Global Travel News

Building an Older, Wiser Workforce

 1080 719 wttc2
By:

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

 1080 364 wttc2
By:

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

 1080 494 wttc2
By:

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

AmaWaterways Introduces European Wine Experts to River Cruises

 500 298 wttc2
By:

AmaWaterways Introduces European Wine Experts to River Cruises - TOP25VINEYARDS.com - TRAVELINDEXCalabasas, California, United States, May 26, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways will introduce European Wine Hosts to a special series within its Celebration of Wine river cruises

AmaWaterways has chosen to add wine experts to four special departures designated as European Wine Immersion Sailings. They will be tasked with leading guests through renowned wine regions while sharing in-depth knowledge of local wines, traditions and the history of European winemaking.

They’re part of the 60-strong collection of Celebration of Wine River Cruises scheduled in Europe for 2022.

“We’ve continued to see an increased demand for our wine-themed cruises and are excited to introduce passionate European wine hosts to guide guests through a complete immersion into European wine,” said Kristin Karst, AmaWaterways’ executive vice president and co-founder.

“As part of our Celebration of Wine River Cruises, the European Wine Immersion sailings will feature the popular enhanced tastings, interactive discussions and shore excursions, but will add detailed insights and experiences exclusively catered to the European wine region guests sail through.”

With the new European Wine Immersion Sailings, guests will cruise rivers through vineyards, while learning about regional methods of cultivation and historical figures behind European winemaking. Also planned are visits to historic European wine cellars, vineyards or châteaux, and interactive tastings and discussions focused on regional wines.

Guests looking for immersion into European wine can join the following wine hosts on four European Wine Immersion sailings in 2022:

– Helene Teboul, French wine expert from Marseille, France on the August 4, Colours of Provence sailing
– Fintan Kerr, European wine expert based in Barcelona, Spain, on the October 27, Taste of Bordeaux sailing
– Réka Piros, European wine expert from Hungary, on the October 29, Paris & Normandy sailing
– Marcia Moricz, European wine expert based in Koblenz, Germany, on the November 8, Europe’s Rivers & Castles sailing.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Chevalier Paris Opens New Five-Star Hotel at Faubourg Saint-Germain

 500 279 wttc2
By:

Chevalier Paris Opens New Five-Star Hotel at Faubourg Saint-Germain - HOTELWORLDS.com - TRAVELINDEXParis, France, May 26, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Saint Germain des Pres, one of the most desirable neighborhoods of Paris, and the recent opening of Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain is a welcome addition to an area with few five-star properties. Pavillon de Faubourg Saint-Germain is part of Chevalier Paris, an independently, family-owned chain of boutique hotels in Paris, which includes Pavillon de la Reine, Pavillon des Lettres and Hotel des Petit Moulin, which all are part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World list. Earlier this month we were invited to take a tour of the hotel and have lunch with Vanessa Jacquiot, the director of sales and marketing of the Chevalier Group.

Historically, the hotel was a former palace constructed in 1642, and in the early 1900s it became a hotel, changing ownership several times. Before the Chevalier Group took it over, it was modernized in 2015 and called The Saint Hotel. Although the hotel was completely gutted and then refurbished, the Chevalier Group desired to put their signature stamp on the hotel and decided to renovate the rooms and the public spaces.

The Chevalier family has been cultivating the art of entertaining in its boutique hotels and restaurants for over 40 years in the most beautiful locations of Paris.

She has created a haven of peace in the former residence of Anne of Austria on the Place des Vosges, an architectural jewel from the reign of Louis XIII. The hotel Le Pavillon de la Reine has become the reference for luxury and discretion. Its Restaurant Anne was awarded a Michelin star in 2020.

Facing the presidential palace of the Elysée, the Pavillon des Lettres pays tribute to literature. Each of its 26 rooms celebrates a world-renowned author.

Le Petit Moulin, the smallest hotel in the group, holds a special place in the group’s portfolio. Located in the heart of the Marais, in a building dating back to Henri IV, we owe the abundance of creativity in its decoration to famous designer Christian Lacroix.

