HOTEL VILLA FONTAINE PREMIER/GRAND HANEDA AIRPORT OFFERS ROOMS FEATURING JAL, HATSUNE MIKU, LOVE LIVE! NIJIGASAKI HIGH SCHOOL IDOL CLUB, OTHER POPULAR CONTENT

TOKYO, Mar. 29, 2024 /Kyodo JBN/ --

- Hoping Guests Will Experience New Value of Traveling in Japan -

 
Sumitomo Fudosan Villa Fontaine Co., Ltd., a Sumitomo Realty Group, has begun offering guestrooms featuring Japan Airlines, a major Japanese carrier, Hatsune Miku, LINE FRIENDS, and other characters that are popular worldwide at Hotel Villa Fontaine Premier/Grand Haneda Airport. It is Japan's largest airport hotel with 1,717 guestrooms and directly connected to Haneda Airport (Tokyo International Airport) Terminal 3.
 
Images: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/release/202403148023?p=images
 
The hotel has set aside and specially designed about 100 guestrooms featuring popular characters from Japan and elsewhere to enhance the value of staying at the hotel. The company hopes guests will enjoy their unique experiences near Haneda Airport, the largest airport in Japan that is aiming to be a tourism-oriented country.
 
Official website: https://kyodonewsprwire.jp/attach/202403148023-O1-5q8131VY.pdf
 
Sumitomo Fudosan Villa Fontaine is collaborating with the following airlines and characters in the project (alphabetical order):
 
- Hatsune Miku
 
The six Piapro Characters -- Hatsune Miku, a virtual singer that is popular worldwide, Kagamine Rin, Kagamine Len, Megurine Luka, MEIKO and KAITO -- will be in the project. It is the first collaboration of all the six Piapro Characters with a hotel.
 
- Japan Airlines
 
A record 24 guestrooms are for collaboration with JAL, the same number as the destinations of the carrier's international flights from Haneda. JAL began international service when it launched flights on the Haneda-Honolulu-San Francisco route.
 
- Kanosei Art Project by TOPPAN Group ("kanosei" means "possibilities" in Japanese)
 
It is a project launched by TOPPAN Group, a leading Japanese printing company, to promote works that disabled artists create under the theme of "infinite possibilities and talents." Part of the accommodation charges paid by those who stay at guestrooms set aside for this project is donated to the Borderless Art Organization and artists with disabilities to support their activities.
 
- KOKUYO
 
KOKUYODOORS, a shop operated by major Japanese stationery company KOKUYO, oversaw the design and layout of the rooms. It is the first time that a hotel has collaborated with the stationery company in such a way.
 
- LINE FRIENDS
 
Guestrooms have set aside for collaboration with "LINE FRIENDS." Soft colors and Japanese flavors are in the rooms' unique design that can be seen only at this hotel.
 
- Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club
 
Guestrooms are themed with Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, one of the works in the "Love Live!" series of a Japanese multimedia project.
 
- Sirotan
 
Collaboration rooms are with "Sirotan," an adorable harp seal character, by Creative Yoko Co., Ltd. Guests are able to enjoy Japanese pop culture while staying with Sirotan.
 
About Hotel Villa Fontaine Premier/Grand Haneda Airport
 
The hotel connected with Haneda Airport Terminal 3 is convenient for guests who stay there pre & post arrival/departure. The hotel covers wide range of needs, not only business but for leisure. It offers early birds’ breakfast at Grand Aile, opening from 6 am to 1 am.
 
About HANEDA AIRPORT GARDEN
 
The commercial complex is featuring Japan's largest (*) airport hotel with 1,717 rooms, shops & restaurants, an onsen spa, event halls, and a bus terminal.
 
 
(*) The number of guestrooms in the premises is the largest among all airport hotels in Japan, according to a research by JTB Tourism Research & Consulting Co. in Sept. 2022.
 
 
Source: Sumitomo Fudosan Villa Fontaine Co., Ltd.  

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MIDEA GROUP SETS RECORD-BREAKING REVENUE OF 373.7 BLN CHINESE YUAN IN 2023

KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 (Bernama) -- Midea Group, the world's largest home appliance supplier has reported total revenue for 2023 increased 8.10 per cent year-on-year to 373.7 billion Chinese yuan. (100 Chinese yuan = RM65.46)

In a statement, the group said its net profit attributable to shareholders reached 33.7 billion Chinese yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.10 per cent, marking the largest growth since 2019.

The company's success is attributed to its "Global Impact" strategy, which has resulted in overseas sales accounting for over 40 per cent of its total sales for several years, demonstrating its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and global expansion.

Midea's products have been exported to over 200 countries and regions worldwide, and it is continuously expanding its overseas manufacturing layout, promoting the construction of manufacturing bases in Indonesia, India, Thailand, Brazil, Mexico, Italy, and Egypt, among others.

Its new energy and industrial technology are co-builders of digital transformation and green sustainable development in the global industrial field, consolidating its leading position in the industry.

The company's household air conditioning compressor business ranked first in 2023, claiming a global market share of 45 per cent, while its household air conditioning and washing machine motors also secured the top spot globally, with market shares of 40 per cent and 22 per cent, respectively.

Furthermore, its New Energy automotive parts product lines are rapidly developed, with an expected shipment volume of 750,000 units in 2023, representing a year-on-year growth of 400 per cent.

Additionally, through the acquisition of energy companies such as CLOU Electronics and Hiconics Eco-energy, Midea has entered the energy storage industry, which holds immense market potential.

Midea Group has invested over 14.5 billion Chinese yuan in research and development, employing more than 23,000 research personnel globally. As of 2022, the company ranks seventh globally in total patent families, first among Chinese enterprises and the global home appliance industry, with over 28,000 invention patents.

The group has approximately 200 subsidiaries, 33 research and development centres, and 40 major production bases worldwide, with over 190,000 employees.

-- BERNAMA

Park Place Technologies Acquires Virginia-based SDV Solutions

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- Park Place Technologies, the world’s leading data centre and networking optimisation firm, has acquired Virginia-based SDV Solutions, which provides client-centric data centre infrastructure solutions exclusively to Federal Government agencies.

