Global Travel News

ROUND-UP: Sept. 19-23, 2022

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Hurricanes and Canada’s COVID measures at the border (the easing of), dominated last week’s news, as Canada Jetlines took flight, Sunwing implemented airline service fee changes, and travel companies (ACV, TDC) continued an impressive slate of in-person fall launches.

NEWS

Monster Hurricane Fiona left a trail of destruction from the Caribbean (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic/Haiti, Turks and Caicos) to Bermuda and Atlantic Canada. Florida declared a state of emergency ahead of the expected arrival of Tropical Storm Ian later this week.

World Tourism Day will take place Tuesday (Sept. 27). Held each year since 1980, the date marks the anniversary of the adoption of the Statutes of the Organization in 1970, paving the way for the establishment of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) five years later.

BORDERS

Reports suggest that Canada will likely drop the vaccine requirement for people who enter Canada by the end of then month. Also gone will be the need to fill out the unpopular ArriveCan app. An announcement could be made as early as today (Monday).

From Atlin, BC, to Wingham, Ont., the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has resumed services at 55 airports across the country that were still affected by temporary measures put in place as a result of COVID-19.

As of Sept. 22, Barbados discontinued all COVID-19 related travel protocols. As such there is no testing requirements for entering Barbados whether vaccinated or unvaccinated. In addition, the wearing of masks generally is now optional.

AIR

Canada Jetlines, which took flight on Sept. 22 with an inaugural flight between Toronto and Calgary, has announced a worldwide distribution agreement with Sabre.

Starting Oct. 24, Sunwing is implementing airline service changes that will include the addition of preferred seating, and à la carte baggage fees. The airline says the move will upfront costs while provide options for customers to purchase extras or add-ons to suit their specific needs.

Air Transat has unveiled a brand-new phone menu it says is part of ongoing efforts to simplify the work of travel agents and improve the accessibility of its call centre. The system now reflects the best practices and most recent technology in telephony, says the company. Features include a streamlined navigation menu and geolocation service based on the caller’s area code to automatically serve travel agents in their preferred language. Hold music can also be customised between five different styles of music.

BY THE NUMBERS

Not surprisingly, Amsterdam Schiphol reported soaring passenger numbers in the first half of the year as the aviation industry worldwide rebounded strongly from the pandemic. The Dutch airport had 23.8 million passengers in Q1 and 2, up from 5.6 million in the same period last year. Schiphol Group, which also includes smaller airports in Rotterdam and Eindhoven, handled 27.3 million passengers in the year’s first six months.

TOURS

evan evans

British sightseeing company Evan Evans Tours announced its first fully electric zero-emission motor coach (photo) on select itineraries, an industry first by a major sightseeing tour operator in London on fully guided day tours. The electric coach can travel 320 km. on a full charge and Evan Evans will be offering select day tour departures including: Buckingham Palace and Royal Windsor Tour, Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, and select London Day Tours.

H.I.S.-Red Label Vacations Inc., which includes redtag.ca, itravel2000.com, Sunquest, The Travel Experts, Flights.ca and Cruises.ca amongst its many brands, has partnered with luxury spaceflight experience company Space Perspective to offer six-hour “space balloon” flights to consumer starting in 2025. Ticket price is $125,000 p.p., and all ticket sales require payment of an initial refundable deposit of a minimum of $1,000 to hold the reservation.

HOTELS

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has announced plans for an extensive portfolio expansion in Egypt with the addition of new hotels, residential offerings, and significant property enhancements. Opening in 2025 will be Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences New Cairo Capital at Madinaty and Four Seasons Hotel Luxor, while Four Seasons Resort and Private Residences Sharm El Sheikh, has doubled the offerings of the existing property with new accommodations, dining outlets, leisure activities, and more.

Marriott International, Inc. expects to open 14 additional luxury properties in Asia Pacific by the end of 2023. The planned additions, emerging destinations such as Jeju and Jiuzhaigou, highlights the strategic growth of Marriott International’s luxury hotel portfolio in the region, where it currently operates 156 luxury properties. Marriott luxury brands include Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels, The Luxury Collection, EDITION, JW Marriott, and Bulgari.

RESORTS

The popular ski destination of Hokkaido, Japan is home to Club Med’s newest four-season mountain resort in Asia. Set to open in December, the 400-room Club Med Kiroro will provide guests access to some of the best powder snow in the world, with long ski seasons and fresh ski tracks. The elevated Club Med mountain vacation experience will offer guests unlimited ski-in/ski-out access to an untouched ski domain with 23 courses, and activities like snowboarding lessons, group ski, and snowshoe hikes. Indoors, guests can enjoy nature centres, a dedicated kid’s zone with highly customized Children’s Clubs, a gallery showcasing works from local artists, and culinary delights from local breweries, wineries, and bakeries.

