Global Travel News

ROUND-UP: June 06-10, 2022

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There was big border news for both Canada and the US last week; now there’s monkeypox, for which the Canadian government issued traveller advice; also, in the round-up, hopeful travel recovery numbers, the wrap on IPW in Orlando, and Transat has returned to Greece.

NEWS

The Public Health Agency of Canada is warning travellers to be extra careful abroad because of the potential threat of catching monkeypox. A level two travel health notice was issued warning people travelling outside the country to take extra precautions, adding that travellers could find themselves subjected to isolation or other measures to limit the spread of the virus. The notice applies to several countries, including the UK, Spain, and Germany.

Nearly 4,800 attendees from more than 60 countries – including Canada – attended the 53rd annual IPW in Orlando last week (June 4-8). The event is the US Travel Association’s signature international travel marketplace and the largest generator of travel to the United States. This year’s gathering was also the first truly post-pandemic version of the show since 2019 (though Las Vegas hosted a delayed version last September).

During IPW, US Travel Association released an updated international travel forecast, which projects 65 million international arrivals to the US in 2023 (82% of pre-pandemic levels). The forecast projects that international arrivals and spending will fully recover to 2019 levels by 2025. The USTA said this year’s strong attendance at IPW signals a desire to resume robust inbound travel to the United States.

BORDERS

Canada temporarily suspended random testing at its airports until the end of the month to help calm customs chaos, and the US dropped the requirement for vaccinated visitors to take an antigen test pre-departure. (Read both stories in today’s publication).

The German government dropped its “3G” rule, which stated that tourists had to either show proof of vaccination, recovery from Covid-19 or provide a negative test when entering Germany. The measure will be reviewed at the end of the summer.

The online entry portal for permission to travel into Anguilla has been discontinued. All persons over the age of five years travelling to the island still require a valid, negative PCR or NAA test administered within three days of arrival, or a Rapid Antigen test, which must be taken no more than two days before arrival. This information must be presented before boarding and on arrival in Anguilla, along with evidence of full vaccination status.

BY THE NUMBERS

Stronger-than-expected results – three times as many global arrivals in the first quarter of 2022 over 2021 – plus a significant increase in flight reservations, have prompted the UNWTO to now suggest that tourism’s international tourist recovery will reach 55% to 70% of 2019 levels this year.

AIR

Turkish Airlines is strengthening its onboard internet service. Previously activated only when the aircraft was above 10,000 feet, the service will now be ‘Gate to Gate’ internet service. The upgrade has started on some aircraft and is being rolled out across the fleet.

The principal shareholders of Colombia’s Avianca and the controlling shareholder of Brazil’s GOL have signed a landmark agreement to create a leading air transportation group across Latin America under a holding company structure named Abra Group Limited. Subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions, the Abra Group will control Avianca and GOL and bring together their iconic brands under a single holding.

RE-OPENING/RE-START

Air Transat is back in Greece after a long period of forced suspension due to the COVID-19. Three times weekly route to Athens will continue through the end of October from Montreal and Toronto at the height of the season. The carrier also resumed service to Lamezia from Toronto for the first time in over three years

DELAYED/CANCELLED

Citing “global challenges,” Virgin Voyages reports that it is deferring the upcoming launch of its third Lady Ship to Q2 2023. Initially scheduled to set sail from Athens mid-August of this year, Resilient Lady will remain in Genoa getting on-board work completed, hitting the high seas next spring. The cruise line is currently operating two ships, its first, Scarlet Lady in the Caribbean and second, Valiant Lady in the Med.

DEALS

Agents can help their clients kick off the summer solstice when they book an all-inclusive vacation package down south during Sunwing’s “Dive Into Summer” sale. Customers can save up to $1,200 per couple when they book at popular hotel chains Princess Hotels & Resorts, RIU Hotels & Resorts, Royalton Luxury Resorts and more when booking by June 26, for travel by Aug. 27, 2022.

TOURS

Emirates Vacations, the tour operating arm of Emirates Airline, has officially rolled out its offerings to the Canadian market, marking a step in the expansion of Emirates’ service offering to Canadian travellers by offering travel packages to Dubai and beyond. Flights, hotel stays, and local experiences can all be planned by agents with destination expertise, and who are available on a 24/7 basis for support. With a deposit of CDN$99, travellers can choose between a variety of destinations, accommodations, and experiences, including beach or city vacations, trips for the family and honeymoon getaways. Value-added benefits may include guaranteed savings and complimentary upgrades. Visit emiratesvacations.com/ca.

G Adventures has released its trip departure list for July, and the number of trips available to book increases to 1,300 trips in more than 50 countries. This represents the highest number of trips operating since the onset of the pandemic and heralds a welcome return to tourism for local communities in the countries visited. In July, Laos also returns, which means the reopening of G’s’ popular ‘Indochina loop’ experiences in Asia, taking travellers to Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam in one trip. Clients booking with G Adventures by July 5 can save 20% for travel before July 31.

HOTELS

AC Hotel Clearwater Beach

The new AC Hotel Clearwater Beach a 144-room, lifestyle-branded property located between the shores of Clearwater Beach, Fla., to the east and the Intracoastal Waterway to the west, is scheduled to open this summer. Guest rooms will feature water views and a rooftop gathering space will offer nightly artisan libations and fare. A chic European-inspired brand, AC by Marriott properties are designed with modern travellers seeking an experience-driven atmosphere in mind.

The highly anticipated Aman New York will welcome its first guests on Aug. 2. The culmination of a monumental transformation of the iconic Crown Building in Manhattan, the 83-suite hotel, located on the corner of 57th Street and Fifth Avenue is the second in a new, pioneering generation of Aman properties in urban settings, following in the footsteps of Aman Tokyo and taking the brand to 34 properties worldwide.

RESORTS

Marriott International, Inc. has announced the signing of Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun to join its growing all-inclusive portfolio. Expected to open in late 2022, Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun is owned and managed by Blue Diamond Resorts and will join the All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, which includes close to 30 immersive getaways in eight locations across the Caribbean and Latin America. Owned by Sunwing Travel Group, Blue Diamond Resorts’ other 20 properties are also part of the collection.

Construction has started on Jamaica’s seventh RIU property, Hotel Riu Palace Aquarelle, in Falmouth, Trelawny. The 700-plus room resort will have 24-hour all-inclusive service and feature its own exclusive waterpark. The brand’s first hotel in Trelawny is set in historic Coopers Pen – an area full of culture, nature, and stunning beaches. It’s also home to Glistening Waters, considered to be one of the most luminous lagoons in the world for witnessing bioluminescence, and is just five minutes away from the Martha Brae River rafting descent in the rainforest. Falmouth is now the fastest growing tourism area in Jamaica, and the resort will be a short 35-minute drive from Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport.

