Global Travel News

ASEANTA Partners Virtual Platform to Amplify Business Opportunities

 500 263 wttc2
By:
ASEANTA Partners Virtual Platform to Amplify Business Opportunities - VISITASEAN.org - TRAVELINDEXPutrajaya, Malaysia, August 14, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA) has signed an agreement with Malaysia-based analytics and big data company Fusionex to develop ASEANTA Travel Exchange (ATEX), a comprehensive virtual exhibition and engagement platform, to help facilitate an inclusive business environment and provide greater access to new markets.

• Discover the ASEAN Countries with VisitASEAN.org, the platform for accessing the entire tourism sector of the ASEAN Region, go to VisitASEAN.org

By leveraging ATEX to pivot from physical to virtual during this pandemic, ASEANTA will be able to seamlessly improve accessibility, connection and engagement while removing the restrictions of time and space through virtual exhibitions, webinars, digital marketing campaigns, and more.

Eddy Krismeidi Soemawilaga, president of ASEANTA, said that the collaboration between ASEANTA and Fusionex will help “take tourism in the region to new levels and to firmly establish (South-east Asia) as one of the most viable and attractive tourism destinations in the world”.

Powered by Fusionex technologies, the platform is expected to go live in 4Q2021, offering a suite of innovative solutions to empower ASEANTA in organising virtual events while driving meaningful and measurable online interactions.

The platform offers an intelligent B2B matchmaking feature that connects local enterprises with global businesses, thereby expanding market reach. Travel and tourism players can also leverage the platform’s global distribution system to conduct secure and uninterrupted business transactions.

In addition, the platform enables businesses to showcase their offerings via virtual booths, facilitate pitching sessions through live streaming, provide real-time reporting capabilities as well as performance monitoring and measurement features. It will also allow enterprises to capitalise on AI-powered digital marketing tools to tailor personalised campaigns.

ATEX enables ASEANTA to not only create engaging online events but also generate vital business prospects and develop networking opportunities in a data-driven way.

Nigel Wong, secretary-general at ASEANTA, shared that the association will leverage the platform to organise virtual talks and seminars for its members, with attendees being able to interact with speakers. As well, there will be static travel-related content curated by ASEANTA in a variety of formats.

• Discover the ASEAN Countries with VisitASEAN.org, the platform for accessing the entire tourism sector of the ASEAN Region, go to VisitASEAN.org

The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2022 and its B2B Travex will be hosted by the Cambodian government in Sihanoukville from January 16-22.

Thong Rathasak, chairman of ASEAN National Tourism Organisations and director general for tourism development and international cooperation at Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, shared that the ATF 2022 might take on a hybrid format, but nothing is set in stone yet.

Wong shared that the ATEX would complement the B2B travel exchange component by providing industry players with an extended opportunity to continue leveraging the awareness generated about the ASEAN member countries through the ATF and other similar regional events online.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Listen to the Music: W Hotels Announces Rising Latinx Performer Elsa y Elmar as Latest W Records Artist

 840 840 wttc2
By:
W-Records_ELSA-Y-ELMAR_Adios-Amor_Single-Art.jpg

W Hotels Worldwide today announced Elsa y Elmar as the latest artist to create exclusive music for W Records, the iconic hotel brand’s private record label. Today marks the release of Elsa y Elmar’s cover of the hit song “Adiós Amor,” made popular by award-winning Mexican singer, Christian Nodal. The Colombian-born artist joins fellow W Records alums Japanese Breakfast, Amber Mark, Roosevelt and Perfume Genius as the first Latinx artist on the imprint.

The first of the two singles, “Adiós Amor,” drops today both digitally and via limited edition runs of vinyl, and was recorded in a W Sound Suite, the brand’s signature, on-site recording studio, at W Hollywood. W guests and fans can see Elsa y Elmar perform an intimate set at W Mexico City on August 24, 2021 as she showcases listener favorites, her soft and gentle spin on “Adiós Amor,” as well as a new, original W Records track that will be released at midnight.