Following recent earthquakes in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, the AMR Collection reports its six resorts in the area suffered minimal damage and all operating normally.

DEALS

Lifestyle hotel brand B Hotels & Resorts is offering up to 20% on stays at its Florida properties with its new Fall Escapes promotion. Available for booking through Dec. 20, visitors will receive special discounts on stays of two or more nights through Dec. 22. Use the promo code, BFALL.

CRUISE

Royal Caribbean International has released its line-up of holidays on Spectrum of the Seas for 2023-24, and longer cruises are making a comeback. A mix of new five- to 12-night cruises will whisk adventurers to far-flung destinations in Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam, joining the cruise line’s popular short getaways to Malaysia and Thailand.

Windstar Cruises’ small ships are known for sailing to luxurious and off-the-beaten-path ports around the world. The full breadth of sailings is highlighted best in the cruise line’s, available to order or access online today, including the line’s newest offering: cruises to the Red Sea and Persian Gulf – a first for the luxury cruise line. Cruises begin November 2023 on the all-suite, 312-guest Star Legend.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

MSC Cruises is raising the bar when it comes to ground-breaking onboard entertainment options with MSC Seascape. ROBOTRON is a state-of-the-art robotic arm with an attached gondola that seats three guests – flying them nearly 53 m. above the sea. The adrenaline-pumping experience gives riders an unobstructed 360° view of the horizon as they hang over the edge of the deck, flip upside down and move in all directions.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

To celebrate the release of its new 2023 ‘inspiration guide’ brochure, luxury outfitter African Travel is offering qualified travel advisors that have joined its educational program the opportunity to travel with up to three guests and receive 30% saving on brochure safaris of seven nights plus. Additionally, advisors receive $200 after their first booking of seven nights or more.

EVENTS

TDC president Karine Gagnon (centre)

 

Transat Distribution Canada (TDC) welcome close to 150 travel professionals from its network to its first face-to-face Regional Conference in three years in Toronto Sept. 17-18. Under the theme “Rebound,” the TDC community and its preferred partners gathered to energize themselves collectively and, above all, to get informed and take stock of the situation to make the most of the long-awaited recovery in travel demand.

Also last week, Air Canada Vacations returned to in-person events with a gala event in Montreal.

With this year’s ACTA regional summits having wrapped up, the association announced that an inaugural River Cruise Summit will be held in October 2023. Hosted by Avalon Waterways, the event will welcome 100 travel advisors on the cruise line’s seven-day “Romantic Rhine” itinerary in Europe. Registration is expected to open in mid-November on a first-come-first-serve basis, once all registration criteria are met.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) in Canada has added Daniel Stubbs to the team as Business Development Officer. Stubbs will be based in Montréal and responsible for overseeing business development in Québec and Eastern Canada. He can be reached at 514-231-1968 or dstubbs@visitjamaica.com.

Air France-KLM has announced the appointment of Jean-Eudes de La Bretèche as General Director of its Canadian operations. He began his 13-year career with Air France-KLM in Paris as part of the Revenue Management team before joining the CEO’s office as Project Coordinator.

Trevello (TPI) has been named “Top Agent Partner – Q3” by Uplift, a buy-now-pay-later payment program that allows travel advisors to offer flexible payment options to consumers. Trevello advisors Josephine Cruz and Jonathan Miguel ranked first and fourth individually.

DESTINATIONS

Los Angeles Tourism is inviting visitors – including Canadians – to discover what’s “Now Playing” in the City of Angels with the kickoff of a creative new advertising campaign spotlighting the wide breadth of attractions, experiences, entertainment, and accommodations found only in LA. Shot on location at several iconic LA. sites, the spot combines live-action film, music, animation, and voiceover designed to create a dazzling mix of campaign content. The campaign will run in both traditional and digital media.

Staring next summer, a new high-speed hovercraft service across Lake Ontario – the first of its kind in North America – could cut travel time between Toronto and the Niagara Region down to 30 minutes. Operated by Hoverlink Ontario Inc., which says it has entered the final stage of approval, the service will operate between Ontario Place in downtown Toronto and Port Weller in St. Catharines, Ont., a trip that can take about two hours by car or train.

