Travel News

The expected 2023 State of the European Cruise Industry Keynote lineup and details of its conference programme are released by Seatrade Europe – Cruise and River Cruise Convention, the bi-annual event for the European cruise and river cruise community. Hamburg, Germany will host the gathering of 300+ cruise executives, 250+ exhibitors, and destinations from September 6–8, 2023. The three-day conference will begin on September 6, 2023, with an electrifying keynote session that will bring together influential cruise executives from throughout Europe for a conversation motivated by the conference theme of Scaling Sustainably. The stimulating discussion, which will be centred on the future of the cruise industry and cover current market conditions, predicted growth trends, and how the sector can carve a path to continuous growth, will be moderated by Mary Bond, Group Director of Seatrade Cruise. After a protracted absence, Seatrade Cruise is excited to return to Europe and bring the cruise community together at Seatrade Europe, according to Chiara Giorgi, global brand and event director. The event’s main issue, Scaling Sustainably, will be the focus of conversations led by an outstanding group of business leaders. The keynote panel will act as an engaging catalyst to start discussions on what lies ahead as the cruise industry keeps evolving and growing. The State of the European Cruise Industry Keynote will be held on September 6, 2023, from 9:30 to 11:00. The conference schedule for Seatrade Europe will go in-depth on how the major cruise industry participants are collaboratively navigating towards a sustainable future. Participants can choose from a lineup of panel discussions, talks, and workshops that address important subjects related to scaling sustainably, such as: increasing operational efficiency Shoreside Itinerary Evolution Destinations in Development Taking Advantage of Stakeholder Relations Taking Advantage of Technology Managing ESG Goals Across the Industry In conjunction with content partners and supporters River Cruise Europe & IG Rivercruise, Seatrade Europe will host a dedicated River Cruise Day on Thursday, September 7. The full-day programme will highlight the river cruise market and feature major industry participants, including operators, charterers, suppliers, and destinations that will shape river cruising in Europe and beyond. The programme provides a chance to learn more about river cruising, with discussions focusing on the distinctions between river and ocean cruising as well as what makes river cruise lines and their destinations special. Participants can anticipate learning about the current situation for river cruising in Europe and the forecast from professionals in the field on navigating the future for sustainable growth.  Source- Travel daily

Six months after its launch in Queensland, Australia’s newest low-cost carrier, which aims to connect remote areas, has cut the frequency of many flights and eliminated others. A Queensland-based airline that operates out of the Sunshine Coast has said it will eliminate five regional routes in response to passenger concerns about flight disruptions. Through Toowoomba Wellcamp, they link the Sunshine Coast to Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Cairns, Mackay, and the Whitsunday Coast. Chief Commercial Officer Carly Povey announced on Thursday that “We are reducing some routes by one weekly flight.” There are now only 22 options. Every week, a new service will be offered between the Sunshine Coast and Port Macquarie, Albury, and Melbourne (Avalon). These are just three of the many effective routes. On August 1, 2023, the new adjustments will become effective. An alternative itinerary or a full refund will be offered to customers who have already booked tickets for the cancelled routes. Tim Jordan, CEO of Bonza, stated that the company’s goal was to “change the aviation environment for the better – for the many, not just the few,” when the airline first flew in January from the Sunshine Coast. Even Ms. Povey acknowledged that “not everyone has had a good experience.” She underlined the importance of looking into plane delays and cancellations. While airlines frequently change their schedules, Bonza has never changed its frequency or itineraries. According to the company, it “wants to be transparent around the changes and why we feel they are really important to deliver on customer commitment.” The airline’s four planes will operate fewer flights, according to Ms. Povey, “so we have a buffer when things don’t go as planned.” Second, “by focusing on routes that are performing very well, we are also taking decisive action by going where the demand is and, in turn, setting Bonza up for the long haul — because competition in the airline industry is a good thing and the demand for Bonza is clear.” She suggested that a fair sale would take place between the end of October 2023 and the beginning of April 2024. We’re also planning to build a third base, which will open up new employment opportunities and open up new routes to both current and future locations, she continued. Source- Travel daily

