Global Travel News

Utopia Corporation Launched Utopia Hospitality Group

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Utopia Corporation Launched Utopia Hospitality Group

Bangkok, Thailand, November 17, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Utopia Hospitality Group is preparing to add a new page to the hospitality industry in Phuket by introducing a fully integrated Hospitality Ecosystem model and planning to launch a world-class fashion brand hotel to attract more travelers to Phuket. Utopia Corporation: UCORP, one of the largest real estate developers in Phuket, launched Utopia Hospitality Group: UHG, a flagship hospitality management company and it is a dynamic new player in the Asia Pacific hotel sector, with a vision to create daring concepts and lifestyle experiences that transform the world of hospitality. Its strong new vision will add a new page to the hospitality industry on Phuket Island with a business model covering a fully integrated Hospitality Ecosystem and guaranteed results through the creation of a new hotel brand with a lifestyle focus and approach that is different but meets the needs.

Mr. Hachi Yin, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Utopia Corporation, revealed that for the first three quarters of 2021, despite the COVID-19 crisis, Utopia Corporation continued to lock in sales, driven by deploying the latest technologies. A transformative business plan in sync with marketing trends, consumer behaviors and demands all contributed to the success. In the fourth quarter of 2021, Utopia continues to reinforce its commitment with the launch of Utopia Hospitality Group to operate hotels and resorts.

Hachi affirms that the hospitality business is a new opportunity with high growth potential and it aligns with Utopia’s expertise as a developer that understands the diverse lifestyles of every customer segment. With its entire existing portfolio operating on a condotel/branded residence model, guests staying at their properties can enjoy a home away from home experience that conventional hotels cannot offer.

Utopia Hospitality Group (UHG), a subsidiary of Utopia Corporation, a leading real estate developer in Phuket, Thailand, is on an exciting journey that traverses the entire hospitality ecosystem from design and development to branding and operations of its own portfolio of properties.

UHG will provide the flexibility and openness to help level-up the playing field in the post-pandemic era. Developers can take advantage of attractive and accessible brands, without the strict limitations of brand standards, while also enjoying a more customizable and democratic approach to management and franchise contracts. Hoteliers will benefit from multiple levels of expertise from management and marketing services to proprietary technologies.

UHG also commits to a guaranteed income for investors. This is truly a change in the hotel and hospitality industry as an “Option” and an “Answer” for the modern hotel business.

“UHG was born with a strong vision and a bold idea, breaking the old rules to lead everyone to create a different lifestyle experience. This will completely transform the world of hospitality and tourism and help to enhance the competitive field in the new era of hospitality and tourism. Whether you are a guest or a partner, a team associate or a member of the community, UHG is committed to treating everybody fairly and respectfully. We are embarking on a journey to transform the hospitality sector and we want you to join us! We are inspired by creativity and driven by our goals. We dream, we dare, we do. We are UHG,” Hachi said.

Under the umbrella of UHG, prominent lifestyle hotel and resort brands will offer new travel experiences that meet the needs of smart travelers in the new era, including: Midscale Aparthotel Brand, Upscale Lifestyle Resort, and Ultra-Luxury. UHG will operate several new hotels including rebranding and renovation from 2022 onwards.

● Midscale Aparthotel Brand: A midscale aparthotel with the brand essence, Live Your Own Way, that merges the modern lifestyle and sense of belonging to a community experience with the comfort and a flexibility of an apartment to meet the needs of a new generation of smart travelers. The brand essence has 5 key pillars; Midscale with comfort, Flexible stay Purposeful, Design, Hip F&B concept, and Sense of community.

● Upscale Lifestyle Resort: Our 5-star resort brand occupies the space between lifestyle resort and wellbeing retreat. It recognizes having fun can also mean being healthy, drawing on the playful design expression of a lifestyle resort and blending it with the more conscious wellbeing and slow pace of a wellbeing retreat. All aligned with the slogan of ‘Live Slow, Play Well.

● Ultra-Luxury: The third brand under UHG is a collaboration with Tonino Lamborghini, the legendary luxury brand of Italy that epitomises refined luxury products and designs. The Tonino Lamborghini Boutique Hotel Phuket is the first hotel under this brand in Thailand. Located on Ao Po, overlooking the azure Andaman Sea and exotic offshore islands, scheduled to welcome guests in 2024.

UHG is fully committed to playing their part in addressing environmental and social issues. Sustainable development and management practices are integrated into their entire business ethos. By operating in an efficient and eco-sensitive way, UHG can also minimize waste, reduce costs and drive long-term benefits for the entire community, while also helping to attract the new generation of socially and environmentally conscious guests.

UHG plans to launch its new Midscale Aparthotel Brand in Q1 2022 and open its first property under this brand in Q4 2022. A second partner, a high-end fashion ultra-luxury brand will also be unveiled in Q2 2022. The Upscale Lifestyle Resort brand is set to launch in Q1 2023. All of these will be in Phuket.

Utopia Hospitality’s plan also includes the creation of two immense landmarks located in the northern and southern Phuket region. Bay of Icons is a new destination that is much sought after by high-end global investors and travelers. They are located in Ao Po Bay on the northern coast of Phuket, covering the beach surrounding the beautiful Ao Po Grand Marina Bay with a total area exceeding 20 Rai. It comprises cutting-edge facilities and several exclusive services to satisfy the luxury lifestyle.