The Chevalier family’s new venture crosses the Seine to the left bank, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and opens the doors to a new place to live: the Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain. A place steeped in history, where great poets, writers and artists such as James Joyce, T.S. Eliot and Léo Ferré stayed at the beginning of the 20th century, and which now welcomes Parisians from all over the world in its hotel, restaurant, bar and spa.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

European Business Aviation Growth in Full Swing

 500 293 wttc2
By:

European Business Aviation Growth in Full Swing - EXEJET.com - TRAVELINDEXSao Paulo, Brazil, May 25, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / European business aviation is about to get into full swing, despite the region lagging North America. The president and chief executive of Embraer Executive Jets, Michael Amalfitano, predicts the market here will soon match the growth levels the other side of the Atlantic has seen in the past 12 months.

“We are seeing corporates coming back, as they have in the US,” says Amalfitano, speaking to FlightGlobal a few days ahead of the show. “It is also being driven by first-time users and buyers. They can’t find pre-owned aircraft and most of them want the current technology and a sustainability platform, so they are coming to our brand in a big way.”

One of the Brazilian airframer’s most important customers, Flexjet, late last week confirmed it was adding three Praetor 600s to its European fleet this year, citing a 180% increase in flight activity in the region in the first four months. It is part of an order for 64 Embraer aircraft the Directional Aviation-owned fractional placed at the 2019 National Business Aviation Association convention.

Embraer also announced at the show this week that it was now offering Ka-band connectivity as a retrofit across its Praetor and Legacy families – the Legacy 450 and 500 pre-date the Praetor 500 and 600. Flexjet is the first to adopt the modification, on its European fleet of Legacy 500 types. Embraer already offers Ka-band as a factory option on its two Praetor models.

The super-midsize Praetor 600 and the Phenom 300E light jet remain the stand-out performers for Embraer, which also offers the midsize Praetor 500 and the entry-level Phenom 100EV, alongside the now out-of-production regional jet-derived Legacy 650 and Lineage 1000. The Phenom 300E, and its predecessor the Phenom 300, have been the best-selling light jet for more than a decade.

The company is showing a Praetor 600 and a Phenom 300E on the static at Geneva. “We have our best one-two punch at the show,” says Amalfitano. Both types have done well in the fractional sector. At last October’s NBAA convention, Embraer signed with Flexjet’s main rival NetJets for 100 Phenom 300s, almost doubling the Berkshire Hathaway-owned company’s fleet of the light jet.

Embraer delivered 35 executive jets between January and March, its strongest first quarter since 2016, with backlog expanding by 12%. Amalfitano says the airframer will ship 100 to 110 aircraft this year, and says supply, rather than demand, is the main brake on it delivering more. In common with the rest of the industry, Embraer and its vendors are wrestling with raw material shortages.

Embraer also this week announced it was partnering with rating system provider 4Air to offer its customers the opportunity to offset their use of carbon from flights. Customers who enroll on Embraer’s support programme will receive 25h of complimentary carbon offsetting, after which they can negotiate further deals with 4Air.

So where does Embraer go now in terms of its product journey? While the Legacy 600 and Lineage 1000 were the regional and military aircraft manufacturer’s route into business aviation in the noughties, the company’s focus has since shifted to smaller gauge types. Will it eventually try to compete with Bombardier, Dassault and Gulfstream in the long-range, large-cabin segments?

“We’re not a me-too player,” Amalfitano insists. “Everything you have seen Embraer do has been disruptive, so when you see us going somewhere it’s going to be a disruptive product.” While he does not rule out a larger aircraft at some point, he says Embraer would only enter that space if it could deliver “something completely new to the marketplace”.

Instead, he hints, Embraer’s focus is likely to be at the “bottom of the market, where there is more activity”. Embraer’s investment in urban air mobility (UAM), through its Eve spin-off, gives the company “an opportunity to start all over”, he says. Eve – which remains 90% owned by Embraer after a share flotation – is developing a four-person electric vertical take-off and landing platform.

Embraer is famously the only new entrant to break into the aerospace market in a major way in more than half a century, after the business was launched as a state enterprise in 1969. The company was dealt a blow when Boeing pulled out of a planned merger with its regional jet division at the start of the pandemic.

It has left the Brazilian company focused on its three markets of commercial, military and executive aviation, where its other products include the E2 regional jet family, the C-390 military airlifter and the Super Tucano turboprop trainer, but without Boeing’s billions to help develop new products. However, when it comes to innovation, Embraer’s ability to surprise the industry is unsurpassed.

