Sep - Oct 2022

WRAP

A report by the World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that the global travel industry will add 126 million new jobs in the next decade, 65% of which are projected to be in Asia Pacic. It also states that Asia Pacic’s travel industry could fully recover by 2023.

Underscoring Dubai’s status as the region’s leading cruise hub, the emirate is set to welcome 900,000 cruise tourists during the 2022 2023 season, which kicks off with the arrival of the cruise liner TUI Cruises (Mein Schiff 6) at the Hamdan bin Mohammed Cruise Terminal, Mina Rashid, on October 29. The 2022-2023 season is scheduled to see 166 ship calls between Mina Rashid and Dubai Harbour, and will bring in an estimated 900,000 cruise passengers and crew.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) have announced a three-year partnership to collaborate on entertainment and lifestyle content, as well as joint marketing, to spotlight and inspire travel to destination Singapore.

world

It was a day to discover more about wondrous Wayanad for the winners of the Kerala Cuisine Contest 2020-21. The event was organised by Kerala Tourism and the winners were awarded a 7 day family holiday in God’s Own Country.

#ItsTimeForKerala

Industry In Pictures From

Great day onsite for the last day of build at Cannes Yachng Fesval. Everything is coming together beaufully - félicitaons to the RX France team and everyone involved. #RX Global

That’s a wrap on #KiwiLink2022, finishing up with a successful Kiwi Link Asia. Kiwi Link Asia hosted 55 New Zealand operators and 55 travel buyers, providing a great opportunity to support bookings for Summer 22/23 and beyond.

#Tourism New Zealand

Within the framework of preparaons for World Tourism Day 2022, UNWTO and the European Historic Thermal Towns Associaon (EHTTA) and Turismo de Galicia announce the celebraon of the “Internaonal Congress on Thermal Tourism”

#UNWTO

Air Belgium's inaugural flight has landed in South Africa. We are excited and look forward to welcoming all travellers from North Europe with open arms!

#VisitSouthAfrica

We are delighted to team up with Malaysia Aviaon Group (MAG) through a MOU to promote Singapore as a desnaon of choice to travellers from Malaysia. This includes launching markeng campaigns and promoonal acvies, as well as working with content partners to showcase fresh experiences in Singapore. #STB

Nilambur & Thrissur (Kerala) & Warangal in Telangana joins UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cies! This shall pave way for building digital learning ecosystems and sustainable development through the exchange of ideas & soluons with other global cies.

We have just launched a $1m campaign in the USA to drive business from New York, New Jersey and Boston into Shannon Airport. Delighted our North American team was on hand this week to support Shannon Airport and the tourism businesses from the Midwest region. #Niall Gibbons

A fruiul Sunday with this event happening Malaysia Convenon & Exhibion Bureau (MyCEB) for the arrangement on this cycle event! It’s good to see everyone be so energec on a Sunday and congratulate to everyone that completed the cycle challenge!

The World Of Social Media

Our Breakaway Session discussion is more so focused on the Internaonal and Africa Air markets playing their role in achieving all the 2030 strategy goals. The Internaonal and African travel markets play a pivotal role in the Tourism Recovery Plan. #South African Tourism

Trade Promoon Council of India in associaon with Consulate General of India, Jeddah organized a BSM on F&B at Jeddah on 15th Sep 2022. The BSM was inaugurated by Mr. Mohd Al Saeed, Secretary General, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and a key note address by HE, Shri Mohd Shahid Alam, Consul General of India to Jeddah. #TPCI

It was great to see so many familiar faces at AHLA’s #LodgingConference recepon tonight. It’s going to be a fantasc week in Phoenix! #AHLA

We’ve come to the end of an amazing three days in Italy with the Best in Class winners from Salon Culinaire 2022. From exploring the canals of Venice to vising UNOX S.p.A ’s head office to checking out the food markets of Padova, it’s been an acon-packed trip. Lovely meeng you all and see you soon! #Internaonal Salon Culinaire

The F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2022 is making a longancipated return, and so is the Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS) - with bigger and more excing lifestyle experiences across our city. Together with our tourism partners, we are ramping up the acon with diverse race-themed acvies for both locals and visitors to discover Singapore’s refreshed offerings #STB

Try the amazing flavours like capvang Pistachio, decadent Belgian Dark Chocolate, elegant Vanilla, meless Italian Strawberry, and magnificent Mango, irresistable Tiramisu. Don't forget to top it up with your favourite toppings like caramel, chocolate sprinkles, chocolate chips, and much more! #MITEC

The Miami Beach Convenon Center recognized Hispanic Heritage Month by hosng a live salsa class with dance instructor Fernando Garcia for our team! We had a lot of fun! #MiamiBeach

As part of #ClimateWeekNYC, WTTC hosted A Nature Posive Approach to Net-Zero Travel & Tourism at The Nest Summit Campus.

#TravelAndTourism

It's happening! Switzerland Tourism is official Desnaon Partner of Laver Cup 2022. Our Team UK tastefully created a #GrandTourofSwitzerland experience right at the very main entrance.

#RogerFederer couldn't help but visit. #ineedswitzerland

Spain

UNWTO has welcomed the Málaga Sustainable Tourism Observatory into its International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO). Málaga is the main coastal city in Andalusia with tourism as one of the most important pillars of its economy. Prior to the pandemic, in 2019, the city welcomed a total of 1.4 million overnight visitors, making it the fourth most visited destination in Spain.

Jamaica

Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett has announced that Jamaica ear ned US$ 5 7 billion since reopening its borders in June 2020. The data also shows that the island welcomed over five million visitors o

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destination’s strong tourism recovery efforts that saw its best summer ever, according to arrivals figures.

Chicago

Choose Chicago President and CEO Lynn Osmond announced a series of downtown and neighborhood tours on Sept 10 as part of Chicago’s celebration of the 7th annual International Greeter Day Each year the Chicago Greeter program holds h

s, connecting over 10,000 visitors with personalized explorations led by friendly locals that are customized according to visitors’ interests

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Agra

The Taj Mahal, a UNESCO world heritage site, was among the 10 most popular centrally protected ticketed monuments for domestic visitors in 2021 22, according to a new report released by the Union Ministry of Tourism The over 280 page report titled 'India Tourism Statistics 2022' was released by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on World Tourism Day

Dubai

The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has revealed that the country recorded a 318 per cent increase on overnight stays from Gulf nationals in the first six months of 2022 when compared to the same period last year. GCC nationals were responsible for more than 335,000 stays in H1 2022, compared with a little less than 81,000 in 2021.

Bangkok

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has announced that the ‘Thailand Travelution 2022’ event – which will focus on the importance of using technology and the insight of Big Data to help drive the Thai tourism industry’s digital transformation – will be held on 18-19 November, 2022, at the Centr alWorld comple x in Bangkok.

Busan

The Busan Tourism Organization (BTO) began implementing ESG management measures in 2022 and has shown a firm determination in practicing ESG A MICE ESG scheme system is being established to develop the “Busan MICE ESG Management Guidelines” according to its natural environment and industrial structure

New Zealand

Tourism New Zealand has taken a bold and creative approach to destination advertising with the launch of its first global campaign in two years. “If You Seek” launched in core visitor markets, takes a different approach to destination marketing by teasing audiences with snippets on what is on offer and inviting the curious, those who will take the time to seek more from their visit.

QUICK BYTES

CHS Birmingham Launches 2022 Show

CHS Birmingham returns for its second outing this autumn with a focus on personal and professional growth. The show, which is fast becoming a celebration of Birmingham’s business events scene, is enjoying the legacy of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the global attention on the destination The show will also return to the ICC Birmingham, one of its founding partners, as well as enjoy the support of The Birmingham and West Midlands Convention Bureau Now, with the meetings and events industry continuing to return to pre-pandemic levels of activity, and the opportunity of a Commonwealth Games legacy in the region, CHS Birmingham is looking to encourage both professional and personal growth for every delegate and exhibitor at the show. “We’re putting together an educational programme which is tailor made to the individual. Our research shows that the biggest demand from delegates is either to look at ways to enhance their own careers, or look at developing themselves as people,” commented Emma Cartmell, CEO & Founder, CHS Birmingham.

Japan reopens to independent tourists from Oct. 11

Japan will allow visa free, independent tourism and abolish its daily arrival cap as of Oct 11, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said during his visit to New York for the U.N General Assembly. Mr Kishida also announced a domestic travel incentive scheme that will give discounts on travel, theme park prices, sporting events and concerts Elaborating on the lifting of restrictions, Kishida said that "on the same day, we plan to launch a campaign to offer domestic travel discounts and event discounts to residents of Japan and hope that many citizens will take advantage of the offer to support the hotel, travel and entertainment sectors that have suffered enormous blows during the pandemic." The country has allowed visitors since June, but they had to be part of tours. Under a partial easing of restrictions in place since June, Japan allowed tourists only on packaged tours and had a cap on daily arrivals, currently set at 50,000. Travellers to the country also had to apply for a visa. As Taro Kono, Japan's minister of digital affairs, tweeted, “Finally, Japan will reopen the border. Visa waiver is back, no daily limit and free individual visits.”

NEC Group introduces carbon labelling trial at NEC and ICC venues

Art Basel Miami Beach, of which UBS is Lead Partner, will take place December 1-3 at the Miami Beach Convention Center (MBCC). The largest edition of this fair to date will feature 283 leading galleries

f r o m 3 8 c o u n t r i e s a n d territories - including 26 first-time participants The 20th anniversary edition marks two decades of Art Basel's growth and impact as a cultural cornerstone in South Florida, across America and beyond. Art Basel Miami Beach reinforces its position as the leading global fair in the Americas and will present an exceptional overview of artists, galleries and new perspectives from the region "It's really wonderful to celebrate our 20th anniversary in Miami Beach," says Marc Spiegler, Global Director Art Basel. "Over the last two decades, our fair has not only strengthened its central position in the region - uniquely connecting the arts scenes of North and South America, Europe and beyond - but also played a crucial role in the profound cultural transformation of the played town.The increasing diversity of galleries and artistic voices represented will make our exhibition richer in discoveries than ever.”

