Global Travel News

Mekong Region Travel Boosted by Re-imagined Website

 1002 561 wttc2
By:

Mekong Region Travel Boosted by Re-imagined Website - TRAVELINDEX - TOURISMMEKONG.comBangkok, Thailand, March 14, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / The official website of Mekong Tourism has been re-imagined with a range of dynamic new digital elements for a variety of visitors – from consumer travellers to academics and researchers, from journalists to sustainable tourism advocates.

Managed by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), the new-look mekongtourism.org aims to position itself as a major online start point and research asset for travel and tourism in Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

The new website is easy to navigate and offers quicker search than previously. The site has been designed for mobile responsiveness and compatibility. It has been created to work well on desktop, tablet and mobile phone.

If you are a traveller, for example, there are specialist sections on festivals in the six countries, farm and community tourism, markets, caves, palaces, motorbike travel, ethical tourism, and more.

“The Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office has revamped the official Mekong Tourism website, MekongTourism .org, to help the whole region bounce back after three difficult years,” said Ms Suvimol Thanasarakij, Executive Director of the MTCO. “We are proud to present a new website that focuses on responsible, sustainable and inclusive tourism that gives back.”

There are Q&A interviews with leading private, public and third-sector tourism leaders. They all give their take on what the new era of tourism in the Mekong region should look like following the massive Covid-era slow down.

For students, researchers and academics, there is also a library of the latest tourism-related research papers by UNWTO, ADB, WTTC and various corporate organisations.

There are also dedicated pages to the Mekong Tourism Forum which takes place 25-27 April in Sihanoukville in Cambodia and is open to leading stakeholders in Mekong Tourism.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Fusion Announces Three New Properties in Vietnam

 900 562 wttc2
By:

Fusion Announces Three New Properties in Vietnam - TRAVELINDEX - TOP25HOTELS.comHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam, March 13, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / With hotel openings in Hanoi, Danang, and the launch of an exciting new brand in Binh Duong, Fusion is expanding its presence in Southeast Asia.

Fusion began with a single property in Vietnam in 2008 and has since expanded its current footprint to 16 hotels throughout Vietnam and Thailand. Over the next twelve months,three new Vietnam properties will be added to its portfolio – Fusion Resort & Villas Danang, Fusion Suites Hanoi and HIIVE Binh Duong that will make its brand debut.

“We are encouraged by the signs of positive recovery in travel as witnessed in our existing portfolio over the past six months or so,” said Christopher Hur, President of Lodgis Hospitality Holdings Pte. Ltd.(“Lodgis”), the parent company of Fusion. “This year, we remain sanguine on the further robust pick up in regional travel and tourism. As corporate and leisure travelers take to the skies more frequently, we are well-positioned to meet their needs with our diverse, distinct and growing portfolio.”

HIIVE Binh Duong, Vietnam

HIIVE Binh Duong, the first of three new properties to open its doors to guests, marks a fresh addition to Fusion’s already established range of unique lodging products. Targeting the growing mid-level business traveler, HIIVE will be developed around Vietnam’s bustling commercial and industrial hubs, attracting global corporate direct investments. Centrally located in a leading Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park and within the greater Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area, this modern 172-key hotel features a range of meeting facilities and co-working spaces with accommodations geared to business guests. Other amenities include a golf simulator, 24-hour fitness center, and sports bar, to support both work and downtime.

Fusion Resort & Villas Danang, Vietnam

Located in one of Vietnam’s pre-eminent destinations, another prime beachfront property that will debut this year is Fusion Resort & Villas Danang. Planned for opening in fall 2023, This 242-key resort, includes four dining and entertainment offerings as well as Fusion’s distinct and leading wellness facilities. The new property will have 85 luxurious private villas, ranging in size from one- to six-bedrooms. Each offering a unique open-plan living concept, a fully equipped kitchen, and a lush tropical garden with a private plunge pool. Food and beverage offerings feature a beach-front grill, casual all-day dining restaurant, a poolside bar, and Fusion’s “breakfast anywhere, anytime” concept, allowing guests to live the moment and not be bound by the conventions of time. And, of course, central to Fusion’s resort experience is the Maia Spa & Wellness Centre, where guests can enjoy a daily complimentary treatment.

“In recent years, ‘wellness’ is becoming a central guest priority and at Fusion it is, and always has been, part of who we are since our 2008 founding,” said Peter Meyer, CEO of Lodgis and Fusion Hotel Group. “We were the first in Vietnam to launch an all-inclusive spa concept and we are dedicated to creating wellness-inspired lodging products geared to our guests’ well-being and health, whether their travel is for pleasure or work.”

