Global Travel News

PUBS, PATIOS & BARS: Greetings from The Bowery, Myrtle Beach

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“Greetings, Andy, from the Myrtle Beach Police Department!” – words I’ll always remember (they’re on video) from a bemused cop who was willing to send a message to an absent friend as my travelling buddy and I exited the South Carolina city’s legendary Bowery bar at some indistinct time during the early 1980s.

Myrtle Beach has changed by leaps and bounds since those days, and I’m not sure whether the police are as accommodating to slightly tipsy tourists, but it is a reassuring constant that The Bowery remains in all its glory.

Located steps from the Atlantic Ocean in the centre of town, the establishment has been welcoming locals and tourists alike since 1944 – a 77-year history highlighted by the presence of country music super group Alabama as house band from 1973 to ‘80, where they merely played for tips.

The Bowery keeps the association close at hand, not least through occasional visits from the band – as recently as 2019 – who still consider it home.

I don’t recall if Alabama was on stage during my visit (they may well have been), but I do recall walking out thinking that I might even like country music, such was the amazing live atmosphere of the place.

And that’s exactly the vibe that continues today where live music amps up every night at about 8:30 (no cover charge), with today’s version of Alabama – The Bounty Hunters – on stage, supported by servers who often deliver multiple mugs of draft by hand (no trays). According to the bar, one of its own, Scuba Obsorne, holds the Guinness Book Records mark for carrying 34 mugs at one time.

All of which is to say, that entertainment is the raison d’etre at the bar, or in local parlance, “Ya can’t beat the fun.”

And did we mention that a mug of Bowery brew only costs a buck-fifty – at least at during happy hour, Monday-Friday 4-7 p.m.

For food, go next door to the affiliated and connected Duffy Tavern (only 50 years young), noted for, as its sign says: “Hot Beer, Lousy Food, Bad Service.” But seriously, try the burgers, and snag a seat outside in the South Carolina sun if you can.

The Bowery/Duffy’s is located at 110 9th Avenue North (just off the boardwalk a couple of blocks from the SkyWheel) and is open from daily from 11 a.m. to “until.” If you can’t find it, just ask a cop – they know!

The band at play

With glass purposefully in hand, we at Travel Industry Today continue our series on some of the planet’s best bars, patios and rooftop venues. For more articles in the series, click here:

PREVIOUS ARTICLES: https://travelindustrytoday.com/pub-patio/

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First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

MORE THAN JUST MELTING ICE: Loss of glaciers will hurt tourism, power supplies and more

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From the southern border of Germany to the highest peaks in Africa, glaciers around the world have served as moneymaking tourist attractions, natural climate records for scientists and beacons of beliefs for indigenous groups.

With many glaciers rapidly melting because of climate change, the disappearance of the ice sheets is sure to deal a blow to countries and communities that have relied on them for generations – to make electricity, to draw visitors and to uphold ancient spiritual traditions.

The ice masses that formed over millennia from compacted snow have been melting since around the time of the Industrial Revolution, a process that has accelerated in recent years.

The retreat can be seen in Africa, on the border of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the jagged peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains jut into the sky above a green jungle. The peaks once held more than 40 glaciers, but fewer than half of them remained by 2005, and the melting continues. Experts believe the last of the mountains’ glaciers could disappear within 20 years.

The disappearance means trouble for land-locked Uganda, which gets nearly half of its power from hydroelectricity, including the power plants that rely on steady water flow from the Rwenzori glaciers.

“That hydroelectric power runs much better on more regular flows than it does peak and troughs,’” said Richard Taylor, a professor of hydrogeology at the University College in London.

The Pasterz, the largest glacier in Austria, has declined by half since it was first accurately measured in 1851.

A continent away, on the southern edge of Germany’s border with Austria, only half a square kilometer (124 acres) of ice remains on five glaciers combined. Experts estimate that is 88% less than the amount of ice that existed around 1850, and that the remaining glaciers will melt in 10 to 15 years.

That spells bad news for the regional tourism industry that relies on the glaciers, said Christoph Mayer, a senior scientist in the geodesy and glaciology group at the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Munich.

