Global Travel News

Davos Agenda Closes with Calls for New Models of Public-Private Cooperation

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Davos Agenda Closes with Calls for New Models of Public-Private Cooperation - TRAVELINDEXGeneva, Switzerland, January 25, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The Davos Agenda closed today following headline-making dialogues with heads of state and government, international organizations, business and civil society.

The week-long meeting convened leaders on “The State of the World”. It was the first global platform of the year and focused on driving concerted action among key global stakeholders.

“We are seeing challenges mounting from supply chain disruptions to tectonic shifts in labour markets, to inflation figures which are of concern to policy-makers and individuals alike. The year ahead is a crucial one to work together, rebuild trust and shape a better and more inclusive future for all,” said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum.

World leaders spoke on the global economic outlook, energy transition, social justice, healthy futures and resiliency in special address. In order of appearance this week:

“We need to embrace cooperation and jointly defeat the pandemic. Confronted by the once-in-a-century pandemic, which will affect the future of humanity, the international community has fought a tenacious battle,” said Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China. “Facts have shown once again that amidst the raging torrents of a global crisis, countries are not riding separately in some 190 small boats but are rather all in a giant ship on which our shared destiny hinges. Small boats may not survive a storm, but a giant ship is strong enough to brave a storm.”

“In the midst of new challenges, the world today needs new avenues, new resolutions. Today, every country in the world needs cooperation with each other more than ever before,” said Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India. “Our multilingual, multicultural environment is a great strength that teaches us not just to think of ourselves in times of crisis but to work in the best interests of the world.”

“Turning this ship around will take immense willpower and ingenuity from governments and businesses alike, in every major-emitting nation,” António Guterres, Secretary-General, United Nations said. “We see a clear role for businesses and investors in supporting our net-zero goal.”

“In order for the world to meet the 2050 net-zero emission goal, we need technologies that do not yet exist, we need inventions that do not exist yet,” said Naftali Bennett, Prime Minister of Israel.

“A key focus of my administration will be the revitalization of Japan through a new form a capitalism,” said Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan. He emphasized that the time has come for “historic economic and social transformations” and that Japan will pioneer a new form of public-private partnership, with leaders of government, industry and labour all working together to develop paradigm-shifting policies.

“Some will try to tell us dialogue and compromise are forms of weakness, said Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor of Germany. “Some will try and pitch climate action against prosperity. Some will argue that social progress hampers economic growth. Some will try to divide us. The truth is the progress we want will only occur if we overcome these divisions. Working together is the only way and restoring trust is our goal.”

Joko Widodo, President of Indonesia, spoke on the strengthening of global health resilience and the need for advanced economies and the G20 to support a renewed global architecture, “The costs will be much lower than the losses we sustained due to the vulnerability of the system during the pandemic,” he said.

“Europe’s global semiconductor market share is only 10%. And today, most of our supply comes from a handful of producers outside Europe. This is a dependency and uncertainty we simply cannot afford,” said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. “We have no time to lose. And this is why I announce here today that we will propose our European Chips Act in early February.”

“The lesson of these times is that supply chain resilience requires a new partnership between countries, governments and businesses,” said Scott Morrison, Prime Minister of Australia.

Access to COVID-19 vaccines continues to pose a serious problem for Africa, with fewer than 10% of populations fully vaccinated in most countries, said Yemi Osinbajo, Vice-President of Nigeria. He called for patent waivers to permit African countries to manufacture vaccines locally. “Now is a good time to test global will,” he said, in building international cooperation to prepare for new, possibly worse pandemics to come.

“We aren’t just focused on achieving a high top line growth number that is unsustainable,” said Janet L. Yellen, Secretary of the Treasury of the United States of America. “We’re instead aiming for growth that is inclusive and green. The economic moment is well suited to accommodate such a modern, supply side expansion.”

During the Davos Agenda, pioneering new research and project milestones were released to support stakeholders:

– Sustainable finance is increasing but the funds are not always reaching those most in need – see how public-private collaboration can facilitate sustainable investment for development.
– More than 100 million have been impacted by the work of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. The foundation includes over 400 of the world’s leading social innovators operating in over 190 countries.
– Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative is a leading global initiative to accelerate progress on the discovery, testing and delivery of precision interventions – it has created a new global system to reduce the time and cost of clinical trials.
– A new set of policy enablers to boost investment and innovation in digital economies was released to ensure digital transformation is inclusive and sustainable.
– Quantum science promises to disrupt the future of business, science and government – the first quantum computing guidelines launched to help leaders build an equitable framework.
– The global digital economy has surged off the back of the COVID-19 pandemic, but so has cybercrime – ransomware attacks rose 151% in 2021 – the new annual The Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2022 examined how leaders can close the cyber gap and build resilience.
– The Forum worked closely with the International Financial Reporting Standards Foundation as a member of the Technical Readiness Working Group. In so doing, the Forum contributed to the running start of the International Sustainability Standards Board supporting the creation of the standards prototypes that will now go through a standard-setting process.
– Plastic waste was in the spotlight as world leaders this week highlighted how they are moving fast to fight the climate crisis. Forum-supported companies are rolling out innovative reuse models to protect the planet.
– Nature-positive practices, those that add value to nature, could contribute $1.9 trillion to the economy a year and 88 million jobs by 2030.
– Cities can create 60 million jobs and save 50% on new infrastructure projects by adopting nature-based solutions. Nearly half of city GDP, $31 trillion, is at risk of disruption from nature loss.
– More partners announced plans to adopt nature-based solutions as part of the Forum’s 1t.org platform bringing total global pledges to over 30 companies committing to conserve, restore and grow more than 3.6 billion trees in over 60 countries.
– Only 20% of companies both disclose their full value chain emissions and have emissions reduction targets in place. Winning the Race to Net-Zero outlines how businesses can close the emissions gap and stay competitive.
– A new accelerator dedicated to shaping the future of crypto-enabled environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts aims to bring key players and industry leaders together to shape a more inclusive future.
– The Belt and Road Initiative offers a new development paradigm through investment in green infrastructure – a new insight report highlights the role of the financial sector and how to capitalize on the growing global appetite for green investment