“In 52 years, we have certified 30 aircraft,” says Amalfitano. In UAM, it wants to do much more than simply design an air vehicle, as a host of other developers are doing. “We are working on the whole holistic solution around ATM [air traffic management], maintenance and training. We are taking that 52 years’ of experience but with a start-up mentality,” he says.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

A Night to Remember with World-Class Music and a Golden Opportunity to Give Back

 500 324 wttc2
By:

A Night to Remember with World-Class Music and a Golden Opportunity to Give Back - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, May 25, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the world, including Thailand. Many Thai children have not been able to go to school. Countless people have lost their livelihood. It will take all of us together to build back from this crisis.

“A Night to Remember: A Tribute to the Golden Era” Charity Concert and Silent Auction invites you to lend a hand to hundreds of Thai children who are reeling from the effects of the pandemic, and help lay their foundation, for a better life.

For the first time in Thailand, two a cappella groups from Harvard University and the award-winning Thai Youth Orchestra, will give an exclusive one-night-only performance on June 3rd, 2022 at the Park Hyatt Bangkok.

All proceeds from the concert and auction will be donated to the Community Children Foundation (CCF) Under the Royal Patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

Come and join us for a magical evening that will touch your heart. Become an advocate and take your place in the company of Thailand’s distinguished and charitable set.

The Evening
Let the SIGHTS AND SOUNDS of a cappella magic, crooned by 25 Harvard University students, and the majestic orchestral swell from the Thai Youth Orchestra bring you back to the Golden Era of the great American Songbook and beyond.

The Radcliffe Pitches
The Radcliffe Pitches, Harvard’s oldest treble-voiced a cappella group, was founded in 1975 at the historic Hasty Pudding Club. Today, the group is composed of 13 Harvard undergraduates who perform a repertoire inspired by artists such as The Andrews Sisters, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra.

Thai Youth Orchestra
TYO was founded 36 years ago by Professor Phukorn Srinarong with a clear vision: to create an international standard youth symphony orchestra, groom aspiring professional musicians and other career leaders through music education, and represent Thailand’s rich cultural heritage through classical music.

The Harvard Krokodiloes
The Harvard Krokodiloes are Harvard University’s oldest a cappella singing group, founded in 1946. From Cambridge to Cape Town to Carnegie Hall, the Kroks have delighted audiences worldwide with their unique blend of a cappella harmony and humor.

THE CAUSE

Community Children Foundation
CCF mobilizes social engagement and collaboration to promote children and youth development, enabling them to grow up to be quality adults. Today, the impact of CCF’s work can be felt nationwide in 35 provinces, with over 42,000 children benefiting from its education sponsorship program.

Become a Table or Silent Auction Advocate
Your support as an advocate can mean giving a child the basic foundation to transform his/her life. We invite you to join this meaningful opportunity.

Become a Table Advocate here
Become a Silent Auction Advocate here

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

‘SIGH OF RELIEF’: Travel and Tourism will lead Canada’s recovery

 1080 364 wttc2
By:

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.

“After the agony suffered by Canada’s Travel & Tourism, businesses across the country can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the sector begins to recover from the ravages of the pandemic,” said WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson.

She added, “Following two years of severe and highly disruptive travel restrictions, which decimated the sector, the outlook for the future is much brighter for both jobs and the economy.”

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. (Ed. Note: All figures in Canadian dollars)

Looking to this year, the report shows the sector’s contribution to GDP is expected to grow 25.4% to $138 billion, amounting to 5.3% of the total economic GDP.

However, employment levels in the sector are set to grow at a slower rate, only 3% this year, reaching just over 1.5 million jobs.

Over the next decade, Travel & Tourism’s GDP is expected to grow at an average of 4.4% annually, more than twice the 1.9% growth rate of the country’s overall economy, to reach nearly $213 billion – 6.8% of the total economy.

The forecast also reveals the sector is expected to create more than half a million jobs over the next decade, averaging more than 50,000 new jobs every year.

Before the pandemic, Canada’s Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP was 6.3% ($158.1 billion) in 2019, falling to just 3.7% ($88.8 billion) in 2020, which represented a shocking 43.8% loss.

The sector also supported almost 1.7 million jobs in 2019, falling to just below 1.4 million in 2020, when the pandemic devastated the sector.