“At the moment, tourist agencies can advertise, `You can visit some kind of the highest mountains in Germany with glaciers. You can walk on the glaciers,”’ Mayer said. “People living around these regions really live from tourism … there will be an impact on them if they lose these glaciers.”

The Snows of Kilimanjaro are a story of the past

The same issue faces Tanzania, where experts estimate that Mt. Kilimanjaro – the highest mountain in Africa and one of the country’s main tourism attractions – has lost about 90% of its glacial ice to melting and to sublimation, a process in which solid ice transitions directly to vapor without becoming a liquid first. Travel and tourism accounted for 10.7% of the country’s GDP in 2019.

There are intangible losses for many indigenous communities that reside within sight of glaciers as well, said Rainer Prinz, a glaciologist at the University of Innsbruck in Austria.

In the history of the local populations, “the ice in the mountains is the seat of god. It has a very spiritual meaning,” he said, discussing communities near Mt. Kilimanjaro. “Losing the glaciers there would also impact spiritual life, I think.”

The layers of ice that make up a glacier can be tens of thousands of years old and contain year-by-year information about past climate conditions, including atmospheric composition, temperature variations and types of vegetation that were present. Researchers take long tube-like ice cores from glaciers to “read” these layers.

During a 2010 research trip to the Carstensz glacier in Indonesia’s western Papua province, oceanographer Dwi Raden Susanto was excited to be part of a team that took a core sample from the remote glaciers. But once the sample was taken, Susanto said, scientists quickly realized the rapid decline of the ice allowed them to get records dating back only to the 1960s.

“It is sad because it’s not only a loss of local or national heritage for Indonesia, but this is also the loss of climate heritage for the world,” Susanto said.

As glaciers vanish, experts say, local ecosystems will begin to change as well – something already being studied at the Humboldt Glacier in Venezuela, which could disappear within the next two decades.

Experts warn that the fate of smaller glaciers offers a warning for larger glaciers.

For example, while many of the world’s smaller glaciers no longer serve as the main freshwater source for countries, some larger glaciers still do, including in Peru, which lost nearly 30% of its glacier mass between 2000 and 2016, said Lauren Vargo, a research fellow at the Antarctic Research Centre in Wellington, New Zealand.

“Those communities are much more dependent on glaciers for having water for their communities,” she said.

Increased melt will also lead to rising seas and changes in weather patterns _ something that is bound to affect society on a global level, Mayer said.

“The disappearance of these small glaciers is really a warning sign of what is coming in the future,” he said. It “should make you aware that something is going on, which is not just peanuts.”

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Marriott International Signs Agreement with Wasl to Open W Dubai – Mina Seyahi

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W Dubai - Mina Seyahi Rendering.jpg
W Dubai- Mina Seyahi Rendering

Marriott International, Inc. today announced it has signed an agreement with wasl Hospitality & Leisure LLC, a subsidiary of wasl Asset Management Group, to bring the W Hotels Worldwide brand to Dubai’s sought-after Jumeirah Beach coastline. Expected to welcome its first guests in 2022, W Dubai – Mina Seyahi is set to become an iconic addition to Dubai’s skyline and a new buzzing, urban escape in the cosmopolitan city.

“We are seeing increasing demand for luxury lifestyle brands in Dubai, and with its mix of culture and high-energy lifestyle, the emirate is the perfect destination for the trend-setting W Hotels brand,” said Candice D’Cruz, Vice President – Luxury Brands, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “With its unexpected design and iconic, socially driven Whatever/Whenever® service, W Dubai – Mina Seyahi will become a destination within a destination.”

His Excellency Hesham Al Qassim, CEO of wasl Asset Management Group, said: “We are pleased to sign this agreement and introduce W Dubai – Mina Seyahi to the renowned Mina Seyahi complex in Dubai Marina. This new property, which is among several other Marriott International hotels that wasl brought and launched in the emirate, will be an exciting addition to Dubai’s hospitality sector. We continue to look forward to developing further hotels to cement our position as a key player in the hospitality sector”.

