Starfish Travel Corporation Team

Richard Ireland, President of SACEOS, will preside over the 44th Executive Committee, assisted by an outstanding group of Executive Committee members with a variety of MICE industry expertise. At its annual general meeting on May 18, 2023, the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS) elected its 44th Executive Committee to promote the expansion of the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) sector in Singapore and to lead advocacy efforts. The MICE business is still recovering strongly, and the return of international MICE events and tourists to Singapore makes the election of the new SACEOS Executive Committee critical. The Association is determined to building on the outstanding work it has done to help the industry’s recovery over the previous three years with the mandate that has been given to the new leadership. SACEOS is dedicated to its objective of working with its members, industry participants, and the government to address issues in areas like personnel and talent, as well as to lead the sector’s efforts towards a more sustainable future. Despite the positive prognosis for the industry as a whole. SACEOS will host the Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) from July 26–28, 2023, a flagship event that will draw influential policymakers, stakeholders, and MICE practitioners from all over the world, in an effort to make this vision a reality. Richard Ireland, President of SACEOS, will preside over the 44th Executive Committee, which is made up of outstanding individuals with a variety of MICE sector credentials. SACEOS President Richard Ireland stated: “We are honoured and privileged to be guiding the Association and MICE sector into an exciting new chapter of growth, together with the SACEOS 44th Executive Committee. Since its reopening, the MICE sector has had a significant rebound and is expected to reach pre-pandemic levels in the coming years. As a result, SACEOS’s position as the industry’s advocate and voice has never been more crucial during this crucial stage of development. “Although the industry’s prognosis is quite promising, there are still difficulties it must overcome, including a lack of talent, workforce, and sustainability. In order to further the sector’s growth and solidify Singapore’s position as a premier international MICE destination, SACEOS is dedicated to working in partnership with our members, industry players, and the government to solve the issues. Source: traveldailynews

A 160-seat Boeing 737MAX will be used for flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays through October 30, 2023. MA QUINCY – The nonstop, seasonal service between Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Reykjavik, Iceland, has officially begun. Four times every week at 8:30 p.m., flight 872 is planned to leave the Motor City for Keflavk International Airport (KEF) and arrive in Iceland at 6:30 a.m. Returning passenger flight 873 will leave Iceland for Michigan at 4:55 p.m. and land at Detroit Metropolitan Airport at 7:20 p.m. the same day. A 160-seat Boeing 737MAX will be used for flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays through October 30, 2023. There are connections available at Icelandair’s Keflavk hub to more than 25 locations in Iceland, Greenland, the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, and continental Europe on the roughly six-hour journey from DTW to Iceland. Along the way to their ultimate destination, Icelandair customers can stopover there for up to 7 nights at no additional cost. “Icelandair is happy to give Detroiters a new, energising option for travelling to Europe. Our additional flights will provide business and vacationers from Michigan more opportunities to travel to Iceland and other places, according to Bogi. President and CEO of Icelandair Group Nils Bogason. “These additional flights will make Detroit a viable gateway in our network by allowing for both incoming and outgoing travel, therefore promoting tourism and trade to and from the Motor City. We are eager to have Detroit on board and are thrilled to assist in bridging Motown with Europe. Detroit, the hub of American car production and the famed Motown music industry, is the second-largest regional economy in the American Midwest. DTW shares the title of “Best Airport of 25 to 40 million passengers in North America” with Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, according to a recent assessment by Airports Council International. Passengers passing through the Motor City can connect at DTW to over 125 destinations. According to Chad Newton, CEO of the Wayne County Airport Authority, “geothermal springs, breathtaking vistas of the northern lights, and active volcanoes are just five and a half hours distant from Detroit Metropolitan Airport for our clients. “We’re prepared to reintroduce Iceland to the Midwest. We think two further factors that will influence people to pick DTW are nonstop service to Iceland and the availability of connections to other locations across Europe. Source: traveldailynews

