Anantara celebrates World Elephant Day
Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, in collaboration with the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF), successfully hosted a two-day event in celebration of World Elephant Day.
The event, held on August 12 and 13, aimed to raise awareness about the critical role elephants play in ecosystems and to support elephant conservation initiatives.
This year’s festivities included cultural ceremonies reflecting the spirit of Thailand, a craft market, a fruit feast for elephants, and educational activities for students from Chiang Rai and guests.
The first day featured an interactive learning session for students, featuring education on elephant anatomy and behaviour led by a resident veterinarian, followed by seed planting activities designed to cultivate awareness of the importance of elephants and nature. The event also had a craft market showcasing handcrafted art and products from local artisans, before concluding the day with a grand buffet of fruits and vegetables for the elephants.
The second day commenced with a sacred elephant blessing ceremony, known as the Pakham Ceremony, then ended with a hosted lunch and a learning session with students from The School of the Blind, Mae Sai.
Since its establishment in 2003, Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort has worked alongside GTAEF to care for the 20 elephants it has rescued from Thailand’s city streets and illegal logging camps, as well as supported their mahouts and families.
Vietjet offers 20 per cent off flight bookings
Vietjet is celebrating its major milestone of 200 million passengers with a special one-month promotion from now to September 15.
Travellers can enjoy a 20 per cent discount on all flights across Vietjet’s network by using the promo code VJ200 when booking online or via the Vietjet Air mobile app. This offer applies to Eco tickets and is valid for travel from now to November 15.
The airline is also offering two million tickets starting at just US$0 (exclusive of tax and fee) on all routes, which are available for booking during ‘golden hours’ every day until August 31, for travel from September 4, 2024 to May 22, 2025.
For more information, visit Vietjet.
Sri Lanka updates visa policy with new 30-day visa-free scheme
The Sri Lankan Government has approved 30-day free visas for nationals from 35 countries from October 1 this year. Beneficiaries are passport-holders from countries such as the US, the UK, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and New Zealand.
Nationals from India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, who have been entitled to free visas since late last year, will also be able to obtain a 30-day visa-free entry.
Harin Fernando, tourism advisor to president Ranil Wickremesinghe, confirmed the new scheme on August 21.
Philippine Airlines, Singapore Tourism Board team up for travel campaigns
Philippine Airlines (PAL) has signed a full-year partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to promote travel to Singapore by offering discounts and special bundles for Filipino travellers.
The partnership launched a year-long line-up of activities including a campaign featuring content creators Laureen Uy with husband Miggy Cruz and lifestyle blogger and fashion designer Camille Co, complemented by a limited time seat sale.
In addition, travellers to Singapore have much to look forward to, such as upcoming attractions and experiences including Bird Paradise, illumi, Harry Potter: Visions of Magic, Minion Land in Universal Studios Singapore, and Disney Adventure by Disney Cruise Line.
Stanley Ng, president and COO of PAL, said: “Building on our shared success, we look forward to working together to create more opportunities for more Filipinos to experience how Singapore continues to be a world-class leisure destination.”
STB chief executive Melissa Ow shared: “The Philippines is one of Singapore’s key markets and has recovered strongly with the support of longstanding partners like Philippine Airlines. They have been instrumental in reinforcing Singapore’s position as a vibrant lifestyle destination… we are excited to bring our partnership with Philippine Airlines to the next level, and to welcome more Filipino travellers to Singapore soon.”
Travel sector falls prey to cybercriminals
As the travel industry rebounds post-lockdown, Imperva, a Thales company specialising in cybersecurity has cautioned travellers against automated threats.
With the travel sector experiencing more than a fifth (21 per cent) of all attack traffic requests monitored last year, the Imperva 2024 Bad Bot Report found that bad bots accounted for 45 per cent of the global industry’s web traffic in 2023 – a significant jump from 37 per cent in 2022.
As travel continues to ramp up towards year-end, the industry will likely see a surge in bot activity. These bots target travel companies through seat spinning, unauthorised web scraping, account takeover, and fraud.
Seat spinning is particularly rife in Asia, as bots hold airline seats – often for up to a day – without making payment. This enables operators like unauthorised OTAs to resell these seats without risking upfront payment. If these operators fail to offload these seats, airlines can suddenly find seemingly fully booked flights set to depart far below their capacity – the result is significant financial and reputational damage.
In unauthorised web scraping, bots run by OTAs, aggregators and competitors access airlines’ web properties without permission to harvest data, which damage critical business insights and metrics like look-to-book ratios, and increase the fees airlines must pay their partners. One airline last year ended up paying US$500,000 per month for API requests due to the surge in bad bot traffic scraping its search API.
In terms of account takeovers (ATOs) and fraud, the travel industry experienced the second-highest volume of ATO attempts in 2023, with 11 per cent of all ATO attacks globally targeting the industry.
