Global Travel News

Phuket Sandbox Reopens Thailand to Tourism

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Phuket Sandbox Reopens Thailand to Tourism

Phuket, Thailand, July 1, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pleased to announce that Phuket’s highly anticipated reopening to tourism is now officially in effect, with the launch today of the Phuket Sandbox programme that welcomes fully vaccinated international visitors to the destination with no need to quarantine.

Right from Day one to four, major airlines including Etihad, Emirates, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways International (THAI) are flying direct to Phuket from cities like London, Frankfurt, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Singapore.

General information on the Phuket Sandbox programme; such as, entry requirements, on-arrival procedures, hygiene measures, and FAQs can be found here.

H.E. Mr. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, said “The reopening of Phuket signifies a crucial step forward in the revitalisation of Thailand’s tourism industry with the island serving as a pilot destination. It is indeed wonderful to be welcoming visitors once again, and they can rest assured that their safety and well-being is of utmost importance to Thailand.”

Much has been done safety-wise in the lead-up to the Phuket Sandbox launch. Of particular note is the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration or SHA certification scheme that was introduced in May 2020, and which is itself certified by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

In time for the reopening of Phuket, Travelindex launched the first “Top 25 Restaurants Phuket” to promote Phuket as a prime gastronomy destination and to support all restaurants on the island; visit Phuket’s restaurants here…

There are currently well over 1300 hotels, restaurants, activities, attractions, shops, and other venues and businesses across Phuket that are SHA certified, meaning they have the required safety and hygiene measures to control COVID-19.

More and more of these are also becoming SHA Plus certified, meaning that at least 70% of their employees are fully vaccinated.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said, “It is with great pleasure we can now welcome the world back to Phuket. Fully vaccinated visitors can once again enjoy the famed beaches, warm hospitality, and many other attractions that have made Phuket one of the world’s favourite destinations.”

It is this longstanding popularity among travellers the world over that makes Phuket the ideal destination with which to restart Thailand’s tourism industry. The reopening of other places like Samui, Krabi, Phang Nga and Chiang Mai are planned to soon follow.

Among Phuket’s commitments to safely reopen to fully vaccinated visitors are the vaccination programme for 70% of the island’s population. To date, 80% of the people have already received their first vaccine dose, while more than 60% had received both doses.

Mr. Narong Woonchiew, Governor of Phuket Province, said, “On behalf of the people and the tourism industry of Phuket, I would like to say how great an honour it is for us to be the pilot destination in the much-anticipated revitalisation of Thai tourism. We are extremely excited to again be able to welcome travellers to the famed beaches, legendary accommodation, spectacular attractions, and warm hospitality that makes Phuket one of the world’s favourite tropical island getaways.

Phuket awaits in all its exotic glory. Come and see for yourself!

In time for the reopening of Phuket, Travelindex launched the first “Top 25 Restaurants Phuket” to promote Phuket as a prime gastronomy destination and to support all restaurants on the island; visit Phuket’s restaurants here…

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC Welcomes Launch of EU Digital COVID Certificate

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WTTC Welcomes Launch of EU Digital COVID Certificate

London, UNited Kingdom, July 1, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President WTTC, said: “WTTC is confident the EU Digital COVID Certificate will boost consumer confidence and the wider Travel & Tourism sector across Europe, which has been in a fight for survival for over a year.

“The certificate is a great example and should aid the return of safe international travel; help recover jobs and signal the revival of a sector which will be critical to the economic recovery across the continent.

“We’d like to commend the EU Commission and institutions for adopting this swiftly, however, EU Member States must take a coordinated and harmonised approach, aligning policies to avoid fragmentation and confusion among holidaymakers who needs easy to understand rules and regulations to make travel seamless during this difficult time.

“The devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global Travel & Tourism sector has wiped out millions of jobs and seen its contribution to GDP plummet. The lives of the millions of people who rely on the sector have also been turned upside down by the pandemic, causing huge stress and concern.

“We are hopeful the new Digital COVID Certificate will play a major role in safely reopening a sector that will be critical to saving jobs, livelihoods and economies around the world.”

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Global Economy Could Lose Over $4 Trillion Due to COVID-19

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Global Economy Could Lose Over $4 Trillion Due to COVID-19

Madrid, Spain, June 30, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Economic losses are mounting in developing countries due to the absence of widespread COVID-19 vaccinations. The crash in international tourism due to the coronavirus pandemic could cause a loss of more than $4 trillion to the global GDP for the years 2020 and 2021, according to an UNCTAD report published on 30 June.

