Korean Air has placed an order for 20 additional Airbus A321neo aircraft as part of the airline’s fleet modernisation plans.
The airline has taken delivery of eight out of its initial order of 30, with the first delivery having taken place in December 2022. The next-gen fleet is being deployed on shorthaul and medium-haul routes to serve the airline’s South-east Asia, China and Japan networks.
Korean Air will take delivery of 110 new next-gen aircraft in the coming years including 20 additional A321neos
Korean Air’s A321neo is a single-aisle aircraft configured in a two-class layout of 182 seats – eight in Prestige Class and 174 in economy. Prestige Class passengers enjoy fully lie-flat seats, and the fleet features an Airbus Airspace cabin for enhanced passenger comfort and cabin ambiance. Passengers also will have Wi-Fi access to stay connected.
The airline will take delivery of 110 new next-gen aircraft in the coming years including 20 additional A321neos; 10 Boeing 787-9s; 20 Boeing 787-10s; and 30 Boeing 737-8s. The airline will also sequentially retire its A330-300s and Boeing 777-200ERs.
Travelport and EVA Air have renewed and expanded their multi-year distribution agreement to include EVA Air’s future New Distribution Capability (NDC) content and servicing.
As part of this new deal, Travelport customers will have continued access to EVA Air’s extensive global travel content through the Travelport+ platform, delivering a complete NDC solution which will provide Travelport’s global network of travel agencies the ability to easily compare, book and service all of EVA Air’s content.
The partnership will enable Travelport customers to have continued access to EVA Air’s global travel content
“By continuing our successful collaboration with Travelport, we can further expand our global reach and provide our customers with more convenient and personalised travel experiences,” said Eric Chiu, vice president, digital and information planning, EVA Air.
This strategic partnership has been instrumental in connecting travellers to EVA Air’s extensive network of destinations, which will continue to expand and evolve.
Ailsa Brown, head of air partners, Asia-Pacific, Travelport, said: “This new agreement reaffirms our commitment to providing EVA Air with best-in-class merchandising technology solutions, access to a broader customer demographic and ensures that retailers are able to provide travellers with unparalleled service.”
The 2024 edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will return to Dubai from May 6 to 9 with the theme, Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship.
Attendees will consider how the segments of leisure, business, luxury and MICE are driving economic growth and sustainable development across destinations, hospitality and aviation, creating fresh opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors from across the Middle East and beyond.
Arabian Travel Market 2024 will be hosted at Dubai World Trade Centre
Danielle Curtis, ATM’s exhibition director, said: “Holidaymakers represent a crucial focus for the Middle East’s travel community, but leisure is only one component of a much bigger picture. Business, luxury and MICE travel are also making significant contributions to economic growth and sustainable development, with Statista predicting a global market volume of more than US$1 trillion by 2027.
“It is therefore no surprise that the travel and tourism sector is creating unprecedented opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors, thousands of whom will showcase their innovations, exchange ideas and forge new partnerships at ATM 2024,” she added.
The travel and tourism sector is on course to contribute US$49.18 billion to the UAE economy alone in 2023, according to figures released by the WTTC. This figure is predicted to reach US$64.12 billion by 2033, accounting for an impressive 10.2 per cent of the nation’s GDP.
As the Middle East’s travel and tourism industry continues to mature, it is expected to create new jobs and income for millions of people from across the globe. The UAE Government, for instance, estimates that the country’s travel and tourism market will support 770,000 jobs by 2027. At the same time, the sector is expected to generate ever-increasing revenues for regional economies – Gulf travellers spending approximately 6.5 times more than tourists from other parts of the world, according to the UN Tourism.
Sustainable development will represent another key focus at ATM 2024. Dubai’s Department for Economy and Tourism (DET), ATM’s Destination Partner, will showcase its ongoing efforts to protect the environment and secure a greener and more sustainable future for the emirate.
The Philippines is developing more dive spots and improving existing ones as part of an aggressive bid to sustain the inroads gained over the years.
The latest offering, Romblon-Boracay dive and island hopping circuit combining Romblon and Boracay, is showing great prospects, said Maria Margarita Nograles, chief operating officer of Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DoT).
Philippines is seeing more foreigners coming to the country for diving activities
Emerging dive sites including Romblon, Marinduque, Batanes, Siquijor and Leyte are gaining popularity, she added.
“Diving is a priority product. Marketing and promotions over the years are paying off as the foreign market is responding very well with more divers coming to the Philippines,” shared Nograles.
Indeed, the DoT reported that foreign dive visitors last year contributed 37 billion pesos (US$651.41 million) or over 17.5 per cent of the Philippines’ total tourism receipts.
Philippines as a divers’ paradise is strong in Europe and North Asia given the endless possibilities in the country with over 7,000 islands, as well as its location in the Coral Triangle.
