Global Travel News

Sabre Launches United Airlines NDC Offers to Global Network

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Sabre Launches United Airlines NDC Offers to Global Network - TRAVELINDEX - AIRLINEHUB.comSouthlake, Texas, United States, April 17, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Sabre Corporation and United Airlines, today announced the availability of United’s NDC offers through Sabre’s global distribution system (GDS). Sabre-connected travel buyers, agencies and developer partners will be able to shop, book, and service United’s NDC content through Sabre’s Offer and Order APIs, the agency point-of-sale tool, Sabre Red 360, and the online booking tool, GetThere.

“We are so pleased to launch United Airlines’ NDC content this week, marking the 10th airline with whom we have completed integration and made content available through NDC to agencies around the world,” said Kathy Morgan, vice president, NDC and airline supply, Sabre Travel Solutions. “In delivering a suite of NDC solutions and enabling air content in our NDC channels, we are helping airlines go from where they are today to a new modern approach to travel retailing – a key step in the evolution of retailing and distribution in the travel industry.”

Travel buyers connected to the Sabre GDS will be able to choose enhanced offers from United such as United’s continuous pricing content with the lowest fares available in these channels. They will also have access to more descriptive information on United’s flight offers as well as seat selection enabled in the booking path. NDC offers from United are currently available in over 70 countries, with more coming soon.

Sabre Offer and Order APIs are the foundation of a modern retailing marketplace that allows airlines to dynamically create and distribute tailored offers across any channel, while being seamlessly fulfilled and delivered as orders. Sabre Red 360 unlocks a full spectrum of bookable content and insightful information to efficiently create tailored trip experiences that travel buyers can sell and service.

About Sabre Corporation
Sabre Corporation is a leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, serving a wide range of travel companies including airlines, hoteliers, travel agencies and other suppliers. The company provides retailing, distribution and fulfilment solutions that help its customers operate more efficiently, drive revenue and offer personalized traveler experiences. Through its leading travel marketplace, Sabre connects travel suppliers with buyers from around the globe. Sabre’s technology platform manages more than $260B worth of global travel spend annually. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Tai A Woven Culture – Book Launch at Blue Elephant Bangkok

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Tai A Woven Culture - Book Launch at Blue Elephant Bangkok - TRAVELINDEX - VISITTHAILAND.netBangkok, Thailand, April 17, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Blue Elephant Cooking School & Restaurant Bangkok was recently the venue of the launch of a unique, coffee table book titled “TAI, A Woven Culture” a pictorial chronology about silk intertwined with a unique history and culture and the people involved, by renowned Belgian photographer Hans Roels and an avid Thai textile aficionado and collector Napajaree Suanduenchai from Bangkok.

Thailand’s fascinating silk history is not really Thai but rather TAI. Thailand is the name of the country and Tai is the name of the indigenous people who migrated from China to Southeast Asia. They established Tai kingdoms that expanded, dominated and co-existed with each other through the centuries. What unites all Tai people is their remarkable, unique weaving culture at the heart of it is yellow silk whose thick, smooth fibre is processed manually.

This unique book, which portrays the story of TAI silk, began over 20 years ago when Belgian photographer Hans Roels who was travelling and shooting in northern Thailand met Napajaree Suanduenchai or Nim, a Tai textile collector from Bangkok. Together they decided to document the different Thai sub-groups who made these wonderful silk garments, and the book is the result of their combined passions.

They began in Thailand where different TAI communities directed them to other sub-groups in Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, South China and Assam in India. Their journey was dictated by the amazing people they met who express their own identity through weaving. Each different Tai community had their own unique patterns and traditions. The people who spun the precious fibre, wove it into timeless patterns. They connected their past and their present through their craft and their colours. These great artists were mostly modest farmers who grew rice for food and farm silk to showcase their culture and preserve their identity.

On their travels throughout Thailand, Nim and Hans also came across ethnic minority groups who were not Tai. These people lived in the mountainous regions between the Thai valleys and have existed here for generations long before the Tai migration. They were willing to share their own unique and fascinating cultures and their distinctive textiles. Aside from the precious silk and weaving culture featured in the book, the portraits of the people who created these textiles are also in the spotlight – every individual captured and print for posterity, part of a living fabric and proud culture.

“Here what you really have is people who participated with their heart and gave their full confidence and trust and that’s something that especially struck me a lot and touched me very deeply in this project,” said Hans Roels. “This book makes you the witnesses of an unfortunately fast disappearing culture. Due to modernization, the young generation no longer chooses this time-consuming weaving art. I’m very happy to have started this project in time and to show you the remnants of a beautiful, unforgettable culture. We hope that this book brings you close to the TAI, that it shows you the essence of the TAI and even allows you to look through the Tai’s eyes,” added Hans.

“Discovering these TAI textiles reminds me of the beauty of these people who are farmers and who create beautiful work through their textiles and show their identity and dignity of being TAI,” said Khun Nim.

TAI, A Woven Culture was launched in Brussels amidst much interest and excitement earlier in March 2023. At the Thailand launch at Blue Elephant Bangkok, the books were on display and on sale at a special price of Baht 2,700 (retail price @Baht 3,200).

