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PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: Four festive Caribbean cocktails for the holiday

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For children, the holidays are a time to sample the latest and greatest in seasonal confectionary – an all-you-can-eat feast of whatever cookies and sweets their relatives baked that year. For adults, the holidays represent a time to indulge in sweet things of a more liquid and alcoholic variety.

Mulled wine, snowballs, and spiked eggnog may headline the list of festive favourites for many cocktail drinkers, but they certainly aren’t the only drinks you could be filling your glass with this season.

For a bit of mixological inspiration, with a travel flair, we looked to the sunny islands of the Caribbean, renowned both for their love of rum and fruity flavours and general enthusiasm for the holidays.

Consider this tour of signature recipes, offering a little tropical sun into your festive fun this year with these four flavourful, punchy cocktails that are quintessentially Caribbean.

The Bahamas: Goombay Smash

The Goombay Smash (banner photo) is a rum-based cocktail with a historic pedigree in The Bahamas, originally formulated by Emily Cooper on Green Turtle Cay. While the original recipe may remain a secret, versions of the drink have spread to all of The Bahamas’ major islands, impressing locals and visitors alike with its strong fruity flavour.

Recipe

11 ounces dark rum

11 ounces light rum

11 ounces coconut rum

11 ounces apricot brandy

A whole can of pineapple juice (46 oz)

Mix in a container and shake vigorously before serving over ice.

Anguilla: Sorrel

Photo – Patrick Bennett, Uncommon Caribbean

Sorrel is a tangy, intensely aromatic brew with a trademark red colour derived from the plant of the same name – a close relative of Hibiscus. Sorrel drinks are the holiday drink in the Caribbean, and that includes Anguilla, the luxurious yet quiet island known for embracing the holidays with its own dedicated “Festive Season.” This is a cocktail that smells as delicious as it tastes and immediately conjures nostalgic memories for many Anguillian drinkers.

Recipe

Sorrel petals – 4 ounces

Ginger- 2 ounces

Cinnamon- half a stick

Cloves- 4

Lemon or Orange rind let this boil and steep overnight

Add ¼ water

Combine ingredients in heatproof bowl

Boil water and pour over mixture. Cover, and refrigerate overnight

Strain the mixture, then chill it again. Strain once more if desired. Add rum to dilute or sweeten your liking and enjoy!

St. Martin: Guavaberry Kir

Photo – Nicola Blazier

Guavaberry is one of St. Martin’s most famous flavours and exports. Boasting a complex flavour profile including woody, sweet, and spicy notes, Guavaberry is carefully cultivated on both the French and Dutch sides of the island and used in jams, spreads, and spirits. This simple cocktail highlights the incredible flavour of Guavaberry Liqueur. Feel free to substitute raspberry liqueur or your favourite fruity schnapps if you forgot to bring some Guavaberry back with you on your last trip!

Recipe

1oz St Maarten Guavaberry Liqueur

5oz Champagne

Pour pre-chilled liqueur into a frozen champagne glass. Top with chilled champagne and dress with a small curl of orange skin.

Antigua & Barbuda: Hibiscus Sangria

Nothing says “indulgence” like Sangria, and where better to get a Sangria recipe from than one of the capitals of indulgence, Antigua and Barbuda? This dual-island destination may be known for its mix of excellent resorts and wild beauty, but it’s quickly developing a reputation for excellence in mixology! Here’s a fresh take on using the familiar ingredient of sorrel to achieve some truly refreshing flavours.

Recipe

1 bottle of red wine

1 cup of sorrel juice

1/2 cup of hibiscus tea

1/2 cup of brandy or rum

Assorted fruits (pineapples, oranges, limes, grapes)

To brew your own hibiscus tea: place several (2-3 fresh or ¼ cup of dried flower) petals in a teapot and cover it with boiling water; allow to steep for approximately 5 minutes. Strain and bring to room temperature (preferably the tea should be chilled). Combine red wine, sorrel juice, and hibiscus tea with brandy or rum. Add sliced fruits of your choice to the mixture. Using a ladle, serve the beverage in a glass of your choice. Ensure you include a mixture of the fruit for a festive holiday beverage.

Happy holidays and cheers!!

With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:

PREVIOUS ARTICLES: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-patio/

 

 

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

LISTENING IN: This Christmas medley is just too much

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I implied last week that I am largely uninspired by most of the overwrought and overthought holiday musical fare that comes like the snow this time of year (whether you want it or not). But I’m not in fact a mean one like Mr. Grinch, because I do in fact love that classic song, along with many of the other great cartoon tunes that still make me smile.

Many date back to the 1960s and ‘70s, but to this day, I’ll still put one foot in front of the other and walk across the floor to hear Burl Ives’ “Holly Jolly Christmas,” and sway like a beatnik to the Charlie Brown pageant song. I shed a tear over “A Year Without a Santa Claus,” and deliberate over what “fahoo fores, dahoo dores” actually means (and what in the world those Who’s down in Whoville are doing).

But nothing, in my estimation, is cooler, and at the same time gets my temperature rising, like the irrepressible Snow Miser/Heat Miser medley from “The Year Without a Santa Claus” (1974), the story of which I’m almost certain everyone knows.

