Cebu Pacific debuts self-bag drop option for domestic travellers

October 31, 2022

Cebu Pacific has launched self-bag drop counters in its domestic operations, becoming the first local carrier to use the new technology in Clark International Airport.

Noel Manankil, CEO of the Luzon International Premiere Airport Development Corp., the consortium that operates and manages Clark International Airport, said in a press statement that the self-bag drop facility is one of the key features of the airport’s new terminal.

Cebu Pacific is the first local carrier to offer a contactless bag drop service at Clark International Airport

“We are happy that Cebu Pacific has now fully integrated the use of this contactless feature, bringing to fruition our promise of a seamless and hassle-free passenger journey here at (Clark International Airport),” said Manankil.

Cebu Pacific currently flies six times weekly between Clark and Cebu, and has intentions to ramp up the service to once daily by December 2022.

Lei Apostol, vice president for customer service operations at Cebu Pacific, said the enhancement reflects the airline’s readiness to cater to the anticipated influx of passengers from Clark.

“We believe this state-of-the-art contactless solution will make our services move faster and more efficiently in Clark,” said Apostol.

Accor, Avis extend partnership across Australia and New Zealand

By TTG Asia

October 31, 2022

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An extended partnership between Accor and Avis will gift members of ALL – Accor Live Limitless loyalty programme reward points when they book Avis car rentals in Australia and New Zealand.

ALL members will earn points from their Avis car rentals in Australia and New Zealand

ALL members will now earn 125 reward points per rental day on rentals of up to six days, or 150 reward points per rental per day for rentals lasting more than seven days.

Wyndham upgrades loyalty rewards for the holiday season

By TTG Asia

October 31, 2022

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Wyndham Hotels and Resorts’ Wyndham Rewards programme is offering 20 per cent off hotel rates for stays between October 25, 2022 and February 28, 2023.

The discount applies to stays for two consecutive nights or more at participating hotels in Asia-Pacific.

Unravel the Gift of Holiday Fun offer also dishes out complimentary daily breakfast for two at any participating Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in China or a free room upgrade to the next tier at participating hotels in all other countries across Asia-Pacific.

In addition, members that book directly will earn additional 3,000 Wyndham Rewards bonus points.

Trip.com teams up with Queensland

By TTG Asia

October 28, 2022

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Trip.com Group, together with Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ), has launched a promotional campaign targeting travellers from six major markets to experience A Beautiful Way to Be in Queensland.

Aimed at travellers in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, the campaign will focus on two key tourist segments – couple getaways and family vacations.

*A Beautiful Way to Be will focus on promoting couple getaways and family vacations in Queensland*

A Beautiful Way to Be went live on October 25 and will run for a month. It is
TEQ’s first global campaign to launch in six international markets simultaneously.

Trip.com will host dedicated localised pages sharing all the wonders of Queensland, as well as hotel discount coupons for consumers when booking Queensland hotels on its platform.

According to Tourism Research Australia, Queensland welcomed 194,000 tourists around the 3Q2022, still below pre-pandemic levels but up by 542 per cent compared to the same time in 2021 following the loosening of exit and entry policies.

Trip.com’s data showed that searches for Queensland as a destination rose nearly 350 per cent from January to August 2022 compared to the same period last year, with the upward trend continuing.

Edison Chen, general manager, destination marketing, Trip.com Group, commented that this campaign “marks a great step forward for Trip.com Group’s growth in the region”.

Ant Group, STB deepen partnership to drive tourists to Singapore

By TTG Asia

October 28, 2022

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Ant Group has expanded its partnership with Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to make cross-border travel to Singapore more seamless and convenient with the SingapoReimagine with Alipay+ campaign.

Having collaborated since 2019, both parties will drive tourism growth in Singapore through a series of digital and marketing initiatives over the next two years in key markets like Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand.

