Global Travel News

UNWTO Joins Investors, Tourism Leaders at Cabo Verde Forum

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UNWTO Joins Investors, Tourism Leaders at Cabo Verde Forum

Praia, Cabo Verde, September 7, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / UNWTO has celebrated the second edition of the Global Tourism Investment Forum. Joining Ministers of Tourism for the event in Cabo Verde were business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors, with a special focus on innovation and sustainable recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the crisis causing levels of Foreign Direct Investment in tourism to plummet 73%, the Forum provided a platform for diverse stakeholders to support and promote investments in the sector. Panel discussions, led by leading experts from across the tourism and finance sectors, focused on “innovation and investment”. Alongside providing an analysis of the investment climate in African tourism, including in the case of Cabo Verde, the discussions also addressed potential measures for promoting sustainable investments, digitalization and innovations, the future of mobility and sustainable transport, as well as using targeted investments to drive economic recovery, job creation and resilience post COVID-19.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Unlocking tourism’s potential

UNWTO is committed to promoting and building investments in tourism to unlock the sector’s potential to drive recovery and provide opportunity for all

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Well targeted investments can stimulate entrepreneurship, create jobs and drive the green transformation of our tourism, in Africa and worldwide. UNWTO is committed to promoting and building investments in tourism to unlock the sector’s potential to drive recovery and provide opportunity for all.”

The event was opened by José Ulisses de Pina Correia e Silva, Primer Minister Cabo Verde, and featured the participation of Tourism Ministers from across Africa as well as from Spain and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as of investment bodies, multilateral funds, African regional economic communities, and from the private sector, including travel tech startups. Highlighting the international nature of the Forum, more than ten investors came from Europe to Cabo Verde to explore investment opportunities focused on innovation and infrastructure. They were joined by investors from South Africa, and the USA, with all participants benefitting from unique networking opportunities on the tourism island of Sal. Investors included RIU Group, Plug & Play, Aguaduna, CMC XXI, QEV Tech Electromobility Holdings, TUI Care Foundation, ALESA Group, Grupo Piñero and Fundacion Metropoli.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Capacity building and branding

Alongside the presentations and panel discussions, the Forum also featured capacity building workshops focused on investments and innovation, alongside an overview of UNWTO’s Brand Africa initiative aimed at helping destinations across the continent harness the power of digital marketing to reach new audiences and attract visitors.

The Little Africa Maio Project was also presented as an effective example of directed foreign investment in tourism with the potential to deliver a wide range of economic, social and ecological benefits.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Aquela Golf and Country Club Phang-Nga Opens

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Aquela Golf and Country Club Phang-Nga Opens

Phang-Nga, Thailand, September 7, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Aquella Golf and Country Club, a luxurious golf course overlooking the Andaman coastline, forming the center piece of the Aquella masterplan development, a short drive north of Phuket International Airport, the luxurious development will feature lavish pool villas, an18-hole championship golf course and clubhouse boasting first class integrated leisure facilities. Future development phases will see a 5star resort hotel and condominiums, along with other residential leisure facilities, such as tennis and spas that will make Aquella the place to live and enjoy leisure time in the region. Aquella affords incredible vistas of the pristine Thai Muang beachfront and turquoise Andaman Sea that stretches 2.5km along the property.

• Discover Thailand and the World’s Best Golf Courses at Top 25 Golf Courses.

Aquella Golf & Country Club, a par-72, 7,000+ yard golf course, that will showcase championship standard playing conditions and unrivalled services year-round. Without doubt, a true heaven-on-earth for golfers wishing to experience the best, that is sure to become a bucket list course for any passionate golfer visiting Thailand. Designed by Phil Ryan & Paul Reeves of Australian architecture firm – Pacific Course Design who utilised the land to provide golfers with an eclectic mix and variety of holes combining strategy and power. Sculpted to take in panoramic views of the Andaman Sea and nearby mountains, combined with narrow rolling fairways intersected by natural waterways and strategically placed bunkers, featuring striking bunker faces forged out of vintage wooden railway sleepers, it is sure to leave all golfer with lasting memories.

James Shippey, Managing Director of Absolute Golf Services the Thai based management group engaged to provide management services for the newly opened club said “It’s with great pride that we see all the hard work of the various stakeholders come together to form a truly amazing facility. We look forward to working with the team on the ground to continue to push operational boundaries to establish Aquella amongst the best in the region, not only in terms of golf course conditioning and playability, but the absolute focus on the delivery of service excellence. We see Aquella being one of the jewels in the crown of our management portfolio.”

Aquella is also graced by an outstandingly elegant clubhouse that allows you to sit back and relax in sumptuous comfort. The innovative inspiration of world-leading architects, Paradise Designs, blends authentic wood and modern styling, finished to the highest of standards thus ensuring all are captivated by the warmth of the Aquella welcome and offerings. Adorned by a rich variety of blooms and plants, the landscape offers the pleasant and cozy atmosphere of a luxurious country club for golfers and guests to relax and rejuvenate during and after a round or a meal in the restaurant.