A large format hard cover book with 348 pages, approximately 206 colour photos, TAI, A Woven Culture is printed in Sweden and is lead HUV printed on uncoated, unbleached FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper supporting responsible forestry that is durable and will stand the test of time. The book is printed with 100% wind energy. River Books is the publisher of Tai, A Woven Culture.

For more information about the making of TAI, A Woven Culture, please contact Hans Roels, tel. 095 060 6117 or +32 496 25 37 73, and for those interested in buying the book, please call River Books, tel. 02 225 0139 or 098 495 4142

About Mr. Hans Roels and Mrs. Napajaree Suanduenchai
Mr. Hans Roels is a passionate photographer from Brussels, Belgium who combines creativity and craftsmanship in his prolific artwork. Always keen on exploring new cultures both in Belgium and in all parts of the world he has been involved in various cultural and commissioned projects resulting in dazzlingly beautiful and powerful images, exhibitions and books. He is particularly interested in making group photos, in which according to his own words everyone counts and made visible.

Mrs. Napajaree Suanduenchai (Nim) is a textile collector from Bangkok. Coming from a family that has been trading in Tai textiles for generations she followed in her mother’s footsteps and ran Prayer Textile Gallery in Bangkok. She also founded the “Tai Textile Collectors Circle” and is one of the founders of the ‘Tai Textile Society’ in Bangkok.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

FAMILY FUN IS PLENTIFUL IN AMERICA’S FIRST RESORT DESTINATION

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With more than 100 family-friendly attractions, 47 miles/76 km of sparkling coastline, outdoor adventure, arts and culture and a diverse culinary scene; The Palm Beaches offer many exciting and enticing experiences for the entire family. Get close to sea turtles and marine life at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, feed a giraffe at Lion Country Safari, make a discovery at the Cox Science Center and Aquarium, snorkel along the spectacular trail offshore at Phil Foster Park or just kick back and relax on a postcard-perfect, golden-sand beach.

Loggerhead Marine life Center – Juno Beach

If you’re a fan of sea turtles and saving the planet, then you’ll enjoy this stop. On a mission to promote the conservation of ocean ecosystems with a special focus on sea turtles, this center educates the public through engaging programming and rehabilitates sea turtles for release back into the wild. The perk here (besides the many sea turtles and friendly staff) is that this center is located just steps away from some of the most densely nested loggerhead sea turtle beaches in the world! Pack your swimwear and beach gear to enjoy the beach pre-or post-visit.  Loggerhead Marine life Center features a recent $20 million expansion, showcasing their hospital, educational exhibits, classrooms, retail, research labs, and various areas for family exploration.

Rapids Water Park – Riviera Beach

South Florida’s largest water park has been standing since 1979! What started as four acres and a few slides grew to 35 acres of action-packed water slides and attractions. Take a jaw-dropping seven-story ride down Big Thunder, or a relaxing break floating through the serene current of the Lazy River. For the young and the young at heart, the wave pool, dual seven-story speed slides, and action park for young children and toddlers offer a non-stop day of aquatic fun. Explore the park with the entire family for hours of enjoyment, with 42 suitable rides and attractions for all ages.

Snorkel Trail at Phil Foster Park – Riviera Beach

Families can head to Riviera Beach to experience refreshing blue waters, a variety of marine life, and enjoy hours of snorkelling along an 800-foot stretch of boulders and an artificial reef. Ranked among the “50 Best Dive Sites in the World” by Scuba Magazine, the Snorkel Trail at Phil Foster Park hosts sea turtles, tropical fish, sailfish, goliath groupers, and dolphins. Manatee sightings are frequent in the winter and springtime, while sea turtles are common year-round. For the best snorkeling conditions, time your visit with high tide. The Palm Beaches are the closest place in North America to the Gulf Stream current, an oceanic conveyor belt of warm, clear water. This unique proximity to the Gulf Stream maintains comfortable ocean temperatures for divers and snorkelers.

Lion Country Safari

Lion Country Safari – Loxahatchee

Florida’s largest drive-through safari displays 900 animals roaming in wide-open habitats within inches of your car! Rhinos, giraffes, zebras, and more can be spotted through the four-mile drive safari space. Other attractions at Lion Country Safari include an adventure park, a water park, refreshment and food stations, and gift shops for handcrafted goodies and souvenirs. Guests can enjoy animal habitats, a petting zoo, amusement rides, food and beverage options, and animal feedings.

Sugar Sand Park – Boca Raton

This 132-acre park is more than swings and sand, it’s a long-standing site for recreation, culture, entertainment, and education. Home to the Children’s Science Explorium, the Willow Theatre, and the community center, the park hosts numerous events. The park is part of the Art in Public Places exhibition, where artists can exhibit works free of charge in public spaces in a variety of mediums, including painting, photography, sculpture, glass, jewelry, pottery, and multimedia. Multiple areas perfect for relaxation are available, including shaded picnic villas and benches. Sugar Sand Park is also home to a 30-horse and wheelchair-accessible chariot carousel, open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10-2 p.m. The hard-to-miss attraction is covered by a decorative tent, with lights and music to enhance the festive scene. The Explorium offers an air-conditioned and educational oasis for families to learn and play in with a multitude of interactive displays and exhibitions. Sugar Sand Park offers something for every member of the family, allowing a relaxing, yet playful space to indulge in.

