Sabre Corporation has promoted experienced travel industry leader Nicole Regel to oversee the Sabre Travel Solutions agency business across Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific.
Regel, whose career in the travel business spans more than 25 years, has been promoted to Senior Director in a significantly expanded role as she takes on the leadership of the Australia and New Zealand team while also retaining her role overseeing Sabre’s ongoing partnership with the Flight Centre Travel Group. Her focus will remain on leveraging Sabre’s best-in-class technologies and unrivalled access to global markets to grow its travel business in the region.
She has experience across the wholesale, airline, TMC, and technology sectors and has held leadership roles within operations, sales, and account management. The move builds on three years as director, global accounts, at Sabre for Regeel, as well as high-level roles within other travel and airline businesses including CT Connections, Virgin Australia, and Creative Holidays.
As senior director, Regel will continue to be based in Sydney, reporting into Sabre’s regional headquarters in Singapore.
The Malaysian government is deliberating lifting border control and allowing fully vaccinated Malaysians to travel abroad as well as tourists and business travellers to enter the country, amid expectations that interstate travel in the country will resume by mid-October.
The announcement was made by the National Recovery Council chairman, Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday (September 27), however, he did not specify a date as to when border measures will be eased.
Malaysia targets October for interstate travel resumption; local tourists at Langkawi’s Jetty Point pictured
He also said that interstate travel will be allowed when the country achieves 90 per cent adult vaccination coverage, and this could be realised in early October or at the latest, by mid-October.
As of Tuesday, Malaysia has fully inoculated 85.1 per cent of its adult population.
Commenting on the federal government’s plan to resume interstate travel from next month, Uzaidi Udanis, president of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, stressed that a consensus must be reached between both federal and state governments.
He cited the recent case of the federal government announcing that fully vaccinated domestic travellers will be allowed to visit Melaka from October 1, only for the state government to come out later to say that interstate tourists will not be accepted until the 90 per cent vaccination target is reached.
“There are costs involved when preparing for a reopening after a very long closure,” said Uzaidi. “A lesson that can be learnt from Melaka is that communications between federal and state governments must be improved upon and there must be ample notice given to tourism stakeholders to prepare to receive visitors. (Reopening plans) will backfire if the destination is not ready to receive visitors.”
Meanwhile, Penang Port CEO, Sasedharan Vasudevan, said the port authority has submitted the standard operating procedures for Covid-19 management to the government and once approval is given, cruise operators can begin their cruise-to-nowhere operations out of Penang.
Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan offers a Travel Concierge that helps guests cope with travel paperwork
Chroma Hospitality
Chroma Hospitality has undertaken several initiatives for three of its existing hotels and resorts, with two more brands – Grafik and Quest Residences – to grace the city of Baguio.
With Philippine destinations subject to frequent lockdown changes, the Travel Concierge at Crimson Resort and Spa in Boracay and Mactan, Cebu lessens guests’ confusion by keeping them updated with the latest travel regulations and helping them complete required documents.
The two resorts have also partnered with AirTaxi.ph to fly guests directly to the resorts and back, avoiding airport queues and crowds. “Demand is picking up as private point-to-point travel is becoming the new norm,” said country head James M Montenegro, adding that guests were also choosing to keep together in bubbles while in the hotels.
Over at Quest Plus Hotel and Conference Center Clark, the next goal is to partner with other countries to create event bubbles after successfully hosting a sports bubble in Clark New City for the Philippine Basketball Association, International Basketball Federation, and the Israeli swimming team. A volleyball bubble is now in the works.
Montenegro explained that such event bubbles are a growing market, and the company is now “fast-tracking vaccination of all our colleagues” to ensure that properties can continue to support and welcome future event bubbles. As of press time, Chroma’s Mimosa Plus Estate and Quest Clark team are 90 per cent vaccinated.
“We also want to create a bubble to attract South Korean golfers as our caddies are all vaccinated. This will hopefully jumpstart international tourism for the Philippines,” he enthused.
In terms of portfolio expansion, Chroma recently signed a partnership with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, the developer of New Clark City, to build a Grafik Hotel and Quest Residences in a 5,700m2 site in Camp John Hay in Baguio.
