Greater Bay Airlines secures licence to fly

February 22, 2022

Start-up Greater Bay Airlines has been granted a licence to operate 104 scheduled commercial flights to and from Hong Kong International Airport for the next five years by Hong Kong’s Air Transport Licensing Authority.

In an interview with TTG Asia, CEO Algernon Yau it would take at least two months of preparations before service could commence. So far, 180 staff have been recruited and three leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft will arrive this year.

Yau: Greater Bay Airlines is building up its team and fleet

While initial plans were to launch services around Asia, such as Japan and South Korea, Yau said a reassessment was needed given the impact of the pandemic on Hong Kong as well as ongoing quarantine restrictions and pace of reopening of various destinations.

Yau clarified that Greater Bay Airlines is not a low-cost carrier.

Chartered services will be provided eventually, alongside scheduled passenger and cargo services.

For a start, Greater Bay Airlines will build up a network with travel agents but Yau hopes to secure more online sales down the road.

The airline, founded by Shenzhen tycoon Bill Wong Cho-bau, started off with cargo charters last November.

While awaiting regulatory approvals for passenger services, the airline inked an agreement with Amadeus to make its schedules and fares available to travel agencies worldwide via the Amadeus Travel Platform in 1Q2022.

On its website, Greater Bay Airlines sets itself out to be the “best-value airline in the region” and will “support the development of Hong Kong as a world-class aviation hub”.

It plans to serve routes in Mainland China and the broader Asian region, and will have a fleet of seven Boeing 737-800 aircraft in service by 2022 and more than 30 by 2026.

Hong Kong travel agents welcome an additional air service provider for their customers.

Arrow Travel’s managing director, Tommy Tam, said: “There is (room for competition) since Cathay Dragon went bust.”

Tam added that Greater Bay Airlines has been in contact with travel agents to cultivate relations for future cooperation.

Daniel Wan, assistant general manager for outbound tour centre with CTS (H.K.), said the new airline would bring more flight choices for clients but leisure traffic “may not be ready to return when Greater Bay Airlines launches”.

Editor’s note: Content has been updated to take in more information and trade inputs

Langham to bring new property onto Surfers Paradise

By TTG Asia

February 22, 2022

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Langham Hospitality Group will open The Langham, Gold Coast and Jewel Residences, Managed by Langham this year within the Jewel development on prime beachfront in Queensland’s Gold Coast.

The Langham, Gold Coast is the company’s third luxury hotel in Australia. It will feature 169 rooms, including 32 suites with 180-degrees views of the Pacific Ocean.

The Langham, Gold Coast will be Langham Hospitality Group’s third luxury hotel in Australia

Headlining the hotel’s culinary offerings will be T’ang Court, the signature Cantonese restaurant of Langham hotels in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Other dining destinations include 26 & Sunny, a casual grab-and-go café; Akoya for all-day dining; Palm Court, the lobby lounge and bar; a pool bar; and a podium sky terrace with the Coral Moon bar overlooking the ocean.

On the wellness front, Chuan Spa will offer treatments inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophies. Guests can also enjoy a fully-equipped fitness centre, an indoor free form pool, and an outdoor pool.

The hotel will also take in a ballroom and five meeting rooms.

Over at Jewel Residences, Managed by Langham, 170 serviced apartments in one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom configurations will beckon guests who place a premium on bright accommodation with generous living and dining areas as well as well-appointed kitchens. All guests staying at the residences will enjoy full access to hotel facilities.

The Langham, Gold Coast will sit between the ground and 20^th floors while the residences will be on the 22^nd to 49^th floors.

Trafalgar curates women-only tours to meet growing demand

By TTG Asia

February 22, 2022

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RS22839_20110629-110612-scr — Trafalgar's new Women’s Only Tours will be staffed by women and feature inspiring local businesswomen

Trafalgar has developed 14 Women’s Only Tours to cater to an expanding market of financially independent women who favour guided tours.

The Women’s Only Tours feature itineraries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, led by female travel directors and well-being directors with a focus on showcasing inspiring local businesswomen.

Trafalgar’s new Women’s Only Tours will be staffed by women and feature inspiring local businesswomen

The tours have been curated to provide women of all ages a space to connect with like-minded fellow female travellers.

Highlights from the series include learning the ancient art of Umbrian weaving from Marta Cucchia, a fourth-generation weaver and one of the last in Italy to still produce Umbrian textile art using traditional looms and materials; and baking bread with women in the Turkish village of Demircidere and discovering why this farming village is regarded as one of Turkey’s most progressive communities, particularly in regards to gender balance.

According to CEO Gavin Tollman, the company has plans to “grow this series of trips to meet the increasing demand for women-only travel options alongside female solo travel growth”.

Jetstar gets green light for more VTL flights

By TTG Asia

February 22, 2022

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Jetstar Asia has received approval to operate Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) services to Singapore from Phuket, Clark, Manila, and Perth, following the city-state’s recent expansion of quarantine-free travel lanes.

