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Thailand Tourism Awards Open for Submissions

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Thailand Tourism Awards Open for Submissions - TRAVELINDEX - VISITTHAILAND.netBangkok, Thailand, March 3, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pleased to announce that submission for the 14th Thailand Tourism Awards, the country’s most prestigious awards that recognises the Thai travel industry’s best and brightest, opens from 1 March to 30 April, 2023. The winners will be announced on 8 September, 2023, and the awards ceremony will as usual be held on World Tourism Day (27 September), as a symbolic gesture of recognition that builds awareness for responsible and sustainable tourism.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said “The Thailand Tourism Awards plays a pivotal role in elevating the positive image of Thailand as a tourism destination that is clean, convenient, safe, fair, and environmentally friendly. The biannual awards will continue to signify quality and excellence in tourism and hospitality operations, while underlining Thailand’s new direction towards high value and sustainable tourism.”

This corresponds with the TAT’s ongoing commitment to drive the Thai tourism industry towards safe and sustainable travel in line with Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green or BCG Economic Model and the Sustainable Tourism Goal which in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is under the goal of making tourism part of Thailand’s commitment to promote low-carbon tourism and implementation of climate action for sustainability.

Two new categories of Low Carbon and Sustainability, and Tour Programme have been added to the three exiting categories – attraction, accommodation, and health and wellness tourism.

Each category features Thailand Tourism Awards (Outstanding), Thailand Tourism Gold Awards (Excellence), and Hall of Fame Awards for entries that had received three consecutive Thailand Tourism Gold Awards.

Selection and judging process is classified under three concepts: sustainable tourism, safety and health administration and tourist interest.

The biannual Thailand Tourism Awards serve as a catalyst for the winners, who benefit by leveraging the publicity and increased interested in their products that help drive business development.

Winners are also invited to partner with TAT in its marketing activities; such as, participations in travel shows in Thailand and overseas. They also get additional publicity via TAT’s marketing tools on the Thailand Tourism Awards and by attending TAT’s seminar and workshops.

Full information on the Awards can be found at https://tourismawards.tourismthailand.org,

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

FUN IN THE SUN: A Florida Spring Break primer

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With Spring Break on the horizon (at last!) and many Canadians preparing to escape the trenches – not to mention the snowbanks – to head south for heaping helping of sunshine and warm weather, many Florida destinations are gearing up for the annual migration of students and families with a host of happenings throughout March and April.

Starting in the Florida Panhandle and heading to The Keys, here are a few highlights, activities, and accommodation tips for some of Florida’s most popular spring break destinations:

PENSACOLA

• Along Pensacola Beach, families can embark on a racing trimaran with Condor Sailing Adventures, while hanging their feet off the boat, watching for dolphins, enjoying the sunset views, or flying on the bows.

• In late April, the Flora-Bama Lounge will host the annual Interstate Mullet Toss & Greatest Beach Party. Open to all ages, participants in the Mullet Toss will throw a dead mullet over the state line of Florida and Alabama to see who gets the farthest. Families can also dine at Laguna’s Beach Bar + Grill or Red Fish Blue Fish for some of the best local flavours.

• Keep kids thinking with a little historical walk down America’s First Settlement Trail, a new, free five-km. marked path that traverses Historic Downtown Pensacola. Along the trail are 20 stops and more than 70 sites from as early as 1756, when the Spanish built Fort San Miguel in what is now downtown Pensacola.

DESTIN FORT WALTON BEACH

• Destin-Fort Walton Beach serves as the perfect playground for the ultimate spring break getaway with tons to explore for everyone in the family. From charter fishing and Gulf-to-table cuisine, family-friendly accommodations and natural historical sites, the destination inspires all to get outside, learn something new and find adventure in “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.”

• Visitors can stay in style at The Island Resort in Fort-Walton Beach, where guests staying in the pool deck rooms can relax with their own private pool deck with direct swim-up access. Additionally, Hilton Homewood Suites features spacious suites with full kitchens and separate living areas, complimentary evening socials, outdoor grills, and recreational areas ideal for families. Dining is easy for families at spots like Dewey Destin’s Seafood, a long-standing favourite, and Lulu’s, which allows families to check in online to join the waitlist for this kid-friendly restaurant.

• Watersport enthusiasts can rent a pair of jet skis or captain their own pontoon boat with Island Watersports Company. Little Adventures offers bite-sized adventure packages, which provide endless outdoor activities for families to enjoy, such as watersports, dolphin pod excursions, surf lessons, fishing from The Island Pier and much more.

ST. AUGUSTINE

• The St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival is held in America’s Oldest Celtic City with cultural events to be held March 11-12. Top Celtic bands, Highland Games, workshops, lectures, Celtic food, artisan crafts and a St. Patrick Day parade will be featured, plus a special whiskey tasting event on March 10. The Celtic Music & Heritage Festival and activities will be held at Francis Field in the historic downtown.

