Travel News

According to a recent research from Accor, the top hotel company in the world, highly personalised service is increasingly serving as travel consultants’ primary point of differentiation. The paper, titled “Tailor-Made Touch or Digital Efficiency?,” examines the approaches, innovations, and developments affecting leisure travel advisors now and in the future. Developing the services and forging the relationships that can help them delight and connect with their customers on a level that is beyond what alternative intermediary models can achieve is said to be even more crucial than continuously digitally transforming their operations. The report, which is specifically targeted at the European market, describes how the pandemic accelerated the transformation of the leisure travel intermediary market, leading to the widespread adoption of digital technology and the model changes of many key players in an effort to become platform businesses or b2b technology providers. It supports the idea that, when used properly, technology—from messaging platforms to payment systems to artificial intelligence—can be the best friend of travel advisors, enabling them to maximise their capacity with a wide range of inventory, gain access to potent digital distribution channels, gain a deeper understanding of their clients, market themselves more effectively, and offer more sophisticated and effective services. However, it contends that even more crucial to travel planners’ success as they develop is their capacity to connect with their clients and deliver the high-touch, individualised service that tourists now want. “Consumers increasingly value the ability of travel advisors to remove the stress from their trip, tailor it to their preferences, plan every last detail in a flexible way, and be the reassuring presence that takes care of problems when they arise,” said Saskia Gentil, SVP Sales, Europe & North Africa at Accor. Source- travel daily

The world’s largest organization for air passenger rights, AirHelp, today announced the introduction of a new AirHelp Plus service called AirPayout Insurance. For delays of more than three hours, cancellations made fewer than seven days before departure, and flight diversions, members of this new programme are eligible to receive a guaranteed sum of €100 (about £86), payable within a few days of any flight interruption. In order to be covered for any delays, passengers must log their scheduled flights using the AirHelp dashboard prior to departure. After that, qualified air travelers will continue to be able to request full reimbursement from the airline and receive the full sum for approved claims through AirHelp. Flight assistance when required Members of AirHelp Plus have access to the company’s air passenger rights (APR) expertise around-the-clock, including live support for flight-related questions when faced with delays, interruptions, and cancellations. The two membership levels offered by AirHelp Plus are Essential and Complete. When a claim is lodged through AirHelp, the Essential package (€24.99, or roughly £21) waives all fees, saving customers money on service fees while still enabling them to obtain the full compensation sum, up to £520 for flights that qualify under the UK’s air passenger rights rules. Members also receive assistance with delayed, broken, or misplaced luggage. Passengers who purchase the Complete package (€64.99, around £56) are entitled to further perks like access to more than 1,100 high-end airport lounges in the event that a flight is canceled. AirPayout Insurance, backed by battleface travel insurance, is now included with both memberships. The Essential package covers the customer’s first three journeys, while the Complete package covers all trips. understanding your rights With information on the quantity of flights, passengers, interruptions, delays, and cancellations from airports and airlines throughout the world, AirHelp has one of the most precise flight data collections in the world. Of the 103 million passengers flying in the UK in 2022, 37 million experienced delays and interruptions, and over 2.5 million of those passengers were eligible for compensation. Only in cases where the airline is at fault are customers eligible to compensation under UK261, the UK statute for APR, of up to £520 per person for delays longer than three hours, cancellations made fewer than 14 days before departure, and boarding denied due to overbooking. Source- Travel daily

Emirates said that beginning on October 29, passengers flying to and from Mumbai and Bengaluru will have access to its coveted Premium Economy service. These two well-known Indian destinations will be served by Emirates’ newly refurbished flagship A380 aircraft, which includes the new Premium Economy seats as well as updated interiors that raise the travel experience in all other cabin classes. Customers flying the Dubai-Mumbai route can reserve seats in Emirates’ Premium Economy on EK500/501, while those flying the Dubai-Bengaluru route can reserve seats in the airline’s most recent premium economy product, featuring plush seats, more legroom, and an elevated dining experience. For travel beginning on October 29, seats can be reserved right away through Emirates.com, Emirates sales offices, and travel agencies. As the rollout of the upgraded and refitted Emirates A380s with a four-class layout accelerates, Premium Economy will be introduced on flights to additional international locations. On flights to nine international locations, including New York JFK, San Francisco, and Houston in the US, along with London Heathrow, Sydney, Auckland, Christchurch, Melbourne, and Singapore, Premium Economy is already an option. By the end of 2023, 12 routes will be offering the unique service, with Premium Economy cabins also making their debut in July to Los Angeles. Along with the inclusion of Premium Economy on the modified aircraft, passengers in all cabins may take advantage of the updated interiors that feature Emirates’ distinctive  tree design. The A380 aircraft has undergone extensive renovations and aesthetic improvements that passengers can appreciate while traveling on board. These improvements can be seen throughout the aircraft in the carpeting, wall panels, and wood finishings. Source- travel biz

