Starfish Travel Corporation Team

Ryanair, the top low-cost carrier in Europe, has placed an order for up to 300 737 MAX aircraft, choosing the biggest type to fuel its future expansion. The largest purchase agreement in Ryanair’s history involves a definite order for 150 737-10 aircraft and options for an additional 150.In order to fulfil the high demand for travel and hasten its post-pandemic recovery, Ryanair has deployed a growing fleet of 737-8-200 aircraft. Compared to the aircraft it is replacing, the 197-seat 737-8-200 type has helped the airline cut fuel usage and emissions by over 20%. The bigger 737-10 model, which provides Ryanair with 228 seats and the greatest unit economics of any single-aisle aircraft, is now included in the order. “Ryanair is thrilled to sign this record aircraft order with our aircraft partner Boeing for up to 300 MAX 10s. According to Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary, these new, fuel-efficient, greener technology aircraft have 21% more seats, consume 20% less fuel, and are 50% quieter than our B737-NGs. “We anticipate replacing ageing NGs with half of this order, and using the remaining 150 aircraft to support controlled, sustainable expansion to slightly over 300 million annual passengers by 2034. Over the next ten years, this order and the other Gamechanger deliveries will result in the creation of 10,000 new high-paying aviation jobs throughout all of Europe’s major markets, where Ryanair is now the No. 1 or No. 2 airline, according to O’Leary. “We anticipate that these new, larger, more efficient aircraft will lead to additional unit cost reductions, which will be passed on to customers in the form of cheaper air tickets, in addition to providing considerable revenue and market expansion prospects across Europe. The Boeing MAX 10 is the perfect growth aircraft order for Ryanair, our passengers, our employees, and our shareholders because the extra seats, lower fuel consumption, and more competitive aircraft pricing supported by our strong balance sheet will widen the cost gap between Ryanair and competitor EU airlines for many years to come. According to Dave Calhoun, president and chief executive officer of Boeing, “the Boeing-Ryanair partnership is one of the most fruitful in commercial aviation history, enabling both companies to succeed and expand accessible travel to hundreds of millions of people.” “This historic agreement will enhance our alliance, which was already strong when our firms inked their first direct aeroplane purchase over 25 years ago. We are devoted to providing for Ryanair and assisting the airline group in reaching its objectives. Once it is complete, this new order will be published on Boeing’s Orders and Deliveries website. Source: breakingtravelnews

A great group of gourmet experts created five MIRAlicious dining experiences as part of a celebration of 65 years. SAR OF HONG KONG – The Miramar Group was founded in 1957 with a foundation in hospitality. Since that time, it has expanded its range of services to include chic hotels and serviced apartments, real estate leasing, food and drink, and travel services in both Hong Kong and Mainland China. With its chic, well-designed hotels and eateries that many Hong Kong residents adore and visit, Miramar Group has grown to be a major player in the sector and a well-known brand in the city. The Miramar Group will begin a special campaign in May to mark its 65th anniversary, displaying the finest that Hong Kong’s F&B sector has to offer as the warmest welcome to diners from all over the world. Five of the group’s award-winning restaurants are together for Miramar’s Gourmet Month, a special F&B campaign where each offers a limited-time menu of its most renowned and outstanding dishes. The event, which will run from now through May 31, 2023, will bring together famous chefs from restaurants such as Cuisine Cuisine (at the ifc mall and The Mira Hong Kong), WHISK, Chinesology, and JAJA to create a gourmet experience that will feature first-rate cuisine, first-rate service, and cutting-edge interior design. This is the Miramar Group’s first ever group-focused F&B engagement, giving its chefs and service teams an opportunity to shine while allowing patrons to congregate, take in, and make every moment in Hong Kong MIRAlicious. The Mira Hong Kong’s Restaurant: Gourmet Month Special The finest Cantonese and Chinese cuisine is served at Cuisine at The Mira Hong Kong, an elegant restaurant with a modern touch. The restaurant, which has had a Michelin Guide recommendation since 2012, is commemorating Gourmet Month with a unique meal created by Chef de Cuisine Edwin Tang. Chef Tang, who is renowned for his inventive interpretations of traditional Cantonese food, will be showcasing reimagined versions of well-known classics like Typhoon Shelter-style lobster made with hot preserved vegetables and a hint of lemongrass, quick minute pasta and premium Japanese Ran Oh egg inspired by a Shanghainese stir-fried egg