Located close to Dubai’s thriving leisure destinations, such as Dubai Marina and JBR Walk, W Dubai – Mina Seyahi is well-situated to offer guests a vibrant and playful escape. The 31-storey hotel is expected to feature 318 guestrooms, including 26 suites and an Extreme WOW Suite (W’s take on a Presidential Suite). The W Lounge (the brand’s signature take on the hotel lobby) is anticipated to draw inspiration from a Middle Eastern gathering place and will be a dynamic and lively space, where guests can mix and mingle over crafted cocktails and light bites. Anticipated plans include a new sunset destination experience by the pool overlooking the stunning Mina Seyahi bay, as well as a signature outlet on the 31st floor, with unsurpassed views of Dubai’s world-famous Palm Jumeirah Island.

FUEL, the W brand’s high-energy, social take on wellness that allows guests to focus on mind and body, will be at the heart of the BAR-B spa, which is expected to feature three treatment rooms and a beauty bar. The FIT Fitness Centre will see UK-born 1Rebel, the ultimate sport-luxe fitness experience, make its debut in the UAE, with a 2500-square-metre, dual-storey studio in the hotel.

“We are thrilled to strengthen our relationship with wasl Group to open W Dubai – Mina Seyahi in such an important leisure destination in Dubai,” said Sandeep Walia, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East, Marriott International. “This new hotel underscores our commitment to growing our luxury portfolio in the Middle East, while signifying the demand for the W Hotels brand in the region.”

Marriott International currently operates six properties and residences under the W Hotels brand across the Middle East. W Dubai – Mina Seyahi is anticipated to be the brand’s second property in Dubai.

For more information, please visit www.whotels.com.

About W Hotels Worldwide
Born from the bold attitude and 24/7 culture of New York City, W Hotels, part of Marriott International, Inc., has disrupted and redefined the hospitality scene for over two decades. Trailblazing its way around the globe, with nearly 60 hotels, W is defying expectations and breaking the norms of traditional luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands. With a mission to fuel guests’ lust for life, W ignites an obsessive desire to soak it in, live it up and hit repeat. The brand’s provocative design, iconic Whatever/Whenever service and buzzing Living Rooms create an experience that is often copied but never matched. Innovative, inspiring and infectious, the brand’s super-charged energy celebrates guests’ endless appetite to discover what’s new/next in each destination, to see more, feel more, go longer, stay later. For more information on W Hotels, visit whotels.com/theangle or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. W Hotels Worldwide 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.

About wasl Asset Management Group
wasl Asset Management Group, one of the largest real estate management companies in Dubai, was established by the Dubai Real Estate Corporation (DREC) in 2008 to oversee the management of its assets and grow its real estate portfolio. Through its three subsidiaries; wasl properties, wasl hospitality and leisure and dubai golf; wasl operates in various real estate, lifestyle, leisure, hospitality, and business sectors. wasl’s main objective is to strengthen Dubai’s position as the premier hub to live and work in and at the same time be the ultimate destination for tourists.

wasl hospitality and leisure’s portfolio constitutes of 7,204 hotel rooms, of which 5,531 rooms are distributed among 20 hotels and 1,673 hotel apartments among 10 hotels.

For further information please visit: www.wasl.ae

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Metropole Hanoi to Host 2nd Annual Korean Culinary Experience

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Metropole Hanoi to Host 2nd Annual Korean Culinary Experience - TRAVELINDEXHa Noi, Vietnam, November 11, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi will host a two-week celebration of modern Korean gastronomy featuring extraordinary dishes created by Chef Joseph Lidgerwood, an Australian native living in Seoul whose restaurant Evett holds 1 Michelin Star (2020 and 2021) and who personally won the Michelin Young Chef Award 2021. The special celebration of modern Korean gastronomy runs from Nov. 15-30, 2021.

Now in its second year, this special Korean culinary event runs for two weeks, from Nov. 15-30, with à la carte dishes in Metropole Hanoi’s Le Club Bar, in addition to bar bites and cocktails at angelina, the hotel’s cocktail bar, whisky lounge and restaurant.

The event kicks off Monday, Nov. 15 from 11am-2pm with a private lunch at La Veranda. This invite-only affair will include canapés and two live cooking stations featuring Korean dishes.

