Cunard has appointed Katie McAlister as its president effective from August.
She will bring to Cunard her commercial and operational experience as well as digital transformation expertise and strategic oversight.
She currently serves as TUI as chief marketing officer, UK & Ireland, where she has worked for 20 years.
Teody Espallardo recently joined Sunlight Hotels and Resorts as director of sales of its three properties in Palawan: Sunlight Ecotourism Island in Culion and Sunlight Hotel in Coron and in Puerto Princesa.
Prior to that, he was director of sales and marketing of Altabriza Resort Boracay for nearly six years.
Technology is proving to be a key factor in offering sustainable travel options in response to growing customer demand.
At the Arabian Travel Market this week, Booking.com’s vice president and managing director, EMEA, Carlo Olejniczak, said a survey released on May 1 that quizzed 34,000 travellers found that 76 per cent want to travel more sustainably in the next 12 months.
“We need to help them find more sustainable travel,” said Olejniczak, adding that their booking partners want to embrace sustainability, and while some are fully certified, others are not and do not know where to start.
Due to this growth in demand, many travel platforms have upgraded their online search facilities to add elements like the carbon impact of a trip – last year, Travelport started including carbon emission data in its API, which shows up in search results.
“Giving them the options to be able to select the right itinerary is challenging,” noted Tom Kershaw, chief product and technology officer at Travelport. “76 per cent of consumers say they want more sustainable flights and then book the cheapest and shortest flight. How can we turn that desire into an action?”
Andrea Prazakova, senior vice president of Mastercard EMEA, said the credit card issuer recently utilised technology to give customers the option to see what the carbon footprint of their trip is upon payment. This includes flights, accommodation and restaurants.
They then have the option to offset their carbon footprint with Mastercard partners across the world. She added that sustainability goes beyond the environment and includes social elements, and that such information needs to be supplied to travellers to aid their decision.
“Perhaps a consumer wants to stay in a hotel that is run by women – we need to inform them of these elements as well in their search,” she explained, adding that all this can be “achieved through strong collaboration”.
With India looking to become a one trillion-dollar tourism economy by 2047, the Ministry of Tourism is looking to draw domestic as well as foreign investment in the sector to help meet the ambitious target.
With this objective in mind, the Ministry of Tourism is organising the maiden edition of the Global Tourism Investors’ Summit (GTIS) in New Delhi later this year in partnership with investment promotion agency Invest India and Confederation of Indian Industry.
The event is expected to attract investments in different segments including hotels, theme parks, amusement parks, skiing destination infrastructure and skill development.
India’s tourism minister, G Kishan Reddy, said: “GTIS will help to position India as an ideal investment destination for tourism and hospitality projects. The participating Indian states will be able to showcase their investment-friendly projects to potential investors at the event.”
Reddy made the remarks while speaking at a recent roadshow in New Delhi organised as a precursor to GTIS. A senior official from the ministry present at the roadshow did not divulge details of expected investors at GTIS when asked by TTG Asia.
As per the estimates of the Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality, India will require an additional supply of five million rooms by 2047. This will require an investment of about US$300 billion.
However, for this ambition to come true, industry stakeholders say there is a need to make policy changes, such as introducing single-window clearance for projects and simplifying licensing regime to create a conducive environment for investment.
“Single-window clearance for hotel projects will improve operational ease. The number of licenses required to run a five-star hotel is somewhere between 35 and 45 in one year, which is a major challenge. Such bottlenecks have to be addressed to attract investment in the sector,” opined Kush Kapoor, CEO, Roseate Hotels & Resorts.
India also needs a cruise tourism policy, remarked Ratna Chadha, co-founder and chairperson, TIRUN Travel Marketing – the India representative of Royal Caribbean Cruises.
“At present, we have different policies in different states where a vessel is going through. A standardised policy across the states will help to attract investors,” she added.
India currently allows 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in tourism construction projects, including the development of hotels, resorts and recreational facilities. According to Ministry of Tourism statistics, in the last eight years from 2014 to 2022, India has received FDI inflows worth US$9.2 billion in the hotel and tourism sector.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) will return to sailing in Asia after more than three years when the revitalised Norwegian Jewel makes her grand return to Tokyo on October 19, and Singapore on November 11.
Its extensive six-month Asia season will offer 16 immersive, port-rich itineraries visiting 11 countries and sailing from nine different departure ports, including Tokyo and Yokohama in Japan; Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan; Bangkok (Laem Chabang), Thailand; Bali (Benoa), Indonesia and Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang), Malaysia.
With cruises ranging in length from 10 to 14 days, the season will also feature NCL’s first departures from the Philippines’ Manila, and South Korea’s Seoul (Incheon), as well as six new ports-of-call such as Manila, Boracay, Palawan and Salomague in the Philippines; Bintan Island, Indonesia; and Hualien, Taiwan.
With three 11-day Asia cruises, the first departs December 11 and will sail through Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia; while another itinerary departs January 5 and cruises from Singapore to Thailand’s Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui via Langkawi and Penang in Malaysia.