Jetstar Asia’s Phuket to Singapore service will commence operation from March 2 with up to four services a week, followed by the introduction of six-weekly from Clark, and seven-weekly from Manila from March 4.

Jetstar expands services in Asia as border restrictions ease

With the recent announcement that Western Australia will reopen its international borders from March 3, Jetstar Asia will also relaunch services from Singapore to Perth from March 11, with up to four-weekly services.

All returning flights from Phuket, Clark, Manila, and Perth to Singapore will be designated as VTL flights.

Jetstar Asia’s CEO, Bara Pasupathi, said in a press statement: “With the introduction of more VTLs, combined with gradual relaxing of quarantine measures for vaccinated travellers and the transition from PCR tests to the less costly ARTs, consumer confidence is improving, and international trips are once again back on people’s radar.”

Customers who book a Jetstar Asia (3K) flight online before April 30, 2022, for travel before August 31, 2023, will be given one fee-free date change as part of Jetstar’s Fly Flexible policy.

Grand Nikko Bangkok Sathorn to rise in 2025

By TTG Asia

February 22, 2022

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Okura Nikko Hotel Management will open its fifth property in Thailand come 2025, when the construction of Grand Nikko Bangkok Sathorn is completed.

Located in the Sathorn district, the first Grand Nikko-branded hotel in Thailand will offer 405 keys, of which 36 will be designed for longer-staying guests.

Grand Nikko Bangkok Sathorn will be Okura Nikko Hotel Management’s fifth property in Thailand

F&B venues on-site will include an all-day dining facility, a teppanyaki restaurant, a restaurant serving general Japanese cuisine, and a rooftop bar on the 34^th floor with panoramic views across Bangkok.

Recreational facilities include a fitness centre and spa, while business guests and event planners will be able to avail an executive lounge, two banquet halls and six meeting rooms.

Grand Nikko Bangkok Sathorn will be built with sustainability in mind, and can be accessed via a 40-minute drive from Suvarnabhumi International Airport and a five-minute walk from Chong Nonsi Skytrain station.

Philippines sees strong inbound traffic since reopening

By TTG Asia

February 22, 2022

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The Department of Tourism (DoT) has reported 21,974 inbound tourist arrivals through different airports across the country in the first 10 days of reopening.

Data from One Health Pass shows a close split between returning Filipinos (10,074) and foreign tourists (11,900) between February 10 and 19.

Inbound arrivals over the first 10 days of reopening are a somewhat equal mix of returning Filipinos and foreign tourists

Tourism secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat is optimistic that arrival traffic would be even higher in the coming months.

“The recent influx of tourists reflect foreign tourists’ enthusiasm towards visiting our country, which in turn will accelerate the revival of our tourism industry,” she said, adding that the DoT expects the trend to sustain.

Foreign arrivals are led by the US, with 5,516 travellers, followed by Canada (1,366), the UK (918), Australia (891), South Korea (859), Vietnam (572), Japan (459) and Germany (447).

Romulo-Puyat disclosed that Covid-19 vaccine certificates of Egypt, Maldives, Palau, Albania, Estonia, Greece, Malta, and Uruguay shall also be accepted as proofs of vaccination required upon entry to the Philippines. These are in addition to the previously approved 12 countries.

Singapore grants more financial support for SMEs in Covid-hit sectors

By TTG Asia

February 22, 2022

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Singapore’s Budget 2022 will carve out S$500 million (US$372 million) in support for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have been most affected by Covid-19 restrictions over the past year, such as those in F&B, tourism and hospitality sectors.

Known as the Jobs and Business Support Package, assistance will come in the form of one-off cash grants of S$1,000 per local employee, up to a cap of S$10,000 per company.

SMEs in Covid-hit sectors, including tourism and hospitality, will continue to get financial aid this year

Further, the Jobs Growth Incentive will be extended beyond its initial March 2022 expiry for another six months to help individuals who face greater difficulty finding jobs, such as mature workers who have not been employed for six months or more.

The Jobs Growth Incentive was introduced during 2020’s economic disruption to encourage firms to hire locals, by providing salary support to eligible firms and workers.

To help companies deal with rising costs, both the Temporary Bridging Loan Programme and Trade Loan Scheme will be extended to improve access to working capital and support trade financing needs respectively.

Australia’s first post-lockdown travellers arrive in Sydney today

By TTG Asia

February 21, 2022

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Australia’s minister for trade, tourism and investment Dan Tehan and Tourism Australia managing director Phillipa Harrison welcomed the country’s first international tourists this morning after almost two years of closed borders.

Australia’s official reopening to all fully vaccinated travellers came into effect today, with the first arrivals coming through Sydney International Airport.

Emotional reunions aplenty at Sydney International Airport today as Australia’s reopening came into effect

Harrison said in a statement that the tourism industry has been looking forward to the return of international tourists.

“At Tourism Australia we are so excited to be welcoming back international visitors who make up a critical part of our visitor economy,” she said.