According to a DGCA official, IndiGo has been given approval to operate its flight services to Nairobi in Kenya. This would be the airline’s first trip to the huge continent of Africa. As part of its foreign development plans and in response to increased competition brought on by a revitalized Air India under the Tata Group, IndiGo had announced in February of this year its intentions to begin air service to Nairobi, Jakarta, and some Central Asian nations. “IndiGo operations to Nairobi with effect from July 24 has been approved,” the official declared. The airline said early this month that it will offer direct flights from Mumbai to Nairobi, Kenya, and Jakarta, Indonesia, in late July or early august. It stated that Delhi would be connected to Baku, Azerbaijan, and Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in August as well as Almaty, Kazakhstan, in September. Additionally, the airline has stated that once these flights are operational, it will be connecting 32 overseas locations as opposed to just 26 at the moment. Source- travel biz

Amadeus has purchased a small stake in CAPHENIA, a company that will create synthesis gas, the raw material for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The German-based company has created a novel method for producing SAF in a more cost-effective and scalable manner. The choice is a part of Amadeus’s larger commitment to assisting the travel sector in its transition to sustainable travel. The investment will give Amadeus better insight into the difficulties facing the SAF sector, enabling it to further consider what part it can play in this crucial step of the industry’s journey towards net zero by 2050. CAPHENIA has developed a novel method to create synthesis gas from a mixture of biogas, CO2, water, and energy. CAPHENIA is now in an advanced stage of development. This can be used to create a range of renewable fuels, with CO2 emissions reduced by up to 92% when compared to the value from fossil fuels. With 203 awarded patents, the company has successfully protected its Power-and-Biogas-to-Liquid (PBtL) technology in all pertinent main markets globally. “Our process is affordable – using one sixth of the electricity needed for alternative SAF production methods – and scalable,” said Dr. Mark Misselhorn, Chief Executive of CAPHENIA. By 2028, we hope to offer large-scale production, bridging the gap between the existing supply and expected demand for SAF. “For airlines, sustainable aviation fuel is the realistic long-term substitute for conventional aviation fuel,” Misselhorn concluded. A significant component that, when combined with other factors, may aid in achieving net zero targets is the technology of cost-effective, producible SAF. The IATA Net Zero Emission project estimates that SAF has the potential to contribute 65% of the decrease in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions necessary for the aviation industry to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Along with carbon offset and capture (19%), operational efficiencies (3%), electric and hydrogen powered aircraft (13%), and operational efficiencies (3%), new technology is an important part of the future trip. It is predicted that a global production capacity of 449 billion litres per year is required to achieve the 65 percent reduction in GHG emissions. SAF output in 2021 was only 125 million litres, or less than 0.1% of the required anticipated production capacity, to put things in perspective. Beginning production in 2019, CAPHENIA anticipates producing 10 million litres of SAF by 2027, increasing that amount to over 100 million litres by 2030, and more than one billion litres by 2035. “At Amadeus, we are committed to supporting the shift to sustainable travel,” stated Suzanna Chiu, Head of Ventures. We keep an eye on market trends and advancements to assess the best means by which we can realise this goal, and we are excited to take action right now by investing in a cutting-edge SAF firm. The deal advances our sustainability approach by allowing us to view the industry from a different point along the value chain. We are taking proactive measures to hasten the process as the industry works towards its 2050 target of reaching net zero. Source- Travel biz

