Princess Cruises welcomes Sun Princess to its fleet

September 19, 2022

Princess Cruises has unveiled its latest bespoke ship platform, Sun Princess. Set to accommodate over 4,000 guests, the ship is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard and scheduled to debut in early 2024.

The 175,500-ton vessel is the largest Princess ship ever constructed and is one of 11 new ships in the corporate fleet powered by LNG fuel technology.

Sun Princess’ The Dome is a multi-level covered deck inspired by the terraces of Santorini

The inaugural season for Sun Princess will begin in early 2024 with Mediterranean itineraries, followed by Western and Eastern Caribbean voyages out of Port Everglades, Florida in the fall. The ship’s first three voyages are already on sale.

The iconic Piazza spans three stories, forming an architectural feature offering guests a panoramic view of the ocean in every direction. Adjacent to the Piazza Atrium will be a new coffee shop, Coffee Currents, Bellini’s Cocktail Bar, along with Princess favourites like Crooners Bar and Alfredo’s Pizzeria.

Inspired by the terraces of Santorini, The Dome is a multi-level covered deck and first-of-its-kind true glass-enclosed dome ever constructed on a cruise ship. Featuring an indoor/outdoor pool and unique water feature in the day, The Dome transforms into an entertainment venue with a South Beach vibe at night, allowing aerial performances with state-of-the-art lighting effects.

The 21-deck Sun Princess boasts 2,157 staterooms, comprising 50 suites and 100 connecting rooms., and the exclusive Signature Collection of suites. The latter includes access to the Signature Restaurant, Signature Lounge, and Signature Sun Deck.

Club Class accommodations onboard Sun Princess, and all Princess ships, will now be called Reserve Collection. Within the Reserve Collection will be Reserve Collection Cabana rooms, resort-style staterooms that include access to the Reserve Collection Restaurant.

In addition, Princess Cruises has announced a second, next-generation Sphere class ship is also on order, slated to be delivered by Fincantieri in spring 2025.

Embrace wellness and fitness at Anantara Layan Phuket Resort

By TTG Asia

September 19, 2022

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Anantara Layan Phuket Resort launches wellness and fitness retreats specially created for couples, individual travellers and friends. All retreats include accommodation in the Deluxe Layan Suite.

The Wellness Retreat for women aged between 35 and 50 is led by naturopathic physician and homeopath, Benita Perch and yogi, sound healer and art therapist Renata Citrons.

Anantara Layan Phuket Resort’s selection of wellness and fitness retreats cater to couples, individuals and groups

From October 13-16, women will learn how the female cycle and fertility is affected by nutrition and hormonal imbalances, and join in guided sound healing classes, yin and hatha yoga sessions, spine therapy and mandala art therapy to release mental tension.

Guests will receive a complimentary wellness massage treatment at Anantara Spa to enjoy before, after or during the retreat.

The three-day Running Retreat hosted by Erik Bohm from November 25-28 will help runners who are eager to unlearn bad habits and enjoy running socially with others.

Spiritual wellness and well-being consultants Lucia Giovannini and Nicola Riva will bring in the new year with the two-day New Year, New Me Retreat from January 13-15. It will feature an intention-setting Sankalpa ceremony to open the path to transformation, breath work, energy clearings, meditations and a fire ritual to help participants let go and create a whole new life.

For more information, visit Anantara Layan Phuket Resort.

Tropical North Queensland takes firm steps towards accessible tourism

By TTG Asia

September 16, 2022

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Travellers with mobility impairment will now discover greater ease in planning their trip to Tropical North Queensland, now that an Accessibility Hub has been added to the Cairns & Great Barrier Reef destination website.

The Accessibility Hub lists experiences and accommodation that are accessible to all travellers.

Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is an accessible tourism experience (photo by Dane Cross, Spinal Life Australia)

Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen said the team had worked closely with Spinal Life Australia and Out There Travel Care to put together content showcasing accessible products, such as wheelchair-friendly beaches and rainforest boardwalks that are wheelchair-friendly.

“People needing to consider accessibility can now easily find accommodation options from specialised providers like Spinal Life’s Healthy Living Centre which has personal support workers, to traditional hotels with accessible rooms such as the Cairns Novotel Oasis Resort,” Olsen added.

Disabled Mission Beach journalist Imogen Kars has trialled a selection of accessible accommodation and tours, and has produced a series of blogs on travel options in Cairns, Palm Cove, the Cassowary Coast, Port Douglas and the Atherton Tablelands.