Founded in 2004 by service-disabled veteran of the United States (US) Air Force and current owners Mike McMahan and Erin McMahan, SDV is a multi-original equipment manufacturer (OEM), independent third-party services provider exclusively to the US Federal Government.

Mike McMahan will remain with Park Place to ensure clients have a consistent and trusted team supporting the most critical missions of the US Government.

Park Place Technologies President and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Adams in a statement said SDV’s reputation and business practices make it an important addition for Park Place’s established Federal client base.

“We have been firmly entrenched in the Federal space and continue to foster long-term relationships at the highest levels. The trust and unquestioned dedication SDV is known for will be joined with our mission to optimise government data centre budgets, productivity, performance, and sustainability,” he said.

Park Place helps more than 21,000 clients optimise data centre budgets, productivity, performance, and sustainability so they can think bigger, and act faster.

From procurement to decommissioning, Park Place’s comprehensive portfolio of services and products helps information technology (IT) teams optimise IT lifecycle management.

SDV’s Channel partners will have access to Park Place’s decades-long platforms of partner incentives, Federal-adherent processes, US-based supply chain and deeper depth of security-cleared field engineers.

-- BERNAMA

NETSFERE PLATFORM DEPLOYED BY KPJ PASIR GUDANG SPECIALIST HOSPITAL TO PREVENT DATA BREACH

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 (Bernama) -- NetSfere has announced that KPJ Pasir Gudang Specialist Hospital (KPJ PGSH), one of the leading private healthcare providers in Malaysia, deployed the secure enterprise messaging platform to empower healthcare staff with secure and intuitive communications.

Netsfere has been implemented to align with KPJ PGSH’s mission of ensuring safety and professionalism, according to the company in a statement.

As part of tackling cybersecurity threats and keeping patient and hospital data secure and private, KPJ PGSH management equipped its staff with NetSfere.

With its world-class execution, NetSfere allows caregivers to discuss, share and collaborate seamlessly in a completely secure environment governed by the policies set by the hospital’s management.

NetSfere Enterprise allows the information technology team to set up the policies for messaging making sure information can remain private and under the organisation’s control.

“Permitting caregivers to discuss information swiftly and avoid potential data breaches is what healthcare systems need during this technological era so they can improve patient care.

“NetSfere provides healthcare systems with a convenient and frictionless way to share ideas, files and data without compromising productivity, security or compliance,” said NetSfere Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific and Middle East, Chee Leng Loy.

Meanwhile, KPJ PGSH Chief Executive Officer, Khairul Hasanain Abdul Hamid said NetSfere’s end-to-end encrypted platform helps its healthcare staff protect against third-party organisations from accessing patient or hospital data.

KPJ PGSH is the 23rd hospital under the flagship of KPJ Healthcare Berhad group and was established to cater to the medical needs primarily of Pasir Gudang and its neighbourhood regions of Johor.

A global provider of next-generation secure and compliant messaging and mobility solutions, NetSfere provides industry-leading security and message delivery capabilities, including global cloud-based service availability, device-to-device encryption, location-based features, and administrative controls.

-- BERNAMA

CHINESE SMART EV MAKER XPENG STEERS TOWARD GLOBAL MARKET VIA ASEAN PARTNERSHIPS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 26 (Bernama) -- A Chinese smart electric vehicle (Smart EV) company, XPENG Motors (XPENG), has announced its latest long-term strategic partnership with Neo Mobility Asia Co Ltd, a joint venture between Arun Plus Mobility Holdings Co Ltd, a subsidiary of PTT and MGC-Asia GreenTech Co Ltd, in Thailand.

According to a statement, the partnership marks XPENG's international footprint as it has entered ASEAN and led to the official launch of XPENG at the 45th Bangkok International Motor Show.

“By entering new markets strategically and offering a range of EV models tailored to local customer needs, we aim to solidify our brand position as a leading player in the smart EV sector on a global scale,” said its Vice President of Finance & Overseas Strategic Support Office, James Wu.

As part of its international expansion plans, a growing list of new partners from XPENG's strategic markets have joined the company in bringing the brand’s latest smart EVs to local consumers, including Premium Automobiles from Singapore and Bermaz Auto from Malaysia.

The XPENG global market strategy focuses on establishing partnerships with local importers/dealers to create a first-class distribution, sales, and service network in various regions.

The company will offer the G6 SUV in Thailand, Singapore as well as Malaysia, and start delivering from third quarter of this year.

Developed for global markets, the G6 is underpinned by XPENG’s evolutionary Smart Electric Platform Architecture (SEPA) 2.0 platform, which sets the foundation for future production models while shortening development cycles and reducing manufacturing costs.

-- BERNAMA

NATARAJAN & SWAMINATHAN MERGES WITH KNAV TO ELEVATE AUDITING AND ADVISORY SERVICES IN SINGAPORE

ATLANTA, March 27 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- KNAV, an international accounting and advisory firm, is pleased to announce its merger of Natarajan & Swaminathan, a respected audit firm in Singapore. This merger marks a strategic step in KNAV’s plan to strengthen its local presence in operational countries and extend its reach in the region.

Natarajan & Swaminathan, with over seven decades of history, is renowned for its quality audit and tax services in Singapore. The firm’s team of professionals are well-versed in the local business environment and have been a reliable partner for businesses of various sizes.

KNAV, who already has an established presence in Singapore, considers this merger as a step in-line with its fundamental strategy of strengthening its presence in the regions where it conducts the business. The merger combines Natarajan & Swaminathan's local expertise with KNAV’s global proficiency, promising clients in Singapore superior service levels, comprehensive solutions, and access to an extensive network of professionals. Natarajan & Swaminathan will join KNAV International Limited, a member of the Forum of Firms, as a new member. Post-merger, Natarajan & Swaminathan will retain its name and leadership team, ensuring a smooth transition for clients and staff.

