Global Travel News

Red Sea Global Unveils New Luxury Private Island Destination

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Red Sea Global Unveils New Luxury Private Island Destination - TRAVELINDEX - TOP25ISLANDS.comRiyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 26, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Red Sea Global (RSG), the multi-project developer behind the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism destinations, The Red Sea and Amaala, has revealed Thuwal Private Retreat, an exclusive, buy-out only island destination set to welcome guests next year.

– Buy-out only island resort offers travelers accessible luxury and hyper-personalized private experiences from early 2024
– Destination is the second new project to be revealed in the Group’s expanding portfolio this month, and the first owned and operated exclusively by Red Sea Global

Located on a pristine 1.7-hectare sandy islet in a spectacular coral archipelago on the Red Sea coast, the intimate destination offers stunning natural beauty complemented by discreet architecture, offering ultimate luxury in complete privacy.

The island resort boasts a spacious main three-bedroom villa, three one-bedroom suites, a beach club, gym and wellness center. The curated travel experience begins as soon as guests arrive, entering via a private jetty to be greeted by the guest experience team at a stunning welcome center.

“Thuwal Private Retreat has been created to allow guests the chance to disconnect from the stresses of daily life, and instead reconnect with their closest companions. Our belief is that the sublime Red Sea coast combined with tailored luxury experiences will deliver a peerless escape for the most discerning travelers,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of Red Sea Global.

The creation of Thuwal Private Retreat represents a new phase for Red Sea Global, with the destination sitting separately to The Red Sea and Amaala, and as a wholly RSG-owned brand. There are no third-party hospitality or hotel operators involved for the first time in RSG’s development history.

“This is a milestone for us personally. It is the latest project we can reveal since we announced our expanded portfolio of projects last year and it is significantly advanced in terms of delivery. It is also the first time we are creating a destination owned and operated end-to-end by the expert team here at Red Sea Global, from development and planning to accommodation and guest services,” added Mr. Pagano.

In line with RSG’s broader vision and commitment to both people and planet, Thuwal combines absolute luxury with conscious sustainability. The resort’s executive chef will prepare gourmet meals using fresh, locally sourced ingredients, working with food producers in the area wherever possible, as well as partnering with local artisans and restaurants to offer one-of-a-kind experiences.

The developer is also hiring from the local community and is actively searching for ambitious Saudis who are looking to enter the luxury and private concierge hospitality industry. From butler services and haute cuisine connoisseurs to technical specialists, the company is now actively recruiting for individuals to work alongside world-leading experts on a fast track to become tomorrow’s leaders.

Thuwal Private Retreat meets the rising demand for ultra-private and hyper-customized experiences. According to Black Tomato, it has seen a 61 percent increase in enquiries for exclusive-use properties from luxury travelers. Guests at Thuwal Private Retreat can expect an island sanctuary that reconnects them with nature and their loved ones, with guest relation teams anticipating every need before it arises. With thriving coral reefs nearby, guests have the opportunity to snorkel amongst stunning marine wildlife, or visit the nearby village of Thuwal or the city of Jeddah to experience the very best of Saudi culture and hospitality.

Earlier this month RSG revealed it has been entrusted with refurbishment works at Al Wajh Airport (EJH). The development is focused on modernizing the airport to bring it in line with international standards. As well as upgrading the existing terminal and infrastructure, RSG is building a new international terminal. This will see EJH ready to offer more direct flights leading to greater connectivity and job opportunities for local people.

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

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

RSG is the visionary company behind some of the world’s most ambitious development ventures, including luxury regenerative tourism destinations such as The Red Sea and Amaala. Across its portfolio, RSG leverages the most innovative concepts, strategies, and technologies to deliver projects.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PATA International Arrivals Across Asia Pacific Grew Significantly in 2023

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PATA International Arrivals Across Asia Pacific Grew Significantly in 2023 - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, October 26, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / After a series of annual contractions in international visitor arrivals (IVAs) in recent years, calendar year 2022 saw 44 destinations across the Asia Pacific region end with a collective annual gain of almost 124.2 million foreign arrivals, to return a collective inbound count of nearly 265.5 million, according to a report released today by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA). The ‘Annual Tourism Monitor 2023’ report, released today, shows that IVA numbers in 2022 were the strongest since 2019 and, as such, herald the much-awaited resurgence of the international travel and tourism sector for the Asia Pacific.