The NEC Group is taking the next step on its sustainability journey by trialling carbon labelling at its NEC and ICC venues, led by in-house caterer Amadeus Introduced with the help of food technology and sustainability specialists

Foodsteps, the trial is assessing the carbon impacts of 1,800 recipes sold at the venues, labelling dishes as low carbon footprint on its menus. The project comes in collaboration with a study conducted by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), who funded the project, and the University of Birmingham (UOB) on food sustainability labelling and behaviour change Developed alongside scientists and academics at the University of Cambridge, Foodsteps offers a cloud-based platform, as well as labelling capability and QR codes. On the platform, food providers can upload recipes and view the sustainability impact of each ingredient. It can be used to monitor targets, develop new recipes and improve a menu or product's sustainability The NEC venue is using its digital screens to direct customers towards this sustainability information, allowing event goers the capability to easily check the impact of each dish.

Art Basel celebrates 20 years in Miami Beach with a record 283 galleries

BLTM Delhi 2022 ushered in the rebound of the Business, Leisure & MICE travel market

BLTM, India’s leading trade show on Business + Leisure Travel and MICE, concluded on a positive note, with a massive turnout of travel trade visitors from all over India. This, together with over 100+ exhibitors from 4 countries and 13+ Indian states and UTs, the 2 day show staged post pandemic rebound of the business, leisure and MICE travel segment. Catering to the huge post pandemic opportunity that India presents, the show offered unprecedented access to the cream of buyers from the North Indian market, and the advantage of hosted buyers, specifically chosen from Business+Leisure and MICE travel segments

Trade visitors and hosted buyers thronged the show floor – which reflected the significance of BLTM in reviving the industry in this post pandemic period, when the Bleisure & MICE market is witnessing tremendous demand. The rush seen on the floor and the response from

everyone present there was overwhelming to say the least. 250+ hosted buyers were present at the show, specifically chosen from Business+Leisure and MICE travel segments from all over India. More than 700 trade buyers visited the show.

The show presented an exquisite showcase of unique destinations like St. Petersburg, Singapore, Moscow, and of India Tourism and some of the leading Indian States, hotels, resorts, tour operators, DMCs, etc , in a 5 star setting, in the heart of Delhi at the Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, where participants had the opportunity to engage in fruitful meetings in an intimate setting. At the show, Ms. Kuzenskaya Julia, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg commented, “I would like to thank the organisers of BLTM for this wonderful platform to help

with the tourism development of St Petersburg. It gave us the opportunity to present our beautiful city to all the exhibitors and visitors. I hope this event will strengthen our cooperation with your wonderful country. Thank you!”. As global travel resumes, most destinations are betting on a quicker revival of MICE and bleisure tourism in the year 2022; and it is noteworthy that according to surveys, India’s Outbound MICE tourism market is expected to reach USD 9 billion by 2025

According to reports, the India Business Travel Market is anticipated to reach a value of US$ 55 2 Billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 8 1% during 2022 2027, owing mostly to globalisation of business operations. Additionally, the increasing trend for bleisure travel, the development of meetings, incentives, conferences, and events (MICE) segment, rapid digitization, the rising partnership between businesses and airlines, continuous improvements in the airline, hospitality and tourism industries are also positively influencing the market across India.

BLTM opens doors to India’s 6 5 million outbound business and MICE tourists, as well as the fastest growing business travel market in the world

“BLTM is a very important platform for the Singapore Tourism Board because MICE is a very important sector for Singapore, and India is one our biggest markets. We are very happy to be at BLTM as over the last two days of the show we have been meeting interesting people and receiving very good business leads, including corporates and travel intermediaries. Many of them have indicated a very strong interest to consider Singapore as the destination for their next MICE movements. I, personally, am extremely excited to join the next BLTM. All the very best to the organising committee!”, saidMr. Raymond Lim, Area Director India (New Delhi Office) –International Group, Singapore. St. Petersburg, Russia was the Feature Destination of the show; while Singapore was the Feature Country. Goa, Odisha and Gujarat displayed their best as Partner States, and Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh participated as Feature States. Private sector participants from all over India, from many states were also present at the show

The show also had private exhibitors from several Indian states like Andaman & Nicobar, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, comprising travel agents, tour operators, hospitality chains, DMCs, attractions etc

Most of the states participated with delegations of tour operators and hoteliers; a clear appreciation of the unabated spirit of business, leisure and MICE travellers of India, who kept visiting these destinations throughout the pandemic, as they remained open with necessary precautions in place.

India Tourism toohad a key presence at the show, showcasing all their campaigns and programmes such as ‘Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’, ‘Dekho Apna Desh’, ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’.

The show was reserved for travel trade visitors for both days i e. 10th & 11th September, from 10 am to 6 pm The travel trade fraternity was present in large numbers at the inauguration, with new as well as existing travel trade players, and

huge footfall from the travel industry is expected on the show dates

“The industry’s unanimous take on BLTM has always been extremely positive, wherein they all agree that this show is truly beneficial for the Bleisure and MICE travel industry

Organising BLTM was crucial to keep up the momentum and provide the boost that the industry needs during this post pandemic phase, when the Bleisure and MICE market is soaring high ” , said Sanjiv Agarwal, Chairman & CEO, Fairfest Media Ltd , the organisers of BLTM. “BLTM, which is India’s leading trade show on Business + Leisure Travel and MICE, received exceptional support from the travel industry at large and our association partners who have been instrumental in the revival of travel and tourism.” he added.

NIMA was the Knowledge Partner for BLTM. The show also had the active support of other notable travel associations like TAAI, TAFI, ETAA, SITE, Skal International, IATTE, TUC, ADTOI, TOA, ABTO, UTEN and OTOAI.

India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida Conferred “National Tourism Award 2018-19 For Best Standalone Convention Centre”

India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida is one of the India’s largest integrated venue providers, that offers technology driven, world- class facilities and safety standards suitable for hosting international business to- business exhibitions, conferences, congresses, product launches, and promotional events, amongst others.

In a “National Tourism Awards’2022” ceremony held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, India Expo Centre & Mart got the prestigious “NATIONAL TOURISM AWARD 2018 19 FOR BEST STANDALONE CONVENTION CENTRE” in the august presence of Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, his Excellency Vice President of India. Shri G. Krishna Reddy, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North

Eastern Region of India, Govt. of India, Shri Ajay Bhatt, Hon’ble Minister of State for Tourism, Govt of India and Shri Arvind Singh, IAS, Secretary (Tourism), Govt. of India were also present alongwith other dignitaries. The award was received by Shri Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, India Exposition Mart Ltd. and Shri Sudeep Sarcar, CEO, India Exposition Mart Ltd. Shri Rakesh Kumar, Chairman IEML speaking on the occasion informed that it has been a great honour for IEML to receive this prestigious award. He thanked the Government of India for recognising the hard work and dedication of entire team of India Exposition Mart Ltd (IEML). Adding further, he said, this will surely add another feather in the IEML’s cap which has over the years received many awards

He further informed, the venue is strategically located in Greater Noida which is a prominent MICE destination in India. It is a world class venue with facilities for all kinds of business events in a covered area of 2,35,000 square meters. India Expo Centre & Mart houses around 800 permanent showrooms of Indian exporters and has 14 multi purpose halls (73,308 sqm) 29 meeting rooms (25,000 seating capacity for conferences and 2 lac footfall per day for exhibitions), 4 open areas and 4 speciality restaurants

It also has a buyers’ lounge, foreign exchange outlet, logistic support, extensive parking for 2000 cars and completely Wi Fi with modern security & safety features. The venue will soon have an in house 134 bedded hotel inside the premises. An uninterrupted power supply of 34 MW. Energy saving has been a priority at the venue and its 3MW Solar Power Generation plant, installed on rooftops of halls proves this endeavour. The facility has also received ISO 9001:2015, 14001:2015 and 45001:2018 certifications for the Standalone MICE venue.

India Expo Mart has approximately 16 years of operating experience in the management and organization of exhibitions and trade fairs. Many VVIP’s including Hon’ble PM of India, Hon’ble Union Home Minister, various cabinet Ministers and Chief Ministers of states have visited the venue for various exhibitions and conventions including Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair, Elecrama, Auto Expo – The Motor Show, CPHI&P MEC and Print Pack, COP 14, Petrotech’22, and recently World Dairy Congress’22 and many more others exhibitions were organized at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, informed Shri Sudeep Sarcar, CEO, India Exposition Mart Ltd

Onam celebrations conclude with cultural pageantry

Festival will get a global reach from next year: Tourism Minister

As the week long Onam celebrations organised by the Kerala Government drew to a close on Sept. 12, with a colourful cultural pageantry in the state capital, Tourism Minister Shri PA Mohammed Riyas said the Tourism Department will make all efforts to take the event to the global stage by planning it big on the lines of Spain’sLa Tomatina festival next year

Inaugurating the valedictory function of Onam celebrations at Nishagandhi, Kanakakunnu Palace Grounds, Shri Riyas said by giving a global dimension to the festival the state will be able to attract more foreign tourists

during the season and ensure their active participation in cultural activities

Shri Riyas said post Covid, this year’s Onam celebrations turned out to be a remarkable one with the overwhelming participation of the public and the stupendous performances of scores of artistes

Earlier, Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan flagged off the cultural procession at Manaveeyam Veedhi in the state capital, marking the finale of the festival that enthralled people across the state.

