Starfish Travel Corporation Team

The eleventh environmentally friendly Airbus A321LR for Air Astana Group was delivered to the manufacturer’s assembly factory in Hamburg, Germany, and then made its way to Almaty. There are currently 48 aircraft in the Air Astana Group’s fleet overall, 40 of which are Airbus family models. There are sixteen business class seats and 150 economy class seats on the Airbus A321LR, four of which are single seat rows to provide more space. The airline’s dedication to operating ecologically friendly aircraft that boost customer comfort is demonstrated by the ongoing growth of the Airbus A321LR fleet. Samruk Kazyna, Kazakhstan’s state wealth fund, and BAE Systems, with respective stakes of 51% and 49%, launched Air Astana’s operations in May 2002. The airline operates as a full-service local and international carrier. Since its start in 2019, its low-cost subsidiary, FlyArystan, has had significant growth in both regional and domestic markets. Currently, the Air Astana Group has 48 aircraft in its fleet: three Boeing 767s, five Embraer E2, and forty Airbus A320/A321 family aircraft. In addition to winning numerous TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice honors and APEX honors, Air Astana has been recognized with a distinguished 4-Star rating from Skytrax for 11 consecutive years. Source- Travel daily Link- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/air-astana-takes-delivery-of-eleventh-airbus-a321lr/

With 800 hotels spread across 40 brands in 100 countries, Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) is the largest alliance of independent hotel brands in the world. It is currently on pace to set a record year, with 2023 room revenues, room nights, and total domestic and international stays year-to-date (YTD) all consistently higher than 2019—its previous best year. Strong Q3 performance, with hotel revenues 41% higher than in Q3 2022 and room nights up 31% year over year for Q3, are proving to be a big factor in GHA’s 2023 gains. With 101% more sales than in 2022 YTD, the total revenue for 2023 YTD has reached US$1.7 billion. During Q3 2022, new enrollments for GHA DISCOVERY increased by 46% compared to Q3 2022. This was a significant milestone for the award-winning program, as its overall membership surpassed 25 million. “All key performance indicators peaked in Q3, driven by phenomenal summer demand in every major market where our hotel brands operate,” stated GHA CEO Chris Hartley. “It’s been an amazing year for GHA.” “This unfettered desire for travel, along with the addition of over 21 new properties from 14 different brands to GHA since the year’s beginning, has increased the appeal of our reward program and resulted to a significant increase in GHA DISCOVERY membership, which now stands at over 25 million. Due in large part to the portfolio strength and appeal of GHA hotel brand assets in these markets, Spain, Thailand, and Italy are the top three countries generating 2023 room revenue improvements year-over-year. Singapore and the UAE follow closely behind in fourth and fifth place. Chris Hartley, CEO of Horizontal Hotel Alliance Organizing it according to the hotels that made the most money in Q3 from visits by GHA DISCOVERY reward program members: The top two resorts in the rankings were PARKROYAL Collection Marina Bay and PARKROYAL Collection Pickering in Singapore, and Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort in St. Lucia. Both of these establishments were among the top three for the total number of room nights that members stayed in Q3; the Marina Bay facility came in first, and the Pickering hotel came in third. In terms of total room nights, the Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel & Residences, located outside of Delhi, India, was the second most popular property among GHA DISCOVERY members. A noteworthy 90% rise in D$ rewards currency redemptions from Q3 2022 to Q3 2023 was another highlight of Q3. The ability for GHA DISCOVERY members to accrue D$ at one hotel and exchange them for any property or brand within the alliance resulted in a 55% increase in total cross-brand income to $79 million in Q3 2022. Building on the $135 million overall cross-brand income in H1 2023, GHA is expected to surpass its cross-brand total for 2022, which was already 25 percent higher than the 2019 amount. As of right now, GHA expects to reach $280 million by year’s end. “Our flexible, transparent, and user-friendly rewards currency, valued at D$1 equal to US$1, not only increases the amount of money that GHA DISCOVERY members can access but also generates substantial additional revenue for our hotel brands,” stated Hartley. “We expect additional increases in redemptions prior to year-end as eager travelers utilize their D$ for winter getaways, supplementing their savings with additional expenditures to bolster Q4 and culminate an incredible 2023.” Source- Travel daily Link- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/gha-q3-performance-peaks/

