TTG Asia
Asia/Singapore Monday, 26th January 2026
Page 1144

Air Mauritius’ Airbus A330-900neo

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Air Mauritius’ Airbus A330-900neo take-off

Why
Air Mauritius took delivery of its two Airbus A330-900neo order on April 18, becoming the first operator of the new aircraft type in the Southern Hemisphere and the world’s first airline to operate a combination of both the A330neo and A350XWB.

The A330neo is powered by Rolls-Royce’s latest Trent 7000 engines and features a new wing with increased span, and new A350XWB-inspired sharklets. Air Mauritius’ A330neo is currently deployed on routes connecting Port Louis to London Heathrow, Paris, Mumbai and Singapore, among others.

What
Air Mauritius flies to Singapore thrice weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with a fourth weekly flight to be added during peak season between November 10, 2019 and January 12, 2020.

After stopping in Singapore, the service continues to Kuala Lumpur before turning back to Singapore for the onward journey to Mauritius. The overall journey between Singapore and Port Louis span a distance of 3,261km and nearly seven hours.

How
I was excited to experience the A330neo, as Air Mauritius is one of the earliest adopters of this new aircraft type at time of flying – with other operators being TAP Air Portugal and Air Senegal with no passenger services in South-east Asia.

As I prepared to board the new plane, named Aapravasi Ghat after the UNESCO World Heritage Site near Port Louis in Mauritius, I noted the ‘sunglasses’ effect around the cockpit windows, not unlike its A350 cousin.

The A330neo plane has 260 seats in economy class with a 2-4-2 configuration and 28 seats in business class in a 1-2-1 configuration. My economy-class seat offers pretty generous legroom at 18 inches with a six-inch recline, and despite occupying a central seat I did not feel cramped during the entire journey. On my return trip to Singapore, I had an aisle seat and was even able to catch a couple of hours’ of sleep during the seven-hour flight.

The take-off and landing on the new aircraft was visibly smooth, and I could track the progress as the plane flew over the Indian Ocean on the full HD screen. The inflight entertainment also featured an interesting selection of songs and movies, with Wi-Fi on board.

The inflight meal was my first introduction to Mauritian cuisine, with options such as black lentils and fish curry. The overall flight was quiet and the LED mood lighting changed as the flight progressed, and the flight crew was friendly and professional.

Verdict
The A330neo definitely offers similar levels of comfort as the A350XWB. Safe, comfortable and professional, I definitely look forward to flying with Air Mauritius again.

Greater collaboration between Singapore’s travel experts amid tougher times

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Political tensions, agency closures and the advent of dynamic online booking may have impacted traveller and industry confidence in the past year, but Singapore’s travel agencies are tightening their defences by inking partnerships within and beyond the travel community.

Travel agents whom TTG spoke to at the Travel Revolution: The Event, a free consumer travel fair recently held in Singapore, expressed confidence in keeping their businesses afloat amid a volatile climate.

Travel agents at the Travel Revolution: The Event expressed confidence in keeping their businesses afloat through initiatives like strategic collaborations and celebrity tours

Joe Lim, consultant, Nam Ho Travel Service, said: “No matter how dangerous the world is, Singaporeans will still travel. For travel agencies to survive now, we must provide unique offerings like gourmet tours, incentive travel and even celebrity guides – things that customers cannot find online.”

To create such products, agencies are stepping out of their comfort zones to establish strategic partnerships. Earlier this month, WTS Travel signed a deal with cryptocurrency exchange GCOX to be their official tour partner, while Royal Wings Travel partnered Kochi Prefecture to develop hybrid tours, which it then distributed to other travel agencies like Pegasus Travel Management, Siam Express and JOYOJ.

Nam Ho Travel has also pushed out a collaborative effort with 10 other travel agencies across Singapore, shared Lim. This “consortium” of agencies, which includes Planet Holidays, Trans-Star and Global Holidays, involves pooling together their resources and operations for similar tour packages.

Lim explained: “In the past, if an agency couldn’t form a big enough group, we would have to cancel the tour and customers would be unhappy. With this consortium, we have compiled a booklet of tours for customers to choose from, and it’s now easier for us to form groups.”

Celebrity tours, which are led by a local TV host, actress or radio DJ, are also a burgeoning trend, said CTC Travel’s travel manager for marketing and public relations, Kelly Toh.

“We have been collaborating with these hosts for a while now. As such ‘celebrity tours’ are so popular, we’ve created one where our own managing director leads two tours a year and it’s doing very well. Last year, he brought a group of 130 to Jordan,” she said.

CTC Travel’s managing director, Chen Bin, leads tours to lesser-travelled destinations such as Okinawa and Mongolia, where participants enjoy interactive and engaging activities such as group dining and games.