Greater than a third of Brits (almost a third) say they place greater priority on enjoying life and prefer to create enduring experiences over spending their money on material objects. almost half of Brits (56%) believe the epidemic impacted their views on travel.Along with utilising their cash savings, Brits are opting to spend less this summer on takeout (45%), restaurants and drinks out (42%) and apparel and accessories (30%), as well as flying on more affordable airlines.Nine out of ten British citizens think they will travel more or about the same in 2024, indicating that this emphasis on travel will continue.According to recent study by easyJet of 2,000 British people, vacations abroad are more important to Britons than ever, despite the high expense of living. According to new research, Brits are not only not being deterred from taking vacations by the economy but are instead giving travel even higher priority than before. The Worth of the Holiday Despite the rising expense of living, more than half of Brits (57%) believe they will always safeguard their summer vacation. According to recent study, individuals (45%) need something to look forward to when they travel, and 37% need a break from their regular routines at home and at work. Due of this, eighty percent (80%) of Brits stated they will still travel this summer. Two-thirds (74%) of British tourists will travel to Europe this summer, with Spain (23%), Greece (9%) and France (5%) being the most popular countries. Despite rising living expenses, research shows that the majority of Britons (87%) will spend more or roughly the same amount on vacations this year as they did last year. Many Brits place a high value on having time off (42%) and think that creating memories is more essential than anything else (37%). Trends after Pandemics The epidemic, according to 56% of Brits, has altered their perceptions of travel, with 35% saying they now place a higher importance on having fun. Brits said they used to take travel for granted but now want to take advantage of it because of the pandemic restrictions—nearly one in three (30%). Due to this, almost a quarter (23%) report that they are travelling even more than they were before the epidemic, with half (48%) stating that they now place a higher value on experiences than on material possessions. More over half (46%) say they need more time away from their routines, and nearly as many (39%) say they want to make up for the years they weren’t able to travel. In fact, 47% of Brits saved throughout the epidemic and are now utilising that funds to fund their vacation. Protecting the summer break Eighty two percent (82%) of Brits are already cutting back on expenses like takeout (45%), dinners and drinks out (42%), and apparel and accessories (30%) in order to secure their summer vacation. If given the option, Brits would rather spend their money on a summer vacation (66%) than on home improvements (49%), a new car (39%) or a home office (16%). Nearly half (45%) of Brits will be more likely to book flights with a low-cost carrier than they were prior to the epidemic. Additionally, more than two thirds of vacationers are travelling more affordably this year (65%), choosing more affordable hotels and resorts (27%) and more than two thirds (65%) of Americans are doing the same. Johan Lundgren, CEO, stated: “For many, the summer vacation has traditionally been the best time of the year since it allows people and families to travel, unwind, and create lifetime memories. Travel is now once again highly valued and the top priority for household discretionary spending as a result of the epidemic. Travel appears to be more vital than ever, with more customers choosing airlines like EasyJet that guarantee the best value, rather than the cost of living reducing demand. Future Nine out of ten British citizens predict they will travel more or about the same in 2024, indicating that this concentration on travel will continue in the coming year. Source: breakingtravelnews

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Bitkub Blockchain Technology have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together to advance the Bitkub Metaverse as part of the TAT’s continuous initiative to use technology and innovation to convert Thai tourism into Smart Tourism. According to Mr. Nithee Seeprae, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Digitalization, Research, and Development, “With the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters’ campaign, TAT is reviving Thai tourism towards digital transformation in recognition of the significance of the digital economy and digital as a game changer. Blockchain technology will be crucial in growing and promoting tourism, and it also gives Thailand the chance to set an example by embracing virtual reality as a powerful marketing tool. Through the Bitkub Metaverse, TAT and Bitkub Blockchain Technology will collaborate to promote Thai tourism under the terms of the MoU. In addition to promoting tourist landmarks and year-round travel experiences that imitate real-world tourist sites and destinations with 3D visuals and videos, this will be further enhanced to include an information hub on Thai tourism. By using Web 3.0 technology and the use of digital assets, a new virtual environment in the metaverse that integrates NFT (Non-Fungible Token), Blockchain, cryptocurrency, XRB Token, and other technologies will be created. Tourists may have a virtual travel experience and shop for travel-related goods and services in the real world using digital coupons and NFT. After enjoying their virtual experience, travellers from both Thailand and outside will be motivated to visit Thailand more frequently. “We are excited about the possibilities to further develop the Bitkub Metaverse, a project that has received much attention in Thailand’s blockchain industry,” said Mr Passakorn Pannok, CEO of Bitkub Blockchain Technology. Our partnership with the renowned animation production and design studio The Monk Studio provides consumers with a genuine connection to the characters, which may help advertise Thai travel and tourism to both local and foreign tourists. The ‘Amazing Thailand Metaverse: Amazing Durian’ project, the ‘Thailand Travelution 2022’ event, and two seasons of the ‘Amazing Thailand NFTs’ tourist experience were all part of TAT’s innovation strategy for digital tourism in April 2022, November 2022, and April 2023, respectively. Source: breakingtravelnews

