Travel & Tourism Foundation
First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, January 3, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO has continued to scale up its support for its Members across the Americas, with plans for a first Regional Office for the region advanced during an official visit to Brazil.
Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili led the UNWTO delegation to Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia (13-17 December), recognizing Brazil’s strong support and commitment to tourism for development. In Brazil, Secretary-General Pololikashvili enjoyed bilateral meetings with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and with the country’s Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino.
At the 25th UNWTO General Assembly (Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 16-20 October), Member States voted to establish a first Regional Office for the Americas in Rio de Janeiro. The office will further enhance UNWTO’s global presence on the ground, adding to a Regional Office for the Middle East in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a Regional Office in Nara, Japan, and its headquarters in Madrid, Spain.
The UNWTO Regional Office for the Americas will help guide tourism development not only in Brazil but across the whole region
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The UNWTO Regional Office for the Americas will help guide tourism development not only in Brazil but across the whole region. Rio de Janeiro will be a true hub of leadership and ideas, with a focus on growing and targeting investments into the sector and harnessing tourism’s power for sustainable and inclusive growth.”
Reflecting the recognition of UNWTO’s mission at the very highest political level in Brazil, Secretary-General Pololikashvili was warmly welcomed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Their bilateral talks focused on shared priorities, including growing investments in tourism in both Brazil and across the region, and making the sector a driver of growth and opportunity.
In bilateral talks with Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino, UNWTO emphasized the enormous potential of tourism in the Americas…
During the official visit, the UNWTO delegation joined in celebrations of the best tourism talent and leaders in Brazil. The National Tourism Awards ceremony (Brasilia, 16 December) recognized individuals and initiatives transforming the sector. UNWTO also joined the official opening of National Hall of Tourism.
First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News
Madrid, Spain, January 2, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / The 2022-2023 UNWTO Students’ League concluded with a celebration of young tourism talent. The Grand Final of the flagship event for supporting students in tourism bought together high School and undergraduate students from Switzerland and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
The 2022-2023 Students’ League challenged students to create support rural development through tourism by creating Instagram accounts to promote a rural destination in their countries.
For this Grand Final, the jury panel was made up of national and international experts from UNWTO, Academia and private sector stakeholders. In making their decision, the expert jury judged elements such as innovation, and feasibility of the idea as well as their potential to contribute to the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The winning team in the High School category was Team Rose Brandis from Mješovita srednja škola Travnik in Bosnia & Herzegovina. In the Undergraduate category, the jury named Team VS-TIM, Visoka škola za turizam i menadžment Konjic from Bosnia & Herzegovina and Team SHL from Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern in Switzerland as joint winners.
After successfully passing through the initial phase on the National Final4 competitions in their countries during 2022 and 2023, three teams made it through to the Grand Final, Team Rose Brandis, representing Bosnia and Herzegovina – Team Rose Brandis from Mixed Secondary School Travnik and Team VS-TIM from Konjic College of Tourism and Management, and representing Switzerland – Team SHL from the Swiss Hotel Management School Lucerne.
For this first Grand Final, UNWTO counted on the partnership of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Affiliate Member and part of the Affiliate Members Board. The Universidad Complutense de Madrid has been a true knowledge leader for almost 800 years and has a long and proud history of producing the best minds and developing the best young talent. The Ayuntamiento de Madrid also contributed by showing the teams the beauty and hidden gems of Madrid.
The UNWTO Students League provides students with a platform that empowers and motivates them, by giving them real-time knowledge on our sector and experience by working on creating innovative and sustainable solutions for the challenges that the sector is facing. This initiative not only brings Tourism closer to younger generations but, by bringing together these young people with government officials, representatives of tourism industry, experts and other major stakeholders, it also bridges the gap between the realities of the sector and students’ education and training, enabling young people to enter the labour market in the future as highly qualified and skilled professionals.
First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News
Banyan Tree Krabi has been recognised for its sustainable and environmental practices, becoming the first hotel or resort in the Krabi region to win Silver Certification by EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking organisation for the hospitality industry.
Following a rigorous science-backed audit by EarthCheck, the landmark accolade is underpinned by the resort’s excellence in 10 key performance areas: Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Energy Efficiency; Management of Freshwater Resources; Ecosystem Conservation & Management; Social & Cultural Management; Land Use Planning & Management; Air Quality Protection; Wastewater Management; Solid Waste Management; and Environmentally Harmful Substances.
“EarthCheck requires all its members to meet every single criterion, every year,” said the organisation’s Relationship Manager Bingni Wu. “This means businesses must continuously work on both the measurable and qualitative aspects of sustainability. It’s not just about ticking boxes; it’s about making real, ongoing changes.”
Sustainability as a Key to Success
Head of Banyan Tree Krabi’s Sustainability Team, Thepsuda Loyjiw, said that the resort continually strives to reduce consumption rates through improved efficiency and adopting new technology or practices.
A marine biologist, Loyjiw said that the hotel offers eco-friendly activities to guests, including forest bathing and hiking in the national park adjoining the property to help raise awareness about environmental conservation and protecting local flora and fauna.
Among the cultural options, guests can indulge in Thai cookery classes, Thai boxing, Thai language lessons or a visit to an elephant sanctuary.
The hotel also organises beach clean-up campaigns, and — as part of the Banyan Tree brand’s worldwide “Stay For Good” initiative — tours to a local fishing community where guests can participate in handcraft workshops.
Among projects earmarked for the year ahead, Loyjiw said her team is preparing the groundwork for a cage-free egg policy at the hotel, as well as a sustainable seafood programme.
Award-Winning Resorts
Located on secluded Tubkaek Beach and opened in 2020, Banyan Tree Krabi is flanked to the rear by a forested national park while facing out towards a sea of karst limestone towers — undoubtedly one of Thailand’s most iconic and enduring images — which are uninhabited and protected as a national marine park. The hotel is tiered into a lush landscape, all of which is dominated by a rollercoaster of mountains.
