Centara kicks off 36th anniversary with epic 36-day global celebration

Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, is marking its 36th anniversary milestone with a 36-day worldwide customer-focused celebration tied to the company’s 1983 founding. On this occasion, it also marks the 36^th anniversary of Centara Grand at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok, the first hotel of the group, together with the 10^th anniversary of Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld and Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya.

Centara Hotels & Resorts led by Thirayuth Chirathivat, Chief Executive Officer (4th from left) and Supatra Chirathivat, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Social Responsibility (5th from left) marks the 36th anniversary milestone with cake cutting, celebration and 36-daycustomer-focused campaign to thank customers worldwide.

Thirty-six years ago, Thailand’s first shopping centre mega-mall development, Central Plaza, rose from a suburban construction site on Bangkok’s Ladprao Road, complete with a brand new 5-star hotel that launched the Central Group’s hotel business with one of the Group’s largest investment commitments.

From its first hotel in Ladprao, Centara has grown and prospered. Today, 70 Centara properties with six distinctive brands are operational or under development across 12 countries, and the company is well on its way to doubling its global portfolio by 2022.

Centara will kick off the 36th anniversary celebration by rolling out a series of enticing offers, attractive promotions and lucky draws on 3^rd June 2019, all featuring a special “36” theme. Guests should look out for the following limited-time deals:

Every Third Night For Just THB 36 – For 36 days (3^rd June to 9^th July 2019), travellers will be able to stay with Centara for just THB 36. Under this amazing offer, guests who book a minimum three-night stay at any Centara hotel or resort worldwide – including five-star Centara Grand resorts in Thailand and the Maldives – will be able to pay just THB 36 for their third night.

Lucky Stay E-Voucher - For seven days from 14^th to 20^th June 2019, guests will be able to book rooms at selected Centara hotels for one set price (only THB 3,600 per night) and enjoy sublime stays with a higher value. This generous offer is valid for room nights worth more than THB 4,500 and available for stays taken up until 31^st October 2019.

Cash Bonus Spending Credit: THB 3,600 for More! – The 36th anniversary celebrations will make your Centara stays even more rewarding this summer. Guests who purchase a stored value credit of THB 3,600 between 21^st and 27^th June will see its value instantly boosted to THB 5,500. Use the credit to pay for spa treatments, hotel dining and much more.

LINE Coupons: Exclusive Deals for THB 36 and THB 360 – Sip, snack or feast for less with a series of tantalising weekly coupons. For 36 days (3^rd June to 9^thJuly), Centara will reveal a series of fantastic F&B deals on LINE, the social media app. Grab a coffee, bakery and other snacks for as little as THB 36, or a relaxing 40-minute massage at spa Cenvaree for just THB 360.

10 Year Travel in Style Challenge: Photo Competition – Compete in the 10 Year Travel in Style Challenge with Centara, or the 36 Year Challenge if you dare. Guests who post their “now and then” throwback travel photos and use hashtag #36CentaraThrowback could win one of 36 prizes, including one grand prize — a sensational five-night holiday at Centara Ras Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives, including transfers.

Exclusive Privilege for Centara The1 – Our Photo Challenge is twice as enticing for members of Centara The1. All Centara The1 member prize winners will also receive 3,600 Centara The1 points, on top of their main prize. To help our winners make the most of their points, Centara will be offering free night redemptions for just 6,363 points at select hotels for a limited time.

And that’s not all. Guests who stay with Centara during the 36-day anniversary period will be offered the chance to enter a Check-In Lucky Draw. Guests can win on-the-spot prizes including spa treatments, bottles of wine, celebratory cakes, special discounts and more.

Since it first entered the hospitality industry 36 years ago, Centara has developed a strong reputation for blending gracious Thai-style hospitality with world-class accommodation and exceptional amenities. Now, with an expanded collection of innovative brands, Centara is aiming to write the next exciting chapter in our history, with the goal of doubling our global portfolio by 2022.