Cox Science Center & Aquarium – West Palm Beach

Entertain curious minds of varying ages with enthralling exhibits, interactive displays, and outdoor adventures at the Cox Science Center & Aquarium. Following recent renovations, the center now boasts 100 new hands-on exhibits, an upgraded planetarium, 1,000 sq.-ft. early childhood exhibit, a modernized theater, a science lab, an open-air amphitheater, and an 18-hole miniature golf conservation course that was named one of the “Top Thirteen Miniature Golf Courses in the nation” by Travel Magazine. Families can find educational fun waiting around every corner. One of the most popular exhibitions includes the Marvin Dekelboum Planetarium, the first and only public planetarium in Palm Beach County, as well as the 10,000-gallon aquarium housing some of Florida’s most beautiful native fish and marine life species. The Center strives to “Open Every Mind to Science,” providing more than 300,000 students, teachers, and visitors with science and technology education programs, and providing South Floridian locals and visitors the chance to enjoy themselves through indoor and outdoor educational activities.

For more information about The Palm Beaches, visit

www.ThePalmBeaches.com  | www.thepalmbeaches.com/travel-trade-professionals

Take advantage of deals via The Palm Beaches Savings Pass

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ROUND-UP: April 10-14, 2023

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Canadian passport staff, along with other federal workers, announced they may strike this week; Fort Lauderdale was hammered by a historic storm; Transat boosted service to France; and the US decided that the COVID-19 emergency was officially over.

NEWS

Just as the Canadian passport office seemed to get its head above water, members of the public service’s largest union, which represents more than 120,000 federal workers – including passport office employees – have voted in favour of a strike mandate that could be acted on as soon as Wednesday. Border and airport service could also be affected.

One of Florida’s busiest airports reopened Friday, two days after an unprecedented deluge left planes and travellers stranded and turned Fort Lauderdale‘s streets into rivers.

The US national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic has ended with the stroke of a pen on April 10 by President Joe Biden, who signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring measure to a close after three years – and just weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency on May 11.

AIR

Citing “skyrocketing demand” for the French provinces, Air Transat is expanding its flight operations to France, most notably on two direct routes departing from Montreal. The airline is also adding Marseille to its roster of year-round destinations. Additionally, it is extending its Montreal-Nantes service until Jan. 24, 2024. Air Transat is the only airline to offer direct flights from Canada to the airports of Marseille and Nantes.

 Air Canada and Amadeus have expanded their partnership, allowing travel sellers to benefit from a long-term roadmap that offers additional features and new content. The new, multi-year distribution agreement will enable access to its full range of NDC-sourced content from Air Canada through the Amadeus Travel Platform, enabling the carrier to provide enhanced travel retail experiences by distributing personalized and tailored offers.

Emirates is stepping up its frequency between Canada and the United Arab Emirates with two additional flights per week between Dubai and Toronto. The move to daily service, starting April 20, follows the announcement last week of an expanded air transport agreement between the two countries.

DEALS

Quark Expeditions has brought back its “Polar Promo Sale” offering travellers up to 40% off voyages to the Arctic and Antarctic, plus a variety of booking incentives that apply to all upcoming seasons. In addition to saving up to 40%, clients will receive a US$1,000 flight credit off the top of their trip cost, $250 shipboard credit on select itineraries, and 10% if they pay in full at time of booking on select voyages. The sale runs through July 4.

TOURS

As Goway Travel moves into its 53rd year, the company is gearing up for a marketing and brand transformation, its first since being founded by Bruce Hodge in 1970. Supporting a global expansion of the Toronto-based tour company, the project will feature a new Goway website with a cutting-edge reservation system to be launched launch later this year. The rebrand will be led by new VP of Marketing Mitchell Fawcett.

TProfile, which provides advanced Customer Experience Applications and CRM technology, has partnered with G Adventures, enabling it to expand its dynamic, real-time rich content – including quotes, images, and videos from G Adventures – as well as its global portfolio of tours network of travel agents.

CRUISE

A new Suite Upgrades promotion from Silversea Cruises provides guests with a two-category suite upgrade on selected voyages, for selected suite categories

and a US$1,000 shipboard credit per suite. The offer applies to new bookings made through May 31, and provides exclusive benefits on select voyages departing before May 31, 2024.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings brands, including NCL, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas, has announced a plan to improve Internet connectivity, speed and reliability at sea by offering SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet on its ships. The company is currently testing Starlink on the Norwegian Breakaway with the intent to rollout the “game-changing” technology across its entire world class fleet in a phased manner.

BY THE NUMBERS

A total of 331 cruise ships visits are expected to visit Vancouver in 2023 bringing more than a million visitors to the city. Just one less ship will deliver at least 850,000 passengers to Victoria, and 43 more ships and nearly 80,000 passengers are bound for Prince Rupert. Vancouver’s cruise traffic this year will be an increase of approximately 8% compared to 2022.