The resort offers 72 pool suites and villas, among them seven two-bedroom options, one three-bedroom villa, and a majestic seven-bedroom beachfront Presidential Villa. Each of the rooms faces the sea and the sunset as the property tiers into the hillside.
Facilities include two restaurants and a beach bar, a beach club, a kids’ club, a fitness centre, meeting rooms, and — in keeping with Banyan Tree’s wellness branding — a rainforest-themed spa.
The hotel seeks to follow in the footsteps of its sister resort farther to the east in Thailand, Banyan Tree Samui, which launched in 2010 and was recently presented by EarthCheck with the highest level of certification, Platinum, making it the first and only hotel or resort in the country to reach this prestigious milestone.
Both Banyan Tree resorts were recognised in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards this year, with Banyan Tree Krabi voted No 4 in the Top Resorts in Thailand category, and Banyan Tree Samui claiming the No 5 title.
ABOUT BANYAN TREE
Banyan Tree offers a Sanctuary to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul in awe-inspiring locations around the globe. Rediscover the romance of travel as you journey to iconic destinations where authentic, memorable experiences await. An all-villa concept often with private pools, Banyan Tree provides genuine, authentic service and a distinctive, premium retreat experience.
ABOUT BANYAN TREE GROUP
Banyan Tree Group (“Banyan Tree Holdings Limited” or the “Group”) is one of the world’s leading independent, multi-branded hospitality groups centred on the purpose-driven mission of stewardship and wellbeing while offering exceptional, design-led experiences.
The Group’s diversified portfolio of hotels, resorts, spas, galleries, golf and residences features an ecosystem of 10 global brands, including the award-winning Banyan Tree, Angsana, Cassia, Dhawa and Laguna, and the highly anticipated new brands of Homm, Garrya, Folio, and two new Banyan Tree brand extensions – Escape and Veya.
Established in 2008, with the goal of advancing people development and management excellence, Banyan Tree Management Academy has nurtured over 8,000 associates across 23 countries. The Group is recognised for its commitment to environmental protection and community development through its Banyan Tree Global Foundation. Operating over 70 hotels in 17 countries, it has 47 new properties in the pipeline.
First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News
During the COVID-19 pandemic, airline employees experienced unprecedented levels of work-related stress and job uncertainty. However, their coping strategies and cultural differences in their responses to work-related stress remain understudied. In a timely recent study, Professor Seongseop (Sam) Kim of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and co-authors explored the relationships between job stressors, psychological stress and coping strategies amongst airline employees in Hong Kong and South Korea during the pandemic. Their work provides fruitful insights that could help airlines minimise employees’ psychological stress and provide resources to support coping strategies. Crucially, their results also show that national culture should be considered when adopting such measures.First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News
A new currency is being introduced in the Dutch Caribbean and two eastern European countries are set to join the Schengen zone; additionally in this week’s round-up, a setback for Transat in labour negotiations, more measures to limit overcrowding in Venice and G Adventures’ has tapped into Taylor-mania for its “biggest agent experience ever.”
NEWS
A new joint currency will be launched this year for the Dutch Caribbean constituent countries of Curacao and St. Maarten more than a decade after they became autonomous within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Caribbean guilder will replace the Netherlands-Antillean guilder and the new currency will contain improved security features and will circulate alongside the current currency for three months after its introduction, according to a bank report. The current Netherlands-Antillean guilder will be transferrable to the new currency for a period of 30 years at an equal rate.
Bulgaria and Romania have received permission to join Europe’s passport- and visa-free Schengen Area starting in March, the governments of the two countries said. The move initially will apply only to travellers arriving by air and sea, while Austria has committed to continuing negotiations over the need for border checks when crossing from the two countries by land, Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov said.
Venice announced new limits on the size of tourist groups, the latest move to reduce the pressure of mass tourism on the popular canal city. Starting in June, groups will be limited to 25 people, or roughly half the capacity of a tourist bus.
BY THE NUMBERS
Jamaica is expecting its best winter season ever in 2023-24 with tourism minister Edmund Bartlett declaring that for the first time in the island’s history, there will be over one million stopover travellers for the season. In 2023, Bartlett said Jamaica will have welcomed more than 4.1 million visitors – an increase of 23.7% over the total number of visitors recorded in 2022.
AIR
It was back to the bargaining table last week for Air Transat and its flight attendants after the latter voted earlier in the week to reject a tentative deal with company. There are currently no strike or lock-out notices issued by either party and both say they are keen to reach a new agreement quickly.
Portuguese carrier Azores Airlines will begin flying between the Azores and the Algarve in 2024 with flights between Ponta Delgada and Faro operating twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays as of June 2.
DEALS
Silversea officially named Silver Nova during a ceremony in Fort Lauderdale Jan. 4, honouring maritime traditions to welcome the ‘Ship of Light’ to its fleet. The most environmentally conscious ultra-luxury ship ever built, the 728-guest Silver Nova strengthens Royal Caribbean Group’s commitment to sustainability. Meanwhile, clients can save up to CDN$5,000 per suite ($2,500 p.p.) on a wide variety of voyages with the ‘$5,000 Reasons to Sail with Silversea Wave Season offer.’ Bookings must be made by Feb. 29.
Guests booking a 2024 cruise before Jan. 31 with Crystal will receive a complimentary suite upgrade, as well as an upgraded wardrobe valeting service with dry-cleaning and garment care also included free of charge.
TOURS
Starting April 1, Greece plans to offer exclusive guided tours of its most powerful tourist magnet – the Acropolis in Athens – outside normal opening hours. The new service will apply to a maximum four groups of up to five people each. It will cost 5,000 euros ($7,300) per group, although individuals prepared to cover the full group fee are welcome to visit on their own.