For more information about Centara Hotels & Resorts, please visit http://36.centarahotels.com

South African Airways announces amazing fares to Africa starting from $699* roundtrip

South African Airways (SAA), announces amazing savings to Africa with new low fares starting from $699* roundtrip for travel this fall. Low fares are offered from New York JFK International Airport to Johannesburg, starting from $699* roundtrip (restrictions apply) and to Cape Town from $765* roundtrip (restrictions apply). Travel on these sale fares is applicable between October 26 to November 30, 2019. Other sale fares are offered from $799* roundtrip (restrictions apply) to Johannesburg and $865* roundtrip (restrictions apply) to Cape Town for travel September 1 to October 25, 2019. Great low fares are also available on SAA’s 5-times weekly service to Accra, Ghana from Washington Dulles. This sale is offered for a limited time only and all tickets must be purchased by May 28, 2019.

“Now is a wonderful time to book that trip to Africa and experience the rich culture and beautiful scenery that is uniquely African. Whether you are traveling for a sensational safari, a visit to one of our vibrant cites, or a chance to reconnect with friends and family, Africa is calling with incredible savings”, said Todd Neuman, executive vice president, North America, for South African Airways. “With South African Airways’ convenient schedules from the U.S. and award-winning service, these low affordable fares make it easy for any traveler to experience the many wonders of Africa.”

South African Airways is one of Africa’s most awarded airlines, having been honored with a 4-star rating for 17 consecutive years by Skytrax. With the most daily flights from the U.S. to South Africa, South African Airways offers nonstop service from New York-JFK Airport and direct service from Washington, DC-Dulles Airport to Johannesburg via Accra, Ghana or Dakar, Senegal. Onboard, SAA offers an in-flight experience that reflects the warmth of Africa and designed for pure comfort for long-haul travel.

Travelers enjoy a spacious Economy Class cabin, a delicious choice of meals, a wide selection of complimentary spirits and award-winning South African wines, and generous checked baggage allowance.

Also included are individual audio/visual entertainment systems that deliver an extensive programming menu of newly released movies, music choices, and games. Via our Johannesburg hub, SAA links the world to over 75 destinations across the African continent and Africa’s Indian Ocean islands.

To book these sale fares or for additional information, travelers should visit www.flysaa.com , call SAA Reservations at 1-(800) 722-9675 or contact their professional travel advisor. As one of the leading airlines in Africa, SAA also offers low fares from the U.S. and Canada to a variety of other exciting and experiential destinations throughout continent.

*RESTRICTIONS

Fares are valid for roundtrip travel and include all government and airline imposed taxes and fees. The $699 fare is valid for travel from New York (JFK) to Johannesburg (JNB,) for midweek travel (Mon-Thu) 10/26/19 - 11/30/19. The $765 fare is valid for travel from New York (JFK) to Cape Town (CPT)) for midweek travel (Mon-Thu) 10/26/19 - 11/30/19. The $799 fare is valid for travel from New York (JFK) to Johannesburg (JNB,) for midweek travel (Mon-Thu) 9/1/19-10/25/19. The $865 fare is valid for travel from New York (JFK) to Cape Town (CPT)) for midweek travel (Mon-Thu) 9/1/19-10/25/19. Fares must be purchased within 72 hours of reservation being made, or by 05/28/2019, whichever is first. Minimum stay: Must stay over one Sunday for fares to apply. Return travel must commence on/before 12/9/2019. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights. Cancellations before/after departure: fares and carrier-imposed fees (YR/YQ/Q) are nonrefundable. Date change fee: $300 plus any applicable fare difference. Administrative fees may also apply. Accompanied children 2-11 years of age pay 75% of the adult fare. Infant (not occupying a seat) discount - Pays 10% of the adult fare. Baggage and optional service fees may apply. Reservations made 7 days or more prior to scheduled departure may be canceled without penalty up to 24 hours after the reservation is made.