Atul Deshmukh, KNAV’s Chief Strategy Officer, emphasized the merger’s role in strengthening the firm's Singapore presence and supporting its global market strategy. The merger is expected to contribute to KNAV’s growth in the Asia-Pacific, offering clients a range of services, including auditing, tax planning, and business consulting.

Dominique Tan, KNAV’s country leader in Singapore, noted that the merger will enhance the firm's audit service capabilities and allow the provision of tax services in Singapore. The addition of three new partners and 27 staff members increases the KNAV Singapore team to 48, including 6 partners, thereby improving client service capabilities.

Narayanamohan, Managing Partner of Natarajan & Swaminathan, expressed enthusiasm about joining KNAV. He highlighted the merger’s potential to create new opportunities for clients and staff while preserving the relationships built over the past 70 years. The partnership, grounded in shared values and commitment to client and staff success, is seen as a natural fit.

About KNAV:

KNAV as a “Partner Beyond Boundaries’ provides global assurance, tax, and advisory services, specializing in financial reporting, audits, tax filings, M&A, and advisory across the USA, India, UK, Singapore, Canada, and the Netherlands.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240312419994/en/

Contact

Kostubh Singhal
Senior Manager - Marketing
+91 9663466335

Source : KNAV

MACAU'S CHINA TAIPING INSURANCE CREDIT RATINGS AFFIRMED EXCELLENT - AM BEST

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) -- AM Best has affirmed Macau’s China Taiping Insurance (Macau) Company Limited (CTIM) financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a” (Excellent).

These credit ratings (ratings), which have a stable outlook reflect CTIM’s balance sheet strength, that AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

In a statement, AM Best said the company’s risk-adjusted capitalisation, as measured by its Capital Adequacy Ratio, remained stable and was at the strongest level as of year-end 2022.

Based on the unaudited financial statements, CTIM’s capital level remained robust and further improved to 870 million Macanese pataca (US$110 million) at year-end 2023, with its investment strategy remaining conservative and stable, as well as the majority of its investment assets in cash and investment grade bonds. (US$1=RM4.73)

The company delivered a five-year average return-on-equity ratio of 19 per cent from 2018 to 2022, and it continued to generate profit in 2023, supported by positive underwriting and investment results.

CTIM’s net combined ratio improved to 70.5 per cent in 2022, due to its lower loss ratio during the pandemic period, and its combined ratio remained stable during 2023, though there was some uptick in the loss ratio, which was partially offset by an improvement in the commission ratio.

Its investment results turned positive in 2023, a rebound from the negative returns caused by capital market volatility during 2022 and its investment performance is expected to continue to support its overall operating performance through stable streams of interest, dividend and rental income in the future.

CTIM maintains a long track record as the leader in Macau’s non-life insurance segment and has a market share of approximately 34 per cent as of the third quarter of last year, based on gross premiums written.

The company’s underwriting portfolio and distribution channels are stable and diversified, while it continues to develop its online channel and explore cross-selling opportunities in its affiliated life insurance company, China Taiping Life Insurance (Macau) Company Limited.

-- BERNAMA

Victoria World Academy On Next Level In Academic Excellence

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Victoria World Academy, an educational institution with the Edutrust Provisional certification by Singapore’s CPE, announced its outstanding academic achievements and commitment to nurturing the future ambitions of its students for the academic year 2023-2024.

According to Victoria World Academy in a statement, the school goes above and beyond to give students extensive opportunities for growth and unwavering support to pursue their goals.

Many of its graduates have received offers from prestigious universities worldwide, demonstrating the effectiveness of its commitment, with an impressive 95 per cent of students having received offers from the top 100 universities in the QS World University Rankings, as of March this year.

Each student received an average of four to six offers from major institutions worldwide, which is not only an impressive personal achievement for the students but also a further testament to Victoria World Academy's excellence in providing exceptional quality education.

The holistic education approach at Victoria World Academy focuses on developing well-rounded individuals ready to tackle global challenges. In addition to rigorous academics programmes, the school prioritises on character-building, leadership skills, and community involvement.

Students participate in service learning projects, outdoor educational activities, and international exchanges to broaden their perspectives beyond traditional classroom settings, whereby the nurturing and inclusive environment allows every student to thrive while being supported every step of the way.

Victoria World Academy can accommodate 300 students with small class sizes, which allows for a conducive learning environment, with a team of over 30 passionate local Singapore educators.

The academic programming at the school is designed to build a solid foundation for student's future academic endeavours, helping them to achieve success in their chosen fields.

-- BERNAMA

SUN HUNG KAI PROPERTIES INSURANCE FINANCIAL STRENGTH RATED EXCELLENT

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best has affirmed Hong Kong’s Sun Hung Kai Properties Insurance Limited (SHKPI) financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a” (Excellent).

The outlook of these credit ratings (ratings) is stable, reflecting SHKPI’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

SHKPI’s very strong balance sheet strength assessment is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio.

The company’s higher-risk financial assets, including unlisted investments and non-investment-grade bonds, exposed its risk-adjusted capitalisation to considerable market and credit risks.

Nonetheless, the company has de-risked the majority of its bond exposure to mainland China’s real estate sector in fiscal year 2023, with its bond portfolio demonstrating an improvement in the credit quality with higher diversification level.

According to AM Best in a statement, SHKPI has consistently delivered a strong operating performance over the past few years, in which its net profit in fiscal year 2023 was a combined result of a recovery in investment performance and stable underwriting profit.

SHKPI continues to benefit from its parent company’s support, both in distribution channels with minimal gross acquisition expenses as well as in access to better quality group business, leading to its favourable underwriting results.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited, one of the largest property development and investment conglomerates in Hong Kong, SHKPI benefits from its parental network to write a major part of its business from associated and subsidiary companies.

The company continues to operate in a low acquisition cost business model while seeking new business opportunities within the market, and maintains a small albeit profitable presence in Hong Kong’s general insurance market, focusing on employees’ compensation insurance on a net premiums written basis.

