Scoot’s first E190-E2 touched down at Singapore Changi Airport yesterday, and was greeted with a water cannon salute upon arrival.
Named Explorer 3.0, the aircraft is the first of Scoot’s nine new E190-E2s to arrive in Singapore. The second aircraft is scheduled to arrive by the end of April while the remaining seven are expected to be progressively delivered by the end of 2025.
Scoot’s first E190-E2 received a water cannon salute upon arrival in Singapore
The first E190-E2 aircraft was handed over to Scoot at Embraer’s production facility in São José dos Campos Brazil on April 11, before it departed from Brazil on April 12, making several fuel stops before it landed in Singapore.
Caption: Scoot’s E190-E2 making its arrival in Singapore Changi Airport
An increasing number of airlines are re-routing their flights to skip Iranian airspace as Middle East tensions intensify, with the latest being Singapore Airlines and its LCC sister, Scoot.
Several Middle Eastern countries including Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon had temporarily shut down their airspace as Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel on April 13; they have since reopened their airspace on April 14. Both Israel and Iran also imposed restrictions on airline traffic over theirs.
More airlines are re-routing their services to avoid Iranian airspace
Other airlines that have adjusted their Europe-Asia flight routes include Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, and Qantas Airways.
These changes bring prolonged flight duration and additional fuel burn. A Swiss International Air Lines flight between Singapore and Zurich, for instance, will now take 50 additional minutes on top of the original 12 hours and 40 minute flight time.
Popular Asia-Pacific destinations negatively impacted by climate change can restore their reputations if they face up to the challenges and take action to implement sustainable tourism practices, according to research conducted by MMGY TCI Research, PATA’s data and intelligence partner.
Managing director and partner Olivier Henry-Biabaud, in sharing the findings on Climate Change and Tourism in Europe, noted that Vietnam’s nature-based solution – the creation of eight new festivals and new travel seasons – earned it a reputation score of 79.4 per cent, placing it in pole position among 19 destinations.
Trip planners have to now consider the weather, natural disasters, and potential health issues when advising travellers of destinations with the least risk
While Vietnam faces a massive climate challenge, he said its positive reputation is due to a combination of ‘facing up to it’ and seeking international cooperation to “concretely combat the situation”, which Sri Lanka – in the 13th spot – is also doing.
While Australia reputation is “positive in general, the climate change impact is so visible”, Henry-Biabaud shared during the recent PATA webinar on Climate Change Impact on Destination Reputation.
Australia is ranked 16th and traveller posts, for example, on things to know before going to Sydney, list “weather change”, “weather is a concern” and “a trip in and around the city could be impacted by the direct danger of fires or by smoke particles”.
Elsewhere, there are comments like “Paradise at risk: the Maldives in danger of disappearing due to climate change” and “Why did so many climbers die on Mount Everest this year?” with the Nepal Tourism Board claiming it was due to “climate change and the weather”.
Henry-Biabaud said a destination’s reputation can change every month; that travellers are looking for destinations they trust – naming China and Australia as two of the most travel sensitive markets – and destinations should want to better plan tourism sustainability; and younger travellers, while more aware of the impact of climate change and try to pay attention to being more responsible, are bothered by guilt as they still want to travel.
“The key is to be transparent, educate the traveller, be part of the solution and to maximise the social and economic benefits to local communities,” he noted, adding that trip planners are now risk managers of storms, landslides, fires, avalanches, air pollution and potential health issues when helping travellers choose destinations with the least risk.
For Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority deputy director general and head of Sustainable Tourism Unit, Upali Rathnayake, the destination is trying to catch up by implementing industry sustainability certification, with nine destinations in nine provinces having been identified for sustainable tourism for the future.
Fabrizio Orlando, global director, industry affairs, Tripadvisor, said the platform clearly displays certified sustainable providers, makes them “easily accessible”, and even created a list of sustainable destinations for its Traveler’s Choice Awards this year.
According to Henry-Biabaud, Bhutan is the only carbon-neutral destination in the world; all arriving visitors to the Pacific Ocean island of Palau have to sign a pledge to be good environmental stewards; and Japan is looking at a safety plan to reduce potential risk.