Marella Cruises has declared that starting on May 7, 2025, it would homeport Marella Discovery 2 for a series of summer sailings out of Limassol, Cyprus. Customers can purchase itineraries for summer 2025 starting on November 9, 2023, marking the cruise line’s first visit to the Cypriot port since winter 2017. Two itineraries, Aegean Gems, which calls at Kusadasi (for Ephesus), Turkey; Mykonos Town*, Mykonos; Piraeus (for Athens), Greece; Souda (for Chania), Crete, and Rhodes Town, Rhodes, will be offered by the new homeport for sailings. Greece’s Piraeus (the capital of Athens), Santorini, Crete, and Rhodes are among the Greek locations that the Grecian Discovery itinerary will stop at. Furthermore, Marella Cruises is going to provide its passengers with even more options: ten Cruise & Stay destinations, including Palma, Corfu, Dubrovnik, and Cyprus, will be available for selection throughout the year. Customers can enjoy a combined package trip with the Cruise & Stay program, which offers the opportunity to experience life at sea and a hotel stay that can be added either before or after a cruise. “We’re excited to be launching our summer 2025 itineraries and basing Marella Discovery 2 out of Limassol,” stated Chris Hackney, Managing Director of Cruise for TUI UK & I. We are constantly searching for fresh approaches to enhance and modify the services we provide to our clients, whether it be by adding new ships, itineraries, or locations. “Guests will have the chance to experience a variety of ports and destinations, along with the chance to benefit from Marella’s Cruise & Stay program, by taking advantage of a stay at one of TUI’s hotels prior to or following a cruise.” Launched in June 2023, Marella Voyager is the newest ship in Marella Cruises’ fleet. It will sail four itineraries out of Palma, Mallorca: Treasures of the Mediterranean, Mediterranean Secrets, Mediterranean Medley, and Magic of Spain. Bookings for Limassol, Cyprus for the summer of 2025 will open on November 9, 2023. Starting on May 14, 2025, Marella Cruises will be providing 7-night cruises on board Marella Discovery 2 on the Grecian Discovery itinerary for £1,501 per person. This cost includes return flights from airports in the United Kingdom, all-inclusive tips and charges for two persons sharing an inside cabin on deck 2/3, transfers, and a 20 kg luggage allowance. Starting on October 22, 2025, Marella Cruises will be offering 7-night cruises on board Marella Discovery 2 on the Aegean Gems itinerary for £1,531 per person. This cost covers return flights from airports in the United Kingdom, all tips and charges, two persons sharing an inside cabin on deck 2/3, 20 kilograms of luggage allowance, and transfers. Source- Travel daily Link- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/marella-cruises-launches-summer-2025-itineraries/

TUI and IBS Software have a long-standing collaboration to restructure TUI’s IT operations and provide transformational value. All 35+ airline backend systems of TUI are currently maintained by IBS Software, using both legacy and cutting-edge technology stacks. The Integrated Disposition Planning and Statistics product (IDPS), which manages flight planning and control, crewing and rostering, flight operations, maintenance planning, HR, statistics and reporting across all five of TUI’s airlines, will continue to be owned, operated, and improved by IBS Software as a result of this renewed partnership. In its quest to create a virtual airline and future-proof its airlines by locating economies of scale that bring growth, TUI has identified the IDPS platform as a strategic objective. “IBS Software is passionate about developing a strategic approach to optimize our Airline IT operations platform, adapting constantly to our business model,” said Isabelle Droll, Chief Information Officer, Holiday Experience and Corporate & Sustainability, TUI. We were able to fully utilize the capabilities of our IDPS system thanks to our partnership with IBS Software and the use of its knowledge in airline operations, business procedures, and technology. “Our long-term partnership with TUI has been characterized by mutual trust and great service, which has led to the platform’s successful evolution to meet TUI’s changing business needs. With this reaffirmed commitment, we anticipate being a key factor in facilitating TUI’s expansion and success in the constantly changing travel industry, according to Latha Rani, Vice President & Head of Service Delivery at IBS Software. Source- Travel daily Link- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/tui-group-deepens-partnership-with-ibs-software-to-optimise-operations/

