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Chevalier Paris Opens New Five-Star Hotel at Faubourg Saint-Germain

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Chevalier Paris Opens New Five-Star Hotel at Faubourg Saint-Germain - HOTELWORLDS.com - TRAVELINDEXParis, France, May 26, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Saint Germain des Pres, one of the most desirable neighborhoods of Paris, and the recent opening of Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain is a welcome addition to an area with few five-star properties. Pavillon de Faubourg Saint-Germain is part of Chevalier Paris, an independently, family-owned chain of boutique hotels in Paris, which includes Pavillon de la Reine, Pavillon des Lettres and Hotel des Petit Moulin, which all are part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World list. Earlier this month we were invited to take a tour of the hotel and have lunch with Vanessa Jacquiot, the director of sales and marketing of the Chevalier Group.

Historically, the hotel was a former palace constructed in 1642, and in the early 1900s it became a hotel, changing ownership several times. Before the Chevalier Group took it over, it was modernized in 2015 and called The Saint Hotel. Although the hotel was completely gutted and then refurbished, the Chevalier Group desired to put their signature stamp on the hotel and decided to renovate the rooms and the public spaces.

The Chevalier family has been cultivating the art of entertaining in its boutique hotels and restaurants for over 40 years in the most beautiful locations of Paris.

She has created a haven of peace in the former residence of Anne of Austria on the Place des Vosges, an architectural jewel from the reign of Louis XIII. The hotel Le Pavillon de la Reine has become the reference for luxury and discretion. Its Restaurant Anne was awarded a Michelin star in 2020.

Facing the presidential palace of the Elysée, the Pavillon des Lettres pays tribute to literature. Each of its 26 rooms celebrates a world-renowned author.

Le Petit Moulin, the smallest hotel in the group, holds a special place in the group’s portfolio. Located in the heart of the Marais, in a building dating back to Henri IV, we owe the abundance of creativity in its decoration to famous designer Christian Lacroix.

The Chevalier family’s new venture crosses the Seine to the left bank, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, and opens the doors to a new place to live: the Pavillon Faubourg Saint-Germain. A place steeped in history, where great poets, writers and artists such as James Joyce, T.S. Eliot and Léo Ferré stayed at the beginning of the 20th century, and which now welcomes Parisians from all over the world in its hotel, restaurant, bar and spa.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

European Business Aviation Growth in Full Swing

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European Business Aviation Growth in Full Swing - EXEJET.com - TRAVELINDEXSao Paulo, Brazil, May 25, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / European business aviation is about to get into full swing, despite the region lagging North America. The president and chief executive of Embraer Executive Jets, Michael Amalfitano, predicts the market here will soon match the growth levels the other side of the Atlantic has seen in the past 12 months.

“We are seeing corporates coming back, as they have in the US,” says Amalfitano, speaking to FlightGlobal a few days ahead of the show. “It is also being driven by first-time users and buyers. They can’t find pre-owned aircraft and most of them want the current technology and a sustainability platform, so they are coming to our brand in a big way.”

One of the Brazilian airframer’s most important customers, Flexjet, late last week confirmed it was adding three Praetor 600s to its European fleet this year, citing a 180% increase in flight activity in the region in the first four months. It is part of an order for 64 Embraer aircraft the Directional Aviation-owned fractional placed at the 2019 National Business Aviation Association convention.

Embraer also announced at the show this week that it was now offering Ka-band connectivity as a retrofit across its Praetor and Legacy families – the Legacy 450 and 500 pre-date the Praetor 500 and 600. Flexjet is the first to adopt the modification, on its European fleet of Legacy 500 types. Embraer already offers Ka-band as a factory option on its two Praetor models.

The super-midsize Praetor 600 and the Phenom 300E light jet remain the stand-out performers for Embraer, which also offers the midsize Praetor 500 and the entry-level Phenom 100EV, alongside the now out-of-production regional jet-derived Legacy 650 and Lineage 1000. The Phenom 300E, and its predecessor the Phenom 300, have been the best-selling light jet for more than a decade.

The company is showing a Praetor 600 and a Phenom 300E on the static at Geneva. “We have our best one-two punch at the show,” says Amalfitano. Both types have done well in the fractional sector. At last October’s NBAA convention, Embraer signed with Flexjet’s main rival NetJets for 100 Phenom 300s, almost doubling the Berkshire Hathaway-owned company’s fleet of the light jet.

Embraer delivered 35 executive jets between January and March, its strongest first quarter since 2016, with backlog expanding by 12%. Amalfitano says the airframer will ship 100 to 110 aircraft this year, and says supply, rather than demand, is the main brake on it delivering more. In common with the rest of the industry, Embraer and its vendors are wrestling with raw material shortages.

Embraer also this week announced it was partnering with rating system provider 4Air to offer its customers the opportunity to offset their use of carbon from flights. Customers who enroll on Embraer’s support programme will receive 25h of complimentary carbon offsetting, after which they can negotiate further deals with 4Air.

So where does Embraer go now in terms of its product journey? While the Legacy 600 and Lineage 1000 were the regional and military aircraft manufacturer’s route into business aviation in the noughties, the company’s focus has since shifted to smaller gauge types. Will it eventually try to compete with Bombardier, Dassault and Gulfstream in the long-range, large-cabin segments?

“We’re not a me-too player,” Amalfitano insists. “Everything you have seen Embraer do has been disruptive, so when you see us going somewhere it’s going to be a disruptive product.” While he does not rule out a larger aircraft at some point, he says Embraer would only enter that space if it could deliver “something completely new to the marketplace”.

