Global Travel News

Holidaying in the Metaverse

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Holidaying in the Metaverse - TRAVELINDEXIn the future, it may be more expensive, time-consuming, and risky to travel halfway around the world for a holiday getaway. What if we could experience a convincing virtual version of the real thing? The Metaverse – a parallel digital realm blending real and fantasy worlds – has been tipped as the next disruptive technology, on track to completely alter reality as we know it, and tourism and hospitality businesses should be preparing for the switch. Dr Michael Lin and Dr Daniel Leung of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and their co-author’s new paper describe the Metaverse’s potential to transform the hospitality customer experience and management.
The Metaverse is seen by some as our virtual future, the alternate reality where humans can work, communicate, and play. Today’s virtual and augmented reality innovations will, in time, be considered as merely the tools by which to access and experience the Metaverse. There, users will be able to interact with avatars, virtual environments, objects, and other users in a way that transcends “simple” virtual reality experiences. Users will be free to discover countless new environments and astounding near-realistic sensorial experiences that could one day become indistinguishable from the real thing. “Metaverse will have considerable impacts on hospitality and tourism”, state the authors, “bringing major opportunities and challenges for all stakeholders in the ecosystem”.
The feasibility of inhabiting such a space has become ever more obvious since the COVID-19 pandemic. The imposed lockdowns meant more video conferencing, tele-working, tele-studying, and online communication with loved ones. These activities have since become entrenched in our everyday lives as part of the “social norm”. The move towards increasingly immersive experiences comes with huge benefits, including savings on resources, time, and travel cost. “Increasingly, people expect to be interoperable in both physical and virtual environments”, say the authors.
The Metaverse is the next stage in our digital evolution. In the Metaverse’s 3D space, users will co-create virtual experiences that overlap with the physical world, and organisations will be able to engage with customers and stakeholders both virtually and physically. This will enable them “to provide a range of immersive experiences using multisensory content as well as to scale their operations in terms of location, space, time zone, and expert capabilities”, explain the researchers. In their remarkable publication, the authors explore these untapped possibilities in full.
The Metaverse may be in its infancy, but it already has clear potential in hospitality and tourism. It will enable customised and co-created experiences that will offer the same – if not a greater – selection of restaurant, events, and recreation options. In place of exhausting international travel to attend meetings, conferences, cultural events, and destinations, and tours, users will be able to slip on a virtual reality headset. Using virtual experiences before, during, and after trips, the Metaverse will transform the hospitality ecosystem and completely re-invent business processes and management. “Hospitality and tourism stakeholders need to gain a better understanding of how Metaverse can help co-create transformational experiences”, explain the researchers.
The most attractive selling point of the Metaverse is the “seamless connections between physical and virtual worlds in the experience enhancement”, say the authors. This is key, because hospitality provides both tangible and non-tangible elements. For example, guests must of course sleep in a real bed and eat real food, but atmosphere, ambience, feelings, service, connections, kindness, and emotional engagement can be provided virtually. This capacity to offer engaging experiences could prove particularly relevant in the context of social upheavals or restrictive personal circumstances.
Another huge advantage of integrating real travel experiences with virtual ones is space. In real life, investors need to buy land and build physical hotels, ideally with a good geographic positioning. “With the support of the Metaverse, people can stay at home or in other places but experience some of the intangible elements of hospitality virtually”, say the authors. This means that hospitality investors, designers, builders, and managers can instead invest more effort in developing their digital presence to offer far cheaper simulations of the “real thing” in an unlimited geographical virtual space that is completely customisable.
This ground-breaking paper outlines a roadmap to Metaverse use that leads us from reality to complete illusion via an increasing reliance on technology. This path includes conventional real-world experience, technology-assisted experience, technology-enhanced experience, technology-empowered experience, and, most crucially, technology-illusive experience that “empowers users to step from the physical world to virtuality and vice versa”, explain the authors. For instance, couples could choose a “global wedding” theme that allows them to experience their special day in multiple locations from the convenience of their headsets.
According to the researchers, integrating the real and digital worlds will require multiple layers of innovation. Virtual world hospitality managers will need to design digital hotel facilities, aesthetics, and atmosphere. Designers and builders will be tasked with mapping out the virtual territory and conceptualising design concepts. Managers will need to find new ways to operate the hotel property, combine tangible and intangible experiences, and develop brand new marketing strategies. “Designing intuitive user experiences should also ensure functionality, findability, trust, value, accessibility and ultimately delight”, underline the authors.
In their vivid account of things to come, the researchers describe some of the transformative virtual experiences already out there. These have successfully blended the physical and virtual worlds to create unique experiences. For instance, prospective travellers to Nova Scotia in Canada can already experience 360° online virtual reality videos before their visit. “These enable prospective travellers to immerse themselves in Nova Scotia attractions”, conclude the researchers, “such as a ride on the tides of the Bay of Fundy for exploring Nova Scotia’s wine country”.
For nearly 10 years, Marriott Hotels have also been experimenting with “teleportation”, whereby destinations and hotel facilities can be experienced via virtual reality headsets. In 2014, the hotel chain set up a “Get Teleported” booth outside New York’s City Hall to offer newlyweds a virtual experience of hospitality properties in Maui (Hawaii) and London. Moreover, Inamo restaurants in London use interactive table projections that allow customers to select dishes, order through a virtual menu, and watch chefs cooking in real-time. “They also allow users to set different moods and table cloths, discover the local neighbourhood, play games, and interact with others”, say the researchers.
In preparation for this incredible future, the authors put forward some best-practice suggestions. First, firms will need to have an active Metaverse presence. “Hospitality businesses can promote their business to consumers in a more immersive way, while facilitating co-creation to enhance experience formation”, state the authors. This means that consumers will be able to try out products and services before actually visiting, co-create with co-travellers, and share experiences with other users, similarly to “Destinations Experts” on TripAdvisor forums.
We may only be at the dawn of the Metaverse, but hotels, restaurants, and event planners will soon need to re-evaluate their relationship and engagement with consumers. To create this hybrid world, hospitality businesses must also collaborate with technology companies, and could learn much from the gaming industry in this regard. “Different types of hospitality businesses”, add the authors, “should tailor specific business strategies to their strategic needs and requirements and plan accordingly”. A Metaverse future will also need to be fully supported by the government, which means that ethical and legal issues must be thoroughly probed and discussed.
This impressive work offers a first-ever glimpse into how the Metaverse will transform the human experience. While the Metaverse will not replace in-person travel, it has golden potential to fuse physical and virtual environments. Successful introduction of the Metaverse into hospitality and tourism experiences will require businesses to consider a range of brand new organisational, regulatory, and creative possibilities. “Metaverse is an innovative concept,” conclude the authors, “and the characteristics may therefore need a long time to adjust to the needs of different stakeholders”.
Buhalis, Dimitrios, Lin, Michael S., and Leung, Daniel (2023). Metaverse as a Driver for Customer Experience and Value Co-creation: Implications for Hospitality and Tourism Management and Marketing. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 35, Issue 2, 701-716.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