HOTELS

The finalists for the 2023 BC Hotel Association Awards of Excellence, to be announced at the BCHA Summit on May 1-2 include, for Hotel of the Year: Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa (Vancouver Island); Oswego Hotel (Victoria); The Parkside Hotel & Spa (Victoria); Robin Hood Inn & Suites (Victoria); and Versante Hotel (Richmond).

The Inn at Diamond Cove in Portland, Maine, has been inducted into Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Inn at Diamond Cove is one of more than 300 hotels and resorts throughout the country that is recognized for preserving and maintaining its historic integrity, architecture, and ambiance. The Inn opens for the season on May 25 and is currently accepting reservations through Sept. 30.

RESORTS

Sam Lord’s Castle Barbados

Sam Lord’s Castle Barbados, a Wyndham Grand Resort is due to begin welcoming this Spring. The resort is located on the former site of Sam Lord’s Castle, a legendary mansion on Barbados’ south-eastern coast, notorious for the pirating exploits of its 19th century owner, Sam Lord. Buccaneers long gone, the dazzling, 5-Diamond resort will boast over 400 luxury rooms and suites. In addition, the luxury property will offer three on-site restaurants, state of the art meeting spaces and an extensive luxury spa and fitness centre.

ATTRACTIONS

The Global Tourism Film Festival 2023, to be held in North Bay, Ont., April 27-30 has announced special programming segments recognizing film, accomplishment, and advancement of Indigenous Peoples, People of Colour, and Women in film and tourism. Among them: a cultural workshop on medicine pouches that educate on the four main medicines recognized and used by many Indigenous communities in prayers and as protection; an Australia Tourism Board presentation on Aboriginal Guided Experiences; and a workshop by PR expert Marie Lemelle that focuses on and engages minorities and women. For tickets and travel info, visit www.tourism-festival.org.

Fan-favourite nighttime spectacular “Happily Ever After” has returned to Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World, featuring all‑new projections down Main Street, USA. And in September, an all‑new nighttime spectacular is planned to debut at EPCOT.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

Travel advisors and meetings/events planners can enter to win prizes with every new Club Med group booked according to the following conditions: minimum of 20 adults; selected resorts – Québec Charlevoix, Punta Cana (DR), Michès Playa Esmeralda (DR), Cancún (Mexico), Ixtapa Pacific (Mexico), Columbus Isle (Bahamas), Turkoise (Turks & Caicos), La Caravelle (Guadeloupe), Buccaneer’s Creek (Martinique); travel dates – July 1 to Dec. 31, 2023. Prizes include and all-inclusive one-week stay package for two at Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda, plus an iPad, AirPods, and Apple Watch. The higher the booking total, the more entries are activated (up to four for over $100,000). Direct bookings through the Exclusive Connection doubles the entries. The contest is until Dec. 31.

The Jamaica Tourist Board’s recently launched ‘Jamaica Cooking Challenge’ invites travel advisors to recreate a taste of the island at home. Each month, the JTB Canada sales team releases a new cooking video featuring an authentic Jamaican recipe prepared with step-by-step instructions by Chef Latoya Fagan. Agents are encouraged to prepare the recipe at home and share a photo of their finished dish for a chance to win monthly prizes. Find out more HERE.

EVENTS

Agents are invited to learned about Portugal’s Azores Islands in a series of webinars being held in conjunction with SATA Azores Airlines. The webinar will cover the nine islands of the Azores, general information, flights, and more, including the chance to win a trip for two. Agents can register for the webinar on April 18 by clicking HERE.  Additional dates will be April 28 and June 21.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

Visit Detroit has selected of Toronto-based Moreno + Company as its public relations agency for the Canadian market as the US destination looks to make new overtures to Canadian visitors. The boutique communications company that also published luxury travel magazine, Bold Traveller. “Moreno + Company are fantastic storytellers, which is why Visit Detroit selected them to help share our story directly to our Canadian industry partners and travel advisors,” said Jennifer Ollinger of Visit Detroit. Contact cgordon@morenoco.com .

Canadian travel company Lujure has announced travel veteran Nadia Guinci has joined the leadership team as Managing Partner. She will develop strategic marketing and partnership initiatives to continue growth and expand the villa sector.

DESTINATIONS

Budapest is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the unification of Buda, Pest, and Old Buda this year. Plans for the 150-year celebrations in 2023 include the Budapest 150 Marathon (Oct. 14-15); Confectioners will be competing to create an iconic cake with special ingredients that will be served in most dessert shops and cafés later in the year; The Lions of Budapest will be creatively decorated by local artists and will serve as great photo spots all around the city; and renovations for the city’s iconic bridge are expected to finalize by the end of the year so that pedestrians may walk across the first bridge of Budapest.

Mark your calendar! The Toronto Waterfront Festival, formerly Redpath Waterfront Festival, has announced the huge news that the World’s Largest Rubber Duck will finally return to the annual festival, Sept. 16-17. In 2017, the World’s Largest Rubber Duck made a splash in Toronto when it floated in to celebrate Canada’s 150 anniversary. Drawn to the Duck, more than 750,000 people attended the three-day celebration and the Waterfront Festival. The festival announced the six-storey, 13,600-kg. Duck’s return in 2020 but had to cancel due to the pandemic.

LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY

In 1513, explorer Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Asset World Corporation Bring Thailand’s Rich Culinary Traditions to the Chao Phraya River

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Asset World Corporation Bring Thailand's Rich Culinary Traditions to the Chao Phraya River - TRAVELINDEX - VISITTHAILAND.netBangkok, Thailand, April 14, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park and Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC) have announced the opening of The Siam Tea Room, a unique new restaurant, bakery and café at Asiatique The Riverfront that will showcase the rich culinary traditions of Thailand in a vibrant waterside setting, next to Bangkok’s legendary Chao Phraya River.

Inspired by the country’s cultural heritage, The Siam Tea Room is set in an elegant two-story wooden building with indoor and alfresco seating areas, a banqueting facility, private dining room and views of the river. In this evocative location, talented Thai chefs – led by Chef Aunkool “Aony” Poolpipat – will craft traditional Thai cuisine based on recipes passed down from Chef Aony’s grandmother.

Using fresh local and seasonal ingredients, this mouth-watering menu will transport guests on a gastronomic journey through history to “Old Siam.” Diners can discover signature dishes such as spicy orange salad with crispy fried gourami and sweet pork; grilled free-range pork ribs, marinated overnight in a tamarind sauce and served with roasted rice, fried chili and kaffir lime leaves; and crab curry with betel leaves, the signature recipe which features the finest local crab in a spicy, homemade yellow curry sauce served with vermicelli noodles.

These delectable dishes are complemented by a choice of sweet treats, including Thailand’s national dessert mango sticky rice, which is crafted using large, ripe local mangoes, premium sticky rice and topped with sweet, fragrant coconut milk. In the spirit of the Siam Tea Room concept, the Thai restaurant will operate alongside a casual café and bakery which will produce freshly-baked bread, pastries and other treats every day, along with high-quality tea and coffee including options sourced from the hills of Northern Thailand.

This new dining destination becomes Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park and AWC’s third venue at Asiatique The Riverfront, the riverside retail and lifestyle hub, joining Sirimahannop, the reimagined tall ship that sailed between Thailand and the world in the early 1900s, and The Crystal Grill House, a glamorous steak and seafood restaurant that recaptures the spirit of an enchanting era.

The new Siam Tea Room is easily accessible by road and river, including shuttle boat services from the pier next to Saphan Taksin BTS skytrain station. The Siam Tea Room will open daily from 10.00 hrs. to midnight (last orders at 22.00 hrs.). Advanced reservations are recommended.

For more information and to discover this new era of gastronomy next to the Chao Phraya River, please call +66 (0) 2 059 5999 or email restaurant reservations.bkkqp@marriotthotels.com

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Anchor Operating System Becomes Independent Division of Hornblower Group

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Anchor Operating System Becomes Independent Division of Hornblower Group - TRAVELINDEXHornblower Group, announced today that AnchorTM Operating System will officially become an independent division within Hornblower, supporting both the organization’s businesses as well as external partners.  As digital adoption has become an instrumental focus in how businesses engage with their guests in a post COVID world, Anchor grew organically amongst partners as they experienced its unmatched digital ticketing capabilities.  Since Anchor’s beginnings in 2020, the business has reached more than $1Billion in transactions as a premier digital ticketing & operating system provider.  This shift to allow Anchor to become its own independent operator, will support its growth trajectory and partner demand with third-party external companies, while still continuing to work with Hornblower as an important client.

“A key element of Hornblower Groups’ growth strategy is the investment in, and continued innovation through, technology & software engineering,” said Kevin Rabbitt, chief executive officer, Hornblower Group.  “The development of Anchor was a key pillar to support this growth strategy and our investment in technology and over the past two years, we saw an unprecedented demand as the company grew organically amongst our partners. In order to keep up with its expanding capabilities and new partner opportunities, we felt Anchor would need to become its own independent operation, while still having the ability to work with Hornblower.  We are looking forward to this next evolution for Anchor as they continue to build innovative engineered based solutions for the travel, attractions, and transportation space and reignite new ways for guests to experience their brands.”

Over the past three years, Anchor has become the foundational ticketing and operating system across much of Hornblower’s business.  The Anchor operating system provides an enhanced guest experience to reservation ticketing with a frictionless personalized journey through websites, ticketing and onsite apps, and extending the digital consumer journey for our guests visiting some of the most iconic experiences in the world.

As Anchor’s awareness outside of Hornblower has grown, Anchor has expanded to support external partners, powering the experiences of travel brands across the globe with clients ranging from Chicago’s Navy Pier to New Orleans Steamboat Company and API integrations including Google, Expedia, Viator and GetYourGuide. The integration between Hornblower’s Anchor platform and Bacardi Brand Homes – which operate the collection of visitor centers for the world’s largest privately held spirits company — marked the first direct integration with a major consumer brand.  As Anchor’s partners increased, including on an larger international level, it required an expansion of its engineering team outside its homebase in Los Angeles, to extend its footprint with teams in both India and Mexico.