Customers holding a Eurail or Interrail pass and wanting to buy seat reservations are now able to do so via Rail Europe’s customer website. With this feature, customers can quickly determine whether an additional seat reservation purchase is required for specific journeys, and if so, the associated cost.
ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Universal Orlando Resort announced the addition of two new hotel properties to the Universal Orlando hotels portfolio (image above). Co-owned and operated by Loews Hotels, Universal Stella Nova Resort and Universal Terra Luna Resort will each feature 750 guest rooms in the resort’s Prime Value category – bringing the total number of guest rooms across the destination to 10,500 – and are slated to open in early 2025.
HOTELS
Set to open in preview on Jan. 19, the Dew Drop Inn Hotel and Lounge, on Lasalle Street in Central City, New Orleans, will include 17 hotel rooms, a live music venue, and a resort-style pool. First opened in 1938 by Frank Painia, the Dew Drop was a hotel, music venue and barber shop. Legendary musicians played on its stage including Ray Charles, Little Richard, Deacon John, and Irma Thomas.
The French Riviera city of Cannes is now home to the very first Staybridge Suites property in the country. Staybridge Suites Cannes Centre represents the introduction of the all-suites hotel to the growing IHG Hotels & Resorts portfolio in France, welcoming guests looking for a more spacious or extended stay experience.
RESORTS
Now open is Hideaway at Royalton Blue Waters, An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort, an adults-only property in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
From April, Club Med will offer only offer: 1) premium, all-inclusive beach and mountain Club Med resorts and 2) Exclusive Collection spaces, resorts, yacht, villas and chalet. The last 3-Trident resorts – Club Med Serre-Chevalier, Club Med Djerba La Douce and Club Med Arcs Extrême – will transition into premium properties
CRUISE
Updated summer itineraries from MSC Cruises include an entirely new program for MSC Musica in the West Mediterranean, and an enhanced Greek Island itinerary for MSC Opera. From May 13 to Oct. 28, MSC Musica will offer seven-night sailings out of Civitavecchia for Rome to destinations in the West Mediterranean including Genoa (Italy), Cannes (France), Barcelona, Ibiza (Spain) and Cagliari (Italy) before returning to Civitavecchia. This new program has replaced the cancelled sailings that included Haifa, Israel, due to the ongoing geopolitical situation. MSC Opera’s existing seven-night sailings between May 12 and Oct. 5 have been enhanced with additional Greek Island destinations, the new itinerary includes Bari (Italy), Piraeus for Athens, Santorini, Katakolon, Corfu, and Kefalonia (Greece) before returning to Bari.
Quark Expeditions says guests will recieve complimentary Wi-Fi and alcohol on all voyages as of its Antarctic 2024/25 sailing season
FAMS & INCENTIVES
As part of its worldwide “You Belong with G Experience” campaign, agents from Canada will be invited to join G Adventures to see ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ live in Toronto this coming November. The tour company says the incentive is the biggest agent experience it has ever delivered, with top sellers from different countries around the world also heading to concerts in New Orleans and London. G’s top seller for each month earns ‘a space’ January through to July 31 based on wild card tickets to be announced in coming months. Tickets will be awarded via cumulative sales. Keep up on the initiative on G’s ‘Agents of Change’ Facebook page.
EVENTS
Mark your calendars, the next edition of the Destination France road show will roll out in four Canadian cities in February: Montreal on Feb. 19; Toronto Feb. 20; Calgary Feb. 21 and Vancouver, Feb. 22. Details to come.
Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2024 will take place in Montego Bay, Jamaica from May 20-23, 2024. The 42nd annual show will include the return of the Caribbean Travel Forum on May 20, and the introduction of Marketplace Responsible Tourism Day on May 23, 2024.
GOOD DEEDS
Park’N Fly’s presented the Salvation Army with a busload of toys during CTV Toronto’s annual Toy Mountain segment during the network’s nightly news broadcast on Dec. 16 (photo). Major donors, sponsors, and on-air hosts attended – including a merry band of elves from Park’N Fly Toronto. Along with partners and volunteers, the Park’N Fly team spent over a month “stuffing the Park’N Fly bus” with over 800 toys. “This year’s campaign donation is our best ever and looking forward to pushing that bar in the future,” said Frank DeCesare, Park’N Fly’s VP of Sales and Marketing.
PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS
Red Label Vacations, parent company of TravelBrands and other leading retail brands, reports that it has been certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ by the reputable Great Place to Work Institute, a global authority on workplace culture, employee experience. The award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at the company. RLV president and CEO Nathalie Tanious said, “This certification reflects our ongoing dedication to creating a workplace where our employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to contribute their best. Our success is not attributed to one individual’s efforts alone; rather, it is achieved through the synergy of all of us working seamlessly in tandem, each contributing our unique strengths to the greater whole…”
DESTINATIONS
Bermuda has a couple of value offers for visitors in early 2024. The island’s 11th annual Restaurant Weeks starts Jan. 18 and continues until Feb. 29 with diverse offerings and prix-fixe menus at various price points. Meanwhile, February is Spa Month, featuring 50% off treatments at top Bermuda spas.
Belize is all about the festivals in 2024. The annual Chocolate Festival of Belize is celebrated every year over the Commonwealth weekend in May. The event is a perfect excuse to visit the diverse southern region of Belize, namely the town of Punta Gorda. Throughout the summer, the LobsterFest of Belize is celebrated around the country, namely, including the islands of Placencia and Caye Caulker. Belize’s International Music and Food Festival is a two-day summer festival that showcases local and international musical artists, with genres ranging from Reggae, Afro-Beats, Dancehall, Soca, Punta, and Latin beats, as well as exceptional local cuisine on Belize’s biggest island. In 2024, it’ll be the third year that the destination is hosting the event.
LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY
In 1965, the name change of Trans-Canada Airlines to Air Canada took effect.
Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com
First published at Travel Industry Today
First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News
With 2024 being the first year that the entire world has fully reopened all its borders since the pandemic, there’s no shortage of places to travel. With this in mind, bigger and bolder are trending for 2024, says tour company Abercrombie & Kent, with travellers embracing long-haul destinations and travelling for longer to really get under the skin of new cultures through ever-more-immersive experiences – the new luxury.
And many are seizing the day, keen to be first to go to bucket-list destinations before everyone else does, says A&K.
“We are seeing more and more travellers wanting to really push the limits in 2024 and take the long-haul trips of a lifetime they’ve been dreaming about for a long time,” says, Founder and Abercrombie & Kent founder Geoffrey Kent. “Australia is back in business, while Kenya, Costa Rica and Antarctica are proving hugely popular with families. In fact, cold climates are the surprise new trend. And at the top of everyone’s wish list for 2024 is Japan.”
But as Japan’s popularity soars, savvy travellers are heading away from the bright-light-big-cities to find the ‘real Japan’ in certain lesser-known regions (more on those below). Others are looking to beat the crowds by heading to remote islands and little-visited wildernesses for truly intrepid adventures – from the deserts of the Arctic and Antarctic to the Sahara Desert in Morocco.
Here is A&K’s curated list of insights, travel trends, and 18 top destinations to watch in 2024:
EUROPE
Norway: For all the recent Scandi obsession, Norway remains the least explored of the trio. But record temperatures causing more holidaymakers to look north, it won’t stay that way for long. Many come to see the dramatic fjords and beautiful landscapes from sustainably minded, architect-designed wilderness lodges (keep an eye on the futuristic, energy positive Six Senses Svart hotel under construction), others come to tap into Norway’s trendsetting, health-boosting ice bath and sauna culture. But there are plenty of curious new attractions in its cities as well.
For a start, the tiny Arctic Circle city of Bodø (jumping off point for the Lofoten Islands) has been marked out as European Capital of Culture for 2024, which means a gamut of light festivals and land art, a Sámi theatre trilogy, and a fish-themed opera. In the capital Oslo, design hotel Sommerro (Art Deco interiors; rooftop restaurant) added its ultra-private 11-suite Villa Inkognito in April. The Munch Museum – rising, rippling in glass and aluminum on the Bjørvika waterfront – slipped in equally quietly during the pandemic, housing 26,000 of the artist’s works (including versions of his most famous, The Scream). A progressive, always-surprising Scandinavian star.
Paros, Greece: Paros is the new Cyclades sensation. Although only a short ferry ride from Mykonos or Santorini, Paros feels a million miles from the pulsating beach clubs of its neighbours. The lack of an international airport will keep it that way, although a gentle ebb of chic new hotels are drawing more in-the-know Greek island hoppers alongside the established crowd of European villa owners. Chilled-out Cosme, a 10-minute walk from the buzzy fishing harbor of Naoussa, is the sister hotel to game-changing Parilio near the sandy coves of Kolymbithres beach, while Avant Mar brought Nobu-restaurant glamour to the island this summer. Windsurfers will love the Meltemi winds that sweep across the south-east coast; culture-seekers love the arty hilltop villages and ancient monasteries. And everyone loves those spectacular, soul-soothing sunsets. For an offbeat side-trip, hop on the boat across to lo-fi Antiparos.
Slovenia: Sandwiched between the holiday honeypots of Italy and Croatia, it’s a mystery how Slovenia has remained so defiantly under-the-radar. It’s not for lack of good looks, running from the stunning Soča Valley with its vivid aquamarine river to the soaring Julian Alps and ever-so-pretty Lake Bled; while the capital of Ljubljana is pursuing a bold sustainable vision. The country’s food, too, is increasingly on the agenda: Slovenia got its own Michelin guide in 2020, and chef Ana Roš and her two-star countryside restaurant Hiša Franko remain the standard bearers for the area’s micro-local, forager-to-table cooking. This is Europe’s best-kept secret.
Paris: Paris is always a good idea – and never more so than in summer 2024, for the Olympic Games. As the French capital limbers up to light the Olympic cauldron, its hotel scene has been on a sprint of high-vaulting openings: opulent Le Grand Mazarin, all tapestry bed canopies and leopard-print upholstery; whimsical floral-filled La Fantaisie; sleek Hôtel Dame des Arts on the Left Bank; Belle-Époque-style townhouse Maison Proust in the Marais. The Seine is at the heart of Paris’s Olympic plan: for the opening ceremony flotillas will cruise through the city along the river, while triathlon swimmers are set to dive in from the ornate Pont Alexander III. There’ll also be fencing at the glass-roofed Grand Palais, beach volleyball beside the Eiffel Tower and various horsey events out at Versailles. Athletics aside, there’s news for gourmands, too: 400-year-old Paris institution La Tour d’Argent is back, dishing out its famous pressed duck with golden Seine views.
Saint Helena: Known among history buffs as the site of Napoleon’s second exile following his final defeat in 1815, Saint Helena is going to spark much wider appreciation with the release of Ridley Scott’s epic historical drama Napoleon, starring Joaquin Phoenix. Interest in Saint Helena is sure to be strong, but difficult to visit, since this is one of the most remote islands on earth, located 2,100 km west of the coast of Namibia. It boasts a population of less than 4,500 people who have been slow to embrace modern technology – cellular service was only introduced in 2015.
ASIA
Japan: The reopening of Japan to travellers at the end of 2022 saw a flurry of fresh places: glassy Tokyo hotels, creative hideouts in Kyoto and even a Totoro-filled theme park from cult-filmmaker Studio Ghibli. But for a place so associated with high-speed trains and fast-paced megacities, the most compelling way to see the country right now is on foot or by sea. The Nakasendo Way, an ancient route linking Tokyo to Kyoto, winds through mountains, little-changed post towns, bamboo forests and past waterfalls and hot springs. Walking its full length is a demanding hike, but it’s easy to pick up a shorter stretch or visit highlights along the way – come in April to catch the cherry blossoms.
