Global Travel News

Accor Hotels Core Focus in India is Densification of Existing Brand Portfolio

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Accor Hotels Core Focus in India is Densification of Existing Brand Portfolio- TRAVELINDEXDelhi, India, March 7, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Despite the dynamic circumstances that the pandemic brought with it for the hospitality industry, Accor launched three of its much-awaited hotels in 2021, the luxurious Raffles Udaipur, Novotel Chandigarh Tribune Chowk and ibis Vikhroli Mumbai, in partnership with InterGlobe Hotels. This underlines Accor’s sustainable growth in the Indian market and its commitment to holistic development, involving its guests, owners, and partners. In India, Accor has a wide portfolio, with ten brands across the luxury, premium, upper midscale, midscale and economy segments, and each brand has been able to create a niche for itself, among the rich base and varied needs of the Indian market.

The Novotel and ibis brands from the Accor portfolio in India have an extremely high brand recall and a strong focus on the meetings and conventions market, as well as the weddings and socials market. The Novotel network, with 21 operational hotels, forms the largest network of mid-scale hotels in the country, with hotels in key cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Goa and Hyderabad. Over the next 24 months, Accor expects to add six new properties to the network, two of which will debut in leading two-tier markets within India – Novotel Bhubaneshwar Janpath Road and Novotel Jodhpur ITI Circle. Accor will also continue to expand its ibis and ibis Styles brand in partnership with InterGlobe Hotels by adding three more hotels in the next two years to the existing portfolio of 20 hotels.

“India is a diverse market with heterogenous guests, and our endeavour is to cater to our guests in all their varied personas and changing needs.”, said Mark Willis, CEO India, Middle East, Africa & Turkey. “Our Novotel and ibis brands are much preferred by guests given their value, price and ability to offer a consistent experience, with a seamless service. We will continue to expand our footprint in the upper mid-scale and economy segment in India with the Novotel and ibis brands, and also keep looking for the right partners as we expand our luxury brands after the successful response we received for Raffles Udaipur last year.”

Speaking on the occasion, Puneet Dhawan, Senior Vice President of Operations – India & South Asia, Accor said “We are excited to be entering new markets that promise vast business potential. With travelers’ confidence rebounding, and the Indian tourism sentiment demonstrating positive outcomes, staycations and workcations to both metropolitan and non-metropolitan cities are in demand. We are well positioned to address this demand and an addition of nine new hotels to our existing network would surely lead Accor to even higher levels of hospitality in the country.”

Accor currently has a focused yet differentiated brand portfolio with 54 hotels in India, and more than 10,000 keys. From a development perspective, Accor has been following a densification strategy, and enhancing expansion in key cities with multiple hotels across varying price points.

All Accor properties in India, across brands, have received the ALLSAFE global certification to ensure guests of their safety and wellbeing. The ALLSAFE programme is designed to reassure guests with an all-encompassing set of procedures responding to new consumer behaviours and expectations around a safe experience.

Accor’s comprehensive loyalty program ALL – Accor Live Limitless for all Accor hotels across the globe is a daily lifestyle companion that provides access to wide variety of rewards, services, and experiences. As per ALL’s current offer, guests get to save 25% on stays with a chance to win 1 million Reward points when they stay at any of Accor’s participating hotels & resorts across India and Sri Lanka.

Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group, has announced plans to densify its portfolio by adding nine new hotels across the mid-scale and economy categories to the existing portfolio of 54 hotels in India. Over the next two years, Accor will add more than 1,300 keys to its Novotel and ibis brands in the country.

About Accor
Accor is a world leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,200 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries. The group has one of the industry’s most diverse and fully-integrated hospitality ecosystems encompassing more than 40 luxury, premium, midscale and economy hotel brands, entertainment and nightlife venues, restaurants and bars, branded private residences, shared accommodation properties, concierge services, co-working spaces and more. Accor’s unmatched position in lifestyle hospitality – one of the fastest growing categories in the industry – is led by Ennismore, a creative hospitality company with a global portfolio of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Accor boasts an unrivalled portfolio of distinctive brands and approximately 260,000 team members worldwide. 68 million members benefit from the company’s comprehensive loyalty program – ALL – Accor Live Limitless – a daily lifestyle companion that provides access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. Through its Planet 21 – Acting Here, Accor Solidarity, RiiSE and ALL Heartist Fund initiatives, the Group is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity and inclusivity. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Developing the World’s First Luxury Energy-Positive Hotel

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Developing the World’s First Luxury Energy-Positive Hotel - TRAVELINDEXSvartisen Glacier, Norway, March 7, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / A luxury hotel at the base of Norway’s Svartisen glacier has bold ambitions to generate more energy than it consumes within five years of opening.