Featured quotes from Davos Agenda 2022 panels

Ivan Duque, President of Colombia, said: “Colombia closed 2021 with positive results”, noting his country’s positive economic growth and high percentage of vaccination rates. He said the goal for 2022 is to maintain growth while, at the same time, closing the social inequality gap.

Carlos Alvarado Quesada, President of Costa Rica, said 85% of his country’s population had received a second COVID shot and that the process of vaccinating children was under way. “The main thing for Costa Rica is our vaccination drive. This is the only way to exit the health crisis.”

Alejandro Giammattei, President of Guatemala, said: “The challenge we have now is not only to promote growth but to turn growth into something sustainable. We need to improve the labour market and create more jobs. This will lead to better prosperity, health and education.” Generating new opportunities and ensuring economic benefits would reach all parts of society which, he pointed out, would also curb migration. “The only thing that stops a person is a wall of prosperity.”

Guillermo Lasso, President of Ecuador, highlighted the need for governments to commit to ethics and principles. “We need economic and inclusive growth within the rule of law and programmes that promote new opportunities. It is not just about economic growth but about quality of life and social cohesion.”

José Pedro Castillo Terrones, President of Peru, said his priority was economic reforms, noting that his government has invested $10 billion in strategic areas such as education, health and transport, and recently signed an infrastructure bill that will lead to more jobs. “We also want to invest in energy and natural gas, especially in transportation, so the entire country is connected.”

Christine Lagarde, President, European Central Bank, said: “In Europe, we are not seeing inflation spiral out of control. We assume energy prices will stabilize from the middle of 2022, bottlenecks will also stabilize in 2022 and, gradually, inflation numbers will decline.”

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund, said, “The response to the pandemic crisis has been anything but orthodox. In a highly coordinated manner both central banks and finance authorities have prevented the world falling into yet another great depression.”

“We should have had a much more coordinated global response, as I’ve said so many times,” said Anthony S. Fauci, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). “A global pandemic requires a global response, and we have to keep in mind the issue of equity all the time because you can’t have a situation where you have virus circulating freely in one part of the world.”

“The private sector has to be engaged,” said John Kerry, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. “It will be private sector investment and private sector discovery more than anything else, together with governments…that will get us out of this hole.”

About The Davos Agenda 2022
For over 50 years, the World Economic Forum has been the international organization for public-private cooperation. The Davos Agenda 2022 is the focal point at the start of the year for leaders to share their outlook, insights and plans relating to the most urgent global issues. The meeting will provide a platform to accelerate the partnerships needed to tackle shared challenges and shape a more sustainable and inclusive future.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC Announces New Dates for 2022 Global Summit in Manila

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WTTC Announces New Dates for 2022 Global Summit in Manila - TRAVELINDEXManila, Philippines, January 25, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), has announced that its highly anticipated 21st Global Summit will now take place in Manila, Philippines, from 20-22 April 2022 – just a month from its original March date.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said: “As countries around the world begin to unlock the door to travel, we have taken the decision to reschedule our Global Summit by just a few short weeks. This will enable more international participants to join us in Manila and help guide and lead the sector as we head towards economic recovery.

“Our Global Summit is the most influential Travel & Tourism event in the calendar. We are looking forward seeing our Members, industry leaders and key government representatives gather in Manila in April to continue our efforts in safely restoring international travel.”

Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Secretary of the Philippines Department of Tourism said, “The WTTC Global Summit will be a significant opportunity for us to showcase the preparations that we have put in place for our eventual reopening to international visitors.

“Tourism has always provided us with endless opportunities. The reopening of our destinations and borders amid the pandemic is crucial to sustaining the livelihood of the millions who depend on travel and tourism. We are looking forward to being your gracious host in Manila as we navigate the next normal in the travel industry.”

The Summit will be hosted in Metro Manila in-person, with a global audience joining virtually.

Further information such as key speakers will be announced shortly.

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Leisure Travel Demand Fuels Continued Brand Growth for Hyatt

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Leisure Travel Demand Fuels Continued Brand Growth for Hyatt - TRAVELINDEXChicago, United States, January 25, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced plans to accelerate its brand growth in the Americas region with a strong pipeline of expected hotel openings through 2023. Fueled by growing leisure travel demand, 45 hotels are expected to join Hyatt’s portfolio of brands, including Apple Leisure Group’s (ALG) AMRTM Collection brands, in 2022 and 2023 in key resort, all-inclusive and sought-after urban destinations. In addition, Hyatt has signed management and franchise agreements for hotels in 11 new markets and 19 existing markets across the Americas.

“Listening to our guests, World of Hyatt members, and customers has never been more important. As we continue in our recovery from the pandemic, we remain very intentional about where the Hyatt brand footprint grows to ensure we’re present in markets that matter most to the leisure-focused traveler of today and tomorrow,” said Jim Chu, Hyatt’s executive vice president, global franchising and development. “Our pipeline of new properties signals that Hyatt is well poised to deliver against the demand for more leisure travel experiences in places like Cozumel, Panama City, Punta Cana, and South Beach, and priority urban destinations, including Denver, Montréal, Oakland, and Memphis, which will welcome the first Caption by Hyatt hotel.”

