Tag Archive for: Booking

Gold Medal award trophies to their outstanding partners

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Dnata Travel Group UK’s flagship B2B brand, Gold Medal, and their specialist brands Pure Luxury, Cruise Plus and Incredible Journeys have been exceptionally busy visiting 34 travel agents across the UK in March, presenting them with the brand’s newly launched recognition award, that they have named The Outstanding Partner Award (TOP).

TOP Awards were delivered in person across the month of March by members of the Gold Medal leadership team and Trade Partnerships managers.
Agents awarded a trophy achieved exceptional revenue with their brands, attended events, engaged in incentives, webinars and training, and overall enhanced both their relationship with and support for Gold Medal and its sister brands throughout 2024.

Simon Applebaum shared, “We have introduced the TOP Awards this year to recognise some of our top performing agents. It represents a huge “well done” and a heartfelt “thank you” from all of us here at Gold Medal. Their dedication to exceeding their customers’ expectations, commitment to excellence and passion for travel are just a few things that make them an amazing travel agency and a pleasure to work with – a truly Outstanding Partner.”

Marie Leach, Head of Sales & Business Development at Althams Travel shared, “We are really pleased to have been honoured with this prestigious award from Gold Medal. Our longstanding partnership with Gold Medal has allowed us to build a positive working relationship, extending from branch level to director level. The outstanding services offered by their reservations, aftersales, and trade teams are precisely why we will continue to use them for our customers’ travel plans. We look forward to continuing this successful partnership for many more years.”

The travel agents who received a TOP Award include Advantage Managed Services; Althams Travel; Aquillium Travel; Barrhead Travel; Bryton Travel; Designer Travel; Elite Travel Boutique’ Explorer Travel; Fred. Olsen Travel; Freedom Travel Longton; Global Travel Stockport; Great Rail Journeys; Hays Personal Travel Consultants; Independent Travel Experts; Intele Travel; La Vida Travel; Market Place Travel; Miles Morgan Travel; Millington’s Travel; Not Just Travel; Polka Dot Travel; Premier Travel; Rayburn Tours; Select Schools Travel; Spear Travel; The Departure Lounge; The Luxury Travel Society; The Personal Travel Agents (MCCT); The Travel Village; Travel The Globe; TUI; Vertical Travel Group; Walt Disney Travel Company and Worldchoice Plus Owned.

 

 

 

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Accor partners with  InterGlobe 

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The objective is to create India’s fastest-growing hospitality business with an ambitious network target of 300 hotels under Accor’s brands by 2030.  In a groundbreaking move set to transform India’s hospitality landscape, Accor, a global hospitality leader, and InterGlobe, India’s foremost travel conglomerate, announced today the strengthening of their partnership to create India’s fastest-growing Hospitality Enterprise – offering an unmatched network, a portfolio of brands and distribution across all market segments. With the ambition of capturing India’s booming hospitality market and combining the strengths of global leaders across the industry, the new platform will target a network of 300 hotels under Accor brands by 2030.

Sébastien Bazin, Chairman & CEO of Accor said: “This landmark partnership marks a transformative moment for Accor and its brands in India. By aligning with our long-term successful and trusted partner InterGlobe and bringing together the best of hospitality, tech and entrepreneurship in India, we are unlocking unprecedented growth potential in one of the world’s most exciting travel markets”.

Rahul Bhatia, Group Managing Director, InterGlobe Enterprises added: At InterGlobe, we have always believed in our commitment to building meaningful and enduring relationships with both our partners and the guests we serve. Today, I am delighted to further strengthen our two-decade long association with Accor through this strategic partnership. Together with InterGlobe’s deep market insights, Accor’s world-class services, India’s dynamic growth and evolving travel landscape, we aim to redefine the hospitality experience by offering exceptional value to our guests and setting new standards for excellence in the industry.”

