Starfish Travel Corporation Team

The first of its type in the Kingdom, the UEFA Champions League card portfolio was introduced by the Saudi National Bank (SNB) and Mastercard, the official sponsor of the UEFA Champions League. It offers cashback credit cards and prepaid cards without annual fees. With the help of Mastercard, the official partner of the UEFA Champions League, football fans can now access customized solutions and benefits to connect them to their passion and love for the game. This new launch was in line with SNB’s commitment to provide innovative and comprehensive payment solutions and within its ongoing efforts to achieve one of its strategic aspirations to be the “Best Bank in Customer Service.” “SNB holds a prominent position as a leader in the card business, offering a wide range of products including Cashback, LAK loyalty program,” said Saud Bajbair, Head of Retail market Group at SNB. SNB is still dedicated to launching new goods that support the goals and vision of the nation, particularly those that support sports, youth, and wellness. The innovative product range that SNB and Mastercard are launching is the first of its kind in the kingdom and is a ground-breaking partnership, further highlighting SNB’s dedication to provide its customers with cutting-edge prospects. “For more than 25 years, Mastercard has used its priceless platform to link individuals with their passions. We are excited to work with our dependable friends at SNB to capitalize on this wonderful opportunity to bring consumers’ passion for the beautiful game to life. We are excited to announce today the debut of a genuinely creative and captivating product line that offers football fans an unmatched experience while also honoring the significant advancements the Kingdom is making in this admirable sport. MENA Central’s Adam Jones, Country General Manager, Mastercard As part of its ongoing efforts to create alternative programs and services that satisfy the financial needs of its clients, particularly the younger generation, the bank is launching the new card as a supplement to the sophisticated services it offers to those customers. In addition to receiving many exclusive benefits, such as chances to win UEFA Champions League match tickets, the smart payment plan service, and exclusive deals and discounts at global partner stores involved in the program, the Mastercard UEFA Champions League credit card enables its holders to earn cashback on all purchases. Additionally, it allows access to airport lounges globally with the Mastercard Travel Pass and travel insurance coverage. The Mastercard UEFA Champions League Prepaid Card comes with enticing perks like earning “LAK” Loyalty Program points for all purchases, the opportunity to win UEFA Champions League match tickets, and exclusive discounts at international partner outlets. These benefits are available to all customer segments. Customers can apply for the card immediately by visiting the closest branch or via the AlAhliOnline or AlAhliMobile applications. Source- Travel daily

