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MOTTO MAKES ITS MARK: Hilton brand debuts in Mexico, Europe

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Motto by Hilton has marked a major milestone with its international debut in the Caribbean and Europe with the openings of Motto by Hilton Tulum and Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak. The US urban, lifestyle hotel brand is designed to offer guests the flexibility to create their own experiences and live like a local in some of the world’s most sought-after destinations.

“This is an exciting chapter for Motto by Hilton as it expands globally, underscoring the strength of the brand and its appeal to today’s travellers,” says Matt Schuyler, chief brand officer, Hilton. “We look forward to offering even more reliable and friendly travel experiences in these prime locales, and delivering truly local stays through flexible and modern design, the best of the neighboruhood food and beverage offerings, and a local vibe that reflects the destination of each hotel.”

Tulum, Mexico

Motto by Hilton opens to guests inside the Hunab mixed-used lifestyle centre, the first mall in the Mexican resort town anticipated to soon become a focal point for locals and travellers in Quintana Roo. With a premier location, guests at the 115-room lifestyle hotel are surrounded by a jungle with ancient ruins and pristine beaches and are placed within steps of restaurants, retail shops and nightlife.

The property features two rooftop infinity pools with private cabanas and jungle views that capture the essence of the Riviera Maya. It also boasts a fitness centre with indoor and outdoor workout areas.

Diners will find curated food and drink selections at Motto by Hilton Tulum. Guests can start the day at Bistro Coba with a regionally inspired menu and fresh-pressed beverage offerings, sample mixology and snacks at the rooftop pool bar, enjoy a modern twist on comfort food at the rooftop restaurant bar, and relax downstairs at the casual Coba Bar.

Rotterdam, Holland

Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak

Meanwhile, Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak is located in an iconic preserved bank building that has undergone extensive refurbishment to create a welcoming and modern environment inspired by Rotterdam’s stunning architecture. The 108-room property is within walking distance of the Maritime Museum Rotterdam, Cube Houses and the striking Markthal, where visitors can shop, eat, and drink at nearly 100 food stalls and restaurants.

The hotel’s design has retained features of its bank origins, including the original staircases and wooden panelling, ensuring guests feel the legacy of the building throughout their stay. Red, yellow, and blue themes highlight the influence of iconic modernist art, which has long been synonymous with the city.

With a continuously evolving menu, minimal waste, and the best selection of fresh fish available daily, Pesca at Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak constantly invents dishes to give guests a unique experience each time they dine at the restaurant.

Motto by Hilton

Across the brand, Motto by Hilton offers travel-sized guest rooms with sleek, modern design that reflects the local destination. Each room is equipped with everything guests need for an enjoyable and restful night’s sleep, including top-notch mattresses, with sound-absorbing surroundings and smart technology for the ultimate in convenience.

Guests can fully customize each stay with flexible sleeping setups, including standard, Flex beds that stow into the wall, The Bunkie (bunk bed) and more. Motto by Hilton also simplifies coordinating travel for larger friend and family groups by offering a number of varying connecting room configurations to accommodate groups of all sizes. For instance, Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak offers guests the ability to connect up to nine rooms, while Motto by Hilton Tulum offers up to five rooms connecting.

Local design is also reflected across these international properties in distinct ways.

A distinguishing feature of Motto by Hilton hotels is their versatile, open common space, Motto Commons. Serving as a neighbourhood gathering space, Motto Commons provides a central place for guests and locals alike to grab a coffee, catch up on work or have a cocktail before heading out to explore.

At Motto by Hilton Tulum, hotel team members known as Motto Hosts are available to specifically curate experiences for guests, such as a sunset rooftop dinner with a Mayan ceremony, a premium mezcal tasting at Ancestral, or a sustainable mobility E-scooter or E-bike for getting around town. Motto by Hilton Tulum also has partnered with the area’s two biggest beach clubs, Bagatelle and Vagalume, to provide guaranteed access and sunbed service for hotel guests.

At Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak, the glass ceiling of Motto Commons is a centre point where work and play converge. Located in the heart of the hotel, light bites, drinks and freshly brewed teas and coffees are available at the bar or in the Commons. Grab & Go options are available for the explorer on the move.

