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WESTJET BRINGS HOLIDAY JOY

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WestJet has the holiday spirit, officially releasing its annual Christmas Miracle video. This year the spot introduces the company’s newest community investment program Miracle Miles, which helps turn flights with WestJet into an opportunity for guests to give back to their communities.

The initiative grants anyone onboard select flights with $1 for every mile flown to give to an eligible charity or non-profit organization of their choice.

WestJet took to the skies to launch its first Miracle Miles trip on Nov. 26, on flight WS551 from Winnipeg to Calgary. Onboard a total of 128 guests and six crew members travelled 677 nautical miles and collectively donated a total of $90,718 to Canadian charities of their choice.

As the holiday season continues, the Miracle Miles program will continue to be present on select flights across Canada, as the airline donates over $150,000 to charities and non-profit organizations across Canada this December. The flights will be kept a surprise until cruising altitude, giving guests and WestJetters additional opportunities to give back.

“At WestJet we are proud to serve a diverse array of communities all year long,” says WestJet executive VP Angela Avery. “In the holiday season we know there is joy to be found in both giving and receiving, so for this year’s Christmas Miracle, we wanted to offer our guests and WestJetters the opportunity to give back to the people and places that are most meaningful to them by supporting a charity or non-profit organization of their own choosing.”

Check out the video below:

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

HolidayCheck and The Trip Boutique Partner to Offer Hyper-Personalized Itineraries

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Holidaycheck and The Trip Boutique Partner to Offer Hyper-Personalized Itineraries - TRAVELINDEX - HOLIDAYCLICKSZurich, Switzerland, November 8, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / HolidayCheck Premium members can now request free personalized travel itineraries created by The Trip Boutique. This partnership marks an important milestone for the expansion of The Trip Boutique’s B2B travel-as-a-service offering and underscores HolidayCheck’s commitment to innovation and customer orientation.

HolidayCheck, the leading German-speaking OTA, and The Trip Boutique announce a partnership to offer AI-powered 1×1 travel advisory for HolidayCheck Premium, a subscription program that provides benefits such as exclusive access to deals, special offers, and top discounts from selected partners for its members. Starting today, all HolidayCheck Premium members can get travel plans tailored to their individual preferences and tastes in all of The Trip Boutique’s city destinations. These hyper-personalized travel itineraries produced by The Trip Boutique include curated recommendations of HolidayCheck hotels and much more: the best-matching dining options, sights, shops, bars, activities – everything to make Premium members’ holidays unique.

The Trip Boutique’s service combines artificial intelligence with local expert knowledge to provide personalized advisory that saves travelers the time and effort to plan their trips. Besides offering individual recommendations of things to do and see in a destination, The Trip Boutique’s intelligent systems also suggest daily itineraries with proposed times for maximum convenience.

From Packaged to Personalized

The new service helps HolidayCheck Premium deliver more personalized offers, inspire its members and thus create a fun and stress-free travel planning experience.

Christoph Ludmann, CEO of HolidayCheck AG says: “The AI-based technology developed by The Trip Boutique adds real value for travelers, as it helps them make the best of their valuable time at the destination. We are convinced that this cooperation will strengthen our capabilities with respect to personalization and inspiration, enriching the travel experience for our customers.”

Steffen Ketterer, Business Lead of HolidayCheck Premium adds: “We are delighted that we can offer the benefit of personalized travel advice to HolidayCheck Premium members so that they can discover their destination in a convenient and innovative way. This offering is a step forward to transform the experience of Premium members towards more personalized travel services.”

With The Trip Boutique’s digital travel advice service, HolidayCheck underscores its customer focus and brings innovation to its relationship with Premium members by providing them with the best recommendations at every step of their trip.

“At The Trip Boutique, our mission is to give travel brands the superpowers to offer hyper-personalized travel advisory to their clients, so that travelers feel inspired and find what they love at their destination,” says Fernanda Barrence Mutz, CEO and co-founder of The Trip Boutique. “We’re excited to work with HolidayCheck Premium to reimagine the way its members plan and book their trips while boosting the business intelligence”, she adds. This partnership with a leading OTA also marks an important milestone for The Trip Boutique’s novel B2B travel-as-a-service offering.

About HolidayCheck AG
Making holidays better – this is the vision of HolidayCheck, the highest-reach holiday platform in the German-speaking area. Transparency, quality, and innovation drive the online booking and rating portal to offer holidaymakers the best travel experience. It is based on more than 10 million hotel reviews, its own online travel agency and offers from 88 tour operators and other tourism service providers. Since 2021 there also have been suitable rental car offers from HolidayCheck Car Rental on the platform. Moreover, travelers can find lots of helpful information and inspiration in the travel forum with over 3.7 million members and the HolidayCheck online magazine Away. In addition, HolidayCheck has been working intensively against review fraud and has founded the initiative Together against fake reviews. HolidayCheck AG is a subsidiary of the HolidayCheck Group, was founded in 2003 and is based in Bottighofen in Switzerland, near the German border town Konstanz.

About HolidayCheck Premium
HolidayCheck Premium, part of HolidayCheck AG, is an innovative subscription service for travelers on the HolidayCheck platform. Members pay a yearly subscription fee and in return get access to cash-back vouchers, exclusive deals, pre-sales, premium service, and partner benefits such as free foreign travel health insurance. HolidayCheck Premium aims to offer its members the services and products that make each trip memorable.

About The Trip Boutique
The Trip Boutique is an award-winning Swiss travel-tech company focused on AI-based personalization of travel experiences. By innovatively combining artificial intelligence with human expertise, The Trip Boutique has built a suite of proprietary tools and a match-making technology to identify the hotels, restaurants, bars, cafes, programs, attractions, and experiences in a destination that best fit each traveler’s interests, lifestyle and tastes. Through a modular solution, The Trip Boutique allows travel brands to elevate their customers’ experience by offering personalized advisory and itineraries while gaining rich data insights and adding business intelligence.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO and Madrid Host Experts Meeting Cultural Tourism Management

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UNWTO and Madrid Host Experts Meeting Cultural Tourism Management - TRAVELINDEXMadrid, Spain, November 7, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO and the Comunidad de Madrid have reunited 18 experts from all around the world to share ideas, debate and explore the challenges and trends of cultural tourism.