Fusion Suites Ha Noi, Vietnam

Early in 2024, Fusion is slated to make its first appearance in Vietnam’s capital with Fusion Suites Hanoi. Part of a mixed-use development and high-end shopping mall, this new 238-key property is located near many important tourist attractions, including the One Pillar Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Presidential Palace. Though a city location, the property’s design is nature-inspired with an earthy color palette and soft teal tones paired with warm wooden décor. Designed for possible extended stays, each room is equipped with a kitchenette and in-room laundry. The larger guest rooms offer comfortable living and dining areas. The property features a full spa facility and Japanese-style onsen, along with the brand’s signature Fresh restaurant offering healthy choices and “Fusion Favorites.”

“Our expansion is part of our group’s long-term goal of regionally establishing our unique brands,” added Meyer. “With our roots and established Vietnam business, we will grow our presence in the country off the back of its macroeconomic growth and favorable demographics. Beyond Vietnam, we are targeting to grow our Thailand platform as well as near-term expansion in Southeast Asia.”

ABOUT FUSION
Fusion is a leader of wellness-inspired hospitality brands in Vietnam, managing 22 properties in Vietnam and Thailand and expanding to open new hotels and resorts in both countries.

A WELLNESS GETAWAY: Showcasing some of Vietnam’s most idyllic beaches, Fusion Resort is the epitome of a relaxing beach getaway. Sophisticated accommodations with all-spa inclusive therapies, and breakfast anywhere, anytime, served by a team of Fusionistas.
REJUVENATE YOUR MIND AND SOUL: Creating the next level in rejuvenation escapes, Fusion Retreats specialise in providing sanctuaries to support both the mind and soul. With a deeper focus on wellness and wellbeing, guests experience recovery and indulgent programmes that include meditation and medical treatment to support their specific needs. Whether it be stress-recovery, supporting injuries and strains to detoxification. All treatments are tailor-made to ensure revitalisation and revival.
A PLACE FOR THE DARING: No two are alike! Each select property represents the brand with its own individual design and services – original thinking leading to original experiences. Fusion Originals are unique and have bold styles for the discerning traveler. Set in prime locations in Vietnam’s city centres, guests enjoy creative and unexpected spaces along with Fusion’s signature high-quality services.
BRANDED RESIDENCES by fusion: Fusion Homes’ branded residences elevate developments to an exclusive offering, infusing character & uniqueness through its iconic designs and special character
URBAN RETREAT: Fusion Suites combines urban locations with a resort experience in the city. With spa or reflexology treatments, breakfast anywhere, anytime options and Fusionistas bespoke service, Fusion Suites provides guests a real retreat from the city.
A CULINARY ADVENTURE: A focus on culinary experience in special destinations. Maia Resorts offer getaways, filled with exceptional culinary journeys along with bespoke spa treatments. Whilst surrounded by coastal landscapes, guests are exposed to regional and thoughtfully crafted cuisine with local touches and the freshest ingredients.
A TOUCH OF THE INDIVIDUAL: Located in idyllic destinations in Fusion’s collection, comes original resort experiences with their own feel to fit their surroundings, Hotels by fusion offer truly one – of – kind experiences with accommodations and facilities under the management of Fusion Hotel Group.
BUSINESS WITH HOME COMFORTS: Designed with the business traveller in mind, HIIVE provides comfortable accommodations for both long and short-term business travelers. Situated in prime business locations, each hotel is created for commercial guests to be productive, with well-deserved home touches.
COMFORTABLE MIDSCALE IN PRIME LOCALES: GLOW Hotels & Resorts is for travellers seeking avant-garde experiences. Enjoy a simple brand with core services at an attractive price point – without compromising on service or standards. Unique properties in exciting urban locations or exclusive seaside destinations. Don’t just live, GLOW!

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Wah Lok Dish of the Month Live Turbot from France

 800 455 wttc2
By:

Wah Lok Dish of the Month Live Turbot from France - TOP25 Restaurants BangkokWah Lok Cantonese Restaurant at Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit is pleased to bring you Live Turbot from France, the Champagne of fish as Dish of the Month for March – April 2023.

The two styles to enjoy this fish are:
• Steamed with Superior Soya Sauce
• Steamed with Chopped Garlic and Glass Noodles in Superior Soya Sauce

Turbot is an excellent source of protein, selenium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, iron and phosphorous. The firm white meat has a large flake and an excellent mild flavour. It also has a moist, succulent and smooth texture that melts in your mouth!

Price: THB 460++ per 100 grams

Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant
Level 2, Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit
Lunch: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Dinner: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Wah Lok is featured in the latest 2023 Michelin Guide Thailand.

