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ROLLING ON THE RIVER: Mississippi River Country

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The event was at Cirillo’s Academy in Toronto, and the invitation was tempting “Chefs Sam and Cody Carroll will bring their culinary talents and expertise as Louisiana restaurateurs and former Food Network stars to showcase the farm-to-table cuisine of the Mississippi River Country States.” Naturally, we would also learn the stories of the people, places, history and attractions from states bordering the river – Minnesota, Illinois, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Well, that was certainly of interest, and the evening got off to a quick start with a featured cocktail: French 75. I’d never heard of it, but turns out it’s a tasty combination of gin, simple syrup, champagne, lemon juice, and a lemon twist. More than one media type tasted more than one French 75.

The Chefs Carroll explained that each state had been asked to suggest three components or ingredients typical to their local cuisine and the Carrolls prepared a six course dinner each course featuring a different state. Everything was delicious – from the pumpkin pierogis (Illinois) through the Seafood Gumbo (no prize for guessing Louisiana), to the Nashville HOT Chicken chop salad (Tennessee), Arkansas’ cornmeal fried catfish with sweet and sour collards and chow chow, followed by Minnesota’s Venison Filet, with wild rice, blueberry bordelaise and bent river sauce. Dessert was Mississippi Mud with Cathead Vodka cream (surely no cats were decapitated for our gastronomic delight).

Of course, the states have lots more to offer than just epicurean delights.

The Mississippi begins as a “small stream” in Minnesota before it grows and flows 1,800 miles into the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way there are sights and sounds galore. It meanders through music country – Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. Elvis Presley fans get a double banger – Graceland, his home in Memphis and Tupelo, his birthplace in Mississippi. All three states are worth exploring and not just for the music and the cuisine – though truthfully, that’s reason enough for me.

For those of you who watched and Ozark – that was filmed in Georgia, the gorgeous Ozark mountains are actually located in Missouri and Arkansas. From wild forests to beautiful parks and scenic backwaters, this region offers beauty and adventure. The Clinton Library an interesting piece of architecture also located on the banks of the river in Little Rock, Arkansas, is I know, having visited it, interesting, engaging and well worth a visit.

Illinois means not only can you drive part of the famous Route 66, but you get to visit Chicago, with its fabulous waterfront, art galleries, culture and cuisine. And the music – not every city has its own sound. But Chicago has its own local brand of blues that flows throughout the city, and there are live performances at local blues clubs every night of the week.

And, why not actually take a cruise on the Mississippi River itself. The choices are numerous, whether you want just a day trip or a luxurious cruise experience, there are plenty of options for cruising the Mississippi.

Frankly, we’ve all been cooped up for so long, the idea of a cruise sounds wonderful, but so does a leisurely drive along The Great River Road, a historic, scenic route that traces the course of the Mississippi River for 3,000 miles (4,800km) through 10 states from northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.

And the best part is you can break it up and stretch your enjoyment of the Mississippi River Country over several visits, or, if you’re ready for a long summer adventure – you might want to start packing.

Get all the information you need at: https://mississippirivercountry.com/

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ONE DEAD IN FLORIDA BRIDGE PLANE CRASH

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One of the three people aboard a small plane died when it crashed onto a bridge near Miami this weekend, police said. The aircraft lost power Saturday shortly after takeoff, coming down on the bridge and striking an SUV, then bursting into flames.

The two other people on the plane were taken to a trauma center, while a woman and two toddlers in the vehicle were taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to the Miami-Dade Police.

No further information was released on the person who died. Police said the body was found in the wreckage after firefighters put out the flames.

Drone video on social media showed the plane crumpled on the bridge with a damaged SUV nearby. A man can be seen scrambling from the plane and being helped by others to the side of the roadway just before the aircraft is engulfed in flames.

