Global Travel News

WTTC and ETC call EU Members to Align Responses to Epidemiological Situation

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WTTC and ETC call EU Members to Align Responses to Epidemiological Situation

London, United Kingdom, November 24, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Almost 900,000 Travel & Tourism jobs across the EU at risk if restrictions return. Reinstating severe restrictions would cause serious damage to the sector. A staggering €35 billion could be wiped off the region’s economy this year. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and the European Travel Commission (ETC), supported by a number of key travel stakeholders, have urged EU Member States to align their responses to the deteriorating COVID-19 situation and avoid imposing any limits to the freedom of movement across Europe.

The organisations say the sector cannot afford inconsistent and ever-changing national responses, and a joint EU approach is the only solution to saving the struggling Travel & Tourism sector in Europe.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is now acknowledging that EU travel restrictions have not had a significant impact on reducing virus transmission, hospitalisations, or deaths.

WTTC and ETC stress that measures aiming at restricting border crossing would not have any health benefits but could result in a huge economic impact to the region.

According to latest WTTC research, up to 900,000 jobs are at risk across the EU’s Travel & Tourism sector this year if travel restrictions are reimposed this winter.

Furthermore, governments across the EU could see up to €35 billion wiped from the sector’s contribution to the economy before the end of 2021 if severe travel restrictions come back into force.

WTTC and ETC say EU Member States have the power to influence and drive forward the coordinated recovery effort needed to preserve the sector and only a coordinated approach will save the millions of livelihoods that depend on the sector.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “We urgently need to restore the confidence to travel and not create more uncertainty. It is vital we have a properly coordinated response across the EU which both businesses and travellers can understand.

“The vaccination rollout across the EU is among the best in the world with 65% of the population now fully vaccinated. We cannot afford to let all the hard-earned progress made this year to be reversed. This will have catastrophic consequences for jobs and livelihoods.

“While we fully recognise that protecting public health is paramount, we urge all EU Member states to continue using the EU’s Digital COVID Certificate, which has successfully allowed fully-vaccinated people to travel safely and freely.”

Luís Araújo, ETC’s President, added: “As the colder months approach and some European countries face a worsening epidemiological situation, we call on the EU governments to work together to ensure the freedom of movement across Europe”.

“We must avoid any further uncertainty or fragmentation. With the high vaccination rates, EU COVID Certificate and strict safety protocols in place, safe travel is absolutely possible. In the lead up to the highly anticipated holiday season, EU citizens need clear and coherent rules”.

Last year, WTTC research revealed more than two million Travel & Tourism jobs were lost across the EU, and its latest research reveals that if wide scale restrictions were enforced in 2022, a further three million would be at stake next year.

Following 18 months in which economies around the world have been already ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic, WTTC research also shows that that if punishing restrictions were to remain locked in place for much of next year, it could result in more than €143 billion being wiped from the EU economy.

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

First Regional Conference in Kuala Lumpur on Women’s Empowerment

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First Regional Conference in Kuala Lumpur on Women’s Empowerment

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, November 24, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO’s Members from across Asia and the Pacific came together to advance the tourism sector’s contribution to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The UNWTO Regional Conference on the Empowerment of Women in Tourism in Asia and the Pacific – the first event on the topic organized by UNWTO jointly with Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture – brought together more than 500 key virtual participants in addition to around 100 local in-person stakeholders. Alongside UNWTO experts, government policymakers, UN Women representatives, high-level representatives of women’s associations and NGOs, joined leading academics to address some of the key challenges and opportunities for women in tourism in the region.

In Asia and the Pacific, women make up 53% of the tourism workforce. However, they remain concentrated in lower paid-positions and tens to have poorer working conditions. As in other regions of the world, high-level and leadership positions seem to be the sole prerogative of men. The aim of this conference was to contribute to international efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5) on gender equality and the empowerment of women, particularly in light of how the pandemic has worsened the socio-economic situation of the female tourism workforce in the region.

In her welcome and opening remarks, H.E. Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia reinforced this main objective of the conference and said  “As part of efforts to advance a more inclusive recovery for the tourism sector which is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and particularly SDG 5 on gender equality, I believe this conference will provide us with deep insights on strategies and the future prospects for women in tourism in the Asia-Pacific region.”