On a positive note, he pointed out that Asia-Pacific is embracing sustainability as part of the industry’s DNA and responsibility.
“There is room for education and destinations most proactive on sustainability are the most positive about their reputation,” he opined.
PATA’s Issues and Trends (1Q 2024): Climate Change Impact on Destination Reputation report is now available on its website.
Amara Hotels & Resorts will be giving two of its flagship Singapore properties – Amara Singapore and Amara Sanctuary Sentosa – a brand redesign with the aim of delivering meaningful connections, memorable experiences, and tailored spaces for guests.
Amara Singapore commenced its phased renovation in October 2023 with the final transformation to be completed by September this year. The extensive refurbishment introduces an all-new Lobby Bar and a reimagined Cafe Oriental. All 389 rooms at Amara Singapore, as well as facilities such as event venues, will also undergo enhancements.
Amara Singapore will unveils its transformation later this year with an all-new Lobby Bar, pictured
Meanwhile, the beachside oasis of Amara Sanctuary Sentosa is set to revitalise its suites, villas, and shared spaces, with completion slated for mid-2024.
Amara Singapore and Amara Sanctuary Sentosa will also unveil a series of new brand experiences by end-2024.
“This transformative journey marks a pivotal milestone for Amara Hotels & Resorts,” shared Dawn Teo, senior vice president of Amara Hotels & Resorts. “Our redesigned spaces are meticulously crafted to resonate with the desires of today’s travellers, offering a unique blend of sophistication, warmth, and joie de vivre that elevates our unparalleled hospitality experiences.”
BWH Hotels is expanding its portfolio in Asia with the signing of SureStay by Best Western Iconic Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok, Thailand.
With this new signing, BWH Hotels will offer a comprehensive portfolio of 13 hotels in the Greater Bangkok region.
BWH Hotels has signed the 198-room SureStay by Best Western Iconic Suvarnabhumi in Bangkok, Thailand
Situated close to the Bang Na-Trat Expressway and providing access to Suvarnabhumi Airport and downtown Bangkok, SureStay by Best Western Iconic Suvarnabhumi will offer 198 rooms, a restaurant, and an outdoor pool.
“We are delighted to welcome the SureStay by Best Western Iconic Suvarnabhumi to the BWH Hotels family. This modern hotel is perfect for visitors seeking a convenient place to stay, whether they are travelling to, from or within Thailand,” said Olivier Berrivin, vice president – APAC at BWH Hotels.
Asia-Pacific is a big part of Silversea Cruises strategy in the region, with trade partnerships being a “pivotal focus” for the luxury cruise line, says its new senior vice president, global sales & revenue, Massimo Brancaleoni.
Speaking to TTG Asia, Brancaleoni said: “I truly appreciate the potential this region has for Silversea. It’s a vibrant, dynamic and highly sophisticated region, very different from the Western, mature cruising markets. Recognising those differences, identifying the right product for the Asian customer, and working very closely with our partners in the region will be the key to our success.”
SIlversea’s offerings are well positioned to meet the growing appetite for luxury cruising in Asia-Pacific; Silver Nova’s pool deck, pictured
Strengthening collaborations allows Silversea and its partners to drive mutual growth, as the cruise company aims to amplify its reputation in luxury cruising through innovation and providing “exceptional service, and unparalleled experiences”.
Demonstrating its commitment to the region, Silversea has committed its newest and most sophisticated ships here. The deployment includes Silver Nova, the largest in the Silversea fleet and first of its Nova class, Silver Moon, which succeeds Silver Muse, in 2025.
Brancaleoni noted that Silversea’s offerings are well positioned to meet the growing appetite for luxury cruising in Asia-Pacific.
“Today’s luxury travellers are seeking deeper, more immersive experiences. They desire journeys that are not only luxurious but also sustainable and meaningful. Our guests from Asia seek unique and very special experiences, close encounters with nature, immersive cultural experiences into local communities and the local food and wine scene,” he said.
Silversea offers a range of unique experiences including being the only luxury cruise line with a S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste) programme that aims to connect guests to local tastes of the destinations on their voyage, and its flagship expedition Antarctic Bridge programme where guests skip the Drake Passage and fly straight to the White Continent to take the six-day cruise.