white dish called sai pang xie, and shrimp toast elevated with plum wine jelly, sea urchin, and caviar. The six-course tasting menu provides a remarkable and refined dining experience. Food 18th Anniversary Celebration Feast at Cuisine ifc Using only the finest seasonal ingredients and time-tested dishes that highlight the 36 Chinese culinary techniques, Cuisine Cuisine ifc, led by Head Chef Chau Kin-yan, provides a genuine Cantonese dining experience. This beautiful restaurant, which is located in the Central Business District and boasts spectacular views of Victoria Harbour, is hosting a special six-course feast to honour Gourmet Month and its 18th anniversary at ifc mall. The braised pomelo peel and Japanese Kanto sea cucumber with prawn roe, as well as the famed house specialty Sautéed Crystal King Prawn, are among the highlights of the feast. Chinese Studies: Hong Kong Flavours Chinesology, which takes its cue from the Tang Dynasty, strives to examine the depth and complexity of Chinese food through a modern lens. Chef Saito Chau, a native of Hong Kong, is in charge of the eatery at the ifc mall. Chef Saito Chau has a deep affection for the community and has long wished to highlight the cuisine and craftsmanship of the city on a larger scale. Chef Saito has created a 10-course themed meal called “Flavours of Hong Kong” in conjunction with well-known local businesses Ser Wong Fun, Lee Hoong Kee, Kam Hing Noodles, and Tiu Yuen Soy Company, each of which has a history spanning more than 70 years in the city. The unique and nostalgic delicacies, which drew inspiration from the tales told by each business, include fermented soybean paste ice cream, wild Ma Yau Fish cooked in lotus leaves, and abalone with pan-fried crispy noodles. May 2023: Sparkling Finesse at WHISK (The Mira Hong Kong) WHISK is a cutting-edge French-Japanese restaurant run by Chef William Lau that specialises in ingredient-driven meals made using quality food from all around the world and skilled French culinary skills. The award-winning restaurant is celebrating French GourMay with a tasting menu of up to 10 dishes paired with French sparkling wines, with the theme “Bubble Up” as a nod to the event. New dishes to sample include savoury ocean fish bouillabaisse paired with Premier Cru “Fleur de Champagne” from Duval-Leroy and kombu-cured hamachi with tart French sorrel served with crisp Crémant de Bourgogne from Domaine François Mikulski. Customers may select from three main courses, including Kagoshima wagyu ribeye with compressed Agria potato and char-grilled berries, French pigeon with berries and Japanese red cabbage, and lavish Mot & Chandon Rosé Grand Vintage 2006. The tasting menu, which offers a deluxe and exceptional dining experience, is priced at HK$980 per person for six dishes, HK$1,288 for 10 courses, and an extra HK$480 for four glasses of Sommelier’s Selection. Fashionable Party Set for 4 from JAJA Inside the Hong Kong Arts Centre in Wan Chai, JAJA is a place where positive energy is shared and celebrated while dishing out delicious and Instagrammable vegetarian delicacies in a quirky and colourful setting. During Gourmet Month, the always entertaining vegetarian restaurant welcomes patrons to celebrate in style with its Fashionable Party Set for 4, which includes a variety of appetisers, entrées, and sides. A delectable vegetarian margarita pizza, a live maki platter filled with superfoods, and locally grown smokey corn ribs are just a few of the restaurant’s signature dishes that go great with one of JAJA’s many creative milkshakes, cocktails, or non-alcoholic drinks. Whether for a chic celebration or a fun night out, JAJA offers a lively and happy eating experience. Source: traveldailynews

The Coral Executive Lounge offers a variety of high-end lounge amenities, such as food and refreshments, snacks and drinks, Wi-Fi, flight information, a private room, neck and shoulder massages, newspapers and magazines, television entertainment, and handicap accessibility. Thailand – With the addition of a new lounge service at Suvarnabhumi Airport’s Coral Executive Lounge, Thai Vietjet significantly improves the flying experience for its customers. The Coral Executive Lounge, Concourse D, Departure Terminal, Suvarnabhumi Airport, now offers premium and comfortable services to passengers flying on Thai Vietjet’s international flights from Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) to Singapore, Fukuoka, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, and Taipei at an affordable price starting at THB 1,200. This offer is available on the airline’s website and call centre. The Coral Executive Lounge offers a variety of high-end lounge amenities, such as food and refreshments, snacks and drinks, Wi-Fi, flight information, a private room, neck and shoulder massages, newspapers and magazines, television entertainment, and handicap accessibility. In the time spent waiting for their trip to depart, passengers may easily take use of these services. “Our