The estimated loss has been caused by the pandemic’s direct impact on tourism and its ripple effect on other sectors closely linked to it.

The report, jointly presented with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), says international tourism and its closely linked sectors suffered an estimated loss of $2.4 trillion in 2020 due to direct and indirect impacts of a steep drop in international tourist arrivals.

A similar loss may occur this year, the report warns, noting that the tourism sector’s recovery will largely depend on the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines globally.

“The world needs a global vaccination effort that will protect workers, mitigate adverse social effects and make strategic decisions regarding tourism, taking potential structural changes into account,” UNCTAD Acting Secretary-General Isabelle Durant said.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism is a lifeline for millions, and advancing vaccination to protect communities and support tourism’s safe restart is critical to the recovery of jobs and generation of much-needed resources, especially in developing countries, many of which are highly dependent on international tourism.”

Developing countries hurt by vaccine inequity

With COVID-19 vaccinations being more pronounced in some countries than others, the report says, tourism losses are reduced in most developed countries but worsened in developing countries.

Tourism is a lifeline for millions, and advancing vaccination to protect communities and support tourism’s safe restart is critical to the recovery of jobs and generation of much-needed resources, especially in developing countries, many of which are highly dependent on international tourism

COVID-19 vaccination rates are uneven across countries, ranging from below 1% of the population in some countries to above 60% in others.

According to the report, the asymmetric roll-out of vaccines magnifies the economic blow tourism has suffered in developing countries, as they could account for up to 60% of the global GDP losses.

The tourism sector is expected to recover faster in countries with high vaccination rates, such as France, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States, the report says.

But experts don’t expect a return to pre-COVID-19 international tourist arrival levels until 2023 or later, according to UNWTO.

The main barriers are travel restrictions, slow containment of the virus, low traveller confidence and a poor economic environment.

Up to $1.8 trillion loss expected in 2021

A rebound in international tourism is expected in the second half of this year, but the UNCTAD report still shows a loss of between $1.7 trillion and $2.4 trillion in 2021, compared with 2019 levels.

The results are based on simulations that capture the effects of international tourism reduction only, not policies such as economic stimulus programmes that may soften the pandemic’s impact on the sector.

The report assesses the economic effects of three possible scenarios – all reflecting reductions in international arrivals – in the tourism sector in 2021.

Figure 1: As tourism falls world GDP takes a hit in 2021 (3 alternative scenarios)

The first one, projected by UNWTO, reflects a reduction of 75% in international tourist arrivals – the most pessimistic forecast – based on the tourist reductions observed in 2020.

In this scenario, a drop in global tourist receipts of $948 billion causes a loss in real GDP of $2.4 trillion, a two-and-a-half-fold increase. This ratio varies greatly across countries, from onefold to threefold or fourfold.

This is a multiplier and depends on the backward linkages in the tourism sector, including the unemployment of unskilled labour, according to the report.

For example, international tourism contributes about 5% of the GDP in Turkey and the country suffered a 69% fall in international tourists in 2020.

The country’s fall in tourism demand is estimated at $33 billion and this leads to losses in closely linked sectors such as food, beverages, retail trade, communications and transport.

Turkey’s total fall in output is $93 billion, about three times the initial shock. The decline in tourism alone contributes to a real GDP loss of about 9%. This decline in reality was partly offset by fiscal measures to stimulate the economy.

Figure 2: Estimated losses in GDP by region from reduction in tourism (percentage)

The second scenario reflects a 63% reduction in international tourist arrivals, a less pessimistic forecast by UNWTO.

And the third scenario, formulated by UNCTAD, considers varying rates of domestic and regional tourism in 2021.

It assumes a 75% reduction of tourism in countries with low vaccination rates, and a 37% reduction in countries with relatively high vaccination rates, mostly developed countries and some smaller economies.

Job losses across countries

According to the report, the reduction in tourism causes a 5.5% rise in unemployment of unskilled labour on average, with a high variance of 0% to 15%, depending on the importance of tourism for the economy.

Labour accounts for around 30% of tourist services’ expenditure in both developed and developing economies. Entry barriers in the sector, which employs many women and young employees, are relatively low.

Losses worse than previously expected

In July last year, UNCTAD estimated that a four- to 12-month standstill in international tourism would cost the global economy between $1.2 trillion and $3.3 trillion, including indirect costs.

But the losses are worse than previously expected, as even the worst-case scenario UNCTAD projected last year has turned out to be optimistic, with international travel still low more than 15 months after the pandemic started.