The dishes on Chef Joseph’s special à la carte menu are inspired by popular Korean folktales. These include Liver Parfait with Assorted Namul Muchim, a Foie gras parfait inspired by the tale of a smart rabbit that makes use of a variety of mountain herbs found in Korea. Stuffed Persimmon with Creamy Halibut Tartar and Citrus is inspired by the humorous folktale known as the Tiger and Persimmon. Drawing from the Fairy and the Woodsman, Velvety Lobster on Gondrae Jook & Paprika Leathers features lobster brushed with seaweed butter, congee and paprika leathers. Inspired by the same story, Gochujang Glazed Wagyu Beef & Paprika Crisps features a dish covered in fallen “autumn leaves” of sweet potato and paprika crisps atop Wagyu beef glazed with gochujang sauce on a bed of sweet potato mash.

Chef Joseph is the chef-owner of the restaurant Evett in the South Korean capital, which showcases a tasting menu based on Korean ingredients and traditional food, taking a fresh perspective, with ideas and techniques gathered from around the world.

Due to ongoing travel restrictions, Chef Joseph will be unable to personally join the event, but Metropole Executive Sous Chef Thien Nguyen and Culinary Guide So Yeon Kim will present the food according to Chef Joseph’s exclusive recipe and procedures.

For more information on this event, or to make a reservation, please contact the hotel’s food and beverage department at Tel: 024 3826 6919 ext. 8200

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Azerai Ke Ga Bay Introduces Golf Packages at New PGA NovaWorld

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Azerai Ke Ga Bay Introduces Golf Packages at New PGA NovaWorld - TOP25GOLFCOURSES.com - TRAVELINDEXKe Ga Bay, Vietnam, November 10, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Two new championship-level golf courses designed by legendary Australian golfer Greg Norman are opening this year in southeastern Vietnam, and Azerai Ke Ga Bay is ready to help guests hit the fairways. Resort set for Nov. 12 reopening, following the easing of COVID-related restrictions.

The secluded 46-key resort, which sits on a pristine five-kilometer stretch of white sand overlooking the East Sea, is set to reopen on Nov. 12 following the easing of COVID-related restrictions in Vietnam.

Azerai Ke Ga Bay, located only 30 minutes by car from the new PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet, just down the beautiful coastline, has introduced a special package—the first of several planned—that includes 18 holes of golf, along with other benefits at the resort.

The Norman-designed courses feature 36 total holes. The 18-hole PGA Ocean Course opened in April 2021 as one of the longest tracks in Vietnam, at 7,400 yards (par 72), and plays along the picturesque Phan Thiet Bay. The second 18-hole course is scheduled to debut later this year.

The new “Tee Off Time” golf package at Azerai Ke Ga Bay features a two-night stay in a Deluxe Suite with a garden view, daily breakfast for two persons, and a golf round of 18 holes for two adults (including green fee, caddy fee, shared buggy and roundtrip transfers to and from the golf course) on the PGA Ocean Course.

The package also includes a priority upgrade to a higher room category (depending on availability), daily afternoon tea from 3:30pm to 4:30pm, and complimentary Wifi throughout the resort, among other perks.

PGA NovaWorld Phan Thiet is home to a spacious, 4,000-square-meter clubhouse selling food and beverages (including alcohol), as well as golf equipment and apparel. The golf complex is part of the larger $5-billion (USD) NovaWorld Phan Thiet development, which includes a theme park and water park, a 7,000-seat indoor arena, a 3,500-seat tennis arena, and more, spread over an area of 1,000 hectares.

Located 180km east of Ho Chi Minh City (a 3.5-hour drive by car), Azerai Ke Ga Bay opened in November 2020 as part of legendary hotelier Adrian Zecha’s portfolio and offers a combination of suites and private-pool suites.

Since March 2020, Azerai Resorts has implemented stricter health and hygiene measures at all of its properties, including temperature screenings at check-in, hand sanitizers in all public areas, increased cleaning frequencies in rooms and public areas, and more. Azerai will continue to operate with the highest possible safety standards and follow the latest guidelines from local health and government authorities.

ABOUT AZERAI
Azerai is a new story and brand of resorts offering guests simple elegance, refined design, and discreet and attentive service in places of unique beauty and cultural interest. The brand was formed by hotelier Adrian Zecha, and the name is derived from Zecha’s initials and the latter part of a Persian word, caravanserai, which references the storied old inns of the Middle East.

