Air New Zealand offers a taste of Aotearoa with new premium menu
Air New Zealand has introduced its onboard premium menu, A Taste of Aotearoa, which features authentic flavours of New Zealand.
The curated menu will be available in Business Premier and Premium Economy cabins on longhaul flights departing New Zealand from October.
It features contemporary cuisine with a focus on showcasing the country’s finest produce, such as kahawai, a popular fish found around the New Zealand coastline, and tāmure (snapper), caught from the waters of the North Island’s Hauraki Gulf.
Some highlights of A Taste of Aotearoa offerings include smoked kahawai mousse, crayfish bisque with chive crème, rose veal with green bean, slow-cooked beef short rib with black truffle jus, seared Hauraki Gulf snapper with nori butter, and for dessert, peach and raspberry warm melba pudding with vanilla crème anglaise.
A selection of wines including Craggy Range Te Kahu Gimblett Gravels, Neudorf Tiritiri Pinot Rosé, and Aotea Seifried Sauvignon Blanc will also be available.
Air New Zealand head of culinary Justin Koen shared: “Our latest menu, inspired by manaakitanga – the Māori tradition of hospitality – reflects who we are and our dedication to delivering a world-class experience. Those travelling in Economy don’t miss out either, with special menu items to choose from. Our culinary team has crafted each meal to create an onboard experience so good, you’ll forget you’re in the skies.”
Discova Thailand welcomes new country manager
Discova Thailand has appointed Peter Weibel as its new country manager.
In his new role, Weibel will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of Discova Thailand’s operations, including product development, sales, operations, accounting, and client services.
With over 30 years of experience in the Thai tourism sector, his diverse background and expertise across all segments and departments of the destination management business make him a valuable asset to the company.
Felipe Bonifatti helms as VP Asia Pacific & Joint Ventures East of Lufthansa Group
Lufthansa Group has named Felipe Bonifatti as vice president Asia Pacific & Joint Ventures East.
Bringing over three decades of experience to his new role, Bonifatti will be based in the Lufthansa Group regional headquarters of Singapore, and will lead all commercial activities, including Joint Venture sales, in Asia-Pacific region from November 1.
He is fluent in German, English, Portuguese and Spanish.
UN Tourism issues a call for peace this World Tourism Day
In celebration of World Tourism Day 2024, UN Tourism has brought sector leaders from every global region together around a common vision and commitment to building a “peace-sensitive sector”, recognising its potential to build bridges and foster understanding.
The official celebration in Tbilisi, Georgia welcomed almost 500 participants from 51 different countries, including 13 tourism ministers.
Reflecting its firm commitment to the day and its theme of Peace and Tourism, the host country was represented by prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze as well as seven other ministers, showcasing tourism’s cross-sectoral importance.
UN Tourism secretary-general Zurab Pololikashvili stressed that “without peace, there is no tourism”.
He said: “I call on all of you to help build a peace-sensitive tourism sector, one that plays a key role in building peace and ending conflicts, provides tourism stakeholders with tools to realise this potential, promotes tourism education as peace education, and links tourism to other peace building initiatives”.
Ministers representing Georgia, Uzbekistan, Sierra Leone and Bahrain made clear how peace and security are the foundations for prosperity, providing examples from their own countries and personal travels of how tourism connects people and promotes understanding. Key takeaways include the important role of tourism in combatting disinformation and mistrust, and the essential need to ensure the benefits tourism delivers are enjoyed fairly and equally across societies.
To complement the public sector view, the September 28 event also featured a private-sector panel. The dialogue explored the private sector’s potential and responsibility, and to leverage its strengths and capabilities to promote peace and stability through tourism, and how it can work with the public sector to achieve these essential goals. From the field of entrepreneurship and digital innovation, panellists highlighted the potential for tourism to rebuild post-conflict and create resilience against future shocks.
Natalia Bayona, executive director of UN Tourism, set out the case for tourism investments as key to both growth and peace and opportunity. She said: “We have seen time and again how tourism can transform post-conflict regions, provide employment and foster entrepreneurial initiatives. The private sector must remain committed to using its resources to build peace and create opportunities in emerging and vulnerable regions.”
TTC Tour Brands commits to nature support with donations tied to bookings
In line with World Tourism Day’s theme this year, Tourism and Peace, TTC Tour Brands – Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Trafalgar, Costsaver & Contiki – has committed donations to nature-based solutions partners GreenWave and Rainforest Rescue with every booking made between September 27 and October 4, 2024.
