The post Crimson Hotel Filinvest City gets illuminated for the Season of Hope appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Manila ushered in the Holiday Season when it switched on the lights at this year’s Tree Lighting Ceremony held recently at the hotel lobby in the southern Manila suburb of Alabang.

The epitome of contemporary comfort in the south of Manila decked its halls with glittering decorations that revolved around this year’s theme Take Me to Christmas, Take Me to Crimson. 

The festive tree itself was festooned with a variety of ornaments that called to mind old-fashioned hot-air balloons soaring into the skies, bearing in them the heartfelt wishes of children of all ages.

A home for the Holidays

According to hotel general manager Arlene Tongco: “Why choose Crimson for your Christmas celebration? There’s the experience itself: here, the holidays are about more than just decorations, [as] they’re about creating memories that bring loved ones closer together. Whether you’re enjoying a festive escape in the city, planning a lively family gathering, or simply unwinding with seasonal food and beverage treats, we’re here to make every moment feel special.”

To begin the celebration, Tongco was joined at the foot of Crimson’s tree by Ivannovich Agote of Department of Tourism, Chroma Hospitality vice-president of operations Ria Sarrosa, councilor Allen Ampaya of Muntinlupa City, Filinvest Alabang Inc president Catherine Ilagan, and Santa Claus himself who made a surprise appearance at the event.

Letters of hope

This year, guests can travel the world for the Holidays at Crimson as the hotel connects them with friends and loved ones far and near with decorations that call to mind the spirit of adventure and the Great Escape.

The gallery on the eighth-floor lobby has been transformed into a sweet Journey to Joy wonderland where every corner is filled with festive cheer and thoughtful details that bring the season’s joy to life. 

Plus, for those yearning for something special and magical for the Holidays, they shouldn’t miss Santa’s Mailbox at Crimson. 

Here, one can send off their heart’s wishes and let a little holiday magic work its charm.

Santa’s Mailbox, according to Tongco, also has a significant meaning at Crimson for this year’s Holidays as it is tied up with the hotel’s beneficiary for 2024. 

Tongco said: “We’re making this season even more meaningful through our partnerships. With Letters of Hope in collaboration with SOS Children’s Foundation, let’s all work together to make holiday wishes come true by supporting children with the essentials they need.  Through our partnership with the Philippine Institute for the Deaf, we’re also opening up new internship opportunities, giving these young people valuable work experience here at Crimson.”

Music and magic

Aside from the tree lighting itself, attendees heard all about the amazing lineup of activities slated to happen at Crimson for Christmas and the New Year.

These included bountiful feasts to share with family and friends, as well as the colorful salute to the New Year, Pop of Color, which ushers in 2025 on the evening of 31st December.

While guests enjoyed an excellent grazing buffet, the angelic voices of the De La Salle-Zobel Chorale and a special performance by the Philippine Institute for the Deaf rang through the lobby, warming the hearts of listeners with both old and new songs for the Season of Hope.

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The post Hong Kong designates ITE Hong Kong and MICE Travel Expo 2025 as mega event appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

The Hong Kong Special Autonomous Region (SAR) government has designated the ITE Hong Kong and MICE Travel Expo 2025 as one of the territory’s mega events for the first half of 2025.

Mega events are defined as gatherings that could have significant impact on a number of business sectors.

For the most part, these are events that spur growth in the fields of tourism, hospitality, and retail, bringing substantial economic gain to Hong Kong.

Over the years, such events have drawn in a significant number of tourists, contributing substantially to the territory’s gross domestic product (GDP.)

Back on track

Hosting a live edition of the ITE was a problematic undertaking at the height of the pandemic and even the first held in 2021 was a shaky affair.

Since then, organisers have held the live event annually, opening its doors to both domestic and international exhibitors.

The 2023 run of the ITE was the first time that regional buyers and trade professionals returned to the event, while the one held this year came close to returning to the number of participants and halls seen prior to the pandemic.

For 2024, the number of trade and public visitors were already at 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

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The post China’s visa-free policy seen as olive branch to Japan appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Chinese authorities announced on Friday, 22nd November, the expansion of China’s roster of countries allowed visa-free entry.

