Global Travel News

THERE’S NOTHING COMMON ABOUT IT: Wild about the West Midlands

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Senior British tourism leaders, along with a mayor, a Michelin chef, a couple of Canadian athletes, and what seemed like half the travel trade in Toronto, turned out for a major industry gala Thursday night to celebrate the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham this summer, and to showcase the West Midlands region as great place to visit, whether or not it’s for the Games.

Taking place at the 1 Hotel Toronto (and preceded earlier in the day by a destination workshop and afternoon tea for travel agents at the Royal York), the event also gave attendees a chance to see (and be photographed with) the baton from the Queen’s Baton Relay, which is making its way across 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth ahead of this summer’s Games (July 28-Aug. 08).

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, “banged the drum” for the region, which is located in the heart of Britain and known for its vibrant cities, notably Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city, and nearby Coventry, Britain’s City of Culture in 2021/22; beautiful countryside; and world-class tourism venues, such as the Royal Shakespeare Company and Warwick Castle.

Street declared Birmingham and the surrounding region a must-visit tourist spot for Canadians, with its myriad of cultural gems, including the birthplace of Shakespeare, Cadbury’s chocolate factory, Industrial Revolution heritage (Black Country Museum), and the Birmingham Royal Ballet, as well being the area that inspired the popular Peaky Blinders television series.

Celebrity chef Glynn Purnell showed off his expertise of the West Midlands’ thriving food scene, which encompasses cuisine from around the world, with 11 Michelin-starred restaurants and another 27 venues awarded entry in the Michelin Guide 2021.

Besides the Commonwealth Games, the Birmingham 2022 Festival was launched at the start of March and continues to feature hundreds of creative commissions across the region. The six-month long celebration is a tribute to the creativity in the West Midlands and will involve hundreds of artists, and thousands of participants, communities, and audiences.

Dame Judith Macgregor, Chair of VisitBritain

VisitBritain Chair Dame Judith Macgregor hailed the arrival of the Queen’s Baton Relay arriving in Canada in the run-up to Games, stating, “Canada is a very important inbound tourism market, we know there is pent-up demand for travel and the Games is a timely and valuable opportunity to highlight experiences that visitors can only have in Britain and to celebrate our friendship and connections as we welcome Canadians back to our shores.”

In the spirit of making connections across the globe, during the event a Commonwealth-wide relay of words and art, named the Relaytionship, was shown.

West Midlands-based poet Amerah Saleh has produced a spoken word manifesto as part of the artwork to inspire people around the world to contribute a word, image, or video to the artwork.

The unique piece of ‘hyper hybrid art’ is now inviting Canadian residents to add their own unique words to this evolving piece of artwork.

Canadians can contribute to the artwork and continue the relay of words HERE.

Prior to the pandemic close to 47,000 Canadian tourists visited the West Midlands annually and the total number of yearly visits by Canadian tourists has increased by approximately 52% between 2010 and 2019.

Canadian swimmer Ella Janson and chef de mission Sam Effa were interviewed about the athlete experience at the Commonwealth Games

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ROUND-UP: May 23-27, 2022

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It’s tourism week in Canada this week; positive travel recovery news percolated; border measures around the world continued to ease; a major hotel boost in the Bahamas was revealed; and Rendez-vous Canada returned for the first time in three years.

NEWS

Tourism week (May 29-June 4) is a seven-day celebration of tourism in Canada and an annual invitation for all tourism partners to come together to champion and promote Canada’s destinations, tourism businesses, and employees – from coast to coast to coast. Visit the Tourism Industry Association of Canada’s website to get involved, including downloadable social media assets to share.

The federal government will conduct a public interest assessment of WestJet Airlines Ltd.’s deal to buy Sunwing Airlines and Sunwing Vacations. The review will be done with input from the Commissioner of Competition, who will assess impacts on competition and will include consultations with industry and other stakeholders, other government departments, other levels of government, as well as the public. Transport Canada has been given until Dec. 5 to complete the process.

The World Travel & Tourism Council’s latest Economic Impact Report (EIR) says Canada’s Travel & Tourism sector will catapult the nation’s economic recovery with its GDP contribution set to reach pre-pandemic levels next year. The forecast from the WTTC shows the sector’s contribution to Canada’s GDP could reach $157 billion next year, just 0.8% below 2019 levels.

BORDERS

Starting June 10, Japan will allow visitors from close to 100 nations and territories to enter the country. Among them is Canada. Travellers, however, must be part of a pre-packaged tour group. Japan has maintained one of the world’s strictest border controls during the pandemic.

Fully vaccinated travellers to Barbados no longer have to take a COVID-19 test to enter the country. Meanwhile, as of June 1, unvaccinated travellers will require a negative pre-flight result (taken within three days of travel) and will be tested again (antigen) upon arrival at the airport. Unvaccinated travellers who have had COVID in the previous 90 days do not need a pre-test, but must test on arrival.

Travellers flying into Israel are no longer required to take a PCR test upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, thus allowing travellers to depart the airport without having to take a COVID test and quarantine. At the same time, all pre-departure COVID testing requirements have also been lifted (regardless of vaccination status).

Germany plans to suspend a pandemic rule requiring people to show proof of vaccination, a negative test result or recent recovery from COVID-19 to enter the country starting June 1 to the end of August.

RESTART
For the first time in three years, Canada’s largest international tourism marketplace, Rendez-vous Canada (RVC), was back in-person from May 24-27. The event (photo), hosted by Destination Canada, in partnership with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada welcomed over 1,000 attendees in Toronto and more registered for the virtual component. This included over 300 international buyers from Destination Canada’s key markets who were able to meet with over 750 tourism industry delegates from 450 Canadian organizations.

BY THE NUMBERS

Despite challenges in 2021 stemming from the global pandemic, VIA Rail Canada reports that ridership increased by 31.9% and passenger revenues jumped 54.3% compared to 2020. At the same time, the crown corporation says it’s stayed on budget.

AIR

WestJet reports that its flight dispatchers, represented by the Canadian Airline Dispatchers Association (CALDA), voted more than 90% in favour of a 10-year agreement. This ratified agreement starts June 1 and expires on May 31, 2032.

