Chaiphun Thongsuthumas has been named the general manager of Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya.
He has been with Centara Hotels & Resorts since 1984, and has held the position of general manager at several properties throughout the country.
Prior to transferring to Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, he was area general manager overseeing four resorts – Centra by Centara Maris Resort Jomtien, Centara Q Resort Rayong, Centara Chaan Talay Resort & Villas Trat, and Centara Koh Chang Tropicana Resort.
Jamie Swan is the new head of sales of The Hotel Britomart, and will lead the hotel’s business development focus, with responsibility for all market segments across accommodation as well as the continued growth of the hotels extensive meeting and events offerings.
She has a rich background of over 15 years in the aviation, travel and tourism industries in New Zealand and Australia.
Prior to joining The Hotel Britomart, Swan was client value manager with Corporate Travel Management in Auckland, New Zealand.
Mercure Miri City Centre, Malaysia Mercure Miri City Centre is a 172-key hotel just a 10 minutes’ drive from Miri Airport.
The hotel is the gateway to ecological attractions like Gunung Mulu National Park and the Niah Caves, Miri – the second largest city in the state of Sarawak, and is surrounded by local attractions, government offices, shopping malls and a heritage centre.
Onsite facilities comprise restaurants and bars, a rooftop infinity pool, fitness centre, a co-working space, and meeting venues.
M Social Suzhou
M Social Suzhou, China
M Social Suzhou is a luxury lifestyle hotel featuring views of Jinji Lake and the Eastern Gate of Suzhou in all 294 rooms.
The hotel has three restaurants and bars, a 728m² ballroom, fitness centre, swimming pool and spa.
Located in the heart of Hong Leong City Center in the central part of Suzhou Industrial Park, the property is adjacent to Times Square, Jiu Guang Department Store, Eslite Spectrum, Ferris Wheel Park and other shopping and commercial centres, and is a short walk away from the Suzhou International Expo Center and Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre.
JW Marriott Hotel Xi’an
JW Marriott Hotel Xi’an, China JW Marriott Hotel Xi’an boasts 333 guestrooms, and includes facilities such as the JW Executive Lounge, two restaurants and a lounge, spa, fitness centre, indoor infinity heated swimming pool, and event venues.
Situated in the central business district of the Xi’an Economic and Technological Development Zone, the property is nearby attractions such as the Daming Palace National Heritage Park and the Ancient City Wall.
The Xi’an North Railway Station and Xi’an Xianyang International Airport are both approximately a thirty-minute or less drive away.
The Outback Hotel and Lodge
The Outback Hotel and Lodge, Australia The Outback Hotel and Lodge at Ayers Rock Resort has recently reopened after undergoing refurbishment.
Previously known as the Outback Pioneer Hotel, its 125 guestrooms have been enhanced with new ensuite bathrooms, air-conditioning, walk-in rain showers and new bedding configurations. The 46-room Outback Lodge now features Family Lodge Rooms along with a variety of dormitory rooms and configurations for travellers on a budget.
On the property are dining options and a swimming pool. Guests enjoy free indigenous activities, return Ayers Rock Airport transfers and use of the complimentary Ayers Rock Resort shuttle bus service.
Some of Japan’s most remote and uninhabited islands are now open to overnight international visitors seeking a “survival experience.”
The project, run by Tokyo-based company and travel agency Job Live Co., aims to tap into post-lockdown demand for travel that has a greater focus on sustainability, wellness and adventure, while providing deeper encounters with nature.
Named Mujinto (literally uninhabited island), the initiative will also promote rural travel to inbound tourists, a hot theme for Japan’s travel agents this year.
Islands in the Seto Inland Sea pictured
Individuals and social or corporate groups will be able to stay overnight on six islands that are part of the prefectures of Wakayama (southern Kansai), Okayama (on the Seto Inland Sea) and Nagasaki (eastern Kyushu).
As part of the survival experience, participants are provided the bare minimum of support including pick up and drop off from the nearest port as well as tents and cooking equipment. They are required to bring their own food, drinking water, first aid kit and other items they deem necessary for staying on the island.
Each island offers different features – from white sand beaches and lighthouses to historic shrines and remnants of sites used during World War II. Many islands are home to plentiful fish and seafood stocks, providing excellent conditions for fishing, and offer views of pristine nature during the day and starry skies at night.
Nagasaki Prefecture’s Tsumagashima, for example, has excellent access from Hakata Port and is available year-round for fout to 20 people from 19,800 yen (US$146), while Wakayama Prefecture’s Okinoshima, which can be accessed from Kada Port, can accept seven to 25 people from March to November, with prices starting at 22,000 yen.