The partnership aims to make cross-border travel to Singapore more seamless and convenient

To help Singapore businesses reach and engage a new pool of customers while increasing the visibility and awareness of Singapore’s tourism offerings, the joint campaign will also highlight exclusive offers to users of the six Alipay+ partner mobile wallets when they travel to Singapore.

The new mobile wallets accepted in Singapore are GCash from the Philippines, TrueMoney from Thailand, and AlipayHK from Hong Kong, adding to existing partners Kakao Pay from South Korea, Touch ’n Go eWallet from Malaysia and Alipay from Mainland China.

Travellers with these mobile wallets can easily and securely transact with local businesses across tourism and lifestyle industries that accept Alipay+.

In addition, Ant Group will progressively expand the Passion Made Possible Privileges, a mini programme co-branded with STB to serve tourists in Singapore – previously available only on Alipay – to other Alipay+ mobile wallets.

STB and Alipay+ will also pilot digital solutions with local businesses in areas such as digitalisation of service operations, digital marketing efficiency and enhancing customer experience.

STB chief executive Keith Tan said: “Singapore has seen strong travel demand from Asia since our reopening and we hope our joint initiatives can grow and sustain that demand.

“The next phase of our exciting partnership with Ant Group will also offer a seamless experience when travellers visit Singapore, build affinity for our destination, and drive the digitalisation of our tourism sector.”

AIRA holds inaugural B2B fair; promotes itself on the world stage

By Dhini Oktavianti

October 28, 2022

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The Association of Indonesian Recreational Parks & Attractions (AIRA or PUTRI in Bahasa Indonesia) recently held its own PUTRI Travel Fair for the first time in Jakarta, with the aim of making it an annual affair.

Hans Manansang, chairman of AIRA and managing director of Jakarta Aquarium and Safari, said at the fair’s opening: “The goal of this event is to promote the existence of AIRA, as well as to boost sales among the (members), who have been (affected the most by the pandemic).”

The PUTRI Travel Fair aims to promote the existence of AIRA and boost sales among the members

Also present at the fair were non-member sellers representing the Greater Jakarta, West Java, Yogyakarta, East Java and Bali areas.

Aside from B2B selling, Heni Smith, secretary general of AIRA added that the fair was also a promotional event which offered direct sales to the general public, as well as schools and travel companies in the greater Jakarta area.

AIRA is a non-profit organisation founded in 1973, with members ranging from recreational parks and tourist villages to conservation areas and natural attractions.

It counts East Java Park, Safari Park, Ancol Dreamland, Jakarta Aquarium & Safari, Yogyakarta Palace Museum, Merapi Park, Saung Angklung Udjo, Mini Indonesia Park, Bunaken Marine Park, Bogor Botanical Gardens, Lombok Wildlife Park, Lombok Tree House, Marina and Sei Timiang Agrotourism, and Galang Island Historical Tourism Area, among its members.

Apart from hosting its own travel fair in Jakarta, AIRA recently participated at ITB Asia in Singapore to promote itself on the international market by introducing its members and products available in Indonesia.

Emirates serves up vegan dining options

By TTG Asia

October 28, 2022

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In line with the upcoming World Vegan Day on November 1, Emirates has introduced a curated vegan menu into First and Business Class, as well as refreshed the selection of plant-based produce for Economy Class menus.

The vegan menu in First and Business Class was developed after a year of multiple presentations and tastings at the Emirates Flight Catering based at Dubai International Airport. The tasting panels included both vegan and non-vegan chefs and team members to ensure an inclusive approach.

Emirates’ new vegan options are available to order and pre-order onboard, as well as in Emirates Lounges

In Economy Class, current passenger favourites include a spinach and avocado mousseline, with marinated tofu, blanched snow peas, radish, asparagus, pomegranate seeds, courgette ribbon and sriracha oil; and arley risotto with mushrooms, served with sundried tomatoes, buttered chestnuts, blanched broccolini and toasted pumpkin seeds.

Menus across all classes are refreshed monthly, where the airline currently offers more than 180 plant-based recipes catering to vegan customers. The vegan dishes are complemented by gluten-free Vitality juices, a bespoke range of juice blends, created by UAE brand Barakat.