There were wide differences at the three Asia Pacific destination region levels. The Pacific had the strongest growth rate in 2022 year-over-year, whereas Asia received both the largest number of arrivals and the greatest annual increase in absolute numbers from 2021.

Even so, the number of IVAs into and across Asia in 2022 reached only 27% of 2019 levels. The Americas had the strongest recovery in that regard, with 69%, followed by the Pacific, with over 57%.

These are generally very positive results, but even more heartening are those for the early periods of 2019 to 2023, where the strengthening of international arrival numbers which began in the first periods of 2022, continued in early 2023.

Every year-to-date figure is consistent for each of the 38 destinations with early period arrivals data and their respective months covered between 2019 and 2023. This data therefore gives a solid indication of how arrival numbers into and across Asia Pacific are trending over time.

The IVA growth that began in early 2022 has gained momentum in early 2023, with the addition of more than 93.3 million foreign arrivals, a volume increase of more than double compared to the previous period. This has boosted the recovery rate for early 2023 to more than 68% of the early 2019 IVA levels.

Although Asia may have been slower in returning to growth up until 2022, the early 2023 figures show a very powerful return to dominance in the Asia Pacific mix of arrivals. Asia had the strongest performance of the three destination regions against the metrics of IVAs year-to-date, period-to-period growth rate and period-to-period increase in absolute numbers of IVAs. Even the recovery rate for Asia, while still the lowest at 62.4%, is a 35 percentage point improvement over calendar year 2022 and is only six percentage points below the Asia Pacific average.

Of particular interest is the mix of source markets fuelling these recovery rates. Most source regions have achieved recovery rates above 80% in early 2023. The exception is Asia, which has improved its arrival numbers for the Asia Pacific to just a little over 52%.

That raises a critical issue because in 2019, Asia was the dominant supplier of international visitor arrivals to the Asia Pacific, accounting for nearly 63% of total arrivals in the region. Therefore, any decline in those source markets poses an obvious challenge for the Asia Pacific as a whole.

Although Asia’s recovery rate as a source region in early 2023 is relatively low, at just over 54%, it marks a dramatic improvement of almost 43 percentage points compared to early 2022. This demonstrates significant growth momentum, and the results for the full calendar year 2023 are eagerly awaited.

Among all the source markets in the Asia Pacific region, mainland China is understandably the most significant in terms of volume. In 2019, it accounted for almost 30% of the IVAs from Asia and 19% of the total aggregate visitor numbers to Asia Pacific destinations.

In early 2023, visitor numbers from mainland China saw a dramatic increase, surpassing 23 million. This marks the strongest early-period performance since early 2019. However, it still represents only 34% of the early 2019 level of arrivals. With the recent relaxation of restrictions and the reintroduction of group travel, a significant improvement can be expected by the end of calendar year 2023.

PATA Chairman Peter Semone, noted that “the overall growth in international visitor arrivals within the Asia Pacific is primarily fueled by Asia, serving as both a source and destination region, with mainland China playing a dominant role in visitor flows.”

Mr. Semone added, “Visitor growth from China has been relatively subdued until now. However, with the relaxation of most pandemic-imposed restrictions, we can now expect rapid change. Experience shows us that when change occurs in China, it is both rapid and impactful. The question, however, is whether the destinations in Asia Pacific are prepared, as change involves not only an increase in visitor numbers but also evolving expectations and demands from these visitors.”

Peter concluded that , “PATA forecasts of visitor demand indicate that, under the medium scenario, international visitor numbers by the end of 2023 are predicted to exceed 516 million, approaching 76% of the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. This is expected to further increase to 107% in 2024 and 116% in 2025. The wave is coming, and we must prepare ourselves to ensure that we have a better, stronger and more resilient tourism and travel industry.”

About PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its member organisations, which includes government, state and city tourism bodies; international airlines and airports; hospitality organisations, and educational institutions, as well as thousands of young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism of the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 32 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 28 PATA Student Chapters globally. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has an official office in Beijing. Visit www.PATA.org.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

LTI Announces the World’s Best Luxury Hotel Brands 2023

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LTI Announces the World’s Best Luxury Hotel Brands 2023 - TRAVELINDEX - TOP25HOTELS.comLondon, United Kingdom, October 25, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / This is not just another World’s Best list. LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence – has used the past 12 months to apply the perfect assessment process: a rigorously defined algorithm that measures the performance and values of luxury hotel brands.