Recognised for satisfying guests’ requests for a user-friendly, immediately personalised, and secure in-room entertainment experience is an innovative video streaming system created specifically for hotels. Hotel Internet Services (HIS), a full-service supplier of internet services and solutions for the hospitality sector, has announced that their GuestCast streaming solution has won a TravelTech Breakthrough Award. Because of its cutting-edge functionality and design, GuestCast won the award for best in-room entertainment system of the year, showcasing the most advanced industry solutions for meeting the needs of contemporary hotel guests. The annual TravelTech Breakthrough Awards program’s goal is to perform the most thorough research and evaluation of the leading technology firms, solutions, and goods available in the travel technology sector right now. More than 1,250 submissions from more than 12 different nations were submitted for this year’s programme. The ability of GuestCast to guarantee easy and uncomplicated engagement, especially for first-time users or visitors inexperienced with content casting technology, is crucial to its selection over competing options. In contrast to other platforms, GuestCast’s device-pairing process is as simple as scanning a QR code and avoids the possibility of visitors becoming frustrated. Other systems frequently need guests to perform a number of challenging processes in order to link their personal devices to a guestroom TV. Due to the fact that hotels routinely host visitors from all over the world, GuestCast’s quick compatibility with tens of thousands of mobile streaming applications also makes sure that each visitor may tailor watching experiences to suit their particular interests. Gary Patrick, CEO of Hotel Internet Services, said, “The hospitality industry has struggled to keep up with changing guest expectations when it comes to in-room entertainment. We are absolutely thrilled, then, that our peers recognise the tremendous value and potential that GuestCast represents in fully bridging this service gap. Countless hours of research and development went into creating GuestCast in order to create a system that replicates the personalisation and simplicity that guests experience while streaming from home. This resulted in GuestCast’s market-leading capabilities. As more travellers base their booking decisions on their ability to quickly and safely access their own multimedia streaming subscriptions, we are extremely pleased of the dedication and hard work of our team in developing a solution that meets current guest requirements. “Meeting current visitor expectations requires experience personalisation, as many travellers base their booking decisions on the opportunity to quickly and safely access their own streaming subscriptions. The most recent improvements in customised in-room entertainment are available with GuestCast by Hotel Internet Services. “We’re happy to present them with the ‘In-room Entertainment Solution of the Year,’” stated Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director of TravelTech Breakthrough Awards. Now, content-viewing preferences may be as varied as the demographics of a property’s visitors without compromising data security and privacy. Hoteliers may now further improve the comfort and experiences of their guests. GuestCast guarantees confidence and trust while utilising the platform by combining additional security measures as a solution designed exclusively for the hotel guestroom. This includes removing worries about login and password theft as well as enhanced device isolation features that stop visitors from unintentionally casting video to TVs in adjacent bedrooms. GuestCast is also compatible with almost every television model and internet network now used by hotels, ensuring a smooth adoption process and hassle-free device administration. The exceptional Analytics Dashboard that GuestCast offers is yet another distinguishing feature. Hoteliers may use the dashboard to check the health of each individual device from a single interface, ensuring constant high performance quality. In addition to providing meaningful real-time information into device usage trends, the GuestCast Analytics Dashboard also enables hotel operators to assess the effectiveness of in-room entertainment programmes. Additionally, hoteliers may use the Dashboard to keep an eye on the WiFi service quality in each guestroom, ensuring that any performance issues are swiftly found and fixed before having an impact on the experiences of the guests. Source: traveldailynews