Recognizing the significant increase in visitor numbers during the first half of the year, South African Tourism organized the second workshop of “Learn South Africa” 2023 in Pune with the goal of maintaining the travel momentum. The tourist board’s signature travel trade training session, “Learn SA,” aims to give travel agents the best resources to effectively market the destination in accordance with its plan to surpass pre-pandemic visitor statistics by the end of the year. The six-city training session, which ended in Delhi and Pune, will be followed by Kolkata, Kochi, Indore, and Jaipur in an effort to maintain the high travel momentum seen during the first half of 2023. Local events like “Learn SA” help the tourism board lay the groundwork for bringing trade partners into line with the board’s well-developed growth strategy and its goal of luring Indian tourists to the Rainbow Nation. The seminars serve as a beneficial forum for growing South African Tourism’s network of business partners by inviting and enticing a delegation of fresh faces. This immersive experience intends to strengthen our joint efforts to promote the variety of attractions and experiences that South Africa has to offer by providing them with the skills and resources they’ll need to effectively promote and represent the nation. India is currently South Africa’s sixth-largest foreign source market, and the country, in the opinion of the tourist board, has a vital part to play in the country’s thriving tourism industry. Over 111 business partners took part in the event in Pune. Additionally, more than 1,000 business partners from all around India are anticipated to attend this year’s “Learn SA” event. The 9th edition of “Learn SA” focuses on unusual activities, uncharted provinces, and undiscovered South African treasures. “I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Indian trade fraternity for being a part of this workshop and playing a crucial role in its success,” said Neliswa Nkani, Hub Head – Middle East, India and South-East Asia, in response to ‘Learn South Africa’ 2023. Their passion, commitment, and desire to find out more about South Africa have not only improved this effort but also established the groundwork for enduring alliances that will develop over time. Through our combined efforts, we have seen a huge increase in Indian tourists this year, which confirms my conviction that this is just the beginning. By extending these initiatives to tier-2 and tier-3 cities in the Indian market, we will be attempting to innovate and seek additional avenues of association. One of the major new source markets in India for South African tourism is Pune. The inclination for leisure and business travel from the nation has been rising, which has contributed to the burgeoning footfalls at The Rainbow Nation. The tourism board noted an 18% increase in business travelers from Pune between January and June 2023 compared to January to June 2022. Over 88% of travelers that entered the city from outside the country chose South Africa for their MICE and business travel plans. Due to its creative initiatives and year-round teamwork, South African tourism has seen an increase in visitors of over 80% from January through July 2023 when compared to the same period in the previous year. India is one of the top three key markets for the South African Tourism board globally, and it has a significant investment in the country as part of its long-term global strategy. Source- TRavel daily Link- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/south-african-tourism-hosts-learn-sa-workshop-for-travel-trade-partners-in-pune/

Look forward to a number of innovative initiatives and partnerships that are going to shake up the hospitality industry when FHA-HoReCa, Asia’s most comprehensive and premier hospitality event, returns from 22–25 October 2024. A relationship with Foodservice Technology (FSTEC), the premier foodservice technology event in the world, as well as WorldChefs, which will host Singapore’s first-ever Global Chefs Challenge Finals, are among them. FHA-HoReCa pioneers relationships with industry experts on technology solutions and talent recognition across the best of the hotel and culinary scene to cover all bases in order to fulfill the growing demands