Wyndham Destinations Asia Pacific is offering travellers discounts up to 30 per cent on stays at Wyndham properties across the Asia-Pacific during its Mid-Year Getaway Sale.
Participating hotels and resorts are branded under the globally renowned Club Wyndham, Wyndham Grand, Wyndham, Wyndham Garden, TRYP by Wyndham, Ramada by Wyndham, and Ramada Encore by Wyndham brands.
The sale offers travellers discounts of up to 30 per cent across Wyndham properties in the Asia-Pacific; Club Wyndham Airlie Beach, pictured
Locations in Australia and New Zealand include Melbourne, Torquay and Phillip Island, Victoria; Airlie Beach, Surfers Paradise and Port Douglas, Queensland; Port Stephens, New South Wales and Rotorua, New Zealand.
Other destinations comprise Phuket and Hua Hin, Thailand; Palembang, Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bali, Indonesia; as well as Sapporo and Osaka, Japan.
Reservations must be made before June 25, with a minimum booking of three nights.
PAL Holdings, the parent company of Philippine Airlines, has appointed Lucio Tan III as its president.
He takes over the post from his grandfather Lucio C. Tan and will continue to provide stability and ensure the company forges ahead with a collaborative and cohesive approach in serving the best interests of its customers.
He has held a number of positions in the family’s business empire over the years, including vice president of PAL Holdings in 2021, and president and chief operating officer of Tanduay Distillers in 2019.
This year’s Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) will run with the theme, Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters, and bring into focus meaningful destination experiences that will benefit travellers as well as the local community.
The event is the Kingdom’s most prominent annual B2B travel trade event, organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to promote Thailand to the world.
Thailand Travel Mart Plus will welcome 371 buyers and 433 sellers this year; Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan in Bangkok, pictured
Detailing the theme’s influence on TTM+ programming, TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said a number of interesting businesses from across the country would be brought together on site to inspire unique travel experiences. These include Araksa Tea Garden, an organic tea garden in Chiang Mai; the Ruk-Khon, a group of shadow puppet-making artists in Nakhon Si Thammarat; the Luk Wa Group, a group of young volunteers promoting the unique handicrafts of Phetchaburi; and the Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, a centre of alternative medicine and herbal medicine treatment.
TTM+ delegates will also be able to sample seasonal fruits from the Eastern region and freshly brewed organic coffee that will be paired by Thai desserts.
The event will be packed with informative presentations, including Thailand destination updates; TTM Talk, where the Future of Thai Tourism comes into focus; and GMS Media Briefing, where Greater Mekong Subregion countries will provide updates on their tourism situation and trends.
New to TTM+ is the Amazing Thailand Culinary City, a trade and consumer event that spotlights gastronomy tourism through 30 Thai entrepreneurs. Event attendees can experience a food tour, dinner cruise and Thai cooking classes. Amazing Thailand Culinary City will also feature a panel discussion along with Thai food tasting.
Beyond the show floor, TAT has planned a number of pre- and post-tours for buyers and the media “to get first-hand experiences of Thailand’s many new chapters”.
The pre-tours feature customised routes that highlight Bangkok’s responsible and sustainable tourism, while post-tours are designed to showcase meaningful travel experiences in various aspects, such as gastronomy, the local way of life, and local wisdom across all five regions of Thailand.
“The Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters invites friends from around the world to our wonderful country and to write their own impressive chapters, which they can then share with their friends and family. Focusing on experience-based tourism, we wish to deliver fresh travel experiences and aim to create a meaningful travel experience for travellers, as well as the local communities and the environment,” Yuthasak told TTG Asia.
The event will also uphold TAT’s sustainability commitment. To qualify for participation in the event, sellers must have sustainability projects and campaigns that conserve the environment, reduce resource consumption, support the local community, or provide guests with valuable insights into the history, culture, or background of the community.
Sellers must also abide by the country’s Sustainable Tourism Goals exhibition standard, which is aligned to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
With TTM+ set to kick off on May 31, Yuthasak said interest levels have been high. Buyer numbers this year are up 34 per cent over 2022, while seller numbers are up 64 per cent.
