The first of two sea trials for China’s first newly-built, big cruise ship has begun, marking a significant milestone on the path to the ship’s completion and eventual debut. The first Chinese-built cruise ship, Adora Magic City, has begun sea testing, according to China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC). China hopes to use this ship as…
Centara celebrates 40 years of excellence in hospitality
Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is proudly celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Over the past four decades, Centara has grown from a single hotel in 1983, its flagship Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok, to a global hospitality brand with 93 properties across Asia and the Middle East. Centara’s 40-year history…
Holidays remain a priority for Brits, despite cost-of-living crisis
While UK consumers face tighter budgets in the wake of increased inflation, appetite for travel and experiences remains strong according to research commissioned by global payments platform Paysafe. Sixteen percent of people in the UK report spending more on package holidays and 15% spending more on flights than they did before the cost-of-living crisis. A…
MICE to contribute 20% for Qatar’s 2030 goal of 6 million tourists annually
Qatar successfully hosted the 2023 World Cup; the country is also set to host the Grand Prix 2023 Formula 1 and 2023 MotoGP Grand Prix in October and November 2023. GCC countries contribute to 60% of global outbound tourism and what’s even more interesting is the fact that these travellers contribute to 75% of total…
Sentec PMS: Ushering Archipelago into a modern era of hospitality tech
Despite years of testing various property management systems, Archipelago International, Southeast Asia’s largest hotel chain, found themselves perpetually dissatisfied, consistently facing a solution that fell short of their needs. The continuous search for a suitable PMS became a commonplace narrative within the company for more than a decade. This dilemma is due to the fact…
Pegasus Airlines places order for 36 new A321neo aircraft
Pegasus Airlines has signed an agreement with Airbus for 36 new A321neo aircraft, in line with its strategy to modernise its fleet, focusing on reducing emissions while saving fuel and unit costs. Pegasus had previously modified its Airbus order signed in 2012, to include a total of 114 new aircraft with amendments made in 2017,…
Global Hotel Alliance enters landmark partnership with Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, is taking its award-winning loyalty program, GHA DISCOVERY, to the high seas after entering a landmark partnership with Regent Seven Seas Cruises (Regent), the world’s leading luxury cruise line, based in Miami, Florida. This exclusive agreement marks the first time a cruise line has partnered with GHA,…
Eurostar rolls out ‘SmartCheck’ facial biometric check-in system
Eurostar Group, the high-speed international rail service connecting the UK with mainland Europe, has announced the roll-out at London St Pancras Station of SmartCheck, a contactless fast-track facial biometric check-in system supplied by iProov, a global provider of biometric solutions. With SmartCheck, passengers can go through only one passport check instead of two. SmartCheck enables Eurostar’s Business Premier…
SAUDIA Holidays – your path to navigate the world
Whether you are planning a trip to your favourite destinations or embarking on a spiritual journey to Makkah, SAUDIA Holidays – the holiday division of Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), is a one-stop-shop that offers you a wide range of options and packages designed to suit all your requirements. Look nowhere else, if you are looking to explore the…
Fly to London with EGYPTAIR
EGYPTAIR, the national flag carrier of Egypt and Star Alliance member, offers you excellent connectivity & airfares from Delhi to London, via Cairo. Economy OW : Starting from INR 38,000 all-inclusive Economy RT : Starting from INR 86,000 all-inclusive EGYPTAIR is commencing 4x Weekly flights ex-DEL to Cairo, effective 04 August 2023;…