Tourism Archives - Page 10 of 16

Vivid Sydney 2023 Serves Up Biggest Program Yet

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

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

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

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

Dusit International’s luxury villa rental business introduces phenomenal new properties to its event villa portfolio in Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bali.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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)

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

One of the most spacious lakes in the world offers a great destination for athletes to compete and tourists to enjoy the scenic vistas

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

Dusit International appoints Makoto Yamashita to spearhead hotel openings in Kyoto, Japan

Seasoned professional brings more than 30 years of marketing and operational experience to the role.

Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has appointed Mr Makoto Yamashita as pre-opening General Manager of ASAI Kyoto Shijo and Area GM – Kyoto, Japan.

Marking an important milestone in Dusit’s ongoing global expansion, the 114-key ASAI Kyoto Shijo is one of two Dusit-branded properties set to debut in Japan this year. It is scheduled to soft open in June 2023, followed by Dusit Thani Kyoto, Japan, in September 2023.

With more than three decades of marketing and operational experience behind him, Mr Yamashita has worked in corporate and property roles for renowned brands in his native Japan. This includes more than 10 years working as Assistant Manager – Marketing at the Corporate Headquarters of JAL Hotels (now Okura Nikko Hotels Japan), followed by stints leading well-known properties under Starwood Hotels & Resorts (now Marriott International) and Mori Trust Hotels & Resorts.

Among the positions he held with Starwood in Japan are Director – Global Sales (2006-2010); Director of Sales & Marketing at Sheraton Hiroshima Hotel (2010-2012); Director of Sales & Marketing at The St. Regis Osaka (2012-2016); Executive Assistant Manager at The St. Regis Osaka (2016-2017); and Cluster General Manager of Tokyo Marriott Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott Tokyo Station (2018-2020).

Prior to joining Dusit, Mr Yamashita was Area General Manager of Mori Trust Hotels & Resorts in Tokyo and Nagano. Here, he oversaw the introduction of new digital systems and operational processes that helped enhance the properties’ efficiency and profitability.

As General Manager of ASAI Kyoto Shijo and Area GM – Kyoto, Mr Yamashita is responsible for spearheading the opening of ASAI Kyoto Shijo and Dusit Thani Kyoto and ensuring both properties meet their financial and operational objectives.

“I am delighted and honoured to introduce Dusit’s unique brand of Thai-inspired gracious hospitality to Japan for the first time at these unique and exciting properties,” said Mr Yamashita. “I look forward to leveraging my own experience, and the expertise of my team, to deliver meaningful and memorable experiences that delight our guests and customers, position each hotel for sustainable success, and set a strong foundation for Dusit’s further expansion in Japan.”

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 six brands (Dusit Thani, Dusit Devarana, dusitD2, Dusit Princess, 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

Job Market in Malaysia Thrives with 65% Increase in Retail Hiring: foundit Insights Tracker

Malaysia recorded a robust 21% year-on-year growth in e-recruitment activity in December ’22 compared to the same month a year ago, according to the foundit Insights Tracker (fit), formerly published as Monster Employment Index (MEI). The growth is attributed to the country easing travel restrictions and opening its borders. The company Monster APAC & Middle East was rebranded as foundit in ‘December 2022.

The Index stands at 76 with 3% month-on-month growth, driving a spree in hiring activity in December ’22. According to fit, the job market has shown noteworthy growth month over month, projecting a continuous demand in the job market. Moreover, over the last three months, there has been a robust 10% growth in hiring across sectors, indicating a persistent demand in the labour market.

The retail industry experienced an impressive 65% increase in hiring activity year-over-year, primarily due to robust retail sales and an upward trend in consumer sentiment. The easing of Covid rules and regulations, fast-growing retail business, along with borders reopening to boost import/export and resume travel have aided the boost in retail jobs. Similar trends were observed in the hospitality sector, where job demand increased significantly by 55%. With a 34% increase in hiring activity, the BFSI sector also maintained its upward trend.

Commenting on job trends for December 2022, Sekhar Garisa, CEO, foundit APAC & ME, said, “The job market in Malaysia is showing strong and sustained demand, as reflected in the impressive growth numbers reported by the foundit Insights Tracker. This is a testament to the country’s success in easing travel restrictions and reopening its borders, which has led to a surge in demand across various sectors, particularly in retail, hospitality, and BFSI. The overall picture is of resilience and growth, even though some sectors have experienced difficulties due to global economic uncertainty. We believe that this trend will persist in the upcoming months.”