-- BERNAMA

ALIMENTARIA&HOSTELCO CEMENTS POSITION AS LEADING EUROPEAN PLATFORM WITH HIGHEST PARTICIPATION

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Alimentaria&Hostelco, organised by Alimentaria Exhibitions, a Fira de Barcelona company, is expecting to welcome 100,000 professional visitors with 25 per cent international coming from more than 120 countries, reaffirming its leadership as a platform for business, internationalisation and networking.

One of the largest European events for the food and beverage, catering and hospitality equipment industry, Alimentaria&Hostelco 2024 with the main objective to multiply business opportunities and its international impact, is taking place at Fira de Barcelona's Gran Via venue, from March 18 to 21.

According to a statement, this year's edition focuses on the Horeca channel and combines the exhibition offer of Hostelco, the International Restaurant, Hotel, Catering and Community Equipment and Machinery Show, with Restaurama, the Alimentaria show specialising in food service.

In addition, the new Coffee, Bakery & Pastry sector and the Catering in Collectivities area with respective revitalisation spaces, will be added to this large area, which will occupy three of the exhibition centre's seven pavilions.

After Spain, the country that will occupy the largest exhibition space will be Italy, followed by Turkey, China and Hong Kong, Poland, Portugal, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Argentina.

The participation of Asian companies, led by China and Hong Kong, with a large representation from Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea, stands out.

In order to maximise its business opportunities, the event has a buyer invitation programme, through which it will bring together more than 2,200 importers, distributors, directors and high-level purchasing managers.

Of these, more than half are international, from 98 countries, led by the United States, Mexico, China, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Canada and South Korea, with over 13,000 business meetings planned.

-- BERNAMA

AM BEST AFFIRMS CREDIT RATINGS AND ASSIGNS NATIONAL SCALE RATING TO PT ASURANSI ASTRA BUANA

SINGAPORE, March 15 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a-” (Excellent) to PT Asuransi Astra Buana (Asuransi Astra) (Indonesia). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. Concurrently, AM Best has assigned the Indonesia National Scale Rating (NSR) of aaa.ID (Exceptional) to Asuransi Astra with a stable outlook.

The ratings reflect Asuransi Astra’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). The ratings also factor in a neutral impact from Asuransi Astra’s ultimate parent, Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited (Bermuda).

Asuransi Astra’s balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which was at the strongest level at 31 December 2022, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), and is expected to be maintained at this level prospectively. The company’s capital adequacy is supported by its internal capital generation and low net underwriting leverage. AM Best views Asuransi Astra’s investment portfolio to have moderate risk, comprising mainly bonds held directly and through mutual funds with more than half of those being domestically rated bond funds. An offsetting balance sheet strength factor is the company's elevated counterparty credit risk due to its exposure to domestic reinsurance companies not rated on an international FSR scale. 

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AM BEST AFFIRMS KBFG CHINA CREDIT RATINGS AS EXCELLENT

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) -- The United States-headquartered AM Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a-” (Excellent) of KBFG Insurance (China) Co Ltd (KBFG China).

The outlook of these credit ratings (ratings) is stable, reflecting KBFG China’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

According to AM Best in a statement, the ratings also reflect the wide range of support that the company receives from its parent, KB Insurance Co Ltd, in areas of underwriting and pricing, business development and reinsurance.

The credit rating agency assesses KBFG China’s balance sheet strength at the very strong level, supported by its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio.

The company’s consolidated capital and surplus has continued to increase driven by positive operating performance with full profit retention. Given its relatively small capital base and the nature of its underwriting portfolio, KBFG China’s risk-adjusted capitalisation is exposed to volatility in the event of large losses.

KBFG China has achieved positive operating profit over the last five years (2019 to 2023), with a low-to-mid single digit return-on-equity ratios reported during that period, despite having incurred a major commercial fire loss in 2023.

With a very low level of net retention ratio, the loss on a net basis has had a limited impact on the company’s underwriting results and it has projected that the solvency ratio will improve as reinsurance receivables are gradually settled in 2024.

As a foreign-owned insurer focusing on serving Korean Interests Abroad business, KBFG China has a defensible competitive advantage in this niche market.

However, the company has a limited market presence in China’s non-life industry with share less than one per cent of total market. AM Best views KBFG China’s ERM as appropriate for its risk profile.

-- BERNAMA

AMERICAN EXPRESS LISTS TOP TRAVEL TRENDS IN 2024

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) -- American Express Travel has released its 2024 Global Travel Trends Report, shedding light on the inspirations and trends driving global travel bookings this year.

Drawing from survey responses from travellers in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, Japan, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, the report found that 84 per cent of respondents plan to spend more or the same amount of money on travel in 2024 compared to last year.

According to a statement, additionally, 77 per cent of respondents care more about having the right travel experience than about the cost of the trip.

American Express Travel President, Audrey Hendley said: “Our Global Travel Trends Report sheds light on what is driving global travel bookings and provides inspiration for where to go next. Our American Express Travel Consultants can help, no matter what type of trip you want to take.”

Top insights from the report shows that live sporting events, driven by the desire to witness favourite teams and players firsthand, influence travellers’ destination choices and activities, with 67 per cent of Millennial and Gen Z respondents are interested in travelling for sporting events in 2024, compared to 58 per cent of all respondents surveyed.

For the 58 per cent of respondents who are travelling for sports this year will do so for soccer, basketball or Formula 1 racing, while New York, Miami and Paris are the top destinations they are planning to travel to for sporting events this summer.

The report also identified that transformative, once-in-a-lifetime trips, such as visiting the Galapagos Islands and hiking in Antarctica, ranked top of many travellers’ wish lists, and younger travellers seeking expert assistance in planning, with 65 per cent of respondents are more interested in taking a major trip in 2024 than in previous years.

The ease of planning and ability to make the perfect, personalised itinerary is also one of the key trends in driving people to plan trips alone, especially younger travellers, with 74 per cent of male respondents and 63 per cent of female respondents say they are planning on taking a solo trip this year.

For Gen Z and Millennials surveyed, 76 per cent say they are planning on taking a solo trip in 2024, while 66 percent of respondents who intend to go alone are planning a trip tailored to treat themselves.