Debuting New Hyatt Brands in New Markets

To continue driving brand awareness and World of Hyatt loyalty program growth, Hyatt expects to thoughtfully expand its brand footprint in the Americas through 2023 in 11 new markets with hotel openings under the Dreams, Hyatt Centric, Hyatt House, Hyatt Place, Hyatt Regency, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, and Thompson Hotels brands. These new destinations will position Hyatt to capture leisure demand in the markets that matter most to guests, loyalty members, and customers. They include:

2022

– Dreams Karibana Cartagena Beach & Golf Resort (268 guestrooms) in Cartagena, Colombia
– Hyatt Centric Ville-Marie Montréal (177 guestrooms) in Montréal, Québec
– Hyatt Centric San Salvador (138 guestrooms) in Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador
– Hyatt House Monterrey Valle/San Pedro (91 guestrooms) in Monterrey, Mexico
– Hyatt Place Gainesville Downtown (145 guestrooms) in Gainesville, Fla.
– Hyatt Place Kent Narrows & Marina (120 guestrooms) in Grasonville, Md.
– Hyatt Place Monterrey Valle (133 guestrooms) in Monterrey, Mexico
– Hyatt Place Montréal Downtown (354 guestrooms) in Montréal, Québec
– Hyatt Place Panama City Beach (224 guestrooms) in Panama City Beach, Fla.
– Hyatt Place St. Augustine/Vilano Beach (120 guestrooms) in St. Augustine, Fla.
– Hyatt Regency Mexico City Insurgentes (201 guestrooms) in Mexico City, Mexico
– Numu (44 guestrooms), which will join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2023

– Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlan (350 guestrooms) in Mazatlan, Mexico

Expanding Access to Resorts and All-Inclusive Experiences

Leisure travel continues on an upward trajectory with a notable, strong desire for resort and all-inclusive experiences. The end of 2021 and early 2022 showed elevated demand for leisure travel with multiple resorts reaching record RevPAR levels within the United States. Further, with the recent acquisition of ALG, the combined company will offer one of the largest portfolios of luxury all-inclusive resorts in the world and luxury hotels in Mexico and the Caribbean. Through 2023, Hyatt plans to significantly expand its resort and all-inclusive portfolio, which includes the AMR Collection brands Secrets and Dreams, with expected openings across the Americas, including:

2022

– Banyan Cay Resort & Golf (190 guestrooms), which will join the Destination by Hyatt hotel portfolio, in West Palm Beach, Fla.
– Dreams Cozumel Cape Resort & Spa (154 guestrooms) in Cozumel, Mexico
– Hyatt House Lewes / Rehoboth Beach (105 guestrooms) in Lewes, Del.
– Hyatt Place Virginia Beach/Oceanfront (140 guestrooms) in Virginia Beach, V.A.
– Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico expansion (93 guestrooms) in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
– Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya (291 guestrooms) in Riviera Maya, Mexico
– Secrets Impression Playa del Carmen (198 guestrooms) in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
– Secrets Moxche Playa del Carmen (485 guestrooms) in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
– Secrets Tulum Resort & Spa (300 guestrooms) in Tulum, Mexico
– Rancho Pescadero (103 guestrooms), which will join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt portfolio, in El Pescadero, Mexico

2023

– Dreams Grand Island (600 guestrooms) in Cancún, Mexico
– Park Hyatt Los Cabos Hotel and Residences (135 guestrooms) in Los Cabos, Mexico
– Hyatt Place New Smyrna Beach (114 guestrooms) in New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
– Secrets Baby Beach Aruba (600 guestrooms)
– Thompson South Beach (150 guestrooms) in South Beach, Fla.

Growing in Urban Destinations

Late 2021 showed strengthening travel demand among urban leisure and drivable destinations. Kicking off 2022 and throughout 2023, Hyatt hotels are expected to open in sought-after city locales across the Americas, including the brand debut and opening of the first Caption by Hyatt hotel in Memphis. They include:

2022

– Thompson Austin (229 guestrooms) in Austin, Texas – opened in January 2022
– tommie Austin (193 guestrooms), a JdV by Hyatt hotel, in Austin, Texas – opened in January 2022
– Caption by Hyatt Beale St. Memphis (136 guestrooms) in Memphis, Tenn.
– Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin (246 guestrooms) in Austin, Texas
– Hyatt Centric Santa Clara (220 guestrooms) in Santa Clara, Calif.
– Hyatt House Sacramento Midtown (133 guestrooms) in Sacramento, Calif.
– Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City (700 guestrooms) in Salt Lake City, Utah
– Hyatt Regency San Francisco Downtown SOMA (686 guestrooms) in San Francisco – rebranding from Park Central San Francisco
– A hotel (120 guestrooms) that will join the JdV by Hyatt portfolio in Middletown, R.I.
– Thompson Denver (216 guestrooms) in Denver, Colo.
– Hotel La Compañia, Casco Antiguo, Panama (88 guestrooms), which will join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt portfolio, in Panama City, Panama
– Kissel Uptown Oakland (168 guestrooms), which will join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt portfolio, in Oakland, Calif.