Furthermore, Aquella boasts a fully equipped driving range with 20 undercover bays featuring automated ball dispensers, along with a grass tee, a fun and challenging mini golf course, again crafted by Pacific Coast Design. Within the clubhouse you will have the opportunity to work on your fitness in the state-of-the-art Gymnasium, pamper yourself in the luxurious Spa, enjoy casual and fine dining at the Approach Restaurant, all of which afford vistas overlook the golf course. Aquella also caters for banquets on a purpose-built function lawn and VIP meetings within its high-tech conference facilities.

General Manager Simon Mees said “We are ready to welcome both domestic and international golfers when the current situation allows, and I am sure that those who visit will be thoroughly impressed by the course and its ancillary facilities. Together with AGS we have implemented some unique touch points for Thailand, such as Visage GPS on all carts and a visitor cashless passport system. We are dedicated to providing a guest experience that will truly set us apart and make Aquella a market leader as we continue to develop and enhance our product and the services we offer”

• Discover Thailand and the World’s Best Golf Courses at Top 25 Golf Courses.

The Aquella development is a collaboration between two leading Hong Kong development companies – Pacific Century Premium Developments (PCPD) and the Lan Kwai Fong Group (LKF). Aquella Golf & Country Club is managed and operated by Absolute Golf Services (AGS), a leading golf course management and consultancy company in Asia.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Africa Tourism Leaders Identify Investments as Key to Sustainable Recovery

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Africa Tourism Leaders Identify Investments as Key to Sustainable Recovery

Praia, Cabo Verde, September 7, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The African Members of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) have met in Cabo Verde to strengthen their cooperation and advance plans for recovery and sustainable growth.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

The 64th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) saw 23 countries represented on the island of Sal, with 21 Ministers of Tourism joining five Ambassadors for the high-level event. Opening the Commission meeting, the President of Cabo Verde Jorge Carlos Fonseca offered a warm welcome to UNWTO’s leadership and to all delegates. The President was joined by Cabo Verde’s Minister of Tourism and Transport, Carlos Jorge Duarte Santos, and Prime Minister Dr. Ulisses Correia e Silva in reaffirming support of the highest political level for tourism and recognition of the sector as a driver of recovery and sustainable development.

The continent is united in its determination to use the power of tourism to drive development and opportunity for all.

Chaired by Christine Kaseba Sata, Ambassador of Zambia to Spain and Permanent Representative to UNWTO, delegates addressed the biggest challenges standing in the way of the sector’s safe restart across the continent. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of speeding up vaccine rollouts across the continent, as well as addressing security issues that continue to have an impact on how global travellers perceive Africa as a safe tourism destination. Also on the agenda was the current level of connectivity between destinations, with improved air links the harmonization of travel protocols identified as an effective means for boosting regional tourism.

Tourism’s restart ‘essential’

Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili welcomed delegates to the Commission meeting, providing an overview of UNWTO’s work during the ongoing crisis and how this is driven by the stated priorities of its African Member States. He said. “The continent is united in its determination to use the power of tourism to drive development and opportunity for all. And with coordination and targeted investments, African tourism can finally fulfil its unique potential.”

Rebuilding trust in travel

In Cabo Verde, UNWTO Members were brought up-to-date on the development of the International Code for the Protection of Tourists, a landmark code aimed at helping restore confidence in travel. Members were also presented with an overview of the UNWTO General Programme of Work & Budget for the Period 2022-2023. Additionally, signalling a shared determination to keep moving forward even in challenging times, Members also held elections for key positions within UNWTO decision-making bodies ahead of the 24th General Assembly.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Building capacity

Running in parallel with the Commission meeting, UNWTO hosted capacity building workshops on innovation, digital marketing and investment These workshops were held ahead of the second edition of the UNWTO Global Tourism Investment Forum, opened by Prime Minister Dr. Ulisses Correia e Silva and featuring the participation of investors from Spain, Germany, Switzerland and the USA as well as public and private sector leaders from across Africa. Backing up the workshop on marketing, UNWTO also launched its new Brand Africa publication. Produced with key African Tourism Partners, the publication aims at helping destinations use effective branding to diversify and attract visitors.

Also in Cabo Verde, tourism leader celebrated the signing and approval of the UNWTO Declaration on the Future of Mobility and Sustainable Transportation, a commitment aimed at the better understanding of how investments can help make the sector greener while also encouraging greater cooperation between tourism authorities and transport providers. Concluding the Regional Commission meeting, UNWTO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Cabo Verde. The aim of the MoU is to enhance cooperation between UNWTO and the Ministry of Tourism to strengthen the country’s branding, boost tourism education initiatives, and support research into the socio-economic impact of the sustainable development of tourism across Cabo Verde.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

MORE THAN A FAM: A new face for the Air Canada Race

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When is a FAM more than a FAM? When it’s the first one in a year and a half and a chance to travel again and experience a normal that is both new and nothing like we’ve seen before.

Indeed, the enthusiasm from hosts Air Canada and Switzerland Tourism – and more than three dozen Canadian travel agents (and two Americans) – for last week’s Air Canada Race 2021 last week was palpable.

The event, said Air Canada VP of Canada and USA Sales Lisa Pierce, expressed “courage, optimism for the future, and the opportunity to start a new path.”