The meeting focused on the strategic management of cultural resources for the destinations, including the challenge of managing tourist flows through different routes or combined products. Experts also discussed on how to promote lesser-known destinations which are outside of the major tourist circuits as a way to avoid the saturation of main touristic attractions. In this sense, for example, the experts examined crucial role of tourism promotion, marketing strategies, and public-private partnerships for the development of cultural tourism.

The debates focused on the identification of aspects that are jeopardizing the sustainability of cultural tourism. This brings up the eternal dilemma between conservation and development, and to what extent it is legitimate to exploit the cultural values of a territory for the socio-economic growth.

Ion Vilcu, Director of the UNWTO Affiliate Members Department, highlighted the importance of cultural values for the promotion of destinations. He added “UNWTO is providing solutions to the conflicts that tourist saturation is generating in major destinations and cultural sites, as well as to promote the development of tourism in lesser-known sites, stimulating their conservation and fostering the positive effects that tourism generates in terms of socioeconomic development”.

Daniel Martinez, Deputy Regional Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Region of Madrid, highlighted the opportunity for the Region of Madrid to host such an important international meeting. “We are very pleased to facilitate reflection on the region’s essential tourism model. We are experiencing a large increase in high-value tourists who visit us attracted by our cultural and heritage offer, which is why it is essential to understand the trends of cultural tourism and to promote its sustainable growth, generating employment and attracting investment.”

During the last 3 days these international experts have been working to draw up conclusions and set out recommendations for cultural and tourism destination management that will be featured in a report to be presented next January at the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR). On this occasion, experts also had the opportunity to visit the Picasso/Chanel Exhibition at the National Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza, along with the Royal Site and Town of Aranjuez.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Airlines Cut Losses Expect Return to Profit in 2023

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Airlines Cut Losses Expect Return to Profit in 2023 - AIRLINEHUB.com - TRAVELINDEXGeneva, Switzerland, November 6, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects a return to profitability for the global airline industry in 2023 as airlines continue to cut losses stemming from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic to their business in 2022.

– In 2023, airlines are expected to post a small net profit of $4.7 billion—a 0.6% net profit margin. It is the first profit since 2019 when industry net profits were $26.4 billion (3.1% net profit margin).
– In 2022, airline net losses are expected to be $6.9 billion (an improvement on the $9.7 billion loss for 2022 in IATA’s June outlook). This is significantly better than losses of $42.0 billion and $137.7 billion that were realized in 2021 and 2020 respectively.

“Resilience has been the hallmark for airlines in the COVID-19 crisis. As we look to 2023, the financial recovery will take shape with a first industry profit since 2019. That is a great achievement considering the scale of the financial and economic damage caused by government imposed pandemic restrictions. But a $4.7 billion profit on industry revenues of $779 billion also illustrates that there is much more ground to cover to put the global industry on a solid financial footing. Many airlines are sufficiently profitable to attract the capital needed to drive the industry forward as it decarbonizes. But many others are struggling for a variety of reasons. These include onerous regulation, high costs, inconsistent government policies, inefficient infrastructure and a value chain where the rewards of connecting the world are not equitably distributed,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

2022

Improved prospects for 2022 stem largely from strengthened yields and strong cost control in the face of rising fuel prices.

Passenger yields are expected to grow by 8.4% (up from the 5.6% anticipated in June). Propelled by that strength, passenger revenues are expected to grow to $438 billion (up from $239 billion in 2021).

Air cargo revenues played a key role in cutting losses with revenues expected to reach $201.4 billion. That is an improvement compared with the June forecast, largely unchanged from 2021, and more than double the $100.8 billion earned in 2019.

Overall revenues are expected to grow by 43.6% compared to 2021, reaching an estimated $727 billion.

Most other factors evolved in a negative manner following a downgrade of GDP growth expectations (from 3.4% in June to 2.9%), and delays in removing COVID-19 restrictions in several markets, particularly China. IATA’s June forecast anticipated that passenger traffic would reach 82.4% of pre-crisis levels in 2022, but it now appears that the industry demand recovery will reach 70.6% of pre-crisis levels. Cargo, on the other hand, was anticipated to exceed 2019 levels by 11.7%, but that is now more likely be moderated to 98.4% of 2019 levels.

On the cost side, jet kerosene prices are expected to average $138.8/barrel for the year, considerably higher than the $125.5/barrel expected in June. That reflects higher oil prices exaggerated by a jet crack spread that is well-above historic averages. Even with lower demand leading to reduced consumption, this raised the industry’s fuel bill to $222 billion (well above the $192 billion anticipated in June).

“That airlines were able to cut their losses in 2022, in the face of rising costs, labor shortages, strikes, operational disruptions in many key hubs and growing economic uncertainty speaks volumes about peoples’ desire and need for connectivity. With some key markets like China retaining restrictions longer than anticipated, passenger numbers fell somewhat short of expectation. We’ll end the year at about 70% of 2019 passenger volumes. But with yield improvement in both cargo and passenger businesses, airlines will reach the cusp of profitability,” said Walsh.

2023

In 2023 the airline industry is expected to tip into profitability. Airlines are anticipated to earn a global net profit of $4.7 billion on revenues of $779 billion (0.6% net margin). This expected improvement comes despite growing economic uncertainties as global GDP growth slows to 1.3% (from 2.9% in 2022).

“Despite the economic uncertainties, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about 2023. Lower oil price inflation and continuing pent-up demand should help to keep costs in check as the strong growth trend continues. At the same time, with such thin margins, even an insignificant shift in any one of these variables has the potential to shift the balance into negative territory. Vigilance and flexibility will be key,” said Walsh.

Main Drivers

Passenger: The passenger business is expected to generate revenues of $522 billion. Passenger demand is expected to reach 85.5% of 2019 levels over the course of 2023. Much of this expectation takes into account the uncertainties of China’s Zero COVID policies which are constraining both domestic and international markets. Nonetheless, passenger numbers are expected to surpass the four billion mark for the first time since 2019, with 4.2 billion travelers expected to fly. Passenger yields, however, are expected to soften (-1.7%) as somewhat lower energy costs are passed through to the consumer, despite passenger demand growing more quickly (+21.1%) than passenger capacity (+18.0%).