The uninhabited island experiences are intended “to provide opportunities for participants to learn about life and enjoy moments that involve things of interest to them and create joy”, according to a statement by Job Live Co..
High airfares are expected to impact Middle East arrivals to Malaysia during this coming summer travel season, starting mid-June and lasting for three months.
As travellers from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia’s main Middle East market, usually travel with extended families, Ally Bhoonee, executive director, World Avenues, said high airfares could be a deterrent.
Enquiries in Cameron Highlands (pictured) are on the rise
As travellers from the Middle East tend to book their holidays at the last minute, Bhoonee finds it still too early to gauge business health. However, he is optimistic that strong interest in the destination remains, and the trick is to lure this segment with city, beach and theme parks as these have proven popular with the Middle East market.
Arokia Das Anthony, executive director, The Essence of Asia Tours and Travel, also admitted that high airfares would impact arrivals this year. However, the summer season could still prosper on the back of high-end Middle Eastern travellers, he opined. Enquiries from Middle Eastern outbound agents during his participation at the recent Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) were mostly for private villas, luxury cars and all-inclusive packages. There were also more enquiries for Cameron Highlands and Sabah.
While Universal Holidays’ CEO Zahira Tahir said her company received many enquiries for incentives from the UAE and Saudi Arabia for 3Q2023 and 4Q2023, she acknowledged that “high airfares will affect materialisation rate”.
In its efforts to promote Malaysia to the Middle East market, Tourism Malaysia led a sales mission to Manama in Bahrain and Kuwait City in Kuwait, post-ATM. The sales mission, held from May 7 to 9, was aimed at strengthening Malaysia’s presence in the market, promote Malaysia as a preferred holiday destination to tourists from Gulf Cooperation Council nations, and to update the travel trade industry about new tourism products, packages, and attractions.
Activities included meetings with Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways and top outbound travel agents from Bahrain and Kuwait.
New Zealand’s national carrier, Air New Zealand, made several key announcements on May 10 at TRENZ 2023, which includes a significant investment in its fleet, expansion in capacity, and future marketing plans, as well as revealed more details about Skynest, the world’s first sleep pods in the sky.
The airline’s NZ$3.5 billion (US$2.2 billion) investment includes the purchase of eight new 787-9 Dreamliners and five Airbus A320neo that will be deployed on its Tasman and Pacific Island services. The investment also includes interior refurbishment of 14 Boeing 787 aircraft and installation of new Business Premier Luxe product. Work is expected to start next year.
Economy class passengers will soon be able to sleep easy on ultra-longhaul flights with the Skynest product, a six-pod configured sleep zone
It is also in final negotiations to lease another Boeing 777-300ER, which could add 3,000 more seats per week to the airline’s international network. This would bring the total 777-300 fleet to eight.
“Across our international network, capacity is back to about 91 per cent of pre-Covid (levels) and bookings are steady. We’re now at 30 routes, having returned to Bali in March,” Greg Foran, chief executive, Air New Zealand, said during a media briefing.
Within Asia, Air New Zealand’s capacity is at 117 per cent of pre-Covid levels, with Singapore a key hub, particularly for connections to India and Europe. Demand out of China is “rebuilding slowly but surely”, noted Foran, adding that Air China, an alliance partner, restarted its Beijing-Auckland route earlier this month.
Domestic flights are back to pre-Covid levels, where 15,000 seats were added every week over summer. Regional flights out of Christchurch and Auckland have also increased.
“We know it’s not just about bringing overseas visitors to New Zealand but also giving them plenty of options to explore around Aotearoa New Zealand,” Foran pointed out.
During the media briefing, the airline revealed more details about Skynest, where a prototype was available onsite at TRENZ for industry stakeholders to explore.
Located between Premium Economy and Economy, the Skynest is a six-pod configured sleep zone that will offer four-hour sessions for economy passengers to stretch out and lie down. Each passenger will be limited to one session, and each pod will feature a full-size pillow, sheets and blanket, ear plugs, a separate reading light, USB outlet, ventilation outlet, seatbelt, and lighting designed for rest.
The bedding will be changed between each session, and a 30-minute transition time will be allowed for this. The lights will gently come on at the end of each session, and crew will politely wake any passengers who sleep through this.
“We’re still working through the exact details of how the booking process will work, and we have yet to determine the price. At this stage, we are looking at around NZ$400 to NZ$500 for the four-hour period,” shared Air New Zealand’s chief customer and sales officer, Leanne Geraghty.