According to Alipay, the top digital payment and service platform, as Chinese tourists continue to travel abroad, the average amount spent by outbound Chinese tourists during the first five days of the 2023 China National Day holiday, from September 29 to October 6, has surpassed that of 2019. When Chinese visitors travel abroad, shopping is still one of their favorite pastimes. The purchase of goods, such as skincare products and duty-free items, surpassed spending on all other activities as the period’s largest Alipay expenditure. The second and third highest spending categories, respectively, were lodging and food and beverages. Chinese travelers are increasingly using Alipay’s range of digital travel services to enhance their trip experiences in addition to using the app to pay for goods and services. Currency exchange, Coupon Hub, tax return, and transportation were the most popular services among Alipay users over the first five days of the Holiday. Particularly, compared to the same period in 2019, the volume of transactions involving transportation increased by 16 times. With the help of its partners across the world, Alipay now offers a full range of travel services to Chinese visitors traveling outside of China, including the ability to book hotels and plane tickets as well as other services like food delivery, taxi services, in-store payments, and tax refunds. In more than 2,000 cities outside of the Chinese mainland, Alipay users can order a taxi. Major retailers in France, Italy, and Spain are offering an additional 20% tax refund to their customers during this vacation. The Coupon Hub features deals from brands in most destinations, some of which are only available to Alipay customers. Chinese tourists of all ages embrace digital technology for travel preparation and prefer mobile payments, with an overwhelming 84% anticipating using mobile payments like Alipay, according to a recent survey on Chinese outbound tourism. Chinese consumers prefer mobile payments over cash (55%), citing the simplicity and safety of mobile payments over cash (56%), discounts and other value-added services offered (60%), and transparency and advantageous exchange rates (60%). Chinese tourists also favor individualized services like exclusive deals and shopping guidance in Chinese (83%). According to a study done by the Centre for Sustainable Finance Innovation at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, local businesses hoping to attract Chinese tourists may need to prepare for Chinese mobile payment methods and think about providing other value-added services specifically designed for Chinese tourists. Based on overall Alipay purchases, the top travel locations this year mostly held true to those from prior significant holidays. Geographically nearby Asian locations like Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Singapore, and Malaysia continued to lead the list, as did European nations like France and Italy. However, compared to the same period in 2019, there was a large increase in Chinese tourists’ Alipay spending in less popular locations like Estonia and Qatar, suggesting a change in travel tastes. Alipay is an Alipay+ partner e-wallet. Alipay+ was developed by Ant Group as a collection of international mobile payment and marketing solutions. It now integrates with roughly 30 top e-wallets. The program now links tens of millions of merchants globally to more than 1.4 billion payment accounts in Asia and beyond thanks to its recent expansion onto the Chinese mainland. When utilizing their chosen payment methods while traveling abroad, customers benefit from easy payment and a wide selection of promotions. Up to 200% more daily transactions were made by foreign tourists entering China between September 29 and October 6 using the 10 Alipay+ partner e-wallets (AlipayHK, mPay, Hipay, OCBC, Changi Pay, Touch ‘n Go eWallet, TrueMoney, Kakao Pay, Naver Pay, and Toss Pay). Source- Travel daily

The opening of ibis Styles Goa Vagator, a new hotel in Goa, has been announced by InterGlobe Hotels in collaboration with Accor. The 142-room hotel, which is tucked away amongst historic forts, picturesque beaches, and the most popular tourist destinations in North Goa, offers a genuine Goan ambiance mixed with whimsical and vivid decor. Ibis Fashions The second ibis Styles hotel in Goa, Goa Vagator is a resort-style hotel with a colorful theme of pastel hues infused with local culture for a distinctive interior design. The resort offers a fusion of historical elegance and modern conveniences and is ideally situated within a short ride from Goa MOPA airport, in close proximity to Goa’s best nightlife, renowned restaurants, and most popular cafés. With its unique “Sweet Bed” for a night of restful sleep, attentive service from hotel staff who go above and beyond, and comfort food that will tempt your taste buds, ibis Styles Vagator assures visitors of an enjoyable stay. The hotel is the ideal retreat for tourists wishing to discover Goa, whether they plan to explore the city or just unwind. Additionally providing a restaurant open all day, a fully stocked gym, an amphitheater, an outdoor pool, unrestricted Wi-Fi, and access to cable channels in each guest room. The restaurant “Spice It” offers the most extended breakfast hours, from 4 a.m. to 12 p.m. Offering up to 100-person capacity conference and banquet rooms that are contemporary and fashionable for those looking to commemorate a unique occasion or event. The conference room with views of the garden is the ideal setting for sizable social gatherings, business functions, and team-building activities. Ibis Styles Goa Vagator, a hotel opened by InterGlobe Hotels, showcases modern art and artists with carefully chosen works in its exquisitely decorated rooms and public spaces. The curated art, images, and photography by up-and-coming artists are complemented with wallpaper reproductions in the chic rooms, which contrast with the artists’ original works on exhibit in the lobby. The hotel’s contemporary and cheery décor, which were influenced by Goa’s vibrant culture, will undoubtedly create a creative atmosphere for visitors to enjoy in every nook and cranny.  JB Singh, President & CEO of InterGlobe Hotels, commented on the event, saying, “I am thrilled to announce the grand opening of our 2nd ibis Styles in Goa and 23rd ibis in India. This top-notch hotel offers the newest conveniences, well planned rooms, and modern public areas, all constructed to the highest standards. With an emphasis on giving the younger generation a top-notch design experience, ibis Styles Goa Vagator is precisely designed, like all of our properties around the nation, to appeal to the lifestyle tastes and goals of modern travelers. “We partner with the best designers to realize this vision, and the hotel serves as a tribute to our commitment to excellence and innovation. The ibis Styles Goa Vagator emphasizes design aspects that are cutting-edge, popular, and bright while still feeling welcoming to both locals and visitors. We elevate the bar for hospitality and reaffirm our status as the nation’s leaders in hotel design with each new hotel. With art at the center of our design philosophy, we are extremely proud to assist up-and-coming artists by featuring their custom-made original works at ibis hotels and nurturing a thriving artistic community. “This newest member of the ibis family marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality,” said Puneet Dhawan, Senior Vice President of Operations—Accor India & South Asia. The hotel offers a unique and immersive experience catered for business and leisure travelers alike as it anticipates a significant influx of both domestic and foreign tourists this season. The hotel emphasizes establishing a family-friendly environment and features striking design elements and an inviting ambiance.  The ibis Styles Goa Vagator is innovative and eclectic, with a setting that inspires you to roam around in style, according to Kedar Dighe, Cluster GM, ibis Styles Goa Vagator & Calangute. Additionally, the location is fantastic, offering a vibrant nightlife, historical forts, charming cafes, and tranquil beaches, making it the ideal place for a leisure tourist to stay. The 142 contemporary and stylish guest rooms provide balconies and French windows so that visitors can take in the surrounding area’s natural splendor. The sophisticated gym, banquet space, poolside bar, and Spice It restaurant will all offer the ideal environment for rest and renewal.  As a special promotion to mark the opening, ibis Styles Goa Vagator has launched its unique “Pay What You Want” service. The promotion is only available to ALL – Accor Live Limitless Loyalty program members. Visit All.com or download the ALL mobile app to sign up for membership. Source- Travel daily

