ARMCHAIR TRAVELLER

Three destinations keeping your wanderlust alive until international travel resumes THE

ARMCHAIR TRAVELLER

1G R E AT B R I TA I N Get your Brit pop culture fix Visit Britain is encouraging you to enjoy every moment in quarantine by immersing yourself in arguably its greatest export; culture. Its social media feeds are packed with callto-action posts, which range from crowdsourcing tracks for a Spotify playlist of iconic British music to inviting you to explore the filming locations featured in Netflix hit The Crown, as well as the Harry Potter movies. Look out for the Love Great Britain campaign on socials (@ lovegreatbritain #lovegreatbritain) to enjoy the best of the country’s film, TV, literature, food and drink, music, heritage and gardens. From literary locations and British recipes to virtual museum tours and musical city itineraries, you’ll be inspired to plan your next visit.

2PHILADELPHIA Whet your appetite The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau is pulling out all the stops to get you to visit the city when travel resumes. Its ‘Philadelphia from Home’ webpage features a comprehensive range of interactive DIY experiences you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home, proving why it was the only US city featured on National Geographic’s 2020 ‘Best Trips’ list. You can take virtual tours of museums showcasing the city’s art, history and more, take a peek at the Facebook Live stream from Philadelphia Zoo, listen to Philadelphia’s iconic music artists on Spotify or try out a recipe for the famous Philly Cheesesteak to get a real taste of the destination, which was showcased in the April edition of Business Traveller Middle East.

3T H A I L A N D Suss out sustainable tourism trips and tips The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is tempting would-be travellers with five unique sustainable tourism experiences online.

You can join a 3D virtual tour of “10 charming destinations” in nine provinces, taking in fascinating natural and historical sites, from Wat Si Chum temple in Sukothai in the north to the mangrove forests of Chanthaburi in the east; discover eco-tourism hotel Soneva Kiri on Amazon Prime; support sustainable coffee production with Akha Ama Coffee, the sustainable coffee producer that provides jobs to the local community in the remote village of Maejantai in Northern Thailand; learn about the country’s native birds; or plan to explore the new nature trail under development in Khao Laem Ya-Mu Ko Samet National Park in Rayong Province.

At the forefront of global living in Jeddah

Standing proud on the shores of the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia’s commercial capital, Jeddah, is one of the Gulf’s most modern and progressive cities. A hub for business, innovation and tourism, it attracts expatriates and visitors from all over the world.

Jeddah’s growing popularity has driven the fast-paced development of its hospitality industry, with leading global apartment brand, The Ascott Limited, at the forefront of this expansion, popular for its high-quality residential-style accommodation that appeals to business and leisure travellers alike and catering to long and short stays.

Ascott’s portfolio of prestigious addresses include Ascott Sari Jeddah, a boutique Parisian styled property located in the prominent Sari neighbourhood and featuring luxurious living spaces across studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. The furnished residences offer guests a balanced lifestyle with comprehensive amenities that include a conference room, swimming pool, gymnasium, children’s playroom, prayer rooms and restaurants.

Another exclusive property in Ascott’s collection, Ascott Tahlia Jeddah, is nestled in a vibrant district where cafés and fashion boutiques line the streets and prime business centres are minutes FOUR EXCLUSIVE

PROPERTIES, ONE RENOWNED BRAND

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Ascott Sari 's swimming pool; the Parisian styled Ascott Sari property; stylish bedrooms at Ascott Tahlia

away. Perfect for guests seeking an elevated experience, the property offers studios, apartments with one, two and three bedrooms, as well as sought-after penthouses, all with stylish living spaces.

The property also features a range of attractive lifestyle facilities including a conference room, swimming pool, gymnasium, children’s playroom, prayer rooms, restaurants, a guest lounge and a shisha lounge.

For guests who enjoy an on-the-go lifestyle, Citadines Al Salamah Jeddah

is ideally located at the heart of the action on busy Salamah Street and offers well-designed living spaces across studios and apartments with one, two and three bedrooms. With a swimming pool, gymnasium, restaurant and outdoor games area for kids, it is the perfect pick for solo travellers and families.

