Travel News

A key step towards the completion and ultimate appearance of China’s first brand-new, large cruise ship has been made with the start of the first of two sea trials. Adora Magic City, the first cruise ship made in China, has reportedly started sea trials, according to China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). China wants to use this ship as a launching pad to dominate the production of massive cruise ships. The first cruise ship made entirely in China, which will leave from Shanghai in 2024, accomplished a crucial milestone on July 17, 2023. Since the ship was floated out in June 2023, the self-propelled sea testing has begun. The big cruise ship, which will be operated by Adora Cruises Limited, has departed from Shanghai on a nine-day voyage across the ocean. Every day of the voyage will be used for testing and trials. Prior to its initial sea trials, Adora Magic City was furnished for six weeks. Aboard the ship, equipment like water ingress alarms, watertight doors, fire safety systems, and other elements necessary for comfortable and safe ocean travel were tested and certified. Chinese shipyards have enhanced their technological proficiency under the direction of specialists from Italy’s Fincantieri, a pioneer in the shipbuilding industry. China State Shipbuilding Corporation has already started work on a second, larger cruise ship based on the Adora design. Construction of this ship began in August 2022, and delivery is expected in 2025. China wants to develop a cruise ship industry on par with those of France, Germany, Finland, and Italy. The ultimate goal of China is to rank among the top five cruise ship builders worldwide. A crucial step towards achieving that objective is Adora Magic City. The amazing cruise ship Adora Magic City transforms into a magical “city” at sea by merging elements from the East and the West. The ship will include a unique German craft brewery providing unique beers with Asian influences as well as other well-liked brews. The largest duty-free shopping facility on the ocean will be accessible to guests onboard as well (developed in partnership with China Duty-Free Group). This first vessel will be a state-of-the-art 5G cruise ship made possible by a collaboration with Shanghai Telecom. Travellers to Adora Magic City should have constant access to the internet owing to 5G technology. When Adora Magic City completes its sea trials, receives the necessary finishing touches, and sets sail in 2024, it will have enough amenities, technology, and entertainment to provide Chinese and foreign visitors. Source-Travel daily

Aircastle of Ireland and Wilmington Trust, two aircraft lessors, filed insolvency claims against SpiceJet, and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) postponed the hearing on those claims on August 8. SpiceJet was given 10 days by the court to respond to the pleas. The lessors stated that the multiple petitions were for clarity and simplicity and that there is no ban on submitting multiple petitions when each payment default necessitates a separate plea when the NCLT questioned them about filing multiple petitions for the same claim. August 8 is the day set for the Aircastle case hearing, and August 17 is set aside for the Wilmington Trust plea. The senior attorney for Aircastle stated that because they are the only petitioner for whom the court has issued a notice and the pleading process has been completed, their petition should be given precedence. SpiceJet’s Krishnendu Dutta, a senior attorney, contested the validity of three concurrent pleas made by a single petitioner and asked the court to give him or her 10 days to respond to the lessors’ reply. On July 21, NCLT will also make a determination about the maintainability of the insolvency plea brought forth by Willis Lease Finance Corp., which had leased engines to SpiceJet. Source- Travel biz

At the Women Deliver Global Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) emphasised the significance of women’s involvement in travel & tourism to spur its growth and achieve a flourishing and resilient sector. Julia Simpson, President & CEO of WTTC, stressed the significance of encouraging women’s involvement in the industry and overcoming obstacles for success in the business world in her speech at the conference. The event acted as a forum to discuss the obstacles women in the travel and tourism industry experience and explore solutions in an effort to spur change and advance equitable opportunities for women in the industry. The panel talks provided insight into the difficulties women experience in the workplace, including access barriers, practical difficulties, and ecosystem constraints. The occasion emphasised the critical part that mentoring plays in empowering young women and girls in the economic world. The potential for economic transformation is unlocked via mentorship programmes through networking, opportunities, and resources. “It is proven that companies with 50% women in leadership make more money,” Simpson asserted during her speech. This makes even more sense in the travel and tourism industry, as women typically decide where to book vacations. “Employing women in prominent positions also makes sense; why would you deny yourself access to 50% of the world’s potential. “Rwanda has a stellar record, with the majority of its MPs being female. With genuine passion and a track record of promoting gender equality, President Kagame spoke at the Women Deliver conference, which was hosted for the first time in Africa. “A better future for the industry and the global economy will result from putting women at the forefront of the travel and tourism industry. Currently, women make up more than half of the industry. “We can unleash tremendous potential and promote sustainable progress by addressing the obstacles and injustices people encounter. The “Women Deliver” event acts as a change-catalyst by bringing together sector leaders, policymakers, and activists to collaborate on creating a future that is more diverse and affluent. The worldwide tourism organisation estimates that women make up about 54% of the workforce. Although the travel and tourism industry offers accessible opportunities for women, it also has issues with inequality, including lower salary and employment security. These inequities were reflected in the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects, which saw 62 million jobs lost in the travel and tourism industry, the bulk of which were held by women. WTTC exhorts the public and private sectors to contribute in some way to encouraging women’s involvement in the travel and tourism industry. Governments are urged to implement measures that support the advancement of women in senior management, such as quota requirements for state-owned businesses and publicly traded corporations. Women should have access to specialised professional development programmes in the private sector, as well as networking and mentoring opportunities. Source- Travel biz