The discussions of the conference focused on the six thematic pillars of UNWTO’s Action Plan on Women in Tourism. These include women’s employment and leadership; entrepreneurship; education and training for the realities of post-COVID19 tourism; and data and statistics for an inclusive recovery. Based on these thematic areas, the conference explored how tourism’s immense potential for advancing women’s economic empowerment can be further enhanced through the implementation of the right recovery policies and strategies.

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Meliá Hotels to Open New Luxury Resort on Lombok

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Meliá Hotels to Open New Luxury Resort on Lombok - TRAVELINDEX - VISITBALI.orgLombok, Indonesia, November 24, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Meliá Hotels International, a world leader in premium resort hotels, looks to bring a touch of Spanish luxury to Indonesia with the opening of Gran Meliá Lombok in 2024. Already one of the hotel group’s most sought-after destinations, the new opening will mark the first Gran Meliá property on the paradise island of Lombok and its second in Indonesia.

Gran Meliá Lombok will be situated at the beautiful Torok Bay in the south of the island, surrounded by green hills and a beach with crystal-clear waters. The perfect destination to disconnect and enjoy a relaxed approach to life.

The hotel will boast 22 luxury beachside villas and another 105 villas on the mountainside, all with private infinity pools and stunning ocean views. Careful attention will be paid to the architectural design, utilising natural elements that represent the essence of the destination. The hotel will blend seamlessly with its natural environment, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in paradise.  An abundance of large windows will allow in plentiful natural light and help the property merge with its surroundings, while the elegant furniture and warm tones convey a sense of pure luxury.

Lombok is an island to the east of Bali with a pristine natural environment and has become increasingly popular as a travel destination throughout the past decade. Its immense rice fields, rugged landscape and the famous Mount Rinjani volcano form part of the natural attractions of the island, which is surrounded by endless beaches and turquoise waters ideal for surfers.

The entire hotel has been designed as an authentic sanctuary for wellbeing. From the beachside YHI Spa offering relaxing rituals and treatments to the well-equipped fitness centre, Gran Meliá Lombok provides guests with everything they need to maintain their wellness routine. The hotel will also offer a kids club to keep children entertained and an extensive programme of activities designed for the whole family.

In keeping with the Gran Meliá brand, the hotel will feature world-class dining options that combine the best local ingredients and techniques to offer guests authentic Indonesian dining experiences. The spacious lounge with scenic panoramic ocean views will provide the perfect setting for couples planning an exotic destination wedding.

Gran Meliá Lombok will become the second Gran Meliá brand hotel in Indonesia after Gran Meliá Jakarta, a flagship urban oasis nestled in the Golden Triangle of the central business district of Kuningan, in Jakarta. The hotel boasts an iconic architecture inspired by Spanish heritage with renovated modern decoration, offering the finest dining experience, such as the awarded gastronomic offerings of Chef Tomoaki at Yoshi Izakaya Japanese restaurant.

Gran Meliá is a luxury hotel brand operated by Meliá Hotels International consisting of an exceptional collection of premium-quality hotels in the world’s most desirable destinations, defined by their extraordinary architecture, refined elegance, friendly and attentive service, signature cuisine, and exceptional experiences to help guests discover and enjoy the destination.

“Our commitment to Indonesia, where we opened our first international hotel more than 35 years ago, is stronger than ever and we are extremely happy to sign this new agreement, an outstanding property that will become a destination resort in itself in Lombok and will further increase the prosperity of the entire community” said Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman and CEO of Meliá Hotels International.

Gran Meliá Lombok is owned by Invest Islands, an award-winning property development company based in Lombok, and will become Meliá Hotels International’s 12th hotel in Indonesia, eight of them currently in operation and another four (including Gran Meliá Lombok) pending opening. Before the pandemic, the country received more than 16 million international tourists in 2019, with Lombok airport being the ninth-ranked airport in terms of visitor arrivals.

While Invest Islands is a real estate investment company at heart, it shares Meliá Hotels International’s commitment to sustainability. Based in Lombok and with offices in Bali and Hong Kong, it explores ecological solutions, whether that is through the use of native materials and local craftsmen or through its organic farm or plastic recycling centre. Its eponymous Invest Islands Foundation works tirelessly to improve education and healthcare, protect the environment, and empower local women.

“Gran Meliá Lombok is a huge milestone for Invest Islands,” said Jack Brown, who co-founded the company with business partner Kevin Deisser in 2015. “We are extremely proud to be working with a world leader in hotel operations and one of the key parallels we have with the Meliá brand is a focus on low carbon developments. Gran Melia Lombok has a very low density of building and a lot of natural green space.

