Global Travel News

Best Western Named “Best Midscale Hotel Chain” for Eighth Straight Year

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Bangkok, Thailand, October 22, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Best Western Hotels and Resorts was celebrated as the “Best Midscale Hotel Chain – Asia Pacific” at the Travel Weekly Asia Readers’ Choice Awards, solidifying the company’s position as an industry-leading global hospitality brand. This marks the eighth consecutive year that the company has won the award, setting a new milestone for BWH Hotel Group.

“We are delighted and deeply honored to receive the ‘Best Midscale Hotel Chain’ award once again,” said Ron Pohl, President of International Operations and President of WorldHotels, BWH Hotel Group. “The Asia-Pacific region is of critical importance to our brand, and we are committed to expanding our scale across this key region and delivering unparalleled experiences for guests.”

The award ceremony was held in Singapore on October 6th to honor the extraordinary travel suppliers in Asia-Pacific who have distinguished themselves in the last twelve months. These awards aim to celebrate companies, brands and individuals that have gone above and beyond to positively impact the travel industry with outstanding business performance, top-notch innovation and exceptional customer service. The winners were selected based on votes from Travel Weekly Asia’s readership, which includes many of the region’s top travel agents and industry professionals.

“We are extremely grateful to be receiving this prestigious award for the eighth consecutive year,” adds Olivier Berrivin, Vice President of International Operations – APAC, BWH Hotel Group. “It is an acknowledgment of our consistency and long-running success in the region, and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team.”

BWH Hotel Group is an award-winning global network of 4,500 hotels located in over 100 countries and territories, offering 18 distinct brands spanning from luxury to economy. The company has celebrated recent expansion of its global portfolio, which is set to grow by roughly 300 hotels in 2022 alone.

All hoteliers that have recently joined BWH Hotel Group benefit from the brand’s reputation for providing superior guest service, and gain access to the award-winning Best Western Rewards® and WorldHotels RewardsSM programs, which boasts nearly 51 million members worldwide.

For more information about Best Western Hotels & Resorts in Asia, please visit www.bestwesternasia.com

About Best Western Hotels and Resorts
Best Western Hotels and Resorts headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand within the BWH Hotel Group® global network. With 17 brands and approximately 4,500 hotels in over 100 countries and territories worldwide*, BWH Hotel Group suits the needs of developers and guests in every market. Brands include Best Western®, Best Western Plus®, Best Western Premier®, Executive Residency by Best Western®, Vīb®, GLō®, Aiden®, BW Premier Collection®, and BW Signature Collection®. Through the acquisition, WorldHotelsTM Luxury, WorldHotels Elite, WorldHotels Distinctive, and WorldHotels Crafted collections are also offered. Completing the portfolio are SureStay®, SureStay Plus®, SureStay Collection®, and SureStay Studio® franchises**.

* Numbers are approximate, may fluctuate, and include hotels currently in the development pipeline.
**All Best Western, WorldHotels and SureStay branded hotels are independently owned and operated.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Great Wall Motor at Paris Motor Show Accelerates Entry into Europe

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Great Wall Motor at Paris Motor Show Accelerates Entry into Europe - TOP25CARS.com - TRAVELINDEXParis, France, October 22, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Great Wall Motor (GWM) is continuing to establish its leadership in premium and innovative xEVs in Europe at the Paris Motor Show 2022, where it is showcasing to an international audience the all-electric models Funky Cat, Funky Cat GT and The Next Ora Cat from the all-electric brand ORA, as well as the plug-in hybrids Coffee 01 and Coffee 02 from the premium brand WEY.

After launching in Europe at the International Motor Show (IAA Mobility) in 2021, GWM has been intensively preparing its market entry in the first key countries: France and Germany. The Paris Motor Show, which returns after four years, is being held from 17-23 October 2022 and allows all visitors to experience GWM’s innovative technology through a range of vehicles at Pavilion 6, Booth 641, and to test drive them.

Henry Meng, President of GWM Europe, said: “The slogan of the Paris Motor Show this year: ‘Revolution is on’, embodies much of what GWM also stands for: premium vehicles that enable a new, self-determined lifestyle with intelligent technology. We are pleased to be able to show our electrified products and have a presence as a company at the Paris Motor Show. Europe is the most important market for us outside of China. And that’s why the Paris Motor Show is the optimal opportunity to showcase both GWM and our vehicles to the European market.”

Carefree into the future – with the GWM ORA models
ORA is GWM’s fashionable ‘Pure Electric Brand’ and is aimed at a young, urban and progressive target groups. The three models being presented at the show are:
– ORA Funky Cat: The successor to the ORA Cat launched last year at the IAA Mobility in Munich. Retro, but fresh and futuristic – the 100 percent electric Funky Cat is ready for big adventures, with a range of 310 km. The ORA Funky Cat will begin its first deliveries in Germany in the fall of 2022. Next in line will be the UK and Israel.
– ORA Funky Cat GT: The sportier model of ORA Funky Cat. The sharpened front end gives it that certain something, and the inlays in the front and rear bumpers make it clear that this model is different. GT drivers will also enjoy special air vents and a version-specific steering wheel.
– The Next Ora Cat: The sporty technology, elegant design and a high level of comfort come seamlessly together: the four-door, all-electric coupe has an elegant appearance thanks to its curved design elements and frameless doors. The Next Ora Cat comes standard with all-wheel drive and 19-inch tires. With a maximum torque of 680 Nm, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds.

