The post Eastern Visayas seeks to host next Philippine Dive Experience appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

 

The Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office in the Eastern Visayas expressed an interest in hosting the next run of the Philippine Dive Experience.

Launched in November 2024 in the Southern Luzon province of Batangas, the Philippine Dive Experience aims to boost the country’s diving industry and reinforce its position as one of Southeast Asia’s leading dive destinations.

The event draws inspiration from the DOT’s flagship program The Philippine Experience, but is angled to present Philippine diving as a unique and purposeful experience by incorporating heritage and conservation activities. 

Southern delights in the sea

In an interview on Wednesday, 8th January, DOT regional director Karina Rosa Tiopes said that the Eastern Visayas region offers international divers an extensive range of interesting sites to explore.

Foremost is Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte province which offers 30 diving destinations that stretches from its coastal waters to the islands of Panaoan and Limasawa.

Sogod Bay is an undiscovered diver’s paradise that offers shore dives to world-class muck diving, pristine coral walls for macro photography diving and night dives.

The bay is home to around 150 species of hard coral, hawksbill and green turtles, butterfly fish, groupers, sweetlips, rays, as well a host of colourful fish species including nudibranchs, sea slugs, sharks, and whale sharks.

Getting ready

To prepare for the Philippine Dive Experience, Tiopes said they will be planning activities for dive tours and initiate conversations among locals to promote the benefit of diving to the communities and in the protection of marine environment.

Tiopes suggested: “We could also do some activities like coral restoration because we know that their diving sites were affected by Typhoon Odette and they need our help to restore the damaged corals.”

Aside from showcasing the beauty of Sogod Bay, hosting the Philippine Dive Experience will also help promote the region’s culture and cuisine for tourists to understand and relate to the richness of Eastern Visayas heritage.

An opportunity for the hospitality sector

Tiopes is also optimistic that hosting the Philippine Dive Experience will be an opportunity to encourage hotels and resort business to cater to the needs of divers.

She said: “Right now, our players in the diving industry in Southern Leyte have a limit when it comes to accepting guests because of the limited number of accommodation facilities. By hosting this event, we want to achieve the increase of dive facilities and accommodation facilities to address the needs of divers that visit us.”

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The post SITA renews and boosts support for Airport Council International World’s leadership training programme appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Aviation tech provider SITA has renewed and even strengthened its long-term support for the Airports Council International (ACI) World’s training and leadership programme for airport executives, the ACI-International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Airport Management Professional Accreditation Programme (AMPAP). 

SITA’s increased support of AMPAP will allow ACI and ICAO to deliver more training in the next three years, offering collaborative solutions to airport executives. 

These efforts will play a crucial role in developing a skilled, sustainable aviation workforce, addressing the evolving demands of the industry, and ensuring its long-term success in a rapidly changing world. 

ACI World director-general Justin Erbacci said: “SITA’s continued support of the sector’s leading training and leadership program underscores the ongoing importance of AMPAP to the global airport community and the critical role of technology in improving airport operations and streamlining the passenger journey. AMPAP is essential to aviation’s future and SITA’s strengthened partnership will allow us to deliver more courses in the years ahead. By continuously building and refining the skill sets of airport managers, we are equipping ourselves to navigate a dynamic and ever-evolving industry.”

SITA senior vice-president of airports Nathalie Altwegg added: “Our industry needs to continue to develop and evolve if it is to deliver our long-term goals for growth and sustainability going forward, with technological solutions at the heart of its transformation. This training programme equips executives with the skills they need to meet the ever-evolving demands for more efficient, effective and environmentally sustainable airport business and operations in an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing world.”

ICAO secretary-general Juan Carlos Salazar likewise remarked: “SITA’s strengthened support for the ACI-ICAO AMPAP program will help ensure that airport executives worldwide are equipped with knowledge and skills as sustainability imperatives and unprecedented levels of technological and operational innovation dramatically transform the industry.”

A programme for aviation leadership

AMPAP is the leading executive development program for airport managers worldwide that promotes the adherence to the highest professional standards, covering all functional areas of the airport business.  