The base of the Svartisen glacier in the far north of Norway seems an unlikely spot for a luxury hotel and, even less so, a ground-breakingly innovative one that will use a dizzying array of technology and smart design to make it the first energy-positive hotel in the world.

Yet this is the plan that the architect and hotel developer, Ivaylo Lefterov, is describing: the Svart, a 94-room circular glass structure that will hover over the sparkling waters of the Holandsfjorden, providing a wellness and outdoors adventure hub in the Nordland wilderness.

“With hotels, you have such big consumption when it comes to energy and waste that you can really explore those particular elements… We want to showcase what can be done, to show that not just hotels but any building can be made energy-positive with the right approach,” says Lefterov.

Lefterov, who is Bulgarian by birth, Californian by upbringing and has spent a couple of decades developing hotels in Las Vegas, London and South Africa, was invited to become a consultant on the Svart four years ago. A few years before that, Jan-Gunnar Mathisen, the CEO of an Oslo-based tech company, MIRIS, took his teenage sons on holiday to the area near the site of the hotel and they all fell in love with the place. Shortly afterwards, back in Oslo, Mathisen was approached by a Nordland local who wanted to develop the site. A deal was struck and plans passed to build a hotel that would use the company’s technology to push the sustainability envelope.

It all sounds very straightforward and full of Scandinavian pragmatism – yes, the hotel is a large, attention-seeking structure in an extraordinarily beautiful, national park setting but planners balanced the benefits that it would bring to the local economy against the possible visual disruption. But when Lefterov became involved, he felt that MIRIS was missing a trick, that the green initiatives were not green enough, that they could potentially border on greenwashing and that the hotel could be so much more than Mathisen realised. The company parted ways with its original architecture practice and hired a new firm that, with Lefterov, is overseeing the way the hotel will operate as a sustainable destination.

Surprisingly, for a building that plans to be energy-positive within five years of opening, there doesn’t seem to be any never-before-seen technology. “We’re connecting the dots from all these different things that already exist,” says Lefterov. This takes the form of producing enough solar energy during the long Arctic summer days to offset energy consumption during the dark Arctic winters; of micro-managing every watt of wasted energy so that it can be captured and reused; using the neighbourhood farm and the fjord for much of its food production (mussels will be farmed along the hotel’s stilts, for example) with plans for 80% of food to come from a 50-mile radius; and extremely enthusiastic composting.

The Svart hotel will be a 10-hour train journey or 11-hour drive north from Trondheim, the nearest city – which, if nothing else, gives one a new appreciation of the size of Norway – but Lefterov claims that simply staying there will offset any carbon derived from his guests’ journeys.

It all sounds wonderful but currently there is nothing to measure his claims against as ground has not been broken on the project. The hotel was originally slated to open this summer but COVID-19 got in the way and it has now been delayed until late 2023. The structure will largely be built from prefabricated modules which are in factories, ready to go, spring thaw and Norwegian lockdown permitting.

The project will cost in the region of €100m and Lefterov anticipates a room rate of between €750 and €1,500 – “not that high compared to London,” he says.

He promises that the Svart will cast off the hemp and bare wood aesthetic that we have come to associate with the green movement. “When you talk about eco [and Scandinavian], people think of IKEA and that very simplistic look but we will have luxury at a totally different level. Incredible luxury, 100% sustainable but very simple, very elegant, very warm.” To that end, he has engaged designers Space Copenhagen – specialists in understated and enticing.

Perhaps the reason that Lefterov is so keen to get this blend of luxury and sustainability just right is because there is a strong streak of the environmental evangelist in him. He doesn’t just want guests to enjoy their stay, he wants them to learn from the Svart and adopt aspects of it in their own homes and businesses.

He mentions more than once that the intention is to lead the Svart’s clients by example and make them see that sustainability doesn’t need to come with a hair shirt. “And what better way than when you go on holiday, not by being bored by lectures and so forth, but through a real, engaging experience?”