Global growth

Motto by Hilton Tulum and Motto by Hilton Rotterdam Blaak join the brand’s open properties in the US, including Motto by Hilton New York City Chelsea, Motto by Hilton Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square and Motto by Hilton Washington DC City Center.

More than 20 properties are in the pipeline, including Cusco, Peru, as well as São Paulo Ibirapuera and Recife in Brazil.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

The Anam Mui Ne Debuts on Vietnam’s South Coast

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Mui Ne, Vietnam, January 11, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Crafted by age-old artisans from across Vietnam, The Anam Mui Ne celebrates its grand opening on January 11 with a design redolent of the Indochine period.

Perched on 1.2 hectares of spectacular oceanfront, the independently owned and operated resort is blazing new ground in Mui Ne, a popular beach town within an easy commute from Ho Chi Minh City.

With 127 elegant rooms and suites, two restaurants and a bar, a five-treatment-room spa, two spacious swimming pools – one freshwater and the other saltwater – a ballroom, conference rooms, water sports center, fitness center, yoga room, kid’s club, gift shop and more, The Anam Mui Ne is poised to redefine the benchmarks of an upscale experience at Mui Ne.

Borrowing deeply from the templates of architecture inspired by the grand old French villas in Hanoi, and the garden homes of Central Vietnam, the new resort pays homage to both colonial-era and classic Vietnamese aesthetics. To wit, the customized encaustic mosaic tiles, Cham decorative vases and statues on plinths, teak furniture crafted from sustainable forests, stone from Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, and authentic thatched roofs from Binh Thuan.

Vietnamese artists were commissioned to create 250 original oil paintings for each room and suite, as well as the lobby, restaurants and hallways. The artists include painters Bui Van Quang, who is renowned for his paintings portraying daily Vietnamese life, and Vu Trong Anh, who’s won acclaim for his modern, abstract interpretations of Vietnamese scenery.

The Anam Mui Ne is preceded by the 2017 launch of The Anam Cam Ranh, that’s been lauded by some of the industry’s highest accolades including placement among Asia’s top resorts in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards in 2021 and 2020.

Situated on Mui Ne’s beach strip Nguyen Dinh Chieu, the resort overlooks one of southern Vietnam’s most inspiring white sand beaches and affords sweeping East Sea vistas. Mui Ne’s attractions include its beach, sand dunes, fishing village, Cham towers and “Fairy Stream” – a shallow stream that flows through vivid orange and white limestone formations. An expressway due to open shortly will cut the drive from Ho Chi Minh City to two hours. An international airport is set to open in Mui Ne in 2025.

For Vietnam-born founder and owner Pham Van Hien, the resort makes for a significant expansion of the brand that references another name “An Nam”, which was the name of Central Vietnam during the French Indochina era. He has played a hands-on role in the design of the resort, applying valuable lessons he learnt from bringing The Anam Cam Ranh to fruition.

“My ambition for The Anam has always been to create, through and through, an intimate, classic and distinctly Vietnamese hotel brand that is a welcome counterpoint to the industrialised hotel chains that are increasingly targeting Vietnam with properties that, quite frankly, you could find anywhere,” Mr Hien said.

The resort’s 127 rooms and suites across six accommodation categories form a loose rectangular U-shaped configuration that opens up views of the ocean, lush gardens, the resort’s swimming pools and Mui Ne town. The Private Pool Suites and Presidential Suite are the resort’s leading accommodation categories. The 142sqm Private Pool Suites have their own 22sqm private pools complemented with terraces decked with sun loungers. The 122sqm Presidential Suite features an indoor dining area, lounge and kitchenette, as well as a separate room for security personnel.

Comprising an all-day dining restaurant and grill called The Indochine, beachside restaurant and bar Lang Viet Restaurant and Bar, elegant Saigon Bar in the lobby and 24-7 in-room dining, the resort’s dining landscape’s offerings range from gourmet delicacies to traditional home style cooking and street food-inspired classics.

The Anam Spa has five treatment rooms, including three VIP rooms designed for couples – each equipped with two massage beds and a deep-soaking bathtub – as well as two single rooms, two steam rooms, saunas, indoor Jacuzzis and a beauty salon.

The resort leverages its natural surrounds as opportunities for kitesurfing, jet skiing, sailing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, bodyboarding, Kymera body boarding and surfing at Mui Ne beach.