SITA and Biman Bangladesh Airlines collaborate on a connectivity solution.Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd. (BG) and SITA have teamed together to deploy a number of cutting-edge connectivity solutions that will improve network speeds, streamline airline operations, and lower the cost of expansion. A new Secure SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network) option called SITA Connect Go was created especially for the aviation sector. Versa Networks, a reputable vendor of secure access service edge (SASE), helped create the solution. It provides a software-based system that enables numerous airlines, ground handlers, and other tenants to undergo digital transformation at their own speed. Airports and the cloud both offer secure access to virtualized infrastructure and applications, improving performance and making it more scalable. By providing the IT operations team with a detailed picture and complete visibility over their network consumption and application performance, the deployment will enhance the airline’s performance. Better decision-making and the execution of crucial business applications will be made possible. A centralised platform that streamlines network management and orchestration is used to handle everything. With up to 600% more bandwidth made available by SITA Connect solutions, BG will have unmatched speed, flexibility, and agility when connecting swiftly and securely to applications and systems in its town and airport offices. As BG grows its network, these improvements have been provided to it at no extra charge, illustrating a decrease in total cost of ownership. The agreement, which comes as SITA and BG commemorate their 50-year cooperation, will future-proof the airline’s operations for anticipated growth and make BG prepared to adopt a hybrid cloud environment and add new applications as and when necessary. “We’re thrilled to commemorate a 50-year partnership with Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd. and provide the latest cutting-edge connectivity solutions that will be the foundations for their next growth chapter,” said Sumesh Patel, President, Asia Pacific, SITA. The key to success in this new era of air travel will be smart, effective, and flexible IT operations, which are the backbone of our industry. We are eager to assist BG in achieving their lofty goals and anticipate many more fruitful years of effective cooperation. Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd. MD & CEO Shafiul Azim said, “SITA has established itself as a reliable and successful technology partner over the last 50 years. It’s crucial to make sure that our airline’s applications and systems are optimised. We can use SITA Connect to provide our entire organisation with blazing-fast, secure connections that can be modified as we grow. We are thrilled about the anticipated increase of aircraft from 21 to 45 by 2030 and look forward to providing customers with safe and dependable air travel in the ensuing years. Source- Travel biz