To sustain existing markets and tap new ones, Nograles said the country participated in eight international dive shows and will participate in two more this year – the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association in the US, and the Dive, Resort and Travel Show in Hong Kong.
TPB is also organising fam trips for tour operators, DMCs and influencers to showcase various diving products in the country.
At the recent first Dive Dialogue initiated by the DoT in Cebu, tourism secretary Christina Garcia Frasco shared that to ensure that scuba divers will have access to affordable treatment for decompression sickness, hyperbaric chambers have been provided in popular dive sites in Mabini, Batangas; Panglao, Bohol; Mandaue, Cebu; and Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
Additional hyperbaric chambers will be placed in Dumaguete, Boracay, Puerto Galera, and Daanbantayan Island, Frasco said.
The country’s own dive expo brand, the Philippine International Dive Expo – combining a dive travel exchange, B2B meeting programme, dive conferences and seminars, exhibition booths, and fam tours to key and emerging dive destinations – will enter its fourth edition next year.
Yotel has kickstarted its ambitious expansion plans, with 14 properties in the global pipeline set to open within the next three years, a number of which will be located in Asia-Pacific.
“Our next two properties, which will open in 4Q2024, will be located in Bangkok and Tokyo. Each will have around 250 keys, and both will be our two new flagships, being the first in their respective countries,” Hubert Viriot, CEO of Yotel, told TTG Asia.
Viriot: we help hotel owners maximise their piece of real estate, while catering to current travel trends
He added that both Thailand and Japan are “critical” markets, with plans for expansion in both countries. Japan will also be getting a new development office to “boost Yotel’s growth”.
Kuala Lumpur will get two new properties – a Yotel and a Yotelpad. The latter is a serviced apartment brand that targets the long-stay market.
“They will be in different locations. Yotelpad in Malaysia will also be the first in Asia-Pacific,” he added.
When asked why Singapore did not get first dibs on Yotelpad (Yotel Singapore opened in 2017, and YotelAir Changi Airport in 2019), Viriot laughed and said: “The opportunity came up in Malaysia, and it doesn’t mean we’re not interested in Singapore. We should have a third brand here soon.”
In fact, he highlighted that both Singapore properties are doing well, stating that 2023 was the “best year ever” both in terms of room rate and occupancy. For these two properties, 80 per cent of the guests are Asian.
Development opportunities in Australia and New Zealand also abound.
Viriot said: “We have another project in Perth coming up. We are actively looking for opportunities in Sydney as well. Given the price of real estate in most cities in Australia, our concept makes complete sense. We help hotel owners maximise their piece of real estate, while catering to current travel trends.
“We will also have our first project in New Zealand, though I can’t name which city or brand yet.”
Noticeably, the three largest countries in the region – China, India and Indonesia – will not be getting a Yotel yet, because “these countries are so large, they require a specific strategy”.
“We’ve got good headwind ahead of us, and Asia-Pacific holds massive potential. The brand is well-recognised, and the concept is accepted by a variety of customers. This is what we are expanding as rapidly as we can,” concluded Viriot.
Travel distribution platform, TBO.com, is actively expanding its presence in Asia-Pacific, in alignment with its ambitious goal of becoming the largest travel distribution platform in the region by 2025.
Vijayeta James, who assumed the role of commercial director for Asia-Pacific and China in 2022, has been instrumental in driving this growth strategy.
Vijayeta: from 2H2024, there will be substantial growth in longhaul business, both inbound and outbound
She told TTG Asia that plans are right on track.
TBO.com’s Asia expansion began with the establishment of a fully equipped office in Kuala Lumpur in November 2022, dedicated to sales, contracting, and local operations.
A mere three months later, an office was opened in Indonesia; an office in Seoul follows this month.
Notably, TBO.com has maintained a presence in Shanghai since 2019, despite challenging times during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Next year, there are plans to establish three more full-fledged offices in Asia-Pacific – details will come later.
Simultaneously, there are intentions to double the workforce in existing offices, with the aim of significantly improving client services.
Additionally, TBO.com has broadened its offerings this year by introducing Umra packages, targeting agents selling pilgrimage arrangements to travellers in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Southern Thailand.
The company is also actively exploring potential acquisitions in the market, including local DMCs and regional travel distribution companies.
Vijayeta highlighted significant opportunities in the region: “Presently, 80 per cent of travellers are regional, but with the gradual addition of longhaul capacity to the market, we envision that from 2H2024, there will be substantial growth in longhaul business, both inbound and outbound.”
This aligns well with TBO.com’s strong presence in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.
Pan Pacific Perth’s extensive refurbishment, which commenced earlier this year, is scheduled to reach completion by mid-late 2024.