It encompasses ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs), international regulations and ACI best practices, enhances airport efficiency, promotes innovation and sustainability, and incorporates new technologies such as advanced air mobility systems. 

Over 1,300 students have graduated from AMPAP since the program’s inception in 2007, including close to 50 new graduates in 2024, celebrated at the AMPAP Graduation Ceremony that took place at the ACI World Customer Experience Summit and Exhibition, in Atlanta in September. Many AMPAP graduates go on to top leadership positions at their airports and organizations.

AMPAP graduates earn the International Airport Professional (IAP) designation or the AMPAP Associate diploma, recognizing an individual’s excellence in airport management and proficiency in applying ACI best practices and ICAO SARPs.

Upcoming training sessions in early 2025 will be held in Turks & Caicos, Abu Dhabi, Lagos, Perth, Santo Domingo (Spanish), to be followed by locations in Europe and Canada.

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The post Alton Aviation Consultancy reports record growth in 2024 appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Alton Aviation Consultancy reports another year of record growth in 2024 and looks forward to meeting the rising demand for high-quality aviation consulting services for this year.

Alton’s advisory work continued to grow across all key segments of the aviation value chain to include airline and lessor fleet strategy, restructuring, M&A due diligence, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) strategic planning, and in the airports and business and general aviation (BGA) sectors. 

In 2024, the firm successfully completed approximately 200 engagements for more than 100 clients, with around two-thirds of the business being from clients that have engaged the firm in prior years.

Managing director Adam Cowburn said: “2024 served to further validate Alton’s value proposition for serving our clients – deep aviation industry domain expertise paired with strong in-region market insights efficiently delivered to meet challenging transaction and strategic project deadlines.”

Cowburn added that the consultancy anticipates a more favourable economic environment for M&A transactions which should provide additional opportunities to demonstrate its unique capabilities to customers.

For his part, managing director John Mowry added: “As the on-going aviation supply chain challenges continue to negatively impact industry stakeholders, Alton has been pleased with the positive feedback received from the growing number of new clients that have benefited from the unparalleled experience of Alton’s professional team of advisors.”

Key engagements in 2024

• Provided numerous M&A advisory support engagements to many of the world’s leading private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, and other aviation industry investors for transactions involving aircraft lessors, passenger and cargo airlines, aerospace suppliers, MROs, ground handling businesses, and other service providers
• Served as aviation industry advisor to the unsecured creditors in connection with the Chapter 11 restructuring of major European and South American airlines
• Provided fleet planning and related advisory services to airlines in Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and the Middle East
• Successfully led the strategic sourcing for a fleet of new narrowbody aircraft through the aircraft leasing channel, along with a long-term engine maintenance services agreement
• Performed buy-side advisory support on aircraft and engine leasing transactions valued in excess of US$7 billion
• Continued our multi-year role as the trusted strategic advisor to a leading Middle Eastern MRO supplier, achieving a 35% increase in productivity and the quadrupling of annual revenues (within the same hangar facility footprint)
• Advised investors, new market entrants, and existing aviation industry players on strategic matters across the BGA industry value chain, including FBOs, aircraft management, charter providers, MROs, trip support, and other players
• Provided strategic counsel to a number of the world’s largest and best-regarded airports, and also to investors in complex airport transactions
• Continued a long-term engagement with a diversified energy company to develop and execute its aviation fuel supply chain growth strategy

Active philanthropy 

In 2024, Alton continued to make a positive impact on global and local communities through its commitment to Pledge 1%, the philanthropic movement in which the firm donates one percent of its revenue and volunteers one percent of its time. 

The firm remains a platinum-level sponsor of Airlink Inc, which continues to respond to areas hit by natural disasters and humanitarian crises in global conflict zones.

Additionally, Alton became a gold-level sponsor of the ISTAT Foundation which supports individuals and institutions that promote the advancement of commercial aviation and humanitarianism through scholarships, internships, grants, and education. 

Furthermore, Alton’s employees selected and volunteered their personal time to numerous charitable organizations in the communities in which they live, in addition to providing substantial financial contributions.

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The post IATA November air cargo demand report shows 16th straight month of growth appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released its air cargo demand report for November 2024, showing sustained growth throughout a 16-month period.