Additionally, the “Entertainment Complex” Utopia Dream, is a mixed-use development with a low-rise condominium to be constructed in Nai Harn, the southern coast of Phuket. It will be a paragon of relaxation filled with color, happiness, and world-class entertainment activities. The total investment for these two projects, as mentioned earlier, is above 4,000 million Baht.

About Utopia Corporation
Utopia Corporation was founded in 2015 and has rapidly grown to be a top real property developer in Thailand. It currently runs Utopia Naiharn, which received Asia’s Top Emerging Hotel awarded by Now Travel Asia, including ten actual properties. Recently, it has cooperated with Tonino Lamborghini, the legendary luxury brand of Italy, well-known for its luxury products and designs, to open new hotels in Phuket under the brand Tonino Lamborghini, a first in Thailand.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

MEET GOWAY 2.0: Tour operator looks ahead to next 50 years

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Despite largely having to largely skip celebrations of a 50th anniversary milestone last year while enduring the “most difficult” period he’s ever seen in the business, Bruce Hodge says he’s determined that Goway will come out of the global health crisis (and subsequent travel downturn) even stronger than it was nearly two years ago.

To that end, Hodge has invoked the words of Winston Churchill in the aftermath of WWII – “Never let a good crisis go to waste” – as an opportunity to reinvent the business he founded a half century ago for the next 50 years.

In particular, the company has spent its pandemic downtime investing heavily in new technologies, including a new phone system, online training program and customized reservation system, all designed to make its destination specialist staff better experts and its varied product line “more attractive and easier to sell.”

Hodge points to the company’s recently introduced ‘Your Next Journey: The Best of Goway Travel’ interactive digital travel brochure as encapsulating the brand’s fresh approach to “doing business in a post-pandemic world.”

He adds, “All areas of our company have been refreshed and revitalized.”

Company VP Craig Canvin says Goway’s pandemic downtime also saw a product revamp, which he says now includes over a thousand “totally reimagined” tours in the system, and now divided into three price tiers: moderate, first class and deluxe – as well as boasting consistency across all divisions, from Australia to Africa, Europe, and South America.

With an added focus on luxury experiences, which includes private guided tours, agents will have a wider range of travel styles to offer clients, he says, but at the same time still having access to Goway’s “tried and true” product.

Other enhancements include private transfers on every tour.

“We’re not just a head in a bed and bum in the seat,” Canvin says, noting that many of the tour upgrades reflect customer demands. “This is what clients have been looking for and the traveller demands – to (travel) on their own terms.”

Agents can also take advantage of Goway’s tech enhancements via a new three-way Zoom feature that allows a company destination specialist to liaise with the agent and their client, which allows the customer to be involved in the planning process.

Of the changes, Canvin says, “We’re calling it Goway 2.0,” and adds, “It sets the stage for growth.”

Goway trio: Rourke, Saba, and Norton

Accompanying the product changes are some new team members (including the recently announced addition of Rares Dumitru as National Account Manager for Canada), as well as transitional changes to the company’s senior management team, effective Jan. 1, including the promotion of Anthony Saba to VP of Downunder & South Pacific, taking over from Shirley Rourke, who becomes VP of Groups. The latter move reflects the retirement of Barbara Norton next April after 38 years at the company.

Until then, Norton and Rourke will continue to work together to reinvent Goway’s Holidays of a Lifetime program, which will be incorporated into the refreshed Groups Only division.

More changes to the new Goway “50+ management team” are expected in the New Year.

At the same time, Goway, always active south of the border, has announced a partnership with the prominent Signature Travel Network, which boasts 11,000 members, in order to expand its reach in the US.

As for the winter and into 2022, VP Canvin says bookings are booming, especially for exotic destinations, or “idyllic retreats” as Goway calls them, with the top three destinations being The Maldives, Tahiti, and Dubai, with the latter’s Expo 2020 commanding great interest. Similarly doing “extremely well” is Europe, he says.

Another trend amongst clients is staying longer and upgrading amenities, from flights to hotel rooms.

“As soon as a luxury destination opens up,” enthuses Canvin, “it is booked.”

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

First Review Study Report on Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan

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First Review Study Report on Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan

Macau, Macao SAR, November 16, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Given the new environment, new policies, new directions as well as new trends of tourism industry development, and in parallel with the Macao Special Administrative Region Government’s vision to build a world centre of tourism and leisure, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) commissioned a research institution at the end of 2020 to examine the implementation progress of the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan (referred to as the “Master Plan”) in various areas in the past five years, and work out amendments, updates, reorganization and additions to the content so that the Master Plan will correspond with the transformations of the tourism landscape and fulfill what is in store for future tourism development in Macao.

The first review study report for the Master Plan was delivered today (12 November). Relevant tasks will be strenuously worked on to make progress in the six areas as follows: enriching the variety of tourism products and facilities, fostering quality tourism, optimizing precision marketing, pushing forward urban construction, capitalizing on smart technology, as well as expanding regional and international cooperation.