Furthermore, travellers are leaning into flexible itineraries, allowing them the freedom to be spontaneous and experience the local culture when they travel, with 78 per cent of respondents say that spontaneous trips appeal to them, while 77 per cent of Millennials and Gen Z have booked a last-minute trip before, compared to 65 per cent of Gen X and 52 per cent of Baby Boomers.

-- BERNAMA

Kaplan Professional Australia Embarks New Phase Of Asia Pacific’s expansion With Key Hiring

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 (Bernama) -- Education provider Kaplan Professional Australia has appointed Joseph Tan as Director, Business Development, Asia, indicating its intention to enter a new phase of expansion in Asia Pacific.

In his new role at Kaplan Professional Australia, Tan will be tasked with working closely with association partners such as Insurance and Financial Practitioners Association of Singapore (IFPAS) and the Asia Pacific Financial Services Council (APFinSA), and building on its rapidly growing number of corporate partners in the region.

In a statement, its Chief Executive Officer Brian Knight expressed his delight in Tan’s appointment and said he would play a crucial role in opening up a broad range of corporate opportunities.

“Joseph brings to Kaplan Professional Australia a wealth of experience and an extensive network with many strong working relationships; we are thrilled to have someone of his calibre on board as we know he will play a pivotal role in our next phase of expansion in Singapore, Malaysia and Asia Pacific more broadly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tan said he was eager to hit the ground running and make an immediate impact with Kaplan Professional Australia.

“Kaplan Professional Australia is a renowned education provider and arguably one of the most established with its large footprint throughout the world, I am determined to help the organisation flourish in this exciting new phase of expansion in Asia Pacific,” he added.

Tan will be based in the Singapore office and would welcome the opportunity to discuss professional development opportunities with corporate organisations of all sizes in Singapore, Malaysia and throughout Asia Pacific.

He will also oversee the imminent launch of the Fellow Chartered Financial Practitioner (FChFP) Certification in Malaysia in partnership with the National Association of Malaysian Life Insurance and Family Takaful Advisors (NAMLIFA).

Previously the Head of Sales & Strategic Business Development, Independent Distribution Partners at Chubb Insurance Singapore Ltd, Tan brings 16 years of distribution and business development experience in the life and general insurance industry to the leading education provider.

-- BERNAMA

BLACK & VEATCH STUDIES EXTRACTION OF NATURAL HYDROGEN IN AUSTRALIA

Global engineering and construction leader will provide concept designs for H2EX’s natural hydrogen and helium project


MELBOURNE, Australia, March 14 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Black & Veatch, a global leader in critical infrastructure solutions, will study the exploration and extraction of natural hydrogen and helium in Australia.

The development study is an engineering services agreement between Australian-owned natural hydrogen company H2EX Limited, a world leader in exploring naturally occurring hydrogen, and Black & Veatch. The study is part of an Australian Federal Government-funded project led by H2EX.

Natural hydrogen, also known as gold or white hydrogen, refers to hydrogen found in its natural form as a free gas.

“Decarbonisation efforts in the Asia Pacific are a priority for Black & Veatch. This includes extracting natural hydrogen, a potential clean energy source for the region,” said Yatin Premchand, managing director, Strategic Growth, Global Advisory, Black & Veatch.

“Black & Veatch has an 80-year history working with hydrogen and ammonia production in multiple industries. The company developed the first hydrogen power generation conversion project and the first major hydrogen fueling station deployment in the United States. Since then, our experts have continued to deliver reliable innovation and first-of-a-kind solutions across the hydrogen value chain,” added Premchand.

Hydrogen has the potential to reduce and replace reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation as well as long-duration energy storage, heating, transport, and production of green chemicals and fertilizer. Hydrogen can also be turned into green ammonia, which is produced using 100 percent carbon-free renewable energy.

Helium is used in defence, medicine, manufacturing and energy applications including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners and fibre optic cable manufacturing.

Black & Veatch will provide two concept designs on H2EX’s exploration license PEL 691 on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia as part of the development study. One concept design will be for the drilling and completion of an exploration well. The other concept design will be for surface facilities to purify, process and deliver natural hydrogen and helium, including co-production of the resources, if they are found together.

“We are pleased to partner with a technically progressive and experienced global engineering services firm like Black & Veatch. This important development study will help H2EX fast-track our first exploration wells and development scheme. If successful, hydrogen will be a great source of energy for power generation and transport on the Eyre Peninsula,” said Mark Hanna, H2EX CEO & managing director.

“Natural hydrogen will help decarbonise the region, which predominantly uses liquid fuels for energy and transport. Helium is also a high-value and scarce commodity. Recent drilling in South Australia has found high concentrations of helium, too,” added Hanna.

Black & Veatch will analyse gas industry practices related to conventional well drilling and extraction infrastructure and identify key considerations to adapt these practices for natural hydrogen and helium.

The research into extraction solutions will provide a pathway to drill and extract the lowest-cost hydrogen, which could be up to 75 percent more cost-effective than manufacturing hydrogen.

The objective of the study is to unlock first-mover benefits for Australia within an emerging sector globally, as well as create substantial local and export opportunities while retaining the country’s competitive advantage and technical and engineering expertise.

The study is partly funded by Australia’s Federal Department of Science and Innovation through its Cooperative Research Council Projects (CRC-P) Grants Round 14 initiative. The CRC-P grant supports short-term, industry-led research collaborations. The study is estimated to be completed by mid-2024.

The Australian Government is investing more than $500 million (USD 332 million) to support the development of hydrogen hubs in regional Australia. The Regional Hydrogen Hubs programme is part of the government’s $40 billion (USD 26 billion) investment to transform the country into a powerhouse of green energy generation and innovation.

Contact Black & Veatch for more information.

About Black & Veatch

Black & Veatch is a 100-percent employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.