“Recording in the W Sound Suite at W Hollywood was such a fun experience,” said Elsa y Elmar. “The setting was perfect, the vibe was right, and all my needs were taken care of while I did what I love doing the most: making music. Los Angeles is such an intense and inspiring city, and the W Sound Suite is an oasis of creativity in the middle of Hollywood.”

As with all W Records collaborations, the label will once again support a cause that is important to both W Hotels and the artist. 100% of proceeds from the streaming of the two Elsa y Elmar tracks will benefit La Casita de San Ángel, a Mexico City-based organization that partners with companies to find productive, steady employment for adults with intellectual disabilities and/or neurological damage.

Elsa y Elmar is a recognized bilingual singer-songwriter from Colombia who currently resides in Mexico City. She was discovered by W Records in February 2020 and, within days, had Elsa record her two tracks for the record prior to signing with Sony Music Mexico last year. Elsa y Elmar’s “spiritual pop” music has resonated with music lovers everywhere as she has over 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify and is currently the 8th most-listened-to Colombian female artist on the popular streaming service.

“We’re thrilled to finally release Elsa y Elmar’s music to the world after sharing in her creative process in the W Sound Suite at W Hollywood,” said Carly Van Sickle, Senior Director, Global Brand Marketing, W Hotels Worldwide. “It’s been an amazing journey and we’re honored to see Elsa y Elmar’s latest creation come to life as W Records’ first Latinx artist, joining a lineup that includes some of the most exciting breakthrough artists in music today like Roosevelt and Japanese Breakfast.”

LISTEN TO “ADIÓS AMOR” HERE

Listen to these W Records Releases:
Japanese Breakfast – “Essentially”
Japanese Breakfast – “Head Over Heels”
Amber Mark – “High On Your Love”
Amber Mark – “Can You Hear Me (ReWork)”
Perfume Genius – “Alan (Rework)”
Perfume Genius – “Not For Me”
Roosevelt – “Falling Back”
Roosevelt – “Everywhere”

About W Records
W Records is an award-winning record label and resource for artists selected by W Hotels and their music industry partners. From recording to release, W Records supports artists through every step of development, providing recording space, mixing and mastering and finally, distribution of the new sound via live performances, streaming and vinyl production. Tracks for W Records are recorded, naturally, in W Sound Suites (the brand’s signature, on-site recording studios). Tracks from each artist are released through W Records both digitally and via limited edition runs of vinyl which are gifted to tastemakers, DJs and W fans as a throwback way to enjoy new/next music.

Production Notes
W Records is supporting emerging artists on the tipping point of worldwide fame with production, distribution, and live performances. Each artist lays down tracks in a W Sound Suite (either W Hollywood, W Barcelona, W Bali or W Seattle) and records a cover as well as an original track. Once the tracks are mixed and mastered, W releases a limited-edition run of vinyl which are sent to DJs, tastemakers as well as music-loving Marriott Bonvoy members.

The Liner Notes
The W brand’s long-standing relationships with music industry partners, promoters, media and influencers helps W Records artists cut through an overcrowded market. Artists get direct exposure to more than 150 million Marriott Bonvoy members, providing a huge audience from the start. W Records is in part overseen by Giant Step, the marketing agency that has created award-winning campaigns for brands like Intel, Samsung and ABSOLUT. Like W, Giant Step has a true passion for music and is a recognized brand within the industry having worked with many notable artists over the years including Amy Winehouse, Janelle Monae, Lady Gaga and Daft Punk. The W Records team and capabilities are similar to a small but powerful independent label. W Records is supported by both in-house and music-centric PR teams between SEQUEL (W brand) and Grandstand Media, non-commercial radio promotion from co-sign, along with Giant Step’s marketing team adding DJ, tastemaker and influencer marketing to the program’s scope and D Music Marketing, a Miami based music marketing agency with an expertise in LATAM in radio, PR and digital marketing. Global distribution is provided by AWAL (Tom Misch, 3LAU) which connects W Records with audiences through top streaming services including Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and Deezer. This combination of a nimble label team with the marketing power of W Hotels and Marriott International creates a unique and exciting prospect for the artists working with W Records to amplify their sound on a global scale.