So, in the spirit of Christmas pasts, here’s a little seasonal fun, and a send-off from us to you for the holidays with a smile. It’s too much.

Lyrics

I’m Mister White Christmas,
I’m Mister Snow.
I’m Mister Icicle;
I’m Mister 10 below.
Friends call me Snow Miser, whatever I touch,
Turns to snow in my clutch.
I’m too much.

He’s Mister White Christmas, he’s Mister Snow.
That’s right!
He’s Mister Icicle; he’s Mister Ten below.

Friends call me Snow Miser, whatever I touch,
Turns to snow in my clutch.
He’s too much.

I never want to know a day
that’s over 40 degrees,
I’d rather have it 30, 20,
10, 5 and let it freeze!

He’s Mister White Christmas,
He’s Mister Snow.
That’s right!
He’s Mister Icicle;
he’s Mister Ten below.

Friends call me
Snow Miser, whatever I touch,
Turns to snow in my clutch.
Too much.
Too much!

I’m Mister Green Christmas, I’m Mister Sun.
I’m Mister Heat Blister, I’m Mister 101.
They call me Heat Miser whatever I touch
Starts to melt in my clutch.
I’m too much.

He’s Mister Green
Christmas, he’s Mister Sun.
He’s Mister Heat Blister,
he’s Mister 101.
They call me Heat Miser whatever I touch
Starts to melt in my clutch.
He’s too much.

Thank you.
I never want to know a day
that’s under 60 degrees,
I’d rather have it 80, 90, 100 degrees!

Oh, some like it hot, but I
like it really hot! Mwahahaha!

He’s Mister Green
Christmas, he’s Mister Sun.
Sing it!
He’s Mister Heat Blister,
He’s Mister Hundred and One.
They call me Heat Miser whatever I touch
Starts to melt in my clutch.
I’m too much.
Too much!

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Welcome to the Touch-Free Hotel

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Contactless technology is transforming hospitality in China and beyond. Research by Dr Fei Hao and Professor Kaye Chon of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University shows that travellers have varying levels of readiness for contactless hotels. Hospitality firms are advised to be mindful of this variation when designing strategies to boost customer equity. For guests who are still sceptical about contactless technology, services that evoke delight may be the best way to retain their custom. Those with concerns around COVID-19 may be particularly reassured by positive experiences in a contactless hotel.

The pandemic has spurred a contactless trend that was already underway, with services like smartphone payment and Hong Kong’s Octopus travel card firmly established. The hotel sector is introducing a suite of high-tech contactless systems to protect guests and workers against infection. As the researchers note, “hospitality firms around the world have widely adopted voice control (e.g., smart speaker TVs), motion sensing (e.g., touchless elevators), and mobile control (e.g., mobile check-in and check-out).” In mainland China, many hotels offer technologies once considered futuristic, such as robotic room services and facial recognition at check-in.

Although they are still far from universal, these features add to the hotel experience in several ways. Touch-free systems not only provided peace of mind during the pandemic but also improve the convenience and perhaps even sensory experience of a stay. Guests who feel safer and more comfortable feel more satisfied and are more likely to share their positive experiences via word-of-mouth. For hotels, these benefits directly increase “customer equity”, which the researchers define as “the sum of the discounted stream of cash flows generated from a company’s pool of customers.”

However, from a business view, going contactless is not without risks. A hotel is a place that guests call home for days or even weeks. Are such visitors happy with a new mode of customer service that minimises touch? “Traditionally,” say the researchers, “the hospitality industry is based on the warmth of ‘human contact’, and misgivings have thus been raised about the efficacy of contactless service”. Customer equity may thus be damaged rather than increased by the contactless transformation, as guests who miss the traditional, tactile, personalised ways of hotel service may be on balance less satisfied with their stay, even if they appreciate the efforts to fight infection.

Contactless technology is expensive, especially when implemented at every step of a guest’s stay. A pandemic is no time for hotels to take reckless risks; the decision to make such a costly investment can only be justified if it gives a healthy return. However, the return on investment (ROI) of contactless hospitality has been neglected in the tourism marketing literature. Also understudied is the relationship between contactless service and customer experience, which has a major influence on the key metric of customer equity. To fill these gaps, the researchers decided to “explore the ROI of contactless hospitality from the perspective of customer equity” – that is, to pay attention to the factors promoting and threatening customer equity in contactless hotels.

Hotel guests are a diverse slice of humanity; they cannot all be expected to all react in the same way to the contactless trend. The researchers identified technology readiness as a key personal characteristic that influences consumer experience of contactless service. A person’s technology readiness is a persistent psychological disposition to feel a particular emotion – such as excitement, curiosity or unease – when interacting with new technology. Given its importance, the authors note that “the hospitality industry should integrate customers’ technology readiness into service design and marketing programs”.

In 2000, the Technology Readiness Index (TRI) was developed to gauge people’s optimism, innovativeness, discomfort and insecurity around new technology and thus measure their willingness to embrace technological change. The authors remind us that contactless technology “requires customers to engage more with the technology-based service ecosystem”. As people with higher technology readiness should be more comfortable in such an ecosystem, the researchers looked at whether TRI scores affected the relationship between customer experience and equity in contactless hotels.