Following the significant decline in 2020, the global tourism body’s latest EIR report reveals that 2021 saw the beginning of the recovery for Canada’s Travel & Tourism sector.

Last year, its contribution to GDP climbed 24.4% year on year, to reach $110.4 billion.

The sector also saw a recovery of more than 116,000 Travel & Tourism jobs, representing a positive rise of 8.4% to nearly 1.5 million.

The sector’s contribution to the economy and employment could have been higher if it weren’t for the impact of the Omicron variant, which led to the recovery faltering around the world, with many countries reinstating severe travel restrictions

 

 

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

COVENTRY STRIPPED BARE: Revealing an under-the-radar UK gem

 1080 494 wttc2
By:

Let’s be honest, Coventry doesn’t always jump out at travellers plotting a path through Britain’s more familiar towns and regions. Pity. The West Midlands city has much to recommend it, from a famous cathedral to being the home of British automobile manufacturing (including giants like Jaguar and Triumph), plus historic links to a little lady called Godiva.

Located a stone’s throw from “big sister” Birmingham (think Hamilton to Toronto), Coventry is enjoying a moment in the sun as a British City of Culture and is poised for further international recognition when this summer’s Commonwealth Games roll into the region (July 28-Aug. 8).

Visitors (or those glimpsing the city while watching the Games on TV), will discover Coventry is a pleasant place that belies its industrial past and has plenty to interest and entertain visitors, or those just passing through.

The one-time capital of England has a rich, medieval heritage (including striking architecture), vibrant shopping and food and drink scene, and sits the middle of leafy, green Warwickshire (Shakespeare country).

But residents also exude community spirit and are proud of their progressive social history as well.

“Coventry is a really special, unique city,” says Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director of Coventry City of Culture, who notes the city’s role in the international peace movement and as a “city of sanctuary and reconciliation”; as a forerunner in the environmental movement; home of novelist George Elliot, who championed women’s rights; and birthplace of “two-tone” music (and bands like The Specials and Madness) during a time of racial reckoning in the 1970s and ‘80s, among other attributes.

She adds that the city is “fantastically diverse” and a “city of many cultures (where) we like to celebrate the way everybody has helped make the city what it is.”

Compact and walkable, the city is centred around the Cathedral Quarter and the Broadgate public square. Both are integral reconstructions in a city that was devastated by 44 bombing raids by Nazi Germany in World War II, including “the big one” on Nov. 14-15, 1940.

Coventry Cathedral, new and old

That bombing raid destroyed the city’s spectacular gothic cathedral, which was rebuilt without reservation (completed 1962), becoming a symbol of “resistance and peace.”

The new Coventry Cathedral has been voted one of Britain’s most popular 20th century buildings and is home to a show-stopping 25-metre-long stained glass window, which floods the interior with brightly coloured light, giving the modern space an ethereal feel. Uniquely, modern art, including a massive tapestry by Graham Sutherland, adorn the structure, which also has Canadian connections. Visitors can climb 180 steps up to the top of the cathedral tower for sweeping views across the city. Situated beside the ruins of the original, the site attracts many thousands of visitors each year.

Other notable city sites include:

St. Mary’s Guildhall: One of the finest medieval buildings of its kind in England. Having stood proudly for almost 700 years, it once acted as a jail for Mary Queen of Scots and provided inspiration for George Eliot. The grand building is complete with stone carvings, wooden ceiling and a magnificent restored 10-metre-long religious tapestry dating back to the 1500s.

Three Spires: Coventry is known as “the city of three spires” with the Old Cathedral of St. Michael, Christchurch (Greyfriars), and the Holy Trinity Church (with its spectacular and rare examples of medieval doom paintings), comprising the holy trinity.

Lady Godiva: Coventry’s favourite famous daughter (banner photo) was a real 10th-century figure, memorialized with a cast bronze statue in 1949 in the centre of Broadgate Square (don’t worry, it’s family friendly). A prominent gentlewoman in her time, Godiva protested against oppressive government taxes (imposed, ironically, by her husband) by riding a horse across town in the buff, covered only by her long hair, into legend. The term “peeping Tom” similarly gained infamy for the fellow who refused to politely turn his back and not look as she passed by. The annual Godiva Festival will take place this September.