These tours not only present customers with a more unique travelling experience, but also foster a sense of familiarity and friendship with the agency. Several customers have followed Chen’s tours for many years, said Toh.

Travellers stranded as protests disrupt access to Hong Kong airport

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Transport to and from the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) descended into chaos on Sunday as anti-government protestors disrupted road and rail links to the facility, prompting the city’s subway operator to suspend its airport services.

Thousands of protestors blocked roads and entrances to the airport on Sunday afternoon, in an attempt to “stress test” the city’s transport systems to force the Hong Kong government to respond to their demands as the city entered its 13th week of sustained demonstrations, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

Airport Express suspended train services on Sunday afternoon due to clashes between protestors and riot police

Riot police were inside the airport, but protesters are banned from entering the airport and obstructing operations following the airport’s authority obtainment of an interim injunction, imposed after a shutdown in August.

The protestors did not manage to paralyse HKIA, unlike three weeks earlier, but their actions stranded many travellers as all transport links to and from the airport were cut off for hours. Media photos showed that travellers and airport staff were forced to get out and walk across a key bridge linking to the airport amid massive traffic congestion, lugging their suitcases with them.

The Airport Authority (AA) said the Airport Express service resumed at about 22.30 yesterday, which added that “traffic between the airport and the city gradually resumed to normal in early evening”.

“The AA condemns actions that blocked some entrances and exits to the terminals, obstructed traffic to the airport which affected passengers’ journeys, and damaged some airport equipment,” it said in a statement.

Singapore’s consulate-general in Hong Kong said on its Facebook page that it has deployed a consular team at the airport’s Terminal 1 arrival hall to provide travellers with advice and information, according to a Channel News Asia report.

Sunday’s protests followed a night of violence in Hong Kong after tens of thousand joined an illegal march during the day that descended into pitched battles with riot police who used tear gas and water cannons, according to the SCMP report.

SIA partners Como Shambhala to launch in-flight wellness meals

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Spiced Buckwheat and Pumpkin Pancakes

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has teamed up with Singapore-based wellness brand Como Shambhala to offer specially curated wellness dishes on selected SIA flights from this September, an extension of their partnership inked earlier this year to enhance customers’ holistic well-being and travel experience.

The wellness dishes are aimed at enhancing customers’ holistic well-being and travel experience. Customers can look forward to a menu of healthy and flavourful dishes, each dish carefully tailored to nourish the body and alleviate travel-induced stresses such as fatigue. Ingredients rich in antioxidants and micronutrients, such as kiwi, yoghurt, beetroot and strawberries, come together in immune-boosting dishes that will help customers feel refreshed even after a long flight. Others aim to promote good digestion and circulation for a more comfortable journey.

First class and business class customers will be able to enjoy the wellness in-flight menu on selected flights departing Singapore to Hong Kong, Frankfurt, London, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

The dishes will also be available for pre-ordering via SIA’s Book the Cook service for first class, business class and premium economy class customers on all routes departing Singapore.

The introduction of co-developed dishes with Como Shambhala adds to SIA’s growing roster of wellness offerings that aim to enhance customers’ comfort and well-being. SIA continues to partner with US-based wellness expert Canyon Ranch for wellness initiatives on non-stop Singapore-US flights, including the upcoming non-stop flights to Seattle from this September.

In addition to the wellness dishes, SIA’s partnership with Como Shambhala includes the provision of wellness articles designed to help travellers learn and practice well-being before, during or after the flight. The articles cover a range of topics such as meditation, breathing techniques for relaxation and body exercises suitable for periods of prolonged inactivity.

These will be launched concurrently with the co-developed wellness dishes from September 1, 2019, and will be exclusively available for download via the SIA mobile app.

Luxury Gold rolls out eLearning programme for travel advisors

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Luxury Gold, a premium and luxury guided holidays provider under The Travel Corporation (TTC), has launched its eLearning programme to help increase the earning potential of travel advisors.

The Luxury Gold Masterclass programme, which is offered through TTC’s Travel Agent Academy, has been designed with an interactive suite of user-friendly modules, providing advisors the knowledge and tools to better sell its luxury guided journeys in a time-efficient manner.

Luxury Gold rolls out eLearning programme to help travel advisors increase their earning potential

Anthony Lim, Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold managing director, Asia, said that TTC’s new Luxury Gold Masterclass offers travel advisors the opportunity to become brand experts and increase their sales through updated information and in-depth knowledge of the brand’s offerings.

“Ultimately, we created the Masterclass with our loyal advisors in mind to help them sell journeys beyond the ordinary and we’re rewarding them for their commitment by offering eligibility for fam trips and opportunities to earn discounts on our journeys,” he said.