number one focus is giving clients the finest flying experience possible. In addition to focusing on cost control to offer the most advantageous travel option, Thai Vietjet also serves its passengers with the best possible service and a wider range of options from its partners to accommodate our passengers throughout the journeys, making their experience with us special, according to Mr. Pinyot Pibulsonggram, Head of Commercial at Thai Vietjet. By adding the lounge pass to their booking number when purchasing their air ticket on th.vietjetair.com, or by managing their booking at th.vietjetair.com or at Thai Vietjet call centre at (+66)-2-089-1909 at least 24 hours prior to departure time, passengers holding Thai Vietjet’s Eco and Deluxe tickets can take advantage of the premium lounge service. At the lounge reception desk, passengers must provide their boarding card and flight itinerary. Source: traveldailynews

Within the next month, ASAI Kyoto Shijo, ASAI Bangkok Sathorn, and DusitD2 Samyan Bangkok are all scheduled to open. Thailand’s Bangkok One of Thailand’s top hotel and real estate development enterprises, Dusit Hotels and Resorts under Dusit International, plans to increase both its domestic and international presence by establishing three hotels within the next 30 days, including its first hotel in Japan and two new properties in Bangkok. With the opening of the Dusit Suites Athens and Dusit Princess Hotel Residences Nairobi in March, respectively, Dusit opened its first hotel in Europe, in Greece. Now, Dusit is preparing to welcome its first dusitD2 branded hotel in Bangkok, the dusitD2 Samyan Bangkok, which will soft open on 12 May 2023. The new hotel, which has 179 well-appointed guest rooms and is situated on Si Phraya Road, a bustling boulevard next to Silom and Sathorn roads in Bangkok’s central business area, offers a sleek, modern design that respects Thai culture and embraces the upmarket essence of the dusitD2 brand. Among the many amenities offered by the hotel are a chic lobby, a fully stocked fitness centre, a flexible meeting room with cutting-edge audio-visual equipment, an outdoor pool with a panoramic city view, and a multi-level food and beverage concept with a gourmet grab-and-go outlet, an all-day dining restaurant with an open kitchen, and a rooftop bar with a Miami-inspired design called Mimi that serves burgers, shakes, craft beers, and cocktails. Next, on May 15, 2023, Dusit will inaugurate ASAI Bangkok Sathorn on Sathorn Soi 12, close to Bangkok’s central business area, about five minutes’ walk from Saint Louis BTS (Skytrain) Station, to commemorate the formal growth of its distinctive lifestyle brand, ASAI Hotels. The new hotel will carry on the brand’s promise to connect guests with authentic local experiences in the world’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, including this one, which is renowned for its impressive cluster of hip bars and Thai and international restaurants. Building on the success of ASAI Bangkok Chinatown, one of the top-rated hotels in Bangkok on TripAdvisor, the new hotel will continue to deliver on this promise. The new hotel offers 106 thoughtfully designed, small rooms that concentrate on the necessities, like plush beds and strong showers. It also has a large, welcoming common area with a cosy neighbourhood bar, a relaxing coworking space, and a special dining experience prepared by award-winning chefs Duangporn “Bo” Songvisava and Dylan Jones, who specialise in authentic Thai cuisine made from seasonal and sustainable ingredients. The ASAI Kyoto Shijo, Dusit’s first hotel in Japan, will open on June 1, 2023, placing visitors in the heart of the Shijo-Karasuma district, next to the famed Nishiki Market in the city’s renowned Downtown area. This will mark the expansion of the ASAI brand outside of Thailand. The hotel will have 114 smartly designed, compact rooms that are built to provide the highest comfort and convenience, as well as a sizable public centre for work, relaxation, and play, and a charming dining area inspired by Bangkok’s vibrant street-food culture. Regular partnerships with local chefs, craftsmen, and farmers as well as sustainable produce procurement will further distinguish the special lifestyle hotel. “We are delighted to welcome three new hotels to our portfolio, including our first dusitD2 branded hotel in Bangkok, our second ASAI hotel in Bangkok, and our first hotel in Japan,” said Mr. Gilles Cretallaz, Chief Operating Officer, Dusit International. “As we continue to execute our plan for domestic and global expansion, we are excited to welcome these new hotels.” “These openings mark important turning points for our business, and we are convinced that tourists from all over the world will be drawn to their distinct positioning and lifestyle and food and beverage experiences. We are optimistic about the future and eager to establish ourselves in other important international markets as we prepare for these launches. By the end of the year, there will be 62 hotels (13,700 keys) operating across 18 countries, thanks to the opening of nine additional hotels around the world before the end of the year, including Dusit’s first hotel in Nepal, a second hotel in Japan, and a strategically important return to India. Source: traveldailynews

