Month: November 2019

“Macao Light Festival 2019 – Explore the Light” is set to dazzle different places in Macao from 1st to 31st December, manifesting the sound development of the Macao Special Administrative Region since its establishment 20 years ago through the splendour of light artistry. Staged for the fifth year, Macao Light Festival will illuminate the city’s northern district for the first time, and once again feature participation of non-local teams just as last year. Four teams coming from Spain, Portugal, Japan and Shenzhen will join two Macao teams to present an array of projection mapping shows.

Held for the fifth year, the Macao Light Festival will be staged from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. On the night of 31st December 2019, the light installations at Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre, Anim’Arte Nam Van and the white canopy at Nam Van will be illuminated until 0:10 midnight on 1st January 2020. Themed as “Explore the Light” this year, the Festival will once again present an extravaganza of projection mapping shows, light installations, interactive games and more, covering 15 locations across four districts including the newly-featured northern district, enabling residents and visitors to experience the unique charm of each community. Audiences can appreciate the light artistry while sharing their dazzling journey to “explore the light” in the city with selfie and check-in opportunities en route. Macao Tourism Mascot “MAK MAK” will join local and visiting spectators to explore four glittery routes and Macao’s evolving cityscape over the last two decades through different angles in the art of light. The adventure will be reminiscent of stories and memories belonging to the people of Macao, and evoke the joy brought by celebrations of the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR.

1.“Light of Age” in the northern district will connect different places including Leisure Area in Rua do General Ivens Ferraz, Leisure Area at Baía Norte do Patane on Rua Norte do Patane and Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome. Various spots will be festooned along the route to sparkle like a star-studded sky. Spectators can get lost in the beauty of “Eight Planets” at Leisure Area in Rua do General Ivens Ferraz, hop onto a future spaceship for an experience of “Space Travel”, or enjoy a walk down the memory lane through different decades in Macao with the mapping show “Memory of Macau Canidrome” at Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome.

2.“Light of Memory” in the central district and St. Lazarus’ Parish will connect Leisure Area at Largo da Sé, Ruins of St. Paul’s, Rua dos Ervanários, Largo do Pagode do Bazar and Calçada da Igreja de S. Lázaro. Spectators can experience the fun of “Swinging Cascade” and “AR Magic Sandbox” at Largo do Pagode do Bazar. “Homey Lamp” at Calçada da Igreja de S. Lázaro, will project different home lightings commonly used in different ages, which will mirror the changes in people’s life in Macao.

3.“Light of Colors” in Nam Van and Sai Van Districts will cover Anim’Arte Nam Van, Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre, the white canopy at Nam Van as well as St. Joseph’s Seminary Church. The route will feature a cascade projection titled “Floating Wonder”, a mega light installation “Glistening Lotus” and more, besides an encounter with “Big Mak”, a huge 12-meter-tall balloon “MAK MAK” at Anim’Arte Nam Van. Audiences can enjoy “Flow of Melody”, a piano performance paired with light installation, or shop for local signature delicacies and cultural and creative products in “Anim’Arte Market”.

4.“Light of Harmony” at Our Lady of Carmel Parish will cover the Taipa Houses, Largo dos Bombeiros and the square in front of Pak Tai Temple. “Tide of Love” will project light effects resembling ocean tides at Taipa Houses, creating harmonious scenery imbued with romantic aroma. A mapping show named “Carnival” will be staged at Largo dos Bombeiros to showcase the cultural gems and culinary delights from Portugal, bringing to life the creative dynamic of Macao as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

Mapping Shows in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR
A total of six teams will present projection mapping shows this year, including the teams from Spain, Portugal, Japan and Shenzhen as well as two local teams. Themed in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR, the shows will be staged at two
attractions in the World Heritage Site – “The Historic Centre of Macao”, namely the Ruins of St. Paul’s and St. Joseph’s Seminary Church (the last mapping show will start at 9:50 p.m. every night).

The following mapping shows will be staged at the Ruins of St. Paul’s:
Created by a Spanish team, the mapping show titled “Bloom” will highlight the quaint beauty of the architectural design of the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Macao’s unique cultural legacy. Portraying the incessant growth of different elements in nature, the show will celebrate birth and prosperity. Its background music will be a blend of modern tunes and traditional instrumental music from China and Portugal, emitting festive and colorful vibes. “The Adventures of Snow”, created by a team from Shenzhen as a city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, will unfold the adventures of a snowflake which will float past attractive delicacies, enjoy the thrill of motorsport and visit a magnificent church. Surprises will be discovered along the journey, paying tribute to Macao with dreamlike imagination brought to life. A local production “The Time of Joy” will weave colorful lively patterns and lines, paired with the vigorous rhythm of its original music, into the story of Macao as a fishing village in the old days, the cityscape in cultural harmony and the joyful celebrations of the 20th anniversary.