About H2EX

H2EX Limited is a natural hydrogen and helium company. H2EX is searching to find and harvest natural hydrogen and helium on its exploration license PEL 691 (~6,000 sqm kilometers) in South Australia. H2EX continues to develop and undertake first-of-kind research and in-field exploration activities. H2EX has 52,000 square kilometers of additional exploration applications, also in South Australia. Follow us on www.h2ex.com.au and H2EX Ltd: Overview | LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308998504/en/

Contact

Black & Veatch:
EMILY CHIA | +65 6335 6623 P | +65 9875 8907 M | Chialp@bv.com
24-HOUR MEDIA EMAIL | Media@bv.com

H2EX Limited:
Greschen Brecker | CFO & Director | +61 433 133 417 M | greschen.brecker@h2ex.com.au

Source : Black & Veatch

Epicor Honours Outstanding Customers Via Asia Connect Event

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- Epicor, a global industry-specific enterprise software leader, celebrated a multitude of successes at the company’s annual Asia Connect customer event, held in Bangkok, Thailand last week.

In a statement, Epicor said the event marked the company’s 30 years of operations across North and Southeast Asia, as well as showcased how it has supported customers and their ever-evolving needs in driving growth and operational success.

“As digitalisation continues to grow across Asia, we will support our customers by introducing initiatives in AI and enhancements to Industry 4.0, creating the digital connections to make work better.

“We are passionate about educating and attracting younger people into the manufacturing industry, with the purpose of providing them with the digital foundation that powers the growth of the make, move, and sell economy,” said its Vice President of Sales for Asia, Vincent Tang.

Meanwhile, reflecting on the company’s success, Epicor Executive Vice President, International, Andy Coussins said the outstanding performance in cloud growth is a testament to the local Epicor team, their strong commitment to enabling customers to pivot to Software as a Service (SaaS) and helping them on their digital transformation journeys should not go unnoticed.

Epicor has seen significant SaaS growth over the past three years to increased cloud adoption across Asia, with many regional businesses implementing or migrating to Epicor Kinetic in the cloud, a purpose-built, scalable platform that helps manufacturers better compete and grow their businesses.

The event celebrated customer innovation and excellence for those who have excelled in leveraging Epicor solutions to transform and accelerate their business ambitions.

The Epicor Champion Award winners are Essons Global Industrial Company as Manufacturing Champion; Thong Guan Industries Berhad as Innovation Champion; Kenny Tang from Volex as Project Champion; and NTN Medical Team as Executive Champion.

-- BERNAMA

"JAPAN BULLET TRAIN" SHINKANSEN TICKET SERVICE NOW OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS AND FOREIGN RESIDENTS IN JAPAN

TOKYO, Mar. 12, 2024 /Kyodo JBN/ --

Inbound Platform Corp. (listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange) is pleased to announce the new launch of its Shinkansen (bullet train) ticket service, which includes basic fares, express tickets and the innovative ticket issuance via QR codes, for international travelers and foreign residents in Japan, starting from March 1, 2024.
 
Image1: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/
M107869/202402026175/_prw_PI1fl_xUeq2624.png
 
Image2: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/
M107869/202402026175/_prw_PI2fl_40292sCg.png
 
Through the "JAPAN BULLET TRAIN" website provided by the company, accessible via the link below, international travelers and foreign residents can effortlessly book and manage Shinkansen tickets in less than 2 minutes, while also eliminating language barriers and ensuring seamless experience.
 
"JAPAN BULLET TRAIN" website: https://www.japan-bullettrain.com/
 
Features of service
-Inbound Platform Corp. known for its diverse range of travel services catering to international travelers and foreign residents, has decided to expand and extend support by facilitating Shinkansen ticket bookings. Recognizing the complexities, time constraints and language barriers involved in purchasing Shinkansen tickets, the company aims to streamline the entire booking process through the new service.
With a commitment to exceptional customer service, the company offers telephone assistance in seven languages for a flawless travel experience.
 
-Currently available in English, Mandarin Chinese (both simplified and traditional), and Korean. The company plans to incorporate Spanish and French in the near future. Furthermore, while currently accepting credit cards and Apple Pay, the company plans to integrate additional payment options such as Google Pay and Wechat Pay.
 
How to Use: https://cdn.kyodonewsprwire.jp/prwfile/release/
M107869/202402026175/_prw_PI3fl_4m5taiud.png
 
Available ticket types:
JR Shinkansen and all conventional JR lines nationwide which also include popular routes such as the Narita Express and limited express trains.
*Note that the Japan Rail Pass is not yet available.
 
In the near future, Inbound Platform Corp. intends to provide the Shinkansen reservation service to travel agencies and web media worldwide, aiming to make Shinkansen bookings in Japan as convenient as possible. For those interested, please inquire at the following link: https://www.japan-bullettrain.com/contact
 
About Inbound Platform Corp.
CEO: Shin O
Executive Director: Toru Otake
Address: 4th Floor, SW Shimbashi Building,6-14-5 Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Established: October 2015
Company website: https://www.inbound-platform.com/en/
Services:
Japan Wireless(Wi-Fi rental): https://www.japan-wireless.com/en
Japan Wireless eSIM(embedded SIM card): https://www.japan-wireless.com/esim
AIRPORT TAXI(airport transfer): https://www.airport-taxi.tokyo/en
JW Magazine(web media): https://jw-webmagazine.com/
 
 
Source: Inbound Platform Corp.  

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=48202

GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL DELEGATION HOSTS MEDIA SESSION AT NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS

^{Scene of the event (Photo: Business Wire)}


GUANGZHOU, China, March 11 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- On March 7, the Guangdong Provincial Delegation convened a session for the Second Meeting of the 14th National People's Congress at the Capital Hotel, attended by 225 journalists from 102 media outlets, both domestic and international. Delegates, including Huang Kunming, Wang Weizhong, Zhang Hu, Qin Weizhong, and Zeng Jinze, shared updates on Guangdong's strategies for sustainable development and modernization.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308497032/en/

 

During the session, Huang Kunming addressed inquiries about the "Thousand Villages Demonstration and Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" project, aimed at diminishing urban-rural disparities within the province. He noted the challenges in balancing development due to geographical and economic diversities but highlighted the project's early successes in enhancing rural education, industry, and technology, particularly in the Pearl River Delta and other regions.