Geraghty added that the Skynest – designed and to be installed in Aotearoa – will be made available from September 2024 on Air New Zealand’s ultra-longhaul flights, starting with the Auckland-New York and Auckland-Chicago routes.
Air New Zealand will also be investing NZ$30 million in marketing campaigns this financial year in key markets, and continue to rebuild its offshore sales and marketing teams.
Foran added: “Our relationship with Tourism New Zealand is one of our most important marketing partnerships. Teaming up makes every dollar go further to raise destination awareness and it was great to re-sign our MoU last year to promote New Zealand offshore.”
Marriott International has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Pertagas Niaga which will see 26 of Marriott Bonvoy’s hotels and resorts in Bali commit to using clean energy source.
This agreement is guided by the company’s 2025 Sustainability and Social Impact Goals and in tandem with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Aloft Bali Seminyak is one of the 26 Marriott Bonvoy properties committed to using clean energy source
Marriott will pledge to make positive impact such as converting LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) to CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), as well as lowering carbon emission by 15 per cent.
Marriott’s area vice president, Indonesia, Ramesh Jackson, said: “Beyond a corporate platitude, it is impossible for us to ignore the pressing and urgent environmental needs of today. This partnership with Pertagas Niaga is a step towards the right direction to conserve and preserve what we have for the next generation. We look forward to expanding this to our portfolio in key cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung in the near future.”
“This MoU signing marked the collaboration of two different businesses contributing towards sustainability for future generations and SDG’s achievements of Indonesia,” added Aminuddin, president director, Pertagas Niaga.
Luxury resort Trisara in Phuket, Thailand is offering families and groups of friends the opportunity to bond in style this summer, courtesy of special rates on its signature residences.
The hideaway in Phuket’s unspoiled northwestern corner boasts a collection of residences, which range from two-bed units to multi-bedroom configurations. These residences come with sea-facing verandahs, extensive swimming pools, a blend of indoor and outdoor spaces, and the support of a dedicated maid and chef who prepare home-cooked Thai and Western dishes on demand and by request.
Residence guests enjoy the attention of butlers
For the summer season, Trisara’s two-bedroom villa is available for a nightly rate starting from US$2,900++. The price includes breakfast and a return airport transfer from Phuket International Airport.
The largest of the residences is Villa Sawan, an eight-bedroom “resort within a resort”. Home to ocean-facing views, lush gardens, a 25-metre swimming pool, home cinema, a well-equipped gym, and spa facilities, Villa Sawan is the ultimate exclusive escape. Guests can also access a cove with a private beach at the foot of the property. Staff are available and on-call throughout the stay. It is available during the summer season for a nightly rate starting at US$8,000++.
A segment of those who used to travel are now lacking in travel confidence
Personal safety, destinations friendly with China, travel convenience are key motivations
Visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival, good air options help with Chinese outbound return
The What’s New in Chinese Outbound Travel April 2023 research by Dragon Trail International (DTI) and ForwardKeys has identified persistent travel hesitancy among Chinese consumers, with 26 per cent needing persuasion to travel in 2023 and 28 per cent looking to travel only in 2025.
Furthermore, according to a poll of 1,012 respondents, 27 per cent did not know if they would travel this year, and 37 per cent want to wait until 2024.
The majority of Chinese travellers favour a complete tour package with visa, guide and transport for the sake of worry-free trips
These and other details were shared during a recent webinar.
DTI research analyst, Yelinuer Kadeerbieke, said the research conducted in early-April showed that 30 per cent of respondents had previously travelled internationally.
Key reasons for the reluctance to travel abroad were concerns about destinations not being “as safe as China”, “countries opposing China” and “Covid-19”.
Kadeerbieke stressed: “The Chinese are affected by news like gun ownership and Chinese being attacked or robbed even if there are only one or two cases. It’s about personal safety and about the communication.”
While crowds were a concern, being able to take in local experiences was a top reason for going abroad,” she said.
On what travellers want, research shows that 56 per cent voted for landmarks; 61 per cent still want to buy a complete package with visa, guide and transport for “convenience”, “safety” and to be “worry-free” when travelling with children or the elderly; and 48 per cent only want to book flights and hotels.
Traveller uncertainty has presented destinations keen on tapping the China market with the opportunity to “message and target” the “26 per cent who hope to travel in 2023 but had not booked”.
Kadeerbieke commented: “Many Chinese travellers renewed their passports recently, but 31 per cent would not be travelling abroad,” and with 20 per cent planning to go to Europe, this buys destinations and businesses “time to get ready”.