He said the scrapping of entry restrictions in many countries, especially in major source markets like China, has helped to enable more buyers to join TTM+ in person.
Improving air connectivity and growing demand for travel have also helped to spur stronger interest in sourcing at TTM+.
According to TAT, TTM+ 2023 will welcome 371 buyers and 433 sellers. Buyers hail from almost all regions – East Asia (122); South-east Asia, South Asia and South Pacific (100); Europe, Africa, and the Middle East (94), the US (16), and Thailand (39).
Seller representation includes hotels and resorts, tour operators, entertainment venues, wellness and shopping malls, airlines, tourism boards and the Greater Mekong Subregion, among others.
Silversea has designed two defined group types and a bespoke group programme providing competitive benefits for travel partners and their clients, with guidance and support from its in-house group team.
First is the Affinity Group Program, where travel partners that book six suites or more for a group travelling on the same voyage, will enjoy benefits such as savings of up to 15 per cent, up to US$300 shipboard credit per suite, 90 days price protection, no upfront deposit for group creation, advanced access to specialty dining reservations, complimentary cocktail party upon request, 15 per cent commission on advantage status sailings, and Silversea Cruises Fare Guarantee which applies to Door-to-Door and Combination Fares.
Silversea now provides competitive benefits for travel partners and their clients with its two group programmes
The second is the Promotional Group Program, which is designed for travel partners looking to increase their earnings, generate a dedicated marketing campaign with more shelf life, or package up a particular sailing with their USPs.
Benefits include 90 days price protection, five per cent bonus commission on group bookings held at least 12 months before departure, 15 per cent minimum base commission on all advantage status sailings, no deposits required for group creation, up to US$300 shipboard credit per suite, advanced access to specialty dining, cocktail parties, and
Silversea Cruises Fare Guarantee which applies to Door-to-Door and Combination Fares.
Adam Radwanski, managing director, Asia Pacific, Silversea, said: “Through our enhanced groups programme, we offer our travel partners a range of powerful resources to foster deeper connections with their clients, presenting an unmatched value proposition that can significantly contribute to securing larger bookings.
“The programme is straightforward to establish and manage, presenting a compelling opportunity for travel agents to boost their revenue, particularly for those under time constraints.”
Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s travel programme, has announced a two-way points exchange functionality with All Nippon Airways’ ANA Mileage Club and Japan Airlines’ JAL Mileage Bank, providing more ways for Marriott Bonvoy members to maximise their benefits.
Through the expanded partnerships with both airlines, All Nippon Airways’ and Japan Airlines’ frequent flyer members can now convert their respective airline loyalty miles to Marriott Bonvoy points and vice versa.
Marriott Bonvoy’s partnership with All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines allows frequent flyer members to convert their respective airline loyalty miles to Marriott Bonvoy points and vice versa
Marriott Bonvoy Points can be redeemed for experiences across its 8,500 properties global footprint – from free nights and upgrades, once-in-a-lifetime experiences, to bringing the hotel experience home with signature branded products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques.
“The expansion of our relationship with two of Japan’s most celebrated airlines, All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, anchors our commitment to continuously evolve our approach to customer loyalty, providing more value for our members,” said Bart Buiring, chief sales & marketing officer for Asia-Pacific at Marriott International. “This enhanced relationship offers members the opportunity to maximise rewards from their travels, whether up in the air or when staying at one of our hotels around the World.”
ANA Mileage Club Members will be able to transfer their miles to Marriott Bonvoy points at a conversion ratio of 1:1 or 2:1, while JAL Mileage Bank Members enjoy a conversion ratio of 4:3 to Marriott Bonvoy Points. To be eligible for two-way points transfer, travellers must be members of Marriott Bonvoy and ANA Mileage Club/JAL Mileage Bank.
SWISS prepares for the coming winter season by offering its customers a wide range of air services. The SWISS winter schedules will include both new destinations and increased frequencies on selected existing routes.