Geared towards millennials and young-at-heart travellers, Grafik Hotel will offer some 180 rooms, two restaurants, a grab-and-go deli, a ballroom and a wellness centre. The first Quest Residences will sit in an independent tower but connected to Grafik Hotel via a sky bridge, allowing residents to enjoy hotel facilities. – Rosa Ocampo
Club Med takes its wellness programmes to Singapore in partnership with Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay
Club Med
Although Club Med has no resorts in Singapore, it has been able to maintain engagement with target customers in the city-state during the pandemic through its Body & Soul programme.
The Body & Soul programme has its roots at Club Med Bintan, Indonesia, where it has for the past decade welcomed guests from all around the world in need of a holistic wellness escape.
This year, the programme arrived in Singapore, via a partnership with Pan Pacific Hotels Group, providing travel-starved residents with a unique wellness retreat right in the heart of the city.
Rachael Harding, CEO, East and South Asia & Pacific with Club Med, said the programme was a hit, drawing mostly individuals and couples who were interested in fitness and wellness programmes, and “wanting to have a different staycation experience in Singapore”.
The programme marries the best of Club Med’s extensive schedule of fitness classes and wellness workshops with Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay’s lifestyle offerings such as farm-to-table experiences, garden-in-a-hotel surroundings, and more. From yoga and barre, to urban farm tours and mixology sessions, the programme elevated the typical hotel staycation programme.
The company is continuing to innovate its product offering, with the creation of Worktainment, a new approach to corporate teambuilding, as well as Work Hub, which invites guest to work from some of the most beautiful vacation spots in well-equipped spaces.
For the rest of the year, Club Med is preparing for the tourism rebound. It has maintained guest engagement through curated content. For example, Thrive Again by Club Med comprises digital content that highlights never-before-seen local destination insights for keen learners, exclusive travel tips as well as special features of go-getters within the organisation and inspiring personalities.
Harding shared: “We aim to instil a new spirit of optimism in our guests, partners and local communities, helping to renew and ignite their journeys to getting back to their best selves.”
Moving forward, Club Med will continue to expand its portfolio. It launched Club Med Seychelles this March, and will add two new resorts in China later this year. Come 2024, Club Med Borneo Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia will open with 400 rooms as well as Asia-Pacific’s first Club Med tennis academy. – S Puvaneswary
Dusit International opens dusitD2 Naseem Resort, Jabal Akhdar in Oman
Dusit International
Dusit International has adopted a technological transformation strategy throughout the pandemic, with the aim of identifying new business opportunities to meet the shifting needs of the market and pursue sustainable post pandemic growth.
The Thai hotel chain has completed the first stage of this project, which includes investments in the latest cloud-based ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), and data management software. The move enables group-wide efficiency across five business units – Hotels and Resorts, Hospitality Education, Food, Property Development, and Hospitality-Related Services.
The investment also seeks to leverage big data to create exceptional consumer experiences and identify new business opportunities in line with Dusit’s three-pronged strategy for balance, expansion, and diversification.
While the technological transformation was set in motion in 2019, it is now being expedited to increase business resilience in response to the pandemic. The project is far-reaching, involving Dusit International’s 24 different entities across 17 countries.
Group CEO Suphajee Suthumpun said these investments in such uncertain times might go against the grain, but the key to post-pandemic tourism recovery would require the company to precisely read customer needs – something data and intelligence could enable.
At the same time, Dusit International has continued to grow its footprint. It entered Oman with the dusitD2 Naseem Resort, Jabal Akhdar, and opened the third property in Thailand’s Hua Hin with dusitD2 Hua Hin.
“The pandemic will be felt for some time. However, we believe that travel will come back stronger than ever when the Covid-19 situation improves,” remarked Suphajee, adding that the moves taken now will allow the company to drive short- and long-term business, extend market reach, and cement its competitive advantage globally. – Suchat Sritama
Far East Hospitality is carving out distinct hotel stays through creative guest experiences; The Clan Hotel Singapore pictured
Far East Hospitality
One mission stood out for the leadership at Far East Hospitality (FEH) when the pandemic set in – the tourism downtime finally presented an opportunity for the Singapore-headquartered hotel company to slow down and focus on a long desired transformation.