The new high-end stores in Terminal 1’s Central Piazza are just a few of the recent, exciting changes to Changi Airport’s travel retail landscape. Travel retail at Changi Airport is thriving, with increased sales and fresh shopping opportunities for passengers, in parallel with the airport’s robust rebound in both passenger and flight traffic. Here is a look at the most recent changes to Changi’s travel retail landscape and what consumers might expect later this year. Retail at Changi Airport: the numbers Since the previous year, total sales have risen rapidly, reaching a high of nearly 60% in January 2023 in comparison to 2019 levels. Strong sales growth has been observed at Changi Airport from countries including Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. The top three categories at Changi’s retailers are once again Perfumes & Cosmetics, Liquor & Tobacco, and Luxury. Partnering with companies to maintain Changi’s travel retail as interesting and innovative as possible for tourists Even at the height of the epidemic, Changi continued to draw tenants, demonstrating the brands’ strong faith in Changi Airport’s ability to rebound from the travel slump. When Terminal 4 (T4) and the southern wing of Terminal 2 (T2) reopened last year, the leasing activity for the airside concessions at Changi Airport significantly increased. 19 brand-new to Changi brands and ideas were successfully obtained, and over 140 airside concession leases were successfully completed. Particularly, the market responded overwhelmingly to a massive leasing effort for 20 F&B establishments in T2. at recent months, several significant stores have opened at the terminals of Changi Airport. The largest Bacha Coffee store in the world, a new duplex store at Terminal 3 (T3) Three luxury boutiques namely Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Tiffany & Co at Terminal 1 (T1) New-to-Changi brands such as Korean streetwear label ADLV in T4 Popular athleisure brand Lululemon in T3. Transforming retail areas to improve the eating and shopping experience in Changi Changi Airport is able to provide experiences that go beyond simple shopping by transforming retail areas to be both attractive and practical. The most recent instance is the renovation of T1’s Departure Transit Hall’s Central Piazza, which was finished last year. The area was purposefully created to provide a cosy, peaceful atmosphere that is unlike the chilly functioning of an airport and more akin to a hotel lobby. Carefully chosen architectural features, such as hanging chandeliers, green columns sprouting from ponds, the sound of water among the lush greenery, earthy tones, and an artistic blown-glass suspension, help to create an oasis of serenity. Shilla Duty Free, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., and Lotte Duty Free are among the tenants in the Central Piazza that have been arranged for better exposure to customers from the time they enter the Departure Transit Hall. Additionally, the establishments have been created to blend in with the serene surroundings. To revitalise the area and improve the overall retail and dining experience, the west wing of the T1 Departure Transit Hall has also been reorganised. With a new F&B cluster anchored in the zone to stimulate foot traffic, the updated design includes more vegetation and a wider entry to the secondary street. With more seating and a snug layout, along with new landscaping and F&B concepts, the customer experience has been improved. The T1 Departure Transit Hall’s east wing will be refurbished next. A well-liked F&B cluster will be improved, and additional retail spaces will be added. The project will boost net leasable space, broaden passenger options, and improve the ambiance in the neighbourhood. Unique omnichannel experiences that pique customers’ interest Through Changi 1st pop-ups in the transit halls every month, Changi Airport collaborates with companies to pique travellers’ interest. These activations frequently include the world’s or Asia’s first limited edition product launches. From 5 April to 14 May, the Guerlain Parfumerie d’Art Pop-up at T3’s Departure Transit will celebrate the release of Jasmin Bonheur, the newest fragrance in the L’Art & La Matière line. Customers may look forward to personalised engraving services, unique scent consultations, and the ability to embellish your bottle in a number of ways. A further example of Changi Airport’s innovation to enhance airport shopping is the Changi Shopping Concierge service. Passengers who desire a customised shopping experience can take advantage of this gratis service available around-the-clock. Customers are attended to by Shopping