of the hospitality and culinary industries. They are an integral component of FHA-HoReCa’s plans to advance both Singapore’s domestic and international hospitality industries by bringing the most cutting-edge options and solutions there. The FHA-HoReCa trade show is the largest international trade fair in Asia, showcasing five essential industries on a single platform: bakery, pastry & gelato; foodservice & hospitality equipment; hospitality style; hospitality technology; and specialty coffee. Over 40,000 catering and hotel industry experts travel from all over the world for this event. FSTEC Asia’s debut: “Where Hospitality and Technology Connect” The premier foodservice technology event in the world, FSTEC, is excited to announce its most recent collaboration with FHA-HoReCa for the launch of FSTEC Asia, its first edition. FSTEC Asia will be seamlessly integrated into the biannual FHA-HoReCa tradeshow, offering two full days of programming with expert speakers from all over the world from October 22–25, 2024, at the Singapore Expo, setting the stage for groundbreaking discussions and innovations at the intersection of hospitality and technology. The slogan for FSTEC Asia, “Where Hospitality and Tech Connect,” represents a strategic progression from the slogan for the US event, “Where Restaurants and Tech Connect,” and it reflects how the hospitality sector is changing while also incorporating a wider range of technology-driven opportunities and solutions. The conference will feature talks on all aspects of hospitality technology, including ordering and payment, loyalty programs, workforce management systems, AI, and robotics, according to Chris Keating, Head of FSTEC. There will be something there for both the huge, international restaurant chain and the developing concept, as well as for the vendors and systems integrators who will support operators in achieving their objectives. The flagship event for FSTEC Asia in the US, FSTEC, has grown significantly over the past three years, drawing over 800 executives from top restaurant firms looking for technical solutions to improve their operations. the inaugural Worldchefs Global Chefs Challenge Finals in Singapore The first-ever Global Chefs Challenge Finals in Singapore will be held at the 2024 edition of FHA-HoReCa, which will be hosted by World Association of Chef Societies, also known as Worldchefs, a leading global organization that unites professional and delegates from around the world. The top 72 chefs from 25 different nations, chosen based on their remarkable performance at the 2023 Worldchefs Regional Semi-Finals, will compete in the Global Chefs Challenge Finals. These chefs will square off at the Global Chef Challenge Finals, which is slated to run from October 22 through October 25, 2024, at the Singapore Expo. The greatest chefs in the world will gather to participate in four competition categories at the 2024 Global Chefs Challenge Finals: Global Vegan Chefs Competition Global Pastry Chefs Competition Global Young Chefs Competition Global Chefs Competition The first finals of the Global Vegan Chefs Challenge’s newest category will be held at the Global Chefs Challenge Finals. In this competition, creative chefs will present their expertise in vegan cooking. They must use important vegan foods in inventive and delicious ways while excluding animal proteins from their plates. According to Thomas Gugler, president of Worldchefs, “The Global Vegan Chefs Challenge will be an exciting opportunity for Worldchefs members interested in expanding and showcasing their expertise and knowledge of Vegan Cuisine, and this particular category will support our mission as leaders in global culinary advancement and culinary competitions.” FHA-HoReCa is paving the way in the fast-paced world of hospitality and culinary innovation. FHA-HoReCa is bridging hospitality and technology while recognizing the world’s culinary excellence, starting with the establishment of FSTEC Asia and continuing with the hosting of the Global Chefs Challenge Finals. Join FHA-HoReCa 2024 at the Singapore Expo from October 22–25, 2024, to be a part of the future. Source- Travel daily Link- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/fha-horeca-announces-new-initiatives-and-partnerships-for-2024-edition/

