From July 1, Singapore Airlines (SIA) customers will be able to enjoy free unlimited Wi-Fi access in all cabin classes, including passengers in Premium Economy Class and Economy Class.
This will allow passengers to stay connected with loved ones, work online, or keep up to date with the latest news or their social media feeds while travelling in the sky.
Singapore Airlines customers will enjoy free unlimited Wi-Fi access in all cabin classes from July 1
The enhanced Wi-Fi offering will be available across the entire aircraft fleet – except for seven Boeing 737-800 NGs that are not Wi-Fi enabled – and almost the entire global SIA route network.
To enjoy this service, customers must enter their KrisFlyer membership details at the point of booking through the Manage Booking online option, or when checking in.
Sheraton Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort is offering two summer season packages for couples and families looking to unwind in the West Bay.
The Sheraton Side by Side package is priced from 3.4 million dong (US$144) per night and includes accommodation, daily breakfast buffet, daily hotel credit of 800,000 dong, daily one-hour free flow on selected beverages, and two-way airport transfer.
Sheraton Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort offers two summer packages for couples and families
The Vin Wonders or Vin Safari package is perfect for adventurers and adrenaline junkies, and comprises accommodation, daily breakfast, a choice of ticket to Vin Wonders or Vinpearl Safari, complimentary shuttle service to Vinpearl Safari and VinWonders Phu Quoc, and either early check-in or late check-out.
Both packages are valid for stays till November 30.
Muslim travellers looking to visit Muslim heritage sites and hidden gems as well as experience the culture and lifestyle of local Muslims are seeing renewed interest post-lockdown.
This observation was shared by panellists speaking in a forum titled, The Future of Muslim Travel: Are Destinations Engaging Enough on the second day of the Halal in Travel Global Summit.
Muslim travellers are keen to learn about Islamic culture in other countries
Riyanto Sofyan, chairman, Sofyan Corporation in Indonesia, shared that community-based tourism products in Indonesia, such as homestays, have become increasingly popular with longhaul Muslim travellers, particularly those from the US and the UK, who wish to experience the Islamic way of life in Indonesian villages.
He noted that social media and digital marketing have helped to convey such experiences to longhaul markets. Previously, these experiences were traditionally more popular among Muslim travellers from Singapore and Malaysia.
Lee Jian Xuan, area director, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei at Singapore Tourism Board, said Muslim travellers from Malaysia and Brunei are keen to learn about Malay history and heritage in Singapore, which is easily accessible by visiting Kampong Glam and the Malay Heritage Centre, as well as the Peranakan Museum on Armenian Street.
Abdul Maalik Tailor, CEO of Halal Tourism Britain, which specialises in halal travel and Muslim heritage of Britain, shared that Muslim visitors to the UK show interest in learning more about Muslim culture and visiting Muslim heritage sites outside of London. He added that some Muslim visitors would combine visiting the UK and France into one trip, with the focus on trips to Muslim heritage sites.
Despite the renewed interest, the panellists agree that the basics of Muslim travel, such as prayer facilities and the ease of access to halal and Muslim-friendly food, are still paramount in attracting the Muslim traveller.
From taking guidance from sustainability experts to promoting home-stays and local experiences that benefit natives, more and more NTOs are devising their strategies to focus on responsible and sustainable tourism practices.
Speaking at the ongoing PATA Annual Summit & Adventure Mart 2023 in Pokhra, Nepal, Raki Philips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), said the NTO had hired Australia-based EarthCheck to help Ras Al Khaimah create a sustainable and responsible tourism roadmap.
More NTOs are devising their strategies to focus on responsible and sustainable tourism practices
“We are looking to be the first certified sustainable destination in the Middle East by 2025. Thirty per cent of the new infrastructure developments taking place in Ras Al Khaimah have green spaces,” Philips added.
Abdulla Mausoom, tourism minister for the Maldives, also shared that the country intends to adopt a community-based tourism model.
“We recently launched our fifth Tourism Master Plan. Our aim is to make the Maldives the world’s leading sustainable tourism destination. We are making sure that the benefits of the tourism sector reach to the local community and the ecosystem is protected,” Abdulla said.
As part of its responsible tourism strategy, Azerbaijan is aiming to introduce products and experiences that are authentic to the destination. “It’s not about artificially creating and developing tourism products but to utilise the resources Azerbaijan has, be it mud volcanoes or mountains or sea,” said Florian, Sengstschmid, CEO, Azerbaijan Tourism Board.
Nepal on the other hand is looking to preserve the culture of ethnic groups and provide job opportunities to local population as part of its responsible tourism approach.