The show offered vivid glimpses into the diverse artistic and cultural heritage of the country and the state, featuring spectacular floats and a variety of classical and folk traditions. The pageantry featured around 76 floats and 77 art forms, 10 of which were from other states. The show ended at East Fort, after wending its way through the heart of the city from Vellayambalam

Over 90 airports in India to be carbon-neutral by 2024: Aviation Minister Scindia

ver 90 airports in the country

Owill be carbon neutral by 2024, while the number of airports will rise to 220 in the next five years, Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said. Currently, the country has 141 airports, of which Kochi and Delhi airports are carbon neutral, the minister said

"One of the first things that I did when I took over as the aviation minister was to put a carbon mapping profile of our airports. Two of our airports, Delhi and Kochi, are already carbon neutral and India will have 92 93 carbon neutral airports by 2024," Scindia said at the All India Management Association national convention. "Civil aviation is a highly

visible sector, it's a very high profile sector which attracts a lot of attention, but if you look at its contribution to greenhouse gases and carbon emissions its very small . two per cent of carbon emissions of the world," he said. The ministry aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2030

“Indian airports will not just achieve the net zero target by 2030, but will likely have over 400 million passengers by then. At present, we have over 200 million domestic and international passengers. But to handle the increase in passengers, the infrastructure on ground has to be improved and increased. "In the last eight years, the number of airports in the country has increased from 74 to 141 and this will

grow up to 220 in the next five years," he said. "The one thing that is scarce for every human being is time. No longer do we have the luxury of travelling for nine 10 hours, spending two days on a a vacation and travelling the same number of hours back," Scindia added. The minister also stressed on the need to set up an ecosystem in aviation sector

“It is about time we set up an ecosystem just like the automobile sector...it should not be about airlines and airports but about flying and training organisations, about cargo, ground handling and drones. And the steps to develop such an ecosystem are being firmly taken," he said

UP Govt launches drive to boost rural tourism, 18 districts identied in 1st phase

Uttar Pradesh Govt. is planning to boost rural tourism. In the first phase of the campaign 18 districts have been selected where rural tourism will be promoted. From each of these districts, the government will pick two villages to boost tourism. The campaign will be the start of a process of promoting the rich historical and cultural heritage of the villages in the state.

“Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of villages in the country and has enormous potential in the agricultural tourism sector”, said Mukesh Meshram, the principal secretary of the Department of Tourism. “In addition to encouraging better agricultural practices, cow husbandry, craftsmanship, handloom, handicrafts, unique pure foods, biological and agricultural diversity, etc., we are beginning the process of promoting our rich historical, religious, and cultural heritage in the villages”, Meshram remarked.

The advisory organisations for 18 districts across the state have already been selected in the first phase, according to the principal secretary

“On behalf of these institutions, a survey will be conducted to identify two villages in each district where tourism will be promoted. A plan will also be chalked out to educate the younger generation about villages and their unique specialties in order to promote rural tourism,” he said. The

representatives of the chosen institutions will contact the district magistrates of the selected districts and also speak with other stakeholders involved in tourism-related activities about issues pertaining to rural tourism.“After the discussion, an action plan will be prepared on behalf of the chosen institutions by conducting a survey based on the primary issues The Tourism department will continue to work to give agriculture tourism a fresh focus in the coming years”, the official said.

Heliports being set up in Himachal to increase tourism in unexplored regions

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur, during the inauguration of the heliport in Rampur said that the government has taken several initiatives to lure tourists to unexplored areas, and is working toward developing a network of heliports to improve air connectivity in the state.

He further informed that the work at

Shimla heliport near Sanjauli bypass road, Baddi in Solan district, and Rampur have been completed already under UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme. Reportedly, helicopter service operations will soon start at these sites

The government had recently sent a proposal to extend helicopter services to Chamba and Reckong Peo, he added. If we go by reports, there are

around 64 helipads in the state, whereas 38 new ones are being developed, the Chief Minister added

2023 to be ‘Visit Andhra Pradesh’ year to foster tourism

Andhra Pradesh will observe 2023 as ‘Visit Andhra Pradesh’ year to foster tourism, with particular emphasis on attracting foreign tourists. Towards this, the AP Tourism Development Corporation has developed a GISbased web portal to market the various tourism destinations in the state.

On the occasion of World Tourism Day Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the GIS-based web portal and declared 2023 as ‘Visit Andhra Pradesh’ year. “Tourism and hospitality is a critical sector as it contributes to large employment. It has gone through turbulent times in the past two years due to Covid-19 pandemic but is now recovering,” Special Chief Secretary (Tourism and Culture) Rajat Bhargava said.

The prime objective of declaring 2023 as Visit Andhra Pradesh year was to aid the tourism and hospitality sector to the maximum extent and help it flourish, he said.

“We have been very active in holistic improvement of our tourist

destinations including scaling up amenities, promoting infrastructure development and attracting investments. With the groundwork done, we are now focusing on tourism promotion to increase awareness on the beautiful destinations of our state,” Rajat said. The GIS portal would be used to promote and market tourist spots through destination management activities like planning, development,

delivery, coordination and monitoring The Special Chief Secretary said focus would also be on promotion of local arts and crafts industry and commercialisation of local tourism offerings in the international markets

A concerted campaign approach is also being adopted to promote AP’s culture and heritage, the first such effort by any state in the country, Rajat added. While port city Visakhapatnam would be a gateway destination during ‘Visit Andhra Pradesh’ year, new tourist circuits like tribal, Buddhist and forts would be extensively promoted.

“Food and cuisine, festivals and beaches of AP will also be the focus areas while we are coming up with new themes like caravan tourism and experiential tourism. We are also opening new-defined temple tourism circuits that include the holy Shaktipeethams in the state,” Rajat said.

MotoGP™ to race in India from 2023

India will make its debut on the MotoGP™ calendar in 2023 as MotoGP™ gets ready to take on Buddh International Circuit, as the Grand Prix of Bharat. The country is a true economic and cultural powerhouse, with a population of over 1.4 billion people and more than 200 million motorcycles on its roads. Twowheeled transportation counts for nearly 75% of the total number of vehicles used daily, making India one of the biggest motorcycle markets in the world and a key focus for the manufacturers in the MotoGP™ paddock.

Racing at Buddh International Circuit, located in Uttar Pradesh to the south of New Delhi, will bring the sport into the heart of this key market and make the sport more accessible than ever to our fanbase across the region. As MotoGP™ continues to expand, the Indian Grand Prix marks an important milestone in the sport’s mission to open the doors of motorcycle racing

writing a new chapter in the story of the world’s first motorsport Championship and welcoming new audiences and fans from every corner of the world.

to all –

Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh: “This event will provide a major impetus to the economy by generating an influx of foreign investment in the state.”

Pushkar Nath Srivastava, COO, Fairstreet Sports: “We are thrilled to get MotoGP into India and host this prestigious race. It’s a matter of pride that we are bringing this event on Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav.”

Mr. Anurag Thakur, Union Sports Minister, Government of India: “It’s a historical day for sporting industry and tribute to 75th year of India’s celebration.”

Mr. Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister, Uttar Pradesh: “It’s a matter of great pride for Uttar Pradesh to host such a global event. Our government will provide full support to MotoGP Bharat.”

Mr. Nand Gopal “Nandi”, Cabinet

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta: “We’re very proud to announce that Buddh International Circuit will be on the 2023 calendar. We have a lot of fans in India and we’re excited to be able to bring the sport to them. India is also a key market for the motorcycle industry and therefore, by extension, for MotoGP as the pinnacle of the twowheeled world. We very much look forward to racing at Buddh International Circuit and can’t wait to welcome the fans through the gates to see this incredible sport in person.”

Goa to host 37th National games in October 2023: Indian Olympic Association

The Indian Olympic Association has confirmed that Goa will host the 37th edition of the National Games in October 2023. The Goa state government has conveyed to the IOA its in principal approval to host the next edition of the National Games In a letter to Ajit Roy, Secretary, Sports and Youth Affairs, Goa, IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta wrote, “IOA is pleased to note the whole hearted support of the Government of Goa to host the 37th National Games in Goa in 2023, hence

conveying IOA’s approval to organise the 37th National Games in Goa.

“The Goa delegation may receive the IOA flag in the Closing Ceremony of the 36th National Games on October 12, 2022 in Surat, Gujarat ” The IOA,

however, said the dates for the event would be decided later. “The date of the 37th National Games will be decided keeping in view of the dates of the 19th Asian Games, which will be held from September 23 to October 8, 2022 in Hangzhou, China ” The last National Games were held in Kerala in 2015, and Goa was to host the 36th edition in November 2016. After two delays in 2018 and 2019 due to the coastal state’s inability to create adequate infrastructure, the Games were further postponed to 2020

N CONVERSATION WITH

SHRiKANT WAKHARKAR

General Manager, Hyatt Regency Delhi And Area Vice President, Hyatt Hotels (North)

MS. Please tell us about your role at Hyatt Hotels and what are your key responsibilities here?

Shrikant Wakharkar. I am the Area Vice President of Hyatt Hotels –North and have been appointed as the General Manager of Hyatt Regency Delhi since March 2022. I have a total of 11 hotels in my portfolio, including 5 properties from the south – Park Hyatt Chennai, Park Hyatt Hyderabad as well as 3 Hyatt properties in Kerala. My primary role is to oversee all hotel operations, implement tactical strategies to boost growth and drive innovation across all the properties with the focus being on maximising guest satisfaction by ensuring that the hotels are running efficiently. Additionally, I lead all aspects of business planning to ensure profitability of each property; provide guidance, mentorship, and adequate training to the General Managers of all properties under my supervision and to ascertain full compliance to hotel protocols, SOPs, policies and procedures.

MS. How did you get into this industry? How have you seen the industry evolving over these years from the time when you started in this industry?

Shrikant Wakharkar. I graduated from the Institute of Hotel Management in Bhubaneshwar, and it has been more than thirty years since that I’ve

been a part of this industry. Things have really changed over the past three decades. Advancement of technology has revolutionised hospitality industry. With the use of technology, things have become a lot easier, which were not so about 30 years back. An important and a welcoming change has been the introduction of various sub brands under the umbrella of highly reputed brands. For example, Hyatt’s initial hotels were Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency, which catered to only a certain segment of the population. Now, we have Hyatt Centric, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House and more. These sub brands come with their own identities and pillars, and they resonate more with a certain section of society and that section embraces these

brands more easily. As a result, hotels today are no longer about food and accommodations only. They have become social hubs where people like to gather and be seen.

MS. How has your property performed post pandemic? What are the current statistics. What novelties shall we be expecting for the upcoming year?

