HotelRunner Introduces ‘Elite’: An Exclusive Path to Efficiency and Profitability

LONDON, Apr 10, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – HotelRunner, the leading hospitality and travel technologies platform, has launched HotelRunner Elite, an exclusive service designed to add exponential value to independent and chain hotels, helping them overcome the challenges of strategic positioning and yield management.

HotelRunner Introduces 'Elite'

In a highly competitive landscape, HotelRunner Elite is designed to help accommodation businesses thrive by offering data-driven, innovative, state-of-the-art technology solutions, and dedicated consulting. Analyzing demand, tracking competitors, and charting a roadmap for efficient yield management, Elite allows hospitality professionals to realize a property's true potential and makes sure they are always winning.

In line with its trailblazing persona, the company shifted gears to develop more data-driven and AI-powered platforms like the recently announced Insights and Autopilot. Today, on top of HotelRunner's end-to-end stellar technology, Elite leverages a suite of additional products, including but not limited to Rate Intelligence, Autopilot, and Insights. All these products and the platform feed on HotelRunner's immense data and evolve with the help of AI and machine learning.

What makes these benefits truly valuable is encapsulated in three concise yet powerful words: profitability, efficiency, and exclusivity. Members of HotelRunner Elite reap the benefits of cutting-edge technology infrastructure, coupled with the expertise of dedicated revenue managers and hospitality experts who scrutinize vast amounts of data to provide actionable insights and strategic guidance. This exclusive offering provides an unparalleled experience within a select community consisting of a group of best-in-class hospitality professionals.

"At HotelRunner, we're dedicated to providing innovative solutions that drive growth for the hospitality industry," said Arden Agopyan, Founder and Managing Partner of HotelRunner. "HotelRunner Elite is a true reflection of our commitment to providing the best service possible by pushing the boundaries. With a suite of data-driven platforms and privileged consultancy, Elite offers a unique value to independent and chain hotels, helping them automate their operations, enhance profitability, and beat the competition. We're excited to see the incredible results it delivers."

"HotelRunner has always been a leader in hospitality and travel technologies. Each of the products and features we have recently developed is part of a much larger vision and HotelRunner Elite is an extension of it," said Ali Beklen, Founder and Managing Partner of HotelRunner. "With this launch, we're taking our offerings to the next level as part of our commitment to creating a bigger travel economy. Elite is designed to help accommodation businesses with large revenue volumes with a tailor-made solution, unlike any other. We're confident it will be a game-changer for our partners."

As in the past decade, HotelRunner is committed to providing maximum value to its partners. The new service is tailored to the unique requirements of the industry, addressing the definitive demands of large and enterprise hotels. With a singular offering, Elite delivers optimal results with a combination of a powerful technology platform, AI, and human touch.

HotelRunner Elite has been in the closed beta program for almost a year and has already been increasing profitability and efficiency of its members. For more information about HotelRunner Elite, visit https://hotelrunner.com/elite

Contact Information
Suheyla van Taarling
Head of Brand
suheyla@hotelrunner.com
00905314010303

SOURCE: HotelRunner

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

airindiaexpress.com witnesses surge in interest and bookings with its new look and unique features

New co-branded website witnesses 125% increase in visits and generates over 25% revenue for Air India Express; Dubai, Bengaluru, Abu Dhabi, Doha emerge top sources of traffic

Singapore, Apr 5, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – airindiaexpress.com, the unified customer interface of Air India Express and AirAsia India – the two subsidiary airlines of Air India, has witnessed a surge of visitors within days of launch with the platform, contributing over 25% of international flight revenue on the first day itself, making it the dominant single source of reservations. Flyers of both airlines are now logging in, booking, and managing reservations for both Air India Express and AirAsia India flights on airindiaexpress.com, the new website launched as a major milestone in the integration of the two airlines. airindiaexpress.com is built on the platform of the award-winning AirAsia India website developed by Tata Consultancy Services with the support of Tata Digital and provides a significantly enhanced booking, support and travel experience for Air India Express customers from its historical platform.

The launch of the new website was enabled by the migration to a common reservations and check-in system, which now unifies the entire commercial ecosystem of the two airlines.

Following the successful launch of the reservations system, the airline entities are now focusing on cutting over to common airport check-in systems in a phased manner at all international terminals in India, followed by the overseas network.

Some of the salient features of airindiaexpress.com include:

Single Sign On (SSO) credentials, integrated with Tata Neu and other participating brands of the Tata NeuPass rewards programme
Personalised account profile with personal details, travel documents, saved family & friends for single click addition of guests to bookings, GST details for SMEs, past and upcoming bookings and personalised offers and vouchers
E-commerce style shopping cart, integrated with single sign-on, enables users to seamlessly continue their booking if they leave midway
A single page vertically stacked accordion-style booking flow, minimising the time between flight search and payments, providing a super-fast and efficient booking experience
An integrated booking widget offering special fares and benefits for different passenger profiles, including senior citizens, students, doctors and nurses and members of the armed forces and their dependants, ensuring personalised offerings for flyers on the same PNR
The option to use gender-neutral honorifics for each passenger when booking
Xpress Check-in – Fastest in the industry 5-second check-in which is already scoring global benchmark level Net Promoter Scores with over 80% of users scoring it a 9 or 10, and stating they would recommend it to their friends and family.

