Discova has appointed Mike Chan as its new regional general manager for Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand in South-east Asia.
He will engage in close collaboration with these four destinations for a comprehensive understanding of the business.
Chan previously served as the company’s country manager for Singapore and Malaysia, and has over 20 years of work experience in the travel industry with an extensive knowledge of the region.
Air travel demand has topped 99 per cent of 2019 levels, revealed the International Air Transport Association (IATA), based on its November 2023 air travel performance data.
Total traffic in November 2023 (measured in RPKs) rose 29.7 per cent compared to November 2022. Globally, traffic is now at 99.1 per cent of November 2019 levels.
International traffic rose 26.4 per cent versus November 2022. The Asia-Pacific region continued to report the strongest year-over-year results (+63.8 per cent) with all regions showing improvement compared to the prior year. November 2023 international RPKs reached 94.5 per cent of November 2019 levels.
Domestic traffic for November 2023 was up 34.8 per cent compared to November 2022, while total November 2023 domestic traffic was 6.7 per cent above the November 2019 level.
Growth was particularly strong in China (+272 per cent) as it recovered from the Covid travel restrictions that were still in place a year ago.
As for international passenger markets, Asia-Pacific airlines had a 63.8 per cent rise in November traffic compared to November 2022, which was the strongest year-over-year rate among the regions. Capacity rose 58 per cent and the load factor was up 2.9 percentage points to 82.6 per cent.
Middle Eastern airlines saw an 18.6 per cent traffic rise in November compared to November 2022. November capacity increased 19 per cent versus the year-ago period, and load factor fell 0.2 percentage points to 77.4 per cent.
“We are moving ever closer to surpassing the 2019 peak year for air travel. Economic headwinds are not deterring people from taking to the skies. International travel remains 5.5 per cent below pre-pandemic levels but that gap is rapidly closing – and domestic markets have been above their pre-pandemic levels continuously since April,” said Willie Walsh, director general, IATA.
He also highlighted on the need to ramp up Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production.
“In parallel to aviation’s recovery, governments recognised the urgency of transitioning from jet fuel to SAF for aviation’s decarbonisation. Airlines agreed to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and every drop of SAF ever made in that effort has been bought and used. There simply is not enough SAF being produced,” said Walsh.
“So, we look to 2024 to be the year when governments follow-up on their own declarations and finally deliver comprehensive policy measures to incentivise the rapid scaling-up of SAF production.”
Read the full report here.
Thai Airways will recommence its daily non-stop service between Bangkok and Perth from March 27.
The daily service will be operated on a B787-8 aircraft.
The resumed service also provides an additional flight option for visitors from the UK and continental Europe, which are priority markets for Western Australia.
Macao Government Tourism Office’s (MGTO) mascot Mak Mak led celebrations at Macau International Airport yesterday evening as Air Macau’s first flight from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia arrived with Malaysian travel trade and media representatives along with other passengers.
The new service is expected to increase airlift between Macau and South-east Asia, thereby boosting the diversity of visitations as Macau steps up promotions in international visitor markets.
The arriving delegation will participate in a four-day fam trip.
MGTO director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, who was also present at the landmark event, said Air Macau’s direct flight will enable more Malaysian and international visitors to be attracted to Macau’s breadth of tourism appeal.
Exchange and cooperation will be enhanced in tourism, culture and commerce between the two destinations.
Malaysia is Macau’s first largest international tourism source market. Along with Air Macau’s operations, the destination has 17 direct flights per week between the two lands.
Fathimath Thaufeeq has been appointed as chief executive officer and managing director of the Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC).
She brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having held key positions at Oilbiz, Jalboot Maldives, and Waste Management Corporation Limited. She was most recently the human resources consultant at Mile & Associates.
The BDMS Wellness Campus in Bangkok, Thailand, has completed the final stage of its opening with the unveiling of BDMS Connect Center.
BDMS Connect Center boasts over 3,400m2 of dedicated meeting, exhibition, and social spaces, across four levels.
Inspired by the layers of a forest ecosystem, on the Forest Floor level are the Lobby Reception, Pre-Function, and Exhibitions areas including a cocktail platform and waterfall, the ambience is akin to the bottom layer of a rainforest, essential for the ecosystem’s proper functioning.
The Understory level features the Grand Ballroom, VIP Rooms, and Pre-Function area, while the Canopy level comprises the Creative Rooms, Pre-Function areas, and a Makeup Room. Finally, the Emergents level features the Junior Ballroom, Creative Rooms, Pre-Function, and Outdoor Terrace, representing the top layer of a forest.
A multitude of meeting spaces are equipped with cutting-edge AV technology, including a 15x5M LED screen and an 8×3 curved LED. Natural daylight floods through every corner of this facility including the Harmony ballroom, which features an 8m-high ceiling, while the Radiant Junior ballroom boasts a 6m-high ceiling with Bangkok’s only skylight, connected to a rooftop bar.
The facility is LEED-certified, incorporating sustainability practices such as electric vehicle chargers, light-coloured pavements, high-efficiency plumbing fixtures, and a photovoltaic system. Non-toxic building materials, LED bulbs, and recycled plastic carpets ensure a green and eco-friendly environment.
A distinguishing feature of the centre is its commitment to incorporating wellness elements into meetings and incentives, establishing a reputation for offering the most desirable wellness activities. From yoga sessions to mindfulness workshops and healthy catering options, the goal is to ensure that attendees value experiences that prioritise their well-being.
The BDMS Connect Center joins other existing facilities such as the BDMS Wellness Clinic, and 211-key Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort.
The IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) is set to return to Seoul in 2027, marking its presence in the city after a hiatus of 26 years.