Instead, he hints, Embraer’s focus is likely to be at the “bottom of the market, where there is more activity”. Embraer’s investment in urban air mobility (UAM), through its Eve spin-off, gives the company “an opportunity to start all over”, he says. Eve – which remains 90% owned by Embraer after a share flotation – is developing a four-person electric vertical take-off and landing platform.

Embraer is famously the only new entrant to break into the aerospace market in a major way in more than half a century, after the business was launched as a state enterprise in 1969. The company was dealt a blow when Boeing pulled out of a planned merger with its regional jet division at the start of the pandemic.

It has left the Brazilian company focused on its three markets of commercial, military and executive aviation, where its other products include the E2 regional jet family, the C-390 military airlifter and the Super Tucano turboprop trainer, but without Boeing’s billions to help develop new products. However, when it comes to innovation, Embraer’s ability to surprise the industry is unsurpassed.

“In 52 years, we have certified 30 aircraft,” says Amalfitano. In UAM, it wants to do much more than simply design an air vehicle, as a host of other developers are doing. “We are working on the whole holistic solution around ATM [air traffic management], maintenance and training. We are taking that 52 years’ of experience but with a start-up mentality,” he says.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

A Night to Remember with World-Class Music and a Golden Opportunity to Give Back

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A Night to Remember with World-Class Music and a Golden Opportunity to Give Back - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, May 25, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the world, including Thailand. Many Thai children have not been able to go to school. Countless people have lost their livelihood. It will take all of us together to build back from this crisis.

“A Night to Remember: A Tribute to the Golden Era” Charity Concert and Silent Auction invites you to lend a hand to hundreds of Thai children who are reeling from the effects of the pandemic, and help lay their foundation, for a better life.

For the first time in Thailand, two a cappella groups from Harvard University and the award-winning Thai Youth Orchestra, will give an exclusive one-night-only performance on June 3rd, 2022 at the Park Hyatt Bangkok.

All proceeds from the concert and auction will be donated to the Community Children Foundation (CCF) Under the Royal Patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

Come and join us for a magical evening that will touch your heart. Become an advocate and take your place in the company of Thailand’s distinguished and charitable set.

The Evening
Let the SIGHTS AND SOUNDS of a cappella magic, crooned by 25 Harvard University students, and the majestic orchestral swell from the Thai Youth Orchestra bring you back to the Golden Era of the great American Songbook and beyond.

The Radcliffe Pitches
The Radcliffe Pitches, Harvard’s oldest treble-voiced a cappella group, was founded in 1975 at the historic Hasty Pudding Club. Today, the group is composed of 13 Harvard undergraduates who perform a repertoire inspired by artists such as The Andrews Sisters, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra.

Thai Youth Orchestra
TYO was founded 36 years ago by Professor Phukorn Srinarong with a clear vision: to create an international standard youth symphony orchestra, groom aspiring professional musicians and other career leaders through music education, and represent Thailand’s rich cultural heritage through classical music.

The Harvard Krokodiloes
The Harvard Krokodiloes are Harvard University’s oldest a cappella singing group, founded in 1946. From Cambridge to Cape Town to Carnegie Hall, the Kroks have delighted audiences worldwide with their unique blend of a cappella harmony and humor.

THE CAUSE

Community Children Foundation
CCF mobilizes social engagement and collaboration to promote children and youth development, enabling them to grow up to be quality adults. Today, the impact of CCF’s work can be felt nationwide in 35 provinces, with over 42,000 children benefiting from its education sponsorship program.

Become a Table or Silent Auction Advocate
Your support as an advocate can mean giving a child the basic foundation to transform his/her life. We invite you to join this meaningful opportunity.

Become a Table Advocate here
Become a Silent Auction Advocate here

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

‘SIGH OF RELIEF’: Travel and Tourism will lead Canada’s recovery

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The World Travel & Tourism Council’s latest Economic Impact Report (EIR) says Canada’s Travel & Tourism sector will catapult the nation’s economic recovery with its GDP contribution set to reach pre-pandemic levels next year.

“After the agony suffered by Canada’s Travel & Tourism, businesses across the country can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the sector begins to recover from the ravages of the pandemic,” said WTTC President & CEO Julia Simpson.

She added, “Following two years of severe and highly disruptive travel restrictions, which decimated the sector, the outlook for the future is much brighter for both jobs and the economy.”

The forecast from the WTTC shows the sector’s contribution to Canada’s GDP could reach $157 billion next year, just 0.8% below 2019 levels. (Ed. Note: All figures in Canadian dollars)

Looking to this year, the report shows the sector’s contribution to GDP is expected to grow 25.4% to $138 billion, amounting to 5.3% of the total economic GDP.

However, employment levels in the sector are set to grow at a slower rate, only 3% this year, reaching just over 1.5 million jobs.

Over the next decade, Travel & Tourism’s GDP is expected to grow at an average of 4.4% annually, more than twice the 1.9% growth rate of the country’s overall economy, to reach nearly $213 billion – 6.8% of the total economy.

The forecast also reveals the sector is expected to create more than half a million jobs over the next decade, averaging more than 50,000 new jobs every year.

Before the pandemic, Canada’s Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP was 6.3% ($158.1 billion) in 2019, falling to just 3.7% ($88.8 billion) in 2020, which represented a shocking 43.8% loss.

The sector also supported almost 1.7 million jobs in 2019, falling to just below 1.4 million in 2020, when the pandemic devastated the sector.