Cargo: Cargo markets are expected to come under increased pressure in 2023. Revenues are expected to be $149.4 billion, which is $52 billion less than 2022 but still $48.6 billion stronger than 2019. With economic uncertainty, cargo volumes are expected to decrease to 57.7 million tonnes, from a peak of 65.6 million tonnes in 2021. As belly capacity grows in line with the recovery in passenger markets, yields are expected to take a significant step back. IATA expects a fall of 22.6% in cargo yields, mostly in the latter part of the year when the impact of inflation-cooling measures are expected to bite. To put the yield decline in context, cargo yields grew by 52.5% in 2020, 24.2% in 2021 and 7.2% in 2022. Even the sizable and expected decline leaves cargo yields well-above pre-COVID levels.

Costs: Overall costs are expected to grow by 5.3% to $776 billion. That growth is expected to be 1.8 percentage points below revenue growth, thus supporting a return to profitability. Cost pressures are still there from labor, skill and capacity shortages. Infrastructure costs are also a concern.

Nonetheless, non-fuel unit costs are expected to fall to 39.8 cents/available tonne kilometer (down from 41.7 cents/ATK in 2022 and nearly matching the 39.2 cents/ATK achieved in 2019). Airline efficiency gains are expected to drive passenger load factors to 81.0 %, just slightly below the 82.6% achieved in 2019.

The total fuel spend for 2023 is expected to be $229 billion—consistent at 30% of expenses. IATA’s forecast is based on Brent crude at $92.3/barrel (down from an average of $103.2/barrel in 2022). Jet kerosene is expected to average $111.9/barrel (down from $138.8/barrel). This decrease reflects a relative stabilization of fuel supply after the initial disruptions from the war in Ukraine. The premium charged for jet fuel (crack spread) remains near historical highs.

Risks: The economic and geopolitical environment presents several potential risks to the 2023 outlook.
– While indications are that there could be an easing of aggressive inflation-fighting interest rate hikes from early 2023, the risk of some economies falling into recession remains. Such a slowdown could affect demand for both passenger and cargo services. It would, however, likely come with some mitigation in the form of lower oil prices.
– The outlook anticipates a gradual re-opening of China to international traffic and the easing of domestic COVID-19 restrictions progressively from the second half of 2023. A prolongation of China’s Zero COVID policies would adversely affect the outlook.
– If materialized, proposals for increased infrastructure charges or taxes to support sustainability efforts could also eat away at profitability in 2023.

“The job of airline managements will remain challenging as careful watch on economic uncertainties will be critical. The good news is that airlines have built flexibility into their business models to be able to handle the economic accelerations and decelerations impacting demand. Airline profitability is razor thin. Each passenger carried is expected to contribute on average just $1.11 to the industry’s net profit. In most parts of the world that’s far less than what is needed to buy cup of coffee. Airlines must remain vigilant to any increases in taxes or infrastructure fees. And we’ll need to be particularly wary of those made in the name of sustainability. Our commitment is to net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. We’ll need all the resources we can muster, including government incentives, to finance this enormous energy transition. More taxes and higher charges would be counter-productive,” said Walsh.

Regional Round Up

All regions’ financial performance continues to improve since the depth of the pandemic losses seen in 2020. North America is the only region to return to profitability in 2022, based on our estimates. Two regions will join ranks with North America in this respect in 2023: Europe and the Middle East, while Latin America, Africa, and Asia-Pacific will remain in the red.

North American carriers are expected realize profits of $9.9 billion in 2022 and $11.4 billion in 2023. In 2023, passenger demand growth of 6.4% is expected to outpace capacity growth of 5.5%. Over the year, the region is expected to serve 97.2% of pre-crisis demand levels with 98.9% of pre-crisis capacity.

Carriers in the region benefitted from fewer and shorter-lasting travel restrictions than many other countries and regions. This boosted the large US domestic market, as well as international travel, notably across the Atlantic.

European carriers are expected to see a loss of $3.1 billion in 2022, and a profit of $621 million in 2023. In 2023, passenger demand growth of 8.9% is expected to outpace capacity growth of 6.1%. Over the year, the region is expected to serve 88.7% of pre-crisis demand levels with 89.1% of pre-crisis capacity.

The war in Ukraine has curtailed the activities of some of the region’s carriers. Operational disruptions at some of the continent’s hubs are being resolved, but labor unrest continues at various locations.

Asia-Pacific carriers are expected to post a loss of $10.0 billion in 2022, narrowing to a $6.6 billion loss in 2023. In 2023, passenger demand growth of 59.8% is expected to outpace capacity growth of 47.8%. Over the year, the region is expected to serve 70.8% of pre-crisis demand levels with 75.5% of pre-crisis capacity.

Asia-Pacific is critically held back by the impact of China’s zero COVID policies on travel and the region’s losses are largely skewed by the performance of China’s airlines who face the full impact of this policy in both domestic and international markets. Taking a conservative view of progressive easing of restrictions in China over the second half of 2023, we nevertheless expect strong pent-up demand to fuel a quick rebound in the wake of any such moves. The region’s performance receives a significant boost from profitable air cargo markets, in which it is the largest player.

Middle East carriers are expected to post a loss of $1.1 billion in 2022, and a profit of $268 million in 2023. In 2023, passenger demand growth of 23.4% is expected to outpace capacity growth of 21.2%. Over the year, the region is expected to serve 97.8% of pre-crisis demand levels with 94.5% of pre-crisis capacity.

The region has benefitted from a certain degree of re-routing resulting from the war in Ukraine, and more significantly so from the pent-up travel demand using the region’s extensive global networks as international travel markets re-opened.

Latin American carriers are expected to post a loss of $2.0 billion in 2022, reducing to $795 million in 2023. In 2023, passenger demand growth of 9.3% is expected to outpace capacity growth of 6.3%. Over the year, the region is expected to serve 95.6% of pre-crisis demand levels with 94.2% of pre-crisis capacity.

Latin America has shown buoyancy over the year, largely owing to the fact that many countries began lifting their COVID-19 travel restrictions since mid-year.

African carriers are expected to post a loss of $638 million in 2022, narrowing to a loss of $213 million in 2023. Passenger demand growth of 27.4% is expected to outpace capacity growth of 21.9%. Over the year, the region is expected to serve 86.3% of pre-crisis demand levels with 83.9% of pre-crisis capacity.

Africa is particularly exposed to macro-economic headwinds which have increased the vulnerability of several economies and rendered connectivity more complex.