Arthur Kiong, CEO of FEH, told TTG Asia: “Transformation has been brewing in my mind for a long time…but we could not (do it) because we were so busy running at marvellous occupancies and delivering very high GOPs. We were trapped in a problem of success.”
As governments around the world established travel restrictions and closed their borders, Kiong set to work a transformation task force with the mission to reinvent the local mid-tier hotel operator into a world-class manager of lifestyle brands.
He believes that as successful as FEH has been, it cannot grow any further as a local mid-tier hotel operator. “We have to reinvent ourselves to do something else and grow,” he said.
The transformation entailed six major tasks: experience creation, where different guest experiences were programmed for each brand; geographical expansion, which saw the launch of new hotels in Japan (Far East Village Hotel Ariake, July 2020; Far East Village Hotel Yokohama, June 2021) and Australia (Quincy Hotel Melbourne, March 2021); new business creation, where FEH entered the luxury hotel segment with The Barracks Hotel Sentosa and The Clan Hotel Singapore as well as launched its own spa business with Oasia Resort Sentosa; product refurbishments; job redesign to allow the company to create jobs that will attract Singaporeans; and lastly, sustainability and productivity realignment to approach processes in a more holistic way.
Kiong is particularly proud of FEH’s success so far in experience creation through hotel stays. In a post-lockdown world, he believes that unique destination experiences are needed to compel consumers to overcome cumbersome travel procedures, and that hotels with holistic offerings can contribute to the destination’s quality tourism promise – one that will attract high yielding travellers that locals will be proud to serve.
Citing The Clan Hotel Singapore as an example, Kiong said the luxury hotel in the heart of Singapore’s business district has been programmed to tell “the quintessential Singapore success story that is not borrowed from our colonial past”.
The hotel weaves stories of Singapore’s resilient migrant forefathers into its architecture and design, service, dining experiences and curated precinct tours. It also highlights homegrown businesses and artisans across various guests touchpoints.
By offering a unique guest experience that is matched by exquisite service and theatre, Kiong believes that his hotels are in a stronger position to command better rates and avoid a volume strategy. He was able to test the concept with Singapore’s domestic staycation market – recognised as a very demanding segment – throughout the travel lockdown. The outcome: The Barracks Hotel Sentosa has been ranked the top hotel on Sentosa Island on TripAdvisor while The Clan Hotel Singapore is the top hotel in Singapore City. – Karen Yue
Minor Hotels
Travel challenges notwithstanding, Thailand’s Minor Hotels has chosen to grow its brands and presence in markets around the world with an asset light model.
Dillip Rajakarier, the company’s CEO, told TTG Asia that there was no better time than now for hotel developers and investors to expand their portfolio.
In January 2021, Minor Hotels signed an MoU with China’s Funyard Hotels & Resorts to form a hotel management joint venture that will lead the entry of more Minor brands into China. This came into force in June.
“We are already reviewing a number of potential opportunities as a result of the joint venture, and we are confident that this agreement will greatly expand our presence in China over the coming years,” Dillip added.
Minor Hotel’s sights are not on China alone. It has earned a number of new hotel signings across its brands for the Middle East. It will launch Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort in 4Q2021. These openings will join additions in Europe, the Maldives and other parts of Asia. – Suchat Sritama
Ovolo Hotel’s Quarantine Concierge made compulsory isolation more comfortable and dignified
Ovolo Hotels
Hotel isolation is no bed of roses, and when it comes to helping guests beat cabin fever in quarantine, Ovolo Hotels goes above and beyond the call of duty.
The Quarantine Concierge package was launched to inject an element of fun into compulsory isolation for visitors and residents returning to Hong Kong, while supporting both their physical as well as mental well-being.
Available at Ovolo Southside and Ovolo Central, Quarantine Concierge was rolled out in August 2020 just as quarantine rules were enforced in Hong Kong.