The single-engine Cessna 172 crashed on the Haulover Inlet Bridge, after departing from Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale International Airport bound for Key West, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

 

 

 

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

COUNTRY STARS: Where are the highest-rated Michelin star restaurants

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When it comes to choosing a destination to visit on holiday, local cuisine and restaurants are one of the most important things to consider for food-loving travellers. But where are the best countries to visit based on their quality of restaurants?

The study by money.co.uk analysed Tripadvisor reviews and set menu costs for three-starred Michelin restaurants to reveal the highest-rated Michelin star restaurants in the world.

The highest-rated Michelin starred restaurants in the WorldThe Michelin star restaurant ranking in first place being highest-rated is the Frantzén in Stockholm, Sweden. Run by head chef Björn Frantzén, the Frantzén restaurant has the best Tripadvisor ratings, with 98.25% of ratings describing the restaurant as ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ and a total number of 171 reviews.

Taking second place is the King’s Joy Restaurant in Beijing, China, with 96.81% of reviews being positive. The restaurant run by Gary Yin has a total of 1381 reviews on Tripadvisor and also ranks in first place as the best value Michelin star restaurant.

Régis et Jacques Marcon takes third place, with 96.5% of its reviews being either ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’. The restaurant run by Régis and Jacques Marcon receives 1103 reviews on Tripadvisor.

Further study findings:

• The best value Michelin star restaurant is the King’s Joy in Beijing, China. The restaurant has an overall value score of 9.96 out of 10.

• In first place again, this time for the cheapest Michelin star restaurant is the King’s Joy. The restaurant run by Gary Yin has a set menu price of £83 making it the cheapest in the rankings.

You can view the full research by clicking HERE

Related article: Toronto sees stars.

 

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Marriott International Collaborates with Playa Hotels & Resorts to Bring The Luxury Collection Brand to Cap Cana

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Marriott International, Inc. and Playa Hotels & Resorts (NASDAQ: PLYA, Playa), a leading owner and operator of all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean, today announced an agreement between Francisco Martínez, the owner of Sanctuary Cap Cana, and Marriott International to debut Marriott’s first all-inclusive extension of The Luxury Collection brand in the Dominican Republic with Sanctuary Cap Cana, a Luxury Collection Adult All-Inclusive Resort. The new resort is expected to open in summer 2022 under The Luxury Collection brand.

Nestled in the heart of the Dominican Republic, the resort is located in Cap Cana, a private enclave in Punta Cana comprised of 30,000 acres of flawless beaches. Visitors will experience a wide variety of attractions, including the “Punta Espada” golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, a state-of-the-art marina with more than 150 slips accommodating yachts up to 150-feet, as well as an equestrian center featuring two world-class polo fields designed by Alejandro Batros.

Sanctuary Cap Cana
Image by http://c2a.studio
Corey Weiner

The adults-only 325-room resort underwent a renovation in 2019 and includes five a la carte restaurants, six bars, five pools, and Sanctuary Town, the resort’s own nightlife destination. Owned by Francisco Martínez, Sanctuary Cap Cana is expected to become the first Playa managed resort under a Marriott International brand.

“We are thrilled to bring our first The Luxury Collection all-inclusive brand extension to the Dominican Republic and we are grateful to the Martínez family for developing such a unique resort,” said Laurent de Kousemaeker, Chief Development Officer, Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International. “We are also excited for the opportunity to work with Playa Hotels & Resorts, a very reputable all-inclusive operator.”

“In our first joint venture with Marriott International, Sanctuary Cap Cana is the perfect choice for the level of style and sophistication that has made Marriott’s The Luxury Collection resorts the standard-bearer for unique, one-of-a-kind vacations,” said Fernando Mulet, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer, Playa Hotels & Resorts. “I would like to personally thank Mr. Martinez for his continuous trust in Playa and commitment to the success of this magnificent property.”

Marriott International entered the segment in 2019, leveraging seven of its world-renowned brands, and currently offers a portfolio of 28 all-inclusive properties,. The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts brand features 123 hotels globally in 41 countries and territories.