Bottom Line

“The expected profits for 2023 are razor thin. But it is incredibly significant that we have turned the corner to profitability. The challenges that airlines will face in 2023, while complex, will fall into our areas of experience. The industry has built a great capability to adjust to fluctuations in the economy, major cost items like fuel prices, and passenger preference. We see this demonstrated in the decade of strengthening profitability following the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and ending with the pandemic. And encouragingly, there are plenty of jobs and the majority of people are confident to travel even with an uncertain economic outlook,” said Walsh.

Passengers are taking advantage of the return of their freedom to travel. A recent IATA poll of travelers in 11 global markets revealed that nearly 70% are traveling as much or more than they did prior to the pandemic. And, while the economic situation is concerning to 85% of travelers, 57% have no intention to curb their travel habits.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

RAZZLE DAZZLE: Sensational MSC Seascape named in New York

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MSC Cruises’ latest vessel – and new US flagship – has sailed off to its winter home, Miami, and onwards to Caribbean itineraries after a dazzling debut in New York last week, officially named at a traditional maritime ceremony at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

Marking the brand’s continued growth in North America, the event was attended by more than 3,000 guests, including VIPs, key travel partners and global media, and the entire cruise division of the company and its parent MSC Group, who previewed the Big Apple as a new homeport for MSC, starting in April.

One of the highlights of the traditional maritime ceremony was a performance from international singer-songwriter Matteo Bocelli, hot off the heels of his performance at the naming ceremony of MSC World Europa last month.

Godmother of the MSC Cruises fleet, movie icon Sophia Loren, blessed the ship virtually while Alexa Aponte-Vago, daughter of MSC Group’s founder and executive chairman Gianluigi Aponte, performed the traditional cutting of the ribbon to officially name the ship (photo below).

Ribbon cutting

Following the ceremony, the guests were treated to a gourmet gala dinner and performance by international Grammy Award winner singer/songwriter Ne-Yo.

MSC Seascape is the 21st ship in the MSC Cruises fleet and the second ship to be launched in less than a month after MSC World Europa launched in November. She will be closely followed by the line’s second LNG-powered vessel MSC Euribia, due to come into service in June 2023.

The new flagship for the US will offer two contrasting itineraries this winter:

• Eastern Caribbean: Calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and Nassau in The Bahamas, San Juan in Puerto Rico, and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic
• Western Caribbean: Calling at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, Cozumel in Mexico, George Town in the Cayman Islands and Ocho Rios in Jamaica

MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest cruise brand and operates a fully bilingual permanent office in Canada to provide sales and marketing services to the Canadian market.

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

SOUTHERN EXPOSURE: News and views from Travel South

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From a new music trail in Louisiana to the 150TH anniversary of the famed Kentucky Derby, there’s plenty going on in the southern US that is sure to attract and appeal to Canadian travellers spreading their wings after the pandemic. And to help get the word out on what’s new, dozens of suppliers convened at the recent Travel South International Showcase in Louisville, Kentucky.

Buyers and media from 16 countries attended the 10th annual event, and amidst the avalanche of information at hand – enough to fill a ballroom at the Omni Louisville, not to mention a myriad of off-site venues and events – Travel Industry Today asked a representative of each of the 12 Travel South member states to simply list a single piece of news or view from their destination that stands out above the rest. Here’s what they had to say:

ALABAMA

A new ‘All in One Ticket’ program being introduced offers 60 different attractions curated into 14 separate cities/regions in a state known for its civil rights history, outdoors (including under-the-radar beaches), golf, and growing culinary scene. In Birmingham, the pass features 11 attractions, including the 16th St. Baptist Church, Civil Rights Institute, zoo, Oak Mountain State Park, and several museums. Tickets are available through Expedia or at alabama.travel.

ARKANSAS

Using Little Rock as a base, it’s less than three hours to anywhere in Arkansas – a state that rep Kim Williams maintains is “different from its neighbours.” Highlights include endless outdoor activities thanks to 60 state or national parks, along with numerous hot springs; the Bill Clinton – a good ‘ol boy from Arkansas – presidential library in the capital; and a mine where visitors can dig for diamonds and, “if you find it you keep it.”

GEORGIA

“The No. 1 thing I’d like to tell Canadians is about our coast,” says Meggan Hood of Explore Georgia. “I think they know Atlanta and Savannah, but our coast is extraordinarily different than other coasts.” With hundreds of kilometres of Atlantic shoreline, she cites the sparsely populated Golden Isles (including St. Simon, Little St. Simon, Jekyll Island, Cumberland) in particular. Located about 90 minutes south of Savannah and stretching to the Florida state line, the area boasts wild expanses of beach, dunes and marsh lands, lighthouses, small villages, and plenty to do. “It’s a choose your own adventure kind of thing,” she enthuses.

Kentucky Derby

KENTUCKY

Kentucky bills itself as the home of bourbon, bluegrass and barbecue, but the state is equally synonymous with horses, and nowhere is more central to equine culture than Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby – the iconic race that is as much social spectacle as sporting event. Always held on the first Saturday in May, the race is celebrated for weeks in advance, festivities will take on greater significance, and flair, in 2024 as the race celebrates its 150th anniversary. Music, food (incl. barbecue), fireworks, hot air balloon races, and much more will colour the April weeks leading up to the race, which features the world’s best three-year-old thoroughbreds, and is dubbed “the most exciting two minutes in sport.”

LOUISIANA

From Dixieland jazz to blues and zydeco to Cajun, Louisiana has always exuded music. However, for the first time, the state will have its own music trail, starting in 2023. The trail will feature a website and on-the-ground markers linking historic and current venues and attractions, from New Orleans’ iconic Preservation Hall to the Jolly Inn in Houma, and the Blue Moon Saloon in Lafayette. The program will also provide education and interactive activities. “It’s designed to not just let you enjoy the music, but learn about music too,” says Jennifer Berthelot of the Louisiana Office of Tourism. “It would be great for the novice. If you want to explore and don’t know how, this will make it easy.”

MISSISSIPPI

This southern state stakes a claim as “the birthplace of American Music.” From its comprehensive Blues Trail (check out the app) to the legacy of favourite son Elvis Presley (born in Tupelo and having resided in iconic Graceland across the Tennessee border in Memphis), Rachel Obermeier of Mississippi Tourism says matter-of-factly, “Music is our calling card.” But she quickly adds that there are also considerably more things to fill the spaces between the notes: Antebellum, civil war, and civil rights history, as well as active outdoor opportunities including Gulf Coast beaches, golf, casinos in Biloxi and Gulfport, great cuisine, and temperatures that are “very inviting” year-round.