The brand’s fourth property in the city, Spectrums Residence Jeddah in Salamah, is designed exclusively for larger families, offering two-bedroom apartments and comprehensive amenities including a gymnasium, children’s playroom, business centre, resident lounge, meeting rooms and more.

The Ascott Limited is a member of CapitaLand. It is one of the leading international lodging owner-operators with more than 700 properties in over 180 cities spanning more than 30 countries across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the USA. Its portfolio of serviced residence and hotel brands includes Ascott The Residence, The Crest Collection, Somerset, Quest, Citadines, lyf, Préférence, Vertu, Harris, Citadines Connect, Fox, Yello and POP!

T H E

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 e Covid-19 pandemic will arguably change the way we travel for good. For now, most will only travel out of need, rather than choice or desire, and only if the means are available to do so. Health and wellbeing are the overriding priority as we all adapt to a new way of living and working.

With most countries around the world still in semi-lockdown at best, the travel industry has been forced to adapt rapidly.

In the Gulf, destinations have been quick to engage with wouldbe travellers, launching compelling marketing and social media campaigns, as well as virtual tours and digital tools to ensure they remain ‘front of mind’ and in touch with their audiences.

At the same time, the region’s airlines and airports have led the way in introducing pioneering health screening measures and hotel groups have rolled out stringent cleaning and social distancing programmes to ensure guests feel safe in their care.

Here, Business Traveller Middle East highlights some of the Gulf region’s most compelling midpandemic traveller engagement campaigns, as well as the stringent safety and safety measures travellers can expect from airlines, airports, hotels and destinations going forward.

THE CAMPAIGNS

Dream of Dubai Although business and leisure travel plans have taken a backseat, millions of people are dreaming of embarking on unique and authentic travel experiences when the world gets back to normal. Dubai Tourism’s global ‘Till We Meet Again’ video campaign, launched in April, taps into this, with stunning footage of Dubai’s deserts, beaches and skyline reminding

visitors what is waiting for them when travel resumes.  e tourism agency is also inviting the world to take immersive virtual city tours on its Dubai 360 platform. Armchair travellers can take in roo op views, access destination landmarks and take a look inside cultural hotspots such as Etihad Museum, Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort.

Wear a ‘cool’ mask with Anantara  ere’s many ways to wear a mask and not necessarily a surgical one.  at’s why Anantara has gone down the pampering route and asked experts from its hotel spas to recommend some skin, hair and body boosters that guests can try at home. Using the hashtag #AnantaraEscapism, its online self-care tips range from soothing cucumber and yoghurt face masks to vanilla bath bombs.

#StayCurious about Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is encouraging would-be visitors to #StayCurious, having launched a virtual exploration platform featuring original education and entertainment content to give them a taste of the emirate’s “magic and hospitality”.  e interactive 360-degree experience has  ve themes: Stay Adventurous – tours, views and history and heritage insights; Stay Indulgent – cooking workshops and masterclasses with the emirate’s top chefs; Stay Enlightened – free virtual courses and education content from leading institutions; Stay Creative – an exploration of Abu Dhabi’s cultural o erings; and Stay Entertained – a hub that links to virtual events and activations.

Mix-up it up with Rotana From yoga and  tness sessions with in-house instructors to mocktail and cooking masterclasses with hotel bartenders and chefs, all livestreamed online, UAE-headquartered hospitality group Rotana has been going all out to keep in touch with its guests around the world as part of its #homewithrotana campaign.

#FindRAKLater Ras Al Khaimah is taking the world on a virtual tour of its diverse tourist attractions, from rugged landscapes and adventure activities to its unspoiled beaches under its #FindRAKLater campaign, launched across all social media platforms.  e stunning images and footage encourage visitors to plan bucket-list experiences in the emirate for when travel resumes.

Rub virtual shoulders with Accor’s A-lister line-up Members of Accor’s lifestyle loyalty programme, ALL – Accor Live Limitless, are being treated to interviews and talks with celebrities of sport, food, entertainment and more.  e line-up includes boxer Amir Khan, actors Tom Felton, Alexander Ludwig and Nargis Fakhri and fashion designers Adama Paris (Senegal) and Benjamin Aydin (Turkey). Live beats from the UAE’s DJ Bliss (pictured) and DJ Sadcat, Turkey’s DJ Aksak and DJ Jabbar and Morocco’s DJ Nawfel, have been getting the party started for ALL guests throughout May, with more to come.