Azerai Ke Ga Bay marks the brand’s first beach resort, and follows Azerai La Residence, Hue, a historic city resort overlooking the Perfume River in Vietnam’s former imperial capital, and Azerai Can Tho, a peaceful retreat set on a lush islet in the Mekong Delta.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

GreenClub and GEO Foundation Collaboration to Drive Golf Sustainability

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GreenClub and GEO Foundation Collaboration to Drive Golf Sustainability - TRAVELINDEXDublin, Ireland, November 11, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Renewable energy specialists GreenClub has taken its long-term commitment to improving sustainability in the golf industry to new heights by forming a new partnership with GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf.

The exciting development will see the two organisations collaborate closely to promote sustainability across a range of different platforms and markets, commencing in the UK.

As well as driving increased awareness for sustainability through newsletters and print, digital and social media, the new collaboration will see GreenClub align their advisory services with the online OnCourse® programme for sustainable club and course management, as well as the recognition GEO provides for sustainable golf – spanning nature, resources, communities and climate action. They will also work together at a variety of events including webinars and conferences.

An international non-profit organisation, GEO Foundation is dedicated to helping accelerate sustainability and climate action in and through golf around the world, working collaboratively to help the sport embrace environmental and social issues and become widely acclaimed for its role.

Jonathan Smith, founder and executive director of GEO Foundation, said: “It is imperative that the golf industry works collaboratively to deliver innovative solutions for climate action. We are excited about GreenClub joining the growing number of partners who provide innovation and services for sustainable golf and, in particular, helping more clubs and facilities on their sustainability journey.”

Launched last autumn, GreenClub works with the golf and leisure sector to help venues to realise their sustainable goals.

London Golf Club – host of this summer’s Cazoo Classic on the European Tour – and Roganstown Hotel & Country Club in Ireland just two of the clubs to have benefitted from the consultants’ expertise, and GreenClub chief executive Liam Greasley believes the new GEO agreement will be instrumental in helping to create a number of new opportunities for the company.

He said: “Golf clubs can gain a huge amount by focusing their attention on energy – where it comes from; what they can generate themselves; how they can future proof their facility; and how they can reduce consumption, costs and emissions.

“We’d encourage clubs to embrace the specialist advisory support that we can provide and the custom-built programmes available which, together, can accelerate their progress as efficient and sustainable businesses.

“We are delighted to be working closely with GEO Foundation as a sustainable golf innovator and solution provider dovetailing services with their programmes and connecting our clients with the growing sustainable golf community.”

A principal partner of the PGA, GreenClub is committed to promoting long-term sustainability and carbon neutrality, and their objective continues to gather pace on several fronts.

As well as their consultation services to assess current and future needs of any business as they seek to reduce their carbon emissions, venues can also become generators of their own green renewable energy by utilising renewable energy options. In some cases, any surplus energy can then be sold to the local market, rather than back to the grid.

In addition, GreenClub unveiled a 10-point plan earlier this month which it is urging golf clubs and venues to adopt so that they can start their journey towards ultimately becoming ‘net zero.’ The eco-checklist covers all parts of everyday life and features a number of simple measures that not only promote a greener future but can also benefit venues financially.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO and Instagram Partner to Help Destinations Recover and Rediscover

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UNWTO and Instagram Partner to Help Destinations Recover and Rediscover - TRAVELINDEXMadrid, Spain, November 11, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO and Instagram have joined forces to produce a ‘Tourism Recovery Playbook’, and so help destinations and business harness the power of digital and visual storytelling to reach new audiences and return to growth.

This first ever partnership with Instagram forms part of UNWTO’s wider shift towards harnessing the power of digital innovation to drive the restart of tourism, especially local and sustainable tourism. It also represents Instagram’s recognition of tourism as a leading provider of livelihoods and global opportunity, welcoming UNWTO as partners in a first structured effort to use the platform as a tool to help kickstart the sector’s recovery. The partnership was announced against the backdrop of World Travel Market in London, the leading tourism trade fair where UNWTO brings together political and business leaders, and after of UNWTO amplifying tourism’s unified response to the climate emergency at the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Expert insights into storytelling for tourism

UNWTO’s partnership with Instagram will show that safe, responsible travel is possible, and to illustrate how just one tourist can make a big difference

The Recovery Playbook provides insights into making the most of the platform, from producing Reels to showcase destinations to using Guides and other tools to illustrate how the sector is ready to welcome tourists back safely and responsibly. It also explores the best ways to encourage renewed local travel, while raising environmental awareness. Alongside best practice and tips on effective tourism storytelling, the publication also features case studies of small businesses and destinations have successfully used Instagram to connect with key audiences during the pandemic.