Located on Adelaide Terrace and featuring views of the Swan River, the hotel transformation will include complete refurbishment of 392 guestrooms and suites, as well as the revitalisation of 96 Pacific Club rooms and suites. The eight versatile spaces on the convention level will also be completely renovated, including the two large capacity ballrooms and pre-function area.
Pan Pacific Perth’s transformation will be completed by mid-late 2024
Plans for a remodelled porte cochère and entire lobby will begin in the new year, including redesign of two of the hotel’s popular dining outlets. The Pacific Club lounge on level seven will also feature a reimagined design to elevate accessibility of the club lounge services.
The first of the newly-refurbished rooms are now available for booking.
Marriott International will introduce three new luxury resorts in Vietnam, with the debut of two new brands into the country – Ritz-Carlton Reserve and The Luxury Collection on the tropical paradise of Hon Thom Island in Phu Quoc – and Vietnam’s third JW Marriott Hotel set for Trang An, in northern Vietnam.
Slated to open in 2028, JW Marriott Trang An Resort & Spa will feature 150 rooms and suites, plus a collection of 35 one- and two-bedroom villas, with options for private pools. Plans for the resort also include two restaurants, a café, lobby lounge and two bars, two pool zones, spa, fitness centre, kids’ club, recreational activity centre, ballroom and two meeting rooms.
Artist’s impression of The Luxury Collection Resort, Hon Thom Island, which will open in 2029
The Luxury Collection Resort, Hon Thom Island is scheduled to open in 2029 with 305 rooms and suites. Facilities will comprise two pool areas, kids’ club, activity centre, fitness centre, spa, restaurants and bars, as well as event venues.
Anticipated to open in 2028 and slated to be designed by Bill Bensley, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Hon Thom Island is will offer a curated collection of 40 pool villas, two resort pools, spa, salon, fitness centre, restaurants, bars and meeting spaces. In addition, the resort will also feature Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ambassadors of the Environment educational programme for kids.
With Early Bird tickets to the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2024 already sold out, Singapore GP will start sales of regular priced tickets earlier than originally planned to November 1 to meet the demand.
Sales across all hospitality categories have also been equally strong, with dedicated suites at the Formula 1 Paddock Club, Sky Suite, and Lounge@Turn 3 for next year’s race almost fully taken up.
Regular priced tickets will be up for sale earlier than originally planned due to high demand (Photo: Singapore GP)
All tickets to the Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2024 provide access to the concerts at the Padang Stage in Zone 4.
“After a record year in 2023, interest across all hospitality products remain extremely strong. With a return rate of over 70 per cent, many categories are already close to selling out for 2024,” said Shamini Suppiah, director of hospitality and sponsorship sales, Singapore GP.
Alii Palau Airlines will launch a new route directly connecting Singapore to Koror, Palau, on November 23.
Operated by Royal Bhutan Airlines (Drukair), the national carrier of the Royal Government of Bhutan, this new service will connect three destinations – Bhutan, Singapore and Palau.
The Singapore-Koror service will be operated by Royal Bhutan Airlines
The five-hour flight will be operated on the Airbus A320neo, flying once a week on Thursdays from November 23 to December 20. From December 21, flights will be increased to twice-weekly on Thursdays and Sundays.
The 2024 edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) will return to Dubai from May 6 to 9 with the theme, Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship.
Attendees will consider how the segments of leisure, business, luxury and MICE are driving economic growth and sustainable development across destinations, hospitality and aviation, creating fresh opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors from across the Middle East and beyond.
Danielle Curtis, ATM’s exhibition director, said: “Holidaymakers represent a crucial focus for the Middle East’s travel community, but leisure is only one component of a much bigger picture. Business, luxury and MICE travel are also making significant contributions to economic growth and sustainable development, with Statista predicting a global market volume of more than US$1 trillion by 2027.
“It is therefore no surprise that the travel and tourism sector is creating unprecedented opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors, thousands of whom will showcase their innovations, exchange ideas and forge new partnerships at ATM 2024,” she added.
The travel and tourism sector is on course to contribute US$49.18 billion to the UAE economy alone in 2023, according to figures released by the WTTC. This figure is predicted to reach US$64.12 billion by 2033, accounting for an impressive 10.2 per cent of the nation’s GDP.
As the Middle East’s travel and tourism industry continues to mature, it is expected to create new jobs and income for millions of people from across the globe. The UAE Government, for instance, estimates that the country’s travel and tourism market will support 770,000 jobs by 2027. At the same time, the sector is expected to generate ever-increasing revenues for regional economies – Gulf travellers spending approximately 6.5 times more than tourists from other parts of the world, according to the UN Tourism.
Sustainable development will represent another key focus at ATM 2024. Dubai’s Department for Economy and Tourism (DET), ATM’s Destination Partner, will showcase its ongoing efforts to protect the environment and secure a greener and more sustainable future for the emirate.