TOP25 Restaurants Phuket Awards Ceremony 2023

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The TOP25 Restaurants Phuket Awards 2023 event took place on September 11, 2023, at the luxurious InterContinental Resort & Spa Phuket. Thank you to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) the entire team at TOP25 Restaurants, InterContinental Phuket Resort and all the sponsors who made that event such a great success.

This gathering marked a significant milestone as it was the first in-person event since the inception of the rankings, further highlighting the resilience and vibrancy of the culinary scene in Phuket. @top25restaurants

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

COME HUNGRY, DARLIN’: What to eat in the Big Easy

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With a head-spinning array of unique and inspiring choices, the answer to the question, “What should I eat in New Orleans?” is really another question: What shouldn’t I eat? And the answer to that is, essentially, nothing! It’s pretty much all amazing, and a foodie, casual or serious, can’t really go wrong in one of the world’s greatest food cities.

Indeed, like in few other locales, food is omnipresent in the Big Easy, energized by a collection of local and international chefs that have turned the Louisiana city into a mouth-watering mecca of both modern and traditional fare, served up from street level in the famous French Quarter to restaurants known around the world, such as Antoine’s, Arnaud’s, Broussards, and Brennan’s.

With historic French and creole roots, New Orleans food is literally a gumbo of inspirations and flavours aggregated from Paris to Port au Prince and from Cadiz to the Congo, served up at over a thousand restaurants.

And if that isn’t enough, there are plenty more authentic restaurants on the outskirts of the city in Plantation Country, stretching along the Mississippi River, the bayou region, or around Lake Pontchartrain.

A great way to see what’s cooking in town is through a food tour (we recommend Doctor Gumbo, but there are others) which may include a visit to a confectionary (for the pralines), hot sauce shop, bar (Tujague’s, which claims to have invented the Grasshopper cocktail), and of course restaurants serving the likes of PoBoy sandwiches, local seafood dishes (like catfish, shrimp, or crawfish), and beignets – those famous New Orleans powdered fritters.

Consider this sampler menu of must-eat New Orleans/Louisiana fare:

Gumbo – The quintessential New Orleans dish, gumbo is a thick stew served over rice and made with a roux (a mixture of butter and flour) and a wide variety of ingredients such as celery, peppers, okra, onions chicken, sausage and/or seafood. Family recipes for the dish are treasured and passed down for generations leading to disputes over the best way to cook it. The only thing that’s not in dispute is how good it is.

Crawfish Étouffée – Another delicious local stew, étouffée (eh-too-fey, meaning “to smother”) is crammed full of crawfish (or shrimp), seasoned to perfection with creole spices, and served over rice. Unlike gumbo, étouffée is often made with a “blonde” roux, giving it a lighter colour and a very different, almost sweet flavour, that’s hard to forget.

Jambalaya – A culinary staple and storied dish in New Orleans, jambalaya dates to the area’s colonial Spanish settlers attempting to reconstruct their native paella from locally-sourced ingredients. Today, the dish is comprised of a mix of chicken, seafood, sausage – or all three! – plus peppers, onions, other vegetables, spices, and rice combined in a variety of ways. Try it at Jacque-Imo’s, Acme Oyster House, Mother’s, or Napoleon House Bar & Café.

Red beans and rice – As common for New Orleanians as bacon and eggs, the dish can include almost any meat – from ham hock to sausage to pickled pork – placed in the pot along with red or kidney beans and spices like bay leaves, thyme cayenne pepper and sage, and set to simmer on the stove for two hours or six. It’s a household staple, but many of the city’s best restaurants keep it on their menu.