Nearly half the bookings on airindiaexpress.com have been from international markets, with Dubai being the largest source city of traffic and other top international sources of traffic being Abu Dhabi, Doha, Sharjah, and Singapore. Domestic traffic and bookings on the platform have come from metro markets like Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai, reflecting the domestic network and hubs of AirAsia India.

As part of the integration, brand communications and support have also moved to common social media handles on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Online reputation management tools indicate that the integrated social media handles have the highest social reputation score amongst all Indian airlines, driven by faster response and resolution times and massive positive sentiment and feedback on the user experience of the new website and support channels. Advanced AI-powered conversational and multilingual chatbot Tia is also providing seamless 24*7 customer support for both airlines on a common WhatsApp number, Facebook Messenger and on the common website.

With a unified sustainability strategy, the website also offers flyers the opportunity to offset their carbon footprint by planting a tree for every booking, with a geo-location tagged URN Certificate.

A travel agent portal, built and accessible from the same platform, for corporate and retail travel agents in the largely disaggregated market is another key offering of the platform. The travel agent portal offers automated fund upload options, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The platform is also fully automated, from fetching fares to negotiations, enabling travel agents to handle individual and group bookings with ease.

Commenting on the warm response to the integrated platform, Mr. Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express and AirAsia India said, “The initial phase of integration of Air India Express and AirAsia India has been executed in a robust manner in record time. We have successfully migrated to modern day technology from the legacy systems that were dominant. This migration has been built by leveraging the existing strong attributes of AirAsia India with additional deployment of relevant tech solutions. We are very enthused with the initial response to the newly launched airindiaexpress.com. The unified customer experience is an important aspect of our objective of showcasing the larger strength and scale of the Air India network. We are working on adding even more unique features and integrated service which will deliver enhanced experience and strengthen our position in the minds of the customers.”

AirAsia India flies to 19 destinations across the country while Air India Express operates to 14 international destinations from 20 Indian cities.

About Air India Express:

Air India Express, launched in 2005, is India’s first international budget carrier and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air India. It meets the need for affordable services on short and medium-haul routes connecting smaller Indian towns directly to the Gulf and South East Asia regions. With 20 Indian cities and 14 international destinations in its network, the airline operates more than 600 flights a week. The airline has a fleet of 26 Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft. In January 2022, Air India Express, together with Air India, was successfully privatized, with ownership returning to the Tata group that had initially founded Air India.

About AirAsia India:

AIX Connect Private Limited, formerly known as AirAsia India Private Limited, was launched in 2014 and is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air India Limited. AirAsia India flies over 50 direct and 100 connecting routes across India, offering plush leather seats, Gourmair hot meals, pioneering in-flight entertainment, and a host of exclusive loyalty benefits for members of the Tata NeuPass rewards program and offers fast bookings, fab deals and fantastic value on its award-winning website and mobile app.

Media Contact:

Air India Express
PG Prageesh /Hari Krishnan
pg.prageesh@airindiaexpress.in
hari.krishnan@airindiaexpress.in

Adfactors PR
Namrata Sharma (Singapore): +65 81383034
Abreshmina Quadri (National): +91-8826721799
Jeevan Chandy (Kochi): +91-9447302033
airindiaexpress@adfactorspr.com

Vivid Sydney 2023 Serves Up Biggest Program Yet

SYDNEY, AU, Apr 5, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Vivid Sydney will deliver the biggest and most culturally relevant program in its event history when it returns in 2023 from Friday 26 May to Saturday 17 June.

Lighting of the Sails – Vivid Sydney – Sydney Opera House

Australia's largest event and the pioneer of light-based art and culture festivals in the Asia-Pacific region has assembled some of the world's most innovative artists, talented music makers and thought leaders as part of its 2023 lineup, which also recognises the significant contribution of First Nations peoples and cultures to the creative industries.

Inspired by the master of all creators, Mother Nature, this year's theme, "Vivid Sydney, Naturally," is reflected across all of the 300+ activations and events that make up the 23-day program.

Vivid Sydney Light Walk's signature Sydney Opera House Lighting of the Sails will see the vibrant works of one of Australia's most famed artists, John Olsen, brought to life as a spectacular tribute to his illustrious artistic career of more than 60 years. Life Enlivened (2023) will include Olsen's evocative Salute to Five bells (1971-73) mural commissioned especially for the Northern Foyer of Sydney Opera House's Concert Hall, as well as other artworks spotlighting Olsen's fascination with Australian landscapes and nature.

The Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House lineup will feature more than 40 Australian and international artists. Jose Gonzalez, Yaeji, Ella Mai, Cat Power, Devonte Hynes and many more will take to the stages of the world-famous building in a program curated by Sydney Opera House's Head of Contemporary Music Ben Marshall .

The Vivid Music program will spotlight First Nations and Australian voices this year. The late Archie Roach AC will be celebrated with an incredible night of performances with the late artist's longtime friends and collaborators and special appearances by members of Roach's family. There will also be 12 nights of free music at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour featuring Yothu Yindi, Dan Sultan, cult Japanese artist Cornelius and many more.

British author and "master of her material" Jeanette Winterson features at Vivid Ideas and will reflect on questions of identity, sexuality, religion and more to unpack the idea of nature in LIFE AND MARS: The Future of Human .

