Category: Latest Travel News

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, August 24, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / With less than two months to go, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is preparing to welcome the world to its state-of-the-art pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. At the Saudi Pavilion, the second largest after the UAE’s, visitors will experience the Kingdom’s rich past, vibrant present, and promising future.

A 68 square-meter, curved LED screen greets visitors as they embark on a technology-enabled journey through five ecosystems, hinting at the Kingdom’s natural spaces, beautiful coasts, vast deserts, surrounding seas, and high mountains. The journey will walk through the flora of Al Bardani Valley in Asir Region to the mighty mountains of Tabuk, and from the dunes of the Empty Quarter in southeastern Saudi to the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea.

Visitors to the Saudi Pavilion will then experience 14 cultural landmarks along a stunning escalator ride. These include acclaimed UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as At-Turaif District in Ad-Diriyah, Hegra Archaeological Site in AlUla, Historic Jeddah, Rock Art in the Hail Region, and Al-Ahsa Oasis.

Through an audiovisual guide, guests can explore 23 other destinations, including world-leading giga-projects which are rewriting the possibilities of sustainable development such as Qiddiya, Diriyah Gate, and King Salman Park.

Following this, visitors will enter ‘Vision,’ a one-of-a-kind art exhibition curated by celebrated Saudi artists. Highlights include a 30m floating virtual sphere and a bespoke interactive floor.

Finally, the pavilion will take visitors through the ‘Discovery Center’, where an innovative platform will connect leaders from around the world to forge exciting partnerships and discuss investment opportunities, visualized through an interactive digital map of Saudi Arabia.

People, opportunity, nature, and heritage are the four pillars that anchor the visitor experience of the Kingdom’s 13,000 square-meter pavilion; an adventure woven into one of the most sustainable structures at Expo 2020 Dubai. It has been awarded the LEED Platinum certification by the US Green Building Council (USGBC), the highest internationally recognized sustainability rating in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

In addition, the pavilion holds three Guinness World Records: the largest interactive lighting floor with around 8,000 LED lights, the longest interactive water feature at more than 32 meters, and the largest LED interactive digital mirror screen at 1302.5 square meters.

Expo 2020 Dubai is an opportunity to reconnect, meet new people, and discover new horizons. The people of Saudi Arabia are excited to open the doors and for visitors to experience their renowned hospitality first-hand.

Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, August 24, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Jointly organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the sixth Belt and Road Summit will be held online on 1-2 September (Wednesday and Thursday) with the theme “Driving Growth through Fostering Regional and International Trade”. The summit will explore how the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) can be leveraged together with the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) development and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to forge multilateral collaboration and drive post-pandemic economic recovery as well as investment and business cooperation in various sectors.

This year’s summit will be held virtually, connecting global participants across different geographic boundaries and time zones. It will comprise a range of sessions and events, including the Opening Session, Policy Dialogue session, two Business Plenaries, a panel discussion and thematic breakout sessions, investment project pitching sessions as well as an exhibition and one-to-one business matching meetings. The event will bring together more than 80 government officials and business elites from Belt and Road countries and regions, as well as project owners, investors and services providers from all over the world, to explore BRI opportunities. In addition to benefiting from the inspiring sharing by renowned speakers, participants will also be able to learn about the current investment climate and opportunities in different regions and sectors, and build contacts with business potential counterparts on the spot.

Comprehensive analysis of policy trends and investment opportunities

The BRI facilitates global investment and trade, providing potential investment opportunities for investors and collaboration opportunities for different professional services sectors. HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam and HKTDC Chairman Dr Peter K N Lam will host the opening session, where a keynote address will be delivered by Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum. At the Policy Dialogue session (on 1 September morning), chaired by HKSAR Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau, officials from Belt and Road countries and regions will analyse the latest economic policy trends. Panelists include Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew Bin Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II, Brunei; HE Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, United Arab Emirates; HE Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of the ASEAN Secretariat; HE Pan Sorasak, Minister of Commerce, Cambodia; Muhammad Lutfi, Minister of Trade, Indonesia; Ramon Lopez, Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippines; Tan See Leng, Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore; and Sansern Samalapa, Vice Minister for Commerce, Thailand.

