Starfish Travel Corporation Team

A multi-year contract has been inked between Embraer and Luxair, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg’s flag carrier, to sustain the recently acquired E195-E2 fleet through the Pool Program. The four new jets that Luxair will add to its fleet will have support for a large variety of repairable components thanks to this agreement. A significant range of parts that are immediately available on the customer’s operational base is also included in the solution. Presently, over 60 airlines across the globe are supported by Embraer’s Pool Program. “We continue to show our dedication to quality with the signing of this Pool Program agreement with Embraer. We will be able to rely on Embraer’s experience for our upcoming fleet because of this partnership, which will shorten lead times for maintenance and ensure that our aircraft are operationally available, maintained to the highest standards, and guaranteed to be safe and reliable. The CEO of Luxair, Gilles Feith, says, “This partnership is exactly in line with our desire to always offer the best to our customers.” “We are prepared to offer Luxair the finest possible support to keep their fleet operating at peak readiness. They will be able to combine reduced expenses and improved performance thanks to the Pool Program. “We are happy to collaborate with Luxair and extend a warm welcome to them as a new E2 client,” stated Carlos Naufel, CEO and President of Embraer Services & Support. With its extensive network of component services and technological know-how, Embraer supports airlines all over the world. In the end, guaranteed performance levels are achieved along with significant savings in repair and inventory carrying costs, as well as a decrease in the amount of warehouse space and staff needed for repair management. The portfolio of Embraer Services & Support provides a broad range of affordable options tailored to each customer in order to support the expanding Embraer aircraft fleet globally and provide the greatest after-sales care in the aerospace sector. Source- Travel daily  Link- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/luxair-and-embraer-sign-a-pool-program-agreement-for-the-airlines-newly-acquired-e2-fleet/

For 2024, A-ROSA River trips will offer its largest itinerary to date with the addition of more themed trips to its repertoire. Along with the current themes of Yoga & Nutrition, Meditation, Create & Illustrate, and Photography, there are now three new themes available for purchase: Dance, Jazz & Swing, and Beauty & Spa. In order to guarantee that guests return home inspired by their selected subject, coaches or artists welcome guests aboard each trip. Each expert themed itinerary includes workshops, seminars, and/or evening entertainment. Each five-night trip is offered on the Rhine and Danube rivers on specific departure dates in March and November 2024. And here’s a treat: by using the unique code “HALLOWEEN” in the A-ROSA booking engine, you may save 30% on the cruise ticket. This code is good for any reservations made from now until October 31st, 2024, with the exception of departures for Culinary Highlights. A few new themes are: DANCE: Bring your dancing shoes for this cruise. Michael Theissen, the event’s host, will lead dancers of all skill levels in two well-liked dance forms. Come learn two line dance moves from him, along with a disco class and themed evenings to showcase your newly acquired skills. One evening, there’s also the opportunity to learn a little bit more about the background of dance through an interesting discussion. The A-ROSA SENA is the ideal ship for this vacation because of her expansive dance floor and extra-large spa, which are wonderful for unwinding afterward. This five-night Rhine cruise departs on March 20, 2024, and returns on November 27, 2024. JAZZ & SWING: International jazz greats “The Mood Messengers” will be performing on this brand-new trip. In two evening performances, this gifted trio will transport listeners to the worlds of jazz and swing while showcasing their incredible repertory. With a repertoire that includes jazz ballads, sensuous bossa nova, danceable swing, and jazz renditions of popular songs, this trip offers breathtaking scenery throughout the day and musically captivating evenings. On November 3, 2024, A-ROSA AQUA will sail from the Rhine on this five-night voyage, and on November 19, 2024, A-ROSA FLORA will depart from the Danube. BEAUTY & SPA – Step inside the magnificent A-ROSA SENA for a brand-new, extra-special departure that is dedicated to everything beauty and spa related. This journey explores the secrets of beauty from the inside out, hosted by Thalasso expert Ingrid Breyer in collaboration with marine cosmetic powerhouse Thalgo. It includes an enhanced program of onboard beauty treatments and exercise, the opportunity to try the newest products in Thalgo’s award-winning marine-inspired product range, and fascinating lectures and workshops on topics like holistic beauty and conscious anti-ageing. This five-night Rhine trip departs on November 12, 2024, aboard the ship A-ROSA SENA. Recurring themes consist of: YOGA & NUTRITION: With this short cruise, take a break from the daily grind. Daily yoga sessions and thought-provoking lectures on nutrition, fitness, and health are all part of this five-night adventure that aims to calm, revitalize, and reconnect guests with their inner selves. Ulrike Homuth, a well-known health and lifestyle coach and authorized Anusara yoga instructor, serves as the host. She will lead guests in yoga sessions against breathtaking scenery, go further into lifestyle decisions to enhance stress levels, sleep quality, and nutrition, and provide customized takeaways by fusing modern methods with age-old wisdom. This five-night voyage departs on the Rhine on March 25, 2024, aboard A-ROSA SENA, and on the Danube on November 9, 2024, aboard A-ROSA FLORA. MEDITATION: Guests are encouraged to join mindfulness instructor Fabienne Bill as she explores their inner selves on these meditation-themed cruises, where she hopes to help them discover their inner serenity and escape the grind of daily life. During onboard meditation lessons, the mental health specialist will encourage passengers to take some time for themselves. She will also give them reflection assignments to complete while they are on land. She covers subjects like emotions, mindfulness, and resilience in her seminars. On November 7 and 22, A-ROSA SENA will leave on a five-night trip down the Rhine. PHOTOGRAPHY: Sailings with a photography theme are a terrific option for travelers who wish to learn how to take the ideal vacation photo and want to be able to take it. Photographer Lisa Stelzel will be there to greet the guests and share some insider knowledge. The blogger, a native of Vienna, will guide visitors on photo tours of her hometown and the Swiss treasure, Linz, as well as the most Instagrammable hidden spots in the city. Those that follow along will discover how to use their smartphone or camera to capture beautiful images of the continuously shifting landscape that surrounds them. Between October 30 and November 4, A-ROSA FLORA will run a five-night Danube trip. CREATE & ILLUSTRATE: With breathtaking river views as a backdrop, these artistic excursions inspire passengers’ creative ideas. Tanja Meyer, a skilled illustrator, will join sailings that feature a variety of offered onboard workshops open to all guests. Visitors can create postcards and bags to take home as a memento of their artistic voyage using the illustrator’s templates. On November 02 and November 07, A-ROSA BRAVA will set sail on a five-night Rhine cruise. Source- Travel daily

