Travel News

With Indonesia Hospitality Group, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (“Wyndham”) recently signed three new contracts. This precedes its attendance at the next Tourism, Hotel Investment & Networking Conference (THINC) 2023, which will be place in Indonesia on September 6 and 7. The Howard Johnson by Wyndham brand was introduced in Indonesia through Howard Johnson by Wyndham Pekalongan in February of this year, after the earlier signing of an exclusive development deal between Wyndham and Indonesia Hospitality Group. These new contracts mark the Howard Johnson by Wyndham brand’s continued growth in Indonesia as Wyndham creatively adapts to owners’ business needs to support them in maximizing growth prospects. The agreements were signed at a good time because Technavio projects that Indonesia’s domestic tourism and hospitality sectors will expand by US$21.93 billion between 2022 and 2026. Additionally, Technavio observed that these sectors will expand at a CAGR of 11.81% during the forecast period, with a 6.09% annual growth rate beginning in 2022. Expanding Quickly in Indonesia Wyndham actively engages potential owners and partners to build a foundation of trust and cooperation since owner loyalty is at the core of its ongoing expansion. Even during the pandemic, Wyndham leveraged its ‘OwnerFirst’ mindset to engage its stakeholders, and these connections continued to grow stronger. The properties covered by the three most recent agreements include the following ones: Howard Johnson by Wyndham Kota Kedoya Jakarta, Howard Johnson by Wyndham. Howard Johnson by Wyndham Treepark Tangerang and LA Hub South Jakarta. With a recognizable brand, a long history dating back to 1925, and a focus on providing warm, genuine experiences for guests, Howard Johnson by Wyndham gives franchise owners an excellent chance to connect with travelers looking for mid- to upper-midscale lodging. “Indonesia has and always will be an integral market for Wyndham’s Asia Pacific growth strategy, particularly so with the rapid rise in international and domestic tourism numbers,” said Matt Holmes, Vice President of Business Development South East Asia & the Pacific Rim (SEAPR), for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts. We are pleased to be expanding our presence across Indonesia with the Howard Johnson by Wyndham brand offering in order to reach larger milestones by strengthening our cooperation with Indonesia Hospitality Group and leveraging their in-depth knowledge of the local market. As we continue to uphold our commitment to making hotel travel accessible to everyone, we look forward to providing more thrilling guest experiences across our network of hotels. “With the full reopening of borders across Asia Pacific, we observed a strong travel demand for travelers to visit Indonesia,” said Nathania Putri Budidjaja, Director of the Indonesia Hospitality Group. As a result, the Indonesia Hospitality Group is experiencing an exciting time as we work with Wyndham Hotels and Resorts to launch the Howard Johnson by Wyndham brand in Indonesia. We’re excited to use Wyndham’s in-depth knowledge of the market and their commercial and operational expertise to make sure all of our guests have a great time while staying in these recently launched and soon-to-be opened hotels. Source- Travel dailyLink- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/wyndham-hotels-resorts-expands-indonesia-presence-with-indonesia-hospitality-group/