“Apart from sensitising travellers and locals about the fragile geography we have in Nepal, we are focusing on promoting home-stays at places where ethnic groups reside. The idea is to offer livelihood opportunities to the young population who otherwise is migrating to other places and to also encourage them to practice their real culture,” said Dhananjay Regmi, CEO, Nepal Tourism Board.
For sustainable tourism efforts to be successful over the long term, Kevin Phun, founder & consultant, Center for Responsible Tourism Singapore, said public-private partnerships are needed.
In a panel discussion held during the Halal in Travel – Global Summit on May 30, Phun pointed to successful examples set by both Singapore and Australia. In Singapore, the Singapore Tourism Board works closely with travel agents and private companies to offer sustainable tourism experiences, which are appreciated by travellers. Over in Australia, public and private sector players have joined forces to conserve the Great Barrier Reef.
Fellow panellist, Nisha Abu Bakar, co-founder of World Women Tourism, pointed that out sound efforts in sustainable tourism development will enable destinations to attract tourists who are environmentally conscious as well as curious travellers.
However, Asma Ghazouani, a sustainability consultant at Engie Impact, opined that sustainable tourism fulfilment also requires travellers to play their part. Travellers should be educated on sustainable tourism practices, and destinations could share such information through welcome package booklets. At the same time, destinations should provide sustainable tours and activities to enable travellers to make responsible choices.
She further stressed the importance of accreditation and certification when it comes to sustainable tourism claims, as claims without sound backing “could amount to greenwashing”. – Additional reporting by S Puvaneswary
Plaza Premium Group (PPG) is satisfying the taste buds of diners hankering for Asian fare with a menu expansion at two F&B outlets in Changi Airport Terminal 1’s (T1) level three public area.
PPG has updated the menus of Terrace Chinese Kitchen (TCK) and TGM, with the former offering Hong Kong-style and Chinese favourites while the latter serves popular Japanese and Korean dishes.
Plaza Premium Group now offers Asian Fare at its two F&B outlets at Changi Airport Terminal 1
Diners at TCK can personalise their “noodle cart” order and choose their preferred type of noodle, broth and sides, while the steamed shrimp paste pork belly with salted fish, chilli padi and rice will hit the spot with adventurous foodies.
The TGM menu features Korean staples such as beef bibimbap and a cheesy dak-galbi set to share. Japanese bento sets include salmon butteryaki teishoku, and crunchy deep-fried tonkatsu teishoku.
There are various ongoing discount promotions and a revamped TGM will open in the Terminal 2 transit area in June.
PPG also operates the Plaza Premium Lounge (PPL) in T1’s departure area, with booking blocks of three, five and 10 hours available and are priced at S$55 (US$40), S$97 and S$195 respectively.
Returning for the eighth year this August, a refreshed speaker line-up from leading regional and international brands will offer insights on travel technology
Returning for the eighth year this August, a refreshed speaker line-up from leading regional and international brands will offer insights on travel technology
The travel industry is rapidly changing with digital technology playing a critical role in shaping its future.
For the travel trade community looking to understand the latest digital trends and innovations, they can attend the upcoming Digital Travel APAC 2023 to network with like-minded senior travel executives and gain valuable insights from accomplished travel leaders.
Returning for the eighth year this August, a refreshed speaker line-up from leading regional and international brands will offer insights on key topics focused on revenue growth and expansion of products and services to provide next-generation travel experiences that can meet evolving customer expectations.
The networking conference for digital leaders from Asia’s top airlines, hotels and OTAs will take place from August 15 to 16, 2023 at the Equarius Hotel Sentosa in Singapore.
Bringing together over 300 travel industry professionals, it will also provide a valuable platform for attendees to connect, learn, and grow their businesses.
Organised by WBR Singapore, an extension of Worldwide Business Research (WBR), an events service focused on running industry-leading conferences and summits worldwide, the meticulously-curated two-day agenda was built on more than 80 research interviews to ensure challenges and opportunities in the travel industry are well addressed.
As a vote of confidence for Digital Travel APAC 2023, leading travel brands from the region such as Singapore Airlines, Tourism Malaysia, Trip.com, BWH Hotel Group, have been participating in past editions.
To plan ahead in order to maximise the conference experience, keen attendees can refer to the Digital Travel APAC Event Brochure for details on the agenda, speaker faculty and networking sessions.
Event highlights
Learn actionable strategies to increase profits from travel leaders and engage in high level peer-to-peer learning.
Participate in an interactive format offering valuable face time with peers to solve common challenges.