Participants clearly agreed, giving Pierce’s colleague, key race organizer Edna Ray, a standing ovation by agents on the trip’s final night in Engelberg. Similarly, Switzerland Tourism’s Ursula Beamish-Mader.

Initiated in 2006, the Race has grown from a domestic event to an extravaganza that has featured several US cities, and more recently, international venues such as London, Edinburgh and France. The most recent edition took place in Kissimmee, Fla., in 2018, after which plans for Switzerland began.

“We’ve come a long way, baby (from the first Richmond-Whistler, BC, race),” Ray laughed.

But after Kissimmee, a little thing called the pandemic intervened and, ultimately, the Race flags finally dropped in Basel, Switzerland on Aug. 27 after the group convened in Toronto to fly together to Zurich, courtesy of Air Canada, carrying on to the host city by train.

Participants assembled the following morning, split into groups, and were sent off to discover the host city through a series of interactive tasks patterned after The Amazing Race TV show. Agents wrapped cookies, played Pictionary, dressed mannequins, and scurried through a museum to find quiz answers, amongst other activities, which included travelling by foot, tram, and water taxi along the way in pretty Basel, Switzerland’s third largest city.

A workshop with dozens of eager Swiss suppliers followed on Monday and the formal portion of the Race ended in a good old-fashioned travel industry gala at the posh Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois. Such was the import of the evening that it was attended by Canadian ambassador to Switzerland Susan Bincoletto.

Another indication of the significance of the first international trade delegation to visit Switzerland since the pandemic: Basel’s brand new Movenpick hotel opened ahead of schedule to house Race participants, who were the only guests.

“Basel bent over backwards to welcome us,” Rays enthused, adding the purpose of the Air Canada FAM is to help agents make business connections for the future, but also to give them “a little sample that inspires you to come back and send clients – that’s the idea!”

For Switzerland Tourism’s Canadian director Pascal Prinz, the Race was an opportunity for the country “to show that if you are smart and use science, you can travel again,” adding, “We can only do so many seminars. At some point you need to be on a plane again, you need to be on a train again. We can tell you many things, but you need to see it yourselves: you are the ones people call.”

Edmonton travel agent Tara Sparshu said she’s eager to share her insights from the trip. “I told clients I’m going to do it (first-hand). I’m going to do the COVID test!”

She added that the Race was also something to look forward to during challenging times, which is a sentiment shared by Ray, who noted that the Race’s raison d’être – keeping agents engaged and motivated – is even more important during a pandemic.

Travel agents at the top of Titlis Mountain, near Engelberg, Switzerland

Switzerland Tourism CEO Martin Nydegger said that hosting the race – and post-trip excursions for participants to Gstaad or Lucerne-Engelberg – was a way to show that “the trade is incredibly important to us,” especially at a time when consumers need “expertise and guidance” from travel counsellors.

Moreover, carrying through with the Race was another way for Switzerland to demonstrate its commitment to the “really important” Canadian market, where its office has remained open and active throughout the pandemic with the goal of ensuring the country remained top of mind when travel was able to resume.

Canadians and Swiss are culturally very similar and, better still, friends, Nydegger observed, adding, “We made a point to never disappear (during the pandemic).

“Friends don’t disappear!”

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

SHARK TOURISM GROWS ON CAPE COD: 

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There’s no ominous music, no telltale fin breaking the surface as the powerful silhouette of a great white shark glides alongside the small tour boat off Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Michael Simard crouches low and points a finger in the direction of the roughly 10-foot (3-meter) predator cruising in the glassy water below.

The 48-year-old construction foreman from Cambridge, Massachusetts, glances back at his partner, Penny Antonoglou, who dutifully pulls out her smartphone while he holds the pose. Smile. Click.

“It’s awe-inspiring, really,” Simard said after the tour, where they spotted at least six great whites. “I didn’t realize how graceful they were. It does put it into perspective that this is their element, and we just share it with them.”

Three summers after Cape Cod saw two great white shark attacks on humans – including the state’s first fatal attack since 1936 – the popular tourist destination south of Boston is showing signs it’s slowly, tentatively embracing its shark-y reputation.

A small but growing group of charter boat operators are offering great white shark tours in a region where whale and seal watching excursions have long been a tourist rite of passage.

The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, a prominent nonprofit shark research organization, is among those that have jumped into the shark ecotourism game. It’s also renovated its Shark Center, a family-friendly museum showcasing its research into the local shark population, and is building another educational outpost set to open next summer in the bustling tourist center of Provincetown.

Elsewhere, local shark-themed merchandisers are reporting brisk businesses, even as the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted parts of the region’s tourism industry. Cape Cod hosts about 4 million visitors a year, who bring in more than $1 billion in tourism spending and support thousands of jobs.

“It feels like we’re on the trajectory of it being a point of pride for Cape Cod,” said Patrick Clarke, owner of the jewelry company Cape Clasp, of the region’s white sharks. “A lot of the initial fear and hysteria was the fear of the unknown, but we’re learning more and more about them every year.”

Clarke makes a range of jewelry featuring whales, turtles and other marine life, but says the shark-themed pieces – specifically a bracelet made from marine-grade cord held together by a great white shark-shaped sterling silver clasp – are consistently his top sellers.