And for the first time, Vivid Sydney's brand-new pillar – Vivid Food – will broaden the creative spotlight from Light, Music and Ideas to include culinary favourites and innovative food events. Work up an appetite for a fusion of street food; a barbecue of epic proportions with legendary pitmasters for Vivid Fire Kitchen at the Cutaway at Barangaroo; fine-dining experiences; and the return of 2022's sell-out Vivid Sydney Dinner at the Ivy Ballroom, a special feast by esteemed Sydney chefs Ben Greeno and Danielle Alvarez.

Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini said Vivid Sydney has come of age and has evolved into a progressive and inclusive event that celebrates the best of an expanded definition of the creative industries in 2023.

"Vivid Sydney is the original festival of light, art and culture. 2023 is the 13th time it has been staged and so it has naturally evolved over time to ensure that it stays relevant to the creative industries and what that means to people today," Minervini said.

"We are truly proud of this year's program. We have raised the bar on the size and scale of the events and activated new parts of the city. Our lineup features more diverse talent across more industries.

"There are world-firsts and festival-firsts, and both free and ticketed events to make the festival accessible to everyone. Audiences should be prepared to be blown away by the calibre of talent and a program that has been inspired by the beauty and diversity of nature.

"Vivid Sydney's 2023 program is a celebration of authenticity, an invitation to connect, and a chance to create. You do not want to miss Vivid Sydney 2023."

Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox said Vivid Sydney was the biggest and most loved annual event in the NSW calendar that, in 2023, would once again support the entire ecosystem of the state's visitor economy. "Each year, visitors and Sydneysiders immerse themselves in the program and enjoy the activations of the talented creatives who make the festival so special. Last year we welcomed a record 2.58 million attendees across the festival footprint," Cox said.

"Vivid Sydney 2022 injected $119 million into the NSW visitor economy. It is our expectation that with its expanded program and more international travellers returning to our shores, Vivid Sydney 2023 will drive even greater visitor expenditure into the NSW economy."

Staged across Sydney's city centre, Vivid Sydney festival locations include Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Walsh Bay, Barangaroo, King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour, Darling Quarter, Darling Square, The Goods Line, Central Station, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Carriageworks, Taronga Zoo and more.

MEDIA ASSETS

The full 2023 Vivid Sydney media kit, program announcement and high-res imagery, including 2023 Vivid Sydney light renders and broadcast-quality video footage of previous festival highlights, are available to download at www.vividsydney.com/news-room .

MEDIA CONTACTS

Greg Vekiarellis , Ogilvy PR
PH: +61 401 873 217
greg.vekiarellis@ogilvy.com.au

Jenna Whyte, Destination NSW
PH: +61 484 719 536
jenna.whyte@dnsw.com.au

ABOUT VIVID SYDNEY

Vivid Sydney is Australia's largest festival celebrating creativity, innovation and technology, and transforms Sydney into a kaleidoscope of colour and events for 23 nights. Staged for its 13th year in 2023, Vivid Sydney will bring together mesmerising displays from the world's brightest light artists, exhilarating live music performances, deep-dive discussions with thought leaders, and innovative experiences from food creatives. Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government's tourism and major events agency.

Contact Information
Jenna Whyte
PR Manager
jenna.whyte@dnsw.com.au

Related Files
https://cdn.newswire.com/files/x/5c/41/1458df18fa2ae18629c003972d6b.pdf

Related Video
https://vimeo.com/807364026/acbc4fe650

SOURCE: Vivid Sydney

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

World First Comes to Wynyard Tunnels as Part of Vivid Sydney 2023

SYDNEY, AU, Mar 30, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Australia's largest festival, Vivid Sydney, today announced that it will add a first-ever activation of the Wynyard railway tunnels to the festival's upcoming program with the world premiere of Dark Spectrum.

Dark Spectrum (Image credit: Destination NSW)

Three years in the making and tipped as an underground spectacular of what lies beneath, Dark Spectrum will fuse a dynamic musical soundtrack with the latest in laser, robotics, lighting and visual technology to transform the disused Wynyard Station train tunnels in a truly one-of-a-kind experience in a venue that has never been open to the public.

Creating an immersive multi-media environment, Dark Spectrum will deliver a heightened visual and audio experience for Vivid Sydney attendees set to penetrate the deep underground of Wynyard's tunnels and take its audience into a new time and space.

Secret passageways will be lit, and pulses of electronic dance music will ring out across eight rooms, with each space representing a different human experience and associated colour. Guests move through rooms themed to separation, constriction, pressure, the unseen, reflection, the unfamiliar, connection and end with a revelation.

Highlights from Dark Spectrum include "Constriction," 150 LED "pipes" hung from the roof to form an interactive landscape of animated pixels that can be touched; "Pressure," a spectacular array of 50 archways covered in lights and mirrors that create the visual illusion of a never-ending tunnel; and "Interaction," an Avatar-esque environment featuring hundreds of hanging strings of light interspersed with illuminated alien plants that respond to movement.

Presented by Vivid Sydney, Sony Music, Mandylights and Culture Creative, Dark Spectrum will premiere at Vivid Sydney on May 26, running until July 16 before touring the world.

Dark Spectrum will be a ticketed experience with entry via Wynyard Park Rooftop between York and Carrington Streets, Sydney. Entry will be timed from 12:00 p.m. to 9.15 p.m. Ticket prices vary depending on the visit date/time; general admission from $35, children from $24, and families from $98.