Scientific assessment of Macao’s tourism industry development over the past five years
In 2015, MGTO began formulating the Macao Tourism Industry Development Master Plan to lay the foundation and map out the direction for the future development of Macao’s tourism industry in the next 15 years (until 2030). The Master Plan was announced in 2017, proposing eight key objectives, 33 strategies, 29 planning proposals and 91 short-, medium- and long-term action plans, in line with the Macao SAR Government’s commitment to build Macao into a world centre of tourism and leisure. The Master Plan comes with an evaluation mechanism for making timely adjustments to various key objectives, planning proposals and action plans in line with the latest prospect of Macao’s tourism industry.

MGTO commissioned a research institution at the end of 2020 to commence a review of the Master Plan through different research methods, scientifically and systemically soliciting opinions on tourism development from different stakeholders including residents, visitors, members of the trade, organizations, pertinent governmental departments and so forth.

90% of short-term action plans accomplished in first five years
Four major aspects were reviewed as follows: 1) examine and analyze the current situation of Macao’s tourism development; 2) a retrospective overview of the implementation progress from 2016 – 2020; 3) deepening of five key issues: contribution of tourism to the economy, regional tourism cooperation; tourism carrying capacity, diversification of visitor source markets, and smart tourism led by science and technology; 4) addition/omission/adjustment to proposed action plans and key objectives.

On review of the progress over the last five years, 68 out of 69 short-term action plans proposed by the Master Plan were unfolded and implemented while one was not applicable. Targeted goals were accomplished for 62 short-term action plans, leading to an implementation rate of 90%. 22 medium- and long-term action plans have been progressing forward as scheduled.

Introduction of 16 new action plans after review

Towards the direction guided by the Country’s new policies and plans, Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao are pushing forward with the implementation of the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, while deepening regional cooperation in culture and tourism. Furthermore, the Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone in Hengqin is unfolding a new horizon for comprehensive cooperation between Zhuhai and Macao.

At the same time, the SAR Government has raised the concept of “tourism +” as a policy to promote extension of the tourism industry chain, which, coupled with the changes brought by the pandemic to the tourism environment and travel styles, has caused the internal and external landscape of Macao’s tourism industry to evolve.

Given the new tourism environment, policies, directions and trends, after going through the latest review, MGTO will keep the eight key objectives, 33 strategies and 29 planning proposals put forward in the Master Plan in 2017 unchanged in terms of direction. However, in keeping up with the transformations of the tourism environment and taking into consideration the opinions of various stakeholders and departments in charge, the achieved action plans and those in progress were revised, updated and reorganized. In consequence, 16 new action plans are introduced into the Master Plan.

After review and adjustment, the Master Plan now encompasses 91 action plans in total, comprising 77 phased plans (0 – 5 years) and 14 long-term plans (6 years or above).

Push forward “actions in focus” in six areas
The latest 91 phased and long-term action plans of the Master Plan cover six areas: tourism products and facilities, quality tourism and collaboration, precision marketing, urban construction, smart technology, as well as regional and international cooperation. By taking specific actions in focus, progress will be steered forward in the six areas.

The specific actions in focus include maritime tours, ecological tours and high-end tour products; training programs, enhance quality tourism through the training base for the Greater Bay Area, optimize public-private partnership and foster “tourism +” development; enhance cooperation with e-commerce companies and online media, leverage big data analysis on precision marketing targeting high-value visitors; develop new attractions and strengthen sea, land and air connectivity; tap into application of innovative technology to upgrade visitors’ experience and business environment; deepen tourism cooperation with Hengqin and other cities in the Greater Bay Area, and to strive for resumption of travel and people-to-people exchange with other regions, etc.

The review report also includes a forecast of key indicators and trends for 2025 for reference.

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

TAT and Etihad Launched Visit Thailand Year 2022

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TAT and Etihad Launched Visit Thailand Year 2022

Bangkok, Thailand, November 15, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently staged a special tourism marketing mission to Dubai, the UAE, that resulted in stronger ties with strategic airline partners and a wider awareness of the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2022’ in the Gulf Region.

• For a comprehensive travel guide on Thailand, Visit Thailand – Be Happy, at VisitThailand.net

During the mission on 2-3 November, 2021, the TAT’s high-ranking delegation signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Etihad Airways, introduced the latest tourism marketing campaign to Emiratis and influencers in the UAE, and discussed tourism collaboration with Air Arabia and Oman Air.

Mr. Thosaporn Sirisumphand, TAT Chairman of the Board of Directors, said, “Next year, 2022 will mark a new chapter for Thailand as it will be the year of ‘Visit Thailand’ where throughout the year, we will invite travellers from around the world to experience the “Amazing New Chapters” of Thailand. As such our key messages will highlight the abundance of the kingdom’s tourism products and services that will fulfil all visitors’ travel desires, because from A to Z, Thailand has it all.”

Prior to the official start of the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2022’, Thailand is currently welcoming fully vaccinated foreign visitors from 63 countries and territories, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia to enter the Kingdom without quarantine requirements under the Exemption from Quarantine (Test & Go) and the Living in the Blue Zone (17 Sandbox destinations) entry schemes, starting from 1 November, 2021.