The following mapping shows will be staged at St. Joseph’s Seminary Church: “Macao’s Light Journey” presented by a Portuguese team will lead spectators to revisit Macao’s historic moments. With the art of projection mapping, the vibrant, colorful and festive show will
manifest the East-meets-West cultures, World Heritage, gastronomy and diversity of events and festivals in Macao. Coming from Japan, the show “Prism” will depict Macao’s historic stories. Combining the light effects made possible with 20 new-model programmable LED lights, the show paints the city’s budding harmony highlighted by the exquisite architectural style of St. Joseph’s Seminary Church, expressing best wishes for Macao’s continuous progress in harmony. Another local production “Let’s ‘20’ Together!” will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR through diverse and colorful projections. Images of sprout, lotus, festive carnival and other elements will be incorporated into the show to embody Macao’s flourishing development in the last two decades and visualize the city’s future brimming with dreams andhopes.

Interactive light installations bestow blessings upon Macao

“Macao Light Festival 2019 – Explore the Light” will feature interactive light installations in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR. Beneath the white canopy at Nam Van, “Joy to the World” will allow residents and visitors to send their best wishes for Macao onto the huge screen on-site via the mobile app for Macao Light Festival 2019. Another interactive light installation known as “Memory in Time” at Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre will offer audiences a window into Macao’s journey over the last 20 years from 1999 to 2019, highlighting the momentous times since the Macao SAR was established 20 years ago.

Redeem gifts via sharing on Light Festival mobile app or social platforms

The mobile app for Macao Light Festival 2019 (with content available in Traditional/Simplified Chinese and English) offers event information, route navigation as well as features for commenting and gift redemption. The mobile app can be downloaded for free on App Store or Google Play as the Light Festival arrives. The public can complete different activities for gift redemption via the mobile app or social media platforms according to instructions. Gifts of Macao Light Festival 2019 can be redeemed at designated information stations located at Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre, Anim’Arte Nam Van, Largo do Pagode do Bazar, Leisure Area at Baía Norte do Patane and the Taipa Houses.

Opening Ceremony on 1st December
Macao Light Festival 2019 will be unveiled with an opening ceremony at Anim’Arte Nam Van in the evening of 1st December, inviting residents and visitors to “Explore the Light” in Macao. For more information about Macao Light Festival 2019, please stay tuned on MGTO’s website (www.macaotourism.gov.mo), MGTO’s WeChat ID (“mgtoweixin”) and themed pages on Facebook (2019 Macao Light Festival) and Instagram (macaolightfestival2019). The public can also download the mobile app for Macao Light Festival 2019.

Media inquiries:
Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Representative in Malaysia
Tel: +603 2144 2500
Email: mgto@pacificworld.travel
Facebook & Instagram Page: Macao Tourism Malaysia
YouTube: MYMacao TV

Aeroflot ranks first by punctuality in October 2019 among world’s top 20 airlines, according to OAG, UK’s major provider of global travel data and insight.

As revealed by monthly OAG On-Time Performance Report, in October 2019, Aeroflot operated 89.8% of its flights on schedule. This result makes the Russian airline the punctuality leader among Europe’s carriers operating over 30 thousand flights monthly. Aeroflot outperformed its key competitors improving its September OTP result by 0.6 p.p.

Earlier, Aeroflot received five-star punctuality rating from OAG, becoming the only Russian and the largest European airline by passenger traffic to receive the highest score. Aeroflot made it to the only 10% of On-Time Performance Star Ratings to receive the highest five-star rating.

Aeroflot has been constantly improving its punctuality result through a host of effective measures. These included strict implementation of boarding regulations. Future plans include innovations based on the latest digital technologies, such as biometric controls, that will significantly accelerate pre-flight airport procedures for passengers.

Source: Aeroflot News

Holland America Line celebrated the keel laying of its new 2,668-passenger Ryndam Nov. 21, 2019, at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard in Italy. A 505-ton block, about 14 by 34 meters, was lowered by crane into the yard’s building dock, marking the official beginning of construction. The Pinnacle Class ship is scheduled for delivery in May 2021.

The event was attended by Keith Taylor, Holland America Group’s executive vice president, fleet operations, and Jan Koller, Holland America Line’s project manager, newbuilds. The block laid was one of 85 blocks in total that will make up the ship. 

“The keel laying is an important construction milestone because it marks the moment when we can really start to watch the ship take shape and progress toward its launch in 18 months,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “Adding Ryndam to our fleet will provide a new canvas for us to share our brand and enable us to show the world to even more cruisers.”