“Immediately, we noticed there was a huge stigma against hotels accepting quarantine guests; it was labelled as ‘taboo’. Ovolo, being a Hong Kong company, wanted to do our fellow returning Hong Kongers right by giving them a way to quarantine with dignity and also receive the usual great service they deserve,” said acting COO – Hong Kong & Indonesia, Marc Hediger.
The service considered what people would want if they were stuck in a room for a long period of time. With that thought, Ovolo packed complimentary meals, unlimited premium Wi-Fi, free local calls, fitness gear, a mindfulness kit, and more into the Quarantine Concierge package. Guests get to unwind with complimentary in-room tipples and treats throughout their stay during Happy Hour. Ovolo also tied up with Foodpanda to pick up essentials or grocery items for guests, with exclusive discounts on restaurants, groceries and shops.
A year on, more than 3,500 guests have benefited from the Quarantine Concierge service, with over 20,000 room nights completed, according to Hediger. Of these, 15 guests were from ethnic minorities who had stayed at either of the group’s two Hong Kong properties for HK$1 (US$0.13) per night under Ovolo’s Homecoming Project.
Customer feedback has provided valuable insights to improve the quarantine experience. Earlier this year, Ovolo begun hosted a weekly Zoom call dubbed Social Sessions wherein guests can interact with their neighbours.
“It’s hosted during their Happy Hour as a way for our guests to connect and share a drink virtually with each other – and us – and kill some time,” said Hediger.
On their final day of quarantine, guests are treated to a Last Supper, comprising an indulgent menu item paired with a drink of their choice.
In partnership with Mindful Studios, complimentary weekly Zoom yoga sessions are conducted, while Oxford University Press provides a variety of children’s books for young ones in quarantine.
As Hong Kong authorities extended the quarantine period from seven to 14, and then 21 days in December 2020, making it the world’s longest hotel quarantine, Ovolo swiftly moved to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6, becoming the first hotel in Hong Kong to do so.
As well, Ovolo upgraded all meal options, providing guests with more choices that support a range of diets.
“In particular, a major feedback from guests was that they were craving local food, so we worked with a neighbouring local restaurant to give our guests an extra option,” shared Hediger.
Another major upgrade to the package is introducing partnerships to Social Sessions, where the hotel group invites various partners to co-host the Zoom calls, while their food or drink is given to all guests for that day’s Happy Hour. F&B enterprises Ovolo has worked with include popular pizza and donut joint Dough Bros and wellness brand Goodleaf which offers water-soluble CBD powder sachets. – Cheryl Ong
Quantum of the Seas will sail on through April 2022 (photo taken pre-Covid-19)
Following two successful seasons for Quantum of the Seas, which returned to safe cruising in Singapore in December 2020, Royal Caribbean International has heeded the call of popular demand to bring on an extension through April 2022.
Till date, over 100,000 guests have safely sailed on 90-plus ocean getaways. Royal Caribbean International’s comprehensive and multilayered set of health and safety measures have ensured zero occurrences of Covid-19 on board.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to extend Quantum’s ultimate ocean getaway through early next year, providing Singapore residents with more time to relax and unwind. Despite the constantly evolving circumstances, Royal Caribbean remains consistent in delivering a wonderful holiday experience. We know that with her remarkable breadth of activities, delicious meals and unparalleled views, Quantum has many fans in Singapore, and there continues to be an overwhelming demand for sailings,” said Angie Stephen, vice president, Asia-Pacific, Royal Caribbean Group.
Leap into next-level experiences The first of its class, Quantum of the Seas is filled with revolutionary experiences from bow to stern. There is never a dull moment on board, thanks to show-stopping entertainment that blends art and music with cutting-edge technology; thrilling activities for the whole family in any weather; and impressive feasts at 18 different restaurants that take guests on a culinary journey around the world.
Endless thrills are lined up for the whole family, such as the RipCord by iFly sky diving adventure (photo taken pre-Covid-19)
Star highlights include the RipCord by iFly sky diving adventure and the signature FlowRider surf simulator.