Depart the southern end of the route and today’s foodie pilgrims should hotfoot it to Osaka, where street food stalls dish up takoyaki (octopus fritters) and okonomiyaki (savory pancakes). From there it’s the jumping off point to the Seto Inland Sea – best seen from floating ryokan guntû, which island hops to the temples of Miyajima and art island Naoshima (home to Yayoi Kusama’s Yellow Pumpkin, James Turrell installations and Tadao Ando-designed museums). Get off the beaten track and dive deeper into the real Japan.
China: With tourist visas and regular international flights returning for the first time since the pandemic, now is the chance to see the Land of the Dragon before everyone else. Walk through time in the Forbidden City, stroll the imposing Great Wall, stand guard with the Terracotta Army. Beyond the big sights and even bigger cities, however, the Chinese countryside is being rediscovered – in part thanks to the rural nostalgia of cottage core influencers leading to a boom in antique-filled village guesthouses and mountainside design hotels. Take a bamboo raft down the Yulong River or visit a Hani village to see life unchanged for thousands of years. Asia’s most beguiling and culturally rich giant is finally back.
Vietnam: Vietnam is one of Asia’s most exciting places to eat. So, it was no surprise when Michelin finally got the memo, releasing its first guide to foodie cities Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh in June 2023. The first four stars were dished out to fashionable fine dining spots, such as Ho Chi Minh’s Anan Saigon and its bone-marrow Wagyu beef pho or Gia in Hanoi with its in-house fermentation lab. But to sample the country’s real finger-licking food culture, take to the streets, tucking into everything from duck congee to pork skin salad.
Siem Reap: There’s much more to this lovely little town than Angkor Wat. A flourishing art and craft scene, burgeoning restaurant line-up spotlighting Khmer cooking and ever-growing gathering of design-led hotels (Angsana Siem Reap will soon become the latest) has made it a destination in its own right. One that in 2024 will become even more accessible via its new international airport (moving from the current site close to the famous temple complex). With tourists trickling back to Angkor Wat, explore lesser-known archaeological wonders such as the 12th-century temples at Banteay Chhmar, the still-being-uncovered site at Phnom Kulen or recently UNESCO-listed Koh Ker, home to Prasat Thom, Southeast Asia’s only seven-tiered pyramid.
LATIN AMERICA
Colombia: Colombia is one of the world’s rare ‘megadiverse’ countries: a staggering 10% of all the world’s flora and fauna can be found here. Look at its geography and you start to understand why; the natural contrasts are just astonishing: a dense Amazon jungle interior, coral white beaches along the Caribbean coast, isolated Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, coffee-carpeted highlands and wildly remote Guajira Peninsula, home to the Indigenous Wayuu people among salt flats and flamingo-lined lagoons. The once-troubled country is now investing heavily in sustainable travel, opening up some of these previously off-limits regions. But it’s not just about the like-nowhere-else nature – cosmopolitan cities are filled with salsa clubs and street art, shaking food and cocktail players and important social projects. The hottest spot in South America for intrepid travellers.
Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula: This big-thinking Central American nation is a pioneer of ecotourism – over a quarter of the country is now protected as national parks, marine reserves and conservation sanctuaries – and a favourite destination for those seeking high-drama, low-impact trips. With more direct flights connecting the capital San José, big brand hotels are landing at easy-to-reach Papagayo, gateway to the Nicoya Peninsula. A revamp at Four Seasons Peninsula Papagayo and nearby Waldorf Astoria Guanacaste both launch in 2024, with more in the works.
Meanwhile, at the remote tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, the salt-sprayed beach town of Santa Teresa is the go-to spot for surfers and yogis, and the barefoot nomads who follow in their wake. At the moment they stay in a clutch of independently owned guesthouses, where dawn kundalini sessions are mixed with beach clean-ups, surf lessons with helping with local community outreach. In March, equally progressive hotel group Habitas will land on these Pacific shores, with its plastic-free policies, farm-to-table restaurant and meditation classes. Go now, before everyone else gets there.
AFRICA & THE MIDDLE EAST
Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: Scientists predict that the glaciers at the top of Africa’s highest peak could disappear within the next two decades. Time is sadly running out to see Mount Kilimanjaro’s famous icefields and once-massive Furtwängler Glacier while trekking up the snow-capped volcano to its 5,895-m. peak. Would-be-climbers can do it in style, escorted by A&K expert guides who choose the best route up the mountain, allowing time to acclimatize to the altitude during the seven-day climb. The real difference though? Little luxuries, like a cozy cot that keeps you off the ground for a good night’s sleep – after a tiring scramble up the Barranco Wall. A breathtaking, go-now adventure.
Kenya: Where it all began for Abercrombie & Kent and where Geoffrey Kent brought about the inspiration for the film The Lion King when he hosted DreamWorks cofounder Jeffrey Katzenberg on safari in the Masai Mara spot now known as Pride Rock. With 2024 marking the 30th anniversary of The Lion King and the release of the new live action prequel, Mufasa, a renewed interest to the region is expected as a new generation is inspired to witness Kenya’s landscapes and wildlife for themselves.
Morocco: The travel world was shaken when an earthquake caused devastation in the High Atlas Mountains in September, its effects felt even in Marrakech’s Medina – but within days the country had pulled itself up by the bootstraps to welcome visitors again. The best way to support Morocco’s ongoing recovery is to visit, and there are plenty of fresh reasons to go in 2024. In Marrakech itself, the tremors didn’t stop a bubbling seam of exciting openings: architectural Maison Brummell Majorelle near the city’s famous botanical garden, riad Rosemary from artist Laurence Leenaert, equally art-filled retreat IZZA, blissed-out Farasha Farmhouse deep in an olive grove on the city’s fringes – as well as all-female-chef restaurant Sahbi Sahbi and hip nightspot Petanque Social Club.