As the third in the series, Ryndam will feature the highly successful Pinnacle Class amenities and innovations including the 270-degree surround screen World Stage, Rudi’s Sel de Mer, Grand Dutch Cafe, Lincoln Center Stage, B.B. King’s Blues Club and Rolling Stone Rock Room. The ship’s design will be created by leading hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany and designer and architect Bjørn Storbraaten.

This is the 17th ship constructed for Holland America Line by Italian shipyard Fincantieri, which most recently built Pinnacle sister ship Nieuw Statendam. The cruise line began its relationship with Fincantieri in 1992 with the building of Statendam.

The first Ryndam was part of the Holland America Line fleet from 1901 to 1929, starting as Rijndam before receiving the English spelling in 1923. In 1927 Ryndam I became the first Holland America Line ship to sail a world cruise, although it was chartered as a floating school at sea for that voyage. The second Ryndam served from 1951 to 1973, and the third sailed in the fleet from 1993 through 2015, when it was transferred to sister brand P&O Australia and now cruises as Pacific Aria.

Seabourn, the world’s finest ultra-luxury cruise line, has sharpened its already keen focus on guest loyalty, expanding rewards for repeat guests who experience the award-winning Seabourn fleet on travel to must-see ports, hidden gems, and remote destinations around the globe. From one of the richest loyalty programs in the cruise industry to newly upgraded benefits and added savings on select voyages, Seabourn Club members understand the value of the Seabourn experience – encouraging travelers to come back, time and time again.

“The loyalty of our guests is something that we celebrate, as their repeat business and referrals to friends and family contribute greatly to our success,” said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn. “Our Seabourn Club loyalty program creates opportunities for repeat guests to save and benefit as they travel the world with Seabourn. Taken together, those benefits are our way of showing our appreciation for their loyalty year after year.”

Here’s a peek at some of the perks returning guests will find today from Seabourn:

Seabourn Club

The benefits of Seabourn’s renowned Seabourn Club loyalty program have always been among the most valuable in the cruise industry, with various levels of membership granting distinctive rewards and options for personalization, including a generous selection of amenities and additional savings for returning guests to choose from and enjoy.

Seabourn Club benefits are redeemable based on six different membership levels – from Club Member to Diamond Elite Member status. Rewards are achieved by accruing one Seabourn Club Point for each day sailed on a Seabourn vessel, with additional Club Points available for days sailed in penthouse and premium suites, pre-cruise online purchases, onboard purchases, and days traveled on pre-, mid-, and post-cruise Seabourn Journeys. There are more than five-dozen rewards available to guests altogether: From “Onboard” amenities such as complimentary internet and telephone service, savings on shore excursions, premium wine & spirits, spa credits, and disembarkation/embarkation transfers, to “At Home” amenities such as complimentary magazine subscriptions, branded luggage tags, and savings on luggage shipping services – there is something for every member to enjoy.

The most popular Seabourn Club reward by far is a Milestone Cruise Award, including a complimentary cruise up to seven days redeemable at 140 Sailed Days, or a complimentary cruise up to 14 days redeemable at 250 Sailed Days.

Seabourn Club members will also be recognized with an onboard event and a special gift when they reach various Sailed Days Milestones from 100 Sailed Days to 2,500 Sailed Days.

Seabourn Club Referral Rewards

Seabourn is launching the NEW Seabourn Club Referral Rewards program, offering both the referring Club member and the first-time guest shipboard credits of $250USD per suite that can be combined with other Seabourn shipboard credit promotions. Even more enticing, all Seabourn Club members can now redeem up to two referral rewards on a single booking for a total reward of $500USD per suite

The referral process has also been updated and improved, with a new online system for registration, referrals and rewards redemptions. For more information about the new Seabourn Club Referral Rewards program, visit the Seabourn website.

Special Savings Opportunity for World Cruise Guests

As if all of the benefits above weren’t enough for returning guests, Seabourn has a special offer for round-the-would cruisers. Guests who have a valid booking on the line’s full 146-day World Cruise: Extraordinary Destinations aboard Seabourn Sojourn in January 2020 will be eligible for an additional five percent discount when booking the full 140-day World Cruise: Extraordinary Oceans scheduled for departure in January 2021. Now that’s something for returning guests to look forward to from every angle!

Seabourn represents the pinnacle of ultra-luxury travel with intimate ships offering key elements that set the line apart: spacious, thoughtfully appointed suites, many with verandas and all oceanfront; superb dining experiences; complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available on board at all times; award-winning service and a relaxed, sociable atmosphere that makes guests feel at home on board. The ships travel the globe to many of the world’s most desirable destinations including marquee cities, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and lesser-known ports and hideaways. The line is also the Official Cruise Partner of UNESCO World Heritage, aiding its mission of safeguarding and promoting the world’s unique cultural and natural heritage recognized for its outstanding universal value.