The last “voyages” of the immersive experience, which immerses visitors in Star Wars-themed chambers aboard the Starcruiser, will take place in September. The much-publicized Disney Star Wars hotel, which costs $2,400 a night, is scheduled to close in September. The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser was first billed as an immersive experience when it opened on March 1, 2022, at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. A stay was offered as a two-day package that includes housing in a cabin or suite, immersive entertainment including learning how to use a light sabre and joining the Resistance on missions against Kylo Ren and the First Order, food and beverages, and entry to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Although the experience received high praise from Star Wars fans and the entertainment industry, even earning a Thea Award for exceptional achievement in a themed entertainment environment, some people found the high price point to be unaffordable. (Excluding taxes and fees) The cost of a cabin that sleeps two people is $4,809; a cabin that sleeps three people is $5,299; and a room that sleeps three adults and one kid is $5,999. $2,405 per person for a one-night, two-day stay is the cost for a couple sharing a room. While the Grand Captain suite, which sleeps eight and has a kitchenette, living room, and numerous bathrooms, is said to have cost $20,000 for the most luxurious experience, it also has multiple bathrooms. According to earlier rumours, Disney has lowered availability and ticket costs since it was difficult to fill rooms in the autumn. The last “voyages” of the event are now scheduled to end in September 2023. In a statement about the shutdown, Disney said: “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is one of our most innovative ventures ever. It has received accolades from visitors and recognition for raising the bar for innovation and immersive entertainment. As we prepare for its final journey, we will use what we’ve learned to build future experiences that can reach more of our guests and fans. “This premium, boutique experience gave us the opportunity to try new things on a smaller scale of 100 rooms.” Source: independent

The famed Phinda Forest Lodge in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal area is undergoing a thorough renovation by the luxury tourism business AndBeyond, which has a strong emphasis on conservation. Renovations and major structural additions will be part of the drastic change. A new family suite, a library, a lounge, a walkway with a fire pit in the middle, a remodelled tiered pool and improved dining and bar spaces are all included in the lodge’s amenities. AndBeyond has engaged the help of interior designers Fox Browne Creative and architectural designer Jack Alexander to update the lodge. Their goal is to redesign the lodge while preserving its valued charm and causing the least amount of disturbance to the fragile sand forest ecosystem. They must optimise room flow and functioning. The nearby sand woodland served as the basis for the new interior design, which also incorporates aspects of Japanese minimalism and pays respect to Zulu culture. The resort was built in the early 1990s, according to AndBeyond’s managing director for South Africa, Kevin Pretorius. “Back then, the lodge’s innovative and progressive design made a huge statement on sustainability, as it was sensitively constructed within the ancient sand forest with minimum impact at the heart of the project,” the author added. On December 1st, Phinda Forest Lodge will reopen its doors. Tourists may anticipate that the new resort will provide distinctive and engaging encounters focused on wildlife protection and regional culture. Activities will concentrate on protecting endangered animals like rhinoceroses and pangolins, as well as providing a tour of a Zulu village for a true cultural immersion. Source: travelweekly

On a flight, a young woman allegedly experienced a “terrifying” acute allergic reaction to nuts, and the pilots allegedly declined to make an emergency landing. A Delta Air Lines customer who had a serious reaction to nuts served after she informed the crew of her allergy and said the pilots refused to make an emergency landing has sworn never to fly with the airline again. In April, Sara Metzger was returning from Sarasota, Florida, to Portland, Oregon, when she changed aircraft in Atlanta. While there, she told the flight attendants about her allergy. But as the flight attendants started passing out refreshments, she informed the news source that they also had nuts. When Ms. Metzger reminded them of her sensitivity, they inquired if she would like a safety zone surrounding her or if the staff should stop serving nuts entirely. She asked that no nuts be provided, but when she saw that other people were munching on almonds, her neck started to ache and swell. Both signs and symptoms are those of anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can happen shortly after being exposed to an allergen. If it is not treated right away, it may cause unconsciousness or even death. In order to address the response, Ms Metzger hurried to the toilet and used an EpiPen, a hypodermic tool that delivers an epinephrine dosage. A fellow passenger who claimed to be a cardiologist examined her and advised that she wait to see if her health improved, despite the fact that she had urged the crew to notify the captain that an emergency landing was required. When her symptoms continued, Ms. Metzger administered a second dosage from an EpiPen. No one on the staff is actually speaking to me at this time. They’re all speaking via one doctor, she told Insider, noting that his counsel went against that of ground-based medical personnel who advocated for a fast landing. “I’m just sitting there dealing with the aftereffects of this anaphylactic response and praying that it won’t return so that I don’t pass away on this flight. Simply put, it was a scary scenario to be in, said Ms. Metzger. Before arriving in Portland, first responders allegedly had to wait for the other passengers to exit before they were permitted to board, she said she was informed the pilots tried to find an airfield for an emergency landing. The Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings of the US Department of Transportation has received a complaint from Ms Metzger. She claims that the airline ignored her life-threatening illness when it occurred and neglected to make accommodations for her impairment. The lawsuit claims that the pilot disregarded Ms. Metzger’s medical risks and the advice of medical services on the ground in favour of the cardiologist/passenger’s wishes and not her clear medical requirements or the advice of medical services on the ground. “The pilot refused to land,” it continues. Ms. Metzger requests a penalty against the airline for its handicap discrimination. She told Insider that the flight staff’s decision to risk my life and accept her impairment as it is “totally depends on their whim.” I want to avoid passing away on a Delta aircraft. So I won’t be taking that chance again,” she continued. “While we regrettably cannot respond to this specific event, passenger safety is Delta’s top priority and our crew is trained and prepared to respond to on-board events as they occur,” a Delta representative told Insider. After a similar instance involving a New Jersey lady who complained to United Airlines, the incident happened. Livingston resident Linda Mandelbaum, a proponent of food allergies, said flight attendants on a March 13 journey from Texas back to the Garden State declined to alert adjacent passengers to her son’s potentially fatal peanut allergy. She said that the supervisory flight attendant treated the request impolitely. On United’s website, it notes that travellers with severe food allergies are recommended to ask for a “allergy buffer zone” by informing other travellers nearby, but that it cannot prevent individuals from ingesting goods that contain allergens. According to Delta’s website, “We’re devoted to making your flying experience comfortable. While we cannot guarantee a flight free of nuts or other allergens, we will do our best to accommodate any passenger’s needs. The airline did not comment right away to The Post. Source: news.com.au