This most recent expansion includes Japan and eight other nations, enabling their passport holders to enter and stay in China sans visa for up to 30 days.

The policy takes effect on 30th November 2024 and will be in place until 31st December 2025.

On November 22, Chinese authorities announced an expansion of the nation’s visa-free list, granting a 30-day visa waiver to visitors from nine countries including Japan. This policy will take effect from November 30, 2024, and last until December 31, 2025.

This is seen as a response to widespread calls issued by various sectors earlier this year for the resumption of visa-free entry to China for Japanese nationals.

A direct response

Back in January of this year, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs remarked on how it looked forward to working with the Japanese government to enhance mutual convenience for personnel exchanges.

At the time the remark was made, the countries were in talks regarding a reciprocity principle that would leave Japanese officials in an awkward position.

Since then, Japan has worked to simplify visa application procedures for Chinese nationals seeking to enter the country.

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The post Eurail launches “Journeys that make a difference” campaign appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

As an alternative to Black Friday, Eurail is launching their “Journeys that make a difference” campaign for a second year, encouraging travellers to slow down, savour their journeys and advocate for the meaningful impact travel can have on people and the planet. 

For every Pass* purchased from November 26 to December 17, 2024, Eurail will donate €5 to Intrepid Travel’s non-profit, The Intrepid Foundation, with a maximum donation of €100,000. Alongside Eurail’s contribution, travellers will also be invited to make an additional donation of their own to support organisations dedicated to creating positive change in communities across Europe.

Travel has the power to fundamentally shape our perspective and leave long-lasting impressions. Eurail believes the benefits of travel can go both ways, enriching both the traveller and the destinations they encounter.

The partnership between Eurail and The Intrepid Foundation highlights their natural alignment of values, to empower travellers to make a positive contribution to the places they visit, experiencing the joy of travel, community, and connection along the way.

With conscious travel at the campaign’s core, Eurail is encouraging travellers to join them in making an extra donation directly to The Intrepid Foundation after saving 25% on their Passes. In 2024, donations will benefit organisations such as:

• Cooperativa Coraggio, promotes sustainable agriculture in Italy
• Humana Zagreb, champions sustainable fashion in Croatia
• ReFOOD, addresses the food waste crisis
• Open Arms, aims to protect people fleeing their homes via sea to Europe

In 2023, Eurail gave back to these organisations and others, successfully achieving their donation goal in support of The Intrepid Foundation. The generosity of Eurail’s community of travellers and partners has enabled several impactful initiatives to be implemented by the organisations this year.

Since last year…

Cooperativa Coraggio has procured climate-smart agriculture tools to maintain public lands, organised awareness events on land regeneration and sustainable food production, and supported employment for a vulnerable worker. Humana Zagreb has launched two educational programs and engaged 100 children across 13 schools with workshops, lectures and practical reuse activities. ReFOOD has continued to be entirely volunteer-run as they have facilitated the rescue of 113,572 high-quality meals and prevented 56,786 kilos of bio residues from degrading the shared environment.

Eurail and Intrepid Travel believe that by giving back and advocating for conscious travel – taking the train, choosing lesser-visited destinations, exploring during the off-season and beyond – everyone has the power to positively impact the places they visit and people they meet along the way. Together, our journeys will make a difference – for both individual travellers and the world.

* The 25% off promotion will run from November 26 until December 17 2024 and is applicable for select Interrail and Eurail Passes.

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The post New Taipei City ushers in the holidays with Christmasland 2024 appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

New Taipei City ushered in the holidays with the Magical Christmasland Opening Event on 15th November.

City mayor Hou Yu-Ih, together with key officials and guests, led the ceremonial lighting of the attraction, infusing the festivities with a touch of magic. 

This year’s Christmasland introduces a spectacular transformation: the Christmas tree takes the form of a graceful magical angel, casting radiant light throughout the venue. 

Surrounded by dazzling illuminations, the angel’s brilliance creates an enchanting atmosphere of joy and blessings. 

A castle of wonder

Adding to the marvel, an eight-story-high LED castle debuts on the north side of New Taipei City Plaza, serving as both the main stage for performances and an immersive visual showcase that will captivate visitors over 48 days of festivities.