Based on findings, total demand in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTK) was up by 8.2 percent compared to November 2023 levels for a 16th consecutive month of growth.

Likewise, capacity in terms of available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTK) rose by 4.6 percent compared to November 2023.

It should also be noted that international routes experienced exceptional traffic levels for the 16th consecutive month with a 9.5 percent year-on-year increase in November. Airlines are benefiting from rising e-commerce demand in the US and Europe amid ongoing capacity limits in ocean shipping.

IATA director-general Willie Walsh said: “It was a good November for air cargo with 8.2 percent demand growth nearly doubling the 4.6 percent growth in cargo capacity. Fuel costs tracked at 22 percent below previous-year levels and tight market conditions supported yield growth at 7.8 percent. All things considered we are looking to close out 2024 air cargo performance on a profitable note. While this strong performance is very likely to extend into 2025, there are some downside risks that must be carefully watched. These include inflation, geopolitical uncertainties and trade tensions.”

Factors considered for the November 2024 report

• Year-on-year, industrial production rose 2.1 percent in October. Global goods trade grew for a seventh consecutive month, reporting a 1.6 percent increase.
• The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for global manufacturing output was above the 50-mark for November, indicating growth. However, the PMI for new export orders remained below the 50-mark, suggesting ongoing uncertainty and weakness in global trade.
• US headline inflation, based on the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose by 0.1 percentage points to 2.7 percent in November. In the same month, the inflation rate in the EU increased by 0.2 percentage points to 2.5 percent. China’s consumer inflation fell to 0.2 percent in November, continuing concerns of an economic slowdown.

Regional performance in November 2024

Asia-Pacific airlines saw 13.2 percent year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in November, the strongest growth among the regions. Capacity increased by 9.4 percent year-on-year.

North American carriers saw 6.9 percent year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in November. Capacity increased by 2.2 percent year-on-year.

European carriers saw 5.6 percent year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in November. Capacity increased 4.3 percent year-on-year.

Middle Eastern carriers saw 3.6 percent year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in November. Capacity decreased by 0.6 percent year-on-year.

Latin American carriers saw 11.6 percent year-on-year demand growth for air cargo in November. Capacity increased 6.4 percent year-on-year.

African airlines saw a 0.7 percent year-on-year decrease in demand for air cargo in November, the slowest among regions. Capacity increased by 0.4 percent year-on-year.

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The post Thomas B Meier appointed as Jumeirah’s new chief executive appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

 

Luxury hospitality firm Jumeirah announced the appointment of Thomas B Meier as its new chief executive officer on Thursday, 9th January.

As Jumeirah’s new CEO, Meier will spearhead Jumeirah’s bold plans to double its portfolio by 2030, focusing on international expansion and solidifying its position as a global leader in luxury hospitality. 

Under his leadership, Jumeirah aims to continue setting new standards for the industry, building on its strong legacy and reinforcing its commitment to deliver enriching guest experiences rooted in culture and connection.

With his extensive industry experience, he was instrumental in guiding Jumeirah through several important milestones and will now lead the next stage of the Brand’s sustainable growth under its Mission 2030 strategy.

Commenting on his appointment, Meier said: “Jumeirah has always set new benchmarks in luxury hospitality, consistently delivering extraordinary guest experiences. As we gear up for the opening of Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab and continue to expand into new markets, I am honoured to lead Jumeirah’s next chapter. With bold ambitions, Jumeirah will continue to innovate, staying ahead of industry trends and exceeding the ever-evolving expectations of the most discerning guests. Our vision is to establish Jumeirah as one of the foremost influential hospitality brands worldwide.”

A stellar resume

Prior to this latest appointment, Meier served as Jumeirah’s chief operating officer from October 2021 and most recently held the post of interim CEO. 

Throughout 2024, he led the company through several milestone achievements, including Jumeirah’s entry into Africa with the launch of Jumeirah Thanda Island in Tanzania and Jumeirah Thanda Safari in South Africa as well as other upcoming launches, while also strengthening the leadership team with several senior appointments. 