PoBoys

PoBoy – Like a sub, the PoBoy (poor boy) sandwich is traditionally stuffed with tasty fillings like roast beef, fried shrimp, oysters, or catfish, and garnished with lettuce, tomato, and pickles, then slathered with sauce or mayonnaise, and served between two long pieces of French bread. Our go-to is Johnny’s in the Quarter (be advised, it closes before 5), but there are dozens of options around town, some taking the PoBoy in creative new directions (such as Korean pork). Not sure where to go? Ask a local – everyone has a favourite place.

Muffulettas – This famous Italian-style sandwich was invented in New Orleans in 1906, credited to Lupo Salvadore at the Central Grocery on Decatur. The establishment is still serving the original version of the sandwich, made with cured meats (ham and salami), provolone cheese, olive dressing, and spices on a sesame-seed roll big enough for sharing. It has become a quintessential must-try food when visiting New Orleans.

Boudin – Pronounced boo-dan, this tasty delicacy originated in western Europe, but was perfected in Louisiana’s Cajun Country. The sausage-like meat dish includes a pork rice dressing is stuffed into pork casings, along with pork meat and herbs. Other varieties include alligator, crawfish, or shrimp, and can be mild or spicey.

Seafood – Boiled crawfish in season, blackened catfish, fried oysters, and barbecued shrimp top the list of local options, but there is a wide variety of choices, and ways of preparation, to satisfy any seafood connoisseur.

Hot dog – In New Orleans, even a typical hot dog – the most ordinary of foods— tastes better. Like the phenomenal frankfurters at Dat Dog (three locations) – alligator-based and loaded with jalapeños, grilled onions, and a spicy creole mustard for an extra kick.

Beignet – The famed doughnut without the hole is one of the city’s most famous food items – ideal for breakfast, dessert, or a midnight snack – available 24-hours a day at various coffee hotspots. Introduced by French-Creole colonists in the 18th century, the concept is simple: fried dough covered with mounds of powdered sugar served hot and best accompanied by café au lait or chocolate milk. Café du Monde in the French Quarter is the oldest and most iconic beignet shop, but several other cafés have become local favourites, such as Café Beignet and Loretta’s Authentic Pralines for their praline-filled beignets.

Beignets

Bananas Foster – The decadent dessert was invented by chef Paul Blange at Brennan’s Restaurant in the 1950s to promote a new fruit in town: bananas! Sautéed in butter, sugar and cinnamon and then bathed in rum, the dish is set aflame (tableside) to burn off the alcohol in the rum, leaving a smoky taste and rum flavour. Served over vanilla ice cream, the dessert is synonymous with New Orleans and it would be bananas not to try one when in town.

Food tours, of course, are conducted by knowledgeable guides, brimming with  information, history, and a ton of amazing foodies facts, such as that New Orleans cuisine is a blend of mainly French, Spanish, and African cooking styles modified through the addition of influences from the city’s many multi-ethnic settlers.

And historically, the geography of the city itself – situated as it is essentially in the middle of a swamp – also played a part. For example, since carrots don’t grow in bogs, early French settlers were forced to use green peppers instead, which, with celery and onions, eventually became the foundation of creole cooking.

However, mostly what you learn in New Orleans, whether on a food tour on or on your own is, like the slogan of famed city steak house Ruth’s Chris says, “Come hungry, darling!”

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PARIS SEES A NEW KIND OF ROAD RAGE: Bike lane traffic jams

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It’s rush hour on, and the congestion is severe – not just gas-guzzling, pollution-spewing, horn-honking snarls but also quieter and greener bottlenecks of cyclists jockeying for space. Until four years ago, motorists largely had the Paris thoroughfare to themselves. Now, its bike-lane jams speak to a cycling revolution that is reshaping the capital of France – long a country of car-lovers, home to Renault, Citroen, and Peugeot.

This revolution, like others, is also proving choppy. A nearly decade-long drive by socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo to turn Paris from a city hostile for cyclists – except those racing the Tour de France -into one where they venture more safely and freely has become so transformative that bikes are steadily muscling aside motor vehicles and increasingly getting in each other’s way. And more bike lanes are coming for next year’s Paris Olympics – part of an effort to halve the event’s carbon footprint.

Already, on some Paris boulevards, bikes outnumber cars at peak times. Cycle congestion, with wheel-to-wheel lines of riders ringing their bells and sometimes losing their cool, is becoming a headache.

“It’s the same feeling as the one I had when I was younger, with my parents driving their car, and it was like traffic jams all over the place. So now it’s really a bike traffic jam,” said Thibault Quere, a spokesperson for the Federation of Bicycle Users. “But it’s kind of a good difficulty to have. Especially when we think about what Paris used to be.”

From a measly 200 km. in 2001, cyclists now have more than 1,000 km. of tailor-made bike paths and marked routes to roam, City Hall says. Motor vehicles have been barred entirely from some roads, most notably a River Seine embankment that used to be a busy highway. It’s become a central Paris haven for cyclists, runners, families, and romantics since Hidalgo closed it to motor traffic in 2016.

Farther north, the twin-lane bike path on Sebastopol Boulevard has become one of Europe’s busiest since its inauguration in 2019. It saw a record 124,000 weekly users in early September, according to tracking by pro-bike group Paris en Selle (“Paris by saddle”). Traffic there now regularly surpasses London’s busiest cycleways and at its busiest even approaches the numbers of popular cycle routes in Amsterdam.