The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has determined that Canada Jetlines has met the agency’s financial requirements. The CTA had previously determined that company met the Canadian Control requirements. With the satisfaction of this significant milestone, the formal CTA commercial license will be issued following the issuance of the Air Operator Certificate (“AOC”) by Transport Canada.

Air Transat is diversifying and expanding its international offerings for winter 2022-23 in an “ambitious” move designed to provide an “unprecedented range of destinations” as Canadians return to travel. More than 50 destinations in the South, North America, and Europe, will be offered, as well as others through code-sharing agreements.

The inaugural Swoop flight from YYZ to Nashville International Airport (BNA) took off on May 26. The service operates four times weekly.

DEALS

Canadian travellers can help beat the currency exchange rate with Holland America Line’s “Canada Super Sale” with savings up to 20% on select cruises and running through 2022. The sale is offered on select 2022 Alaska, Canada and New England, Pacific Coast, Hawaii, and Panama Canal cruises that sail to or from a Canadian homeport. Cruises to Mexico roundtrip from San Diego also are included in the special. The cruise line has also extended its “Worry-Free Promise” to Dec. 31, 2022, for all cruises booked by Sept. 30.

The “Book early, get plenty” promo by Transat applies to new individual bookings of South packages made before July 15 for travel between Sept. 1, and April 30, 2023. With this promo, travellers get up to $200 off p.p.; reduced deposit of only $100; Transat’s Price Drop Guarantee; 50% off Option Flex Standard. Plus, travel agents earn five times the Bonbon rewards on South packages, which means $25 per room.

TOURS

Until June 5, Sunwing’s inaugural “Sun Week” sale will enable travel agents to book clients to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America with savings up to 40% per couple on applicable all inclusive vacation packages completed by Dec. 15. At the same time, clients will also be entered to win one of many prizes, including gift cards, destination excursions, and complimentary vacation packages for two.

HOTELS

The much-anticipated Liberty Trust hotel in downtown Roanoke, Va., is now open. The 54-room boutique hotel offers a unique visitor experience in the heart of the city’s downtown, set in a former historic bank building. The newly opened property has teamed up with the renowned local architectural salvage company to retain many of the historic building’s original features, including a bank vault where visitors can now enjoy a drink.

With the reopening of Hilton’s 1,024-room Parc 55, all large city hotels have resumed operations in San Francisco, and three new highly anticipated hotels will welcome guests in June: 1 Hotel San Francisco, LUMA Hotel San Francisco and Beacon Grand (formerly Sir Francis Drake Hotel). A fourth new property, The Line SF, is slated to open in late summer. By the end of 2022, seven new branded and independent hotels will have debuted in the city.

CRUISE

American gymnast Simone Biles, a 19-time World Champion and seven-time Olympic Medalist, has been named godmother for Celebrity Beyond, which recently debuted in Europe. Biles will name the vessel at the official ceremony in Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 4. Celebrity Cruises says aims to choose transformational and courageous Godmothers who are breaking barriers and championing change in their respective fields. Biles joins Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai and Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code and the Marshall Plan for Moms, who serve as godmothers of Beyond’s sister ships Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Apex respectively.

Maritime archaeologist Mensun Bound, who made headlines across the world in March with the discovery of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, will head out to sea again this summer to talk exclusively to Cunard guests. Bound will join Queen Mary 2 in Southampton for a 7-night Transatlantic Crossing on June 24 before arriving in New York on July 2. Returning in 2023, the maritime archaeologist will join Queen Elizabeth for a 13-night voyage from Alaska to San Francisco, taking in some of the world’s most breath-taking scenery and wildlife.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

Debuting on July 1, Marvel’s “Spider-Man: Beyond Amazing – The Exhibition” will be a new significant installation at the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park, San Diego, celebrating Marvel’s friendly neighbourhood superhero’s 60th anniversary. The exhibit will feature interactive installations, an extensive collection of Marvel artifacts from the past six decades, including original comic art, animation materials, and film production elements of the web-slinger’s rich legacy. The museum will close in June in preparation for the exhibition in July.

RESORTS
Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, one of the most iconic heritage properties in Southeast Asia (photo), reopens its doors to guests on June 1 for the first time in almost three years. During the pandemic downtown, the hotel, which opened in 1932, underwent a “meticulous facelift” and returns fresher and brighter with a host of new amenities.

An offer has been accepted for the purchase of Grand Lucayan, a beachfront resort located in the Bahamas city of Freeport. The deal, which will see a real estate investment firm buy the resort for US$100 million, is a part of an initiative called “The Return of the Grand Life to Grand Bahama,” which seeks to re-establish the destination as the vibrant entertainment hub it once was, according to the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. The agreement is projected to be completed by summer 2022, with renovations and construction to follow.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

The Canadian chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) is now welcoming both travel agents with extensive social media presence and PR into its ranks with special rates. The association connects public relations practitioners in the travel industry (including tourist boards, VCBs, hotels and transportation companies) with travel media (including print, digital and broadcast platforms) and members enjoy a host of benefits from professional development sessions to networking, discounts on travel-related products, and annual international conventions. For more information, visit satw.org or email mchapman@tourismmarketing.ca.

EVENTS

Having recently wrapped up their annual conference, “Unlock the Future,” at the Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres resort in Cancun, Trevello Travel Group (formerly TPI), announced that its 2023 conference will be held at the Breathless Soul Cancun April 30-May 7.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

The Travel Agent Next Door reports that it raised approximately $46,000 at its recent conference for the charity Pencils for Kids. TTAND has been raising funds for Pencils for Kids for the last five years totalling $125,000, with this year’s contribution bringing it to $171,000.

DESTINATIONS

Antigua and Barbuda has launched a fast-track service for couples travelling to the destination during the islands’ ‘Romance Month’ next month. The experience – open to couples travelling to Antigua and Barbuda to get married, to celebrate their honeymoon, or to enjoy a romantic escape – will see them will be fast-tracked through immigration upon arrival at the airport in a special ‘Love Lane’ from June 1 to 30. Eligible couples are encouraged to pre-register prior to travel via the registration link that can be found .