WEY Coffee 01 and WEY Coffee 02 – comfort meets intelligence
Apart from the all-electric city cars, GWM is also displaying its latest premium SUV models: WEY Coffee 01 and Coffee 02.
– WEY Coffee 01: This premium plug-in hybrid vehicle is GWM’s flagship model and meets the highest European standards. ‘Smart Driving’, ‘Smart Cockpit’ and ‘Smart Device’ are the underlying concepts that make WEY the pioneer of a new generation of intelligent vehicles. The purely electric range can drive up to 150 kilometers. It goes from 0 to 100 km/h in 5 seconds and on to 235 km/h.
– WEY Coffee 02: This model, like the Coffee 01, offers convenience and technology for the whole family. With four cameras for a 360˚ all-round view, smart driving assistance and a 14.6-inch multimedia touchscreen, it offers comfort and safety that meets even the highest demands. The transparent car floor is an absolute eyecatcher.

About Great Wall Motor
Great Wall Motor (GWM) is a Global Intelligent Technology Company. The company made its initial public offerings on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in 2003 and the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2011. With more than 80 subsidiaries and affiliates, GWM employs more than 70,000 people. Its automobile sales have exceeded one million units per annum for six years running. In addition to China, GWM sells its high-quality automobiles in more than 60 markets through an overseas network that covers more than 700 locations worldwide.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Accor to Open Grand Mercure Phu Quoc with Meyland

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Accor to Open Grand Mercure Phu Quoc with Meyland - TRAVELINDEXPhu Quoc, Vietnam, October 21, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Accor further expands its portfolio in Southeast Asia with the signing of Grand Mercure Hotel in Phu Quoc, Vietnam. In partnership with Meyland, the premium hotel will feature 200 keys, offering extensive leisure and convention facilities with a bold and multi-sensory design for an immersive guest experience.

Grand Mercure Phu Quoc will enjoy a strategic location on Vietnam’s largest island, 11km from Phu Quoc International Airport, which is connected to key cities across Southeast Asia. The resort will offer three restaurants, meeting and event facilities, a wellness centre that features fitness amenities, a spa and a swimming pool. The property will join Accor’s eight properties in Phu Quoc, affirming the group’s position as the leading hotel operator on the island.

“We are delighted to expand our presence in Phu Quoc with the launch of a Grand Mercure resort. Our co-operation with Meyland represents a promising future for Vietnam with major corporations foreseeing continued growth of the hospitality sector and choosing to expand their operations to include hospitality. We are proud to be the first hotel management partner of Meyland and we are confident that the Grand Mercure brand will add substantial value to their hospitality portfolio,” said Garth Simmons, Chief Executive Officer, Accor Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea.

Grand Mercure Hotels & Resorts tempts travellers with a charming and inviting hotel experience that appeals to their imagination and insatiable sense of discovery. With its debut in Asia Pacific nearly 20 years ago, the Grand Mercure network consists of more than 55 hotels that embrace cultural tradition, locally influenced cuisine and inspired artistic expression.

Accor is the leading international hotel operator in Vietnam, with 40 hotels currently operating and 50 additional projects in the pipeline.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

The 16th Thailand Retail, Food and Hospitality Services Opens in Bangkok

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The 16th Thailand Retail, Food and Hospitality Services Opens in Bangkok - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, October 20, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Thailand Retail, Food & Hospitality Services 2022 trade show opened today in Bangkok. In its 16th edition, TRAFS serves as the most effective face to face platform between sellers and buyers, to meet new potentials, to launch new products and services to serve the increasing demands of flourishing food service and hospitality businesses in Thailand and ASEAN region.

The 4-day tradeshow is packed with many unique activities for the professionals to upskill their knowledge, i.e. professional seminars, workshops (food, coffee and bakery), live theater by industry experts, as well as one on one business matching.

The show organized by Kavin Intertrade is unique as it combines three international trade show under one roof, “One-stop-shop: food service, hotel, retail and franchise solutions.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau and graced by the following dignitaries:
– Mr. Mohamed Hafiz Md Shariff, Trade Commissioner, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, Matrade,
– Mr. Max Chang Director, Taiwan External Trade Development Council, Taitra
– Dato Mike Loh Ming Choon, President, Founder & CEO, ASEAN Retail-Chains and Franchise Federation, Malaysia
– Mr. Michele Tomea, Secretary General of TICC, Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce (TICC)
– Mr. Ha Jeongwon Main Project Manager, The Korea Rice Foodstuffs Association
– Mr. Meechai Amornpathanakul, Chairman of the Barista Association of Thailand
– Mr. Li Feng Chief Representative, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade
– Mr. Joo Yong Lee, Managing Director, aT Korea agro trade center Bangkok
– Mr. Thongpoon Duangchompoo, Secretary, Food and Beverage Management Association, Thailand
– Chef Thongliam Pookthong, President The Chef Association Thailand

The first show is the 16th Thailand Retail, Food & Hospitality Services (TRAFS) – Thailand’s Number 1 show of equipment and raw materials for restaurants, cafes, F&B, and food services. The show is an excellent platform for hoteliers, restaurant managers, café owners, and those in food services to purchase or source new equipment and raw material, both food and drinks, from more than 100 Thais & international exhibitors, with more than 7,000 items worldwide.