This year, our algorithm has 130 touch points relevant to the luxury hotel sector. Each has its own weighted score value with a total maximum accumulative score of 4663.

The touch points relate to overall brand performance, not the performance of individual properties. The focus is on a brand’s ability to deliver: its passion, commitment, ethos and values, as well as the quality of its management and staff.

Continuing investment and how it is utilised is also a major factor – particularly regarding new properties and the refurbishment of existing ones.

Here are this year’s results, reflected as percentages, with last year’s positions in brackets:

1. Mandarin Oriental 81.4% (2)

2. Oetker Collection 81.3% (6)

3. Auberge 79.6% (4)

4. Six Senses 79.0% (1)

5. Aman 78.8% (5)

6. Belmond 76.3% (8)

7. Four Seasons 76.1% (9)

8. One&Only 75.1% (7)

9. Rocco Forte 73.8% (11)

10. Rosewood 72.1% (3)

11. Peninsula 69.8% (New Entry)

12. Raffles 68.5% (New Entry)

• Other brands that rated sufficiently to be monitored throughout the year are (in alphabetical order): 1 Hotels, Alila, Anantara, Banyan Tree, COMO, Dorchester Collection, Firmdale, Jumeirah, Leela, Oberoi, Park Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, Shangri-La, Soho House, Red Carnation, St. Regis, Taj, The Luxury Collection, Viceroy.

• Brands that currently have less than ten properties (our minimum requirement) but rate highly when applying our algorithm are (in alphabetical order): Airelles, Althoff Collection, Bulgari, Capella, Cheval Blanc, JK Place, La Reserve, Maybourne, Montage, Nikki Beach, Pendry, Soneva, Ultima Collection, Virgin Limited Edition.

About The World’s Best Luxury Brands Report
No other organisation connects with the global luxury hotel industry as LTI does. Our researchers engage with everyone from CEOs of the brands we have rated to thousands of managers, staff and guests. This is all part of the process for creating destination-led reports for our members who are affluent, discerning travellers, but it also allows us to create this unique report. Every year the process starts again so the results from previous years have no bearing on the following year. This inevitably leads to volatility in each year’s results, however, this is a dynamic sector, and we want to reflect what is really happening out there.

Mandarin Oriental: World’s Best Luxury Hotel Brand
Mandarin Oriental has always performed well in our annual report. This year, they have improved further across all our touch points, placing them at No1. It is an engaging brand with a loyal and growing following, who appreciate its commitment to excellence. The much-anticipated opening of their London Mayfair property could be a pivotal moment for them.

New Entries
Two Asian luxury hospitality giants have made it on to our top 12 this year. Both Peninsula and Raffles are really demonstrating their commitment to delivering the best in global luxury hospitality. Both brands have always certainly been in the mix but now, via the intricacies of our algorithm, they are really proving their value.

Michael Crompton, Founder of LTI, comments:
‘This year’s results, showing just 0.1% difference between the top two brands, demonstrates how close the race to perfection is within global luxury hospitality. These brands continue to invest significant money and resources into ensuring they deliver the ultimate experience for their guests. Matching the sectors continuing explosive growth with the highest calibre of management and staff is proving to be a significant challenge; we think this will be a determining factor in the results on our leader board, going forward’

About LTI – Luxury Travel Intelligence
We are a global members-only organisation, providing digital, up-to-the-minute reporting for affluent travellers who wish to make informed travel decisions, based on our honest and detailed intelligence. We cover luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and nightlife, in granular detail. We do not sell travel, have a booking engine, or carry advertising. Membership fees are our only revenue and we only answer to our members.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Morocco Aims to Attract 14 million Tourists by Year-End Despite Earthquake Scare

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Morocco Aims to Attract 14 million Tourists by Year-End Despite Earthquake Scare - TRAVELINDEXSamarkand, Uzbekistan, October 25, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Despite an earthquake that shook Morocco last September, the country’s Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy, Fatim-Zahra Ammor, remains optimistic about the nation’s tourism prospects, setting a target of 14 million tourists by the end of 2023.

In an exclusive interview with VoyagesAfriq, conducted on the sidelines of the 25th UNWTO General Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Fatim-Zahra Ammor highlighted the remarkable resilience of Morocco’s tourism industry.