Benefit from over 30 hours of discussion groups, industry-specific panel sessions, case study workshops, technology roundtables, as well as networking activities.
Ready to find out more about Digital Travel APAC 2023? Download the event brochure here.
Readers of TTG Asia are entitled to a 20 per cent discount to attend Digital Travel APAC 2023. Simply quote ‘TTG20’ upon checkout here.
*only applicable to non-solution providers/companies
PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering redefines the metropolitan skyline with an iconic biophilic design and unique hotel-in-a-garden concept that seamlessly blends urban luxury with nature
PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering redefines the metropolitan skyline with an iconic biophilic design and unique hotel-in-a-garden concept that seamlessly blends urban luxury with nature
A landmark in the heart of Singapore’s vibrant Chinatown, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering – designed by world-renowned architects WOHA – pioneers a unique hotel-in-a-garden concept that seamlessly blends urban luxury with nature.
The BCA Green Mark Platinum-certified hotel spotlights a biophilic design which draws inspiration from naturally-occurring landscapes like the picturesque rice fields of Bali, and features over 15,000m2 of sky gardens, planter terraces and cascading vertical greenery that constitutes more than twice the hotel’s total land area.
Sustainable hospitality
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The hotel’s biophilic design features sky gardens, planter terraces and cascading vertical greenery that take up more than twice its total land area
The rooftop urban farm provides vegetables, fruits, herbs and edible flowers that are used as garnishes, aromatics and ingredients at the hotel's restaurant, bar, lounge and spa
Its tactile undulating building design draws inspiration from naturally-occurring landscapes like the rice fields of Bali
It is home to Singapore's first zero-energy sky gardens powered by solar energy cells
Complimentary city bikes are provided for guests
The garden concept continues to the guestrooms’ corridors, which are rejuvenated by lush greenery and waterscapes, sunlit pathways and fresh air
An electric car used for guest transfers was introduced, along with the installation of on-site EV charging stations
Green design & innovation In a nod to its strong sustainable design integrated with forward-thinking business principles, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering is among the first developments in Singapore to incorporate the use of Cobiax technology in its built, a system that reduces concrete usage by placing “void formers” made of environmentally-friendly recycled plastic.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the hotel’s lush foliage also serves another practical purpose by reducing the energy required to cool the iconic green structure for the comfort of guests. Through evaporative transpiration, the greenery is able to absorb the heat, shade hard surfaces, and lower the temperature of the 367-key property.
The garden concept continues to the guestrooms’ corridors, which are rejuvenated by thriving leafage and waterscapes, sunlit pathways and fresh air.
The guestrooms and suites have also been designed to allow as much natural light in as possible and are equipped with sliding walls to augment the sense of space, without any compromise on comfort.
Sustainable practices PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering’s tactile undulating building design also houses Singapore’s first zero-energy sky gardens powered by solar energy cells. In fact, the 262 solar panels can generate up to 65,000kWh of renewable energy for the hotel each year.
The newly-completed rooftop urban farm continues to bear testimony to the hotel’s unwavering commitment to sustainability. Home to 50 varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and edible flowers that are regularly harvested and used as garnishes, aromatics and ingredients at the restaurant, bar and spa, the hotel brings the farm-to-table, farm-to-bar and farm-to-spa concepts to life. In doing so, it also reduces the hotel’s reliance on food deliveries and lowers its carbon footprint.
Guests keen on eco-friendly travel will be heartened to know that sustainable sourcing and procurement are evident in the hotel with its choice of amenities like its paraben- and cruelty-free soap and biodegradable packaging.
As part of the hotel’s waste management initiative, the food waste digester converts food waste into greywater, which is responsibly discharged into sewage instead of being added to landfills.
Besides, the conservation of resources is also clearly built into the infrastructural capabilities of PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering. Saving up to six million litres of water annually, the resort-style property’s comprehensive energy and water conservation features include light, rain, motion, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide sensors.
The hotel’s extensive landscaped areas are designed to be self-sustaining and rely minimally on precious resources – water usage is minimised by rain harvesting and use of NEWater (recycled water). For instance, built-in rain sensors in landscaped areas automatically turn off irrigation once a certain amount of rainfall is detected.
Recent eco-friendly initiatives In 2022, the hotel completed the installation of the premium 3M filtered water dispensers in every room, eliminating the consumption of approximately 230,000 plastic bottles each year and allowing guests to enjoy an unlimited supply of drinking water.