The world’s largest hospitality company, Accor, has a strong pipeline for its luxury hotel portfolio across Europe and North Africa, including Pullman, Mövenpick, and Swissôtel. With 46 properties totaling 7,360 rooms scheduled to open by the end of 2027, the group has signed 10 luxury hotels across the region so far this year, including six from Mövenpick, two from Pullman, and two from Swissôtel. The group’s footprint in the Mediterranean basin will be strengthened by Accor’s premium growth, which includes locations in both tourist hotspots and ancient cities. It will also experience growth in Eastern European countries like Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Albania, and Montenegro, providing a chance to diversify its offering to European travelers. Pullman Hotels & Resorts are Accor’s most opulent selection, and they are situated in some of the most sought-after locations on earth. Pullman appeals to the cosmopolitan visitor seeking the best with its 4- and 5-star establishments. Nine additional additions will bring 1,589 new rooms to the brand’s portfolio in Europe and North Africa, including properties in Guadeloupe and the upcoming Pullman Okol Resort Golf & Spa in Bulgaria, which is scheduled to open in winter 2023. Albania, Croatia, Germany, and Montenegro will all have openings this year, as will the Pullman Kolasin Breza. With 23 forthcoming openings in the area, Mövenpick is in the lead thanks to its versatility as a conversion brand. The brand, which has Swiss roots that go back to the 1940s, offers a variety of modern city and resort hotels with a focus on making the ordinary special. As part of its development into Europe and North Africa, a variety of resorts and hotels will open in nations like Algeria, Croatia, Switzerland, Italy, and Azerbaijan with the eagerly awaited Movenpick Winterpark Baku. With the recent openings of Mövenpick Samarkand Hotel in Uzbekistan and Mövenpick BalaLand Resort in Hungary, the portfolio in Eastern Europe has expanded. Swissôtel brings together Swiss hospitality, clever design, and regional flair. In Eastern Europe, where 14 hotels totaling 2,334 rooms are opening in countries including Albania, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Moldova, and Georgia, its expansion is accelerating. The Swissôtel Tbilisi will open later this year. Philippe Bijaoui, Chief Development Officer, Europe & North Africa for Accor’s Economy, Midscale, and Premium brands, remarked in response to the region’s development strength: “Driving our premium brands across the region is a vital component of that. Our recent restructure has given us a laser-eyed focus. Our premium portfolio, which now accounts for 16% of our total pipeline, is a significant area of focus for our development plan since we believe it has a ton of unrealized potential. We have a lot of faith in the capabilities of companies like Mövenpick to help us raise our density in strategic places since they are a perfect conversion brand. Source- Travel dailyLink- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/accor-drives-premium-brand-growth/

Leading players in the region’s hospitality business claim that hotels and resorts in Southeast Asia are failing to grasp the “green premium” and how to use it to draw in quality visitors. One of the key messages from PHIST (Phuket Hotels for Islands Sustaining Tourism), Southeast Asia’s largest sustainability forum, held this week at SAii Laguna with over 1,000 participants, was that hotels and resorts are lagging behind peers in other regions of the world when it comes to leveraging the advantages associated with sustainable tourism. “Unlike in Europe or North America, hotel developers in Southeast Asia have generally failed to make sustainability a requirement. It’s a significant divergence, according to Bill Barnett, general director of C9 Hotelworks, a hospitality and real estate advising firm that organized PHIST alongside Greenview and the Phuket Hotels Association. Star designer Bill Bensley and KP Ho, the founder and executive chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings and Laguna Resorts and Hotels, were among the other knowledgeable speakers at PHIST who urged resort owners to recognize the broader advantages of sustainable tourism. Resorts can reduce expenses and earn goodwill by setting the standard for environmentally friendly or thoughtful activities that include farm-to-fork dining, sourcing organic food from nearby farmers, trash management, and energy reduction. By doing this, they may increase their attractiveness to customers who prioritize ethical, environmentally friendly, and — perhaps most significantly — distinctive experiences. STR Global’s Area Director for Asia Pacific, Jesper Palmqvist, organized a roundtable at PHIST where representatives from prestigious resort brands like Six Senses and Soneva talked about future environmental best practices. He concurred that the Southeast Asian hospitality sector needs to be more proactive about making significant reforms. It’s critical that the sector creates green champions, best practice guides, and training materials that hotels can customize, said the expert. Also necessary is to put pressure on hotels to obtain worldwide sustainability certification. This would demonstrate a greater desire to adopt new environmental criteria and remain on top of trends. As some of the largest names in the region’s hospitality industry gathered for PHIST, other debates about how to take advantage of the potential provided by sustainable tourism came to the forefront. Laguna Phuket was transformed by KP Ho into Southeast Asia’s top integrated resort development from a bleak moonscape of scarred land abandoned by the tin mining industry and deemed uninhabitable by the UN. Some of Asia’s most captivating sustainable tourism experiences have been curated by Bill Bensley. For instance, His Shinta Mani Wild in Cambodia provides upscale camping while using the money raised to protect the area’s protected nature sanctuary from logging, mining, and poaching. This year’s PHIST featured 16 interactive seminars, over 30 exhibitors, and a wide range of subjects for discussion, including the “green premium” and how to influence it. The circular sustainable economy, green hotel loans and start-up funds, farm-to-table cuisine, environmental hospitality design, data collection, and measurement, greentech innovation, marketing sustainable hotels, water conservation, sustainable wellness, and other topics were discussed during the workshop. The Asia Pacific Outdoor Lodging Association (APOLA), a trade organization created to direct, promote, and structure the development of the region’s growing outdoor lodging industry, was established immediately before PHIST. The goal of APOLA will be to define regional standards, create awareness, create an accounting system for project financing, and inform the sector about the benefits of this sustainable, low-impact hospitality model. Source- Travel dailyLink- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/hotels-need-to-leverage-sustainability-and-grasp-the-green-premium-phist/