According to UNWTO, international tourist arrivals declined by about 1 billion or 73% between January and December 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer points to a decline of 84%.

Figure 3: International tourist arrivals (in thousands)

Developing countries have borne the biggest brunt of the pandemic’s impact on tourism. They suffered the largest reductions in tourist arrivals in 2020, estimated at between 60% and 80%.

The most-affected regions are North-East Asia, South-East Asia, Oceania, North Africa and South Asia, while the least-affected ones are North America, Western Europe and the Caribbean.

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WILL THIS CITY BREAK BREAK YOU:

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New research from Bounce has analyzed popular city break destinations on the average price of five common city break costs to reveal the most affordable and the most expensive city breaks around the world. Here are the top ten in each category.

The 10 most affordable

The number one most affordable city break on our list was the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires, which was the cheapest country for both a bottle of wine ($3.10) and a one-way ticket on local transport ($0.27). Not only is it a seriously affordable city, but this vast, bustling city has plenty to see and do, including the stately presidential palace, Casa Rosada, the Teatro Colón opera house, and the MALBA museum.

Istanbul is the second cheapest city, with cheap prices across the board, including $0.40 for a travel ticket or a rate of $0.41 per kilometre for a taxi. Followed by Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in third place, which holds the prestigious title of the cheapest city on our list for a draught beer, at $1.34, perfect for relaxing on the Copacabana or Ipanema beaches!

h ten most expensive
Switzerland is well known for being an expensive country, even more so in major cities such as Zürich, which was revealed to be the most expensive city to visit. Zurich also has the least affordable taxis and public transport, so you might want to stretch your legs and walk if you visit!

The top ten least affordable cities are all located in either Europe or the USA, with New York being the most expensive US city to spend the weekend. Hotels in New York are extremely expensive, averaging at $301 a night, the second most expensive hotel price of all cities following Las Vegas.

You can view the research in full HERE.

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

HOT STUFF: West coast bakes in record temperatures

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Record temperatures are baking the Pacific northwest on both sides of the border, melting power cables, causing blackouts, and producing notably warmer nighttime temperatures that a Canadian expert says are nothing less than a “fingerprint of climate change.”

Simon Donner, a professor in the University of British Columbia’s geography department, says average daytime highs for this time of the year in the province are usually around 22 degrees Celsius, but the mercury is expected to hit 34 this week. But, more important, are the unusually high night-time readings – two degrees higher than the usual 24-degree C average temperature in the province.

“That’s how unusual this is,” he says. “It’s going to be warmer overnight than it usually is in the middle of the day,” adding, warming nighttime temperatures are “like a fingerprint of climate change. (And) this is exactly a specific sort of prediction that scientists have been making. That we would have warmer nights.”

He calls the heat wave unprecedented because of its magnitude and duration.

Environment Canada has warned that the heat wave won’t lift for days, although parts of BC and Yukon could see some relief sooner. However, 60 temperature records fell on Sunday in BC, including in the village of Lytton, where the mercury reached 46.6 degrees C – breaking the all-time Canadian high of 45 C, set in Saskatchewan in 1937.

US

Meanwhile, the unprecedented Northwest US heat wave that has slammed Seattle and Portland, Oregon, moved inland Tuesday — prompting a electrical utility in Spokane, Washington, to warn that people will face more rolling blackouts amid heavy power demand.

The intense weather that gave Seattle and Portland consecutive days of record high temperatures far exceeding 100 degrees F (37.7 C) was expected to ease in those cities, but inland Spokane was likely to surpass Monday’s high temperature – a record-tying 105 F (40.6 C) – and reach 110 F (43.3C), which would be an all-time record.

Temperatures in other eastern Washington and Oregon communities were expected to reach about 115 degrees F (45.6 C) a day after Seattle and Portland shattered all-time heat records.

Seattle hit 108 degrees F (42 C) by Monday evening — well above Sunday’s all-time high of 104 F (40 C). Portland, Oregon, reached 116 F (46.6 C) after hitting records of 108 F (42 C) on Saturday and 112 F (44 C) on Sunday.

The temperatures have been unheard of in a region better known for rain, and where June has historically been referred to as “Juneuary” for its cool drizzle. Seattle’s average high temperature in June is around 70 F (21.1 C), and fewer than half of the city’s residents have air conditioning, according to US Census data.

The heat forced schools and businesses on Monday to close to protect workers and guests, including some places like outdoor pools and ice cream shops where people seek relief from the heat. COVID-19 testing sites and mobile vaccination units were out of service as well.