As the Official Airline Partner for the eagerly anticipated 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup Final, Qatar Airways showcased its exceptional hospitality and dedication to excellence. The nail-biting game took place on July 16 at California’s SoFi Stadium. With a 1-0 victory over Panama, Mexico was proclaimed the men’s national team champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean in a spectacular display of brilliance. The Gold Cup was a genuine tribute to the spirit of competitiveness and the enthusiasm for football that is shared throughout the region after a competition that included 24 participating Concacaf Member Associations and Qatar, which participated in the event as a guest nation. The medals were presented to the deserving players by Qatar Airways’ cabin crew, who brought a touch of class and hospitality to the awards ceremony. Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Airways Group and Chairman of Qatar Tourism, stated: “Our objective is to play a crucial role in boosting the overall experience of sports events that link people from different cultures. We are honoured to have served as the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup’s Official Airline Partner. The tremendous talent and enthusiasm for football in the area were on display at this event. At Qatar Airways, we are firm believers in the ability of sports to establish enduring bonds between individuals. Congratulations to Mexico and Panama for a thrilling encounter as well as to all the athletes who took part in this huge competition. We feel proud to have contributed to the overwhelming success of this event. “The Concacaf Gold Cup’s 17th iteration broke attendance and viewing records. We are quite proud of how this significant competition has developed through time and how it has solidified itself as the top sporting event in our area. We would like to express our gratitude to Qatar Airways for everything that they have done to assist us connect our supporters with their favourite clubs and the game they love. According to Concacaf Chief Commercial Officer Heidi Pellerano, “It is only natural that we finished the competition with the cabin crew on stage helping present the championship’s most significant event, the champion medals. The Concacaf Gold Cup, which crowns a champion every two years, is the confederation’s flagship competition for national teams. The Gold Cup, which originally featured eight teams, has grown to feature 16 nations, who are selected via the Concacaf Nations League and the Gold Cup Preliminaries. A multi-year sponsorship partnership between Qatar Airways and Concacaf was inked in July 2021, giving the airline a fantastic opportunity to interact with football fans in North, Central, and the Caribbean, where the sport is ingrained in the people’s culture and way of life. The Concacaf Gold Cup 2021, which included the Qatar National Football team as a guest nation in the successful competition, served as the first event for Qatar Airways’ relationship. The official airline of the State of Qatar is still expanding its network, which now includes 12 North American gateways and more than 160 destinations. Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), San Francisco (SFO), Seattle (SEA), and Washington, D.C. (IAD) are just a few of the North American gateways to which Qatar Airways flies more than 100 times per week. Passengers can easily adjust their trip dates or locations thanks to Qatar Airways’ exceptional connectivity. As a company, Qatar Airways is dedicated to helping fans get to their preferred sporting events all around the world. The official airline of Formula 1® (F1), Concacaf, Paris-Saint-Germain, the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon Series, the Global Kitesurfing Association, the United Rugby Championship (URC), and European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), in addition to numerous other sports like Australian football, basketball, cricket, equestrian, motor racing, squash, and tennis, is Qatar Airways, the nation’s flag-carrier. Source- Travel daily

In keeping with its plan to update its fleet, Pegasus Airlines has inked a contract with Airbus for 36 new A321neo aircraft, with an emphasis on decreasing emissions while saving fuel and unit costs. With additions made in 2017, 2021, and 2022, Pegasus had already updated its Airbus contract inked in 2012 to include a total of 114 additional aircraft. In addition to its current orders, the delivery of the 36 freshly ordered aircraft is anticipated to be finished by the end of 2029. As a result, Pegasus’ 2012 order for 100 aircraft from the A320/321neo family from Airbus has been increased to 150 aircraft altogether. 108 of these are A321neos. “We started our journey with the belief that everyone has the right to fly, and today, we remain equally dedicated to operational efficiency, financial performance, and sustainability for our industry and the world,” said Güliz ztürk, CEO of Pegasus Airlines, in a statement regarding the arrangement. With these objectives in mind, we continue to actively and resolutely work towards our fleet modernization strategy, putting a special emphasis on fuel and unit cost savings as well as emission reductions. We will modernise and extend our fleet through our most recent arrangement with Airbus, which includes the addition of 36 new A321neo aircraft with a capacity of 239 passengers. These aircraft are the most effective in their class. With a fleet that is, on average, 4.5 years old, we operate the youngest in Turkey. With an average age of 4.5 years and the youngest fleet in Turkey and among low-cost carriers worldwide, Pegasus, according to Güliz ztürk, said: “This efficiency provides a substantial contribution to decreasing fuel consumption and emissions. On the way to net zero, we are also actively pursuing a great deal more initiatives. In addition to updating our fleet with newer models of aircraft, we are working to achieve this goal by enhancing operational efficiency, using more sustainable aviation fuel, and putting more of an emphasis on alternative energy sources. Our key objective in 2023 and beyond will be to preserve and strengthen our position as the industry leader through our inventive, logical, ethical, and responsible approach. The A321neos have a greater seating capacity, use less fuel, and emit fewer carbon emissions per seat-kilometer. The newest member of the Airbus medium range single-aisle family, the A321neo, is the largest of the bunch. Due to the 239-seat configuration, it offers substantial gains in terms of capacity utilisation. Additionally, because to the technological features of the latest generation LEAP-1A engines, it also delivers significant benefits in terms of fuel consumption. According to Airbus, the new-generation Neo aircraft is 15-20% more efficient than its forebears in terms of fuel consumption and carbon emissions. This effectiveness is supported by the operating performance of the A320/321neo class of aircraft. Source- Travel daily