Jamaica’s signature summer music festival, Reggae Sumfest, is returning to the island’s calendar of events. Taking place at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay from July 18 to 23, the festival will be supported by the Ministry of Tourism through the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB. The event was last held in 2019.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

New Travel and Tourism Development Index Benchmarks 117 Countries

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WEF-New Travel and Tourism Development Index Benchmarks 117 Countries - TRAVELINDEXDavos-Klosters, Switzerland, May 28, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Economic Forum released today its latest travel and tourism study, revealing that the sector is showing signs of recovery in many parts of the world after being hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Japan, the United States, Spain, France and Germany are at the top of the list.

The Travel & Tourism Development Index 2021: Rebuilding for a Sustainable and Resilient Future, ranks 117 economies on a range of factors that are crucial to the development, sustainability and resiliency of their travel and tourism industry, which in turn contributes to economic and social development.

“COVID shutdowns have re-emphasized the important contribution travel and tourism makes to many economies around the world,” said Lauren Uppink, Head of Aviation, Travel and Tourism at the World Economic Forum. “As the world emerges from the pandemic, economies must invest in building a strong and resilient environment to deliver the travel and tourism experience and services for many decades to come.”

While overall international tourism and business travel is still below pre-pandemic levels, the sector recovery has been bolstered by greater vaccination rates, return to more open travel, and growing demand for domestic and nature-based tourism. Many businesses and destinations have adapted to these shifting demand dynamics. According the UNWTO, the difference in international tourist arrivals between just January 2021 and January 2022 is greater than arrivals growth in all of 2021.

As the sector slowly recovers from the global health crisis – especially as vaccines become more available and health restrictions lifted – it will be important for the travel and tourism sector to take steps that embed long-term inclusivity, sustainability and resilience as it continues to face evolving challenges and risks.

Despite positive trends, the travel and tourism sector is still facing many hurdles with its recovery. This includes uneven vaccine distribution, capacity constraints, labour shortages, supply chain disruptions and more.

“Government, business and civil society leaders can address barriers to recovery by looking at the different factors that can support the long-term development and resiliency of their respective travel and tourism economies,” added Uppink. “This will require decision-makers to restore consumer confidence and international openness by prioritizing such things as enhanced health and security measures, encouraging inclusive labour practices, improving environmental sustainability and investing in digital technology.”

Travel and Tourism Development Index 2021 results

In this year’s index, Japan takes the top spot followed by the United States, Spain, France and Germany rounding out the top five.

Other than the US, the top-10 scoring economies are high-income economies in Europe or Asia-Pacific. After top-ranking Japan, regional economies Australia and Singapore come in seventh and ninth, respectively. Italy joined the top 10 (up from 12th in 2019) in 2021, while Canada slid from 10th to 13th.

Viet Nam experienced the greatest improvement in score (from 60th to 52nd) on the overall index, while Indonesia (44th to 32nd) and Saudi Arabia (43rd to 33rd) had the greatest improvement in rank.

While Europe, Eurasia and Asia-Pacific dominate the 2021 rankings, Europe is the only region to have decreased its average score since 2019, slightly eroding its considerable lead. Sub-Saharan Africa had the greatest improvement in performance, but far more needs to be done for economies in the region to catch up with the global average.

The Travel and Tourism Development Index 2021 is a direct evolution of the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index, which has been published biennially for the past 15 years. The change reflects the new index’s enhanced focus on the sector’s overall role in economic and social development and the greater need for stakeholder collaboration and development strategies. Based on an altered framework, methodology and other differences, the 2021 index should not be compared to the one published in 2019. To help address this, the 2019 results were recalculated using the new framework, methodology and indicators; all comparisons in score and rankings throughout the new report are between the 2019 results and the 2021 results of the Travel and Tourism Development Index.

Rebuilding for a sustainable and resilient future

Given the travel and tourism sector’s important role in global economic and social prosperity, investing in the drivers of its development will be crucial in the coming years, according to the publication. As economies look to rebuild their travel and tourism sectors, they should focus on making their travel sectors more inclusive, sustainable and resilient to future risks.

To achieve this, one top enabling factor that should be prioritized is restoring and accelerating international openness and consumer confidence by improving, for example, health and security. This could include more investments into healthcare infrastructure and personnel and greater distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations in lower-income economies.

“Efforts to build favourable and inclusive labour practices, improve environmental sustainability and strengthening the management of tourism demand and impact will help economies ensure strong development of their travel destinations,” said Uppink. For example, sustainable environmental policies that can help protect natural resources have become even more vital as consumer preference for sustainable travel options and nature-based travel grows.

Digital technology will also be vital to achieving all of this. New digital tools can be used to manage tourism flows, optimize visitors’ experiences and reduce overcrowding. Addressing issues such as the digital divide, skills gaps and fully including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in digitalization efforts will be critical to fully leveraging digital technology to improve the tourism sector as a whole.

About the Annual Meeting 2022
For over 50 years, the World Economic Forum has been the international organization for public-private cooperation. The Annual Meeting is the focal point for leaders to accelerate the partnerships needed to tackle global challenges and shape a more sustainable and inclusive future. Convening under the theme History at a Turning Point: Government Policies and Business Strategies, the Annual Meeting 2022 and its 200 sessions brings together global leaders from business, government and civil society.

Read the full Travel and Tourism Development Index here

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Alila Kothaifaru Maldives Opens in the Scenic Raa Atoll

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Alila Kothaifaru Maldives Opens in the Scenic Raa Atoll - TOP25HOTELS.com - TRAVELINDEXRaa Atoll, Maldives, May 27, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The all-pool-villa sanctuary provides guests with a luxurious island escape surrounded by abundant marine life, clear blue waters and lush vegetation. Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today the opening of Alila Kothaifaru Maldives, a private island retreat located in the picturesque Raa Atoll at the northern edge of the Maldives. The all-pool-villa resort offers a refreshing blend of serenity and discovery in a relatively untouched corner of the archipelago renowned for its abundant marine life.

• Discover the Maldives and World’s Best Luxury Hotels with Prestigious Hotel Awards at Top25Hotels.com

“As countries continue to open up and travel confidence grows, we look forward to welcoming guests from all over the world to Alila Kothaifaru Maldives for a memorable getaway in what we hope will become the centerpiece of Raa Atoll,” said David Udell, group president, Asia-Pacific, Hyatt. “We are delighted to add this beautiful resort in the Maldives to our growing Alila portfolio, with new Alila hotels opening in sought-after destinations such as Suzhou and Shanghai in China and Nha Trang in Vietnam in the future.”