OCALA

• Home of Ocala National Forest and other popular parks, Ocala in Central Florida invites visitors to explore more than 600 lakes, rivers and springs, including those in Rainbow Springs, Silver Springs, Juniper Springs, Silver Glen Springs and Paradise Springs. Dubbed “Horse Capital of the World,” Ocala boasts local horse farms offering horseback tours or carriage rides. Equestrian season runs from January to March, so early spring is the perfect time to watch a horse show like the HITS Ocala Tournament, Winter Spectacular Show Series IX and Ocala March Dressage.

• Ocala is also home to spring festivals, including Strawberry Festival, Santos Fat Tire Festival, Rainbow Springs Art Festival and Springs Fest. With so many events, families need to squeeze in some time for adventure on a zip line at the Canyons Zip Line & Adventure Park. Built around a reclaimed quarry, parents and kids who meet the criteria can soar on nine different zip lines, cross two rope bridges and conquer a rappel on a canopy tour.

PASCO COUNTY

Florida’s Sports Coast – aka Pasco County – is home to Epperson Lagoon – a massive man-made lagoon filled with stunning crystal-clear turquoise water and lined with bright white sand. There’s also Lift Adventure Park, designed with adrenaline-seeking families in mind. Sitting atop the Florida Sport’s Coast waters, the aqua park sports a full-size cable system for high-speed wakeboarding. The sizable park also includes a jungle ropes course suspended above the bay water, kayaking, paddle boarding and massive slides. Adventurous families will want to visit TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park for an aerial park experience, especially the Cosmic Night Climb, where nine courses light up.

ST. PETERSBURG/CLEARWATER

St. Pete/Clearwater offers white sand beaches and crystal blue waters, perfect for the family member that wants to lay in the Florida sun for the week. The Salvador Dalí Museum provides some culture and is home to the largest collection of Dalí’s work outside of Spain. And for accommodations, families need look no further than the TradeWinds Island Resorts – the Island Grand and RumFish Beach Resort – which has added 141 guest rooms to its portfolio, along with a new a three-storey, dual-line zipline on the beach and a new Mexican restaurant concept at the Island Grand.

ORLANDO

With nine theme parks and five water parks, Orlando promises a host of immersive experiences for travellers this spring. Among them:

• EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival (March 1-July 5) boasts impressive Disney-inspired topiaries and colourful gardens and delicious fresh flavours around the World Showcase.
• Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval (through April 16) features Cajun and Creole dishes, and performances by some of the biggest names in music.
• SeaWorld Orlando’s Seven Seas Food Festival (thru May 7) features exquisite global cuisine, an ocean of local craft beers and diverse live entertainment.
• The Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival (March 17-19) is one of the nation’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious outdoor art festivals, drawing over 300,000 visitors each year. Hosted in the heart of historic Winter Park, the juried art show features sculpture, paintings, digital art and more from hundreds of artists, along with live music, art activities and more.

Avanti International Resort

Meanwhile, here are some Spring Break accommodation deals:

• Caribe Royale Orlando: Enjoy 15% off the best available rate on stays of two or more nights, plus a $25 daily dining credit when booking directly through April 21, for stays between Feb. 27 and May 31.
• Floridays Resort Orlando: Get a sixth night free when staying for five nights by May 31
• Avanti International Resort: Save 20% on the best available rate.
• Avanti Palms Resort: Save 25% on the standard rate for stay through May 31.
• The Point Hotel & Suites: Take advantage of the Spring Break 25% off deal when staying a minimum of two nights through May 31.

KISSIMMEE

In Kissimmee, there’s no shortage of things to do for spring break, but it also offers vacation homes that let the whole family congregate together without trying to squeeze into a hotel room. Nearby, world-famous theme parks and unbelievable natural beauty await. Kissimmee also boasts chic shopping centres and golf courses for parents, while kids can feel engaged at educational attractions like SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium, WonderWorks, and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

ST. LUCIE

• St. Lucie on Florida’s east coast, halfway between Miami and Orlando, offers pristine beaches with more public beach access points per square mile than any other coastal community in the state. With exception of the Florida State Park beaches, all beaches in St. Lucie are free admission and free parking and many are equipped with amenities such as bathrooms, pavilions, dune walkovers and more. And as one of the only places to ride horses on the beaches, a slow-paced ride down Fort Pierce’s natural, isolated sandy shoreline is the kind of memory families want to create.