Amid initial uncertainty following the earthquake, September unexpectedly emerged as a record-breaking month for Moroccan tourism. This success was attributed in part to the country’s effective crisis communication efforts and the solidarity shown by tourists.

Minister Ammor recalled the initial concerns: “When the earthquake arrived in early September, we were worried about what was going on and how we would end the year in Morocco. We were especially concerned as we were on track for very good numbers. But we showed strong resilience because we began communicating with international partners promptly to reassure them about the real situation in Morocco.”

She maintained that this was crucial because “the earthquake was not in Marrakech, as it was said in the beginning but rather 70 kilometres away. Therefore, for the tourists, the destination remained safe. Even tourists present at the time in Morocco shared their experiences on social media, providing testimonials about the actual situation.”

Minister Ammor expressed confidence in Morocco’s ability to achieve its ambitious tourism target, stating, “we did quite well. We had the best September ever and are planning to reach 14 million tourists by the end of the year, which is an all-time record.”

First published on VoyagesAfriq by Kojo Bentum Williams

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Thailand’s Impressive Performance at IT&CMA 2023

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Thailand's Impressive Performance at IT&CMA 2023 - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, October 24, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) led the Thai Team to an outstanding finish at the recent IT&CMA in Bangkok with a total of 405 leads across three exhibition areas, while Pattaya, one of Thailand’s MICE Cities, debuted its City Package at the show to lure overseas groups. The impressive number of generated leads follows TCEB’s 23 conference bid win performance concluded at the end of the bureau’s 2023 financial year on September 30.

Thailand Pavilion (40 exhibitors) generated 135 leads, a 43.6% increase from 94 leads achieved last year. Pattaya Pavilion (24 exhibitors) generated 150 leads, while Isan MICE Stand (10 exhibitors) generated 120 leads.

The leads from Thailand Pavilion – 133 for meetings and incentives (24,532 travellers) and two for conventions (2,200 travellers) – is valued at 1,764 million baht.

The leads from Pattaya Pavilion carry a potential yield of 30,000 travellers and 2,000 million baht of revenue. For Isan MICE Stand, the potential yield is 24,000 travellers and 1,600 million baht of revenue.

Pattaya, the designated MICE City for the Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor, took a determined step forward by introducing an all-new incentive package for event planners and organisers called City Package.

Co-created with TCEB, the package offers bidding support, assistance in securing endorsement by relevant government agencies, publicity and promotion, recommendation on venues certified by the Thailand MICE Venue Standards (TMVS) and suppliers, and volunteer and traffic management.

At Isan MICE Stand, buyers met 10 exhibitors from three key cities in Thailand’s northeastern or Isan region – Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, and Nakhon Ratchasima. These cities are economic, transport, cultural, and education hubs for the region. Udon Thani is also the winner of the bid to host the International Horticultural Exposition 2026.

TCEB President, Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, said: “Thailand put up a tremendous showing at IT&CMA this year and we have the results to show for it – 405 leads. Pattaya and Isan had their standalone stands next to the Thailand Pavilion this year and contributed 270 of the total 405 leads. We noted that buyers are responding to our efforts to introduce potential destinations. More than half of the exhibitors at the Thailand Pavilion this year are from such destinations but that didn’t stop buyers from making enquiries and pushing the number of leads at the Thailand Pavilion well past the 94 last year to 135. We know a mix of novelty and quality is key and TCEB’s product development team and our four regional offices are keeping pace. Look out for more products emerging from every region of Thailand. We do hope our new and potential locations can attract future overseas delegates when they attend 23 conferences Thailand have won bids to host from now up until 2028.”

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Dusit Thani College Students Exclusive Invitation to Sustainability Summit MENA

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Dusit Thani College Students Exclusive Invitation to Sustainability Summit MENA - TRAVELNEWSHUB.comNowadays, there have been repeated reports about climate change all over the world. An issue which has been kept a close eye on globally is the northern polar ice and the white sheet in Greenland melting 6-7 times faster compared to what happened 25 years ago. The loss of 4,700 million tons of ice in Greenland partially accounts for an increase of sealevel 1.2 centimetres. This incident reflects how bad the Earth’s climate is now.