According to Travelport, international flight bookings to Australia spiked as soon as the reopening announcement was first made on February 7. International flight bookings to Australia rose by 93 per cent on that day when compared to the same day the week prior.

The majority of bookings – 75 per cent – was for leisure travel. Solo travellers made up 35 per cent of all Australian-bound flight bookings, and are the largest traveller segment. Travelport said these travellers might largely be Australians eager to return home, as they no longer had to endure a mandatory two-week hotel quarantine.

In terms of forward bookings for Australia, February 2022 is the busiest month, attracting 45 per cent of all reservations.

Travelport’s data also identified Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane as the top three Australian destinations for international travellers, while the top source markets are the UK, India, Nepal, the US, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Germany, the Philippines and Canada.

Thai tourism players fear nightlife ban’s long-term effect on destination appeal

By Duncan Forgan

February 21, 2022

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Bangkok’s ongoing clampdown on nightlife during the pandemic may have long-term repercussions on tourism in the country even when the global health emergency has faded, according to Thailand industry insiders.

The Thai capital has long held a reputation for being one of Asia’s liveliest hubs. Pre-pandemic, the city’s nightlife economy was worth about US$5 billion. However, today, the city’s status as the region’s party capital is under threat following two years of restrictions and stop-start reopening.

Pre-pandemic, Bangkok’s nightlife economy was worth about US$5 billion

“The nightlife ban is sending out a message that Thailand is no longer a fun country,” remarked Charintip Kade Tiyaphorn, owner representative of Pimalai Resort & Spa on Koh Lanta in southern Thailand.

Revellers from around the globe were enticed by the city’s incredible array of bars, her pulsating nightclubs, and her reputation for possessing a full spectrum of 24-hour sensory experiences.

In its response to the global health crisis, the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority has placed a lid on much of the fun. Nightlife has only been allowed to operate legally for a few weeks since the start of the pandemic, as authorities attempted to stop the spread of the virus by banning alcohol sales inside licensed premises, effectively closing clubs and bars.

Things have eased slightly since Thailand’s reopening for international travel in early November, with many bars obtaining restaurant licenses under Thailand’s SHA+ or Thai Stop Covid 2 Plus standards to serve alcohol.

Nevertheless, the situation remains opaque and subject to rapid change. With nightclubs still closed, bars forced to keep a low profile and multiple venues permanently shuttered, many wonder whether Bangkok – and, by association, Thailand – will regain her after-dark appeal.

“In general, bans don’t encourage a positive perception of a destination,” said Krystal Prakaikaew Na-Ranong, CEO, The Slate in Phuket.

“For certain types of tourists, the continued ban will certainly impact their decision on whether to come to Thailand or not,” she added.

Contiki rolls out Social Travel trips to bring travellers closer, faster

By Rachel AJ Lee

February 21, 2022

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Contiki, a tour company aimed at 18- to 35-year-olds, has rolled out Social Travel trips to enable travellers to forge stronger bonds together over shared travel preferences.

According to Celest Quek, director of marketing & communications, The Travel Corporation, Social Travel by Contiki itineraries would appeal especially to new solo travellers, as “itineraries are designed to create group dynamics fast so travellers do not feel alone for very long”.

Social Travel by Contiki is expected to appeal especially to new solo travellers

“They are grouped with like-minded travellers who are also looking to make new friends and memories,” said Quek.

However, she stressed that Social Travel also welcomes “couples, and friends travelling together”, as the itineraries are “designed for those who prefer heightened enjoyment over dealing with the trivial stresses that can occur when traveling in a conventional way”.

To identify their travel styles, customers can approach an accredited travel agent for a full explanation of available itineraries or use Contiki’s online trip finder quiz to match them to their dream trip.

When asked how the young generation in Asia-Pacific has responded to Social Travel by Contiki, given that Asians are generally more reserved by nature, Quek stated that it has been “very positive”.

“The global pandemic has not just restricted young people’s ability to travel, but it has also closed them off to the kind of social connections that are essential for personal growth. There is a bottled-up desire for authentic human connections all over the world, even for reserved individuals,” Quek opined.

Quek remains confident in the future of travel, especially for the gen-Z and millennial segments.

She said: “More countries in the region are gradually opening up, with the likes of Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam reviving the tourism sector either with a full reopening to fully-vaccinated travellers or via bilateral engagements with other countries.

“With this rosy travel outlook, we expect to see more Asia-Pacific travellers revelling in new experiences, and making friends and good memories along the way.”

Greater Bay Airlines secures licence to fly

Langham to bring new property onto Surfers Paradise

Trafalgar curates women-only tours to meet growing demand

Jetstar gets green light for more VTL flights

Grand Nikko Bangkok Sathorn to rise in 2025

Philippines sees strong inbound traffic since reopening

Singapore grants more financial support for SMEs in Covid-hit sectors

Australia’s first post-lockdown travellers arrive in Sydney today

Thai tourism players fear nightlife ban’s long-term effect on destination appeal

Contiki rolls out Social Travel trips to bring travellers closer, faster

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