In his foreword to the Tourism Recovery Playbook, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “As parts of the world begin cautiously opening up again, now is the time to be creative in showing why tourism matters – for individuals, for our communities and for our planet. UNWTO’s partnership with Instagram will show that safe, responsible travel is possible, and to illustrate how just one tourist can make a big difference.”

“We know countless small businesses and destinations are ready to welcome the world back to their doorsteps,” said Asya Kislyuk, Policy Programs Manager at Instagram. “Instagram is proud to provide a playbook for people to help make it happen when the time is right – safely
and sustainably.”

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Advancing UNWTO’s digital shift

This first collaboration with Instagram builds on UNWTO’s ongoing turn towards greater use of digital tools and visual storytelling to make clear the relevance and importance of tourism to economies, societies, and planet. The Organization has accelerated this shift in its efforts to scale up Member support and enable them to better seize the advantages of digital communications platforms.

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Utopia Corporation Appoints Three Senior Executives for Expansion

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Utopia Corporation Appoints Three Senior Executives for Expansion

Phuket, Thailand, November 10, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX  / Utopia Corporation, one of the leading real estate developers in Phuket, has appointed three high-ranking executives to further drive its continued success and accomplish future goals. Nalina Suranakarin has been appointed Chief Brand Officer of Utopia Corporation and its subsidiaries. Ivo Tzvetkov assumes the position of Chief Operating Officer for Utopia Hospitality Group (UHG) , a subsidiary company of UCORP, while Praisie Huang is named UHG’s Chief Growth Officer. The executive trio will join forces to lead Utopia Hospitality Group (UHG), a new hospitality brand under UCORP. The flagship brand will have an official launch soon with an ambition to elevate the hospitality industry in Southeast Asia to the next pinnacle of exclusivity and attraction for travellers.

• Discover Phuket’s and the World’s Best Luxury Hotels and Prestigious Hotel Awards at Top25Hotels.com

Reinforcing the executive team with the right personnel is instrumental to the growth of Utopia Corporation as it will soon launch Utopia Hospitality Group as its flagship hospitality brand. UHG aspires to deliver brand new experiences for smart and savvy travellers in upper strata from premium midscale level up to ultra-luxury. UHG promises a getaway that is accessible yet lives up to international standards and plans to open many brand new properties as well as rebrand and renovate existing properties in 2022.

The highlight of UHG’s master plan is to build two epic landmarks in two prime locations in the north and south of Phuket. “Bay of Icons” will become the new destination for investors and high-end travellers from across the world. Situated on Ao Po Bay on the northern coastline of Phuket, it features cutting-edge facilities and exclusive services to cater to a luxurious lifestyle. To be located on Nai Harn beach on the southern coastline of Phuket, “Utopia Dream” (unofficial name) is an entertainment complex packed with world-class leisure activities. And at the helm of this ambitious plan, are three newly appointed executives of UHG.

As UCORP’s Chief Brand Officer (CBO), Nalina “Note” Suranakarin is a veteran in brand management with ten years of experience in the luxury lifestyle sector and her life-long passion and knowledge in gourmet, superb service and creative concoctions that her globe-trotting lifestyle has brought along. Nalina will play a pivotal role in managing and overseeing the brand strategy and marketing activities of UCORP, UHG and its subsidiary companies. She’ll also be creating a network of partnerships among all UHG resorts and hotels with the ultimate goal of creating the best brand for UCORP through partnerships with other global brands in the future.

UHG Chief Operating Officer (COO) Ivo Tzvetkov has three decades of working in the hospitality industry under his belt. His tenures in Europe, Asia and the Middle East especially with Marriott International make him well-equipped to oversee hotels and other businesses endeavours under UHG. Following his appointment, he’s responsible for implementing hygiene and safety measures at every UHG resort and hotel to provide safe accommodation at a high standard for travellers during the Covid-19 pandemic and comply with guidelines set out by Thai authorities.