Following the significant decline in 2020, the global tourism body’s latest EIR report reveals that 2021 saw the beginning of the recovery for Canada’s Travel & Tourism sector.

Last year, its contribution to GDP climbed 24.4% year on year, to reach $110.4 billion.

The sector also saw a recovery of more than 116,000 Travel & Tourism jobs, representing a positive rise of 8.4% to nearly 1.5 million.

The sector’s contribution to the economy and employment could have been higher if it weren’t for the impact of the Omicron variant, which led to the recovery faltering around the world, with many countries reinstating severe travel restrictions

 

 

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

COVENTRY STRIPPED BARE: Revealing an under-the-radar UK gem

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Let’s be honest, Coventry doesn’t always jump out at travellers plotting a path through Britain’s more familiar towns and regions. Pity. The West Midlands city has much to recommend it, from a famous cathedral to being the home of British automobile manufacturing (including giants like Jaguar and Triumph), plus historic links to a little lady called Godiva.

Located a stone’s throw from “big sister” Birmingham (think Hamilton to Toronto), Coventry is enjoying a moment in the sun as a British City of Culture and is poised for further international recognition when this summer’s Commonwealth Games roll into the region (July 28-Aug. 8).

Visitors (or those glimpsing the city while watching the Games on TV), will discover Coventry is a pleasant place that belies its industrial past and has plenty to interest and entertain visitors, or those just passing through.

The one-time capital of England has a rich, medieval heritage (including striking architecture), vibrant shopping and food and drink scene, and sits the middle of leafy, green Warwickshire (Shakespeare country).

But residents also exude community spirit and are proud of their progressive social history as well.

“Coventry is a really special, unique city,” says Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director of Coventry City of Culture, who notes the city’s role in the international peace movement and as a “city of sanctuary and reconciliation”; as a forerunner in the environmental movement; home of novelist George Elliot, who championed women’s rights; and birthplace of “two-tone” music (and bands like The Specials and Madness) during a time of racial reckoning in the 1970s and ‘80s, among other attributes.

She adds that the city is “fantastically diverse” and a “city of many cultures (where) we like to celebrate the way everybody has helped make the city what it is.”

Compact and walkable, the city is centred around the Cathedral Quarter and the Broadgate public square. Both are integral reconstructions in a city that was devastated by 44 bombing raids by Nazi Germany in World War II, including “the big one” on Nov. 14-15, 1940.

Coventry Cathedral, new and old

That bombing raid destroyed the city’s spectacular gothic cathedral, which was rebuilt without reservation (completed 1962), becoming a symbol of “resistance and peace.”

The new Coventry Cathedral has been voted one of Britain’s most popular 20th century buildings and is home to a show-stopping 25-metre-long stained glass window, which floods the interior with brightly coloured light, giving the modern space an ethereal feel. Uniquely, modern art, including a massive tapestry by Graham Sutherland, adorn the structure, which also has Canadian connections. Visitors can climb 180 steps up to the top of the cathedral tower for sweeping views across the city. Situated beside the ruins of the original, the site attracts many thousands of visitors each year.

Other notable city sites include:

St. Mary’s Guildhall: One of the finest medieval buildings of its kind in England. Having stood proudly for almost 700 years, it once acted as a jail for Mary Queen of Scots and provided inspiration for George Eliot. The grand building is complete with stone carvings, wooden ceiling and a magnificent restored 10-metre-long religious tapestry dating back to the 1500s.

Three Spires: Coventry is known as “the city of three spires” with the Old Cathedral of St. Michael, Christchurch (Greyfriars), and the Holy Trinity Church (with its spectacular and rare examples of medieval doom paintings), comprising the holy trinity.

Lady Godiva: Coventry’s favourite famous daughter (banner photo) was a real 10th-century figure, memorialized with a cast bronze statue in 1949 in the centre of Broadgate Square (don’t worry, it’s family friendly). A prominent gentlewoman in her time, Godiva protested against oppressive government taxes (imposed, ironically, by her husband) by riding a horse across town in the buff, covered only by her long hair, into legend. The term “peeping Tom” similarly gained infamy for the fellow who refused to politely turn his back and not look as she passed by. The annual Godiva Festival will take place this September.

Transport Museum

Transport Museum: Motor enthusiasts, and even those who aren’t, can start their engines in Coventry’s Transport Museum, which houses the world’s largest publicly owned collection of British road vehicles and record-breaking fast cars. Reflecting the city’s historical reputation as the “Detroit of Britain,” the museum boasts hundreds of exhibits, from antique bicycles (invented in Coventry) to war vehicles, fire engines, double decker buses, race cars, and land-speed rockets. There’s also a collection of miniatures, and, of course, classis cars from local companies, including 16 stunners you could only dream of owning in the Jaguar gallery.

FarGo Village: After a short stroll from city centre along colourful Far Gosford Street, with its Penny Lane vibe and oddly inordinate number modern barbershops, the city’s creative flare emerges at FarGo Village, an artistic space that champions all things local. As well as foodie festivals and vibrant pop-ups, there are a host of unique local shops, eateries, the Twisted Barrel Brewery pub, and artistic studios in the Fargo Marketplace, all set within a repurposed industrial site.

Canal Basin: A stroll here gives a glimpse into Coventry’s industrial past. Once a buzzing centre for the coal industry, it is now laden with colourful narrowboats, rejuvenated warehouses full of quirky crafts and an art trail.