In Chatham, a hub of the local shark tourism industry, a company that started selling popular stickers of Cape Cod in the shape of a great white shark some seven years ago has taken off as the local shark population has also come into its own.

Kristina Manter says Cape Shark, the apparel company she co-owns with her boyfriend, opened a brick-and-mortar storefront on Main Street last summer to sell a range of hoodies, sweatpants, T-shirts and other clothing adorned with the logo.

“We’re not just popping up because we saw the tourism. We’ve been around because we’ve loved the sharks and believed in their conservation,” Manter says. “It just kind of fell together perfectly.”

There’s no definitive tally for how much shark-related tourism contributes to the roughly 65-mile (105-kilometer) peninsula’s economy, but its growth is helping stretch the tourist season into the fall, as peak shark sightings happen in August and September, says Paul Niedzwiecki, CEO of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.

Indeed, dozens of beaches have temporarily closed in recent weeks after sharks were spotted as close as 30 feet (9 meters) from some of the Cape’s most famous stretches of sand. Shark researchers say they expect to be out tagging and observing the predators into November, if the weather permits.

“Several years ago, there was a concern that it might have a negative impact on tourism,” Niedzwiecki said. “But we’ve been working to educate people about sharks and what we’ve actually seen is no negative impact.”

Since the 2018 attacks, Cape officials have invested in better training and equipment for lifeguards and first responders to keep beachgoers safe as great white sharks migrate in ever larger numbers to feast on the region’s bountiful seal population.

But a group of concerned residents, vacationers and other advocates have formed a nonprofit to push for more sophisticated and proactive shark safety measures, such as undersea detection, land-based warning systems and drone surveillance.

Local surfers, meanwhile, have taken to arming themselves with shark repellents, including personal devices that emit electrical fields that supposedly deter but don’t harm sharks.

Concern about great whites is growing elsewhere in New England, especially after a New York woman was fatally bitten by one in Maine last July, becoming the first person to die by shark attack in the state. Dozens of marine organizations and state agencies from Rhode Island to Canada formed a consortium to collaborate on shark research in response.

Greg Skomal, a state marine biologist currently studying the hunting patterns of the Cape’s great whites, says shark tours could prove beneficial, so long as they continue to be done responsibly.

There are currently no licensing or registration requirements for the tours, but those and other regulations should be considered if more join the fray, he said.

The state banned the use of bloody chum, decoys and other bait to lure sharks in 2015, meaning the kinds of shark cage diving operations that are common in Australia, South Africa and other shark-rich destinations aren’t allowed in Massachusetts waters, unless they’re more than 3 miles (5 kilometers) offshore, where state jurisdiction ends.

“We’re very sensitive to activities that alter the sharks’ natural behavior,” said Skomal. “We don’t want six (tours) following a single shark into shallow water near swimming beaches.”

Like most operations, Mike Bosley’s Dragonfly Sportfishing generally stays hundreds of yards (meters) off shore, in water more than 8 feet (2.4 meters) deep. Bosley, who captained the shark tour Simard and Antonoglou took last month, hopes shark watching tours can bring a different perspective to the local shark discourse.

“There’s always been sharks, but there hasn’t always been the opportunity to interact with sharks in this fashion,” said Bosley, “They’re part of our ecosystem.”

But it’s a relatively costly outing: The nearly three-hour tours, which rely on an overhead “spotter” plane to locate sharks, range anywhere from $1,600 to $2,500 per boat, and the vessels typically carry six passengers at most.

Antonoglou, a 47-year-old civil engineer, says the eye-opening experience is worth the expense.

“When people think of great whites, they think of ‘Jaws,’ but it’s not like that at all,” she said. “It’s pretty cool that we know they’re out there. The populations are thriving, and I think it’s a great asset for the Cape.”

 

 

 

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ROUND-UP:Aug. 30-Sept 03, 2021

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Ontario is queuing up for QR codes; Hurricane Ida ravaged the US, south and north; Sunwing makes staff vaccinations mandatory, and latest doings at Disney, all in today’s round-up.

NEWS

Ontario has joined the growing list of provinces introducing COVID-19 vaccine passport systems. The province will require residents aged 12 and older to show their vaccine receipt and a piece of government-issued photo ID starting Sept. 22 in order to access the indoor areas of restaurants and bars, nightclubs, meeting and event spaces, gyms and theatres. As of Oct. 22, residents will receive a QR code that will serve as proof of vaccination, which businesses can scan using a government app.

Sunwing says it will be requiring all new and existing employees across all Canadian divisions be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The new policy aligns with the Government of Canada’s recent announcement that it intends to require vaccination across all federally regulated industries later this fall. Employees will have until Sept. 13, to provide proof of their full vaccination status or their intention to vaccinate.

Sixteen years to the day that Hurricane Katrina ravaged Louisiana, Hurricane Ida blasted ashore in the state as one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the US, blowing off roofs and reversing the flow of the Mississippi River as it rushed from the coast toward New Orleans. Ida’s 230 kph winds tied it for the fifth-strongest hurricane to ever hit the mainland US The storm continued north and devastated parts of the northeast, including New York City, where flooding catastrophic flooding and multiple deaths occurred.