Customer equity has three key components: “value”, “brand” and “relationship”. The researchers surveyed around 1,500 mainland Chinese residents who had stayed in contactless hotels to test how their personal characteristics and experiences influenced their customer equity. Innovatively, the researchers singled out customer delight – a guest’s unexpectedly high levels of joy and excitement – as an emotional reaction that may be just as decisive as a satisfaction rating when it comes to securing customer equity.

In addition to the survey on their contactless hotel experience, the participants took the TRI test to find out their level of technology readiness. Dividing the respondents into high and low TRI groups, the researchers hypothesised that technology readiness influences the relationship between customer experience, delight and equity. They also tested whether customer equity determined another crucial marketing outcome – brand trust. Did higher-equity customers place more trust in hotel brands, and was this affected by their level of concern around health issues in the pandemic?

The survey results showed that, as predicted, both customer experience and customer delight were strongly associated with customer equity. This serves as a reminder for hotel managers in the pandemic era not to forget the basics – satisfying and pleasing guests – when installing contactless systems to protect customers and staff. Indeed, the researchers recommend that “managers should form an organizational culture that engenders customer equity by creating a more satisfactory and delightful experience”. The findings confirmed the importance of customer equity not just for the financial bottom line but also for lasting customer relationships, as it was shown to greatly influence brand trust.

With particular relevance in the emerging post-pandemic era, the results also confirmed the role of health concerns. The trust-building effect of customer equity was strongest for contactless hotel guests who paid the most attention to COVID-19 issues. The hospitality and tourism industry face an uncertain future, and this finding underscores the need for hotels to ensure the happiness and safety of guests with health concerns as we adjust to the “new normal”. As the researcher points out, “the current situation in China may present a future scenario for many parts of the world in the coming years”.

What about guests’ readiness for contactless systems? It turned out that delightful experiences had a particularly great positive effect on equity for the low TRI group – the very guests who were most sceptical about new technology. This suggests that it is crucial to offer surprise treats to those who might be wary of even staying in a contactless hotel. With today’s technology, a whole menu of joyful surprises can be imagined. The researchers suggest a few themselves: “the moment customers enter their room, the smart room could have already set their favorite temperature, lighting, and even music”.

Hotels have responded to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing contactless technology wherever possible. This has increased safety, but potentially at the cost of warmth in customer service. To retain guests, hotel managers need to think creatively about how to optimise their experience in a contactless era. Guests with the lowest technology readiness actually respond best to the unexpected delights that a contactless hotel can offer. Touch-free services are also a promising way to reassure those with strong concerns around infection.

Hao, Fei and Chon, Kaye (2021). Are You Ready for a Contactless Future? A Multi-group Analysis of Experience, Delight, Customer Equity, and Trust Based on the Technology Readiness Index 2.0. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, Vol. 38, Issue 9, pp. 900-916.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Europe Ministerial Conference Closes with Commitment for Sustainable Infrastructure

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Europe Ministerial Conference Closes with Commitment for Sustainable Infrastructure - TRAVELINDEX - SUSTAINABLE FIRSTNicosia, Cyprus, December 21, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The 9th Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference closed today in Nicosia, Cyprus, with the adoption of a ministerial declaration affirming countries’ commitment to transition to a green economy with sustainable infrastructure at its core.

The declaration also calls on countries to join and commit actions under the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, and underlines the need for more and stronger education for sustainable development.

Fostering sustainable infrastructure and tourism

Sustainable and resilient infrastructure investment should be at the core of green economy policies and commitments, playing a central role in COVID-19 pandemic recovery plans, according to the declaration issued following the conference. New sustainable infrastructure should promote resource efficiency to reduce long-term environmental impacts, as a result of fostering innovation, nature-based solutions and cooperation with the private sector, countries agreed in the Cypriot capital.

Particular attention was given to the importance of infrastructure development and tourism as major sectors concerned in transitioning to a green economy and how therefore it is critical to consider the environmental, social and health concerns of these industries. In the light of this, the declaration also calls on countries to join and commit actions to our partners, the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative that unites the tourism sector behind a common vision of circular economy of plastics, and the Glasgow Declaration: a commitment to a Decade of Tourism Climate Action.

Countries pledged to support efforts to reduce water and energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from tourism, particularly in high-impact sub-sectors (including cruise liners, aviation and accommodation), as well as to improve efficiency in the use of other resources, such as water. They further committed to improve sanitation, wastewater treatment and waste management.

Supporting Ukraine 

The Declaration also “strongly condemns the unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine by the armed forces of the Russian Federation” and recalls the related General Assembly resolutions.

