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Volume 2, Issue 10, March 05, 2009 |
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SITA, a specialist in air transport communication and IT solutions, marked its 60th anniversary with a look at how technology will change the face of air travel over the next five years.
Jim Peters, SITA’s chief technology officer, said: “The rise of social networking over the Internet means that the days of the simple online flight-booking engine are numbered. Web 2.0 technologies will transform airline Web sites into travel planning portals that go far beyond date and location. By making it faster, easier and more cost-effective to provide real-time content from diverse sources, Web 2.0 technologies meet travellers’ demands for greater information and personalisation.
“In the near future when a customer makes a booking, the airline Web site could extract the passenger’s preferences from its frequent flyer programme, combine it with external content from travel Web sites so that hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions can be overlaid on a Google map and the traveller can then take a virtual sight-seeing tour and be linked in with friends’ travel plans.”
SITA also predicts that radio-frequency identification, an automatic identification method, will have a major impact on travel through RFID chips being embedded in e-passports and baggage. “RFID is not a universal solution to the problem of mishandled baggage but if implemented system-wide it could save the industry $750 million annually by ensuring origin-to-destination tracking of baggage,” said Peters. 
Cairns Airport (OZR) has become the first airport in Australia to fully operate a terminal with bar-coded boarding passes. The magnetic strip boarding passes can be printed from home allowing Web check-in or boarding using mobile phones. As they can store multiple passes, only one document is required for the entire journey. It is estimated the airport will save USD 1.5 billion every year with the introduction of bar-coded boarding passes.
China Airlines is adding new flights to its summer schedule, which will take effect on March 29. To meet a growing demand in the Australia market, China Airlines will add a new flight from Taipei (TPE) to Sydney (SYD), CI-055, using an Airbus A330-300 aircraft. Meanwhile, CAL’s Taipei–New York (JFK) frequencies will increase from three to four flights per week, while Taipei–Frankfurt (FRA) frequencies will increase from five to six flights per week.
Emirates has launched daily services from Bangkok (BKK) to Christchurch (CHC). The service will connect Bangkok and Christchurch with a brief stopover in Sydney (SYD). Emirates will fly its Boeing 777-300ER on the route, offering 364 seats in a three-class configuration. The new Emirates flight takes 13 hours 45 minutes. The Boeing 777-300ER is fitted with 12 luxurious seats in first class, 42 lie-flat beds in business class, and generous space for 310 passengers in economy class.
Asia’s annual event dedicated to the luxury travel, Asia Luxury Travel Market, will take place in June. The event will be held at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre from June 15–18, and brings travel buyers from across the region to some of Asia’s most sought-after destinations, accommodations and transportation. Industry indicators suggest exhibitors are finding the show more relevant than ever in the current economic climate because of the pressure to make their marketing efforts more effective.
Japan Airlines is reducing fuel surcharge for tickets issued between April 1 and June 30, as the price of Singapore kerosene-type jet fuel falls to an average USD 64.22 per barrel. The new surcharges now range from JYP 200 on a Japan–Korea ticket, to JYP 6,500 on a Japan–Brazil ticket. For a ticket from Japan to Canada, Europe, Mexico, Middle East, Oceania or the United States (excluding Hawaii), surcharges will go down from JYP 22,000 to JYP 3,500.
168 Jalan Bukit Bintang
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel 603 2141 6651
www.kenko.com.sg
Kento Fish Spa is a one-of-a-kind spa that rejuvenates the mind and body. Whichever spa treatment you opt for, you can be sure you will come out feeling great.
I opted for the spa’s signature treatment — dangling my feet in a U-shaped pool and feeling the tickling sensation of Garra Ruffa fish nibbling away at the soles of my feet. At first, it felt odd to have the little munchers gnawing away at my skin, but once I got used to it, it actually felt pretty good.
Soon your feet and calves will be smooth and your calluses gone. Originated in Kangal, Turkey, this treatment has been popular in Eastern Europe and the Middle East for eons.
The ticklish experience comes at a reasonable price — a 30-minute treatment costs around MYR 38 or USD 11.
Score: ••••• Joyce Woo
Visa has teamed with 300 merchants in Thailand to offer an attractive Visa cardholder promotion. The Visa Preferred Merchants programme offers discounts to cardholders when using their cards at participating restaurants, shopping malls, spas and tour operators. Visa cardholders arriving at Bangkok can also enjoy special promotional rates at hotels with possible savings of up to 50 per cent. The promotion is valid until Nov.14.
Jet Airways’ frequent flyer programme, JetPrivilege, has entered into a partnership with Seventymm, Carlson Hotels Worldwide, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts and Axis Bank. JetPrivilege members can earn up to 500 JPMiles during their stay at various participating Carlson hotels worldwide. Members can also enjoy a 10 per cent discount on food and non-alcoholic beverages at participating Sarovar properties and late check-out time at 15:00.
The Shilla Seoul is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a year-long campaign of promotions. The campaign kicks off with the Leaders Club Gold Award 30th Anniversary Special Offer which includes special rates in deluxe rooms at KRW 270,000 plus room upgrades and complimentary airport limousine service, as well as daily breakfast and free Internet. Visitors from March 1–May 3 stand a chance to win two complimentary nights at The Opposite House Beijing, Imperial Hotel Tokyo and Sherwood Hotel in Taipei.
Singapore Airlines has teamed up with Singapore Tourism Board and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore in a global campaign to attract visitors to Singapore. Travellers staying at participating hotels will enjoy 50 per cent food and beverage discounts at the hotels’ designated outlets, as well as free airport transfers and unlimited free rides on the Singapore Airlines’ Hop-On Bus — an air-conditioned bus service that allows customers to visit more than 20 major attractions in Singapore.
Laguna Resorts & Hotels and the Tourism Authority of Thailand have launched a 100,000 Smiles in Laguna Phuket promotion. The deal features six Laguna Phuket hotels offering up to 100,000 complimentary room nights. It offers a one-month booking window from March 1–31 for stays from March 15–Dec. 15. Those who book online at the hotels’ respective Web sites March 1–31 will receive one complimentary night’s stay for every two or more night stay.
