News & Events

APG NETWORK CONVENES AGM FIRST TIME IN MALAYSIA

24AprMay 20, 2024

The APG Network (“APG”) will be holding its 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 23-25 April 2024. The convening of the AGM in Kuala Lumpur is significant in that it is the first time that the AGM is being held in the Asia-Pacific region bringing together over 100 delegates from Europe, the Americas, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.

APG is the world's largest and most successful airline representation network with over 100 offices worldwide and partnering with over 200 valued airline clients.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Malaysia Hon. Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan will welcome the 150+ international delegates and guests at the Mini Forum to be held on 24 April at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

Mr Richard Burgess, President of APG Network said, “APG is a global organization spanning over 170 countries and our AGM visits different countries each year to reflect our worldwide credentials. We are delighted to be hosting our AGM this year in Kuala Lumpur and we would thank our hosts for their warm Malaysian welcome and the generous support of our event by Tourism Malaysia.”

Mr Richard Burgess and APG Inc’s President & CEO Ms Sandrine de Saint Sauveur will address the attendees of the Mini Forum themed “Aviation & Tourism – The Intrinsic Link”. Perspectives from the travel, tourism and aviation industry will also be shared by Mr Shahrin Mokhtar – Director of Strategic Planning, Tourism Malaysia, Mr Mayur Patel – Head of Asia, OAG Aviation and Mr Nigel Wong – President MATTA (Malaysian Association of Tours & Travel Agents). It is expected that this Mini Forum will underline the strong synergy between tourism and aviation in order to succeed.

“We are indeed proud that Malaysia is the host country for this year’s AGM and following it, APG will be holding its APAC Regional Training Conference in Melaka which will be attended by 70 Asia Pacific members as well as international trainers,” said Tunku Iskandar APG APAC Regional Vice President and Group President of APG Malaysia and APG Singapore.

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About APG:
With over 30 years’ experience in airline distribution and over 100 offices globally, APG is the world's largest and most successful airline representation network, partnering with over 200 valued airline clients. APG offers a holistic approach to airline distribution, offering not only airline representation but also interline e-ticketing solutions, fare filing and settlement support services, all aimed at maximising an airline's revenue potential. APG is always at the forefront of distribution development and our latest APG NDC Platform will assist airlines unlock the benefits of NDC distribution. APG Cargo’s services are also gaining worldwide interest from airlines including our APG Cargo Interline solution (Cargo IET), cargo GSSA services and total cargo management solutions.
The APG Network is indeed, “The World’s Leading Network for Airline Services.”

Please visit our website www.apg-ga.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook @APGNetwork.

For media enquiries please contact APG Media Relations, Mr Frederick Despreaux Email: f.despreaux@apg-ga.com

MMPRC Promotes Dive Adventures and Breathtaking Maldivian Seascapes at ADEX Ocean Mission 2024

16AprApril 16, 2024

Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC / Visit Maldives), along with 6 industry partners, promoted the breathtaking underwater seascapes of the Maldives to the Southeast Asia (SEA) market at ADEX Ocean Mission 2024. This event was held from 12 April 2024 to 14 April 2024, at the Suntec Singapore Exhibition and Convention Centre.

With a history spanning 26 years, ADEX is the biggest and longest-running dive expo in Asia – considered to be one of the industry’s “must-attend” events. ADEX brings together distinguished VIPs and speakers from across the globe – scientists, marine conservationists, underwater photographers, videographers, and many others. It also provides a platform for various exhibitors such as dive operators, equipment manufacturers, and national tourism boards of countries.

MMPRC utilised this event to provide the latest destination information to interested visitors and create awareness for the Maldives as a preferred dive destination. The fair was also an ideal platform to collect market intelligence targeted for a niche segment through observations, and understand the sentiments of divers and dive enthusiasts from the Asian and Southeast Asian markets, in order to best promote and attract visitors from this segment to the Maldives. Participation in this event came under our efforts to promote the Maldives as the most preferred destination among Southeast Asian, especially Singaporean travellers, and to showcase the diving and underwater experiences available in the Maldives at the largest dive fair in the SEA market.

Some of the activities at the stand for Visit Maldives included a consumer survey, distribution of informative flash cards about Maldivian marine life, and artworks displaying the different dive locations in the Maldives.

This market ended last year with 58,947 visitors in total. From January to February this year, the Maldives welcomed 7,481 tourists from the SEA market. MMPRC has planned several activities targeting this market, to increase travellers and maintain destination presence. These activities include joint-marketing campaigns with major stakeholders, outdoor advertising campaigns, participation in fairs, hosting webinars, E-Learning programs and other events.

For further information, please contact

Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation – PR Representative in Southeast Asia
Pacific World Travel Sdn Bhd
Suite 1001, Level 10, Wisma Lim Foo Yong,
86 Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603 2141 3899 | Email: visitmaldives@pacificworld.travel

MMPRC strengthens destination presence in Malaysian and Southeast Asian market at MATTA 2024

25MarMarch 25, 2024

Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/ Visit Maldives) participated in Malaysia's premier travel extravaganza, the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) from the 22nd to 24th March 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. MMPRC along with representatives from 13 companies from the Maldives tourism industry showcased the Maldives as the most preferred holiday destination in the Malaysian and Southeast Asian market.