Surrounded by Nature’s Wonders

Housed on a 27.6 acre (11.2 hectare) island, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives can be reached via a 45-minute seaplane journey from Malé. As one of the deeper atolls in the archipelago, the Raa Atoll offers abundant snorkeling and diving options to discover its rich marine life, from colorful corals to manta rays and sharks. The resort offers easy access to the famous Hanifaru Bay UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve and is close to Vaadhoo Island, one of the best spots to witness the spectacular ‘Sea of Stars’ phenomenon. Alila Kothaifaru Maldives features white-sand beaches overlooking the infinite expanse of ocean blue, a stunning house reef and lush greenery.

Private Island Sanctuary

Alila Kothaifaru Maldives offers 80 pool villas, of which 44 are along the beach and 36 are perched overwater with direct access to the sea. Guests can unwind in these understated, sophisticated spaces that balance privacy with openness to the outdoors. Each villa comes with a private pool and sun deck where guests can bask in picture-perfect views and enjoy personalized service whether they are staying steps from the beach or above the turquoise lagoon. The Sunrise Beach Villas offer early birds captivating views to start their day alongside quick access to the resort’s main facilities such as the infinity pool, Play Alila kids’ club, Seasalt restaurant and Mirus Bar.

The resort’s elegant minimalist architecture by Singapore-based Studiogoto encompasses terraced pavilions, villas and a treetop spa that are carefully integrated into the existing landscape to immerse guests in the picturesque natural surroundings. The low-rise structures and contemporary interiors feature open-air spaces and a calming palette of island-inspired colors and textures, creating an idyllic setting for complete relaxation and connection with nature.

Immersive Culinary Journeys

Alila Kothaifaru Maldives offers a delightful variety of culinary experiences including:

– Seasalt, the resort’s beachside all-day dining restaurant with an ocean view, serves coastal Mediterranean cuisine with Middle Eastern influences. Not to be missed are the restaurant’s signature salt-baked fish dishes.
– A spectacular Maldivian sunset alongside a refreshing selection of cocktails at Mirus Bar inspired by the region’s former spice trade routes and concocted with ingredients from the resort’s own herb garden.
– Umami offers Japanese-inspired menus prepared in a teppan theater with a premium selection of organically grown vegetables, Wagyu beef and sustainably sourced fish and seafood. The adjourning Yakitori Bar is the place to be to indulge in sundowners, from Asian-inspired craft cocktails and mocktails to fine Japanese sakes and spirits, amidst delicious smoky aromas from a robata grill.

– Pibati Café provides light bites and comfort food that are convenient for grab-and-go en route to an excursion.
Guests dreaming of an ultimate castaway experience can set sail in a traditional Maldivian dhoni on a two to three-hour journey around the Raa Atoll before returning to the resort’s private sandbank, The Shack, a secluded spot for a gourmet picnic, a sunset barbecue or a romantic candlelit dinner under the stars.

Haven for Relaxation

Nestled just above the treetops, Spa Alila features four double treatment suites, all with a private bathroom, shower and a floor-to-ceiling window with verdant views. Guests can indulge in rejuvenating treatments and beauty rituals that put a contemporary spin on ancient healing techniques and draw on the benefits of natural ingredients. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary daily yoga session in a tranquil outdoor space within the spa. The resort also offers a 24-hour fitness center and a beachfront infinity pool.

A wide range of water activities and excursions organized through the expert marine guides at the resort’s Water Sports and Dive Center are also available while Play Alila, a dedicated play and learning space for young guests will keep them entertained with toys, games and fun, supervised indoor and outdoor activities.

Bespoke Celebrations

From barefoot chic to elegant sophistication, couples can tie the knot or renew their vows with an enchanting celebration set in tropical splendor, whether on a pristine palm-fringed beach with the glistening ocean as a backdrop or on the private sandbank at sunset followed by a bespoke dinner under the stars.

“We are honored to welcome guests to one of the world’s most blissful destinations and we look forward to sharing with them the awe-inspiring nature that surrounds us,” said Alexandre Glauser, general manager, Alila Kothaifaru Maldives. “Here at our all-pool-villa sanctuary, guests can unwind in peaceful seclusion with charming views while our gracious hosts deliver personalized experiences leading to unique moments and treasured memories.”

Guided by its purpose of care, Hyatt’s multi-layered Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment further enhances its operational guidance and resources around colleague and guest safety and peace of mind. More information on Hyatt’s commitment can be found here: hyatt.com/care-and-cleanliness.

• Discover the Maldives and World’s Best Luxury Hotels with Prestigious Hotel Awards at Top25Hotels.com

About Alila
The hallmark of Alila hotels is the combination of innovative design and luxury in unique locations, set apart by an unprecedented level of private space, crafted artisanship, personalized hospitality, and bespoke journeys. Alila means “Surprise” in Sanskrit, which suitably describes the refreshing character of our properties and impressions of our guests when they stay with us. In support of sustainable tourism, Alila hotels adopt EarthCheck operating standards, integrating the natural, physical and cultural elements of their environments. To stay at any Alila hotels and resorts is to embark on a destination experience – be it in recreating the flavors of the local cuisine, enhancing your well-being through ancient healing arts or the thrill of adventure sports, you will re-discover the luxury of living at Alila hotels.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of March 31, 2022, the Company’s portfolio included more than 1,150 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 71 countries across six continents. The Company’s offering includes the Park Hyatt®, Miraval®, Grand Hyatt®, Alila®, Andaz®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination by Hyatt™, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Ziva™, Hyatt Zilara™, Thompson Hotels®, Hyatt Centric®, Caption by Hyatt, JdV by Hyatt™, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Place®, UrCove, and Hyatt Residence Club® brands, as well as resort and hotel brands under the AMR™ Collection, including Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Vivid Hotels & Resorts®, Alua Hotels & Resorts®, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt® loyalty program, ALG Vacations®, Unlimited Vacation Club®, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions® technology services.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

International Code Boost Tourist Confidence in the Americas

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UNWTO - International Code Boost Tourist Confidence in the Americas - TRAVELINDEXPunta del Este, Uruguay, May 27, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Tourism leaders from the Americas have met to address the current challenges and opportunities around restoring confidence in travel across the region.