Meanwhile, ingredients for the new vegan dishes are sustainably sourced from UAE-based suppliers, such as Bustanica, the world’s largest hydroponic vertical farm.

Although Emirates has been serving vegan options onboard since the 1990s, vegan dishes are now rapidly gaining popularity on routes from the US, Australia, Europe and the UK.

These new vegan options are available to order and pre-order onboard, as well as in Emirates Lounges.

Accor, Panthers Group ink deal for Pullman Sydney Penrith

By TTG Asia

October 28, 2022

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Accor and Panthers Group have partnered to launch a new five-star Pullman hotel at the Penrith Panthers precinct in Western Sydney, slated to open in 4Q2023.

The 153-room Pullman Sydney Penrith hotel forms part of Panthers Group’s landmark transformation of the Penrith Panthers precinct to create a new state-of-the-art business and entertainment destination, and follows Accor’s seven-year deal for the naming rights of Accor Stadium at Sydney’s Olympic Park.

Pullman Sydney Penrith is slated to open in 4Q2023

The hotel will service the adjoining new 1,250m² Western Sydney Conference Centre (WSCC), which remains on track to open in 4Q2023, and will include a café as well as a restaurant and bar.

Panthers Group CEO, Brian Fletcher, said: “Pullman Sydney Penrith will be a welcome addition to Western Sydney’s tourism offering and builds upon the existing and upcoming new amenities within the Panthers precinct and the wider Penrith locale.

“This development will enhance Penrith’s reputation as a world-class event and tourism destination.”

Meanwhile, the upcoming Western Sydney International Airport – set to open in 2026 – is just a 30-minute drive away.

Go on a geological adventure with Ocean Park

By TTG Asia

October 28, 2022

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Ocean Park is adding a new programme, Little Geologist, to its marine tourism series Island South Discovery which will bring guests on a boat ride to explore Hong Kong’s southern coastal geology and discover its ecological and cultural diversity.

There are two adventures to choose from. The Little Geologist – Surf in History Tour, priced at HK$688 (US$87), is for those aged nine and above, and combines a jet boating experience with an educational sightseeing opportunity where participants will learn about Hong Kong’s military and nautical history as they go past landmark attractions including Murray House in Stanley and the Wordless Monument in Tai Tam Bay.

The Little Geologist – Surf in History Tour lets participants learn about Hong Kong’s military and nautical history

Meanwhile, the Little Geologist – Life on Coast Tour, priced at HK$190, is suitable for adults and younger kids (three and up), where they relax on a traditional fishing boat and learn about Hong Kong’s fishing heritage and culture, and explore the different rock formations like the Godzilla Rock in Tau Chai, and the sea caves around Middle Island.

The programmes are narrated in Cantonese and run from October 29, 2022 to January 2, 2023 at scheduled timings. Participants below 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information, visit Ocean Park.

Satish Kumar helms St Regis Goa Resort

By TTG Asia

October 28, 2022

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The St Regis Goa Resort has appointed Satish Kumar as general manager.

Kumar was previously general manager at The Leela Goa and Conrad Pune.

He has over two decades of experience in luxury hospitality, having led hotel operations with The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, The Taj Group of Hotels, and overseas properties like The Marriott Marquis Doha, The Westin & Le Méridien City Centre Bahrain, and JW Marriott Jakarta.

Cebu Pacific debuts self-bag drop option for domestic travellers

Accor, Avis extend partnership across Australia and New Zealand

Wyndham upgrades loyalty rewards for the holiday season

Trip.com teams up with Queensland

Ant Group, STB deepen partnership to drive tourists to Singapore

AIRA holds inaugural B2B fair; promotes itself on the world stage

Emirates serves up vegan dining options

Accor, Panthers Group ink deal for Pullman Sydney Penrith

Go on a geological adventure with Ocean Park

Satish Kumar helms St Regis Goa Resort

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