Wang Weizhong discussed the transformation of Guangdong's manufacturing sector, which contributes significantly to the province's GDP and forms an essential part of the national economy. The province is committed to integrating into the global industrial and value chains, with plans to modernize traditional industries, foster emerging sectors, and encourage a balanced growth among enterprises of various sizes.

The session, which featured numerous questions from the media, underlines Guangdong's ongoing efforts in economic development and rural modernization. For more details, please visit Guangdong Government Official Website.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240308497032/en/ 

Contact

Zhang Yan
Phone: 008610-68994660
Email: 1713543383@qq.com

Source : Guangdong Province

TDCX'S FULL YEAR 2023 REVENUE DOWN 0.9%, OR UP 3.0% IN CONSTANT CURRENCY TERMS1

SINGAPORE, March 7 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- TDCX Inc. (NYSE: TDCX) (“TDCX” or the “Company”), an award-winning digital customer experience (CX) solutions provider for technology and blue-chip companies, today announced its unaudited financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2023.

Full Year 2023 Financial Highlights^²

· Total revenue of US$499.3 million, down 0.9% year-on-year, or up 3.0% in constant currency terms¹, which included a 3.9% point negative impact of foreign exchange rates compared with the prior year
· Profit for the year was US$91.1 million, up 14.5% year-on-year, primarily driven by cost optimization efforts, lower tax, higher interest income and a net reversal of equity settled share-based payment expense 

http://mrem.bernama.com/viewsm.php?idm=48176

NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS ACQUIRES JAPAN’S STARTUP INSTALIMB STAKE

KUALA LUMPUR, March 6 (Bernama) -- Nippon Express Holdings Inc acquired an equity stake in Instalimb Inc (Instalimb), which is expanding its 3D-printed prosthetics business in the Philippines, India and elsewhere overseas, as an NX Global Innovation Fund investment on Feb 29.

According to a statement, the Nippon Express (NX) Group is striving to enhance its corporate value and resolve social issues to realise the group's long-term vision of becoming a logistics company with a strong presence in the global market.

Through this investment, the group will be assisting Instalimb's business expansion from a logistics perspective and supporting the provision of prosthetic limbs in Asian countries such as the Philippines and India and, in future, emerging countries in Africa and other regions as well.

Instalimb is a Japanese startup which develops new digital manufacturing solutions using 3D printing and artificial intelligence technology, employing these to manufacture and sell 3D-printed prosthetic legs overseas at one-tenth the conventional price and with a shorter delivery time.

The NX Group will continue addressing social issues through business collaboration with startups in Japan and overseas to help bring about sustainable societies where all people can lead affluent and fulfilling lives.

As a global logistics company since 1937, the group provides high-quality logistics services in 50 countries/regions utilising aircraft, ships, railways, and trucks as well as warehouse facilities and information technology systems.

-- BERNAMA

XSOLLA INTRODUCES A NEW PAYMENT OPTION FOR DEVELOPERS SEEKING TO EXPAND INTO THE JAPANESE MARKET

^{(Graphic: Xsolla)}


Xsolla Enables Developers Worldwide to Accept Payments via PayPay


LOS ANGELES & TOKYO, March 7 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, announces the launch of Pay with PayPay for its global partners and video game players in Japan. Xsolla continually seeks to innovate gaming payment solutions to help mobile, PC, cloud, and web-based video game developers grow their audience and meet the needs of players around the globe. By offering this additional payment method at checkout, game developers worldwide can expand their reach into the Japanese market and meet the evolving needs of their players. This partnership also directly supports Xsolla’s commitment to the region and the new local office expansion in Tokyo, Japan, this past August.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240306339887/en/

 

With 58 million users¹ and growing, PayPay is the largest Japanese mobile payment app, accepted both online and at physical retailers across Japan. Based on a 2022 study by Rakuten Insight, around 55% of shoppers in Japan prefer using PayPay, which holds a 45% market share in the QR code payment sector.² Users create an account in the mobile app and connect a bank account or credit card to pay for everyday purchases.

"We're excited to connect PayPay to Xsolla and allow our global partners to reach a new audience and offer another payment option to their players," said Chris Hewish, CEO of Xsolla. "This partnership will give our partners increased coverage for their players in Japan and allow them to tap into the power of innovative payment tech, like QR codes."

Xsolla Payments simplifies the checkout journey with an intuitive, multi-platform UI, compatibility with popular mobile wallets, and access to 700+ payment methods and 130+ currencies in over 200+ regions. Its PayRank technology automatically surfaces and ranks the payment methods most relevant for each customer, like PayPay.

For more information about Pay with PayPay, please visit: xsolla.pro/paypay

About Xsolla

Xsolla is a global video game commerce company with a robust and powerful set of tools and services designed specifically for the industry. Since its founding in 2005, Xsolla has helped thousands of game developers and publishers of all sizes fund, market, launch and monetize their games globally and across multiple platforms. As an innovative leader in game commerce, Xsolla’s mission is to solve the inherent complexities of global distribution, marketing, and monetization to help our partners reach more geographies, generate more revenue, and create relationships with gamers worldwide. Headquartered and incorporated in Los Angeles, California, with offices in London, Berlin, Seoul, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Raleigh, Tokyo, and cities around the world, Xsolla supports major gaming titles like Valve, Twitch, Roblox, Epic Games, Take-Two, KRAFTON, Nexters, NetEase, Playstudios, Playrix, miHoYo, and more.

For additional information and to learn more, please visit: xsolla.com

¹ PayPay
² Bloomberg Article - Struggling Rakuten Might Need to Phone a Friend


View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240306339887/en/

Contact

Derrick Stembridge
Global Director of Public Relations, Xsolla
d.stembridge@xsolla.com

Source : Xsolla

MCO (MYCOMPLIANCEOFFICE) WINS BEST ECOMMS SURVEILLANCE SOLUTION IN THE APAC REGTECH INSIGHT AWARDS

SINGAPORE, March 6 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Global compliance technology provider MCO (MyComplianceOffice) has been awarded Best eComms Surveillance Solution in the 2024 RegTech Insight APAC awards. These annual awards recognize innovative solutions that help companies effectively respond to evolving and ever more complex regulatory requirements across the global financial services industry.