To learn more about W Hotels and music, visit w-hotels.marriott.com and follow @whotels and #WRecords on Instagram, and to stay up to date with Elsa y Elmar head to elsayelmar.com and follow her on Instagram at @elsayelmar. To book your own recording session at a W Sound Suite, visit: W Bali, W Barcelona, W Hollywood, W Seattle.

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.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Elizabeth Bishop
Marriott International
Elizabeth.Bishop@marriottluxurybrands.com

Alexandra Marín
SEQUEL
amarin@sequel-inc.com
201.779.1886

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Introducing the Strong Earth Awards

 500 290 wttc2
By:
Introducing the Strong Earth Awards

Brussels, Belgium, August 13, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / SUNx Malta, a legacy program for Maurice Strong, Sustainability and Climate activist half a century ago, promoting Climate Friendly Travel, and Les Roches, one of the world’s leading hospitality business schools, announce the annual Strong Earth Awards which will be presented at the ShiftIn’ Festival on 19th November.

The award is for students interested in a future advancing Climate Friendly Travel – low carbon: SDG linked: Paris 1.5. There will be 6 awards of 500 Euro each donated by Les Roches. They will be given for the best 500-word “thought paper” on:

“Why the Earth Charter is even more important now than when it was introduced by Maurice Strong and Michael Gorbachev in 2005”

The competition has been designed to draw attention to the important sustainability messages contained in the Earth Charter, as well as the vision of the late Maurice Strong and its increasing relevance in today’s Climate challenged world.

For more information on the awards please go to www.thesunprogram.com

Please email entries to awards@thesunprogram.com. Judging will be done by a team of Strong Climate Champions, chaired by Professor Geoffrey Lipman.

Entry is open until October 15th 2021

Professor Geoffrey Lipman, President of SUNx Malta said “As the latest IPCC Report dramatically makes clear we are running out of time to fix the eXistential Climate Crisis. Only tomorrow’s young leaders will be able to make the tough choices to get us to meet Paris targets. The Earth Charter, conceived by Maurice Strong, is an essential building block for an understanding of Climate Friendly Travel and the resilience needed now. We are delighted to partner with Les Roches, one of the world’s top hospitality business schools to add another dimension to our Climate Friendly Travel education program and to prepare tomorrows Strong Climate Champions for the essential transformation.”

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Egyptian Economy Faces Daily Losses Due to UK Red List Status

 500 293 wttc2
By:
Egyptian Economy Faces Daily Losses Due to UK Red List Status

Cairo, Egypt, August 13, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Research conducted by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed that the Egyptian economy could face daily losses of more than EGP 31 million if it stays on the UK’s travel ‘red list’.

Based on 2019 levels, Egypt’s status as a UK’s ‘red list’ country will pose a significant threat to the nation’s struggling Travel & Tourism sector and overall economy warns WTTC.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Updates here.

According to pre-pandemic figures, UK visitors represented five per cent of all international inbound arrivals in 2019.

The UK was also the third biggest source market for Egypt, only just behind Germany and Saudi Arabia.

However, WTTC research shows that ‘red list’ restrictions are deterring UK travellers from visiting Egypt.

The global tourism body says this is due to fears over the additional costs incurred on expensive hotel quarantine for 10 days on arrival back in the UK, and expensive COVID-19 tests.

Egypt’s economy could face a drain of more than EGP 237 million each week, equating to more than EGP 1 billion every month.

Virginia Messina, Senior Vice President and Acting CEO WTTC, said: “Every day Egypt stays on the UK’s ‘red list’, the country’s economy faces losing millions just from the lack of UK visitors alone. This policy is incredibly restrictive and damaging as travellers from Egypt also face mandatory hotel quarantine at a huge cost. 

“The UK’s government decision to add Egypt to its ‘red list’ has a massive impact not only on the nation’s economy, but also the many thousands of ordinary Egyptians who rely upon a thriving Travel & Tourism sector for their livelihoods.