Concierge Ambassadors (SCAs), who are educated and equipped with product expertise to inform visitors about the fascinating range of shopping options available across the airport, including Changi exclusives. To take the customers shopping before their boarding time, SCAs might meet them early in the airport. Additionally, they may assist in pre-purchasing the things, having them wrapped, and delivering them to the traveller at the boarding gate. The SCAs can assist in making product recommendations depending on the passenger’s tastes and budget and can assist in enquiring with the outlets about product availability if the customer does not have a specific item in mind. Additionally, cross-terminal shopping is possible with the service. For instance, travellers from Terminal 4 who are eager to buy at Terminals 1, 2, and 3 can use the SCAs to assist them make purchases and have the products delivered right to their T4 boarding gates. Passengers have two options for making payments: either they may do it online or the SCAs can arrange to meet and accompany them in person at the stores. The Shopping Concierge service does not have a minimum expenditure requirement. On the digital front, the iChangi app has been essential in enhancing our digital offer by making a range of goods and services readily accessible at the press of a button, in addition to bringing additional brands and items to our e-commerce site iShopChangi. For instance, our travellers can now do things like rent a Wi-Fi router, buy duty-free items on iShopChangi in advance, and have them available for pickup when they get to the airport. The app also allows users to redeem shopping GWPs (gift with purchase), PWPs (buy with purchase), and parking

Roadshows in important South Indian cities come to an end. Sri Lanka Tourism staged a number of Road Shows in significant South Indian towns as part of its ongoing bilateral and cultural connections with its Indian counterparts. The purpose of this series of roadshows was to advertise the tourist attractions and services of the tranquil island country. The first road show began on April 24 in Chennai, continued on April 26 in Cochin, and concluded on April 28 in Bangalore. At this event, a group of more than 30 hotels and travel agencies from Sri Lanka took part. The delegation was led by the Hon. Harin Fernando, Minister of Tourism, and included Mr. Thisum Jayasuriya, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Mr. Chalaka Gajabahu, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), Ms. Shirani Herth, Junior Manager of the SLTPB, and Ms. Malkanthi Welikla, Manager of Marketing for the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau. Sri Lanka is seeing a considerable increase in tourist arrivals, notably from India, which has taken over as the leading source of visitors, according to Hon. Harin Fernando, Minister of Tourism. We welcomed 46,432 Indian tourists in the first quarter of 2023. With a comprehensive marketing effort under way, we want to bring in 2 million tourists from across the world this year. Due to the rise in tourists, Sri Lanka’s tourism revenue increased from $482.3 million in the first quarter of last year to over 530 million dollars in the first quarter of 2023. This year, we anticipate bringing in a total of $3 billion from tourists. “Sri Lanka values the Indian outbound market since it has played a crucial role in promoting tourism in our nation,” he continued. In addition to its significant history spanning back 2,500 years, the nation offers a wide range of sights and experiences, including yoga, beaches, shopping, dining, adventure, and wildlife. Additionally, the religious tourism programme known as the Ramayana circuit is quite popular in India. Therefore, this is a great moment to enjoy the warm hospitality of the Sri Lankan people. The Hon. Minister of Tourism met with a number of prominent business leaders, investors, tourism stake holders, and corporations during the Roadshows and participated in several media interviews with top Indian media outlets. Family vacations are a great idea in Sri Lanka, according to Mr. Chalaka Gajabahu, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau. To strengthen its status as a top tourism destination, the nation is presently interacting with the Indian travel sector. We want to establish a solid connection with our Indian travel industry partners and promote a cooperative partnership through our stakeholders and representatives from hotels, resorts, DMCs, and event management firms. The chairman of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Mr. Thisum Jayasuriya, stated: “Meetings, conferences, and incentives, or MICE, are increasingly popular worldwide. In March 2023, we held Sri Lanka’s first-ever MICE exhibition to highlight this attractive location. The arrival of 80 people, just from India, made us happy. Due to its close proximity and superior connectivity, Sri Lanka is a desirable and affordable alternative for MICE