About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of approximately 8,000 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 139 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

About The Luxury Collection® Hotels & Resorts
The Luxury Collection® is comprised of world-renowned hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination’s indigenous charms and treasures. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA® brand as a collection of Europe’s most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble of more than 120 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in more than 40 countries and territories. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world’s finest. For more information and new openings, visit theluxurycollection.com or follow Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The Luxury Collection is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy®, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

About Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V.
Playa Hotels & Resorts N.V. (NASDAQ: PLYA, “Playa”) is a leading owner, operator and developer of all-inclusive resorts in prime beachfront locations in popular vacation destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean. Playa owns and/or manages a total portfolio consisting of 22 resorts (8,366 rooms) located in Mexico, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. Playa leverages years of all-inclusive resort operating expertise and relationships with globally recognized hospitality brands to provide a best in class experience and exceptional value to its guests, while building a direct relationship to improve customer acquisition cost and drive repeat business. Playa owns and manages 15 resorts (6,004 rooms) located throughout Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. Playa also owns two resorts in the Dominican Republic that are managed by a third party and manages five resorts on behalf of third-party owners. For more information, please visit playaresorts.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Alexandru Otero
Marriott International
Alexandru.Otero@marriott.com

Samantha Hardy
Playa Hotels & Resorts
Samantha.Hardy@playaresorts.com

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

DEEPLY SORRY: Alaska Airlines CEO warns flight cancellations to continue

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The CEO of Alaska Airlines says the high level of flight cancellations since April will continue through this month. Passengers whose travel plans have been disrupted have found little help from the airline in finding alternative ways to their destination, with customer service phone lines citing hold times of up to 10 hours.(VIDEO)

The Seattle Times reports that Ben Minicucci said in a message to employees Thursday evening that stability should return in June.

“Of the 1,200 flights that we operate every day, we’ve been canceling about 50 of them, roughly 4%. This is coming at a time when flights are already full, so rebooking options are limited and many of our guests have experienced extraordinarily long hold times,” Minicucci wrote.

In a follow-up video message for the traveling public that was posted on YouTube Friday morning and sent via email to Alaska’s mileage plan members, Minicucci apologized.

“I’m deeply sorry,” he said in the two-minute video. “I hear every day from friends, neighbors and guests about how disruptive our flight cancellations have been.”

In his message to staff, Minicucci acknowledged that responsibility for the situation lies with management, saying he and the leadership team “take full responsibility.”

He said Alaska started April and May with 63 fewer pilots than needed to fly the published flight schedule. Management didn’t recognize this shortage until too late.

He said the airline has centralized staff and schedule planning under one team and prioritized hiring, training and recruiting for pilots, flight attendants and other workgroups.

Minicucci’s apology and some passenger reactions:

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

MAKING A SPLASH: New Royalton readies in Riviera Maya

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Sunwing reports that its newest Royalton Luxury Resorts property, Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun, is slated to open Dec. 20. The new all-inclusive Riviera Maya resort will feature an expansive on-site water park.

More than 1,000 modern suites will feature a host of in-room amenities including Royalton’s signature DreamBed with high-thread-count sheets, rain shower, 24-hour room service, in-suite Jacuzzi in select room categories, and a well-stocked mini-bar.

Outside, on-site water amenities and activities include four pools, a variety of beach and water sports and one of the Caribbean’s largest on-site water parks, featuring 14 large water slides, two lazy rivers, a kids’ pool and splash pad, to which guests have unlimited access.
Entertainment facilities are designed with both families and friend groups in mind. In addition to the brand’s Sports Event Guarantee, where the big game is always on, there is daily entertainment and nightly shows, two theatres, laser tag, bowling, a trampoline park, supervised programming for kids and teens and complimentary resort-wide Wi-Fi.

Guests can enjoy The Royal Spa or a private beachfront cabana ($); or keep trim at the on-site fitness centre with the Royalton Fit program.

The resort offers 12 restaurants, nine bars along with unlimited reservation-free dining, all set among picturesque views of the Caribbean Sea.