“Hopefully this is the start of a great relationship that can continue for many years to come and we look forward to bringing Spanish luxury to Lombok, while respecting the natural environment. We’d also like to thank our investment clients from around the world that have trusted us to add value to the land we are developing.”

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

The Michelin Guide Presents New Hotel Selection on Website and Apps

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The Michelin Guide Presents New Hotel Selection on Website and Apps - TRAVELINDEXParis, France, November 23, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Michelin Guide’s hotel selection, created by Tablet Hotels experts and its community of travellers – puts the quest for excellence, the enhancement of uniqueness, the promotion of local know-how and the art of living at the same pace as its selection of restaurants. The continuously updated selection, now available in digital format, can be viewed, booked and shared on the Michelin Guide website and apps.

For more than a century, the Michelin Guide has accompanied gourmands and travellers by sharing its best restaurant recommendations as well as convenient places to stay around the world.

In the Michelin Guide’s restaurant selections, the establishments promoted are not just invitations to enjoy a meal, they are also true destinations. Today, the Michelin Guide sets a new standard for a selection of hotels.

The hotels recommended on the Michelin Guide’s digital platforms are selected with the same high standards as the restaurants, to fulfil the same promise: to strive for excellence, promote uniqueness, and highlight local know-how and the art of living. If Michelin Guide hotels and restaurants selections are bounded by the same exact values, the way they are made is different.

Where restaurants are selected by the renowned anonymous Michelin Guide inspectors, the hotel selection is carried out by the passionate team at Tablet Hotels – the Michelin Guide’s hotel experts since 2018 – and by its community of travellers. By listing hotels that inspire discovery or adventure, the Michelin Guide’s historical commitment to offer only memorable experiences is upheld.

“By making our hotel selection even more rigorous and focusing only on the strongest, most unique and most memorable experiences, the Michelin Guide aims to bring the know-how and expertise of its teams to travellers and gourmets around the world. In doing so, and by offering new digital services to our users, we are pursuing a clear ambition: to become the benchmark for high-level hotel and restaurant recommendations,” said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of Michelin Guides.

A hotel selection made with travellers that presents new features

The Michelin Guide’s collaborative hotel selection invites all verified guests who booked a stay through Tablet to assist with validation of the selection by sharing their feedback. Any hotel with a less than satisfactory rating will be evaluated for removal, ensuring that the Michelin Guide’s recommendations are always worthy of its users’ trust.

The Michelin Guide’s digital hotel selection allows travellers to benefit from the best online booking platform developed by Tablet. The trusted selection of extraordinary hotels — places that stand out for their style, service, and personality — is the first step in planning for a memorable experience, regardless of price. From checking availability to booking a room and getting away from it all, thanks to a seamless, sophisticated booking experience and industry-leading service and support, discerning adventurers are offered a new approach to the art of travel that is so dear to the Michelin Guide.

« For over 20 years, Tablet has been the go-to resource for finding and booking the world’s most extraordinary hotels online. Today, as the hotel experts at the Michelin Guide, we are committed to the same ambition as the Guide’s restaurant selection: showing travellers only places that are worth their time — place that will contribute something meaningful to their journey. And, like we do for restaurateurs, we are pleased that our selection will shine a light on the talent, expertise and personality of passionate hoteliers who help make the world’s great destinations so eternally attractive”, adds Lucy Lieberman, CEO of Tablet Hotels

The Michelin Guide is fully aware of the impact of the health crisis on the travel, gastronomy, and lifestyle sectors. Through its selection of hotels and restaurants, the Guide is committed to actively promoting the industry and meeting the expectations of travellers and gourmets who are more eager than ever to enjoy authentic culinary experiences and unforgettable getaways.

The Michelin Guide and Tablet Hotels are following in the footsteps of the TOP25Hotels.com and TOP25Restaurants.com by Travelindex, presenting a curated list of the world’s best luxury boutique hotels.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

The Resort Villa Selects local Thai Artist for In-house Signature Tableware

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The Resort Villa Selects local Thai Artist for In-house Signature Tableware - TRAVELINDEXRayong, Thailand, November 23, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Resort Villa, one of the most exclusive and luxury retreats in Asia with 8 private villas that can house up to 20 guests at the same time, is a well-known destination among the European royal families and Hollywood stars. Known for its tailor-made hospitality and environmental awareness, the Resort Villa is also one of the top supporters of local artisans from all parts of Thailand and believes in giving constant exposure of their works to its international clientele.