"We're thrilled to announce this world-first experience for Vivid Sydney 2023. Dark Spectrum perfectly fits this year's festival theme, exploring the intersection between human emotions, our natural environment, and the urban landscape and relics of Sydney's industrial past.

"Diving beneath the surface of what is now one of the city's busiest railway lines, Dark Spectrum is a truly mesmerising and engaging experience for visitors to explore Sydney in a whole new way. I am excited we get to shine a light on unknown spaces across the city," says, Gill Minervini, Vivid Sydney Festival Director.

This year, Vivid Sydney will deliver the biggest and most culturally relevant program in its event history when it returns from Friday, May 26 to Saturday, June 17. The spectacular Light Walk will host the works of 100+ light collaborators and 26 international light artists from 13 countries, with street installations, re-shaping old sights, surprising projection sites and large-scale immersive experiences that will paint the urban landscape.

Vivid Sydney will be staged across Sydney's city centre, at locations including Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Walsh Bay, Barangaroo, King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour, Darling Quarter, Darling Square, The Goods Line, Central Train Station, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Carriageworks, Taronga Zoo and more.

For more information and to purchase tickets to Dark Spectrum and full details of the Vivid Sydney 2023 program, visit vividsydney.com.

About Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney is Australia's largest festival celebrating creativity, innovation and technology, and transforms Sydney into a kaleidoscope of colour and events for 23 nights. Staged for its 13th year in 2023, Vivid Sydney will bring together mesmerising displays from the world's brightest light artists, exhilarating live music performances, deep-dive discussions with thought leaders, and innovative experiences from food creatives. Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government's tourism and major events agency. For more information visit vividsydney.com.

Contact Information
Jenna Whyte
PR Manager
jenna.whyte@dnsw.com.au

SOURCE: Vivid Sydney

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

NeutraDC (Telkom) enters MOU with China Mobile International

JAKARTA, Mar 29, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – NeutraDC, a brand of PT Telkom Data Ekosistem (TDE), a subsidiary of Telkom Indonesia, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China Mobile International (CMI), a subsidiary of China Mobile, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world.

According to the terms of the MOU, NeutraDC and CMI will work together to develop strategic solutions that meet the specific needs of Chinese companies in the Indonesian market. They will do this by utilizing their combined expertise and data center and network capabilities. Both companies will also explore opportunities for data center development and expansion in the region.

"This partnership is an important step in Indonesia's digital economy," said Andreuw Th.A.F, CEO of NeutraDC. "We have extensive experience supporting Chinese businesses in this region and understand the challenges they face. Through this Memorandum of Understanding, we will provide Chinese companies with a comprehensive solution to enter the Southeast Asian market, along with knowledge and support to help them navigate the complexities of doing business in the region."

"It is very exciting to have this opportunity to collaborate with NeutraDC to provide our customers with even more comprehensive and innovative solutions to expand their business to Southeast Asia," said Daniel Zhang, Managing Director of CMI Indonesia.

NeutraDC offers a pathway for customers to access Indonesia's large and lucrative digital economy. A TDE brand, NeutraDC offers a hub of TDE's data centre resources in Indonesia, a digital ecosystem where any party (including hyperscale players) can tap integrated digital infrastructure with comprehensive network connectivity. With over 171 million active internet users, Indonesia presents a huge potential market under the strong economic ties between China and Indonesia.

Over the past decade, Chinese companies have embraced Indonesia's digital economy by investing in the start-ups and innovative companies emerging in areas such as e-commerce, OTT, fintech, and digital entertainment.

Pictured*, left to right:
i. Terry LEUNG, Deputy Head of Enterprise Business, CMI
ii. Lei REN, Division Head of Planning & Development, CMI
iii. Andrew NIU, Chief Partnership Officer, Carrier Business, CMI
iv. Weizhong SHEN, Director & Executive Vice President, CMI
v. Daniel ZHANG, Managing Director of CMI Indonesia
vi. Andreuw Th.A.F, Chief Executive Officer, Telkom Data Ekosistem (NeutraDC)
vii. Bogi Witjaksono, Director of Wholesale & International Service, Telkom Indonesia
viii. Michael Hu, Chief Commercial Officer, Telkom Data Ekosistem (NeutraDC)
ix. Daniel Syafril, AVP Corporate Secretary, Directorate Wholesale & International Service, Telkom Indonesia

NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia, and its digital economy has been growing rapidly, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25% between 2015 and 2019, according to a research report by Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company. This growth has been driven by factors such as a large and young population, rising middle class, increasing smartphone penetration, and government support for the digital economy.
2. Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has invested in Indonesian e-commerce platform Tokopedia, while Tencent has invested in ride-hailing company Gojek and digital payments platform OVO. Other Chinese companies, such as Huawei and ZTE, have also been investing in Indonesia's telecommunications infrastructure.
3. The Chinese government actively promotes cooperation with Indonesia in the digital economy, through initiatives such as the China-Indonesia Industrial Park. These initiatives aim to enhance connectivity and facilitate trade and investment between China and Indonesia, including in the digital economy sector.
4. The partnership can provide Chinese enterprises with end-to-end solutions, from infrastructure to applications, and from connectivity to cloud services, to enable them to set up and expand their businesses in the Southeast Asian region.
5. Additionally, the partnership can provide Chinese enterprises with local knowledge, support, and expertise to navigate the complexities of doing business in Southeast Asia, including language barriers, cultural differences, and regulatory environments.