For a more elevated experience, Sunwing customers can upgrade their booking and stay in the resort’s exclusive Diamond Club section where they’ll receive dedicated butler services, a private oceanview lounge with premium drinks and canapés and an exclusive beach area, among other upscale amenities in designated suites.

“For 11 years and counting, Sunwing’s resort division has continued to expand its portfolio and meet our customers in some of the most beloved sun destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America,” says Samantha Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer at Sunwing. “We’re thrilled for Sunwing customers to experience the new Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun, the first Royalton Splash in Mexico, and enjoy its luxury offerings and larger-than-life amenities, just in time for the 2022-23 holiday season.”

 

 

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ROUND-UP: May 9-13, 2022

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Last week, temperatures frayed over airport passenger congestion; countries continued to ease entry rules; air and cruise lines inaugurated new routes/ships; new hotels to note in LA and NYC; and new agent incentives were announced.

NEWS

Tourism is rebounding across Canada, but won’t hit 2019 levels until 2023, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. The WTTC says the sector will come within sight of pre-pandemic levels of activity in Canada this year but won’t match 2019 numbers until next year as bottled-up demand is uncorked across the globe. The international trade group forecasts that travel and tourism’s economic output in Canada will reach $138 billion in 2022, 88% of pre-pandemic figures. That number is estimated to hit $157 billion in 2023, nearly on par with the $158.1 billion of 2019.

Joining other trade groups, ACTA said the chaotic situation at airport security and customs, and significant delays in trying to renew passports, is creating a major obstacle to the recovery of travel and is urging the federal government to fix the problem “expeditiously.” ACTA president Wendy Paradis adds, “administrative hurdles such as these are unacceptable.” Canadian transport minister Omar Alghabra said staffing issues were not to blame, suggesting instead it was out-of-practice travellers and congested flight schedules.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is gradually resuming border services at select airports affected by the temporary measures put in place as a result of COVID-19. The CBSA resumed services at 47 small airports through May 15.

BORDER

Starting May 20, arrivals in Israel in will no longer have to take a PCR test upon arrival (or quarantine for up to 24 hours while waiting for the results). Visitors will continue to have to produce a negative test before travelling to Israel, however the new guideline (as of May 10) also allows for an antigen test to be taken within 24 hours of travel.

Laos has reopened to tourists and other visitors. Vaccination certificates or virus tests will still be required for Lao citizens and foreigners entering the country. The tests (rapid antigen, taken within 48 hours of departure for Laos) are for unvaccinated travellers 12 years of age or older.

RE-OPENING/RE-START

Oktoberfest, Munich’s famous festival of beer and Bavarian culture will take place this year from Sept. 17 to Oct. 3, marking a return after two years off due to the pandemic.

BY THE NUMBERS

The final week of April saw nearly 460,000 travellers touch down in Canada on international flights, more than 17 times the number of arrivals in the same week a year earlier but still just two-thirds of 2019 levels, according to the Canada Border Services Agency.

AIR
WestJet launched its long-awaited service to Rome with the departure of WestJet flight 32 from YYC Calgary International Airport on May 9. The first-ever scheduled connection between Calgary and Rome, operated on a 320-seat 787 Dreamliner, was celebrated alongside several dignitaries (photo). The service will operate during peak season up to three-times weekly. The flight was originally set to launch in May of 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic.

Yukon’s airline Air North celebrated its first-ever scheduled direct service between Whitehorse, Yellowknife, and Toronto on May 10. The twice-weekly service is expected to help boost tourism to the territory.

The very first Air Transat flight between Quebec City and London took flight May 11. The service will operate weekly on Wednesdays from Quebec City and Thursdays from London-Gatwick, until late September.

DEALS

Available through July 31, travellers can receive 15% off their stay at Hyatt hotels and resorts in Canada with the code 15OFF, redeemable for stays between before Sept. 6.