Taking place at COEX from May 24-28, 2027, ICRA is anticipated to draw approximately 10,000 global experts in the field of robotics and automation. Aside from the academic conference, attendees can also expect tours of Seoul’s robotic facilities and research centres to be weaved into the agenda.
The announcement was made during the 40th International Conference on Robotics and Automation board meeting in London last June, where Seoul triumphed over Bangkok, Thailand, as the chosen venue for ICRA 2027.
The bid was actively supported by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization.
Chairman Kyu-jin Cho, who leads the ICRA 2027 organising committee and is a professor at Seoul National University in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, expressed his enthusiasm for the event. highlighting the significance of ICRA in elevating the position of Korea’s robotics industry on the global stage.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has been actively promoting the robotics sector, introducing the Seoul Robotics Industry Promotion Comprehensive Plan in July of last year. This initiative allocates KRW 200 billion (US$151.8 million) until 2026 to foster the growth of the robotics industry and support technological development.
Seoul aims to make robot services more widespread by deploying on-site robots for tasks such as delivery, patrol, and caregiving. The city is actively encouraging the establishment of resident experience spaces and robot clusters.
In alignment with these efforts, the ICRA 2027 organising committee plans to develop more programmes, including industry and local tours and robot competitions, to showcase Seoul’s robotics industry to the global experts attending the conference.
The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) has launched its menu for 2024.
MCEC’s 2024 menu highlights local ingredients, demonstrates its commitment to sustainability by working with local suppliers, and showcases Victoria’s unique flavours.
The 2024 menu also takes inclusivity to new heights with the introduction of the Everybody’s Plate menu range.
Everybody’s Plate features a wide variety of options that cater to vegetarian, vegan and gluten-friendly dietary requirements. Ingredients include whole foods, pulses and legumes, as well as fresh salads. Desserts can also be completely vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free.
Executive sous chef of culinary development, Karl Edmonds, has been driving the shift towards inclusive, healthy and delicious alternatives.
“In 2023 we saw great success with our vegan, vegetarian and gluten-friendly options in our lunch menus. Expanding this across our entire menu range is a bold move and we know our customers will be delighted,” Edmonds said.
Approximately 35 to 40 per cent of all menu items are now suitable for all allergens and dietary requirements. Dishes are free from nuts, dairy, egg, sesame and seafood, ensuring every guest can enjoy a safe and delicious dining experience.
“A significant amount of research and development has gone into creating this menu and we’re proud to launch options we think everyone will enjoy, whether they have dietary needs or not,” shared Edmonds.
The Ascott Limited (Ascott) will expand its lyf brand with eight new property signings, expanding into new resort and city destinations to meet the demand for experience-led social living.
Scheduled to open over the next four years, the eight new properties include lyf Bugis Singapore; lyf Brickfields Kuala Lumpur and lyf Georgetown Penang in Malaysia; lyf Canggu Bali in Indonesia; lyf on Sussex Sydney in Australia; lyf Shibuya Tokyo in Japan; lyf Frankfurt in Germany as well as an additional property in Shanghai, China.
lyf was first created for the next-generation traveller and has gained strong traction since its debut with lyf Funan Singapore in 2019. The brand is currently present in 21 cities across the world, with over 5,500 units both operating and in the pipeline.
Ascott saw a record number of lyf property openings in 2023, almost double of 2022. These include lyf Schönbrunn Vienna in Austria which marked the debut of the brand in Europe; lyf Dayanta Xi’an in China, lyf Ginza Tokyo in Japan, lyf Chinatown Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and lyf Malate Manila in the Philippines.
With more than 30 lyf properties both in operation and under development, Ascott will bring lyf to even more destinations in 2024, aiming to launch 150 properties with over 30,000 units by 2030.
Ascott CEO Kevin Goh commented: “There is tremendous potential for us to further scale lyf across more hospitality asset classes, whether as a full-service hotel or resort, especially with the growth pace we have seen over the year.
“Our ambition for lyf, alongside our other brands, is to expand horizons, pushing boundaries across geographies while deepening our local presence in current and new locations.”
“The lyf brand has captured the attention of the market with its dynamic designs, flexible spaces and well-curated programming with the community at its core. Owners and investors alike have seen the resilience and continued demand for experience-led social living that lyf has been synonymous with, an accommodation trend that has been made more pronounced post-pandemic and we believe is here to stay,” said Serena Lim, chief growth officer, Ascott.
Commodities People has collaborated with MICEcarbon for Commodity Trading Week APAC, an inaugural event happening at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Singapore, from January 24-25, 2024.
Commodities People will be supporting two verified carbon-offset projects for this event. These are the High Impact Cookstoves in Malawi by Ripple Africa, a project focused on reducing emissions and improving living conditions in Malawi; and the Avoided Conversion Cerrado, an initiative to prevent deforestation and preserve biodiversity in the Cerrado region, Brazil.
As a further benefit and incentive, event attendees offsetting their travel emissions through these projects stand a chance to enjoy event premiums through selected partners.
Ben Hillary, managing director of Commodities People, said in a press release: “This collaboration shows our commitment to environmental responsibility by making the event carbon-neutral, with calculable Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions generated by this event offset through MICEcarbon’s verified projects. At the same time, we’re pleased to offer our attendees a means of offsetting their travel-related emissions through selected verified carbon-offset projects.”
Daniel Chua, founding partner of MICEcarbon, added: “Off-setting the event’s carbon emissions via verified projects with many co-benefits in addition to the carbon offsets is proactively responsible. At the same time it sends a positive message to event attendees that it is possible to factor in the mitigation of environmental impact as a business consideration, and to inspire them to action in their own arenas.”