North-south Sebastopol empties into another busy east-west route on Rue de Rivoli that passes the Louvre. It also saw record daily and weekly numbers in September, Paris en Selle’s tracking shows.

Add to the mix none-too-thrilled motorists, scooters wriggling through traffic, pedestrians trying not to get squished and construction that seems to have popped up almost everywhere in Paris’ sprint to the Olympics, and negotiating the busiest streets by bike can feel akin to playing Mario Kart – but with real-life dangers and consequences.

Many cyclists, some clearly new and still feeling their way around, seem to think red lights and road rules don’t apply to them. Paris’ removal of for-hire electric scooters following a city referendum in April also is driving some ex-users to biking.

“Paris has become unlivable. No one can stand each other,” bike-rider Michel Gelernt said as he wound his way past whistle-blowing traffic officers and yelling motorists on Concorde plaza, the French Revolution decapitation site of King Louis XVI in 1793.

A former motor-scooter and public-transport user, the retiree switched to cycling during the COVID-19 pandemic and has kept the habit. He uses Velib’ – Paris’ bike-sharing system, in its 16th year – to get around for 80% of his trips.

“Everyone behaves selfishly,” grumbled Gelernt, who’s in his 70s. “The traffic is a lot worse than it was.”

That said, he and others can’t dispute that flows of bikes are better for health and the environment than the noxious pollution that still often blankets Paris. France’s government blames atmospheric pollution for 48,000 premature deaths nationwide per year.

In a landmark decision, a Paris court in June awarded €5,000 ($7,124) in compensation to two families with children who were sickened by air pollution, suffering from asthma and other health issues when they lived near the capital’s car-choked ring road. The court ruled the French state was at fault.

Hidalgo cites pollution as a prime motivation for her drive to increase bike use, squeeze out emission-spewing vehicles and make “a Paris that breathes.” Re-elected in 2020, her second five-year “Bike Plan” budgets 250 million euros ($260 million) in additional investments by 2026. That’s €100 million more than on her first-term bike plan. Most of it is earmarked for more cycle routes and parking.

City Hall says all Olympic venues in the city will be bike-accessible for the July 26-Aug. 11 Paris Games, on a 60-km. cycle network

So Olympic fans will be able discover what growing numbers of Parisians are learning: Experiencing the city by bike can rekindle love for its charms.

Behind busy thoroughfares are countless quieter streets that embrace cyclists with sights, sounds and smells that are too easily missed by car. And for a start-the-day jolt to energize the senses without over-priced espresso, try bouncing along the cobblestones of the Champs-Elysees on any crisp morning.

“It’s a feeling of freedom, rather than being in the Metro, sitting down or in the heat,” said Ange Gadou, 19, a convert who previously relied on rental e-scooters before Paris banished them.

“There’s nothing about it I don’t like.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Meliá Hotels International Named Best Luxury Leisure Hotel Group

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Meliá Hotels International Named Best Luxury Leisure Hotel Group - TRAVELINDEX - TOP25HOTELS.comPalma de Mallorca,  Spain, September 27, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The Global Traveler readers have once again voted Meliá Hotels International as the best hotel group in the world in the leisure segment; a distinction that, on this occasion, comes in addition to those of “Best hotel chain in the Caribbean” and “Best all-inclusive resorts” for its Paradisus by Meliá brand, which has just made its debut in the Canary Islands with the Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote and Paradisus Gran Canaria hotels.

Global Traveler magazine’s annual Leisure Lifestyle Awards reflect the thousands of surveys conducted among its readers between December 2022 and April 2023, and aim to reward the best destinations and companies in the travel industry in the leisure and lifestyle segments. Meliá, whose roots go back to being a leisure group and which has become a leader in the segment, currently has 63 hotels under its luxury brands: Gran Meliá, ME by Meliá, The Meliá Collection and Paradisus by Meliá (44 of them in operation and 19 due to open in the near future). Furthermore, the Group continues strengthening its Premium segment brands (Meliá, ZEL and Innside by Meliá), with 170 hotels in operation and 33 more in the pipeline.

Meliá’s Chairman and CEO, Gabriel Escarrer, underlines the leadership of its brands for 8 years, practically non-stop, and highlights, in particular, the election of the Paradisus by Meliá resorts as the “best all-inclusive resorts” according to Global Traveler: “Our commitment to luxury leisure hotels and our strong brands have enabled us to become leaders in an extremely competitive environment, as proved by the warm response to the new resorts opened in the Canary Islands – Paradisus Salinas and Paradisus Gran Canaria – the brand’s first resorts to be opened outside the Caribbean. Paradisus by Meliá’s exclusive concept, Destination Inclusive®, have changed the experience of our guests, who are now fully involved in the destination, discovering the environment and culture of the destination through their stay and with activities specially designed for them.”

With Destination Inclusive® as part of the room rate, Paradisus by Meliá luxury resorts go beyond the traditional leisure tourism experience, giving the destination the spotlight. Available to guests in the Nikté and The Reserve categories, Destination Inclusive® experiences are carefully selected by local experts to connect guests with the nature, culture and beauty that surrounds each hotel.