American tourist arrivals to Japan grew 3.6% year-to-date in 2023 over the same time (January-April) in 2019, a year that set a record for foreign travel to Japan, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO). Nearly 184,000 Americans visited Japan in April 2023 alone, an increase of 8% over April 2019. This makes the US the only Western country to experience an increase in tourism to Japan, aside from its North American neighbour, Mexico, which saw a 13.1% increase in visitor numbers over the same period. Michiaki Yamada, Executive Director of the Japan National Tourism Organisation in New York, reports an exponential rise in American travellers’ interest in visiting Japan. Following the end of all Covid-related entry restrictions this spring and the reopening of our country’s borders to foreign tourism in late 2022, “we will likely be welcoming more Americans than ever before in the months to come due to the incredible pent-up demand to experience the wonders of Japan post-pandemic.” Japan is one of the most talked about travel destinations of 2023 with the country as a whole, along with its top cities and regions, appearing on some of the most coveted “Where to Go” Lists of the year, including: the Japanese cities of Morioka and Fukuoka in the New York Times’ annual list of “52 Places to Go in 2023”; Kyoto and Nagoya featured on Time Magazine’s list of “The World’s Greatest Places of 2023”; The Washington Post named Japan on its list of “The Top Travel Destinations for 2023”; the “art islands” of Naoshima included in CNN Travel’s list of “Where to Travel in 2023: The Best Destinations to Visit”; Kyushu featured in Bloomberg Pursuits’ “Where to Go in 2023” list; Osaka named to The Daily Beast’s list of “Where to Travel in 2023”; Japan on the Reader’s Digest list of the “20 Best Places to Travel in 2023”; Japan included in the TripSavvy list of “Where to Go in 2023: The Most Exciting Destinations of the Year”; Tokyo featured on CNBC’s list of “The 7 Cities You Must Visit Before You Die”; and the list goes on. Source- travel daily

Following the announcement that “Belleair Holidays” had been acquired by Alfendo Limited, the parent company of JTA Travel Group, a new agent-only website called www.Belleair.co.uk is now available for agents to search and make reservations.  Agents will have access to the most recent version of our booking engine through the brand-new website, which also offers a quick and simple platform for searching and booking a variety of top resorts and fantastic flight package options. In addition, we offer a professional, specialised team booking service for more complicated requirements that can’t be handled through the website. Since the company’s founding in 1977, Belleair Holidays has established itself as the go-to travel authority for Malta, earning a solid reputation for providing great service and industry knowledge. With the launch of our new website, we are happy to carry on this tradition. We offer a selection of the top sun and beach destinations in the Mediterranean, Aegean, North Africa, and Middle East in addition to our focus on Malta and Gozo (along with quite a few lesser-known treasures, too). Every trip to Malta and Gozo comes with our in-destination local representation service. We offer a 24/7 hotline for all customers, regardless of the trip they have booked, because we are dedicated to giving consumers the greatest experience possible. All of our vacations come with complete ABTA and ATOL protection, giving clients peace of mind before, during, and after their trip. We respect our relationships with the industry, and we encourage all agents to look into and learn more about the alternatives and products offered at www.Belleair.co.uk. Agents can access the website and make reservations right away using their current JTA login credentials. “Today is a historic day for Belleair, and I would like to thank all the people within our team who have been working tirelessly to make this happen,” said Dave Green, managing director. I also want to express my gratitude to the innumerable travel agency community members who got in touch with me and many of my colleagues to express their intention to continue supporting us. Source- Travel daily

The relationship between Lijiang Yulong Tourism Ltd and the international hospitality organization The Lux Collective, which first started in 2013, has now lasted ten years. Lijiang Yulong Tourism Ltd. and LUX* Tea Horse Road collaborated with international editorial photographer and author Mr. Michael Freeman to present an exclusive photo exhibition titled “Michael Freeman – Yunnan Through the Lens” in Lijiang as part of the celebration of the milestone. They also unveiled the Group’s upcoming eighth LUX* Tea Horse Road China resort, LUX* Lashi Lake. Michael began a significant leg of his journey through China in the summer of 2008, and while there, he fell in love with the 13th-century Tea Horse Road. His two and a half-year photography effort there resulted in the 2011 release of the book “Tea Horse Road.” The well-received book covers destinations from Lijiang and Shangri-La to Nujiang and Tengchong, capturing the history, community, and culture of the Tea Horse Road. The Lux Collective hired Michael in 2016 to create the inaugural brochure LUX* Tea Horse Road China, which marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration. Some of the most remote locations on earth are home to the luxurious retreats that make up LUX* Tea Horse Road China. The “Michael Freeman – Yunnan Through the Lens” exhibition was co-hosted by Lijiang Yulong Tourism Ltd. and The Lux Collective on June 3, 2023, with assistance from the Lijiang Photographers Association, to commemorate the anniversary and Michael’s return to the Tea Horse Road. 100 local and international guests attended the Lijiang exhibition, which featured 36 of Michael’s works. Source- travel daily