First published at RICS

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO Executive Council to Consider Russian Membership Suspension

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UNWTO Executive Council to Consider Russian Membership SuspensionMadrid, Spain, March 3, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has convened an emergency session of its Executive Council in response to the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. The session will be held in Madrid on 8 March.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Following the request of Guatemala, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia and Ukraine for the suspension of the Russian Federation from membership of UNWTO, the UNWTO Secretary-General has called for an emergency session of the Executive Council to address the matter, in accordance with Rule 3.4 of the Council’s Rules of Procedure. The decision was made following consultations between the Secretary-General and the Chair of the Executive Council (Côte d´Ivoire).

The in-person Council session will be held on 8 March in Madrid. It is the first time in the Organization’s history that the Executive Council will address a request of this type.

Article 3 of the UNWTO Statutes states that the fundamental principles of the Organization are the “promotion and development of tourism with a view to contributing to economic development, international understanding, peace, prosperity and universal respect for, and observance of, human rights”.

UNWTO has unequivocally condemned the actions of the Russian Federation, noting that they are a clear breach of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity and contrary to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter and UNWTO Statutes.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

IATA Air Passenger Numbers to Recover in 2024

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IATA Air Passenger Numbers to Recover in 2024 - TRAVELINDEXGeneva, Switzerland, March 3, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects overall traveler numbers to reach 4.0 billion in 2024 (counting multi-sector connecting trips as one passenger), exceeding pre-COVID-19 levels (103% of the 2019 total).

Expectations for the shape of the near-term recovery have shifted slightly, reflecting the evolution of government-imposed travel restrictions in some markets. The overall picture presented in the latest update to IATA’s long-term forecast, however, is unchanged from what was expected in November, prior to the Omicron variant.

“The trajectory for the recovery in passenger numbers from COVID-19 was not changed by the Omicron variant. People want to travel. And when travel restrictions are lifted, they return to the skies. There is still a long way to go to reach a normal state of affairs, but the forecast for the evolution in passenger numbers gives good reason to be optimistic,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

The February update to the long-term forecast includes the following highlights:

  • In 2021, overall traveler numbers were 47% of 2019 levels. This is expected to improve to 83% in 2022, 94% in 2023, 103% in 2024 and 111% in 2025.
  • In 2021, international traveler numbers were 27% of 2019 levels. This is expected to improve to 69% in 2022, 82% in 2023, 92% in 2024 and 101% in 2025.

This is a slightly more optimistic near-term international recovery scenario compared to November 2021, based on the progressive relaxation or elimination of travel restrictions in many markets. This has seen improvements in the major North Atlantic and intra-European markets, strengthening the baseline for recovery. Asia-Pacific is expected to continue to lag the recovery with the region’s largest market, China, not showing any signs of relaxing its severe border measures in the near future.

  • In 2021, domestic traveler numbers were 61% of 2019 levels. This is expected to improve to 93% in 2022, 103% in 2023, 111% in 2024 and 118% in 2025.

The outlook for the evolution of domestic traveler numbers is slightly more pessimistic than in November. While the US and Russian domestic markets have recovered, the same is not true for the other major domestic markets of China, Canada, Japan and Australia.

“The biggest and most immediate drivers of passenger numbers are the restrictions that governments place on travel. Fortunately, more governments have understood that travel restrictions have little to no long-term impact on the spread of a virus. And the economic and social hardship caused for very limited benefit is simply no longer acceptable in a growing number of markets. As a result, the progressive removal of restrictions is giving a much-needed boost to the prospects for travel,” said Walsh.

IATA reiterates its call for:

  • The removal of all travel barriers (including quarantine and testing) for those fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine
  • Pre-departure antigen testing to enable quarantine-free travel for non-vaccinated travelers
  • Removing all travel bans, and
  • Accelerating the easing of travel restrictions in recognition that travelers pose no greater risk for COVID-19 spread than already exists in the general population.

Regional Variations

Not all markets or market sectors are recovering at the same pace.

“In general, we are moving in the right direction, but there are some concerns. Asia-Pacific is the laggard of the recovery. While Australia and New Zealand have announced measures to reconnect with the world, China is showing no signs of relaxing its zero-COVID strategy. The resulting localized lock-downs in its domestic market are depressing global passenger numbers even as other major markets like the US are largely back to normal,” said Walsh.

Asia-Pacific: The slow removal of international travel restrictions, and the likelihood of renewed domestic restrictions during COVID outbreaks, mean that traffic to/from/within Asia Pacific will only reach 68% of 2019 levels in 2022, the weakest outcome of the main regions. 2019 levels should be recovered in 2025 (109%) due to a slow recovery on international traffic in the region.