Home of two-tone: As the birthplace of two-tone music, which brought together Jamaican Ska and punk in 1970s and ‘80s Britain, Coventry’s musical heritage is undeniable. Genre-defining bands such as The Specials, Madness and The Selecter have strong links to the city, all of which are celebrated at 2-Tone Village, which also houses the Coventry Music Museum and the city’s Music Wall of Fame, alongside quirky fashion and record shops.

Coombe Abbey hotel and park

Coombe Country Park: Less than 10 km from the city centre, the former 12th-century Cumbe Abbey (founded in 1150) is an expansive 200-hectare site designed by England’s most famous landscape designer, Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown. Visitors (admission is free, parking for a fee) can discover rich woodland and tranquil fishing lakes, or up the ante at the GoApe outdoor activity centre, complete with treetop challenges, dual zip wires and Tarzan swing.

Coombe Abbey: For a quarter of a century, luxurious onsite Coombe Abbey has been a hotel, retaining the original manor house structure’s unique nooks and crannies, and welcoming guests to its 120-plus rooms, which come in all manner of shapes and sizes. Non-guests can stop in for afternoon tea or at the restaurant and bar.

Thanks to its City of Culture status, Coventry has seen significant investment in infrastructure with newly designed public spaces and railway systems, cultural institutions and outdoor artworks, and a new boutique hotel (The Coventry Telegraph Hotel, converted from the city’s iconic Telegraph newspaper building).

Situated in the heart of England, the city is also an ideal gateway, or base, for discovering neighbouring Birmingham, the Black Country Museum in Dudley; Stratford-Upon-Avon; Royal Leamington Spa; the market towns of Warwickshire, including Rugby, and Kenilworth; and Warwick Castle. It is also 90 minutes by direct train from London (Euston Station), making for an easy daytrip (in either direction).

 

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Marriott International Announces Two New W Hotels Signings In Italy with W Milan – Duomo and W Naples

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W Naples – Guest Room

Marriott International, Inc. today announced it has signed agreements to debut two new W Hotels in Italy with the signings of W Milan – Duomo and W Naples. Both hotels are slated to welcome guests in 2024, further expanding the brand’s footprint in the country, following the recent opening of W Rome and the signing of W Florence in 2021.

“We are thrilled to announce the signing of W Milan – Duomo with Gruppo Marseglia and W Naples with Solido S.p.A. The spirited cities of Milan and Naples have long been a destination of choice for global jetsetters, and we’re delighted to answer to the growing demand for luxury lifestyle hotels with these two significant signings,” said Gianleo Bosticco, Senior Director Development, Italy, Marriott International.

W Hotels Check into Italy’s Fashion Capital

W Milan – Duomo will bring the brand’s magnetic energy and distinctive design to the heart of Milan’s Fashion District. Situated in a prime location, W Milan – Duomo will be within walking distance of the city’s cultural landmarks including Piazza del Duomo, Teatro alla Scala and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Milan’s vibrant and iconic shopping street, Via Montenapoleone, is just a three-minute walk from the hotel.

First built as a bank in the 1920s, W Milan – Duomo will blend Milan’s classic grandeur with W’s bold branding and innovative programming. Led by Milan-based architects Stefano Boeri Architetti and international design firm Yabu Pushelberg, the hotel is expected to feature 166 guestrooms and 36 suites, including an Extreme WOW Suite.

Design plans for the hotel’s rooftop include the brand’s signature WET deck, offering spectacular views of the Duomo di Milano. The vistas continue with plans for an exclusive rooftop bar, W Lounge, and a signature restaurant; all complete with outdoor terraces and positioned to offer panoramic views of the city and the perfect aperitivo. Inspiring workout spaces are expected to include a 380-square-metre AWAY Spa, complete with an indoor pool and FIT fitness centre. Guests will also have access to the W brand’s iconic Whatever/Whenever® service.

“We are delighted to work with Marriott International on this exciting project, which will become a new point of reference in Milan for luxury lifestyle under the socially driven W brand. W Milan – Duomo will be an icon in the city for years to come,” said Leonardo Marseglia, Chairman of Marseglia Group.

The Majestic Bay of Naples Meets W Hotels Vibrant Energy

W Naples is set to become a buzzing centerpiece in the heart of the historical Piazza del Municipio square. The charming building, also formerly a bank, will receive a multi-million-pound renovation, with the historic façade remaining untouched playing homage to its historic past.

Old-world charm meets W Hotels’ unexpected design and innovative programming as the hotel is expected to serve as the perfect gateway to discover Naples by foot. Guests will find themselves immersed in the heart of the locally charged cultural scene with the hotel’s location just steps from the ancient Via Toledo known as the shopping street of Naples, the famed glass domed Galleria Umberto I and the prestigious UNESCO-listed, Teatro San Carlo, which is one of the oldest opera houses in the world.

W Naples will also be within walking distance of Molo Beverello Port where guests can dine al fresco with seafront views, or take a day trip to nearby Rome, Capri, Positano, or Pompei.

W Naples is set to bring together noble grandeur, culinary delicacies and couture fashion. The hotel is expected to feature 78 guestrooms, including 17 suites, several of which offer private terraces. The interior transformation will be headed up by the acclaimed Rockwell Group and design plans include a signature restaurant, W Lounge and FIT fitness center.

“We are so proud to have the W brand come to Naples. The hotel will provide a new social hub for locals and tourists alike when visiting wonderful Naples, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.” said Mr. Manuel d’Avanzo head of development of Solido S.p.A Group.