• Treasure Coast Kids Quest is an interactive and educational passport program where participating locations provide a stamp after the children have completed their activity at each stop. Once all the passport stamps are collected, a goodie bag is provided at the Fort Pierce City Marina gift shop. There’s also the Nature & Wildlife Digital Pass, which invites visitors to explore nine locations to digitally “check-in” and enjoy the nature-based adventure and education at each spot. Passholders receive prizes as they complete the pass and passholders who complete the trail by March 27, will be entered to win the Ultimate Eco-Giveaway – a custom hammock, two vouchers for a local wildlife boat tour, two vouchers for a guided kayak tour through the mangroves, and a one-night stay at local accommodations.

BRADENTON BEACH

On Florida’s Gulf Coast, families can spend hours playing in the sand at Holmes Beach, get up close to bottlenose dolphins taking a ride with the Anna Maria Island Dolphin Tours, or take in a show during the evening at the Manatee Performing Arts Center.

SEBRING

• This spring, Florida’s fizziest festival, the annual Sebring Soda Festival, takes over in April. Families can also check out the Sebring Area Geotour, a free geocaching scavenger hunt that will guide families throughout the greater Sebring area to find treasures and learn about this special area of Florida.

• Highlands Hammock State Park offers nine trails, an elevated boardwalk, and a tram. Families might be lucky enough to spot a Florida alligator, deer, or black bear among all of the other wildlife in the park. For indoor experiences, visit the Children’s Museum of the Highlands to allow kids to learn about Sebring through arts and crafts, science, and games.

• Families won’t want to skip Sebring Soda and Ice Cream Works. Home to more than 300 craft and vintage sodas and an array of more than 20 ice cream flavours, this soda shop is great for adults and children looking to reach for an old classic soda or try something completely new, such as cucumber, peach cobbler or chocolate soda.

SARASOTA COUNTY

Siesta Beach

• Known for its many offerings of beaches, Sarasota County is the place where families can hunt for shark teeth in the Shark Tooth capital of the US. Venice, play on the white sand of one of America’s top-ranked beaches of Siesta Beach, or simply relax on Longboat Key Beach. Serious students can keep their education going at Suncoast Science Center, while the Faulhaber FAB LAB offers hands-on activities for kids. The Ringling Museum of Art and Circus Museum offers several programs for families and kids, including ROAR! Storytime that connects art and literacy, family art-making and stroller tours. Myakka State Park offers a Junior Ranger program and teaches kids about the park by completing six CORE activities to earn their Junior Ranger badge.

• For pure adventure, Tree-Umph! Adventure Park has courses for all skill levels, from easy to adventurous.

PUNTA GORDA/ENGLEWOOD BEACH

• Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is the place for outdoor fun, with Babcock Ranch Eco-Tours inviting families to see alligators, wild hogs, and turkeys, as well as the historic Cracker Cattle. Visitors can collect seashells or take a discovery walk through nature at Englewood Beach and Stump Pass Beach State Park, where manatees, gopher tortoises, snowy egrets, least terns and magnificent frigate birds call home. Outfitters near Englewood Beach offer activities such as jet ski, kayak, stand up paddle boarding, boat, and parasailing packages for the whole family.

• Tire little ones out on Punta Gorda’s Harbor Walk along the beautiful Charlotte Harbor shoreline. The Harbor Walk is a fantastic location to take advantage of the Free Bike Loaner Program that is unique to Punta Gorda. Bike stations include Fishermen’s Village, Laishley Marina, Bayfront Punta Gorda’s Wellness Center, Sheraton Four Points and SpringHill Suites.

THE PALM BEACHES

• Animal fans can explore the many wildlife attractions in the Palm Beaches. Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, for example, doubles as protection of Florida’s wildlife and natural resources where visitors may see Florida Panthers, bobcats, and black bears, among other native wildlife. There is also Lion Country Safari, Florida’s largest drive-through safari, which displays 900 animals roaming in wide-open habitats within inches of your car! And Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society invites guests to go wild with koalas, tigers, macaws and more.

• Loggerhead Marine Life Center promotes the conservation of the ocean’s ecosystems with a special focus on sea turtles. The perk here (besides the many sea turtles) is that this centre is located just steps away from some of the most densely nested loggerhead sea turtle beaches in the world.

• There’s also the Snorkel Trail at Phil Foster Park, where blue waters are home to a variety of marine life including sea turtles, tropical fish, sailfish, goliath groupers and dolphins. Manatee sightings are frequent in the winter and springtime, while sea turtles are common year-round. For the best snorkeling conditions, visit at high tide.

FORT LAUDERDALE

• The beachfront town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, on the southeast coast of Florida, offers beautiful white sand beaches, low-rise hotels (literally on the sand!), shopping and many dining options. Families should take note that many hotels offer free bikes, and bike rentals are available along with free “around town” Pelican Hopper bus. Take a stroll to the picturesque Intracoastal Waterway to discover marine sculptures, locally owned shops and eateries, as well as ice cream shops and bakeries. The Town Walking Map is a handy guide for your family’s visit to our small seaside town.