The third cruise will set sail on February 29, 2024 and will visit Taiwan and Japan destinations, with an overnight stay in Kyoto (Osaka).
Ben Angell, NCL vice president and managing director, APAC, said: “We know our guests can’t wait to explore closer to home and as a smaller ship, Norwegian Jewel is the perfect size to explore Asia’s lesser-known ports, while offering all the features we know local cruisers love, from show-stopping musical acts and entertainment to a myriad of dining options that would delight any palette.”
The faces of K-pop girl group Blackpink now adorn the body of a Korean Air Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, as the airline makes a special move to support of South Korea’s successful bid to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan.
The aircraft with the unique livery will begin its journey on May 4 departing from Seoul Incheon for Paris Charles de Gaulle and make stops in multiple destinations on the airline’s global network.
The Interlude, Australia
The Interlude in Melbourne is a 19-room urban retreat offering guests unique experiences during their stay, such as exploring the evolution of Victoria’s wine region over time, tea blending, learning how to roll truffles, and more.
It features a restaurant, wine bar, underground relaxation pool and a reflection garden.
OMO Kansai Airport by Hoshino Resorts, Japan
OMO Kansai Airport by Hoshino Resorts is conveniently located near Osaka’s Kansai Airport – the hotel’s second floor is directly connected to the train station, and just one stop from the airport.
On site, there is a restaurant on the 21st floor that offers a gourmet buffet, and serves okonomiyaki (Japanese savoury pancakes), a local specialty from the Kansai region. There is also a sento-style bath area for hotel guests with heated baths and dry sauna.
For guests wishing to explore the surrounding area, the hotel provides neighbourhood maps.
Adina Apartment Hotel Pentridge Melbourne, Australia
The new Adina Apartment Hotel Pentridge Melbourne was transformed from the 170-year-old historic Pentridge Prison site, and is located just 20 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD and airport.
The 106-key property offers apartment-style accommodation including studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The hotel offers F&B options and event spaces, and has implemented green features such as built-in solar panels, rainwater tank recycling system, EV charging stations in the basement, and more.
Travelodge Sapporo Susukino, Japan
Travelodge Sapporo Susukino in Sapporo City, Hokkaido offers guests 212 guestrooms and is nearby local restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment stores.
Daily breakfast is provided at the social area which later transforms into a coworking or networking space for the rest of the day. Facilities include a self-service laundromat, Wi-Fi, and 24/7 guest services.
The hotel is within walking distance to Susukino Station and Sapporo Station, which provides easy access to all parts of Hokkaido.
Luxury Lodges of Australia has added True North II, a freshly refurbished luxury expedition ship, to its collection.
The 10-cabin adventure yacht features capacity for 20 guests and offers five dedicated adventure boats and a ship’s helicopter, with access to pristine, remote wilderness along the Australian coast, onboard dining and a host of activities for guests.
2023 departure dates for True North II are ongoing from now till Dec 25.
For more information, visit True North.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry has named Melissa Ow as the new chief executive of Singapore Tourism Board (STB) effective from June 1. She will take over the role from Keith Tan.
Currently the executive vice president for customer experience, marketing & investment facilitation group at the Economic Development Board (EDB), Ow played a key role in transforming the organisation’s B2B sales and marketing model.
Ow has held several positions in STB, with the last being deputy chief executive. She also headed the Experience Development Group and the Corporate Group as well as oversaw STB’s corporate functions such as legal, procurement and corporate administration, finance, and human resources.
Silversea Cruises will enter travel advisors into a weekly lucky draw when they make a new confirmed booking on any expedition cruise during the months of May and June, as part of a new incentive for its Travel Partner Appreciation Month.
One winner will be selected for each week in May and June, with a gift card up for grabs.
Massimo Brancaleoni, Silversea’s senior vice president of global sales, said: “Travel Partner Appreciation Month is a special time for us to show our appreciation and reward our travel advisor partners for their loyalty and efforts.
“Although it kicks off in May, our incentives continue through June, marking our continuous appreciation for our travel partners and the important role they have played in our success for nearly three decades. This appreciation campaign focuses on our expedition cruises, which provide clients with uniquely immersive travel experiences that can lead to repeat business and, due to the higher per diem fares of our expedition voyages, enable travel advisors to earn more in commission.”
Concurrent with Travel Partner Appreciation Month, Silversea is offering exceptional value to travel advisors’ clients with its limited-time Suite Upgrades promotion for new bookings made by May 31, 2023. Available with door-to-door all-Inclusive fares on select voyages departing before May 31, 2024, the offer provides up to a two-category suite upgrade on select voyages, for selected suite categories, as well as a US$1,000 (or US$500 per person, limited to two guests per suite) shipboard credit per suite.
Furthermore, travel advisors have more opportunities to earn when they book Silversea cruises now. An extra one per cent commission is given out with all expedition cruise bookings and bookings from new-to-brand guests and those who book for a second time with Silversea through the same agency.