The list of approved countries will be expanded later to cover the entire world from 1 January, 2022. Meanwhile, the “Thailand Pass” web-based system has been launched to support the “Ease of Travelling” policy, allowing foreign travellers to fill in their travel and health information and upload the related documents before travelling to Thailand.

The timing could not have been better, for TAT and Etihad Airways to support each other in promoting Thailand as a preferred destination. Both signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to form a long-term strategic partnership to develop and promote quality tourism experiences in Thailand for travellers from the Gulf Region.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said, “This Letter of Intent will pave the way for strategic tourism collaboration efforts between TAT and Etihad Airways with an emphasis on revenue-generating quality tourists. We expect this partnership to help strengthen the position of Thailand as a popular destination for Arab travellers from the Gulf Region.”

Under the LoI agreement, TAT and Etihad Airways will put into effect a range of joint promotions to mutually increase tourism and visibility for Thailand through the Etihad Airways global network. The promotions will focus on niche tourism markets; such as, sports tourism, luxury tourism, as well as health and wellness.

The Letter of Intent (LoI) between the TAT and Etihad Airways was signed in Dubai on 3 November, 2021, by Mr. Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Deputy Governor for International Marketing – Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Americas, and Ms. Amina Taher, Vice President Brand, Marketing and Sponsorship, Etihad Airways.

The TAT’s high-ranking delegation also discussed tourism collaboration efforts with Air Arabia and Oman Air during the marketing mission to Dubai.

• For a comprehensive travel guide on Thailand, Visit Thailand – Be Happy, at VisitThailand.net

The visa-on-arrival policy for nationals in the Gulf Region coupled with the Exemption from Quarantine (Test & Go) entry scheme present prospects for both Air Arabia and Oman Air to reconsider resuming services to Thailand. Marking new development is Oman Air’s resumption of its Muscat-Bangkok service with two flights per week from 11 November, 2021.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa Unveils New Family Suites With Lofted Beds and Kid-Friendly Elements Designed to Create Family Moments

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Family suite, kids bedroom

JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa today introduces its new collection of Family Suites, four suites specially created to encourage moments of family togetherness and connection. When the day is over, the Family Suites offer exclusive amenities to promote a healthier, more restful sleep for all. A part of JW Marriott’s Family by JW programming, each suite will boast two separate rooms with kid-approved loft beds, whimsical design elements and interactive surprises.

Designed by Bilkey Llinas Design, the Family Suites sleep up to nine and feature two bedrooms, one with a queen bed and full-sized, lofted bunk beds and one with a king bed with a pull-out twin sofa sleeper. The suites also include two bathrooms with tubs and separate showers as well as a living area with a guest bathroom and additional sofa bed. First-of-their-kinds for JW Marriott, the suites showcase kid-friendly elements like chalkboard walls to express creativity, a play table with a giraffe lamp and just-the-right-size blue and orange stools, as well as the perfect book nook: a cozy, circular built-in seating area with an inviting, curved orange cushion. The connecting room layout gives adults their own retreat, one still close enough to ensure quality time with little ones. Like all Family by JW offerings, the Family Suites are inspired by J. Willard “J.W.” Marriott, the namesake of the JW Marriott brand, who always made time for creating lasting memories with family and friends.

“We have received requests for larger, family-style rooms at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek due to our location within the gates of Walt Disney World, our kid-friendly amenities and the ongoing trend of multigenerational travel,” said Sam Basu, General Manager of JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa. “The Family Suites help fulfill this need and encourage families to spend quality time together during their stay. Along with a curated, in-room ‘Sleepy Snack’ menu prepared by our chef, these rooms promote quality rest so everyone can be recharged for another day in the Orlando sun.”

From Playtime to Bedtime, Family Suite Well-being Amenities
Even after a long day at a theme park, the excitement of a vacation makes it hard for little ones to settle their minds. To make nap and bedtime easier, the resort’s newly appointed Executive Chef Melissa Sallman has created an exclusive “Sleepy Snack” in-room dining menu to inspire sweet dreams. With healthy options for the entire family, the menu includes a berry yogurt smoothie and crackers & cheese for kids, as well as tropical fruit skewers, rosemary & sea salt roasted cashews and herbal hot tea for adults—all ingredients recommended by the Sleep Foundation to promote relaxation and a better sleep.

In addition, to encourage little ones to fall and stay asleep, JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek has collaborated with Skip Hop, an innovative brand with grow-with-baby designs and must-haves that make life with little ones easier (and more fun!) for everyone. In each suite, guests will find a Skip Hop Moonlight & Melodies Nightlight Soother Owl to lull children to dream.

“The Family Suites at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek are a first for JW Marriott and a reflection of the way families want to travel together today,” said Bruce Rohr, vice president and global brand leader of JW Marriott. “The new suites speak to the importance our brand places on family togetherness through Family by JW as well as our commitment to well-being, and will allow families to create and cherish memories with us.”

Booking is now open for the Family Suites and rates start at $999.

About JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa
JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek is luxury with a purpose, paired with inspiring architecture, contemporary design and associates who warmly welcome you and anticipate your needs. It’s a chance to connect with nature and find amenities and activities that nurture the soul. It is both approachable and authentic. An elevated experience that’s equally uplifting. A location that engages the Walt Disney World action, with pathways to harness your inner energy, find greater clarity and create mindful moments that make you feel whole. Learn more at jwmarriottorlandobonnetcreek.com.