Therefore, sustainability becomes a topic that people around the world should prioritise. All sectors are working together to find sustainable solutions for environmental conservation for the next generation. One of the initiatives is the event by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC) with the collaboration of the United Nations called MENA Climate Week 2023 (MENA = Middle East and Northern Africa). It was greatly held in the city of Riyadh to understand the issue of climate change which requires global recognition and urgent consensual actions among countries to solve this problem. The event also sets the directions and the future of sustainable tourism and hospitality industry worldwide. The summit featured a number of presentations beneficial for sustainable development, from conferences and workshops to innovative digital media. There was also Youth Forum 2023 for young generations whose interests place in tourism and sustainability.

To encourage the awareness of this event, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia invited students from over 80 countries around the world to participate in the summit. Dusit Thani College was an only educational institution in Thailand being invited to join this remarkable international sustainability and sustainable tourism event without any expenses since it is the first and only educational institution in Thailand specialised in tourism and hospitality businesses. The college brought 41 students on a flight to the city of Riyadh during October 8-12, 2023, considered an exclusive eye-opening experience for students of Dusit Thani College which could not be found anywhere.

“I had the amazing opportunity to meet, listen, and engage with many global leaders such as H.R.H Prince Abdulaziz Bin Salman, H.H. Princess Haifa of Saudi Arabia, UN leaders, Delegates, and students from corners of the globe,” said Ms. Kamelia Ferdousi, a Hospitality Management (International Program) student of Dusit Thani College – as being one of the41 participating students. “The event displayed a marvelous youth engagement and our commitment as well as powerful contributions to generate positive change to the Earth. Surely, the MENA Climate Week Youth Forum facilitated a global network of future leaders to lead us to our beautiful planet Earth in a sustainable and cherishable way. We had a chance to visit The City of Light ‘Diriyah’ and the exhibition of NEOM with the visualisation of The Line project, which plans to house 9 million people in a first-of-a-kind fascinating futuristic development. Furthermore, MENA Climate Week enlightened me into a promising future considering the youth’s powerful involvement and awareness. This trip is considered an enriching experience that allowed me to visit a new country with distinctive culture and amazing Arab cuisine. The warm hospitality of the Arabian people has left an incredible mark on my heart.”

While Mr. Nitipon Tangsangakun, Culinary Arts and Kitchen Management Program student of Dusit Thani College, added that “It is a pleasure and honour of mine for having a chance to learn concepts, cultural exchange, and event planning in Saudi Arabia. I was able to witness the way of life of the locals here, from the way of living to lifestyle and communication which are different from Thailand. It was very heartwarming to be welcomed and given a great care by our host, especially for safety, comfortable accommodations, and meals. I also gained knowledge from attending activities in MENA Climate Change which could not be found in classrooms. I will utilise what I learned from this opportunity in my way of living to conserve our world’s environment. I would like to thank Dusit Thani College for granting this great opportunity to students.”

The opportunity of Dusit Thani College students to attend MENA Climate Week 2023 as future leaders of tourism and hospitality business is not only an oversea experience for them to harvest, but also an inspiration to make this world more livable. The event also visualises the guidelines for tourism businesses to develop following the current trend. The college wishes that a small start on the campus will lead to sustainable development in the future.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

INDIGENOUS GROUP OF SEVEN: Morrisseau monument boosts N. Ontario tourism

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Canada’s most famous indigenous artist, Norval Morrisseau, has a new monument in northwestern Ontario in the region he was born and raised. The installation at Nipigon’s Bridgeview Lookout is part of the Lake Superior North Shore Tourism Project and consists of an interpretive panel below a metal bird airbrushed with photos of Morrisseau, which all stand on a wooden platform.

The design is a reference to Morrisseau’s spirit name – Ozaawaabiko-binesi – meaning “Copper Thunderbird” in Cree.

“It makes me proud,” said Eugene Morrisseau, one of Morrisseau’s seven children, who was at the event late last week to see the new monument and gave a short speech.

Norval Morrisseau was born in the area and spent his formative years at Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek (BNA) First Nation, approximately 65 km north of Nipigon, which is about 90 minutes from Thunder Bay on the north shore of Lake Superior, an area dubbed “Superior Country.”

“It’s a great honour for my father because he was born there – that’s his traditional area,” said Morrisseau. “For that to be held at Nipigon Bridge, I’m really excited, including myself and my siblings.”