HKSAR Financial Secretary Paul Chan will address the day’s Business Plenary Session, themed “Belt and Road and RCEP: Enhancing Regional Business Connectivity”, which will also feature business leaders from Hong Kong, Mainland China and RCEP markets. Speakers include Victor Chu, Chairman and CEO, First Eastern Investment Group; Sean Chiao, Global Business Line Chief Executive, Buildings and Places, AECOM; Huang Zhaohui, CEO and Chairman of Management Committee, China International Capital Corporation Limited; Suroj Lamsam, CEO and President of Loxley Public Company Limited in Thailand; Michael Tan, President and Chief Operating Officer of LT Group in the Philippines; and Wang Cuijun, Director, China Merchants Group Limited. The session will examine how the RCEP will inject new impetus into the region and how Belt and Road countries and regions can strengthen connectivity to seize the new opportunities.

Exploring Greater Bay Area opportunities

This year’s summit features the new Greater Bay Area series focusing on opportunities in the region. It includes a Business Plenary, a panel discussion, thematic breakout sessions and an exhibition. The Business Plenary (on 2 September), titled “Connecting the Belt and Road & Greater Bay Area through Hong Kong”, will be chaired by Victor Fung, Chairman of the Fung Group, and feature Dato’ Seri Cheah Cheng Hye, Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Value Partners Group; Jack So, Chairman of Airport Authority Hong Kong; Sun Yu, Vice Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited; and Wang Shi, Chairman of Shenzhen Foundation for International Exchange and Cooperation and Founder and Honorary Chairman of Vanke Co., Ltd. The panel will share their insights on how Hong Kong should leverage its advantages to connect the Belt and Road and the GBA and seize relevant opportunities under the new era of cross-boundary collaboration. A panel discussion and thematic breakout sessions will cover topics such as fundraising, financing, green finance, digital technology and start-ups.

BRI opportunities for various professional services, including legal and dispute resolution, captive insurance and reinsurance, and infrastructure, as well for small and medium-sized enterprises will be discussed at thematic breakout sessions co-organised with various partners including the Department of Justice, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Infrastructure Financing Facilitation Office, the Hong Kong Insurance Authority, Hong Kong Cyberport, Invest Hong Kong, the China International Contractors Association and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. The sessions will also cover international cooperation in infrastructure development, as well as cultural and business collaboration.

Online project pitching and business matching

The summit will once again feature the popular Investment and Business Matching Session, providing a platform for project owners, investors and services providers to connect and explore cooperation opportunities. The session includes one-to-one business matching meetings, to be arranged according to participants’ business and investment needs, and project pitching sessions which focus on four main areas: (1) energy, natural resources and public utilities, (2) innovation and technology, (3) urban development, and (4) transport and logistics infrastructure. The matching sessions are expected to involve more than 100 investment projects.

A larger-scale exhibition will again be held online, featuring more than 60 exhibitors from around the world. Adding to the returning Global Investment Zone and Hong Kong Zone, the new GBA Zone will showcase the latest technology and related investment opportunities in the Greater Bay Area.

Hong Kong-Kazakhstan medical cooperation MOU

During the summit, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) will be signed online to promote cooperation between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan over advanced medical equipment, including the application of medical metal 3D printing technology in orthopaedic oncology and related training. The MOU will be signed by Edmond Yau, Founder and CEO of Hong Kong firm Koln 3D Technology (Medical) Limited, and Shinbolatova Aigul Serikovna, Head of the International Cooperation Department of the Kazakh Institute of Oncology and Radiology (KazIOR).

China International Capital Corporation Ltd serves as the Strategic Partner; Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd as the Regional Banking Partner; China Merchants Group as the Sapphire Sponsor; China Taiping Insurance Group as the Affiliated Insurance Partner; and China Mobile International Limited as the Platinum Sponsor of the sixth Belt and Road Summit.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, August 24, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, welcomes travellers to discover a new world of wonder at Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai, opening on the Deira Islands in the UAE in October 2021. The beachfront family resort is Centara’s joint venture with UAE’s master developer Nakheel as a step towards company’s expansion plans into the Middle East hospitality sector.

Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai will be the group’s first property in the UAE, in a joint venture with and the third Centara Mirage address in the world after Thailand and Vietnam.

Inspired by mythical Thai and Arabian adventures, the waterfront hotel offers a choice of 607 guest rooms and suites, each with a balcony from which to enjoy city or sea views. The themed destination resort is an entertainment wonderland for guests of all ages, and features a water park with lazy river, beachfront swimming pool, and other family friendly facilities including a Mirage Family Lounge for club level guests, dedicated kids’ spa, outdoor playground, and three Kids’ Clubs.

Guests enjoy a choice of nine dining experiences, including a rooftop shisha lounge and a beach club, as well as a fitness centre, water sports facilities, and prayer rooms.

The Centara Mirage themed family resort concept was first introduced in Thailand with the world-renowned Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, which opened in 2009 and has since become Thailand’s number one family destination hotel.

To celebrate its opening, Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai is offering an limited-time preview sale exclusively for CentaraThe1 members, with privileges including 25% off publicly available rates, triple points, plus a 50% points value boost. Member preview rates start from AED 469.60++ per night inclusive of breakfast, and up to two children stay and dine for free when choosing from the children’s menu. CentaraThe1 membership is free to sign up, and travellers have from now until 30th August 2021 to book a stay between 1st October 2021 to 30th September 2022.

Located on a prime stretch of the Deira Islands waterfront, Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai is a themed destination resort inspired by mythical Thai and Arabian adventures. The family resort concept of the group’s Mirage brand immerses guests in a world of wonder with fantastic child-friendly facilities, including world-class water parks and fun activities, along with diverse dining and soothing spas.

Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai offers a choice of 607 rooms and suites, including rooms that are interconnecting or featuring bunk beds, as well as larger two-bedroom suites. Guests are invited to explore a world of dining discoveries including Thai flavours at Suan Bua, authentic Argentinian grilling traditions at UNO MAS, or enjoy a taste of the local culture at Sheesh rooftop shisha lounge. Diners can also enjoy casual dining at Sands Beach Club, Waves Pool Bar, Vistas, the Lobby Bar, or Zing deli and café for refreshments throughout the day. Exclusively for club level guests, the Mirage Family Lounge offers snacks and helpful concierge services, including Lifestyle Hosts and activities for younger guests.

The entertainment and activity wonderland in Dubai offers facilities for the whole family, including a water park complete with a lazy river, kids’ water play area, waterslides and cliff jumping points. The resort is also home to a kids’ spa dedicated to junior spa-goers, family friendly check-in counters at the Mirage Family Lounge, and three Kids’ Clubs for younger guests. Other facilities include a fitness centre, water sports facilities, outdoor playground, and prayer rooms.

For high-impact meetings, memorable celebrations and other occasions, the fully integrated destination resort features three well-equipped meeting rooms, a unique beachfront venue and outdoor terraces overlooking the Burj Khalifa and the city skyline or the sea.

Centara Mirage has become hugely popular in Thailand following the success of Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, which opened in the beach resort town in 2009 and is still widely regarded as the Kingdom’s top family resort today. Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai is the group’s third Centara Mirage property after Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne in Vietnam.

Koh Samui, Thailand, August 23, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Kamalaya has been one of the top destinations for people seeking to improve their health and well-being for the last 15 years and is delighted to be recognized as one of the leaders in the world with this prestigious nomination at Top25 Hotels.

“It is a joy and an honor for the whole team to be counted among the best hotels in the world. Kamalaya has stayed open during this whole challenging time, and each one of our fantastic hosts truly deserves this nomination“, says Bruce Ryde, Kamalaya’s General Manager. “And while we watch the world slowly recover, we become increasingly aware of how much we need physical and emotional balance. Therefore, I am happy to announce that we can bring the authentic Kamalaya experience to your own home while you are waiting to travel to Thailand. We called it ‘Kamalaya Connect’ because it allows everyone to take full advantage of the legendary holistic wellness expertise. Our online platform provides access to custom-made wellness programs and educational courses, personalized support from expert practitioners and one-on-one consultations, engaging podcasts and helpful life-hacks on health, food, and wellness. The only thing that’s missing is the beach.”