2023

– A hotel (251 guestrooms) that will join the JdV by Hyatt portfolio in Anchorage, Ala.
– Hyatt House Lansing/MSU (131 guestrooms) in Lansing, Mich.
– Hyatt Place Toronto-Downtown/Jarvis Street (238 guestrooms) in Toronto, Ontario
– Thompson Houston (172 guestrooms) in Houston, Texas
– A hotel (64 guestrooms) that will join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt portfolio in Hollywood, Calif

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of September 30, 2021, Hyatt’s portfolio included more than 1,000 hotel and all-inclusive properties in 69 countries across six continents, and the acquisition of Apple Leisure Group added 96 properties in 10 countries as of November 1, 2021. Hyatt’s offerings include the Park Hyatt®, Miraval®, Grand Hyatt®, Alila®, Andaz®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination by Hyatt™, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Ziva™, Hyatt Zilara™, Thompson Hotels®, Hyatt Centric®, Caption by Hyatt, JdV by Hyatt™, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Place®, UrCove, and Hyatt Residence Club® brands, as well as resort and hotel brands under the AMR™ Collection, including Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Breathless® Resorts & Spas, Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Alua® Hotels & Resorts, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas. Hyatt’s subsidiaries operate the World of Hyatt® loyalty program, ALG Vacations®, Unlimited Vacation Club®, Amstar DMC destination management services, and the Trisept Solutions® travel technology platform.

 

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Sophia Tutino Yachting Opens New Offices in the US

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Sophia Tutino Yachting Opens New Offices in the US - TRAVELINDEXMiami Beach, Florida, United States, January 24, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Sophia Tutino Yachting, the world’s leading boutique company specialising and exclusively operating in yacht charter services is delighted to announce the opening of new offices in South Beach Miami and Houston Texas! These new locations strengthen Sophia Tutino Yachting’s presence in the USA and signify Sophia Tutino Yachting’s continued growth and development.

Sophia Tutino explains, “We have seen significant growth in the charter operations over the past couple of years despite COVID and the travelling restrictions. Our 2021 Charter Seasons both in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean were very successful and our Clients managed to book yachts through us with confidence to reconnect with Friends & Families in a COVID safe environment. «

A strong pipeline of new projects for 2022 and beyond is set for Sophia Tutino Yachting building on successful charter performance in 2020 & 2021.

“We have seen increasing demand with our existing customers along with the growing interest in yacht charters by prospective customers all over the globe. « Sophia Tutino

This expansion comes less than three years after Founder Sophia Tutino decided to create a unique boutique company exclusively specialising in charter services for Family Offices and HNWI. Having headed the Charter operations of three of the largest and highest regarded yachting companies in the world, Sophia Tutino has over 15 years of experience in the industry and remains a central and highly respected member of the yachting community.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Nigeria Vice-President Osinbajo Demands Right for Africa to Manufacture its Own Vaccines

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Nigeria Vice-President Osinbajo Demands Right for Africa to Manufacture its Own Vaccines - TRAVELINDEXAbuja, Nigeria, January 24, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Access to COVID-19 vaccines continues to pose a serious problem for Africa, with fewer than 10% of populations fully vaccinated in most countries, said Yemi Osinbajo, Vice-President of Nigeria, in his address to the Davos Agenda 2022. He called for patent waivers to permit African countries to manufacture vaccines locally.

Osinbajo complimented COVAX and other global vaccine alliances for their contribution but noted that the price tag for vaccinating the entire world is just $50 billion, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. “This is affordable, he said, but we should not allow this opportunity “to slip through the cracks”.

“Now is a good time to test global will,” he said, in building international cooperation to prepare for new, possibly worse pandemics to come.

He called for natural gas – which Africa has in abundance – to be accepted as a transitional fuel. Africa is the continent that contributes least to climate change yet has been most negatively affected by it, he said. This situation cannot be compounded by rules that hamper Africa from adapting.

“For many gas-rich African countries, one of the biggest shocks is the notion that fossil fuels including gas should be defunded, especially by international financial institutions.” He added: “We think that gas as a transition fuel is absolutely crucial, not just for an effective transition but also for our economies.” He made it clear that gas is “without doubt the only pathway” for Africa to transition out of more hazardous fuels such as coal and heavy oil.

Osinbajo claimed that Nigeria is “probably the first country in Africa to develop an energy transition plan and to cost it out”. The plan, which he said will be launched in the next couple of weeks, includes connecting 5 million homes to solar power, requiring more foreign investment in manufacturing panels and components.

He said there is a “unique opportunity” for companies to invest in Nigerian renewable energy and that the government is providing debt for those who wish to do business in the sector. He also called on developed economies to honour their long-standing pledge to provide $100 billion annually in climate finance to developing countries.

Peace and security on the continent are seriously threatened by global terrorist franchises from the Sahel to the Horn to Southern Africa, Osinbajo said. As with coronavirus, “terrorism anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere” and he warned global partners not to sit by and allow Africa to be overrun by such extremists. “It is imperative for the international community to make more robust interventions to clear terrorists from Africa just as it did in the Middle East.”

Despite the enormous challenges of tackling COVID-19, climate change and terrorism, Osinbajo remained upbeat about economic prospects for Africa and Nigeria. The sub-Saharan economy grew by 3.7% in 2021 and is projected to continue this trajectory into 2022. Nigeria’s National Development Plan 2021-2025 envisages investments totalling $840 billion, of which 86% is expected to come from the private sector.

In the next three decades, the global population will swell by 2 billion people; 1 billion of those will come from Africa, which now has the world’s fastest growing working-age population. “Africa has the potential to become the factory of the world,” he said.