Celebrate the ‘joy of travel’ with One&Only Luxury hotel group One&Only has collated a list of songs to dance to,  lms to watch, dishes to rustle up and books that are must-reads to celebrate the ‘joy of travel’. Based on insights from One&Only colleagues and friends, the recommendations are designed to inspire wanderlust until the world is open to explore once again. For example, Mauro Colagreco, Chef Patron of Celebrities by Mauro Colagreco and Beach Bar & Grill by Mauro Colagreco at Dubai’s One&Only Royal Mirage recommends sausage and butter ravioli, saying “good fresh pasta always transports me to great memories of my trips to Italy”.

THE PROTOCOLS AIRLINES

Emirates On the ground: all customers and employees are temperature checked with thermal scanners and protective barriers have been installed at check-in counters. Gloves and masks are mandatory for all customers and employees and cabin crew, boarding agents and ground sta who interact directly with travellers wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including a protective disposable gown and safety visor. In- ight: a modi ed in- ight service that focuses on reducing contact and infection risk: no magazines and print reading material available; and cabin baggage must be checked-in – only essential items such as a laptops, handbags, briefcases and baby items permitted on board. Cleaning: aircra cabins are  tted with advanced HEPA air  lters, which remove 99.97 per cent of viruses and eliminate dust, allergens and germs from cabin air. A er each journey aircra undergo enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes.

COVID-19 TESTING FIRST Emirates has become the first airline to conduct on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for passengers. Quick blood tests are conducted by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in the check-in area and the results are available within 10 minutes.

Etihad

Chau eur and coach services:

more spacing on coaches, protective screening in cars and all vehicles are deep-cleaned and sanitised in between trips. On board: face masks must be worn by passengers and there are new spaced-out seating arrangements. Food and beverage: streamlined food and drink service in line with COVID-19 guidelines. Crew: wear PPE throughout the entire  ight. Cabins: are equipped with HEPA air  lters that capture 99 per cent of airborne microbes. Aircra : are deep-cleaned and sanitised on arrival.

LOW RISK OF VIRUS TRANSMISSION ON FLIGHTS: IATA

Global airline body, the International Air Transport Association (IATA), claims the virus transmission rate on board aircraft is low, even without special measures.

It cites specific evidence, with contact tracing it conducted on several flights with symptomatic Covid-19 passengers revealing no onboard transmission. Studies conducted by IATA member airlines found similar results.

“There are several plausible reasons why COVID-19, which is spread primarily by respiratory droplets, has not resulted in more on-board transmission, and is di€ erent from other modes of public transport,” says IATA.

They are: • Passengers face forward with limited face-to-face interactions; • Seats provide a barrier to transmission in the cabin; • Air flow from ceiling to floor further reduces the potential for transmission and high air flow rates are not conducive to droplet spread in the same way as in other indoor environments; • High E€ iciency Particulate

Air (HEPA) filters on modern aircraft clean cabin air to operating theatre quality, further assisted by high levels of fresh air circulation.

AIRPORTS

Dubai International Airport Gloves and masks are mandatory for all customers and employees and thermal scanners are being used to monitor the temperatures of both as they enter the airport. Physical distancing indicators have been placed on the ground and at waiting areas to help travellers maintain distance during check-in and boarding.  e airport team has also installed protective barriers at each check-in desk to provide additional safety reassurance to passengers and employees during interaction over the counter.

Abu Dhabi International Temperature screening is in operation at Abu Dhabi International and passengers are asked to wait 1.5 metres apart from other guests at all queuing points. All check-in counters and touchpoints are regularly sanitised and the check-in team monitors guests for any visible signs of infection.

Airport operator, Abu Dhabi Airports, is currently trialling new robotic technology designed to eliminate viruses such as COVID-19 in the sta and cargo areas and onboard aircra .  e BOT, which is designed and manufactured by UAE-based Marakeb Technologies, has three functions – to target virus strains on surfaces with controlled bursts of germicidal UV rays; to screen individuals through thermal infrared monitoring; and to disinfect areas using liquid cleaning agents.