Today, the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Air New Zealand announced an extension of their collaboration to work together for conservation. The two organizations will double their annual direct expenditure, and their commitment will last for another five years. Over the next five years, Air New Zealand will directly invest more than $5 million in DOC biodiversity programs as part of the renewal, building on more than ten years of collaboration. With this expanded commitment, DOC’s statewide Conservation Dogs Programme will join the airline’s ongoing support for pest control and species monitoring along five of New Zealand’s Great Walks. The long-standing cooperation with New Zealand’s national carrier, according to DOC Director-General Penny Nelson, is evidence of the importance of wildlife in Aotearoa. “The foundation of tourism is the environment. People benefit when they are exposed to untamed, wholesome, and distinctive nature. Both foreign tourists and residents of New Zealand are drawn to our landscape. Unfortunately, almost 4000 species are either imperiled or in danger of going extinct. We can accomplish more for native species thanks to our collaboration with Air New Zealand than we could on our own. For instance, on the Milford route, our collaboration has reduced the number of predators to the point that we are able to increase the pāteke/brown teal population. Air New Zealand funded radio transmitters to track their success in addition to flying in 60 planes. Thanks to our collaboration, trampers can now see pāteke together with a variety of other healthy birds, reptiles, and insects when hiking along the track.We can have an effect like this through enduring partnerships with businesses, which is why we are thrilled to be advancing our work with Air New Zealand. Air New Zealand will offer more than $5 million in in-kind support in addition to the direct investment. As part of this support, conservation dogs and threatened animals are still flown, and campaigns are launched to bring attention to the biodiversity disaster and ways that both New Zealanders and visitors from other countries may help with conservation efforts in Aotearoa. Kiri Hannifin, Chief Sustainability Officer of Air New Zealand, says the airline is thrilled to add the world-renowned Conservation Dogs Programme to its long-standing relationship with DOC.The distinctive and priceless biodiversity of New Zealand is always at danger. It is essential to keep putting a variety of science-based efforts into action to counter this threat. “Our enhanced funding will help the DOC Conservation Dogs Programme train, certify, and assist teams of dog handlers in identifying protected species in New Zealand and invasive pests. “The fight against Aotearoa’s declining biodiversity is being led by these highly trained dogs and their handlers.” Since the partnership started in 2012, it has flown over 4,300 threatened species and conservation dogs, accomplished more than 42,000ha of continuous pest management alongside some of the most famous Great Walks, and facilitated over 30 million interactions with people through collaborative storytelling. Source- Travel daily Link- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/air-new-zealand-and-department-of-conservation-partnership-renewed/

Hilton has announced the inauguration of Hilton Yokohama. Hilton Yokohama is situated in central Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest city after Tokyo, in Minato Mirai 21, a bustling waterfront residential, business, and entertainment center. The opening of Hilton Yokohama in this popular location strengthens Hilton’s position in Japan. Within the Minato Mirai 21 sector, Hilton Yokohama is located next to concert Terrace, the largest purpose-built concert venue globally. Impressive amenities like the state-of-the-art K-Tower Yokohama office skyscraper and the K-Arena Yokohama, an arena with seating for over 20,000 people, are part of this waterfront complex. This integrated project, which unites the commercial, entertainment, and hotel sectors, enhances Yokohama’s standing as a vibrant metropolitan hub. Timothy Soper, area vice president and head of Hilton’s Japan, Korea, and Micronesia, said, “We are delighted to partner with Ken Corporation to bring our first Hilton hotel to Yokohama, as we mark our 60th anniversary in Japan since we introduced Hilton Tokyo in 1963.” Source- Travel daily Link- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/hilton-yokohama-opens-with-339-keys-in-japan/

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/