Escarrer also highlights that: “Both have certainly earned their place as the best luxury resorts in Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, respectively, and we look forward to continuing to expand this successful brand in many of the stunning holiday destinations in the Mediterranean, the Middle East and South East Asia.”

About Meliá Hotels International
Founded in 1956 in Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International operates more than 380 hotels (portfolio and pipeline) throughout more than 40 countries, under the brands Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Paradisus by Meliá, ME by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, The Meliá Collection, INNSiDE by Meliá, Sol by Meliá and Falcon’s Resorts by Meliá, plus a wide portfolio of affiliated hotels under the “Affiliated by Meliá” network. The Group is one of the leading companies in resort hotels worldwide, while also leveraging its experience to consolidate the growing segment of the leisure-inspired urban market. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led the Group to become the most sustainable hotel company in Spain and Europe, according to the last S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (Silver Class). It also has ranked seventh in the Wall Street Journal’s list of the 100 most sustainably managed companies in the world (and the leading travel company) and is the only Spanish travel company included in the list of “Europe’s Climate Leaders 2021” by Financial Times. Meliá Hotels International is also included in the IBEX 35 Spanish stock market.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Andaz Macau Opens Doors as Largest Property within Andaz Brand Portfolio

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Andaz Macau Opens Doors as Largest Property within Andaz Brand Portfolio - TRAVELINDEX - TOP25HOTELS.comMacao, Macao SAR, September 27, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Offering 700 uniquely appointed rooms and suites, the new property immerses guests into the center of Macau’s art and culture at the award-winning integrated Galaxy Macau™ resort. Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced today the opening of Andaz Macau in collaboration with Galaxy Macau™, the city’s prestigious luxury shopping, dining, entertainment and resort complex. The latest opening is the Andaz brand’s first and only hotel in Macau and its largest property globally. Inspired by the vibrant local art, culture, and architecture, the hotel features more than 700 uniquely appointed guest rooms and suites, immersing guests in the “real Macau.” The hotel features a stunning collection of artworks and artifacts that tells the story of the city’s soul through art, celebrating its heritage and future while allowing guests to express themselves through art.

“We are excited about collaborating with Galaxy Entertainment Group and introducing the Andaz brand to Macau,” said Stephen Ho, President of Growth and Operations for Asia Pacific at Hyatt. “This is a momentous occasion for us, and we believe our immersive and inspiring hotel experience will appeal to locals and tourists alike.”

A striking architectural addition to the city, Andaz Macau’s two hotel towers are located between the picturesque and well-preserved neighborhoods of Old Taipa and Coloane. Guests can easily access the city’s charming traditional attractions and Galaxy Macau’s world-class facilities. With its direct connection to both Galaxy International Convention Center (GICC) and the 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena, as well as its dedicated check-in lounge explicitly designed to provide a seamless arrival for large groups, Andaz Macau offers unrivaled convenience for both convention center and leisure guests looking to fulfill their curiosities through their travels.

“Andaz Macau is brimming with exceptional social spaces, innovative bars and restaurants, and elegant event venues that are sure to impress and delight our guests,” said William Cheung, general manager of Andaz Macau. “Our primary aim is to provide an exciting hotel experience infused with the rich cultural heritage of Macau, igniting our guests’ creativity, and inspiring them to express their unique styles and interests.”

A Masterclass in Macau-inspired Design and Artwork

Andaz Macau’s design is truly a celebration of the city’s heritage and culture. Drawing inspiration from Macau’s traditional architecture, the hotel’s design incorporates unique elements that pay homage to the city’s rich history. From the distinctive forms of old maritime harbor ships to the vibrant traditions of local Chinese culture, Andaz Macau offers a journey of exploration, delivering a contemporary reinterpretation of the city’s unique heritage. Throughout the hotel, guests can encounter a stunning array of art and antiques that reflect the city’s diverse and richly layered culture.

Upon entering Andaz Macau, guests are greeted with art that captures the unique juxtaposition of East-West cultures that Macau is known for, including a stunning wall installation titled “Landscapes Interlaced,” featuring layered Macau skyline photographs with natural Chinese materials woven throughout. Guests can also admire elegant sculptures made with hand-painted Portuguese tile patterns and mannequins dressed in intricately embroidered couture gowns.

A signature feature is the “Macau Steps,” a one-of-a-kind, multi-sensory staircase that showcases over 100 videos that beautifully narrate the history of the city, creating a captivating experience. The videos start with busy streets at the bottom and gradually lead to a peaceful and serene nature at the top, taking guests on an enchanting journey of exploration that perfectly captures the essence of the real Macau.

The Andaz Lounge on Level 6 is designed with nods to Macau’s rich history, featuring a Portuguese-style mosaic made of mother-of-pearl and stunning couture gowns showcasing the incredible craftsmanship of both Chinese and Portuguese cultures. This space serves as a relaxing oasis and a social hub for guests to connect over a freshly brewed cup of coffee or unwind after exploring the city.

Innovative Guestrooms

The hotel’s rooms and suites are inspired by the surrounding area, with beautiful forest greens and earthy orange hues reflecting the lush green landscapes of the neighborhood. The accommodations range from spacious 375 square feet (35 square meter) guestrooms to expansive 730 square feet (68 square meter) suites. These welcoming spaces are perfectly complemented by carefully chosen local amenities and a minibar stocked with locally sourced eats including biscuits from Macua Yeng Kee Bakery.