At San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Air Canada has inaugurated its brand-new Maple Leaf Lounge, the airline’s 28th lounge overall and third in the United States. The contemporary and opulent retreat, located in Terminal 2, offers a variety of premium amenities, food, and beverages, as well as Air Canada’s first outdoor lounge terrace, making the travel experience for qualified customers even more comfortable and practical before their flights to Canada and beyond. “We’re thrilled to bring the Maple Leaf Lounge experience to San Francisco International Airport, giving our Bay Area customers a way to enjoy Air Canada’s award-winning product and glowing-hearted hospitality from the moment they arrive,” said Jacqueline Harkness, Managing Director, Products and Services at Air Canada. It’s another step in our investment strategy to become San Francisco’s preferred foreign travel option. The newest Lounge has an enormous outdoor terrace with views of the aircraft and runway in addition to the variety of services and amenities the airline’s Maple Leaf Lounges are known for. For passengers flying from California to Canada or via three of the airline’s major hubs—Toronto Pearson, Montreal Trudeau, and Vancouver International Airports—to Europe, Asia, or Australia, the 165-seat, 8168 square foot (761 square metre) airport retreat enhances the flight and airport experience. The new Maple Leaf Lounge at SFO will honour its California location through its design and decor as well as the food and beverage options offered, which showcase regional producers and tastes. Along with a variety of California wines, beer from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company and Anchor Brewing—America’s first craft brewery—will be available with special seafood dishes, including the renowned San Francisco fish stew cioppino. Added information is as follows: Premium Food and Drink Selections Hot and cold self-serve buffet with regional cuisines Bar with a barman selling local craft beers, a tailored cocktail menu, espresso and a variety of wines (including those from Canada and California). Facilities and Room The Lounge is the first of its kind to have an outdoor patio and two vapour fireplaces made by the Canadian business CF + D. It was created in collaboration with the San Francisco architecture firm Gensler. 135 internal + 30 external seats total 165. Biometric identification and e-gates for smooth, hands-free lounge admission towel racks in showers that are heated VIP room for ten persons maximum A collection of diverse artwork that honours and reflects Canada and California Shawn Evans, a Canadian painter, and Amos Goldbaum, a Californian artist, both contributed a bespoke mural. The new area is the newest addition to Air Canada’s expanding network of lounges. With the inauguration of the new United ClubSM location in Newark Terminal A, Air Canada has also added Newark Liberty International Airport to its list of lounges. With a dedicated Air Canada customer service desk and an access policy that is in line with Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounges, Air Canada will be uniquely co-located within the United Club in this new location. Source- Travel daily

For the opportunities it offers the Armed Forces community, Loganair has become the first airline to receive recognition from the UK Government with a Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award. The Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, which honours employers for their beneficial contributions to the Armed Forces community, is the highest distinction. The largest regional airline in the UK was one of nearly 200 companies to receive a Defence ERS Gold award today (Wednesday, July 12). The success of Loganair comes after the airline had received Bronze and Silver honours. Employers are encouraged to support the military and motivate others to do the same through the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). For employer organisations that promise, show, or encourage support for the defence and the armed forces community and who also match their principles with the Armed Forces Covenant, it includes bronze, silver, and gold awards. Loganair is a devoted supporter of the Armed Forces and presently employs more than 16 members of the community across the whole company as part of its Flying’s For All equality, diversity, and inclusion plan, which was introduced last year. Captain Aakash Sajid, a Private in the Army Reserve, is one of them. In November of last year, Captain Sajid travelled to Edinburgh Castle to receive Loganair’s Silver Defence ERS medal. “We are honoured and thrilled to be the first UK airline to achieve a Gold Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Award following our previous Bronze and Silver accreditations,” said Lyndsay Kennedy, Head of Human Resources at Loganair. We make a lot of effort to be a diverse and inclusive employer because we think that flying is for everyone. Being honoured in this manner is immensely satisfying. Dr. Andrew Murrison, the minister for veterans, military personnel, and service families, said: “I would like to thank all the groups that have been acknowledged in this year’s awards. I’m thrilled that so many organisations have received a gold award. Their ongoing assistance highlights the distinct advantages and skills that members of our armed forces can bring to the workplace. There are currently 641 holders of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is provided by Defence Relationship Management. Organisations that want to keep their Gold Award status must reapply every five years. Organisations must have supporting HR policies in place for reservists, veterans, Cadet Force adult volunteers, and wives and partners of those serving in the armed forces in order to receive a Gold award from the Ministry of Defence. These policies must also give at least 10 additional paid days of leave for reservists. By urging other organisations to ratify the Armed Forces Covenant and participate in the Employer Recognition Scheme, they must also promote the advantages of aiding those in the armed forces community. Source- Travel daily