A strategic alliance built on strength

This landmark partnership combines the unique strengths of each stakeholder:

  • Accor, a leading global hospitality group, has established an impressive presence in India over the last many years, and currently operates 71 hotels in the country with 40 more in development, spanning from economy to luxury brands. Through this alliance, Accor will significantly expand its footprint and streamline operations, deepening its commitment to solid growth in the Indian market across all segments from economy to lifestyle and luxury.
  • InterGlobe, a leading Indian conglomerate, brings its unparalleled expertise in travel and hospitality, coupled with a proven entrepreneurial track record in aviation (IndiGo), hotels (in India and Internationally), airline management, logistics, travel and AI enabled technology. InterGlobe is the largest stakeholder of IndiGo, India’s largest airline with over 400 aircraft serving over 130 destinations with more than 2200 daily flights, carrying over 118 million passengers in FY 25. It is one of the most valued airlines globally in terms of market capitalization.

Unleashing india’s hospitality potential

  • With an economy growing at an estimated ~7 % GDP rate and a population of 1.4 billion, India is on track to become the world’s fifth-largest outbound travel market and third-largest domestic travel market by 2027. A rapidly emerging middle class, improved infrastructure, and increased air connectivity have fueled an unprecedented boom in domestic tourism and international travel, notably into the Middle East and Asia Pacific, where Accor is the leading hotel operator.
  • India’s hotel industry remains highly fragmented, presenting a major opportunity for organized, branded players. By strengthening its long-lasting strategic partnership with InterGlobe, Accor aims to unlock India’s full hospitality potential, leading the transformation of the sector while catering to Indian travelers both domestically and globally.

A bold expansion strategy

This strategic collaboration between Accor and InterGlobe is structured around the following key initiatives:

Creating a hospitality powerhouse covering all segments

  • Accor and InterGlobe will bring together their currently owned assets, development and management businesses in the country to form one autonomous, integrated platform.
  • This new entity will become the exclusive vehicle for growing all Accor brands in India, including luxury and lifestyle brands from Ennismore, Accor’s fast-growing hospitality portfolio.
  • Accor will continue to lead operations and brand management and provide full access to its brands and services.

Exclusive partnership with Treebo

  • Treebo, one of India’s leading branded budget hotel platforms, manages 800 hotels across 120 cities through its unique tech-driven approach and efficient distribution systems.  Accor and InterGlobe will jointly invest in and become the largest shareholder in Treebo. Treebo will take the lead to develop the Ibis and Mercure brands in India through a master license agreement.
  • Under this partnership, Treebo reached an agreement with various property owners to sign ten new Mercure’s, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s expansion in India.
  • Accor’s brands will leverage Treebo’s state of the art technology to tap into India’s vast unbranded hotel market and accelerate growth. The combined Accor and Treebo portfolio will create India’s third-largest hospitality player, with over 30,000 rooms.

With a shared vision and a common ambition of transforming India’s hospitality industry, this alliance between InterGlobe and Accor is poised to turbocharge Accor’s presence in India with a target of 300 hotels under the Accor brands by 2030. By combining Accor’s global hospitality expertise, InterGlobe’s deep market knowledge and entrepreneurial approach, and leveraging Treebo’s innovative tech-driven successful hospitality operations, this partnership is poised to redefine the hospitality landscape in India.

 

 

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Birdwatching hailed as a fresh attraction for the northern Philippines

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The Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) has teamed up with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to promote more birdwatching activities in the Northern Philippines.

For both agencies, the act of birdwatching goes beyond leisure as it serves to boost awareness regarding environmental conservation and offers measures for sustainable livelihood for citizens in the Ilocos Region

The departments held their initial joint birdwatching caravan from 4th to 9th April, bringing along around 30 professional and amateur birders, photographers, and enthusiasts to the north.

Participants documented several avian species in their natural habitat throughout the nearly week-long event.

DENR officials also pointed out that, beyond the Ilocos Region, the Philippines has 117 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) covering 32,302 square km. that act as a refuge for as many as 115 globally-threatened species of water birds.

A prime centre for birdwatching

Based on the annual Asian Waterbird Census, the legendary Paoay Lake Natural Park in the Ilocos Region has provided shelter to numerous bird species.

Among those resident in the region are the Little Grebe, Great Egret, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Philippine Duck, Tufted Duck, White-browed Crake, Common Kingfisher, White-collared Kingfisher, White-throated Kingfisher, and the Great Cormorant.