Cybercriminals zero in on the travel sector due to the valuable personal information, stored payment methods, and loyalty points within user accounts. Once they gain access to customer accounts, cybercriminals can steal loyalty points and fraudulently “buy” flights or hotel rooms for onward sale.
Imperva recommends that travel companies deploy a multi-layered defence strategy to mitigate these threats across all digital touchpoints, including APIs and mobile applications. Organisations must identify risks through advanced traffic analysis and real-time bot detection. Understanding exposure, particularly around login functionalities, is crucial as these are prime targets for credential stuffing and brute force attacks.
“Quick wins for security teams would include blocking outdated browser versions, restricting access from bulk IP data centres, and implementing detection strategies for signs of automation, like unusually fast interactions,” said Daniel Toh, chief solutions architect, Asia Pacific and Japan, Imperva. “Analysing suspicious traffic sources – like single IP addresses – can provide valuable insights, as can regularly watching for traffic anomalies like high bounce rates and sudden spikes.”
He advised: “Monitor the news and stay abreast of new data breaches which threat actors can use to fuel automated account takeover attacks.”
The Imperva 2024 Bad Bot Report can be viewed here.
Grand Prix Season Singapore 2024 refreshes race-themed programming
Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS) returns from September 13 to 22 with a series of race-themed lifestyle experiences across the city to appeal to individuals of all ages and diverse interests.
GPSS complements the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2024 experience and encourages visitors and locals to discover the myriad offerings across different parts of the city.
This year’s GPSS features large-scale activations through four GPSS Headliners at different precincts across Singapore: Groovedriver Festival 2024 at the Singapore Sports Hub in Kallang; Jam Off 2024 at Orchard Road; The Glam Circuit Festival at Kampong Gelam; and CQ @ Clarke Quay x Culture Cartel Presents: Street Style Speedway at Clarke Quay.
These will take place alongside offerings by GPSS partners, including new players like Dragonfly Singapore, The Southern Depot, and Trifecta.
Groovedriver Festival marks the first time that there will be a 10-day live music and entertainment programming for GPSS taking place at the Singapore Sports Hub. To enliven the experience further, there will also be a pop-up beach club, automobile showcases, and simulator racing within the iconic venue.
Also making its debut is the cross-culture extravaganza, Jam Off 2024 on Singapore’s shopping belt, Orchard Road, with activities ranging from street dance battles at the main stage to racing and street culture at the fusion F&B stands, merchandise pop-ups, and artistes’ fan meets.
Over at Kampong Gelam, the Glam Circuit Festival will transform into a race-themed wonderland, with mini motorcycles rides, simulator racing, a music festival programme and food pitstops.
A fusion of street culture and racing awaits visitors at CQ @ Clarke Quay x Culture Cartel Presents: Street Style Speedway featuring art installations with local artists transforming car wraps into works of art, a futuristic Speed Tunnel on Read Bridge, the Limited Edt x Culture Cartel pop-up stores, and a Drone Show over Clarke Quay and the Singapore River to end the night.
This year’s GPSS welcomes new programme partners, such as the Dragonfly Singapore bar, Off The Grid by The Southern Depot, and Trifecta Race Club’s rooftop takeover with pop-up party series GrooveTop, featuring a diverse DJ lineup and music genres, alongside surf and snow challenges and test drives.
Other highlights include tours, art shows, cocktails, gaming and electric karting across the island, from Gillman Barracks and the Civic District, to Sentosa, Dempsey and the Marina precinct.
Ong Ling Lee, executive director, sports and wellness, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “In its 15th edition, Grand Prix Season Singapore continues to captivate our visitors and locals with 10 days of race-themed festivities, heightening the buzz of the race season across Singapore. As a key highlight in Singapore’s events calendar, GPSS 2024 showcases the diversity of our attractions, dining, entertainment and retail offerings, all of which our visitors and locals can relish.”
Maldives signs MoU with Fliggy to boost presence in China
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) and Fliggy, an online travel platform in China, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen and amplify the Maldives’ destination presence in the Chinese market.
The MoU was signed in collaboration with Villa Resorts, between MMPRC’s CEO and managing director, Ibrahim Shiuree, and Fliggy vice president, Tong Teng during the ceremony held at Villa Nautica on August 18.
Through the collaboration with Villa Resorts, MMPRC aims to underscore the Maldives’ appeal as an ideal location for MICE travel, events, and conferences.
Shiuree said: “I have no doubt that our combined efforts will lead to another successful year for the Maldives Tourism Industry.”
“We deeply value the strong relationship between our two countries and appreciate the love the Chinese people have for the Maldives,” said Maldives’ minister of tourism, Ibrahim Faisal.
“This partnership is a wonderful opportunity to build on that connection.”
