Editors note

The Ai Elephant

Technological advancement is exponential in nature and those businesses that embrace it always outperform and outlast those that do not. It is evolution. Artificial intelligence is not new, the business movers and shakers of today in the field are building on the foundation of decades worth of work with artificial intelligence. Humanity has used it to run our vending machines and to answer our phones, to chat with new friends and customers and answer our mail. Today’s AI is very advanced, but it is nothing compared to what is coming in the next decade and the hotel industry is seeing some of the biggest developments in guest services than ever before. We’re covering this in detail in the forthcoming articles and issues and will be diving in deep to see what the future holds. However, as AI seems to be poised to change the digital technology landscape for business, some things seemed destined to remain unchanged.

A Return To Tradition

Suppliers to the hospitality, travel and food/drink industries are making extra efforts to capitalise on content creation and the power of engagement. Global connectivity has introduced global competition even for smaller businesses that work locally, and the engagement of choice that has remerged is the person-to-person communication and relationship building that was at one time, the business norm.

Business norms that never really went away but are not spoken about nearly enough are being actioned by prominent business leaders who are re-emphasizing that the best way to handle technological change and customer relationships is by looking after your staff.

Look After Your Staff

For August our motley crew of writers had the pleasure of collaborating with a number of successful businesses, but two giants stand out, Apetito and Close Brothers Brewery Rental and through their discussions over origin stories, plans for development, philosophies and mandates regarding customer service, they uncovered some unique commonalities that these organisations share. They guard and protect their staff with the ferocity of mother bears with their cubs.

In theory, all businesses purport to support their staff members, but in practise many companies fall short. However, getting to the stage where your staff feel engaged and challenged and supported by appears to be the ‘magic button’ moment for businesses to go from being ‘just another business’ to being iconic, industry shifting businesses. A loyal team, however large, is essential to success. Be it with Apetito, who took on the food industry to redefine healthcare, care home and school meal plans. Or Close Brothers Brewery Rental, who facilitated the exponential growth of the brewery industry across the western world. If you have a team willing to stick by you, nothing is unachievable.

Loyalty Above All Else

An avid fan of the legendary honey voiced American actor James Spader, I have a long and seemingly inexhaustible playlist of speeches he’s made in his films that seem to speak intrinsic truths. None as powerful as when he portrayed Raymond Reddington in the Blacklist, a series that is- for the most part- definitely worth watching. The speech that immediately comes to mind is a fairly simple tale about how as a child he took a job working in a carpet factory over the summer holidays. The story goes that a couple of weeks in, he decided the work wasn’t worth the toil, however, he had given his word and ultimately decided to stick it out. Eight weeks later he was rewarded with a $40 bonus which the internationally feared and extraordinarily wealthy criminal mastermind believed was the most valuable money he’d ever earned.

The moral of the tale is to value loyalty above all else. “Loyalty above all else,” Raymond Reddington.

Daemon Sands Editor

United Kingdom

Living Crisis Sees Rise in British Staycations

Confused.com recently conducted research to investigate how the cost of living crisis has impacted holiday plans for UK travellers, and which holiday related costs they prioritise saving money on. Over a third (35%) of UK travellers have cut back on holidays as a result of rising living costs, three fifths opted to stay in the country and 63% are eating out less.

Holiday costs travellers prioritise saving on: they can utilise oxygen and cold exposure to optimise body and mind.

Australia

Brisbane / Meanjin to host the Australian Tourism Exchange in 2025

ATE returns to Brisbane for the first time since 2007 and it will be the fourth time the city has held the event, having also hosted in 2001 and 2002.

Federal Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Don Farrell, said ATE is an important event each year which provides the Australian tourism industry with the chance to meet with tourism wholesalers and retailers from 30 countries around the world.

Middle East

Jumeirah Muscat Bay has recently announced the launch of the Wim Hof Method Fundamentals Workshops – the first resort in Muscat to offer the globally renowned treatment – which allows guests to better understand how

Europe

Train travel is making a comeback

Travelling by train in Europe is becoming more convenient and sustainable thanks to recent EU initiatives. New regulations for the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) to improve rail connectivity and make travel greener have recently entered into force. This means better and more efficient rail services across Europe.