Birders who visited the Kalbario-Patapat Natural Park likewise reported at least 18 bird species, among which were endemic birds like the Common Emerald Dove, Green Imperial Pigeon, Turtle Dove, Scops Owl, Rufous Hornbill, Philippine Forest Kingfisher, Coleto, Woodpecker, Hanging Parakeet, Quail, Labuyo or wild chicken, Brahminy Kite, Tarictic Hornbill, Serpent Eagle, Philippine Hawk Eagle, and Little Crow.

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Radisson Hotel Group crosses the 200 hotels mark in South Asia

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In line with its ambitious growth plan for 2025, Radisson Hotel Group has reached a historic milestone in India with crossing 200 hotels, following the signing of five new hotels. This achievement reflects the Group’s strategic expansion across high growth markets and cements its position as one of India’s largest international hotel operators. The 128 operational hotels (14,209 keys) and 77 properties (8,619 keys) under development is a testament to its scalable business model and owner confidence.

The Group’s growth in India is driven by a strategic focus on quality hospitality and market diversification, aligning with evolving traveler demands. Over the past 14 months, Radisson Hotel Group has signed over 51 hotels in key leisure and metro markets in India.

The recent five new signings are Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Pawna Lake; Radisson Blu Hotel, Lucknow CBD; Radisson Hotel Rajkot and two conversions – St. Marks Hotel, a member of Radisson Individuals in Bangalore CBD and Temple Tree Hotel Shirdi, a member of Radisson Individuals in Shirdi.

“Crossing the 200 hotel market in South Asia is a key milestone in Radisson Hotel Group’s expansion strategy. This achievement reflects not only our strong growth across the region but also the robust trust and confidence from our owners and partners. It underscores the relevance of our brands to our owners and guests. India is one of our key markets in Asia where we will further amplify our growth and create more possibilities and opportunities to our guests, owners, and positively impact the local communities,” said Elie Younes, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Development Officer, Radisson Hotel Group.

“Surpassing the 200-hotel mark is a testament to our strategic focus on high-potential markets and commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality experiences across South Asia. Over the years we have built a strong reputation and credibility in the market amongst investors. As we celebrate this milestone, our focus remains on delivering exceptional hospitality experiences while ensuring our development aligns with the needs of today’s travelers and the future of the industry. With every signing, we bring new job opportunities, support local businesses and contribute to the region’s economic growth,” said Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group.

Over the past three years, Radisson Hotel Group has entered 45 new Indian markets, balancing metro dominance across the country. Today’s achievement follows the strongest year so far in South Asia reinforcing the Group’s position as a trusted hospitality leader and partner.

Radisson Hotel Group continues to command a leading presence in the Indian market and is one of the country’s largest international hotel operators. It continues to be the largest hotel operator in metros like Delhi NCR, while providing dominant presence in domestic markets across the country. RHG has successfully introduced various brands to the growing Indian market, including Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Park Inn by Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn & Suites by Radisson and Radisson Individuals and its extension Radisson Individuals Retreats.

 

 

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Centara Hotels & Resorts announces an exclusive offer as it opens its latest property

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Centara Hotels & Resorts announced an exclusive opening offer for its newest island retreat Centara Villas Phi Phi Island.

From now until 31st May 2025, guests booking stays between opening day on 1st May and 31st October canl enjoy special rates starting from THB 5,500 per night, including daily breakfast for two, a daily resort credit of THB 500, and early check-in and late check-out. 

Guests who book a minimum of three consecutive nights will also receive complimentary round-trip boat transfers from Tonsai Pier. 

In addition, CentaraThe1 members will earn triple points during their stay, while new members can easily sign up for free at the official loyalty programme site to unlock this and more exclusive privileges.

An enchanting location

Nestled amidst the crystal-clear waters of the Andaman Sea, Centara Villas Phi Phi Island is a serene sanctuary that invites guests to indulge in breathtaking sea views and ultimate relaxation with special room rates, added benefits, and more. 