TOURS

Sunwing’s latest promotional offer, valid on bookings made by May 29, offers clients a complimentary room in a variety of sun destinations. The free room upgrades are available on a first-come, first-served basis and upgrade categories vary by resort and are applicable to select destinations and resorts for new bookings on a seven-night vacation package (double occupancy) between June 1 and Oct. 31. Plus, agents can still earn STAR Agent Reward Points on final payment, in accordance with STAR Program Terms and Conditions.

G Adventures has announced its relaunch list for June and, for the first time since the pandemic, more than 1,000 departures are on the list, representing a return to 50% when compared to 2019. The June list sees the return of Borneo, Cuba, and Madagascar, as well as the reopening of the Thailand Hilltribes trekking route, and restart of the popular Mont Blanc hiking season. This follows May returns to Vietnam, Indonesia and South Korea, and Eastern Europe and “the ‘Stans.” Preferred partner travel agents are eligible for up to 50% off rates on departures (and 25% off for up to three travelling companions), some exclusions apply.

HOTELS

More than 9,000 new hotel rooms will be coming online in New York City this year, including the highly anticipated Aman New York, a new urban sanctuary opening Aug. 2 on Fifth Avenue; the Ritz-Carlton, NoMad, a new experience inspired by the essence of the new Madison Square Park coming soon; and the Hard Rock Hotel New York, which just opened this month. Additionally, the Renaissance Hotels brand will soon open properties in Harlem and Flushing; the Virgin Hotel New York City and Hotel Barrière Le Fouquet’s New York are expected to open this summer; Moxy Hotels will open properties on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and in Williamsburg, Brooklyn later this year; and The Fifth Avenue Hotel is expected to open this fall.

Short Stories is a new 66-room hotel in Los Angeles featuring contemporary guest rooms, a full-service destination restaurant, outdoor courtyard, pool oasis and event space. Just across the street from the Original Farmers Market and The Grove and a short walk from LACMA and the Academy Museum, the hotel lies in a prime location of LA’s thriving arts and culture scene.

RESORTS
W Dubai – Mina Seyahi is now open in Dubai. Situated on the scenic Arabian Gulf coast, the 31-story hotel boasts striking glass architecture, the property reflects the city’s historical, cultural, and social fabric in its 318 rooms and suites – all sea-facing with a private balcony. Highlights include the BAR-B Spa, sleek rooftop lounge ATTIKO (opening in June), and exclusive Malakite beach club and pool, set on a private beach (coming in 2023).

Effective May 16, all bookings made by AMR Collection guests that require a COVID-19 test to return to their home country will be able to schedule their test for a fee with the concierge on property. For bookings made prior to May 16 for guests who booked in a club level or xhale club, as well as guests staying at Zoëtry Wellness & Spa Resorts for three or more nights will have the previously communicated complimentary testing policy honored. Additionally, resorts will continue to offer quarantine reassurance for affected guests through reduced nightly rates and special services.

CRUISE

Norwegian Cruise Line celebrated the completion of its ‘Great Cruise Comeback’ with the sailing of Norwegian Spirit in the South Pacific on May 7. The departure was the 17th and final ship in its fleet to return to service after a 500-day pandemic pause. Since then, the brand has systematically relaunched its ships around the world.

A day later, Holland America Line welcomed its ninth and 10th ships back into service on May 8 and 12 respectively, as Oosterdam embarked guests in Trieste (Venice), Italy, and Zaandam set sail in Fort Lauderdale. Still to come: the Westerdam on June 12.

Canadians will soon be able to sail on MSC Cruises’ newest flagship – MSC Seascape – when it comes into service later this year in New York City. The ship’s Naming Ceremony will take place at New York’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal on Dec. 7, with a star-studded inaugural event featuring godmother Sofia Loren that will precede the ship’s inaugural Caribbean season. Travel agents from Ontario, Quebec and BC are invited to contact their BDM for a possible invitation to the event. After the ceremony, the ship will position to Miami for a winter in the Caribbean (eastern and western itineraries).