“We’re honored to receive this award from RegTech Insight, and we thank all members of the industry community who voted for us,” said MCO CEO Brian Fahey. “Non-compliant employee communications and recordkeeping pose significant risk for firms today. With our communications surveillance and archiving solutions and the MyComplianceOffice platform, we’re committed to helping organisations proactively identify and mitigate compliance risk, meet regulatory obligations and drive efficiencies across their firms.”

Angela Wilbraham, CEO at A-Team Group, and host of the 2^nd annual RegTech Insight Awards APAC 2024, commented, “These awards celebrate providers of leading RegTech solutions, services and consultancy across Asia-Pacific. The winners were selected by A-Team Group’s RegTech Insight community and demonstrate exceptional creativity in building solutions that solve regulatory challenges. Our congratulations go to MyComplianceOffice (MCO) for winning Best e-Comms Surveillance Solution.”

MCO provides firms with streamlined solutions for monitoring and flagging risky communications and archiving cross-channel messages in compliance with global regulatory requirements. MCO’s MyComplianceOffice platform offers firms worldwide streamlined oversight of compliance obligations, integrated cross-capability surveillance across employees, transactions and third parties and a defensible audit trail.

“This achievement highlights our commitment to providing best-in-class compliance to firms across Asia-Pacific.“ notes MCO’s APAC Director Kelly-Ann McHugh. “With dedicated teams based in Singapore and Hyderabad and local customer service and implementation, we’re proud of our work to enable better compliance in the region. Thanks to our many Asia-Pacific customers for your trust and support and thanks to our stellar APAC team and the entire MCO organisation for your ongoing efforts.”

About MyComplianceOffice

MCO provides integrated compliance management software that enables global financial services firms to operate efficiently, ethically, and compliantly. With 25 products on a singular system, the powerful MyComplianceoffice platform lets compliance professionals demonstrate that they are proactively managing compliance obligations and the regulated activities of employees, the company and third party relationships.

1300+ client companies across 105+ countries use MyComplianceOffice to move away from manual processes and disparate systems and towards more strategic compliance.

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240305696661/en/

Contact

Media:
Lisa Deschamp, Vice President, Global Marketing
MyComplianceOffice
lisa.deschamp@mycomplianceoffice.com

Source : MyComplianceOffice

ETT INKS US$1.2 BLN DEAL WITH KNIGHTSBRIDGE ADVANCING DIGITISATION, FINTECH SOLUTIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Bernama) -- Economic Transformation Technologies “ETT | iByond” (ETT) and Knightsbridge Group have sealed a monumental deal projected to be worth as much as US$1.2 billion, marking a significant stride in advancing digitisation and fintech solutions globally. (US$1=RM4.72)

The collaboration signifies a pivotal moment in harnessing cutting-edge technologies to drive innovation and transformation across industries, according to ETT in a statement.

"This partnership with Knightsbridge emphasises ETT's dedication to being proactive at the forefront of digital innovation and reinforcing its position to global growth and the rapidly evolving Asian market," said ETT Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Christopher Condon.

Meanwhile, Knightsbridge Group Managing Director, Issaree Suwunnavid said he is delighted with the joint venture and it fills him with immense pride to establish Thailand as the home of this transformative technology, empowering businesses and individuals across the region with innovative financial services.

Under the agreement, both companies will join forces to spearhead digital initiatives and revolutionise financial technology offerings.

Leveraging iByond's expertise in the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) landscape and Knightsbridge's global network and resources, the partnership aims to deliver unparalleled solutions tailored to meet the evolving needs of businesses and consumers worldwide.

This joint venture will leverage ETT’s state-of-the-art data management and AI infrastructure and Knightsbridge Group's advanced market technologies to deliver a comprehensive fintech platform that offers unparalleled efficiency, security, and scalability.

ETT Asia Division has executed a five year software services and licensing agreement with Knightsbridge that is valued at US$683 million to ETT and over US$500 million to Knightsbridge, in which this partnership aims to revolutionise the financial services industry through cutting-edge digital transformation solutions.

-- BERNAMA

TRAVEL + LEISURE CO COMPLETES ACCOR VACATION CLUB ACQUISITION

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- Travel + Leisure Co, the world’s leading membership and leisure travel company, has successfully closed the acquisition of the vacation ownership business of global hospitality giant Accor.

The acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to Travel + Leisure Co earnings, which means the Accor Vacation Club based in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia will now be integrated into the Travel + Leisure Co business structure.

The company has assumed responsibility for the development and marketing of Accor Vacation Club, along with the servicing of nearly 30,000 club members and management of 24 club resorts in Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia.

Travel + Leisure Co President and Managing Director of International Operations, Barry Robinson said: “Our intention is to grow the brand in the various markets where we are licensed and expand in the markets Accor Vacation Club is already operating in.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to build on the 24-year legacy of Accor Vacation Club and, as the world’s leader in vacation ownership, we have the knowledge to grow Accor Vacation Club while conveying its unique propositions and delivering the elevated guest experiences the business is renowned for.”

In a statement, Travel + Leisure Co said the acquisition increases the international portfolio of the company, namely outside North America, to more than 100,000 members and its club resort count to 77.

As part of the agreement, Travel + Leisure Co has the ability to develop new vacation ownership clubs and products utilising the Accor Vacation Club brand across Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Turkiye.

Current Accor Vacation Club Chief Executive Officer, Craig Wood will stay on and oversee day-to-day operations of that business and will report to Robinson as part of the Travel + Leisure Co structure.

The acquisition was a strategic move that enabled Travel + Leisure Co to fulfil one of its key intents to operate and grow its vacation ownership businesses under other well-known brands, alongside brands like Wyndham, Sports Illustrated and Margaritaville.

-- BERNAMA