• Recognized as “Florida’s Beach Diving Capital,” Lauderdale-By-The-Sea teems with marine life less than 100 yards off the white sand beaches. The whole family can enjoy snorkelling, diving, kayaking, and paddle boarding right off the beaches’ shorelines. Lauderdale-By-The-Sea is also a designated “Blue Wave Beach,” a distinction given to clean and environmentally responsible beach communities.

MIAMI

• With the Discover JW Miami Turnberry package, guests get entrance to Tidal Cove, an award-winning waterpark with seven water slides, a 370-sq.-m. kids pool and the first-ever FlowRider Triple surf simulation pool in the nation. There’s also Acqualina Resort’s newly enhanced AcquaMarine Kid’s Club, which provides educational adventures for the resort’s youngest guests and is complimentary when booking accommodation at the luxury resort.

• The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, located in downtown Miami sparks wonder and investigation across 1.6 hectares that house the Frost Planetarium, Aquarium and the North and West Wings. Families can geek out over exhibitions about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in an experiential setting with interactive exhibitions and unique shows all year-round.

• Foodie families in Miami can also drop in at the Deering Seafood Festival on March 26, at the Deering Estate. Fresh seafood, chef demos, live entertainment and activities for the kids await.

FORT MYERS

The famed Sanibel Lighthouse re-opened on Feb. 28, five months to the day after Hurricane Ian nearly toppled the iconic structure, symbolizing the town’s ongoing recovery. Gasparilla Island beaches, Tarpon Bay Beach and Blind Pass Beach on Sanibel Island are open and other beaches and parks are coming back in stages.

FLORIDA KEYS

Islamorada Resort Collection, comprised of four premier resorts located in Islamorada, a village in the Florida Keys, offers four private beaches to relax on as well as boating, fishing, snorkeling, and diving excursions. New to the collection this spring is the Islamorada Spearfishing Adventures at Amara Cay, which invites families to embark on an excursion with a local captain to find Florida Keys’ spiny lobster, participate in inshore and offshore fishing, or an underwater hunt.

SPRING TRAINING

Of course, spring training baseball continues throughout the state in March, including the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin (last game March 27).

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

APPY DAYS: Air Transat unveils mobile app makeover

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If you haven’t tried Transat’s mobile app for awhile, now’s the time, as the airline has unveiled a fresh interface and new features, all designed to simplify the user experience.

The mobile app makeover accompanies Air Transat’s travellers every step of the way by providing contextual and timely information for pre-trip preparation, as well their outbound and return flights and at their destination. It allows users to check in online, track their flight status, access their travel documents and more.

In addition, for clients who booked a package, it is possible to consult the schedule of welcome sessions and airport transfers, to communicate with a Transat representative at any time, to view the excursions purchased before their departure, and to obtain their check-out time.

It also allows travellers to easily locate links to add inflight services such as Option Plus, inflight extras and meal pre-order. And more new features will also be added throughout the year.

Travel agents are invited to watch YouTube video to get an overview of the available features. Click HERE.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

LISTENING IN: Constantly craving k.d.

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Kudos to k.d. lang, who was just awarded Canada’s highest honour in the performing arts – the 2023 Governor-General’s Performing Arts Awards, one of seven Canadians to receive the honour. The lifetime achievement award “recognizes artists for their outstanding body of work and enduring contribution to the performing arts in Canada.”

For Edmonton-born (Kathryn Dawn) lang, now 61, the award recognizes an “impressive discography (that) spans over three decades and comprises 13 studio albums, one soundtrack, two live albums, four compilation albums and 41 singles,” according to the Awards Foundation, which adds, “(She) is known for her wide-ranging musical talent, distinctive and androgynous style, and hauntingly pure mezzo-soprano voice.

It continues: “She has played an important role in the recognition and development of country and popular music in Canada, and her unique creative contribution has added a new dimension to contemporary music. A noted activist, she publicly came out as a lesbian in the early 1990s and is a strong advocate for the gay rights movement, as well as for animal rights and HIV/AIDS care and research.”

Known as “the Alberta Rose,” the singer evolved from her early cow-punk days with band The Reclines, breaking out as a breathtaking crooner, and solo artist, on the album “Ingénue,” which featured the hit single, which she co-wrote, “Constant Craving” (video below).

She also collaborated with such prominent artists as Roy Orbison (on the Grammy-winning duet “Crying”), Tony Bennett, and Elton John, as well as country greats Loretta Lynn (best friend of her idol, Patsy Cline), Brenda Lee, and Kitty Wells.

Another career highpoint came when she mesmerized the world with one of the most definitive renditions of fellow Canadian Leonard Cohen’s classic “Hallelujah” at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

The GGPAA adds to lang’s long list of accolades, which includes being an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member of the Alberta Order of Excellence, and a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee medals. Other awards and honours include the GGPAA National Arts Centre Award, four Grammys, eight Junos, and three GLAAD Media Awards (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation).