Recently, The Resort Villa commissioned Jirawong Wongtrangan (spelling to be checked), one of the top designers of ceramic art from Northern Thailand, to create an exclusive collection of tableware for the resort. Reflecting the different shades of blue of the waters of the Gulf of Thailand and the 1,000 square metres of infinity pool that connects all of the resort’s 8 private villas, this exclusive collection of ceramics is made up of clay from diverse sources that come together through the artist’s unique design and glazing techniques.

It is The Resort Villa’s hope to showcase works of local Thai artists to the rest of the world. For more information on handmade ceramics by Jirawong Wongtrangan, please contact: inclaystudioppottery@gmail.com

About The Resort Villa
The Resort Villa is one of Asia’s most luxurious private retreats situated amidst the quiet fishing villages and tropical rain forests and pristine beaches of Rayong province.

The story of this haven on earth began with a Swedish businessman, who fell in love with Rayong’s natural beauty and transformed the 14,000 square metres of land with both a resort and private retreat in mind. To ensure utter exclusivity and privacy, the resort’s 8 individual villas are only available to a single group of up to 18 guests. Guests of the resort, frequently Hollywood stars, Swedish royalties, and international business figures, are in the hands of 60full-time staff members whose mission is to make sure every aspect of the guests’ wishes is individually catered to.

The Resort Villa continually strives to be environmentally aware and is known for its social services such as the beach clean ups and a dog-neutering campaign to help control the dog population in the area and for its contributions and encouragement to the local community in preserving the nature of its surroundings.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Revinate Acquires Go Moment

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Revinate Acquires Go Moment - TRAVELINDEXSan Francisco, California, United States, November 23, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Revinate, a leader in omni-channel direct booking platforms for the hospitality industry, announced today it has acquired Go Moment, an AI driven, commerce-enabled messaging solutions provider for the hospitality industry.

The combined company will be called Revinate. Together, the companies’ focus continues to be enabling hoteliers to synthesize and activate their guest data intelligence to convert direct bookings and commerce at any point during the guest journey.

Revinate’s mission is to deliver hoteliers scalable direct revenue and profits from data-driven solutions that cultivate deeper relationships with guests. Customers love Revinate as they can engage with their guests throughout the guest lifecycle with automated and personalized campaigns across various channels, including email, voice, SMS and the most popular messaging platforms. Thousands of hotels currently use Revinate’s direct booking platform to generate 20x or greater ROI.

50 million guests have met Go Moment’s AI powered digital concierge, Ivy. Hoteliers love how Ivy automates nearly 60% of guest requests with her AI-driven, real time responses, streamlining both staffing and service delivery. Hoteliers have also seen fantastic ROI results from messaging commerce, from bookings to upgrades to amenities.

By integrating Revinate’s unique direct booking platform with Go Moment’s AI driven messaging and commerce capability (Ivy), Revinate will further enhance its omni-channel capabilities to engage with guests and create commerce opportunities between guests and the hotel. This combination enables the platform to maximize the lifetime value of each guest through targeted campaigns and seamless guest experience.

“This is a real game changer for our industry. The very best synthesized guest data intelligently powering the very best omni-channel guest lifecycle communications means Revinate has become the ultimate direct booking platform for hoteliers,” said Marc Heyneker, the CEO of Revinate.

Go Moment’s CEO Raj Singh will be joining the Revinate leadership team as a Chief Strategy Officer (CSO). “I am delighted to join Revinate in accelerating our hospitality industry’s bright future by building the ultimate omni-channel direct booking platform. I look forward to working with Marc Heyneker and his excellent team to serve the global hotel market,” said Raj.

“Ivy users gave us about 10 points higher satisfaction scores. To get that another way, I’d probably have to double my staff or do something else extraordinary.” – Michael Marino, former Chief Experience Officer at Caesars Entertainment

“Revinate empowers our small marketing team by saving us time so we can do so much more than we could otherwise. I think our $100M+ in revenue with Revinate speaks for itself.” – Serena Bethle, Database Marketing Manager at Brittain Resorts and Hotels.

About Revinate:
Revinate is one of the global leaders in CDP-driven direct booking platforms, cultivating intelligent and deeper guest experience and driving revenue and profitability for hoteliers. Founded in 2009, Revinate counts tens of thousands of the world’s leading hotels as customers and has won numerous awards for its software as a service (SaaS) solution, including 2018, 2019 and 2020 Top Rated Email Marketing and CRM Product by Hotel Tech Report.