RE-OPENING/RE-START

On Aug. 29, Crystal River Cruises celebrated the resumption of European river cruise operations as Crystal Ravel sailed from Vilshofen on a seven-night Danube itinerary, followed by the next day by sister ship Crystal Debussy seven-night Rhine itinerary from Basel, Switzerland.

Oceania Cruises also welcomed guests across the gangway on Aug. 29 for the first time in 524 days. Marina was the first of Oceania Cruises’ ships to resume sailing and is also the first cruise ship to sail from the port of Copenhagen since 2019. Next up for the cruise line will be a restart by the Riviera, which resumes sailing in the Greek Isles on Oct. 18; Insignia from Miami on Dec. 21 on a six-month-long “Around the World in 180 Days” voyage; Sirena starts in the Caribbean on Jan. 21, 2022; Regatta will sail Feb. 5, 2022, in Polynesia; and Nautica will make waves in the Mediterranean on April 1, 2022.

British soldiers in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats are once again parading outside Buckingham Palace as the Changing the Guard ceremony resumed after a pandemic-induced 18-month gap.

DELAYED/ CANCELLED

Due to current market conditions resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to provide enhanced liquidity, Celestyal Cruises says it as decided to sell its “Experience” vessel and will revert to operating the same sized fleet it had prior to the pandemic. The cruise line will resume 2022 operations with the Crystal and Olympia in March.

BY THE NUMBERS

In July, Destination Canada launched a Canadian travel packages portal, showcasing 130 different itineraries for domestic travellers to explore and experience the best of Canada. The Canada tourism board reports that to date, it has received over 1.46 million views and has created 86,000-plus leads to tour operators. Any Canadian tour operator that sells direct to consumers is invited to have their product placed on the site by emailing traveltrade@destinationcanada.com.

AIR

Montreal Lounge, Air France

A fully redesigned Air France lounge at Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport is now open. In association with the Plaza Premium Group, the 490 sq. m. lounge has a seating capacity of 149 and is free for Business and Flying Blue Elite Plus customers; other AF and KLM can purchase passes subject to availability. The new space features seats and large sofas, a shared work, free Wi-Fi and USB sockets, showers, and more. Flying Blue Ultimate customers have access to a more private space. It is open from 2 to 10 p.m. daily.

New service between Toronto and Scotland will be launched by WestJet next spring with the addition of non-stop flights to Edinburgh and Glasgow set to launch on June 2, 2022, while flights between Glasgow and Toronto will begin on May 20, 2022. The former is set to operate three-times weekly, while the latter will operate four-times weekly. Flights between Halifax and Glasgow are also set resume next spring.

Porter Airlines has completed the modernization of its De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft fleet with a series of updates ahead of its return to flying on Sept. 8. All 29 aircraft now feature the new TiSeat E2 from Expliseat, the world’s lightest aircraft seat, along with a number of other cabin enhancements.

Air Canada’s loyalty program Aeroplan has announced a new multi-year strategic partnership with the LCBO that will enable Aeroplan members to earn points when shopping at LCBO stores across Ontario. The partnership will launch before year end.

TOURS

G Adventures has introduced a “Vaccinated Tours” program, with each trip having a fully vaccinated chief experience officer (CEO or tour guide) confirmed to lead the tour, on which all travellers must also be fully vaccinated. The tour operator notes that 304 October departures across 116 tours will operate as Vaccinated Tours and 64 departures will be designated as Travel-Ready. On the former, all travellers and CEOs must have received a full COVID-19 vaccination with the final dose administered at least 14 days prior to day one of the tour. On the latter, all travellers and CEOs must have either received a full vaccination or have a negative PCR test within 96 hours prior to departure. An icon will be featured next to each trip on G’s website to indicate a tour’s status.

Starting in November, Sunwing returns to the national capital region with flights and packages from Ottawa International Airport for the 2021-22 winter season. Through April, the travel company will offer 11 different destinations across the Caribbean and Mexico, amongst them Los Cabos, Cancun, Punta Cana, Holguin and Montego Bay. At the same time, the company says it will offer 10 different sun destinations this winter from Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport this winter, beginning Nov. 1.

DEALS

The new “10,000 Seats Under $299” flash sale by Air Transat invites Canadian travellers to book their fall travels through Sept. 13 for flights departing from Montreal, Quebec City, or Toronto for travel between Sept. 20 and Dec. 16, to the South (Cuba, DR, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, St Maarten), Florida (Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando) and within Canada (Calgary, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver). Listed rates are for one-way Economy or Eco budget fares; the later can only be booked through Sirev Air and GDS. See the web site or Get Connected for details.

As part of Ottawa Tourism, Tourisme Montréal and Destination Toronto’s newCity Friends with Benefits campaign, Air Canada is offering 20% off valid new bookings through Sept. 30 between Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa for travel on Friday, Saturday and Sundays through Dec. 31; and VIA Rail is similarly offering 20% off best available fares (excluding Escape fares) between the three cities on bookings made by Oct. 8 for travel between Sept. and Dec. 31. Check the details HERE.