In Portland, light rail and streetcar service was suspended as power cables melted and electricity demand spiked.

Heat-related expansion caused road pavement to buckle or pop loose in many areas, including a Seattle highway. Workers in tanker trucks hosed down drawbridges with water twice daily prevent the steel from expanding in the heat and interfering with their opening and closing mechanisms.

The heat wave was caused by what meteorologists described as a dome of high pressure over the Northwest and worsened by human-caused climate change, which is making such extreme weather events more likely and more intense.

Zeke Hausfather, a scientist at the climate-data non-profit Berkeley Earth, said that the Pacific Northwest has warmed by about 3 degrees F (1.7 degrees C) in the past half-century.

That means a heat wave now is about 3 degrees warmer than it would have been before – and the difference between 111 degrees and 114 is significant, especially for vulnerable populations, he noted.

“In a world without climate change, this still would have been a really extreme heat wave,” Hausfather said. “This is worse than the same event would have been 50 years ago, and notably so.”

The blistering heat exposed a region with infrastructure not designed for it, hinting at the greater costs of climate change to come.

US Sen. Maria Cantwell said that the Northwest heat illustrated an urgent need for the upcoming federal infrastructure package to promote clean energy, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and protect people from extreme heat.

“Washington state was not built for triple digit temperatures,” she said.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ITB China to Take Place as Physical Event in Shanghai 24-26 Nov 2021

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ITB China to Take Place as Physical Event in Shanghai 24-26 Nov 2021

Shanghai, China, June 29, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / With travel and tourism within China bouncing back to pre-pandemic levels, ITB China, the largest B2B exclusive travel trade show in China, is set as in-person event at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre from 24 – 26 November 2021, with its virtual extension from 8 November until 31 December 2021. Witnessing the positive development of travel markets and vaccine promotion in China and around the world, expectations for the return of international travel are steadily increasing. This fall the marketplace for China’s travel industry picks up the thread and will deliver an innovative hybrid showcase for travel products and an important B2B meeting place for the travel industry.

David Axiotis, General Manager of ITB China, on the new event concept: “In these dynamic times the combination of a physical event and a virtual platform is indispensable and offers our customers maximum planning security. ITB China 2021 will support global travel companies and suppliers with comprehensive and flexible solutions – both offline and online – to re-engage the Chinese market in a unique and hybrid format and actively boost the recovery of the industry. Adding to the face-to-face meetings and in-person experience, the virtual extension of ITB China 2021 will bring extra value by providing even more meeting and networking opportunities for both physically and virtually participating exhibitors”.

Physical exhibitors are benefiting from on-site prescheduled appointments with high-quality buyers and a complimentary virtual booth package as part of their attendance. Exhibitors who opt for a purely virtual attendance will enjoy a comprehensive digital presence including options to get in touch and meet the same quality buyers and travel professionals from all over China online via the virtual booth.

To ensure consistent corporate brand exposure, multiple related booths are combined as virtual pavilions under one company brand page, while XXL-Pavilion packages, especially designed for destination marketing organisations and corporate groups, include additional highlight and showcasing features for enhanced impact. Exhibitors can choose to add prescheduled buyer group meetings to their virtual booth package, exclusively available on the ITB China virtual platform, to maximize business opportunities in the digital realm. Suppliers who simply want to display their company portofolio online to all buyers and trade visitors of ITB China Virtual, but without the comprehensive functionality and brand presence of a virtual booth, can do so with a free virtual listing.

Features of the virtual platform include among others: Extensive presentation of detailed company and product information, access to a wide selection of ITB China recommended buyers that match the exhibitor’s business portfolio and buyer’s interests, various communication functions such as instant text-messaging, self-arranged meeting scheduling and video calls, e-business cards exchange, and convenient one-click-compiling as well as downloading of business contacts. Online presentation sessions and prescheduled online meetings for registered exhibitors and buyers will commence as early as 8 Nov, the kick-off date of ITB China Virtual. All offers and functions of the virtual platform will be maintained from that date until 31 Dec 2021.

As the leading Chinese travel think tank, the concurrent ITB China Conference 2021 will be organised by China’s leading travel trade media and travel conference organizer TravelDaily featuring a strong program of keynotes and panel discussions, streamed live with Chinese and English subtitles and available as videos on demand on the ITB China Virtual platform.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Expo 2020 Dubai and City Football Group Kick Off Partnership

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Expo 2020 Dubai and City Football Group Kick Off Partnership

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, June 29, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Expo 2020 Dubai and City Football Group have kicked off a new partnership that will see the largest event in the Arab world become the Official Exhibition Partner of English Premier League champions Manchester City.