DESTINATIONS

Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) is rolling out a four-phase recovery plan to re-boot the emirate’s tourism industry, with phase one already in motion. With most hotels now open and some Jebel Jais activities such as hiking and cycling available, all with strict safety measures in place, RAK is targeting the local market  rst.

At time of press, the destination was set to launch a ‘shortcation’ campaign, with guests booking three nights at a Ras Al Khaimah hotel o ered two complimentary passes to attractions such as the Jais Adventure Peak and the Suwaidi Peal Farm.

In preparation for the return of local and overseas tourists and to build their con dence and trust, RAKTDA is working with Ras Al Khaimah’s Public Service Department (PSD) to launch the RAK ‘Stay Safe’ Hotel Certi cation. Hotels in the emirate are already following cleaning and sanitisation practices outlined by the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention as part of this certi cation programme. It will also include mandatory COVID-19 tests for sta at hotels and tourism attractions across the emirate, funded by RAKTDA.

Phase two of the four-step road to recovery will target the GCC and Middle East, with further phases opening up RAK to Asia and Europe.

Dubai Already considered one of the safest destinations to visit globally, ranked 28th on  e Safe Cities Index 2019 by  e Economist Intelligence Unit, Dubai has been at the forefront of the global  ght to combat COVID-19, implementing unprecedented measures to contain the spread of the virus, from an emiratewide sterilisation programme to a robust testing system.  e UAE has also been named as one of the top 10 countries globally for coronavirus medical treatment, according  e ‘COVID-19 Treatment E ciency Ranking Framework’.

Last month, the emirate took tentative steps to ease lockdown restrictions and set out robust protocols and guidelines to hotels, leisure facilities and retailers as they started to re-open their doors (see page 6 for more information).

“Hotels in the city are open and continuing to operate rigorous sterilisation and disinfection procedures,” con rms Dubai Tourism. “Leisure attractions and shopping malls have been opened using a gradual phasing model and are operating under a series of special health and safety guidelines and procedures to ensure seamless but safe experiences for all guests.” As Dubai carrier Emirates resumed  ights to nine destinations on May 21 (see page 8), overseas visitors to the destination started to trickle in.

Dubai Tourism acknowledges that visitor priorities have “shi ed dramatically” since the pandemic and says it is working with industry partners to rede ne the destination o ering to meet “the evolving demands of the future global traveller”.

Stringent procedures are being implemented to ensure the city o ers “safe travel experiences” and the Dubai Government continues to work under World Health Organisation guidance to maintain “rigorously high standards of public hygiene and safety, so the wellbeing of all residents and visitors remains uncompromised”.

Abu Dhabi  e Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has launched a ‘safe and clean’ certi cation programme, which it claims is the “ rst of its kind in the region” and seeks to “upli and standardise the cleanliness and hygiene levels across all businesses and organisations in the tourism sector” in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Designed to safeguard the health and wellbeing of all residents and visitors, the certi cation ensures the compliance of standardised hygiene levels across hotels, malls, attractions and other tourism-related businesses.

“ rough this tourism board-led programme, we hope to boost the con dence of consumers when considering Abu Dhabi as a tourism destination,” says HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi.  e certi cation programme will be rolled out in phases, with phase one dedicated to hotels and other businesses to follow. It comes hot o the heels of the National Disinfection Programme, launched in late March as part of the preventative and precautionary measures taken by the UAE to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia says it’s taking proactive measures to ensure the destination is ready to receive visitors when the travel market reopens.

During lockdown, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism has been supporting the tourism sector by renting more than 11,000 hotel rooms to use as quarantine accommodation for repatriated Saudis who were stranded overseas. With hotels in operation and implementing stringent new procedures, they will be guest-ready when tourism business returns.  e ministry says it’s taking a “whole-of-government” approach, collaborating with the private and public sectors, as well as the international community, to protect the health and safety of visitors.

Partnerships with Ministries of Health, Sports, Commerce and Municipalities to develop the necessary regulations and infrastructure to support the industry have been established and as part of Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency, the country is working with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and other international bodies to formulate a co-ordinated response to the pandemic and prepare for a safe reopening of the travel market.