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

The world’s only official exhibition of ‘Frida Kahlo, The Life of an Icon’, is making its North American debut in Montréal on June 10 at Arsenal Contemporary Art Montreal. Tickets can be purchased at fridakahlomontreal.com with ticket price starting at $34.99 for adults (before taxes and fees), with discounts available for students, children, and families.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

Continuing throughout May, travel advisors can earn a $20 gift card for each new 2022 AmaWaterways FIT booking and earn a reward cruise when they confirm three FIT bookings made between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31 for 2022 sailings. The company will also give away complimentary river cruises with round-trip business class airfare to two lucky travel advisors who attend its popular Webinar Wednesday series during the month of May.

During May Travel Advisor Appreciation Month of May, Silversea Cruises is offering a CDN$250 bonus commission per booking on any 2022 voyage. In addition, it is extending travel advisors an invitation to sail on select 2022 Alaska and Northern Europe voyages for as low as US$150 p.p. per day.

EVENTS

“African Romance & Honeymoons” is the next webinar in a summer series presented by Africa Travel. Set to take place May 24, the webinar follows the inaugural session on May 10, with several more to follow through August. Collectively the tour operator (a division of TravCorp) is thematically highlighting “the many compelling reasons to visit Africa.” For more information, dates, and registration, click .

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

Friends and colleagues of the late John McKenna are invited by his family to a Celebration of Life on June 25, 2-5 p.m. at the Fergus legion, branch 275. The hall is located at 500 Blair St., Fergus Ont.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has announced the appointment of Ernie Balint to Strategic Account Manager for Uniworld’s Eastern Canada market, and Peter Nowicki for Uniworld’s Western Canada market, effective immediately. Based in Toronto, Balint has worked in the travel industry for 10-plus years, including Collette Vacations, and G Adventures. Based in Vancouver, Nowicki has over 20 years experience in travel and cruises, including nearly a decade at Crystal Cruises.

H.I.S.-Red Label Vacations Inc. (RLV) and Merit Travel have named Lora Hamre as Director of Retail and Independent Consultant Program. An experienced business leader, Hamre assumed responsibilities on May 2, focussing on growing the retail and independent travel divisions and fostering new business development activities that drive greater engagement and opportunity.

DESTINATIONS

Fremont Street Experience, the six-block entertainment district located in downtown Las Vegas, is ready to rock the city with the return of its epic free concert series, “Downtown Rocks.” The jammed-packed lineup is filled with fan favourite and chart-topping bands appealing to music fans of all ages set under the glow of the world’s largest digital screen, Viva Vision. The free concert series features top artists covering multiple decades of music including Rick Springfield, Jelly Roll, X Ambassadors, The Pretty Reckless and more. The series culminates with the Stone Temple Pilots. Downtown Rocks continues through the fall and additional dates and performances are expected to be added.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UN-Habitat and OCEANIX Unveil World’s First Floating City

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UN-Habitat and OCEANIX Unveil World's First Floating City - TRAVELINDEXBusan, South Korea, May 13, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / UN-Habitat, the Busan Metropolitan City of the Republic of Korea, and OCEANIX today unveiled at the UN Headquarters the design of the world’s first prototype sustainable floating city. OCEANIX Busan aims to provide breakthrough technology for coastal cities facing severe land shortages that are compounded by climatic threats.

The challenge is massive: two out of every five people in the world live within 100 kilometers of the coast, and 90 percent of mega cities worldwide are vulnerable to rising sea levels. Flooding is destroying billions of dollars worth of infrastructure and forcing millions of climate refugees to leave their homes. With nowhere to expand, rapid urban population growth is pushing people closer to the water, driving housing costs to prohibitive levels, and squeezing the poorest families out.

“Today is a pivotal milestone for all coastal cities and island nations on the frontlines of climate change. We are on track to delivering OCEANIX Busan and demonstrating that floating infrastructure can create new land for coastal cities looking for sustainable ways to expand onto the ocean, while adapting to sea level rise,” said the Chief Executive Officer of OCEANIX, Mr. Philipp Hofmann.