About the Davos Agenda 2022
For over 50 years, the World Economic Forum has been the international organization for public-private cooperation. The Davos Agenda 2022 is the focal point at the start of the year for leaders to share their outlook, insights and plans relating to the most urgent global issues. The meeting will provide a platform to accelerate the partnerships needed to tackle shared challenges and shape a more sustainable and inclusive future.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Barcelona Joins UNWTO Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories

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Barcelona Joins UNWTO Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories - TRAVELINDEXBarcelona, Spain, January 24, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO has welcomed the Barcelona Tourism Observatory into its growing International Network of Sustainable Observatories (INSTO). Tourism is one of the leading economic sectors for the city of Barcelona and the surrounding region, responsible for more than 10% of local GDP. The Barcelona Tourism Observatory (BTO) will work to help guide the sector towards greater sustainability. As with other members of the INSTO initiative, the observatory will provide data and analysis to be used to guide evidence-based decision making. This will help Destination Barcelona better deal with the recovery of tourism and in the long run with the large tourist numbers and ensure the sector is managed in a sustainable and responsible manner.

Commenting, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “We warmly welcome Barcelona into our growing global network of observatories. As one of the world’s leading destinations, the Observatory can help Barcelona better manage its tourism sector, recovering and growing back more sustainably for the benefit of visitors and residents alike.”

We warmly welcome Barcelona into our growing global network of observatories

For Turisme de Barcelona, the President of the Executive Committee, Eduard Torres, said the development “reinforces the importance of Barcelona’s international role in the field of tourism knowledge as well as positioning us to make even more progress towards sustainability across our sector”. According to Mr. Xavier Marcé, Councillor for Tourism and Creative Industries of the City Hall of Barcelona, being part of the network “will help the Barcelona City Council in making data-based decisions to achieve the goals of managing the visitor economy within the parameters of sustainability of local economy, as well as increasing the return and benefits to citizens.” Núria Marín, the President of the
Barcelona Provincial Council, similarly noted the “the need to link the city of Barcelona with the rest of the province of Barcelona under the concept of Destination Barcelona to analyze the wider reality of tourism activity.”

The Barcelona Tourism Observatory is supported by Barcelona City Council, Barcelona Provincial Council, Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and Turisme de Barcelona. This is the fourth Observatory in Spain, after Canary Islands, Navarra and Mallorca, and brings the worldwide total to 31.

About INSTO

The UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) was created in 2004 with the main objectives to support the continuous improvement of sustainability and resilience in the tourism sector through systematic, timely and regular monitoring of tourism performance and to connect dedicated destinations, helping them to exchange and improve knowledge and understanding about destination-wide resource use and the responsible management of tourism.

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Davos Agenda Session on Space Opens Up New Frontiers

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Davos Agenda Session on Space Opens Up New Frontiers - MADEINSPACE.com - TRAVELINDEXIntrnational Space Station, Space, January 24, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer connected live to a session on Thursday at the Davos Agenda 2022 from the International Space Station, somewhere high above the Pacific, to discuss how space research can improve life on Earth.

For a better understanding of Space and to join the economic and industrial development of space follow MadeInSpace.com. Contributors welcome.

While in orbit on a six-month mission with the European Space Agency (ESA), Maurer will support a wide range of science experiments and technological research, including those that address transmissions of disease, the reduction of carbon emissions and human health-related activities. Knowledge gained through his mission will contribute to development that benefits life on Earth.

“We have worked hard in the past few weeks and months to send back cargo that we harvested for scientists to analyse all these samples that we produced in space, and to produce science and knowledge for humanity out of it,” he said.

He added that the cross-country and international collaboration aboard the space station should also be a model for how the world tackles major challenges, such as climate change. From his view, Maurer described the beauty of the planet, but also pointed out that he could see the impact of climate change from space.

“When we fly around the Earth (16 times a day), we cross over areas that are very arid and dry and I can see scars on the planet where people are digging deep to extract resources. So we are actively reshaping the planet. We are cutting down trees and burning down rainforests. I see the flames. I also see the flooding.”

Back on Earth, Al Gore, Vice-President of the United States (1993-2001); Chairman and Co-Founder, Generation Investment Management, explained how space technology and artificial intelligence can help address climate action. He highlighted the work of Climate TRACE, a global coalition created to make meaningful climate action faster and easier by independently tracking greenhouse gas emissions with unprecedented detail and speed.

“Some things you can see directly from space, like methane, but the difficulty of measuring CO2 emissions against a highly varied CO2 background on the Earth make it necessary to use AI to get precision we need,” he said. He added that if you consider something like GPS, it is clear how quickly the opportunities offered by space tech and space exploration can become integrated into our lives.

But the data and knowledge that is gained from space should not be limited to those who own satellites, said Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology, Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates. “If only countries with access to satellites get access to the data, we deny other countries the opportunity to benefit from that knowledge,” she said.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2022, space is increasingly crowded and commercialized. While the diversification of actors is for many an exciting development, dated space governance frameworks are coming under considerable pressure, exposing fault lines between the ambitions of different players and the acceptability of their actions.

Echoing this message, Josef Aschbacher, Director-General of the ESA, noted that the volume of satellites indicates that regulation is important.

For a better understanding of Space and to join the economic and industrial development of space follow MadeInSpace.com. Contributors welcome.

However, it will have to keep up with a fast-changing industry, which, according to Chris Kemp, the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Astra, is currently seeing a revolution of sorts. “Access is increasing all the time thanks to significant falls in the cost of putting satellites into space and this has enabled a new generation of entrepreneurs to build companies, to take these companies public and provide new capabilities.”