Shrikant Wakharkar. Post pandemic, most of the properties under my portfolio matched up to the 2019 numbers, at least in the first half of the year. As we entered in the second half, we witnessed massive improvement and we outperformed the 2019 numbers of the corresponding months. This trend, at

that precarious time, was highly encouraging and it made us more optimistic. Going forward, we are very bullish about the upcoming year. New Delhi will be hosting the G20 summit and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Conference in 2023 and because of that the Delhi NCR region has already seen a lot of movement from various countries towards that end. Many countries have started sending their delegates to check out arrangements and scout for collaborations. So, 2023 promises to be the best year in recent times

MS. You have elaborate & diverse experience in the Hospitality industry. Please tell us about your professional journey so far, including the challenges you've faced and the milestones you've reached over the years

Shrikant Wakharkar Our priority, right now, is to primarily focus on the bottom line. In order to achieve a healthy Gross Operating Profit, we are concentrating on room yields, higher EDRs and higher Average Per Cover to boost and maximise on restaurants and events revenue. Another goal is to arrest attrition of key talent and provide adequate skill training to well equip the staff at all levels. We are witnessing a boom like never before, especially in the events space. The next two years are very crucial as they will set the tone for the rest of the decade. Overall, trends and numbers have indicated a very healthy period for this industry

MS. What change would you like to see in the hospitality industry, and why?

Shrikant Wakharkar I started out from a food and beverage background and have worked in restaurants, banquets, in room dining etc. In the past three decades, I have held key leadership positions in reputed hospitality brands like Marriot Hotels, Taj, Intercontinental and Starwood. I have nearly 14 years of experience as a General Manager. Before joining here, I was the General Manager at Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty. This is my second innings at Hyatt Regency Delhi; I was a part of the flagship property as Assistant Director, Food and Beverage, in 1999. Some major challenges that I faced along my professional journey included dealing with volatile unions in a couple of hotels and convincing owners to re invest in their assets after a period of 7 8 years when the property starts showing signs of ageing

MS. Being in this position at a time when the Indian hospitality industry is in a strong recovery mode, what would be your priorities?

Shrikant Wakharkar

The hospitality industry is a big contributor to the government coffers. With this in mind, I would expect the concerned authorities to view this sector with the lens that it deserves. There is a pressing need for parity of laws and framework for this sector across the country. The government must look into making policy changes that are industry friendly and should also look at doing away with archaic policies like excise. This much needed reform would further boost the growth of the sector and facilitate higher employment

MS. In what ways has Hyatt been instrumental in making the guest's experiences memorable?

Shrikant Wakharkar.

We, at Hyatt, are guided by our purpose of care – “To care for people so they can be their best ” We really believe in advancing personalised care and service to all our guests. Personalisation has been the core of all our operations so that we can help create memorable

experiences for all our guests. Additionally, our food and beverage reputation, both in restaurants and banquets, enables us to deliver on quality and helps us to maximise guest satisfaction. We have also recently re launched our dining loyalty program – Hyatt Dining Club. The program has been very well received across the country

MS. What are your thoughts about MICE and what key trends do you foresee in the hotel industry in regard to MICE business in particular?

Shrikant Wakharkar I want to take a two pronged approach to this question. Let’s talk about weddings first – since foreign travel was largely restricted over the last couple of years due to COVID 19, we witnessed an upsurge in Indian weddings being held in domestic destinations. Destinations that were hitherto unknown have become front runners for hosting big fat Indian weddings. Take for example the Grand Hyatt hotel in Kochi – Kerala was never a wedding destination for large format weddings. This one hotel, however, has put Kerala on the wedding destination map of the country. The recent times have exposed the potential in this country for hosting large scale weddings, which remained largely untapped till now. Going forward, our country is going to become a formidable wedding destination and I foresee lesser weddings being held in publicly presumed exotic destinations like Phuket, Bali etc. Talking from the point of view of conventions now, we have already seen a robust growth in the domestic convention segment. As far as international conventions are concerned, we have started receiving leads for some of our properties for 2024 considering that these large format conventions require 16 20 months of planning. Since skies have pretty much opened now, we foresee that 2024 will be the year that India will witness many such conventions. G20 Summit, to be held in Delhi in 2023, will set the ball rolling for large scale conventions in the country

MS. The MICE industry, like the rest of the world, has seen a lot of change in a short period of time. How is your venue poised to capture the pulse of MICE Industry?

Shrikant Wakharkar Hyatt Regency Delhi is nestled in the

heart of Delhi NCR region. It is situated close to diplomatic enclaves, corporate hubs, and major networks of transportation. It is in close proximity to 4 golf courses in Delhi, premier malls and many cultural and heritage sites

The easy accessibility to and from the hotel makes it a perfect venue for hosting MICE events. The hotel provides nearly 32,050 sq ft of venue spaces that are equipped to host all kinds of social events. The Mansion at Hyatt Regency Delhi is home to multiple unique event spaces that can be converted and can be utilized to host large scale gatherings for varied purposes. The Oval Room is a one of a kind venue space within The Mansion that can be converted to host launches, summits, conclaves etc. We have recently held a Google Pixel and a car launch event here. The Oval Room is supported by Regency Ballroom, another addition to our banqueting space. Our hotel features 507 contemporary rooms, and such a large inventory allows us to host a large number of guests thereby adding to the hotel’s value as an ideal venue for such gatherings. Hyatt Regency Delhi has also set a benchmark in fine dining and our 4 specialty cuisine restaurants, a European bakery, a traditionally designed bar and an all day dining outlet deliver on quality food and beverages for all events.

MS. In your opinion, what does the MICE industry need to improve on and what are some challenges surrounding this sector?

Shrikant Wakharkar Despite India being such a vast country, we have very few destinations which can accommodate large format international conventions. Delhi, Mumbai, and Goa are the most wanted destinations for such large scale events and that’s where the list ends. We really need to take a look into developing destinations where huge conventions and gatherings can take place. A big challenge that MICE industry faces today is lack of easy accessibility to locations that are equipped to host large scale events. For example, there are very few flights to Kochi from Delhi and Mumbai which restricts Grand Hyatt Kochi from becoming a sought after option for such gatherings

MS. Hotels in many destinations have been facing staffing

challenges. What has been your approach to selecting, nurturing and motivating talent?

Shrikant Wakharkar Based on Hyatt’s fundamental purpose of care, we have instituted a very robust system in place for training and retaining our staff. For us, the most important facet is training and upskilling the staff so that they are well equipped to deal with all kinds of hurdles and can further provide the best possible care to all our guests. Another way we nurture and motivate key talent here is by giving them adequate recognition. We at Hyatt, understand that recognition is a critical aspect when it comes to people leaving an organisation and that is why we have a comprehensive recognition p called Hyatt Stars in which s levels are recognised and su rewarded. This has helped u control attrition to a large extent

MS. What is your perspective on the role of sustainability in our industry? What practices can be adopted by the industry at large to promote the cause of sustainability?

Shrikant Wakharkar It is Hyatt’s consistent effort to implement initiatives that are eco-friendly and promote sustainability. At Hyatt Regency Delhi, we ha taken a host of reforms to promote a better environment like – bo the use of single-use plastics across the hotel. We have our own in-house water bottling plant where we manufacture our own bottles for water instead of plastic bottle. This advanced water plant with UV and Micron Filters, guarantees pure and bacteria-free water for consumption. In a bid to propagate and encourage a sustainable lifestyle, we had also adopted a green transport technology measure and have set up 4 electric vehicle charging stations within the hotel premises. Additionally, we use LED lights across the hotel, use recycled water for cooling tower and horticulture along with having a solar water heating system, smart building management and energy system.

MS. What is your leadership style? What according to you are your strong points?

Shrikant Wakharkar I am a people’s person first and foremost and our industry is all about people. I firmly believe in nurturing and cultivating networks and relationships and since the beginning, have adopted a people-centric leadership style that allows me to foster meaningful relationships. I believe a lot can be done if we have a strong relationship with colleagues, guests, customers, travel trade, vendors, media partners etc

MS. We have learned that you are also a health enthusiast, who starts each day with 5 km of jogging. If this is true, would you mind sharing: how do you balance work e would like to know, what keeps usy when you are away from

Shrikant Wakharkar Yes, I am unner and I’ve even run a w marathons. Running in the morning helps me gear up for the day and I consider it as a form of meditation. When I am away from work, my family and my dog keep me busy. I also spend a lot of time reading and listening to music. I strongly believe in a good work-life balance and feel that it is necessary to ensure best physical and mental health of individuals.

ould you like to share any ge with the industry?

Shrikant Wakharkar Our industry is on the cusp of a revolution. We are about to embark on our golden period and the hospitality sector in India as a whole is poised for really big things in the future. Since international travel has resumed, corporate travel has also gained momentum. This has led to an increase in MICE activities and has further augmented the revenues. The sudden increase in demand from business travellers and leisure tourists has also resulted in an increase in room revenues. A lot of events are being planned or are already being held in many destinations across the country which has resulted in an uptick in occupancy levels similar to pre-COVID times. Things are bound to only move upwards from here for India’s hospitality sector.

Pavan Kumar, Director of Sales and Marketing at Pullman-Novotel New Delhi Aerocity

MS. What has been the story of Pullman-Novotel since the pandemic, has the hospitality industry recovered to its profitable phase?

Pavan Kumar. The strength of the hospitality industry lies in its ability to adapt, reconstruction has been the very basis of survival during the pandemic for every business and individual. With the rise in consumer expectations post Covid-19, the whole scenario has taken a new shape. This is why we have left no stone unturned in creating safe and thoughtful stays for our guests since the pandemic. From contactless technology services to re-inventing our brand messaging, we are on road to regain our pre-covid momentum. The industry in general has faced plenty of challenges in these years but in my better belief, we will bounce back very quickly with the right approach tailored as per the consumer needs and wants

MS. Please describe some of the key aspects of PullmanNovotel that distinguish it from other hotels

Pavan Kumar. Pullman being a complex hotel, is a mixed bag of features. From a wide range of F&B outlets like Honk, Farmer’s Basket, Cafe Pluck, Pling, Food Exchange

and Quoin to meeting avenues like co-meeting rooms and breakout rooms, Pullman serves as an all-in-one destination for all types of travellers. For weddings, we have a 40,000 sq.ft. pillarless mystical peacock inspired ballroom that has a clear height of 22 ft and is the largest in Aerocity, serving as a perfect venue. With their rain shower installations on the ceiling and lavish courtyard, the hotel proves to have a beautiful ambience. Having an extensive inventory of 670 rooms coming in different categories, Pullman & Novotel New Delhi Aerocity is a pioneer hotel in delivering democratised experience under one roof.