How does it work?

Kamalaya’s approach to wellness has always been holistic, considering every aspect of a guest’s health. Body, heart, and mind are all given careful attention to achieve optimal goals. And exactly like at Kamalaya Koh Samui, at the beginning of a Kamalaya Connect journey, guests decide on which area of their life they want to focus on: increase physical energy and strength, relieve stress and anxiety, or find a new peace of mind.

There are four wellness programs to choose from: Emotional Transformation, Fit for Life, Immune Support and Weight Management. Each program consists of tailormade one-on-one sessions and depending on the choice, they include personal mentoring and stress management, individual meditation, yoga, Pilates, physiotherapy exercises and breathing classes, nutritional guidance, and mindfulness training. Together with a wellness expert, a schedule is set up to follow the program – just like someone would at Kamalaya Koh Samui.

Wellness programs start from USD 684, or guests may prefer to instead book select wellness consultations, which start at USD 86. All Kamalaya Connect bookings can be made directly online.

With this wonderful worldwide recognition of our wellness expertise, our hosts are looking forward to welcoming guests from near and far to discover for themselves the magic of Kamalaya.

About Kamalaya Koh Samui
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa is a multi-award-winning wellness sanctuary located on the southern coast of Koh Samui, Thailand. Founded by John and Karina Stewart in 2005, Kamalaya offers a synergistic wellness experience that helps people reconnect to life’s potential and achieve optimal wellbeing. It integrates healing therapies from East and West, a beautiful natural environment, inspired healthy gourmet cuisine and a variety of results-oriented wellness programs ranging from Detoxification to Stress & Burnout, as well as Healthy Lifestyle, Yoga Synergy and Emotional Balance. Kamalaya’s latest wellness program ‘Immunity & Resilience’ was launched in May 2020. It is dedicated to support physical health and resilience of heart and mind. More info: www.kamalaya.com

About Top25Hotels.com – World’s Best Luxury Hotels
Top25Hotels.com is a collection of exceptional hotels, resorts, eco-lodges, retreats and private islands featuring the top 25 luxury properties in the world and each destination. Top25Hotels.com by Travelindex is the world’s only rating system based on natural language processing technology combined with human expertise. The ratings and rankings are synthesized by a proprietary, artificial intelligence algorithm and re-assessed by some of the world’s top hospitality experts. The company puts a priority on the integration of reliable data with human discernment to make trusted information accessible to all.

Girona, Spain, August 23, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Set in 540 hectares of Mediterranean forest featuring stunning woodlands and lakes, PGA Catalunya offers a truly holistic experience that integrates physical and mental health into a space that nurtures fulfilment through golf, leisure, and low-density living. The Resort’s new Wellness Centre which opened in early 2021, meets guests’ needs in a holistic and personalised way, whether they are seeking an escape from the stresses of everyday life or looking to make a conscious shift towards a healthier lifestyle, focusing on healing techniques accelerated by high-tech therapy.

The Wellness Centre is located beside the 5-star Hotel Camiral in the heart of the resort, its design – crafted by the renowned Lagula Arquitectes – takes inspiration from the Japanese principles of unaltered natural beauty, quiet solitude, and simplicity, blending seamlessly with the landscape and surrounding gardens.

The Wellness Centre offers a variety of day and residential programmes, focused on Celebration and Vitality concepts, such as detox, immune boosting, sports recovery, and anti-ageing whilst being thoughtfully crafted to reflect guests’ needs, interests and time. All the programmes offer access to integrated treatments, therapies, and experiences within a relaxed, spacious environment where guests can feel the tangible benefits immediately.

The Immunity Support Programme is a blissful two-day treatment plan designed to stimulate and support your immune system by boosting the circulation and delivering vitamins and minerals at a cellular level. The experts have carefully combined traditional hands-on treatments, including the signature hammam treatment and hot/cold movement based on Kneipp therapy, with cutting-edge therapies and vitamin infusions to support the immune system’s optimal functionality in a uniquely powerful way.