About the Davos Agenda 2022
For over 50 years, the World Economic Forum has been the international organization for public-private cooperation. The Davos Agenda 2022 is the focal point at the start of the year for leaders to share their outlook, insights and plans relating to the most urgent global issues. The meeting will provide a platform to accelerate the partnerships needed to tackle shared challenges and shape a more sustainable and inclusive future.

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

MOON OVER MANHATTAN

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Shane McInerney is accused of carrying on violent and disruptive behavior during an eight-hour flight from Ireland to the United States earlier this month. At least one passenger told the crew that his behavior was “scary,” authorities said. Reportedly he was on his way to Florida to start a job as a soccer teacher at a sports academy in Daytona.

The 29-year-old McInerney from Galway, Ireland, appeared in federal court in Brooklyn on Jan. 14, facing a felony charge of intentionally assaulting and intimidating a member of a flight crew. He was released him on a $20,000 bond.

The Irishman was a passenger on a Delta flight from Dublin to Kennedy Airport in New York on Jan. 7. According to an FBI affidavit filed in court, during the flight, some of his transgressions included throwing an empty drink can that hit another passenger in the head; pulling down his pants and underwear to “moon” a flight attendant and other nearby passengers; kicking the seat in front of him, upsetting the person sitting there and refusing to wear a mask despite dozens of requests by the crew.

At one point, the Delta captain, on break, confronted McInerney, who repeatedly placed his own hat on the captain’s head and then held his fist in the captain’s face and said, “Don’t touch me,” the FBI agent wrote in the affidavit.

During the flight the crew had to repeatedly interrupt their regular duties to confront McInerney about his behavior and consideration was given to diverting the plane to another airport to have him removed. Ultimately the plane continued on to New York.

According to the FBI report as Airbus A-330 was on its final approach to JFK with all passengers and crew were buckled in, McInerney got up from his seat, stood in the aisle, and refused to return to his seat and fasten his seatbelt.

Authorities took him into custody upon landing.

According to his social media profiles, McInerney played professional soccer in Australia with Dandenong Thunder SC, and in Sweden with FC Linköping City. Last year, he was a kicker for Peru State College’s American football team.

In an interview last month with the The Irish Daily Star he spoke of his dream to play for the NFL.

Meanwhile, an Instagram post on January 16 showed that McInerney in Daytona Beach relaxing at the beach with a drink.

“Great to be back in the sunshine state,” he wrote. “Blessed to call this place home for the next few months.

In a statement, Delta said it, “has zero tolerance for unruly behaviour at our airports and aboard our aircraft as nothing is more important that the safety of our people and our customers”.

If convicted, McInerney faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Wouldn’t that be a bummer!

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ROUND-UP:Jan. 17-21, 2021

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This week in the Round-up: Crystal is not having a ball; TICO introduces new specs; WestJet cuts more flights; Lynx Air reveals launch details; Contiki unveils a new look; and Air France announces plans for Quebec City.

NEWS

Crystal has suspended operations for its ocean and expedition ships through April 29 with river cruises suspended through the end of May. The cruise line says that suspending operations will provide its management team with an opportunity to evaluate the financial difficulties of its parent company Genting Hong Kong. Guests and travel partners are currently being notified. Crystal will provide a full refund of cruise fare paid, which will be processed automatically to the original form of payment.

In February, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) will launch a new digital flipbook study manual for Travel Counsellor and Supervisor/Manager certifications. The new manual will have updated content to reflect changes in legislation and will be easier to use. Effective Feb. 28, TICO exams will be based on the newly revised study manual; the deadline to write the exams based on the current manual is Feb. 27. In the future, TICO says it will launch new, fully interactive online education and continuing education programs that have a strong focus on having students apply the program’s regulatory content.

ACTA is the latest travel organization to call on call on the federal government to lift mandatory arrival testing and quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated, asymptomatic travellers so that the tests can be used to support Canada’s domestic testing needs.

Officials at the St. John’s International Airport Authority reached an agreement with the facility’s firefighters to end staffing shortages and flight cancellations and enabling normal operations to resume. The parties had been working with a federal mediator to resolve the situation.

Organizers of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, set to begin Feb. 4, say tickets will not be sold to the general public but instead will be distributed to “targeted” groups of people. Organizers had said in September that there would not be any international spectators at the Games due to COVID-19 prevention policies that have all but shut China’s borders to international travellers.

RE-OPENING/RE-START

After several months of forced suspension due to COVID-19, Air Transat has returned to Faro, Portugal with flight TS232 from Toronto on Jan. 18. Now operated year-round, the route will be offered once a week. The airline also operates flights to Lisbon and Faro from Toronto and, from Montreal, Lisbon and next summer, Porto.

AIR

Calgary-based Lynx Air announced it will officially take flight on April 7 with its first flight from Calgary to Vancouver. Initially, Lynx will offer five domestic destinations: Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Kelowna, and Winnipeg, with flights utilizing brand-new Boeing 737 aircraft. Routes will roll out throughout April with tickets now available to be booked online.

WestJet is continuing the consolidation of flights this month into next, with the airline announcing that 20% of its scheduled flights Feb. 1-28 will be reduced. The “difficult decision” is in response to the Omicron variant affecting staffing levels and the prolonged impact of government barriers on bookings, says the airline. The schedule reduction also represents a slight increase over January, which has seen 15% of flights curtailed.