A special seminar on the UNWTO International Code for the Protection of Tourists (ICPT) featured interventions from the experts involved in drafting the landmark legal framework. The Code was approved by consensus by the 24th UNWTO General Assembly in Madrid, Spain, and is aimed at providing tourists with greater legal protection as the world opens up again following the pandemic.

To date, Ecuador, Guinea Bissau, Moldova and Paraguay have formally adhered to the ICPT, with the aim of integrating all of the Code in their national policies and legislation, and Uruguay has also announced it intends to do so. In particular, Ecuador is currently developing its national Organic Tourism Law (Proyecto de Ley Organica de Turismo) aimed at developing the necessary measures for the implementation of the ICPT within the country.

The technical seminar was held against the backdrop of the 67th meeting of the UNWTO Commission for the Americas and the 1st International Congress on Tourism and Law, organized by Uruguay in collaboration with UNWTO. In addition to expert insights on the application of the Code, participants were also presented with the results of a recent survey assessing the potential impacts of the ICPT on ‘visitor protection legislation and policies’ conducted by the Association of the Caribbean States in collaboration with UNWTO.

Alongside this, a Panel of Ministries of Tourism addressed the specific challenges and opportunities for the recovery of the tourism sector in the Americas in the environment arising as a result of COVID-19. The panel discussion focused on emergency situations and consumer protection rights of tourists and explored opportunities for rebuilding confidence among tourism consumers in a post-COVID-19 world.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

LISTENING IN: Lynyrd’s Skynyrd’s southern exposure

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In the last little while we’ve offered Dolly, the Bee Gees, and the “adult contemporary sounds” of James Taylor. Now, it’s time for a little “boogie from the south.” But not the song you might expect.

I’m often given suggestions for our hugely popular weekly video, and at the same time I’m constantly asked who my favourite artist is. While I find that impossible to answer – and have previously declared it to maybe possibly be the great Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly – my co-1A, or maybe 1B, or C, surely is Lynyrd Skynyrd.

To be honest, I’ve poked around for a suitable Skynyrd song for this spot before, but they usually tend to be in the seven- to 12-minute epic range, and even I will concede that “Free Bird” is a bit much for a Friday morning. And even if you’re not a fan of the band, you’ve probably heard “Sweet Home Alabama” a million times.

Moreover, as the infamous plane crash in 1977 literally stopped the band dead in its tracks (three band members were killed and the others severely injured), the original line-up never made it to the days of acoustic remakes or intimate TV appearances that often populate our offerings.

But there is this: a British TV performance from 1975 of “Call Me the Breeze,” a song written by J.J. Cale, but which Skynyrd grabbed in a stranglehold and made its own. It is actually my personal favourite, a blazing rocker that showcases the powerhouse vocals of Ronnie (“Mr. Breeze”) Van Zandt and Billy Powell’s riveting honky tonk piano, the latter the underrated ingredient in Skynyrd’s sound that made the Jacksonville, Fla., outfit the best southern rock band ever (sorry, Allman afficionados).

Sadly, the life of Van Zandt (and the others) was cut short in the crash, leaving fans to wonder what might yet have been if the original line-up had remained intact (several years after the crash, the band – named after their high school gym teacher Leonard Skinner – was revived with some of the original members and Van Zandt’s younger brother Johnny taking his place. A third brother, Donnie, it might be noted was a guitarist in 38 Special).

I’m also sometimes asked what band I regret never having seen in person. And to that I have no doubt – simply watch exhibit A below.

Have a favourite song you’d like hear/watch/share? Let me know at baginski@travelindustrytoday.com. No promises, but I’ll try.

Lyrics

Call me the breeze
I keep blowin’ down the road
Well now they call me the breeze
I keep blowin’ down the road
I ain’t got me nobody
I don’t carry me no load

Ain’t no change in the weather
Ain’t no changes in me
Well there ain’t no change in the weather
Ain’t no changes in me
And I ain’t hidin’ from nobody
Nobody’s hidin’ from me
Oh, that’s the way its supposed to be

[Guitar solo]

Well I got that green light baby
I got to keep movin’ on
Well, I got that green light baby
I got to keep movin’ on
Well I might go out to California
Might go down to Georgia
I don’t know

[Piano solo]

Well I dig you Georgia peaches
Makes me feel right at home
Well now I dig you Georgia peaches
Makes me feel right at home
But I don’t love me no one woman
So, I can’t stay in Georgia long

Well now they call me the breeze
I keep blowin’ down the road
Well now they call me the breeze
I keep blowin’ down the road
I ain’t got me nobody
I don’t carry me no load

Oooh, Mr. Breeze

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok & Emporium Suites by Chatrium Win TripAdvisor Awards

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Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok & Emporium Suites by Chatrium Win TripAdvisor Awards - TOP25HOTELS.com - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, May 26, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Chatrium Hotels & Residences added to its growing list of accolades with triple wins at Tripadvisor’s 2022 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best awards. Located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok ranked No.17 in the Top 25 Luxury Hotels – Thailand and No.18 in the Top 25 Hotels – Thailand. Meanwhile, Emporium Suites by Chatrium, sited in the upscale Sukhumvit area, ranked No.11 in the Top 25 Hotels – Thailand.

The Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Awards honours travellers’ favourite destinations worldwide based on the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings specific to each award subcategory from millions of real travellers on Tripadvisor for accommodation, restaurants, and things to do in destinations worldwide over 12 months. Award winners represent travellers’ top 1% of hospitality businesses around the globe.

Commenting on the awards, Rene Balmer, Group General Manager of Chatrium Hotels & Residences, said, “These awards are an incredible achievement and a true testament to our team’s perseverance and our guests’ appreciation and confidence in us. I want to say thank you to all our guests for taking the time to review our spectacular locations, spacious rooms and suites, and wonderful dining options. We look forward to welcoming them again.”

“I also want to take this opportunity to thank our outstanding staff for their hard work in the last year. These awards validate their efforts and contribution in delivering exceptional services that exceed our guests’ expectations,” he added.