Donations will go to GreenWave’s Kelp Farming Project and Rainforest Rescue’s Daintree Project. The Kelp Farming Project focuses on supporting regenerative ocean farms through sustainable practices that restore marine ecosystems, support economies and global food systems, and draw down carbon. The Daintree Project is dedicated to protecting and restoring the Daintree Rainforest, one of the world’s oldest and most biodiverse rainforests, through reforestation and conservation efforts.
TTC Tour Brands hopes to ensure that the power of travel can be enjoyed by future generations.
“At TTC Tour Brands, responsible tourism isn’t just a philosophy; it’s a promise. We want to ensure that the joy of travel can be experienced by future generations. Our longstanding partnerships with GreenWave and Rainforest Rescue reflect this commitment. By focusing on carbon removal, we are going beyond simple offsets, working towards real environmental change.” said Mae Cheah, managing director of TTC Tour Brands, Asia.
“Every guest and every booking plays a role in protecting our planet’s future,” she added.
Travel advisors can be confident about making a positive impact when they choose TTC Tour brands for their clients, not only this week, but all year round. Every TTC Tour Brand itinerary includes at least one Make Travel Matter Experience, which directly connects guests with local communities and cultures while advancing at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
In addition, parent firm The Travel Corporation’s five-year How We Tread Right sustainability strategy acts as a blueprint to addressing the impact of its business, offices and trips – all anchored to advancing the UNSDGs.
Cheah said: “Our commitment to sustainability is evident in every aspect of our operations, from the tours we design to the projects we support. So, when our travel advisor partners work with us and their clients join us on tour, they can feel good in the knowledge that they are making a real difference. The donations we’re making for each booking this week are our way of saying thank you to our travel advisor partners, guests and our suppliers, who both support our sustainability journey and make it possible.”
TTG Asia Media blows out 50 candles at birthday bash in Bangkok
The celebratory mood at TTG Asia Media has flowed on to Bangkok where the company hosted a cake-cutting ceremony for its Golden Anniversary during its 33rd TTG Travel Awards gala dinner.
The occasion was graced by Chen Hong, major shareholder and chairman of TTG Asia Media, who acknowledged the company’s accomplishment in the travel and tourism industry under the leadership of managing director Darren Ng.
“TTG achieving 50 years is a remarkable achievement and demonstrates the company’s commitment to our partners and the industry as a whole,” said Chen.
Addressing Ng, Chen said: “Your leadership and dedication has been instrumental in bringing TTG to where it is today. In your decades at TTG, you have led the company to great success even through challenging periods.”
Chen also expressed gratitude towards the company’s staff. “Your efforts have helped TTG Asia Media become a leader in the travel trade media and events industry. Without your hard work and dedication, this success would not have been possible,” he said.
Chen, who had earlier visited TTG Asia Media’s IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific double-bill trade event at the Bangkok Convention Centre CentralWorld last week, said he was “pleased to see that this exhibition has grown through the years, once again proving that everyone is working as one, overcoming difficulties and paving the way to the future”.
Chen concluded his encouraging speech with a vision of the future, where he sees TTG Asia Media remaining humble, continuing to work collaboratively with its peers, and staying focused.
Birthday wishes have also streamed in from readers and industry colleagues following that evening.
Soon-hwa Wong, CEO for Asia Tourism and PATA ambassador for Greater China, expressed on social media: “Congrats team TTG Asia Media for 50 glorious years of sharing travel news and insights to keep all of us updated and informed.”
Eileen Quek, assistant director, sales (international) with Constellar, wrote: “What a fabulous milestone and achievement! To many more amazing years of growth, success and partnership!”
ForwardKeys to launch 36-month route-level forecast tool for travel retailers
Travel intelligence firm ForwardKeys will launch in October a 36-month forecasting solution that is specifically tailored to brands and retailers located in airports. Said to be an industry-first, the tool will help brands and retailers to optimise strategy, enhance long-term marketing, and plan growth with precision.
Powered by self-learning and machine learning AI models, the solution continuously improves, offering duty-free retailers and other airport businesses an evolving tool to make smarter, more accurate strategic decisions.
Unlike traditional forecasts, which extrapolate from historical data, ForwardKeys combines up-to-the-minute booking data with its proprietary air capacity projections to deliver a more dynamic and responsive outlook.
It boasts global coverage spanning 4,750 airports and 900 airlines, and will differentiate domestic and international traffic.
The new tool complements ForwardKeys’ more granular 12-month forecast, which remains valuable for optimising day-to-day operations and reacting quickly to short-term shifts in traveller behaviour in a dynamic market.