The EU’s Action Plan to boost long-distance and cross-border passenger rail services is a key part of these efforts. It aims to double high-speed rail traffic by 2030 and triple it by 2050. Launched in 2021, this plan focuses on removing obstacles, improving interoperability, modernising passenger rail infrastructure, and enhancing the quality of services across EU countries.

To further support cross-border travel, the European Commission has announced its support for 10 pilot projects to boost crossborder rail services. This will improve crossborder rail connections across the EU and make travel faster, easier and more affordable.

Young travellers can particularly benefit from the DiscoverEU programme, which regularly offers free travel passes to 18-year-olds to explore Europe by train. This programme encourages cultural exchange and highlights the environmental advantages of rail travel. The next call for applications should be published in autumn 2024.

Passenger rights are also a significant focus of the EU’s transport policy. Travellers in Europe are well-protected in case something goes wrong during their trip. EU passenger rights cover delays, cancellations, and accessibility issues.

The EU is committed to making train travel a top choice by improving regulations, creating ambitious plans, and supporting special programmes. These efforts aim to make rail travel more sustainable, efficient, and well- connected across Europe.

South Africa

Appeal to industry to protect the Serengeti

Tour operators, travel companies and travellers who draw benefits from the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem in Tanzania and Kenya have been called upon to deepen the action they take to guard against threats to the famed wilderness area. Established under Serengeti Watch, a non-profit Earth Island Institute project that seeks to build a permanent framework of support, advocacy and funding for the region, Friends of Serengeti offers membership expressly for travel companies, in recognition of tourism’s role in building guard rails and becoming firmly aligned with conservation.

Half day Gauteng easy e-Bike with wild game

This is a significant time for both the ecosystem and the local communities, and travel companies have a key role to play. The foundational message of Friends of Serengeti is that those who use the Serengeti, travel companies and their travellers, need to give back.

And those who give back should benefit from their efforts,” said Serengeti Watch Founder and Director David Blanton.

Automotive

Ditch the Dash Cam

“You think a dash cam will protect you, but in some cases, it can turn around and be used against you,” says Dominic Wyatt, a motoring expert from the International Drivers Association. While dashcams are often marketed as essential for road safety and legal protection, they come with significant downsides that many drivers overlook. Listed in a recent article for reasons to avoid using a dashcam, include privacy concerns, legal implications of unconsented filming, false sense of security and a vulnerability to hacking.

Dominic Wyatt stresses, green initiatives and attract environmentally conscious corporate clients, the company announced last month.

He advises that drivers should also consider the potential cybersecurity risks.

IHG’s Low Carbon Pioneers program targets hotels meeting specific sustainability criteria, such as no fossil fuel use (except emergency generators), renewable energy usage, and recognized sustainability certifications. The initiative aims to test and share sustainability practices, launching with three hotels: Holiday Inn Express Madrid Airport, Iberostar Waves Cristina in Spain, and Kimpton BEM Budapest. Additional hotels meeting the criteria will join automatically. Each participating hotel features sustainable solutions like highefficiency heat pumps and electric kitchens, though specific features vary by property. IHG hopes to attract corporate clients committed to sustainable travel and calls for greater governmental support to accelerate industrywide sustainability efforts.

Air France-KLM and Uber Partner up.

Air France-KLM and Uber have partnered to allow Flying Blue loyalty program members to earn miles when using Uber in France and the Netherlands, the companies announced Tuesday. Air France-KLM loyalty members who link their accounts in the Uber app will be eligible to collect one mile for every €1 spent on Uber rides, and two miles for every €1 spent for Uber customers who take four or more trips each month.

America

Amex Opens Centurion Lounge at Reagan National he suggests.

Additionally, drivers must educate themselves about privacy laws in their state. Different states have varying rules about recording conversations and videos, and ignorance of the law is not an acceptable defense in court.

Business Travel

IHG Establishes Hotel Group to Advance Sustainability Initiatives

IHG Hotels & Resorts has formed a group for hotels that meet specific sustainability standards, intended to serve as testing sites for

American Express has opened a new Centurion lounge at Reagan Washington National Airport in Terminal 2, past the south security checkpoint, the company announced.

The 12,000-sq.-ft. lounge includes a conference room, a phone room, dedicated workstations, a shower suite, access to complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, and a menu designed by “three award-winning chef partners.” The lounge will be open each Sunday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and each Saturday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time. The new lounge is the 29th Centurion lounge American Express has opened, according to the company.