Europe: In the next few years, the intra-Europe market is expected to benefit from passenger preferences for short-haul travel as confidence rebuilds. This will be facilitated by increasingly harmonized and restriction-free movement within the EU. Total passenger numbers to/from/within Europe are expected to reach 86% of 2019 values in 2022, before making a full recovery in 2024 (105%).

North America: After a resilient 2021, traffic to/from/within North America will continue to perform strongly in 2022 as the US domestic market returns to pre-crisis trends, and with ongoing improvements in international travel. In 2022, passenger numbers will reach 94% of 2019 levels, and full recovery is expected in 2023 (102%), ahead of other regions.

Africa: Africa’s passenger traffic prospects are somewhat weaker in the near-term, due to slow progress in vaccinating the population, and the impact of the crisis on developing economies. Passenger numbers to/from/within Africa will recover more gradually than in other regions, reaching 76% of 2019 levels in 2022, surpassing pre-crisis levels only in 2025 (101%).

Middle East: With limited short-haul markets, the Middle East focus on long-haul connectivity through its hubs is expected to result in slower recovery. Passenger numbers to/from/within the Middle East are expected to reach 81% of 2019 levels in 2022, 98% in 2024 and 105% in 2025.

Latin America: Traffic to/from/within Latin America has been relatively resilient during the pandemic and is forecast to see a strong 2022, with limited travel restrictions and dynamic passenger flows within the region and to/from North America. 2019 passenger numbers are forecast to be surpassed in 2023 for Central America (102%), followed by South America in 2024 (103%) and the Caribbean in 2025 (101%).

Russia-Ukraine Conflict
The forecast does not calculate the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In general, air transport is resilient against shocks and this conflict is unlikely to impact the long-term growth of air transport. It is too early to estimate what the near-term consequences will be for aviation, but it is clear that there are downside risks, in particular in markets with exposure to the conflict.

Sensitivity factors will include the geographic extent, severity, and time-period for sanctions and/or airspace closures. These impacts would be felt most severely in Russia, Ukraine and neighboring areas.  Pre-COVID-19, Russia, was the 11th largest market for air transport services in terms of passenger numbers, including its large domestic market. Ukraine ranked 48.

The impact on airline costs as a result of fluctuations in energy prices or rerouting to avoid Russian airspace could have broader implications. Consumer confidence and economic activity are likely to be impacted even outside of Eastern Europe.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Thailand Hospitality Leaders Sign Pledge at Thailand Tourism Forum

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Thailand Hospitality Leaders Sign Pledge at Thailand Tourism ForumBangkok, Thailand, March 3, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Tourism leaders call for a full opening up of the country as concerns emerge that Thailand is losing the initiative to regional competitors and will not achieve 10 million arrivals in 2022. More than 500 delegates, including many of Thai tourism and hospitality’s most senior figures, came together at the 11th Thailand Tourism Forum (TTF 2022) on 1st March 2022, with the aim of charting a strong and sustainable path out of the global pandemic.

• Support Thailand hospitality and visit Thailand during the Visit Thailand Year 2022 – Amazing Chapters

TTF 2022, Thailand’s largest annual tourism and hospitality event, taking place as the industry grapples with an unprecedented period of crisis, opportunity, threat and disruption, ran under the theme #ThaiTourismUnited and kicked off with the Thailand Tourism Leadership Summit, which saw influential CEOs set out their joint vision for the future and jointly sign the Thailand Tourism Pledge.

Together, these leaders committed to forging a new strategic direction for Thailand, including placing tourism at the forefront of the national economy, putting the service sector back to work, achieving sustainable growth, and making international visitors feel safe and secure. The Thailand Tourism Pledge will lay the foundations upon which Thai tourism can be rebuilt from the ground up, following the devastation of the global pandemic.

Key to the discussion and among the excitement of the opportunity to create a better tourism future for Thailand, was a clear call by all leaders that it was time the country fully opened up.

Ms. Proudputh Liptapanlop, Executive Director of Proud Group, which owns numerous tourism assets including two InterContinental branded hotels in Hua Hin and Phuket, said: “In Thailand we need to open up. We need everyone to understand that we need to open up the country for their good and for the benefit of the country.”