The resort will open with a ban on single-use plastics and has implemented an array of measures to reduce its carbon footprint ranging from solar power and locally sourced ingredients. Laundry water is recycled to water the gardens. Straws, bags and bathroom amenities are biodegradable. The resort’s eco-friendly key cards are also made from wood that’s been sourced from sustainably managed forests.

About The Anam Group
After the auspicious debut of The Anam Cam Ranh in 2017, the independently owned and operated The Anam Group will celebrate the grand opening of its second property, The Anam Mui Ne, in January 2023.

With “Indochine Charm” and “Modern Luxury” as its watchwords, the group blends colonial-era aesthetics and attentive Vietnamese service with modern comforts and convenience. “The Anam” today is a reference to another name, “An Nam”, which was the name of Central Vietnam during the French Indochina era.

The Anam Cam Ranh overlooks 300 metres of beachfront on Vietnam’s scenic Cam Ranh peninsula, which averages more than 300 sunny days per year. The luxurious five-star resort boasts 77 villas and 136 rooms and suites. The Anam features a French-inspired fine dining restaurant, all-day dining restaurant, a Vietnamese restaurant and bar, a classical bar, a beach club, in-room dining, a 10 treatment-room spa, indoor and outdoor movie theatres, three capacious swimming pools, ballroom, conference rooms, recreation and fitness centre, a tennis court, yoga room and deck, kids club, putting green, gift shop and more.

Like its predecessor The Anam Cam Ranh, The Anam Mui Ne’s design is also an echo out of Vietnam’s Indochine era. Situated in southern Vietnam’s popular beach town Mui Ne, the 1.2 hectare beachfront resort affords spectacular ocean vistas and features 127 elegant rooms and suites, including seven 142sqm suites with private pools and a 122sqm presidential suite with an extra room for the bodyguards. Its dining landscape comprises an all-day dining restaurant and grill, beachside restaurant and bar, and lobby bar. A five-treatment room spa, two vast swimming pools, a ballroom, conference rooms, water sports center, fitness center, yoga room, kid’s club and gift shop are among the resort’s host of world-class facilities.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor Appoints Joseph Colina as New General Manager

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Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor Appoints Joseph Colina as New General ManagerSiem Reap, Cambodia, January 11, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, the iconic 90-year-old luxury hotel on the doorstep of the ancient Khmer archeological sites of Angkor, has appointed Joseph Colina as its new General Manager.

The American national brings nearly two decades of experience with Accor to his new posting in Siem Reap. Colina most recently served as General Manager of MGallery Sapa in northern Vietnam. He also previously worked as Hotel Manager for Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, after launching his career in the U.S. with positions in Washington, D.C., Chicago and elsewhere.

“This is an exciting moment in Siem Reap not only as international travelers flock back to one of the world’s most extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Sites but also as Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor writes the next chapter in its own legendary history, after celebrating its 90-year anniversary last year as a landmark heritage hotel in Southeast Asia,” Colina said.

The hotel reopened its doors in June 2022 following a major restoration project and pandemic-related closure that shut the hotel for nearly three years. Under the guidance of the Raffles Hotels group, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor is once again at the forefront of travel to Southeast Asia. The hotel was recognized last year by the U.S.-based publication Travel + Leisure as one of the world’s top 500 hotels.

Nearly all of the hotel’s 119 guest rooms and suites were fully refurbished in the restoration, including with all-new Italian tiling and fixtures in the bathrooms. One of the hotel’s most distinctive attributes—its classic metal and timber elevator in the lobby—remains, as does the vintage ambience of The Elephant Bar.

Colina takes the reins amid other significant changes at Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, including the launch of the Khmer fine-dining restaurant 1932 and the addition of the Raffles Marquee, an elegant events space overlooking a lush green lawn.

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor originally opened in 1932 and is a national treasure whose storied history is a testament to Cambodia’s colorful past. The hotel was originally built as a rest stop for archeologists and adventurers seeking to explore the ancient kingdom of Angkor Wat.