LAST WEEK IN TRAVEL HISTORY

In 1908, Thomas E. Selfridge, a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, became the first person to die in the crash of a powered aircraft, the “Wright Flyer.” The accident, which also seriously injured pilot Orville Wright, occurred at Fort Myer, Va., just outside Washington, D.C.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Thailand Ends COVID-19 Emergency Decree

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Thailand Ends COVID-19 Emergency Decree - VISITTHAILAND.net - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, September 24, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / International travellers to Thailand will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination or ATK test results from 1 October, 2022. Thailand’s Centre of COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced the ending of the nationwide COVID-19 Emergency Decree on 30 September, 2022, as the kingdom reclassifies COVID-19 from ‘a dangerous communicable disease’ to ‘a communicable disease under surveillance’ from 1 October, 2022.

The CCSA also stated that from 1 October, 2022, international travellers to Thailand will no longer be required to show proof of vaccination or ATK test results.

The ending of the COVID-19 Emergency Decree, which has been in place for 19 times since 25 March, 2020, will result to the CCSA be automatically dissolved, and all the regulations, announcements, and orders issued by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet under the decree be revoked.

Since the pandemic, Thailand has gradually reopened to international tourism starting in July 2021 with the Phuket Sandbox, Samui Plus, and 7+7 Extension programmes. This was followed by a four-phase reopening timeline from October 2021 to January 2022.

The kingdom entered the stage of fully reopening from 1 July, 2022, with the removal of the Thailand Pass registration scheme, and foreign nationals only be required to show proof of vaccination or a negative ATK test result within 72 hours of travel, this will be lifted from 1 October, 2022, onwards.

In addition, the cabinet approved extending the period of stay to 45 days (from 30 days) for tourists from countries/territories entitled for visa exemption, and to 30 days (from 15 days) for those eligible for a Visa on Arrival (VOA). This will be in effect from 1 October, 2022, until 31 March, 2023.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

From the Swiss Alps to the Andaman Sea

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From the Swiss Alps to the Andaman Sea - TOP25RESTAURANTS.com - TRAVELINDEXPhuket, Thailand, September 24, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / On 25th and 26th of October, L’Arôme by the Sea will join forces with the one-Michelin-starred restaurant, IGNIV Bangkok to create two memorable dinners showcasing the best of each restaurant.

IGNIV means ‘nest’ in Romansh, the mother tongue of the Swiss three-Michelin-starred Chef Andreas Caminada. This translation inspires a food sharing concept which offers guests a unique culinary experience, where they are not only enjoying a meal, but truly connecting with one another.

IGNIVs head chef David Hartwig and L’Arôme by the Sea’s head chef Yannick Hollenstein are both from Switzerland and will use this connection as inspiration for this event.

Themed as “From the Swiss Alps to the Andaman Sea“, we will bring you a culinary journey with local products from the mountains of the north and the sea from the south of Thailand. Combined with specialties and techniques from the Swiss Alps, the menu will provide a truly exciting experience.

The 9 courses menu is priced at 4500 THB with an optional wine pairing at 3500 THB
* Price is subject to 10% service charge and 7% government tax

The collaboration menu will include the most creative presentations of seafood such as langoustine tartlets and fresh Phuket lobsters. Dishes such as the beeswax aged Muscovy duck served with swiss pear and yellow chanterelle mushrooms, both prized goods in their respective native regions.

About L’Arôme by the Sea
Located in Kalim bay in Phuket, Thailand, the restaurant was rightfully awarded the 2nd position in the 2022 TOP25 Restaurants Awards Phuket Thailand. L’Arôme by the Sea features a minimalist design throughout its two distinct areas: the restaurant level which highlights the art and delicacy of contemporary French cuisine with Swiss Alps influence, along with the rooftop bar which is perfect for enjoying a casual sunset cocktail. Diners can experience creativity, conversation, class and comfort in this elegant atmosphere, all while looking at the spectacular view of the Andaman Sea. Creative innovation and green practices embody the cuisine at L’Arôme by the sea. Chef Yannick carefully balances avant-garde French culinary techniques with his Swiss Alps heritage to create new textures, flavours and aromas. He is earnest in efforts to promote sustainability, short food circuits and the zero waste policy.