The bohemian outpost of Tangier, too, is thrumming with fresh energy and new places to stay, from Jasper Conran (Villa Mabrouka) and El Fenn’s ex-GM William Smit (Villa Augustine) – don’t miss the locally-run art galleries and North Africa’s first arthouse cinema either. Resilient Morocco is still at its thrillingly creative best.
Saudi Arabia: It’s wild to think that until 2019 the only tourists to Saudi Arabia were religious pilgrims. Now, as part of the country’s Vision 2030 plan, this once-uncharted territory for travellers is marked with big-name hotels (from billowing tented camps to Red Sea resorts), ambitious cultural institutions (the first commissions in the ‘Valley of the Arts’ Wadi AlFann are to be unveiled in 2024) and futuristic developments (sustainable linear city The Line; sci-fi-esque ski resort Trojena Neom). But what is most awe-inspiring is still the most ancient: the carved tombs of Hegra deep in the AlUla desert, the towering sandstone columns of Wadi Al Disah, Jeddah’s 7th-century Al Balad neighborhood – while female guides leading the way show just how fast the country is reshaping itself to the outside world.
AUSTRALASIA
South Australia: Kangaroo Island – Australia’s answer to the Galápagos – was wiped out by bushfires in 2019, destroying wildlife, burning habitats, and razing to the ground its pioneering luxury eco-hotel, Southern Ocean Lodge. In December, the much-loved lodge emerged from the ashes, the culmination of a miraculous nature recovery program on the island.
South Australia is as vast as it is varied: from ocean to outback; from up-close wildlife experiences and exciting wine regions (world-class Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale; emerging Adelaide Hills), to wild coastal peninsulas and a roster of brilliant art and food festivals. October’s Australian Voice referendum further highlighted the importance of connecting with the country’s Indigenous communities too.
Out in the outback of the Flinders Ranges learn about the area’s immense cultural significance to the Adnyamathanha people at Ikara – The Meeting Place, a public art space that shares their story, and explore ancient engravings at Arkaroo Rock. This is an incredible immersion in the best of Australia.
THE POLES
The North Polar: An off-the-grid alternative to all the Antarctic cruises nosing across the Drake Passage, A&K’s North Pole Expedition Cruise is its inaugural voyage to the top of the world. When it departs from Longyearbyen in Svalbard this July, eco-friendly icebreaker Le Commandant Charcot will venture far beyond the point that other Arctic cruises usually go, charting a course ever-northwards into seldom-seen sea ice to the geographic North Pole. Onboard, guests can watch as the ship cuts through the marginal ice zone, spotting blue, rorqual and beluga whales, polar bears, and high arctic gulls in the white vastness. Venture off board to hike over the ice, kayak through open leads or take an invigorating polar plunge. It’s the ultimate unexplored frontier.
Antarctica: Ernest Shackleton was an Irish-born British explorer who is best known for his expeditions to Antarctica in the early 20th century. Despite never achieving his ultimate goal of being the first to reach the South Pole, Shackleton led three major expeditions to the Antarctic region and made several groundbreaking journeys and discoveries. In 2024, it will be the 150th anniversary of Shackleton’s birth in February 1874. This milestone year honours his daring expeditions, leadership, and contributions to Antarctic exploration.
First published at Travel Industry Today
First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News
There’s a frequently used word in Papiamentu – “dushi”– which, while hard to precisely translate from the local lingo on the Caribbean island of Curaçao, essentially means positive vibes, beautiful, and the good things in life, all mashed up into one.
Curaçaoans use the word a lot, not unlike “irie” in Jamaica; they even sing songs about it, though it’s likely the only word a visitor will be able to pick out of the island’s language melange, which is made of African creole, Portuguese, Spanish, English, and, of course, the official language, Dutch.
But no matter the language, dushi captures Curaçao perfectly. Located in the Dutch Caribbean as part of the so-called “ABC” islands, which also include Aruba and Bonaire, and dropped into the Caribbean Sea about 65 km off the coast of Venezuela, Curaçao is recognized for its rich history, diverse culture, colourful architecture, pristine beaches, and crystal-clear turquoise waters – not to mention its signature Blue Curaçao liqueur.
Life on the island centres around the charming capital city Willemstadt, perhaps best described as mini-Amsterdam meets Miami in the Caribbean, and famous for its Dutch architecture seemingly inspired by Crayola; plus its street art and the massive Queen Emma pedestrian bridge that connects the two sides of the city and which uniquely swings open (rather than opens like a draw bridge), thereby leaving people (temporarily) stranded on either side during operation. (Small shuttle ferries run in the interim).
A great place to watch the theatrics and pass the time while waiting for the bridge to re-open, is along Handleskad, the face of the UNESCO-designated World Heritage City, in a St. Anna Bay waterfront café, where Dutch beer is literally sold by the bucket load. (Note: Cross the bridge for the best photo op.)
The story goes that Willemstad’s original white architecture was ordered to be coloured-up by an early governor who claimed to be going blind, only to be discovered in later years to be a principle in the island’s only paint factory.
Ruell Eisden, who leads visitors around town on Atlantis Adventures e-bike tours, laughs that the buildings are now always changing colours according to the whims of the women who reside in them.
If the exterior colours of buildings are negotiable, more focussed is the myriad street art and murals in Willemstadt, which intriguingly colour the winding streets of the historic quarter, filling space between boutique and art shops, patio-bars, coffee houses, and restaurants. Invariably featured are the island’s iconic, voluptuous chichi (older sister) figures.
Eiden calls Curaçao the most authentic – and the most “chill” – of the ABC islands, and there is nowhere better to watch Willemstad go (slowly) by than at the humble “World Best Mojito Bar,” an establishment so sublime it can afford to disregard English grammar entirely in its marquee (if not the accompanying chalkboard).
A tiny, perfect piece in an otherwise marvellous mosaic, the bar is squeezed in on pedestrian- protected Colombustraat (steps away from Wilhelminaplein square on the Punda side, where the giant Curaçao letters are).