For more information or to make reservations, please contact 02 090 7888

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Female General Manager of Boutique Resort in Bali Chosen by Cornell University

 900 583 wttc2
By:

Female General Manager of Boutique Resort in Bali Chosen by Cornell University - TRAVELINDEX - VISITBALI.orgBali, Indonesia, March 11, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Ms. Swandarini was the only general manager from Indonesia and the only woman selected. The GM of a boutique Bali resort, Tanah Gajah a Resort by Hadiprana, was selected by Cornell University for the General Manager Program, which brings together hotel general managers from around the world. With twenty spots available Deasy rose above strong worldwide competition and became the only candidate from Indonesia chosen and the only women leader in the group.

After getting underway in 2021, the talented group completed the program this February with a five-day in-person session at Cornell’s campus in Ithaca, New York.

“This has been a great opportunity to connect with and learn from talented general managers and leaders from around the globe,” said Swandarini. “This was also a proud achievement for Tanah Gajah, as the program gave an opportunity for our property, a small independent hotel brand, to gain the attention of global hospitality professionals.”

Swandarini, who grew up on the island of Bali, has spent most of her life and all of her hospitality career between its numerous tourism hotspots. Raised in the south of the island near Kuta, known for its surf and nightlife, and Seminyak, associated with high-end resorts and dining, the Bali-native was exposed to the tourism industry from a young age.

Her first role was on the pre-opening team at Ritz-Carlton Bali, when she was just 21 years old. After a decade with Ritz-Carlton Swandarini stepped into her first GM role. It was 2006 and the upper ranks at hotels were still male-dominated, and mainly by expats.

“Even now, with an increasing number of women in management roles, people are still sometimes surprised I’m a general manager. Growing up in Bali males were defined as leaders,” explained Swandarini. “Overall it’s still a bit of a struggle locally for women as people still hold onto this concept.”

In spite of this, Swandarini has managed to work her way up the corporate ladder.

“I hope that my involvement in Cornell’s General Manager program inspires other women to pursue more management positions,” she added.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Alma Resort Le Spa Introduces Pampering Menu for Youngsters

 900 675 wttc2
By:

Alma Resort Le Spa Introduces Pampering Menu for Youngsters - TRAVELINDEX - TOp25SPAS.comCam Ranh, Vietnam, March 10, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / Spa indulgence need not be just the domain of adults, with beachfront resort Alma’s Le Spa launching a menu dedicated to children replete with foot and hand baths, massages and a facial incorporating tropical fruit and reflexology.

Featuring 13 separate treatment villas sprinkled onto the landscape overlooking Long Beach on Vietnam’s Cam Ranh peninsula, Le Spa’s new kids menu is tailored to children aged six to 11 years.

The menu comprises four gentle 30-minute treatments, underscored with natural products, named “Soft Tootsies”, “Princess Hands”, “My Cocoon” and “Supreme Facial Ritual”.  Each treatment is priced VND 350,000 (USD 14.71).

Soft Tootsies starts out with a foot bath followed by a gentle exfoliation with organic orange scrub, and a mini foot massage with moisturizing cream. Princess Hands comprises a hand bath, gentle exfoliation with organic lemongrass salt scrub, and a mini hand massage with moisturising cream.

My Cocoon makes for a relaxing massage treatment with light pressure applied to the child’s arms, legs and back that encompasses organic luxury olive oil. Using finely grained tropical fruits, the Supreme Facial Ritual involves face reflexology and lifting and smoothing massage movements.

“We believe you’re never too young for a bit of pampering,” said Alma’s managing director Herbert Laubichler-Pichler. “Many luxury hotel and resort spas only cater to adults but we feel it’s unfair for the kids to miss out on wellness experiences so we welcome them to come along to Le Spa with their parents.”

Le Spa also caters to teenagers aged from 12 to 17 years with a selection of treatments from Le Spa’s main menu on offer according to the advice of the spa’s therapists. Treatments for teenagers including massages and facials are only sold as a complement to a parent’s treatment and offered in the same treatment room as the parent.

Bold, spacious and emblematic of Vietnam’s maturation as a destination, the independently owned and operated Alma features 14 food and beverage outlets and a cascade of 12 beachfront swimming pools. Other highlights include a 6000sqm water park, a science museum, 18-hole putting green, kids club, youth club, water sports centre, sports courts, cinema, amphitheater, convention centre, gymnasium and yoga room. The resort also runs complimentary guided garden tours of its nursery garden, herb garden and chicken farm to equip guests with handy tips on how to nurture their own veggie patch and look after chickens.