Making its debut at the lighting ceremony, the LED castle’s main show features new magical characters: the Magic Sage, Soul Healer, Sacred Shield Guardian, and Elemental Explorer. 

Each character wields unique magical abilities to help those facing challenges around the world, embodying the spirit of Christmas harmony and happiness. 

Also among the highlights are the Magic Angel and Santa Claus who go on a whimsical adventure filled with wonder and fun. 

Likewise, the Christmas-themed glowing parade shuttle, led by Santa Claus aboard a reindeer train, will make surprise appearances around New Taipei City Plaza’s The City of Magic and Banqiao Station Square’s Magical Paradise. 

Spreading joy and festive cheer, these charming processions are sure to delight visitors of all ages.

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The post Emirates to deploy its A350 to Edinburgh on 3 January appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Emirates has announced it will bring forward its daily A350 scheduled service to Edinburgh starting from 3 January 2025. The advancement of the scheduled service reinforces Emirates’ commitment to providing customers with enhanced travel experiences and greater comfort onboard.

The Emirates A350 will be rolled out to 8 other destinations including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kuwait, Bahrain, Colombo, Lyon, Muscat and Bologna, with more destinations to follow.

Emirates flight EK 23 will depart Dubai at 14:50hrs and arrive in Edinburgh at 19:05hrs, local time. The return flight, EK24, will depart Edinburgh at 20:40hrs and arrive in Dubai at 08:05hrs, the following day.

The airline also currently serves Glasgow with a daily A380 – offering customers 14 weekly flights to/from Scotland.  Including Edinburgh, Emirates serves eight destinations in the UK.

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The post Ras Al Khaimah is the world’s top city for expatriates appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media.

Ras Al Khaimah has achieved a significant milestone in its journey to becoming a leading global destination to live, work and explore, by securing the top position in a survey of the world’s best expat destinations, conducted by InterNations, the largest global expatriate network.

The Emirate secured the world’s number one spot out of 53 cities in the Expat Essentials Index, conducted annually by InterNations as part of their 2024 Expat Insider report. The Index is based on four categories: Admin (how easy it is to get a visa, deal with local bureaucracy, open a bank account); Housing (affordability of housing, ease of finding accommodation); Digital Life (availability of government services online, high-speed internet); and Language (how easy it is to integrate without speaking the local language).

This international recognition highlights Ras Al Khaimah’s commitment to creating an exceptional living and working environment for its diverse and growing expat community, in line with the strategic vision of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

Ras Al Khaimah ranked top in the overall Index and also ranked highly for Working Abroad, where the Emirate came second, in addition to ranking 5^th for Ease of Settling In.

Heba Fatani, Director General of Ras Al Khaimah Government Media Office (RAKGMO), stated: “This achievement reflects our dedication to creating a safe, welcoming and thriving community that attracts individuals from all around the world. Ras Al Khaimah’s unique blend of modern infrastructure, spectacular natural environment, rich history and culture, and thriving business and tourism landscapes contribute to its reputation as a leading global destination for expatriates wishing to live and work, establish or manage businesses here.

“In line with this commitment, RAKGMO recently launched Heart of RAK, a comprehensive online platform dedicated to showcasing all aspects of life in the Emirate.”

RAKGMO’s Head of Special Projects, Rouba Zeidan, who leads livability initiatives, added: “Earning the top ranking in this global survey is a testament to the  vibrant community spirit and the collaborative efforts of both public and private sectors to enhance Ras Al Khaimah’s appeal-not only as a premier international business hub, but as a place where individuals and families truly feel at home, thrive and belong.

“Hearing that those who chose to move to Ras Al Khaimah genuinely feel at home is the greatest affirmation of its welcoming nature and beauty. We are continually innovating to meet the evolving needs of our dynamic and growing communities.”

Earning the top ranking in the InterNations 2024 Expat Essentials Index, Ras Al Khaimah is a city where almost three in four respondents say it is easy to find housing: 72% (vs. 45% globally); and when it came to the housing market, local bureaucracy and the language barrier prior to relocating, 69% of respondents did not believe there to be any concerns in these matters in Ras Al Khaimah, compared to 29% globally.

InterNations’s global expat community includes more than 5.4 million members in 420 cities and 166 countries.

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