For more information, please contact Chatrium Hotels & Residences call 02 307 8888

Chatrium Hospitality: A Remarkable Experience is at the heart of our business
Chatrium Hospitality, a Thai owned hospitality company, has the passion to distinctively mark the next chapter in the Thai and international hospitality industry. Our success in these endeavors is built on a desire to exceed the needs of all our guests, expertise that inspires and enabling each visitor the experience of discovering the remarkable. Since its inception, Chatrium Hospitality has gained a foothold as a growing and leading independent hotel group in Asia, managing 11 properties with over 3,100 keys under two core brands, Chatrium and Maitria. Current projects include luxury resorts in Samui and Phuket. Some of our awards include Luxury Family All-Inclusive Hotel, Asia’s Top Business Hotel, Top Hotels for Families in Thailand, Myanmar’s Leading Business Hotel and the Green Hotel (Gold) Award.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Building an Older, Wiser Workforce

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Building an Older, Wiser Workforce - TRAVELINDEXSad to say, hotel managers – unwittingly or not – often hold negative perceptions of older workers. People older than 50 make up less than a fifth of all hotel employees. Where does this apparent aversion to employing older people come from? As a vital first step in addressing the low employment rate of older people in this sector, BSc graduate Sau Yin Cheung and Assistant Professor Linda Woo of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University explored age stereotypes and job suitability assessments among hotel managers in Hong Kong. As well as putting age-related discrimination under the microscope, this pivotal advance towards age-inclusive recruitment could help to offset the negative economic impact of Hong Kong’s rapidly aging population.

The number of hotels that employ an older workforce is decidedly small, with only 3.1% recruiting people aged 65 years or over. However, “promoting the employment of older workers is an important way to reduce the negative economic impact of population aging and labour shortage problems of hotels”, say the researchers. If the industry is to increase these shockingly low figures, barriers to the employment of older people must first be identified.

One possibility is that some hotel managers hold negative perceptions of older workers and so prefer to hire younger people. A common “age stereotype” paints older workers as having poorer “hard” skills, such as physical and mental competence and willingness to adapt to technological changes.

That said, age stereotypes can also be positive. For example, older employees are often considered to outperform younger workers in terms of “soft” qualities, say the authors, “such as reliability, commitment to the organization, social and customer-oriented skills, accuracy, and emotional stability”.

Given the mixed bag of positive and negative age stereotypes, managers’ perceptions alone seem not to be able to fully explain the low employment rate of older workers. Drawing on existing models of decision making, the researchers attempted to delineate how age stereotypes are used by managers to staff their hotels.

In an ideal world, a candidate is suitable for a job when their experience matches the job requirements. Inevitably, however, job suitability assessments are also swayed by subjective perceptions of a candidate, including age stereotypes. “For instance, older applicants may be considered unsuited to the position of front desk agent”, explain the authors, “because this position is usually held by young people”. In other cases, “managers may expect older workers to be unable to meet the requirements of physically demanding jobs,” say the authors, “on the grounds that their physical condition is generally weaker.”

However, managers’ perceptions of older workers’ unsuitability for front-of-house positions and assigning older workers to physically challenging roles such as housekeeping are not well understood. To complicate matters further, the researchers tell us, “managers have been found to give socially desirable responses”. This may lead to inaccurate findings.

The researchers conducted in-depth interviews with hotel managers in Hong Kong to explore how age stereotypes might affect job suitability assessments in the hospitality industry and how to achieve a more age-inclusive industry.

In face-to-face interviews conducted from February to August 2018, the researchers quizzed hotel managers about their perceptions of older workers and how age impacted their job suitability assessments. The managers worked at 20 hotels in Hong Kong, where the hotel industry faces serious labour shortages. They were aged between 28 and 75 and had at least three years’ experience of managing 3- to 5-star independent or chain hotels. By including such a diverse profile of managers, the researchers were able to gain insights across experience levels, ages, and working environments.

During the semi-structured interviews, which each lasted for 30 to 60 minutes, the managers responded to five questions about their perceptions of employees aged over 50. The first three questions prompted managers to share their positive and negative perceptions of older workers. The final two questions encouraged the managers to express views about job suitability, such as which jobs they considered to be more appropriate for older candidates, and why. Transcripts of the interviews were examined in detail and content analysis was applied to unearth core themes and shared opinions.

The managers described both positive and negative stereotypes of older employees. On the positive side, older workers were believed to have a lower turnover rate and better work attitudes. The managers also valued the savings made in training costs from employing older workers. Unfortunately, the hotel industry tends to be less invested in developing the skills of older workers, who are unfairly thought of as less “trainable”. To address some of these issues, the researchers recommend that employees of all ages be given access to on-the-job training, which “should be designed to facilitate cooperation between younger and older employees”.

The managers also reported skewed negative perceptions of older workers, whom they believed to have more health problems, longer recovery times, and higher insurance and medical costs. In fact, such age-related differences in health insurance costs are negligible for hotels. They may even be offset by the savings brought by the lower turnover rate of older workers. “This stereotype may deter managers from employing a greater proportion of older workers in the future”, warn the authors.

Job suitability assessments were commonly influenced by the perceived appropriate age for a job. The roles of laundry attendant, kitchen porter, and security guard were considered best suited to older workers. In the hotel sector, a large proportion of back-of-house roles are already held by those aged over 50. Some of the managers claimed that older employees feel more comfortable with and communicate better with colleagues of a similar age. However, as stressed by the researchers, opportunities for older workers should not be limited in this way; they should be fairly considered for “every position, including guest contact positions, if their qualifications match the job requirements”.

Many of the interviewees regarded older workers as better suited to low-skilled jobs and younger workers as better suited to highly skilled and front-of-house jobs. They severely underestimated the competence and experience of older workers. Indeed, although older workers were perceived as having strong customer service skills, resulting from their rich experience, managers rarely regarded them as suitable for front desk positions, potentially due to their “less youthful physical appearance”.

This reveals a need for much more fairness in the recruitment process. “Hotel managers should reduce their age stereotyping and focus more on a person’s abilities, knowledge, and previous work experiences when making hiring decisions”, recommend the researchers.