The introduction of SmartCheck, a contactless fast-track facial biometric check-in system provided by iProov, a global provider of biometric solutions, at London St. Pancras Station has been announced by Eurostar Group, the high-speed international rail service connecting the UK with continental Europe.Passengers simply need to go through one passport check with SmartCheck as opposed to two. By securely enrolling their ticket, passport, and face before their trip via their smart devices whenever possible, SmartCheck lets Eurostar’s Business Premier and Carte Blanche passengers to save time and skip lines for ticket and UK border exit checks in the station. The outcome is a safe, contactless, and ticketless travel experience that improves the entire passenger journey. Customers with Business Premier or Carte Blanche reservations who want to use SmartCheck must opt in and download the SmartCheck iProov.me app to their smartphone from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Prior to departure, the traveller uses the app to scan their identification documents, authenticate their face, and scan their tickets. In order to speed up pre-boarding procedures at the station, the new system allows Eurostar passengers to pass via a special SmartCheck corridor with a walk-past face biometric screening. The manual UK border exit check and the current gate check-in procedures have been replaced with this quick, contactless method. There is only one more passport examination and bag check at the French border. Following a successful trial of the new system between December 2021 and April 2022, during which iProov worked with its partner Entrust to design the pilot to fit Eurostar’s needs, the roll-out, which is effective from July 18, 2023, follows. For identity orchestration and digital travel credential (DTC) management, the SmartCheck solution combines Entrust’s Identity Verification as a Service (IDVaaS) technology with iProov’s Biometric Solution Suite with Biometric Checkpoint. “Providing a seamless station experience to our customers is a priority for Eurostar: we continue looking for solutions to increase station capacity and streamline the passenger flows,” stated Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO of Eurostar Group. The St Pancras International station’s SmartCheck system offers a quick and easy check-in procedure. We become the first rail travel operator to use biometric facial verification by adopting SmartCheck. This innovation will improve the customer departure experience, which is essential to offering the distinctive travel experience offered by Eurostar. “The rollout of SmartCheck in Eurostar’s Business Premier check-in at London St Pancras is significant because it clearly demonstrates how facial biometric technology can be used to manage border control in a smarter and more efficient way, to benefit both organisations and passengers at scale,” said Andrew Bud, founder and CEO of iProov. We are streamlining the boarding procedure to one that is much faster, more pleasant, less crowded and stressful, yet even more safe, by establishing a biometric corridor. This will save valuable time and space at the border. Source- Travel daily

It has been upgraded just in time for summer travel in style with SPACIA X in and around Tokyo. On July 15th of this year, the new SPACIA X, which represents the future of environmentally aware train travel, will debut. In just two hours, this swanky train will transport passengers to all of Nikko’s summertime attractions. Eco-friendly Luxury The SPACIA X Limited Express train demonstrates how Japan is currently at the forefront of environmentally sensitive rail technology. Japan has long been at the forefront of quality in rail travel. In order to comply with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN, SPACIA X is a carbon-neutral train. Compared to SPACIA, CO2 emissions have been cut by up to 40%, and Tobu has switched to renewable energy for the entire amount of power needed to operate the train. However, being carbon neutral need not imply being style neutral. The windows on the design-driven train SPACIA X are modelled after the geometric designs of handmade fretwork from the Edo era. The non-standard seating in particular is really beautiful inside the train.The Cockpit Lounge is modelled after the Nikko Kanaya Hotel, Japan’s oldest operating resort hotel, whereas the Cockpit Suite, for instance, is reminiscent of the inside of a private jet. That is not to mean that conventional seating should be looked down upon; instead, plug-in connections, tables, and windows have all been placed to maximum passenger comfort and utility. Nikko’s Summertime Highlights  Where will this innovative new train transport you, then? Although Nikko is a beautiful location all year round, summer is a particularly great time to go since you can take advantage of the great weather and the great outdoors. Take a boat tour to the beautiful Lake Chuzenji, which was created by an old volcanic eruption, and take in the breathtaking vistas of the green mountains that surround it. You can try kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, or even stand-up paddleboarding yoga if you’re exceptionally balanced in Lake Chuzenji.   The Nikko Kirifuri Highlands’ Kisuge-daira Park is another place you could go. The park blooms profusely throughout the summer, turning a golden colour in June and July thanks to a profusion of broad dwarf day lilies. A panoramic view over the Kanto Plain, Mount Fuji, the TOKYO SKYTREE, and, if the weather is clear enough, as far as the Pacific Ocean, can be had by ascending to the Komaruyama Lookout. Source- Travel daily