In 2030 Hurtigruten Norway plans to debut its first zero-emission cruise ship in 2030, with the goal of eventually making the entire fleet emission-free. The new Sea Zero ship, which will carry 500 passengers, will be electric and run on 60 megawatt batteries that are refilled with renewable energy while the ship is docked. The 135-meter-long yacht will also have 164-foot retractable sails with solar panels, numerous retractable thrusters, contra-rotating propellers, and a manoeuvring system powered by artificial intelligence. The new AI manoeuvring system will enable Hurtigruten Norway to significantly reduce the size of the ship’s navigation bridge. Insights gained from the data it generates will also help to improve docking practises. In the meanwhile, the ship’s streamlined form will increase passenger comfort by lowering air resistance and energy use. Onboard, there will be 270 public staterooms with big windows and lots of outdoor area. Using an interactive smartphone app, passengers can regulate the ventilation in their cabins and monitor their energy and water usage while on the ship. When we first launched the Sea Zero initiative more than a year ago, we faced the issue of not knowing which technologies will be accessible to us in 2030, said Hedda Felin, CEO of Hurtigruten Norway. Our goal was to improve existing technologies while paving the way for new ones that would further our environmental objectives. Even though some of these technologies are quite advanced, they need careful research and development in order to be used in a maritime environment. “However, some technologies are still in their infancy and need thorough testing and fundamental research.” We determined the most promising technology for our cutting-edge future cruise ships after conducting a detailed feasibility analysis. We plan to offer a ship that is superior to all others in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability within a few years. Additionally, Hurtigruten Norway is beginning “one of the most extensive environmental upgrades in European maritime history,” according to the firm. Two of its current vessels have been converted to battery hybrid power, and a third will receive an upgrade this autumn. In order to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 25% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 80%, it is also equipping five boats with varied technology. Source- Travel daily

In 2024, Oceania Cruises will introduce 94 brand-new cruises with a Mediterranean theme. On the company’s 7- to 59-night itineraries in this incredibly rich and diverse region, there will also be a wide range of exciting shore activities accessible in various ports. In 2024, Oceania Cruises will begin offering trips with a Mediterranean focus, allowing travellers an unrivalled chance to explore and take in the region’s many landmarks in an entirely new way. These cruises with a Mediterranean theme will stop in famous and lesser-known cultural centres in and near Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon, Athens, and London (yes, we know that London isn’t in the Mediterranean). There are classes available in history, architecture, gastronomy, and other topics. Oceania Cruises CEO Frank A. Del Rio remarked, “We are delighted to offer such a wide variety of destination-intensive Mediterranean itineraries, allowing our well-traveled and curious guests to look at beloved Mediterranean destinations through a different lens.” For small parties on these trips, the business will also provide hundreds of immersive shore activities. Del Rio continued, “Our carefully chosen variety of shore activities, along with the comfortable home-away-from-home atmosphere on board our boutique ships, gives the ideal luxury vacation option. Travellers will be able to board ships including Marina, Riviera, the 67,817-gross-ton Vista, which is the cruise line’s newest vessel, as well as the smaller and older 30,277-ton Sirena, which was finished in 1999 at the French shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The fascinating history, legendary civilizations, delectable cuisine, and enduring traditions of the Mediterranean region are intended to be fully experienced by tourists on these excursions with a Mediterranean theme. On their ‘Mediterranean Sojourns’, Oceania Cruises will offer a variety of speciality excursions catered to a variety of interests and tastes. Foodies should find “Food & Wine Trails” and “Culinary Discovery” excursions to be the best ways to fully experience Mediterranean cooking customs. With cooking demonstrations, instruction, and excursions to nearby farms and vineyards, the regional cuisine and wine will be the main topics of these small-group vacations. If you have a passion for architecture, the “Beyond Blueprints” trips will increase your appreciation of famous buildings from across the world by giving you exclusive access and insider knowledge. The “Go Green” excursions, which aim to show how nearby towns and businesses contribute to conservation and use innovative green practises, are ideal for anyone who care about the environment. Valencia, the paella capital of Spain, Ephesus, Turkey, Syracuse, Sicily, and the city walls of Kotor, Montenegro, home to the neo-classical Museum of King Nikola are just a few of the locations on the itinerary. The “Seafarer’s Inspiration,” a 59-day Grand Voyage onboard the Sirena from Miami to Rome with overnight stays at Seville and Bordeaux, will launch Oceania Cruises’ 2024 Mediterranean Itineraries on March 27, 2024. The Grand Voyage will make several stops in the Caribbean, Europe, and the Mediterranean, including (but not limited to) Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Casablanca, Gibraltar, Edinburgh, Palma de Mallorca, Saint-Tropez, Monte Carlo, and many others. There will also be other trips during the season, such as the 10-day “Ionian and Adriatic Seas” sailing from Valletta to Venice on board Vista on April 21, 2024, and the 30-day “Mediterranean & Beyond” sailing from Athens to Barcelona on September 3, 2024. The 17-day “Timeless Turkey & Greece” cruise on The Riviera came to an end in October 2022. Additionally, beginning on July 1, 2023, Oceania Cruises will offer upgraded amenities through the More programme, including free roundtrip air travel, free airport transfers, and a credit of up to $1,600 for shore excursions for new bookings made for voyages departing on or after October 1, 2023. With this wonderful price, eager cruise travellers may find these amazing journeys even more affordable, giving them an unrivalled chance to see the Mediterranean like never before. Source- Travel daily