Other sectors that showed encouraging growth in December ’22 are Logistic, Courier/ Freight/ Transportation, Shipping/ Marine (+32%), Oil and Gas (+1%), Production/Manufacturing, Automotive and Ancillary (+2%) and Engineering, Construction and Real Estate (+2%) sector from the year-ago level. The advertising, Market Research, Public Relations, Media and Entertainment industry also saw tremendous growth (+15%) in December 22, led by a surge in digital marketing initiatives and artificial intelligence (AI) deployment.

While the Index reflects a year-on-year hiring dip in IT, Telecom/ISP, and BPO/ITES by 13%, the monthly hiring demand in the sector has seen a notable increase. However, hiring in this sector has slowed in recent months, primarily due to ongoing global economic uncertainties.

Online recruitment surpassed the year-ago level in 8 of the 9 occupation groups monitored by the tracker, with Hospitality & Travel leading the charge at (+212%). This is due to the opening of land and air borders as the country has completely eased out of the Covid-19 pandemic and opened its land borders with Singapore. This factor has also contributed to the positive growth in Sales & Business Development job roles (+28%). The increased penetration of digitization across all sectors, followed by a pickup in Finance & Accounts (+29%) roles, registered an increased demand and has maintained resolute growth rates since April ’21. However, among all monitored functions, customer service is the only one to have registered a de-growth of 17% in December ’22.

The foundit Insights Tracker is a comprehensive monthly analysis of online job posting activity conducted by foundit. Based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large, representative selection of online career outlets, the foundit Insights Tracker (FIT) presents a snapshot of employer online recruitment activity nationwide.

Period for the report
The period considered for the foundit Insights Tracker (fit) data is 1st to 31st December, 2022.

About foundit – APAC & Middle East

foundit, formerly Monster (APAC & ME), is a leading talent platform offering comprehensive employment solutions to recruiters and job seekers across APAC & ME. Since its inception, the company has assisted over 75 million registered users to find jobs, upskill, and connect with the right opportunities across 18 countries. Over the last two decades, the company has been a catalyst in the world of recruitment solutions with advanced technology, seeking to efficiently bridge the talent gap across industry verticals, experience levels, and geographies. Today, foundit is committed to enabling and connecting the right talent with the right opportunities by harnessing the power of deep tech to sharpen hyper-personalized job searches, and precision hiring. foundit strongly believes that a job title doesn’t define one’s potential and leverages technology to dig deeper to curate opportunities central to the needs and aspirations of each user.

To learn more, about foundit in APAC & Gulf,

Contact:
Namrata Sharma
Namrata.sharma@adfactorspr.com
+6581383034

Plato Hits 10M Visitors, Lays Out Web3 Vision at Quantum Miami

Plato Technologies Inc. (Plato) announced today that it has passed the 10 millionth visitor mark on its Open Beta. “This represents a significant milestone for the company, and we want to thank everyone involved in this project for their contribution over the course of the last three years of bootstrapping,” said Bryan Feinberg, Plato CEO.

Plato was built as a response to the security vulnerabilities that became prevalent across the ICO boom of 2016-17, as an ultra-secure environment to consume sector specific intelligence with a zero ads model. The company that has been operating in semi-stealth mode for the past 3 years is presenting this week at Quantum Miami (QuantumMiami.com).

“We not only created an immersive data platform that is built to scale, but we figured out how to authentically engage across the sectors we cover, especially across Blockchain & Web3. We started by building an organized taxonomy of the blockchain industry, and once we cracked that we went after the entire innovation superhighway, which now consists of 27 market verticals that intersect with venture capital and private equity. We view ourselves as part of the fabric that is the foundation of Web3, especially when it comes to secured connectivity and trustless environments,” continued Feinberg.

“We learned so much from Beta, not only how to build Ai, but how to build a sustainable data ecosystem via a low-cost, high value product. We are strong believers in testing assumptions against the dynamics of real-world environments and this Open Beta was the perfect medium to battle test our frameworks. Web3 is going through a metamorphosis at present and the race is incorporating more Ai as it relates to driving more personalized and authentic engagements.”

Since its beta launch in April of 2020, Platodata.io has had over 70,000 enterprise visitors from 200+ countries across 27 languages, and 40% of the Fortune 1000.

About Plato

Plato is an open intelligence repository and data platform that unlocks the power of Vertical Search in a highly scalable way. The platform is designed to provide an ultra-safe and secure environment to consume sector-specific real-time data intelligence across 27 market verticals and 27 languages.

For Open Beta, please visit: https://PlatoAistream.com and https://Zephyrnet.com.
On the Web, please visit: https://Platodata.io.

Contact:
Bryan Feinberg [ Zephyr@platodata.io ]
Plato Data Intelligence [ https://Platodata.io ]