About NeutraDC

NeutraDC, a brand of PT Telkom Data Ekosistem (TDE), a Telkom Indonesia (IDX: TKLM) subsidiary, offers direct access to network infrastructure, cloud providers, and large-scale storage space, with scalable solutions that empower businesses to pivot quickly and stay agile in response to changing markets and customer needs. With NeutraDC, businesses can grow their workloads in the cloud, while ensuring that their most sensitive data and applications remain on private servers. NeutraDC's resources include 28 data centres consisting of 5 global data centres and 3 Enterprise Data Centers (Sentul, Serpong, and Surabaya) with Tier 3 and 4 classifications, 2 Hyperscale Data Centers (Cikarang and Batam) that has global standards certified by Uptime Tier III & Tier IV for global players, along with 19 neuCentrIX located in various cities in Indonesia. We offer a reliable gateway and direct access to one of Southeast Asia's largest and fastest-growing digital economies, helping businesses to tap into Indonesia's 171 million digital users and enterprises. Visit https://neutradc.com for more information.

About China Mobile International

China Mobile International Limited (CMI) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Mobile (HKG: 941). In order to provide better services to meet the growing demand in the international telecommunications market, China Mobile established CMI in December 2010, headquartered in Hong Kong, China. CMI has expanded its footprint in 36 countries and regions. Leveraging the strong support by China Mobile, CMI is a trusted partner that provides comprehensive international information services and solutions to international enterprises, carriers and mobile users. For more information, please visit https://www.cmi.chinamobile.com/en/.

* To download a high-resolution image, please visit: https://bit.ly/3nvvXon

MEDIA CONTACTS
Singapore: Illka Gobius, WhatsApp +65 9769 8370, email illka@pinpointpr.sg
Jakarta: Windy Oktaviani, WhatsApp +62 811-9109-266, email windy@pinpointpr.sg

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Elite Havens responds to the return of destination weddings and other special events, adding four new villas in Thailand and Indonesia for breathtaking celebrations in stunning locations

BANGKOK, Mar 7, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – Elite Havens, the leading provider of high-end vacation rentals in Asia, owned by Dusit International, has expanded its portfolio of more than 300 luxury villa rentals by adding four outstanding new properties to its hand-picked collection of exceptional event villas in Thailand and Indonesia.

Inasia – (Koh Samui, Thailand)

Infinity View (Phuket, Thailand)

Permata Ayung Estate – Garuda wing room facade (Ubud, Bali, Indonesia)

Permata Ayung Estate – Swimming pool (Ubud, Bali, Indonesia)

Tirtha Bayu Villa I (Seseh-Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia)

Ideally positioned to leverage the return of destination weddings and other special events, the new additions include Permata Ayung Private Estate, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia; Tirtha Bayu Estate, Seseh-Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia; Infinity View, Kata, Phuket, Thailand; and Inasia, Lipa Noi, Koh Samui, Thailand. Each new property offers privacy and personalised experiences executed by Elite Havens' expert in-house teams and event organisers.

Set within a magnificent riverside estate in the hills of Ubud, Permata Ayung Private Estate offers 12 bedrooms in individual pavilions across five hectares of land with multiple event spaces, both indoor and outdoor. It features its own standalone riverside spa with an adjoining bridal suite, a plush private cinema, organic juice and cocktail bars, colourful tropical gardens, lush coconut groves, and serene views of rice fields, making it a great venue for wellness retreats and large-scale weddings in a private oasis.

Also in Bali, Tirtha Bayu Estate is a spacious oceanfront estate overlooking the dramatic black sands of Cemagi Beach. Artfully blending traditional and contemporary design, it features an interconnected complex of two villas – the modern and elegant six-bedroom Villa I and the traditional and refined five-bedroom Villa II. With multiple indoor and outdoor living spaces, plus two infinity pools, the beautiful property can host events and weddings with up to 150 guests.

Over in Thailand, Infinity View is an elegant four-bedroom villa for intimate celebrations near Phuket's Kata Noi Beach. The beautiful property certainly lives up to its name, featuring a majestic ocean backdrop beyond its crystal blue pool. Its idyllic location offers complete privacy for small family gatherings and milestone celebrations just five minutes from the beautiful white sands of Kata Noi and Kata.

Rounding out the new additions in Thailand, the latest addition to the Elite Havens Koh Samui portfolio, Inasia, is also an excellent choice for large families or groups of friends celebrating life's special moments. Situated next to Lipa Noi beach, it features eight guestrooms with views of the deep green sea. Shallow waters running 100 metres off the shore make it a safe environment for children to splash and play. Indoor and outdoor dining areas add a sense of variety for those looking to celebrate an intimate event.

"The last few years have left people with renewed zeal to explore more of the world and clarity about the importance of celebrating each small moment with near and dear ones," said Ms Maya Rigg, CEO, Elite Havens. "Not only are travellers seeking to return to familiar locations and revisit their favourite villas, but they are also booking private venues like luxury villas at exclusive destinations to celebrate life events like weddings, family reunions, and other milestones. We expect the confidence of travellers to continue the upward trend seen in 2022, and we look forward to welcoming guests to make lasting memories at our exquisite new additions in Bali, Phuket, and Koh Samui."