(Ed. Note: Stay tuned for Part II of our state-by-state recap from the Travel South symposium: Missouri, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia).

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ROUND-UP: Dec. 6-10, 2022

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Airfares are forecast to rise 2023 according to Amex – find out how much. Also last week, Japan is WestJet’s star destination for summer 2023, Air Canada touted JFK flights as part of its 2023 sked, Porter unveiled new perks in economy, and Boeing marked the end of an era.….

NEWS

Domestic airfares in North America are forecast to rise in 2023, though not as much as in other regions of the globe, according to American Express Global Business Travel’s annual Air Monitor 2023. Domestic fares are expected to see moderate rises (3.4% business, 2.9% economy) as more capacity comes online in 2023. Meanwhile, Europe-North America routes are expected to see modest rises of 3.7%, and Asia-North America flights slated to see significant rises (5.6% business, 9.8% economy).

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has officially reopened two NEXUS and FAST enrollment centres in Canada enabling applicants to now schedule interviews at the Lansdowne, Ont. (Thousand Islands Bridge) and Fort Erie, Ont. (Peace Bridge) enrolment centres. The agency says more Canadian enrolment centres will open at additional select land border crossings in the future. Notably, however, applicants will still have to cross the border for an interview with US agents.

After more than half a century, Boeing rolled out its last 747 out of a Washington state factory on Tuesday. The jumbo jet, which debuted in 1969, was the largest commercial aircraft in the world and the first with two aisles, and it still towers over most other planes.

BORDERS

The Advance CBSA Declaration feature in ArriveCAN is now available to all travellers arriving on international flights at the Québec City Jean-Lesage International Airport. The Advance CBSA Declaration feature provides travellers with the option to submit their customs and immigration declaration to the CBSA up to 72 hours in advance of their arrival in Canada.

AIR

Canada Jetlines commenced direct roundtrip Airbus A320 service between Toronto and Vancouver on Friday (Dec. 9).

New service between Montreal and Fort McMurray, Alta., next June, plus increased frequencies between Toronto-Kelowna, Winnipeg-Toronto, and Montreal-Vancouver highlight Air Canada’s summer domestic schedule, which will see also see the carrier restore suspended services and increase frequencies as well. Meanwhile three new transborder routes, including service from Toronto and Montreal to JFK, and Toronto-Sacramento will start in 2023, along with the restoration of 11 suspended services and increased frequencies on 12 other routes.

Free WiFi, fresh meals, and enhanced legroom are all part of the new economy class being rolled out by Porter Airlines. The carrier is also introducing a new, all-inclusive economy experience called PorterReserve, which includes dedicated airport check-in, early boarding, enhanced legroom, fresh meals on longer flights, Porter’s signature beer, wine and premium snacks, cocktails, two checked bags, and the ability to change flights without a fee.

WestJet will offer flights three times weekly flights to Tokyo Narita starting April 30, marking the airline’s first non-stop flights to Asia from Calgary. The airline also announced new routes from Calgary to Barcelona and Edinburgh and increased frequency to Dublin, London, Paris, and Rome, also starting in the spring. The new flights are part of the airline’s plan to expand capacity from Calgary by more than 25% by next year, beginning with intercontinental routes.

Sun service from Windsor, Ont. kicked off last week for Sunwing, with first flights of the season to Cancun and Cayo Coco, with Varadero starting Dec. 17 and Santa Clara, Cuba on the 21st. Similarly, London, Ont. flights go this week: Punta Cana (Dec. 14), Cancun (Dec. 15), and Varadero (Dec. 16).

TOURS

Early 2023 sales for Italy, Scotland and Ireland are at 93% of total 2022 numbers, says Globus family of brands in Canada, “indicating that our Canadian office is on target to break some travel records next year.” Other hot destinations include Portugal, and France. Popular tour styles include off-season Escapes by Globus and Active & Discovery itineraries on Avalon Waterways.

Tauck has again eliminated the single supplement on its Category 1 European riverboat cabins, waiving the supplement entirely for those cabins on each departure of every 2023 Tauck river cruise itinerary. Tauck has also reduced the single supplement by CDN$1,300 on other selected cabin categories on 63 departures of 20 different river itineraries. On its land journeys, single supplements have also been reduced by up to $1,300 on 113 departures of 43 tours visiting five continents.

 RESORTS

Saint Lucia’s all-inclusive Coconut Bay Beach Resort – a long-time favourite amongst Canadian sun-seekers – has a new look and feel after completing a US$6-million property-wide refreshment during its annual September closing. Enhancements touched on guest rooms, the CocoLand Kidz Klub, the Wedding Centre, tennis and basketball courts, the main bar area, resort lobby, hallways, and more.

Now open, Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya is the latest addition to Hyatt’s all-inclusive adult experience nestled in the secluded region of Riviera Maya with easy access to the Cancún International Airport and only 10 km. from Playa del Carmen. The sophisticated resort offers 291-suites with modern hacienda charm, sitting alongside a long stretch of pure white sand beach.

HOTELS

BC-based Accent Inns Inc. reports that all nine of its affiliated properties are now officially Rainbow Registered with Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce. First launched in June 2021, the Rainbow Registered Accreditation Program was created to better identify 2SLGBTQI+ friendly businesses across Canada and help move the needle on social rights. The nationally recognized Canadian accreditation symbol indicates to consumers that the business meets a stringent set of standards to ensure 2SLGBTQI+ visitors feel safe, welcomed, and accepted.

IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened its first avid hotel in Canada in Vaughan, Ont. The avid hotel Toronto – Vaughan Southwest is the first of four planned properties across Canada for IHG’s newest Essentials brand. With 119 rooms, it is located 15 minutes (traffic notwithstanding) from Toronto Pearson International Airport and adheres to the brand’s “basics done exceptionally well – at a fair price” promise to regional business and leisure travellers.

CRUISE

Silversea’s newest expedition ship, Silver Endeavour, is set to broaden ultra-luxury travel’s most diverse polar offering by accessing more than 125 of the world’s most remote, extreme destinations through summer 2024 and winter 2024/25 with 27 new voyages that incorporate additional calls to Antarctica and the Arctic, as well as the British Isles and Iceland.