To contact Alma or to make a booking, please call +84 258 399 1666

About Alma
Situated on Vietnam’s emerging Cam Ranh peninsula fronting Long Beach, Alma resort commands some 30 hectares of inspiring ground. Emblematic of Vietnam’s maturation as a destination, the bold and spacious integrated resort offers 580 oversized suites and pavilions that all afford sweeping vistas of the ocean, including contemporary three bedroom oceanfront pavilions each totalling 224sqm with a living room, four bathrooms and a private pool. Alma features a broad spectrum of restaurants helmed by top chefs, a food court with an array of local and international cuisine, as well as a sports bar, pool bar and beach bar. Other highlights include 12 swimming pools cascading down to the beach, a waterpark, 13-treatment room spa, 70-seat cinema, convention centre, amphitheater, science museum, gymnasium and yoga room, 18-hole mini golf course, a youth centre with virtual reality games, a kid’s club, water sports centre and even an ‘Alma Mart’ mini supermarket.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

TOP WAYS TO EXPLORE BRITAIN’S WEST MIDLANDS

 1080 494 wttc2
By:

From cosmopolitan Birmingham to literary Stratford-upon-Avon, and epic castles like Kenilworth and Warwick to the industrial heritage of the Black Country Museum and the Ironbridge Gorge, England’s West Midlands region epitomizes the best of Britain.

And from getting out on two wheels, meandering down a canal, or taking to the skies, there’s an abundance of ways to experience the region – not to mention adrenaline-fuelled off-roading or kilometres of walking and cycling trails.

Our round-up reveals some of the top ways see the region from a different perspective:

Wander the walking trails

From the industrial heartlands of the cities to the rolling hills and countryside that surrounds them, much of the West Midlands can be explored on foot. Birmingham Heritage Walking Tours take visitors on an immersive journey through the city’s past, while numerous Coventry Trails – developed as part of the Coventry City of Culture program – explore the city’s heritage and cultural roots. The vast expanse of the Pennine Way National Trail to the north is a long-distance walking route stretching for 435 km through some of England’s wild northern landscapes.

Get on your bike

The West Midlands is peppered with cycling trails, from picturesque canal-side routes to tracks which follow old industrial lines. The actively inclined can cycle the 13km from central Birmingham along part of the Tame Valley Canal to explore the 400-hectare Sutton Park, located to the north of the city centre. Known as National Cycle Network Route 535, it’s a largely traffic-free trail. The Tissington Trail through the Peak District National Park is a 20-km former London and North Western Railway route linking Parsley Hay and Ashbourne, with bike hire available at both destinations.

Wind along the waterways

As a region dominated by waterways, the canals of the West Midlands offer a chance to discover some of its hidden gems. Visitors have a wide range of options to choose from – they can hire a rowing boat, or explore the canals via an organized boat tour. Narrowboat tours operate from central Birmingham, taking guests on a journey through the city’s industrial heritage, while river cruises in Stratford-upon-Avon show off Shakespeare Country from a different perspective. A unique dining experience is available aboard the restaurant boat, The Countess of Evesham. The 9-km Art Trail along the Coventry Canal features works paying homage to the region’s rich industrial heritage.

See Shakespeare’s England

As the town synonymous with William Shakespeare, Stratford-upon-Avon houses many attractions related to the great playwright. Shakespeare’s England provides access to the five fascinating family homes linked to the Bard, including his birthplace, New Place and Anne Hathaway’s Cottage.

Some other attractions in Warwickshire available with the pass, include Warwick Castle, Kenilworth Castle, and the MAD Museum.

Head off road

The West Midlands is home to a number of car manufacturers, including Jaguar Land Rover. The firm’s main car factory can be found in Solihull, alongside a mix of off-road driving experiences which allows guests to push the Land Rover’s capabilities to the limit. From a short taster session to a half- or full-day drive, thrill seekers can test their obstacle handling at the Land Rover Solihull Experience across a series of steep inclines, water wading and other challenging terrain. Visitors love getting behind the scenes at one of the most advanced car manufacturing facilities in the world with a factory tour.

Take to the skies

Photo courtesy Wickers World

With miles of rolling countryside to enjoy, visitors can take to the skies to experience a bird’s eye view of the West Midlands and its surrounds. Numerous companies provide hot air balloon trips across Staffordshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands. Among them, Wickers World operates from the grounds of Shugborough Hall (near Stafford) and Trentham Gardens (close to Stoke-on-Trent), while High Road Balloons fly from Stratford-upon-Avon, as well as several other locations. Helicopter tours are also available to take in the sights across the West Midlands.