The two-day programme includes:
– Signature hammam experience
– 60-minute massage of your choice
– Intravenous vitamin infusion featuring a highly efficient blend of vitamins and minerals designed to provide immediate support. Provided by NADclinic London.
– Five further high-tech therapy sessions
– Access to all areas of the Wellness Centre
– 2x night stay at 5-star Hotel Camiral

About PGA Catalunya Gold and Wellness:
PGA Catalunya Golf and Wellness is placed in 540 hectares of Mediterranean forest and located just one hour from Barcelona, with many national and international road, rail and air connections and just 20 minutes from the historic town of Girona. Travel seamlessly from Catalunya’s cultural hub or Girona’s culinary quarter with our private chauffeurs or take advantage of our airport transfer service and arrive straight from Girona-Costa Brava airport, just 6km away.

With golf and wellness at its centre, PGA Catalunya is a retreat for families, friends and individuals looking to reconnect with nature and embrace a little adventure.

Active pursuits, including two of Spain’s finest golf courses, a luxury 5-star hotel, Hotel Camiral alongside exceptional experiences and activities for all abilities in the surrounding nature challenge your body and mind, while explorers can take to the skies and the seas. At the heart is the Wellness Centre (opened in 2021): a holistic sanctuary with treatments personalised to the needs of your mind, body and soul. Locally sourced, seasonal produce is in abundance paired with a fresh serving of Mediterranean cuisine to complement a healthy lifestyle.

PGA Catalunya offers a selection of villa plots for sale, enabling owners the option to undertake their own project in keeping with the architectural concept of the resort, or letting the experienced Resort team take care of the construction of their dream villa. In addition to this, PGA Catalunya offers a variety of ready to live luxury villas designed by award winning architects. Each villa is unique yet instantly recognizable by its modern design and perfect integration with the natural surroundings, offering comfort and wellbeing with a Mediterranean lifestyle. Leading the way in next-generation “wellbeing/wellness” architecture and property design, PGA Catalunya unveiled its latest luxury real estate offering – the WELL Villa concept designed to provide the homeowner with a true holistic living experience.

The Residents’ Club offers owners a dedicated team to assist with any enquiries, as well as access to extensive facilities including a 20m outdoor pool with spacious terrace, solarium, children’s pool and latest generation Technogym fitness room. Residents can also enjoy fresh produce all year around from the Kitchen Garden where they can collect their own vegetables and fruits accompanied by PGA Catalunya’s resident biologist.

 

Johannesburg, South Africa, August 23, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Department of Tourism and South African Tourism will host the first ever Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit, which is set to take place from 19th to 21st September 2021, coinciding with Tourism Month in South Africa.

Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit aims to be a catalyst for engagement on the current state of tourism on the African continent. Taking into account challenges facing the global tourism industry, Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit will, through various engagement sessions, gather the tourism sector to share insights and ideas to explore collaborative efforts that can lead to recovery.

With an array of issues currently facing the sector, Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit aims to attract African community delegates, African Tourism Ministers, industry Associations, Tourism Boards, Destination Marketing Organisations as well as various partners across the tourism value chain.

Some of the major topics for discussion at the Summit include aviation, innovation, technology, the health and safety protocols currently in place, as well as the continent’s positioning post the COVID-19 pandemic for the African continent.

SA Tourism’s Acting CEO, Sthembiso Dlamini, highlighted that the African continent is resilient and that this Summit is important as it will contribute towards picking up the momentum within the sector, as it works towards an inclusive recovery.

“The COVID-19 pandemic may have dealt tourism, both business and leisure tourism, a heavy blow, but we are now in the recovery phase, and a summit of this nature is critical in ensuring that we are aligned as a continent whilst reigniting the tourism industry,” says Dlamini.

The Summit will be hosted in a hybrid format, over a two-day period. Delegates will have the option of attending virtually, or at identified venues across South Africa, or at three additional locations on the rest of the African continent, pending COVID-19 lockdown regulations. All venues will have COVID-19 health and safety protocols in place.