CRUISE

MSC Cruises reports that its entire fleet of 19 ships is back at sea following MSC Musica’s return to water last week. MSC Musica set sail for the first of her planned 23 seven-night summer 2022 voyages to Katakolon in Greece, the Greek islands of Crete and Santorini, as well as Bari (Italy), before she returning to her seasonal homeport.

Viking Cruises has kicked off its Great Lakes season with the launch of the new purpose-built Viking Octantis. Designed specifically for the region, the ship recently completed a roundtrip through the Welland Canal – a key section of the St. Lawrence Seaway connecting Lake Ontario and Lake Erie – making it the largest passenger vessel ever to transit the canal. The ship will remain in the Great Lakes until early October, sailing a variety of itineraries between Toronto and Duluth. A second expedition vessel, the Viking Polaris, will debut later this year and will join the Viking Octantis in the Great Lakes for the 2023 season.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

Now open for the season, Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours in Niagara Falls, Ont. offers guests an action-packed ride through Niagara River’s whitewater rapids. Passengers can choose between two experiences – wet or dry. Guests in open-topped jet boats are guaranteed to return to the dock soaking wet, doused with water while their boat pilot powers them through the rapids at high speed and expertly spins them through the chop in a complete 360-degree turn.

Those who’d prefer to stay dry can go for a spin on Whirlpool’s Freedom Boat, which features a selection of seats protected from the elements by a glass dome, as well as a number of seats on the front deck where riders are sure to get splashed.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

Encore Cruises

TravelBrands Encore Cruises, along with Norwegian Cruise Line, hosted 70 travel agents (photo) for Seminar at Sea May 22-29 aboard the Norwegian Joy. Departing from New York, the cruise also called in Norfolk, Va., and Bermuda. “We are so happy to be back with our annual Seminar at Sea this year,“ said Nathalie Tanious, COO, TravelBrands. “Travel agents, as much as our staff members, loved the opportunity to connect, learn and enjoy their time at sea.” Next year’s SeaU will be held on the Celebrity Beyond from March 26, 2023, for seven nights with more details to come.

EVENTS

ACTA will host an advocacy town hall meeting (English) on June 20, 1 to 2 p.m. EST, with guest presenter and senior accountant Mike Libbey, who will discuss ways that independent travel agents can organize their business to manage risk from future emergency events. The session will highlight important “lessons learned” during the pandemic and explore specific steps independent travel agents can take, should there be renewed border measures. Cost is free for ACTA members and $25 for non-members (which can towards a new 2022 ACTA membership. Register .

The conclusion of IPW last week, US Travel announced that its 54th annual IPW travel trade show and marketplace will take place May 20-24, 2023, in San Antonio, the first time the Texas city will serve as IPW host.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

Transat A.T. Inc. has announced the appointment of Julie Sareault to the position of Commercial Director – Québec, succeeding Karine Gagnon who was recently promoted to General Manager of Transat Distribution Canada (TDC). The move takes effect July 4. Sareault is currently Manager, National Sales for Air Transat.

Vision Travel has announced the addition of three new management positions in Western Canada: Vancouver-based Zabeen Kara, regional manager for British Columbia, was most recently Vision’s manager of leisure supplier relations and national sales support. She can be reached at zabeen.kara@visiontravel.ca.
Regional manager for Alberta is Calgary-based Katie Kewley, katie.kewley@visiontravel.ca. And, responsible for Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Angie Bree will be based in Winnipeg, angie.bree@visiontravel.ca.

DESTINATIONS

On Oct. 14, the Jordan Trail will introduce new Thru-Hikes. These guided hiking experiences will include licensed guides, transportation, meals, accommodations and more. Travellers can enjoy any section of the hike for as little or as much as they want to, and meet Jordanians as they meander through more than 70 villages.

Divers and snorkellers can promote reef protection and explore the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef during a one-of-a-kind underwater concert scheduled in the Florida Keys, July 9. The 38th annual Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival takes place at Looe Key Reef, an area of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary approximately 10 km south of Big Pine Key.

Music broadcast by a local radio station is piped underwater via speakers suspended beneath boats above Looe Key Reef, and several hundred underwater enthusiasts typically submerge to enjoy the ethereal undersea melodies. The “only in the Keys” listening experience is paired with diver awareness announcements that emphasize ways to enjoy the reef while minimizing environmental impacts.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

LISTENING IN: Boss the cherry on new Mellencamp classic

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John Mellencamp has always been one of my favourites, especially when his early heartland style of rock began to incorporate Appalachian overtones in the mid ‘80s with such instruments as dulcimer, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, penny whistle, and especially accordion. That style deliciously returns here on his latest single, “Wasted Days” – with one more amazing addition: Bruce Springsteen.

Apparently the two great singer-songwriters have been pals for awhile and have performed together live in the past, but this is their first official collaboration.

And while I’ll concede that Mellencamp’s voice at age 70 has aged noticeably (in a gruff though not grating way), the 72-year-old Springsteen sounds better than ever.

“Wasted Days” (penned solely by Mellencamp) appears on his album “Strictly a One-Eyed Jack,” released last September, though it could easily fit on “The Lonesome Jubilee” (No. 1 in Canada in 1987). The album also features The Boss on two other tracks – “Did You Say Such a Thing” and “A Life Full of Rain.”

In addition to being a musical throwback, the song also shows the Indiana native at his lyrical best, as simple, poignant and insightful as ever (remember haunting lines like “Life is short, even on the longest days,” or, “Oh yeah, life goes on/ long after the thrill of livin’ is gone”?)

Together the words and music add up to a song as good as anything he’s done before. And Springsteen is just the cherry on top of the icing on the cake.

Lyrics

How many summers still remain
How many days are lost in vain
Who’s counting out these last remaining years
How many minutes do we have here?

Wasted days
Wasted days
We watch our lives just fade away to
More wasted days

How much sorrow is there left to climb
How many promises are worth a dime
And who on earth is worth our time
Is there a heart here that I can call mine?

Wasted days
Wasted days
We watch our lives just fade away to
More wasted days

How can a man watch his life go down the drain
How many moments has he lost today
And who among us could ever see clear
The end is coming, it’s almost here

Wasted days
Wasted days
We watch our lives just fade away to
More wasted days

Wasted days
Wasted days
We watch our lives just fade away to
More wasted days

Wasted days
More wasted days
We watch our lives just slip away to
More wasted days

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Radisson Hotel Group Opens 14th South African Property in Durban

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Radisson Hotel Group Opens 14th South African Property in Durban - HOTELWORLDS-TRAVELINDEXDurban, South Africa, June 9, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Radisson Hotel Group is proud to announce its entry into its fourth South African city, Durban, with the opening of Radisson Blu Hotel, Durban Umhlanga.