Facing the economic burden of population ageing, it is becoming increasingly important for Hong Kong and other ageing societies to boost the employment rate of older people. The hospitality industry is no exception. Employing older workers would not only reduce turnover but also help hotels to respond to the needs of senior customers, a rapidly growing market segment. To offset managers’ skewed perceptions and suitability judgments, diversity training programmes should be provided for all employees. “This would increase employees’ understanding of and improve their attitudes toward age diversity,” the researchers conclude.

Cheung, Sau Yin and Woo, Linda (2021). Age Stereotypes and the Job Suitability of Older Workers from Hotel Managers’ Perspectives. International Journal of Hospitality Management, Vol. 95, 102932.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

TIME TO HEAD DOWNUNDER: Australia welcomes Canadians

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When Tourism Australia came to Toronto recently their message was clear – Australia is open for business. Chris Allison, Regional General Manager, North America, said recovery is where it’s at right now – and this is the magic moment – “that amazing spark that you’ll find in our industry all throughout Australia, that exchange between the visitor and the visited.” Canadians, he said, will never feel more welcome in Australia, “Now’s the time to come.”

Trip Advisor’s Steve Pagnelli noted that the despite regional/global differences, the industry in general has been on a steady upwards trajectory since 2021. A study on Canadian travellers shows that they are, “ready to get out there, ready to be travelling after many years of not being able to.”

A high propensity to Canadian travellers want to visit friends and family that they haven’t been able to see for two years, a situation that represents great opportunities in terms of bringing those visitors back to Australia..

Overall there was also a real desire to be in the outdoors. Here in Canada and elsewhere, people essentially explored their own backyards, now as restrictions ease, they are ready to move further afield and travel to other places.

With Canadian restrictions relaxing, Paganelli notes that 48% of Canadian travellers say they’re going to be travelling internationally and travelling for longer periods. The thought being, “We’re going to go now because we have the chance now, and we don’t know if that chance is going to be taken away from us.”

Perth and Melbourne

Tourism Australia took a very conscious decision at the very start of the pandemic to maintain engagement strategies with distribution partners, and continue to make sure that relevant content was being kept in front of target consumers in both Canada and the US to ensure that people continued to be inspired about Australia, and to keep them dreaming about an Australian holiday, whenever it became possible to make that trip, said Allison – Australia didn’t want to remove itself from connections with consumers in any of its core markets.

Safety and security are a huge consideration and a very important message to deliver – particularly, since the announcement of Australian border restrictions being relaxed, there’s been a significant increase – approximately 50%, in terms of people perceiving Australia being a safe destination to travel to because of the way that it managed COVID.

That respect for the country’s management of the pandemic, said Allison, has “created this excellent perception of Australia being a safe destination to travel to and therefore consumers have a high degree of confidence about wanting to travel there in the future.”

A broader interest by travellers in different categories has become apparent. There’s a rising interest in the cuisine, and of course, wineries are always popular. Matthew Cameron Smith CEO of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia spoke of an affinity for indigenous tourism that has been a key interest for the Canadian market. Aside from training courses at a new academy to prepare for incoming tourism, he said it was “really about providing an economic platform for what is the world’s oldest living culture”.

The Gallery of Central Australia is dedicated solely to showcasing the heterogeneous nature of indigenous or Central Australian art. The artist sets the price, the gallery displays it in a way that is respectful to that particular region and that style, and that provides economic benefit to community.

Indigenous Tourism and The Gallery of Central Australia

Allison gave credit to Tourism Australia, and the government, for playing a significant role by recognizing the value of the tourism industry. They really stepped into provide as much assistance as they could to the tourism industry he said, making sure that people could stay employed as long as possible, and that businesses were managing and surviving.

The bushfires had a major impact on international tourism to Australia, and at that point Australians were encouraged to support their own tourism industry rather than spend their tourism dollars outside of the country.

A marketing platform called Holiday Here This Year, was built originally to support bushfire recovery, but then ultimately became a significantly bigger challenge in terms of encouraging people to feel safe to travel across Australia, and take the opportunity to explore Australia in ways that they hadn’t done before.

Allison pointed out that whilst international tourists could not visit Australia, very tight border policies meant no one was allowed to leave either right up until October, November last year.

“So, that gave us a big opportunity as a tourism marketing organization to encourage people to take advantage of this time that they had at home. Get out and explore their own backyard.”

Whilst the domestic tourism plan would never replace what was lost for international travel, it was part of the survival story allowing domestic tourism dollars to be spent where they might not have been spent previously. And that helped keep businesses going. Australians took up the challenge really significantly in terms of supporting industry operators in Australia.

Airlines in Australia have greatly expanded domestic connectivity and Australia has seen no major tourism operator casualties come from COVID because of the great support the government’s provided and the work that Tourism Australia has been able to do to stimulate tourism. Also given credit are smart decisions that have been made by many operators over the last couple of years to ensure that they are still around and ready to welcome back international guests.

Australia continues to maintain its engagement strategies and market with distribution partners, but also continued to make sure that it was putting relevant content in front of target consumers in both Canada and the US to make sure people continue to be inspired about Australia, and keep dreaming about a Australian holiday.

You wont be bored…

In terms of some of the other broader interests Australia has seen come to the fore in its research, are food, drink and wine – always popular of course, and an affinity for indigenous tourism has also been a key interest for the Canadian market. There is a lot of interest in food and wine as Australian chefs experiment with food and the use of native ingredients has gone through the roof. Now visitors are not interested just dining and great restaurants – although that’s always popular – but they also want to learn about how to cook indigenous cuisine. And, no surprise the interest in touring all of the wineries around the different states within Australia is huge.
Note: Keep an eye out for the new Netflix series with Zac Efron called Down to Earth, which is filmed entirely in Australia. Efron and Darin Olien actually go and eat off the land in many parts of Australia. A great insight to know what real Aussie food was like from millions of years ago.

Getting there

Air Canada’s Tim Liu said the airline had to rethink how to best service customers. They considered everything from cleaning the aircraft to the entire process at the airport. They adopted a lot of progressive technology, including the ability to have a traveller now go to the airport and check in without ever interacting with someone. An entire touch free, touchless experience.

“We used this as an opportunity not only to reset and re look but actually to make our visibility better.” He said, “And overall, hopefully, what we emerge is a better Air Canada that we can service customers globally.