CRUISE

Holland America Line says travellers can anticipate a restart date of May 2022 for Volendam and Zaandam. The ships will join Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam and Zuiderdam, which have returned to service or are slated to restart cruising by November 2021. The Volendam will explore Northern Europe and Zaandam will return to the Canada/New England region. With these new start dates, the Grand World Voyage and Grand South America and Antarctica Voyage will not operate in 2022 and will resume in 2023.

Dubai will be the setting for the naming ceremony of MSC Cruises’ new flagship, MSC Virtuosa. Set to take place on Nov. 27, the occasion will also be a part of the celebrations surrounding the Golden Jubilee of the UAE and will be staged during Expo 2020 Dubai. Following the naming ceremony, the ship will depart for its maiden Gulf voyage on Nov. 28, the first of a series seven-night cruises with visits to the ports of Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas, Dammam in Saudi Arabia and Doha with additional embarkations at Abu Dhabi and Doha.

HOTELS

Holiday Inn Dublin Airport has recently opened in the Irish capital. The new build hotel has 421 rooms and is located 10 minutes from Dublin Airport Terminals and a short reach of the city’s Guinness Store House and Old Jameson Distillery.

A new Maldron Hotel has opened on Renfrew Street in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland. Located in the former STV headquarters, the four-star property has 300 rooms and is centrally located, offering a great new hub in the city for short breaks and getaways.

RESORTS


As part of their ongoing Paradise Protection Protocols initiative, Saint Lucia’s Premium All-Inclusive Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa and the luxury, couples-only Serenity at Coconut Bay have brought back their offer of free travel insurance included with stays of five-nights or longer. The insurance program covers medical and quarantine expenses up to US$100,000 and is free for international arriving guests and all bookings made through Oct. 31 for travel through June 30, 2022. Guests staying fewer than five nights have the option to purchase the insurance within 24 hours of arrival on resort for US$39 p.p.

Effective Sept. 1, Elite Island Resorts, with all-inclusive hotels in Antigua, St. Lucia, The Grenadines, Barbados, and Panama, requires all guests over the age of 12 to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination upon arrival.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS

Fifty years ago, the Walt Disney World Resort opened its gates in Orlando and beginning Oct. 1, 50th anniversary festivities – dubbed “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” – will begin. Find out more, along with the latest news from Disney Destinations – including on the new Disney Dream, Avengers Campus, and Adventures by Disney – at our special Disney inFocus microsite. Click .

EVENTS

Sept. 30-Oct 1: ACTA has announced the addition of several keynote speakers and topics for the upcoming virtual Travel Industry Summit. Seminars will include: Dr. Dominique Tessier –The Travel Health Group – Restoring Confidence and Travelling Safely in the COVID-19 era; Indira Barthelemy and Megan Mustonen, Global Affairs Canada – Travel Advisories and the Role of Global Affairs; Amandine Gicquel, IATA – The Airline Industry and the Demand for Travel; Marie-Claude Du Cap – CEO, Aléas – Due Diligence: Explore new ways of marketing your agency to meet client needs; and Brett Walker, CATO, and Nathalie Guay – ATOQ – Restarting and Rebuilding your Relationship with Tour Operators. ACTA notes that the trade show will take place on Day 2 of the event from 2 to 14:30 p.m. EST, with over 40 exhibitors already confirmed.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

Continuing to expand its presence in key markets throughout Canada, Direct Travel, Inc., has acquired Ottawa-based McCord Travel Management. The company will now operate as McCord Travel, A Direct Travel Company. McCord Travel founder Scott McCord will join the Direct Travel senior management team as Director of Customer Experience and continue to oversee the operations of McCord Travel.

DESTINATIONS

Cruise ships will still be docking in Venice, thanks to a temporary solution that re-routes big ships away from the fragile canal that skirts the historic city. Temporary landing places are being set up to accommodate up to 10 cruise ships at the Venice Ro-Port Mos Terminal in Fusina. It’s a compromise to salvage the fall cruise schedule following an Aug. 1 decree banning all ships from the city, but not the final answer.

Peru has created its first fully protected marine area, the Nazca Ridge National Reserve. Covering approximately 62,400 sq. km. of Peruvian territorial sea, the reserve is mainly intended to protect an undersea mountain range that occurs in the region, from 1,800 to 4,000 m. deep, providing a space to conduct deep marine research. The area is off the south coast of Peru and puts almost 8% of the country’s marine domain under protection.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Farnek Launches Hotel Management Company

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Farnek Launches Hotel Management Company - TRAVELINDEXDubai, UAE, September 6, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Leading UAE-based smart and green facilities management (FM) company Farnek has developed its hospitality division into an all-embracing hotel management company under the leadership of renowned UAE-based international hotelier Walter Knight.

• Discover Dubai’s Best Luxury Hotels and Awards at Top25Hotels.com.

Knight was originally responsible for structuring and developing Farnek’s fledgling hospitality division earlier this year. Farnek started by providing a comprehensive range of outsourced and third-party services, including concierge services, housekeeping, property operations, maintenance, energy consultancy (POMEC).