With the support from the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), together with hotel and food industry associations, the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce, and leading food schools, the organizer has crafted many unique activities that are free to join so the visitors can get the most out of their visits, such as food and bakery demonstration workshops, barista intensive classes, and food and hotel industry seminars.

“The intention is to help up skills professionals in the industries, thus boosting the industry standard and creating new jobs,” said the Managing Director.

The second show is “ASEAN Retail” – established in 2016, internationally focused; ASEAN Retail is Thailand’s only “Total Retail Platform Solution.” The show is well-positioned as the best show for the retail industry in response to vibrant retail market demand in Thailand, dubbed “Shopping Paradise” in ASEAN. The four-day exhibition is packed with innovations and ideas supporting the retail industry’s high demand.

“In its 7th edition, exhibitors from Thailand, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and China, will showcase their retail products in full array from the latest technology to serve the booming e-commerce, and shop fittings such as receipt printer, UV printing, transaction monitoring, and regulatory reporting software, artificial intelligence cloud platform, touchscreen displays, POS-CRM & loyalty program, e-money services, power socket, digital technologies for eCommerce businesses and consulting services, etc.”, said Mr. Kavin.

The third show is the 18th Thailand Franchise & Business Opportunities (TFBO) – Thailand’s most significant international franchise trade show. It is well-recognized as the “Most Effective Platform” between franchise brand owners and investors from Thailand, ASEAN, and the global markets. Investors will meet with almost 150 popular franchise brands from Thailand, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, the U.S.A., India, etc., covering ten franchise categories from food to drinks, bakery, delivery service, car care, beauty, retail shop, laundromat, vending machines, etc.

“The show offers a great experience exploring new business and investment opportunities. In addition, the four-day exhibition is packed with exciting activities such as business matching and seminars led by industry gurus”. Mr. Kavin mentioned.

Kavin Kittiboonya, Managing Director of Kavin Intertrade Co, Ltd said, “Established in 1999, the company has experienced unprecedented growth and success, acclamations from industry leaders, government agencies, and local and international associations. We are proud to be part of the exhibition industry that generated Bt53 billion and created more than 43,000 jobs yearly.

With over two decades of experience, Kavin Intertrade has managed more than 150 trade shows and owns a portfolio of 10 premium, industry-specific trade, and consumer events.

Based in the heart of Bangkok, the company employs 26 highly experienced and dedicated staff. “The team takes great care of each step from preparation, conceptualization, execution, promotion, and facilitation. Our approach to business is unique, emphasizing local roots and global reach. Our intention is to create energetic, educational, and invigorating environments to achieve business goals of providing a business platform between sellers and buyers,” said the MD.

Other companies’ s own trade shows are:
– Thailand Coffee Tea & Drinks and Thailand Bakery & Ice Cream (16th edition)
The longest international B2B2C show for the rapidly growing coffee, tea, bakery, and confectionery industries in Thailand and ASEAN.

– Khon Kaen Coffee Bakery Ice-cream & Franchise (KICE)
KICE is the largest coffee, bakery, ice cream, and franchise event in the Northeastern region. The B2B2C show is packed with exciting activities throughout the 3-day event, such as workshops, seminars, and business matching.

– Pub and Bar Asia
The only trade show dedicated to the boutique and independent restaurant, pub & bar community in Southeast Asia. The trade show is the go-to platform for hospitality professionals to launch new products, reinforce new contacts with existing customers and explore new opportunities. Back with a robust database of importers/ distributors/ users in Thailand and ASEAN countries to ensure success.

– ASEAN Cold Pharma Chain and ASEAN Logistics & Warehouse
ASEAN Cold Pharma Chain and ASEAN Logistics & Warehouse is a “complete” platform for four key clusters, namely Cold Chain, Cold Pharma Chain, Logistics and Warehouse, to line manufacturers, distributors, service providers, and direct users in the four clusters to meet together.

Some show Managements include;

– Bangkok International Gift Fair & Bangkok International Houseware Fair (BIG + BIH) 2014 & 2015 (Turnkey Contract)
Project Owner: Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce, Thailand (DITP)

The company organized, promoted, and executed the big annual international trade fair for DITP on a turnkey contract. The fair serves as the most reputable fair for gifts, and home decor industries are internationally recognized as one of Asia’s most prominent and aesthetic events.

– TEA Webinar Series 2021: Potentials and Outlook of Thailand’s Exhibition (Turnkey Contract)
Project Owner: Thai Exhibition Association (TEA)
The company organized and executed three webinar series for the Thailand Exhibition Association (TEA)*, which served as an online platform to connect Thai exhibition organizers and related parties and share their best practices, experiences, and visions with participants.

The topics covered international market trends and perspectives, Thailand’s opportunities during Covid-19, and Thailand’s economic recovery.

– World Tea and Coffee Expo (Turnkey Contract)
Project Owner: Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) – TCEB

The World Tea and Coffee Expo: The 2nd Tea and Coffee International Symposium is the largest tea and coffee event in northern Thailand, under the theme of “From Local to Global.” The exposition brought together 50 exhibitors, both Thais and international. In addition, trade buyers and visitors will meet the leading manufacturers, distributors, importers, and suppliers covering the whole supply chain.