Unforgettable moments continue within every room, which offers spectacular views and deluxe amenities. Even in Interior staterooms, guests can scope out the sights in real-time from a Virtual Balcony.
Guests have the option of enjoying the best of Quantum of the Seas through three- and four-night ocean getaways.
Play and relax with confidence Holidaymakers can cruise with peace of mind, as every effort has been made to keep guests and crew aboard Quantum of the Seas safe. Health and safety measures include pre-departure wellness screenings using gold-standard PCR tests, contactless embarkation and debarkation, and enhanced HVAC filtration systems and sanitisation to bring in 100 per cent fresh, filtered air.
Royal Caribbean International’s comprehensive and multilayered set of health and safety measures have ensured zero occurrences of Covid-19 on board
Rooms are sanitised every day while guest are out making memories. All high-touch surfaces are cleaned with alcohol-based, scentless cleaning agents that are safe for the general public. New contactless delivery protocols are enforced to facilitate safe room service.
“The health and safety of our guests remain our utmost priority, and we are continuing to be nimble as we follow the science and work closely with the Singapore government and health authorities to evaluate, update and adhere to prevailing measures,” added Stephen.
Bookings are open.
Gear up for even more adventures The fun never ends with Royal Caribbean International. Spectrum of the Seas will return to Singapore in October 2022, offering three- to nine-night sailings to Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
The Spectrum of the Seas is recognised as Asia’s largest and most innovative ship, built to deliver great vacation experiences. The finest cruise holiday can be had within a suites-only enclave, which features the exquisite Royal Suite Class Star, Sky and Sea accommodations as well as a dedicated restaurant and lounge – all exclusively accessible via private elevator.
Spectrum of the Seas is recognised as Asia’s largest and most innovative ship
The Ultimate Family Suite is the largest suite onboard, with capacity for up to 10 guests across two floors. An in-suite slide makes getting from second floor to the first a breeze and is bound to delight all young-at-hearts, while a private cinema doubles up as the family’s very own karaoke stage.
Spectrum of the Seas brings with her stunning, never-before-seen features on the sea, such as Asia’s first Sky Pad, a virtual reality, bungee trampoline adventure; Two70, which boasts stunning 270-degree ocean views by day and transforms into a multidimensional theatre by night; and SeaPlex, the largest indoor active space at sea, featuring bumper cars, roller skating, laser tag, fencing, archery, and more.
The adventure continues – this time of the gastronomic kind – at Spectrum of the Seas’ collection of 19 distinct dining venues, all serving up flavours from around the world.
Thailand is gearing up to reopen the country to fully vaccinated international travellers in four phases from October through January, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
The pilot phase, from October 1-31, covers four popular beach resorts – Phuket, and parts of Surat Thani, Krabi and Phang Nga. While these provinces have partially reopened to foreign tourists since July, vaccination programmes are still underway for the full reopening next month.
Thailand is set to reopen all areas of Bangkok from November 1 under its four-phase reopening plan
This phase will see the reopening of new designated areas in Krabi – Khlong Muang and Thap Khaek.
Under the second phase, from November 1-30, the reopening will be extended to 10 other destinations. These include all areas of Bangkok, Krabi and Phang-Nga, as well as designated areas in Buri Ram, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Loei, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Ranong.
The third phase, from December 1-31, will see the reopening of 20 more provinces which are tourism-driven, well-known for art and culture, or border destinations.
These include Ayutthaya, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Nong Khai, Pathum Thani, Phatthalung, Phetchabun, Phrae, Rayong, Samut Prakan, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Trang, Trat, and Yala.
Finally, the fourth phase, which will take effect from January 1, 2022, will see the reopening of 13 border provinces. These include Bueng Kan, Chanthaburi, Kanchanaburi, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Nan, Ratchaburi, Sa Kaeo, Satun, Surin, Tak, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thani.
Sabre Corporation has established an enhanced partnership with Shiji Distribution Solutions to better connect hoteliers to the lucrative, yet complex, Chinese travel ecosystem.