Marina Giuliano, vice president, travel retail at ForwardKeys, said in a press release: “Our clients can now enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve decision-making up to three years into the future, which was not possible before. These forecasts enable brands and retailers to adapt strategy to the specific preferences and habits of different customer groups. Updates on market changes ensure decisions are always based on the freshest data available.”
ForwardKeys underscored the importance of accurate forecasting for the travel retail industry, as it faces rapid changes due to external factors like fluctuating market conditions and passenger flow disruptions.
InterContinental Khao Yai Resort offers new stay package with private air charter
InterContinental Khao Yai Resort has partnered with Bangkok-based Siam Scenic, which offers private charter and sightseeing flights across Thailand, to introduce a new luxury private charter Luxury Country Retreat Package from Bangkok to Khao Yai in Thailand.
Guests will travel in style with flights aboard the VIP-configured Cessna Caravan EX, offering up to six guests the comfort of private air travel at an accessible cost, while enjoying aerial views of Ayutthaya and Khao Yai landscapes.
InterContinental Khao Yai Resort offers 19 suites that were restored and upcycled from abandoned heritage train carriages from the 19th century. The resort is located in a lush tropical landscape with over 30,000 trees and five lakes, complete with walking trails, a koi pond and resident swans, with facilities like F&B options, spa, kids’ club, and more.
Priced from 188,000 baht (US$5,717), the Luxury Country Retreat Package is perfect for up to six guests, and includes accommodation in three one-bedroom Heritage Railcar Suites for two nights (with daily breakfast), private round trip charter flight from Klong 11 Private Airfield in Bangkok to Khao Yai Private Airfield (40 minutes each way), and round trip road transfers to and from all airports.
Valid for stays until September 30, 2025.
For more information, visit InterContinental Khao Yai Resort or Siam Scenic.
Aviation roundup: Vietjet, Air Astana and more
Vietjet expands Vietnam-India connectivity
Vietjet will expand its presence in India with direct flights connecting Danang with Ahmedabad.
This service will commence on October 23 with two round-trip flights per week, flying every Wednesday and Saturday.
Vietjet currently operates eight routes with 60 flights per week from New Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, and Ahmedabad to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang.
Air Astana to commence new winter services to Dubai, Abu Dhabi
Air Astana will be introducing three new services – from Atyrau in western Kazakhstan to Dubai on October 26, from Astana to Abu Dhabi on October 30, and from Almaty to Abu Dhabi on December 12.
Each of the services will be operated twice a week using Airbus A321neo and Airbus A321LR aircraft.
These new winter season services to the Middle East will add to the existing 20 services a week from Almaty and Astana to Dubai and six services a week from Almaty and Shymkent to Saudi Arabia.
China Southern Airlines launches direct Guangzhou-Adelaide flights
China Southern Airlines will once again link Adelaide in Australia with Guangzhou province on China’s southern coast from December 12, with three flights a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
The China airline previously ran the route from December 2016, but shelved it in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The services will be operated on Boeing Dreamliner 787-8s and together provide an extra 798 seats to the Middle Kingdom each week.
Jetstar to connect Gold Coast with two New Zealand cities
Queensland Airports and Qantas Group have partnered to connect the city of Gold Coast to New Zealand, with Jetstar to operate services from Gold Coast Airport to Hamilton and Dunedin three times each week from June 2025.
The two new routes build on Gold Coast Airport’s existing New Zealand connections to Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch.
Marriott International and Sands China have signed an agreement to debut The Luxury Collection brand in Macau.
Londoner Grand, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Macao is expected to open in January 2025.
The hotel is slated to feature 2,405 rooms and suites, as well as five distinct dining concepts. Located at the heart of Macau’s Cotai Strip with the city’s premier entertainment, shopping, and dining districts right at the guests’ doorstep, the hotel is approximately 4.9km away from Macau International Airport and 6.2km away from Taipa Ferry Terminal. Renowned sites such as Senado Square, Taipa Houses, and Ruins of St. Paul’s are also nearby and accessible by a short car ride.
Gavin Yu, chief development officer, Greater China, Marriott International, said: “The highly anticipated hotel will blend Macau’s East-meets-West culture with The Luxury Collection’s distinctive perspective on luxury, providing our guests unparalleled access to a city rich with heritage, cuisine, and captivating experiences.”
“Building on the success of The Londoner Macao, adding Londoner Grand, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Macao to its portfolio represents a pivotal moment in our mission to elevate Macao’s luxury hospitality landscape,” added Grant Chum, CEO and president of Sands China.