More details about the new properties can be found at the following links:

Permata Ayung Private Estate (Bali):
https://www.elitehavens.com/the-permata-ayung-private-estate-villa/ubud-bali-indonesia.aspx

Tirtha Bayu Estate (Bali):
https://www.elitehavens.com/tirtha-bayu-estate-villa/sesehtanah-lot-bali-indonesia.aspx

Infinity View (Phuket):
https://www.elitehavens.com/infinity-view-villa/kata-phuket-thailand.aspx

About Elite Havens Luxury Villa Rentals and Management

Elite Havens Luxury Villa Rentals is Asia's market leader in high-end holiday villa vacations. Established in 1998, the company has curated a spectacular portfolio of more than 300 private luxury villas across Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Sri Lanka, India, and the Maldives. Offering a diverse range of inspired island accommodations – from absolute beachfront to rural escapes, traditional to designer chic, honeymoon hideaways to sprawling wedding venues – Elite Havens properties are staffed to the highest-level including villa managers, gourmet chefs and personal butlers to ensure a totally unique experience. www.elitehavens.com

For all press, media enquiries or a full suite of high-resolution photos, please contact Elite Havens' PR team at pr@elitehavens.com.

About Dusit International

Established in 1948, Dusit International or Dusit Thani Public Company Limited (DUSIT) is a leading hospitality group listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Its operations comprise five distinct yet complementary business units: hotels and resorts, hospitality education, food, property development, and hospitality-related services.

The group's portfolio of hotels, resorts and luxury villas includes more than 300 properties operating under a total of seven brands (Dusit Thani, Dusit Devarana, dusitD2, Dusit Princess, Dusit Suites, ASAI Hotels, and Elite Havens) across 16 countries worldwide. The group also operates culinary schools and hospitality colleges in Thailand, plus catering companies for the education sector in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Dusit International's diversified investments in real estate development, hospitality-related services, and the food sector are part of its long-term strategy for sustainable growth, which focuses on three key areas: balance, expansion and diversification. For more information, please visit dusit-international.com.

For more information, please contact:
Sureerat Sudpairak | Corporate Director of Public Relations | Dusit International
Tel: +66 (0) 2200 9999 ext. 3321 | Mobile +66 (0) 89 006 8697 | Email: sureerat.sp@dusit.com

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

HotelRunner Launches ‘Autopilot’, Ushering in a New Era of Data-Driven Smart Automations in Travel and Hospitality

LONDON, Mar 7, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – HotelRunner, the leading accommodation and travel technologies platform, launches Autopilot at ITB Berlin 2023. Having garnered great attention with its innovative business intelligence platform 'Insights' which was unveiled last year, and getting the new year off to a running start with recent funding news, HotelRunner introduces its AI-driven, intuitive, and smart platform to automate the sales, distribution, and operations of the accommodations.

HotelRunner Autopilot – HotelRunner launches 'Autopilot' ushering in a new era of data-driven smart automations in travel and hospitality.

Setting out with the goal of automating all daily operations of a hospitality business, from marketing activities to pricing strategies, HotelRunner introduces Autopilot. The new platform leverages the reservations volume processed in HotelRunner which is more than 3 million in the past year alone.

Accommodation businesses can effortlessly implement sophisticated sales and pricing strategies by transferring all their daily operations and industry expertise to the Autopilot platform as a set of rules and automations.

As the driving force behind the industry with its superior technology, HotelRunner stays ahead of the curve in meeting the future needs of all the stakeholders in the travel and accommodation industries. The Autopilot platform, born from years of research and development and industry experience, has been designed in a way that accommodations can interact with the entire tourism ecosystem. Not only it enables a property to automate its operations, but also evolves to encompass the collective knowledge of all industry players contributing to a property's success. Thus, HotelRunner leads the creation of a first-of-its-kind automation marketplace. With this innovative platform, HotelRunner maps out the future of tourism technologies.

"The Autopilot platform is a crucial component of our comprehensive vision to serve and advance the travel and hospitality industries. We began the era of data-driven decision-making in hospitality with the launch of the Insights platform in November last year. With the Autopilot, we firmly build upon this vision, cracking the doors of a new era where software serves people, rather than the other way around," says Ali Beklen, Founder and Managing Partner of HotelRunner.

"With our innovative Autopilot technology, we challenge conventional wisdom in hotel management and offer a fresh perspective to the industry. By leaving manual processes behind, we offer our partners effortless efficiency and strive to increase their profitability. Driven by AI and evolving constantly, the Autopilot is just the starting point of the revolution we aim to ignite in the travel and hospitality industries. We are setting a new standard for industry players to do business and interact with each other," adds Arden Agopyan, Founder and Managing Partner of HotelRunner.

The Autopilot platform allows properties to:

– Automate pricing and availability by seasons, holidays, and weekends.
– Monitor reservation activity in real-time and take action according to the demand.
– Benefit from AI-based recommendations and alerts to maximize their profits.
– Minimize the workload with automations that work fully integrated with their PMS and channel manager.

HotelRunner Autopilot has been in the closed beta program for one year, and has already been contributing to the increasing revenues of the properties using the platform. Click here to get detailed information about the HotelRunner Autopilot platform and to start using it. https://hotelrunner.com/en/features/autopilot/

Contact Information
Suheyla van Taarling
Head of Brand
suheyla@hotelrunner.com

SOURCE: HotelRunner

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

2023 World Championship F1 Powerboat accomplished, empowers local economy in Lake Toba

Lake Toba, N. Sumatra, Indonesia, Mar 1, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) lauded the event of the 2023 World Championship F1 Powerboat (F1H2O) that potentially improved the local economy.