Reportedly, one can purchase a drink and take it to go, but patrons are best to settle in at one of the small tables out front to try a “world best” mojito – the cool Cuban concoction made of rum, lime, mint, and sugar, which, when packed with ice, goes down just as well in the scorching Dutch Caribbean as it does further north.
Alcohol not your thing? Not to worry, attached to WBMB is a smoothie bar, with a seemingly endless array of fruity creations, but without the booze.
The beach
For all it’s colour and culture, what’s a Caribbean island without the beach? Fortunately, there’s close to three dozen to choose from – some tiny, some large – but most mainly sprinkled with the island’s majority Dutch tourists. Notable stretches of sand include Mambo, Cas Abao, and Playa Kenepa Grandi (also known as Grote Knip).
Another option is to head off-island (onto another island) – Klein (“little”) Curaçao, which is accessible via catamaran on party cruises that make a day of it, sailing and stopping for swimming, snorkelling (sometimes with friendly sea turtles if you’re lucky), and beach time on the secluded, uninhabited island. Barbecue lunch (and requisite drinks) are served, and cruisers can also hike across the desolate landscape to an abandoned “pink” lighthouse.
Count Sandals Resorts International executive chairman Adam Stewart as a Curaçao convert. Having unveiled the Jamaica-based all-inclusive chain’s 16th Caribbean resort on the island in 2022, he’s a man who knows a thing or two about Caribbean islands.
“This island is amazing, the people are amazing,” he declared. “What you’re seeing here is about as damn good as it gets anywhere on the planet!”
Damn good, yes. Dushi? Definitely!
First published at Travel Industry Today
First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News
Marking the entry of the iconic Park Hyatt brand into Morocco, the new hotel offers discerning guests a distinct experience, combining contemporary and refined luxury with Marrakech’s authenticity and charm. Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced the opening of Park Hyatt Marrakech, marking the debut of the Park Hyatt brand in Morocco and growing the brand’s presence in Africa, joining Park Hyatt Zanzibar and the forthcoming Park Hyatt Johannesburg, slated for 2025.
Uniquely located about 9 miles (15 kilometers) from Marrakech’s historic Medina district, the 19-acre (7.5-hectare) resort is situated in an exquisite, off-the-beaten path location at the base of the Atlas Mountains. Surrounded by palm trees, olive trees and jacaranda trees, Park Hyatt Marrakech sits adjacent to the magnificent Al Maaden Golf resort, exclusively offering guests convenient access to the 18-hole course.
Park Hyatt Marrakech stands apart from other luxury hotels in the market through a distinctly residential, modern, and stylish take on Arab-Berber heritage. Inviting worldly travelers to experience the splendor of Marrakech and Morocco at large, the hotel encourages sensory enrichment via thoughtfully chosen touchpoints including authentic design and focus on the surrounding environment as juxtaposed to contemporary art, global fine dining and the latest in individually tailored wellness.
Composed of 16 pavilions arranged around a central, zeolite patio, Park Hyatt Marrakech encapsulates the personalized, understated luxury of the global brand with unexpected, hyperlocal experiences for guests – from breakfast in a hot-air balloon in the Three Atlas Valleys, to dinner in a Bedouin tent in the Agafay desert, to airport transfers in luxury electric cars, and more.
“As a key market in our regional growth strategy, we are delighted to announce the opening of Morocco’s first Park Hyatt hotel in Marrakech. The property has been a highly anticipated addition to our portfolio as Morocco receives a resurgence of interest as a top tier cultural destination among travel connoisseurs,” said Javier Águila, group president EAME, Hyatt. “Offering a wealth of new experiences across the arts, culture, and gastronomy, alongside the area’s historic and ancient treasures, Park Hyatt Marrakech provides guests an enviable opportunity to discover the beauty of the Red City through this modern sanctuary of timeless luxury. Park Hyatt Marrakech marks the eleventh Park Hyatt property in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, following the brand’s successful expansion across key leisure destinations such as Doha, Vienna, Istanbul, Dubai, Zurich, Milan, and Paris.”
Contemporary Design Inspired by Moroccan Aesthetics
Renowned Marrakech-based architect Imaad Rahmouni drew inspiration from Arab-Berber traditions to create a luxurious contemporary design for Park Hyatt Marrakech. Skillfully balancing the modern conveniences of home and while upholding the destination’s rich traditions in craftsmanship and materiality, the design intentionally accentuates the surrounding panoramas as an extension of its interiors. From the lobby’s grand window to the spa treatment and relaxation rooms to the main pool sunbeds, breathtaking and picturesque views of the majestic Atlas Mountains and Mount Toubkal are on view.
The 130 residentially inspired guestrooms and suites are among the most spacious in Marrakech, and promise privacy and tranquility, with Moroccan touches throughout. Each guestroom features traditionally woven Berber carpets in pure wool and headboards representing the Tataoui motif (a local roofing technique made of laurel branches) alongside modern works of art sourced via Ifitry Artists’ Residence.
Through an exclusive collaboration, Ifitry has curated more than 700 paintings and decorative objects especially for Park Hyatt Marrakech, featuring artists from Morocco, Senegal, Benin, Spain, France, Italy and Japan. In the lobby, a masterful suspension – comprising almost 600 hand-crafted ceramic pieces by visual artist Mounat Charrat – adorns the ceiling, depicting a constellation of meteorites, while two abstract paintings by Italian artist Gianni Lucchessi offer a contrast to the surrounding, raw-earth wall panels.