Luxury cruise line Cunard has announced a new partnership with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society that will see experts from RCGS featured on select 2023 voyages as part of the cruise line’s Insights onboard enrichment program. The RCGS headliners will be on every Cunard voyage in the 2023 Alaska season on Queen Elizabeth, from June through August, and on the Canada/New England voyage in September, from New York to Quebec, on flagship liner Queen Mary 2.

BY THE NUMBERS

Black Friday was Royal Caribbean International’s single largest booking day in its 53-year history, which marked the third time the record was broken in 2022 and the peak of what is now the brand’s highest volume booking week. The strong demand and performance demonstrated by the two latest records come on the heels of the first look at the new Icon of the Seas, and the record-breaking day reported when the highly anticipated ship opened for bookings 15 months ahead of its January 2024 debut. Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Line got a jumpstart on what it hopes will be a busy 2023 cruise season as it posted a record Cyber Monday booking day that was 50% above volume for Cyber Monday 2019.

DEALS

Holland America Line has expanded its “Canada Super Sale” with additional cruise dates in 2023. Featuring up to 20% off fares on select sailings, the offer runs through Dec. 31, and features a diverse selection of Alaska, Panama Canal, Caribbean, and European cruises.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

SeaWorld Orlando’s newest roller coaster will debut next spring, a first-of-a-kind attraction in which riders will experience “wave jumping” motions to make them feel like they are actually surfing. “Pipeline: The Surf Coaster” will feature a unique surfboard-shaped ride vehicle secured on the roller coaster in a surfing position, which is launched at speeds of up to 100 kph to give riders the feeling that they are catching a wave. Riders will then feel like they are hanging loose when their seats rise and fall to mimic the sensation of riding on a wave while sending them through several gnarly twists and turns.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

Sunwing’s ‘12 Days of Giveaways’ continues this week with every client booking made by Dec. 16 automatically giving agents a chance to win one of 10 $250 Sunwing gift cards to put towards their future Sunwing travel and one of two free vacations, including flights and accommodation, to Royalton Cayo Santa Maria or the brand-new Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun. Bookings on applicable packages must apply to travel by April 30. Clients can save 40% off their bookings.

EVENTS

Over 150 agents attended a Visit Orlando event last week (photo) in Toronto with partners including Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and other hotels and attractions. Agents took part in interactive in-person training events highlighting selling tips and the latest offerings in the Florida city, as well have a chance to win prizes. Agents who could not attend are recommended to sign up for the Orlando Travel Academy to become a certified “Orlando Travel Expert.”

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

TL Network Canada has appointed travel industry veteran Cheryl Babulal as Sales Manager, effective Dec. 12. In this position, Babulal will help identify and develop new business opportunities for TL Network Canada, with the goal of increasing volume and market share through recruiting new travel agencies into the company. Babulal will report to Lindsay Pearlman, Sr VP, Travel Leaders Network.

 David Green, managing director of G Adventures in Canada, has been named vice chair of the Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO), succeeding Stéphanie Bishop (Globus). As an MBA graduate he has almost 30 years experience in business strategy across travel retail and travel wholesale backgrounds. An industry advocate who has built a career focused on growth through a customer centric approach working in the UK, Australia, and Canada, Green is a passionate supporter of driving positive change within the industry, including helping businesses, agents and customers to do more to support community tourism and sustainability.

DESTINATIONS

After a two-year hiatus, Junkanoo, the national cultural festival of the Bahamas, returns for its largest celebration in downtown Nassau on Boxing Day (Dec. 26, 2022) and Jan. 2, 2023. The cultural festival represents the rich heritage of the African diaspora and is a colourful tradition that speaks to the strength and resilience of the Bahamian people. Festivities will take place in Grand Bahama Island, Bimini, Eleuthera, Abaco, Long Island, Cat Island, Inagua and Andros.

Arkansas has joined the US Bicycle Route System with the designation of its first US Bicycle Route, while Tennessee has designated a second route. The new routes, along with the realignment of routes in Minnesota, New York, and Ohio, add more than 685 km. to the US Bicycle Route System, bringing total mileage to nearly 31,000 km, and improving connectivity and the cycling experience.

LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY

In 1840, Scottish missionary explorer David Livingstone set sail on his first journey to Africa. He had been accepted to serve under the London Missionary Society two years earlier.

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First published at Travel Industry Today

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Destination Mekong Summit Promotes Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism Recovery

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Destination Mekong Summit Promotes Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism Recovery - TOURISMMEKONG.org - TRAVELINDEXPhnom Penh, Cambodia, December 5, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / As part of its action plan to boost tourism recovery in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), Destination Mekong, the private regional tourism board of the GMS, based in Cambodia and Singapore, will have the third edition of its Destination Mekong Summit on 14-15 December 2022.

As international travel has resumed in the GMS and globally, the 2022 Destination Mekong Summit will take place in Trellion and Aquation Parks on Koh Pich in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and online, under the theme ‘Together – Smarter – Stronger’.

Designed as a two-day journey celebrating creativity, diversity and inclusivity, the 2022 DMS will gather 40 speakers, and prominent representatives of the public and private sectors involved in the travel, tourism and hospitality in the Mekong region: operators and owners of tourism SMEs, social entrepreneurs, policy-makers, practitioners, influencers, change-makers, educators and learners, high-level officials, etc.

The program of the Summit features eight thematic panel sessions, three of them being led by supporting partners including:

· World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) session on ‘Championing the GMS as a sustainable tourism destination’, a key partner of the 2022 DMS;

· Child Protection in Travel and Tourism (ECPAT) International: session on ‘Practicing social responsibility and inclusiveness in tourism’;

· Beyond Retail Business (BRB) session on ‘Catching the value of local culture, know-how and creativity’.

Other panel sessions will address a variety of subjects such as innovative capacity-building, sustainable food and beverage businesses and experiences, marketing and branding for SMEs, social enterprises and start-ups in tourism, and opportunities and threats for tourism recovery in the GMS.

On the morning of the second day, 15 December, the Destination Mekong Summit will offer its participants the opportunity to attend the following training sessions and workshops:

– Training of Tour Guides as Wildlife Champions and Agents for Positive Changes by WWF,

– Sustainable tourism recovery with child protection in focus by ECPAT International,

– Storytelling techniques by the Centre for Communication and Information Literacy,

– Developing a Tourism & Travel Brand in 2023 by Trove Tourism Development Advisors, and

– Digital Marketing for Tourism Businesses by Destination Mekong

– Presentation of the report on ‘Innovate to Compete – Cambodia’s Tourism Insights 2022’ by GIZ.