Located a scenic two-hour ferry ride from Phuket, Centara Villas Phi Phi Island is a secluded haven offering an infinity pool, direct access to turquoise waters from the resort deck, as well as rejuvenating treatments at Cense by Spa Cenvaree.

The new property also has several exceptional restaurants and bars, along with an array of activities catering to families, couples, and groups looking to embrace the charm of island living.

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ANA partners with RECARO to introduce new seats

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Elevating passenger comfort and functionality on long-haul international flights, All Nippon Airways (ANA) has partnered with RECARO Aircraft Seating (RECARO) to introduce new seats on Premium Economy and Economy Class international flights. The seats, blending advanced ergonomics with stylish design, will be rolled out on ANA’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft, starting in fiscal 2026.

As Japan’s largest and 5-Star airline for 12 consecutive years, ANA remains dedicated to enhancing passenger comfort and value, and this latest move underscores the airline’s relentless pursuit of innovation and customer satisfaction.

The new seats redefine passenger comfort, especially on long-haul flights. Leveraging the latest ergonomics, comfort features and technology, this model showcases optimized seat pitch and reclining capabilities. They also boast a large, high-performance monitor, ample storage space and convenient USB Type C charging facilities, Bluetooth audio connectivity. It will be introduced sequentially on Boeing 787-9 long-haul international aircraft scheduled to be introduced in fiscal 2026.

“ANA is committed to continually elevating the passenger experience and the new seats represent our ongoing investment in providing customers with greater comfort and convenience on our international flights,” said Tomoji Ishii, Executive Vice President, Customer Experience Management and Planning of ANA. “. We will continue to seek out and implement innovative solutions to enhance every aspect of the passenger journey with ANA.”

With RECARO, a German-based company and renowned leader in aircraft seating, ANA aims to elevate passenger experience with these world-class amenities and services, especially on its Boeing 787-9 fleet.

Premium Economy Class Seat

  • The new Premium Economy Class seat is designed with the latest technology and ergonomics to provide the highest level of comfort and usability.
  • The seat pitch has been increased by 2 inches (approx.5 centimeters) to 40 inches (approx.101 centimeters) – one of the highest in global standards.
  • The new seat reclines 2 inches (approx. 5 centimeters) more than the conventional seat* making the total recline to 9 inches (approx. 23 centimeters) to allow passengers to relax even on long-haul flights.

Economy Class Seat

  • The new Economy Class seats are designed with the latest technology and ergonomics to provide a comfortable seating experience even on long-haul flights.
  • The seat pitch of 33-34 inches (approx. 84~86 centimeters) and the space around the knees has been redesigned to provide an additional 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) of space, which are the largest standard in the economy class.
  • Similar to Premium Economy Class, the seat recline has been increased by 2 inches (approx. 5 centimeters) – 1.5 times the previous seats space for improved comfort. This is one of the world’s highest pitch and amount of recline for an economy class seat.
  • The latest touch-screen monitor has been adopted to reduce weight.

 

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Bound and Beyond and Cloud Collective launch ‘KAIA’

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Bound and Beyond Public Company Limited and Cloud Collective have joined forces to announce the launch of KAIA, a new hospitality brand originating in South East Asia. KAIA comprises a collection of luxury outdoor resorts with tented suites that are designed in dialogue with nature and the local community, encouraging social connection and rooted in conscientious luxury.

KAIA is jointly founded and conceptualised by Bound and Beyond, a prominent Thai-based hospitality investment firm and owner of Four Seasons Hotel at Chao Phraya River and Capella Bangkok, currently named as the ‘World’s Best Hotel’ in the 50 Best Awards 2024, and Cloud Collective, an outdoor hospitality specialist revolutionising light footprint developments underpinned by strong sustainability values. Cloud Collective sets a new global standard in luxury hospitality by seamlessly integrating supply, design, development and operations into a single, cohesive offering, under its portfolio of experiential brands.

KAIA’s first resort will be opening on Koh Phangan island in Thailand in the second half of 2025. KAIA Koh Phangan will be located on the verdant northeastern coast of the island, surrounded by protected national park and just a 30-minute speedboat journey from Koh Samui. The outdoor hospitality brand has considerate global expansion plans as part of its mission to provide meaningful and conscientious hospitality experiences for the modern world, with more resorts to be announced later this year.