Mr. Bill Heinecke, Chairman/Founder Minor International, added: “If we don’t open up we can’t be competitive. Currently the rules are just too complicated. We are not even 10% of where we were pre-Covid and Thailand will not reach its target of 10 million arrivals in 2022. We are falling behind. We are not even keeping up with our neighbours.”

“There’s no choice anymore,” commented Marisa Sukosol, President of Thailand Hotels Association. “Thailand must open up and stop Test & Go. In fact, it must Let It Go! We need to move our mentality from a pandemic to an endemic.”
(from left) Bill Heinecke, Chairman/Founder Minor International; Proudputh Liptapanlop, Executive Director, Proud Group; Marisa Sukosol, President of the Thailand Hotel Association.

TTF 2022 kicked off with a series of addresses, debates and discussions to help attendees devise strategies to survive and thrive in the post-pandemic era. Jesper Palmqvist, STR’s Area Director for Asia Pacific, presented the latest critical data, while Clarence Tan of Hilton and Charles Blocker, CEO of IC Partners, discussed “Why Hotel Operators Must Change”, Jakkrapong Chinkrathok, CEO & founder of Find Folk, focused on environmental issues with his “Green Thailand” session, and Wimintra Raj, Editor-in-Chief at Hotel Intel, went “Behind the Mask” to discuss new travel experiences. Other hot topics on the quickfire agenda included cryptocurrencies, hybrid spaces, hotel transactions and more.

• Support Thailand hospitality and visit Thailand during the Visit Thailand Year 2022 – Amazing Chapters

Mr. Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks, concluded: “The reason we are here in-person is that this is where it starts. Travelling again starts today. We have to open the country and be competitive with Vietnam and the Maldives and put our service sector back to work.”

TTF 2022 was hosted in compliance with all necessary health and safety regulations. The host venue, Conrad Bangkok, is SHA+ certified and all attendees will be required show proof of two vaccinations.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO Secretary-General Calls Extraordinary Executive Council Meeting

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UNWTO Secretary-General Calls Extraordinary Executive Council Meeting - TRAVELINDEXMadrid, Spain, March 2, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General, Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili calls an emergency meeting of UNWTO Executive Council on 8 March 2021, following the request of several Member States to consider suspending Russia from UNWTO membership.

The military offensive of Russia against Ukraine contradicts the core of UNWTO.

Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili said:  “Following the request of several Member States to consider suspending Russia from UNWTO membership, I have called an emergency meeting of the UNWTO Executive Council 8 March, to address this issue”.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

New Partnership as Uganda Launches Explore Uganda

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New Partnership as Uganda Launches Explore Uganda - visituganda.org - TRAVELINDEXKampala, Uganda, March 1, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The Pearl of Africa campaign; covid testing on arrival at Entebbe also dropped from 16 February as Ugandan tourism recovery gets under way. The Worldwide Travel Alliance (WTA) has announced a new partnership with leading Ugandan safari operator, Ganyana Safaris.

• Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, go to VisitUganda.org

Effective immediately, WTA will promote the company’s destination experiences in the UK, Ireland, plus German- and French-speaking markets in Europe.

Trips to see the gorillas in Bwindi Forest and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are Ganyana’s, and Uganda’s, key drawcard. Ganyana also offers big game trips to see lions, giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, hippos, rhinos and assorted bird life in their natural settings.

Ganyana will also use WTA to promote community tourism, tribal and cultural experiences showcasing Uganda’s music, food, dance and heritage beyond wildlife watching.

Kizito Juma “With 25 national parks and reserves, highly experienced rangers and researchers, Murchison Falls, the Nile River, Lake Victoria, snow-capped mountains, and a vibrant, diverse culture, we believe Uganda deserves a bigger share of the international ecotourism and safari market,” said Mr Kizito Juma (pictured), Managing Director of Ganyana Safaris.

In January, Uganda unveiled “Explore Uganda – The Pearl of Africa”. At the launch, Uganda Tourism Board Chief Executive, Ms Lilly Ajarova, said it was “important that all stakeholders are aligned on what makes us the Pearl of Africa and how we unpack that for the various travel markets and segments around the world”.

At the event, Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni drew attention to the country’s temperate climate, stunning diversity of flora and fauna, community tourism, Uganda’s strategic location in the center of East Africa, and its reputation as the likely birthplace of mankind.

To showcase the “Pearl of Africa”, WTA will help Ganyana Safaris promote safaris ranging from four to 21 days. Beyond its iconic geography, gorilla encounters and big game viewing, Ganyana has updated its bird watching, community tourism and cultural experience tours.