The event was divided into four essential parts; symposium, trade show, business matching, and familiarization trip to promote tea and coffee as incentive routes, to pave the way for Northern Thailand as a global hub for coffee and tea production, trade, investment, and tourism.

Thailand has a strong position to be the exhibition hub of ASEAN; with its strategic location in the heartland of Southeast Asia and ASEAN, Thailand offers exhibitors a strong advantage for tapping wider markets beyond the country.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

SUNWING RETURNS TO SASKATCHEWAN THIS WINTER:

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Sunwing is returning to the province of Saskatchewan this winter season, with weekly flights being offered from Saskatoon and Regina airports starting in November and running until April. The tour operator’s return will provide more options for local residents to travel to sun destinations this winter at affordable prices, at a time of rapidly increasing customer demand for tropical getaways.

“We are pleased to announce our winter flight schedule for Saskatoon and Regina, offering residents accessibly priced vacation packages with the convenience of travelling from their local airports,” said Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations for Sunwing. “With demand for all inclusive travel continuing to rise, we encourage our customers in Saskatchewan to book their winter getaways early to lock in their preferred resort in their destination of choice, while enjoying incredible savings during our Save More Event.”

“Saskatoon Airport is thrilled to welcome Sunwing back with a robust winter program. After several tough years, we know Saskatoonians, and residents from the surrounding communities we serve, are eager to escape the cold winter months and recharge with some much-missed sun and sand,” said CJ Dushinski, Vice President, Business Development and Service Quality at Saskatoon Airport. “Sunwing plays a big role in escaping the winter climate in Saskatchewan, and we eagerly await the first flight of the season!”

The winter flight schedule from Saskatoon and Regina:

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

LISTENING IN: Hats off to Fats

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The New Orleans street where one of the founders of rock ‘n’ roll spent most of his life was renamed this week in his honour. A community-wide Second line and Musical Celebration was held at the long-time home of Antoine “Fats” Domino on Caffin Avenue, which is now be known as Antoine “Fats” Domino Avenue.

Domino sold more than 110 million records, with hits including “Blueberry Hill,” ″Ain’t That a Shame” – originally titled “Ain’t It A Shame” – and other standards of rock ‘n’ roll.

Rev. Willie Calhoun, who has lived in the Lower 9 his whole life and was one of the celebration’s organizers, said the recognition for Domino was a long-time coming.

“Fats never left the city and he’s never really been celebrated, even though he chose to stay in New Orleans and to raise his family in the Lower 9,” Calhoun said. “He had a choice to live anywhere he wanted and he made the choice to live right here.

Domino survived the massive flooding that followed Hurricane Katrina’s landfall on Aug. 29, 2005, but had to be rescued by boat from his home, where he tried to ride out the storm.

Domino died Oct. 24, 2017, of natural causes at the age of 89, and our tears fell like rain.

Lyrics

You made me cry
When you said goodbye
Ain’t that a shame?
My tears fell like rain
Ain’t that a shame?
You’re the one to blame

You broke my heart
When you said we’ll part
Ain’t that a shame?
My tears fell like rain
Ain’t that a shame?
You’re the one to blame

Oh, well, goodbye
Although I’ll cry
Ain’t that a shame?
My tears fell like rain
Ain’t that a shame?
You’re the one to blame

You made me cry
When you said goodbye
Ain’t that a shame?
My tears fell like rain
Ain’t that a shame?
You’re the one to blame

Oh well, goodbye
Although I’ll cry
Ain’t that a shame?
My tears fell like rain
Ain’t that a shame?
You’re the one to blame

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ITB Asia Returns as Asia’s Largest Travel Trade Show

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ITB Asia returns as Asia’s Largest Travel Trade Show - TRAVELINDEXSingapore, Singapore, October 20, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / ITB Asia, ‘Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show’, now in its 15th year, gracefully opened today at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. Co-located with MICE Show Asia and Travel Tech Asia, the 3-in-1 show will run as an in-person event until Friday, 21 October 2022.

Reflecting renewed confidence in MICE events, ITB Asia 2022 has attracted over 80 National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) and Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs). Under the anchor theme, “Go Big & Go Forward: Travel Industry on the Road to Recovery and Growth”, travel leaders who are at the top of their respective industries will share insights on key trends and how to stay competitive and quickly maximise growth potential.

Commenting on this year’s in-person event, Dr Martin Buck, Senior Vice President, Messe Berlin GmbH, said: “With the industry in Asia optimistic again, we are delighted to bring international travel professionals back to Singapore for meaningful business, networking and learning through face-to-face interactions. It remains crucial for us to offer a balanced mix of geographic markets and sectors such as MICE, leisure, corporate travel and travel tech to ensure a high-quality buyer-seller experience, thus maintaining ITB Asia’s position as the leading business platform in the APAC region”.
As a global stage, the 3-in1- show presents a strong participation from NTO and RTO