“With KAIA, we are redefining luxury by seamlessly blending immersive outdoor hospitality with a deep reverence for nature and local culture. Each resort is thoughtfully designed to foster meaningful connections—between guests, the land, and the community—while upholding the highest standards of sustainability. At Cloud Collective, we are committed to pioneering hospitality concepts that not only set new industry benchmarks but also create lasting value for our guests and the destinations we serve. KAIA embodies this vision, offering a sanctuary where luxury, sustainability, and cultural authenticity converge.” Said Beverly Chen, Co-founder & COO of Cloud Collective, Co-Founder of KAIA

“As demand for transformative travel experiences continues to grow, KAIA represents a bold step forward in luxury hospitality—one that harmonises refined elegance with environmental and social responsibility. As travellers seek more meaningful experiences, we are creating a hospitality model that is deeply rooted in local traditions, craftsmanship, and community. At Bound and Beyond, we believe that true luxury is not just about indulgence—it’s about honouring the spirit of a place and the people who shape it. Through KAIA, we are crafting resorts where guests can immerse themselves in the richness of local heritage while embracing a lighter, more conscious way of travelling.” Stated Kamonwan Wipulakorn, Managing Director of Bound and Beyond Public Company Limited, Co-Founder of KAIA

Laidback Luxury Rooted in Culture and Tradition

KAIA offers guests a gateway to authentic culture and local traditions, offering deeply rooted experiences that have positive social impact in the surrounding community. These include utilising the local skillset, employing and training the community and ensuring supply of local produce and goods as much as possible. Embodying the Thai Jao Baan philosophy, hospitality at KAIA is not just about service—it’s about genuine organic human connection. Inspired by Thailand’s deep-rooted culture of warmth and generosity, KAIA’s team members are more than staff; they are gracious hosts, welcoming guests as if into their own home.

Experiences at KAIA are elevated with an understated sophistication, offering an insight into local culture in an organic and meaningful way. KAIA works closely with the local community to create authentic guided cultural, culinary and wellbeing experiences for its community of guests.

Social Celebration

KAIA embodies a spirit of inclusivity, welcoming a global community of like-minded travellers open to meaningful connections while celebrating local culture and the environment. At KAIA, each resort will offer a communal gathering place to meet and connect as well as a daily programme of group activities designed to foster and encourage connections with each other and nature. Experiences will encourage both a sense of togetherness and a shared stewardship for the land, where guests leave not just with memories, but with a deeper appreciation for nature and community.

Conscientious Design

Conceptualised with Cloud Collective’s expertise in design-led light-footprint development, KAIA is designed in dialogue with nature where simplicity is the ultimate indulgence. Dedicated to responsible practices with mindful design, KAIA is rooted in conscientious luxury, offering its guests barefoot elegance with spaces that breathe and materials that honour the earth. Inspired by traditional Thai craftsmanship, KAIA’s structures embrace natural materials, passive cooling, and open-air living, creating a seamless connection between guests and the environment. All resorts will be single-use plastic free, filter water from the ground for drinking and use biodegradable packaging. As outdoor resorts, KAIA breaks down the traditional use of hospitality spaces, creatively enriching guest experiences with the dynamism of the natural resort.

Culinary Adventure

At KAIA, culinary experiences are a reflection of place, season, and time with menus that shift and evolve on both a seasonal and daily basis depending on what is naturally abundant. The focus is produce-driven, always responsibly sourcing from nearby farms, waters, and forests to ensure that every dish is rooted in the local landscape. Cooking at KAIA revolves around fire—the most primal and instinctive way to cook. Whether it’s charred over an open flame, slow-roasted in embers, or kissed by smoke, every dish carries the depth and warmth of fire. KAIA welcomes a produce-driven concept to its culinary offerings by sourcing from the local landscape, focusing on seasonality and sustainability. Meat and seafood are present on menus, but used with intention, complementing rather than dominating the plate with fruits, vegetables and grains playing a leading role. KAIA prioritises a closed-loop food system, growing and composting as many ingredients as possible on-site. KAIA Koh Phangan is home to its own organic farm and beehive honey production, and works with local fishers and farmers who practice ethical, low-impact farming.