Three major networking events, including a cocktail reception on the first day and a business matchmaking breakfast and a garden party on the second day, will offer the audience another occasion to enjoy the ‘power of together’ while building promising bridges and exciting connections. The latest line-up of speakers and programs can be found here.

Hosted for the first time in a hybrid format, the Destination Mekong Summit intends to:

· build a smart platform and network to stimulate sustainable tourism recovery across GMS;

· foster synergies and partnerships to position and market the GMS as an attractive, sustainable and inclusive tourism destination;

· To facilitate an innovative framework to share experiences, grassroots solutions, and inspiring stories to help the recovery and resilience of tourism recovery in the GMS;

· To showcase value-added, revenue-generating solutions, projects and programs designed by Destination Mekong and its members and partners.

Catherine Germier-Hamel, CEO of Destination Mekong, highlighted that ‘This 2022 DMS comes at a perfect time when we still have the chance to take stock of the lessons learnt in the past few years, and restart, rethink, and rebalance tourism so that it can truly contribute to inclusive local development and empowerment in the region’.

‘The travel and tourism industry has come in for much criticism in recent years, particularly in terms of its environmental impact, this summit allows us to convey the positive role the industry can play as well as the necessity to promote social and economic sustainability if we are to achieve our environmental sustainability goals’ stressed Mark Jackson, Chair of the Executive Board of Destination Mekong.

‘Responsible tourists are a key player in wildlife conservation and sustainable local livelihood development. Wildlife and local cultures are priceless assets for tourism activities which need to be protected and restored’ said Teak Seng, Country Director of WWF-Cambodia. ‘Cambodia is blessed with rich biodiversity on earth but the nature-based tourism in Cambodia hasn’t reached its full potential at this point due to the limited infrastructure, quality products and services,’ Mr Seng added.

‘Global travel and tourism are making a comeback, but it is important that we don’t revert to old behaviours,” said Jedsada Taweekan, head of WWF-Greater Mekong’s Illegal Wildlife Trade program. ‘The way forward must be green and sustainable, and consider the needs of wildlife and the environment in addition to the needs of travellers. Therefore, working with the travel and tourism sector to encourage tourists to have responsible tourism experiences – at the minimum by refraining from consuming wild animal meat or buying wildlife products as souvenirs – is a small but effective way to promote positive change in tourist behaviour.’

For Gabriela Kühn, Head of the Programme of Child Protection in Travel and Tourism – ECPAT International, ‘Practicing social responsibility and inclusiveness for tourism development can only happen through human rights approach. Actions to address adverse impacts on children’s rights need to be scaled up by governments and companies in cooperation with civil society organizations. The Destination Mekong Summit allows stimulating action of building together sustainable tourism destinations that protect children.’

Registration and details: www.destinationmekong.com/dms22

About Destination Mekong
Launched in 2017, Destination Mekong (DM) is a private tourism board aimed at championing the Geater Mekong Subregion (GMS)* as a united, attractive and sustainable tourism destination creating value, positive impact and opportunities for all. Over the past years, it has spearheaded innovative and inclusive collaboration within the public and private sectors across the six Mekong countries to inspire and engage travellers and stakeholders through authentic experiences and stories.

The core mission of Destination Mekong is to create engaging programs and solutions that build capacity, are inclusive, and promote sustainable economic development and understanding of the diversity and uniqueness of the region, contributing to social equality and poverty reduction.

Endorsed by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office in Thailand and aligned with the mandate of the regional collaborative tourism framework of the six-member governments of the GMS, Destination Mekong has executed targeted projects and initiatives, including Mekong Moments, Mekong Memories, Mekong Deals, Mekong Mini Movie Festival, Mekong Innovative Start-ups in Tourism (MIST), Experience Mekong Collection, Mekong Heroes, and Mekong Trends, with feedback from the Mekong Tourism Advisory Group (MeTAG) and via a public-private partnership investment structure, led by UNWTO Affiliate Member Chameleon Strategies.

In 2022, Destination Mekong was registered as a full-fledged company in Singapore and Cambodia, operating as a social enterprise.

(*) The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) comprises Cambodia, PR China (Provinces of Guangxi and Yunnan), Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO and European Commission Share Joint Vision for Tourism’s Future

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UNWTO and European Commission Share Joint Vision for Tourism's Future - TRAVELINDEXBrussels, Belgium, December 3, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / As the European Council presents the conclusions of the European Tourism Agenda, UNWTO has joined European Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean in emphasizing the importance of jobs, education and investments for achieving the shared vision for a revitalized sector between now and 2050.

The conclusions presented by the European Council today are built on several years of work around “Tourism in Europe for the Next Decade.” They inform a new Transition Pathway for Tourism, developed by the European Commission in consultation with key stakeholders, including UNWTO. The Transition Pathway identifies specific intervention areas to boost the tourism eco-system in Europe. Several of the key intervention areas reflect the priorities of UNWTO, most notably a recognition of the importance of building and supporting a skilled and committed workforce.

In a joint statement, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili and Commissioner Vălean welcomed the restart of international travel across the region. However, they stress that tourism and transport need to “work together” to address the gap in tourism employment by making both sectors more attractive for workers. Additionally, the joint statement notes the importance of investments in tourism as a means of accelerating the shift to greater resilience and sustainability.

UNWTO has made tourism education and training one of the priorities in recent years. Alongside this, UNWTO opened a first department focused on investments, emphasizing that to achieve its wider goals of becoming more resilient and sustainable, tourism first needs the financial and human capital in place.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Red Sea Global Partners with The Ocean Race to Promote Sailing

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Red Sea Global Partners with The Ocean Race to Promote Sailing - TOP25EVENTS.com - TRAVELINDEXRiyadh, Saudi Arabia, Devember 2, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Red Sea Global, the developer behind two of the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism projects, The Red Sea and AMAALA, has announced new partnerships with The Ocean Race (TOR) for the next two editions of the Race, and with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) who will amplify their stories around the world.