Development of the monument was a collaborative effort between Superior Country staff, the estate of Norval Morrisseau, Joseph Sanchez, Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek, and the Red Rock Indian Band.

Morrisseau painting

“We are very excited to unveil a monument celebrating the successes of the Indigenous Group of Seven – and, specifically, Norval Morriseau who is from this region,” said Dan Bevilacqua, executive director of Superior Country.

The Nipigon Public Library actually houses “The Great Bear Spirit,” an original Morrisseau painting.

Bevilacqua noted that this is a big step towards greater awareness of the Indigenous Group of Seven – something he and staff at Superior Country hope to bring more of to the region and to travellers passing through.

“There’s been a big gap in the promotion of the Indigenous Group of Seven,” said Bevilacqua.

“While we see a lot of promotion around the Group of Seven, Indigenous Group of Seven hasn’t been touched upon. This is a great opportunity for us to really showcase the importance of Indigenous peoples to the area and the importance of art and culture to the area as well. Being able to celebrate Norval Morrisseau – who is right from this region – is very important to us.”

“For my father to be recognized, it takes time on stuff like that,” said Morriseau. “For people to know who he really was, for him to start this movement, to inspire a lot of people, even myself as a second-generation artist, it’s good.”

Norval Morrisseau passed away on Dec. 4, 2007.

First published at Travel Industry Today

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management Recognised for Outstanding Tourism Education

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PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management Recognised for Outstanding Tourism Education - TRAVELINDEX - TRAVELNEWSHUB.comThe School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University was deeply honoured to be bestowed the 2023 ISTTE Institutional Achievement Award by the International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators (ISTTE) in recognition of its significant contributions to tourism education.

The latest honour was bestowed at the Annual Conference of the International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators held in Toronto, Canada on 16–18 October 2023. The SHTM was praised for its leadership in advancing tourism education in the region and the world for its innovativeness in academic programming and world-class teaching and research facilities.

Professor Kaye Chon, SHTM Dean, Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, said that the accolade further underpins the School’s world-leading position in providing innovative programmes that advance the tourism and hospitality sector’s development. “As a global centre of excellence in hospitality and tourism education and research, the SHTM is well poised to continue to lead hospitality and tourism in the years to come,” he remarked.

The SHTM has made a lasting mark on hospitality and tourism education by being a two-time recipient of the ISTTE Institutional Achievement Award. The School first received the prestigious award in 2003, recognising its commitment to educational excellence. A ringing endorsement of the SHTM’s visionary leadership, dedicated researchers and innovative educational approach, the award confirms the School’s outstanding reputation and dedication in providing world-class hospitality and tourism education for Hong Kong and beyond.

Taking this opportunity, the SHTM is delighted to announce that the 43rd Annual ISTTE Conference will be held at Hotel ICON, Hong Kong on 14-16 October 2024. The year 2024 is a special year for the SHTM as it marks the School’s 45th anniversary. In hosting an international event as celebrated as the annual ISTTE Conference in such an auspicious year, the SHTM aims to further contribute to the ISTTE and to extend the frontier of knowledge in tourism and hospitality.

The International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators is an international organisation of travel, tourism and hospitality professionals representing all levels of educational institutions. A non-profit international organisation, the ISTTE is dedicated to improving the quality of education and research in travel, tourism and hospitality by promoting the exchange of information and ideas and outstanding service among its members.

About PolyU’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management

For over 40 years, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Ranked No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality and Tourism Management” category in ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022 for the sixth consecutive year; placed No. 1 globally in the “Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services” category in the University Ranking by Academic Performance in 2022/2023 for six years in a row; rated No. 1 in the world in the “Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism” subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017; and ranked No. 2 in the world among university based programmes in the “Hospitality and Leisure Management” subject area in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 for the seventh consecutive year, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism.

The School is driven by the need to serve its industry and academic communities through the advancement of education and dissemination of knowledge. With a strong international team of 90 faculty members from 20 countries and regions around the world, the SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate to doctoral degrees. Through Hotel ICON, the School’s groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and a vital aspect of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM is advancing teaching, learning and research, and inspiring a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry.

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First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

EYE IN THE SKY: Air Canada unveils upgraded Airbus A321

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A pilot’s-eye view of the take-off due to new exterior cameras connected to the aircraft’s seatback entertainment system is just one of the features on Air Canada’s upgraded Airbus A321, which the carrier unveiled to passengers on flight AC692 on the weekend.