For more information on Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, or for bookings, please call +855 23 982 598

ABOUT RAFFLES
Raffles Hotels & Resorts boasts an illustrious history and some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide. In 1887, Raffles Singapore set the standard for luxury hospitality, introducing the world to private butlers, the Singapore Sling and its enduring, legendary service. Today, Raffles continues this tradition in leading cities and lavish resort locales, enchanting travellers with meaningful experiences and service that is both gracious and intuitive. Connoisseurs of life choose Raffles, not merely for its aura of culture, beauty and gentility, but for the extraordinary way they feel when in residence with Raffles. Each Raffles, be it Paris, Istanbul, Dubai, Warsaw, Jakarta or the Seychelles, serves as a venerated oasis where travellers arrive as guests, leave as friends and return as family. Raffles is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,100 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Aloft Bangkok Announces a Special Lunar New Year Package

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Aloft Bangkok Announces a Special Lunar New Year Package - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, January 11, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11, Marriott Bonvoy’s bright and bold hotel in the beating heart of Bangkok, is announcing its newest room promotion ‘Lunar New Year Package’ in time for Chinese New Year, offering special rates and a variety of free gifts so that travelers can spend more time exploring Bangkok.

Starting at THB 3,799++ per room per night in a Chic room, guests can enjoy perks like free breakfast, an 11 AM early check-in (based on availability), an afternoon tea set with a Thai twist, 20% off food and beverage, and more. Guests must make a reservation by February 28, 2023, for arrivals no later than April 30, 2023, other terms and conditions may apply.

Experience a whole new vibe with loft-inspired design, totally tech-savvy rooms with free Wi-Fi and a great social scene, Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11 is a distinctive select, modern, fresh and fun hotel. With savvy design and free-flowing energy, guests can celebrate in style in the unique openness of a no-walls, no-limits space. An easy breezy adventure awaits all guests in Thailand’s hippest hotspot, Aloft Bangkok – Sukhumvit 11 is just steps from the best shopping, nightlife, and dining destinations, and a quick 5-minute stroll to Nana BTS Skytrain and MRT Subway stations for easy access to Bangkok’s biggest attractions.

To book, please email BKKALReservations@marriott.com, or call 02 207 7000

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

NORMAL AIR TRAFFIC OPERATIONS RESUMING GRADUALLY

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The latest statement from the FAA at 08:50 EST said, “Normal air traffic operations are resuming gradually across the United States following an overnight outage to the FAA’s Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) system that provides safety information to flight crews. The ground stop has been lifted. The agency continues to look into the cause of the initial problem.”

All flights across the US were grounded due to an issue with the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) computer system. At around 6:30 Eastern, there were 760 delays within, into or out of the United States, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. The FAA said in a tweet that it was working on restoring its Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) System.

The New York Times posted the following update at 08:45 EST

Here’s what to know:

  • The F.A.A. expected departures to resume at 9 a.m. Eastern time at most airports. More than 3,700 flights within, into and out of the United States had been delayed on Wednesday, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking service.
  • Departures resumed at airports in Newark and Atlanta “due to air traffic congestion in those areas,” the F.A.A. said in a statement.
  • The delays were spread across the country and affected multiple carriers. United Airlines said in a statement that it had temporarily delayed all domestic flights and that it would issue an update when it learned more from the F.A.A. American Airlines said the situation “impacts all airlines” and that it was “working with the F.A.A. to minimize disruption to our operation and customers.”
  • President Biden said he had spoken with Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, and asked him to report back when a cause for the failure was identified.

.NOTAMs used to be available through a hotline which was subsequently  phased out with the internet. The alerts span from general information about construction, runway closures, general bird hazard warnings, or low-altitude construction obstacles to urgent flight restrictions or broken equipment.

‘The FAA said earlier it was working to restore its Notice to Air Missions System.  “We are performing final validation checks and repopulating the system now. Operations across the National Airspace System are affected.

“We will provide frequent updates as we make progress.”

Federal officials said Tuesday they will require charter airlines, air-tour operators and plane manufacturers to develop detailed systems for identifying potential safety problems before accidents occur.

The Federal Aviation Administration said safety-management systems have made travel on large airlines safer since their adoption was required in 2018.