The Mediterranean nation of Spain, where approximately 40,000 Americans reside, is a no-brainer for many because of its climate, culture, and general standard of living. But where do Americans live in the greatest numbers? The specialists at Moving to Spain have conducted a fresh analysis to identify the 10 regions of Spain with the highest concentrations of Americans. The study examined variables like the proportion of US citizens per 100,000 local people and the number of American expats living in each province of Spain.The study discovered: With a total of 11,570 Americans, Madrid is the province with the highest American population. With a total of 171, it also has the greatest proportion of Americans per 100,000 population. With 2,692 American expats and 157 American citizens overall per 100,000 residents, Málaga came in second. Barcelona completes our top 3, with 142 Americans per 100,000 residents. Source- Travel dailyLink- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/top-10-spanish-areas-with-the-highest-us-population/

Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline and Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew are both awarded to AirAsia for the eighth consecutive year. At this year’s World Travel Awards (WTA) Asia and Oceania, AirAsia continued its impressive winning streak by taking home two coveted awards: “Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline” for an unprecedented eighth consecutive year and “Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew” for an outstanding seventh consecutive year. In these categories, which also included more than ten other airlines, AirAsia won thanks to the support of regional industry leaders, customers, and travel experts. This honor comes after AirAsia recently won Skytrax’s award for the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline for a record 14 years. “We would like to thank the nearly 800 million guests and our incredible Allstars for rocking our world,” stated Bo Lingam, Group CEO of AirAsia Aviation Group Limited. Rest assured that we will maintain the same firm commitment that got us here as we soar higher with the goal of resuming 200 planes into operations by year’s end. By enhancing the customer experience on the ground and in the air, we are devoted to upholding the trust of our visitors. We wish you a wonderful voyage in the future. “We are honored to be recognized again with the prestigious ‘Asia’s Leading Low-Cost Airline Cabin Crew’ award for the seventh consecutive year,” said Suhaila Hassan, Head of Cabin Crew for the AirAsia Group. This outstanding accomplishment is a heartfelt thanks to the outstanding members of our cabin crew who continually go above and beyond to make sure that our clients’ travels are nothing short of amazing. This honor goes beyond a simple slap on the back. It is evidence of the enthusiasm and dedication that push us to advance and continuously get better. With this recognition, we are even more inspired to keep setting new standards and providing each and every one of our loyal guests with adventures they won’t soon forget. Photo caption (left to right) At the 30th Annual World Travel Awards, Dabraj Sing, Chief Business Officer, and Tan Mai Yin, Chief Operating Officer.As an added bonus, airasia Superapp, the company’s one-stop travel platform, won the highly coveted title of “Asia’s Leading Online Travel Agency (OTA)”. The fact that airasia Superapp won in its first nomination is a credit to its creative strategy as an all-inclusive, end-to-end travel app that provides travelers with an amazing booking experience. With a wide range of goods and services, including an online travel agency (OTA) platform with flights from more than 700 airlines worldwide, 900,000 hotels worldwide, ride-hailing with airasia ride, duty-free shopping with airasia shop, and more, the airasia Superapp has grown to be a vital resource for 51 million travelers looking for quality, convenience, and affordability. Tan Mai Yin, the chief operating officer of airasia Superapp, said: “We are thrilled to be named ‘Asia’s Leading Online Travel Agency.’” Winning the prize over other reputable OTAs demonstrates our dedication to advancing travel technology and giving customers a one-stop platform that transforms their trip experience from planning to experiencing. We would like to thank everyone who voted for us and for your continuing support of the airasia Superapp. We are committed to raising the bar for the travel industry and look forward to constantly providing our clients with services and experiences that are unmatched. The World Travel Awards, which were first presented in 1993, are acclaimed as one of the most prestigious, extensive, and sought-after award ceremonies honoring achievement in the major travel, tourist, and hospitality industries. Source- Travel dailyLink- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/airasia-and-airasia-superapp-win-big-at-world-travel-awards-asia-2023/