She noted that five million passports were issued in 1Q2023, that about 10 per cent of Chinese had passports pre-pandemic but the number would have gone down since.
Asia remains top choice Sienna Parulis-Cook, DTI director of marketing and communications, noted of 40 destinations given to respondents to choose from, Asia was in the lead, with Japan, South Korea and Europe also favoured.
The top destinations for 2023 according to the research are:
Hong Kong (22.1 per cent)
Macau (9.9 per cent)
Thailand (9.6 per cent)
Japan (6.7 per cent)
South Korea (4.4 per cent)
Taiwan (3.3 per cent)
France (3.2 per cent)
Singapore (3.2 per cent)
Australia (3.0 per cent)
Russia (2.2 per cent)
For preferred accommodation type, respondents picked boutique hotels, resorts, private homes stays and Airbnb options. Nancy Dai, China market expert, ForwardKeys, added there was increasing demand for homestays and apartments, and the availability of such options would make a destination more attractive.
As of March 15, 2023, 60 countries – 46 per cent of 2018 figure – had received approval to sell group and packaged travel to the Chinese, Parulis-Cook said, while Dai pointed out that longhaul trips were “picking up again”.
Dai added that destinations offering visa-free entry or visa-on-arrival facilities were “showing good recovery” while connectivity to and from China to some mid-haul regions had increased exponentially.
According to ForwardKeys data announced ahead of the webinar, Africa and the Middle East are set to increase the most at 75 per cent in 2Q2023, with six per cent of total international capacity from China, while the UAE is the most well- connected destination at 44 per cent.
The number of seats between China and Kenya has doubled since 2019, and Egypt has also experienced 10 per cent growth. These three countries are included in the destination list of approved group tours and have a close relationship with China through the One Belt, One Road initiative.
For short overseas trips, Dai said South Korea “was a particularly important destination for singles and couples, and had become more prominent in 2Q2023”.
The research, conducted between April 3 and 7, had a profile breakdown of 51 per cent female and 49 per cent male.
Forty-nine per cent of respondents were from first-tier and new first-tier cities and 51 per cent were from second-tier cities.
Of the 1,012 respondents, 25 per cent were born post-2000, 34 per cent post-1990, 26 per cent post-1980, 11 per cent post-1970, and four per cent post-1960 and older.
Editor’s note: The percentage of countries approved for Chinese group and packaged travel is 46 per cent of 2018 figure, not eight per cent. This has been corrected.
Expedia Group has announced new partnerships and tech features aimed at expanding its network following a strong quarter for its B2B segment where it delivered 55 per cent in revenue growth compared to 2022.
The announcements came as hundreds of leading travel players met at Expedia Group’s EXPLORE 23: Connect conference, held for the first time at its Seattle campus.
Expedia Group will launch new tech features and partnerships aimed at expanding its B2B network
“Our growth in B2B is largely due to the pace at which our tech has been adopted by businesses of all sizes who want to either break into travel or expand their current travel offerings. The demand for this business continues to be strong as evidenced by our new partnerships with Mastercard, SoFi, and some of our biggest hotel partners,” said Peter Kern, vice chairman and CEO, Expedia Group.
“The work we’ve done in building a widespread B2B network that provides travel to millions around the world through leading names in banking, travel and more, will grow as we continue to establish our tech as the primary operating system for the travel industry.”
The group’s White Label Template and API solutions power travel for more than 400 million loyalty members worldwide.
Expedia Group’s exciting new and expanded partnerships include Travel with Rewards with Mastercard, which is a loyalty points redemption programme to allow cardholders to redeem credit card loyalty points for travel bookings; and SoFi Travel, which will soon allow members to book flights, hotels, cars, packages, activities and vacation rentals through SoFi.
“Over the last decade, our B2B segment has grown phenomenally as we power online and offline travel programmes,” said Ariane Gorin, president Expedia for business, Expedia Group, adding that the company enables “businesses of all sizes to succeed in the world of travel, and in an industry that is nearly US$2 trillion, there is plenty of room to grow”.
Expedia Group is also committed to help more companies succeed in the world of travel with the following developments.
Expedia Group’s travel operating system, Travel OS, will externalise its tech in the form of microservices to help any kind of travel company use its tech to enhance their business, such as fraud capability, which has now reached commercial status. Its service tech and revenue management API are now in beta-testing with partners.
After a year of success working with hotel partners to create a guest experience score that shows which hotels give great traveller experience, Expedia Group’s Guest Experience Score will be made available to travellers in 2H2023, where hotel partners can view their Guest Experience Score by logging into Expedia Group Partner Central.