To enable further growth for Anchor, Hornblower Group will name chief technology officer, Nasi Peretz, as President of Anchor.  Peretz’s career is deeply rooted in the engineering and tech development space.  Prior to joining Hornblower, Peretz served as the vice president of engineering for Ticketmaster, spearheading major projects for the company including the original Taylor Swift verified fan on-sale and concert series.  It was through his time at Ticketmaster where Peretz learned the optics and power of scaling software to reach millions of fans.  Prior to his time with Ticketmaster, Peretz co-founded and ran his own ticketing company for six years, which was successfully acquired by publicly traded Cvent, Inc.

“Guest experience and operational-centric platforms are at the heart of what we do, and as we continue to develop Anchor, we are thrilled to expand our operations, while continuing to innovate for our largest client, the Hornblower family of brands,” said Nasi Peretz, president, Anchor.  “Anchor redefines the guest experience as digital adoption has soared in ways customers engage in travel and experiences.  We recognized that there was an opportunity to create a holistic and frictionless guest experience including new websites, ticketing and onsite apps and an extension the digital consumer journey, all delivered under one seamless operating system.  We are looking forward to continuing to explore unique opportunities that will further meet both brands and consumer’s needs.”

To support the new structure of Anchor, the company will also be onboarding a VP of Revenue, as well as building a corporate sales and services team.

Anchor is more than a ticketing system, as it is a cloud-based operating system that manages integration of third-party partners, has over 700 features including dynamic pricing, drag-n-drop reporting, waivers, kiosks, and Salesforce integration. It is a platform which is instrumental in the production of developing centralized solutions that are designed to scale. Its overall mission is to provide a turnkey solution that will result in reducing overhead, creating additional revenue streams, and most importantly, optimizing the guests experience.

Some of Anchor’s top features and capabilities include:

  • DYNAMIC PRICING & CAPACITY
    • Managing the price based on demand yield and an infinitely expanded set of rules utilizing If This Then That (IFTTT).
    • Managing capacity and distribution to partners based on a ruleset defined by the operator. 
  • POINT-OF-SALE SYSTEM & CONTACTLESS SOLUTION
    • Rich POS that allows for the sale of food & beverage, merchandise, and gift cards with full support for all contactless payments such as Alipay, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
  • DOCK ACCESS
    • The ticket scanning tool, Dock Access, gives guest the ability to scan a QR code for easy check-in or to retrieve reservations and rosters in multiple ways, including group ticketing.
  • IN-DEPTH REPORTING
    • The platform delivers reporting that allows companies to save time, energy, and money by simply dragging and dropping fields. The system reconciles funds, distributes ticketing fees and allocations across multiple sub-accounts, and is able to generate credit & debit type reports with granular detail
  • PASS VALIDATIONS
    • Via the validation APIs, guests are able to bypass the ticket window and head directly to entry. The integration automatically generates a receivable for each redemption as well as account for the attendance scan. Partnerships such as GoCity, CityPass and the Sightseeing Pass.
  • WEBSITE INTEGRATION
    • Using our Commerce SDk, it can embed the shopping cart right into the company site. It has multiple widgets that maintain the brand’s look and feel, while keeping conversion high.
  • MANAGE MY BOOKING
    • Guests have the option to manage their own booking whether it’s to reschedule, cancel, or invite a friend.
  • CHANNEL MANAGEMENT
    • Tickets can be sold across multiple channels, versus relying on another system to do it, making it one seamless channel. More than 18 direct API integrations today and growing monthly.

Through technological investments, diversified operations and a broad array of expertise, Hornblower continues to explore various opportunities and platforms to add to its portfolio of businesses and will contribute to the company’s projected growth and future success. From the moment the guest purchases their ticket, encounters the experience itself to building long term guest relationships, the Anchor platform seamlessly threads a holistic end-to-end customer digital journey like no other.

About Hornblower Group

Hornblower Group is a global leader in experiences and transportation. Hornblower Group’s corporate businesses are comprised of three premier experience divisions: American Queen Voyages®, its overnight cruising division; City Experiences, its land and water-based experiences as well as ferry and transportation services; and Journey Beyond, Australia’s leading experiential travel group. Spanning a 100-year history, Hornblower Group’s portfolio of international offerings includes water-based experiences (dining and sightseeing cruises), land-based experiences (walking tours, food tours and excursions), overnight experiences (cruises and railways) and ferry and transportation services. Hornblower Marine, a subsidiary of Hornblower Group, provides vessel outhaul and maintenance services at Bridgeport Boatworks in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Additionally, Anchor Operating System, LLC, a subsidiary of

Hornblower Group and independent entity, provides reservation, ticketing and website integration services for clients in the transportation, tourism and entertainment industries. Today, Hornblower Group’s global portfolio covers 114 countries and territories, 125 U.S. cities and serves more than 30 million guests annually. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Hornblower Group’s additional corporate offices reside in Adelaide, Australia; Boston, Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; London, United Kingdom; New York, New York; Dublin, Ireland; and across Ontario, Canada.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Cambodia’s Ambitious Tourism Roadmap

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Cambodia's Ambitious Tourism Roadmap - TRAVELINDEX - VISITCAMBODIA.netAhead of the Mekong Tourism Forum in Preah Sihanoukville 26 April, Cambodia’s, Minister of Tourism, Mr Thong Khon outlines his country’s targets for tourism, aviation and dispersing a new generation of visitors beyond Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh

What are your targets for Cambodian’s tourism in 2023?
The target for Cambodia’s tourism in 2023 is to increase the international tourist arrivals from 4.0 to 4.5 million. Cambodia is host of the Southeast Asian Games 2023 in May, a major tourist event.