Under the partnership, which builds on the universal appeal of football to drive awareness of Expo 2020 around the world, Expo 2020 will also become Official Partner of Indian Super League champions Mumbai City FC.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

CRYSTAL CHRISTENING: Cruise line introduces luxury yacht ‘Endeavour’

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Crystal Expedition Cruises officially welcomed its new luxury expedition yacht ‘Crystal Endeavor’ to its fleet on Saturday in Germany as the ship was christened by Manuela Schwesig, Prime Minister of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, who is also the vessel’s godmother.

Almost 100 people attended the ceremony at the Stralsund shipyard, which was also livestreamed on the Crystal Cruises Facebook page so that friends and fans of the cruise line could attend.

Executives hailed the state-of-the-art Polar Class Six vessel, which features “unmatched technical capabilities, including the most installed power per gross ton for any cruise ship at over 13 MW.”

The ship was also heralded as the most expensive ship ever built at US$20,000 per gross tons and includes the largest space ratio, at over 100 gross tons per guest, and highest staff to guest ratio in the industry at one-to-one, as well as 100% additional lifeboat capacity to handle extreme polar conditions.

Amenities

Designed to offer travellers elegantly expansive private and public spaces, Crystal Endeavor accommodates just 200 guests in 100 all-verandah, all-butler serviced suites.

Other amenities include Michelin-inspired dining options such as Umi Uma, the first and only Japanese restaurant on an expedition ship; fine Italian cuisine at Prego; 24-hour room service; and optional Vintage Room experience; plus the only casino on an expedition yacht, a glass-covered, two-story solarium – housing the Seahorse Pool and Jacuzzi – providing panoramic views from sea to sky, and the full-service Crystal Life Salon & Spa with a state-of-the-art fitness centre. There is also a wrap-around Promenade Deck.

Expedition-specific amenities include high-tech enrichment spaces, designated mud rooms, an Expedition Lounge, and a Helicopter Lounge. The ship’s marina will feature the “toys” found aboard a private yacht for further explorations, including a fleet of Zodiacs, kayaks, snorkel gear, and a six-guest submersible and two helicopters in select regions of the world.

Sustainability

Crystal Endeavor has been designed with a host of ecologically minded features, such as dynamic positioning capability that enables the ship to remain in one place utilizing GPS and its thrusters, rather than dropping anchor, avoiding any potential damage to delicate reefs.

Additionally, the company has equipped the ship to connect to shore power while in port, installed several water treatment systems, and will clean exhaust emissions through a Selective Catalytic Reductant system.

Inaugural voyages

Crystal Endeavor will set sail beginning July 17 with five 10-night voyages circumnavigating Iceland from the ship’s homeport of Reykjavík, followed by the 10-night “Journey of Vikings: Iceland & Norway” from Reykjavík to Tromsø, Norway, departing Sept. 5.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UMBRIA, ITALY’S GOURMET GOLDMINE: A land of shepherds, wild landscapes and ancient forests.

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Leave Rome its Pantheon and Venice its canals. Let Tuscany have its art, and hoards of visitors. Where you want to be is camera-shy Umbria – Italy’s authentic slow-food capital. Pastoral rolling hills and broad, sunny valleys dominate its western reaches, with high mountains, gorges and fast-flowing rivers in its eastern margins. It’s one of the country’s most fertile corners, a region of ancient traditions where fine ingredients proliferate.

Castello di Monticelli, near Peruga

In its former life, dating back to the 6th century, Castello di Monticelli has been a fortress, a monastery, a hunting lodge and a prison during both World Wars. Owners Ellen Krauser and Prof Giuseppe Tullio bought the estate in 1992 and spent 18 years restoring it, preserving the medieval characteristics in each of its 26 suites – fireplaces, terra-cotta floors, oak ceiling beams (many original), chestnut windows which frame views of the valley and Perugia in the distance. It’s surrounded by two acres of gardens and terraces, six acres of forest, and a large patch of land where organic produce is grown.

Dinning al fresco is a communal four-course affair, starting with Orzo salad, fried sage and zucchini. Ellen explains Orzo to be a spelt bean with strong Umbrian connections. “It’s used in bread-making but in Umbria it’s popular in ‘zuppa di farro’ soup.” Then comes Pasta Umricelli – thick spaghetti-like strands dressed in a spicy tomato sauce, followed by Guinea Fowl, a white-meat speciality dish of Umbria, with rabbit, white fennel and Erba Cotta. Dessert is a cream-cheese mousse with strawberries.