OCEANIX, a blue tech company based in New York, led a team of the world’s best designers, engineers, and sustainability experts in designing the flood-proof prototype. The BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group and SAMOO (Samsung Group) were the lead architects of OCEANIX Busan, unveiled at the Second UN Roundtable on Sustainable Floating Cities; a follow up to the inaugural Roundtable in April 2019, where it was agreed to build a prototype with a host city. Busan signed on last year.

“As Mayor of the Metropolitan City of Busan, I take seriously our commitment to the credo ‘The First to the Future’. We joined forces with UN-Habitat and OCEANIX to be the first to prototype and scale this audacious idea because our common future is at stake in the face of sea level rise and its devastating impact on coastal cities,” said Mayor Park Heong-joon, who has set an ambitious agenda, including turning Busan into a green smart city and launching a bid for World Expo 2030.

Speaking at the Roundtable, which took place at the UN Headquarters in New York, and was attended by government ministers of housing, Mayors, Ambassadors, and high-ranking UN officials, the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif said. “We cannot solve today’s problems with yesterday’s tools. We need to innovate solutions to global challenges. But in this drive for innovation, let’s be inclusive and equitable and ensure we leave no one and no place behind. I am happy this Roundtable takes place ahead of the High-Level Meeting on the New Urban Agenda, where cities and countries around the world come together to discuss sustainable urbanization.”

“In designing a solution for the most vulnerable coastal locations on the frontlines of climate change, OCEANIX’s new modular maritime neighborhoods will be a prototype for sustainable communities informed by Busan’s unique juxtaposition of old and new. Creating a connection between the city and the seaside, OCEANIX Busan will expand this spirit onto the waterfront,” said Bjarke Ingels, Founder and Creative Director of BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.

OCEANIX Busan is the world’s first prototype of a resilient and sustainable floating community. The interconnected neighborhoods total 6.3 hectares to accommodate a community of 12,000 people. Each neighborhood is designed to serve a specific purpose – living, research, and lodging. There are between 30,000 to 40,000 square meters of mixed-use programs per neighborhood. The floating platforms connect to the land with link-span bridges framing the sheltered blue lagoon of floating recreation, art, and performance outposts. The low-rise buildings on each platform, defined by their soft lines, feature terraces for indoor-outdoor living, helping to activate the network of vibrant public spaces. OCEANIX Busan will organically transform and adapt over time. Starting from a community of 3 platforms with 12,000 residents and visitors, it has the potential to expand to more than 20 platforms. The floating platforms are accompanied by dozens of productive outposts with photovoltaic panels and greenhouses that can expand and contract over time based on the needs of Busan. OCEANIX Busan has six integrated systems: zero waste and circular systems, closed loop water systems, food, net zero energy, innovative mobility, and coastal habitat regeneration. These interconnected systems will generate 100% of the required operational energy on site through floating and rooftop photovoltaic panels. Similarly, each neighborhood will treat and replenish its own water, reduce and recycle resources, and provide innovative urban agriculture.

OCEANIX is a blue tech company founded by Itai Madamombe and Marc Collins Chen in 2018 to design and build floating cities for people to live sustainably on the ocean. OCEANIX design and engineering partners on the Busan prototype include: Prime Movers Lab, BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, SAMOO Architects and Engineers, Arup, Bouygues Construction, Helena, the MIT Center for Ocean Engineering, the Korea Maritime and Ocean University, top environmental artist Olafur Eliasson and Studio Other Spaces, Wartsila, Transsolar KlimaEngineering, Mobility in Chain, Sherwood Design Engineers, Agritecture, the Center for Zero Waste Design, Greenwave, and the Global Coral Reef Alliance.

UN-Habitat, works to promote socially and environmentally sustainable cities and human settlements. UN-Habitat’s vision is to achieve “a better quality of life for all in an urbanizing world”. It works in over 90 countries to promote transformative change through knowledge, policy advice, technical assistance and demonstration projects.