Embark on a Culinary Journey

Andaz Macau is a haven for gourmands and is home to a trio of captivating culinary venues where guests can experience the authentic flavors of Macau alongside classic dishes, enriching guests’ palettes and their richest indulgences.

The largest eatery, Andaz Kitchen, is a bustling all-day-dining neighborhood destination. Talented chefs perform eye-catching, live-action cooking and serve up a dazzling array of Chinese, Portuguese, and Western dishes. The overall design of Andaz Kitchen draws inspiration from old Macau shophouses, with further nods to the city’s heritage in the form of Portuguese mosaic tiles on the floor and high wooden archways that reference the city’s maritime history. One of the most striking features of Andaz Kitchen is the “Layers of Tradition” wall, which showcases a curated collection of blue-and-white ceramic plates with hand-painted motifs inspired by Chinese and Portuguese accents commonly seen in Macau.

Adjacent to Andaz Kitchen is Andaz Studio, an inviting space with the look and feel of an elegant library room. Serving the hotel’s daily breakfast service, Andaz Studio has also been designed as a flexible, multi-function venue that can host up to 80 guests for events, cocktail receptions, and a variety of social occasions, as well as interactive experiences such as master chef cooking classes.

At the intimate Andaz Bar, business and leisure guests can unwind while enjoying creative cocktails prepared by the hotel’s expert mixologists and craft beers produced by a local brewery. The bar’s design pays homage to Macau’s distinctive European-style architecture, while splashes of teal and orange are a reminder of the city’s proud maritime history.

Wellness

Guests of Andaz Macau have access to various recreational amenities, including a heated 62-foot (19-meter) swimming pool, a 24-hour fitness center, and complimentary access to the Grand Resort Deck at Galaxy Macau, known as the world’s leading Skytop oasis.

Meetings and Events Venues

Andaz Macau is the perfect venue for a variety of events and meetings, with versatile meeting rooms and event spaces located in the adjacent Galaxy International Convention Centre. The dedicated check-in lounge is designed to ensure a seamless arrival for attendees. The boardroom on level 2 is also an excellent option for those looking for a space to hold creative breakout sessions or productive meetings. And when it’s time for a break, the adjacent lounge area is the perfect spot for a cocktail reception with innovative drinks and delicious dishes made by the experienced culinary team.

About Andaz
Global in scale while local in perspective, the Andaz brand empowers self-expression and stimulates guests’ curiosity through imaginative travel for a distinctively local experience. Through thoughtful, unscripted service tailored for travelers, Andaz hotels enable guests to go beyond the familiar to discover and define their personal essence while immersing themselves in the spirit of the eclectic culture around them. Currently, there are 28 Andaz hotels open: Andaz 5th Avenue  in New York, Andaz San Diego, Andaz West Hollywood, Andaz Napa, Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows, Andaz Savannah, Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, Andaz Munich Schwabinger Tor, Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market, Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, Andaz Mexico City Condesa, Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo, Andaz London Liverpool Street, Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht, Andaz Prague, Andaz Singapore, Andaz Bali, Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach, Andaz Delhi, Andaz Xintiandi in Shanghai, Andaz Shenzhen Bay, Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills, Andaz Seoul Gangnam, Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi, Andaz Dubai The Palm, Andaz Xiamen,  Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere, and Andaz Nanjing Hexi.

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 June 30, 2023, the Company’s portfolio included more than 1,250 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.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Leading International MICE & Corporate Event Centered In Asia Pacific Kicks Off

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Leading International MICE & Corporate Event Centered In Asia Pacific Kicks Off - TRAVELINDEX - TRAVELNEWSHUB.comBangkok, Thailand, September 26, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / After 2 years of successful virtual editions in 2020 & 2021 and hybrid edition in 2022, IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific 2023 resume for 100% in-person event in Bangkok. 2023 celebrates 31 years of fostering international MICE business in Asia-Pacific and 26 years of cultivating Corporate Travel and Entertainment best practices among Asia-Pacific’s travel professionals.

The Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) 2023 opened its doors in Bangkok on September 26. Established in 1993, IT&CMA remains a beacon of growth for the Asia-Pacific MICE industry. The event, co-located with Corporate Travel World (CTW) Asia-Pacific, provides a unique confluence of suppliers, thought leaders, and innovators in both the MICE and Corporate Travel sectors. Organized by TTG Events, a business group of TTG Asia Media, this year’s agenda showcases an array of high-value discussions. Let’s delve into what this year’s summit promises to offer.

What is happening at IT&CM Asia:

Opening Keynote – An immersive discussion on Connecting Minds, Supporting Communities presented by Khun Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, president of Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation and adviser of Phuket Tourist Association. The opening keynote will highlight the positive impact tourism/MICE partnerships can have on local communities.

Fireside Chat with TCEB and TICA – A fireside chat with national CVB TCEB and TICA officials on how business events can support the development of cities and the livelihood of the locals.

Asian MICE Cruise Conference will discuss the post-pandemic cruise comeback as well as exploring new ways to meet.

Association Day Forum – International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) presents a session for thought leaders, industry experts and practitioners to connect, exchange ideas and chart a course toward a future of growth and association success.

ASEAN MICE Forum – Hosted by the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) and Kasetsart University, the forum will facilitate dialogues on subjects such as ‘What corporations want versus what qualifiers want from Incentive Travel Experiences’ and ‘Embracing sustainability and empowering community’.