Private transportation company SGMYTRIPS, which operates from Singapore to Malaysia, has announced its growth and partnerships with other global platforms. SGMYTRIPS hopes to assist the growing number of foreign visitors to Malaysia by working with these platforms. Since all COVID-19-related border restrictions have been eliminated, international travel has resumed and increased, and as a result, more foreign visitors are coming to Malaysia. As a result, SGMYTRIPS’ present collaboration with Klook, Ctrip, Trip.com, and Tao Bao is a direct result of its goals to offer a reasonable, secure, and practical mode of transportation across the nation. Working with international platforms enables SGMYTRIPS to adjust its services to the diversity of trends and cultures throughout the world in addition to broadening its reach to diverse fields and areas. Services for renting a private vehicle are a practical and effective way to get to and from locations in Malaysia. This growth and relationship are the results of SGMYTRIPS’s advocacy for safe travel to Malaysia in an effort to make it easier and more comfortable for tourists who want to experience the nation. SGMYTRIPS is committed to providing private hire automobiles to Malaysia as a result. When taking a private automobile from Singapore to Malaysia, travelers can book directly with SGMYTRIPS and enjoy a direct trip without any transfers. In addition to being cozy and practical, SGMYTRIPS’ private vehicles adhere to the criteria and specifications established by Tourism Malaysia. They also have a Malaysian tourism license, allowing the business to legally operate in the nation. As a result, they guarantee that tourists have the best possible travel experience and financial security, offering a reliable and trustworthy option for those looking for private taxis from Singapore to Malaysia. SGMYTRIPS is a reputable, licensed, and experienced transport service operator in Singapore that provides transportation for tourists visiting various Malaysian locations and attractions between Malaysia and Singapore. With more than five years of expertise in the field, it is always looking for new ways to connect with foreign tourists and ease its transportation problems. Source- Travel dailyLink- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/sgmytrips-expands-and-partners-with-international-platforms/

As part of a ‘Choose Your Adventure’ sale for its forthcoming seasons in Antarctica, the Arctic, and beyond, Australia’s award-winning expedition firm, AE Expeditions (a division of Aurora Expeditions), has made two unheard-of offers. Adventure seekers have a brief window of opportunity to benefit from Aurora’s most generous promotions to date, which include a USD$2,000 per person air credit for ALL Antarctica 23/24 season journeys or a £1,500 per person air credit for all Arctic & Global 24 season excursions. Additionally, considerable discounts of up to 20%* are available to solitary travelers in addition to a no-solo supplement offer for specific Antarctica 23/24 and Arctic & Global 24 season journeys. Hayley Peacock-Gower, CMO of Aurora Expeditions, said, “We are happy to be offering some remarkable savings for our forthcoming cruises. Travelers have a wealth of extraordinary, life-altering experiences to pick from, whether they are interested in camping in the Antarctic, rock climbing in Greenland, kayaking in Norway, or snorkeling in Costa Rica. To experience the Aurora difference with our small ships, knowledgeable crews, and dedication to responsible and respectful travel, we can’t wait to welcome our passengers on board. The Greg Mortimer and the brand-new Sylvia Earle, which was launched in late 2022, are the company’s two small exploration ships that were specifically created for the aim of going on sale. The deadline for offers is October 31, 2023. Source- Travel dailyLink- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/ae-expeditions-launches-choose-your-adventure/