Drinking and Dining
Park Hyatt Marrakech offers a variety of authentic and globally inspired dining options on property, as reflective of the brand’s elevated food and wine expertise. This includes TFAYA, an arabesque brasserie where acclaimed Moroccan chef Issam Rhachi presents signature dishes with an avant-garde approach, like Lobster Mechoui in a marinade of black garlic, preserved lemon, saffron, cumin and smoked paprika. Le Pavillon offers a light, all-day menu to be enjoyed under the shady pergolas on the terrace or on a pool-side sun bed. Guests can also unwind surrounded by beautiful fireplaces and bookshelves in The Living Room, a signature social space in Park Hyatt hotels, to enjoy a Moroccan mint tea or Fennel Old Fashioned paired with Beef Tangia Gyoza from the tapas menu.
Wellbeing
A haven of calm, in addition to convenient golf access, the hotel’s vast, 23,000+-square-foot (2,200-square-meter) spa is a temple of tranquility and an ode to Morocco’s culture of hammam rituals and holistic therapies. Featuring products from Sodashi, a brand hand-crafted in Australia from the purest natural ingredients and Nectarome, a complete range of high-quality natural products derived from Moroccan traditions, the professional spa team can recommend personalized treatments tailored according to each individual – from a Hammam Escape for exfoliation to a Muscle and Sports Massage for recovery. In addition to a hair salon, guests can stay on track of their fitness goals in the 2,153-square-foot (200-square-meter) fitness center and yoga studio. The expansive resort also includes an outdoor heated pool (154 feet/47 meters); a family-friendly outdoor pool (148 feet/45 meters); and an indoor heated pool (66 feet/20 meters) beneath a vaulted ceiling, each offering unique valley and mountain vistas.
Event and Function Spaces
Park Hyatt Marrakech features seven spacious function rooms, designed with a residential feel and desert-inspired aesthetic. The function spaces can accommodate up to 80 guests, whether for elegant wedding receptions, intimate cocktail gatherings, or formal corporate meetings. The function rooms echo the neutral and understated color schemes visible throughout the resort, with a soft and warm palette creating an oasis of comfort. Each pavilion, known as Douars, boasts a rooftop terrace with a panoramic 360° view, ensuring an unforgettable experience for private events.
“We are looking forward to welcoming our discerning Park Hyatt guests to Marrakech,” said Pascal Leprou General Manager of Park Hyatt Marrakech. “True to the brand promise, we have created a refined home-away-from home that unlocks unparalleled enrichment for guests, while upholding and honoring Moroccan traditions. The result is an intimate sanctuary of exceptional and magical surroundings for the curious and adventurous traveler.”
About Park Hyatt
Park Hyatt hotels provide discerning, global travelers with a refined home-away-from-home. Guests of Park Hyatt hotels receive quietly confident and personalized service in an enriching environment. Located in several of the world’s premier destinations, each Park Hyatt hotel is custom designed to combine sophistication with understated luxury. Park Hyatt hotels feature well-appointed guestrooms, world-renowned artwork and design, rare and immersive culinary experiences, and signature restaurants featuring award-winning chefs. There are currently 45 Park Hyatt hotels in the following locations: Abu Dhabi, Auckland, Bangkok, Beaver Creek, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Busan, Canberra, Changbaishan, Carlsbad, Chennai, Chicago, Doha, Dubai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hyderabad, Istanbul, Jakarta, Jeddah, Kyoto, Maldives, Marrakech, Melbourne, Mendoza, Milan, New York, Ningbo, Niseko, Paris, Saigon, Sanya, Seoul, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Siem Reap, St. Kitts, Suzhou, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Vienna, Washington, D.C., Zanzibar, and Zurich.
About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of September 30, 2023, the Company’s portfolio included more than 1,300 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 76 countries across six continents. The Company’s offering includes brands in the Timeless Collection, including Park Hyatt®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Vacation Club®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Studios, and UrCove; the Boundless Collection, including Miraval®, Alila®, Andaz®, Thompson Hotels®, Dream® Hotels, Hyatt Centric®, and Caption by Hyatt®; the Independent Collection, including The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination by Hyatt®, and JdV by Hyatt®; and the Inclusive Collection, including Impression by Secrets, Hyatt Ziva®, Hyatt Zilara®, Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Hyatt Vivid Hotels & Resorts, Alua Hotels & Resorts®, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt® loyalty program, ALG Vacations®, Mr & Mrs Smith
, Unlimited Vacation Club®, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions® technology services.
First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News
Raffles Hotel Le Royal, the luxury heritage hotel in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, was recently voted one of the world’s best city hotels by readers of the UK-based Luxury Lifestyle Magazine.
The hotel placed No. 24 on the list and was the only hotel in Cambodia honored in its category in the LLM Readers’ Travel Awards 2023, which were announced last month.
Raffles Hotel Le Royal originally opened in 1929 and today features 175 rooms and suites that underwent a full refurbishment as part of a meticulous one-year restoration project in 2019.
The latest award adds to a growing list of recognitions for the historic property.
Last year, the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific named Raffles Hotel Le Royal one of the top city hotels in Cambodia, General Manager Dennis de Groot was honored as one of the country’s top hotel GMs, and the swimming pool was declared the very best in all of Cambodia.
It was also voted the No. 1 hotel in Cambodia by readers of Condé Nast Traveler in its popular annual Readers’ Choice Awards the previous year.
For more information on Raffles Hotel Le Royal, or to make a booking, please contact +855 23 981 888
ABOUT RAFFLES
Raffles Hotels & Resorts boasts an illustrious history and some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide. In 1887, Raffles Singapore set the standard for luxury hospitality, introducing the world to private butlers, the Singapore Sling and its enduring, legendary service. Today, Raffles continues this tradition in leading cities and lavish resort locales, enchanting travellers with meaningful experiences and service that is both gracious and intuitive. Connoisseurs of life choose Raffles, not merely for its aura of culture, beauty and gentility, but for the extraordinary way they feel when in residence with Raffles. Each Raffles, be it Paris, Istanbul, Dubai, Warsaw, Jakarta or the Seychelles, serves as a venerated oasis where travellers arrive as guests, leave as friends and return as family. Raffles is part of Accor, a world-leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,100 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries.
First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News