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Asia/Singapore Saturday, 11th April 2026
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Chan Brothers Prestige label set for launch

By Caroline Boey
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Customise tours for savvy and seasoned travellers

Singapore’s Chan Brothers Travel is introducing the Chan Brothers Prestige label following its invitation to join Virtuoso, a network of travel agents that offer customised luxury experiences.

Allen Leng, director, corporate office, Chan Brothers Travel, said the agency was invited to join Virtuoso in April and started handling bookings for the new label in mid-October.

“The brand will be soft-launched in December followed by an official launch in January next year,” Leng told TTG Asia, adding that the company expects to cater to customers who have travelled on its customised luxury tours.

Customise tours for savvy and seasoned travellers

Chan Brothers Travel, one of Singapore’s leading outbound players, set up Chan Brothers Private Tours as a bespoke travel company under Chan Brothers Group of Companies in 2009 to cater to well-travelled, savvy Singaporeans with exacting travel demands.

Demand for its private tours has been growing 30 per cent year-on-year, according to a spokesperson.

“Chan Brothers Prestige by Chan Brothers Private Tours will redefine excellence in luxury travel, tailored to the discerning palate of the seasoned traveller,” she added.

The label is online at www.ChanBrothersPrestige.com and resides apart from www.ChanBrothers.com and all dedicated marketing communications are driven directly to the website.

The company expects the strategic partnership and connection to Virtuoso to expand market segments and experiences, move customers up the value chain and elevate luxury touring through the wide portfolio of preferred regional and global partners.

Unique experiences the new label will offer include Zambia’s wilderness lodges, aristocratic castles in Europe’s countryside, hard-to-access abodes and insider experiences.

The spokesperson said a separate team of seasoned professionals manages Chan Brothers Prestige and expects “most conversations to be conducted offline with the personalised attention of our seasoned travel concierges”.

She added that while MICE requests are handled by Chan Brothers MICE & Travel, “a client’s request if appropriate, can be handled Chan Brothers Prestige”.

New Incheon terminal to add efficiency, facilitate trans-Pacific traffic

By TTG Asia
0
Terminal 2 to be more transit friendly and incorporate greater technology and automation

Incheon Airport Terminal 2 (T2) will open on January 18, 2018, and be the new home for the nation’s flagship carrier Korean Air.

A total of four airlines will operate out of T2 – Korean Air, Delta Air Lines, Air France and KLM – all SkyTeam members. All passengers using these airlines will check in and board flights at T2 instead of Terminal 1 (T1).

The new terminal is expected to maximise the synergy effect of Korean Air and Delta Air Line’s trans-Pacific joint venture by laying out transit facilities near to each other, according to a Korean Air statement. When the joint venture is in effect, the airline’s Pacific and South-east Asian network in combination with Delta’s US routes could bring to Incheon an increase in transit passengers.

Terminal 2 to be more transit friendly and incorporate technology and automation

Korean Air, which has participated in the construction of T2 from design to planning, will have an increase number of check-in kiosks as well as automated bag-drop machines at T2.

T2 will also have about 2.4 times wider space in the customer waiting room, security check and check-in counters for transit passengers than in T1.

Designed to “eradicate problems that occurred in T1” such as operating multiple security checks and immigration services, T2 will have these centralised into two sections. It will further introduce 24 of the newest screening devices, which will enhance the security process and save time. The technology in T2 is expected to reduce passenger check-in, immigration and transit time by up to 20 minutes compared to in T1.

T2 also will launch location-based services, which will work with passengers’ smartphones to provide information such as boarding pass, lounge location, flight time when passengers are close to the departure gate.

Also notable are kiosks that can print both boarding passes and baggage tags, in addition to other smart technologies, such as guidance robots and flight information display system that provides two-way information.

And to shorten passengers’ waiting time for their checked luggage, a high-speed system transporting baggage has been deployed in T2, while the design of the carousel has also been modified to an upward conveyor type hoped to better prevent baggage damage.

Meanwhile, the transportation centre 2, where public transportation facilities such as bus and airport train are in one building, is located right beside T2, cutting travelling distance from 233m to T1 to 59m to T2.

The new terminal will also feature a premium check-in lounge for Korean Air’s First Class passengers, while Prestige Class passengers and frequent flyers such as Million Miler Club and Morning Calm Premium members will be welcomed at ‘Premium Check-in Counters’. The Premium check-in Lounge will offer concierge service, including check-in, baggage check, immigration information, and welcome drinks.

As well, adapting efficient technology such as natural lighting, natural ventilation and renewable energy, T2 is expected to save about 40 per cent of energy compared with T1.