Breakfast, taken in a glass fronted cabin overlooking the valley, is a rich continental feast with typical local produce – cured meats, cheese, organic fruits and home-made bread (Ellen’s cheese bread is something else). www.castellomonticelli.com

Majolica Ceramics, Deruta

In the hill town of Deruta I visit the world’s oldest ceramic factory, Grazia Maioliche Ceramics. Although official records show majolica being manufactured in Deruta during the second half of the 13th century, evidence suggests that it actually began a century earlier.

I’m speaking with Dr Ubaldo Grazia of his family’s history in ceramics: “In the early 1500s Giuseppe Grazia moved his factory to Deruta and with this found a succession of master painters whose creations where highly sought after. In 1921 my father moved the factory to where it now stands,” says Ubaldo. “Nothing has changed since then and the craft remains what it’s been since the 12th century, handed down from father to son uninterrupted.”

Beyond the conscious commitment to keeping this ancient art alive, the present Grazia generation pursue a vigorous policy of innovation in their ceramic classes, workshops, museum and factory. www.ubaldograzia.com

Lungarotti Winery, Torgiano

Umbria’s mild climate makes it particularly suitable for wine growing, and produces top-quality white and red wines, including those found on the Lungarotti Estate, first planted by Giorgio Lungarotti in 1962. A cellar tour demonstrates a state-of-the-art vinification process, and culminates with a tasting of some of the best Italian wines I’ve yet sampled.

“We have two estates,” says CEO, Chiara Lungarotti, “570 acres here in Torgiano and 50 acres in Montefalco. Together they produce 2.5-million bottles a year, exported mostly to Germany, the USA and Canada.”

Chiara treats to me to lunch at L’U Winebar where understated gourmet cuisine is standard. We share a bottle of Rubesco, over beef carpaccio with red beet mayo, then finish with Tozzetti almond biscuits and a small glass of Lungarotti vin Santo. Later I take a wander around the fascinating Wine Museum, created by Chiara’s mother, Maria Grazia. www.lungarotti.it

Umbrian Beer, Torgiano

Continuing on the artisan food trail, I head to Fabbrica della Birra Perugia, a small brewery where Antonio Boco introduces me to his Umbrian ales, telling me about the craft beer revolution which kicked off in 1996. A group of beer-loving friends planned the rebirth of the historic Fabbrica della Birra Perugia, which ceased trading in 1927. Their aim: resurrect the city’s beer and bring a prestigious part of its history to the 21st century. After years of study, research and trials, the Fabbrica della Birra Perugia is once again a working reality.

“Craft beers are unpasteurised, unfiltered, without preservatives or additives,” says Antonio. “These beers speak of the relationship between the most natural of raw materials, Umbrian spring water, coupled to the skill and know-how of the brewer.”

Of their eight beers, the four most unique are Chocolate Porter: a full bodied, deep-brown beer with delicious hints of cocoa; L’Isterica: a perfect combination of a continental beer and an English ale with just enough gas to lift it; Insolita: an authentic Italian grape ale that’s rich in personality; and their flagship Fabbrica Birra Peruga, which is smooth, fruity and long, with a bitter finish.

“We ferment some of beers in Lungorotti wine vats,” Antonio states. “They’re then bottled in ceramic flagons from Deruta.” www.birraperugia.it

Hotel Le Silve, near Assisi

At the end of a winding mountain road with 700m-high vistas across wooded hills, is Hotel Le Silve di Armenzano. It has grown from the ruins of a 10th century mountain inn, making the most of its sublime setting. The central hotel, outlying buildings, 19 air-conditioned double rooms and 13 mini-apartments, retain their medieval features with rough-hewn stone walls and terracotta floors. Aside the myriad of outdoor activities, the big draw is their restaurant with superb views and an extra-ordinary menu, bursting with Umbrian tradition and supplies from their organic farm. Their Tortelli pasta stuffed with ricotta and thyme, dressed with asparagus and truffle shavings, is out of this world. www.lesilve.it

The best pasta restaurant in Europe

Scheggino is one of those picture-postcard hill villages where time and space have stopped. A flight of narrow stone steps delivers me to Osteria Baciafemmine and a demonstration in pasta making.

“Our typical pasta is umbrici, made from flour and water,” says Elisa Valentini, whislt slapping around a ball of pasta.