In two years, Expedia Group has tripled the number of participating chains using Optimised Distribution, an innovation that provides hotel partners with greater control of their wholesale businesses. New rate-management capabilities will be released later this year, allowing for more flexibility for a wider array of partners to leverage.
Expedia Group’s first-ever fully unified loyalty programme, One Key will launch on July 6 in the US, and additional markets will follow in 2024. In addition to the Member Only Deals for hotels, cruises and activity partners, the programme will now extend these offerings to air partners, helping them increase visibility to One Key members. Member Only Deals for flights will first be available in the US for One Key members.
Expedia Group continues to invest in its Travel Agent Affiliate Program (TAAP), which powers more than 35,000 travel agencies across more than 30 countries with its booking platform built specifically for their unique needs.
TAAP has also launched several new capabilities including enhanced payment options, which provides travel advisors more flexibility and improved servicing with Live Agent chat to help travel advisors get answers to their questions faster.
Expedia Group is seeing strong usage with 32 per cent of all agent interactions in the US in 1Q2023 serviced through Live Agent chat. A reimagined booking experience which will make it easier for travel advisors to serve their clients will be rolled out in the US this year with the global launch to follow later in 2023.
Prior to transferring to Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, he was area general manager overseeing four resorts – Centra by Centara Maris Resort Jomtien, Centara Q Resort Rayong, Centara Chaan Talay Resort & Villas Trat, and Centara Koh Chang Tropicana Resort.
Prior to joining The Hotel Britomart, Swan was client value manager with Corporate Travel Management in Auckland, New Zealand.
New Zealand’s national carrier, Air New Zealand, made several key announcements on May 10 at TRENZ 2023, which includes a significant investment in its fleet, expansion in capacity, and future marketing plans, as well as revealed more details about Skynest, the world’s first sleep pods in the sky.
The airline’s NZ$3.5 billion (US$2.2 billion) investment includes the purchase of eight new 787-9 Dreamliners and five Airbus A320neo that will be deployed on its Tasman and Pacific Island services. The investment also includes interior refurbishment of 14 Boeing 787 aircraft and installation of new Business Premier Luxe product. Work is expected to start next year.
It is also in final negotiations to lease another Boeing 777-300ER, which could add 3,000 more seats per week to the airline’s international network. This would bring the total 777-300 fleet to eight.
“Across our international network, capacity is back to about 91 per cent of pre-Covid (levels) and bookings are steady. We’re now at 30 routes, having returned to Bali in March,” Greg Foran, chief executive, Air New Zealand, said during a media briefing.
Within Asia, Air New Zealand’s capacity is at 117 per cent of pre-Covid levels, with Singapore a key hub, particularly for connections to India and Europe. Demand out of China is “rebuilding slowly but surely”, noted Foran, adding that Air China, an alliance partner, restarted its Beijing-Auckland route earlier this month.
Domestic flights are back to pre-Covid levels, where 15,000 seats were added every week over summer. Regional flights out of Christchurch and Auckland have also increased.
“We know it’s not just about bringing overseas visitors to New Zealand but also giving them plenty of options to explore around Aotearoa New Zealand,” Foran pointed out.
During the media briefing, the airline revealed more details about Skynest, where a prototype was available onsite at TRENZ for industry stakeholders to explore.
Located between Premium Economy and Economy, the Skynest is a six-pod configured sleep zone that will offer four-hour sessions for economy passengers to stretch out and lie down. Each passenger will be limited to one session, and each pod will feature a full-size pillow, sheets and blanket, ear plugs, a separate reading light, USB outlet, ventilation outlet, seatbelt, and lighting designed for rest.
The bedding will be changed between each session, and a 30-minute transition time will be allowed for this. The lights will gently come on at the end of each session, and crew will politely wake any passengers who sleep through this.
“We’re still working through the exact details of how the booking process will work, and we have yet to determine the price. At this stage, we are looking at around NZ$400 to NZ$500 for the four-hour period,” shared Air New Zealand’s chief customer and sales officer, Leanne Geraghty.
Geraghty added that the Skynest – designed and to be installed in Aotearoa – will be made available from September 2024 on Air New Zealand’s ultra-longhaul flights, starting with the Auckland-New York and Auckland-Chicago routes.
Air New Zealand will also be investing NZ$30 million in marketing campaigns this financial year in key markets, and continue to rebuild its offshore sales and marketing teams.
Foran added: “Our relationship with Tourism New Zealand is one of our most important marketing partnerships. Teaming up makes every dollar go further to raise destination awareness and it was great to re-sign our MoU last year to promote New Zealand offshore.”