tourists. Those who could effectively convey the message that Sri Lanka is not only one of the most beautiful countries with an amazing range of destinations and products, but is also safe and secure, were the target audience at these roadshows, including tour operators, media, key influencers, corporations, trade associations, and important stakeholders in the Indian tourism industry. The event concentrated on highlighting the positive message that Sri Lanka is available for leisure, business, and MICE tourism while promoting a variety of travel experiences and encouraging potential visitors to make reservations. Indigo and Sri Lankan Airlines are just two of the many industry participants that have backed this effort. Each roadshow featured B2B Sessions that facilitated a variety of talks, followed by an evening networking event that also aided in strengthening business relationships. Celebrities like cricket icon Sanath Jayasuriya participated in these events, giving them an air of glitz. A dance group that had been particularly flown in for this occasion to highlight Sri Lanka’s rich performing arts legacy. Source: traveldailynews

More and more business travellers want to travel in comfort, safety, and efficiency. Data from the Trip.Biz poll indicates increased desire for expedited security lanes, adaptable change and cancellation procedures, and excellent hotel services. SINGAPORE – Trip.Biz, the corporate travel division of Trip.com Group, has published its Corporate Travel Management industry White Paper, examining the business travel industry and trends on the Chinese mainland in more detail. As border rules loosen and airline capacity progressively increases, businesses in China are excited about the return of corporate travel. 84.5% of businesses anticipate a rise in domestic business travel spending for 2023, while 74.5% anticipate an increase in foreign business travel spending, according to survey data from Trip.Biz. The market for international business travel shares this opinion. The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) predicted in August 2022 that business travel overall would recover to 81% of its pre-pandemic level in 2023, while the Chinese market would do so at a rate of about 75% in 2022 and 89% in 2023, with an 18.9% increase in spending on business travel. More and more business travellers want to travel in comfort, safety, and efficiency. Data from the Trip.Biz poll indicates increased desire for expedited security lanes, adaptable change and cancellation procedures, and excellent hotel services. Over 90% of business travellers in a Trip.Biz poll said they may pay their own money to visit nearby tourist attractions or historical sites while on a business trip, demonstrating how many workers are embracing bleisure travel. 38.4% of business visitors anticipate spending more time relaxing in the region. When travelling for work, many people feel that established cities or beautiful locations provide the most. According to the white paper, more than 30% of businesses spent more than 10% of their budgets on business travel in 2022, an increase from 2021. As corporate travel expenditures rise, so does the share of spending on it, making it one of these firms’ biggest outlays. As a result, companies attempt to reduce costs through e-management while increasing revenues. Companies are pursuing digital transformation aggressively. According to study results from Trip.Biz, around 60% of businesses have started to digitise their business travel procedures. Digital travel management is more common in state-owned companies, Sino-foreign joint ventures, and totally foreign-owned businesses. Additionally, big and medium-sized businesses use digital business travel management more frequently. According to Steven Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Trip.Biz, “this year’s strong demand for business travel and the pursuit of efficient management will be a major focus for companies, making the digital transformation of business travel management more urgent than before.” The white paper also examines current trends, such coupling low-carbon activities with business travel. Companies have increasingly started looking at low-carbon choices for business travel. A Trip.Biz poll found that almost 85% of business travellers choose hotels and airlines that have low-carbon certificates. The implementation of an online management system, in the opinion of individuals in charge of business travel, promotes sustainable and low-carbon development. Source: traveldailynews