About JW Marriott
JW Marriott is part of Marriott International’s luxury portfolio of brands and consists of beautiful properties and distinctive resort locations around the world. Inspired by the principles of mindfulness, JW Marriott is a haven designed to allow guests to focus on feeling whole – present in mind, nourished in body, and revitalized in spirit – through programs and offerings that encourage them to come together and experience every moment to the fullest. Today there are more than 100 JW Marriott hotels in more than 30 countries and territories worldwide that cater to sophisticated, mindful travelers who come seeking experiences that help them be fully present, foster meaningful connections and feed the soul. Visit JW Marriott online, and on Instagram and Facebook. JW Marriott is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.

About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of roughly 7,900 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 138 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

Media Contact:
mcojb@quinn.pr

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

NOT THE BEST NEWS: COVID threatens Christmas in Europe

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Nearly two years into a global health crisis that has killed more than 5 million people, infections are again sweeping across parts of Western Europe, a region with relatively high vaccination rates and good health care systems but where lockdown measures are largely a thing of the past.

The World Health Organization said coronavirus deaths rose by 10% in Europe in the past week, and an agency official declared last week that the continent was “back at the epicenter of the pandemic.” Much of that is being driven by spiralling outbreaks in Russia and Eastern Europe — where vaccination rates tend to be low — but countries in the west such as Germany and Britain recorded some of the highest new case tolls in the world.

While nations in Western Europe all have vaccination rates over 60% — and some like Portugal and Spain are much higher — that still leaves a significant portion of their populations without protection.

Dr. Bharat Pankhania, senior clinical lecturer at Exeter University College of Medicine and Health in Britain, says that the large number of unvaccinated people combined with a widespread post-lockdown resumption of socializing and a slight decline in immunity for people who got their shots months ago is driving up the pace of infections.

Thanks largely to vaccination, hospitals in Western Europe are not under the same pressure they were earlier in the pandemic, but many are still straining to handle rising numbers of COVID patients while also attempting to clear backlogs of tests and surgeries with exhausted or sick staff. Even the countries experiencing the most serious outbreaks in the region recorded far fewer deaths per person over the past four weeks than the United States did, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The question now is if countries can tamp down this latest upswing without resorting to stringent shutdowns that devastated economies, disrupted education, and weighed on mental health. Experts say probably – but authorities can’t avoid all restrictions and must boost vaccination rates.

“I think the era of locking people up in their homes is over because we now have tools to control COVID – the testing, vaccines and therapeutics,” said Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh. “So, I hope people will do the things they have to do, like put on a mask.”

Many European countries now use COVID passes – proof of full vaccination, recovery from the virus or a negative test result – to access venues like bars and restaurants. Pankhania warned that the passes can give a false sense of security since fully vaccinated people can still get infected, though their chances of dying or getting seriously sick are dramatically lower.

But restrictions don’t go much further these days, although the Dutch government on Friday announced a three-week partial lockdown.

“We have a very unpleasant message with very unpleasant and far-reaching decisions,” caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte said.

German lawmakers are mulling legislation that would pave the way for new measures. Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announced Friday that unvaccinated people in two regions will only be able to leave home for specified reasons starting Monday, and he is considering implementing similar measures nationwide. But he has said he doesn’t want to impose the restrictions on those who got the shot.

Austria is seeing one of the most serious outbreaks in Western Europe, along with Germany, which has reported a string of record-high infections in recent days.

“We have a real emergency situation right now,” said Christian Drosten, the head of virology at Berlin’s Charite Hospital, which has started cancelling scheduled surgeries.

Duesseldorf’s university hospital said last week that its ICU is full, though many facilities are struggling more with staff shortages than bed space.

Drosten said Germany must increase its vaccination rate of 67% further – and fast. But officials have balked at ordering vaccine mandates and want to avoid any blanket lockdowns.

Health Minister Jens Spahn indicated that Germany could improve its often lax enforcement of COVID pass requirements.

“If my vaccination certificate is checked more often in one day in Rome than it sometimes is in four weeks in Germany, then I think more can be done,” Spahn said recently.

The Netherlands is in a similar bind: The country announced the highest daily tally of new cases since the pandemic began Thursday, hospitals are warning the situation could get worse, but officials are reluctant to clamp down too hard. Amid these concerns, organizers in Utrecht said they couldn’t in good conscience bring tens of thousands of people together to greet Santa at the annual Sinterklaas party beloved of children.

Cities in Germany, by contrast, went ahead with outdoor Carnival celebrations last week. In Cologne celebrations continued though designated “Prince” Sven Oleff cancelled public appearances after testing positive for Covid-19 the day before the start of celebrations on November 11th.

In the United Kingdom, which lifted remaining restrictions in July and has seen big spikes as well as dips in cases since, Prime Minister Boris Johnson insists the country can “live with the virus.” The government will only reimpose restrictions if the health service comes under “unsustainable” pressure, he says.

Spain, once one of Europe’s hardest hit nations, perhaps offers an example of how the risks can be managed.