“The UK’s vaccine rollout has proved incredibly successful with more than three quarters of the adult population double jabbed, and 59% of the total population fully vaccinated. The likelihood is that anyone travelling to Egypt would be fully inoculated and therefore pose minor risk. 

“Our data shows just how important Travel & Tourism is to the country, and how critical it is for the Egyptian government to ramp up the vaccination rollout if it is to have any chance of recovering this vital sector, which is fundamental to the country’s economic recovery.”

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Updates here.

WTTC research shows the dramatic impact COVID-19 has had on the Egyptian Travel & Tourism sector, with its contribution to the national GDP falling from EGP 505 billion (8.8%) in 2019, to just EGP 227.5 billion (3.8%) in 2020.

The report also shows in 2020, as the pandemic ripped through the heart of the sector, 844,000 Travel & Tourism jobs were lost across the country.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Synlab and IATA Partner to Facilitate Safe Travelling

 500 285 wttc2
By:
Synlab and IATA Partner to Facilitate Safe Travelling

Munich, Germany, August 12, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Synlab, Europe’s leading medical diagnostic services provider, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced a partnership to facilitate safe and easy travel. Today, the two partners signed an agreement to incorporate SYNLAB’s extensive lab network into IATA Travel Pass. This will enable airline passengers to access SYNLAB’s broad and secure COVID-19 testing services, benefiting from its international capabilities. SYNLAB and IATA build upon valuable experience gained during a successful pilot project for passenger testing in Columbia over the course of the past months.

IATA Travel Pass allows passengers to locate authorised laboratories at departure locations to get tested for SARS-CoV-2 as required by border and health authorities. After testing, SYNLAB will provide passengers with their certified test results directly through the IATA Travel Pass. The app checks the result against the IATA Travel Pass registry of national entry requirements to produce an “OK to Travel” status. Through the app passengers can share their status and the digital test certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel.

IATA Travel Pass applies the highest data security standards. Authorised laboratories directly send COVID-19 test results to the passenger’s phone as a verifiable credential. This way, the IATA Travel Pass is a digital solution that also prevents potential forgery of test results.

Mathieu Floreani, CEO of SYNLAB, says: “We are pleased to partner with IATA to make travelling as safe as possible. At a time when people around the world are resuming air travel and different variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are spreading, testing remains crucial. Testing is a central pillar in monitoring and controlling the pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus. As the market leader in Europe for PCR testing, we have conducted 18 million PCR tests since the outbreak of the pandemic, underlining our strong expertise in this incredibly relevant field.”

Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, says: “Verified COVID-19 testing is critical to restore the freedom to travel for people who are not vaccinated. IATA Travel Pass aims to make it as simple as possible for travellers to locate certified labs and securely receive the test results that governments require for entry. Adding SYNLAB’s extensive lab network will help travellers more easily ensure that they meet their COVID-19 travel requirements.”

SYNLAB has a proven track record of implementing large-scale SARS-CoV-2 testing concepts: as trusted and long-standing medical partner and advisor to national healthcare systems, governmental entities, international companies, and associations. With its network of more than 450 medical laboratories and over 1,600 sample collection points across 36 countries, SYNLAB is dedicated to offer medical excellence with reliable testing services and shortest possible turnaround times.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

A LIFE OF LUXURY: The World’s Best Cities for Five Star Luxury

 537 1080 wttc2
By:

For many people the only thing better than travelling the world – is travelling the world in the lap of luxury. However, luxury often comes at a hefty price, so the only thing better than luxury for many of us is – affordable luxury.

If you’re looking for a destination for your next lavish holiday, new research from LuxuryHotel.com reveals both the cheapest and the most expensive cities in the world for five-star luxury hotel stays.

Here they are – take your pick:

The world’s most expensive cities for a five-star hotel stay

The Cheapest 5 Star Stays in Europe
Methodology:

LuxuryHotel.com’s took its list of cities from Euromonitor’s Top 100 City Destinations, omitting five cities due to lack of data. It then used Booking.com to find out how many hotels there are in each city, and of those how many are five-star hotels. This site also gave them the average costs per room of a night in a five-star hotel in each city.