Scoot catches up to full-cost siblings

By TTG Asia
0
New app will allow KrisFlyer members to use digital KrisFlyer miles for point-of-sale transactions

LCC Scoot, which has been operating short-, medium- and long-haul flights for five years, has expanded its seat volume to a third of Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) economy inventory, and overtaken the group’s regional carrier SilkAir.

This is based on the number of seats offered by each carrier, as compiled by industry consultancy OAG.

Scoot has surpassed Silkair in terms of seat volume

The Straits Times in Singapore reported that this year, Scoot will offer nearly 7.5 million seats – more than thrice than in 2014 – while SilkAir will offer just over six million seats, marking a 25 per cent increase in the same time.

Conversely, SIA’s inventory will shrink by some three per cent compared to 2014, reaching 21.3 million seats this year. Meanwhile, the airline has been increasing the number of its business class seats by about 5.8 per cent.

This has been compounded with the recently revamped Airbus 380 aircrafts, in which SIA retrofitted premium economy seats and installed business-class seats that can be converted into seats for couples.

With this, market observers surmise that SIA’s strategy is to focus on the premium sector.

Still, SIA chief executive officer Goh Choon Phong asserted that the carrier will continue to compete in the economy.

The expansion of premium economy cabins is meant to attract customers willing to pay for seats between business and economy class, reported The Straits Times.

Viator’s travel agent booking platform now live

By TTG Asia
0
Host agencies and its members, as well as independent agents may now register

TripAdvisor’s Viator has launched the Travel Agent Program (TAP), a new booking platform offering travel agents direct and immediate access to more than 70,000 commissionable tours and attractions.

Agents can now join the programme as an individual, a host agency, or member of host agency and receive direct commission from Viator, without third-party payment distribution.

Host agencies and its members, as well as independent agents may now register

Tours and attractions available to agents will include TripAdvisor and Viator’s VIP, Exclusive and Skip the Line products. TAP also offers a “competitive commission rate”, according to a Viator statement, and caters to a global travel agent audience, allowing for multiple currencies, along with monthly reporting for easy performance analysis.

Agents will also have access to a resource centre with tips and content, including agent training, product knowledge development and destination guides to increase industry knowledge and in turn, their bottom lines.

Since testing began last month, thousands of agents have created accounts and booked experiences for their clients directly through Viator, according to a statement.

“While most platforms cater to the end-user or traveller, we’ve designed TAP specifically for travel agents and their businesses. For the first time, agents will have direct access to the world’s largest collection of attractions and tours, and we’re working to make their booking experience seamless,” touted Ben Drew, head of growth, Viator.

“We’ll collect and incorporate feedback from early adopters as we continue to evolve the programme and, ultimately, help agents around the world grow their businesses.”

Autonomous commercial aircraft on the horizon

By TTG Asia
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Boeing wants to advance autonomy of commercial aircraft

Autonomous aircraft and technologies allowing single-pilot or even unmanned operation of commercial planes could become a reality in future.

Last month, Boeing signed an agreement with plans to acquire Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation, which specialises in autonomous systems technologies to enable robotic aircraft for future aerospace applications and vehicles.

Advancing autonomy of commercial aircraft

“The combined strength and innovation of our teams will advance the development of autonomy for our commercial and military systems,” said Greg Hyslop, chief technology officer and senior vice president of Boeing Engineering, Test & Technology.

Leveraging autonomous systems that include perception, machine learning and advanced flight control systems, Aurora has designed, produced and flown more than 30 unmanned air vehicles since the company was founded in 1989. Aurora Flight Sciences is a leader in the emerging field of electric propulsion for aircraft.

Once acquired, Aurora will be a subsidiary under Boeing Engineering, Test & Technology known as Aurora Flight Sciences, A Boeing Company, while retaining an independent operating model.

More recently, Airbus’ chief technology officer, Paul Eremenko, was reported by Singapore’s Straits Times to have discussed a “disruptive approach” to trim crew size for future aircraft on a Bloomberg Television broadcast.

The Straits Times quoted Eremenko to have said that Airbus was pursuing single-pilot operation and “the technologies needed to make that happen have also put us on the path towards unpiloted operation”.

Airbnb takes Trips to new APAC cities

By TTG Asia
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Airbnb now offering local host-led experiences in Melbourne

Airbnb is expanding Experiences, activity products launched as part of its Trips platform in November last year, to Melbourne, Bali and Hong Kong.