It “recognizes the need to assess the environmental consequences of the military aggression against Ukraine for both the country and the surrounding region”, and “affirms ministers’ support to Ukraine in its reconstruction, including for providing subsequent assistance for restoration”. It goes on to invite the UNECE secretariat, in cooperation with UNEP, OECD and others, to “prioritize assessing the most urgent environmental needs in Ukraine based upon the methodology of the UNECE Environmental Performance Review Programme and on the results of ongoing and planned impacts assessments”. The Declaration further invites the international organizations to make recommendations to advance Ukraine’s sustainable recovery, in line with the Lugano Declaration adopted at the Ukraine Recovery Conference of last July.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Haval Jolion Awarded Maximum Safety Rating by ANCAP

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Haval Jolion Awarded Maximum Safety Rating by ANCAP - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, December 22, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Great Wall Motor (GWM) announces a significant milestone for its intelligent vehicle, the HAVAL JOLION, having been awarded the maximum 5-star safety rating by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) – Australia and New Zealand’s independent voice on vehicle safety. The success reinforces GWM’s mission to introduce automotive products equipped with unparalleled performance, cutting-edge innovation, and safety technology that serves users’ every possible lifestyle while enhancing an EV society.

Carla Hoorweg, Chief Executive Officer of the Australasian New Car Assessment Program, said: “This 5-star ANCAP safety rating for the HAVAL JOLION is the third awarded to GWM under ANCAP’s stringent 2020-2022 protocols. There has been a significant amount of interest in a rating for this model, and it has been shown to offer a high standard of safety.”

The HAVAL JOLION was tested and assessed for its ability to physically protect occupants and other road users in a crash through series of destructive crash tests, and its ability to prevent or minimize the severity of a crash with another vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist through a range of active collision avoidance performance tests. The HAVAL JOLION delivered good levels of protection to the driver in the full width frontal test and the oblique pole test. The vehicle is equipped with a center airbag to protect against occupant-to-occupant contact in side impacts, and it provided a good level of protection to both front seat occupants. Whiplash protection for front and rear seats occupants also scored well, as did the protection offered to child occupants in the side impact test.

In addition, the HAVAL JOLION is capable of avoiding or mitigating the severity of a crash with another vehicle through its Lane Support System (LSS), which achieved full marks, as well as the Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), whose performance was very good. Importantly, where the HAVAL JOLION particularly impressed was in its active collision avoidance capability – achieving an overall safety assistance score of 92%.

Narong Sritalayon, Managing Director of Great Wall Motor (Thailand), said: “We are pleased that the HAVAL JOLION performed outstandingly throughout the safety assessment conducted by one of the most internationally recognized vehicle safety advocates. The result testifies GWM’s commitment to creating and offering quality products to the global automotive industry. Additionally, the HAVAL JOLION has been very much sought after by Thai fans. From its official launch in November 2021 up until November 2022, we delivered 3,218 units of HAVAL JOLION to customers. Recently at the 39th Thailand International Motor Expo 2022, this vehicle also garnered tremendous attention, resulting in a total of 333 test drives taken, and 388 bookings placed at the event. This highlights the consumers’ trust bestowed upon the vehicle itself and GWM as the xEV leader.”

For the Thai market, the HAVAL JOLION comes with a hybrid engine, utilizing a 1.5-liter engine combined with an electric motor to produce a maximum 190 hp and maximum torque of 375 Nm. Its stylish luxurious exterior reflects a futuristic aesthetic. It is equipped with advanced driving technologies, combined with 360° interior décor in a spacious and comfortable cabin, all of which contributes to a more pleasurable driving experience. The vehicle is available for Thai consumers in three variants: TECH (879,000 baht), PRO (939,000 baht), and ULTRA (999,000 baht). These all come in five exterior color options: Burgundy Red, Swarovski Blue, Ayers Gray, Sun Black, and Hamilton White.

As the ‘Global Intelligent Technology Company’, GWM is committed to offering new products, services, and experiences following a customer-centric approach that focuses on listening to consumers’ voices through online and offline channels. The practice ensures that the company is able to better serve different needs of Thai fans while elevating the sustainable growth of Thailand’s automotive industry.

About Great Wall Motor
Great Wall Motor (GWM) is a global SUV and pickup truck manufacturer. The company made its initial public offerings on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 2003 and the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2011. With more than 80 subsidiaries and affiliates, GWM employs more than 70,000 people. Its automobile sales have exceeded one million units per annum for six years running. In addition to China, GWM sells its high-quality automobiles in more than 60 markets through an overseas network that covers more than 500 locations worldwide.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO Gastronomy Tourism Forum Highlights Talent Development

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UNWTO Gastronomy Tourism Forum Highlights Talent Development - TRAVELINDEXNara, Japan, December 21, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Gastronomy Tourism for People and Planet: Innovate, Empower and Preserve’ was the theme as national and international experts met in Nara for the 7th UNWTO Forum on Gastronomy Tourism.

• Support Gastronomy Tourism and Discover the World’s Best Restaurants for Fine Dining at TOP25Restaurants.com

Organized by UNWTO and the Basque Culinary Center (BCC), the Forum provides a platform to advance the contribution of gastronomy tourism to empower women and youth, and to support sustainability. This edition counted on the participation of more than 450 delegates from 30 countries alongside over 1,000 online participants from 125 countries over the two days of the event.