Travelers are overcome with longing for the fall and winter seasons when longer days and sunshine give way to amber colors and brisk air.  According to the Pinterest Predicts index, train travel is expected to make a comeback this year, with “train trip aesthetic” pins surging by a staggering 205%. In light of this, Rant Casino examined Instagram hashtag volumes to determine the most popular luxury train itineraries for the upcoming fall and winter. The Bernina Express from Switzerland, which takes you through an Italian winter wonderland over the Swiss Alps, is the most Instagrammed luxury journey. There is no way to overlook the breathtaking vistas of the snow-capped mountains with windows covering the full walls of this train. For this icy trek, there are 96,691 hashtags in total. In spite of this, a single adult standard ticket only costs about £56. Scotland’s Jacobite rail ride, widely famous as the train that carried Harry Potter to Hogwarts, comes in second. There are already 67,168 documented hashtags for this travel, which is ideal for a cozy autumnal ride. An adult standard ticket costs £57. Train crossing a bridge Medium confidence automatic description generation With 53,254 hashtagged images to capture the magic, the Bergen Line trip comes in third. The opulent train even searches for the northern lights on lengthy polar evenings as it takes you from Bergen to Oslo. The Rocky Mountaineer comes in second. 52,508 hashtags were used to describe Canada’s most picturesque train trip, which features panoramic windows that showcase the country’s greatest peaks in all their breathtaking splendor. The Glacier Express completes the top 5, providing stunning vistas of Switzerland’s snow-covered mountains, deep valleys, and clear lakes. With tickets costing about £152 each, the opulent ride across the alps has been documented 45,710 times on Instagram. The White Pass and Yukon, which connects Alaska to Canada, comes in at number 10 with a total of 14,500 Instagram posts. This trip is among the most expensive on the list, with prices starting at £115 per participant. If you’re lucky, this train travels nonstop through glacial rivers, waterfalls, and wildlife. Other well-known train routes include Norway’s Flam Railway (21,229), Thailand’s Death Railway (22,818), and The Blue Train (43,439), which offers some winter sun. Source- travel daily