Juma said he is witnessing increased interest in different tribal traditions reflected in Ganyana’s tours, as well as glamping, white water rafting and mountain hiking.

• Explore Uganda, The Pearl of Africa, go to VisitUganda.org

“Our aim at Ganyana is to excel at value for money, reliability, flexibility and adding value such as complimentary drinks, barbecues and the like,” he said. “It’s not just about nature. We have opportunities for guests to give back and meet villagers, park rangers, researchers, musicians, dancers and get an overall feel for the way of life in Uganda.”

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Biman Airlines and Sabre Implement Remote Passenger Service System

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Biman Airlines and Sabre Implement Remote Passenger Service System - AIRLINEHUB.com - TRAVELINDEXDhaka, Bangladesh, March 1, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Sabre delivers virtual migration of PSS and its Global Distribution System (GDS) to Biman in less than five months, together with a comprehensive range of complementary Sabre technology solutions, as the carrier plans expansion in 2022.

Sabre Corporation, a leading software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, today revealed it has successfully migrated Biman Bangladesh Airlines to the SabreSonic Passenger Service System to power the carrier’s ambitious expansion strategy in 2022 and beyond.

Bangladesh’s national flag carrier has now moved from its legacy technology system to Sabre’s modern PSS in the first phase of its technological transformation, and the airline will be continuing its digital enhancement with Sabre technology as it moves forward with plans to grow its route network this year. The national carrier of Bangladesh already flies to routes across Asia, the Middle East and the UK, and is set to expand to Toronto, Tokyo, Male, Colombo, Guangzhou, Bahrain, Chennai and New York.

“While the world was facing international lockdown measures, it was vital to us that our technological transformation did not slow down, but that we were able to advance our digital transformation to prepare for the resumption of travel,” said Dr. Abu Saleh Mostafa Kamal, Managing Director & CEO, Biman Bangladesh Airlines. “We’re thrilled with the way Sabre has worked with us to support our rapidly-evolving needs during the pandemic. The swift implementation of Sabre’s innovative solutions means we are now ready to respond to new market demands while creating improved offers and better experiences for our travellers.”

The airline, which celebrated its Golden Jubilee earlier this year, has adopted SabreSonic to power growth and streamline the traveller experience as well as renewing its global distribution agreement with Sabre, and selecting an additional set of complementary Sabre technology solutions. This timely implementation will help Biman to automate and streamline sales and reservations to maximize revenue opportunities, minimize costs, enhance inventory revenue optimization, extend reach through partnerships, and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its offers and operations.

“The way in which our teams at Sabre and our travel partners have collaborated to successfully drive complex migrations virtually, including digital-only onboarding and training, has been remarkable,” said Cem Tanyel, Chief Services Officers, Sabre Travel Solutions. “By adapting and innovating, we have been able to deliver successful implementations in tight timescales under challenging circumstances. We’re thrilled that we’ve been able to strengthen our partnership with Biman with a swift technological migration so our solutions can support them as we all look forward to further travel resumption this year.”

Mohammed Salahuddin, General Manager, Marketing, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, added: “We’re excited that Sabre and Biman have come together so quickly and efficiently, so that we are now ready to leverage Sabre’s technology to advance our travellers’ experience while fuelling our own growth and expansion and helping us to achieve commercial success.”

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO Against Restrictions and for Peace and Tourism for All

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UNWTO Against Restrictions and for Peace and Tourism for All

Geneva, Switzerland, February 28, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO has concluded a week of meetings in Geneva, securing strong backing for its call to ease travel and enhancing strategic partnerships to define the future of tourism. UNWTO also emphasized that diplomacy is the only option to man-made problems and amplified tourism’s voice for peace and international solidarity.

UNWTO strongly condemns unilateral and unjustified acts of aggression and stands by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his call for diplomacy to win out. UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “At a time where diplomacy has been abandoned, the values of tourism, a pillar of peace and solidarity, are more vital than ever.”

UNWTO, WHO and the new trust architecture

At a time where diplomacy has been abandoned, the values of tourism, a pillar of peace and solidarity, are more vital than ever

At the start of the week, UNWTO was welcomed to the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) by its Director-General Dr. Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Together, the leaders of the two UN agencies agreed on the importance of lifting or easing travel restrictions wherever possible, citing their ineffectiveness and the economic and social cost of closing borders to tourists.