Halloween in Transylvania at Bran Castle

Travel to Romania & Hungary on the footstep of Prince Vlad Tepes a.k.a. DRACULA

• Budapest - Oradea - Cluj - Sighisoara - Brasov - Bran - Bucharest

Click here for more information. We pay 10% commission to travel agents

Click here to download our brochure.

Contact Redina Varna: +1-210-302-2730 or email rodica_varna@yahoo.com

Malta’s 2019 Festival and Events Calendar “sparks” with fireworks

Discover the many reasons why Malta, an archipelago in the middle of the Mediterranean, is referred to as The Hidden Gem of the Mediterranean. Malta’s festivals are filled with different aspects of music, culture, art, food and more. Malta boasts an events calendar featuring an eclectic blend of local and international entertainment, exhibitions, festivals and feasts.  The Maltese islands play host to an exciting array of international sporting events, performances by international contemporary music stars, classical music concerts, jazz festivals, and traditional events such as village festas and carnivals. 

HIGHLIGHTS OF MALTA’S 2019 FESTIVALS AND ANNUAL EVENTS

Malta International Fireworks Festival: April 24-30

The Maltese are well known for their love of fireworks and their expertise in manufacturing spectacular displays has won them several international accolades. The 18th edition of the Fireworks Festival is a showcase of the best of Maltese aerial pyrotechnic talent.

Valletta Film Festival: June 14-23

The film festival will have a film for everyone, screening over 40 feature films and 25 short films. The films selected for screenings will be either open-air, at historic venues, or at different cinemas throughout the capital city, Valletta.

Malta International Arts Festival: June 29-July 13

Malta’s art festival highlights the islands rich culture. The festival is renowned for having integrative works for art that encourage artistic collaboration. There will be many different art forms such as theatre, dance, music, and art.   

The Malta International Food Festival: July 17-21

Food and wine lovers must attend the most anticipated culinary festival in Malta. You will be submerging yourself into a kaleidoscope of tastes, from the amazing local produce, to the delicious wines. The festival attracts more than 30,000 people to try the delicious Maltese cuisine.

Isle of MTV- July 9 Malta Jazz Festival: July 15-20

Come to the annual Isle of MTV Malta which features chart topping artists performing live during a mega concert. It is now one of the biggest music festivals in Europe, and attracts a crowd of more than 50,000 people.

Summer Carnival: August 16-18

Visit the Summer Carnival where you will get to celebrate in the streets of Malta in extravagant costumes. Malta’s nightlife center, Paceville, will be filled with carnival goers in their colorful costumes piled into clubs and bars, still wearing their outrageous outfits.

Notte Bianca: October 5

The arts light up the streets of Valletta when palaces and museums open their doors to host all night long concerts, visual art exhibitions, dance and theatre performances; while the streets are filled with local and international musicians and dancers.

Birgufest: October 11-13

To really experience the history of Malta you must experience Birgufest. Birgu, one of the oldest and most historic cities in Malta, hosts a four-day event. During this time, you will be engaged in the history and culture of the island, by attending a mass or having a meal on the seafront.

For more information about events in Malta click here.

Romance is in the air for Valentine’s Day at five luxury Corinthia Hotels

Rose petal-strewn beds, glasses of chilled champagne, candlelit dinners a deux, a couple’s massage and idyllic escapes are all on the menu for Valentine’s Day at five luxury Corinthia Hotels around the world.

The collection of five-star properties aim to make February 14, 2019, a day and night to remember. Here are the special packages:

Corinthia Hotel Budapest

The landmark city hotel is the backdrop for A Corinthia Love Story, a Valentine’s Day escape which includes an upgrade to a rose petal-strewn room, champagne and chocolate strawberries on arrival, a three-course dinner with complimentary glass of wine, a 25-minute massage in the Royal Spa and a buffet breakfast the next day. Love at Corinthia costs from €279 (approx. $321.00) per room per night (two sharing). Valid from February 1-28, 2019. For more information visit www.corinthia.com/budapest or call +36 1 479 4000.

Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa, Malta

Escape to the tranquil surroundings of the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa in the heart of the island, book a rose petal-strewn Deluxe Room, enjoy a back, neck and shoulder massage at the Athenaeum Spa, and make the most of the in-room aphrodisiac menu. The Valentine’s Escape is priced from €140 (approx. $161.00) per room per night (two sharing). Valid from February 13-17, 2019. For more information visit www.corinthia.com/palace or call +356 2144 0301.

Corinthia Hotel Lisbon

Luxuriate in one of Corinthia Hotel Lisbon’s new Deluxe Junior Suites with a romantic three-course dinner served in the privacy of your room which includes a glass of champagne, plus early check-in, breakfast, and late check-out. The Romantic Escape costs from €300 (approx. $345.00) per room per night (two sharing). Valid from February 9-19, 2019. For more information visitwww.corinthia.com/lisbon or call +351 21 7236363.

Corinthia Hotel London

Treat your loved one to a romantic stay at Corinthia Hotel London, one of the city’s top luxury hotels. Enjoy an overnight stay in an elegant room or suite and access to the award-winning spa, ESPA Life. During your stay, a bottle of chilled champagne and sweet pastries will be waiting on arrival and, later on, a rose petal-strewn bed will surprise and delight in the evening. The spa’s sumptuous Thermal Floor is the perfect place to relax and unwind, with its swimming pool, amphitheater sauna, steam room and more. Romance in London costs from £534 (approx. $681.00) per room per night (two sharing) including full English breakfast. Valid throughout 2019. For more information visit www.corinthia.com/london or call +44 (0) 20 7321 3000.

Corinthia Hotel St George’s Bay, Malta

Relax in sea view accommodation on the Mediterranean island of Malta at Corinthia Hotel St George’s Bay, enjoy a 50-minute, full-body couple’s massage with a glass of bubbly and chocolate truffles, full use of the Apollo spa, breakfast and late check-out on the day of departure. Magical Moments costs from €220 (approx. $253.00) per room per night (two sharing). Valid from February 14-17, 2019. For more information visit www.corinthia.com/en/hotels/malta-stgeorgesbay or call +356 2137 4114.

All packages are subject to availability and blackout dates may apply.

For further information on the Romantic Escapes, please visit https://www.corinthia.com/en/valentines-day-corinthia

For further information on Corinthia Hotels, please visit corinthia.com

Study shows 44% of leisure travelers plan and book vacations at the last minute

Why are so many people booking their vacations last minute? Is it all those great last-minute travel deals flooding our inboxes? Or today’s millennial travelers who are more comfortable with the technology that allows them to quickly and easily plan and book flights, hotels, rental cars and event tickets? The answer, according to research, is both.

Nearly two billion vacations were taken last year, according to the U.S. Travel Association. While conventional wisdom would suggest the vast majority of these travelers plan and book their trips a month or more in advance, a new study from advertising agency Hoffman York (HY) reveals that nearly half are doing so at the last minute. HY surveyed 888 people who took at least one overnight trip over 50 miles away for leisure purposes in the last 12 months.

Among travelers, 44 percent are planning and booking their leisure trips two weeks or less prior to their departure, with more than half agreeing that they can be swayed by last-minute deals, and 64 percent choosing to book their trips through online travel agencies.

What else defines this new-age traveler and what makes them different than other travelers? Hoffman York, an agency that specializes in travel and tourism marketing, got to the bottom of this potential travel trend.

What does it mean to be a last-minute traveler?

HY defined last-minute traveler (LMT) as a person who books transportation, lodging and event tickets for an overnight leisure trip within 0-14 days of their vacation. How long are their trips? According to the research, the average last-minute traveler spends two to three days on their trip while one in five last-minute travelers are taking trips that are five days or longer. On the contrary, most non-LMTs stay 5 or more days (44 percent).

Last-minute traveler demographics

The last-minute traveler is younger—40 percent are under 35 compared to 32 percent of non-last-minute travelers. Notably younger, 42 percent of LMTs make $50,000 or less, annually. LMTs often have children (41 percent) in the home versus 32 percent of non-LMTs.