"This is a fascinating event, and this is the first time I watched this F1 Powerboat," Jokowi said after attending the event in Muliaraja Napitupulu Port in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, on Sunday.

The event could encourage economic growth around the race area, which needs to be balanced with infrastructure improvements.

Several improvements are needed in several parts of the Lake Toba area, including the infrastructure and the airport terminal.

President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana arrived on Sunday to watch the 2023 F1H2O World Championship. Jokowi also greeted and took a picture together with the F1H20 racers.

Additionally, the Director General of Information and Public Communication at the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, Usman Kansong said on Friday (Feb 24) the F1 Powerboat Championship can encourage Indonesian tourism, especially Lake Toba, as the main destination choice for world tourists.

The local government prepared at least 502 outlets for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) actors to exhibit and promote their products, which varied from food products and beverages to souvenirs during the event.

The state-owned tourism and aviation holding, InJourney, said the 2023 F1H2O was held successfully. "This event has been successfully completed, namely the qualification round and the race," InJourney Director Dony Oskaria said.

The success of the F1 Powerboat event impacts the society's economy ranging from lodging, MSMEs, transportation, and others. "This is our target in preparing every event. By broadcasting F1 Powerboat on 15 international television stations and being watched by hundreds of millions, Lake Toba will become more famous worldwide," he remarked.

The event also empowered several local motorized rickshaw taxi or bentor drivers.

On Sunday, a bentor driver named Daniel Manurung said the event brought him more passengers, amounting to three to four times the number he got on regular days. On weekdays, his average daily income ranged from Rp50 thousand to Rp80 thousand, but Manurung could earn around Rp150 thousand to Rp 200 thousand per day during the event.

The F1H2O World Championship is a flagship international race series of single-seater sport boats held by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM). Ten teams joined the current F1H2O with a total of 20 racers.

There are eight racing series in one championship season, with the first being held in Lake Toba, Indonesia, in 2023. Bartek Marszalek of Stromoy Racing earned full points after winning Race 1 of the F1 Powerboat (F1H2O) World Championship's first round in Lake Toba on Sunday. In the 30-minute race, the Polish rider finished first after crossing the 2.2 kilometer circuit with 18 laps. Marszalek gained 20 points, becoming a valuable resource to compete in the next seven rounds in this year's F1H2O.

"It is incredible to win the race. I really enjoyed it. This morning's weather was perfect for the qualifier, and we had a lot of spectators around the lake; so many smiles gave extra motivation. I was excellent on the motorboat," Marszalek said after the race.

Sami Selio of the Sharjah team won second place at 01.97 seconds behind Marszalek, while Erik Stark from the Victory team won third place at 03.26 seconds behind the first winner.

After the race, President Jokowi handed the trophy directly to the winner on the podium.

–Antara

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

NusaTrip/Society Pass Inc. (SOPA) Becomes Indonesia’s Fast Train Preferred Online Ticket Sales Partner

JAKARTA, Feb 8, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – NusaTrip, Indonesia's first IATA-certified online travel agency (OTA) and the travel vertical of Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq:SOPA), formally announces the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT. Kereta Cepat Indonesia-China (KCIC) as a preferred online ticket sales partner for Kereta Cepat Jakarta-Bandung (KCJB), the first fast train service between Jakarta and Bandung in Indonesia.

Established to develop mass transportation infrastructure for Indonesia's railroad system, PT KCIC is currently the owner of the Jakarta-Bandung Fast Train project. NusaTrip is one of the 20 selected partners by KCIC, from private to state-owned companies and its affiliates. The MoU formalises partnerships covering various aspects of KCJB services starting from ticket sales, to payment systems, to area development and accessibility, to integration of transportation modes, and to application of renewable energy.

The President Director of KCIC, Dwiyana Slamet Riyadi, stated that this collaboration was part of KCJB's primary operational preparation in order to provide the best quality service and positive impacts for the community. "We are committed to continuously create positive impacts for the society and the country. Therefore, we continuously explore and establish the potentials for development. We are open to collaborate with various parties, from both state-owned enterprises and private companies who wish to mutually optimize the presence of KCJB," said Dwiyana.

Desty Arlaini, Assistant Deputy for Services and Logistics, reaffirmed this claim by saying that the government has been supporting of the fast train project's acceleration and KCIC's emphasis on operational readiness, that is in line with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment.

"Nusatrip and Society Pass are committed to collaborate and support the government's efforts in the acceleration of economic recovery and for tourism industry in Indonesia," said Johanes Chang, CEO of NusaTrip, and Patrick Soetanto, Country Manager of Society Pass.

About NusaTrip

Founded in 2013, NusaTrip is an IATA-licensed online travel agency that serves both local and global customers and partners by optimizing cutting-edge technology and providing 24/7 customer-centric support team-as-a-service. NusaTrip is a member of Society Pass (Nasdaq: SoPa) ecosystem. For more information, please visit: https://www.nusatrip.com.

About Society Pass Inc.

Founded in 2018 as a data-driven loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem in the fast-growing markets of Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, which account for more than 80% of the SEA population, and with offices located in Angeles, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila, and Singapore, Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq: SOPA) is an acquisition-focused holding company operating 6 interconnected verticals (loyalty, digital media, travel, telecoms, lifestyle, and F&B), which seamlessly connects millions of registered consumers and hundreds of thousands of registered merchants/brands across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA.