Mr Pololikashvili stressed that “UNWTO is proud to work with WHO to restart tourism safely and responsibly for the benefit of many across the world.” UNWTO and WHO agree on the need for a new “trust architecture” to restore confidence in travel and kickstart the sector’s recovery.

Aviation and tourism education

Talks between Secretary-General Pololikashvili and the Director-General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Willie Walsh also focused on the collaboration towards the safe return of travel, highlighting the need for common rules and restoring trust.

The official visit to Switzerland was an opportunity to advance several of UNWTO’s strategic priorities, among them tourism jobs and education. The Secretary-General and his team were welcomed to the Gilon Institute of Higher Education and the Hotel Institute Montreux (HIM) by its Dean Ulrika Björklund and to the new UNWTO International Centre Switzerland at the Bella Vista Higher Education Campus in Altdorf. To advance plans to empower a new generation of tourism leaders, UNWTO met with the Swiss Education Group CEO Yong Shen and with Benoit-Etienne Domenget, CEO of Sommet Education, UNWTO’s partner for online learning.

Sports tourism and tourism and rural development

In Nyon, an official visit to the headquarters of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) saw Secretary-General Pololikashvili enhance the ties between two of the world’s biggest and most cross-cutting sectors. Alongside UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, the two organizations agreed to work together to promote and grow sports tourism, and build a joint legacy through empowering youth, starting at the UNWTO Global Youth Tourism Summit in August.

The Secretary- General visited Gruyères, named one of the Best Tourism Villages by UNWTO at the 24th General Assembly, where he commended the commitment to harnessing tourism to promote and protect its cultural and gastronomic heritage and support jobs and local businesses. Alongside the visit – a first to one of the Best Tourism Villages – the UNWTO delegation also met with Eric Jakob, Ambassador of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), whose brief includes tourism policy, as well as with Martin Nydegger, CEO of Switzerland Tourism. The meetings offered the UNWTO leadership a chance to welcome Switzerland’s recent decision to lift almost all restrictions on incoming tourists, setting an example for other countries to follow.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Anantara Hotels Expands its Luxury Portfolio in China

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Anantara Hotels Expands its Luxury Portfolio in China

Anji County, Zhejiang Province, China, February 28, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Anantara’s world renowned luxury is coming to China’s Anji County in northwestern Zhejiang Province. A popular escape for nature lovers and hailed as an eco-tourism destination, Anji County is located three-hours’ drive from Shanghai and less than an hour’s drive from Zhejiang’s capital of Hangzhou.

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Known for its cooler climate, clean air and breathtaking scenery, Anji has been designated as an ecology-friendly city where the residents have established a thriving eco-friendly agricultural and tourism sector showcasing pollution-free green products, such as white tea, alpine vegetables, and flowers. Anji is also home to one of the largest natural bamboo forests in the world with over 60,000 hectares of bamboo groves containing over 40 different species.

Emerald mountains and tea plantations form the backdrop of the new Anantara Anji which is located on 165 acres of land. In addition to 162 guest rooms with sizes ranging from 53-216 sqm, the property will feature state of the art meeting facilities, an outdoor swimming pool with bar, four international restaurants including Chinese and international cuisine, a full fitness centre and a children’s activity zone.

Complementing the area’s natural surroundings, an Anantara Spa with full healing and wellness facilities and a Zen pavilion will be available to help replenish guests’ health and wellbeing.  Sustainable programs such as tree planting activities for the whole family, which will be organically integrated with the resort’s facilities will also be on offer creating an ideal place for multi-generational travel experiences.

Anantara’s culture-minded guests will be able to enjoy a wide range of indigenous experiences nearby including ancient temples and the residence of Wu Changshuo, a prominent painter, calligrapher and seal artist during the late Qing Period adjacent to the resort. Guests can also do day trips to the area’s famous bamboo forests, stream rafting sites or harvest tea in nearby plantations.

The resort’s unique architecture is designed by internationally renowned architect, Meng Fanhao of Line+ Studio which has been recognised for its creative and innovative designs. Construction will commence in March 2022 and is due to be completed by the end of 2024.

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Anantara Anji will join Anantara Guiyang Resort in Guizhou Province and Anantara Xishuangbanna Resort in Yunnan Province as the brand’s third property in China connecting guests to genuine places, people and stories through personal experiences, and providing heartfelt hospitality in the world’s most exciting destinations

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News