GARUDA Indonesia is back to its regular operating schedule today following the restoration of its online systems, which had blacked out in a fire that broke out at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport yesterday.

Arif Wibowo, Garuda president and CEO said: “The system has been back online since last night. We are adding extra flights and operating bigger aircraft, focusing on flying (some 3,900) stranded passengers. Today, all flights operate as per normal.”

He added that Garuda is allowing affected passengers to reschedule their flights or obtain full refunds.

A fire started in the lounge at Terminal 2E of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 06.00 yesterday, causing a blackout across the terminal and disrupting flights with some 33 flights were cancelled, including departures to Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Besides Garuda, Malaysia Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines flights were also among the flights suffering delays.

AIMING to give travel consultants a better and data-driven understanding of the market and customer needs, Amadeus today announced the global launch of its Agency Insight suite of products.

Amadeus Agency Insight is a suite of products and services to help travel agencies both online and offline leverage Big Data technologies by transforming market and traveller data into actionable insights.

It is comprised of two modules: Search Analysis and Booking Analysis.

Search Analysis lets agencies understand customers’ travel intentions and identify the most popular destinations, travel periods and trip durations by analysing search data, in turn helping agencies tailor offers based on expected demand.

Booking Analysis helps agencies benchmark their market position and evaluate the competition, while revealing trends on growing routes and airlines. Agencies can use the data to enhance sales monitoring, inform marketing strategies and improve supplier management.

The suite is powered by Amadeus’ cloud-based Big Data platform, the Travel Intelligence Engine, which gathers and analyses intelligence across the entire travel cycle.

Pasacal Clement, head of Travel Intelligence at Amadeus, said in a press statement: “Understanding how travellers search and book for travel is vital for travel players. Search Analysis and Booking Analysis will empower travel consultants to leverage data and target the right travellers at the right time.”

LIFESTYLE consultant John B Sutherland has put together a luxury 4D3N Orlando itinerary for families with little Frozen fanatics.

The highlight of the package is a half-day private experience of the Kingdom of Arendelle, the magical kingdom of princess Anna and Elsa in Frozen, including a 30-minute performance by the princesses, a Frozen-themed breakfast, face-painting activities and a Frozen game to round off the morning.

Besides that, families will also enjoy a six-hour VIP experience in Walt Disney World Resort, 24-hour concierge assistance, round-trip airport transfers from Orlando International Airport in a luxury SUV, and three nights’ accommodation in an Oak View King Room with two double beds at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando.

Prices start at US$28,900 for two adults and two children, including all taxes, fees and ticket prices. The package can be customised to suit bigger families and groups and, upon request, more characters can be added to the Frozen experience.

The cost of all flights, tips and gratuities, and all meals (excluding the Frozen-themed breakfast) are excluded.

For more information, visit www.johnbsutherland.com.

TRAVELPORT today announced it has signed a new content and data partnership with Alitrip, formerly known as Taobao Travel.

The agreement allows Alitrip, Alibaba Group’s online travel platform, to work with Travelport and Travelport-enabled agencies, effectively expand its merchant and customer base beyond the borders of China.

Alitrip also gains access to Travelport’s pricing and availability data as well as its flagship shopping products ePricing and the Search Control Console.

Zheng Zhou, general manager of Alitrip’s transportation business unit, said in a statement: “With this partnership we can now have a more efficient way to engage the wider agency community and bring them onto the Alitrip platform. This wil provide our users with the best fare options.”

On the other hand, existing Travelport users and partners can now tap China’s growing demand for travel by participating on the Alitrip platform.

DUSIT International last week relaunched the Krabi Resort as the Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort.

The resort is a one-hour flight from Bangkok and located on a quiet stretch of Klong Muang Beach on the west coast of southern Thailand, a stone’s throw away from natural waterfalls, caves and cliff formations.

The resort offers 240 guestrooms and suites, free high-speed Internet access in every room, private balconies and terraces, and disability accessible rooms. Guests looking for privacy can book the Club Suite which comes with its own plunge pool.