It’s not just you; learning how to effectively collect and use airline miles might be difficult. Not sure where to begin when it comes to changing your travel habits? These pointers will assist you in taking the initial step:Obtain important points Take some time to consider the routes you anticipate travelling over the next several years before enrolling in any old airline’s points programme. The last thing you want is to have your points dispersed around many airlines. The sole distinction? If the involved airlines are a part of an alliance like Oneworld that enables the transfer of miles or points between airlines. In spite of this, you may enrol in as many frequent flyer programmes as you wish as most of them are free to join. Signing up for a Frequent Flyer credit card may help you earn respectable points rapidly, provided you are excellent at paying off the amount of your credit card each month and are aware of any fees your card may generate. Search for cards that give reliable sign-up points by comparing them on a website like finder.com.au. Make sure the points you accumulate with that card may be used for tickets on your preferred airline. Aside from using credit cards and flying, you may also earn points by paying for regular costs like groceries, dining out, lodging, getting food delivered, and Uber rides. To turn them into miles, all you have to do is connect your account to the loyalty programme. Again, as long as you pay off the debt each month, using your credit card as much as possible—from making purchases to setting up direct debits for your energy bills—will get you the most points the fastest. Several loyalty programmes, like Hilton Honours, let users to combine their points or miles with those of their family members and friends who also have those same points or miles. Searching for a new health insurance company? A lot of providers, including NIB, HCF, and Bupa, give points for joining up, and some additionally give points for being active.The most effective method to use points Keep away from the temptation to use your points for online shopping, rental cars, or lodging since you’ll earn more for your money if you use them for flights. Interestingly, evidence shows that choosing a Premium Economy or Business Class ticket would actually save you money compared to a plain Economy seat. It will cost you far more than you anticipate to redeem points for those seemingly little items, like a movie ticket or a gift box of perfume. Planning ahead is crucial; the majority of points experts advise travellers to look for and book their flights roughly a year in advance and to concentrate on going off-peak times when reward tickets are more likely to be available. You may search for them on each airline’s rewards calendar, but some are more clear and user-friendly than others. It’s also advised that you look at less direct flights with stopovers because they can make redemption simpler. You could also want to use your points to pay for a flight upgrade, and RateCity has looked at how many points are needed on average across different airlines to move up to a business class seat. Still having trouble understanding the world of points and incentive travel? If you want help booking flights using frequent flyer and credit card points, you might want to employ the services of a points specialist like The Points Whisperer Steve Hui. You can even enrol in his online course. Although Steve’s advise isn’t inexpensive, it could end up saving you money, time, and worry in the long term. Source: nine