“We have opted for the hybrid format in order for us, as a continent, to lead the way in demonstrating how tourism can be enjoyed safely whilst adhering to health protocols. It is important that we are diligent in reigniting the sector, as it contributes significantly to the African economy,” adds Dlamini.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Tourism as well as South African Tourism were not able to host the MICE-focused Meetings Africa and leisure-focused Africa’s Travel Indaba 2021 editions which usually take place in February and May annually.
While Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit should not be seen as a replacement, it does provide a platform to showcase the African continent’s leisure tourism offerings and business event capabilities.

“In the absence of Africa’s Travel Indaba in 2020 and 2021, Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit is an innovative initiative for promoting intra-Africa tourism and also for sharing insights into the “state of readiness” for South Africa and the rest Africa to welcome the world during and post-COVID-19 pandemic,” says Kwakye Donkor, Chief Executive Officer, Africa Tourism Partners.

“I commend South African Tourism and the South African National Convention Bureau, for once again, showing commitment and leadership in tourism promotion across the continent. It will be so great to meet traditional and emerging trade partners again during the Summit. Well done to Team South Africa Tourism! We look forward to a very fruitful Summit,” concluded Donkor.

The SA Tourism Acting CEO also emphasised that Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit will act as a think tank for the continent, creating a platform for Africa’s tourism leaders to create solutions for Africa and contribute to global solutions for the industry.

Committed to ongoing transformation and development of the South African tourism industry, Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit will feature a dedicated day to empower SMMEs in the sector on 19 September 2021, as a precursor to the two-day conference which takes place on 20th and 21st September 2021.

Open to delegates from all countries, this Summit is an invitation to the world to join in as the African continent not only gears itself for recovery, but also to share in the African story.

Bangkok, Thailand, August 21, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has completed the first stage of its most significant technologi-cal transformation project to date – including investing in the latest cloud-based ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), CRM (Customer Relationship Management), and Data Management soft-ware to drive group-wide efficiency across its five business units (Hotels and Resorts, Hospitality Education, Food, Property Development, and Hospitality-Related Services) and leverage big data to create exceptional consumer experiences and identify new business opportunities in line with Dusit’s three-pronged strategy for balance, expansion, and diversification.

Hospitality company’s accelerated overhaul of its legacy core systems and software will help to drive efficiency, increase business resilience, and lay the foundation for long-term value creation across all of its business units.

Carried out as part of Dusit’s strategic roadmap for technological transformation, which was first announced in January 2019 and expedited to increase business resilience in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the project encompasses the entire Dusit group, including 24 different enti-ties across 17 countries.

The state-of-the-art cloud-based software Dusit is implementing includes SAP S/4HANA, which includes centralised processes for everything from finance and accounting to inventory and purchasing on a single, unified ERP solution; Microsoft Azure, for secure data storage and management; and Cendyn, for efficient group-wide CRM. The new ERP system is now live, with the integrated CRM and Data Management elements set to be introduced later this year

“While investing in such a significant project during this uncertain period may seem against the grain, for swift post-pandemic recovery we must deeply understand the needs of consumers and how we can best meet and, most importantly, exceed their expectations with our various services and products, and investment in this area is of critical importance,” said Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO, Dusit International. “During the pandemic, personalisation has become a key expectation across so many industries – especially hospitality – and digital-savvy consumers have demonstrated a growing need for highly customised experiences that they can enjoy on their terms. Key to meeting these expectations is data. And the more effectively and efficiently we can collect and use data, the greater our ability to create products, services and experiences that make our customers feel exceptional.”

Throughout the pandemic, which has significantly impacted Dusit’s core hotel business, the company has optimised its operations around total revenue generation, rather than cost-cutting, and innovated its way through the challenges by seeking ways to leverage its existing strengths and resources to create additional experience, convenience, and value for its guests and customers.

Chief among its efforts has been the introduction of four new pillars of Dusit Graciousness –Service (personalised and gracious), Well-Being (delivering wellness experiences beyond the spa), Locality (uniquely linking guests with the local community), and Sustainability (social, eco-nomic, and environmental) – and creating new experiences in each of these areas.

“Our company, like many others, has had to transform our organisation and rethink our capabili-ties to enhance our resiliency and deliver not only short-term financial improvement, but also long-term value creation through innovation, efficiency, and agility,” said Ms Suthumpun. “From a product standpoint, we have also had to swiftly yet considerately reimagine our services and put the infrastructure in place to ensure our hotels and resorts can suitably cater to accelerated trends – and ultimately achieve long-term success.