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

THE SPICE IS NICE: Grenada earns ‘culinary capital’ chops

 1080 364 wttc2
By:

Grenada has been named world’s first “Culinary Capital” by The World Food Travel Association, recognizing the Caribbean destination’s unique culinary and cultural attributes, including its status as “the spice isle.” The regenerative tourism program has been devised by the WFTA to put the spotlight on culinary cultures around the world as the tourism industry begins to recover after its long hiatus.

Acting CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) Kirl Grant-Hoschtialek says the Culinary Capital destination accreditation is a “huge achievement” for Grenada.

“We are known around the world as the Spice of the Caribbean, so it is fitting that we are the first Caribbean island to earn this designation,” he says. “This will undoubtedly attract discerning travellers who want to explore the link between food and culture, and who want to ensure that every dish they have on their vacation tastes amazing!”

The WFTA says the integration of spices into Grenada’s cuisine has resulted in an “overall robust and flavourful national food profile,” and adds, “from fine dining to casual beachside restaurants and even street food, it is undeniable that Grenadians have a taste and flair for delicious food. The islands are perfectly positioned as a Culinary Capital, with their many distinctive culinary assets to showcase.”

Examples include the cultural festival tradition of saraka, and culinary staples like chocolate, nutmeg ice cream, handcrafted rums, and of course, the ubiquitous national dish dubbed “oil down” – a stew of breadfruit, salted meat, chicken, dumplings, callaloo, and other vegetables, all stewed in coconut milk, herbs, and spices and served as a tasty one-pot meal.

WFTA also noted the many uses of the spices on the island – both in food and for medicinal and wellness purposes.

With its unique culinary culture now “official,” the GTA is set to market the destination to “foodie travellers” and further develop the island’s food tourism offerings in an attempt to put Grenada on the map for consumers who travel for unique and memorable food and beverage experiences.

Erik Wolf, executive director of the World Food Travel Association, the world’s leading authority on food and beverage tourism, says, “Smaller destinations like Grenada need every competitive advantage, and that is what Culinary Capitals provides. Savvy food-loving travellers are adding destinations like Grenada to their bucket lists right now, eagerly waiting for when they can travel again.”

The Culinary Capitals program accredits eligible destinations through a rigorous application process. The program is about much more than just earning recognition. Successful destinations also receive marketing and strategy support for the coming year as leverage their new moniker for marketing purpose. And for food- and beverage-loving travellers, Culinary Capitals designation gives them new choices with under-visited destinations, which, according to the WFTA, is exactly what travellers now seek post-pandemic.

Grenada, along with sister islands Carriacou and Petite Martinique, comprises one destination located in the southern Caribbean near Barbados. Beyond its culinary fare, the islands boast 50 white sand beaches, 15 waterfalls, countless hiking trails, and 60 dive sites including the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean and the world’s first Underwater Sculpture Park.

St. George’s, Grenada

ACCOMMODATION NEWS

• Royalton Grenada Resort and Spa (opening October) is Royalton Luxury Resorts’ newest all-inclusive property with 269 rooms. Located on two white-sand beaches in Tamarind Bay, the resort offers relaxing ocean views and a host of water sports.

• Spice Island Beach Resort (reopening October) is a luxury, AAA Five Diamond all-inclusive resort located on Grand Anse Beach offering beachfront gourmet dining, romantic getaways, luxury spa and more.

• Six Senses at La Sagesse (opening 2022) will mark the brand’s debut resort in the Caribbean. Spread over 15 hectares over the natural topography of the land affording space, privacy and uninterrupted views over the turquoise sea. The resort will offer 56 guestrooms, seven one-bedroom villas and five two-bedroom villas.

• Kimpton Kawana Bay Grenada Resort (opening 2022) will be a 146-room hillside retreat, tucked away between tropical rainforest cliffs and the world-renowned Grand Anse Beach. Amenities include private pools overlooking Grand Anse Beach, chef-driven restaurant, lounge and beach bars, fitness center, spa and water sports facilities.