New hotels: Laguna Lakeside Residences, Travelodge Suites Busan Centum and more
Laguna Lakeside Residences, Thailand
Laguna Lakeside Residences joins the iconic Laguna Phuket integrated resort community at Bang Tao beach on Phuket’s Central West Coast, just 30 minutes from Phuket International Airport.
The new residences are conveniently situated at the gateway to Laguna Phuket, overlooking a lagoon and right on the doorstep of the popular Boat Avenue entertainment district at Bang Tao area.
Set in landscaped gardens, each one-, two- and three-bedroom residences boasts its own expansive rooftop infinity pool.
Travelodge Suites Busan Centum, South Korea
Travelodge Suites Busan Centum offers panoramic views of either Haeundae Beach, the Marine City, or the Olympic Park from all its guestrooms, some of which comes with in-room washing machines, and kitchens. Facilities include a rooftop pool, fitness centre, Italian restaurant, and a meeting room.
Located in Centum City, nearby the property are Haeundae and Gwangalli Beaches, major shopping, museums, Busan Cinema Center, X-the Sky, Luge, Lotte World, and the Hub MICE, BEXCO.
HIIVE by fusion Binh Duong New City, Vietnam
Situated in Binh Duong in southern Vietnam, HIIVE by fusion Binh Duong New City is just 38km north of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, and is near Hikari Complex, Binh Duong New City Park and the Binh Duong World Trade Center Association.
All guestrooms and suites include a workspace, high-speed Wi-Fi, individually controlled air-conditioning units, kitchenette, and other modern amenities.
The hotel also offers 24-hour laundry services, a fitness centre and golf simulator, restaurant, bar, and two meeting rooms.
La Vie D’or Hotel and Resort, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, South Korea
La Vie D’or Hotel and Resort offers 190 rooms, a nine-hole golf course, fitness centre, saunas, swimming pools and dining options, as well as event venues.
Nestled in the city of Hwaseong-si, South Korea, just a 30-minute drive from Seoul, guests can visit attractions like the Yungneung and Geolleung Royal Tombs and Yongjusa Temple or take a short drive to Seoul and Suwon.
Trisara promotes movement for the mind with new retreat package
Thailand’s wellness resort Trisara in Phuket is introducing its wellness retreat programme to help guests move towards better cognitive wellness.
Led by renowned neuroscientist, Hanna Poikonen, the five-day WiseMotion Retreat will be held between November 24 and 28, and is designed to enhance brain health and well-being through a combination of improvisation, scientific knowledge, and interactive discussions.
Participants on the retreat will benefit from exercises and scientific knowledge designed to balance emotional well-being, calm the nervous system, and improve cognitive function.
The programme includes daily movement meditation sessions, WiseMotion masterclasses, and opportunities for creative movement and inspirational discussion.
Priced from US$3,200 per person per package (double occupancy) and US$5,350 per person per package (single occupancy), it includes four nights in an Ocean View Pool Junior Suite, return airport transfers to/from Phuket International Airport, daily breakfast, communal lunch, and dinner hosted by Poikonen.
Other inclusions encompass a 60-minute Jara Spa treatment per person at Trisara’s Jara Wellness, daily morning movement meditation and afternoon WiseMotion masterclass with Poikonen, access to Trisara’s group fitness activities and fitness centre, and an excursion to the 16,000m² Pru Jampa organic farm which supplies fresh produce for PRU and JAMPA, Montara Hospitality Group’s Michelin-accoladed Phuket restaurants.
For more information visit Trisara.
Marriott International has established its 600th property in the Asia-Pacific region excluding China, emphasising a robust growth trajectory, according to its regional chief.
The 285-key Adelaide Marriott Hotel marks the milestone. It is also the first Marriott International property in South Australia, underscoring the company’s focus on growing its presence in emerging destinations
Rajeev Menon, president, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International, said in a statement: “We are thrilled to celebrate our 600th property milestone in the region with the Adelaide Marriott Hotel, a brand that bears the name of our founding family.
“With 600 operational properties across the APEC (Asia Pacific excluding China) region and close to 400 in the pipeline, our growth trajectory is robust. Our strategy to be everywhere our guests want us to be is further reinforced by our recent announcement of plans to enter the midscale hospitality segment, providing more opportunities to extend our portfolio presence in new markets and beyond the major gateway cities.”
Marriott International’s growth strategy includes a focus on giving back to the communities in which it operates to help drive long-term economic impact. With over 95,000 associates from both managed and franchised properties in the region, Marriott International has been instrumental in creating job opportunities and nurturing the next generation of talent. By the end of 2024, nearly 10 per cent of Marriott International managed associates would have taken new roles within APEC, which will allow them to deepen their skillsets and further their work experiences.
Marriott’s recent certification as Great Place to Work in eight APEC countries, including Australia, demonstrates the company’s dedication to putting people first.