Farnek’s endeavours met with early success, securing numerous contracts which included the new Expo Village, situated on the Expo 2020 site. Farnek is currently responsible for managing the reservation services, concierge, front office services and housekeeping, for the 2,273 apartments.

Furthermore, under the trade name of Farnek Hotel Management, the company can now expand its services to cover all aspects of hotel and resort management from initial consultation to day-to-day operations.

Knight, director of hospitality commented: “Originally we were aiming for a service offering, which not only embraced traditionally outsourced FM and manpower services, but also managing revenue driven services, such as central reservation offices and associated sales services.

“Now with our hotel management licence, we can approach hotel developers, investors, owners and management companies direct with a full suite of services including consultancy, management, outsourcing and manpower services proposition.”

Farnek is no stranger to the hospitality sector in the Middle East and has been supporting the UAE’s hospitality sector for over 40 years, in which time it has amassed an extensive portfolio of hotel contracts, which include five-star brands such as Marriott, Sheraton, Sofitel and Rotana.

Its consultancy division has been helping hotels and resorts become more sustainable over the past 15 years. Indeed, Farnek’s Hotel Optimizer software, can record, analyse and benchmark a property’s energy and water consumption, as well as waste generation, along with expert recommendations to operate more cost-efficiently and sustainably.

Furthermore, Farnek is a preferred partner and auditor for Green Globe the worldwide sustainability accreditation system based on internationally accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses.

“Our strategy was to create an unrivalled 360-degree market proposition for the hotel sector, and we have now achieved that. Moreover, we also have some exciting smart products in development that will be launched very soon, complementing and interfacing with existing property management systems,” said Markus Oberlin, CEO Farnek.

• Discover Dubai’s Best Luxury Hotels and Awards at Top25Hotels.com.

“This gives Farnek a very clear competitive edge, in an industry that will see major changes in the way hotels are managed and operated, with the advent of artificial intelligence, sustainability, human capital development and the digitisation of asset management over the years to come,” he added.

About Farnek
Farnek is the leading provider of sustainable and technology-driven Facilities Management in the United Arab Emirates. Established in the UAE since 1980, Farnek Services LLC is a Swiss-owned independent total facilities management company. With a skilled workforce of more than 8,000 employees, Farnek delivers professional Facilities Management services across several sectors: Aviation, Hospitality, Banking, Retail, Telecom, Residential, Commercial, Infrastructure, Government, Education, Leisure, and Entertainment.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

PATA Gold Award Winners to be Announced Live September 8

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PATA Gold Award Winners to be Announced Live September 8 - TRAVELINDEX - VISITMACAO.orgMacao, Macao SAR, September 6, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will be announcing the winners of the 2021 PATA Gold Awards live on September 8, 2021.

Supported and sponsored since 1995 by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), this year’s awards will recognise the achievements of 18 Gold Awards and two Grand Title Winners during the virtual 2021 PATA Gold Awards Presentation on Wednesday, September 8 at 12.30 pm Macao, China time (GMT+8).

The winners were chosen by an independent judging committee of 18 select travel industry peers from around the world.

Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of MGTO, said, ““In these challenging times due to the pandemic, the best practices in tourism marketing and sustainability to be unveiled by the PATA Gold Awards are even more deserving of our attention as they show the tourism industry at its best. I look forward to seeing you join us at this year’s virtual ceremony to announce the list of awardees live. Macao is honoured to continue its long-standing support to PATA and contribute to rebuild a more sustainable tourism industry.”

PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera said, “The winners of the PATA Gold Awards set industry standards for excellence and innovation and provides the Association with the perfect opportunity to recognise and reward the very best the Asia Pacific travel industry has to offer. I encourage all industry stakeholders to join us in celebrating the achievements of all the winners and be inspired by their accomplishments. In addition, we are sincerely grateful to MGTO for once again sponsoring the PATA Gold Awards 2021 and for their continued commitment to a responsible and sustainable tourism industry.”

PATA will present 18 Gold Awards and two Grand Title Winners for best of show entries in Marketing, and Sustainability and Social Responsibility.

All interested parties can register for the event at

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

IATA July Passenger Traffic Boost – Well Below Pre-COVID Levels

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IATA July Passenger Traffic Boost – Well Below Pre-COVID Levels - AIRLINEHUB.com - TRAVELINDEXGeneva, Switzerland, September 6, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that both international and domestic travel demand showed significant momentum in July 2021 compared to June, but demand remained far below pre-pandemic levels. Extensive government-imposed travel restrictions continue to delay recovery in international markets.

Because comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted all comparisons are to July 2019, which followed a normal demand pattern.

  • Total demand for air travel in July 2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 53.1% compared to July 2019. This is a significant improvement from June when demand was 60% below June 2019 levels.
  • International passenger demand in July was 73.6% below July 2019, bettering the 80.9% decline recorded in June 2021 versus two years ago. All regions showed improvement and North American airlines posted the smallest decline in international RPKs (July traffic data from Africa was not available).
  • Total domestic demand was down 15.6% versus pre-crisis levels (July 2019), compared to the 22.1% decline recorded in June over June 2019. Russia posted the best result for another month, with RPKs up 28.9% vs. July 2019.