She has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and Canada’s Walk of Fame and holds honorary doctorates from two Canadian universities.

The GGPAA will be awarded at a ceremony in May.

Lyrics

Even through the darkest phase
Be it thick or thin
Always someone marches brave
Here beneath my skin

Constant craving
Has always been

Maybe a great magnet pulls
All souls towards truth
Or maybe it is life itself
That feeds wisdom
To its youth

Constant craving
Has always been

Craving
Ah ha
Constant craving
Has always been
Has always been

Constant craving
Has always been
Constant craving
Has always been

Craving
Ah ha
Constant craving
Has always been

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Amadeus’ Lutz Vorneweg joins Joyned team as its Travel industry expert

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Jerusalem, Israel, March 3, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Jerusalem-based start-up Joyned, developer of Joyned Booking, a solution that makes online group booking a social experience, has today announced the appointment of Lutz Vorneweg, a senior executive at tourism giant Amadeus, as its travel industry expert. Vorneweg has over 30 years’ experience in senior management positions at Amadeus, most recently as SVP of Strategic Alliances and Portfolio Partnerships. Amadeus provides technology solutions for the entire tourism industry, including hotels, travel agencies, airports, and airlines. It employs 16,000 people in over 190 countries, and in 2021 its annual turnover reached more than $3 billion.

Lutz Vorneweg, SVP of Strategic Alliances and Portfolio Partnerships at Amadeus, said: “Eighty per cent (80%) of leisure travel takes place with friends and family. I am fascinated by what Joyned is doing in this space – helping friends and family to plan, book and share travel together – creating togetherness before and after the actual trip. Helping the team of a young, dynamic company that’s helping set the future of the travel industry keeps me at the forefront of all the latest innovations in the sector. While at the same time, I am looking forward to using my experience to help Joyned create collaborative travel experiences for more and more friends and family and in turn accelerate its own growth.”

Founded in Jerusalem in 2017 by CEO Jonathan Abraham and Michael Levinson, CPO, Joyned is a SaaS solution for travel websites that encourages friends and family to book together, while increasing revenue for the site. The appointment of Lutz Vorneweg comes following a period of strong growth for Joyned, with the company having secured several major partnerships with travel industry giants including OYO, during the past twelve months.

Commenting on Vorneweg’s appointment, Jonathan Abraham, CEO of Joyned, said “Lutz has been at the heart of global tourism for over 30 years. Many significant players in the industry have been impacted by his leadership in developing and adopting advanced technological solutions. His knowledge, experience and connections are a tremendous and unprecedented asset for an Israeli travel-tech startup like Joyned. He will, I believe, help us realize our vision of becoming the de facto standard of international booking sites in a market worth $1 trillion annually.”

The Joyned Booking solution enables social communication on travel and tourism sites, making group booking a collaborative, shared experience. People can invite their friends and family to a chat while browsing a website or app, where they can view the content, discuss it, and make shared decisions about booking flights, hotels, jeep tours, sailing, and other activities.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

GOWAY BRITAIN TOURS GO WEST (TO WEST MIDLANDS)

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From cosmopolitan (and quintessential) British cities to historic castles, and Shakespeare to Peaky Blinders, England’s West Midlands region shows another side of the country beyond the well-known attractions of London. And they’re attributes that Goway is eager to show off in a series of new tours recently introduced by the Canadian tour operator.

“The West Midlands is a largely undiscovered gem in England,” says Robert Miller, Goway’s Product Manager for Northern Europe & the UK, who notes that the area is ideal for repeat visitors to the UK, and features both urban and rural environments that pair the best that Britain has to offer.

Centrally located north and west of London, and including Britain’s second largest city, Birmingham, it’s also handy hub for exploring other regions of the UK, including the nearby Cotswolds.

Miller notes the region is also currently on a high, having hosted the Commonwealth Games in the summer of 2022 – a massive sporting event that provided high visibility for Birmingham and neighbouring host cities (like Coventry) in countries such as Canada, as well as pre-Games infrastructure enhancements that will continue to benefit visitors in years to come.

Why the West Midlands?