• Levera Nature and Beach Resort (opening 2022) is set on 125 hectares of Grenada’s pristine northeast coast with airport accessibility and offering sweeping views of the Eastern Caribbean Sea and southern Grenadine Islands. The resort complex will feature boutique hotels, hotel cottages, private homes sites, villas, and access to two private islands for secluded, intimate getaways.

GETTING THERE

Air Canada will restart mainline service to Grenada on Nov. 3 with direct weekly flights from Toronto Pearson on Wednesdays and Sundays.

ENTRY PROTOCOLS

All persons (over 12) entering Grenada either by air or sea must be fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccination and present a negative PCR test result, taken within three days of arrival. A ‘Pure Safe Travel Authorization Certificate’ is needed by each traveller, including children, arriving in Grenada. Fully vaccinated travellers are only required to quarantine until clearance is received from health officials within 48 hours, pending a negative PCR test on entry.

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

WTTC: UK Government Should Pay for Expensive PCR Tests

 500 299 wttc2
By:
WTTC: UK Government Should Pay for Expensive PCR Tests

London, United Kingdom, August 11, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) says the government should bear the cost of hugely expensive and unnecessary PCR tests for fully jabbed citizens, which are deterring Britons from travelling.

Over the weekend, the UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid requested the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) step in to investigate ‘excessive’ pricing and ‘exploitative practices’ among PCR Covid test firms.

This follows widespread reports of vast differences paid by travellers for PCR tests by different companies.

Currently, the cost of PCR tests vary enormously between providers, with the average costing around £75. However, some firms are offering express PCR test results within 90 minutes at a cost of up to £400.

This makes UK PCR tests among the costliest in Europe – partly due to the 20 per cent VAT charge applied on top.

Now WTTC, which represents the global private Travel & Tourism sector, says it’s time the government stepped up to pay for people’s PCR tests in full if they are fully jabbed.

This would remove the huge financial burden, which is depressing demand for travel, effectively halting the revival of international travel.

Genomic sequencing data from PCR tests is harvested by the government to rapidly identify variants of concern, understand transmission and slow the spread, however WTTC challenges why consumers should have to pay for this.

The global tourism body believes if the government won’t pick up the bill for PCR tests, it should at the very least replace the need for PCR Day two tests from green and amber countries with affordable and effective antigen tests, for fully vaccinated travellers. As in other countries, only those testing positive should need to take a PCR test.

Virginia Messina, WTTC Senior Vice President and Acting CEO, said: “For many people – especially families and small businesses on a budget – the crippling added cost of the unnecessary PCR tests makes the difference between being able to travel or not.

“It’s clear that many British adults simply can’t afford to travel overseas at all if they have to pay the excessive cost of PCR tests.

“More affordable antigen tests, with PCR tests for those who do test positive, will help keep travellers safe and make taking a trip overseas within the budget of most people.

“But if the government wants extra information for genomic sequencing – they should pay for it. If they don’t pay, then consumers will vote with their feet and avoid international travel altogether, further damaging the already struggling UK Travel & Tourism sector.

“At the very least, we support the investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to look into the excessive pricing of PCR tests which is deterring the revival of international travel.

“But unless the government sees sense and accepts the financial responsibility for PCR tests for the fully vaccinated, WTTC fears the UK Travel & Tourism sector is going to continue to buckle while demand for travel remains depressed.”

According to research by WTTC knowledge partner, YouGov, carried out earlier this summer*, almost half of British adults (47 per cent) viewed the financial costs of COVID-19 tests as a main barrier to international travel.

The research also found worries over the cost of tests were placed even ahead of personal health concerns, which came in at 34 per cent.

Meanwhile, more than half (53 per cent) of British adults said the cost of PCR testing will make a significant impact on their budget if they were to travel abroad this year.

Last week WTTC also called upon the UK government to abandon the confusing and damaging traffic light system and replace it with green and red list categories.

These more easily understandable rules, for double-jabbed and unvaccinated travellers, would let consumers know exactly where they stand to make informed decisions about where to travel.