Opening the Forum, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “This year’s Forum represents a unique opportunity for experts to share their best practices and enhance the role of Gastronomy Tourism in talent, sustainability, innovation, and social inclusion, and highlight its importance for regional and rural development.”

Joxe Mari Aizega, General Manager of the Basque Culinary Center, added: “Gastronomy faces many challenges, but we also have many opportunities. It is a diverse and wide sector, a value chain that includes production, hospitality, tourism, and restaurants. It also integrates cultural, social, and economic dimensions. This forum addressed the complexity of the gastronomy tourism sector, and it also reflected its enormous potential.”

This year’s Forum represents a unique opportunity for experts to share their best practices and enhance the role of Gastronomy Tourism in talent, sustainability, innovation, and social inclusion, and highlight its importance for regional and rural development

The Governor of the Nara Prefecture Shogo Arai said: “I believe that what we discussed here is very important for sustainable development of global and regional societies. I am inspired by the exchanges of new ideas and insights that the Forum provided.”

Tourism for youth and gender empowerment

To ensure that gastronomy tourism can serve as a leverage to promote women and youth empowerment, participants highlighted the need for providing better working conditions and engagement to attract and retain talent. Alongside this, the Forum also focused on the best ways of designing gastronomy tourism strategies and practices that ensure the sustainable use of resources, the promotion of local products and know-how, and on responsible consumption.

Special emphasis was placed on the need to reduce food waste as a means to support a more sustainable global food system. On this occasion, UNWTO launched the public consultation for the Global Roadmap on Food Waste Reduction in Tourism, developed within the framework of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Programme, to enable consistent action and enhance circularity.

Businesses commit to ethical tourism

Nara was also the host of the 3rd UNWTO Global Gastronomy Startup Competition organized by UNWTO and BCC. Here, six talented entrepreneurs shared solutions for the challenges posed by the Sustainable Development Goals. Byfood from Japan was selected as the winner of a competition that also saw Local Food (Bulgaria), 2492IOneArmenia (Armenia), Tenemos Filo (Colombia), Beyondnext (Republic of Korea) and Soplaya (Italy) shared their innovative proposals.

In this framework, nine companies from Japan signed the Private Sector Commitment to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism in presence of the UNWTO Secretary-General, the Vice-Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency, the Chief of the UNWTO Regional Support Office for Asia and the Pacific and the Governor of Nara Prefectural Government.

• Support Gastronomy Tourism and Discover the World’s Best Restaurants for Fine Dining at TOP25Restaurants.com

The 2023 Forum will take place in Donostia-San Sebastian, in the Basque Country, Spain.  The farewell dinner offered by Basquetour and the Department of Tourism, Trade, and Consumer Affairs of the Basque Government brought Basque gastronomy to Nara by the hands of the Basque chefs Diego Guerrero (board member of Basque Culinary Center and DSTAgE Concept restaurant), Álvaro Garrido (Mina restaurant), and Gorka Txapartegi (Alameda Restaurant).

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PUMPING UP THE JAM: Jamaica primed for record winter

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Jamaica is set to have a record winter tourist season, with the Jamaica Tourist Board forecasting that it will welcome nearly 1.5 million visitors and earn approximately US$1.5 billion in foreign exchange, prompting the country’s tourism minister to declare, “We’re back to normal.”

Picking up on a full recovery from the COVID-19 fallout, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said: “This winter is going to be the best winter Jamaica has had, with record arrivals for the season projected at this time to be 950,000 for stopovers and 524,000 for cruise. So, that makes it pretty close to 1.5 million visitors for the season; the largest number of visitors we’ve ever had.”

He added, “These figures show that we are well ahead of our previous recovery projections and that Jamaica remains a safe and seamless destination that is in high demand. Our airlift is strong as we increase routes and connectivity, and cruise is back.”

The projected 1,474,000 visitors during the winter tourist season, which usually begins Dec. 15 and lasts until mid-April, represents a 67.5% increase in comparison to the same period in 2022. Earnings are projected to increase by 36.3%.

“This is even more special because we worked together to put tourism, the lifeblood of our economy, back on track after going through the most unprecedented global pandemic,” added Bartlett.

Director of tourism Donovan White added, “Jamaica’s brand position remains very strong, and we continue to see visitors come in droves to have authentic experiences from our food to our music and nightlife. We will continue the strategic positioning of the destination to ensure even more increases in arrivals and earnings.”

One Love Affair

Donovan White, Director of Tourism; Ann Shaw, The Travel Agent Next Door; Angella Bennett, JTB Regional Director, Canada; Donnie Dawson, JTB Deputy Director, The Americas.

Meanwhile, 60 top-performing North American travel advisors from the Jamaica Travel Specialist program were recently recognized and rewarded at the annual ‘One Love Affair’ in Montego Bay on the weekend, including 10 Canadian agents who were among a group of elite travel consultants that earned an all-inclusive trip to the island, culminating in the elegant award ceremony.

“Jamaica is projecting record-breaking arrival numbers for the upcoming winter season, and these loyal JTS agents from Canada and the United States have played a pivotal role in the destination’s success,” said director of tourism White. “The One Love Affair gives us an opportunity to come together to recognize these top travel specialists, celebrate their achievements, and thank them for their ongoing support.”