About IGNIV Bangkok
IGNIV Bangkok is the fourth restaurant of the IGNIV brand. Located in The St. Regis Bangkok hotel, the restaurant was rightfully awarded the 10th position in the 2022 TOP25 Restaurants Awards Bangkok Thailand. The omnipresent love for detail leads to a modern but cosy ambiance for the IGNIV by Andreas Caminada in Bangkok, Thailand. With her unique sense of space and luxurious fabrics combined with colourful furniture, acclaimed Spanish interior designer Patricia Urquiola infuses IGNIV’s eponymous nest atmosphere with the energy of Bangkok to create a feeling of comfort for indoor, bar and outdoor areas which beautifully reflects the attributes of the nest character.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Drone Food Delivery is Taking Off

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Drone Food Delivery is Taking Off - TRAVELINDEXHong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, September 23, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Food delivery sales are expected to reach a remarkable US$365 billion worldwide by 2030. The growth of food delivery services has been accelerated by technological advances, including the emergence of drone technology. A major potential advantage of drone-based food delivery is that drones are eco-friendly, in line with calls to promote sustainability in the food service industry. To commercialise drone food delivery, companies first need to know who is most likely to use these services, and why. Rising to this challenge, Professor Jin-Soo Lee of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and co-researchers investigated the influence of environmental responsibility and emotions on consumers’ intention to use drone food delivery services. Their novel findings offer guidance for the design of drone delivery marketing strategies to target four major groups: green consumers, activists, advocates and recyclers.

As drone food delivery services have yet to be widely commercialised, strategies for marketing these services currently rely on what we already know about consumer preferences. For example, the business-to-business drone delivery company Manna emphasises zero carbon emissions, a well-established customer preference, as a selling point for its electrically powered drones. As well as reducing the time, effort and cost of food delivery (reportedly halving the unit cost of traditional food delivery services), drone food delivery is indeed eco-friendly. “Drones could play an initiating and central role in the advancement of sustainability in the context of food delivery services”, say the authors. Focusing on sustainability may help companies to target consumers who are most likely to use drone food delivery services.

A potential predictor of whether a consumer will use an eco-friendly service is the degree to which they believe that their individual behaviour directly affects the environment, or their perceived control over environmental outcomes. This is known as the “internal environmental locus of control” (INELOC). Research has shown that people with higher levels of INELOC tend to exhibit more environmentally responsible behaviour, making INELOC a salient indicator of customers’ pro-environmental behavioural intentions. However, this relationship is underexplored – especially for emerging eco-friendly technologies such as drones. “Understanding how INELOC is linked to customer responses in an eco-friendly manner in drone food delivery services is a worthy undertaking”, say the researchers.

Emotions are a major driver of consumer behaviours. The intention to engage in eco-friendly behaviours, for instance, is shaped by one’s emotional state. A key role is played by “anticipated emotions” – the emotions that we expect upcoming decisions to evoke. “People generally predict the emotional consequences of their future decisions prior to making decisions”, say the authors. In general, they make decisions that are likely to make them feel good and avoid decisions that will make them feel bad.

We already know that anticipated emotions influence eco-friendly behaviours and behavioural intentions, such as consumer adoption of pro-environmental products, technology adoption and the intention to work with robots. However, the factors driving anticipated emotions remain unclear. The researchers explored the possibility that consumers’ perceived control over environmental outcomes, captured by INELOC, shapes their positive anticipated emotions (such as delight, happiness and pride) and negative anticipated emotions (such as disappointment, guilt and discomfort).

To more thoroughly explore the relationship between anticipated emotions and decision making, the researchers also examined the influence of anticipated emotions on “intention to use”, which is a strong predictor of actual behaviour in the context of sustainability and technology adoption. They built on previous research demonstrating “that anticipated regret affected customer adoption of innovative technology” and that positive and negative anticipated emotions affected consumers’ behavioural intention regarding green hotels. The researchers hypothesised that anticipated emotions influence consumers’ intention to use eco-friendly drone food delivery services.

The researchers designed and administered an innovative survey to explore the relationships between INELOC, anticipated emotions and intention to use eco-friendly drone food delivery services. They collected survey data from 405 restaurant customers in South Korea who had used food delivery services within the last 6 months. Before completing the online survey, the participants read a short newspaper article explaining the environmental advantages of drone-based food delivery services compared with currently available services.

The survey was composed of three multiple-item scales. The first distinguished between four groups of consumers: green consumers, activists, advocates and recyclers. The second measured anticipated negative and positive emotions in relation to drone food delivery services. The third scale assessed intention to use drone food delivery services. The participants indicated the level of their agreement with each item on a sliding 7-point scale. After the survey had been completed, the authors conducted a series of rigorous statistical analyses to examine the relationships between the three constructs.