Discover the real Peaky Blinders

The original Peaky Blinders gangs can be traced to Birmingham, and many scenes from Steven Knight’s hit show were filmed in the city. Operated by Brum Tours, Peaky Tours looks into the characters behind the TV series, for a fascinating insight into the fictional show and the real-life locals that inspired it. There are also many other key Peaky Blinders sites around the city, including a six-storey mural of Cillian Murphy’s character Tommy Shelby, on the walls of a factory in Digbeth. Visitors follow in the footsteps of Tommy and the gang at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley, which has provided backdrops in all five series to date.

Go mad for museums

The rich industrial, musical and cultural heritage of the West Midlands can be explored at the region’s vast array of museums and galleries. The Coventry Transport Museum pays homage to the city’s car-making past with the world’s largest publicly owned collection of British vehicles, as well as the two fastest cars on the planet.

Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum delves into the world of science and technology with 200 hands-on displays, while the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery houses an unrivalled collection of Pre-Raphaelite art and will reopen its doors in 2022. A visit to the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum offers the ever-changing exhibitions which tell the story of Coventry’s social heritage.

Gardens galore

From the grounds of stately homes to Victorian glasshouses, the West Midlands offers an abundance of outdoor and garden spaces to explore. The 6-hectare Birmingham Botanical Gardens, located just over 1.6 km to the south of Birmingham city centre in Edgbaston, is an oasis of colour where four glasshouses showcase tropical rainforest, subtropical, Mediterranean and arid environments.

The 17th century Moseley Old Hall, north of Wolverhampton, provided refuge for King Charles II during the English Civil War. Looked after by the National Trust, its walled gardens house plants cultivated for centuries. Alternatively, explore one of the largest contemporary perennial plantings in Europe at the Trentham Estate. Visitors also enjoy the Elizabethan Gardens at Kenilworth Castle, packed with colour and fragrance and recreated to be just how they were presented to Queen Elizabeth I around 400 years ago.

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

AN UNUSUAL DISPUTE: Four Flair aircraft seized by Leasing company

 600 275 wttc2
By:

On Saturday Flair Airlines had four Boeing 737 MAX 8s seized by its leasing company at three Canadian airports, Toronto, Edmonton, and Waterloo. Leasing companies seizing aircraft is highly unusual. A statement from the air carrier called the move by “a New York-based hedge fund” to take the aircraft “extreme and unusual.” It said Flair would use additional fleet capacity” to lessen the effect on passengers, adding it did not foresee any major disruptions to its route map.

Company spokesman Mike Arnot said a number of Flair flights were cancelled Saturday morning, but the company had three spare aircraft to backfill those flights.

Arnot says passengers travelling over the next 72 hours would either be accommodated on Flair flights or another airline at Flair’s expense if a Flair flight wasn’t available.

An unnamed source quoted in the media suggested that Flair was just days behind schedule on a $1 million aircraft lease payment to the leasing company, Airborne Capital. However, leasing companies seizing aircraft is highly unusual, and is typically only done as a last resort. Sources say that it would be unusual for a leasing company to seize aircraft if an airline were just days late on a payment.

“We are truly very sorry passengers were impacted today, and are taking steps to get them on their way with minimal disruption. This includes repositioning our spare aircraft to support operations,” Flair’s statement said.

In a Tweet Flair referred to “service disruptions”:

An update from the company added that customers could also rebook their own travel and receive a reimbursement within seven days.

“We are truly very sorry passengers were impacted today and are taking steps to get them on their way with minimal disruption. This includes repositioning our spare aircraft to support operations,” the company’s statement said.

Flair’s statement said the airline has been involved in “ongoing communications” with the leasing company and “payment has been initiated.”

“Flair Airlines will continue to engage in a consensual mediation with the lessor to remedy the situation,” the statement said.

Flair Airlines launched in 2004 as a charter airline and began offering regularly scheduled service in 2018.

The low-cost, Edmonton-based airline announced in September it planned to become Canada’s third-largest domestic airline by this summer and expand its fleet to 30 aircraft by the end of 2023, serving 70 routes.

It has faced obstacles, including a months-long battle last year over whether its relationship with a Miami-based investor violated rules restricting foreign entities to no more than 49% ownership of a Canadian airline.

The dispute ended when the Canadian Transportation Agency ruled the airline was Canadian and could keep its licence, following Flair’s moves to rejig the composition of its board to ensure at least half the directors are Canadian and to end any unique shareholder rights by the investor.

Winter 2023

Meanwhile, early last week, Flair released its fall-winter 2023 schedule, which adds several new routes as well as added depth across its network – notably to popular sunspots.

“Our network (will offer) more choice to more sun destinations than ever before,” said Flair Airlines President and CEO Stephen Jones.