This announcement reaffirms the growth of W Hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, where the brand currently operates 14 properties and residences, with new openings planned across the region in exciting destinations such as, Portugal, Greece, Scotland and Czech Republic.

For more information, please visit www.whotels.com

For high-resolution images, please click here.

Credit: Marriott International, Inc.

Media Contacts
Georgie Noble, Director, Consumer PR, EMEA
Marriott International
Georgie.Noble@marriott.com

Lauren Singleton, PR Manager, Consumer PR, EMEA
Marriott International
Lauren.J.Singleton@marriott.com

About W Hotels Worldwide
Born from the bold, 24/7 culture of New York City, W Hotels has redefined hospitality for over two decades, breaking the norms of traditional luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands. With nearly 60 hotels around the globe, the detail-driven design, iconic Whatever/Whenever service and buzzing, signature Living Rooms create an experience that is often imitated but never matched. Dynamic and invigorating, the brand celebrates each travelers’ desire to uncover the destination through a lens that is distinctly W. 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 complimentary nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.

About Marriott International, Inc.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 8,000 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 139 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 Marseglia Group
The Marseglia Group has been operating in Italy since 1974. The company operates across the renewable energy, agro-industrial, electricity construction, finance, real estate, and hospitality sectors.

About Solido S.p.A Group
Solido S.p.A Group was born in 1987. The mission of the group is to operate in all the chain of real estate and finance. Providing turnkey project from residential to commercial and hotel development. Specialized in conversion of historical building, in its portfolio there are hotel and development in many countries around Europe.

About Società Rinascimento Valori
Managed by Marco Stoppelli, Società Rinascimento Valori is an advisory company specialized in value-added strategies in hotel projects and developments, with an innovative vision and extraordinary know-how and has acted as the advisor of Marseglia Group and Solido S.p.A. Group, also will lead the project management of the hotel renovation.

Read original article at Marriott Hotels

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

Thailand Eases Registration of Thailand Pass for International Arrivals

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Thailand Eases Registration of Thailand Pass for International Arrivals - VISITTHAILAND.net - TRAVELINDEXBangkok, Thailand, May 24, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Only essential information is required for foreign nationals to obtain a QR code, with will be issued automatically without a waiting time. Thailand’s Centre of COVID-19 Situation Administration approved the simplified Thailand Pass registration and entry rules for international arrivals, effective 1 June 2022.

Foreign nationals are still required to apply for a Thailand Pass (via https://tp.consular.go.th/), but will only need to provide passport details, vaccination, and an US$10,000 health insurance policy. The system will then automatically issue a Thailand Pass QR code for the applicants. Meanwhile, Thais will no longer be required to apply for a Thailand Pass.

Upon arriving in Thailand, vaccinated travellers must undergo entry screening, and will then be allowed entry and are free to go anywhere in the kingdom.

Unvaccinated/not fully vaccinated travellers who are able to upload proof of a negative RT-PCR or professional ATK test within 72 hours of travel via the Thailand Pass system will also be allowed entry and are free to go anywhere in the kingdom.

The CCSA also approved further easing of nationwide COVID-19 controls with three colour-coded zones: The Pilot Tourist Areas or blue zones, the Surveillance or green zone, and the Areas under Stringent Surveillance or yellow zone.

Night-time entertainment venues; such as, pubs, bars and karaoke lounges in the green and blue zones will be allowed to resume operation, including the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises up till 24.00 Hrs. However, all venues are told to strictly adhere to the prevention guidelines.

The CCSA also lifted the quarantine requirement for the high-risk contact.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

New WTTC Report on Digital Travel Post COVID

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New WTTC Report on Digital Travel Post COVID - TRAVELINDEXLondon, United Kingdom, May 23, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) today publishes a new report on best practices and support for governments for the introduction of a common ‘Digital Travel Portal’, to allow safe, stress-free travel, that would reduce delays at airports.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Updates here.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a lack of global coordination as governments introduced a constant patchwork of digital and paper requirements.

WTTC is calling for alignment to build resilience and ensure there is a clear global system focused on an individual’s health status that does not bring international travel to a standstill, which throughout the pandemic caused serious economic damage.

‘Implementing a Digital Travel Portal’, created by WTTC and The Commons Project Foundation, is aimed at governments and builds on the previously released ‘Digital Solutions for Reviving International Travel’ report published in December 21’.

The report gives a blueprint to governments on how to implement a Digital Travel Portal not only during COVID, but during any future health crises that threaten economies and global Travel & Tourism, by ensuring health checks are based on the individual, prior to travelling, to achieve a seamless journey.

The portal would enable travellers to electronically share, for instance, their digital COVID vaccination status, or any other required documentation, before they begin their journey.

Once booked, travellers would simply visit the online portal managed by the destination, where their documentation would be uploaded, verifying in seconds their status.

The data can also be combined with other standard security and visa requirements.

The previous report provided eight recommendations and addressed the global challenge posed by ever-changing policies and processes, which are not only complex and unsustainable, but also further hinder the recovery of an already struggling sector.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Over the past two years, governments reached for their own solutions to halt the pandemic by restricting travel, but the result was chaos. Chaos for the confused traveller and chaos for economies with the loss of 62 million jobs worldwide in 2020.

“Today we publish a report that provides guidance on how to create a single digital travel solution that governments can adopt and join up at an international level.

“If we ever face another pandemic, we must do a better job. People should be allowed to travel based on their individual health status by using a one-stop government digital platform before they start their journey.

“Governments talk about resilience post COVID. By investing in this system now, governments and their economies will be better protected against any future pandemics.”