MS. How did you get into the hospitality industry? Please tell us about your professional journey so far in this industry?

Pavan Kumar. It all dates back to 14 years ago when I started my journey in the marketing and sales segment. Over the course of time, I have worked with leading Indian and global brands in the hospitality domain, such as heading the sales department in hospitality group Accor for their 51 multi branded hotels in India and South Asia. This opened the door for me to join Pullman & Novotel New

now to create

experiences

with our

a

the

Delhi Aerocity as their Director of Sales and Marketing, where I manage overall sales programmes, annual budgets, revenue and distribution management. My professional journey has been enriching and exciting as the very nature of the hospitality industry itself. I hope to utilise my indepth knowledge of effective sales strategies in order to achieve excellence and produce profitable results in the coming future

MS. What are your differential offerings for MICE and weddings and which one is a bigger revenue generator for you?

Pavan Kumar At Pullman, we attempt to create steadiness in our MICE and wedding segment as the two are the primary contributors to our revenue. With no doubt, the MICE segment generates greater revenue for the industry It's a profitable source throughout the year and is growing at a fast pace. To cater to this segment, we have meeting spaces like co meeting rooms which offer high level team and technology for amazing services. Our business playground concept features creative interior elements, modular rooms and tailored food and beverage options Weddings being the second in lane, is a traditional source of income for the hospitality industry which never goes out of vogue. Being a very important part of society, is a segment that we closely enjoy planning and executing. We have a large ballroom which is inspired by the mystical peacock theme that can accommodate upto 1500 guests and have outdoor settings to serve as a refreshing venue for different occasions. We also have talented chefs and great f&b as a cherry on the top to create a wonderful experience for our guests.

MS. What should hotels be thinking beyond health and hygiene to attract guests?

Pavan Kumar In the past 2 years, the entire dynamics of the hospitality sector has taken a shift. Traditionally, customers demanded comfortable stays that came with a touch of luxury and great F&B but now their expectations have become safety and hygiene centric. Guests are looking for digital reservations and check -out processes and as contactless experiences as they can get. Nonetheless, it's a challenging task to provide great experiences keeping so many parameters in mind. We are making every effort and strategically planning our approaches to satisfy the consumers. According to me, hotels should think beyond the fixed trend of just providing safety and hygiene. It is how personally tailored the experience of the customer is that makes their stay great. With a holistic approach, we can surely meet and exceed the expectations of our guests which will result in not only more revenue but also will win their admiration.

MS. How do you overcome the challenge in initiating and conducting the events? Please share your experience on some of your recently held events at your venue

Pavan Kumar Hosting events is always an exciting opportunity but the management is always a task. Since the onset of Covid-19, safety has been a major concern and hence organising events have become even more challenging. All this while, we have been hosting quite a number of events with the necessary measures like social distancing, sanitisation etc . For obvious reasons, we experienced that customers are more cautious in attending events and hence the events need to

incorporate buttoned-up segments of assurance. Some customers are not comfortable with buffets and they prefer individual portions, whereas others demand events with less gatherings. In the end, it all narrows down to planning the event in such a manner where all the suggestions and queries of the guests are answered without them even asking for it.

MS. In the age of social media and online marketing, hotels are increasingly interacting with their guests on these platforms. How well have your social media and online marketing strategies worked for you?

Pavan Kumar Social media has changed the way of connecting with the audiences for every industry Traditional marketing is replaced with digital marketing and the presence of a brand is mainly recognised by its social media profile. In times like this, we have been proactive with our approach to interact digitally with the customers. Our digital campaign “We will mind your business” disrupted the industry by showcasing Pullman as the safe haven for the business travellers and has garnered much love for it. By curating, resonating campaigns that have a broader perspective, we constantly reach out to the audience and create a relationship of trust.

MS. What are the big challenges facing the hospitality sector today?

Pavan Kumar The only challenge today in my opinion is to meet the growing expectations and needs of the customers The generalisation of the services is no longer an option and is replaced by personalised preferences of the travellers. It is critical to tailor services according to these subjective demands and hence the process can prove to be strenuous. To effectively carry out this, the idea is to create value and bring on board technology as an acceleration. Digitisation is becoming more and more important in the hotel industry and will be used to deliver tailor-made experiences to the consumers.

MS. What have been your biggest takeaways from the industry?

Pavan Kumar In the process of thriving in the industry over the years and sustaining a global crisis, I can say that I have had my fair share of key learnings. The most important being the ability to adapt in accordance with the changing scenarios and crisis management because this is the most challenging part. As people are opting for more off beat locations, it is a good time for independent hotels to grow and create their name in this niche. Another learning is that traditional short-term stays are being replaced by long -terms such as full-house rentals by

families and friend groups for many days are being preferred by the customers. So all in all, the capability of the industry to diversify and grow its potential is prevalent and there is only so much to learn from.

MS. What have been the crucial lessons learned and how has that helped changed your strategy?

Pavan Kumar During the course of my journey, one thing that I learned in the very beginning only was that change is inevitable. The most crucial lesson had to be the one that we all learned in the past two years where pandemic taught us all the power of patience and flexibility. Our strategy is now to create introspective experiences and connect with our customers on a deeper level via social media as the impact of these platforms remains unchallenged in present time

MS. Any message that you would like to share with us

Pavan Kumar To conclude, I would like to express my appreciation for the entire hospitality industry in regards to their dedication and hardwork to battle these unprecedented times. I am thankful for all my team members and the co-operative customers for their patience and trust in us. By supporting each other as industry colleagues, I think we all from the hospitality industry will continue to thrive in the greater future

MS. How long have you worked in the hospitality industry, and where did your journey begin?

Abhishek Rajagolkar I started my career in the front office at JW Marriott Juhu and later moved to the Sales department. During the course of my journey, I got the opportunity to work in multiple cities like Hyderabad, Pune, Kochi, Chennai & Bengaluru. Having completed 17 years in the industry and moving to multiple cities, stability in personal life has been a challenge throughout but working with people and establishing connections has made the journey all the more worthy

MS. What do you think is the most distinguishing or unique aspect of the Marriott International and what makes it so special when it comes to delivering for its guests?

Abhishek Rajagolkar Marriott Bonvoy is a loyalty program rewarding the guest for their stay and offering a wide range of redemptions options including Marriott Bonvoy Moments. The Marriott Bonvoy Moments is a program where Marriott Bonvoy members have exclusive access to concerts, culinary experiences, premier sporting events, and more. Marriott International's Internal benchmarking that measures guest experience and brand guidelines to ensure consistent guest experience is its strength

MS. How do you overcome the difficulty of planning and executing the events? Please share your experience on some of the events you've recently hosted at your venue.

Abhishek Rajagolkar Planning and executing an event can be an overwhelming task. One is bound to face challenges while planning any event. Prioritizing potential revenues and driving ROI and value from events is something I focus on while handling any event. I recently hosted two events:

Marriott India Golf Tournament

Shaadi by Marriott Bonvoy

MS. What are the big challenges facing the hospitality sector today?

Abhishek Rajagolkar. Talent hunt and hiring has long been a challenge in the hospitality industry. The onset of pandemic only worsened the situation for this sector. Being the largest industry, the hospitality sector is replete with opportunities

Abhishek Rajagolkar, Area Director Sales & Distribution South & East India ,Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at Marriott International

and hiring the right people for the right job all while retaining employee interest and manpower is the key to overcoming the challenges. Geopolitical scenarios & Visa challenges are another challenge faced by the industry

MS. What have been your biggest takeaways from the industry?

Abhishek Rajagolkar Working in this sector teaches you skills for a lifetime that you do not get to learn anywhere else. Genuine, authentic care for the guests as well as associates is always recognized and rewarded in this industry. Winning the Marriott Global Awards for team of the year and putting Marriott Kochi on the global map is a memorable moment in my professional journey so far Riding bikes and traveling to least travelled places and staying in non branded accommodation is something I enjoy while I am away from work.

MS. If you could bring any change into force, what would it be and why?

Abhishek Rajagolkar. To garner support for the hospitality industry to build public infrastructure that will complement the facilities that have been developed to support large requirements in the country is a change I would love to bring to force

MS. What message would you like to share with the Indian travel trade fraternity?

Abhishek Rajagolkar Talent is our biggest asset and the pandemic has taught us a lesson the hard way, while institutes are seeing 50% lower admissions, retaining talent by providing sincere value to associates through upskilling and personal development is imperative for survival

Winning the Marrio Global Awards for team of the year and pung Marrio Kochi on the global map is a memorable moment in my professional journey so far

“

Uncertainty of business continuity and a shortened booking window is the new dynamic that all hotels are adapting to in today's time

MS. How did you get into the hospitality industry? Please tell us about your professional journey so far, including the challenges you've faced and the milestones you've reached.

Kapil Vig I have had an excellent journey so far that includes working overseas as an employee and owning a hospitality business. I count my milestones when I make my team members grow through learning in addition to the hotel preopening experience in challenging markets

MS. Are there any fascinating tidbits about the hotel that you could share? Maybe some background information? Have there been any special events on the property?

Kapil Vig I think it is all about people management be it our guest or our colleagues. Adaptability is the need of the hour, and it means responding efficiently to ever changing market dynamics and that is what I believe is the key to success. With my family background of defence, adaptability comes naturally

MS. What do you think is the most distinguishing or unique aspect of the Crowne Plaza hotel? What best represents the hotel's personality, in your opinion?

Kapil Vig. I would say that Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini has a very balanced business mix including corporate, MICE, retail, wholesale and it is so encouraging to see social segment taking the lead not only among the segments but across the

Kapil Vig General Manager

Crowne Plaza, Rohini

industry for us. Apart from MICE, our FIT segments have been growing consistently over the years due to the industrial and commercial development in our business area which now ranges up to business zones of Panipat and Bahadurgarh as well.