This opening brings the Group’s portfolio in one of its key African markets, South Africa, to fourteen hotels in operation and two under development.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Durban Umhlanga is located on the eastern coast of South Africa’s vibrant city of Durban, in its most affluent residential and entertainment hub, Umhlanga. The hotel has easy access to several popular beaches and is within walking distance of the three-kilometer Umhlanga Beach Promenade. Durban has become a must-visit for local and international travelers because of its vast and enchanting landscapes and ideal year-round weather. Radisson Blu Hotel, Durban Umhlanga is close to the Durban ICC with direct access to the luxury Oceans Mall, which boasts a variety of international brands and is just 5 minutes from King Shaka International Airport.

Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President, Middle East & Africa at Radisson Hotel Group, says: “We are thrilled to make our debut in the welcoming city of Durban and cement our presence in our fourth South African city. South Africa continues to be a key market for us on the continent and we are proud to celebrate our 14th hotel opening milestone with the entry into Durban as we open a flagship property of this caliber. With its prime location overlooking the ocean adjacent to the exclusive Oceans Mall, this property will enhance Durban’s vibrant offering and we hope that we will be welcomed warmly into the local community.

With mesmerizing ocean views and 206 stylish and well-appointed rooms ranging from luxury suites, junior suites, and rooms for business travelers, to accessible rooms and family rooms, this upscale hotel caters to all travelers with a variety of amenities, including an outdoor pool, a kids play area, an executive business lounge, and a fitness center.

FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar on the 6th floor will serve North American styled/inspired open flame cuisine and offer a variety of beers and beverages, master-crafted cocktails, and a curated collection of South African wines. Guests can visit the Coffee Lounge on the ground floor for freshly brewed coffee and homemade baguettes from the in-house bakery. The Pool Bar is the perfect location to relax, unwind, and soak up the sun while tasting a selection of light snacks and refreshing cold drinks and enjoying the spectacular views of the Indian Ocean.

Marius Earle, General Manager, Radisson Blu Hotel, Durban Umhlanga, says: “It is an honor to open and lead this flagship hotel. There is great excitement and anticipation in the city about this world-class property and I am delighted to welcome guests to experience our personalized service and stylish spaces, as we aim to make every moment matter for our guests and showcase Durban hospitality at its best.”

The meetings and events area comprises eight elegant meeting and conference venues fitted with state-of-the-art equipment, including video conferencing capabilities and free high-speed Wi-Fi. The ballroom seats 600 guests in cinema style and leads into a foyer with access to an outdoor terrace which can cater up to 340 guests, perfect for any big or small occasion.

With the health and safety of guests and team members as its top priority, Radisson Blu Hotel, Durban Umhlanga is implementing the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol program. The in-depth cleanliness and disinfection protocols were developed in partnership with SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, and are designed to ensure guest safety and peace of mind from check-in to check-out.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Georgia Hall Wins Aramco Saudi Ladies International Golf Tournament

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Georgia Hall Wins Aramco Saudi Ladies International Golf Tournament - TOP25GOLFCOURSES.com - TRAVELINDEXJeddah, Saudi Arabia, June 8, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / England’s Georgia Hall delivered a measured final round 71 to win the $1million Aramco Saudi Ladies International presented by Public Investment Fund by five shots at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, on the Jeddah coast.

After being congratulated on the final green by Solheim Cup team member and good friend Emily Kristine Pedersen, a clearly delighted Hall showed how much the win – her first on the Ladies European Tour since her only other Tour victory, the 2018 Women’s Open – meant.

“It’s fantastic to win in March, so early in the season,” said the world #25. “I really love this place and love the golf course. I was fine after 18, and then Emily started crying, and it made me cry. I was just really proud of the way I played today.”

Hall’s one-under-par round started with two birdies in the first three holes to extend her overnight lead to seven shots, from where she never really looked back.

“That was the plan in my head,” said the 25-year-old. “The front nine is a little bit easier, a little bit less wind than we’ve had, so I tried to take advantage and hit some really good shots on the front nine to get me further ahead, and that kind of settled me.”

Despite four bogeys – on five, 10, 15 and 16 – the chasing pack never got closer than four shots. Hall – a runner up at the Aramco Saudi Ladies International in 2020 – sealed things with a birdie three on 17, rolling in a 15-foot putt.

She continued: “Even on 16, I thought it was a pretty good shot. It just didn’t come back. It was so tough. It was windier than yesterday, and 15, 16 can be very tricky, so I tried a few damage limitations there. Obviously really happy with the birdie on 17.

“To lead all week is very special. I think the first round really was very important for me. I played incredible that round. It really set me up for the rest of the week. Sometimes it’s not always easy with a five-shot lead into the last day, it’s a little bit more pressure on you, but I was really happy with the way I conducted myself today.”

Joint second place went to the former Czech Republic international footballer cum LET rookie Kristyna Napoleaova, and Johanna Gustavsson of Sweden.

It was fairy tale stuff for 25-year-old Napoleaova, who was competing in only her second event as an LET professional, and who had shared the Day Two lead with Hall.

“To be honest, it’s kind of like a dream,” she said. “I didn’t expect even to get into the event. Golf Saudi provided me with an invite, which was incredible. What happened this week is like a fairy tale. It’s been an absolutely incredible week. I’m so grateful to have been here and can’t wait to come back again.”

Napoleaova picks up $75,000 USD, a cool $71,300 more than her maiden LET event.

She said: “To be fair, I had no idea what the prize money is. I’m glad I didn’t look because then I would have been like slightly nervous on the last hole, which I was anyways, so better not to know!”

The best round of the day came from breakout US golf star Kelly Whaley, who set a new Ladies European Tour record with an incredible eight birdies in a row, to finish joint sixth.

The 24-year-old went -8 from the fourth hole through 11, en route to equaling Royal Greens’ course-record 63.

It was the first time in history any player has bagged more than seven consecutive birdies in a regular season LET event.

Whaley – who turned pro in 2019 and was competing in her first ever event outside the States – said: “It is the best round I’ve ever had in a tournament. My whole goal today was to just enjoy it and have fun, being my first international professional event. I’ve never had eight birdies in a row. That’s something memorable for anyone!

“Once I made about four or five, I said, ‘Okay, you’re in it now – you can’t stop!’. So, I just kept giving myself opportunities and it was a lot of fun. I think in these situations pressure can get to you, and it becomes almost daunting, but I really approached today trying to just enjoy every shot and find something about every hole that I loved, whether it be the view or just something else. It was just a really memorable day.”

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Turning Point for Tourism: UNWTO Executive Council Looks Beyond Recovery

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Turning Point for Tourism UNWTO Executive Council Looks Beyond Recovery - TRAVELINDEXJeddah, Saudi Arabia, June 8, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The Executive Council of UNWTO has met to advance the recovery of tourism around shared goals and a common vision for the sector.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Held for the first time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the 116th session was the largest meeting of the Executive Council since the start of the pandemic, with more than 200 participants and 32 countries represented. Members noted that the meeting came at a pivotal point for the sector as it learns from the lessons of the pandemic while at the same time looking ahead to a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.