Transport Museum

Transport Museum: Motor enthusiasts, and even those who aren’t, can start their engines in Coventry’s Transport Museum, which houses the world’s largest publicly owned collection of British road vehicles and record-breaking fast cars. Reflecting the city’s historical reputation as the “Detroit of Britain,” the museum boasts hundreds of exhibits, from antique bicycles (invented in Coventry) to war vehicles, fire engines, double decker buses, race cars, and land-speed rockets. There’s also a collection of miniatures, and, of course, classis cars from local companies, including 16 stunners you could only dream of owning in the Jaguar gallery.

FarGo Village: After a short stroll from city centre along colourful Far Gosford Street, with its Penny Lane vibe and oddly inordinate number modern barbershops, the city’s creative flare emerges at FarGo Village, an artistic space that champions all things local. As well as foodie festivals and vibrant pop-ups, there are a host of unique local shops, eateries, the Twisted Barrel Brewery pub, and artistic studios in the Fargo Marketplace, all set within a repurposed industrial site.

Canal Basin: A stroll here gives a glimpse into Coventry’s industrial past. Once a buzzing centre for the coal industry, it is now laden with colourful narrowboats, rejuvenated warehouses full of quirky crafts and an art trail.

Home of two-tone: As the birthplace of two-tone music, which brought together Jamaican Ska and punk in 1970s and ‘80s Britain, Coventry’s musical heritage is undeniable. Genre-defining bands such as The Specials, Madness and The Selecter have strong links to the city, all of which are celebrated at 2-Tone Village, which also houses the Coventry Music Museum and the city’s Music Wall of Fame, alongside quirky fashion and record shops.

Coombe Abbey hotel and park

Coombe Country Park: Less than 10 km from the city centre, the former 12th-century Cumbe Abbey (founded in 1150) is an expansive 200-hectare site designed by England’s most famous landscape designer, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Visitors (admission is free, parking for a fee) can discover rich woodland and tranquil fishing lakes, or up the ante at the GoApe outdoor activity centre, complete with treetop challenges, dual zip wires and Tarzan swing.

Coombe Abbey: For a quarter of a century, luxurious onsite Coombe Abbey has been a hotel, retaining the original manor house structure’s unique nooks and crannies, and welcoming guests to its 120-plus rooms, which come in all manner of shapes and sizes. Non-guests can stop in for afternoon tea or at the restaurant and bar.

Thanks to its City of Culture status, Coventry has seen significant investment in infrastructure with newly designed public spaces and railway systems, cultural institutions and outdoor artworks, and a new boutique hotel (The Coventry Telegraph Hotel, converted from the city’s iconic Telegraph newspaper building).

Situated in the heart of England, the city is also an ideal gateway, or base, for discovering neighbouring Birmingham, the Black Country Museum in Dudley; Stratford-Upon-Avon; Royal Leamington Spa; the market towns of Warwickshire, including Rugby, and Kenilworth; and Warwick Castle. It is also 90 minutes by direct train from London (Euston Station), making for an easy daytrip (in either direction).

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Marriott International Announces Two New W Hotels Signings In Italy with W Milan – Duomo and W Naples

 840 502 wttc2
By:

W Naples - Guest Room.jpeg
W Naples – Guest Room

Marriott International, Inc. today announced it has signed agreements to debut two new W Hotels in Italy with the signings of W Milan – Duomo and W Naples. Both hotels are slated to welcome guests in 2024, further expanding the brand’s footprint in the country, following the recent opening of W Rome and the signing of W Florence in 2021.

“We are thrilled to announce the signing of W Milan – Duomo with Gruppo Marseglia and W Naples with Solido S.p.A. The spirited cities of Milan and Naples have long been a destination of choice for global jetsetters, and we’re delighted to answer to the growing demand for luxury lifestyle hotels with these two significant signings,” said Gianleo Bosticco, Senior Director Development, Italy, Marriott International.

W Hotels Check into Italy’s Fashion Capital

W Milan – Duomo will bring the brand’s magnetic energy and distinctive design to the heart of Milan’s Fashion District. Situated in a prime location, W Milan – Duomo will be within walking distance of the city’s cultural landmarks including Piazza del Duomo, Teatro alla Scala and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Milan’s vibrant and iconic shopping street, Via Montenapoleone, is just a three-minute walk from the hotel.