With a distinguished career spanning several decades, Thomas has also led operations and global expansion for renowned brands, including Raffles. 

Recent developments

In line with its global expansion vision, Jumeirah recently unveiled several high-profile properties, including the two new iconic destinations in Africa; Jumeirah Red Sea in Saudi Arabia; Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab in the United Arab Emirates and Jumeirah Le Richemond Geneva in Switzerland. 

Today, Jumeirah operates a portfolio of 30 properties across the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia. 

The brand is actively pursuing owner and operator opportunities in major gateway cities and resort destinations worldwide, further strengthening its position as a leader in the global luxury hospitality sector.

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The post Elite Havens offers extensive options to make 2025 your year of travel appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

While the holidays have wound down, luxury villa rental and management provider Elite Havens offers travellers the opportunity to save as they satisfy their wanderlust in 2025.

Those booking a luxury villa in advance via Elite Havens in advance may enjoy up to 15 percent off, along with numerous perks to make their trips enjoyably memorable. 

Booking ahead also reduces stressful last-minute planning, enabling travellers to slow  down and embrace a thoughtfully curated itinerary, whether it’s a romantic getaway, a  multi-generational family gathering, or just celebrating one of life’s special moments with  the ones they love. 

It also gives travellers more time to familiarise themselves with the destination and  make that elusive reservation at a restaurant that you have been dreaming about or catch a local cultural festival that only happens once a year. 

Imagine staying in a luxury private villa with either an ocean view or a lush mountain  backdrop and have attentive staff taking care of your every need. 

No crowded pools, no unruly kids save perhaps for your own, no exorbitant hotel prices: just a perfectly curated  holiday that you and your loved ones will talk about for years to come.  

Browse Elite Havens portfolio of almost 250 luxury villas and chalets throughout Thailand,  Indonesia and Japan and start dreaming of an exceptional holiday now. 

Properties to consider in 2025

Villa Dhanika – Canggu, Bali 

A soothing green vista of rice paddies awaits at six-bedroom Villa Dhanika, tucked away  at the end of a peaceful lane in the vibrant district of Canggu, Bali. 

Newly built in 2024, no details have been spared in this luxuriously appointed modern villa. 

Expansive living areas and guest bedrooms are spread over three double-storey pavilions, with a stunning master bedroom pavilion at the end of the property opening directly onto the jacuzzi and pool. 

The Olympic-sized pool is equally inviting for swimming laps or long, lazy afternoons,  luxuriating in the views and the sense of space. 

A poolside cabana provides ample shade from the mid-day sun and makes a lovely spot to enjoy your tropical breakfast; as does  the picturesque bougainvillea-fringed rooftop terrace, where you will often catch a glimpse of Bali’s chain of volcanoes in the early morning light. 

Villa Dhanika’s tranquil setting belies its central location, and is within walking distance of  boutiques, concept stores, art markets and cafes. 

Batu Bolong Beach, renowned for its  surf and sunset scene, is just 1.5 kilometres away.  

Casa Alma – Phuket, Thailand 

Casa Alma is a luxurious, modern villa located at the jungle-clad southeastern tip of  Phuket. 

Showcasing stunning views of the turquoise hues of the Andaman Sea and the  outlying islands, the villa is the ideal spot to admire Phuket’s epic sunrises and sunsets. 

Nestled into the hillside and surrounded by untouched nature, this spectacular four bedroom villa offers expansive open-plan spaces for comfortable indoor and outdoor  living. 

The two upper levels of the villa feature breezy terraces overlooking the 17-metre wide saltwater infinity pool while the ground floor of the villa has a convenient semi outdoor kitchen, pool bar and lounge area perfect for gathering and relaxing. 

Four spacious and well-designed ensuite bathrooms, comfortable living areas and  modern kitchens are all tastefully designed in a contemporary style with unique Asian  accents such as vibrant wall paintings and vintage wooden Chinese doors and shutters.

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The post WeTravel and Fieldbook launch a free ‘Mastering Tour Operations’ course appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

 

WeTravel, the operating system for multi-day, group travel businesses, and Fieldbook launched in the WeTravel Academy a free, self-driven course Mastering Tour Operations: Your Guide to Building a World-Class Tour Business. 