The airline will provide flights from Zurich and Geneva to a total of 68 destinations, as well as restore the flight to Bremen in Northern Germany. It will also be increasing its frequencies from Zurich to various further German cities, with six more weekly flights to Düsseldorf, four more to Hamburg and an additional two to Hanover.
SWISS will include new destinations and increased frequencies on selected existing routes in its winter schedule
Other destinations flying from Zurich include Berlin (52 weekly flights), Barcelona (28 weekly flights), Amsterdam (28 weekly flights) and Athens (19 weekly flights).
The Czech capital of Prague and the Romanian capital of Bucharest will also have their SWISS services substantially expanded with an additional seven and five weekly flights respectively.
SWISS flights will be operated once again between Zurich and Vienna with three flights a day to the Austrian capital. The route will also be operated by sister Lufthansa Group carrier Austrian Airlines with multiple daily flights to London, Lisbon, Porto and Athens.
Portugal’s capital Lisbon will also receive 14 weekly flights from Zurich, and 11 times a week for Porto.
The service to Hamburg introduced this summer will continue with four weekly frequencies, and SWISS will further offer services to Geneva from the UK and Scandinavia.
The winter timetable period will run from October 29, 2023 to 30 March 30, 2024.
dusitD2 Samyan Bangkok, Thailand The 179-key dusitD2 Samyan Bangkok is just a 30-minute drive from Suvarnabhumi International Airport, and is situated on Si Phraya Road parallel to Silom and Sathorn roads in Bangkok’s central business district.
The hotel’s wide range of facilities comprises a pool, fitness centre, restaurants, bars, and event venues. Also available are laundry services and car park with automatic parking.
Courtyard by Marriott Melaka
Courtyard by Marriott Melaka, Malaysia Courtyard by Marriott Melaka is located just 15 minutes away from the Melaka International Airport, and provides access to the city’s historical attractions, shopping district, and local street food scene.
Boasting 287 guestrooms and suites, the hotel also offers a fitness centre, rooftop infinity pool, F&B options, and function spaces.
Mantra Castle Hill Sydney
Mantra Castle Hill Sydney, Australia Mantra Castle Hill Sydney boasts 82 guestrooms, as well as facilities like a restaurant, gym, barbecue deck, and conference room.
The hotel is located within the commercial and industrial precinct of Castle Hill and is just a three minutes’ drive from Norwest Business Park and The Hills Entertainment Centre.
Novotel Jodhpur ITI Circle
Novotel Jodhpur ITI Circle, India Novotel Jodhpur ITI Circle offers 93 rooms and suites, with facilities such as a spa and steam facility, rooftop swimming pool, gym and event venues.
The hotel serves up pure vegetarian cuisine at its F&B outlets, and guests looking to experience the street foods of India can head to a 24-hour street-side eatery nearby.
The property has easy access to key heritage sites and commercial hubs such as Mehrangarh, Old Jodhpur, Clock Tower, and Masuria Hill, and is only four kilometres away from Jodhpur Railway Station and seven kilometres from the Jodhpur Airport.
The fifth instalment of The Chapman’s Challenge is back on the beaches of Pangkor Laut from August 25 to 27.
Renowned for its challenging routes and breath-taking landscapes, this year’s edition of The Chapman’s Challenge has a new Official Timekeeper, NORQAIN. The race consists of a 3.8km road run around the island and 2.4km through the untouched rainforest, culminating with a 1km swim in the sea off Emerald Bay.
The Chapman’s Challenge returns to Pangkor Laut with challenging routes and breath-taking landscapes
The race is a tribute to Colonel Spencer Chapman, a British officer-naturalist who demonstrated extraordinary courage, endurance, and mental toughness during World War II.
The winner of the challenge will receive the 42mm NORQAIN’s Wild One Khaki timepiece (valued at 24,680 ringgit) by Swiss watchmaking company NORQAIN.