The Ocean Race has provided the ultimate test for sailing teams since 1973. Known as ‘sailing’s greatest round-the-world challenge’, it is widely recognized as the pinnacle of achievement for sailors across the world, and has created legends of the sport throughout the years.

– New partnership also agreed with Warner Bros. Discovery, the worldwide broadcaster partner of the event, to reach a truly global audience
– Flagship Saudi developer partners with sailing’s greatest round-the-world race to support awareness of global ocean conservation efforts, and create long-term sailing legacy in The Red Sea
– Red Sea Global builds on the Kingdom’s historic relationship with the sea – dating back over 4,000 years to ancient spice trade routes

Beyond the race itself, The Ocean Race acts as a global platform to raise awareness of the environmental challenges facing the world’s marine environment and drive positive change. Over the years, it has brought together like-minded partner organizations from across the globe with a shared vision of protecting and enhancing our oceans, seeking to mobilize policymakers and industries in host countries to take action on an international scale.

“We are proud to become the Regenerative Project Partner of The Ocean Race. Sustainability sits at the very heart of our work at Red Sea Global, so The Ocean Race – and its impressive ambitions when it comes to ocean health – makes them a natural fit as a partner,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global.

“The sea has always been an important part of Saudi Arabia’s history and heritage – dating back to the ancient spice trade routes, and creating thriving communities along its coasts. Through this partnership, we hope to support the efforts of The Ocean Race to raise awareness of the challenges facing our oceans globally today, and protect the outstanding beauty of the marine ecosystems in areas such as the Red Sea. At the same time, we want to nurture the next generation of sailors and build a sailing legacy for years to come.”

As partners, Red Sea Global will help promote the race and drive awareness of the importance of ocean health to an international audience. The partnership will see Red Sea Global hold events and educational initiatives, supported by content developed in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Red Sea Global intends to use its partnership with The Ocean Race to help inspire the next generation of Saudi sailors, promoting a new sport to a Kingdom that has enjoyed a crucial and historic relationship with the sea for over 4,000 years.

The 14th edition of The Ocean Race will start from Alicante, Spain on 15 January 2023, and will finish in Genova, Italy early in the summer of 2023. The race will visit nine iconic cities around the globe over a six-month period (Alicante, Spain – Cabo Verde – Cape Town, South Africa – Itajaí, Brazil – Newport, RI, USA – Aarhus, Denmark – Kiel Fly-By, Germany – The Hague, The Netherlands – Genova, Italy) and will feature a leg with the longest racing distance in the 50-year history of the event; a 12,750 nautical mile, one-month marathon from Cape Town, South Africa to Itajaí, Brazil.

The two fleets of mixed crews on foiling IMOCA and one-design VO65 boats will pass all three great southern Capes – Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn – non-stop, for the first time.

“The Red Sea is a new type of development, and has a vision to prioritize both people and planet based around commitments in support of regenerative tourism. Similarly, this is an innovative new type of partnership for us, where our collaboration with Red Sea Global and Warner Bros. Discovery results in a stronger outcome in pursuit of this goal,” said Johan Salén, The Ocean Race.

“We hope this will become a new template for other partnerships going forward, focusing on collaborations with purpose while taking advantage of the production and distribution power of a worldwide broadcast partner such as Warner Bros. Discovery for the benefit of all involved,” Salén continued.

For its part of the collaboration, Warner Bros. Discovery will harness its content capabilities and global reach to produce a series of short features around the Ocean and travel in the region. The content will air around its live broadcast of The Ocean Race during 2023 and adds to Warner Bros. Discovery’s multi-year race coverage.

“We are proud to be the worldwide broadcaster for The Ocean Race and welcome the opportunity to build on the stories we will tell about sailing’s toughest round the world race with those around the Red Sea Global project, particularly this combined effort to promote ocean health and its wider conservation. Around our race coverage and through our platforms, we have a unique ability to share greater understanding of these stories with a scaled and broad international audience. We look forward to utilising Warner Bros. Discovery’s creative capabilities to further expand awareness of our partner’s goals and initiatives all-year round,” said Mike Rich, Head of Sports Marketing Solutions, Warner Bros. Discovery.

About Red Sea Global
Red Sea Global is a closed joint-stock company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia. RSG is a global multi-project developer, seeking to lead the world towards a more sustainable future, showing how responsible and regenerative development can uplift communities, drive economies, and enhance the environment. The protection of natural capital is central to all development decisions, as the organization seeks to create a better future for all.

A cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambition to diversify its economy, RSG is playing a key role in transforming the nation, by creating exciting opportunities for young Saudi talent and the private sector, as it develops built assets and destinations across multiple sectors that make a positive impact for people and planet.

RSG is the visionary company behind some of the world’s most ambitious development ventures, including luxury regenerative tourism destinations such as The Red Sea and AMAALA.

Across its portfolio, RSG leverages the most innovative concepts, strategies, and technologies to deliver projects that actively enhance the wellbeing of customers, communities, and environments.

About The Ocean Race
The Ocean Race (TOR) has, since 1973, provided the ultimate test of a team and a human adventure like no other. For nearly 50 years, it has kept an almost mythical hold over some of the greatest sailors and been the proving ground for the legends of our sport.

The 14th edition of The Ocean Race will start from Alicante, Spain on 15 January 2023, and will finish in Genova, Italy early in the summer of 2023. The race will visit nine iconic cities around the globe over a six-month period (Alicante, Spain – Cabo Verde – Cape Town, South Africa - Itajaí, Brazil – Newport, RI, USA – Aarhus, Denmark – Kiel Fly-By, Germany – The Hague, The Netherlands – Genova, Italy) and will feature a leg with the longest racing distance in the 50-year history of the event – a 12,750 nautical mile, one-month marathon from Cape Town, South Africa to Itajaí, Brazil. The two fleets of mixed crews on foiling IMOCA and one-design VO65 boats will pass all three great southern Capes – Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, Cape Horn – non-stop, for the first time.

The Ocean Race has a proven commitment to sustainability, and with the support and collaboration of 11th Hour Racing, Founding Partner of the Race Sustainability Programme and Premier Partner of The Ocean Race, is inspiring action and creating tangible outcomes.

Building upon an award-winning legacy in sustainability, the Race’s innovative Racing With Purpose programme is acting as a catalyst for positive change and accelerating the application of innovative solutions to help restore ocean health.

About Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Film Group, Warner Bros. Television Group, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News