Regular guests of Seabourn will continue to find a number of innovative offerings and programs, including partnerships with a select group of companies and individuals whose dedication to superior quality, exceptional service and consistent customer satisfaction matches Seabourn.

Such programs include ‘An Evening with Tim Rice’, the new evening entertainment experience created exclusively for the line in association with Belinda King Creative Productions; ‘Shopping with the Chef’ excursions in select ports, with an expert Seabourn chef as guide to learn about regional markets and see how the freshest ingredients are selected; ‘Seabourn Conversations’ with special guest speaker including knowledgeable historians, naturalists, marine biologists, destination experts and more; Spa and Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil, offering guests a holistic spa and wellness experience that integrates physical, social, environmental and spiritual well-being; and The Grill by Thomas Keller, reminiscent of the classic American restaurant from the 50’s and 60’s. Exclusive to Seabourn, The Grill is a unique culinary concept for Chef Keller, focusing on updated versions of iconic dishes. Guests will be treated to table-side preparations of Caesar salad and ice cream sundaes, as well as a range of other favorites like premium steaks, whole roasted chicken, and Lobster Thermidor, presented à la carte.

Source: www.seabourn.com

While not everyone will have the chance to see the new livery in person, anyone will be able to track United's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker-themed aircraft via special icon on FlightAware, the world's largest online flight tracking platform. For the first time, aviation and Star Wars enthusiasts can track past and future flights on both desktop and mobile by entering the plane's tail number and the new livery will appear on FlightAware's flight tracking maps as the X-Wing starship.

Safety is our highest priority

The new inflight safety demonstration video highlights United's lasting commitment to the safety of all the airline's customers and employees traveling to places "far, far away." In addition to United employees providing safety instructions on what do to in the unlikely event of an emergency, the video features special appearances by several iconic Star Wars characters and thrilling, space-themed sequences scored to some of the most recognizable musical themes in both motion picture and commercial aviation history. The safety video also highlights some of the many international destinations United serves within the airline's galaxy. To view the safety video, please visit: united.com/starwars.

Connecting People. Uniting the Worlds

Beginning today, on MileagePlus Exclusives, members will be able to bid award miles on several unique Star Wars experiences including:

• Access to attend the premieres of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in Los Angeles and London
• Travel packages for four to visit Star Wars filming locations in Jordan to see how the filmmakers transformed the landscape for the movie
• Access to exclusive screenings of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in United hub cities on December 19
• Special collectors package enabling members to take home a piece of Star Wars and United Airlines. The package features commemorative United and Star Wars branded items including Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker-themed amenity kits, special pins and a model aircraft of United's Star-Wars-themed Boeing 737-800

For more information, please visit: MileagePlus Exclusives.

Every customer. Every flight. Every day.

In 2019, United is focusing more than ever on its commitment to its customers, looking at every aspect of its business to ensure that the carrier keeps customers' best interests at the heart of its service. In addition to today's announcement, this year United:

• Announced that MileagePlus award miles will never expire
• Gave Economy customers a choice of complimentary snacks on domestic flights
• Made DIRECTV free for every customer on more than 200 aircraft
• Released a new version of the award-winning, most downloaded app in the airline industry
• Launched a new tool called ConnectionSaver, dedicated to improving the experience for customers with connecting flights
• Partnered with CLEAR on free or discounted memberships for MileagePlus members
• Announced PlusPoints, new upgrade benefits for MileagePlus Premier members
• And introduced products in its amenity kits made exclusively for the airline by luxury skincare line Sunday Riley

About United

United's shared purpose is "Connecting People. Uniting the World." We are more focused than ever on our commitment to customers through a series of innovations and improvements designed to help build a great experience: Every customer. Every flight. Every day. Together, United and United Express operate approximately 4,900 flights a day to 358 airports across five continents. In 2018, United and United Express operated more than 1.7 million flights carrying more than 158 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates 788 mainline aircraft and the airline's United Express partners operate 560 regional aircraft. United is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 195 countries via 26 member airlines. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter and Instagram or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Airlines Holdings, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".

About Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Lucasfilm and director J.J. Abrams join forces once again to take viewers on an epic journey to a galaxy far, far away with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the riveting conclusion of the seminal Skywalker saga, where new legends will be born and the final battle for freedom is yet to come.

The film stars Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant, Lupita Nyong'o, Keri Russell, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran, with Ian McDiarmid and Billy Dee Williams

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams and Michelle Rejwan. Callum Greene, Tommy Gormley and Jason McGatlin serve as executive producers. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was written by J.J. Abrams & Chris Terrio and opens in U.S. theaters on December 20.

Miles, awards and benefits are subject to the rules of the United MileagePlus program. For details, see www.united.com. For details relating to United's MileagePlus Exclusives see https://exclusives.mileageplus.com/Home/Terms

Source : United Airlines