As UHG’s Chief Growth Officer, Praisie Huang is an expert in sale from Singapore. With 15 years of working experience with global hospitality brands such as Dusit, Marriott and Accor, Huang has overseen many record-high sales. Her high professionalism will be a key to UHG success as she oversees sales, e-commerce and worldwide distribution as UHG grows from strength to strength.

UCORP CEO Hachi Yin said, ” We’re very glad to welcome Nalina, Ivo and Praisie to the UCORP superhero team. They are the right candidates for us because we search for the best of their respective expertise to join us. We looking for executives with proven records of success who are creative and able to think outside the box. We believe that these experts in their respective fields will elevate our organizations to the next level and contribute to a steady future of UCORP as a leading property development company and UHG as a property operations and hotel management company through our new brands.”

• Discover Phuket’s and the World’s Best Luxury Hotels and Prestigious Hotel Awards at Top25Hotels.com

Currently, Utopia Corporation has developed ten projects which contain 2,000 units across 120,000sqm of area. Together they are valued at eight billion baht. Every project is based on a boundary-pushing slogan of “Dare to Dream” to accommodate the modern lifestyle of the new generation driven by technology and social media and stimulate new markets in the industry. Utopia’s extensive portfolio reflects its very strong financial standing and its aim to create new markets in the real estate industry.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC Launches Groundbreaking Net Zero Roadmap for Tourism

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WTTC Launches Groundbreaking Net Zero Roadmap for Tourism

Glasgow, Scotland, UK, November 9, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Major new initiative will set the path for businesses in their quest to net zero. As world leaders gather in Glasgow for COP26 to discuss concrete actions to solve the climate crises, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has launched an ambitious and groundbreaking Net Zero Roadmap, to guide the global Travel & Tourism sector in its battle against the climate crisis.

WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, developed the roadmap in collaboration with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and Accenture.

The roadmap provides concrete guidelines and recommendations to help guide Travel & Tourism businesses on their journey towards net zero.

By providing milestones for meaningful climate action and emissions reduction for different industries within the sector, the roadmap sets out the challenges ahead and how the Travel & Tourism sector can decarbonise and reach net zero by 2050.

This report shows how the sector is greatly impacted by climate change as it affects destinations around the world, but as with many other sectors, it is also responsible for an estimated 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).

The sector therefore has a key role to play in fighting climate change, which will require heightened ambitions and differentiated decarbonisation approaches, as outlined in the roadmap.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said:

“I am delighted to announce our pioneering Net Zero Roadmap for Travel & Tourism. It helps travel industries reach individual targets to reduce our carbon footprint.

“Many destinations are affected by the impacts of climate change with rising sea levels, deforestation and the loss of animal and plant species. Communities that rely on tourism are first in line to see the impact and wanting to do something about it.

“The Travel & Tourism sector is taking this opportunity to be a catalyst for change. We have a responsibility towards our people and planet.

“It is absolutely critical that the private and public sector we work collectively to achieve the Paris Agreement and prevent the global rise in temperatures.

“Our sector can be part of the change that is urgently required to mitigate impacts and adapt to the threats posed by climate change.”

Emily Weiss, Managing Director and Head of Accenture’s Travel Industry Group globally, said:

“As the travel industry resets after a tough few years, there is an incredible opportunity to rebuild responsibly and accelerate the shift towards a net-zero future for the sector.

“The Net Zero Roadmap offers a pragmatic but ambitious course of action that will help the industry create real and visible targets to reduce its carbon impact, providing the transparency that consumers demand. Crucially, it identifies the big levers where travel can turn a corner on emissions and provides the building blocks to create meaningful change.”

The roadmap presents a new target framework with decarbonisation corridors, which groups Travel & Tourism businesses into three clusters, depending on their emission profiles and the difficulty of abating their GHG emissions.

Certain industries may achieve net zero before 2050 if more ambitious targets are set and different decarbonisation approaches are followed.

The detailed roadmap includes key decarbonisation levers and corresponding actions for five key industries of the Travel & Tourism sector: accommodation, tour operators, aviation, cruise, and tourism intermediaries such as online travel agents (OTAs) and metasearch engines.