Is there a new emphasis or focus in Cambodia’s 2023 tourism promotion campaigns?
Our focus is “Visit Cambodia Year 2023”. It has the theme “MICE and Sports” and the slogan “Every Day is A Wonder”. Apart from the SEA Games we also have the 12th ASEAN Para Games from 3-9 June in Phnom Penh, with the theme, “Sports Live In Peace”. There’s also the Mekong Tourism Forum 2023 in Sihanoukville from 25-27 April on “Rethinking for Resilience and Digitalization”. Moreover, Cambodia is organising historical new year celebrations in Siem Reap province, “the 10th Anniversary of Angkor Sankranta,” 14-16 April.

How has tourism in Cambodia changed since the pandemic?
Like many other countries, Cambodia faced a big challenge from the global Covid-19 pandemic. The number of international arrivals dropped from 6.6 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2020 and to only 200,000 in 2021. With tourism coming back there have been some positives:

Cambodia has been awarded “Asia’s Leading Culture Destination 2022” and “Asia’s Leading Youth Travel Destination 2022” in the World Travel Awards , held during the International Travel Expo in Ho Chi Minh City.

On 17 March this year, the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia won the “Leading International Tourism Campaign 2022” with its Visit Cambodia NEXT (New Exciting eXperience and Taste) campaign. We also organised roadshows in ASEAN markets such as the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam and participated in international tourism exhibitions both virtually and physically.

Moreover, Cambodia became the first country in ASEAN to fully re-open for international travellers in October 2022. That helped bring the number of international arrivals to 2.23 million by the end of 2022. Cambodia expects to receive around four million international visitors by the end of 2023, five million in 2024 and seven million in 2025. We have also seen strong domestic tourist demand within Cambodia.

We developed new tourism infrastructure during the pandemic, such as 38 new roads in Siem Reap, the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville expressway, and the new Siem Reap International Airport, which is due for completion in Q3 this year. The new Techo Takhmao International Airport south of Phnom Penh is due to complete its first phase in mid 2024.

What changes to the aviation sector are you trying to encourage to boost Cambodia Tourism?
By March 2028 we plan to have 33 airlines connecting to Cambodia through three international airports with an average of 494 flights per week or 988 movements. The government aims to boost the influx of international tourists and new airlines by applying tax incentives and reducing or waiving landing fees. We are investing a lot in two new airports: Kandal province, just south of Phnom Penh, and Siem Reap.

Which policies do you have in place to disperse tourism away from Angkor Wat to other parts of Cambodia?
Initially, foreign tourists visiting Cambodia wished to see only Angkor Wat temple. Through the preparation of new tour packages, tourists are now starting to enjoy more nature tourism, adventure activities, community-based tourism, ecotourism and learning about the lives of people and local food. We want to attract tourists away from Angkor Wat to help poorer areas develop.

What role does the upcoming Mekong Tourism Forum in Preah Sihanouk, play in Cambodia’s tourism future?
The Mekong Tourism Forum plays a vital role where we discuss the critical issues and emerging trends among regional tourism stakeholders. With the theme Rethinking for Resilience and Digitalisation, forum attendees will discuss sustainable food systems, fostering women’s empowerment, accelerating digitalisation, and upskilling the tourism workforce.

What message do you have for tourism leaders and delegates attending the forum?
Let’s work warmly and closely together to discuss regional issues and create solutions for further cooperation on sustainable tourism development. We can do this by promoting tourism potential and more disbursed destinations among the six countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

New 4-Course Set Lunch at Plate Restaurant, Carlton Hotel Bangkok

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New 4-Course Set Lunch at Plate Restaurant, Carlton Hotel BangkokPlate Restaurant at Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit offers a new 4-Course Set Lunch featuring a variety of Straits dishes alongside Asian and International options.

Priced at THB 590++, the lunch set at Plate is value for money for both business and casual lunch. Diners can start with their choice of soup and salad before the main course. The set is inclusive of dessert of the day and a beverage choice of coffee or tea.

Highlights include the signature Carlton Chicken Rice and other Straights dishes like Singapore Laksa and Char Kway Teow.

Plate set lunch is available daily at Plate Restaurant
Time: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Menu: qrco.de/bbeDTX

For more information or to make reservations, please contact 02 090 7888 or email FBreservations@carltonhotel.co.th

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Jewels of Carlton Afternoon Tea at Tuxedo Espresso Bar

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Tuxedo Espresso Bar at Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit presents the newest Afternoon Tea “Jewels of Carlton”. Dedicated to jewelry and shiny blings, each item is created with a piece of jewelry in mind.

