Northstar

www.travelweekly-asia.com | 29 GLOBAL WRAP THE BEST OF TRAVEL WEEKLY ASIA'S GLOBAL WRAP e-DAILY Travel Weekly Asia writers and correspondents wrap up the best of the news from across Asia. Beep, beep. Avis launches agent- training platform TWO MILLION AND COUNTING FOR KAI TAK CRUISE TERMINAL Hong Kong's Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, operated by Worldwide Cruise Terminals, has celebrated the arrival of its two millionth cruise ship passenger during the World Dream's turn call. Kai Tak Cruise Terminal's achievement is made even more impressive, considering the fact that it was only 15 months ago when it welcomed its one millionth cruise passenger. "The arrival of our two millionth cruise passenger today is further validation of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal's success since its inception in 2013," said Jeff Bent, managing director of Worldwide Cruise Terminals. TRIPADVISOR FAKE REVIEWER SENT TO JAIL The owner of a fraudulent reviews business has been sentenced to prison and fined in what TripAdvisor considers a milestone for the internet. Avis Budget Group in Asia has launched its training platform: Beep — a one-stop-portal for travel trade professionals. The platform provides an overview of the company's brands, Avis Car Rental and Budget Car Rental and features training modules, booking tools, destination and driving guides. The Beep platform will make it easier for travel trade professionals to offer products and services from the two brands to their customers. Both the Avis and the Budget platforms will be rolled out simultaneously. To sign up for Beep, travel agents should register at www. abgbeep.com/asia. A screen shot of the one-stop-portal Singapore and London. The flight will be withdrawn after January 2019. When approached for comments, a Changi Airport Group spokesman said, "Since the commencement of services on September 29, 2017, there has been a stable growth in passenger traffic between Singapore and London. We will continue to engage the airline and hope that the service will resume at a later date." AUSTRALIA, THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN YOU THINK Tourism Australia wants to change the way people perceive Australia — it's not all kangaroos, koalas and the outback, says the NTO. UnDiscover Australia, a multi- million dollar campaign targeting Southeast Asia, will showcase lesser-known attractions across a vast continent. Tourism Australia chief marketing officer Lisa Ronson, speaking at a Singapore launch event, said the campaign aimed to bust some of the popular myths about Australia held by travellers in the Asia region. STB NAMES ITS NEW CHIEF Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has appointed Keith Tan Kean Loong as its new chief executive, replacing Lionel Yeo, who stepped down as STB chief in May after 22 years of public service. Tan will move to STB from the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) where he is currently deputy secretary of policy. He will take up his new role on October 29. PHOTO CREDIT: MURAT GÖÇMEN/ GETTYIMAGES. Fake reviews are punished in Italy. The Criminal Court of Lecce in Italy ruled — in a case among the first of its kind — that writing fraudulent reviews under a fake identity is punishable under Italian criminal law. As such, the owner of PromoSalento, which sold fake reviews to Italian hospitality companies, was ordered to spend nine months in prison and pay 8,000 euros in damages. BETTER BEHAVE, MATE, OR UBER WILL BLACKLIST YOU Uber is to block customers in Australia and New Zealand from its ride service if they do not behave. Riders rated four-out-of-five stars or lower will be banned for six months. Ratings are based on feedback left by drivers after each journey. The move is aimed at improving passenger behaviour, the company said. NORWEGIAN AIR QUITS SINGAPORELONDON SERVICE Despite launching in September 2017 to much enthusiasm, Norwegian Air is cancelling the world's only budget flight between Crystal Serenity. A happy traveller receiving a certificate and gift for being the two millionth cruise passenger to pass through Hong Kong's Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. CRYSTAL REVEALS WORLD VOYAGE DETAILS Crystal's 26th annual World Cruise — The "Ancient Dynasties and World Wonders" voyage — has opened for booking. The cruise departs from Miami to London on January 5, 2021, sailing an epic 139-day route through the Caribbean, Hawaiian Islands, South Pacific, Australia, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, the Far East, the UAE and the Mediterranean. Guests can choose to sail the complete itinerary from Miami to London (January 5 to May 24, 139 days); from Los Angeles to London (January 21 to May 24, 123 days); Miami to Rome (January 5 to May 12, 127 days); or Los Angeles to Rome (January 21 to May 12, 111 days). Special fares for the full World Cruise start at US$46,199 per person expiring October 31, 2018.

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