About Go Moment:
Go Moment® connects the hospitality industry with their guests – delivering unforgettable experiences to both. Through their guest communications solutions, they are on a mission to make a billion people smile. Ivy, their AI powered digital concierge, routinely delivers high ROI to hotels while delighting guests.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

GRAND GATEWAY: Much ado about makeover for Toronto airport hotel

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Just in time for the return of travel (and the holidays), the Sheraton Gateway, Toronto-Pearson airport’s only directly-connected hotel, has unveiled a $30-million makeover – it’s first since 2003.

Constructed in 1991 as a Swissotel, the Sheraton Gateway consistently ranks among the most visited hotels in Canada due to its coveted location adjacent to Terminal 3 at YYZ , but after 30 years, and hosting hundreds of thousands of guests, it was time for a major refresh, acknowledge hotel officials.

The makeover of the 484-room property, which will be fully complete in February (two floors are still in the final stages of overhaul) follows the purchase of the property in November 2019 by Toronto-based Knightstone Capital Management, which immediately embraced Sheraton’s sophisticated new brand vision and ensured that the Gateway is one of the first properties in the world to bring the vibe to life “top to bottom.”

“Except for the bricks, this truly is a new hotel,” director of operations Greg Macneil said during a recent press preview attended by Travel Industry Today.

“The transformation is nothing short of a metamorphosis,” added director of sales an marketing Jennifer Kazlauskis. “Our loyal guests who’ve recently returned are blown away. You can see it on their faces as they walk in. They can’t believe they’ve stepped across the terminal and into the same hotel. The difference is night and day.”

PUBLIC SQUARE

At the heart of the new experience is the lobby. It has been re-imagined as the “European-style public square” of the hotel – a holistic, wide-open space that invites people to join together, or be alone amongst others, creating a sense of energy and belonging. With a flow that is natural, intuitive, and uncomplicated, guests have what they need within arm’s reach, all set against an inviting backdrop that feels completely refined.

The well-lit lobby is graced with soaring ceilings and ample room for effortless social distancing. The sprawling space also features a restaurant, coffee bar, co-working spaces, and glass-walled soundproof booths for personal calls. Toronto’s Moncur Design Associates were tasked to implement Sheraton’s new brand updates and inject a distinctly Canadian sensibility into this “global hub” by creating a welcoming space that effectively invites guests to linger.

Moreover, “there’s connectivity everywhere,” noted hotel marketing manager Andrea Jaikaran during a site inspection as she pointed to charging outlets embedded into the lobby’s sofas.

ROOMS

King suite

Stepping into the generously sized, light-filled guest rooms that span nearly 37 sq. m., guests are greeted by a warm, residential appeal, composed of soft finishes and natural wood tones. Platform beds (in 1 King and 2 Queen configurations) are topped with luxurious Sheraton Sleep Experience mattresses and wrapped in crisp white linens. A 55-inch television is mounted to noise cancelling, woven fabric panels that make for an equally functional and stylish statement wall. A height adjustable table enables a quick transition to a standing desk. And a bench running beneath the TV provides additional seating and quick storage.

Bathrooms feature a modern walk-in shower or bath with amenities by Gilchrist & Soames. The space is surrounded with neutral porcelain walls, while a light wood vanity, backlit mirror, polished chrome fixtures, and black accents complement the guest room design.

The only thing that hasn’t changed here are the views. All rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows offering dramatic city or runway views, a thrill for any aviation fan.

CLUB LOUNGE

The Sheraton Club Lounge – moved to the lobby level – is open 24/7. The exclusive space for Marriott Bonvoy Elite members and Sheraton Club level guests and offers updated food and beverage option, access to complimentary amenities, and enhanced connectivity in an upgraded private environment.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Gateway Gin & Tonics

Executive Chef Pravin Kumar Bagali has conceived a diverse menu designed to appeal to a wide range of tastes. Part cocktail bar, part coffee bar serving favourite Starbucks drinks, part grab-and-go market, the &More concept is more than a restaurant – it’s a central pillar of the new Sheraton vision with food and beverage options available day and night that are locally-sourced, easy to consume while working, and accommodating of varied tastes and time schedules.

A highlight is the hotel’s signature Gateway Gin & Tonic, or GG&T, which enables guests to design their own cocktails, with six gin choices and various flavours and garnishes. The drink even turns colours as it is concocted by the mixologist.