 

 

We will continue to update this story during the day.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Aero Has Launched New Routes from London this Winter Season

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Aero Has Launched New Routes from London this Winter Season - EXEJET.com - TRAVELINDEXLondon, United Kingdom, January 11, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The semi-private jet service Aero announces new routes across Europe, catering to the French & Swiss Alps. Semi-private jet service Aero has announced its Winter routes to some of the most in-demand destinations across Europe and North America. From mid-December onwards, Aero will fly from London Farnborough Airport to Sion and Geneva. The service will also resume flights from London to Nice from December, following a short hiatus through November. In North America, Aero will be flying to and from Los Angeles, including LAX and Van Nuys, Los Cabos, San Francisco, Aspen and Sun Valley.

With travel seeming to be back to business as usual, Summer 2022 saw a huge demand in Aero’s routes across Europe. This allowed the brand to expand their fleet and offer routes to Ibiza & Nice from London Farnborough, as well as being the only airline to offer the popular island-hopping route between Ibiza and Mykonos. As we approach the end of the season and begin to make Winter holiday plans, Aero will follow their clients to the French and Swiss Alps, offering regular legs to Sion Airport and Geneva Airport from London Farnborough through the Winter months.

By offering direct flights to Sion and Geneva almost daily, Aero will permit access to some of the most desired ski resorts in both Switzerland and France in as quick as 35 minutes by car. Passengers can reach the likes of Verbier, Crans Montana, & Chambery in under an hour, and Gstaad, Zermatt Saas Fee, & Meribel in under two. Aero will provide semi-private air travel on a regular basis like never before, allowing clients to travel effortlessly to the French and Swiss Alps through the winter.

Since launching in 2019, Aero has been on a mission to redefine air travel through a semi-private jet service that provides direct flights to the world’s most coveted destinations in North America and Europe. With premium seats purchased individually, personalised concierge services, luxury interiors, and thoughtful curation at every touch point, Aero offers a radically better leisure travel experiences at a fraction of the usual jet-chartering price. It removes the hassle of flying commercial, through the use of private, crowd-free terminals, therefore minimising travel time and maximising holiday time.

“We are excited to offer our guests more options to fly with Aero,” said Uma Subramanian, Chief Executive Officer of Aero. “We will continue to provide our guests with an unparalleled way to travel and we look forward to bringing the Aero experience to new markets in the coming months”.

One-way flights with Aero begin from £990.

About Aero
Aero offers premium seating on direct flights between private terminals, using custom designed jets up to 16 seats. Since launching in 2019, the shared-charter model has offered the benefits of private aviation for a fraction of the cost, with access to a curated list of coveted destinations across the United States and Europe. Aero offers a seamless experience via their personalised concierge service available to all guests and which includes hosts on the ground to deliver unparalleled service. From weekend getaways to regular travel between residences, let Aero take you where you want to go.

Unless otherwise advised: (1) All intra-EU flights are operated by Aero Guernsey Ltd.; (2) All flights either arriving or departing the United Kingdom are operated by Aero FlightOps UK Ltd.; and (3) All flights within North America are operated by USAC Airways 695 LLC dba Aero Air. Aero Technologies Inc. acts as ticketing agent for Aero Guernsey Ltd. and Aero FlightOps UK Ltd., and, in the United States, as an indirect air carrier under US-DOT Part 380.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

World Economic Forum Announces 2023 Crystal Award Winners

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World Economic Forum Announces 2023 Crystal Award Winners - TRAVELINDEXGeneva, Switzerland, January 11, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Artist Maya Lin, acclaimed soprano and arts/health advocate Renée Fleming and actors and humanitarians Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre Elba are the recipients of the 29th Annual Crystal Award, the World Economic Forum announced today. The winners will be honoured at the opening session of the Forum’s Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, on the evening of Monday, 16 January. The award celebrates the achievements of leading artists who are bridge-builders and role models for all leaders of society.

The Crystal Award is presented at Davos each year by Hilde Schwab, Chairwoman and Co-Founder of the World Economic Forum’s World Arts Forum. The cultural leaders receiving the 2023 Crystal Award are bridge-builders. They connect us to each other; they help us reflect on the human condition and they provide visions of the world that can cut through the limitations of short-term or linear thinking.

Awardees
Maya Lin receives the 2023 Crystal Award for her extraordinary creative talent in combining science, art and architecture and her exemplary leadership in the promotion of nature and environment. Lin has fashioned a remarkable interdisciplinary career through her highly acclaimed art and architectural works, showcasing sustainable design and emphasizing a stronger connection to the land and nature.