While the Chinese travel market is one of the biggest in the world, Chinese travellers have traditionally been hard to reach for many hoteliers. This expanded relationship between Sabre and Shiji will open up further access for hoteliers, through the Sabre SynXis hospitality platform, to the channels Chinese travellers typically use to search and book their trips across corporate and leisure segments.
Sabre partners with Shiji Distribution Solutions to enable hoteliers to access the Chinese travel market
Sabre has previously worked with Shiji to connect hoteliers to selected channels within China including the popular WeChat Booking Engine, as well as Fliggy and Meituan’s travel platforms.
Both companies have now reached a much broader agreement to enable Sabre hotel partners to connect to a wider range of travel agents, OTAs, TMCs and wholesalers across the Chinese marketplace.
Sabre’s hospitality partners will have the power to connect to these channels through Sabre Channel Connect, which simplifies and automates distribution of a hotel’s offers, rates and availability, and is designed to reach hotel guests where they shop.
Anson Lau, managing director, Shiji, said the partnership will “support hoteliers to capture recovery and grow their brand by making the most of the significant opportunities presented by the Chinese marketplace”.
He added: “The additional connections available to Sabre through Shiji will, on one hand, help Sabre’s hotel partners build brand awareness in Greater China, driving bookings from Chinese travellers and, on the other hand, help Shiji’s robust network of travel agent partners gain instant access to Sabre’s hotel customers.”
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has signed a three-year MoU with South Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM to promote Hong Kong as a travel destination through Korean dramas and variety TV shows.
This marks the first-of-its-kind partnership between an NTO and CJ ENM, which will see locations in Hong Kong featured in a variety of shows made by CJ ENM from 2022 until 2024. CJ ENM’s original content is currently available across more than 200 countries.
HKTB’s YK Pang (right) witnessed the virtual signing of the MoU between HKTB’s Dane Cheng and CJ ENM’s Lee Sang Moo (not pictured)
When travel restrictions ease, Hong Kong scenes will be filmed as backdrops for a range of drama and variety programmes made by CJ ENM, which is behind popular K-dramas and variety shows like Crash Landing On You, Goblin: The Lonely and Great God, Hospital Playlist, and New Journey to the West.
Under the tie-up, the two partners will work closely to create synergy, including providing advice on locations and the aspects of Hong Kong culture to be featured in each programme.
HKTB chairman YK Pang witnessed the virtual signing of the MoU between HKTB executive director Dane Cheng and CJ ENM Entertainment Division executive vice president for ad sales and partnerships Lee Sang Moo.
Pang said that the partnership “will help reinforce Hong Kong’s status as one of the world’s most exciting and interesting destinations when international travel resumes”.
He added: “We anticipate competition for tourists will be intense once the pandemic is over, and the HKTB is therefore getting a head start to secure influential media partners for maintaining Hong Kong’s visibility.”
Qatar Airways has reinforced its commitment to combat illegal trafficking of wildlife and its products by extending its participation in the USAID ROUTES (Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species) Partnership.
As a founding member of the United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce, Qatar Airways signed the Buckingham Palace Declaration in March 2016, aimed at taking real steps to shut down the routes exploited by traffickers of the illegal wildlife trade to move their products.
Qatar Airways has a zero-tolerance policy towards the transportation of illegal wildlife and their products
Subsequently in May 2017, the airline went on to sign the first MoU with the ROUTES Partnership. In May 2019, Qatar Airways became the world’s first airline to achieve certification to the Illegal Wildlife Trade Assessment which verifies that the airline has procedures, staff training and reporting protocols in place to combat the smuggling of illegal wildlife products.
Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker said: “The illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade threatens our global biodiversity, and poses a risk to health and safety, particularly in marginalised communities. We are taking measures to disrupt this illicit trade in order to conserve biodiversity and safeguard our delicate ecosystems.
“We remain committed with other aviation industry leaders to emphasise our zero-tolerance policy towards illegal trafficking of wildlife and its products, and we join the ROUTES Partnership in saying – ‘It Doesn’t Fly With Us’. We will continue to work with our stakeholders to raise awareness and improve detection of illegal wildlife activities to protect these creatures that we value.”