Society Pass completed an initial public offering and began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SOPA in November 2021. SOPA shares were added to the Russell 2000 index in December 2021.

SoPa acquires fast growing e-commerce companies and expands its user base across a robust product and service ecosystem. SoPa integrates these complementary businesses through its signature Society Pass fintech platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points, which has entered beta testing and is expected to launch broadly at the beginning of 2023. Society Pass loyalty program members earn and redeem Society Points and receive personalised promotions based on SoPa's data capabilities and understanding of consumer shopping behaviour. SoPa has amassed more than 3.3 million registered consumers and over 205,000 registered merchants and brands. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.

SoPa leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in SEA. SoPa operates Thoughtful Media Group, a Thailand-based, a social commerce-focused, digital advertising platform; NusaTrip, a leading Indonesia-based Online Travel Agency; Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, web3-enabled mobile blockchain network operator; Leflair.com, Vietnam's leading lifestyle e-commerce platform; Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Vietnam; Mangan.ph, a leading local restaurant delivery service in Philippines and Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines.

For more information on Society Pass, please visit:
Website at https://www.thesocietypass.com or
LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/societypass or
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thesocietypass or
Twitter at https://twitter.com/society_pass or
Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/societypass/.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management team, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company's management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and prospectus relating to the Company's initial public offering filed with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Media Contacts:
Rosa Milyarna – NusaTrip Indonesia
Rosa@nusatrip.com

NusaTrip/ Society Pass ID PR Representatives
Elisabeth ( elisabeth.winiartati@gmail.com | +62813375150220)
Angga ( anggahadi@gmail.com | +6281213858388)

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Seeing Indonesia’s sports tourism development through Lake Toba F1 Powerboat Championship

Lake Toba, N. Sumatra, Indonesia, Feb 3, 2023 – (ACN Newswire) – In developing its sports tourism potential, Indonesia holds many championships or sports events, and one of the closest is the F1 Powerboat (F1H2O) World Championship in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, on February 24-26. Lake Toba, one of the most spacious lakes in the world, offers a great destination for athletes to compete, and tourists to enjoy the scenic view.

President Joko Widodo (L) inspects the road expansion and a bridge development in Tano Ponggol, Samosir, North Sumatera as a part of preparing the Toba Lake in North Sumatera as a world class tourism destination in Indonesia.

Assistant Deputy for Sustainable Tourism Development at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Kosmas Harefa, stated that the preparation for the F1H2O World Championship in Lake Toba reached 70 percent as of January 24. "It is expected that the preparations are in accordance with the target and all the main gates will have been completed by February 10," Harefa said in a virtual gathering.

The F1 Powerboat is the world's largest motorboat racing competition for powerboats, on par with Formula 1 or MotoGP. Harefa revealed that one of the facilities' constructions, which is a centralized parking location, can accommodate three thousand to four thousand cars. "Currently, the Toba District Government, supported by the North Sumatra Provincial Public Works Office, has prepared a vast parking lot," he added. According to him, the number of visitors is targeted to reach 20 thousand to 25 thousand, by promoting the event intensively.

Meanwhile, Minister of Youth and Sports Zainudin Amali said Lake Toba as the host of F1H20 is very ready to organize this activity, as proven by the venue readiness and other supporting facilities. "The government has prepared many F1 Powerboat post events, to support the economy of the Toba people," Amali, who serves as the Chairperson of the F1H2O National Committee, said.

Lake Toba Cooler

He also ensured that the F1 Powerboat at Lake Toba will pamper the visitors, as he claimed the location is cooler than Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the previous F1 Powerboat event was held on December 16, 2022. "In Sharjah, the venue was an artificial lake and the weather was very hot. This is very different from Lake Toba where the air is cool and not artificial," he explained. He emphasized, the government has been preparing this event very seriously and hoping for support from various parties to make F1 Powerboat 2023 a success.

Moreover, he expressed hope that the F1 Powerboat implementation can result in the emergence of new water sports racing athletes in Indonesia. "We hope that this international event at Lake Toba can find new athletes and hopefully, they can excel," Amali said. He added, the event can promote local micro, small, and medium enterprises and show the world's trust in Indonesia in holding international events.

Unique to the world

State-owned tourism holding firm InJourney said that the F1H20 circuit in Lake Toba is the most unique in the world. "This circuit is quite unique because the track is on the lake. We have carried out the homologation (verification of the track's safety), and the circuit length is 2.2 km. Its shape is unique because Lake Toba is a volcanic lake," InJourney's Marketing and Consumer Experience Director Maya Watono said on Wednesday.

Furthermore, InJourney President Director Dony Oskaria said that the F1H20 will involve the local communities. Oskaria explained, the shores of Lake Toba can serve as places for the spectators and local people are allowed to collect fees as long as they are registered as InJourney official partners. InJourney also involved 500 students as event organizers and will give them certificates.

Minister Amali said the F1H20 event can encourage Lake Toba as one of Indonesia's super-priority tourism destinations, just as Lake Toba has gained the trust of the F1 Committee to host F1H2O for the next five years or until 2027.

By Kenzu Tandiah,
Ed: Rahmad Nasution
COPYRIGHT (c) ANTARA 2023

Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com