The new camera feature, a first for a narrow-body aircraft, is one of several innovations unveiled on the upgraded Airbus A321, which has been redesigned from nose to tail.

Air Canada’s fleet says it is continuing to invest in its fleet of Airbus A321s and A320s, which will feature a new cabin interior, new technologies and services such as Bluetooth audio, and free high-speed internet sponsored by Bell.

The remaining 14 Airbus A321s and eight A320s will be retrofitted starting this fall through to the end of 2025. With the upgrades, customers will benefit from an elevated narrow-body cabin experience, in line with the cabins of the Airbus A220 and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that comprise the majority of Air Canada’s narrowbody fleet.

The new cabin also reduces the overall weight of the A321 by approximately 240 kg, which will reduce fuel consumption for the entire fleet once the work is completed by more than 2.4 million litres and reduce GHG emissions by 6,256 tCO2 equivalent per year, or the equivalent of the electricity used annually by 4,185 Canadian homes.

Highlights of new cabin features:

Larger overhead bins – Latest Airbus Airspace XL design, the largest overhead bins in-class that will also be installed on the Airbus A321XLRs.

Upgraded seating – Presents a standardized product across the Air Canada narrowbody fleet in both Business Class and Economy. The new seats are designed to optimize passenger personal space, improve ergonomics, and provide more storage giving customers a more comfortable experience.

Bluetooth audio – Air Canada’s newest IFE system will feature a Bluetooth-enabled seatback monitor. Customers will be able to connect their personal headsets while watching video on demand, live TV, or listening to podcasts or music. This initiative helps reduce usage of single-use headphones and supports Air Canada’s sustainability objectives in reducing waste.

New exterior cameras – Customers can now watch their flight live thanks to a new first-in-class narrowbody tail and belly camera system providing high-resolution, real-time video of the aircraft exterior.

Full colour LED mood lighting – New cabin lighting system will allow different ambiances to be set depending on time of day and phase of flight.

Fast and reliable Wi-Fi – Upgraded satellite-based connectivity.

Power options at all seats – All customers have access to power outlets, USB-A, and USB-C.

The new IFE system being installed on the Airbus A321 and A320 fleets will feature Air Canada’s in-flight entertainment via screens at each seat, offering the most extensive content overall of any airline in the Americas. Customers can watch live TV on their flights with this new cabin, featuring BNN, CTV, LCN, RDS, TSN1 and TSN2, including when flying over the US.

“We’re proud to welcome customers on board to experience the comfort, convenience, and connectivity of our latest cabins. These upgraded fleet interiors will align the A320s and A321s to the highly popular A220 experience, further strengthening our industry leading product offering,” said Mark Nasr, Executive VP Loyalty and Product at Air Canada.

“Additionally, new features such as our inflight entertainment system streaming exterior aircraft camera feeds, Bluetooth connectivity, and free, fast internet connectivity will be extremely popular with travellers. We will continue advancing our product leadership by trialing more new in-flight experiences with this A321 and expanding those learnings to additional aircraft in our fleet.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

Source

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WHAT’S NEW IN PERU: New Transat flights and more

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Energized by new flights to the country by Transat starting this winter – the first direct flights from Canada since the pandemic – PromPeru hosted a gathering in Toronto last week to update the trade on the latest news from the South American country. Among the guests were reps from tour operators offering Peru tours and product: Goway, G Adventures, Intrepid, Collette, and TTC Tour Brands.

Among the news highlights:

Air

Air Transat: The carrier will offer exclusive direct flights to Lima from Toronto and Montreal, with previously announced seasonal flights now expanded to year-round. Besides being the only direct flights from Canada, Air Transat’s national sales manager Jhadyd Gonzalez said the best thing about the flight is the timing: it flies overnight, arriving in Lima at 6 a.m., giving travellers a full extra day in the capital. Moreover, flights are aboard ultra-comfortable new Airbus A321LR, featuring 199 seats in the widest single-lane air cabin available plus wider seats, state-of-the-art entertainment features and “perfect for sleeping.” Flights from Toronto will be operated twice per week on Wednesdays and Saturdays, starting Dec. 20, and flights from Montréal will depart once a week on Fridays, starting Dec. 22.