MATTA provided a wide array of exciting and value-for-money travel options to the potential visitors. Aligned with our strategies to strengthen the Maldives brand and destination presence, MMPRC aim to engage with key collaborators in the market to elevate the impact of Maldives tourism industry. Additionally, MMPRC’s participation in MATTA provide significant opportunities to promote halal tourism, targeting travellers in this market.

MMPRC highlighted our rich culture and heritage during this three-day event. The Maldives stand featured cultural elements of our destination with engaging activities. A stunning cultural display enchanted the visitors in the authentic Maldivian craftsmanship. Additionally, the cultural presentation at the stand showcased our history, customs, and traditions allowing guests to experience the essence of the Maldivian culture firsthand. The presentation was highlighted by an exciting holiday giveaway sponsored by Adaaran Club Rannalhi and Adaaran Select Hudhuranfushi.

Throughout this event, MMPRC provided the visitors with the latest information about the Maldives, highlighting our new products, segments, and offers. The fair provided multiple opportunities for the industry partners to promote their unique products and services. Additionally, our participation in MATTA 2024 provided a valuable platform to connect with industry professionals, forge new partnerships, and gain valuable insights into the evolving travel landscape, solidifying our position as a leading travel destination in the region.

The Malaysian market holds immense potential for the Maldives. In the previous year, it ranked 26th as a source market with a notable 13,551 arrivals. As of March 2024, Maldives have welcomed 3,063 tourists from Southeast Asia. MMPRC has planned several marketing activities in this region to market and further promote the destination. Activities such as digital and social media campaigns; participation in major fairs, roadshows, and exhibitions; training programs; and outdoor campaigns are planned to be held throughout 2024 to increase arrivals and maintain destination momentum in the Malaysian and Southeast Asian market.

Maldives Achieves Highest Ever Tourist Arrivals with Over 1.8 million Tourists in 2023

21Dec

The Maldives has welcomed our 1.8 millionth tourist for the year 2023, successfully reaching the arrival target set for the year. Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC/ Visit Maldives) held a vibrant ceremony today to mark the momentous occasion. We reached this incredible milestone on 20th December 2023 with the arrival of Dutch native Mr Stefan Mathijs Hermans on flight EK652 from Dubai, UAE. This is Mr Hermans’ first trip to the Maldives and he is here for a family holiday with his wife and two children. This is the first year that the Maldives has ever welcomed over 1.8 million tourists and marks our highest arrival numbers to date.

MMPRC hosted a special celebratory event at Velana International Airport to commemorate this momentous milestone, joined by representatives from the Ministry of Tourism, Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), Maldives Immigration, and Maldives Customs Service. The Minister of Tourism, Honourable Ibrahim Faisal joined the event today in addition to the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director (CEO & MD) of MMPRC, Ms Fathmath Thaufeeq. The CEO & MD of MACL, Mr Ibrahim Shareef Mohamed, the Head of Airport Division, Principal Immigration Officer of Maldives Immigration, Ms Fathimath Majidha Hassan, and the Deputy Commissioner of Customs, Mr Mahmood Riyaz also joined the event celebrating this landmark achievement.

“We are immensely proud of this achievement and remain committed to reaching the targets set for our tourism industry for next year as well. Every visitor who arrives in the Maldives has their breath taken away by the natural beauty of our nation, the warm hospitality of our people, and the unmatched variety of places to stay and things to do. We are here to make sure that everyone everywhere in the world knows that their perfect holiday is waiting for them in the Sunny Side of Life,” said CEO & MD of MMPRC, Ms Fathmath Thaufeeq.

MMPRC has been continuously conducting marketing campaigns throughout the year 2023, leveraging marketing strategies and immersive promotional campaigns that showcase the unparalleled beauty and experiences that the Maldives has to offer. With our comprehensive 360-degree marketing approach, our efforts resonated with the worldwide audience, ensuring that the Maldives as a destination remained in the spotlight throughout the year for travellers seeking unforgettable experiences. We conducted a total of 349 marketing and promotional campaigns throughout the year with a combined reach of over 6,011,389,743.

Notable collaborations include joint campaigns with world-renowned brands such as BBC Studios, CNN International Commercial and Qatar Airways. Another highlight of the year was the success of the Visit Maldives Storytellers’ Conference 2023. Our strategic promotional activities aimed at improving visitor numbers during the low season through sustainable tourism experiences allowed the Maldives to further cement our place as the top destination in the world, achieving over 1 million visitors within only seven months.

The success of these campaigns was recognised on the global stage during the World Travel Awards event, where the MMPRC and the Maldives won the three highest honours of the night. The Maldives was awarded the prestigious title of World’s Leading Destination for the fourth year in a row, along with being a recipient of the newly-introduced Global Tourism Resilience Award for strategically building capacity to recover swiftly and thrive after disruptions. MMPRC was recognised for its work in promoting the Maldives as a destination with the World’s Leading Tourist Board Award for the second year in a row.