According to Russian media, there is a panic in Canada as many students are allegedly seeking for other places to study. According to Reuters, Canadian institutions are assuring Indian students of their safety and providing assistance to deal with the uncertainty brought on by the diplomatic crisis between the two nations in an effort to lessen the impact on a thriving industry. Currently, a severe diplomatic dispute over the murder of extreme pro-Khalistan Hardeep Singh Nijjar is dividing India and Canada.  Source- Hindustan times

Vietnam and the Philippines have been added as new ports of call for Resorts World Cruises’ five-night cruises leaving from Hong Kong. As the ship sails to Vietnam from October 1, 2023, onward, offering the 5-Night Nha Trang – Da Nang cruise, as well as to the Philippines with the 5-Night Boracay – Manila cruise, starting from January 21, 2024, onward, travelers will have more options for their 5-Night cruises from Hong Kong. This complements the ship’s current 5-Night Okinawa cruise. The 5-night cruise will be offered for specific departure dates in 2023 and 2024 to either Okinawa, Vietnam, or the Philippines. “Resorts World voyages is excited to offer new, more diverse locations for our customers, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, on its 5-night voyages beyond Okinawa. Our 5-night cruises on the Resorts World One departing from Hong Kong provide tourists with an other leisure and travel choice that is practical and comfortable to visit several locations inside a country. According to Michael Goh, president of Resorts World Cruises, the addition of these new locations will help cast a wider net and revitalize the cruise tourism business throughout the region. Bridge, Golden, in Da Nang Now that the 5-Night Nha Trang – Da Nang cruise is available, you have the opportunity to improve your trip by taking a cruise in Vietnam. Immerse yourself in a nation with gorgeous beaches, vibrant cultures, festivals, and cuisines, as well as stunning natural beauty. Your first port of call in Vietnam will be Nha Trang, a sun-lovers’ paradise with amazing beaches including Long Beach, which is home to surfing locations and delicious seafood restaurants. The imposing 78-foot-tall Buddha statue, the centuries-old Po Nagar Cham Towers, mud baths, hot springs, island hopping, and other activities are available to tourists. As the ship makes its way to Da Nang, a well-known tourist destination where you can find a variety of lovely beaches, learn about the Cham culture, eat wonderful and distinctive street food, and visit the Marble Mountains with its enchanted temples and hidden tunnels, tourists can further their exploration of Vietnam. Travelers leaving from Hong Kong can choose between a trip to Vietnam and a 5-night cruise between Boracay and Manila, with special departures available from January through March 2024. Since Boracay is one of the best and most well-known award-winning islands in the nation, you won’t need any further introduction to “Love the Philippines” and your first trip. Vacationers can enjoy pristine white sand beaches with crystal blue oceans, participate in a variety of fun water activities, go on island hopping tours, and so much more on one of the Top 3 Best Islands in Asia for the 2023 Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards. It’s the ideal place to begin your cruise vacation. Cruise your way to Manila, the vivacious capital city that is full of delightful surprises and interesting discoveries, from the idyllic island of Boracay. The old Hispanic Fort Santiago, the Baluarte de San Diego tower, as well as several famous landmarks, churches, and cathedrals are among these. Additionally, any foodie visiting Manila must embark on a full-blown street food adventure. Source- Travel trade