Zhenya Lindgardt, CEO of The Commons Project Foundation, said: “As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, now is the time for governments to ensure preparedness for whatever may come next.

“The past two years have shown us that health will likely remain a core component of border crossing moving forward, and the implementation of digital portals for health status verification is a critical step toward building more resilience in the face of public health crises.

“The Commons Project is proud to support WTTC in its effort to help countries lay this foundation for resuming safe travel and keeping borders open.”

The report offers 12 recommendations as general best practice principles to be applied to the whole Digital Travel Portal: privacy by design and default, compliance with data protection and privacy laws, language capability, 24×7 communication, and legal path in case of disputes, amongst others.

The report also provides five recommendations related to specific features and functionalities considered to be critical for an effective portal, providing health security and an efficient experience, such as traveller questionnaire, and government integration, amongst others.

For countries still requiring COVID status checks of travellers, this report (along with the December report) provides best practice advice for collecting and analysing traveller health status information pre-travel and digitally connecting the output with travel operators, reducing traveller anxiety and burden at airports

For countries that have removed COVID status checks, this report also provides a resilience and preparedness tool for the next pandemic, or other major incident, with best practice advice on how to efficiently collect and process digital health traveller information before their journey.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Updates here.

Lastly, Digital Travel Portals could also be integrated with other government services, such as visa application processes, to provide an efficient digital one-stop-shop for governments and travellers.

To read the report in full, please click here.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

UNWTO Members in the Americas Advance Common Goals

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UNWTO Members in the Americas Advance Common Goals - TRAVELINDEXPunta de Este, Uruguay, May 21, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / The American Members of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) have met to assess the current state of the sector and plan for its sustainable future. The 67th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Americas brought tourism leaders from across the region together in the leading destination of Punta del Este, Uruguay.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Across two days, Tourism Ministers and other high-level representatives, including private sector leaders and delegates form international organizations reviewed UNWTO’s leadership of the sector over the past year, with Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili’s report focused on key international tourism trends and the Organization’s key priorities for the region, including work around education and investments.

High-level support of hosts

Tourism has proven potential to inspire change and drive growth across the Americas

The Regional Commission was inaugurated by the President of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, who was joined Minister of Tourism and host of the gathering, Tabaré Viera, and by the country’s Minister of Foreign Relations, Francisco Bustillo. The meeting came just two weeks after Uruguay hosted a global UNESCO conference, reflecting the country’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and support for the mission and values of the United Nations, among which tourism for development is key.

President Lacalle welcomed the UNWTO leadership, stating that tourism remains a key part of Uruguay’s state economic policy, and the Commission meeting “emphasized the importance of everyone working for the reactivation of tourism”, both in Uruguay and across the wider region.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “Tourism has proven potential to inspire change and drive growth across the Americas and UNWTO’s Member States of the region are showing the way forward in building a tourism sector that works for everyone, with sustainability and inclusiveness at its heart.”

Alongside the Commission Meeting, both met in private to further deepen the already-strong partnership between UNWTO and Uruguay, a key ally in the region and promoter of tourism for development across the Americas, including through high-level multilateral platforms and organizations.

Minister Tabaré Viera underscored Uruguay’s commitment to restart tourism, reminding participants that this first major tourism gathering in Uruguay since the start of the pandemic, sent a clear message beyond the region itself. The Minister also announced that Uruguay will adhere to the UNWTO International Code for the Protection of Tourists, and so be among the first countries in the world to take firm steps to restore confidence in international travel, further emphasizing Uruguay’s commitment to tourism and to keeping tourists safe and protected.

Turning challenges into opportunities

UNWTO Members addressed the key challenges facing tourism today and opportunities for recovery and growth. The debates among member states were complemented by special interventions, including the presentation the Tourism Promotion Hub for Latin America, Latina Tower, in New York City, and by the Latin American Development Bank (CAF).

CAF, the leading investor in infrastructure across the region, addressed for the first time a UNWTO governing body, advancing the newly-established partnership between the Bank and UNWTO. Alongside this, a policy discussion on “Accelerating Recovery and Building Resilience”, benefitted from insights of leaders from across the region,

Generating trust

Within the framework of the Regional Commission, Members met for a seminar on the UNWTO International Code for the Protection of Tourists. The landmark legal code, designed to offer tourists more protection and so increase confidence in international travel, was adopted by Members at the UNWTO General Assembly in 2021. Two countries of the Americas, Ecuador and Paraguay have already made steps to incorporating it into national legislation, while Uruguay will initiate the corresponding process. UNWTO’s legal experts provided updates on the implementation and workings of the Code, with a focus on addressing existing gaps in the provision of assistance to tourists caught in emergency situations, drawing from lessons of the pandemic.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Next Steps

On the side-lines of the Regional Commission meeting, Secretary-General Pololikashvili met with the Minister of Tourism of Brazil, Carlos Brito, and then separately with Minister of Tourism from Guatemala, Ms. Anayansy Rodríguez, to discuss their countries’ tourism sectors and opportunities to work more closely with UNWTO in the post-pandemic recovery phase.
To conclude, Members States voted to hold the 68th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Americas in Ecuador in the first half of 2023.

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News

ROUND-UP: May 16-23, 2022

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In last week’s summary: Ensemble members agreed to Navigatr purchase, registration for ACTA’s golf tournament opened, G Adventures introduced industry rates, Mike Hannah will be missed, and everyone is complaining about air travel…

NEWS

The federal government is rekindling a plan to allow travellers, immigration detainees and others who feel they have been mistreated by Canada’s border agency to complain to an independent body. The legislation would give the RCMP the additional responsibility of handling public complaints about the Canada Border Services Agency.