Priced from 2,600 ringgit (US$567) per villa for two adults, the package at Pangkor Laut Resort includes accommodation for two nights, return scheduled speedboat transfer to and from Marina Island Pangkor, daily meals, entry for The Chapman’s Challenge 2023, post-race refreshments for each race participant, and pre-dinner cocktails and beach barbecue dinner on August 26.
Swiss-Belhotel International is set to grow its presence across Indonesia following the acquisition of its Indonesia management companies November last year.
Indies Capital Partners (Indies Capital), an alternative asset manager in South-east Asia, has acquired 60 per cent stake in Swiss-Belhotel International Indonesia and Zest Hotels International Indonesia from Ciputra Group Indonesia, with Hong Kong-based Swiss-Belhotel International Holdings owning the remaining 40 per cent.
Swiss-Belhotel International is set to expand across Indonesia; Swiss-Belinn in Timika, pictured
The new ownership is expected to open up opportunities for the hotel group, with a significant advantage in the financial support that Indies Capital can provide during the development phase of new hotel projects.
Emmanuel Guillard, senior vice president, operations and development Indonesia, Swiss-Belhotel International, remarked that the budget for any hotel project could go up in the middle of the development stage.
He elaborated: “In situations where investors may face financial constraints (during an ongoing project), Indies Capital has expressed its willingness to offer key financial assistance, such as providing money to secure loans for property owners and eliminate operational delays.”
Indies Capital will eventually help Swiss-Belhotel International Indonesia to acquire local hotel companies and consolidate them under its portfolio, according to Guillard.
“With our resources, we can provide upgraded standards and enhanced services that smaller hotels may struggle to afford, ultimately supporting their growth,” he said, adding that the taking over of existing hotels and acquiring hotel companies would speed up Swiss-Belhotel International’s plan in the country.
Discussing the future strategy, Guillard said Swiss-Belhotel International would focus on secondary and tertiary cities in Indonesia.
“The major cities are a bit saturated. With a large population spread across numerous islands, there are second- and third-(tier) cities which house 200,000 to 300,000 inhabitants, creating a demand for quality facilities. We do not have presence in every one of them, so the opportunity is there.”
Earlier this year, the hotel company took over the management of two midscale hotels in Eastern Indonesia, namely Swiss-Belcourt in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, and Swiss-Belinn in Timika, Central Papua. Additionally, it will expand its hotel collection in the Eastern region, including the upcoming Māua resort in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara.
Development projects are also underway with the signing of the Swiss-Belexpress project in the Cipali toll area and the Swiss-Belinn project in Indramayu, West Java. A Swiss-Belhotel will also open in the Yogyakarta International Airport area in 3Q2023.
There are also several project developments planned in 2024, including in Lampung, Jember (East Java), and Pontianak (West Kalimantan).
The Traveloka International Travel Fair 2023 will be held from May 29 to June 2, and will showcase a wide range of travel products at a discount, including transportation, accommodation and lifestyle deals from over 4,500 international business partners.
The International Travel Fair in Thailand last year saw a near six-fold increase in international flights transactions, with top Traveloka destinations across Asia such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.
From left: Traveloka’s Iko Putera and Traveloka’s brand ambassador (Thailand and Vietnam) Baifern Pimchanok
The Thai Travel Services Association (TTSA) said that outbound tourism is recovering, and as many as one million Thais could visit Japan this year – TTSA also predicted that the total number of outbound tourists could reach between six to seven million, or about 70 per cent of pre-pandemic figures.
In addition, Traveloka will enhance its travel products with features including Student Tickets flights, Pay Upon Check-In, and Xperience, which provides customers access to both easy refunds and rescheduling on beauty and spa products, and more.
Iko Putera, CEO of transport, Traveloka, said: “The International Travel Fair is part of the company’s commitment in growing global tourism, while providing convenience to our customers in planning and realising their travel aspirations, especially for international travel.”
He has held a number of positions in the family’s business empire over the years, including vice president of PAL Holdings in 2021, and president and chief operating officer of Tanduay Distillers in 2019.