MS. What is the most advantageous aspect of the location of Crowne Plaza? What are some of your favourite things to do in the area? What would you like to know about the hotel before checking in if you were contemplating staying there as a guest?

Kapil Vig. It is very interesting to see how northwest Delhi has developed over years I terms of te hubs, shopping malls, institutions and manufacturing industries enjoy multicuisine food at our restaurants or visit local restaurants at walking distance to enjoy dilli ka khana. As a guest, the accessibility to and from the hotel through road and metro is a key highlight. Rithala metro station is literally a stone throw away distance.

MS. What are the big challenges facing the hospitality sector today?

Kapil Vig Uncertainty of business continuity and a shortened booking window is the new dynamic that all hotels are adapting to in today's time. This becomes more challenging while the industry is facing an acute shortage of trained manpower. Currently there is a lot of movement happening in the industry due to these factors

MS. What have been your biggest takeaways from the industry?

Kapil Vig. My biggest take away is a realization that the people are the most important aspect of our industry, and they are the ones contributing majorly to a hotel's success When I say people, I am talking of the teams at unit and above unit level, customers and the promotors

At our hotel, we have our 'IHG winning ways' that help us to build the right culture and culture is imperative for success of any organization.

MS. How do you overcome the difficulty of planning and executing the events? Please share your experience on some of the events you've recently hosted at your venue

Kapil Vig Although the hotel has been established as one of the most successful MICE hotels in the country over last ten years, we keep our approach as hotel that choses to go an extra mile to continue to maintain our position as the most preferred choice for our customers. We are mostly busy with Lifestyle Exhibitions, Socials, B2B exhibitions and other corporate events

MS. What have been your most memorable moments in the last 10 y s? Please share your hobbies, what usy when you are away from

apil Vig There are many memorable moments in last 10 ears the most memorable being when I started my entrepreneurial journey in New Zealand and successfully ran it for 8 years before wrapping it up and coming back to India. My most recent time with family in Dubai has been another piece of time with family which I hold dear to my heart. My contribution to Holiday Inn Agra as pre-opening al Manager was recognized y BRICS.

ou could bring any change into force what would it be and why?

Kapil Vig I would not say that I want to force changes, but I would rather say how would I like to make things better; work life balance, bringing in more employee value proposition for the upcoming workforce, use of affordable technological solutions and use of AI for guest and hotels

MS. What message would you like to share with the Indian travel trade fraternity?

Kapil Vig. We are a resilient and robust industry which has overcome turbulent times and as veterans in industry; we should balance our EQ and IQ while taking decisions related to human capital working with us and rest will fall in place

Agoda partners with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council to accelerate sustainability transformation in the travel industry

Agoda, Singapore headquartered digital travel platform, is partnering with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to support hotels develop sustainable tourism practices Singapore is the first country where the programme will be launched, with Agoda and GSTC sponsoring 50 Singapore hotel professionals to attend a “Sustainable Hotels” course that will equip them with the knowledge and skills to accelerate their sustainability transformation. Agoda and GSTC’s sustainable tourism course aims to support hotel participants on their journey to meet their sustainability targets through in depth content provided by GSTC. The GSTC’s Criteria meet global standards for sustainable travel and tourism and the course includes examples of best practice from destinations, tour operators and accommodation providers around the globe. The course will enable hotels professionals to better understand the intent and indicators of the GSTC Criteria, and prepare individuals to develop and implement viable and actionable sustainable tourism policies and practices for their organisation, or for the destination they operate in, so as to prepare themselves to be GSTC certified moving forward

After completing the course, participants will receive a certificate of training completion from the GSTC featuring both the GSTC and Agoda logos, and will be eligible to take an optional official exam to

receive the GSTC Professional Certificate in Sustainable Tourism Training through the course and the optional certificate would also contribute to the Staff Engagement criteria in the GSTC Criteria for Hotels which requires staff to hold certificates and qualifications in relevant discipline / skills.

In March 2022, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) jointly launched the Hotel Sustainability Roadmap, setting out clear sustainability goals for hotels

as part of Singapore’s ambition to become a top sustainable urban destination. These include a target for at least 60% of Singapore’s hotel room stock to achieve internationally recognized hotel sustainability certification by 2025, and to commence tracking of emissions by 2023. The move by Agoda to help hotels meet the requirements for sustainability certification is welcomed by both SHA and STB

The GSTC and Agoda course is a flexible learning online course of four 90 min sessions over a four week period. The course commences from 6 October – 3 November 2022. GSTC offers tailored programs based on specific needs and goals to help hotels improve their sustainability practices through tangible actions that fulfill hotel sustainability certifications standards

How destinations can benet from the rise in remote workers: Airbnb Report

irbnb has published a guide for

Agovernments and destinations outlining recommendations for how communities can benefit economically from the rise in remote workers. Airbnb’s Guide to Live and Work Anywhere: How Communities Can Benefit from Remote Workers is based on Airbnb’s insights, data and experiences in partnering with 20 destinations that are embracing the potential of remote work, as well as a review of remote worker programs worldwide

“Where policy-makers once had to fight to attract entire companies (or even industries), today governments and destination marketing organizations must consider how to recruit individuals and families who can work remotely and how to ensure that the benefits of remote work are felt by the wider community,” said Nathan Blecharczyk, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Airbnb. “The

best approach is one that not only attracts remote workers, but also integrates them into communities so that all residents can benefit from this rising trend.”

Since the start of the pandemic, remote work has surged around the world and the trend is also evident on Airbnb’s platform, with many guests choosing to live and work in a location for extended periods of time. Longterm stays (28 days+) continue to be Airbnb’s fastest-growing category by trip length, more than doubling from Q1 2019.Remote workers represent a huge socio-economic opportunity for destinations and host communities. To reap the benefits of remote working, Airbnb’s Guide to Live and Work Anywhere provides recommendations for:

Ÿ

Improving visa processes and streamlining tax compliance

Ÿ Encouraging remote workers to

support local businesses

Immersing remote workers and their families into host neighborhoods

The remote work “revolution” has particular promise for smaller cities and rural communities, many of which have been hurt by macroeconomic trends in recent decades. Since the pandemic started in March 2020, globally, more than 8,100 cities and towns have received their first-ever Airbnb bookings – including over 1,300 in the US. In 2021, domestic nights booked by US guests on Airbnb for stays in rural areas grew 110 percent compared to 2019, while Airbnb Hosts in rural counties in the US earned over $3.5 billion over the year. In partnerships with 20 global destinations, Airbnb continues to evolve the experience for remote workers for guests, Hosts and host communities alike

WTTC publishes ground-breaking report on how

Travel & Tourism can reverse nature loss

Anew report published by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), shows how Travel & Tourism can play a critical role in halting and reversing the destruction of nature. The report, which will help businesses understand and manage their impact on biodiversity, is launched ahead of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in December, where global governments will finalise actions to transform society’s relationship with nature, offers new hope for global nature conservation

‘Nature Positive Travel & Tourism’, created jointly with ANIMONDIAL, a key advisor to global Travel & Tourism on animal and nature protection, and in collaboration with global businesses within the sector, has also been endorsed by Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD). The report will help businesses act on the very real and urgent need to better protect biodiversity and nature. With nature tourism representing 20% of global tourism, the report shows just how crucial nature is for destinations around the world

Wildlife, a primary motivator for nature tourism, contributes U S $343 billion to the global economy every year, and supports nearly 22 million jobs around the world. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Human activity has resulted in a devastating loss of natural habitat and biodiversity, with one in four species now facing extinction. “Travel & Tourism is uniquely placed to make a real difference. 80% of Travel & Tourism is highly dependent on

nature so it is crucial we take a proactive role in advancing nature conservation

“Our report comes ahead of COP15, when governments will be creating targets to protect habitats, species, and the natural environment which in turn reduces carbon. Travel & Tourism is on the front line. We are all custodians of nature ” Biodiversity is also intricately tied to other critical issues, such as climate change and emerging diseases, with the potential impact of the latter so starkly demonstrated by the COVID 19 pandemic. Addressing the loss of biodiversity is not only crucial for the sector and its resilience, but also for the global economy and society.

Daniel Turner, ANIMONDIAL Co

Founder & Director, said: “Most Travel & Tourism businesses we talk to already understand the needs to include the protection of biodiversity and nature in their planning and reporting. But this can

be a complicated area, and for many, the first challenge is simply knowing where to start. The report will inform, inspire, and empower Travel & Tourism to better manage their impacts and play a leading role in building a global Nature Positive future to help build a better world

ANIMONDIAL commends WTTC for this opportunity to help tourism businesses with their first steps, as well as the rest of their Nature Positive Tourism journey”

The report offers a roadmap based on a four phase framework with practical steps to guide the sector in adopting a Nature Positive approach: assessing operational impact, setting out a strategy, identifying essential actions, rolling out and reviewing the programme, and harnessing communication opportunities. The report also offers four actions businesses can achieve in the short term: reconnecting people and nature, supporting sustainable value chains, protecting animals and their welfare, and investing in nature

Zartico secures $20 million in Series A funding to bring Data Analytics and Version 3.0 to Tourism Industry

artico, a company using data

Zintelligence, analytics and visualizations to help destination tourism organizations such as Visit North Carolina, Travel Alaska, and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau make data-driven strategic and operational decisions, has secured $20 million in Series A funding. The funding was led by Arthur Ventures, a Minneapolis-based venture capital firm with deep expertise in B2B software, with participation from Peterson Partners Zartico has raised a total of $24.5M to date and, since its March 2020 launch, has more than 180 customers

“The visitor economy contributes 10% to the global GDP, yet it is one of the last to embrace big data and analytics, relying instead on quarterly and yearly reports that are almost instantly outdated,” said Sarah Lehman, CEO,

Zartico. “By layering and analyzing rich datasets, we provide some of the world’s most popular destinations with insight into where their visitors are coming from and the attractions driving the most interest, enabling them to better market, and more importantly, manage their visitor economy more effectively.”