A recent study that examines the greatest American towns for vegan travelers has been released, illuminating the local food scene in places all throughout the nation. Two million of the more than 15 million Americans who eat exclusively vegetarian food are vegans. The popularity of food tourism, particularly vegan tourism, has increased dramatically in recent years, and this study offers useful information about dining options for locals and tourists looking for a variety of culinary experiences. In 48 cities, we standardized the most recent data in categories like the standard and cost of restaurants and the accessibility of vegan amenities in order to achieve this. The values were multiplied by 10 to give a score between 0 and 10, and the data were then normalized using min-max normalization. With an overall score of 8.14, New York won the title of the greatest city for vegan tourists, demonstrating its dedication to providing a varied and lively food environment for both locals and visitors. The average of 93 restaurant reviews (4.41/5) was used to calculate the city’s overall restaurant quality, yielding a remarkable score of 9.82 out of 10. In the city, there were 73 inexpensive restaurants and nine expensive ones, giving the analysis a 7 out of 10 cost rating overall. The emphasis on vegan comforts was one notable trend that was seen. To ascertain the range of vegan-friendly options in each city, the study emphasizes the accessibility of juice and smoothie bars as well as farmer’s markets. With 22 farmer’s markets and 79 juice/smoothie shops, New York distinguished out and earned an impressive amenity rating of 6.97 out of 10. The city is committed to offering a wide variety of dining alternatives that appeal to different tastes and preferences, as seen by its strong performance in the restaurant quality, price, and vegan-friendly amenities categories. Chicago earned a total score of 6.33 to come in second. The Windy City was notable for having 46 vegan restaurants, with an overall quality score of 7.39/10 and an average rating of 4.5/5. Due to its poor rating for vegan amenities, it fell short of reaching the top slot. The city received a meager 4.57 out of 10 because there are just 32 farmer’s markets and 27 juice/smoothie establishments. The top five U.S. cities for vegan tourists include Las Vegas (6.04), Los Angeles (6.14), Washington DC (6.14), and New York (6.14). Hartford, CT, which had a total score of 2.64, is the city that caters the least to vegan tourists. It contributed to its low-cost rating of 1.83 by having only 18 low-cost eateries and 2 high-cost restaurants. The final two U.S. cities that are least welcoming to vegan tourists are Detroit (2.73) and Jacksonville, FL (3.01). It can be challenging for vegans to locate adequate dining options, particularly while traveling, said Sarah Webber, Director of Marketing at InsureMyTrip. We hope that our study will assist all tourists in locating a destination that they can truly sink their teeth into, given the growing popularity of food tourism. Source- Travel dailyLink- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/top-vegan-friendly-u-s-cities-every-traveller-must-visit/

Many vacationers who are trying to make last-minute travel arrangements are still anxious about what’s to come as the summer season draws to a close. In reality, during June and July of this year, almost 6 million UK travelers experienced delays when flying. Unsurprisingly, the UK was one of the nations with the longest flight delays among those in Europe. There is no denying that labor disputes, strikes, and technical issues at UK airports have hurt air traffic. In light of this, it’s crucial that travelers are aware of their rights and know how to assert them in the event of delays or cancellations. In accordance with UK 261, passengers are entitled to compensation for delays longer than three hours, cancellations made less than 14 days before departure, refusals to board due to overbooking, and missed connections that result in arrival delays of three hours or more. When airline employees go on strike, UK passengers have the right to care, such as food and drink or accommodations, as well as a replacement trip when their flight is disrupted and compensation for a three-hour delay. It has never been more crucial for travelers to understand their rights when making last-minute travel arrangements because the UK’s hunger for travel is still greater than it was throughout the summer of last year. Tomasz Pawliszyn, the CEO of AirHelp, will examine what rights passengers have in the event that a flight is delayed or canceled in this article and offer suggestions for how they can enforce those rights. Source- Travel dailyLink- https://www.traveldailymedia.com/air-passenger-rights-the-complete-guide-to-your-holiday-consumer-rights/