GlobalData, a data and analytics company, reports that 365 deals—including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and venture financing deals—were announced in the travel and tourism sector globally during the first half (H1) of 2023, a decline of 38.8% from the 596 deals announced during the same period in the previous year. All the deal categories covered by GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database experienced a fall in deal activity, according to a review of the database. When comparing H1 2023 to H1 2022, the number of merger and acquisition (M&A), private equity, and venture finance agreements decreased by 41.6%, 33.3%, and 30.4%, respectively. According to Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, “the travel and tourism sector is seeing distressed transaction activity in several worldwide markets. Rising interest rates, the impending threat of a recession, and the current geopolitical tensions are just a few of the variables influencing deal activity. The region of Europe accounted for the largest portion of the transactions announced internationally in the travel and tourism industry, followed by Asia-Pacific, North America, the Middle East and Africa, South and Central America, and then North America. While deal volume declined 46% YoY in Europe, it declined by 19%, 47.6%, 20%, and 23.1%, respectively, in the Asia-Pacific, North America, Middle East, and Africa, South, and Central America areas during H1 2023 compared to H1 2022. In comparison to H1 2022, several important markets saw a downturn in deal activity connected to the travel and tourist sector in the first half of 2023. For instance, during H1 2023 compared to H1 2022, deal volume decreased in the US, UK, India, Australia, France, South Korea, Japan, and Spain, respectively, by 47.7%, 44.8%, 21.4%, 21.1%, 33.3%, 20%, 62.1%, and 69.2%. The announcement of deals for the travel and tourist sector increased by 18.2% in China during H1 2023 compared to H1 2022, becoming a major outlier to the downward trend. Source- Travel biz

For travellers who want to take quick excursions within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations from Al Maktoum International Airport, Emirates has introduced an on-demand regional charter service. For its charter flights, the airline will fly its Phenom 100 aircraft, which has a four-passenger capacity. Customers can use the service to travel to a variety of GCC locations both inside and outside of Emirates’ network, with short turnarounds to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and the UAE. A small carry-on bag and a medium bag up to 15 kg each are allowed for each traveller to check in. According to Sakina Fatima for The Siasat Daily, refreshments are offered, and travellers or reservation staff can accommodate special requirements. According to a statement from Emirates, the services provide discerning passengers with busy schedules with privacy, a high degree of flexibility, and a hassle-free ground experience. Private chartered aircraft are increasingly used by business travellers and those who prefer convenience and speed. To go to Al Maktoum International Airport, passengers from Dubai utilising Emirates services will be able to take chauffeur-driven cars. In addition, visitors will be treated like VIPs upon arrival, with a dedicated agent assisting them in minimising pre-flight wait periods. Passengers will also profit from quicker VIP customs clearance, immigration, and on-the-ground escort arrivals, which are offered by the terminal’s own service partners. Source- Travel biz