Canadian honourees included, from Ontario: Robyn Arnold, Sell Off Vacations; Pauline Blacoe, Shine Travel; Yvonne Campbell, Yvonne’s Travel and Tours; Andrea Lindsay, Your Travel Genie; Vanessa Martinez, Unforgettable Escapes; Jennifer Najak, The Travel Agent Next Door; Ann Shaw, The Travel Agent Next Door; plus Sharon Boissonneault, House of Travel, Que.; Courtney Pilon, Champagne Weddings & Travel, Alta.; and Lois Barbour, Travel Time TPI Inc., Nfld.

“Many of the Canadian agents participating in this year’s One Love Affair have been awarded for the very first time, which speaks to their incredible hard work and growth over the last year,” commented the JTB’s regional director for Canada, Angella Bennett.

As part of the One Love Affair weekend itinerary, agents were treated to reggae rafting at Lethe Village, a scenic catamaran tour, and an all-white beach party at Half Moon Resort. The elegant One Love Affair award ceremony featured dinner and dancing, a virtual presentation from Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, and a special performance by famed Jamaican Dancehall artist, Beenie Man (banner photo).

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

SONGS FROM THE SOUTH: News and views from Travel South, Part II

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The region below the Mason-Dixon Line, a traditionally observed demarcation point between the northern half of the eastern US and “the South” is more than simply geographical – it’s a mindset. Replete with culture, traditions, accents, and famous southern hospitality, it boasts a distinctiveness that has inspired 12 states to come together as Travel South for the purposes of collective tourism marketing.

Travel Industry Today attended the organization’s recent international tourism symposium in Louisville, Kentucky. Here is Part II of our recap from the event, where we asked state representatives to recount one main message or piece of news that they would most like the Canadian trade to hear.

(Note: In Part I, we covered Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Read it Below.)

TRAVEL SOUTH LOOKS TO RISE AGAIN

And here’s the rest of the story:

MISSOURI

“Don’t underestimate us,” Katie Blake says matter-of-factly of her state, which is often overlooked by Canadians – not least because it doesn’t fall on the typical route of migratory snowbirds. But from the jazz roots of St. Louis to the “best” barbecue in Kansas City, and the coach tour mecca of Branson, there is plenty for Canadians to discover. There’s also vintage Americana on display along route 66, Wild West atmosphere (Jesse James and Pony Express) in the northwest, Mark Twain history (and museum) in Hannibal, and, of course, amazing outdoor experiences in the Ozarks, which cover about half the state in an area that has gained fame, if not an accurate depiction, in the popular TV show of the same name.

NORTH CAROLINA

Known for its coastal qualities, not least the Outer Banks (and Dr. Beach’s No. 1-rated Okacroke island in 2022), Margo Metzger of Visit North Carolina hails the Appalachian culture of North Carolina’s interior, including countless traditional music festivals held across the state annually. But she points in particular to Brasstown, a “total heaven gem” in the west, a six-hour drive from Raleigh. Located in a beautiful valley and ideal for “a week or a weekend,” the town boasts the unique John C. Campbell folk school, where students can be immersed in the culture of the region from farming to blacksmithing, and music to cooking – “anything you can dream of that is a tradition of the Appalachian way.” Metzger adds, “It’s unlike any place I’ve ever been.” Two hours from Atlanta, the school will send a shuttle to pick up guests at the airport. Pair a visit to Brasstown with a trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway, she adds.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Visitors to Charleston will be able to experience the city and the state’s “next big thing” as of January with the opening of the International African American Museum, which Brie Burnett of Discover South Carolina says will be even better than its counterpart in Washington DC. “If anyone is looking for a new place to visit, this is the one,” she adds. Historic Charleston already attracts many visitors interested in its plantation and Gullah (slave descendants) history and the No. 1 attraction in town is the Old Slave Market (now thankfully a museum).

TENNESSEE

Songwriters in Round, Nashville

Twang is not the only thang in Nashville, according to Tennessee Tourism’s Jill Kilgore, who notes that the music mecca is home to seven different musical genres, as reflected in the city’s new National Museum of American Music, opened in 2021; the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum is also a hidden gem. She admits a visit to iconic Broadway, aka the “Honky Tonk Highway, and the Grand Ole Opry is a must for a country music fix, but artists like Jimi Hendrix and any number of rock’n’roll and R&B stars cut their chops in the city. Similarly, fashion and food are big, and a host of new hotels and restaurants are opening to catch the zeitgeist as the city enjoys its “it” moment as a place to be. It’s also a great place for Canadians to score hockey tickets to a Predators game.

VIRGINIA

If there’s one thing for the Canadian trade to know, says Bri Bélanger-Warner, Canadian representative for Visit Virginia, it’s that “Virginia is a year-round destination, allowing their guests to extend the season for activities they enjoy but cannot do in Canada during certain months.” She cites cycling and motorcycling, whose afficionados can enjoy beautiful rides in late fall and early spring. And golfers can hop down to Virginia for a long weekend even in the winter months, as Virginia features 220-plus public and semi-private golf courses, most or which are open throughout the year. Another tip for Canadian beach-lovers, Bélanger-Warner says, is that the best period of the year for a vacation by the Atlantic ocean in Virginia is in September and October when the water is warm enough to comfortably swim, and hotel rates are lower than in the high season.