The Group will further improve its operating model in Australasia for new franchised hotels with the introduction of a centralised franchising services model in addition to the Master Collaboration Agreement with La Vie. Australia’s Adelaide – Through the signing of a Master Collaboration Agreement to add more than 30 properties to the Group’s portfolio over the following 10 years, Radisson Hotel Group and La Vie properties & Resorts have expanded their relationship. The five industry-leading brands include Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson, Park Inn by Radisson, and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson. La Vie will be able to develop, manage, and operate properties under these brands under a non-exclusive brand collaboration agreement as part of the Master Collaboration Agreement between the two leading hospitality companies. The La Vie Hospitality Group, which offers end-to-end innovative hospitality solutions across multiple disciplines, including Education, Asset Management, Procurement, Building Management, Hospitality Services, and Hotel & Resorts, is the parent company of La Vie Hotels & Resorts, an owner-centric hospitality management company. In its major strategic development areas, such as Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Fiji, and Vanuatu, the Group’s portfolio will be expanded as a result of the partnership with La Vie. The partnership furthers the already-existing connection between Radisson Hotel Group and La Vie, which was established in 2022 following the successful rebranding and conversion of three properties in Sri Lanka. These Radisson Blu and Radisson hotels, which are managed and maintained by La Vie Hotels & Resorts, are situated in the popular tourist areas of Galle, Colombo, and Kandy. Elie Younes, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Development Officer of the Radisson Hotel Group, commented on the relationship: “We’ve had a good engagement with La Vie Hotels & Resorts thus far, with successful property conversions in Sri Lanka. Our relationship has now expanded across important regional markets as a result of the most recent announcement. The Radisson Hotel Group is renowned for providing the best standards of hospitality, and the growth of our portfolio will make our brands more accessible to more visitors. Jerry Xu, CEO of La Vie Hotels & Resorts, stated: “This is a significant collaboration for our business and one of which we are tremendously pleased. In 2022, the Radisson Hotel Group team and I introduced three iconic properties in Sri Lanka under the Radisson Blu and Radisson brands, and within a year, they had achieved tremendous success. We are excited to continue building on our accomplishments as a team in the years to come. We are now extending our relationship and signing a Master Collaboration Agreement. “As we work towards our shared goal of creating unforgettable moments, our end-to-end innovative hospitality solutions, combined with the power of Radisson Hotel Group’s distinctive brands and distribution, will enable us to offer exceptional experiences to guests across Asia Pacific.” Through collaborations with top third-party management companies, Radisson Hotel Group aims to construct adaptable and cutting-edge business models that satisfy the demands of the owners and developers. The agreement with La Vie is only one illustration of this. A centralised franchising service will soon be expanded into Australasia due to the expansion of the Group’s portfolio there, allowing independent and small-scale hotel businesses to benefit from the strength of the worldwide network of the Radisson Hotel Group. “The centralised franchising service model will create opportunities for owners in the region to maximise efficiencies by streamlining operations,” said Andre de Jong, Area Senior Vice President for South East Asia & Pacific. We are happy to be able to provide our owners with a dynamic choice of services and business models that are tailored to their particular requirements. This will improve our relationship and promote success and income. The centralised franchising services model will enable owners to take advantage of the support, brand recognition, and global distribution of Radisson Hotel Group through proprietary systems and business intelligence tools, offering seasoned owners a variety of advantageous and adaptable benefits to independently operate their hotel. Along with the Group’s normal franchise services, owners will now have access to revenue management, round-the-clock reservations support, and advising help, all of which will increase income and lower operational expenses. The Radisson Hotel Group’s The Club of Revenue Management (The Club) will be made available in the area, allowing hotels to revolutionise their revenue management with low-cost, cutting-edge systems for maximum effectiveness and rate optimisation. The Club provides owners and partners with effective strategies for achieving achievements and locating fresh business ventures across all income streams. The Radisson Hotel Group’s plan to experience exponential growth in Asia Pacific over the following ten years will be supported by the signing of ground-breaking agreements with dependable partners. Source: traveldailynews

