meets this sustainability goal. Where possible, Etihad is also moving towards locally produced items which will further improve the overall environmental impact of the operation.

Economy seating features its signature fixed-wing headrest, which provides optimal support for a relaxing travel experience. The airline also offers seats with an additional 4″ of legroom as an upgrade option. In addition, Etihad’s passengers may choose neighbour-free seating for an additional fee, which offers extra privacy and comfort.

This new launch follows the unveiling of the new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, which entered into service in March and is the first of five A350-1000’s to join the Etihad fleet this year.

Sabre expands hotel services

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 11 May ​2022: Sabre Corporation announced Monday its acquisition of Nuvola, a prominent provider of hotel service optimisation and guest engagement software to hoteliers worldwide.

The transaction includes Nuvola technology and guest enablement software and the integration of Nuvola employees to Sabre. The terms of the agreement were not released.

Sabre expects to advance its hospitality retailing and merchandising strategy through the acquisition while also broadening its property and operations abilities.

“Our vision for the future of hospitality retailing goes beyond the industry’s current focus on selling the room along with a limited set of ancillaries,” said Sabre Hospitality Solution president Scott Wilson. “ Leveraging Nuvola’s capabilities will help us deliver the ‘last mile’ in the retailing process.”

Created by hoteliers who have a first-hand understanding of select-service, full-service, and resort-style property processes, Nuvola equips hotels with cloud-based solutions, including task management capabilities, guest messaging and concierge services, and advanced housekeeping management solutions. 

Germany relaunches GCC promotions

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, 11 May 2022: The German National Tourist Board is relaunching two local culture and nature campaigns during the Arabian Travel Mart this week to reach out to GCC travellers*. 

The highly successful campaigns ‘German.Local.Culture’ and ‘Embrace German Nature’ form a compelling tourism proposition that reflects authentic, local experiences in urban destinations while shining a light on rural areas and their sustainable tourism.

German National Tourist Office director of sales & marketing for the GCC, Yamina Sofo.

“We want to inspire GCC travellers. Germany is a diverse destination and ideal for longer holidays for the culturally minded families and those who enjoy outdoor pursuits and natural beauty,” said German National Tourist Office director of sales & marketing for the GCC, Yamina Sofo.

After more than two years of travel restrictions, Germany is once again becoming a popular destination for GCC Nationals.GCC nationals booked 518,516 overnight stays in Germany during 2021, an 82.3% increase over 2020. 

In December 2021 alone, despite the outbreak of the Omicron variant, Germany recorded over 54,493 overnight stays from the GCC region, an increase of 335%, compared with the same period in 2020,

“These figures show that Germany is a preferred destination for GCC Nationals. Visitor numbers in 2021 rebounded significantly, which is even more impressive given COVID travel restrictions in Germany only eased end of June 2021. The GCC is now the highest inbound performing region within Asia, Australasia and South Africa,” added Sofo.

This has clearly been supported by the way in which the GCC countries have responded to the pandemic, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which are currently ranked second and sixth respectively in the world, according to Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking on 31 March 2022, with a combined 846 vaccinated travel routes.

‘Cities & Culture’ and ‘Nature & Outdoors Activities’ that highlight sustainability and accessibility form the bedrock of Germany’s tourism offering. According to research conducted by IPK International on behalf of the GNTB, city breaks (59%), multi-destination tours (34%) and holidays in nature (30%) are the most popular types of holidays with travellers from around the world.

Arabian Travel Market 2022 takes place from 9-12 May, and the Germany stand is located in the Europe Hall EU1235

*Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political and economic alliance of six Middle Eastern countries — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

India and Thailand score high travel searches

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TTR WEEKLY
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BANGKOK, 11 May 2022: If internet searches are a measure of travel intentions, then India and Thailand are high up the chart of destinations on the must-see list.

That’s according to the latest Visa Global Travel Intentions Study released late last week and based on average monthly search data collected in 2021.

Visa calls them the most desirable and attractive destinations identifying the US in the number one spot, followed by the UK in second place, India in third and Thailand fourth. Australia takes the fifth spot, followed by Canada (6), Singapore (7), Germany (8), South Africa (9) and Malaysia (10).