“Our focus on exclusive, transformative experiences and deep community engagements is a testament to our unwavering commitment to redefining luxury cruising. With the launch of groundbreaking vessels like Silver Endeavour, Silver Nova and Silver Ray, we are actively broadening our appeal to a younger demographic while reinvigorating our loyal guests with fresh, innovative features, experiences, and destinations,” Brancaleoni added.
Some 67 event planners from around Asia will begin their once-in-a-lifetime fam tour of Switzerland starting this Friday, as the Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau kicks off its annual destination showcase, this time covering Geneva, Lausanne, and Gstaad.
According to Barbra Albrecht, head of meetings & incentives worldwide and member of the Management Board with the Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau, the 9th Asia Trophy 2024 is a study trip to position “Switzerland as a year-round meeting destination with a proven commitment to sustainability”.
A cruise down Lake Geneva awaits participants of the 9th Asia Trophy 2024
Through use of public transport systems, the tour will demonstrate the destination’s short travel distances between places of interest and ease of access. Attendees can also see for themselves “a wealth of authentic experiences in cities and spectacular natural landscapes; state-of-the-art facilities; security and political stability in Switzerland; and the destination’s excellent environmental credentials and commitment to sustainability”, remarked Albrecht.
Besides opportunities to interact with professional and reliable business partners in Switzerland, the 9th Asia Trophy 2024 also features fun rally challenges that will provide event planners with new ideas and venue options.
Elaborating on the format, Albrecht told TTGmice: “The format is very interactive, combining the top attractions and hidden gems in the mountains, cities, and the country side while using top public transportation, from trains and postal cars to cable ways and mountain railways. Along the way, bits and pieces (of information) will be found, meeting and incentive possibilities, as well as gala dinner venues will be discovered, and team spirit activities will be experienced. Attendees will pass through different control points where challenges await.”
Highlighted destinations are determined through a bid, and the bureau makes an effort to spotlight different locations across mountain, city and resort areas every year.
This year, attendees can expect to cruise down Lake Geneva, discover Lausanne’s Olympic Museum and the 16th-century Lavaux Vineyards, and take the GoldenPass Express via Montreux before arriving at Glacier 3000 for fun in the snow.
Commenting on the agency representation, Dominique Oi, MICE manager Southeast Asia with the Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau, said participants hailed from a good spread of Asian markets – Singapore (three), Malaysia (six), Indonesia (three), the Philippines (three), Vietnam (five), Thailand (11), Japan (seven), South Korea (five), China (nine), Taiwan (three), and India (12).
The 9th Asia Trophy 2024 is highly regarded in the Asian event planner community, as an event planner can only participate in it once in their lifetime.
When asked if the size of attendance reflected the importance of the source market to the Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau, Oi said all Asian markets were extremely valuable, especially for corporate incentive travel, and the allotment for planners tended to differ year to year.
The Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau was involved in 315 corporate incentive movements from Asia in 2023, out of 1,099 that included European and North America groups. The figures excluded events handled solely by private organisations.
Besides the annual Asia Trophy, the bureau also supports event planners with visa process assistance, networking events, and information via its e-news network and LinkedIn.
Singapore is the proud home of the world’s largest Mercure hotel – 989 keys captured in a new-build infrastructure rising in a vibrant part of the city and surrounded by a blend of conserved shophouses of Chinatown and modern towers.
Within Mercure Icon Singapore City Centre, guests can enjoy artworks of iconic shophouses by local artist Ripple Root, six distinct dining experiences as well as an oasis of wellness and serenity. Outside, a world of adventure awaits, as the neighbourhood of Club Street, Ann Siang Hill, and Duxton Hill presents a blend of exquisite dining and vibrant street art.
Mercure Icon Singapore City Centre is the world’s largest Mercure boasting 989 keys
The hotel has also curated a complimentary Chinatown Food and Heritage Walking Tour to bring its guests on a deep dive into the area’s culinary and cultural heritage.
Oceania Cruises will offer guests a free pre-cruise hotel stay on a range of sailings throughout late 2024 and 2025, allowing travellers the convenience of arriving a day before their cruise embarkation.