The launch of the Accessibility Hub coincided with a Making Tourism More Accessible Workshop at the Spinal Life Healthy Living Centre. The event was attended by operators keen on learning about opportunities in the accessible tourism market, accessing business case studies, and hearing from people with physical disabilities about what they are looking for in a destination

Senior advisor access and advocacy for Spinal Life Australia, Dane Cross, said the accessible tourism market represented a largely untapped opportunity for tourism operators.

‘It’s been great to work with Tourism Tropical North Queensland on this project – and in our view, this is the best accessibility information available for any region in Australia,” said Cross.

‘Often, tourism operators don’t know where to begin on their journey towards better accessibility – this workshop enables people to ask simple questions and find out more about where to begin. We’d love to help tourism operators understand how to be more accessible and to secure a larger part of this market.”

Olsen said accessible tourism had enormous potential and could be woven into many existing tourism offerings.

“Research by Tourism Australia has shown that accessible tourism can be a game changer for destinations that will assist with post-pandemic recovery by building industry resilience,” Olsen stated.

“Treating accessibility as a competitive advantage that improves customer service and enhances quality of life for all is the key to tapping into the ageing, but still adventurous, Baby Boomers who have the time and resources to travel.”

Banyan Tree Group celebrates anniversary with new wellness campaign

By TTG Asia

September 16, 2022

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Banyan Tree Group kicks off this year’s anniversary celebrations with its inaugural Live Well, Travel Well campaign, offering guests 33 per cent savings on stays and spa journeys, and exclusive deals across its portfolio of hotels, resorts, spas, and gallery outlets in 23 countries.

Guests can enjoy longer stays with 33 per cent off the best available rate at Banyan Tree, Angsana, Cassia, Dhawa, Escape, Garrya, Homm and Veya properties – the same discount applies for a la carte body treatments at spas.

They can also support artisan communities with purchase of indigenous crafts and decor pieces from the Gallery available at Banyan Tree and Angsana properties.

In addition, receive a complimentary Thai Chamanard gift set worth US$59 with a minimum spend of US$150, and double points for every US$1 spent on Essentials purchases.

The Live Well, Travel Well campaign runs from now to October 4, 2022 for stays up to September 30, 2023.

For more information, visit Banyan Tree.

Carnival comes to life on Sentosa

By TTG Asia

September 16, 2022

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Central Beach Bazaar has officially launched on September 15, featuring a day-to-night carnival beach experience of immersive new sights, scents and sounds at the heart of Sentosa’s beaches.

F&B vouchers are available for purchase via Mount Faber Leisure Group’s website, and can be redeemed across the kiosks at the International Food Street. Each S$5 (US$3.55) voucher comes with a complimentary entry to the Sentosa Musical Fountain & Sentosa SkyJet main viewing gallery.

Emirates, United partner to expand network

By TTG Asia

September 16, 2022

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Emirates and United have signed an agreement that will enhance each airline’s network and give customers easier access to new destinations within the US and around the world.

From November, Emirates customers flying into Chicago, San Francisco, and Houston will be able to easily connect onto United flights to and from nearly 200 cities across the Americas. Customers of both airlines will be able to book these connecting flights on a single ticket – making check-in and luggage transfer faster and easier.

A new agreement between Emirates and United will benefit travellers and loyalty programme members

Both airlines will have an interline arrangement in place at the other eight US airports served by Emirates – Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, JFK, Orlando, Seattle and Washington DC.

United will launch a new direct flight between Newark and Dubai starting in March 2023 where customers will be able to travel on Emirates or its sister airline flydubai to more than 100 cities.

Emirates Skywards members can soon earn miles when travelling on United-operated flights, while United Mileage Plus members flying on United’s New York/Newark to Dubai flight will be able to earn and redeem miles when connecting beyond on Emirates and flydubai.

Eligible customers travelling on codeshare flights will also soon enjoy access to Emirates and United lounges.

More details on frequent flyer awards and lounge sharing benefits will be released at a later date.

The Food School Bangkok launches to groom future talents

By TTG Asia

September 16, 2022

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The Food School Bangkok, created by ALMA Culinary Institute, TSUJI Culinary Institute, and Dusit Thani College alongside food business incubation facilities and services, will begin offering specialised short courses and master classes in October 2022, with full professional certificate courses following in January 2023.