India and Thailand scored the highest search percentage of all the Asian destinations on the top 10 list. India registered 10% of the average monthly searches and Thailand 8% compared with 31% for the US and 30% for the UK, the two top destinations. Singapore generated 3% and Malaysia 2%. Australia generated 6% of the searches, followed by Canada at 4%, Germany and South Africa both at 2%.

Based on average monthly search data and searches that signalled an intent to travel, the Visa study explores 7,000 keywords ranking low travel intent, essentially dreaming and gathering information and high intent when searches move up a notch to focus on how to get to the destination. 

All of the top 10 destinations shared high scores for the travel intention to escape and relax, identifying it as the top motivator. Other strong motivators across the board included leisure pursuits, experiencing local culture and outdoor adventures. 

India’s escape and relax options motivated a 38% score, the category’s highest in all the 10 countries. The country’s local cultural experiences motivated 26% of the searches and leisure pursuits 13%.

Thailand’s escape and relax scored 25% of searches, but leisure pursuits scored a higher 30% and outdoor activities 18%. Local cultural experiences scored a lower 13%.

The bottom-line advice from Visa for travel companies in any of the top 10 destinations is “to prepare for an influx of travellers as borders reopen.”

Visa group country manager for regional Southeast Asia Serene Gay commented: As borders reopen and international travel gradually resumes, it’s important that travel-related businesses are ready to accommodate tourists and their new post-pandemic preferences, including the ability to make safe, contactless digital payments. This will be key in creating business momentum and allowing businesses to thrive in the future.”

(Source: Visa Global Travel Intentions Study December 2021)

Emirates launches premium economy

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TTR WEEKLY
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DUBAI, UAE 11 May 2022: Flyers can look forward to another Emirates travel experience as the airline unveils its full premium economy offering with sales opening on 1 June 2022.

The new cabin class, which offers luxurious seats, more legroom, and service to rival many airlines’ business offerings, will be available to Emirates customers travelling on popular A380 routes to London, Paris, and Sydney from 1 August. Christchurch follows in December.

Emirates is the only airline in the region to offer a premium economy cabin.

Emirates president Sir Tim Clark said: “As with everything we do, Emirates premium economy will be exceptional in its class, with minute attention given to every aspect of the customer experience. Customers trading up from the economy will be getting excellent value.

“Since we first introduced our premium economy seats in January 2021, the positive response and demand have been tremendous. We currently have six A380s equipped with this cabin class, which limits our initial deployment, but we intend to offer this experience to many more markets across our network. This November, we will begin our retrofit programme to install premium economy on 67 A380s and 53 Boeing 777s. At the end of the programme, Emirates will have 126 aircraft fitted out with premium economy cabins and our latest interiors across other cabins. It is a major investment to ensure our customers continue to have the best experience in the sky.”

Emirates’ premium economy is in a class of its own, offering a signature experience unmatched in the industry.

Dedicated airport experience: Customers can look forward to a dedicated check-in area for Premium Economy at Dubai International airport or utilise one of the many convenient self-service check-in kiosks in the hall to avoid queues.

Luxurious seats: Once onboard, customers will immediately notice the quiet luxury in Emirates’ Premium Economy cabin. A wood panel finishing similar to Business Class sets the cabin’s mood, and each seat is designed to provide optimal comfort and support with 6-way adjustable headrests.

The cream-coloured leather seats (19.5 inches wide and reclines 8 inches) have a generous pitch of up to 40 inches, offering a comfortable cradle position with ample room to stretch out. It also offers calf rests and footrests for additional comfort and many other thoughtful touches such as easily accessible in-seat charging points and a side cocktail table.

Comfort: Customers can get comfortable under soft, sustainable blankets made from recycled plastic bottles and snuggle into the generously sized pillow designed uniquely for Premium Economy. They can also refresh themselves with the complimentary amenity kits, which come in reusable, sustainable bags and contain items made with some element of recycled or sustainable materials.

Dining experience: Incorporating elements inspired by Business Class, customers will be welcomed on board with a welcome drink in fine glassware. A selection of generous meals made with seasonal ingredients and regional influences will be served on chinaware, accompanied by stainless steel cutlery wrapped in a linen napkin during meal service. The drinks menu will include a selection of beverages, including premium wines and sparkling Chandon wine. There are also liqueurs available after meals, with chocolates.