This offer is available on 33 destination-immersive sailings exploring locations such as Brazil, the Canary Islands, Japan, Singapore, Bali, and New Zealand on itineraries ranging from 11-day explorations to an expansive voyage of 35 days.
Oceania Cruises lets guests enjoy a free pre-cruise hotel stay on 2024/2025 sailings
During the free pre-cruise hotel stay, travellers can explore the port destination they are at, such as meandering through the Ginza District of Tokyo, admiring the views of Table Mountain in Cape Town, enjoying a stroll through Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay, passing the time in Cape Town on Boulders Beach in South Africa, experiencing the beaches and lush countryside of Bali, or immersing themselves in the colourful, sun-soaked culture in Rio de Janeiro, before boarding the ship for their cruise voyage.
The offer is available for reservations made between now and May 31, 2024.
Royal Caribbean Group’s president Barbara Muckermann will depart Royal Caribbean Group after 14 years with Silversea to pursue other opportunities. Succeeding her will be Bert Hernandez.
Hernandez has been with the Royal Caribbean Group for the past 20 years, and was most recently serving as senior vice president, international.
With an extensive commercial and operational experience, he has also served as president of China operations for Royal Caribbean International, where he built the brand into China’s leading cruise line.
With an extensive commercial and operational experience, he has also served as president of China operations for Royal Caribbean International, where he built the brand into China’s leading cruise line.
Popular Asia-Pacific destinations negatively impacted by climate change can restore their reputations if they face up to the challenges and take action to implement sustainable tourism practices, according to research conducted by MMGY TCI Research, PATA’s data and intelligence partner.
Managing director and partner Olivier Henry-Biabaud, in sharing the findings on Climate Change and Tourism in Europe, noted that Vietnam’s nature-based solution – the creation of eight new festivals and new travel seasons – earned it a reputation score of 79.4 per cent, placing it in pole position among 19 destinations.
While Vietnam faces a massive climate challenge, he said its positive reputation is due to a combination of ‘facing up to it’ and seeking international cooperation to “concretely combat the situation”, which Sri Lanka – in the 13th spot – is also doing.
While Australia reputation is “positive in general, the climate change impact is so visible”, Henry-Biabaud shared during the recent PATA webinar on Climate Change Impact on Destination Reputation.
Australia is ranked 16th and traveller posts, for example, on things to know before going to Sydney, list “weather change”, “weather is a concern” and “a trip in and around the city could be impacted by the direct danger of fires or by smoke particles”.
Elsewhere, there are comments like “Paradise at risk: the Maldives in danger of disappearing due to climate change” and “Why did so many climbers die on Mount Everest this year?” with the Nepal Tourism Board claiming it was due to “climate change and the weather”.
Henry-Biabaud said a destination’s reputation can change every month; that travellers are looking for destinations they trust – naming China and Australia as two of the most travel sensitive markets – and destinations should want to better plan tourism sustainability; and younger travellers, while more aware of the impact of climate change and try to pay attention to being more responsible, are bothered by guilt as they still want to travel.
“The key is to be transparent, educate the traveller, be part of the solution and to maximise the social and economic benefits to local communities,” he noted, adding that trip planners are now risk managers of storms, landslides, fires, avalanches, air pollution and potential health issues when helping travellers choose destinations with the least risk.
For Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority deputy director general and head of Sustainable Tourism Unit, Upali Rathnayake, the destination is trying to catch up by implementing industry sustainability certification, with nine destinations in nine provinces having been identified for sustainable tourism for the future.
Fabrizio Orlando, global director, industry affairs, Tripadvisor, said the platform clearly displays certified sustainable providers, makes them “easily accessible”, and even created a list of sustainable destinations for its Traveler’s Choice Awards this year.
According to Henry-Biabaud, Bhutan is the only carbon-neutral destination in the world; all arriving visitors to the Pacific Ocean island of Palau have to sign a pledge to be good environmental stewards; and Japan is looking at a safety plan to reduce potential risk.
On a positive note, he pointed out that Asia-Pacific is embracing sustainability as part of the industry’s DNA and responsibility.
“There is room for education and destinations most proactive on sustainability are the most positive about their reputation,” he opined.
PATA’s Issues and Trends (1Q 2024): Climate Change Impact on Destination Reputation report is now available on its website.