“The new real-time, centralised solutions we have invested in as part of our significant group-wide technological transformation will expedite our efforts in these areas, allowing us to deliver the value-driven experiences our existing guests and customers expect and deserve, efficiently identify new market segments, and ultimately position our properties for long-term value creation to the benefit of all stakeholders.”

Making further use of digital technology, Dusit recently expanded into e-commerce by launching dedicated stores on the popular LINE Shopping and LazMall platforms.

Aimed at consumers in Thailand and featuring attractive promotions on stays, meals and fitness experiences at Dusit Hotels and Resorts throughout the kingdom, the online shops continue Du-sit’s efforts to establish new sources of recurring domestic revenue while the country’s borders are closed to international travel.

“While the effects of the pandemic will be felt for some time, we firmly believe that travel will come back stronger than ever when the COVID-19 situation improves,” said Ms Suthumpun. “And we are confident that our technological transformation and new customer offerings will contribute significantly to driving short- and long-term business, extending our market reach, and cementing the competitive advantage of Dusit Hotels and Resorts and our other business units worldwide.”

About Dusit International
Established in 1948, Dusit International is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Ex-change of Thailand. Building on its two core areas of business – Hotels & Resorts and Hospitality Education – the company has expanded its operations over the past four years to comprise five business units. The additional units include Foods, Property Development, and Hospitality-Related Services. Today, the company’s property portfolio comprises more than 300 distinctive hotels, resorts and luxury villas operating under six brands across 17 countries worldwide, as well as two leading hospitality colleges with campuses in Thailand and the Philippines. Following a three-pronged strategy for sustainable growth, including balance, expansion and diversification, the company has recently expanded into food production, on-demand hospitality services, and property development to reach new markets and add further recurring streams of revenue to the company.

Geneva, Switzerland, August 21, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged governments to abide by international agreements and treaty obligations to enable airlines to repatriate close to nearly $1 billion in blocked funds from the sale of tickets, cargo space, and other activities.

“Governments are preventing nearly $1 billion of airline revenues from being repatriated. This contravenes international conventions and could slow the recovery of travel and tourism in affected markets as the airline industry struggles to recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Airlines will not be able to provide reliable connectivity if they cannot rely on local revenues to support operations. That is why it is critical for all governments to prioritize ensuring that funds can be repatriated efficiently. Now is not the time to score an ‘own goal’ by putting vital air connectivity at risk,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Approximately $963 million in airline funds are being blocked from repatriation in nearly 20 countries. Four countries: Bangladesh ($146.1 million), Lebanon ($175.5 million), Nigeria ($143.8 million), and Zimbabwe ($142.7 million), account for over 60% of this total, although there has been positive progress in reducing blocked funds in Bangladesh and Zimbabwe of late.

“We encourage governments to work with industry to resolve the issues that are preventing airlines from repatriating funds. This will enable aviation to provide the connectivity needed to sustain jobs and energize economies as they recover from COVID-19,” said Walsh.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, August 21, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Saudi Tourism Authority has opened a commercial office in Malaysia covering the South-East Asia region as part of its strategy to engage the travel trade to raise awareness of the destination in key source markets in the region.

The Malaysia office will be responsible for trade and consumer marketing activities, expanding the reach and relevance of Saudi’s tourism offer and working with tour operators, travel agents and other industry stakeholders to build awareness and drive conversion in line with Saudi Tourism Authority’s strategy and mission.

• For a comprehensive travel guide on Saudi Arabia, go to TourismSaudiArabia.com

Saudi Tourism Authority’s new office is being set up with the support of aviation and destination marketing representative company, Aviareps Malaysia, as its in-market representative covering the South-east Asia region.

“We are confident that Saudi’s diverse offering will be appealing to all demographics from the region,” said Shazlin Ahmad, country manager for STA in South East Asia. “We have already begun outreach into the South-east Asia’s tourism trade ecosystem and the response has been very positive. We are actively seeking opportunities to co-invest with partners who are keen to add Saudi as an exciting new destination in their portfolio.”