Busan, a city of 3.4 million residents, is the second largest city in the Republic of Korea. It is home to the biggest industrial complex in the Southeast Economic Region of Korea. Busan is one of the most important maritime cities of the 21st century, making it a natural choice to deploy the sustainable floating city prototype with its marine engineering capabilities.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Tourism to Create 14 Million Jobs in Africa within the Next Decade

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Tourism to Create 14 Million Jobs in Africa within the Next Decade - VISITKENYA.com - TRAVELINDEXNairobi, Kenya, May 14, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel & Tourism Council’s latest Economic Impact Report (EIR) reveals the African Travel & Tourism sector is expected to create almost 14 million new jobs over the next decade.

The positive forecast from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which shows an average of 1.4 million new jobs every year, also reveals the sector will lead the economic recovery in the region, with its annual GDP growth set to outpace the overall economy for the next 10 years.

According to the report, Travel & Tourism’s GDP is forecasted to grow at an average rate of 6.8% annually between 2022-2032, more than twice the 3.3% growth rate of region’s overall economy, to reach nearly US$ 279 billion (7.2% of the total economy).

The sector’s contribution to GDP is expected to grow 20.5% to US$ 144 billion by the end of 2022, amounting to 5.1% of the total economic GDP, while employment in the sector is set to grow by 3.1% this year to reach nearly 22 million jobs.

The global tourism body’s annual report also shows further optimism for the region’s Travel & Tourism GDP, which could approach pre-pandemic levels by 2023 – just 9% below 2019 levels.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Africa is clearly bouncing back and is set to experience a significant recovery over the couple of years and looking ahead over the next 10 years, the sector could create almost 14 million jobs.

“However, last year the recovery was significantly impacted by Omicron, which saw many countries reinstating severe and unjustified travel restrictions on several key African destinations.”

Before the pandemic, the Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to the region’s GDP was 6.8% (US$182.4 billion) in 2019, falling to just 3.8% (US$96.5 billion) in 2020 when the pandemic was at its height, nearly halving the contribution of such a crucial sector to the economy with a 47.1% decline.

The sector also supported more than 25 million jobs across the region, which after a 22.9% drop, fell to just 19.6 million in 2020.

However, looking back at 2021, WTTC’s latest EIR report reveals a year in which we saw the beginning of the recovery for the region’s Travel & Tourism sector, Travel & Tourism’s contribution to GDP increased 23.5% year on year, to reach more than US$119 billion.

It also saw a recovery of 1.6 million Travel & Tourism jobs, representing a positive 8.2% rise to reach more than 21 million.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Equatorial Guinea to Implement Electronic Visa to Promote Tourism

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Equatorial Guinea to Implement Electronic Visa to Promote Tourism - VISITEQUATORIALGUINEA.com - TRAVELINDEXBata, Equatorial Guinea, May 14, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Equatorial Guinea’s Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue wants to make tourism a profitable sector in the Equatorial Guinean economy.

This vision was presented this Tuesday in a working session that the Vice President of the Republic held at the Africa Palace in Bata, with various members of the Government of the departments involved, including Catalina Martinez Asumu, Secretary of State for tourism and founder of Guineatur, together with Vincenzo Presti, CEO of Luxury Hotels Management, which boasts the management of 7 of the most important hotels in the country, including Grand Hotel Djibloho, the most big hotel in Central Africa.

The initiative, arises to study and seek mechanisms that allow tourism to boost in Equatorial Guinea.

The Government has invested large sums of millions in the construction of tourist attractions that the country has, and for the Vice President of the Council of Ministers it is necessary to make this sector more profitable in the Equatorial Guinean GDP. For this, the country will implement the electronic visa system and facilitate the entry of tourists and investors.

Equatorial Guinea, in its National Economic Development Program, is committed to economic diversification, and tourism appears as one of the priorities. To promote this domain, projects and procedures for the implementation of this online visa system will be presented before the end of this year.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News