Miller offers just a few of the highlights that clients can discover on the tours:

• Peaky Blinders/Black Country Living Museum (where they filmed much of the show)

• Great cuisine and cosmopolitan atmosphere/diversity of Birmingham (including the city’s famed Balti curry triangle)

• Pretty countryside and cityscapes (not least the canals of Birmingham)

• Industrial and automobile history, including the excellent Coventry Transport Museum (featuring Jaguar car gallery)

• Lady Godiva (Coventry) and the wartime and post-war history of Coventry Cathedral

• Nearby Stratford-upon-Avon (not technically in the West Midlands, but often lumped together) is all things Shakespeare, including the Bard’s birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s cottage (Shakespeare’s wife, not the actress), and a great boutique distillery imaginatively named Shakespeare’s Distillery

• Kenilworth Castle and Warwick Castle are two very different, very interesting places to visit.Tours

Goway’s most comprehensive itinerary for the West Midlands region is “Highlights of Birmingham & the West Midlands,” which Miller suggests is ideal for travellers who are looking for a quintessential English experience and at the same time mostly steers clear of the crowds at popular sites like Stonehenge and Bath.

The five-day tour starts in London with visits to key attractions and experiences in London (such as giving a spin on the London Eye, and a cruise along the Thames), and once they’ve moved on to Birmingham, guests will see the sights on a private walking tour, followed by two days of private touring outside of the city, including Coventry, Kenilworth and Warwick castles, and Stratford upon Avon (visiting Shakespeare’s birthplace and a distillery along the way).

Two other Goway tours also prominently feature the region:

• Six-day “Undiscovered England and the West Midlands” also starts in London and includes a day trip to Stonehenge-Windsor-Bath before heading up to Birmingham where car enthusiasts will revel in shifting gears to key in on the auto industry with visits to the Coventry Transport Museum, the Land Rover Experience, and the British Motor Museum. Additional stops include Liverpool and Manchester.

• And “Treasures of England,” over eight days, features three nights in London, two in Birmingham, and two in Liverpool. The tour includes a private walking tour of Birmingham and an exploration of West Midlands sites, including Coventry, Kenilworth, and Stratford-upon-Avon.

Miller notes that all of Goway’s curated FIT itineraries are customizable to a traveller’s specific needs and interests, including adding, subtracting, or changing overnights.

Goway can also arrange car rentals, and rail and attractions tickets.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort Joins World’s Top 100 Elite

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Maafushivaru Atoll, Maldives, March 1, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort has been selected by Luxury Lifestyle Awards as one of the Top 100 Hotels and Resorts of the World 2022. The judges also named the property’s General Manager, Mr John Allanson, as one of the world’s “Top 100 General Managers for 2022.”

Since acquiring and opening the resort in April 2022, Mr Allanson has led the luxurious 81-key all-villa property to a 5.0 “Excellent” rating on TripAdvisor based on more than 600 reviews.

The awards recognise an elite group of companies and leaders that represent the ‘best of the best’ as selected and assessed by industry sources, based on reputation, credibility, brand awareness, luxury experience and service excellence.

The organising committee said of the awards: “Your impeccable reputation and professional performance have been recognised and acknowledged.”

A TripAdvisor review of the resort in December 2022 is indicative: “Everyone – the wait staff, management, concierges, hosts, chefs, kitchen geniuses, grounds keepers, gardeners, water activity experts, spa therapists, security, and the excellent housekeeping team – blew us away. No business is a perfectly well-oiled machine and there are always issues that can be improved, but this one definitely does their absolute best to make guests believe that there are no imperfections.”

Outrigger Maldives General Manager, Mr John Allanson, said: “We are grateful to the judges at Luxury Lifestyle Awards and to all guests who went out of their way to leave a positive review. On behalf of all the dedicated and hard-working hosts at the resort, we appreciate it very much.”

Offering small-island charm with contemporary architecture and bespoke finishing touches, Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort offers guests an idyllic island experience, epitomising all that one thinks of when dreaming of the Maldives. The property is a convenient 25-minute seaplane journey from Male.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Accor Brings Emblems Collection to Vietnam’s Pearl Island

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Accor Brings Emblems Collection to Vietnam's Pearl Island - TRAVELINDEX - TOURISMMEKONG.comPhu Quoc, Vietnam, March 1, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Accor Hotels continues to reinforce its leadership position with the announcement of a new flagship destination for its newest luxury brand, Emblems Collection in Phu Quoc. This marks the brand’s debut in the Vietnam market.

Emblems Collection is a carefully curated collection of independent hotels that are emblematic of their destination, designer or heritage. In recognition of their unique and charismatic personality, each property maintains its original elements and create bespoke and intimate guest experiences for seasoned modern luxury travellers who want to bring deeper meaning and emotion to their lives.

Set to open in 2025, the Emblems Collection hotel in Phu Quoc will be perfectly positioned on the soft sands of Sao Beach, overlooking the ocean close to the southern tip of Vietnam’s exquisite “Pearl Island”. This beautiful locally-inspired low-rise retreat, being developed by Dai Minh Phu Quoc Company Limited, will feature 122 bright, naturally-lit guestrooms and 24 breath-taking villas, all just steps from the crescent-shaped beach and aquamarine sea.