Opening Ceremony and Welcome Reception – Co-hosted by Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the gathering provides an initial opportunity for attendees to get to know fellow delegates.

More information: IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific 2023, takes place from 26 to 28 September at the Bangkok Convention Centre at CentralWorld, https://itcma.com/register/

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

RETAIL ROUND-UP: Costa Rica, Flight Centre, Ensemble and TTAND

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Making news this week is a Costa Rican FAM for Quebec agents, Ensemble teaming up with Jamaica, Flight Centre helping wishes come true, and top marks for The Travel Agent Next Door from Air Canada Vacations.

Costa Rica

Eighteen travel advisors from Quebec recently experienced an all-encompassing Costa Rica FAM trip, highlighting the country’s Central Valley and Caribbean Coast. Escorting the trip was Gustavo Inciarte from VoX International, the Costa Rica Tourism Board’s Canadian representative, and French speaking local guides.

To kick off the seven-night FAM, agents were invited to meet with tourism industry partners at a destination trade show, followed by a guided tour of the capital, San José, including the National Theatre, Plaza de la Cultura, Templo de la Música, and Edificio Metalico.

Two groups split to explore different areas of the country. The first to the cloud forests of Monteverde where they had a tour of a local coffee farm before moving on to Rio Celeste and Tamarindo. In the former, the group took part in a hike to the famous azul-coloured waterfall and Cacao farm tour, while in the latter, they got the chance to kayak on the ocean before spending time on the beach atmosphere.

The second group of agents took a riverboat tour through the narrow canals, lush vegetation and diverse wildlife habitats into the heart of the Tortuguero National Park and their accommodation at Mwamba Lodge. Next up was the seaside villages of Cahuita and Puerto Viejo to experience the area’s vibrant Afro-Caribbean culture, diverse cuisines, tropical beaches and lush national parks, home to monkeys and sloths.

All agents on the FAM had completed the Costa Rica agent specialist program.

Ensemble

Ensemble and JTB team members, including Ensemble president Michael Johnson and Jamaica tourism minister Edmund Bartlett

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and Ensemble (JTB) have joined forces on a strategic partnership to spotlight Jamaica’s luxury tourism products within the North American retail market. Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, announced the launch of the destination’s ‘Come Back to Luxurious’ campaign with Ensemble during an official launch event in Toronto on Sept. 21.

The strategic promotional partnership will feature a series of educational activities and engagement initiatives designed to help empower Ensemble travel advisors to sell Jamaica’s premium offerings. The JTB has engaged a group of elite on-island hotel and tour operator partners to collaborate on the initiative, including Round Hill, Half Moon, Island Routes, Club MoBay/Club Kingston VIP Attractions, among others.

As part of the campaign, Ensemble’s agent members in Canada and the US will have access to exclusive training programs and comprehensive marketing materials on Jamaica’s various luxury offerings. Ensemble members will also have the opportunity to participate in exclusive curated FAM trips to explore Jamaica’s upscale hotels, attractions, and concierge services.

“We are thrilled to launch this exclusive partnership with the Jamaica Tourist Board as it is not only one of the top selling destinations for our members, but also reflects the kind of selective opportunities and luxury partnership opportunities we seek to offer exclusively to Ensemble advisors,” said Michael Johnson, President of Ensemble. “We are confident that this will deliver enhanced sales for our partners and members alike – which is always our priority.”

TTAND

The Travel Agent Next Door was awarded the top Home-Based Network Agency Partner award at the Air Canada Vacations Dream Bigger Launch in Toronto last week (photo below). The award was accepted by Penny Martin, VP Agent Experience at TTAND from Anna Paula de Souza, ACV Director of Sales; Nino Montagnese, ACV Managing Director; Erminia Nigro, GM Sales, Ontario; and Krista Rothfuchs, Area Sales Manager for Independent Advisors, ACV@Home.

“We are extremely proud to receive this award on behalf of our travel agent partners and all the hard effort they have put into earning this award,” said Flemming Friisdahl, Founder and CEO TTAND. “When you look at the huge number of home-based agents now in Canada, for us to be picked as number one is something we’re very proud of.”

Nigro, Montagnese, Martin, Rothfuchs, and De Souza

Flight Centre

Flight Centre Travel Group has donated of $20,000 to Make-A-Wish Canada, bringing the company’s total to $750,000 over the past 20 years. The contribution, says FCTG reflects the group’s commitment to making a positive impact in the communities it serves and its dedication to “opening up the world for those who want to experience the excitement of travel.”

Chris Lynes, Managing Director for Flight Centre Travel Group Canada, says, “We believe in the power of dreams and their ability to inspire and uplift. We’re proud to contribute to Make-A-Wish’s mission of granting transformational wishes for children and families who have had their worlds turned upside down by critical illness.”

“Seventy percent of the wishes that we grant involve travel, so gifts like this are vital to our organization,” says Meaghan Stovel McKnight, CEO, Make-A-Wish Canada. “For 20 years Flight Centre has helped make wishes come true for kids like Avaree whose wish to find the best chocolate in Paris came true in 2017. We look forward to granting more wishes with Flight Centre Travel Group in the coming year.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

RIDING THE WAVE: TDC’s Annual Conference provides strategies to success

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Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) recently welcomed travel advisors from its franchised, affiliated corporate branches and agent@home program to the network’s annual 2023 conference. Held at the Sheraton Toronto Airport hotel Sept. 16-17, the event was themed “Ride the Wave: Surf the Tides of Success.”