The Canadian Airports Council is the latest to call for the removal of random tests and public health questions at customs to ease the serious delays passengers face when they arrive in Canada. The council says the procedures are unnecessary and make processing passengers four times longer.

TRAVEL AGENCIES

Shareholders of Ensemble Travel Group voted in favour of an acquisition by Navigatr group in a deal that will yield benefits to members and suppliers alike creating a new and innovative consortium model. Privately owned Navigatr is the parent company of Kensington Tours, TripArc, and Travel Edge. Ensemble includes more than 600 independently owned travel agencies across Canada and the US. The deal is expected to close at the end of May. Ensemble will remain a standalone entity within the Navigatr group with Michael Johnson of Navigatr becoming president.

On May 18, TL Network Canada hosted a sold-out monthly mixer event at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Toronto. Sixteen suppliers and 65 members were in attendance for the event, which featured an informal mini trade show and cocktail hour, followed by dinner during which suppliers delivered a brief overview of revenue generating promotions and offers available to the TL Network membership.

ACTA

Registration is open for ACTA’s Ontario Golf Tournament, July 14 at Royal Ontario Golf Club in Milton. The 32nd annual event will be sponsored by Air Canada, along with Manulife and Globus Family of Brands joining as major sponsors. Antigua and Barbuda will be featured golf destination sponsor. The event starts at 10 a.m.; registration fee is $225 for ACTA members and $265 for non-members and includes golf, cart, lunch, networking reception, dinner with wine and prizes. The cost for the networking reception and dinner only is $125. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Register .

ACTA is reaching out to the industry for speaker proposals and suggested educational sessions for its Fall 2022 Travel Industry Summits, taking place in Toronto (Sept. 14), Vancouver (Sept. 20), and Montreal (Sept. 28). Content should be relevant to the theme: “Forever Forward.” Interested individuals can review the speaker requirements and submit a proposal by June 3 by clicking HERE.

BORDERS

Japan will begin allowing small package tours from four countries later this month – Australia, Singapore, Thailand, and the US – as an experiment before gradually opening up to foreign tourism for the first time since it imposed tight border restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tour participants must be triple-vaccinated and the tours must have guides and fixed itineraries

Myanmar has resumed issuing visas for visitors. The tourist “e-Visas”’ are provided online in a move also intended to harmonize tourism with neighbouring countries.

BY THE NUMBERS

One of the world’s biggest airlines Emirates Air, says it lost US$1.1 billion over the past fiscal year, but that figure still marks an 80% improvement from the year before. The airline said revenue was up 91%, reaching $16.1 billion

AIR

Air Transat has launched direct service between Montreal and Amsterdam, operating until mid-October with three flights per week at the height of the season: on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The carrier also conducted its inaugural flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco from Montreal.

Lynx Air has announced the addition of two St. John’s and Halifax routes to both Calgary and Edmonton via Toronto. St. John’s flights will commence July 14 five times weekly from Edmonton and twice weekly July 16 from Calgary. Halifax flights (5x/week) start July 14 and Calgary (2x/week) on July 30.

Direct flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Papeete, Tahiti will take flight with Air Tahiti Nui on Oct. 4, providing a direct route that Canadians can take advantage of to the destination. Service will be provided on Boeing 787-9 Tahitian Dreamliner aircraft.

DEALS

Through July 5, clients booking featured Club Med resorts for vacation dates between July and August will save up to 45% off the price of their trip. Additional perks are also available, from kids under four stay free to complimentary room upgrades from adults. For details, click HERE.

TOURS

New independent touring packages to Portugal’s Azores Islands have been launched by Toronto’s NĀRAT. Suitable for all travellers, nine- to 14-day packages feature Sao Miguel, Pico, and Terceira, as well as smaller islands of Flores and Faial. Rates include return airfare from YYZ with SATA Airlines, Azores domestic airfares, Hertz car rental, accommodations in moderate to first class hotels, and meals at participating restaurants. “With an abundance of natural scenery, history and culture, the Azores Islands encapsulates a bit of everything desired by Canadian travellers for that exotic European escape, and leaves most longing to come back,” says NĀRAT’s Renata Snidr.

Collette reports that despite a record number of calls for bookings in April, guests and travel advisors are only being placed on hold for an average of two minutes thanks to upgrades the tour operator made during the downtime caused by the pandemic. In April, Collette reported more than 29,000 calls – an increase of 50% over January. In May, Collette experienced its best sales week since 2019. A record number of calls have been met with just a two-minute average wait time.

HOTELS

Located in the city’s trendy Friedrichshain neighbourhood, sly Berlin will be the city’s coolest new hotel when it opens this summer. Housed across four modernized buildings, interconnected via inviting open courtyard spaces and a large, striking greenhouse, the Preferred Hotel will be comprised of 150 guestrooms and suites, some with private balconies. Interiors will showcase a fusion of nature and urban culture, featuring solid oak wood, Italian serpentine stone, stainless steel, and Brutalist concrete touches. Other highlights include a well-equipped gym and a large rooftop sauna with city skyline views. A lively restaurant and bar, complete with open kitchen and grill area, will be housed in the natural light of the greenhouse amid an abundance of greenery.