Zartico’s integrated data model™ offers its customers anonymized geolocation, spend and event data for visitors and destinations in real-time By layering this proprietary data on top of both customer data (CRM systems, social platforms, etc.) and publicly-available data (jobs, TSA, etc.), Zartico provides a comprehensive view of visitor behavior and activity Destinations will now have an even clearer view of the visitor economy with the new and improved Zartico Destination Operating System®

version 3.0.

“Smart destinations represent an $18B market and the company that can provide the most detailed and actionable data around diverse visitor economies will surely capture this massive opportunity,” said Ryan Kruezinga, general partner at Arthur Ventures and new Zartico board member. “Zartico is well positioned to accomplish this, as not only does it have the industry’s most advanced analytics, but also the domain expertise to win the trust of tourism destinations across the country.”

Zartico’s new financing will be used to grow its engineering and product teams, expand its machine learning, AI and predictive capabilities, acquire new proprietary data sets and expand into new markets such as sports venues, airports and municipalities

Princess Cruises unveils Bespoke Next Generation Ship – Sun Princess

Princess Cruises has revealed a stunning new and bespoke ship platform that is the brand’s largest ship ever that will accommodate over 4,000 guests. The new Sun Princess boasts stunning views, expansive venues, innovative entertainment venues, multi story dining rooms and next level stateroom accommodations while remaining true to the smooth clean lines and design aesthetics inspired by the Seawitch icon and popularized in the original “Love Boat” TV series and returning the venerable “Sun Princess” name back into operation

Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard and scheduled to debut in early 2024, the 175,500 ton vessel is the largest Princess ship ever constructed and embraces Italian heritage by featuring a next level,

brand iconic Piazza and The Dome, a cutting edge entertainment space inspired by the terraces of Santorini. Sun Princess will also feature the exclusive Princess Medallion that will extend Princess’s leadership position in delivering exceptional personalized experiences at unmatched scale. Princess is unique in the ability to deliver incredible cruise ship amenities typical of the largest ships in the world while delivering personalized service found on the industry’s smallest ships

The cruise line also announced that Sun Princess will sail an inaugural spring/summer season of

Mediterranean cruises followed by Western and Eastern Caribbean voyages out of Port Everglades, Florida in the fall of 2024.

ATOAI announces the rst Himalayan Mountaineering & Adventure Tourism Meet in New Delhi from 31 January – 2 February 2023

ATOAI - the “Adventure Tour Operators Association of India” has announced that the first Himalayan Mountaineering and Adventure Tourism Meet will be held in New Delhi from 31st January – 2nd February 2023. The Himalayan Mountaineering meet was started in the 1970’s with an objective to promote climbing expeditions in the country. This initiative was taken by Air India and the adventure tour operators at that time. Air India initiated it with the support of MOT with Indian Mountaineering Foundation actively involved. The meet was opened to international and national mountaineers

States like Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh & Sikkim etc are already on the world map for mountaineering in India. However, the Northeast has vast potential, many destinations are still unexplored, especially for outdoor and adventure activities. Arunachal has, for example, the unexplored Gorichen (6,858m) and Kangto (7,060m) peaks. These can be promoted with world-class safety measures and guidelines in place.

The main objective of the Mountaineering Meet 2023 is to showcase the year-round potential of

the Indian Himalaya. It would be a three days event with 250-300 national delegates which will include famous Indian Mountaineers who have contributed immensely to the growth of adventure tourism in this country ATOAI also plans to invite 100 International delegates including adventure travel journalists, photographers, Mountaineers through their partners and alpine clubs, however it will be open to mountaineering, tour operators, equipment manufacturers and all others who have interest in the adventure tourism from around the world as delegates

Tourism is one of the sectors most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, impacting economies, livelihoods, public services and opportunities on all continents. All

parts of its vast value-chain have been affected. As countries gradually lift travel restrictions and tourism slowly restarts in many parts of the world, it is the right time to promote Indian adventure tourism to the rest of the world.

ATOAI is the recognized nodal body for promoting adventure tourism in India and works with Central and State governments to drive policy and set standards for safe and sustainable adventure travel in India.

Conceptualized in 1994 for the adventure travel industry, ATOAI evolved from a strong support group that led to establishing adventure tourism as one of the main tourism attractions in India, its mountains, rivers, lakes, hills, forests, deserts, beaches and its wildlife. ATOAI today is a body of over 500+ adventure travel professionals who are not only passionate adventurers themselves, but also promote adventure tourism with the same passion.

TAAI reiterated and advocated interests of

Travel Trade Industry at Tourism Minister’s Conference

An industry devastated due to the pandemic once again retreated and advocated the interests of the Travel Trade Industry at the National Conference of State Tourism Ministers held between the 18th – 20th of September at Dharamshala. The Conference was well attended by the Central State Ministers, stalwarts of the Indian tourism industry, be it the travel agents, hospitality fraternity, tour operators and senior representatives of various other verticals.

TAAI’s President, Jyoti Mayal, has always been at the forefront to highlight and bring to the notice of the highest echelons in the government about the interests and issues faced by the Travel Trade

Representing TAAI & on behalf of the President Jyoti Mayal wherein the sentiments were reiterated at the Conference, Kulvinder Singh Kohli, Managing Committee Member, brought to the table the points which are the biggest hindrance to the growth of the Indian travel trade sector. In addition, he highlighted issues, which TAAI has been taking up with both State and Central levels for a long time now. Keeping the interests of the sector intact is what he emphasised, which was acknowledged by the Hon’ble Ministers attending the Conference

While addressing the august gathering

during the session on Stakeholders’ remarks, Kohli conveyed to the government the need of automating the registration process with the Ministry of Tourism. An association with the highest number of IATAapproved members have had a hard time registering with MoT. A body like IATA legitimises the authenticity of a company, however, our registration processes are so cumbersome that it consumes a lot of time and energy. And, in some cases, agents do not register and are therefore unable to take benefits attached to it.

On the point of providing adequate security to the travel trade from bankruptcy or default at the airline level, Kohli said that there is no security presently that the airlines have against their delayed payments Citing the example of the pandemic, he added that the most hit always have been the Travel Agents. If an arrangement can be made to secure the interest of the travel trade, then this will protect our fraternity as well as the passengers/customer. He further added that the travel trade is not a financial institution supporting aviation. For instance, when we pay in advance, be it in the form of security

or for tickets then why can’t Low-Cost Carriers should have a security bond with the Government at the time of applying for a licence based on per seat/per aircraft in the interest of travellers and trade.

Kohli also elaborated on the Airlines and Travel Agents model which is widely followed as per the IATA Passenger Sales Agreement signed by Agents with IATA. He informed the stakeholders that over the years the commissions have dropped from 9% to 5% to Zero as of today. None of the airlines is paying commission to the Travel Agents other than Air India, the national carrier, whom our members have always supported. And, with times changing and therefore post Covid era we need the government’s intervention in facilitating a revised and reworked model of remuneration, which could initially propose 5% of the total airfare, including all ancillary services of the airline that are booked by the agent. This shall ensure more transparency, and an equitable and profitable business amongst the trade, Kohli summed up

Other important points related to mandatory Insurance, setting up a joint task force with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Finance etc. were shared by Kohli. His concluding remarks included the idea of having a Single Window System inplace where all States/UTs have a common presentation to share their offerings to travellers, be it domestic or international.

Emirates reafrms commitment to South Africa with expanded ight schedules across its three gateways

mirates will be bringing new

Etravel opportunities, choice and convenience for customers traveling to and from South Africa with additional services to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. The ramp up of flights are part of the airline’s ongoing commitment to support South Africa’s economic and tourism recovery through enhanced connectivity across all of its gateways. The airline’s latest move also reaffirms South Africa’s strategic importance on its network, as it prioritises service expansion and rebuilding its capacity to unlock further growth potential

The airline will be expanding its schedule to and from Johannesburg with three daily flights from 1 March 2023. Cape Town will be served with double daily services starting from 1

February 2023. Emirates will also be adding two more flights to Durban, making it a daily operation from 1 December 2022. The reintroduction of the new flights between Dubai and the airline’s three gateways in South Africa will enhance Emirates’ schedule to 42 weekly services.

The additional services to all three gateways will also benefit customers with more connecting choices to an array of domestic and regional cities across Southern Africa via Emirates’ codeshare and interline partners including South African Airways, Airlink, FlySafair and Cemair. The unique connections and onward travel options are not offered by any other airline

Customers flying between Dubai and

South Africa can look forward to an elevated experience across every cabin class, with thoughtfully designed menus and locally sourced beverages, signature amenities and exceptional hospitality delivered by the airline’s diverse, multinational crew.

In addition to providing much needed seat capacity in and out of South Africa, Emirates’ new flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban will collectively provide more cargo belly hold capacity to further scale up import and export opportunities for local businesses, helping carry vital exports including seafood, fruits and vegetables, fresh and frozen meats, wine, pharmaceuticals, and gold –between the UAE, South Africa and beyond

Major Hospitality Associations announce endorsement for HITEC 2023 in Toronto

Following up on the success and broad support of the 2022 Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), preparations are underway for Toronto where the hospitality technology event will be held on June 26–29, 2023 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®), HITEC is the largest and oldest nonprofit event of its kind hosting 300+ exhibiting companies and a thoughtfully designed education program with over 50 education sessions. In its five plus decades, HITEC has become a respected, mustattend event for the industry, garnering endorsement from numerous industry associations, with several co-locating events with HITEC Toronto

“HITEC has established itself as a hub

for hospitality technology, acting as a center for related meetings, knowledge sharing, new product releases, innovation demonstrations and more,” said HFTP CEO Frank Wolfe, CAE, FIH. “The success and breadth of the event is not singularly pulled off by the HFTP team but is built upon by numerous parties including allied organizations, exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers and so many more who participate, with HITEC as the annual focal point for the exploration of hospitality technology.”