For leisure, guests can choose to play a variety of water sports or take a leisurely stroll through the mangroves. The resort also offers a Kid’s Club, two sea-facing swimming pools and a 24-hour fitness centre.

F&B options include Mangosteen’s Restaurant, offering Western and Pan-Asian cuisine; Gecko’s, Italian cuisine; and Malati Restaurant, which serves authentic Indian and Thai cuisine. There is also The Deck, which offers poolside dining; and three bars.

The resort also offers five meeting rooms to cater to event planners. The meeting rooms all feature high-speed Internet access, technical assistance, and a hospitality desk which provides personalised support.

In celebration of the relaunch, the resort is having an opening special of 50 per cent off all room types, valid until October 31, 2015. Free breakfast is also included.

Speaking to TTG Asia e-Daily, Will Horton, analyst at CAPA – Centre for Aviation, said: “Hubs benefit from competition as that’s what you see from Singapore to Bangkok to Tokyo. In fact, point-to-point full-service demand in Hong Kong is reaching saturation and to stimulate travel you need a structurally different airline – such as an LCC.”

Travel agency Arrow Travel’s managing director Tommy Tam, pointed out that LCC penetration in Hong Kong remains under 10 per cent so there is still room to grow.

“The rejection may result in limited competition to existing players and less choice for consumers. If Jetstar clinched the licence, I reckon it would have opened up routes to Australia and other second and tertiary cities within the region,” he said.

Horton added: “Hong Kong needs to shift its visitor demographics. Not all source markets want to go to shopping malls, which are at saturation, provoking public angst. Some source markets prefer to explore the New Territories and outer islands, which will inject benefits to the local economy rather than designer boutiques.

“But to get those visitors Hong Kong needs more airline competition. Rejecting Jetstar wasn’t simply refusing a licence – it was a decision that will negatively shape Hong Kong for years.”

Hong Kong carriers such as Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong Airlines and HK Express had expressed vehement objection to Jetstar Hong Kong from the outset, though they have denied being anti-competition.

But other travel consultants were less persuaded about the need for another lCC on the scene.

Dannia Cheung, Morning Star Travel Service general manager, commented: “We hardly benefit from LCCs as they don’t offer commission and choose to go direct to consumers.”

Wing Wong, W Travel managing director, also played down the impact of ATLA’s decision, saying capacity is already an issue at the airport. “In the long run, the city needs its third runway to sustain future growth,” Wong said.

TRIPADVISOR has teamed up with Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to launch a microsite promoting off-the-beaten-path experiences in Singapore, the first time the travel website is partnering an NTO.

Supported by media agency MEC, the aptly named Live Like a Local site features user reviews, recommendations from TripAdvisor local experts and curated content to promote popular neighbourhoods in Singapore such as Tiong Bahru and Joo Chiat.

Lesser known Singaporean brands will take centrestage on the microsite and TripAdvisor-run master classes for featured businesses will also be held in order to help them better harness the benefits of online reviews.

Live Like a Local is currently available on TripAdvisor’s Australian, Indian and Malaysian domains, three of Singapore’s key source markets.

Lim Shoo Ling, deputy director, strategic marketing and brand, STB, said in a press release: “The Live Like a Local hub showcases our city through the eyes of locals and travellers. Their unique insights and ideas will empower fellow travellers to personalise their itineraries and inspire new visitors to experience a more authentic side of Singapore.”

A NEW Sheraton-brand development is set to come up on the coral island of Mactan in Cebu, the Philippines in 2019, featuring a hotel and a branded residences.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts said in a statement yesterday that it has signed an agreement to manage a new-built property owned by AppleOne Mactan, a subsidiary of AppleOne Properties.

The new Sheraton Mactan hotel will open in 2019, followed by the opening of the residences in 2020.

Located in Punta Engana Barangay, the property is a 10-minute drive from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

The Sheraton Mactan Resort hotel will feature 250 guestrooms, including 20 suites, with views of the Magellan Bay. A spa, three dining venues, lobby lounge, swimming pool, fitness centre and 1,313m2 of meeting space will also be found on site.

On the other hand, The Residences at Sheraton Mactan Resort will offer 182 units of one- to three-room apartments.