KAIA Koh Phangan

Opening in the second half of 2025, KAIA Koh Phangan is redefining luxury on the lesser-visited Thai island. Discerning travellers are increasingly looking beyond popular islands such as Phuket and KAIA’s neighbouring Koh Samui to seek greater immersion in nature, exclusivity and authenticity. Koh Phangan welcomes breathtaking natural landscapes, pristine beaches, and serene seclusion. Surrounded by protected verdant national forest, KAIA Koh Phangan is the only ultra-luxury beachfront tented resort on the island, offering its guests both exclusivity and direct beach access.

In collaboration with esteemed Thai interior designer, Dao Vichada, KAIA Koh Phangan celebrates an elevated modern take on traditional Thai textiles and weaving techniques throughout its design. As much furniture as possible has been produced with sustainably sourced materials, for example, all floorboards are made from upcycled teak, and rugs from recycled plastics.

 

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dLocal partners with Cloudbeds 

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Representative Image

 

 dLocal, the cross-border payment platform connecting global merchants to emerging markets, has partnered with Cloudbeds, the innovater in hospitality management technology, to streamline payments for thousands of hotels and property managers in Thailand.

“Our strategic partnership with dLocal empowers Thailand’s hospitality sector to overcome payment barriers while focusing on what matters most—exceptional guest experiences. By integrating seamless local and global payment processing into our platform, we’re helping properties transform their operations, improve cash flow, and connect more effectively with travelers worldwide,”said Tony Vardiman, VP of Global Payments & Operations at Cloudbeds.

“Through our partnership with Cloudbeds, we’re simplifying payment processing for businesses in Thailand’s hospitality sector. By enabling local currency settlements and improving payment efficiency, we help streamline operations and support the growth of businesses in emerging markets, allowing them to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving global economy,” said Alberto Bentancur, Head of Growth at dLocal.

Thailand’s hospitality sector is a vital economic driver, with the industry projected to reach USD 1.50 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 5.67% to USD 1.98 billion by 2030. Beyond tourism, many properties struggle with fragmented payment systems and limited local settlement solutions. Outdated infrastructure, manual reconciliation, and high cross-border fees lead to delays in payments and hinder the ability to accept preferred domestic and international payment methods. These challenges create cash flow issues and increase administrative burdens.

By implementing the dLocal Platform solution, Cloudbeds will automate property onboarding, manage ledgers, and settle payments in local currency—eliminating operational friction and improving financial access for thousands of businesses. This partnership allows Thai hotels to easily onboard, process payments on their websites, receive OTAs payments, and accept both local and international credit cards. These streamlined transactions improve the guest experience by reducing check-in disruptions and ensuring a smooth stay.

Through this partnership, hotels and properties that leverage Cloudbeds can now process payments directly through the platform, creating a seamless experience while streamlining operations and unifying business and financial management. Cloudbeds efficiently handles transactions, allowing properties to receive local settlements. By automating fund distribution, the collaboration optimizes cash flow, simplifies financial management, and strengthens the financial stability of hotels across Thailand.

 

 

 

 

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Singapore Changi Airport named World’s Best Airport 2025

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 Yam receiving the Skytrax Award from Plaisted

 

 

 

Singapore Changi Airport, which welcomed approximately 67.7 million passenger movements in 2024, has been named the World’s Best Airport 2025 at the prestigious Skytrax World Airport Awards, held during the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Madrid. This marks the 13th time Changi Airport has earned this prestigious honour, reaffirming its position as a world-class aviation hub renowned for innovation, service excellence, and passenger comfort. In addition to the top accolade, Changi also won awards for the World’s Best Airport Dining, World’s Best Airport Washrooms, and Best Airport in Asia — bringing its total tally to over 690 airport awards to date.