It has vaccinated 80% of its population, and while face masks are no longer mandatory outdoors, many people still wear them. While infections have ticked up slightly recently, Rafael Bengoa, one of Spain’s leading public health experts, said that given the high vaccination rate, “the virus won’t be able to dominate us again.”

Several countries are hoping that pushing harder on immunizations will get them there. Germany plans to re-open vaccination centers across the country to speed booster shots. France is also pinning its hopes on booster doses while urging holdouts to get their first shots. Italy is also expanding its booster program as numbers edge higher.

Pankhania says that no single measure will control the pandemic.

“To really control it, it has to be multi-layered … avoid crowds, avoid poorly ventilated places, be immunized, wear your mask,” he said.

National Covid Memorial Wall, London, UK

 

 

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Raffles Announces EVA Air Partnership in Cambodia

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Raffles Announces EVA Air Partnership in Cambodia - TRAVELINDEX - TOP25HOTELS.comPhnom Penh, Cambodia, November 15, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Raffles Hotel Le Royal, celebrated for more than 90 years as one of the “Grandes Dames” of Southeast Asia, has confirmed an agreement with EVA Air to provide their Gold and Diamond card holders a string of benefits during their ASQ stay at the hotel in Phnom Penh, including a complimentary Royal Khmer meal with wine.

The hotel is the only venue in Cambodia that boasts a license to prepare and serve Royal Khmer cuisine, a feast of traditional recipes known for generations only to chefs in the palace. The menu includes steamed lobster served in a coconut shell, and nhoam svay, a fragrant dish of grilled scallops and smoked fish accompanied by green mango and peanuts.

Each guest will also be included in a lucky draw, with one business-class ticket (Phnom Penh to Taipei) as the first prize.

The deal, which is valid until 31 March 2022, applies only to EVA’s Gold and Diamond card holders flying to Phnom Penh from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, where they are afforded the comfort of priority check-in and access to an exclusive VIP lounge ahead of the flight.

Cambodia recently announced its reopening to international tourism, with the country widely lauded for its containment of the covid virus and stringent border controls.

Upon arrival at Raffles Hotel Le Royal, in-bound travelers will be hosted in the hotel’s northern wing which has been set aside as an ASQ (alternative state quarantine), offering an elegant option in rooms and suites that were each refurbished as part of a meticulous one-year restoration project which was completed in 2020.

Returning guests will immediately notice lighter and brighter interiors, accentuated by spotlights. Segafredo coffee machines, USB charging stations, and Simmons pillow-top mattresses are among the new features that add modern appeal.

However, traditionalists will be relieved to know that the heart and soul of this vintage landmark hotel has been lovingly maintained. Polished hardwood floors, age-old ceiling fans, and brass rotary telephones continue to feature in the rooms.

Designed by architect Ernest Hébrard in French colonial style, Le Royal originally launched in November 1929. Among the numerous celebrities who have graced the hotel are Charlie Chaplin, French President Charles de Gaulle; and in the 1960s, former US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

“We are dedicated to offering a sanctuary of unparalleled comfort for those guests arriving from Taiwan and other countries,” said Hotel Manager Dennis de Groot. “Visitors staying at the hotel as part of the ASQ program can expect private airport transfers, exquisite dining experiences, 24-hour medical services, PCR tests, and a truly comfortable and memorable stay.”

Rooms and suites at Raffles Hotel Le Royal start from US$240+++ per night.

About Raffles
Raffles Hotels and Resorts boasts an illustrious history and some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide. In 1887, Raffles Singapore set the standard for luxury hospitality, introducing the world to private butlers, the Singapore Sling and its enduring, legendary service. Today, Raffles continues this tradition in leading cities and lavish resort locales, enchanting travellers with meaningful experiences and service that is both gracious and intuitive. Connoisseurs of life choose Raffles, not merely for its aura of culture, beauty and gentility, but for the extraordinary way they feel when in residence with Raffles. Each Raffles, be it Paris, Istanbul, Dubai, Warsaw, Jakarta or the Seychelles, serves as a venerated oasis where travellers arrive as guests, leave as friends and return as family. Raffles is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group consisting of more than 5,100 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues throughout 110 countries.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Meliá Koh Samui Marks Thailand’s Reopening with Samui I Miss You

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Meliá Koh Samui Marks Thailand's Reopening with Samui I Miss You - TRAVELINDEXKoh Samui, Thailand, November 15, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / As Thailand loosens the shackles of the pandemic and reopens to international tourists, Meliá Koh Samui has introduced a getaway that makes the most of its stunning beachfront setting, family-friendly facilities, dining and spa.

The resort’s ‘Samui, I Miss You’ package coincides with Thailand’s ‘Test and Go’ program that permits quarantine-free travel to the Kingdom for fully vaccinated travellers from 63 countries deemed low risk.

Lauded among Thailand’s top 20 resorts in this year’s Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, the resort’s ‘Samui, I Miss You’ offers special room rates, starting from THB 3499++ (USD 105++) per night in a lead-in Deluxe Room with three- and seven-night packages on offer.

Daily breakfast for two, a free stay for up to two children aged under 12 years with complimentary daily breakfast, a 20% discount on food and non-alcoholic beverages and 50% discount on YHI Spa treatments are among the offer’s array of inclusions.