Over the course of the next three days, the strong exhibition and attendee participation continues to facilitate business appointments for attendees around the world to engage with key clients and partners. The show welcomes participation from over 80 National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) and Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) including Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, Business Events Perth, Busan Tourism Organization, Coahoma County Tourism Mississippi, Czech Tourism Authority, Department of Tourism and Creative Economy of Jakarta, Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, Dubrovnik Tourist Board, Gangwon Tourism Organization, Gyeonggi Tourism Organization, Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center, Istanbul Airport, Japan National Tourism Organization, Jeju Convention & Visitors Bureau, Jeonbuk Culture and Tourism Foundation, Karnataka Tourism, Kerala Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Madhya Pradesh Tourism, Malta Tourism Authority, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism Lao PDR, Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority, Penang Global Tourism, , Sabah Tourism Board, Sarawak Tourism Board, Saudi Tourism Authority, Saxony Tourism Germany, Seoul Tourism Organization, Silk Road Samarkand Tourist Complex, Singapore Tourism Board, Taipei City Government, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Tourism Fiji, Tourism Ireland, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines, Tourism Seychelles, Tourism Development Support Fund of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ulsan Tourism Organization, Vanuatu Tourism, Visit Almaty, visitBerlin, Visit Brussels, Visit Estonia, Visit Finland, Visit Guam, Visit Iceland, Visit Jordan, Visit Levi, Visit Maldives, Visit Monaco, Visit Rovaniemi, Visit Sarajevo, Visit Turku Archipelago and Zagreb Tourist Board.

The organisers are delighted to count on strong partners in the revival Asia’s leading travel tradeshow. Marina Bay Sands is the Official Partner Hotel, Saudi Tourism Authority is the Official Partner Country and Berlin Brandenburg Airport is the Official Partner Airport of this year’s in-person show.

ITB Asia 2022 has assembled a top-notch conference programme

The 100+ session themed agenda, led by over 180 leading industry speakers and innovators will have over 3950 minutes of high-powered content across three conference tracks: Knowledge Theatre, MICE Show Asia & Travel Tech Asia. This year’s conference programme has been specifically curated to support the travel industry and will discuss topics critical to the future of MICE, corporate travel, leisure travel and travel technology.

As part of the Day 1-keynote line up (19 October), Michael Dykes, Vice President, Marketing Management (APAC), Expedia Group will provide insights on what will disrupt and change the way we travel and do business in his keynote, titled, “Travel in Action, Digitally”. Named, “Rebuilding Confidence: How COVID-19 Fostered a More Resilient Future for Travel”, Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific (Excluding Greater China), Marriott International will deliver a keynote speech on the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic that paved the way for remarkable moments of resilience, new business models, and ingenuity across travel sectors.

The morning keynotes conclude with a Keynote Fireside Chat on “Looking Toward 2025: Where Travel Will Be” featuring the keynote speakers Michael Dykes and Rajeev Menon who take a look ahead in three years’ time or even further. Together with moderator Monica Pitrelli, Editor at CNBC Travel, the two industry leaders will figure out what challenges will come next, what innovations will take place, and how the industry can adapt and evolve in a fast-changing world.

Tomorrow (20 October), attendees can look forward to hearing a panel discussion on Meaningful Tourism as the new paradigm for the post-pandemic development of global tourism. Titled, “Beyond Sustainability – Meaningful Tourism as the “New Normal” Offering Benefits for All Stakeholders” the session welcomes Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt, CEO, Meaningful Tourism Center as Chairman and Burkhard Kieker, CEO, visitBerlin and three winners of the Meaningful Tourism Award 2022, as expert speakers, exploring best practice examples of Meaningful Tourism that can provide quality, benefits and satisfaction for all industry players. The names of the 18 winners of Meaningful Tourism Awards 2022 will also be announced at this session.

Travel Tech Asia Partners with Singapore Venture & Private Capital Association (SVCA)

Since its launch in 2019, Travel Tech Asia has been a must-attend event for all Travel Tech industry professionals. The face-to-face exhibition and conference offer both B2B appointments and thought-provoking conference programme for travel tech decision-makers and suppliers.

Travel Tech Asia partners with the Singapore Venture & Private Capital Association (SVCA) to co-organise a panel discussion session featuring executives from its member venture capital firms to discuss the investable opportunities in the “TravelTech” space in Southeast Asia. Titled “VC Opportunities in TravelTech in Post-Pandemic SEA”, the panel discussion will be led by moderator Sang Han, Partner, Cento Ventures, and hear first-hand sharing from Tiang Lim Foo, Co-Founder and Partner, Forge Ventures, Murli Ravi, Co-Founder, Tin Men Capital and Joe Zhang, Principal, TNB Aura, on what venture capitalists in the region are looking to explore to broaden the industry’s understanding of the venture capital perspective.

Over the past three years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, travel tech innovations have gone from futuristic to familiar, shaping the way people travel throughout their entire journeys. The Tech Leaders’ Panel, titled “The Future is Digital” will bring together experts from across the travel ecosystem to talk about the latest innovations that will impact travellers’ next journeys, as well as strategies for travel brands to up their 4.0 game. Confirmed speakers include Khang Nguyen Trieu, Group Chief Technology Architect at Accor, Terence Eng, CTO at FCM Travel Asia, Bryant Kok, Director, Digital Transformation & Information Technology at Gardens by the Bay, Wong Ming Fai, CTO at Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Jane Lim, Vice President, Global Markets at Tripadvisor. The panel will be moderated by Jeff Pan, Venture Builder at McKinsey & Company.