“The message we want to convey through our theme is this: we have no control over the wave; neither over the moment it comes at you, nor its intensity,” said TDC General Manager Karine Gagnon. “But we can and must be prepared to stand up on our board when our turn to ride comes.”

She continued, “We all know we’ve had our share of big waves to ride and overcome in the travel industry, and we can never be too prepared for the next ones.”

Karine Gagnon

Enthusiastic presenter Isabelle Fontaine officially kicked off the event, addressing the subject of psychology of influence and how to attract clients as a “people magnet.” She also covered how to master the art of conversation to detect or identify client expectations not specifically stated and come up with winning solutions for everyone involved – an incredible asset in the travel agent-client relationship.

Other speakers include Business Coach and Travel Industry Strategist Geraldine Ree, who focused on the best strategies and tips to “stop managing time and start owning time,” and
Transat Director of Marketing, Public Relations and Social Media Bernard Côté, who advised attendees on how to maximize their time in destination during group or FAM trips and how to create attractive and high-performing content for their online platforms.

Meanwhile Katarina Haddad and Jean-François Thibault from Axellite Leadership discussed intelligent and conscious energy management, encouraging audience members on how to incorporate the elements in their daily planning, providing strategies to learn how to identify key moments for performance and rest, aiming to be productive when necessary and, most importantly, to protect themselves against burnout.

Geraldine Ree returned for a final session on how to generate more and better high value customers, in less time, stressing that the best travel professionals know it’s impossible to be all things to all people, yet many struggle to take a stand and shift their business. She shared strategies on how to find, attract, convert, and retain higher value customers who understand the advisors’ worth – and are willing to pay for it!

Leaders Forum

Additional conference events include the TDC Leaders Forum, a brainstorming session for owners and directors of franchised and affiliated agencies Marlin Travel and TravelPlus, along with the entire TDC management team, where topics included employee recruitment and retention.

On hand were new (or newly assigned) management team members Marc Pelletier, Sr. Director of Marketing, Communications, and Events, and Dianne Jackson, newly appointed as Director of Franchised and Affiliated Agencies for provinces outside Québec, as well as Anthony Mormina and Colette Girard, both promoted to new roles, respectively as Sr. Director of Sales and Operations and Director of Franchised and Affiliated Members in Québec. They joined Sandra Wesson, Director of Products and Industry Relations, and Alain Brouillard, Director of Finance and Accounting.

Riding the wave

Preferred Partners

Nearly 45 partners also took part in the weekend event to share their latest updates, either during the roundtable discussions or the trade show. They included Princess Cruises, Cunard, Paul Gauguin and Seabourn.

Saturday night’s all right

Of course, what would the TDC Annual Conference be without the Saturday night festive event, sponsored by Transat? “Because,” said, GM Gagnon, “work should be fun… for everyone, our members, partners, and the entire TDC team.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

BWH Hotels Appoints Rod Munro Managing Director Operations for Australasia

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BWH Hotels Appoints Rod Munro Managing Director Operations for Australasia - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, September 25, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Leading global hotel brand, BWH Hotels has appointed Rod Munro to the role of Managing Director of Operations for Australia and New Zealand. Reporting to Vice President, International Operations for Asia Pacific, Olivier Berrivin, Munro will focus on expanding the brand’s presence in the region and leading a new era of growth and success for BWH Hotels.

Munro brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in hospitality operations and management. Munro will play an invaluable role in leading the Australian team and supporting the growing pipeline of new and existing hotels. He will be relocating from Brisbane to Sydney and will commence his role at BWH Hotels in October.

“I’m delighted to be joining the company during this time of growth for our industry and I’m eager to apply my experience to such a respected global brand,” said Munro. “As the hospitality and tourism industries continue to evolve globally, I look forward to the unique opportunities that BWH Hotels’ growing portfolio will bring to the market. I look forward to further establishing the brand through authentic and personalized hospitality experiences.”

“BWH Hotels Australasia is undergoing rapid growth, and we are excited for Rod to continue this momentum in the region” said Berrivin. “His industry knowledge and background in various operations roles gives him unique insight for this position and the ability to lead this team.”

Munro has a global career spanning over 20 years of hospitality operations experience. He recently served as Vice President of Operations – Australasia for Stamford Hotels & Resorts, where he oversaw seven premium properties with nearly 2,500 rooms and residential assets. Prior to this role, he spent over 15 years with Accor in a variety of operational management positions, including Area General Manager and COO of Hospitality Services for Pullman Bangkok Grande Sukhumvit and Area General Manager and General Manager for Novotel Bangkok Ploenchit.

“While Rod will be overseeing operations in Australia and New Zealand, he brings a global perspective to everything he does,” said Ron Pohl, President of International Operations. “His strategic vision and alignment with our company’s values make him the ideal candidate for this role.”

About BWH Hotels
BWH Hotels is a leading, global hospitality enterprise comprised of three hotel companies, including WorldHotels™, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts and SureStay® Hotels. The global enterprise boasts approximately 4,300 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide*. With 19 brands across every chain scale segment, from economy to luxury, BWH Hotels suits the needs of developers and guests in every market.
*Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News