Throughout their stay, guests will be able to dine at a choice of two exceptional restaurants, grab light refreshments at the coffee corner, or unwind at the live music bar. The Emblems Collection hotel in Phu Quoc will also be a haven of wellness, with a soothing spa and bath house, a yoga studio and a fully-equipped fitness centre, as well as an inviting outdoor swimming pool and children’s pool. Finally, the event facilities and beach will promise to be outstanding locations for events on this island.

“We are delighted to introduce the Emblems Collection brand to Vietnam,” said Maud Bailly, CEO of Sofitel, Sofitel Legend, MGallery and Emblems for Accor. “Each property in this original hotel collection is completely unique and inspired by the essence of its destination. The Emblems Collection hotel in Phu Quoc will not be just another new resort on this popular island; it will become a flagship for Accor in Vietnam and a new destination in Phu Quoc’s tourism crown. We look forward to working with our esteemed partners at Dai Minh Phu Quoc Company Limited as we bring this iconic new property to life.”

“We are delighted to announce this strategic partnership with Accor for the first Emblem Collection resort property in Vietnam. The collaboration between Dai Minh & Accor has been carefully considered and we believe that our partnership will result in the creation of a rare jewel – a 5-star resort property on Phu Quoc’s most stunning beach – Bai Sao.” said Jean Pierre Gerbet, Chief Executive Officer of Dai Minh Phu Quoc Limited. Mr. Gerbet further added that, “Through this exciting project we aim to support the continuing growth of Vietnam’s tourism industry.”

The Emblems Collection hotel in Phu Quoc will be located a short 25-minute drive from Phu Quoc International Airport, which offers direct connections to key cities all across Asia, including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai and Seoul, as well as multiple domestic routes within Vietnam.

Emblems Collection is Accor’s newest luxury brands, with a captivating portfolio set to expand to 60 hotels and resorts all around the world by 2032, with several global signings to be announced throughout 2023.

About Accor
Accor is a world leading hospitality group consisting of 5,300 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries. The group has one of the industry’s most diverse and fully-integrated hospitality ecosystems encompassing more than 40 luxury, premium, midscale and economy hotel brands, entertainment and nightlife venues, restaurants and bars, branded private residences, shared accommodation properties, concierge services, co-working spaces and more. Accor’s unmatched position in lifestyle hospitality – one of the fastest growing categories in the industry – is led by Ennismore, a joint venture, which Accor holds a majority shareholding. Ennismore is a creative hospitality company with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Accor boasts an unrivalled portfolio of distinctive brands and more than 230,000 team members worldwide. Members benefit from the company’s comprehensive loyalty program – ALL – Accor Live Limitless – a daily lifestyle companion that provides access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. Through its global sustainability commitments (such as achieving Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2050, global elimination of single use plastics in its hotels’ guest experience, etc.), Accor Solidarity, RiiSE and ALL Heartist Fund initiatives, the Group is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity and inclusivity. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States.

Emblems Collection
Emblems Collection is a captivating global portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts. Featuring unique properties that are ‘emblematic’ of their designers, demographics or destinations, hotels within the Emblems Collection stand apart as revered landmarks with character, history and aura. Signature elements include sumptuous surroundings in handpicked locations, charismatic service and exclusive bars. With its first signed property – Guiyang Art Centre Hotel, Emblems Collection in China’s Guizhou province, the luxury brand is expected to grow to 60 select locations around the world by 2032. Emblems Collection is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,300 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL – Accor Live Limitless – a lifestyle loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Mekong Tourism Forum Confirmed for April in Sihanoukville, Cambodia

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Mekong Tourism Forum Confirmed for April in Sihanoukville, Cambodia - TOURISMMEKONG.com - TRAVELINDEXSihanoukville, Cambodia, March 1, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The 2023 Mekong Tourism Forum (MTF 2023), hosted by the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia and co-organised by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, will take place 25-27 April in Sihanoukville city, the capital of Preah Sihanouk province. The Forum will address the theme “Rethinking for Resilience and Digitalisation.”

Tourism Ministers, tourism leaders, NTOs, NGOs and private sector representatives, will discuss ways to rethink post-Covid tourism in China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam as a collective and dynamic sub-region

The conference programme has been designed to address job creation, gender equality, food safety and hygiene, digital transformation and a more geographically dispersed tourism approach, so that the benefits of the travel industry spread beyond over-touristed hotspots.

At the Forum, tourism experts and political leaders will address five key ideas on 26 April: rethinking tourism to put people and planet first; developing local food production networks with a focus on safety and hygiene, while reducing food waste; using new digital technology to boost tourism startups and small- and medium-sized businesses; improving training so that tourism workers have the skills to adapt; and advancing equality of opportunity and fair treatment for women in the private and public sectors of tourism.

“The post-Covid- 19 tourism landscape now provides clear opportunities for us to take stock and rethink tourism for the better,” said H.E. Dr. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism for Cambodia.