Operational efficiency has become a top priority for tour operators striving to meet rising customer expectations and navigating global market and operational changes. Customer satisfaction is increasingly tied to the behind-the-scenes efficiency of tour operations; late departures, booking errors, and miscommunications not only hurt reputations but also cut into margins. This course, lectured by Jeff Kwok, co-founder of Fieldbook, directly addresses these issues, empowering tour operators to deliver memorable experiences while improving profitability.

“Managing tour operations is complex, from coordinating suppliers to tracking and managing bookings to meeting traveler demands both pre- and post-departure,” said Ted Clements, WeTravel’s CEO. “In conversations with the thousands of operators that use WeTravel every day to handle the complexity of managing their operations, we know the importance of mastering your operations. In partnering with Fieldbook on this course, we want to further provide operators with actionable frameworks to not only stay competitive but thrive in this fast-changing industry.”

Addressing Critical Industry Challenges

With travel demand surging beyond pre-pandemic levels, the stakes for delivering seamless tour experiences are higher than ever. The course is designed to help operators tackle:

• Operational Scalability: Meeting the demands of growing tour volumes without compromising quality.
• Complex Logistics: Streamlining multi-day, multi-destination itineraries to reduce errors and delays.
• Resource Management: Optimizing technology, teams, and supplier relationships for greater efficiency.

What’s Inside the Course

Participants will gain practical skills through lessons focused on:

• Overcoming operational roadblocks to enhance efficiency.
• Mastering the Six Pillars of Effective Tour Operations, a proven framework for operational excellence.
• Mapping and improving existing workflows with tools like the Tour Operating Model Canvas.
• Crafting a clear roadmap to implement scalable systems aligned with long-term business goals.

“Planning, organizing, and delivering unforgettable tours takes a tremendous amount of time and effort,” said Jeff Kwok, Co-founder and CEO of Fieldbook. “That’s why we’ve partnered with WeTravel on this course—to help tour operators overcome the operational challenges they face every day. It offers practical frameworks and real-world examples from leading tour businesses to help operators optimize operations and deliver tours more efficiently.”

Travel professionals can enroll for free in Mastering Tour Operations: Your Guide to Building a World-Class Tour Business now on the WeTravel Academy platform. The course offers on-demand access, making it convenient for travel professionals to learn and implement at their own pace.

 

 

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The post Travelodge leases hotel at London Bromley Mall appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

 

Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel brand, which operates over 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, has agreed to acquire the former Ibis hotel at The Bromley Mall in Bromley town centre, South East London. 

Travelodge has agreed a 25-year lease with the building owner and will begin refitting the 59-room hotel this month, with a target of opening the hotel for business by Easter 2025.

Steve Bennett, Chief Property and Development Officer, comments: “Travelodge is delighted to continue the expansion of our network of hotels throughout London. We  have entered into a 25-year lease to operate this new hotel in Bromley, which we are certain will be a fantastic addition to our portfolio.

“Whilst we already operate 82 Travelodge hotels in London, many of the London Boroughs have very few branded budget hotels and there are lots of locations with high demand for great value, good quality accommodation. So, London remains a key focus for our UK development team and we are actively seeking suitable hotel opportunities across the capital, with over 100 locations on our London target requirement list.

“We are open to a range of development types, such as office conversions, acquisitions of going concerns and forward funded new developments, and are keen to explore all available opportunities.”

Travelodge already operates 82 hotels and over 10,000 rooms in the London Boroughs and the chain continues to expand across the Capital. Travelodge recently acquired an office building in St Paul’s, for conversion into a 95-room hotel subject to planning permission, in the Group’s first freehold acquisition for conversion, and has also recently exchanged contracts to open a new hotel in Upminster, London, with construction having started to transform a town centre site into a new, 82-room hotel.

In addition, there are a further three Travelodge hotels under construction in London, at Beckenham, Chiswick and Stratford. The Group is actively seeking further development opportunities within the M25, ranging from office conversions and new build developments to going concerns and Local Authority deals.

 

 

 

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