Yam Kum Weng, Chief Executive Officer of Changi Airport Group, said: “Changi Airport is honoured to be named by Skytrax as the World’s Best Airport for the 13th time. It is indeed gratifying to receive this recognition, and this certainly encourages us to continue to strive to provide the best travel experience. We thank all our passengers for their vote of confidence. And we’re especially grateful to the Changi Airport community, whose unwavering commitment to service excellence has made this award possible. As air travel continues to grow, we look forward to welcoming passengers to experience the magic at Changi Airport.”

Commenting on the achievement Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax, said: “It is a great achievement for Singapore Changi Airport to receive the highest award as the World’s Best Airport 2025, this being a record-breaking 13th time in the awards history that they have scooped this award. The diversity and expansive choice of dining outlets is also recognised with Changi Airport winning the award for the World’s Best Airport Dining. With washrooms being a major driver of customer satisfaction during their airport experience, we congratulate Singapore Changi Airport on receiving the first ever World’s Best Airport Washrooms award.”

 Enhanced Global Connectivity

In 2024, Changi welcomed eight new passenger airlines to the Changi family, including Aero Dili, AirAsia Cambodia, Air Canada, Air Japan, Loong Air, Peach Aviation, Tianjin Airlines and West Air. It also added 11 new passenger city links to its growing network, connecting Singapore to Broome, Brussels, Guiyang, Kertajati, Lhasa, Linyi, Malacca, Phu Quoc, Quanzhou, Vancouver, and Wenzhou, enhancing Changi’s strategic position as a major transit and destination hub.

Enhancing Experiences & Amenities for Indian Travellers

In addition to its lush gardens, unique attractions and relaxing and thoughtful amenities, Changi continues to enhance offerings for Indian travellers, which are a growing visitor group for the airport.

  • The Free Singapore Tour offered to passengers with at least 5.5 hours of transit time is a standout complimentary experience available at Changi Airport. Indian travellers are among the top 3 nationalities of travellers who enjoy this 2.5 hour guided tour. Running six times a day, the tours feature refreshed itineraries—including the newly introduced Singapore River and Marina Bay Sands Tour—giving transit passengers an enriching glimpse into Singapore’s vibrant cultural heritage and iconic attractions.
  • The Shop & Dine Privileges at Changi Airport continues to be a crowd favourite with Indian travellers, allowing them to redeem up to $20 worth of Changi vouchers, which can be used at dining and retail outlets across the airport’s four terminals.

Changi goes beyond being an airport—it is a destination in itself, delivering hospitality, relaxation, and retail therapy under one roof. Its commitment to enhancing every passenger’s journey, whether in transit or at departure-arrival, makes it a consistent winner on the global aviation stage.

 

 

 

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Airbus signs letter of intent with Thai Airways

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Airbus and Thai Airways International formally signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to retrofit the latter’s A350s.

This is expected to enhance passenger comfort and operational efficiency thanks to state-of-the-art cabin upgrades.

Airbus’ head of commercial services in the Asia Pacific Balinda Zhang remarked: “Airbus is pleased to support THAI in this significant investment in their fleet, ensuring that their A350 aircraft continue to offer passengers an exceptional flying experience. This retrofit aligns with our shared vision of delivering enhanced comfort and efficiency for airlines and their customers.”

Furthermore, the agreement reaffirms Airbus’ long-standing partnership with THAI and its commitment to supporting the airline’s fleet modernisation strategy. 

As a long-range leader, the A350 remains a key pillar of THAI’s network, and the retrofit will further enhance its appeal for premium and economy passengers alike.

What the agreement entails

The retrofit programme will be overseen by Airbus, during which Thai Airways’ fleet of A350-900 aircraft will be equipped with the latest cabin innovations, ensuring a premium travel experience for passengers on long-haul routes.

The upgrades will include modernised and elevated ‘Royal Silk’ Business Class seats, new Premium Economy Class Seats, and Economy Class seats, as well as an improved in-flight entertainment system that offer a seamless travel experience across THAI’s network.

The cabin modernisation is expected to begin by 2028, and the retrofitted aircraft are expected to re-enter service in phases, ensuring minimal impact to the airline’s flight operations.

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