MICE Leaders to Reconnect and Schedule Meetings at MICE Show Asia

With a strong international participation and long-standing support from speakers and partners from world renowned MICE associations and leading MICE companies, MICE Show Asia 2022 will bring together industry suppliers, meetings & events professionals and emerging MICE innovators to connect and build the future of MICE.

The MICE Leaders’ Panel, titled “Return to a World Transformed: Revitalising MICE for a New Era”, will feature a discussion where professionals, buyers and sellers of travel and meetings services explore how different players in the MICE ecosystem can work together to deliver a better bottom line and future for the industry. The panel will be moderated by Richard Ireland, President, Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS). Confirmed panellists include Patricia Cheong, Managing Director Asia, International Conference Services (ICS), Waikin Wong, Regional Director Asia Pacific, ICCA – International Congress and Convention Association, Wee Min Ong, Vice President of Conventions & Exhibitions, Marina Bay Sands, Ashwin Gunasekeran, CEO, Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau and Arnold T. Gonzales, Head, MICE Department, Tourism Promotions Board Philippines.

About ITB Asia
ITB Asia, Asia’s leading travel trade show, is organised by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd and supported by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau. The annual B2B trade show and convention will feature hundreds of exhibiting companies from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, covering not only the leisure market, but also MICE and corporate travel. Exhibitors from every sector of the industry, including destinations, airlines and airports, hotels and resorts, theme parks and attractions, inbound tour operators, inbound DMCs, cruise lines, spas, venues, other meeting facilities and travel technology companies are expected to attend.

ITB Asia is the premier meeting place for the travel trade industry to forge new partnerships and strengthen existing business relationships with the most important players in the region.

About MICE Show Asia
MICE Show Asia is the premier MICE event in Asia where incentive travel, meetings and events industries come together to connect and build the future of MICE. The annual B2B trade show and convention features industry suppliers, meetings & events professionals to up-and-coming MICE innovators from a wide range of disciplines, sectors and all levels of seniority. The show is co-located with ITB Asia and Travel Tech Asia.

About Travel Tech Asia
Travel Tech Asia is the premier travel technology show in Asia. The trade show is where latest technologies, emerging trends, leading travel brands and innovative start-ups are all at one place to create the new possibilities of travel. From travel tech suppliers, innovative start-ups to leading travel brands who are at the forefront of the industry transformation, Travel Tech Asia welcomes attendees from all levels of seniority across a wide range of disciplines and sectors in the travel industry. The show will be co-located with ITB Asia and MICE Show Asia.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PATA Appoints Award-Winning Photographer Scott A. Woodward as Visual Ambassador

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PATA Appoints Award-Winning Photographer Scott A. Woodward as Visual Ambassador - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, October 20, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to announce the appointment of multi-award-winning photographer Scott A. Woodward as its Ambassador for Visual Storytelling through Photography.

“Scott Woodward’s photography work is both engaging and inspiring,” said PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera. “Beyond his stunning images, which have appeared in National Geographic Magazine, Condé Nast Traveller and Travel + Leisure among many other international titles, his photographs also have the ability to deliver unique insights, given his innate respect and admiration for indigenous peoples, culture and heritage. They go beyond being just being pretty social media images by providing windows into the local culture, heritage and peoples. He’s also used his lens to shed light on solutions to global concerns including hospitality education for poverty alleviation and children’s cancer in developing nations.”
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Sala Bai Hotel & Restaurant School is a tuition-free hospitality training institution in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Aimed at helping Cambodia’s most disadvantaged youth, Sala Bai’s vocational training is the fastest and most efficient way of fighting poverty, human trafficking, and teenage prostitution. Providing students with the skills and experience necessary to secure gainful employment in one of the city’s numerous hotels, guesthouses or restaurants, Sala Bai helps empower these young people, resulting economic independence and increasing the students’ — and their families’ — quality of life. This is a portrait of Soksara, one of Sala Bai’s nearly 2,000 graduates, at the Siem Reap luxury hotel where she was employed.

Deep inside the Indonesian rainforest of central Sumatra lives the Tesso Nilo Elephant Flying Squad. This group of domesticated elephants and their specially trained mahouts are operated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry. The squad’s mission is to provide a secure haven for Riau Province’s largest remaining wild elephant population. Elephant numbers have declined in Riau from more than 1,600 in 1985 to as few as 350 today, about 150 of which live in Tesso Nilo National Park. By patrolling the fringes of the park, the squad helps prevent wild elephants from invading farms and villages – where they can cause immense damage and run the risk of being injured or killed by angry farmers and villagers – by carefully driving them back into the jungle. The Elephant Flying Squad is in constant battle to bring harmony to the local environment by mitigating human-elephant conflict.

A man who is in tune with his humanity, Mr Woodward has contributed his talent towards numerous philanthropic and anthro-cultural projects. These include documentaries for Sala Bai, a charity hospitality training institution in Cambodia that educates the poorest segment of society; for the benefit of children with cancer in developing nations (How I Live); as well as a reportage on the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF’s) Elephant Flying Squad in the Tesso Nilo National Park in central Sumatra, focusing on wildlife and habitat protection. The PATA Foundation has ongoingly been a supporter of the Sala Bai school in Cambodia over the past ten years.