On April 18, 180 Chinese visitors arrived in Boracay Island on a chartered flight operated by OK Airlines from Changsha, China to Kalibo, Aklan. This was the first trip from China since the market for foreign travel reopened on January 8. Island of Boracay – The Department of tourist (DOT) is upbeat about the country’s tourist industry’s continued revival, especially with the arrival of group travel and chartered aircraft from several of its major source markets, notably China. On April 18, 180 Chinese visitors arrived in Boracay Island on a chartered flight operated by OK Airlines from Changsha, China to Kalibo, Aklan. This was the first trip from China since the market for foreign travel reopened on January 8. The DOT organised a welcome reception for the guests as soon as they disembarked in Kalibo to offer them a taste of the friendly Filipino hospitality. We are overjoyed to see chartered flights from China returning to Kalibo. This just serves to demonstrate the continued popularity of Boracay as a travel destination for Chinese visitors. “We will vigorously pursue the promotion of sustainable and responsible tourism in Boracay along with the local government and our very active private stakeholders so that more people will eventually visit and take in its beauty,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco. Approximately 434,175 Chinese tourists visited Boracay in 2019, making them the most common foreign visitors there. This was before the COVID-19 outbreak caused a worldwide travel halt. By the end of 2019, the Philippines had also welcomed over 1.7 million tourists from China. Secretary Frasco emphasised the significance of visa reforms that will ease entry for the country’s top source markets such as China during the high-level convergence meeting between the DOT, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Bureau of Immigration (BI) that took place on March 24. Since April 11, all Philippine Foreign Service Posts (PFSPS) in the People’s Republic of China have begun processing and issuing Philippine visas to Chinese tour groups as a consequence of the agencies’ convergence. “The DOT hopes to match or perhaps exceed the number of Chinese tourists we had prior to the outbreak. We thank our partner organisations, in particular the Department of Foreign Affairs, for responding to our request to resume processing and issuing Philippine visas to Chinese tour groups, soon after we made it clear that we needed China to once again serve as our main source of inbound tourists, Secretary Frasco said. The DOT Chief said, “We anticipate other interventions such as the adoption of an electronic visa system to facilitate the ease of entry into the nation of our tourists.” The Ministry of Culture and tourist (MOCT) in China, which, as you may know, included the Philippines as one of the 20 countries to be part of its trial zones for outbound tourist group trips, has been a source of significant cooperation for the DOT, as Secretary Frasco previously stated. To aid in the promotion and marketing of Philippine tourism to the Chinese market, the Department now has two satellite offices in mainland China, one in Beijing and the other in Shanghai. Source: traveldailynews

Interior design for the Nautilus was done by Officina Amare. The U-Boat Worx Nautilus submarine will be sold only via Moravia Yachting on the worldwide market. The first superyacht submarine in the world is the U-Boat Worx Nautilus. This cutting-edge hybrid-electrical sub, measuring 42 metres in length, allows for deep-sea research down to 150 metres. In surface cruising mode, the Nautilus has a sun deck with a freshwater pool, bar counter and al fresco eating space, as well as an amazing beach club. It was built to provide the luxury lifestyle above the waves as well as below. The sun deck is cleverly retractable by engineers before the Nautilus dives. Five ensuite rooms, each with a huge picture window, may accommodate up to 10 guests, while the crew of seven has their own accommodations. Interior design for the Nautilus was done by Officina Amare. Naturally, the ocean served as inspiration for the interior design, and the layout was built around the 10 circular viewports, each of which has a nearly 4 m diameter. Both above and below the water’s surface, a mezzanine observation lounge offers panoramic views, and the inside may be completely modified with various arrangement options. This cutting-edge submarine is made of steel, has a range of 3,200 nautical miles, a surface speed of 9 knots, and a submerged speed of 4 knots. The Nautilus offers entire underwater freedom in complete safety, as well as face-to-face interactions with marine creatures thanks to its sonar system and underwater cameras. The Nautilus offers a buyer an incredible opportunity and the ability to accomplish a number of global firsts because it was created, manufactured, and constructed by the most knowledgeable and experienced business in this industry. The Nautilus is a real technical marvel designed to take you on excursions both above and below the water. It is more than simply a mode of transportation. Source: traveldailynews