Some consider breakfast to be the most significant meal of the day, while others frequently skip it. The same conundrum arises with every new hotel reservation: Should I include something or not? In order to rank customer preferences for 10 Asian markets, Agoda looked at the data. According to Agoda’s insights, visitors from Taiwan were the country’s most frequent breakfast-bookers over the previous two months. The majority (46%) of Taiwanese visitors choose breakfast included, closely followed by Vietnamese (43%), and Indian visitors (42%). On the other end of the breakfast requirement popularity spectrum, we find South Korea (29%), Japan (27%), and Malaysia (23%), which are ranked 8, 9, and 10 respectively. Agoda discovered that travellers on international trips are more inclined to choose some comfort and peace of mind when compared to those travelling domestically. Compared to 31% of travellers who choose to stay within national borders, 37% of international travellers choose the “breakfast included” option on Agoda. “There are lots of factors at play to determine the popularity of including breakfast when booking your accommodation” said Enric Casals, Regional Associate Vice President Southeast Asia at Agoda. “It’s often the flexibility to decide last-minute depending on your plans during the trip, but it’s well worth noting that if you do plan to start the day with a meal, it’s often most economical to include it during the booking. And anyone who achieves VIP Platinum level on Agoda is automatically eligible to receive free breakfast at various lodgings. The desire to travel will then be the only appetite remaining. According to Agoda data on specific locations, breakfast is more frequently chosen for travel to Vietnam, followed by Taiwan (#2) and the Philippines (#3). There appears to be less appetite for the breakfast buffets in Japan (#7), Malaysia (#8), and Singapore (#9), but it is least popular in South Korea (#10), where only 1 in 10 travelers include the morning meal in their hotel reservations. For those who don’t want to miss out on breakfast, there is a ‘Breakfast included’ filter on Agoda.com and in the Agoda app, to quickly find the best deals that will not only provide a good night’s sleep, but also the best way to wake up. Source- Travel daily  

Due to the announcement of numerous strikes taking place across Europe that will affect air travel in the next weeks, customers may expect their travel plans to be delayed as the summer vacation draws near. The greatest organisation in the world defending the rights of air travellers, AirHelp, offers advice on what to do while confronting strikes called by various parties. Many employees at airlines and airports, including air traffic controllers, are on strike due to chronic manpower shortages, long hours, and unfavourable working conditions. One in three flights across Europe are expected to be impacted by these strikes, which started on June 30. Air Europa in Spain announced its third recent strike. Over 60 flights were impacted by the first strike, while 115 more were impacted by the second strike. There have already been cancelled more than 15 flights, and there will likely be more. In addition, the strike in Spain, which has been going on since last February, has been joined by Air Nostrum and Iberia Regional. Data from AirHelp shows that more than 25 flights have already been impacted, with 8 of them being cancelled. Local ground personnel have also announced a strike, which is scheduled to happen in July and August and will affect travellers heading to Portugal or Italy. When airline employees go on strike, passengers have the right to sue for financial compensation for aircraft delays or cancellations. However, when airport employees go on strike, travellers cannot make a claim for compensation. All passengers must be provided with an alternate flight, which they can decline if they do not want to continue their travel, regardless of the cause of the strike. Passengers under these circumstances have the option of requesting a complete ticket refund. Additionally, customers can ask the airline to pay for any additional expenses they incurred during the delay as a result of the flight disruption (such as meals, lodging, or lost luggage charges). How can AirHelp assist travellers? For the past ten years, AirHelp has fought for travellers who become vulnerable as a result of flight delays or cancellations. Over 1.5 million people have already won compensation for their cases during this time. Although many passengers are now aware of their rights, AirHelp has updated its Passenger Rights Guide with the most recent industry guidelines. AirPayout, an insurance service added to AirHelp Plus, was also introduced by AirHelp. Regardless of the cause of the disturbance, this insurance allows travellers to obtain an immediate €100 reimbursement for aircraft delays or cancellations. This implies that any delays brought on by bad weather, unexpected medical situations, or airport employee strikes—disturbances that, in accordance with EU Regulation 261, may relieve the airline of its compensation obligations—will also be covered and compensated. Source- Travel daily