New service is said to include:

• Toronto to Puerto Vallarta (beginning Oct. 29, 4x weekly)
• Kitchener-Waterloo to Puerto Vallarta (beginning Dec. 16, 3x weekly)
• Calgary to Las Vegas (beginning Oct. 30, 7x weekly)
• Calgary to Phoenix (beginning Oct. 30, 4x weekly), and
• Ottawa to Las Vegas (beginning October 13, 2x weekly)

The airline noted that existing service from Vancouver and Edmonton to Phoenix will move to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for the season, along with the new service from Calgary to Phoenix.

Flair’s announced plans also included daily service on various routes, including Vancouver to Los Angeles and Toronto to Orlando.

Flair has a fleet of 18 aircraft, including 15 Boeing 737 MAX 8s and three Boeing 737-800s.

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

FORGING AHEAD: Britain’s Black Country Living Museum broadens appeal

 600 275 wttc2
By:

Britain’s award-winning Black Country Living Museum, recognizable as backdrop for the popular “Peaky Blinders” Netflix show, is forging ahead with its biggest development since 1978 as the historic attraction adds the story of the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, to its comprehensive social history of the “black country” industrial heartland near Birmingham.

The £30 ($49.9)million project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2024 includes the construction of a new Visitor Centre, opened last year, and the creation of a new Learning Centre.

“We are going to create a new historic development set in the 1940s-60s, telling the story of social, cultural, commercial, and industrial life in the Black Country during this period,” says Ros Kerslake, Past CEO of the National Lottery Heritage Fund. “This will allow us to tell the story of the Black Country up to the closure of the Baggeridge Coal Mine in 1968 – which brought about the end of a unique era for the Black Country. We will also be able to demonstrate industries that led to the worldwide export of Black Country products, such as brick-making and aluminium founding.

He adds, “Whilst the ‘Forging Ahead’ project will recreate and translocate a number of buildings of historical significance to the Black Country, heritage is not just about bricks and mortar, but the stories that are created within them.”

With the help of Britain’s National Lottery, Kerslake says the funding will not only only preserve unique buildings, such as the Gas Showroom, the Elephant & Castle pub, and the Library, but also “the memories that they hold, and ensure that they will not be lost but shared and built upon by future generations.”

Museum

Located in Dudley, just north of the Birmingham (about a 30-minute drive, the 10.5-hectare open-air museum recalls life, both physical and social, in the West Midlands during the Industrial Revolution through historical interpreters (mine manager, chemist, chain maker) and a replica canal side village town cobbled together from real buildings transferred from elsewhere in the region.

Visitors will also find period houses, workshops, and shops, including a working bakery and chippy (renowned for its fish and chips fried in traditional, but now rare, beef drippings). Themed events take place throughout the year, including behind-the-scenes tours and 1940s weekends.

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ROUND-UP: March 6-10, 2023

 600 275 wttc2
By:

The return of world’s biggest travel show (ITB) highlights last week’s round-up, along with protests in France and Israel, improving results from Transat, more summers seats at WestJet, cruise line booking records, and big resort news in Toronto’s north end.

NEWS

ITB Berlin took place last week marking its first in-person event since 2019. And as the global travel industry flocked to the German capital for the world’s largest travel show, the UNWTO announced that more than twice as many people travelled internationally in January as they did at the start of last year. According to UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, the message is clear: “Tourism always comes back!”

Despite a $56.6-million loss in its latest quarter, Transat chief executive Annick Guérard said the company is on an upswing and is headed for a return to profitability. The 2023 Q1 result compares to a loss of $114.3 million a year earlier as its revenue more than tripled. Revenue for the Montreal-based travel company totalled $667.5 million, up from $202.4 million a year earlier.

Plane, trains, and art museums were among the affected in France last week as protests against the government over pension reform continued to rage across the country. The protest even extended to the Louvre museum in Paris, where about 150 employees gathered in the room where Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” is displayed, brandishing a huge banner writing “No to working longer” in front of the iconic painting.

The Biden administration is suing to block JetBlue Airways‘ US$3.8-billion purchase of Spirit Airlines, saying the deal would reduce competition and drive up air fares for consumers.

BY THE NUMBERS

Scotiabank recently surveyed millennials on the features they value in a travel credit card. The top four answers: redeeming points towards the cost of the trip (45%), travel insurance benefits (44%), no foreign transaction fees (14%), and airport lounge access (10%); 14% of respondents cited other features. The survey also found that nearly half of Canadians aged 18-34 (42%), 61% of Gen Z, and a third of Millennials (32%) plan to travel this spring. Those 18-34 are mostly looking to travel domestically (53%), compared to Canadians aged 35-54 (58%) and 55+ (70%) who want to experience an international destination.

AIR

The extension of non-stop service between Montreal and Lyon next winter will make Air Transat the only the carrier to operate the route year-round. Flights will be offered three days a week on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The carrier flies up to seven times per week between Montreal and Lyon in the summer season, one of eight French cities served by the carrier.