Unmatched entertainment at 40,000 feet: Each seat has a 13.3″ screen, one of the largest in its class, to enjoy the choice of up to 5,000 channels of music, movies, TV, news and other content on Emirates’ award-winning ice.

On a four-class Emirates A380, the Premium Economy cabin is located at the front of the main deck with 56 seats in a 2-4-2 configuration. On the Emirates Boeing 777, up to 24 Premium Economy seats will be installed in a dedicated cabin section between business and economy.

For more information visit: www.emirates.com

Tripadvisor reveals the world’s best hotels

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TTR WEEKLY
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SINGAPORE, 10 May 2022 – Tripadvisor announced Tuesday the winners of its annual Travellers’ Choice Awards for Hotels for 2022.

Following the early 2022 releases of the Best of the Best Destinations and Beaches, this latest community-powered ranking reveals the top hotels worldwide just ahead of the busy summer travel season.

Six Senses Laamu, Olhuveli Island, Maldives.

Now in its 20th year, the 2022 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards are based on traveller reviews and ratings posted on Tripadvisor over the 12-month period from 1 January 2021 through to 31 December 31, 2021.

The 2022 awards include 11 subcategories of accommodations, including three brand new ones: Out of the Ordinary Hotels, Hotels on the Water, and Mountain Resorts & Lodges. These subcategories are based on a variety of different factors – from hotel type to location and even the age of the property.

“We know there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to travel planning. Some travellers are looking for unique stays – ranging from cave hotels to overwater bungalows – while others are looking for a quaint B&B,” said Tripadvisor chief commercial officer Kanika Soni. “No matter what type of trip you are looking for, this year’s Travellers’ Choice Awards – with winners spanning six continents and 90 countries – showcase the top recommendations from other travellers.”

Global winner

The No. 1 Top Hotel worldwide for 2022 is Tulemar Bungalows & Villas in Costa Rica. This jungle resort is perched on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Consistently ranking in the Best of the Best Awards, Tulemar is frequently called an “amazing stay in paradise” by its guests. 

1 Top Hotel worldwide for 2022 is Tulemar Bungalows & Villas in Costa Rica. This jungle resort is perched on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Consistently ranking in the Best of the Best Awards, Tulemar is frequently called an “amazing stay in paradise” by its guests. 

Asia’s top choice

Topping Asia’s best list is Six Senses Laamu, Maldives, ranking No 1 for 2022. Located in the Laamu Atoll, the stunning property offers 97 villas, both overwater and on the beach, and an abundance of dining options, water sports and spa.

Indonesia hit the jackpot this year, with 12 World’s Best wins across all categories. Amongst Asia’s Best lists, Indonesia pulled through with 25 winners. The most notable wins include Adiwana Suweta, which is ranked No 1 Hottest New Hotel in the World as well Padma Resort Ubud, ranked No 3 on the World’s Best Mountain Resorts & Lodges list and No 5 Best Luxury Hotel in the World.

Top 10 Hotels in the World for 2022

  • Tulemar Bungalows & Villas – Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
  • Hotel Colline de France – Gramado, Brazil
  • Ikos Aria – Kefalos, Greece
  • Romance Istanbul Hotel – Istanbul, Turkey
  • THE OMNIA – Zermatt, Switzerland
  • Kayakapi Premium Caves – Cappadocia – Urgup, Turkey
  • Six Senses Laamu – Olhuveli Island, Maldives
  • Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort – Hopkins, Belize
  • Padma Resort Ubud – Bali, Indonesia
  • BLESS Hotel Madrid – Madrid, Spain

Top 10 Hotels in Asia for 2022

  • Six Senses Laamu – Olhuveli Island, Maldives
  • Padma Resort Ubud – Bali, Indonesia
  • Pimalai Resort and Spa – Ko Lanta, Thailand
  • Lotte Hotel Hanoi – Hanoi, Vietnam
  • COMO Cocoa Island – Cocoa Island, Maldives
  • Sukhumvit Park, Bangkok – Marriott Executive Apartments – Bangkok, Thailand
  • The Royal Purnama – Bali, Indonesia
  • Jaya House River Park – Siem Reap, Cambodia
  • Lotte Hotel Seoul Executive Tower – Seoul, South Korea
  • Viceroy Bali – Bali, Indonesia

To see all the 2022 winners in 11 subcategories, visit tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Hotels.

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