>From her first public work, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., Lin has been committed to focusing attention on the key issues of our time: women’s rights, civil rights, Native American history and the climate crisis. In 2016, on awarding Lin the Presidential Medal of Freedom, President Barack Obama said her Vietnam Veterans Memorial “changed the way we think about sacrifice and patriotism and ourselves”.

Lin’s latest memorial, What is Missing?, is experimental and multidisciplinary in nature. In this work, Lin uses science-based artworks to raise awareness of the current mass extinctions of species, while emphasizing that by protecting and restoring habitats and reforming our land-use practices we could significantly reduce emissions and restore and protect biodiversity

Renée Fleming receives the 2023 Crystal Award for her leadership in championing the power of music and its relation to health, community and culture.

Renée Fleming is one of the most acclaimed sopranos of our time and a leading advocate for research at the intersection of arts, health and neuroscience. She launched the first ongoing collaboration between the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) with the participation of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The Sound Health initiative explores and brings attention to research and practice at the intersection of music, health and neuroscience. This collaboration has led to workshops at the NIH and events and performances at the Kennedy Center. It also led the NIH to recently award $20 million in funding for music and neuroscience research over five years. The Renée Fleming Foundation is now partnering with the Foundation for the NIH to develop a toolkit for standardizing music and health clinical research for brain disorders of ageing. Fleming has presented her programme, Music and the Mind, around the world.

Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre Elba receive the 2023 Crystal Award for their leadership in addressing food security, climate change and environmental conservation.

Actor, filmmaker and humanitarian, Idris Elba, and his wife, the model, actress and humanitarian, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, were appointed UN Goodwill Ambassadors for IFAD in April 2020. As IFAD Goodwill Ambassadors, they focus on issues related to food security, climate change and environmental conservation. The couple recently visited an IFAD-supported project in Sierra Leone, where they met farmers who received support for rice production and assistance with rural finance after the Ebola crisis.

The late Queen Elizabeth II awarded Idris Elba with the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2016 and the Prince’s Trust, founded by King Charles in 1976 – which Elba credits with helping to start his career – appointed him as its anti-crime ambassador in 2009

Elba supports causes related to poverty, HIV/AIDS, at-risk and disadvantaged youth, health and education. He worked with the UN and the Department for International Development in the UK during the Ebola health crisis and filmed campaigns in support of UNICEF, as well as the Sustainable Development Goals. He has recently created a number of youth-focused campaigns to promote education and learning and discourage violence.

Sabrina Dhowre Elba works with a variety of civil society organizations, including Farm Africa, raising funds to help farmers across eastern Africa, and Conservation International on environmental issues. She promotes gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls worldwide. She chairs the European board for Global Citizen and has been a keynote speaker at leading global events.

Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre Elba are board members of Conservation International.

Crystal awardees are part of a large community of cultural leaders in Davos.

The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting brings together governments, international organizations, business, civil society, cultural leaders, media, experts and young leaders from all over the world.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

NEW KEMPINSKI OFFERS HAVANA IN STYLE

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The doors are once again open at the Gran Hotel Bristol in Havana after a longer hibernation period than expected caused by the pandemic. Having re-opened in February 2020, the all-new Kempinski property lasted only four weeks before having to shut down again due to the health-related shutdown of Havana.

Located in the heart of the city, a short distance from the National Capitol Building (El Capitolio), the unique boutique hotel is nestled between Old Havana (La Habana Vieja) and Centro Habana and is billed as “the ideal urban escape for a modern traveller” with its “nonchalant” style and superb location.

The property is the luxury hotel chain’s second in Havana.

Inspired by the Art Deco style of the 1930s, 162 comfortable guestrooms’ interiors are stylishly appointed with bright accents, clean lines, and contemporary furnishings. Each room features a flat-screen TV, an individual control panel and complimentary WiFi.

Four unique dining experiences feature a rich kaleidoscope of cuisines and entertainment. Crowning Gran Hotel Bristol are two unique restaurants, El Capitolio and El Diamante – the latter, also a bar, boasting panoramic views of Old Havana.

A destination of its own, the rooftop pool also provides panoramic views over the city and the hotel gym is fully equipped with the latest fitness equipment.