WEST VIRGINIA

John Denver immortalized the slogan “almost heaven: West Virginia” – a notion that Lauren Hough is quick to avow. With 35 state parks, nine national forests, and four national parks, including the new US New River Gorge national park, the state tourism rep. says “the No. 1 thing here is outdoor activities. It’s out of this world.” From mountain biking to white water rafting, and rock climbing to bridge tours (with harness) on the New River Gorge Bridge, there is something for everyone, at all levels of competency. And in all seasons, she adds, noting that with its amazing colour palette, “You really can’t beat the Fall” – especially for driving those country roads that John Denver so loved.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ITB Berlin Convention Adopts ‘Mastering Transformation’ as Motto

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ITB Berlin Convention Adopts 'Mastering Transformation' as Motto - TRAVELINDEXBerlin, Germany, December 20, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Leading speakers and experts from the global travel industry share their knowledge in up to 20 individual tracks – A wide range of topic headings including Travel Technology, Marketing & Sales, Future Travel, Hospitality, Sustainability and Social Responsibility – The programme will be available online in mid-January 2023

In 2023, taking as its slogan ’Mastering Transformation’, the leading convention for the travel industry is again gathering the main international tourism actors under one roof. From 7 to 9 March 2023 at the ITB Berlin Convention, leading speakers and industry experts will discuss the current challenges facing the global travel industry, which go far beyond COVID-19 and local skills shortages. They will share their knowledge on topics such as climate change, energy supply issues and a new global approach to safety, with their wide-ranging impact on the travel and tourism industry. The experts will provide orientation and clear ideas on how to shape the transformation towards a sustainable and successful future.

New in 2023: Themed tracks instead of days

At the leading thinktank of the international travel industry the new Board of Experts is putting together themed tracks, under headings that include Travel Technology, Marketing & Sales, Future Travel, Hospitality, Sustainability and Social Responsibility. Taking place on their respective stages and featuring sessions on individual topics, the tracks will replace the themed days at previous events.

First main speakers confirmed

The following are among those who will be sharing their expert knowledge in the new themed tracks:

• Maria Rocha Barros, vice president and chief legal officer at Booking.com (Marketing & Distribution Track)

• Kurt Ekert, president of Sabre (Marketing & Distribution Track)

• Kevin King, COO of Shiji Group (eTravel Track, Hotel Technology Forum)

• Prof. Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, director emeritus, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIC); founder and managing director of Bauhaus Erde (Responsible Tourism Track)

ITB Future Track, Marketing & Distribution Track and eTravel Track

On 7 March 2023 in Hall 7.1, the ITB Future Track will examine future economic and political developments to find out which sustainability trends will bring success for tomorrow’s tourism industry. The event will gather leading figures from business, politics and science in order to drive change in the tourism industry.

At the Marketing & Distribution Track on 8 March 2023 in Hall 7.1, leading figures from the travel and hospitality industry will share their knowledge and views. In inspiring keynote speeches, exclusive interviews and panel discussions they will provide comprehensive updates on how senior executives can master the upcoming transformation process.

From 7 to 9 March 2023 in Hall 6.1, the eTravel Track will focus on tech-driven innovation and the digital transformation in the travel industry and how they can be put to productive use. In a variety of attractive formats and taking practical examples, industry experts will share their views on current trends and developments and talk about practical scenarios.

Responsible Tourism Track, ITB Carrier & Cruise Track and Destination Track

How to master what is now, in the future and the new normal in tourism: that is what the Responsible Tourism Track on 9 March 2023 in Hall 7.1 is about, where among other things discussion will focus on how the industry can keep its promises to protect the environment while transforming into a sector where fairness and equality play a bigger role.

The ITB Carrier & Cruise Track on 7 March 2023 in Hall 7.1 will examine the transformation from the perspective of carriers. Both the aviation and cruise industry are facing major challenges, whose root causes are in the energy crisis as well as the military conflict on Europe’s borders. Industry experts will discuss the impact of the current threat.

Destinations and DMOs are currently having to balance marketing and management, overtourism and lack of tourism, private and public contracts, areas for tourists and locals, analogue business models and digital innovations. On 9 March 2023 in Hall 7.1, the Destination Track will examine corresponding ideas and practical recommendations.

Tour Operator & Travel Sales Track and Youth, Adventure & Outdoor Track

Following a period of far-reaching crises a reappraisal is taking place of business ideas and value creation models. The Tour Operator & Travel Sales Track on 7 March 2023 will highlight how the current transformation process is putting pressure on tour operators and agencies and causing a long-term impact on the market.

Adventure and outdoor tourism is becoming increasingly popular, while youth and student travel still accounts for a large share of the global tourism market. But what has changed? How can one prepare for the future and how can one overcome obstacles in order to make business profitable? These are the topics the Youth, Adventure & Outdoor Track will focus on on 8 March 2023 in Hall 7.1.