Airports Council International (ACI) World has launched comprehensive guidance to help airport executives incorporate sustainability at the core of their strategies as they work towards long-term recovery.
The ACI World Sustainable Recovery Best Practice highlights the advantages of incorporating sustainability in post-pandemic recovery plans including access to funding through government relief packages and sustainability-linked bonds, as well as further developing a more balanced business model that incorporates social, environmental, and economic sustainability.
ACI World’s best practice document helps airports initiate, maintain, or enhance sustainability commitments
The publication provides a table of best practices and examples of action under three pillars of sustainability and governance to guide airports worldwide in developing their own sustainable recovery plans. A step-by-step approach to building such a plan is also included.
ACI World director general Luis Felipe de Oliveira said: “As the industry seeks to ‘build back better,’ airports have been recognising the advantages of a sustainability-centric recovery strategy. While health and evolving passenger expectations remain central to airports and the industry’s sustained recovery, climate change and other related externalities remain the major risk we face as a sector and as humanity.
“We believe that aviation’s role in serving a post-pandemic, decarbonising global society and economy is critical, but continued efforts will require support from government and other stakeholders. Aviation and non-aviation players will need to further collaborate to identify solutions that realise the positive transformation that sustainability can bring to the sector, the overall economy, and in achieving each of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
In June 2021, ACI member airports at the global level committed to net zero carbon by 2050. To date, 352 airports have been accredited under the ACI Airport Carbon Accreditation programme, the only institutionally endorsed, carbon management certification standard for airports.
As a companion to the Best Practice guidance, the ACI World Sustainable Recovery Case Studies provides successful examples from six airports under the three pillars of sustainability. The case studies highlight sustainable alternatives for airports to consider while they plan for recovery in the short-, medium-, and long-term.
Jetstar Asia plans to resume its services between Singapore and Darwin from as early as mid-December 2021, when a travel corridor between Singapore and Australia is expected to open.
According to a release, the airline expects to start operating three-weekly services between Singapore and Darwin from December 20, pending regulatory and government approvals.
Jetstar Asia plans to resume Singapore-Darwin services from mid-December, after a two-year suspension
The announcement follows the Qantas Group’s international restart plan which includes Jetstar Airways resuming services between Melbourne and Singapore from December 19, 2021.
Jetstar Asia CEO, Bara Pasupathi, said preparations are underway for the airline’s return to Australia, starting with Darwin, following a two-year suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He added that additional Australian routes have been planned for 2022.
“With Singapore’s strong vaccination rate and Australia on track to see 80 per cent of the population vaccinated by the end of the year, we’re starting to plan the restart of our international flights between these Covid-safe destinations,” he said.
Pasupathi added that with the Qantas Group’s plan to recommence services into Singapore as soon as a travel bubble is formed, the airline also anticipates to re-connect customers to its South-east Asian network.
Thailand is gearing up to reopen the country to fully vaccinated international travellers in four phases from October through January, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA).
The pilot phase, from October 1-31, covers four popular beach resorts – Phuket, and parts of Surat Thani, Krabi and Phang Nga. While these provinces have partially reopened to foreign tourists since July, vaccination programmes are still underway for the full reopening next month.
This phase will see the reopening of new designated areas in Krabi – Khlong Muang and Thap Khaek.
Under the second phase, from November 1-30, the reopening will be extended to 10 other destinations. These include all areas of Bangkok, Krabi and Phang-Nga, as well as designated areas in Buri Ram, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri, Loei, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Ranong.
The third phase, from December 1-31, will see the reopening of 20 more provinces which are tourism-driven, well-known for art and culture, or border destinations.
These include Ayutthaya, Chiang Rai, Khon Kaen, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiwat, Nong Khai, Pathum Thani, Phatthalung, Phetchabun, Phrae, Rayong, Samut Prakan, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Trang, Trat, and Yala.
Finally, the fourth phase, which will take effect from January 1, 2022, will see the reopening of 13 border provinces. These include Bueng Kan, Chanthaburi, Kanchanaburi, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Nan, Ratchaburi, Sa Kaeo, Satun, Surin, Tak, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thani.