“Havana’s rich and vibrant cultural landscape was the biggest inspiration for Gran Hotel Bristol,” says Xavier Destribats, COO The Americas of Kempinski Hotels. “Transformation of this stylish new hotel was truly a labour of love and dedication. Our guests and residents will be immersed in an exclusive lifestyle experience, where relaxed urban vibes and culinary mastery breathe new life into this historical building.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

A Bridge Not Too Far, Where Creativity Meets Innovation by Deepak Ohri

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Bangkok, Thailand, January 10, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Deepak Ohri, is a founder, CEO and Chief Happiness Officer of Lebua Hotels & Resorts, president of Luxury Atelier Maison Happiness (LAMH) and creator of the Let’s Just Dream brand.

Deepak’s first book is already recognized as one of the top manuscripts in the global marketing.

A Bridge Not Too Far: Where Creativity Meets Innovation explores how Deepak Ohri’s humble beginnings have fueled his innovative entrepreneurial spirit and have informed his deeply human-centered approach to business and to life.  The book highlights:

  • The true meaning of luxury lies not in a price tag but in an emotional experience for the consumer
  • How his restaurant training in America included key life lessons as well as business lessons
  • Why he insists that every customer be treated equally whether they are a celebrity or an unknown tourist – and that the same goes for every member of the hotel and restaurant staff
  • How he created one of the most famous rooftop restaurants in the world – the Sirocco at the lebua Hotel at State Tower in Bangkok
  • How he negotiated a unique marketing deal with the producers of Hangover II when they approached him about filming at the lebua Hotel at State Tower
  • How and why he is teaching luxury marketing at FIU’s (Florida International University) business school
  • His vision for the future of the luxury market and travel as we emerge from the shadows of the pandemic

Deepak Ohri, is a founder, CEO and Chief Happiness Officer of Lebua Hotels & Resorts, president of Luxury Atelier Maison Happiness (LAMH) and creator of the Let’s Just Dream brand.

A well-known worldwide as an award-winning entrepreneur who has transformed the luxury hospitality landscape in Asia. He has been recognized globally as an award-winning entrepreneur and celebrated speaker, being featured speaker at the Forbes Global CEO conference, the Financial Times Business of Luxury Summit, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, and Columbia University amongst many others.

He is also the Executive in Residence, Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Pino Global Entrepreneurship Center at the College of Business at Florida International University where he has helped pioneer the first MBA course in luxury marketing and management. He has been interviewed by Bloomberg, CNBC, BBC, Forbes and Fox Business along with numerous travel and restaurant industry media outlets. In 2022, Deepak Ohri was recognized as top 100 Most Powerful People in the Global Hospitality and was named the Leading Happiness Ambassador.

In an industry where profit is often placed over people, Deepak Ohri is committed to compassion, care, and creating powerful emotional connections that can last a lifetime.

For more information, please visit www.deepakohri.com

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Thailand Maintains Fully-Reopen Entry Rules

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Thailand Maintains Fully-Reopen Entry Rules - VISITTHAILAND.net - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, January 10, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) would like to clarify that Thailand continues to welcome all international tourists under the fully-reopen-to-tourism policy that was introduced on 1 October, 2022. Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, said “International travellers arriving in Thailand are not required to show proof of vaccination.”

Only visitors coming from or going to countries which require a RT-PCR test need to have health insurance covering treatment of COVID-19 in Thailand.

In addition, foreign tourists are not required to show ATK or RT-PCR test results.

As part of the full reopening to tourism, Thailand is also offering a longer period of stay for visitors. Effective through to 31 March, 2023, the period of stay is extended to 45 days (from 30 days) for tourists from countries/territories entitled for visa exemption, and to 30 days (from 15 days) for those eligible for a Visa on Arrival (VOA).

However, while Thailand is welcoming all visitors, a visitor source market may require incoming visitors including their own nationals returning home to have a negative PCR result.

Thus, Thailand is aiming to correspond with rules of these countries – among them are China and India. Therefore, passengers from a country that has requirements for RT-PCR test must have health insurance covering treatment of COVID-19 in Thailand.

With the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters‘ campaign, tourists the world over are invited to experience the kingdom’s myriad of wonderful existing and new tourism experiences, products and services.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News