With the new portfolio additions, 120 new experiences will join the existing 600 in Asia-Pacific across cities including Bangkok, Queenstown, Seoul, Ho Chi Minh City, New Delhi, Osaka, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

Airbnb now offering local host-led experiences in Melbourne

According to Airbnb, Asia-Pacific-booked Experiences are growing at 14 times since January 2017, with Tokyo one of the five most popular global markets by bookings.

There are now more than 3,100 Airbnb Experiences offered in over 40 cities worldwide, and upcoming additions to the Trips platform globally include Hawaii, Buenos Aires, Costa Rica and Jamaica, all launching before the year end.

Like its home sharing platform, Trips focuses on local host-led activities varying from Kimono making or exploring the local fish market in Japan, Muay Thai Boxing or cycle tours in Bangkok.

“Travellers are seeking alternative adventures, whether they are travelling alone or with groups of friends or family. As well as seeking unique accommodation options, there is the desire among travellers to destinations such as Bali and Melbourne to enjoy their destination through the eyes of a local,” explained Parin Mehta, APAC Trips director for Airbnb.

“Experiences is also a great way to unleash economic opportunity for locals. In the city, Airbnb has emerged as a platform for people to monetise their passions and talents. Our greatest assets are time and potential and Experiences is a way to unlock that,” said Mehta.

SLH teams up with JNTO to offer ‘prestige’ packages

By TTG Asia
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The Tokyo Luxury Gourmet Tour includes private sushi dinner hosted by Chef Jiro (left), typically only for Japanese residents; and dinner at two Michelin-starred Tempura Kondo

Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has partnered Japan National Tourism Organization and local partners through a luxury travel consortium led by Dentsu Ad-gear to launch four packages between November, 2017 and March, 2018.

The two- to five-day packages are said to allow guests to “get under the skin” of Japan through its cuisine, nature, history and culture, with SLH touting “prestige activities, some not usually accessible to international visitors”.

The Tokyo Luxury Gourmet Tour includes private sushi dinner hosted by Chef Jiro (left), typically only for Japanese residents; and dinner at two Michelin-starred Tempura Kondo

The first experience, taking place December 11-12 and with prices starting from 250,000 yen (US$2,200) per person, offers a two-day gastronomic journey through Tokyo that includes a private sushi dinner at Sukiyabashi Jiro Honten hosted by Chef Jiro himself, usually only available for reservations from Japanese residents. Also included is a private tour of Tsukiji market led by a fourth generation sushi chef and a dinner at the two Michelin-starred Tempura Kondo.

Guests are also offered omotenashi hospitality at the Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, the most recent addition to SLH’s 12 hotels across Japan, located in the Tokyo neighbourhood of Meguro.

In addition, the three-day cultural and Michelin experience in Nara (March 5-7, 2018) includes a visit to the “Shunie” festival at Todaiji Temple in Nara, a kaiseki dinner at Nara’s three-star Michelin restaurant Wa Yamamura, complete with a two-night stay in Noborioji Hotel Nara. Prices start from 137,760 yen per person based on double occupancy.

Wedding or photoshoot package at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, SLH’s newest hotel in Japan

Also available is the five-day natural wonders of Yakushima Island (until March 16, 2018), which takes guests to Kyushu for rainforest treks with a guide and villa stay at the Sankara Hotel & Spa. Guests can also opt for private yoga classes, sea kayaking and diving, or attend craft workshops to make their own bath salts, chopsticks or ceramics. Prices start from 810,000 yen per person based on double occupancy.

Meanwhile, the two-day Japanese Wedding Experience will offer the opportunity for a traditional Japanese wedding or couples photoshoot in the halls of Hotel Gajoen Tokyo. The package includes a dinner and cultural performance, a team to take care of wedding details and a stay in one of the hotel’s suites. Prices start from 387,500 yen based on double occupancy.

Mt Agung erupts but flights continue so far

By Mimi Hudoyo
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Flights into Bali continue, and authorities urge locals to stay calm

Mount Agung erupted on November 21 at 17.05 local time, announced the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation.

This comes barely a month after the volcano alert level was lowered from ‘dangerous’ to ‘high alert’. Despite the eruption – which saw thick grey smoke rising to a maximum height of about 700m above the peak – the status remains on alert level three.

The disaster management agency said the eruption was small so far, with volcanic ashes blowing to the east and southeast, and urged locals to not panic and pay attention to the official recommendations and instructions.

Flights into Bali continue, and authorities urge locals to stay calm

“A phreatic eruption can be a stand-alone eruption, but can also be a preliminary eruption before a series of magmatic eruption,” Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, head of central data information and public relations of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), said.

The eruption at Mount Agung, a phreatic eruption, was caused by heavy-pressure vapour formed by the heating of the water underground, or rain water absorbed into the crater soil and coming into direct contact with the magma, Sutopo explained.