The three- and seven-night packages, starting at THB 9999++ (USD 300++) and THB 22,222++ (USD 668++) respectively, also come with a guaranteed upgrade to a Premium Pool Access Room, early check-in and late check-out, a complimentary roundtrip airport transfer from Samui International Airport and either a 60-minute Thai massage or one tapas set lunch for two. The seven-night getaway’s extra perks for two include a 90-minute spa treatment, one tapas set lunch and a daily cocktail. For the spa treatment, guests select either a Thai massage, aromatherapy massage or facial massage.

Under Thailand’s ‘Test and Go’ program, fully vaccinated travelers traveling by air from countries deemed low risk are required to do a COVID-19 test upon arrival to Thailand. With a negative result, travelers are allowed to freely travel anywhere in Thailand. Guests who stay at Meliá Koh Samui on the first day of arrival in Thailand will be charged an additional THB 2200 (USD 66) for the RT-PCR test as required by the Thai authorities.

A standalone bathtub on a private balcony is a highlight of the resort’s Deluxe Rooms. The Premium Pool Access Rooms feature a separate bathtub and shower, with large private balcony access to the 700-metre-long lagoon pool that meanders through the resort’s grounds like a river.

Overlooking Choeng Mon Beach, Meliá Koh Samui’s complimentary recreational and wellness pursuits range from kayaking and aqua exercise classes to gentle flow yoga and “walking meditation” at a “massage river”; a reflexology path situated between the infinity pool and lagoon pool.

Adjacent to an outdoor playground and mini water park featuring a shallow pool, slide, mushroom fountain and giant tipping bucket, kids club Kidsdom is housed in a repurposed teak wood merchant vessel and offers daily activities such as batik painting, super hero art, animal yoga, face painting, coconut leaf creation, nature discovery, play dough creation, mask making and Lego time. The hotel’s elephant mascot Coco visits daily and shares cotton candy with youngsters.

With an outdoor terrace that sits above Meliá Koh Samui’s strand, The Breeza Beach Restaurant & Bar is focused on contemporary Thai dishes as well as Western and Mediterranean cuisine and anchors the resort’s dining landscape. Blending ancient Asian wisdom with modern wellness techniques, YHI Spa offers a broad spectrum of treatments including massages, scrubs, wraps and facials, based on organic Thai wellness brand HARNN’s products.

‘Samui, I Miss You’ must be booked directly with the resort by 31 December 2021 by calling +66 77 938 899

Rates are subject to 10% service charge and applicable tax. Full prepayment is required at the time of booking and is non-refundable. For stays between 24 December 2021 and 5 January 2022, a minimum two-night stay is required with a supplementary charge of THB 2,000++ (USD 60) per night, with no check out permitted on 31 December 2021 and 1 January 2022. Other terms and conditions apply as per resort policy.

Under the ‘Test and Go’ program, fully vaccinated travellers from countries deemed low-risk are not required to quarantine but do need to do a RT-PCR test on arrival to Thailand. Guests who stay at Meliá Koh Samui on the first day of arrival in Thailand will be charged an additional THB 2200 (USD 66) for the RT-PCR test as required by the Thai authorities. *Information is based on the latest updates from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and may be subject to change.

About Meliá Hotels & Resorts
Meliá Hotels & Resorts is the best-known international brand in the portfolio of the Meliá HotelsInternational company; it has more than 100 city and resort hotels in the main leisure and business destinations of Europe, Asia, Africa and America. The brand offers exemplary meetings and events facilities in all important business cities as well as in exotic locations, catering to the ever-expanding conference and incentive travel market. As part of its innovation philosophy and new positioning, Meliá Hotels & Resorts has reinvented itself to cater to every aspect of the guests’ wellbeing. Unique experiences are created for guests and are defined by relaxation, quality time and personalised services. For a balanced lifestyle, Meliá Hotels & Resorts instinctively understands the guests’ needs and lifestyle expectations, which is an integral part of its redefined identity.

About Meliá Hotels International
Founded in 1956 in Mallorca (Spain), Meliá Hotels International operates more than 380 hotels (portfolio and pipeline) throughout more than 40 countries, under the brands Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Paradisus by Meliá, ME by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts, INNSiDE by Meliá, Sol by Meliá and TRYP by Wyndham. The Group is one of the leading companies in resort hotels worldwide, while also leveraging its experience to consolidate the growing segment of the leisure-inspired urban market. Its commitment to responsible tourism has led the Group to become the most sustainable hotel company in Spain and Europe in 2020, according to the SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). It also has ranked seventh in the Wall Street Journal’s list of the 100 most sustainably managed companies in the world (and the leading travel company) and is the only Spanish travel company included in the list of “Europe’s Climate Leaders 2021” by Financial Times. Meliá Hotels International is also included in the IBEX 35 Spanish stock market index and it is the Spanish hotel leader in Corporate Reputation (Merco Ranking).