Parents of patients at Yangon Children’s Hospital (YCH) in Yangon, Myanmar crowd around the nurse’s station where the caregivers prepare, label, and register the blood samples before sending them for testing. YCH is the main paediatric oncology facility in Myanmar. For a country with a population of 53 million – 25% of which are under 25 years old – this unit operates at greater than 100% capacity. The photographs in this series are part of a larger documentary project titled ‘How I Live with Cancer’ created in close partnership with the Dana Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer Center and Persistent Productions, which aims to chronicle the patients being treated within the paediatric oncology units in healthcare systems within LMIC (Lower Middle Income Countries) and how they are working to close the survival gap versus HICs (High Income Countries).

A master artisan dedicated to the preservation of the weaving tradition of the T’boli culture, Yab Man is a dreamweaver who learned the craft from her mother. The first T’nalak design she made was the Bagu K’lung and the weaving legacy lives on through her, as she has in turn has passed the knowledge on to her daughter, Elena. The golden morning light dancing off the threads feels symbolic of the promise and magic of what is to yet be created.

“According to our newly released edition of PATA’s Issues & Trends, one of the key drivers of positivity in online social sentiment about Asia Pacific travel is impactful photography. Certainly, people have been taking photos on their travels for as long as we can remember. But increasingly, travellers are yearning for meaningful experiences abroad and are keen to capture these on camera to mark their journey of seeing and learning about the world and about themselves. And Scott Woodward is just the person to inspire them and show them how they can achieve this,” she added.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr Woodward said, “I am honoured and thrilled to be PATA’s Ambassador for Visual Storytelling through Photography. It was my father who introduced me to photography when I was a young boy. He taught me how to operate a manual camera, as well as how to compose an image and use light effectively. More importantly, he instilled in me a sense of curiosity and adventure, and these are the very traits that truly make me a photographer. I am excited to share what else I have learnt to help travellers capture compelling imagery that tells stories and speaks about their personal journeys.”

Originally from Canada, Scott Woodward is now based in the Philippines. He has spent the last 25 years living, exploring and telling stories across Asia. He regularly produces editorial features for publications around the world, and has photographed advertising campaigns for numerous global brands.

Mr. Woodward has received many accolades for his work, including being named “One of Asia’s Finest Photographers” by Nikon. He has also been twice honoured by inclusion in the Luerzer’s Archive of “200 Best Advertising Photographers Worldwide”. He’s a both a Nikon Professional Photographer and a frequent Apple collaborator and iPhone content creator and during the COVID-19 pandemic hosted one of Apple’s first internationally-broadcast virtual iPhone photography workshops.

Mr Woodward will be sharing his expertise and experience at the Association’s upcoming Asia Pacific forum for travel, the PATA Annual Summit 2022 in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE (located just outside Dubai) from October 26-27.

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 official offices or representation in Beijing and London.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

SOCOTEC Certification International Announced as GSTC-Recognized Standard

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SOCOTEC Certification International Announced as GSTC-Recognized Standard - TRAVELINDEXParis, France, October 20, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The Global Sustainable Tourism Council is pleased to announce that SOCOTEC Certification International, the Certification-specialized subsidiary of the SOCOTEC group, has achieved the ‘GSTC-Recognized Standard’ status for its Sustainability Management System for Hotels.

The Sustainability Management System provided by SOCOTEC Certification International helps organizations and tourism businesses (travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGOs and communities, to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism. The GSTC-Recognized status refers to the standard itself, indicating that a sustainable tourism standard or system has been reviewed by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Assurance Panel and deemed the standard or system equivalent to the GSTC Criteria for sustainable tourism. It shows that the set of standards is based on the four pillars of the GSTC Criteria: Sustainable Management, Socioeconomic, Cultural, and Environmental principles. GSTC Recognition does not relate to the process of certification or accreditation.

“As an internationally recognized and independent third-party certification body, we are very pleased to achieve this important pillar in our mission to build a safer and more sustainable world. Result of few months of workshops preparation and on-the-field research with hotel groups, our standard is fully designed and adapted to elevate and recognize the significant efforts of the hotel sector to contribute to the CSR and Sustainability challenges of today. Based on our worldwide auditing experience in various sectors, we are convinced that our teams of experts will bring a real added value to the hotel sector sustainability challenges,” said Xavier Daniel, SOCOTEC Certification International General Manager.

“GSTC is pleased to see SOCOTEC join other standards owners in harmonizing their approach with the GSTC Criteria, the inclusively-created global standards for sustainable tourism,” said Randy Durband, Chief Executive Officer of GSTC.

Currently, 11 destination standards, 36 hotel standards, and 15 tour operator standards have achieved GSTC-Recognized status. The status offers the market proof that these standards adhere to international norms. GSTC Recognition does not ensure that a certification process is reliable, only that the set of standards used to certify are equivalent to the GSTC Criteria. GSTC-Recognized standard owners are encouraged to follow and complete the accreditation process, which assures that the certification process used to apply the standard meets international best practice, transparency, and rigor. A list of GSTC-Accredited certification bodies is available here.

About the GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are two sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, and Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources, while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.

The GSTC Criteria form the foundation for Accreditation of Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services; GSTC provides an accreditation program through its partner Assurance Services International to accredit Certification Bodies. The GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership, including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGO’s, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism.

About SOCOTEC
SOCOTEC Certification International is a subsidiary of the SOCOTEC group, that provides management system assessments and accredited ISO certification services to organizations around the world since 1995.