First built as a bank in the 1920s, W Milan – Duomo will blend Milan’s classic grandeur with W’s bold branding and innovative programming. Led by Milan-based architects Stefano Boeri Architetti and international design firm Yabu Pushelberg, the hotel is expected to feature 166 guestrooms and 36 suites, including an Extreme WOW Suite.

Design plans for the hotel’s rooftop include the brand’s signature WET deck, offering spectacular views of the Duomo di Milano. The vistas continue with plans for an exclusive rooftop bar, W Lounge, and a signature restaurant; all complete with outdoor terraces and positioned to offer panoramic views of the city and the perfect aperitivo. Inspiring workout spaces are expected to include a 380-square-metre AWAY Spa, complete with an indoor pool and FIT fitness centre. Guests will also have access to the W brand’s iconic Whatever/Whenever® service.

“We are delighted to work with Marriott International on this exciting project, which will become a new point of reference in Milan for luxury lifestyle under the socially driven W brand. W Milan – Duomo will be an icon in the city for years to come,” said Leonardo Marseglia, Chairman of Marseglia Group.

The Majestic Bay of Naples Meets W Hotels Vibrant Energy

W Naples is set to become a buzzing centerpiece in the heart of the historical Piazza del Municipio square. The charming building, also formerly a bank, will receive a multi-million-pound renovation, with the historic façade remaining untouched playing homage to its historic past.

Old-world charm meets W Hotels’ unexpected design and innovative programming as the hotel is expected to serve as the perfect gateway to discover Naples by foot. Guests will find themselves immersed in the heart of the locally charged cultural scene with the hotel’s location just steps from the ancient Via Toledo known as the shopping street of Naples, the famed glass domed Galleria Umberto I and the prestigious UNESCO-listed, Teatro San Carlo, which is one of the oldest opera houses in the world.

W Naples will also be within walking distance of Molo Beverello Port where guests can dine al fresco with seafront views, or take a day trip to nearby Rome, Capri, Positano, or Pompei.

W Naples is set to bring together noble grandeur, culinary delicacies and couture fashion. The hotel is expected to feature 78 guestrooms, including 17 suites, several of which offer private terraces. The interior transformation will be headed up by the acclaimed Rockwell Group and design plans include a signature restaurant, W Lounge and FIT fitness center.

“We are so proud to have the W brand come to Naples. The hotel will provide a new social hub for locals and tourists alike when visiting wonderful Naples, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.” said Mr. Manuel d’Avanzo head of development of Solido S.p.A Group.

This announcement reaffirms the growth of W Hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, where the brand currently operates 14 properties and residences, with new openings planned across the region in exciting destinations such as, Portugal, Greece, Scotland and Czech Republic.

For more information, please visit www.whotels.com

For high-resolution images, please click here.

Credit: Marriott International, Inc.

Media Contacts
Georgie Noble, Director, Consumer PR, EMEA
Marriott International
Georgie.Noble@marriott.com

Lauren Singleton, PR Manager, Consumer PR, EMEA
Marriott International
Lauren.J.Singleton@marriott.com

About W Hotels Worldwide
Born from the bold, 24/7 culture of New York City, W Hotels has redefined hospitality for over two decades, breaking the norms of traditional luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands. With nearly 60 hotels around the globe, the detail-driven design, iconic Whatever/Whenever service and buzzing, signature Living Rooms create an experience that is often imitated but never matched. Dynamic and invigorating, the brand celebrates each travelers’ desire to uncover the destination through a lens that is distinctly W. For more information on W Hotels, visit whotels.com/theangle or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. W Hotels Worldwide is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy®, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including complimentary nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.

About Marriott International, Inc.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 8,000 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. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com. and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

About Marseglia Group
The Marseglia Group has been operating in Italy since 1974. The company operates across the renewable energy, agro-industrial, electricity construction, finance, real estate, and hospitality sectors.

About Solido S.p.A Group
Solido S.p.A Group was born in 1987. The mission of the group is to operate in all the chain of real estate and finance. Providing turnkey project from residential to commercial and hotel development. Specialized in conversion of historical building, in its portfolio there are hotel and development in many countries around Europe.

About Società Rinascimento Valori
Managed by Marco Stoppelli, Società Rinascimento Valori is an advisory company specialized in value-added strategies in hotel projects and developments, with an innovative vision and extraordinary know-how and has acted as the advisor of Marseglia Group and Solido S.p.A. Group, also will lead the project management of the hotel renovation.

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News