AMENITIES

The hotel also boasts nearly 1,700 sq. m. of flexible, updated meeting spaces, a fully equipped fitness centre, indoor heated swimming pool, and whirlpool. Additionally, a dedicated Peloton studio in the works that will house a pair of bikes available to guests 24/7.

NEW REALITIES

Sheraton Hotels are following Marriott International’s Commitment to Clean protocols, created in partnership with leading experts in food and water safety, hygiene and infection prevention, and hotel operations. Protocols include mandated mask wearing for all associates within the hotel, and the use of disinfectants to sanitize all surfaces.

IN OTHER NEWS

Having completed phase one of its own renovations, the Sheraton Centre Toronto is welcoming guests again following the first closure in its nearly 50-year history. A signature hotel in the city, located directly across from Toronto City (and beside the Eaton Centre), the property’s full re-fit will be completed in the first half of 2022.

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC: African Tourism Sector to Recover by a Third

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WTTC: African Tourism Sector to Recover by a Third

Cape Town, South Africa, November 22, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / If measures are followed the sector could bring back 4.5 million jobs by 2022. Latest research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reveals the African Travel & Tourism sector is set to experience a year or year growth of just 27.7% this year, below the global average.

• For the African Tourism portal , Connecting Africa to the World, go to TourismAfrica.org

WTTC says travel restrictions imposed by key source markets such as the UK, which saw countries such as South Africa, Tunisia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Egypt and Kenya on its damaging ‘red list’ for travel, have prevented people from travelling, hindering the sector’s recovery across Africa.

Research by WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, shows that in 2019, Africa’s Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP represented almost US$ 169 billion (6.9% of the total economy).

However, in 2020, when the pandemic brought international travel to an almost complete standstill, the contribution to the GDP fell to just US$ 86 billon (3.7% of the total economy), representing a fall of 49.2%, halving the contribution of the Travel & Tourism sector to the region’s economy.

According to the latest research, while the global economy is set to rise 30.7% year on year this year, the African region can expect a year on year growth of 27.7%, representing an increase of US$ 24 billion.

The data also reveals that, at the current recovery rate, the region could experience a further year on year growth of 21% in 2022, representing an increase of further US$ 23 billion to the economy.

The research goes on to show that domestic spending is set to rise by US$ 16 billion (39.5%) year on year in 2021, while international spending is also expected to increase by US$ 6 billion (26.1%) this year.

Next year, domestic spending is set to rise by US$ 13 billion (21.5%). However, international spending is expected to see a further increase of US$ 8 billion (33.8%)

In terms of employment, in 2019, the African Travel & Tourism sector supported almost 25 million jobs. After suffering a loss of more than seven million jobs last year due to severe international travel restrictions, employment is set to rise by a mere 1.1% this year.

However, WTTC’s research reveals a positive 18.1% rise in jobs in 2022, reaching almost 21 million jobs across the sector.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Our research shows that while the African Travel & Tourism sector is slowly beginning to recover, there is still a long way to go in terms of the sector’s contribution to the region’s economy and employment.

“Last year, the pandemic saw the tragic loss of more than seven million jobs from the Travel & Tourism sector. However, due to a predicted rise in both international and domestic spend this year and next, both jobs and GDP are on the rise, which is very encouraging.”

According to the research, the sector’s contribution to the region’s GDP and the rise in jobs could be more positive this year and next, if five vital measures are met by governments worldwide.

These measures include allowing fully vaccinated travellers to move freely, irrespective of their origin or eventual destination.

Secondly, the implementation of digital solutions which enable all travellers to easily prove their COVID status, in turn speeding up the process at borders around the world.

Thirdly, for safe international travel to fully restart, governments must recognise for all vaccines authorised by WHO.

Fourthly, continued support of the COVAX/UNICEF initiative to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines around the world.

Finally, the continued implementation of enhanced health and safety protocols, which will underpin customer confidence.

The future could be even brighter for Africa

If these five vital measures are followed before the end of this year, research shows the impact on the economy and jobs across Africa could be significant.

The sector’s contribution to GDP would benefit from these measures and could rise 30.7% (US$ 26 billion) by the end of 2021, followed by a year on year increase of a further 24.6% (US$ 28 billion) in 2022.

Domestic spending could increase by 41.3% this year, followed by a further 24.6% year on year growth in 2022, reaching pre-pandemic levels.