The Jewels of Carlton Afternoon Tea set features 9 selections of delectable pastries and sweet bites. The highlight item is the “Sacher Torte”, an iconic combination of chocolate and apricot jam offering a sweet and bitter taste alongside refreshing notes from the apricot.

THB 1,380++ per set for 2 persons including a pot of TWG Tea or Coffee of your choice
THB 1,680++ per set for 2 persons including two glasses of bubbles

Link to the full menu: qrco.de/bcVIca

A selection of these pastries are also available as “Dessert of the Month”, as part of the a la carte menu:

• Sacher-Torte THB 220++
• Gianduja, Caramel Cream Tart THB 220++
• Almond Vanilla Cake THB 200++
• Baked Cheesecake THB 200++

Afternoon Tea is available daily at Tuxedo Espresso Bar
Date: April – June 2023
Time: 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm

For more information or reservations, please contact us at 02 090 7888 or email Fbreservations@carltonhotel.co.th

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Avana Retreat Takes Going Green Literally By Planting 10,000 Trees

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Avana Retreat Takes Going Green Literally By Planting 10,000 Trees - TRAVELINDEXAs eco-initiatives evolve, going plastic-free is the minimum a resort can do to lighten its environmental impact. Avana Retreat, situated amid the mountains of Vietnam’s Mai Chau province, has been making sure its footprint is featherweight since debuting in the pandemic. Through extreme tree planting projects, cultural initiatives to maintain ethnic minority traditions, organic farming, neighborhood trash collecting partnerships with youth groups, and turning one of its star attractions – terraced rice fields – into a source of income for the community, Avana is working in unison with the environment. As for plastic, you won’t find a bottle or single-use bag in sight. The property even has its own purifying and bottling facility on-site, which uses fresh mountain water and cuts CO2 emissions.

Reforestation and building biodiversity

“There is a Vietnamese saying ‘Where there is good land, the birds will come and settle’,” said Mr. Vu Huy, founder of Avana Retreat. “We have planted over 10,000 trees in the area since we started developing this land and the bird life, well, we’re seeing more and more return. In fact, the wildlife has flourished.”

Avana Retreat has prioritized re-foresting and working with the existing landscape. Raised pathways weave a way to both the spa and waterfall in an attempt to limit existing tree-cutting. The electric buggy and walking paths are purposefully narrow so that the impact on the vegetation is minimized. The terraced rice paddies, within the resort grounds, are also not just for decoration.

For generations, the Hmong people have been cultivating the land to grow rice. Avana Retreat’s rice terraces are maintained by local ethnic groups who keep all the rice they harvest at Avana to eat or sell as they wish. This method of rice farming is a long-standing tradition, a cultural practice that has endured over time, and is one of the many aspects of the ethnic groups of the region that Avana Retreat shares with guests.

Helping local culture and economic livelihoods flourish

The property’s museum, housed in a more than 50-year-old Thai style stilt house, is the hub for cultural activities. Inside guests can learn about the various ethnic groups that live in the area, their traditions, clothes, and customs. Underneath the raised house, there are hands-on opportunities to experience the culture from rattan weaving workshops to Batik art classes, where textiles are created with symbols of significance for the Hmong people.

“The traditions and culture of the ethnic minority groups of this area are shared orally,” explained Huy. “We want to play our part in keeping those traditions and stories alive through our museum, experiences, and through classes with local artisans who are just as passionate about what they do as we are.”

Avana does more than work with just local artists though. More than 90% of staff are from Thai, Hmong, and Muong villages. Most of the current team lacked education beyond high school and were provided with hospitality training, sustainable development education, and English lessons, as well as given health insurance, professional working conditions, promotion prospects, and additional job training for continual development.

The property’s design was created with direct input from local people. Hmong techniques were used to make the earth walls and the Thai people weaved the roofs of the villas, restaurants, and spa, in their traditional style. The artistic traditions of the region are ever present throughout Avana, from the hundreds of individually crafted lanterns lining pathways and within the rooms and public spaces, to the Batik artwork adorning the walls.

Going organic inside and out

Earlier this year Avana launched their own natural, pesticide-free garden, where they grow a vast selection of herbs and vegetables that appear on guests’ plates. From chayote to coriander many typical Vietnamese flavors can be found in the new vegetable patch. Also on site is a free-range chicken farm where around 300 chickens enjoy a spacious home, while supplying the kitchen with an abundance of eggs.

Organic essential oils and natural ingredients are used for the soap, shampoo, and conditioner found in the refillable bottles in-room. At the spa, nature is also tapped for the products used with organic extracts from herbs, flowers, and fruit used in massages and facials, as well as in the candle-making workshop available for guests.

“At each stage of developing Avana, we’ve asked ourselves, ‘how can we offer the best to our guests and the community while making sure that we’re doing the best we can for the environment?’,” added Huy. “As we continue to grow in the experiences we offer and the property itself, this idea remains our guiding philosophy.”

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News