Since opening its borders to international tourism in September 2019, Saudi rapidly established itself as the fastest growing tourism destination in the world, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Despite the global shutdown of leisure tourism in the wake of the pandemic, STA continued to invest to prepare the destination for a return to normalcy. An international brand awareness campaign launched at the beginning of 2021 extends across 26 countries and 13 languages, with significant investment in outdoor, broadcast and digital advertising.

Saudi Arabia reopened to vaccinated international visitors at the beginning of August.

To support the tourism trade ecosystem, STA is introducing Saudi Expert, a comprehensive digital platform providing partner companies such as DMCs, tour operators and other stakeholders with data, insights, destination information and creative assets in real-time to help build their businesses.

Saudi Tourism Authority now has representative offices in eleven markets serving 21 countries, with an eventual goal of having 15 offices around the world.

Phuket, Thailand, August 20, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Tourism stakeholders in Phuket are heralding the landmark approval of the Sputnik vaccine by the Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) that is set to unleash the Russian market on the southern Thai island. Industry eyes a portion of the 700,000-plus direct-to-Phuket Russian arrivals over a five-month period (November-March) as the so-called “snowbirds” plan their return.

Phuket has for years been a very popular destination with Russian travellers, peaking in 2019 with over 700,000 arrivals in a short five-month period in 2019, all arriving on direct flights from the Russian Federation. A total of 1.4 million Russians visited Phuket in 2019.

The traditional snowbird period from November to March is when temperatures drop severely in Russia and also in many parts of northern Europe, signaling travelers to take flight for the tropical chimes and clear blue skies of Phuket.

“This is great news for Phuket. It’s time to go beyond the Sandbox and build a foundation for a broader tourism initiative,” said Phuket Tourist Association President, Bhummikitti Ruktaengam. “The industry can now get back to basics and focus on the northern European winter season. This is a big opportunity for Phuket. These are our legacy markets.”

Laguna Phuket, an integrated destination in the popular Bangtao Beach area, consisting of seven hotels, a Bangkok Hospital operated PCR test-centre and acres of open spaces, gardens and lagoons, has already been a beneficiary of the Phuket Sandbox given its safe haven reputation, but this is a major step up according to its Managing Director, Ravi Chandran.

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“The acceptance of the Sputnik vaccine is a game-changer for Phuket,” he said. “The outbound Russian market is the biggest one in the world outside of China and the timing is perfect with the high season starting in November this year. Phuket Sandbox has proven to be a success and this will now take these achievements to greater heights still for all hotels, tourism stakeholders and the local community on the island.”

Since July 1, over 300,000 hotel rooms have been booked up until the end of August by international visitors arriving via the Phuket Sandbox initiative a number expected to rapidly rise as the high season approaches. Scheduled and chartered Russian carriers are expected to arrive in Phuket from October 2021.

Talking about ‘ready-made’ market potential, C9 Hotelworks Managing Director, Bill Barnett said “coming into the 2021 winter wonderland, and changing marketplace, the Russians, who typically have a 11-12-night average length of stay, are a perfect fit for the Sandbox.”

Laguna Phuket, in association with Delivering Asia Communications and C9 Hotelworks, will be hosting a special one-hour online virtual event featuring representatives from government, tour operators, hotels and airlines on September 9 at 3pm to discuss the impending arrival of the Russian market to Phuket.

About Laguna Phuket
Laguna Phuket resort is home to 7 deluxe hotels; Angsana Laguna Phuket, Angsana Villas Resort Phuket, Banyan Tree Phuket, Cassia Phuket, Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, Laguna Holiday Club Phuket Resort and SAii Laguna Phuket – all sharing 1,000 acres of tropical parkland along a 3-kilometre stretch of the pristine Bangtao Beach. Facilities and services include 18-hole award winning golf course, world-renowned spas, shopping village, tour operators and MICE-certified event and facilitator teams. With inter-resort transportation allowing guests to travel anywhere within minutes via shuttle bus or ferry.

For attractive Phuket Sandbox hotel packages, visit Top25Hotels.com