As predicted, both positive and negative anticipated emotions shaped the participants’ intention to use drone food delivery services. When the participants expected to experience positive emotions, such as excitement and delight, when using drone food delivery services, they expressed a greater intention to use these services. Anticipated negative emotions, in contrast, reduced their intention to use these services. The authors suggest that drone food service companies could capitalise on these insights by developing strategies to promote customers’ positive anticipated emotions in relation to drone delivery, such as “acquiring certifications to formalise the environmental roles of drones in food delivery services”.

The effects of anticipated emotions on intention to use drone delivery services were also influenced by the INELOC profile of the participants. Among the participants classified as green consumers, the prospect of using drone-based food delivery services increased positive anticipated emotions and decreased negative anticipated emotions. “Using an eco-friendly delivery method, namely drone food delivery services, should be the norm among green consumers”, say the researchers. This offers important insights for marketers. For instance, mobile applications could be designed with a default drone delivery option, with additional charges for using less eco-friendly delivery modes.

The same influence of anticipated emotions on intention to use was found for advocates. To cater to advocates’ desire to inspire environmentally responsible behaviours in others, practitioners could implement “a reward program for advocates who post influential stories or videos on their social networking sites”, propose the researchers.

Activist consumers reported only anticipated positive emotions regarding drone food delivery services; they did not anticipate experiencing negative emotions. This could be because activists are committed to influencing people at large, making them “insensitive to the direct negative consequences of relatively small actions”, speculate the authors. Organising campaigns likely to appeal to activists, such as raising awareness of the environmental advantages of drones as a food delivery service, could be an effective way to increase activists’ intention to use such services.

Similarly, recyclers reported only anticipated positive emotions regarding the use of drone food delivery services, perhaps because such services are not directly linked to recycling behaviours. Nonetheless, drone delivery companies could try to maximise recyclers’ anticipated positive emotions regarding and thus intention to use drone services by informing them that their “routine participation in drone food delivery services is part of the effort to protect the environment”, suggest the authors.

Food delivery services have already changed the landscape of food consumption, and drones may represent the future of food delivery, especially given their potential to reduce CO2 emissions and ultimately alleviate global warming. Based on rigorous theoretical and empirical analysis, this forward-thinking study provides nuanced insights for drone delivery companies into creating strategies to engage consumers with different environment-related beliefs and values, especially by fostering their anticipated positive emotions. “Food service companies should understand the different propensities of consumers”, say the authors, “and establish differentiated marketing strategies depending on various segments”. These findings will help researchers and practitioners to take the next step towards a greener future through the widespread commercialisation of drone food delivery services.

Hwang, Jinsoo, Lee, Jin-Soo, Kim, Jinkyung Jenny, and Sial, Muhammad Safdar (2021). Application of Internal Environmental Locus of Control to the Context of Eco-Friendly Drone Food Delivery Services. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Vol. 29, Issue 7, pp. 1098-1116.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Croissant Lovers at Tuxedo Espresso Bar, Carlton Hotel Bangkok

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Tuxedo Espresso Bar at Carlton Hotel Bangkok Sukhumvit invites Croissant Lovers to experience the new Freshly Baked Croissant.

Selections are Scrambled Egg & Ham (THB 190++), House Cured Salmon with Cream Cheese (THB 280++) and Chocolate-Hazelnut (THB 190++).

Tuxedo Croissants are light and flaky with more than 100 fine layers encapsulating a buttery and spongy honeycomb-like centre.

Add only THB 50++ to pair it with your favourite coffee or tea. Great for breakfast and afternoon light bites.

For more information or to place an order, please contact 02 090 7888

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Waterfall Bathes the Heart of a New Resort in Vietnam

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Hanoi, Vietnam, September 23, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / An untouched waterfall, terraces of rice fields and a jungled mountainside setting form the underpinnings of a spectacular new 15-hectare resort in Vietnam’s Mai Chai Province, a 3.5-hour drive from Hanoi.

Opened quietly during the pandemic, the 36-villa property features spacious, indigenous design, a spa built on a stream and one of the most majestic dining opportunities to be found in Southeast Asia.

“It’s one thing to build a resort near the wonders of nature but to build in the midst of all this natural splendor, with a footprint as light and retractable as we have, makes for an immersive experience that can be overwhelming,” said Mr. Vu Huy, founder of Avana Retreat.

With architecture that leverages local Hmong and Thai building techniques and aesthetics, the resort’s 36 villas range in size from 98-square-meters (1,054-square-feet) to 229-square-meters (2,465-square-feet). Some of the villas optimize outdoor opportunities with balconies as large as 35-square-meters (377-square-feet). One villa perches on top of a terrace of rice fields. Three of the villas boast private pools, and the most exclusive villa features an 89-square-meter (958-square-feet) private heated pool that climbs in tiers like a visual echo of the rice terraces.