After 27 years of outstanding service, Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker will retire from his current role as Group Chief Executive with effect from November 5, 2023. Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer will succeed Al Baker as Group Chief Executive for Qatar Airways. Under Akbar Al Baker’s direction, Qatar Airways has developed into one of the most recognizable and dependable brands in the world, standing for excellent customer service and the highest standards. The national airline of the State of Qatar has won the title of “World’s Best Airline” an unprecedented seven times, and its cutting-edge Hamad International Airport, which is managed and operated by the same company, has also been named the “Best Airport in the World.” The Qatar Airways Group’s contribution to making the FIFA World Cup the best one ever produced demonstrated to the world its capacity, dedication to quality, and passion for uniting people from all over the world. Source- Travel daily Link- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/qatar-airways-group-appoints-new-group-chief-executive/

In order to improve inbound and outbound travel experiences through cross-border digital payments, Alipay+ and LankaPay recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This will allow users of Alipay+ payment partners to easily make payments at more than 400,000 LankaQR merchants throughout Sri Lanka. Sri Lankans traveling abroad will be able to use their LankaQR-enabled apps to scan and pay at Alipay+ businesses worldwide thanks to the cooperation. By the beginning of 2024, users of popular Asian e-wallets from the region, such as those from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand, will be able to make cashless payments when they visit Sri Lanka using Alipay+, a collection of international cross-border digital payment, marketing, and digitalization solutions run by Ant Group. All they need to do is scan the LankaQR. In the near future, more electronic wallets are anticipated to join. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka launched the LankaQR project to ensure that all QR codes and transactions utilizing QR technology are uniform and compatible in Sri Lanka. The LankaQR network was launched in 2020 and is run and administered by LankaPay, which also runs Sri Lanka’s National Payment Network. Channa de Silva, Chief Executive Officer of LankaPay, welcomed Alipay+ on board with the following statement: “We are delighted to announce this important partnership with Alipay+, which is a significant milestone in our effort to facilitate seamless cross-border transactions in support of our vision to become a global player in digital payments. We are confident that this agreement will make it easier for Asian visitors to Sri Lanka and a more appealing offer, particularly for SME merchants with significantly lower commission rates than card payments. We therefore anticipate that our initiatives will inevitably encourage more SME merchants to adopt digital platforms, which is crucial for creating the nation’s digital eco-system and advancing both the tourism sector and the national economy. By the end of 2024, the Alipay+ global merchant network will also accept all e-wallets enabled by LankaPay, allowing Sri Lankans traveling abroad to pay with their convenient domestic e-wallet. Tens of millions of retailers across more than 50 countries today accept Alipay+. Additionally, Alipay+ and LankaPay will collaborate on collaborative marketing initiatives to advertise Sri Lanka as a travel destination and local businesses that cater to tourists abroad. “Alipay+ continues to accelerate the transition to digital travel in more regions through our integrations with national standardized QR codes, this time in Sri Lanka with LankaPay,” said Dr. Cherry Huang, general manager of Alipay+ Offline Merchant Services, Ant Group. We’ve witnessed a change in travel tastes as the global travel industry recovers, including more expectations for how digital solutions should improve traveler experiences and a greater desire to visit previously undiscovered locations. We’re therefore quite thrilled about how our collaboration with LankaPay will make it easier for visitors to identify and pay for goods and services at local merchants, creating growth potential for local companies. In comparison to the 720,000 visitors it received during 2022, Sri Lanka saw more than 1 million visitors from January through September of this year[1]. Monthly increases in arrivals have been observed since January, and in September, the number of visitors jumped by 275% over the same month last year. The Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority is optimistic that they would attract more tourists than their 1.5 million annual target. As a result, as of August, it had contributed more than USD 1.3 billion to the tourism industry, an increase of 56% from the previous year[2]. Sri Lanka has the ability to draw from a broader base of Chinese and Asian visitors as a result of China opening its borders earlier this year for its nationals to travel abroad. Local firms must adjust to these new digital habits since Asian consumers are knowledgeable users of digital solutions like e-wallet payments. The acceptance of LankaQR by both large and small businesses nationwide would help visitors to make quick payments at more Sri Lankan destinations. This would be consistent with the initiative by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority to market the island’s lesser-known attractions. Additionally, Sri Lanka has gained acclaim from around the world for its attractions, including being home to one of the “Top Wildlife Safaris Outside of Africa” in 2023. Through a one-time integration and straightforward technical adaption, Alipay+, which was introduced by Ant Group in 2020, enables local businesses, particularly small and medium-sized ones, to process a wide range of mobile payment methods and reach more than 1.4 billion regional and global consumers. The Alipay+ ecosystem allows for the acceptance of digital payments from e-wallets, banking applications, and buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) apps at millions of businesses worldwide. Popular travel destinations including the Chinese mainland, Macao Special Administrative Region, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, France, and Spain are just a few that accept it widely. Source- Travel daily Link- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/alipay-partners-lankapay-to-enhance-digital-travel-experience-to-and-from-sri-lanka/

Due to the strategic codeshare agreement between Etihad Airways and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), passengers on both airlines will have better connectivity to locations on each other’s networks.  Customers can purchase a single ticket, check in just once at the beginning of their journey, and have their bags transported all the way to their final destination. “Our strategic bilateral agreement with SAS, coming after the start of our flights to Copenhagen, allows more seamless travel for our guests from Northern Europe to enjoy Abu Dhabi and to connect with our growing global network, including our expanding destinations in the Indian Sub-Continent, East Asia, Middle East, and Africa,” said Arik De, Chief Revenue Officer at Etihad. The partnership enables our visitors to travel to places throughout Scandinavia from a single point, including Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Gothenburg, Bergen, and Aarhus.By inviting more visitors to our country who enjoy improved travel perks and more priceless experiences, we are strengthening Abu Dhabi’s cultural and economic growth, and this agreement is simply the latest step in that mission. “We are pleased for the opportunity to introduce a new codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways,” stated Paul Verhagen, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of SAS.With links to India, the Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and other destinations, this agreement increases the options accessible to SAS passengers for trips to Abu Dhabi and beyond. We are devoted to keeping our promise to our consumers to offer smooth travel experiences, thus we will keep improving global connectivity. The partnership between SAS and Etihad in the Etihad Guest frequent flyer program is strengthened as a result of this arrangement.  Members of EuroBonus and Etihad Guest can earn miles when flying with SAS, and vice versa. This benefit is currently available for all flights on both airline networks. At the end of December 2023, the codeshare will be fully operational, allowing consumers to make reservations through all of Etihad’s sales channels, including travel agencies and Etihad.com, for travel beginning in January. Source- Travel daily Link-https://www.traveldailymedia.com/etihad-enhances-scandinavian-connectivity-in-strategic-codeshare-deal-with-sas/