The Tiger’s Nest Monastery, also known as Paro Taktsang, is a magnificent temple complex built on a cliffside in Bhutan’s upper Paro valley. Both pilgrims and tourists are drawn to this Himalayan beauty by its alluring allure. According to Bhutan Live, the trek itself is a remarkable experience, offering breathtaking vistas of the Paro Valley and its verdant surroundings. However, thanks to recent developments in drone technology, we can now get a fresh perspective of this important site, enabling us to explore the monastery in ways we previously could only have imagined. Drones were used to capture overhead footage of Paro Taktsang, and the results are a treasure trove of breathtaking images that showcase the architectural wonder and unsurpassed beauty of the monastery. We can better appreciate the exquisite details of the temple complex, which consists of eight caves and four main temples, thanks to the drone’s bird’s-eye perspective. Bhutan Live is a daily that reports on social, cultural, and political events in the nation. A breathtaking sight that enthralls viewers is created by the striking contrast between the monastery’s immaculate white walls and the rocky cliffside. According to Bhutan Live, the drone video also depicts the dangerous entrance to the monastery, which includes a tiny bridge connecting the main buildings and a set of steep, rock-carved stairs. Drones offer a distinctive viewpoint that offers an insight into Paro Taktsang’s mythological and historical fabric. In accordance with legend, Guru Padmasambhava, who is credited with bringing Buddhism to Bhutan, established the monastery in the eighth century. Local folklore holds that the Guru rode a flying tigress to this sacred location, giving rise to the moniker “Tiger’s Nest.” According to Bhutan Live, the drone footage even shows the cave where the Guru is reputed to have meditated for an unparalleled duration of three years, three months, three weeks, three days, and three hours. Undoubtedly, there are difficulties involved with using drones in Paro Taktsang. Drone maneuvering is difficult due to the high altitude and severe gusts; in order to get stable video, trained and experienced operators are required. Source- the print

The gold award for health and safety performance, the gold award for leisure safety, a safety influencer of the year award for one of the Emirates team members, a highly commended award in the health and safety initiative, and the trophy award for best fleet safety in the Middle East. Emirates is the only airline globally to claim a gold award for health and safety performance in transport and has won the award annually for the last 4 years. The gold award for health and safety performance covers overall health and safety performance for all aspects of the service that affect both staff and customers, while the gold award for leisure safety is for health and safety performance recognises services offered directly to guests and visitors. The influencer of the year award went to Roshan Menon, Manager of Transport Services, for his work in promoting safety in the Middle East. A highly commended award was achieved in the health and safety initiative category – Middle East, for the extensive transport support and safety measures implemented during COVID19 for the Emirates Group. The final award, trophy award for fleet safety was presented for excellence in managing occupational road risk in the Middle East. In the UAE, Emirates operates a fleet of over a thousand vehicles to transport passengers, cabin crew and flight deck, as well as other employees to and from the workplace, averaging 2.5 million road trips in an average year. One of the many benefits offered to Emirates Cabin Crew is a dedicated state-of-the-art shuttle service to and from their accommodation to the airport. Emirates’ Pilots are chauffeur-driven between their home and the airport for their flight duties. Ground staff for both Emirates and dnata are also transported to and from work. Emirates Group Transport Services operates in over 167 countries, offering Emirates customers the opportunity to avail of convenient coaches with Emirates Shuttle Services, and luxurious Emirates Chauffeur Drive services for First and Business Class passengers. Emirates shuttle services are comfortable coaches available in selected destinations in the UAE, Japan, US and Canada, transporting Economy and Premium Economy passengers from the airport to nearby cities. Emirates Chauffeur Drive ensures First and Business Class customers enjoy a smooth transfer to and from the airport in a high-end vehicle like a BMW or Mercedes. Emirates also manages standards and protocols for external service providers internationally who transport premium customers to and from the airport in comfort and safety as part of the signature Emirates Chauffeur Drive service. Source- travel daily