The Dorchester Collection will be making its Middle East debut this year with the launch of The Lana in Dubai in Q4. A striking building positioned among the gleaming skyscrapers of the vibrant Business Bay area and beside the waters of Dubai Creek, the 30-storey hotel will include 225 rooms and suites, as well as contemporary interior design. The hotel will feature a dynamic selection of restaurants, including a rooftop concept, complete with an enticing pool with views of Dubai’s skyline and Business Bay’s waterfront.

RESORTS

Sunwing reports that its newest Royalton Luxury Resorts property, Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun, is slated to open Dec. 20. The new all-inclusive Riviera Maya resort will feature 1,000 suites, 12 restaurants, nine bars, spa, four pools, a variety of beach and water sports and one of the Caribbean’s largest on-site water parks, featuring 14 large water slides, two lazy rivers, a kids’ pool and splash pad, to which guests have unlimited access.

RIU Hotels & Resorts has presented the complete refurbishment of its only hotel in Portugal, the Riu Madeira. The hotel, located on the seafront at Praia dos Reis Magos in Caniço de Baixo, opened April 29 with a new image and new services. For the first time this summer season, the 4-star hotel will offer 24-hour all-inclusive service so guests can enjoy food, drinks, and entertainment options around the clock.

CRUISE

MSC Cruises Canada is revamping its MSC Voyagers Club loyalty program with a range of new benefits for Canadian travellers. Voyagers Exclusives now replaces Voyages Selection with greater incentives for members, who will automatically benefit from a minimum 5% discount for any cruise booked. And the further out the cruise is booked, the higher the discount.

Luxury cruise line Cunard reported that the first day of bookings for new ship Queen Anne was the busiest booking day in a decade. Cunard says the demand for the brand is at record levels, including selling out the Queen Anne’s maiden voyage departing Jan. 4, 2024.

DELAYED/ CANCELLED

Small ship cruise line Windstar Cruises has cancelled its scheduled cruises in Asia for fall of 2022, citing the continued uncertainty regarding ports reopening in the region. The move will affect seven scheduled itineraries on the all-suite Star Breeze. Instead, Star Breeze will extend its Alaska season with an additional itinerary (Alaskan Splendors) in late August, followed by West Coast Epicurean Extravaganza down the coast of the US, a trans- ocean voyage from San Diego to Tahiti, and five sailings in French Polynesia.

ATTRACTIONS & THEME PARKS
Adventure park operator Treetop Trekking has opened a new location in Ontario, its seventh in the province. Located between Brockville and Gananoque, Treetop Trekking 1000 Islands, once known as Skywood Adventure Park, features seven zipline and aerial game courses, a treehouse Treewalk Village, and three Discovery Kids courses. The park also offers night treks, team building programs, and other activities for groups such as birthday parties, school trips, and corporate groups. Starting in June until the end of August, the park is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

FAMS & INCENTIVES

Preferred partner travel agents of G Adventures will receive up to 50% discount for themselves, and a 25% discount for up to three travelling companions on June departures with the tour operator. All other agency partners receive up to 30% off, with up to 15% off for their fellow adventurers. Members of the wider travel industry community are also eligible for up to 15% off G’s portfolio of tours upon presentation of an IATA or other travel industry ID card. More information is available via Sherpa.

EVENTS

With Toronto set to host this year’s edition of Rendez-vous Canada (RVC) this week, Canadian tourism’s premier international tourism marketplace for the travel trade has already announced that RVC 2023 will take place in Québec City next year May 30-June 2.

The annual Affluent Travel Collection Symposium (ATCS) event will be held Oct. 25-27 at Resorts World Las Vegas. Hundreds of luxury advisors will convene and network with preferred travel suppliers and destination partners. ATC is a subsidiary of the American Marketing Group (AMG), and Symposium will be held two days prior to AMG’s global Travel Market 2022 conference.

PEOPLE/APPOINTMENTS

Long-time travel industry veteran Mike Hannah died May 15 after having suffered a heart attack three weeks earlier. During his distinguished career, Hannah had served as a senior executive at P. Lawson Travel, Sears Travel and as president of UFTA. He was also a long-time member of the Skal Toronto Club and a member of the executive board. A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on May 26 at All Saints Church Kingsway, 2850 Bloor St. W., in Toronto.

Five Direct/Vision Travel advisors have been named to the worldwide list of Condé Nast Travel Specialists. The list, which features some 400 travel advisors and niche tour operators around the world, recognizes top advisors for their experience, expertise, resourcefulness, and customer care. As Condé Nast puts it: “They’ll pull off the impossible and spare you the logistics.” The Canadian agents in the group include Ariane Henry of White Rock, BC, and Lisa and Nancy Zupancic.

DESTINATIONS

In celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this summer, a ‘Queen’s Garden’ will be created at the Tower of London as part of Historic Royal Palaces’ Superbloom display. Taking inspiration from The Queen’s 1953 coronation gown, a lawned area known as the Tower’s Bowling Green will be transformed into an elegant garden featuring a combination of meadow flowers, topiary and summer-flowering perennials, bulbs, and ornamental grasses. The Queen’s Garden will be in bloom ready for the Jubilee Weekend (June 2) and will remain in situ until the end of September.

Nationwide celebrations of the 10,000th birthday of the Belize Barrier Reef – second largest in the world and the largest of its kind in the Northern and Western hemispheres – will take place in the central American country from June 1-8. Belize has made significant sustainability strides in recent years in helping the reef to be removed from the UN’s endangered list and being registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reef attracts thousands of divers and others every year to Belize.

Send info to baginski@travelindustrytoday.com

First published at Travel Industry Today

First published at TravelNewsHub.com – Global Travel News