The roofs of the bungalow villas are thatched, like the local stilt houses and the walls are made of earth as is common with Hmong homes. The rattan ceilings are made using a Thai weaving technique. The warm wood interiors feature local arts and crafts, including hand-drawn beeswax paintings of intricate ethnic patterns.

The lantern-lined pathways and bridges that wind through the jungle of the property highlight the location, without tampering with it. The private waterfall, which inspired the development when discovered by the founders a decade ago, is the backdrop for private dinners and intimate parties with a terraced deck overlooking the cascade.

The resort’s open-air yoga studio pavilion juts over the stream. The property’s eight-treatment-room Orchid Spa is built along the stream, which courses through the site, and immerses guests in nature through both the therapies on offer and the lush landscape that surrounds. Spa treatments look to the landscape with local healing herbs and oils used in therapies that range from facials and body wraps through to comprehensive pampering packages like the Wild Reconnection. This signature 3-3.5 hour transformative experience includes a body exfoliation using local products, a toning and firming wrap, a relaxing facial, and a signature body massage that uses firm pressure and the stimulation of acupressure points, as well as warm Vietnamese herbal packs.

The property features four heated infinity pools with views of the sunset or cloud ceiling. The aptly-called Cloud Pool Bar, is named after this phenomenon, where the fluffy cloud cover settles just below the property for an almost other-worldly view. At this dining destination guests can enjoy a tipple, light snacks or lunch with a menu featuring local specialities, like a banana flower salad, and western-style fare like pizza, pasta, and sandwiches.

Avana’s all-day dining restaurant, Green Chili, offers an impressive selection of dishes from pho and Australian Wagyu Beef to a line-up of vegetarian and vegan options. As much as possible the team uses local herbs, spices and vegetables. They source organic eggs from a chicken farm on property.

Leveraging what’s local is a priority across the board. More than 90% of the staff are from the surrounding area.

“We want as much of the experience of accommodation here to be as singular to this part of Mai Chau as possible, from the sights you see, to the food you eat, to the people you meet,” said Huy.

To stay in harmony with the area, Avana is also a plastic- free retreat. Trash bags are made from corn starch, organic materials are composted, and they have their own Avana bottle plant to produce purified drinking water. They use an electric buggy service, to take guests around the resort, and continue to add to the diversity of the region through their tree-planting program.

Room rates start at USD 432. For more information visit https://avanaretreat.com

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC Publishes Report on How Tourism Can Reverse Nature Loss

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WTTC Publishes Report on How Tourism Can Reverse Nature Loss - CONSERVATIONWORLD.com - TRAVELINDEXLondon, United Kingdom, September 23, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / A new report published today by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), shows how Travel & Tourism can play a critical role in halting and reversing the destruction of nature.

The report, which will help businesses understand and manage their impact on biodiversity, is launched ahead of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December, where global governments will finalise actions to transform society’s relationship with nature, offers new hope for global nature conservation.

‘Nature Positive Travel & Tourism’, created jointly with ANIMONDIAL, a key advisor to global Travel & Tourism on animal and nature protection, and in collaboration with global businesses within the sector, has also been endorsed by Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD).

The report will help businesses act on the very real and urgent need to better protect biodiversity and nature.

Travel & Tourism businesses are uniquely placed to take positive actions to restore nature and, through nature-based solutions and decarbonisation, achieve Net Zero.

With nature tourism representing 20% of global tourism, the report shows just how crucial nature is for destinations around the world.

Wildlife, a primary motivator for nature tourism, contributes U.S.$343 billion to the global economy every year, and supports nearly 22 million jobs around the world.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Human activity has resulted in a devastating loss of natural habitat and biodiversity, with one in four species now facing extinction.

“Travel & Tourism is uniquely placed to make a real difference. 80% of Travel & Tourism is highly dependent on nature so it is crucial we take a proactive role in advancing nature conservation.

“Our report comes ahead of COP15, when governments will be creating targets to protect habitats, species, and the natural environment which in turn reduces carbon. Travel & Tourism is on the front line. We are all custodians of nature.”

Biodiversity is also intricately tied to other critical issues, such as climate change and emerging diseases, with the potential impact of the latter so starkly demonstrated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Addressing the loss of biodiversity is not only crucial for the sector and its resilience, but also for the global economy and society.

Daniel Turner, ANIMONDIAL Co-Founder & Director, said: “Most Travel & Tourism businesses we talk to already understand the needs to include the protection of biodiversity and nature in their planning and reporting. But this can be a complicated area, and for many, the first challenge is simply knowing where to start.