Liu, said demand for Australia has been really strong, and to the point where Air Canada will be operating 10 times a week between Sydney and Vancouver this summer. Flights to Brisbane will increase to four times a week, which means this summer there will be 14 flights between Vancouver and Australia.

Sydney and Brisbane

Air Canada is partnering with Virgin Australia, which provides connecting service in Sydney and Brisbane to the rest of Australia for Canadian travellers.

“And couple that with our hub in Vancouver, essentially, we are able to bring Canadians from wherever you are in Canada, to Australia, and also some Americans as well, we actually carry quite a lot of Americans on our flights to Australia as well because Vancouver’s just that much of a convenient connection point.” Said Liu.

“The future’s bright for Australia right now. We’re pretty excited about what’s going on there. Obviously, we have ambition to serve the other major city, which is Melbourne, at some point. That’s on the map. We’re looking at that and, hopefully, the time will come when we will be able to go back into Melbourne as well.”

Starting in December and continuing through the first quarter of 2022, there was a huge increase in traffic to the Australian content on TripAdvisor.

Staying there…

“It’s been a rough road for the last couple of years, there’s no escaping that, and our industry’s been in survival mode,” said Allison, “but despite that, there’s been a huge amount of innovation coming over the industry in terms of preparedness for this point when we’re able to welcome back international tourists.

“Over the past two years we’ve had over 100, either new hotel openings or major hotel refurbishments. We have 12,000 new hotel rooms in Australia. We’ve got some global brands coming into Australia for the first time. We’ve got W expanding, Ritz-Carlton around Australia. We’ve had new Crown Towers open in Sydney. So, there’s been a huge amount of development on that side.”

Interestingly however, hotels have lost a little bit of market share, as travellers become more interested in vacation rentals.

“On the experience side we’ve seen a lot of operators really re-envisioning their tourism experiences to be more mindful of how people want to consume tourism experiences going forward. So, huge nods into sustainability. There’s also been a small but growing portion of tourism experiences emerging where people can come back and directly provide, give back to the community. For example, you have experiences now where you can still come in and contribute to the bushfire recovery efforts with tree planting. You can come and participate and join in some of the wildlife sanctuaries and provide support there in terms of wildlife recovery.”

The key message to deliver to people is that the Australia they know is very much still alive, but there’s also a new and amazing Australia waiting to be discovered.

A funding boost

Tourism Australia has been given extra funding from the government – a $45 million funding boost for the next two years, which really signals the importance of how Australia needs to support the recovery of international tourism from all of our major markets across the globe.

Allison said that what the funding boost allows Australia to do is spend more money in Canada for the first time in a number of years. So, the demand that they are seeing in Canada gives them confidence to further invest in this market to drive further market demand and simulation.

“We’re very excited about welcoming Canadians back to Australia again.” He said. “There’s a very passionate industry waiting down there, a very passionate country to welcome you back again.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

THE GREAT REBALANCING: Travel overcomes ‘bumps’ on way to recovery

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After a turbulent two years, new research from the Mastercard Economic Institute has revealed global leisure and business flight bookings have surpassed pre-pandemic levels, while spending on cruise lines, buses, and trains have also seen sharp improvements this year as COVID restrictions loosen. At the same time, the US, UK, Switzerland, Spain, and Netherlands top the list of most visited destinations, while Canada placed 10th.

The Travel 2022: Trends and Transitions report delivers critical insights across 37 markets about the global state of travel in a post-vaccine and less restricted chapter of the pandemic era.

Importantly, according to the Mastercard Economics Institute analysis, if flight booking trends continue at the current pace, an estimated 1.5 billion more passengers globally will fly in 2022 compared to last year.

Drawing on a unique analysis of publicly available travel data, as well as aggregated and anonymized sales activity in the Mastercard network, the report dives into key elements of the traveller journey.

Key findings through April 2022 include:

• Leisure and business flights surpass pre-pandemic levels: Travel recovery has been a largely consumer story for much of the pandemic. By the end of April, global leisure flight bookings surpassed 2019 levels by 25%; short- and medium-haul leisure flight bookings were up 25% and 27%, respectively. Global business flight bookings exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the first time in March, with long-haul specifically growing double-digits in April. The return to office was an important driver.

• Hard-hit transportation industries see spending rebound: Recent spending levels point to greater comfort with group travel. Global spending on cruises gained 62 percentage points from January to the end of April, though remains below 2019 levels. Buses are back at pre-pandemic levels, while passenger rail spend remains 7% below. Meanwhile, car road trips maintain their appeal, with spending on tolls and auto rentals up nearly 19% and 12%, respectively.

• Loosening of restrictions recalibrates tourism map for 2022: Not surprisingly, the ability and convenience of travel has been a driving factor in booking destinations, though 2022 has provided a clean slate with restrictions loosened in much of the world, aside from parts of Asia-Pacific. The result is that the US, UK, Switzerland, Spain, and The Netherlands are now the top destinations for tourists globally.

For North American travellers specifically, Canada is the second top travel destination, behind Mexico and ahead of the US (U.K. takes the fourth spot, and the Dominican Republic closes out the top 5).• Destinations are evolving: People have started booking travel farther from home. Long-haul leisure travel shot up to just -7% below pre-pandemic levels by the end of April.2

• Travel spending shifts back to experiences over things: For the better part of a year, international tourists spent more on experiences instead of souvenirs when in destination. Experiential spending is now 34% above 2019 levels; the areas seeing the largest spending increases are bars and nightclubs (72%) and amusement parks, museums, concerts, and other recreational activities (35%). International tourist spending on experiences in destination grew 60% in Singapore and roughly 23% in the US in the UK, spending growth each month in 2022 more than doubled compared to 2019 levels, currently 140% for April.

“Like any flight, the travel recovery has faced both headwinds and tailwinds. As the ‘Great Rebalancing’ takes place around the world, this mobility is critical to a return to pre-pandemic life,” said Bricklin Dwyer, Mastercard chief economist and head of the Mastercard Economics Institute. “The resilience of the consumer to return to ‘normal’ and make up for lost time gives us optimism that the recovery will continue directionally, even if there are bumps along the way.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News