Advancing priorities in challenging times

Tourism is united and determined like never before, and UNWTO is guiding it forward, with inclusivity and sustainability at the very heart of all our work

“We have faced up to a triple crisis: an ongoing pandemic, a climate emergency and now the return of war in Europe,” UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said. He stressed that “tourism is united and determined like never before, and UNWTO is guiding it forward, with inclusivity and sustainability at the very heart of all our work”.

In his report to Members on achievements since the previous Council meeting six months ago, the Secretary-General illustrated how UNWTO is seizing tourism’s unprecedented relevance, including within the United Nations, in national recovery and growth plans and within the wider public and media conversation.

Tourism’s restart

UNWTO laid out its plans to keep advancing the priorities around fostering sustainability, promoting tourism jobs and education, growing tourism investments and accelerating its digital transformation.

The Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia and host of the Executive Council, Ahmed Al Khateeb, said: “Tourism’s restart in many countries around the world offers a unique chance to rethink tourism governance, communications and beyond. We have an incredible opportunity to set a new way forward, to create a strong future for the global tourism sector, and we must embrace it.”

The recognition of tourism’s importance was further echoed by the Minister of Tourism and Leisure of Cote d’Ivoire, also serving as Executive Council Chair, Siandou Fofana, who noted that “tourism is united to face future challenges”, while stressing the importance of cohesion in planning and policymaking as the sector recovers to drive wider social and economic recovery.

Members agreed to hold the 117th session of the UNWTO Executive Council in Morocco, in the second half of this year. With two countries offering to host the 118th session, Members voted in favour of the Dominican Republic holding the first Council of 2023.

Onto Riyadh, emerging tourism hub

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Members of the Executive Council were provided with an update on the work of the UNWTO Regional Office for the Middle East, opened in the capital of Saudi Arabia in May 2021. The office in Riyadh is set to emerge as both a regional and global hub for the sector, with a special focus on tourism education and tourism and rural development, exemplified by the first major project to come out of the office, Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO.

From Jeddah, the UNWTO leadership will visit Riyadh to formally welcome personnel.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

World Leaders Pledge to Fight for Freedom and Values

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World Leaders Pledge to Fight for Freedom and Values - TRAVELINDEXDavos, Switzerland, June 8, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / World leaders came together at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022 against a backdrop of deepening global frictions and fractures and a once-in-a-century pandemic.

On Monday, President Zelenskyy addressed participants live from Kyiv. He said that the words “turning point” have “become more than just a rhetorical figure of speech” and emphasized that “values must matter”.

The war in Ukraine has created immense human suffering. And the wider impacts of the conflict are being felt around the world.

The World Economic Forum called for a “Marshall Plan” for the reconstruction of Ukraine. “In Davos, our solidarity is foremost with the people suffering from the atrocities of this war,” said Klaus Schwab, the Forum’s Founder and Executive Chairman.

The Special Dialogue on Ukraine session brought together 70 global CEOs alongside the Prime Minister of Ukraine (who joined virtually), with the President of the European Commission, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine and the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine at Davos in person, alongside other dignitaries. CEOs offered concrete ways of how their companies can support the Ukraine government and its private sector in the reconstruction of Ukraine now, rather than waiting for the war to end.

The World Economic Forum offered its support in this endeavour, advancing discussions on new partnerships and market-driven solutions to enable a scaled up response to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and other global crises.

Meeting in person after a two-year hiatus, there were over 450 sessions at the meeting, which brought together 2,500 leaders and experts from around the world, including 300 government leaders and 50 heads of state. It was a critical opportunity to foster stronger global and regional cooperation to restore stability and create real impact.

Nature and climate

The energy crisis, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, must not deepen the world’s dependence on climate-warming fossil fuels. During the week, there was a focus on accelerating clean energy and climate solutions:

  • More than 50 companies have now joined the First Movers Coalition, which was launched by US President Biden and the World Economic Forum at COP26 to decarbonize the heavy industry and long-distance transport sectors – the sectors responsible for 30% of global emissions.
  • This week at Davos, John Kerry, the United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, joined these companies in sending a powerful market signal to commercialize zero-carbon technology. Their market cap represents about $8.5 trillion across five continents and they are making unprecedented advance purchase commitments by 2030.
  • Eight new countries have joined the First Movers Coalition as government partners – Denmark, India, Italy, Japan, Norway, Singapore, Sweden and the UK. All are committed to create early markets for clean technologies. Alongside the United States, there are nine committed government partners.
  • Some 70+ CEOs of the CEO Climate Leaders Alliance – the largest CEO-led climate action group globally – agreed on taking bold action to translate pledges into tangible emission reductions in line with 1.5C. Covering 26 countries and 12 industries and representing 120 companies in total, the alliance has a combined annual emission footprint greater than India or the EU.
  • CEOs agreed to push for progress on critical 2030 and 2050 global climate targets, mobilizing dialogue between governments and the private sector to deliver a successful outcome at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh.
  • China’s Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua announced his country’s contribution to plant and conserve 70 billion trees by 2030. The World Economic Forum and China Green Foundation will undertake concrete measures together through 1t.org China Action to support the fulfilment of China’s contribution.
  • A new $15 million investment over five years was announced to support entrepreneurs who can drive innovation in freshwater resource management – the initiative will be hosted by our UpLink platform.
  • CEOs also held dialogues with regional climate envoys, COP26, COP27 and COP28 leadership to make progress on global climate policies, including the importance of setting a global price on carbon and other key policy measures to fast-track the transition.
  • Youth activist Elizabeth Watuthi spoke on Safeguarding our People and Planet, sharing the local perspective and direct impacts of climate change in vulnerable communities, and youth climate activist Vanessa Nakate, speaking at the Staying on Course for Climate Action session, said: “When we talk about climate change we’re also talking about food security. It’s really important to understand the intersections of this crisis.”
  • The Forum’s Global New Mobility Coalition is launching the Urban Mobility Scorecards initiative. Over 30 companies, such as Visa, Hyundai, Uber, Volta Trucks and TIER, will work with policy-makers from cities and regions to better understand challenges and solutions to create a shared, connected and decarbonized mobility ecosystem.
  • A new Global Commission on the Economics of Water was launched to redefine the way we value and incorporate water into economic decision-making. It is led by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization; Mariana Mazzucato, Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose; Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister of the Government of Singapore; and Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.

Economic transformation

The Forum’s Chief Economists Outlook report warned of “dire human consequences” from the fragmentation of the global economy. It said that developing economies face trade-offs between the risks of debt crisis and securing food and fuel. The rising cost of living hits the world’s poorest communities hardest. The Ukraine conflict has exacerbated already fragile energy and food systems. Co-investment by the public and private sector is critical to restarting a new era of growth, one that integrates inclusion and sustainability at its core rather than an afterthought, and is the best way forward for shared prosperity.