The next Icon Class ship from Royal Caribbean International has been given a name, and its summer 2025 debut season has been announced. The biggest cruise line in the world will take the most daring steps to build on Icon’s launch, which marked the beginning of a new age in travel. The lineup of new experiences and fan favorites on Star will pave the way for even more opportunities for every type of family and adventurer to make memories without compromise thanks to the combination of every type of vacation that’s exclusive to Icon Class, from the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure. The new ship is now being built in Turku, Finland, and will shortly be made public. Star of the Seas will be the next audacious response to the record-breaking consumer demand we’ve seen for nearly a year and counting with Icon of the Seas, according to Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “The idea of combining the best of every type of vacation into one ultimate adventure has created more excitement than ever anticipated,” Bayley said. When the cruise line experienced its single greatest booking day and highest volume booking week in the brand’s then 53-year history in October 2022, the first glimpse of Icon and Icon Class set the tone. Royal Caribbean released 2025–2026 holidays aboard Icon three months earlier than expected due to the tremendous consumer demand, and now Star’s name and debut season have been announced. Six record-breaking waterslides at Thrill Island’s Category 6 waterpark, seven pools (one for each day of the week), Surfside, a stay-all-day community for young families, entertainment on land, ice, water, and stage, 40+ dining and drinking options, and more are just a few of Icon’s features. As the third LNG-powered ship for the cruise line, Star will also usher in a new era by combining the use of the cleanest-burning marine fuel with a well-proven roster of industry-leading environmental initiatives. The most environmentally friendly ship from Royal Caribbean will progress parent firm Royal Caribbean Group’s efforts to produce a net-zero cruise ship by 2035 with applications ranging from waste heat recovery systems to shore power connection. Source- Travel trade

Leading DMC in Indonesia, Balitrip Wisata, is hosting a four-city roadshow in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Pune, and New Delhi on the 9th, 11th, 12th, and 13th of October, respectively. The purpose of the event is to advertise Bali as a desirable vacation spot for Indian tourists. Travel industry professionals, such as tour operators, travel agencies, and media representatives, will have the chance to visit Bali’s various tourist sites. The Roadshow will highlight Balitrip’s hospitality partners who have long-served the Indian market and have witnessed its rapid expansion through this specific segment. Inder Dheeraj Ranjan Kumar Along with 16 industry partners (sellers), including hotels, resorts, theme parks, cruise lines, and restaurants from Bali, the roadshow will be headed by Dheeraj Ranjan Kumarr, the founder and managing director of Balitrip Wisata, and Bapak Herdy D Sayogha, the managing partner of Balitrip Wisata. “We bring with us some of the best hotels, resorts of Bali who understand the Indian clients and their requirements,” Dheeraj Ranjan Kumar remarked. Travel agencies will learn more about new options from each stakeholder thanks to this buyer-seller interaction. Source- Travel daily

The company behind the renowned Rann Utsav and its enormous tent city, Evoke Experiences, is on a protracted growth adventure. The company’s recent acquisition of two outstanding properties in Gujarat, strategically located in Sasan and ShivrajPur, is the result of its expansion strategy. Travelers will be able to fully experience Gujarat’s rich culture, heritage, and natural beauty thanks to these thoughtful upgrades. Evoke Experiences is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Gujarat Tourism in keeping with its dedication to enhancing the tourism industry. This partnership demonstrates the company’s commitment to fostering regional tourism growth while providing tourists with distinctive, engaging experiences. In the near future, Evoke Experiences is aggressively investigating underutilized locations and building partnerships with various state government bodies. By the end of this year, the business hopes to have added eight more projects to its already impressive portfolio. In addition to its flagship project, the Rann Utsav, Evoke Experiences has a portfolio of other operational projects, including Gandhisagar Floating Festival, Statue of Unity Tent City 1, Niraan, a tent city in Varanasi, and Evoke Dholavira. Evoke Experiences hopes to establish a name for itself as the leading provider of all-encompassing destination experiences. “Our vision is to position Evoke Experiences as the preferred brand for those who are seeking exceptional hospitality and lifelong memories,” says Bhavik Sheth, COO of Evoke Experiences. Evoke Experiences has experienced impressive growth during the last ten years. The company welcomed 10,000 visitors in its first year, 2013–2014. This number has grown dramatically, with the most recent year welcoming an astounding 54,000 visitors. This growth demonstrates the company’s commitment to bridging the gap between lavish tent towns, which represent the world of temporary hospitality services, and more traditional, long-lasting types of hospitality. Through a variety of events and initiatives throughout the course of the next five years, the company will concentrate on extending its reach to a wider audience, with a concentration on metropolitan areas. Source- Travel daily