WTTC says under its plans, returning UK visitors would only need an affordable antigen test, with additional costly PCR tests reserved for those who tested positive.

Unvaccinated visitors would continue to take a test on departure, as well as a PCR test on Day two of their return.

WTTC has helped to spearhead the coordinated international response to the impact of the pandemic upon the global Travel & Tourism sector – which has so far cost 62 million jobs in the sector and suffered a loss of almost US$4.3 trillion.

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

First Bill Bensley Art Gallery Opens in Vietnam

 500 307 wttc2
By:
First Bill Bensley Art Gallery Opens in Vietnam

Danang, Vietnam, August 11, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / An exciting and exclusive new art experience is ready to open at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort! The Bensley Outsider Gallery will feature a collection of original works of art by internationally renowned architect and designer, Bill Bensley, which can be viewed and purchased by in-house guests and outside visitors alike.

Located at the Sky Level of the resort, the Bensley Outsider Gallery is a naturally-lit pavilion in a cobblestone courtyard. It will house 50 colourful and bold artworks, including prints and paintings. Visitors can also hear the story behind each artwork through a unique interactive storytelling approach that uses QR codes and YouTube videos.

Upon opening, the Bensley Outsider Gallery at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort will become Vietnam’s first and only Bill Bensley gallery.

“Bill Bensley has enjoyed a long relationship with our resort; he designed it and continues to do so as we change and evolve,” said Seif Hamdy, General Manager of InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort. “The Bensley Outsider Gallery is a fantastic opportunity to showcase his artworks to our guests and the public. We are proud to house his only gallery in Vietnam; this adds another exceptional new experience for our guests – one of a number that we will be introducing in the coming year,” he added.

Bill Bensley is a highly-acclaimed architect, interior designer and landscape architect who has created some of Asia’s most iconic hotels and resorts. He took up painting just three years ago and the gallery’s name, “Outsider”, reflects his feeling that he is not a classically trained artist – he considers himself an outsider in the art world.

While he feels like an outsider however, Bill Bensley is certainly a talented artist. His Fauvist style of painting bursts with bright and beautiful colours, delightful forms and a touch of humour. He also strives to incorporate his trademark gift of storytelling into each piece.

Visitors will be able to purchase the featured artworks, with prices starting from USD 250. Passionate about wildlife protection, Bill will donate proceeds from his art sales to wildlife charities, including those dedicated to combating poaching in Southeast Asia.

The Bensley Outsider Gallery will be officially unveiled upon the reopening of InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, when conditions allow. It will be open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Wednesdays through Sundays, and no appointment is necessary.

InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is located on the spectacular natural preserve of the Son Tra Peninsula, north of Danang City, Vietnam. Designed by Bill Bensley, it is considered one of Asia’s most prestigious beach resorts.

First published at TravelCommunication.net

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

World Economic Forum President Comments on IPCC report

 500 277 wttc2
By:
World Economic Forum President Comments on IPCC report

Geneva, Switzerland, August 10, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Børge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum, comments on today’s release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report.

The forest fires and floods of recent weeks delivered a clear language. And so does the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report: we need to cut the carbon in our atmosphere now.

Extreme heat is not a future problem. It is already here. 2010 to 2019 was the hottest decade ever recorded, and temperatures will continue to rise unless dramatic action is taken.

Industry is responsible for nearly a third of global emissions.

And that’s why the World Economic Forum is bringing together businesses and governments to ensure that we move further and faster.

Over 100 CEO Climate Leaders are setting ambitious carbon commitments and are calling on governments to act.

We are working with over 400 global companies to cut emissions in tough areas like shipping, construction, and aviation.

Through our Tropical Forest Alliance and 1T.org platforms – we are halting deforestation.

There is even a business case to do the right thing: Cutting carbon emissions can create nearly 400 million jobs and $10 trillion dollars of business value by 2030.

We cannot stop fighting the fires and the floods, but we must act to give the future a fighting chance.

First published at TravelCommunication.net – Global Travel News

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News