  • A leading group of CEOs, ministers and academic experts agreed on the roadmap for the Market Creators Alliance to develop fairer principles for governments, businesses and public-private partnerships on innovation and industrial development. This will be launched later this year.
  • Four Futures for Economic Globalization: Scenarios and Their Implications outlines how the nature of globalization may shift as economic powers choose between fragmentation or integration in both the physical and virtual dimensions of the world economy.
  • The Government of Rwanda and the United Arab Emirates announced that they are joining the Food Action Alliance for driving food systems transformation. They are part of a growing group of first-mover countries. The new partnership will harness innovation to accelerate country goals on food security and nutrition, inclusive growth, sustainability and climate resilience, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Work, wages and job creation

  • The Jobs Consortium, a group of public and private sector leaders focused on investment in the jobs of tomorrow, held their inaugural meeting in Davos to drive a global recovery and investment agenda for the next two years. They aim to create growth in the jobs of tomorrow, new standards in the workplace and better wages for all, focusing on social, green and tech jobs as the high-growth, job-creating sector of the future.
  • Over 6 million refugees have left Ukraine to other countries since February, adding to the estimated 31 million people worldwide forcibly displaced across borders. The Refugee Employment and Employability Initiative was launched, a coalition of chief human resources officers from over 140 organizations who support the integration of Ukrainian refugees in Europe. This will pilot its work supporting learning and job opportunities for Ukrainian refugees in Europe in its first phase – aiming to expand to other regions of the world in the future.

Education and skills

  • The Reskilling Revolution initiative, launched at the Annual Meeting in 2020, has now mobilized a community of over 50 CEOs, 350 organizations and 15 countries all working towards a vision of giving 1 billion people better education, reskilling and upskilling. A network of country accelerators in Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Georgia, Greece, India, Oman, Pakistan, South Africa, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, with support from Denmark, Finland, Singapore and Switzerland, and a consortium of the largest online learning platforms are working together.
  • The initiative will now expand beyond adult learning to add a focus on education for children and youth. These efforts will be taken forward by a new Education 4.0 Alliance, bringing together 20 leading education organizations, and Bangladesh has become the first country to adopt the education accelerator model in Davos.
  • A new report, Catalysing Education 4.0 Investing in the Future of Learning for a Human-Centric Recovery, focuses on preparing today’s generation of school-age children with better collaborative problem-solving that could add $2.54 trillion – over $3,000 per school-age child – from this one skill alone.

Diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice

  • The Gender Parity Accelerators are a global network of national public-private collaboration platforms working to close existing gender gaps and reshape gender parity for the future. This year two G20 countries, Mexico and Japan, will initiate Gender Parity Accelerators in the coming months.
  • The Valuable 500 initiative announced a unique mentorship programme – Generation Valuable – for people with disabilities to build the future executive leadership, driving disability inclusion by revolutionizing the boardrooms of tomorrow.
  • The Edison Alliance launched a new programme to speed up digital inclusion in the life-critical sectors of health, education and finance. It launched a new network of “lighthouse countries”, including Bahrain, Bangladesh and Rwanda, working with the UN Development Programme to further the alliance’s 1 billion lives vision of providing people with affordable, digital solutions by 2025.

Trade and supply chains

Business and government leaders highlighted the potential of trade facilitation, finance and trade technology to tackle supply chain barriers. Trade ministers gathered in Davos to hear from business and civil society and prepare for next month’s World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference. Leaders called for diversifying trade and investment relationships to bolster development and support common values. Indigenous and labour leaders called for inclusive outcomes from trade. Food security was high on the agenda.

  • The World Investment for Development Alliance was launched together with OECD Secretary-General Matthias Cormann, the World Bank, UNCTAD and other partners, to increase collaboration in addressing investment policy and practice.
  • The Forum’s Platform for Trade and Investment, together with the Digital Cooperation Organization, launched a Digital FDI initiative to support investment in the digital economy in developing economies.
  • The World Economic Forum convened Friends of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, a group of heads of state and business leaders, which advanced a framework on how public-private partnerships can support the implementation of the AfCFTA.
  • Global supply chain disruptions make it harder to reach children with life-saving supplies. This week UNICEF co-signed an extended charter with the World Economic Forum and 16 logistics leaders to prioritize support for humanitarian supply transports.

Health

COVAX the multilateral initiative aimed at ensuring equitable access to life-saving COVID-19 vaccines was conceived in Davos two years ago. In the past seven days it has shipped its 1.5 billionth dose.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused enormous disruptions to healthcare – reversals in testing and treatment of life-threatening diseases. Crucial steps have been taken to help counteract these setbacks. These include:

  • The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria announced its first pledge from the private sector in Davos. It has raised a third of the $18 billion needed to reverse setbacks caused by the pandemic.
  • Building on recommendations developed in partnership with the European Union COVID-19 lung cancer taskforce, the Forum, together with the Lung Ambition Alliance, launched the Global Lung Cancer Collaboration to bring together organizations in healthcare delivery, research, diagnostics, biopharma, patient advocacy and non-governmental organizations to facilitate greater collaboration and solutions to eliminate lung cancer as a leading cause of death.
  • An Accord for a Healthier World was launched at Davos by Pfizer this week, providing all its current and future patent-protected medicines and vaccines available in the US or EU on a not-for-profit basis to 45 lower-income countries. Pfizer called on global health leaders and organizations to join the accord, bringing their expertise and resources to close the health equity gap and help create a healthier world for 1.2 billion people. Rwanda, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal and Uganda are the first five countries to commit to join the accord. Health officials in these countries will help identify and resolve hurdles beyond supply to inform the roll-out in all 45 lower-income countries.
  • The World Economic Forum’s Platform for Health and Healthcare signed an MoU with Saudi Arabia in support of the Global Coalition for Value in Healthcare. This partnership will increase collaborative efforts to build a global healthcare movement on value-based health systems and people-centred care, alongside global government policy-makers, industry and academia through accelerating public-private partnerships.