“The report will inform, inspire, and empower Travel & Tourism to better manage their impacts and play a leading role in building a global Nature Positive future to help build a better world.

“ANIMONDIAL commends WTTC for this opportunity to help tourism businesses with their first steps, as well as the rest of their Nature Positive Tourism journey.”

Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Executive Secretary, said: “Much of the Travel & Tourism sector relies on the beauty of nature and the resources it provides. Yet, we are losing biodiversity and natural resources at an unprecedented rate.

“Travel & Tourism is in a unique position to contribute to this reversal by implementing a number of measures such as educating and raising awareness; generating revenue streams that sustain the protection, management, and restoration of ecosystems; and reducing footprint activities, amongst others.”

Although global Travel & Tourism values nature and remains committed to protecting people and planet, WTTC believes more guidance is needed on the importance of biodiversity, the key drivers of biodiversity loss, and the key components to better protect and restore it.

To tackle this, the report offers a roadmap based on a four-phase framework with practical steps to guide the sector in adopting a Nature Positive approach: assessing operational impact, setting out a strategy, identifying essential actions, rolling out and reviewing the programme, and harnessing communication opportunities.

The report also offers four actions businesses can achieve in the short term: reconnecting people and nature, supporting sustainable value chains, protecting animals and their welfare, and investing in nature.

Both the private and public sectors have different roles to play. But meaningful change can and will only be achieved if the two work together to better protect animals and nature.

To read the report in full, please click here.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO Supports the Promotion of Tourism in Tenerife

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UNWTO Supports the Promotion of Tourism in Tenerife - TRAVELINDEX - TOURISMSPAINSanta Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, September 22, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO has welcomed a delegation from Turismo de Tenerife (SPET) to draft a roadmap for future collaborations.

One of the Canary Islands, Tenerife is one of Europe’s most popular destinations, welcoming 2.7 million tourists in 2021 alone. The destination has significant touristic potential, and it is aiming to develop its sector in line with the values and priorities of UNWTO.

The official visit of Affiliate Member SPET to the UNWTO headquarters provided an opportunity to clarify the benefits of resources already available to the Affiliate Members, network and discuss institutional cooperation in the preparation of events.

Tenerife is one of Europe’s most popular destinations, welcoming 2.7 million tourists in 2021 alone

Among the topics discussed, Turismo de Tenerife presented its plans for “Global Summit Turismo” scheduled for 2024, while UNWTO presented the initiative “Best Tourism Villages” recognizing outstanding examples of rural tourism destinations with recognized cultural and natural assets, preserving and promoting community-based values, products and lifestyle in order to encourage the participation of Tenerife.

Tenerife offers a wide variety of attractions ranging from sports tourism, including hiking, climbing, biking routes and surfing, to astrotourism and gastrotourism.

About SPET – TURISMO DE TENERIFE

SPET – TURISMO DE TENERIFE dedicates its main activity to the realization of actions for the promotion of tourism on the island of Tenerife. Thus, it works in three areas within the island, which pursue the increase of our quality, competitiveness, and sustainability as a tourist destination. We coordinate improvement works with other entities and institutions, we dynamize areas of strategic interest that have reached periods of maturity, and we work in the creation and dynamization of tourist products in accordance with our potential and with the demand of our clients.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

LISTENING IN: Having fun with The Monks

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If you remember The Monks you’re probably Canadian, which is notable because the short-lived UK pop punk band (not to be confused with an early ‘60s German-based band of the same name) were only a hit in this country.

Comprised of three former members of Strawbs, The Monks were never accepted as a punk band in the UK and publicly derided by Johnny Rotten himself, perhaps because the Sex Pistols frontman was cheekily name-checked in their song “Johnny B. Rotten”:

“I’m something else in the clothes I wear, The papers quote me when I swear, It’s all a lie, but I don’t care… ¬Johnny B. Rotten tonight, You’d better hold that lid on tight…”

But for The Monks it was all in good fun and Canadians seemed to be in on the joke, unlike the audience in Britain, which deemed the band “inauthentic,” or Americans, who didn’t get the cockney lingo.

In 1979, their debut album “Bad Habits” hit it big in Canada, with the song “Drugs in My Pocket” peaking at No. 4 on the CHUM chart (“I’ve got drugs in my pocket and I don’t know what to do with them… I say its really crazy, they say it makes us sick, To me its all the same, cuz I’m just plain and thick.”