As of May 17, Air France will connect Quebec City (YQB) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport with three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Flights will be operated by Airbus A330-200.

BY THE NUMBERS

Global tourism experienced a 4% upturn in 2021, compared to 2020 (415 million versus 400 million), however, international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) were still 72% below the pre-pandemic year of 2019, according to preliminary estimates by UNWTO. This follows on from 2020, the worst year on record for tourism, when international arrivals decreased by 73%.

TECHNOLOGY

Travelport has launched its new Travelport+ tools and functionalities. Customers using the latest version of the desktop tool, Smartpoint, can now access new itinerary enhancements, including Trip Quote, to customize itinerary quotes, and Assisted Ticketing capabilities. Additionally, Travelport has launched a new Trip Manager portal on Travelport+, offering self-service for travellers to carry out fast, easy transactions for their trip on the go and continues its Intelligent Storefront mission by making it easier for agents to understand offers and compare brands with similar attributes on a like-for-like basis. Agencies using Travelport can also better manage the hotel bookings they sell with a simple self-service rules engine, the Content Optimizer.

DEALS

Envision, Budapest

Wave Season deals from Avalon Waterways offer three tiers of savings, ranging from $1,700 to $3,200 in savings for booking on select cruises through March 27. The special rates apply to dozens of cruises, including the 15-day “Magnificent Europe” cruise ($3,200 per couple savings), 16-day “Enchanted Europe for Beer Enthusiasts” ($2,200); and eight-day “Danube Dreams” ($1,700). All bookings also include the option of adding airfare for $499.

The new ‘Spring Seat Sale’ from Transat is valid on new individual Europe bookings made through Feb. 14, for travel between March 1 and June 30, 2022. (Some exceptions apply). Details are available on the airline’s web site.

Savings of up to 20% off are available on select European Waterways Spring barge cruises in France, Italy, and Scotland. The offer ends Feb. 21.

TOURS

Capitalizing on the latest trends in health and wellness trends, TruTravels has launched a new FitVentures collection of wellness-focussed tours, departing from May. The two tour itineraries – one in Thailand, the other Indonesia – come with a ‘workout schedule’ and with Muay Thai classes, beachfront bootcamps and volcano hikes, with the tour operating promising to challenge the conventional wellness retreat by “making working out fun while travellers enjoy the trip of a lifetime.” Activities include cooking classes, cycling, sunset paddleboarding and more. With the “Great Escape Sale,” travellers can save up 40% off the price.

An eye-catching new look and feel signifying “an optimism for the industry that meets the new needs of clients” is behind a brand refresh from Contiki, launched last week. Featuring “Contiki Green,” the vibrant new colour in part represents the brand’s take on sustainability – a “new kind of green.” Along with the new look, Contiki says it has also realized its goal of becoming entirely carbon neutral effective this month.

HOTELS

Hard Rock Hotels has announced plans for the opening of its newest REVERB by Hard Rock in Hamburg, Germany. Slated to open in mid-2022, the 134-room hotel
will be located within the St. Pauli Bunker, Hamburg’s largest, and one of its few preserved, high-rise bunkers, which has come to locally represent creativity and urban culture. REVERB by Hard Rock is a new select service hotel designed for the modern music lover, a sanctuary for the eclectic, and a place where fans meet and experience a melting pot of music culture. The hotel features a modern, urban design package, traveller-friendly integrated technology, and programming focused on local music, food, and lifestyle.

The new ‘Winter Escapes’ promotion by B Hotels offers discounted nightly rates at various Florida properties when booked by March 19 for travel by June 30. Promotional rates start at US$119 at the B Resort & Spa in Orlando (Disney Springs area), $229 at B Ocean Resort in Fort Lauderdale, and $299 at Banana Bay Resort in the Keys. The Orlando property is also providing free breakfast to kids 12 years of age and under (some limitations apply). Booking must be made with the hotel online using the promo code BWINTER.

RESORTS

IHG Hotels & Resorts is expanding in Bali, Indonesia. The 120-key all-suite and villa InterContinental Bali Sanur Resort will be a rebrand of the former Fairmont Sanur Beach Bali and will relaunch with a fresh identity. The beachfront resort is located on Sanur Beach which is known for its long stretch of sandy beach with shallow waters and will boast 26 villas, each with a private pool, as well as 94 suites.

A new Ritz-Carlton Reserve resort has been announced for the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas, joining an exclusive collection of only five Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties around the world. Located on the southern end of the island, it is expected to feature an open-air resort including 90 intimate rooms forming part of the community once known as the Cotton Bay Club. Amenities will include an 18-hole golf course, a lavish spa and swimming pools, and restaurants.

CRUISE

As part of its “Worry-Free Promise,” Holland America Line is extending its Flexible Cancellation Plan. Originally for cruises departing by the end of April, the plan now includes bookings made by March 31 for itineraries that depart on or before Sept. 30 and allows clients to cancel for any reason and receive a Future Cruise Credit in the amount of any cancellation fees that normally would be incurred. Cancellations must be made up to 30 days before departure. Additionally, final payments for cruises through May 31 are due at 60 days instead of 75 or 90.