“After kneading the dough, it is rolled out like this, then hand-cut into a cord-like spaghetti strips. The ideal condiment for umbricelli is truffles.” And as if by magic a plate of it appears before me. www.osteriabaciafemmine.it

Food producers, Norcia

Founded 600 years before Rome, Norcia is filled with tales of magicians and chiromancers who bewitched the caves and forests. It’s also a town that has, over the centuries, been damaged by frequent earthquakes – the most recent in 2016.

The old town, with many ancient buildings lying in ruins, is all but cordoned off, some areas inaccessible. I eventually found Catia Ulivucci, a 30+ year old Norcia farmer and owner of the famed cured meat shop ‘Norcineria Ercole Ulivucci’. She lost her farmhouse and her ‘old town’ shop in the 2016 earthquake. She and her husband Claudio Funari now run their business from a temporary stand in a car park which they attend twice a week. Ten years is what she recons it will take to reinstate their business and her home. For now, she smiles.

“There’s little more I can do,” she says, “there are no more tears to cry.” But of course she is one of Umbria’s super-farmers. She cultivates her fields and she gets her hands dirty, her aim is to develop innovative ecotourist projects like a cooking school.

We speak about her meats and she introduces me to her herd of Apennine sheep, telling me of her seasonal favourite cheese – Giuncata, which is curdled slowly in baskets made of rush, then eaten with sugar and cinnamon. But the one to look out for is the caciotta ai tartufo, flavoured with black truffles. https://vendita.norcineriaulivucci.it/negozio/

The specialist farm shop, ‘Il Casale De Li Tappi’, is a third-generation family run deli/butcher, who encourage visitors to their breeding farm and meet the free-range Black Belted pigs and Wild Boar.

“Our most popular sausage is Corallina di Norcia,” says butcher, Mario Salvatori. “It’s seasoned with pepper and garlic then macerated in wine, then left to rest in an airy room, heated by log-fire and smoked using charcoalled juniper berries. www.norcineriadinorcia.it

Castello di Gallano, Valtopina

The castle, once a fortified Benedictine monastery dating back to 1085, was left abandoned for near 40 years then privately acquired in 2008. A five-year, €15-m renovation project delivered 32 two-bedroom, self contained apartments, two swimming pools, a grocery shop and two chapels.

In the central part of this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a restaurant where guests and locals come together to savour traditional Umbrian cuisine. All the ingredients are local, almost zero miles travelled.

A bottle of Montefalco Rosso and a plate of lamb ‘cooked-two-ways’ is put before me – one fried in herby bread crumbs, the other grilled with herby salt, followed by Tagliolini with shavings of black truffle. Everything is drizzled with locally produced golden olive oil, which enhances any dish without upstaging the flavor.

In hues of blue and lavender, I stood at the precipice of Castello di Gallano watching Umbrian farmers in the act of creating food, tilling the warm-smelling soil with hoes. The branches around me hung heavy with birds who sought a suitable vantage point from which to sing out the sunset. www.castellodigallano.com

www.umbriatourism.it

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Marriott International Opens 70th Property in Japan

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Aloft Osaka Dojima
Aloft Osaka Dojima
Miyuki Kaneko (Nacasa & Partners

Marriott International today celebrates another milestone in Japan with the opening of the company’s 70th property in the country, Aloft Osaka Dojima. With this opening, Marriott International continues its solid growth in Japan as the hotel chain with the most brand offerings. The company has 70 properties across 18 brands in 21 prefectures including major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, as well as other lesser known gems like Tochigi, Gifu and Wakayama. With a pipeline of over 30 additional hotels, including three hotels expected to open later this year, the portfolio is poised for continued growth in Japan.

“Expanding our presence and bringing more brands and experiences to Japan has been a priority for us,” said Rajeev Menon, President, Marriott International Asia-Pacific (excluding Greater China). “We remain confident in the future of travel and look forward to welcoming both domestic and international guests with new and exciting travel choices when they are able to travel again.”

Select-Service and Collection Brands Continue to Grow in Japan
The opening of Aloft Osaka Dojima, Marriott International’s 70th property in Japan, is emblematic of its select-service brand category growth in the country, with the number of open hotels nearly tripling since 2019. The brands in the category such as Fairfield by Marriott, Courtyard, Aloft Hotels, and Moxy Hotels to name a few, offer distinct value for travelers with streamlined services and amenities, paired with casual, convenient dining options and warm hospitality — all at an approachable price point. The new Aloft property is centrally located at the crossroads of entertainment, shopping, dining and business in Osaka. In addition to vibrant urban centers, many of the select-service hotels are opening in Japan’s lesser known areas and are expected to offer easy and comfortable stays for travelers exploring less traveled, yet attractive locations.