Another hit was the infectious, “hilarious” blind-date-gone-wrong ditty “Nice Legs Shame About Her Face,” which has raised the eyebrows of a few modern observers (but listen to the whole song for the redeeming fun twist at the end).

Such was the success of Bad Habits (double platinum in Canada) that The Monks released a follow-up, “Suspended Animation,” which was uniquely released only here in 1981, ultimately going gold. And in 2012, a version of the band even returned for a tribute concert at The Horseshoe club in Toronto.

Lead singer John Ford re-released “Nice Legs” as a solo effort in 2004, but we offer this energetic Top of the Pops performance of the band at its peak in 1979. Shame about their faces.

Lyrics

Met her on a blind date
Helping out an old mate
Waiting at the corner
She’d be dressed in black
There was I expecting a really tasty bird
He said she was good looking
I should I doubt his word
When I saw her there
She was a real disgrace
I thought nice legs shame about the face

I had to take her dancing
I couldn’t let her down
So we caught the bus
To the other side of town
Out upon the dance floor
I wasn’t getting far
So I had a drink with my friends
Up at the bar
I asked them what they thought of her
They fell about the place
And they said nice legs
Shame about her face

She said could we go bowling,
I said that would be fine
But when I bought the tickets
She’d already changed her mind
She was turning out
To be a real hard case
Nice legs shame about the boat race

Downed a gin and soda
Tapped me on the shoulder
Whispered in my ear
It’s getting kind of late
When I took her home
We hardly said a thing
I walked her to the door
Expected to go in
She looked me up and down
And really put me in my place
She said nice legs, shame about your face
Nice legs, shame about your face

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Marriott International Luxury Brands Sweeps the 2022 MUSE Creative Awards With 12 Platinum Honors

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MILUX Muse Awards Hero Image
2022 Hungarian Grand Prix, The Ritz-Carlton Artist Partner Louis-Nicolas Darbon and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team driver Lewis Hamilton in front of a bespoke mural at The Ritz-Carlton, Budapest.

Marriott International’s unmatched portfolio of luxury brands earned 12 Platinum Awards representing 5 dynamic brands, across 10 categories in the 2022 MUSE Creative Awards – an international competition for creative professionals.

The industry leader within the luxury hospitality space, The Ritz-Carlton, W Hotels, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, and St. Regis, part of Marriott International’s luxury brand portfolio, were recognized for their work across a plane of creative disciplines and alongside peers in the luxury fashion and automotive sectors.

“It is an incredible honor to have The Ritz-Carlton, W, The Luxury Collection, JW Marriott, and St. Regis recognized by the 2022 MUSE Creative Awards,” said Chris Gabaldon, Senior Vice President, Luxury Brands, Marriott International. “Our luxury brands are committed to pursuing excellence, embracing change and sparking conversation and this recognition is a testament to our brands’ creative strength and passion for innovation.”

In a competition with over 6,000 entries representing countries all over the world, the international MUSE Creative Awards are moderated by a variety of experts, and include creative and art directors from international agencies, architects, fashion designers, interior designers, product designers, educators and business.

The Ritz-Carlton Platinum Awards

  • The Ritz-Carlton: Lewis Hamilton in Budapest in Social Media (Influencer & Celebrity)
  • The Ritz-Carlton: Artist Partner Louis-Nicolas Darbon in Social Media (Arts & Culture)
  • The Ritz-Carlton: Artisans’ Tales with Hearst in Integrated Marketing Campaign
  • The Ritz-Carlton: Artisans’ Tales with Hearst Integrated Marketing (Social Media)
  • The Ritz-Carlton: Redesigning The Journey in Website (Travel)

W Hotels Platinum Awards

  • W Hotels Instagram Video Series // Trip Swap (Social Media Travel Tourism)
  • W Maldives x Cercle: Live-Streamed Private Island Performance (Social Media Travel Tourism)
  • W Maldives x Cercle: Live-Streamed Private Island Performance (Social Media COVID-19 related)

The Luxury Collection Platinum Awards

  • A Letter From Calvin Royal III (Social Media – Storytelling)
  • “A Journey Through” Itineraries Campaign (Media – Travel & Tourism)

JW Marriott Platinum Awards

  • JW Marriott – the JW Garden with Lily Kwong (Social Media – Food & Beverage)

St. Regis Platinum Awards

  • St. Regis – The Best Address (Social Media – Travel & Tourism)

About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 8,100 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 139 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly awarded travel program. Connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

Media Contact
Erica Flint
Director, Global Communications & Public Affairs, Luxury Brands
Marriott International
Erica.Flint@marriottluxurybrands.com

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News