Hospitality Track and Future Work Track

The challenges currently facing the hospitality industry demand a hands-on approach, while at the same time agility and transformation are needed. What views do leading figures in the hospitality industry have on these developments? How can they combine step-by-step progress with long-term change? This is the range of topics the Hospitality Track will examine on 9 March 2023 in Hall 7.1.

A new narrative for promoting working in tourism now and in the future. The Future Work Track on 8 March 2023 in Hall 7.1 will define the basics for future success in tourism. At the same time it will provide orientation for the struggle with the skills and labour shortage and loss of expertise and report on the needs and activities of talented newcomers and travel professionals in these times of change.

Information on the following tracks will be announced in early 2023: Diversity & Inclusion Track, Sustainable Destination Track, Business Travel Track, MICE Track and Medical Wellness & Health Track.

A trade visitor pass to ITB Berlin is valid for admission to the ITB Berlin Convention. Selected sessions will be streamed on the supporting platform ITBxplore. Additional information is available at itb.com/kongress. Full details of the programme and further tracks will be available online in mid-January 2023.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2023 will take place from Tuesday, 7 March, to Thursday, 9 March, as a pure B2B event. Since 1966, ITB Berlin has been the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. The internationally renowned ITB Berlin Convention will take place parallel to the show and will be held live on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds – selected sessions will be streamed on ITBxplore. The ITB Berlin convention is the world’s largest travel industry event of its kind. In 2022 it took place as a virtual event on the brand’s website itb.com and registered 60,700 attendees from 125 countries who took part in more than 100 sessions featuring 223 speakers. In 2022, under the heading ’TRVLX by ITB’, ITB Berlin has planned a series of B2B networking events in European markets – the kick-off event took place in May in Georgia. Before the pandemic at ITB Berlin 2019, around 10,000 exhibitors from 181 countries displayed their products and services to some 160,000 visitors, including 113,500 trade visitors.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Addressing Plastic Pollution in Tourism Through Sustainable Procurement

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Addressing Plastic Pollution in Tourism Through Sustainable Procurement - TRAVELINDEXParis, France, December 20, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / This guidance, developed within the framework of the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative, focuses on the procurement of plastic items and packaging (and its alternatives) in the tourism sector and aims to provide practical support for procurement practitioners within the range and global reach of tourism businesses that need to address the impact of single-use plastics and packaging within broader sustainable procurement practice.

This tool draws from existing sustainable procurement good practices that, when implemented systematically throughout the whole procurement cycle, will help increase the circularity in the use of plastics. It provides practical support in identifying the potential for eliminating plastic packaging and plastic items where possible (as well as introducing reuse models as alternatives to single-use items and packaging), in addition to reducing the consumption of plastics where avoidance is not possible (including measures for purchasing recyclable and compostable plastics and plastics with recycled content).

This guidance follows the procurement stages from pre-tender actions around planning procurement approaches including the consideration of elimination, reduction in consumption and adoption of reuse models within the operation of the tourism business. The guidance includes practical examples for tendering, including actions relating to supplier engagement and setting tender specifications. It recognizes that procurement is a continuous cycle of action and therefore also covers contract management and performance improvement within the tourism businesses and their supply chains. A key aspect of the guidance is providing practical tools for procurers in tourism businesses. These include model wording for tender criteria; a hierarchical decision tree for informing actions to eliminate and reduce the dependency on plastics within tenders; and a summary of procurement tools such as life-cycle costing and using standards and labels to help verify claims.

This guidance is also relevant to policymakers, as it recognizes that procurement actions play an important role in providing evidence for how to improve the implementation of plastic reduction strategies. Recommendations are therefore provided for key decision-makers in the tourism business to ensure that sustainable and circular procurement fulfils its potential to support the fourth UN Environment Assembly Resolution 6 on Marine litter and microplastics and deliver the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative vision.

The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative launches Plastic Measurement Methodology tools for Accommodation Providers

The GTPI launched two tools for Plastics Measurement Methodology for Accommodation Providers, these are two Excel Tools which can be used at either individual property or whole portfolio level to facilitate the plastic calculation process, and a Reporting Template for GTPI signatories to submit their performance to GTPI for each reporting cycle.
The Tools help to generate the following GTPI performance metrics: (i) annual total weight of plastics (metric tonnes), (ii) weight of plastics (kg) per guest night, and (iii) percentage of plastics which are compostable (%). The tools are the following ones:

• The Property Tool is used by the property to identify plastic items used and consolidate relevant data (e.g. quantity, weight and compostability) to output its GTPI performance metrics.
• The Portfolio Tool consolidates the data inputted within the Property Tools by its properties to output GTPI performance metrics for the entire portfolio. Step-by-step instructions can be found in the respective tools.

You can download calculation tools below:
– https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/knowledge-centre/resources/addressing-plastic-pollution-tourism-through-sustainable-procurement
– https://www.oneplanetnetwork.org/knowledge-centre/resources/gtpi-plastic-measurement-methodology-tools-accommodation-providers

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News