The eLearning platform is divided into three levels and travel advisors can access the first level, Sapphire, which is available now. The modules cover an introduction to the brand, the Luxury Gold difference, tools for selling the journeys and information on the brand’s Chairman’s Collection, consisting of VIP experiences personally curated by TTC’s chairman Stanley Tollman.

From today, travel advisors can register for the eLearning programme by logging onto ttc.com/agentacademy/registration and registering through the TTC Agent Academy. After which, they will receive a welcome email to sign up for and begin the Luxury Gold Masterclass.

Caesars opts out of Japan casino race

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Caesars Entertainment has announced that it will no longer pursue a license for a casino in Japan and will instead focus on its current plans and commitments, including a merger with Eldorado Resorts set to close next year, according to a Bloomberg report.

Caesars CEO Tony Rodio said in a statement that the timing of the company’s decision was driven by “sensitivity to the significant decisions Japan’s government and business partners will likely be making later this year to advance the process”.

Caesars drops out of Japan casino race (pictured: Caesars Palace in Las Vegas)

Japan is preparing to grant three gaming licenses and global casino operators are vying for the chance to open integrated resorts in Japan.

Cities are formalising their bidding processes, with proposals for concepts in Osaka due next month, said the report.

While Caesars Entertainment became the first US casino giant to drop out of the casino licence race in Japan, MGM Resorts International has reaffirmed its intent to pursue a resort in Osaka, while Las Vegas Sands has shelved plans to build a casino in Osaka in favour of Tokyo and Yokohama instead. Wynn Resorts has also expressed interest in the Tokyo Bay, which could include Yokohama.

A casino in Japan is expected to cost upward of US$10 billion, with the government’s intended focus on generating tourism and convention revenue from adjacent hotels and meeting space, added the report.

The country’s gaming market has been estimated to be worth more than US$25 billion annually once the resorts open, which would make Japan the world’s second-largest gambling market, after Macau.

New Glow hotel planned for Bangkok riverside

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Thailand-based InVision Hospitality has signed an agreement with Chaophraya River Place to open the Glow Bangkok Riverside in the Thai capital.

Slated to open in 1Q2020 as InVision Hospitality’s ninth Glow hotel, the riverfront property is located near the Thewes and Tha Phra Athit piers. It will feature modern décor, riverside dining options, a fitness gym and a riverside infinity pool.

A new Glow hotel will open at Bangkok Riverside come 1Q2020

A private pier and riverboat transportation will offer convenient river access for the hotel’s guests who wish to visit the sights and cultural attractions in Bangkok.

Nearby attractions include the Grand Palace, Queen Sirikit Textile Museum and the Reclining Buddha, and further out, the National Museum and backpacker’s paradise Khao San Road.

Four Seasons Resort Langkawi opens traditional fish house

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Four Seasons Resort Langkawi has unveiled a traditional fish house, offering guests an opportunity to learn about traditional methods used to harvest fish and shellfish from the Andaman Sea.

The private Rumah Ikan Fish House, designed by a local fisherman and crafted with locally-grown wood, seeks to sustain Langkawi’s indigenous fishing traditions and pay tribute to the island’s vibrant fishing legacy, according to the luxury resort.

The fishing method practised at the fish house is said to be “a rare art” that is fast disappearing as modern, mechanised equipment gains popularity. It involves fashioning a complex structure out of wood splints and extending it out into the sea.

Since last year, the resort has been working with Pak Din, a local fisherman, to bring back this traditional style of fishing.

Situated at a secluded spot along the resort’s mile-long coastline, the fish house will enable guests to observe Pak Din at work as he goes about his work or try their hand at fishing the old-fashioned way using locally-sourced equipment.

Qatar – Be Inspired by Authentic Culture

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Photo: The Museum of Islamic Art

Brought to you by Qatar National Tourism Council

Qatar, a world class hub with deep cultural roots. With its amazing offerings, there is always something to discover and do. There is no better place to immerse yourself in authentic culture; Be inspired by some of the iconic cultural places that is a must-visit in Qatar:

Photo: The Museum of Islamic Art
Photo: The Museum of Islamic Art

The jewel in the crown among Qatar’s museums is the internationally renowned Museum of Islamic Art (MIA). The MIA showcases Islamic art and artefacts from around the world, spanning 14 centuries of history. The museum’s magnificent and imaginatively presented displays of the finest art and artefacts from across the Islamic world have earned its recognition among the world’s top cultural institutions. Standing alone on reclaimed land, and designed by I.M. Pei, the architectural masterpiece sits perched on the gulf waters and is surrounded by the MIA Park’s extensive green spaces.