Tech frontiers

  • The World Economic Forum unveiled the concept of a Global Collaboration Village, a major initiative to harness the potential of the metaverse to create a place where international cooperation can be strengthened.
  • The Defining and Building the Metaverse initiative was launched bringing together key stakeholders to define and build the parameters of an economically viable, interoperable, safe and inclusive metaverse.
  • The Global Coalition for Digital Safety has committed to developing emergency protocols for protecting digital safety during wars, particularly to tackle online exploitation and abuse, violent extremist and terrorist content, and mis- and disinformation. This will complement the broader work of the coalition to make the internet safer by tackling harmful content and conduct online.
  • The Annual Meeting hosted its first public panel on Unlocking Quantum, with leaders committing to focus on how technologies and deeper analytics could transform decarbonization and accelerate the fight against climate change. They will work with Qlimate, Volkswagen and the Netherlands government on identifying and scaling solutions.
  • Malaysia’s Finance Minister announced his country will be the first location for a Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in the ASEAN region. And, the Dubai Future Foundation, with support from the Government of UAE, has signed a collaboration agreement to continue the operations of C4IR UAE. The centre will focus on blockchain, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
  • Samantha Cristoforetti became the first astronaut to join the Annual Meeting live from space aboard the International Space Station, orbiting the planet at 17,500 miles an hour. The Live from Space session looked at how government and business can collaborate to ensure that space exploration benefits people and the planet.

In a closing address, Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, called for “a sustainable, resilient globalization which uses natural resources sparingly and, above all, takes the needs of future generations into account”, adding that a new approach to globalization would be “based on solidarity which benefits all citizens – in all parts of the world.”

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO and ETC Datalab To Power European Tourism Forward

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UNWTO and ETC Datalab to Power European Tourism Forward - TRAVELINDEXBrussels, Belgium, May 7, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / More than 30 countries in Europe have signed up to share knowledge and best practices with the aim of enhancing tourism competitiveness and supporting the recovery of the sector across the region.

The DataLab network, led by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the European Travel Commission (ETC) will provide a unique platform for sharing best practices, including know-how in data management and analytics. Users will also be able to share knowledge on the identification of relevant data sources, the use of big data, and the implementation of market intelligence systems. Europe’s National Tourism Organizations (NTOs), National Tourism Administrations (NTAs) and other relevant partners are all eligible to be part of the DataLab, and representatives from more than 30 countries have signed up to be part of the first stage.

“The UNWTO-ETC DataLab network represents an innovative and collaborative way to grow the competitiveness of countries through market intelligence. This will help tourism organizations to be better prepared in light of an increasingly digitalized and data-driven sector,” says Zoritsa Urosevic, UNWTO Executive Director.

“By fostering knowledge sharing through the UNWTO-ETC DataLab initiative we will provide a platform for destinations to collaborate and build collective knowledge, which is crucial, especially in times of challenges. We trust this initiative will help our members minimize risks and increase competitiveness to build a tourism sector that is more resilient, innovative and sustainable in the years to come”, stated Eduardo Santander, Executive Director at ETC, at the network’s launch.

Filling the data gap

Market intelligence has become paramount to accelerate tourism’s sustainable recovery from the Covid-19 crisis, understand current and future trends, and make informed decisions. At the same time, there is a need to address data gaps, support the development of new digital tools and improve access to real-time data. According to a recent survey carried out by UNWTO and ETC on data needs and use, issues related to data access, cost and skills appeared to be some of the major constraints faced by NTOs and NTAs across Europe. In this regard, “the network will explore ways to better understand the current data requirements, enhance knowledge and strengthen capacity by learning from each other”, indicated Sandra Carvão, Director of UNWTO Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness.

Enhanced collaboration

The network strengthens the collaboration between UNWTO and ETC in a critical area of knowledge and expertise for tourism destinations and is the outcome of an initiative proposed in 2021. A working group with representatives from Visit Flanders, Fáilte Ireland, Malta Tourism Authority, NBTC Holland Marketing, Turismo de Portugal and the Slovenian Tourist Board, guided UNWTO and ETC in the foundations of this initiative. Moving forward, the UNWTO-ETC DataLab will provide capacity building events for members in the form of webinars and networking sessions.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Vietjet Relaunches Phuket to Ho Chi Minh City Flights

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Vietjet Relaunches Phuket to Ho Chi Minh City Flights - AIRLINEHUB.com - TRAVELINDEXHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam, June 7, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The Phuket to Ho Chi Minh City route is back to service today following the ease of travel restrictions, becoming first airline to re-launch the direct route between Thailand’s most popular beach city and Vietnam’s biggest city.

The service, which operates four weekly return flights on every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, will offer more flight choices and experiences to passengers traveling between Vietnam and Thailand besides traveling hub of Bangkok.

The flight takes off from Phuket at 12:00 and arrives in Ho Chi Minh City at 13:50. Coming the other way, the flight departs from Ho Chi Minh City at 9:00 and lands in Phuket at 11:00 (local time). Customers can hunt for promotional tickets during golden hour from 12:00 to 14:00 every day on the website and on Vietjet Air mobile app.

With an expansive network across Vietnam, Vietjet is ready to welcome visitors back to the sky on safe and comfortable flights with the world’s leading modern fleet, friendly, dedicated flight attendants, menu of hot and fresh dishes along with unique cultural and artistic programs at an altitude of 10,000 metres.

Vietjet has resumed many services connecting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang with Bangkok since early 2022. The carrier currently operates the largest flight capacity between Thailand and Vietnam and will resume the Ho Chi Minh City – Chiangmai route on September 1, 2022 with thrice weekly flights on every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Travelers to Vietnam have enjoyed a completely pre-pandemic fashion as the country scraps the Covid-19 testing requirements for all international arrivals from May 15, 2022 regardless of vaccination status. The new ruling makes Vietnam the first in Asia Pacific to fully open to international travelers.

About Vietjet
The new-age carrier Vietjet has revolutionized the aviation industry. With a focus on cost management ability, effective operations and performance, Vietjet offers flying opportunities with cost-saving and flexible fares as well as diversified services to meet customers’ demands.

Vietjet is a fully-fledged member of International Air Transport Association (IATA) with the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certificate. As Vietnam’s largest private carrier, the airline has been awarded the highest ranking for safety with 7 stars by the world’s only safety and product rating website and listed as one of the world’s 50 best airlines for healthy financing and operations.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

HEARST CASTLE: California treasure is open again

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California’s famous Hearst Castle has re-opened after a two-year closure due to the pandemic and severe rainstorm damage that prompted a $13.7 million renovation.

The steep, curvy access road to palatial home that media mogul William Randolph Hearst built on ranch land overlooking the Pacific was damaged by atmospheric rivers – storms fueled by long and wide plumes of moistures pulled in from the Pacific – in 2021.

Called La Cuesta Encantada (“The Enchanted Hill”), the San Luis Obispo County castle, designed by architect Julia Morgan, includes a 115-room main house, as well as guesthouses, pools, and cultivated gardens. Construction dates back to 1919.

The access road, which rises 503 m. over eight kilometres was “reconstructed and re-engineered” over 10 months, according to state officials. The project included replacing and enlarging clay pipe culverts from the 1920s that had been damaged by the rainstorms. Some historic stone retaining walls were also restored by hand.

The castle, which is located in central California about four hours from both Los Angeles and San Francisco, sees about 850,000 visitors annually, meaning about 22,000 bus trips traverse the access road each year. Some travel as often as every 10 minutes in the summer tourism season.