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United Opens Two New Clubs in Denver, Including Its Largest Club in the World

15Dec

DENVER, Sept. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- United today announced the opening of its largest United Club at Denver International Airport. This new, 35,000 sq.-ft. club is located in the B Concourse, providing a modern take on the United Club experience with a new feature bar offering beer flight boards to taste a seasonal rotation of premium local and craft beers. This club is the second in a series of new locations to open in Denver this summer; last month, a new 24,000 sq.-ft. United Club opened in the A Concourse, featuring a luxurious ski lodge aesthetic and thoughtful design touches inspired by the Colorado outdoors.

The air carrier will open an additional revamped club location in 2025, and once open, Denver International Airport will feature more than 100,000 sq.-ft. of United Club space – nearly the size of two football fields – across three United Club locations and United Club Fly, a unique grab-and-go concept offering enhanced food and beverage for United Club members with quick connections. With more than two-thirds of United customers connecting to other places in Denver, the new clubs are expected to accommodate more than double the number of travelers than before.

The opening of these new clubs comes on the heels of United unveiling a new club concept, United Club Fly^SM, in Denver last year, that is a first-of-its-kind concept for a U.S. airline. Since opening, United Club Fly has been visited by more than 100,000 travelers who've enjoyed the elevated convenience to grab food or beverages on the way to their flight.

"The new United Club locations are designed and operated to reflect feedback from our customers and match the way their travel has evolved in recent years," said Alexander Dorow, United's Head of Clubs & Lounges. "We're growing our hub in the Mile High City, and the expansion and renovation of United Club locations represents our commitment to Colorado and our customers' experience."

B Concourse United Club

Located on the eastern side in the B Concourse near gate B44, this new club location touts 35,000 sq.-ft. across three levels and more than 600 seats, making it the largest club in United's network. The space reflects Denver's beer scene with brewery-inspired elements and a new beer tasting experience at the feature bar on the mezzanine level. At the feature bar, travelers can choose from a seasonal rotation of 10 local and craft beers on tap, with selections from Colorado breweries New Belgium, Great Divide, Denver Beer Company, Upslope, among others, to enjoy from United customized tasting boards and beer glasses. The feature bar area is distinguished by five Vestaboards displaying personalized messages and menu offerings and a custom, vibrant blue mural by visual artist Charlo Garcia Walterbach that explores the joy and discovery of new places that travel brings to life.

Inspired by Denver's urban areas, the space features details such as concrete flooring, hand-crafted decor and exposed ceilings for a sleek and modern design. Throughout the space, guests can enjoy a variety of locally-sourced furnishings and artwork, including photography, paintings, sculptures and murals that reflect the Denver community. The entryway features a sculpture inspired by the cones of the Colorado Blue Spruce. Made by Will Schlough, the piece is crafted from dozens of skateboards meant to resemble colorful pinecones. An additional statement mural by local artists, Jaime Molina and Pedro Barrios, tells the story of Denver through highly-visual, street art inspired geometric shapes.

A Concourse United Club

Influenced by the Colorado Rocky Mountains, travelers visiting the new club location on the western side of the A Concourse near gate A26 can experience a sense of place among locally-sourced furniture and decor that reflects Colorado's outdoor landscapes and experiences. Designed to feel like a ski lodge, two fireplace lounges, stacked wood, flannel patterned cushions and vintage ski decor make travelers feel like they're nestled deep in the woods on a Colorado retreat.

This 24,000 sq.-ft club offers two premium bars and 400 seats across two levels of club space. There's room to grab food and drinks, play a few rounds of shuffleboard in the game lounge or relax near the fireplaces.

The space features hand-crafted, custom artwork from local artists, including a sculptural installation from Colorado-based artist Amy Hoagland that uses glass rods to form a topographic-inspired piece that creates an optical illusion from different vantage points. A custom 'Come Fly With Us' mural by Denver-based multidisciplinary designer Adam Vicarel is prominently displayed in the club's game lounge, and it showcases a combination of colors and shapes that exemplify travel and the Colorado landscape. Additional local artwork includes a glass sculpture, mixed media collages, photographs and paintings inspired by Colorado nature.

Both club locations include enhanced amenities, such as free high-speed Wi-Fi, self-scan entry gates for seamless club access, agent on demand kiosks for any travel planning questions and wellness rooms. Each club also serves premium culinary offerings with local flair, including oatmeal paired with Colorado honey, egg frittata inspired by the Denver omelet (ham, bell peppers, red onion, spinach and cheddar cheese), Colorado Club sandwiches and pork green chili.

This expansion is part of the carrier's nearly $1 billion investment to further improve the customer experience in Denver. Earlier this year, United announced new non-stops to six destinations including four not served by any other Denver airline and local infrastructure improvements such as 12 new gates set to open in the A and B concourses by the middle of 2024 – giving United 90 total gates, the most at Denver International Airport.

For more information on United Club locations, visit united.com/unitedclub, and view media assets here.

About United

At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers, and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".

SOURCE: United Airlines

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