“With my tourism colleagues from around the Greater Mekong Subregion we will work hard to ensure that tourism re-establishes itself as an engine to create sustainable prosperity for our citizens. The MTF 2023 agenda has a clear focus and will address those issues,” he said.

The challenges of improving local food networks, to enhance safety and hygiene, will be addressed by Mr Luu Meng, a legend in the Cambodian culinary scene. The panel on smart tourism and digitalisation will be moderated by Mr Ben-Jie Lim, Group Head of Delivery, SuperApp, AirAsia. The expert panel debate on advancing human capital will be led by Mr Peter Semone, the Chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, who will also keynote the Forum. Ms Veronica Mendizabal Jaffre of the Asian Development Bank will lead the panel session on women’s empowerment in tourism in the region.

As Preah Sihanouk province is the host destination, on 27 April delegates will have the opportunity to join many of the local excursions and post-tours such as Sihanoukville city tour, Koh Rong Island, diving, mangrove tour, kayaking, and community-based ecotourism exploration. Each trip will showcase sustainable tourism practices in the destination.

The MTF 2023 will also host a Sustainable Tourism Exhibit comprising over 20 exhibitors, showcasing responsible and sustainable tourism, community-based tourism and local community products. The exhibit will run on 25 and 26 April.

An estimated 150 international delegates are expected to attend the MTF 2023, which is free to join for leaders of the travel industry.

Registration is available through the new Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office website at https://mekongtourism.org/mekong-tourism-forum-2023/
Registration will close on 18 April, or when places are fully booked, whichever comes first.

About the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO)
The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)- comprising Cambodia, Yunnan and Guangxi provinces in China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam, is one of the world’s most dynamic tourist destinations. The six GMS governments established the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) in 2006, as a tourism collaboration framework, with its objective to develop and promote the Mekong Region as a single tourism destination. MTCO’s role is to coordinate activities that boost tourism’s contribution to inclusive economic growth and environmental sustainability in the GMS. The MTCO work plan is guided by the GMS Tourism Working Group (TWG), which is made up of senior representatives of the National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) of the six member countries. MTCO activities are supported by the Asian Development Bank.

About the Mekong Tourism Forum
First held in 1996, the Mekong Tourism Forum is an annual government-led event dedicated to the tourism industry in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). The event provides a cooperative platform for travel and tourism stakeholders to discuss regional tourism development, along with the marketing and promotion of travel to, from, and within the GMS. It presents an inclusive, interactive, and results-oriented opportunity to encourage public- and private-sector participation in promoting the GMS as a single destination.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PATA Announces Resignation of CEO Liz Ortiguera

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PATA Announces Resignation of CEO Liz Ortiguera - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, March 1, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) announces the resignation of Liz Ortiguera as its Chief Executive Officer. Upon her notification, PATA Vice Chair Benjamin Liao said, “Liz served PATA with distinction as the first Asian female CEO in the organization’s 72-year history. On behalf of PATA, I would like to thank her for her leadership of the Association during a difficult period for the industry.”

“We recognize her many accomplishments as PATA CEO including new agreements with the Singapore Tourism Board, the Saudi Tourism Authority and Trip.com as well as the expanded partnerships with Visa, MasterCard, and Airbnb. New projects included PATA’s first Annual Summit in the Middle East, the PATA-Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) APAC Travel Summit, PATA-World Bank Government Recovery Insights Forum Series, the Tourism Destination Resilience Program launch and the ongoing Weekly Asia-Pacific Destination Recovery Dashboard.”

Commenting on her tenure at PATA, Ms. Ortiguera said, “It was a true honor to have served as PATA’s CEO. I am confident that PATA, with its diverse member base of industry leaders, can continue to support and lead our industry’s recovery and growth. PATA is even more critical as a business community today to support new partnerships, innovation, and the adoption of sustainable business practices.”

“I am handing back the reins with thanks to PATA Members for the opportunity to lead at this critical time of global industry recovery. I had the opportunity to work with some deeply committed, hard-working and talented individuals within the PATA team as well as our valued members and partners. They embody the heart and the spirit of what PATA could be in everything they do,” Ms. Ortiguera added.

In response to Ms. Ortiguera’s departure, PATA Chair Peter Semone stated that, “the Executive Board has established five Expert Task Forces or ETFs to review critical elements of PATA’s development strategy, including Brand and Voice, Events, Membership Engagement, Organizational Design and Digital Readiness. The recommendations of these ETFs will help define PATA’s new direction strategically and operationally.”

About PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organisations, which includes government, state and city tourism bodies; international airlines and airports; hospitality organisations, and educational institutions, as well as thousands of young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism of the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 32 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 28 PATA Student Chapters globally. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing and London.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News