Jorge Chávez International Airport: An expansion at Lima’s airport, expected to be completed by 2025, envisions creating the first Airport City in South America. This project covers an area of more than 890 hectare and will feature two future landing strips, a passenger terminal, and multiple commercial zones. The new Jorge Chávez International Airport will transform Lima into a significant regional hub, enabling growth in alignment with passenger traffic demands.

Accommodations

The NOMAD Hotels Group: The Peruvian “home-boutique” hotel network recently launched
its first hotel, NOMAD Urban AQP in the heart of Arequipa. The contemporary and ecofriendly hotel is a vibrant hub for digital nomads, with designated areas for work, meetings, and events as well as entertainment offerings, including the “Music Corner,” INDIGO restaurant, and AMBAR rooftop bar.

Andean Experience (AE): The company soft-opened Peru’s first tented exploration camp, PUQIO in September. An extension of AE’s Southern Route, including Titilaka on Lake Titicaca and CIRQA in Arequipa, PUQIO is situated in the remote Colca Valley in the Southern Peruvian Andes, a region rich with biodiversity – including a large population of Andean condor – hot springs, volcanoes and one of the world’s deepest canyons, the Colca Canyon. Guests can choose from three distinct and locally designed tents and anticipate a range of activities and outings, including trips to local markets, Andean fishing, visits to thermal baths, wildlife watching and more.

The company has also recently opened Fausto, a new guest house in the lively Miraflores district of Lima. Fausto is a contemporary six-room guest house that offers Andean Experience’s signature service in a smaller format. Like in a family friend’s house, Fausto’s open pantry is always full with daily-baked sweet and savoury snacks, fresh local fruit and other refreshments. Other house services and amenities include a hearty breakfast, welcome drink, teatime, house bicycles, work-out kits and morning walks around the neighbourhood.

Attractions

New Nazca Lines: Scientists from Japan’s Yamagata University announced that they had discovered new Nazca Lines in the Nazca Desert of southern Peru. The researchers reportedly used sophisticated Deep Learning AI technology to identify a human figure, a pair of legs, a bird, and a fish. Research is ongoing, and it’s believed DL technology will revolutionize the process of identifying more geoglyphs at increased speed.

Kuélap fortress: Atop the Cerro Barreta summit in the Utcubamba river valley, Peru’s crown jewel of the north-east – Kuélap – was recently re-opened following over a year of restoration efforts. Amidst the dense cloud forest of the Amazonas region, the fortress rests at an altitude of 3,000 metres and comprises administrative, religious and residential sectors meticulously crafted by the Chachapoyas culture between the 11th and 14th centuries. To experience Kuélap, visitors must travel to the city of Chachapoyas before making their way to the town of Nuevo Tingo where a cable car offers access to the fortress. Travellers can also opt to embark upon a 9-km hike to the site. Free access to the site will be available to 144 visitors daily until Dec. 19.

Tours

Intrepid: Along with the Lares and Salkantay treks, the 26-km Quarry Trail has emerged as an alternative to the Inca Trail for hikers looking to explore the Sacred Valley around Machu Picchu. Intrepid Travel has been offering Quarry Trail itineraries for several years, but starting in 2024, will include a new section of the trail previously unseen by travellers. Intrepid has worked with local communities in the area to develop this new section, and for every guest booked on a Quarry Trail trek, the company will donate to local organizations to ensure the ongoing protection and conservation of the historic area. Quieter than the Inca Trail and not requiring permits, highlights of the Quarry Trail include the Perolniyoc Cascade waterfall, the 4,450 metre-high Kuychicassa Pass, and a sun gate overlooking Ollantaytambo.

Gastronomy

World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023 list: Peru is already recognized as a destination with a culinary scene that’s among some of the finest in the world. This culinary reputation was further solidified with Lima’s Central restaurant crowned The World’s Best Restaurant 2023 – and with three more Lima restaurants making the list. Led by award-winning chefs and spouses Virgilio Martínez and Pía Léon, Central showcases the diverse flavours of Peru’s indigenous ingredients sourced from 15 different altitudes. The restaurant has made remarkable progress since its initial appearance at number 50 on the list in 2013 and made history by being the first Latin American restaurant to secure the top spot in 2023.

Info

Travel advisors are invited to learn more about Peru by becoming specialists. Go to
https://peruagent.com/login

First published at Travel Industry Today

Source

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News