Master Classes, taught by celebrated chefs or food industry masters, provide intensive specialised training over two days, making them ideal for experienced learners seeking to further their studies in a particular area. One-day Short Courses taught by the partner institutes are also available, with options for all skill levels.

The Food School Bangkok will start offering its specialised short courses and master classes in October

Three levels of certificate courses – Essential, Intermediate, and Advanced will be available when they launch next year.

The Food School Bangkok’s partners are renowned in their respective fields. ALMA, one of the world’s leading international educational and training centres for Italian cuisine, is stepping out of Europe to South-east Asia for the first time as part of the project.

TSUJI, one of the most prominent culinary schools in Asia, will channel more than 60 years of experience developing epicurean talent at its Osaka, Tokyo, and Lyon campuses to deliver expert tuition in Japanese cuisine.

Dusit Thani College, a leading provider of hospitality education since 1993, will offer specialised Thai cuisine training – including special courses tailored specifically for those who would like to gain compact and in-depth knowledge about Thai food heritage in less than a year.

The Food School Bangkok will also integrate sustainability concepts into its programme, such as zero-waste cooking practices and farm-to-table partnerships and operations.

Siradej Donavanik, vice president – development global, Dusit Thani Public Company, said: “The global hospitality industry creates tonnes of food waste daily, which is a major contributor to climate change through the greenhouse gases it produces, so it’s important that we actively address this at The Food School Bangkok.

“The most straightforward sustainability approach for businesses is simply reducing energy consumption. However, The Food School Bangkok goes beyond business as usual. I am very proud to say that every aspect is embedded with sustainability practices, including construction materials used, waste management practices followed, and curriculums offered.”

Laurent Casteret leads as school director at The Food School Bangkok.

The Food School Bangkok has a vision to create a community of food enthusiasts, and its facilities have been designed to accomplish this. The
the ground floor serves as a commercial space for culinary experimentation and enjoyment, with a coffee shop serving fresh pastries and specialty roasts. Here, pop-up kitchens from local partner restaurants offer a wide range of dishes to eat on site or take away.

The Test Kitchen, positioned as a unique business incubator space, offers fully equipped kitchens that entrepreneurs and The Food School Bangkok’s graduates can rent to trial, develop, and hone their own unique food concepts.

The House Collective’s popularity in China soars on unique experiences

By Karen Yue

September 16, 2022

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Swire Hotels’ three properties under The House Collective banner in China have seen a change in its guest profile as the domestic travel market continues to dominate business.

Guests are becoming younger, staying longer, and placing greater emphasis on unique experiences offered by the hotels, shared Swire Hotels representatives.

The Opposite House Beijing boasts masterful design and offers a curated collection of both permanent and rotating artworks

According to Dean Winter, managing director of Swire Hotels, the three House Collective hotels in China are welcoming more and more guests in the age bracket of 25 to 35 years old.

Contrasting the pre-Covid guest profile and the current one, Winter said the Houses used to get mostly well-travelled, affluent travellers “who had grown away from mainstream hotel offerings, felt they were sophisticated enough to try something different, and who wanted to be regarded as an influencer in travel choices”.

Winter said many of the guests new to The House Collective “might not have considered us before” but were able to try out the properties as they found the three Houses to be a uniquely different option.

As guests lengthen their stay to an average of a week, they are turning to the hotels to provide memorable experiences, shared Jaime Chua, assistant director of marketing, CRM and PR.

In 2021, The House Collective ran a successful dining programme, titled Chef’s Story, where three Chinese chefs from The Middle House Shanghai, The Opposite House Beijing and The Temple House Chengdu came together to produce a limited edition menu that reflected their childhood and professional journey. The menu was presented in each of the three Houses.

Currently, The Opposite House Beijing hosts an installation art series that changes almost every month.

Chua said: “Our activity calendar draws not just travellers from different Chinese cities but also locals who now enjoy hanging out at our hotels and dining venues. We’ve also been able to attract many Chinese KOLs (lifestyle influencers) who come and produce content about their unique experiences at our hotels.”

Such social media exposure has been instrumental in The Middle House Shanghai, The Opposite House Beijing and The Temple House Chengdu’s ability to attract younger guests, noted Winter.