With domestic tourism the  rst to bounce back in Saudi Arabia, new itineraries and products are being created with hotels and tourism companies to capture the imagination of the local market.  ese will be expanded to appeal to international travellers when the time is right.

“When people are ready to travel, we will be ready to welcome them to Saudi Arabia,” says the Ministry of Tourism.

HOTELS

20-step protocols at Radisson Hotel Group properties Radisson Hotel Group has partnered with inspection, veri cation, testing and certi cation company SGS to roll out the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol – a new programme of indepth cleanliness and disinfection. SGS will audit and test hotels to receive an o cial cleanliness and disinfection label. Building on this, Radisson is set to announce a ’20 Steps’ brand commitment and an additional 10-Step protocol for meetings and events.  e steps range from robust cleaning and disinfection procedures and door hangers on each room to inform guests of these enhanced measures to contactless check-in, check-out and payments.

‘ALL Safe’ with Accor Under Accor’s ‘ALL Safe O cer’ programme, every hotel will appoint a health and safety representative who will not only ensure enhanced cleaning and hygiene protocols are implemented to the highest standards, but be available to handle guests questions and concerns.  ese specially trained o cers are the face of Accor’s new ALL Safe Accor Programme – a set of rigorous measures designed to protect and reassure guests that are being implemented at its 300 properties across the Middle East and Africa. Programme highlights include tailormade operating protocols, cleaning products technology and team members training developed in partnership with hygiene solutions specialist Bureau Veritas.  e initiative is bolstered by Accor’s strategic partnership with global insurance giant AXA, providing guests with free medical support that includes consultations with medical professionals by phone or in the location where they are staying.

Four Seasons leads with care Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has partnered with the Johns Hopkins Medicine International to validate its global health and safety programme, Lead with Care, and to provide ongoing real-time guidance on the evolving COVID-10 situation. A dedicated COVID-19 Advisory Board has been established bringing together Four Seasons leadership and top experts from Johns Hopkins Medicine International to make informed health and safety decisions based on the latest scienti c knowledge. A joint Response Team will also be established, with senior experts in infectious diseases from Johns Hopkins providing on-demand response and guidance to hotels facing COVID-19 situations. Four Seasons is also investing in its awardwinning App and Chat that further allows guests to control how they engage with others – limiting face-toface interactions while maintaining the highest levels of personal service.

Clean air at Anantara Anantara has implemented a ‘Stay with Peace of Mind’ programme, working with cleaning and hygiene solutions specialists, including Ecolab and Diversey, to ramp up sanitisation procedures.

In addition, every Anantara property has appointed a dedicated ‘Guest Guardian’, responsible for internal audits based on a series of rigid guidelines set out by the brand, local governments and the World Health Organisation.  e group is also setting the standard for clean air spaces in the hospitality sector, working with Siam Ocean Technology to introduce the latest in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system technology with increased e ciency and high performance air  ltration.

It leverages the latest arti cial intelligence and cutting-edge Internet of  ings (IoT) technology for the most optimised environmental controls.

A CleanStay with Hilton

Hilton is promising guests a ‘CleanStay’ a er collaborating with RB, maker of Lysol and Dettol and consulting with the Mayo Clinic’s Infection Prevention and Control team to develop elevated cleaning, disinfection and hygiene processes. Highlights include the Hilton CleanStay Room Seal, with a seal placed on all room doors to reassure guests that their room has not been accessed since being thoroughly cleaned. Hilton is also one step ahead in the room key stakes, with its awardwinning Digital Key technology enabling guests to check-in, choose their room and access their room with a digital room key.  ey can also check-out using their mobile devices through the Hilton Honors mobile app at participating hotels.

Marriott establishes dedicated cleanliness council Marriott has gone all out to tackle the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic by establishing a council of worldleading scientists, infectious disease specialists, microbiologists, hospitality professionals, food science and public health experts and water, hygiene and infection prevention solution providers.  e Marriott Global Cleanliness Council is dedicated to developing the “next level of global hospitality cleanliness standards” at the group’s hotels worldwide, with new measures already implemented including the use of electrostatic sprayers with hospital-grade disinfectant to sanitise surfaces.

Ultraviolet light technology is also being tested to sanitise keys and other devices shared by guests and sta .