Acknowledging that different industries face different challenges to decarbonise, the roadmap calls on businesses to increase their ambitions where possible and provides detailed recommendations for five areas:

  1. Set baselines and emission targets now to achieve individual and sector goals
  2. Monitor and report progress regularly
  3. Collaborate within and across industries and government
  4. Provide finance and investment required for the transition
  5. Raise awareness and build knowledge and capabilities on climate change.

This roadmap calls upon world leaders to give Travel & Tourism the same level of support offered to other sectors and gives recommendations to governments on how they can support the sector, which before the pandemic represented 10.4% of the global GDP (US$9.2 trillion), in addressing climate challenges and its goals to achieve a net zero future.

The collaborative process included key organisations such as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), International Air Transport Association (IATA), Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), Travalyst, and SHA (Sustainable Hospitality Alliance), among others.

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Alain St.Ange Presents the Guba Nana Yaa Asantewaa Entertainment Mogul Award

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Alain St.Ange Presents the Guba Nana Yaa Asantewaa Entertainment Mogul Award

Accra, Ghana, November 9, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The GUBA Awards 2021 has just been held and it was pleasing to see Alain St.Ange in Ghana to present the The GUBA Nana Yaa Asantewaa Entertainment Mogul Award. Alain St.Ange who was the popular former Seychelles Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine and the well known and respected tourism personality who was one of the two African Candidates for the post of Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in the 2017 elections . St.Ange was also one of the three candidates for the Seychelles Presidential elections of 2020.

Many who were at the grand evening celebrations of Tuesday night have expressed satisfaction to have seen Alain St.Ange fly to Ghana to be part of the African Awards event. Comments posted even had one from former Tourism Minister of Ghana, the Right Hon Catherine Abelema Afeku who said in a post on Social media “Yes Alain was splendid. It was great to see you Alain. You make us all proud in the Tourism Industry”. Tourism professionals from Ghana posted a series of photos of Alain St.Ange’s participation at the Ghana Awards even.

When he took to the stage in the massive entertainment venue of Ghana former Minister St.Ange said:- “The GUBA Nana Yaa Asantewaa Entertainment Mogul celebrates a courageous and resilient woman who has been a major player in the entertainment industry and has revolutionized the industry with ground-breaking concepts. The GUBA Nana Yaa Asantewaa Entertainment Mogul goes to none other than actress and brand ambassador Nana Ama McBrown” before inviting everyone to see a testimonial video on the awardee.

Nana Ama McBrown is a very popular Ghanaian show Bizz personality and loved as a Princess of the Country. She is a Ghanaian actress, TV presenter and a music writer. She rose to prominence for her role in television series Tentacles. Later, she found mainstream success following her role in the Twi-language movie “Asoreba”. She is currently the host of television cooking show McBrown Kitchen and entertainment talk show United Showbiz on UTV.

Aba Blankson of the USA was on stage with St.Ange to do the honours for this award ceremony and was the one who invited Nana Ama McBrown to the stage to receive her award.

The GUBA Awards has been recognising and moving Africans to the limelight for well over a decade. It is Lady Dentaa Amoateng MBE who is the founder of the GUBA Awards and she was on hand in Ghana with the Who’s Who of Ghana who had assembled in great numbers to see the ceremony take place for the first time in Ghana and brought to the country a long list of influential personalities who are all part of the diaspora. The first such award ceremony was held in 2019 in the USA and was attended by H.E. Nana Afuko-Addo, the President of Ghana, H. E. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, the President of ECOWAS Commission among many other dignitaries.

“Today Marks 100 years of your legacy. Keep resting in Perfect Peace Nana Yaa Asantewaa. Thank you for your bravery, resilience and courage!!! Ghanaians will ever be grateful to Nana Yaa Asantewaa, the Asante Warrior Queen Mother, whose activism and military tactics contributed to the liberation of her people and country. Her roles in Ghana spurred nationalist ideals in other parts of the West African sub-region, which resulted in many of the countries gaining independence” said Lady Dentaa Amoateng MBE when she addressed the gathering after the Republic’s First Lady had herself gone on stage to also present an award.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News