Travel agents are now able to view and book Canada Jetlines inventory in Amadeus.

WestJet is making significant increases to its summer schedule, bringing more seats and additional flight frequencies to routes across its network. That includes the following increases: 64% from Regina; 46% Saskatoon; 44% Edmonton; 42% Winnipeg; 27% Calgary; 13% Kelowna; and 55% Vancouver. The summer peak will feature nearly 600 daily departures to domestic, transborder and international destinations.

Azores Airlines will start a new air operation between Montreal and Terceira (Azores) from June 15. The new service will operate on Wednesdays through Sept. 14 and will compliment services already operating from Toronto to Terceira (up to two times per week), as well as up to five times per week service from Toronto to Ponta Delgada.

DEALS

A flash sale at St. Maarten’s Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa (photo) offers savings of up to 45% and a $100 resort credit on three-minimum night stays between May 1 and 29 when booked by March 19. The resort credit can be applied toward an upgrade (subject to availability), Serenity Spa treatment, purchases at Ocean Breeze shop, a bottle of wine from the manager’s international wine list, private romantic dinners and more. Use the promo code “FLASH.”

TOURS

UK operator Evan Evan’s has launched ‘ABBA Voyage’ packages combining tickets and skip-the-line access, plus round-trip transportation on a dedicated ABBA Voyage branded Express coach from Victoria in Central London to the arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in the western part of the city. The smash show blends cutting-edge technology, spectacular lighting, and the band’s most beloved songs in a concert in which virtual band members are truly indistinguishable from the real thing.

 G Adventures has relaunched operations in Peru after a pause necessitated by protests in the South American country that led to the closing of Machu Picchu in February. The tour operator says some small adjustments to tours have been made, but most itineraries will operate as normal.

HOTELS

A “wick-ed” promotion from Hard Rock International continuing through April 30 will give fans the opportunity to “live like” action character John Wick (Keanu Reeves) in conjunction with the fourth installment of the popular film series. Fans will have the chance to win a custom-tailored suit from Paco Delgado, John Wick’s Oscar-nominated costume designer, plus tickets for the premiere, red carpet VIP events, and elevated culinary experiences. Offerings will be available at all Hard Rock Cafe locations in North America and select Hard Rock Cafes in Europe.

 Now open in the historic city of Casco Viejo, the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Panama, is described as the first and only luxury hotel in Panama with an authentic French identity. The hotel is the sixth address in the Sofitel Legend brand portfolio. Directly built out into the water, with unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean and Panama city skyline, the hotel features 159 beautifully appointed rooms and suites; five food and beverage venues, including a rooftop bar and lounge; and an oceanfront pool.

RESORTS

Citing demand from guests who got a taste of eating at the property during the pandemic when Montego Bay restaurants were closed, Jamaica’s S Hotel has become an all-inclusive. With the shift, the 120-room S Hotel Jamaica has added two new restaurants and also introduced new room categories and other offerings including daily yoga and a Jamaican Blue Mountain espresso bar. The hotel opened in 2019 in the heart of the city, astride popular Doctor’s Cave Beach.

A massive new $1-billion entertainment resort is set transform a remote north-western section of Toronto when it opens its doors this summer with a modern Vegas-style casino, integrated 400-room hotel, 5,000-seat live entertainment venue, and multiple on-site dining options. Located at the intersection of highways 401 and 427, about 15 minutes from Toronto Pearson airport, the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto will be set on 13.4 hectares adjacent to the well-known Woodbine Racetrack.

COACH

Megabus, one of the largest bus companies in North America, has begun selling tickets between Detroit and Toronto for the first time as an expansion of a recent partnership with Trailways of New York, the largest and oldest intercity travel provider in New York and select Canadian cities. The partnership expansion will allow for two trips daily between the cities along with stops in Windsor, Chatham, London, and Paris, Ont.

CRUISE

AmaWaterways

As Viking celebrates its 25th anniversary, the company says it has marked a new milestone in January – the most successful single month of bookings in its history. During the month, the company also experienced 18 of its all-time top 20 booking days, including the strongest single day in its history. Also setting a sales record in January was AmaWaterways (photo).