Recently, Vietjet launched its first route between Ho Chi Minh City and Haneda Airport in central Tokyo, giving travellers more options for inexpensive air travel between two of Vietnam’s and Japan’s most active cities. Additionally, starting on August 12, the airline would expand the number of weekly flights between Vietnam and Indonesia from 70 to 84. Beginning on July 15, passengers can easily travel from Tokyo to Ho Chi Minh City via Haneda Airport on one of seven round-trip flights every week. Ho Chi Minh City to Tokyo (Haneda) flights leave at 17:00 and touch down at 1:00 the following day (local time). The return flights leave Tokyo (Haneda) at 02:00 and land in Ho Chi Minh City at 06:10 (local time). The Vietjet operates a second route between the two cities, connecting Tokyo (Haneda) and Ho Chi Minh City, bringing the total number of routes between Japan and Vietnam to seven. Vietjet offers direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City, Tokyo (Narita and Haneda), Osaka, Fukuoka, and Nagoya to Hanoi. Additionally, the airline offers charter flights from Vietnam to popular Japanese cities like Niigata, Shizuoka, Fukushima, Ehime, and Wakayama. To meet the growing demand for travel to the enchanted paradise islands of Bali, the airline has also announced a considerable expansion of its flying capacity between Vietnam and Indonesia to 84 weekly flights beginning on August 12. Vietjet will launch five daily round-trip flights from Bali to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi as part of the flight upgrade. From August 5, travellers will appreciate the ease of one daily return flight between Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta, which will make travelling between the two vibrant cities simple. For all international flights, Vietjet is providing discounted rates starting at just USD0 (excluding of tax and fees) to commemorate the network expansion. From now until December 31, 2023, guests can search for promotional tickets on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays with flight schedules from August 10, 2023, to March 31, 2024 (exclusive public holiday, high seasons). Additionally, SkyJoy members may earn bonus SkyPoints on every flight to use towards services and vouchers from 250 of their favourite businesses. In order to experience a journey full of joy in Vietnam and throughout the region, including Indonesia, India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, etc., travellers should consider Vietjet’s modern and environmentally friendly aircraft, hot and fresh meals, professional and friendly cabin crews, extensive flight network, and convenient flight times. Source- Travel daily

The largest hotel chain in Southeast Asia, Archipelago International, spent years trying different property management systems but remained unsatisfied with any of them since they were constantly met with solutions that weren’t enough. For more than ten years, the storyline within the organisation was the ongoing quest for an appropriate PMS. The hospitality sector is nothing if not difficult and dynamic, which is why we are in this predicament. There are many technologies that offer to modernise and streamline operations, but few of them actually resonate with the depth of needs of the hotel. This discrepancy is frequently caused by the fact that many of these solutions are developed by organisations and teams that are cut off from the realities of the hospitality sector. Sentinel Tech, a group of technologists with substantial experience in the hotel business, stepped up to fill this important vacuum in the market. With deep knowledge of the issues facing the sector, they created Sentec PMS, a system that aims to address the particular problems faced by hoteliers. Sentec PMS stands out in the crowded PMS market in part because to its cloud-native, entirely web-based architecture, and auto-healing mechanism. It strengthens the convenience of web-based solutions—a key area where many PMSs fall short—with dependable, robust security and performance. The system is created to properly take advantage of the cloud’s extensive capabilities, going beyond simply being online. Sentec PMS also offers a novel approach to pricing, moving away from feature-based pricing and towards a usage-based strategy that is influenced by the cloud. This innovative method makes it possible for costs to correspond to the hotel’s revenue flow, resulting in a more adaptable, hospitable financial framework. Sentec PMS has a number of noteworthy features, such as: 100% online and cloud-native: No hardware or software installations are required, making it simple to view hotel data from any device with a web browser from anywhere. No upfront money required: eliminates the typical significant upfront expenditure that most PMS demand. All-In-One Approach: All-in-one front office, point of sale, and finance. dependable and self-healing The system instantly replicates hotel data among three different data centres. This ensures that hotel data is secure and that the PMS is always functional. Shared Prosperity: Sentec PMS’s pricing structure adjusts to the monthly performance of your hotel, resulting in lower costs during slumps in business. Sentec PMS takes pride in its flexibility, providing individualised solutions to fit each hotel’s demands as opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach. This PMS is made to be adaptable so that it can serve establishments of different sizes. Sentec PMS wants to be the flexible but dependable cornerstone on which hotels can peek over their competitors, from small independent hotels to huge multi-country chains like Archipelago International. After an extensive search and having sampled numerous systems, Archipelago International’s choice of Sentec PMS is a testament to its functionality, reliability, and effectiveness. To learn more about how this revolutionary solution can help your establishment, reach out to SentinelTech.com to schedule a demo today. Source- Travel daily