“We have also learnt how important visuals of our hotels and spaces are (for attracting the younger segment of guests). ‘Instagrammable’ is now a word and a consideration in our conversations around hotel design,” said Winter.

Looking ahead, The House Collective will expand to include a yet-to-be-named House in the heart of Shenzhen Bay, set for an opening in 2025.

According to press materials, the ultra-luxurious Shenzhen property will offer approximately 115 guestrooms as well as 44 serviced residences as part of a premium mixed-use development that includes Grade-A office towers and an events and exhibition space.

New hotels: Radisson Resort & Suites Phuket, The Porter House Hotel – MGallery and more

By TTG Asia

September 15, 2022

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Radisson Resort & Suites Phuket, Thailand
Just 27km from Phuket International Airport, Radisson Resort & Suites Phuket is nestled between jungle-clad hills, Kamala Beach and the Andaman Sea.

The 179-key resort offers a choice of one- to three-bedroom suites, ranging from 43m² to 95m². Facilities on-site include a spa, fitness centre, kids’ club, lagoon pool, six restaurants and bars, and activities for all ages – from snorkelling to Thai boxing.

The Porter House Hotel – MGallery, Australia
Located in the restored 1870s heritage-listed building on Castlereagh Street in Sydney, The Porter House Hotel – MGallery offers 122 rooms and suites, which occupy the first 10 floors of a 36-storey mixed-use tower that also houses a multi-level food and bar destination.

Guests have access to all the hotel’s restaurants and facilities, like the fitness centre and heated pool via The Porter House Hotel’s exclusive Digit Valet walking, talking iPad concierge, the only one of its kind in Australia.

Noku Phuket, Thailand
Noku Phuket is a 45-minute journey from Phuket International Airport, is surrounded by natural flora, and affords Chalong Bay views.

Boasting 91 spacious Villas and Lofts, the Hill and Tree Villas feature a private pool and a sunken bath, while the Lofts come with a balcony that opens out to the forested heals. In addition to the Embrace Restaurant serving up Thai dishes, and The Terrace bar offering a range of cocktails, other facilities include a swimming pool, spa, saunas, gym, and yoga room.

The hotel also provides complimentary shuttle services to nearby beaches, the Phuket Old Town and shopping malls.

GLOW Mira Karon Beach, Thailand
The 154-room GLOW Mira Karon Beach in Phuket is positioned with easy access to the ocean and the area’s lively dining and nightlife scene.

All dwellings feature private balconies with sea views, and room types range from the 20m² Standard to 42m² Family Suites which include bunk beds for the children and a king-sized bed for adults. F&B options include all-day restaurant Chen’s, the Lobby Bar and Pool Bar, while other facilities include a 24-hour fitness centre.

End of the pandemic is near: WHO chief

By TTG Asia

September 15, 2022

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The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the end of the Covid-19 pandemic is in sight, with the number of global weekly deaths falling to 11,118 on September 5.

“We have never been in a better position to end the pandemic – we are not there yet, but the end is in sight,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of WHO, during a virtual press conference.

WHO is optimistic that the end of the Covid-19 pandemic is in sight

However, Ghebreyesu urged nations to maintain their vigilance and likened the pandemic to a marathon race. He said: “Now is the time to run harder and make sure we cross the line and reap the rewards of all our hard work.”

The WHO added that countries need to maintain adequate supplies of medical equipment and healthcare workers, and has called for governments to ensure six key actions are taken. These include testing, vaccination, best practices when managing the disease, maintaining infection control measures in health facilities, preventing the spread of misinformation, and community engagement.

Countries need to take a hard look at their policies and strengthen them for Covid-19 and future viruses, Ghebreyesus said. He also urged nations to vaccinate 100 per cent of their high-risk groups and keep testing for the virus.

WHO’s next meeting of experts in October will ascertain whether the pandemic still represents a public health emergency of international concern, a WHO spokesperson added.

Princess Cruises welcomes Sun Princess to its fleet

Embrace wellness and fitness at Anantara Layan Phuket Resort

Tropical North Queensland takes firm steps towards accessible tourism

Banyan Tree Group celebrates anniversary with new wellness campaign

Carnival comes to life on Sentosa

Emirates, United partner to expand network

The Food School Bangkok launches to groom future talents

The House Collective’s popularity in China soars on unique experiences

New hotels: Radisson Resort & Suites Phuket, The Porter House Hotel – MGallery and more

End of the pandemic is near: WHO chief

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