 EXPLORA I, the first of up to six vessels scheduled to join the fleet of Explora Journeys, will be officially named on July 8 in Civitavecchia near Rome, Italy. The ship will then transfer to Southampton, UK, for her inaugural journey on July 17 for a 15-night sailing in Northern Europe to Copenhagen, Denmark. Explora Journeys is the privately-owned luxury lifestyle brand of the MSC Group.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

Through April 30, agents booking a clients’ Flight & Hotel package, tour, or e-package to Europe with Air Canada Vacations (Feb. 1-April 30 for travel this year) will have a chance to win one of two trip prizes for two: a nine-day “Italy Express Europe Tour” package departing on Oct. 15 from Toronto, or “Italy Express Europe Tour,” from Montreal on Oct. 19.  Winners will be announced on May 15, 2023. Multiple entries are permitted; enter bookings with this FORM.

EVENTS

The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will host the PATA Annual Summit and Mart 2023 in Pokhara, Nepal May 29-June 1. The event will be hosted by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). The event is comprised of conference presentations, workshops, and a B2B mart, as well as the PATA Executive Board and Board meetings and Annual General Meeting on May 29.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) has announced the appointment of travel industry veteran Anita Emilio as the Vice President and General Manager, Independent and Luxury pillars in Canada, effective immediately. Emilio returns to Flight Centre after 19 years away, having held senior roles at The Travel Corporation, Travel Counsellors, and most recently Fresh Tracks Canada in the interim.

North Lake Tahoe has engaged Canuckiwi Consulting to lead its destination marketing in Canada including consumer marketing, travel trade, media relations, social media, and ski partnerships. North Lake Tahoe, which is only 45 minutes from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) in Nevada. Contact Corey Marshall, corey@canuckiwi.com.

 DESTINATIONS

The 62nd Annual Can-Am Days in Myrtle Beach, SC, kicked off on the weekend, continuing until March 19. Events, specials, and discounts are on offer all week, some continuing into Spring. “Myrtle Beach has long been considered a second home for so many Canadians and it has been great to see them return over the last few months. During Can-Am Days, we want to especially express our happiness to host them… again,” said CVB president and CEO Karen Riordan. For info, click HERE.

In Antigua and Barbuda, art, music, film, and dance and will take over the twin-island nation during the inaugural Art Week, April 16-22. Themed ‘Culture in Colour,’ the event will showcase local painters, musicians, sculptors, poets, dancers through exhibitions, art walks and studio tours, movies under the stars, and an immersive “sip and paint” experience.

LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY

In 1855, the first train crossed the suspension bridge at Niagara Falls, the day after it had been declared open.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO and Saudi Arabia Partner to Boost Education and Training in Tourism

 700 415 wttc2
By:

 

UNWTO and Saudi Arabia Partner to Boost Education and Training in Tourism - TRAVELINDEX - TOURISMSAUDIARABIA.comRiyadh, Saudi Arabia, March 10, 2023 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will work together to promote education and professional development in tourism.

Education and Training: A Priority for Tourism

As the United Nations specialized agency for tourism, UNWTO has identified education as one of its key priorities for the sector. While tourism is already a leading employer and a top provide of opportunity, most notably for women and youth, UNWTO is working to expand access to education, training and jobs and to support those already working in the sector to develop professionally.

We are working to break down barriers between jobs, skills and training and so deliver on tourism’s massive potential as an employer

UNWTO’s Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili notes: “Our vision is to provide anyone interested in the tourism sector access to the many and varied opportunities it offers, no matter where they are in the world. We are working to break down barriers between jobs, skills and training and so deliver on tourism’s massive potential as an employer.”

Saudi Minister of Tourism, H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb, says “Investing in human capital development is an investment in all our futures. This is a landmark agreement that prioritizes people with a focus on the power of e-learning. Collaborating with UNWTO, we can ensure that development opportunities are accessible worldwide, building the workforce necessary to support a thriving and sustainable future for the sector.”

UNWTO and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Agreement

Against the backdrop of the ITB Berlin, UNWTO signed an agreement with the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The first of its kind, the agreement is focused on the creation of training and quality certification programs in the Kingdom. The training will have a global reach and be built around collaboration in the following areas:

  1. Online Courses: The creation of massive online open courses targeting the global tourism sector workforce, which reaches up to 300 million people. The courses will be managerial as well as vocational and available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish. Topics will include entrepreneurship, innovation, event management, destination management, sustainability, gastronomy, hotel and restaurant operations.
  2. Jobs Factory and Tourism Labor Market Observatory: To promote the creation of added value jobs through capacity building and analysis of the workforce skills in the Kingdom. The initiative will benefit up to 100,000 job seekers and involve at least 50 tourism businesses.
  3. TedQual Quality Certification Programs: Up to 50 tourism education and training programs will be assessed as part of the UNWTO TedQual process. Up to 35 programs in tourism education and training institutions in the Kingdom will participate in this certification program.
  4. Innovation & Digital Transformation: To create programs with the aim of promoting innovation and digital transformation to empower youth and small and medium enterprises in tourism field.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News