Neptune pool

The castle features a magnificent 115-room main house plus guesthouses, pools, and 3.2 hectares of cultivated gardens. The main house itself, “La Casa Grande,” is home to Hearst’s extraordinary art collection and has hosted many influential guests, including President Calvin Coolidge, Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, Charlie Chaplin, and a diverse array of luminaries from show business and publishing industries.

“Hearst Castle is a state treasure and we are thrilled to reopen this wonder to the public to enjoy in a safe and responsible manner,” California State Parks Director Armando Quintero said. “We are confident that these once-in-a-lifetime repairs and improvements to the road facility will serve countless generations to come.”

The reopening of the castle marks the delayed 100th anniversary of the construction of the castle by offering a new tour entitled “The Julia Morgan Tour,” offering an in-depth look at the life and career of the extraordinary woman, focusing on rarely seen areas of Hearst Castle that highlight her gift for design, and photographic displays of architectural drawings, family photos, and personal items.

In addition, the ticket pricing structure for Hearst Castle was revamped to make it more user-friendly for the public and business partners. The ticket price will now have all fees integrated into one total price which will make the reservation process seamless, and will reduce the overall cost to visitors, by $3 to $6 per ticket. Tour reservations are strongly recommended and can be made online at HearstCastle.org.

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

HAWAII HAPPENINGS THIS SUMMER

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As Hawaii emerges from the pandemic, attractions, hotels, and events are placing a greater focus than ever on the islands’ culture, past and present, as well as sustainable practices for visitors and locals alike.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority says it is committed to regenerative tourism for Hawaii, “seeking to balance the economics of tourism with the wellbeing of our communities, natural resources and culture.”

This includes attracting and educating positive-impact travellers who are mindful of how they respect and interact with residents, of how their movement through Hawaii impacts the environment positively and of how they value and respect the Hawaiian culture and other cultures of Hawaii.

“This commitment to regenerative tourism advocates for solutions to overcrowded sites, overtaxed infrastructure, and other tourism-related issues; and works with responsible agencies, community and stakeholders to improve natural and cultural assets valued by Hawai’i’s residents,” says the HTA.

Here’s a brief look at what visitors and travel counsellors will find in the islands this summer:

MĀLAMA HAWAII

• Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay recently partnered with Surfrider Foundation Kauai Chapter’s Ocean Friendly Visitors Program to offer guests of the hotel opportunities to learn how to mālama (“care for”) Kauai and, in exchange, receive a fourth night at the property free. The Kauai chapter of the Surfrider Foundation is encouraging visitors to engage in mindful practices such as using only reef-friendly sunscreen, minimizing single-use plastics, participating in beach cleanups, and admiring wildlife from a safe and legal distance.

• Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park (Kauai) — including its Kalalau Trail — now requires 90-days advanced reservations for all entries, camping and lodging, an increase from 30 days. Parking passes to the Kauai wilderness park are limited and sell out quickly. The pass, which is available for purchase at www.GoHaena.com, includes day-use park entry and is a good option for individuals unable to secure a parking pass.

• The phrase mālama ‘āina (“to care for the land”) reflects Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection’s (Hawaii Island) mission to protect, preserve and respect the island of Hawaii. The resort recently partnered with Māla’ai, a school garden program in nearby Waimea town, to responsibly and sustainably cultivate and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables in the resort’s on-property garden, Hoʻōla. With its name meaning “to give life to,” Hoʻōla provides purposeful, hands-on opportunities for Mauna Lani guests wishing to become involved with the garden.

• Paradise Helicopters (Hawaii Island), a locally owned helicopter company, is offering guests opportunities to both experience and protect the beauty of the island of Hawaii’s natural landscapes. The company’s Malama Charters provides exclusive landing opportunities paired with a native tree-planting experience and educational tour. Flights depart from multiple locations on the island of Hawaii.

HOTEL DEVELOPMENTS

• ʻAlohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach on Oahu recently announced that it is on track to become the first carbon neutral hotel in the state of Hawaii. The resort’s upcoming carbon neutral certification underscores its existing sustainability initiatives, commitment to plant 100,000 indigenous trees in its legacy forest, and use of renewable electricity throughout the property. In addition, credits for Beach Candy Waikiki are now included in the resort amenity fee to further enhance guests’ Hawaii experience while helping preserve the environment and reduce waste.

• Aqua-Aston Hospitality (statewide) is moving away from single-use plastic at its resorts statewide this year to convert 100% of its properties to bulk bathroom amenities. The Honolulu-based hotel management company continues to advocate for sustainability and marine life across its 25-plus properties in Hawaii by limiting plastic usage and partnering with local, environmentally friendly brands. Aqua-Aston recently introduced a new reef-safe sunscreen amenity to its properties through a partnership with mom-owned Little Hands Hawaii where guests receive access to samples of the lightly coconut-scented sunscreen at its front desks.

• Mauna Kea Beach Hotel’s new partnership with Hawaii Land Trust focuses on Māhukona, an area north of the hotel’s property within the island of Hawaii’s Kohala district spanning the coastline of six ahupuaʻa (land divisions). Through a portion of donation proceeds, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is helping support the preservation of land at Māhukona and the practice of celestial navigation and open ocean voyaging. Also, within the area, local nonprofit Nā Kālai Waʻa hosts and cares for navigation-related cultural sites and uses the sailing canoe Makaliʻi to teach aspiring navigators how to sail.

• Montage Kapalua Bay (Maui) is offering guests opportunities to learn about Hawaiian culture from its new cultural ambassador, Hoku Haiku, who brings more than 25 years of experience as a cultural educator to the resort. New programs at the Maui resort include nā pā’ani kahiko (traditional Hawaiian games) and guided cultural educational walks. Hoku and Silla Kaina, the resort’s longtime cultural ambassador, lead classes sharing Hawaiian culture, Hawaiian myths and legends, coconut-frond weaving, and ‘ukulele and hula lessons with guests.

• Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort on Oahu is inviting guests to experience its newly created A’o Cultural Center, part of the property’s ongoing $80-million renovation. Open since March, the resort’s expanded cultural center features complimentary guest activities, including lei-making, ukulele, and hula lessons. The resort has also revamped its Herb Kāne Lounge with new local artwork and a more open structure.

• New activities at Royal Kona Resort on the island of Hawaii offer guests opportunities to experience Hawaii’s rich culture. Offered several times throughout the week, they include lessons on playing ʻukulele, dancing hula and making fragrant flower lei. Reservations are required due to limited space. An activity schedule and sign-up list is available at the resort’s front desk.

• Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu recently debuted its Thursday weekly Paniolo Pāʻina at The Stables. The event features live entertainment, food and cocktails, and interactive activities for the whole family honoring Hawaiian cowboy culture, which dates back to 1800s. Activities include the Pony Experience offering kids a chance to pet and feed ponies, paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) storytelling, fire-knife dancing, hula and a night cap of s’mores by the campfire.

• New, Lū’au Ka Hikina at the Sheraton Kaua’i Coconut Beach Resort. This new lū’au is held every Tuesday & Thursday in the property’s new open air event pavilion, Hālau Ho’okipa featuring a torch lighting ceremony, locally sourced foods and a celebration of the Hawaiian and Polynesian culture under the direction of award- winning kumu hula Leilani Rivera Low. www.luaukahikina.com

ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES

• Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience (Oahu) is a showcase of more than 400 of French painter Claude Monet’s most iconic works of impressionism, set to run at the Hawaii Convention Center on Oahu from June 15 through July 31. Notable Monet artworks, including his Water Lilies series and Impression: Sunrise and Poppies, will be part of the display. With an enchanting musical score, breathtaking projections and stunning set pieces, Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience encourages infinite interpretations of Monet’s work.

• Bishop Museum (Oahu) announced new exhibition, “The Healer Stones of Kapaemahu” from June 18 to Oct. 15. This exhibit will explore the history and contemporary meanings of four large pōhaku (stones) on Waikīkī Beach. Legend has it that these pōhaku were placed long ago as a tribute to four māhū (people of dual male and female spirit) who brought healing arts from Tahiti to Hawaii. Although the stones have survived for centuries, the story behind them has been suppressed and the respected role of māhū erased. Using immersive media and innovative storytelling approaches, the exhibition revitalizes this traditional story to help restore this sacred site as a permanent reminder of Hawaii’s history of inclusion and acceptance. The Healer Stones of Kapaemahu is presented in both English and ʻōlelo Niʻihau, the only form of Hawaiian unbroken by foreign contact. This is Bishop Museum’s first fully bilingual exhibition, signaling its commitment to centring the exhibition in a Hawaiian worldview.

• In partnership with Hawaii Land Trust, the Mauna Kea and Hapuna golf courses on the Kohala Coast of the island of Hawaii, recently underwent an extensive sustainability analysis to implement best management practices designed to reduce both courses’ water consumption and downward run-off of fertilizer into the ocean. Collectively, the measures taken are positives for the environment and also help create healthy surroundings for Hawaii’s state bird, the threatened nēnē (Hawaiian goose), flocks of which can often be found grazing in and around the golf course fairways.

• No’eau Designers (Oahu) now offers Native Hawaiian and Hawaii-based artisans a venue to showcase their products to kamaʻāina and visitors with its newly opened location on the third floor of Ala Moana Center on Oahu. With the works of more than 100 vendors offered both in-store and online, buying local at Noʻeau Designers gives back to Hawaii’s artisan community.

• Nā Lani Sunset Stories welcomes audiences at International Market Place (Oahu) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, through February 2023, for a presentation honouring the Oahu shopping and dining centre’s rich history and sense of place with Hawaiian and Polynesian song and dance. O Nā Lani Sunset Stories begins at sunset with the ceremonial lighting of the International Market Place’s Lamakū Torch Tower on Kalākaua Avenue in Waikīkī and leads to the center’s Queen’s Court stage. Free to the public, the show begins at 7 p.m. through August, and at 6:30 p.m. from September through February.

• Visitors can learn how to make their very own lei pua kalaunu (crown flower lei) from start to finish at the Queens’ Marketplace’s Coronation Pavilion in Waikōloa on the island of Hawaii every first Friday of the month, from 6 to 7 p.m. The pua kalaunu was Queen Liliʻuokalani’s favourite blossom and was thought to resemble a royal crown, a distinction which also gave the flower its English-language name. Lessons are limited to 15 persons and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Situated in Waikīkī on Oahu, the Queens Waikiki Luau at International Market Place happens every Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m., welcoming guests to enjoy dinner, bar access and interactive activities. Capped at 70 attendees, the lū’au’s Polynesian revue from across the Pacific includes music, song and the famed fire-knife dance.

• After a nearly two-year hiatus, the Royal Hawaiian Band has returned to ʻIolani Palace on Oahu for its popular lunchtime concerts. The concerts are free, open to the public and held on most Fridays from noon to 1 p.m. Once known as the King’s Band, the Royal Hawaiian Band was created by King Kamehameha III in 1836 and is the only full-time municipal band in the US. The band has grown in prominence over its many years, playing at state occasions, parades, national competitions and other international venues.

• Sea Life Park on Oahu is presenting its new Hawaiian monk seal talk story session, Meet Kekoa. Session participants learn about the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, and Kekoa’s incredible journey and contributions to human understanding of the hearing capabilities of Hawaiian monk seals, all integral learnings in protecting future generations of the seals. Sessions happen on Tuesdays and Fridays at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

• The Waikiki Trolley. Hop aboard the company’s brand-new Heroes and Legends tour to discover and hear stories about the district’s historical figures and their ground-breaking accomplishments.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

• On the first Friday of each month, Aloha Stadium Swap Meet and Marketplace (Oahu) invites visitors and residents to attend its Taste of Oahu night market featuring food and live entertainment. Tickets are $10 for attendees ages 12 and older, $5 for keiki (children) ages six to 11, and free entrance for those ages five and under. Tickets can be bought online or at the event.

• Bring your beach chairs and coolers to Laʻiʻōpua 2020’s Ola ka Lāhui, a talk story and cultural activity gathering on the lānai of Laʻiʻōpua 2020 in Kailua-Kona on the island of Hawaii, happening June 25, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Participants can join cultural artisans in demonstrations of treasured traditions. An hour-long talk story will feature kūpuna (elders), island historians, storytellers and artisans sharing their manaʻo (thoughts) about Hawaii’s history, arts, and traditions. The event’s name, Ola ka Lāhui (meaning “the nation lives on”), reflects its intent to share the ʻike (knowledge) and moʻolelo (stories) of Hawaii for future generations.

• For the first time in more than two years, the Paniolo Heritage Rodeo will return to Kōloa Plantation Days on Kauai, July 22-24, spotlighting the cultural experience of today’s paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) lifestyle. Cheer on competitors as they test their skills and nerves in high-stake races, fast-action riding and exciting roping sports. While there, enjoy local foods, exhibits, demonstrations, and cowboy storytelling.

• The Soto Zen Bon Festival (Kauai) returns on June 17 and 18, showcasing folk dancing, music and religious traditions that have evolved in Kauai’s Japanese American community for more than five generations. Guests of all ages are welcome to stop by the festival to taste and enjoy popular food items unique to Kauai, watch and participate in traditional dancing to the vibrant beat of taiko drums, and check out a variety of cultural and historical exhibits celebrating immigrant and sugar plantation heritage.

Regenerative Hawaii

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News