Accompanying companies for 70 years, the SOCOTEC Group, chaired by Hervé Montjotin, has built its reputation as an independent trusted third-party in the fields of risk management, compliance, safety, health and environment in the Building, Real Estate, Infrastructure and Industry sectors.As a guarantor of the integrity, sustainability and performance of built assets, SOCOTEC is developing a range of services in testing, inspection and certification, from technical control, the group’s historical expertise, to technical consulting and risk management services. Its expertise enables it to support its private and public sector clients throughout the life cycle of their buildings and equipment in order to strengthen their sustainability.

No. 1 in construction inspection in France, No. 1 in geotechnical services and construction quality control in the United Kingdom and Italy, the group is a major player in TIC (Testing Inspection Certification) services in the Construction and Infrastructure sectors in Europe and the United States. The SOCOTEC group has consolidated revenues of €1 billion in 2021 (50% of which generated outside France) with 200,000 clients. With a presence in 25 countries and 10,000 employees, it has more than 250 external accreditations, enabling it to act as a trusted third-party in many projects.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Marriott International to Acquire City Express Brand to Fuel Growth in Affordable Midscale Segment

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City Express Hotels

Mario LopeZ Ramirez

Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR) announced today that it has reached an agreement with Hoteles City Express, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: HCITY) to acquire the highly regarded City Express brand portfolio, marking Marriott’s entry into the affordable midscale segment with its 31st brand.

The portfolio is currently comprised of 152 hotels, including 17,356 rooms across 75 cities in Mexico and three additional countries in Latin America. Upon closing of the transaction, the brand and hotel portfolio will become part of Marriott’s franchise system. Marriott will also acquire the franchise rights to five under-construction projects in the pipeline, representing an additional 676 rooms. Marriott expects to update the brand name with its signature “by Marriott” endorsement.

Under the terms of the agreement, Marriott will pay $100 million for Hoteles City’s brand portfolio (City Express, City Express Plus, City Express Suites, City Express Junior, and City Centro), associated trademarks, domains and related intellectual property, the City Premios loyalty program, and other assets and liabilities related to the brand. Stabilized franchise fees are anticipated to be approximately $10 million for the existing portfolio.

As the largest hospitality company in the world, Marriott has a proven track record of growing regional brands by utilizing its global development engine as well as its extensive programs and revenue systems, such as the award-winning Marriott Bonvoy® loyalty platform and innovative digital travel programs including Marriott.com and the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app. The transaction is expected to make Marriott the largest hotel company in the Caribbean and Latin America (“CALA”), increasing its presence in the region by 45 percent, to 486 properties across 37 countries. Given the high-growth nature of the affordable midscale segment, the company sees a meaningful opportunity to further expand the City Express by Marriott brand in the CALA region, as well as in other locations.

“This transaction with Hoteles City Express is a strategic win for Marriott and our customers, associates and owners and franchisees,” said Anthony Capuano, Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International. “We’re excited to enter a new lodging category – the popular affordable midscale segment where we see significant potential. With City Express by Marriott, we will be providing our customers with more choice through a new, approachable, moderate-priced offering, increasing opportunity for owners and franchisees as well as associates.”

Hoteles City Express is a Mexico-based company founded in 2002 by Luis Barrios. The company’s brand portfolio provides customers a range of mid-scale properties that include urban, suburban, and extended stay offerings in Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Chile. With exceptional brand recognition among Latin American travelers, the brand has been awarded the prestigious designation of “Marca Notoria” in Mexico for its hospitality sector leadership and brand recognition.

“When we started thinking about City Express, we were convinced that a modern, efficient, and affordable brand would be very attractive to the local traveler. After our first 20 years, we are very excited and honored to work alongside Marriott, a company we’ve always admired, to take the brand to the next level,” said Luis Barrios, CEO of Hoteles City. “After having the opportunity to work with the Marriott team, we confirmed that we share common cultural values and a similar approach to hospitality.”

“Our goal is to be everywhere our guests want us to be, with the right property in the right location and at the right price point,” said Brian King, President, Caribbean and Latin America, Marriott International. “This transaction with Hoteles City Express will expand our ability to do exactly that – initially in CALA, with opportunity around the world. We can’t wait to welcome City Express’s customers and continue the tradition of high-quality hotels and authentic hospitality established by Luis Barrios and his team.”

The closing of the transaction is subject to various customary conditions, including the approval by COFECE. Marriott expects the transaction could close between the end of 2022 and the first half of 2023.

Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws, including statements related to the company’s expectations regarding closing the transaction; the resulting impact on the size of the company’s brand and hotel portfolio and entry into a new market segment; future growth opportunities, plans and expectations; anticipated franchise fees; the benefits of the transaction; the company’s expectations regarding the “by Marriott” brand endorsement; and similar statements concerning possible future events or expectations that are not historical facts. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous evolving risks and uncertainties that we may not be able to accurately predict or assess, including the receipt of necessary consents and approvals and other risk factors that we identify in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Any of these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply in this press release. We make these statements as of the date of this press release, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Contacts
Melissa Froehlich-Flood
Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Communications & Public Policy
Marriott International
Melissa.Froehlich-Flood@Marriott.com

Kerstin Sachl
Vice President, Communications & Public relations
Marriott International CALA
Kerstin.Sachl@Marriott.com

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News