Viking has floated out its newest ocean ship – the 930-guest Viking Neptune – marking a major construction milestone. Set to debut in November, the vessel will spend her maiden season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean before embarking on the company’s 2023-24 Viking World Cruise.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival returns from March 4 to April 26 with its unique “tour” of California regions and neighbourhoods at the Anaheim theme park. A dozen festival marketplaces will offer bites and beverages for every palate. Complimentary culinary demonstrations with visiting, local, celebrity, and Disney chefs will return on Saturdays and Sundays during the festival. And to further enhance the experience, guests can book and purchase signature events such as the Carthay Circle Winemaker Receptions, and the Wine, Beer and Mixology Education & Tasting Seminars. The latest details will be shared on Disneyland.com.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

Travel advisors booking new-to-Windstar Cruises guests will receive a $100 per booking bonus commission or a $100 Visa gift card during Wave Season (through Feb. 28). Clients, meanwhile, can choose between “Pick Your Perk” savings options that include up to $1,000 onboard credit per stateroom or up to two free hotel nights with included transfer between hotel and yacht, plus full breakfast, Wi-Fi, resort fees and taxes.

Polar adventure operator Quark Expeditions has unveiled a gift card incentive for graduates of its PolarPro sales training program. Eligible travel advisors who sign up and graduate from the sales training program before March 31 can submit a request to earn a $250 gift card (or local equivalent) on their first booking with Quark Expeditions within 90 days of graduation. Eligible travel advisors who make their first booking after March 31, within 90 days of graduation, will earn a US$100 gift card (or local equivalent).

EVENTS

Registration is open for US Travel’s signature trade show, IPW, which is scheduled to take place from June 4 to 8 in Orlando. Last year the annual spring-time event in Las Vegas was postponed until September following outright cancellation in 2020.

The American Marketing Group’s Travel Market conference at Resorts World Las Vegas has been changed to Oct 27-30, 2022 (the previously announced dates were Sept. 28-Oct. 1).

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

Popular industry executive Frank Dennis died Jan. 15 at age 80. Owner of Uniglobe Eastern Canada Region from 1991 to 2016, Dennis was instrumental in the franchise’s growth over the years and a leading figure in the Canadian travel industry, including having served as the first chair of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO).

Canadian travel industry figure Michael Friisdahl is set to become executive chairman of Britain-based Signature Aviation, the world’s largest network of private aviation terminals (FBOs). The former CEO of Rouge airline and Thomas Cook North America has been president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) since December 2015, where he will depart at the end of February.

H.I.S.-Red Label Vacations Inc. (RLV) has announced the appointment of Kurt Ortmann as the Mississauga-based company’s new VP of Information Technology. The 30-year travel industry veteran, whose mandate is to amplify the company’s technological infrastructure and further the continued goal of streamlining operations and expanding customer-centric solutions, took office Jan. 14

DESTINATIONS
Laax, Switzerland,
is now home to the longest treetop walkway in the world (photo). The 1.5-km.-long walkway, also known as “Senda dil Dragun”, winds between the trees at a height of up to 28 m. Entering its first winter, the treetop walk connects the two villages of Laax Murschetg and Laax Dorf.

Miami Beach Live! is a month-long celebration starting in March that will feature a variety of activations and live events designed to engage all five senses in the South Florida city. Every Friday through Sunday during March, a diverse lineup of programming will take place in and around Lummus Park and the beachfront areas, from 10 to 13 streets. Themes include Dance, Pop, International, and Symphonic/Broadway – across an array of music, arts, culture, and culinary offerings. Every weekend throughout the month also features a Friday night movie, Saturday evening headlining concert, and Sunday Dine-Around spotlighting Miami Beach’s best-in-class culinary offerings.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Nobu to Launch a Hotel and Restaurant on Santorini

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Nobu to Launch a Hotel and Restaurant on Santorini

Santorini, Greece, January 23, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Nobu Hospitality, the global lifestyle brand founded by Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro, and Meir Teper, is delighted to announce its first hotel and restaurant in Greece – the Nobu Hotel and Restaurant Santorini, scheduled to open in spring 2022.

Situated on the island’s captivating northeast coast, the boutique hotel houses a signature Nobu Restaurant, full-service spa, fitness facility, dual-level infinity pool, and five luxurious pool villas, and offers panoramic views of both the Caldera and Aegean Sea from its unique clifftop location in Imerovigli. Just a 10-minute drive to the charming coastal town of Oia and 20 minutes from Santorini (Thira) International Airport, the hotel is well-positioned along the famed Oia-Fira hiking trail that runs between Oia and Fira, Santorini’s cosmopolitan capital.

Nobu Hospitality has entered a long-term management agreement with MonteRock International (MRI), a group with over 25 years of experience in a variety of core industries including hospitality, media, food & beverage, real estate, banking, and industrial technology.

Trevor Horwell, Chief Executive Officer Nobu Hospitality comments, “We are very excited to be coming to Santorini and to work with the local community on this exciting project. Santorini is one of the most highly regarded destinations in the world with its rare beauty, famed for its distinctive cuisine, whitewashed architecture set with a backdrop of steep cliffs, and dramatic sunsets lighting the sea and sky. We look forward to inviting locals and international travellers alike to experience the Nobu lifestyle in this special destination.”

Alfredo Longo, Chief Executive Officer MonteRock International comments, “We are really proud of the rock-solid collaboration we are having with Nobu brand throughout the years, and we are now more than delighted to expand together in the hospitality industry. In this incredible ‘canvas’ such as the Island of Santorini, the finest of what Nobu lifestyle and cuisine have to offer would be served in a ‘picture-perfect setting,’ catering to every need at the highest standards.”

Adding to Nobu Hospitality’s European portfolio, the launch of Nobu Hotel and Restaurant Santorini marks the 26th hotel around the world and tenth hotel in the European continent, with properties in Rome, San Sebastián, and Hamburg also in development.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News