“July results reflect people’s eagerness to travel during the Northern Hemisphere summer. Domestic traffic was back to 85% of pre-crisis levels, but international demand has only recovered just over a quarter of 2019 volumes. The problem is border control measures. Government decisions are not being driven by data, particularly with respect to the efficacy of vaccines. People traveled where they could, and that was primarily in domestic markets. A recovery of international travel needs governments to restore the freedom to travel. At a minimum, vaccinated travelers should not face restrictions. That would go a long way to reconnecting the world and reviving the travel and tourism sectors,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

International Passenger Markets

  • European carriers saw their July international traffic decline 64.2% versus July 2019, significantly bettering the 77.0% decrease in June compared to the same month in 2019. Capacity dropped 53.8% and load factor fell 19.9 percentage points to 69.0%.
  • Asia-Pacific airlines’ July international traffic fell 94.2% compared to July 2019, barely improved over the 94.7% drop registered in June 2021 versus June 2019 as the region continues to have the strictest border control measures. Capacity dropped 86.0% and the load factor was down 48.2 percentage points to 34.3%, by far the lowest among regions.
  • Middle Eastern airlines posted a 74.5% demand drop in July compared to July 2019, surpassing the 79.2% decrease in June, versus the same month in 2019. Capacity declined 59.5%, and load factor deteriorated 30.1 percentage points to 51.3%.
  • North American carriers’ July demand fell 62.1% compared to the 2019 period, much improved on the 69.4% decline in June versus two years ago. Capacity sank 52.0%, and load factor dipped 18.6 percentage points to 69.3%.
  • Latin American airlines saw a 66.3% drop in July traffic, compared to the same month in 2019, improved over the 69.8% decline in June compared to June 2019. July capacity fell 60.5% and load factor dropped 12.6 percentage points to 72.9%, which was the highest load factor among the regions for the ninth consecutive month.
  • Australia’s domestic traffic sank further from a 51.4% decline in June versus the same month in 2019, to a 75.4% decline in July versus two years ago, amid stricter domestic lockdowns in response to a spike in the Delta variant.
  • US domestic traffic continued to recover in July, and was down just 7.7% compared to July 2019, improved from a 14.0% decline in June versus June 2019.

The Bottom Line
“As the Northern Hemisphere summer travel season draws to a close it is clear that too many governments missed the opportunity to apply a risk-based approach to managing their borders. The growing number of fully vaccinated travelers and the prevalence of testing provided the chance to restore international connectivity and bring much needed relief to economies that are heavily reliant on travel and tourism. Instead, governments continued to behave as if it was the summer of 2020. Economies and the labor force will pay the price for decisions that were made not based on science, but on political expediency. Governments have rightly urged their populations to be vaccinated; now governments need to have confidence in the benefits of vaccinations—including the freedom to travel,” said Walsh.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Climate Friendly Travel Summer School Launched

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Climate Friendly Travel Summer School Launched

Valletta, Malta, September 4, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / SUNx Malta is launching the first Climate Friendly Travel Summer School – a week-long, online course featuring world class lectures and interactive learning. The sessions will provide an intensive introduction to Climate Friendly Travel – low carbon: SDG linked: Paris 1.5, which will be the future path of the global Travel Industry. It will mean increasing career opportunities in Sustainability and Climate Resilience and the course will prepare attendees for a continuing role in SUNx Malta’s national resilience programs around the world.

Course Outline
Explore key components of Climate Friendly Travel and acquire knowledge to encourage tourism companies and communities to become Zero GHG by 2050 through the Climate Friendly Travel System.

Become part of a global community of Strong Climate Champions to assist Travel and Tourism stakeholders find green and clean pathways to the future.

5-Day Online training 3 hours a day from 1300-1600 CEST*

  • 27 Sep – The UN 2030/2050 Green and Clean, Climate Friendly Travel Framework.
  • 28 Sep – The eXistential Climate Crisis.
  • 29 Sep – SUNx CFT DASH to Zero: Transformation & Resilience.
  • 30 Sep – Paris 1.5 It’s all about the Numbers.
  • 01 Oct – Strong Climate Champions: Action Agenda.

*Please check your local time.

Fee: FREE. Free doesn’t mean it has no value. The course is priced at EUR 120. We are able to offer it for free only for this very first course to support SUNx Malta’s vision to advance Climate Friendly Travel around the globe.

Limited spots available! Register today to not miss your place!

All sessions will be hosted through ZOOM. Stable internet connection is required to join. Zoom link will be emailed closer to the course date. Certificate of Participation will be endorsed on attending all sessions. We encourage interactions during the course.

Course Director Professor Geoffrey Lipman, President of SUN x Malta, said:
“This is not just another of the many Travel & Tourism courses and training programmes. We are focused on preparing graduates for a clean and green post-Covid future, helping Travel & Tourism companies and communities transform in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and 2050 Paris Agreement. We aim to create 100, 000 climate champions worldwide by 2030 and these programmes are designed to identify the core issues for the post–pandemic green and clean tourism sector, promote climate hope through youth awareness , education and empowerment, SUN x Malta is a legacy program for the late Maurice Strong, Climate and Sustainability pioneer,

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News