The “Michi-no-eki” portfolio – which now comprises thirteen Fairfield by Marriott hotels in prime locations near roadside rest stations in Japan – is a key driver of growth in the select service category in the country. Earlier in 2021, five Fairfield by Marriott hotels opened across picture-perfect destinations including Odai in Mie, Minamiyamashiro in Kyoto, Nikko in Tochigi, Kushimoto in Wakayama, and Susami in Wakayama. Later this year, an additional new Fairfield by Marriott hotel is slated to open with the arrival of Fairfield by Marriott Gifu Takayama Shokawa. The new hotels are situated close to national parks and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, providing guests a gateway to secluded destinations and local gems across the country.

This summer, the highly anticipated opening of Japan’s fourth Moxy Hotel, Moxy Kyoto Nijo is expected to add a stylishly playful twist to Kyoto’s bar and social scene, celebrating youthful nonconformity, open-mindedness, and originality above all. Located in the Kyoto Nijo historic district near the World Heritage site of Nijo Castle, it is set to be a buzzing new location to play and explore.

The recently opened Hiyori Chapter Kyoto, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is the Tribute Portfolio brand’s second property in the country, and welcomes guests from near and far to craft their own story and live like a local on a journey of exploration in picturesque Kyoto.

Luxury Brands Continue Remarkable Momentum in 2021 and Beyond
Earlier this year Marriott International celebrated the opening of Japan’s very first W hotel with the arrival of W Osaka, which brought the brand’s singularly bold attitude and a playground of new possibilities to the city’s already-vibrant hospitality scene.

The iconic lifestyle luxury brand EDITION will further expand with the expected opening of The Tokyo EDITION, Ginza later this year. The hotel is slated to be the second EDITION property in Japan following The Tokyo EDITION, Toranomon, which opened in 2020.

“We are gratified to see the strong growth of Marriott International in Japan, and appreciate the confidence of our owners and franchisees in our vision for the future of hospitality in the country,” said Karl Hudson, Area Vice President, Japan and Guam, Marriott International. “Like us, our owners believe that the future of travel lies in providing what travelers truly want, based on lifestyles, interests and preferences. Marriott’s strong and differentiated portfolio of brands cater to the individual requirements of travelers, and this is how our guests know they can count on us to provide what they want, wherever they may travel to.”

With today’s announcement, Marriott International is well-positioned in Japan with 70 hotels across 18 distinct brands, aimed at serving differentiated experiences across traveler segments. The brands currently operating in Japan include: JW Marriott, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton and Ritz-Carlton Reserve, W Hotels, The Luxury Collection, and EDITION in the luxury segment; Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Westin, Autograph Collection, Tribute Portfolio, and Renaissance in the premium segment; Courtyard by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, Fairfield by Marriott, Aloft Hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott, and Moxy Hotels in the select service segment.

Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of United States federal securities laws, including expected hotel openings, future expansion, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. Marriott International (“we”) caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous evolving risks and uncertainties that we may not be able to accurately predict or assess, including those we identify below and other risk factors that we identify in our U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Annual Report on Form 10-K. Risks that could affect forward-looking statements in this press release include the duration and scope of COVID-19, including the availability and distribution of effective vaccines or treatments; its short and longer-term impact on the demand for travel, transient and group business, and levels of consumer confidence; actions governments, businesses and individuals have taken or may take in response to the pandemic, including limiting, banning, or cautioning against travel and/or in-person gatherings or imposing occupancy or other restrictions on lodging or other facilities; the impact of the pandemic and actions taken in response to the pandemic on global and regional economies, travel, and economic activity, including the duration and magnitude of COVID-19’s impact on unemployment rates and consumer discretionary spending; the ability of our owners and franchisees to successfully navigate the impacts of COVID-19; the pace of recovery when the pandemic subsides; general economic uncertainty in key global markets and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth; the effects of steps we and our property owners and franchisees have taken and may continue to take to reduce operating costs and/or enhance certain health and cleanliness protocols at our hotels; the impacts of our employee furloughs and reduced work week schedules, our voluntary transition program and our other restructuring activities; competitive conditions in the lodging industry and in the labor market; relationships with customers and property owners; and the availability of capital to finance hotel growth and refurbishment. Any of these factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations we express or imply in this press release. We make these forward-looking statements as of the date of this press release and undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,600 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 133 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.

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News