International spending would also benefit from government action, rising by US$ 7 billion (32.6%) this year, and outpacing domestic spend next year, with a year-on-year increase of US$ 10 billion (38.5%).

• For the African Tourism portal , Connecting Africa to the World, go to TourismAfrica.org

The sector’s growth could also have a positive impact on employment, with a 3.5% increase in jobs in 2021.

However, with the right measures to support Travel & Tourism, the number of those employed in the sector next year could see a year on year increase of 21.6%, reaching 22 million jobs, approaching pre-pandemic levels.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

OAG Launches New Flight Info Alerts Platform

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OAG Launches New Flight Info Alerts Platform

Singapore, Singapore, November 22, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Instant Notification and Detection Product Meets Changing Customer Needs. OAG the world’s leading provider of travel data and insight, today announced the launch of Flight Info Alerts, its new detection and notification product that delivers changes to flight schedules in real-time.

In response to customer demands for a fast and reliable feed which expedites vital changes, it is the only product on the market that enables customers to get instant updates on carrier flight schedules so they can handle data volatility in real-time.

“Alerts is a much-needed solution for our customers who manage bookings or operations and anyone who relies on the accuracy of these vital changes to drive their business. Volatility of this data over the last 18 months has become an increasing challenge, so our customers need us to tell them what’s changed in real-time,” said Phil Callow, CEO, OAG.

OAG’s Flight Info Alerts launch is the latest in a wave of new product innovations powered by its new technology platform, OAG Metis, which saw the release of Flight Info Direct, a Snowflake enabled platform to access and integrate ready to query data, earlier this year.

The evolution and ambition of OAG’s Flight Info API continues to gather pace to equip customers with data covering the full flight and booking journey, with the imminent availability of Flight Status Data into the API suite. Access through a singular API enables OAG customers to innovate, react faster and scale quicker.

Phil Callow adds, “We’re innovating rapidly to meet the changing needs of the travel sector. Our investment in OAG Metis and great tech partnerships with Snowflake and Microsoft Azure enable us to serve the entire ecosystem to scale and serve multiple markets rapidly and efficiently.”

OAG has customers across the travel ecosystem and is embedded in booking engines, travel and hospitality apps, airline apps, online travel agencies, metasearch, search engines, and flight tracking apps.

About OAG
OAG is a leading global travel data provider, that has been powering the growth and innovation of the air travel ecosystem since 1929. Headquartered in the UK, OAG has global operations in the USA, Singapore, Japan, Lithuania and China.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO Looks to Future with EU Tourism Ministers

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UNWTO Looks to Future with EU Tourism Ministers

Ljubljana, Slovenia, November 20, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The UNWTO leadership has addressed an informal meeting of EU Ministers Responsible for Tourism, further strengthening ties with the European Institutions.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

The Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union included tourism on its programme of work, recognizing the sector’s heightened relevance and importance for inclusive, post-pandemic recovery. Addressing the Ministers, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili commended European leaders for protecting tourism jobs and businesses, and for playing a leading role in restoring confidence in international travel through harmonized rules and protocols and the introduction of the EU Digital COVID Certificate.

At the same time, the Secretary-General also provided the EU Ministers with an overview of UNWTO’s own work leading the sector’s response to the crisis, as well as more recent achievements advancing tourism’s climate action. Margaritis Schinas, Vice President of the European Commission, played an active role in the UNWTO Global Tourism Crisis Committee, created to unite the sector and provide clear, harmonized recommendations for recovery, and has also visited the UNWTO Headquarters in Madrid for face-to-face talks with the Secretary-General.

Strengthening ties

This latest intervention further strengthens the ties between UNWTO and the European Institutions, building on the work done prior to the pandemic. In February 2020, the UNWTO leadership visited Brussels. As well as addressing the European Parliament, Secretary-General Pololikashvili also met with Ministers and Secretaries of State for tourism of European Countries, making clear the role the sector can play in driving inclusive growth across the region and in advancing the ambitions of the European Green Deal. More recently, the UNWTO leadership returned to Brussels in October, with a more in-depth agenda focusing on tourism’s place in recovery and future growth for European economies and societies.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Following on from the informal meeting of EU Ministers Responsible for Tourism, UNWTO also took part in the 20th European Tourism Forum, also held against the backdrop of the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Europe’s Tourism Ministers will then be part of the upcoming UNWTO General Assembly, scheduled to take place in Madrid, Spain, 30 November to 3 December.

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News