How they book

Though the last-minute traveler is defined as someone who books within two weeks of departure, survey results show that most LMTs are actually booking within one week of their vacation. When planning and booking, 58 percent of transportation, 59 percent of lodging and 78 percent of event tickets are purchased within one week of the LMT’s departure.

What’s more, 64 percent of flights and 30 percent of hotels are booked using an online travel agency (OTA) such as Expedia, Travelocity and Priceline. Non-LMT’s use an OTA for 30 percent of flights and 25 percent of hotel bookings. Non-LMTs are more likely to book directly through an airline (46 percent compared to 24 percent of LMTs) and directly through a hotel (42 percent compared to 30 percent of LMTs).

How they get there and where they stay

Primarily, last-minute travelers use their personal vehicle (74 percent of LMTs compared to 67 percent non-LMTs). The second most popular mode of transportation for LMTs is flying (36 percent)*. Significantly more non-LMTs are flying at 57 percent.
The research showed that 67 percent of LMTs stay in hotels compared to 76 percent of non-LMTs. Many LMTs (43 percent) also stay with friends or family, compared to 34 percent of non-LMTs.

Their destinations

On average, a last-minute traveler’s destination is 580 miles from their home. A non-last-minute traveler’s destination is nearly 900 miles. As for where they are going, 42 percent of last-minute travelers vacation in cities and 31 percent visit somewhere outdoors (lake, beach, state or national park). For non-LMTs, 38 percent visit a city and 27 percent visit the outdoors. During their trips, 58 percent of last-minute travelers visit friends or family, 21 percent seek an outdoor adventure, 22 visit a historic attraction and 16 percent attend an amusement park. As for non-LMTs 48 percent visit friends or family, 25 percent seek an outdoor adventure, 32 percent visit a historic attraction and 17 percent attend an amusement park.

“Today’s new generation of last-minute travelers represents a significant segment of the overall leisure traveler population,” said Angie Buchanan, VP, Account Supervisor for Hoffman York. “How they book, where they’re going and how they go about the travel process is different from traditional vacation planners. It’s important for today’s travel and hospitality marketers to understand how and when to reach them and why they need to make the booking process fast and easy.”
To receive Hoffman York’s full last-minute traveler study, including how to use the insights to effectively market to last-minute travelers, click here.

About Hoffman York

Hoffman York is a full-service, independent advertising and marketing communications agency headquartered in Milwaukee, offering a comprehensive suite of award-winning services, including advertising, digital strategy and development, research and analytics as well as earned, social and paid media. The agency has extensive experience working with destination marketing organizations, tourism agencies and hospitality groups. To learn more about Hoffman York, visit hoffmanyork.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Corinthia Hotels offers seasonal cheer with winter sale

The countdown is on to December 15, 2018, when luxury hotel collection Corinthia Hotels offers some seasonal cheer with the start of its Winter Sale.

As temperatures plummet so do rates - by 30-50% - at its five-star properties around the world, including the flagship Corinthia Hotel London which recently featured in a BBC 1 documentary, A Hotel for the Rich and Famous. 

Lead-in rates at Corinthia Hotel London are from £475 (approx. $600), reduced by 30%. The Winter Sale rate at Corinthia Hotel Budapest is also reduced by 30%, with a lead-in rate of €109 (approx. $124).

Rates at the other hotels are reduced by 50%, with lead-in rates per room per night (two sharing) as follows:

Corinthia St George’s Bay, Malta: €95 (approx. $108)
Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa, Malta: €95 (approx. $108)
Corinthia Hotel Prague: €90 (approx. $102)
Corinthia Hotel St Petersburg: €70.26 (approx. $80)
Corinthia Hotel Lisbon: €116 (approx. $132)

All rates are per room per night based on two sharing. To take advantage of these rates, stays must be booked by February 28, 2019, and are valid for stays until December 30, 2019.

More information here.