An electric car used for guest transfers was also introduced, along with the installation of on-site EV charging stations. Complimentary city bikes are now available for travellers to explore the neighbourhood on their own pedalling power too.
Often giving back to the community through events and activities such as beach clean-ups, participation in national movements like Go Green SG, supporting other green campaigns, and sharing more about biophilic design and eco-conscious living through educational hotel tours, PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering is committed to making every effort – big and small – to contribute towards a more sustainable future.
Vote for your favourite travel brand to win at TTG Travel Awards 2023, Asia-Pacific’s Most Prestigious Travel Industry Accolade Vote PARKROYAL COLLECTION Pickering for Best Business Hotel here and Best City Hotel – Singapore here.
Ready to experience luxury in a sustainable hospitality landmark? Find out more about the hotel’s green features here.
Phan Huu Duc has been named as business development director, Vietnam & Cambodia, of TUI Blue Hotels & Resorts Asia.
He will spearhead TUI Blue’s growth in Vietnam and Cambodia, and grow the TUI Blue brand steadily in the markets and bring long term performance to the company’s partners and owners.
Before joining TUI Blue Hotels & Resorts, he was director of sales & business development at Nova Service Group.
The government of Nepal has declared 2023-2033 as the Tourism Decade as it seeks to promote the country as a prime tourist destination and prioritise tourism development in general.
The announcement was made during the government’s budget presentation for fiscal year 2023-2024 on May 29.
Nepal will invest in tourism infrastructure development in lesser-known destinations; Tsho Rolpa Glacial Lake pictured
Detailing the refreshed tourism objectives of his leadership, Madan Acharya, member of the Nepal Tourism Board, told TTG Asia on the sidelines of PATA Annual Summit & Adventure Mart 2023 in Pokhara, Nepal: “The government is looking at developing infrastructure, upgrading existing tourist facilities, and distribute tourism activities across the nation by declaring 2023-2024 as the Tourism Decade.”
Tourism infrastructure development will be focused on lesser-known destinations in Rolpa, Rukum and Dolpa districts, just to name a few.
“We are alarmed by the adverse impact of climate change on our mountains, rivers and several other resources. We want to focus on eco-tourism and promote responsible tourism in the years to come,” Acharya added.
Nepal will conduct destination promotions in target markets including India, China and Europe, and work towards building up international airlift to and from the country’s newly constructed Pokhara Regional International Airport that launched a few months back and Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa that began operations about a year ago.
“We expect the government to invest in infrastructure projects, especially road and air connectivity. We hope that international airlines start flying to Pokhara soon, as this will help to grow tourist numbers in the destination significantly. After infrastructure, a focused international marketing strategy can help Nepal meet its true tourism potential,” commented Yadu Pokharel, managing director, Cosmic Trekking & Expedition.
Nepal is targeting to receive one million foreign tourists by the end of 2023.
Here’s wishing all our Buddhist readers a happy Vesak Day!
Before joining TUI Blue Hotels & Resorts, he was director of sales & business development at Nova Service Group.
Muslim travellers looking to visit Muslim heritage sites and hidden gems as well as experience the culture and lifestyle of local Muslims are seeing renewed interest post-lockdown.
This observation was shared by panellists speaking in a forum titled, The Future of Muslim Travel: Are Destinations Engaging Enough on the second day of the Halal in Travel Global Summit.
Riyanto Sofyan, chairman, Sofyan Corporation in Indonesia, shared that community-based tourism products in Indonesia, such as homestays, have become increasingly popular with longhaul Muslim travellers, particularly those from the US and the UK, who wish to experience the Islamic way of life in Indonesian villages.
He noted that social media and digital marketing have helped to convey such experiences to longhaul markets. Previously, these experiences were traditionally more popular among Muslim travellers from Singapore and Malaysia.
Lee Jian Xuan, area director, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei at Singapore Tourism Board, said Muslim travellers from Malaysia and Brunei are keen to learn about Malay history and heritage in Singapore, which is easily accessible by visiting Kampong Glam and the Malay Heritage Centre, as well as the Peranakan Museum on Armenian Street.
Abdul Maalik Tailor, CEO of Halal Tourism Britain, which specialises in halal travel and Muslim heritage of Britain, shared that Muslim visitors to the UK show interest in learning more about Muslim culture and visiting Muslim heritage sites outside of London. He added that some Muslim visitors would combine visiting the UK and France into one trip, with the focus on trips to Muslim heritage sites.
Despite the renewed interest, the panellists agree that the basics of Muslim travel, such as prayer facilities and the ease of access to halal and Muslim-friendly food, are still paramount in attracting the Muslim traveller.