About AWC
Asset World Corporation (AWC) is Thailand’s leading integrated lifestyle real estate group, a member of TCC Group, one of Thailand’s most prominent conglomerates. AWC’s core focus of real estate development and management projects encompass two business groups: Hospitality helping Thailand become the top destination for sustainable tourism with hotels in key locations in Bangkok and popular destinations throughout Thailand serviced by management teams from internationally acclaimed hotel groups such as Marriott, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Okura, Banyan Tree, Hilton, and Sheraton; Retail and Commercial Buildings (covering retail, and wholesale facilities with mixed-use properties and office buildings) providing well-balanced and unique offerings a best-in-class customer experience that meet business and modern lifestyles with high-quality and innovative real estate development projects overseen by a qualified and experienced management team to build long-term value for stakeholders.

AWC succeeded in listing the company on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) in the real estate and construction industry under the property development category on October 10, 2019. AWC’s market capitalization was the highest in the history of the SET (According to Bloomberg Database). AWC recognizes the importance of operating with a focus on sustainability – incorporating the needs of stakeholders, the environment, society, and contributing to ongoing improvements in Thailand’s economy with a purpose of building a better future.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO, Panama and NOAH to Create UN Fund for Climate Neutrality

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UNWTO, Panama and NOAH to Create UN Fund for Climate Neutrality

Panama City, Panama, November 14, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Within the framework of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change COP26, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Government of Panama and the business group NOAH agreed to work together for the implementation of the United Nations Fund for Climate Neutrality of Tourism. The Fund represents an innovative financing instrument promoted by UNWTO to respond to threats posed by the climate emergency.

In recognition of the existential threat posed by the climate emergency, UNWTO, the government of Panama and NOAH (Network of Ocean Ambassadors Headquarters) will support the creation of a Capital Fund that will make possible the UN Fund for the Climate Neutrality of Tourism and the creation of a Smart Carbon Exchange Market (MIIC). Led by NOAH together with UNWTO, this market aims to promote the exchange of carbon credits in the most efficient way.

Mobilizing resources

With this agreement, Panama ratifies its climate leadership and its efforts to conserve and regenerate nature and, at the same time, unleash economic growth through tourism that benefits local communities. Panama is one of only three carbon negative countries in the world – that is, it absorbs more greenhouse gases than it emits.

These projects reflect UNWTO’s commitment to transform the tourism sector to accelerate the decarbonization of the sector

The Minister of Tourism of Panama, Iván Eskildsen, highlighted “the role of UNWTO in bringing together a leader in climate response like Panama, firmly committed to tourism as a pillar for the future of people and the planet, and NOAH that will contribute technological and financial solutions to mobilize the necessary resources for a sustainable future for the benefit of all.”

“These projects reflect UNWTO’s commitment to transform the tourism sector to accelerate the decarbonization of the sector,” said UNWTO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili. He stressed that this is an example of success based on cooperation between “the UN system, international organizations, UNWTO Member States and the private sector in general”.

Towards “Blue Carbon”

With Panama serving as a pilot country for these initiatives, NOAH will prepare a study in coordination with the Ministry of the Environment to estimate the “blue carbon” reserves in mangroves and seagrasses in protected areas of the country, as well as the reserves of carbon in wetlands.

For his part, the founder of NOAH, Frederic Degret, confirmed that “to articulate this great project, Panama will host the international headquarters of an Intelligent Carbon Exchange Market, as we have agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding signed between UNWTO and NOAH.”

The UNWTO, NOAH and Panama ensure the transition to a tourism sector with net zero emissions and focused on improving people’s lives.

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Two Oceans Strategy and the Path to Net Zero

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Two Oceans Strategy and the Path to Net Zero

Glasgow, Scotland, UK, November 14, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / COP26 and its lead up have seen new national and business commitments set to help combat climate change and reach Net Zero targets; these measures will require quantification of carbon emissions, environmental and social impacts to compare and measure progress, identify barriers to progress.

In an exclusive article, Tom Mills, Founder and Managing Director of Two Oceans Strategy, a natural resource and energy consultancy, discussed some of the challenges of meeting these Net Zero targets and the critical role rigorous and comparable measurements enabled through technology will play in support of these goals. In the article he discussed:

  • Drivers for Net Zero
    Cutting down carbon leakage has been one notable focus of COP26 and will require an understanding of the carbon intensity of production of goods. For this system to work, carbon emissions and greenhouse gases need to be quantified at each stage of the supply chain and Tom will explore some of the legislation and policies around this drive, such as the UKs path to NetZero. He will also touch on the change in consumer mindset, and how this is key to driving change.
  • Challenges of meeting targets
    What can be measured can be managed. As it stands, sustainability reporting is an alphabet soup of fragmented and varying frameworks and Tom can discuss why, some of the biggest barriers to achieve Net Zero, are due to lack of effective and comparative ways of measuring carbon emissions.
  • The Challenges of Carbon Tunnel Vision
    There are signals towards a shift in a narrow focus on pure carbon emissions towards measuring and understanding holistic impacts on biosphere health the lens we should view climate change mitigation and adaptation.
  • The future of sustainability accounting and the role technology can play in helping achieve Net Zero targets
    Tom can set the scene of where we are today when it comes to reporting against people and the planet and where we are likely to be in five years’ time, including the consolidation of sustainability disclosure through a process similar to accounting principals in finance. To overcome the challenge of fragmented reporting, new tools enabled by technology must be developed to streamline the process, standardise methodologies used to generate metrics, and create useful, comparable outputs.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News