It is currently rainy season in Bali.

Meanwhile, the Bali Tourism Board (BTB) Mount Agung Task Force urges the public to monitor official sources, such as the Bali Tourism Board, PVMBG and MAGMA Indonesia, and “not be influenced by dramatic hoax reports emanating from the social network and a number of foreign news agency”.

Three to four hours after the eruption, flights to and from Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport, located more than 60km south of the volcano, were operating largely to schedule with no indication of flight delays or cancellations linked to the eruption, it pointed out.

The World Organization of Volcanic Observatories (WOVO) has an ‘orange’ warning in place for Mount Agung, a rating used by aviators. ‘Orange’ is the second highest alert level indicating the volcano is exhibiting an increased likelihood of an eruption but with little or no volcanic ash being emitted into the atmosphere, it said.

Estimates at sunset on Tuesday put the ash-cloud top at around 3,842m above sea level, warning the height might be more than can be easily observed. The current ash cloud is moving to the east-southeast of the volcano.

Chinese make better travellers, Sri Lankan operators say

By Yixin Ng
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A female Chinese tourist in Rambukkana, Sri Lanka

With their preference for round-trips and more activity-filled tour programmes, Chinese travellers are moving up the wishlist of Sri Lankan tour operators.

Arjuna, Exotic Holiday International spokesperson, told TTG Asia that Russia is its top source of business, but China, in second place, is set to overtake the once darling market both in terms of numbers and upselling opportunity.

A female Chinese tourist in Rambukkana, Sri Lanka

While Russian travellers tend to opt for beach holidays, Chinese on the other hand have a preference for round-trip or multi-city tours, he explained.

“Yes, we get more Russian travellers, but the Chinese want more out of their holidays (with us). We want more Chinese travellers and expect that (the market would outperform) Russia,” he shared.

A popular programme for the Chinese, he continued, covers Colombo, Kandy, Sigriyar, and more.

On a typical month, the company receives 800 Chinese travellers. Moreover, for special programmes catering to Chinese companies a single group be as large as 250 pax, he said, citing the example of a New Year corporate event last December.

And these numbers are not just coming from first-tier Chinese cities.

Earlier this year in March, Exotic Holiday International welcomed over 150 women from an organisation in Kunming who attended a special Sri Lanka programme tailored for them in celebration of International Women’s Day.

Kunming also represents an important market for Lahiru Weerawardana, managing director of Sri Lankan DMC Travel Trends Leisure.

He shared that with thrice-weekly flights now connecting the Chinese city and Sri Lanka, the opportunities are hard to deny.

The Sri Lankan tourism bureau is also bringing more promotional activities to Kunming now, he said.

Marianas charms Chinese travellers with many faces

By Yixin Ng
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Torres: spotlighting sports events

The Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA) was at the recently concluded CITM 2017 to position the Northern Mariana Islands as a multi-faceted destination, with activities and attractions appealing not only to the beach-loving crowd, but also to culture vultures and sports fanatics.

MVA’s deputy managing director Judy Torres said in FY2017 (October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017), the destination saw an 11 per cent year-on-year increase in Chinese arrivals to 229,000.

Torres: spotlighting sports events

“We did not expect to see such results at the beginning of the financial year, but we gained additional air services through the year, which helped,” she remarked.

Now, Saipan enjoys connections from Hangzhou (Beijing Capital Airlines), Shanghai and Guangzhou (Sichuan Airlines) and Beijing (China Eastern Airlines).

Encouraged by the success it has seen in China, MVA is intensifying efforts in the marketplace. And here at CITM 2017, it will play up on a series of sports events coming up in Saipan, namely the Hell of the Marianas, Saipan Marathon, Ironman 70.3 Saipan and so on.

Other events MVA is hoping to bring attention to include the Annual Tinian Hot Paper Festival, Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival and Beer Garden and Saipan International Fishing Tournament.

More than just hotels and sightseeing, MVA officers told TTG Asia that the destination offers opportunities for tourists to discover the local culture, for example at the night market in downtown Garapan.

“There are local food, drinks, handicraft and even local cultural performances,” Torres shared.

With December 12 (a day that sees massive shopping discounts being offered across China) round the corner, MVA is hoping to cooperate with its partners in China to push out special packages for honeymooners and families.

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Sister Publications
TTG Asia TTGmice TTG India TTGssociations TTG Asia Luxury
TTG Asia | Thailand pushes year-round tourism in new cabinet policy statement
TTG Asia | Macao’s safety record strengthens appeal to cautious travellers
TTG Asia | Macao travel expo opens with strong international turnout