Photo: Katara Cultural Village
Photo: Katara Cultural Village

Katara Cultural Village is Doha’s destination for culture and entertainment. An innovative interpretation of the region’s architectural heritage, this purpose-built development’s impressive theatres, galleries and performance venues offer a year-round programme of concerts, shows and exhibitions. A central amphitheatre soars against a backdrop of traditional architecture and cobbled streets. The elaborately tiled golden mosque is a must-see. Visitors can enjoy a stroll along the promenade, with its expansive views of Doha’s skyline, as well as a rich array of restaurants and shops.

Photo: Souq Waqif
Photo: Souq Waqif

The alleys of Souq Waqif, Doha’s oldest market, offer visitors an authentic taste of traditional street life, architecture and culture. The maze of small shops in the market presents a dazzling array of Middle eastern merchandise ranging from dates, spices and seasonal delicacies to jewellery, textiles and souvenir bargains. Traditional music, art and cultural shows – as well as an eclectic mix of restaurants and cafes – add to the ambience of this place.

Hospitality is a cornerstone of Qatari culture. Qatar offers a wide choice of world-class accommodation, including many recognised international and regional luxury lifestyle hotel brands that provide superb service. Qatar National Tourism Council in collaboration with Qatar Airways has a B2B stopover option- Discover Qatar, that allows travel agents to book Qatar’s 4- and 5-star hotels and more than 40 tours and excursions at a discounted rate. Register at https://discoverqatar.biz/become-partner to enjoy this exclusive offer now.

Tawash, is an online platform that allows you to learn everything there is to know about Qatar. With 5 different courses covering various aspects of Qatar’s tourism offerings, this platform has all the information that you require to become an expert on Qatar. Register on Tawash now to find out what makes Qatar a unique destination.

BINTAN LAGOON RESORT – Indulge in a beach escapade set against the beauty of nature’s sea and landscape

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Brought to you by Bintan Lagoon Resort

Positioned as one of the premier and largest integrated resort, Bintan Lagoon Resort (BLR) is a tropical lifestyle destination that offers a medley of unforgettable experiences for leisure, golf and MICE groups. Located a 75-minute direct ferry ride from Singapore, the 300-hectare Bintan Lagoon Resort (BLR) with its own private 1.5km stretch of beach is a perfect getaway for leisure holidays, corporate retreats, meetings, incentives and events.

Photo: Deluxe Plus Room

Accommodation

The Resort boasts 450 contemporary rooms, suites and villas to suit couples, families and groups. Each well-appointed room and suite feature a furnished balcony, in-room amenities and modern conveniences. Villa accommodation provides another dimension in tropical resort living. Ranging from two to five-bedroom configurations with self-catering facilities and generous living areas, the villas include the convenience of a golf buggy for transport and privacy of the villas with full use of the resort facilities and amenities.

Food & Beverages

An impressive range of 14 wining, dining and entertainment options covering from casual al fresco, sumptuous buffets, cocktails by the pool, ‘surf and turf’ beach BBQ, authentic Japanese, Mediterranean and other Asian cuisine, making all these an option for an extraordinary destination dining experience. For nightlife, there is Silk Club, the island’s first ultra hip and chic party club with live music from the resident band and a DJ. Seven party rooms abound for those who prefer to sing amongst friends.

Photo: Ian Baker-Finch Golf Course

Meetings & Functions

With extensive meeting facilities of up to eight rooms equipped with extensive in-house resources such as state of the art audio visual technology, staging and room décor available including a variety of outdoor locations from BLR’s private beach to golf courses with picturesque sea view, BLR offers the perfect setting for events, MICE and teambuilding that can hold up to 1300 guests.

For corporate events, the Adventure Training Centre is one of the most comprehensive in the region, designed to foster leadership, team building and innovation with programmes customised by professional facilitators to suit your individual company needs.

Photo: ATV

Fun & Recreation

Two large swimming pools, a leisure centre with a children’s club, wide-ranging sea and land sports offer over 50 recreational opportunities for guests.

The Nutty Bunch Kids Club caters for those aged 4 – 8 years old supervised by staff in attendance while the Jungle Gym is great for those 3 – 10 years old. For adults, the new Powerhouse Gym is well furnished with the latest Italian Technogym equipment.

Both the Resort’s exquisitely designed championship 18-hole golf courses – the Jack Nicklaus sea view course and Ian Baker-Finch woodlands course are in a league of their own – offering spectacular signature holes and undulating fairways to make your game of golf more exhilarating.

Relaxation and Indulgence

A day spa pampers with a diverse menu of spa services utilising organic ingredients in conjunction with modern techniques and traditional therapies.

The Galleria@Bintan offers retail therapy from chic resort apparel to whimsical gift ideas and ethnic souvenirs.

For more information on your perfect holiday escape to Bintan Lagoon Resorts, email
reservations@bintanlagoon.com or visit website www.bintanlagoon.com.