Known as the industry’s premier technology event, HITEC draws hospitality professionals from a range

of specialties who hold titles in IT, sales and marketing, operations, and finance, including a large percentage with C-level positions. Part of this range comes from the partnering associations who promote HITEC to their members. Annually co-located with HITEC is the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Americas (HSMAI) Commercial Strategy Week. HSMAI president and CEO Bob Gilbert stated, “HSMAI is proud to continue to partner with HFTP so that the hotel commercial executives attending our events co-located with HITEC can attend and experience the HITEC trade show. For many, this provides them an opportunity to walk the floor with their CIO or CTO colleagues and this only enhances the critical working relationship between revenue and technology executives at a hotel company.”

Marriott International set to expand Its Middle East Footprint

rom the Future Hospitality

FSummit in Dubai, Marriott International, Inc , announced plans to expand its Middle East footprint with the expected addition of over 20 properties and more than 5,000 rooms across the Gulf countries over the next 15 months. The company ’ s growth in the region is fuelled by ongoing demand for its extraordinary portfolio of hotel brands across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and increased appetite from developers for conversions and adaptive reuse

properties

“The tourism industry in the Middle East continues to undergo significant growth in line with the long term strategies of regional governments to diversify their economies,” said Jerome Briet, Chief Development Officer, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “The reputation of Marriott International and our world class brands, along with our long established presence in the Middle East, continue to put us in a great position to contribute to the

ongoing growth and diversification of the region’s tourism sector ” With significant demand for luxury offerings in Saudi Arabia, particularly within the country’s ambitious developments such as the Red Sea Project and Diriyah Gate, Marriott International expects to enhance its portfolio with six additional luxury properties in the Kingdom by the end of 2023. Marriott International continues to see opportunities in the UAE to further expand its portfolio of more than 70 properties

Accor announces partnership with SHe Travel Club, the rst hotel label focused on women’s travelling needs

ccor, a world leading

Ahospitality Group, and SHe Travel Club, the only independent hotel label designed by women for women, has announced a partnership which aims to reimagine the female travel and hospitality experience. SHe Travel Club is the first and only hotel label which leverages technology and women’s individual feedback to create a label specifically designed around meeting their expectations and requirements Key Accor brands including Sofitel, MGallery, Novotel and Mercure will be part of a 50-hotel pilot in Europe and in the Middle East to encourage the deployment and growth of the She Label. Its ambition is to work hand in hand to raise the bar and support an

improved travel experience for women.

Women represent 64% of global travelers, but according to SHe’s global survey of 5,000 women in five regions, 85% consider their needs are not fully met by the industry. The survey identified four key pillars: Safety, Comfort, Service and Dining & Entertainment. As such, the labelling process assesses hotels against these four categories and provides three levels (Silver, Gold and Platinum) catering for all hotel segments. More than two hundred hotels around the world have already been certified by the SHe Label.

Patrick Mendes, Group Chief Commercial Officer Accor, said: “We

are delighted to partner with SHe Travel Club and to support its initiative to improve the travel experience for women. Accor is entrepreneurial and disruptive at its core and is always looking to support organizations innovating and developing positive solutions to redesign the hospitality blueprint with bespoke guest experiences.” Valérie Hoffenberg, She Travel Club founder, commented: “I’m pleased to initiate this partnership with Accor. Our SHe Label aims to promote hotels that adapt their offers to the specific expectations of women who travel. Our SHe Label contributes to the positive change of women empowerment all over the world.”

Flipkart launches Flipkart Hotels for Domestic and International Hotel Booking Services

lipkart, India's homegrown e

Fcommerce marketplace, has announced the launch of a new hotel booking feature, Flipkart Hotels, on its platform to bolster its offerings in the travel sector. To offer better reach and options to customers, Flipkart Hotels will provide customers the opportunity to book hotel rooms across 3 lakh domestic and international hotels. With the launch of hotel services, Flipkart aims to offer its customers a host of affordable benefits, including flexible travel and booking related policies, easy EMI options etc to make travel

affordable, and budget friendly options, among others. Backed by Cleartrip’s API, Flipkart Hotels will benefit from Cleartrip’s deep understanding of travel customers and sectors. Available on the Flipkart app, this new offering provides a hassle free booking experience, and timely communication through popular messaging apps

The platform further enables users to avail third party offers on Flipkart platform. For the convenience of customers and to offer a great experience, a dedicated customer care center has been set up to support

customers with user related queries Adarsh Menon, Senior Vice President, Flipkart, said, “We are excited to launch Flipkart Hotels on the Flipkart app which will provide access to affordable hotel stays convenient for the customers

Flipkart Flight is on a steady path of growth in the travel industry since we entered this space. With Flipkart Hotels, we are strengthening our commitment to provide a better experience and superior service to our customers across metros and beyond tiers

Dubai Holding appoints Katerina Giannouka as new Chief Executive Ofcer of Jumeirah Group

ubai Holding, a diversified

Dglobal investment company with presence in over 13 countries, has announced the appointment of Katerina Giannouka as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Jumeirah Group as of December 2022.

A recognised professional in the international hospitality industry, Giannouka joins Jumeirah Group with 20 years of experience in business leadership, operations, hotel development, asset management and strategic advisory

Katerina joins Jumeirah Group from Radisson Hotel Group, where, as President Asia-Pacific since 2017, she led the execution of a comprehensive

five-year strategic and operating plan, delivering unprecedented growth of nearly doubling the size of the hotel portfolio. Prior to this, Katerina led the Asia-Pacific and China Development team of ultra-luxury Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, where beyond delivering growth, she played an influential role in supporting new brand development, corporate decision making and strategic planning

Commenting on her appointment, Amit Kaushal, Group Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Holding, said: “We are delighted to welcome Katerina as the new Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah Group. Over the years, Jumeirah has become synonymous with excellence, providing guests from across the globe with unique and

unrivalled experiences. Given Katerina’s impressive track record as a transformative business leader, as well as her luxury hospitality background and drive to create resilient teams and culture, I am confident that she will build on Jumeirah’s incredible success story and lead the business to new levels of sustainable and accelerated growth across the world.”

For her part, Katerina Giannouka, incoming Chief Executive Officer, Jumeirah Group, said: “I am honoured to be entrusted and appointed to this key role with Jumeirah Group Jumeirah operates some of the world’s most iconic hotels and has redefined luxury hospitality with its exceptional and beyond-expectations service offering

Clarion Events announces Lisa Hannant as new CEO

larion Events has announced

Cthat Lisa Hannant will become the company’s new CEO, succeeding Russell Wilcox, who moves to the position of Executive Chairman. Lisa joined Clarion in 2008 and was appointed to the board as Group Managing Director in 2013, with responsibility for driving international expansion. During this time, Clarion has grown significantly in key US, European and Asian markets

As CEO, Lisa will continue to work closely with Russell Wilcox who, in addition to his role as Chair of the Board, will have responsibility for: strategic growth; business development opportunities; and a number of projects across the Group

Previous Chairman, Simon Kimble, will remain on the Clarion Board as a non-executive director

Announcing the changes, which take effect on 1 October 2022, Russell Wilcox said: “I am delighted to be able to announce Lisa as Clarion’s new CEO. She has been such a key driver of the company’s tremendous growth over the years and brings a wealth of experience, skill and great ideas to the role going forward. I’m thrilled to be working with her as she takes the company on to ever greater success in the future”.

Commenting on the outgoing Chairman, Simon Kimble, Wilcox said, “I would also like to thank Simon for his incredible contributions to Clarion

over more than 20 years, during which time he was pivotal in establishing Clarion as one of the most important event organisers in the world. Shareholders, peers and colleagues have all had countless reasons over the years to be grateful for his talents and we’re of course delighted he will be remaining on our Board going forward”. Clarion Events’ incoming CEO, Lisa Hannant, said:

“It’s a huge privilege to be leading the company as it enters the next stage of its growth and evolution. Like the rest of the industry, we’ve been through a challenging time since the outbreak of the pandemic, however the commitment and resilience of our team in delivering value to customers has been outstanding.”

SAP Concur appoints Kumar Gaurav Gupta as VP & Country Manager to lead its India business

AP® Concur®, the world’s

Sleading brand for integrated travel, expense, and invoice management solutions, has appointed Kumar Gaurav Gupta as VP & Country Manager for the Indian subcontinent. Kumar, who has more than 20 years’ experience, will lead the business with responsibility for strategic planning, development, and execution with a customer-first approach.

With more than a decade of experience with SAP in various roles, Kumar will now focus on collaborating with SAP Concur’s customer base to drive their digital transformation journeys across expense, travel, and invoicing. Prior to SAP, Kumar was a business consultant advising customers on strategic priorities and has been an entrepreneur himself in the field of education.

Excited about his new role, Kumar

said, “I feel honoured to take this role at such an exciting time, with buoyant economic conditions and positive sentiments around business travel. We at SAP Concur are confident that India has the strong fundamentals to continue our growth trajectory. Our focus is to address our customers’ business challenges in the most sustainable and innovative ways. I am proud and grateful to the SAP Concur team for this consideration.”

On the appointment, Matt Goss, SVP and GM APJ & Greater China SAP Concur, said: “We believe Kumar has extensive experience working with our customers, partners, and ecosystem to lead SAP Concur’s business in India. We at SAP Concur are committed to sustainability led growth across our portfolio and, as we support our customers’ digital transformation, Kumar’s leadership will be pivotal to our continued growth. He brings

strong operational rigour, strategic competence, and a proven track record of bringing together diverse teams towards our larger business goals. He will help us to continue to deliver in India, which is one of the most diverse and exciting markets for us.”

Kumar, who assumed the role on October 3, holds an undergraduate degree from Delhi College of Engineering and postgraduate degree from Indian Institute of Management, Indore. He is known for his authentic and transparent leadership style and is well respected in the industry for leading innovation in technology and next generation businesses

SAP Concur serves more than 52,000 customers in over 150 countries, including over 75% of Fortune 100 and 500 companies, helping more than 81 million end-users to book travel and process expenses

IBTM World reveals details of Association

Leaders’ Forum

IBTM World 2022, which will take place at Fira, Barcelona, from the 29th of November to the 1st of December, has revealed first details of its Association Leaders’ Forum, which is scheduled for the day before the official start of the event on the 28th of November. The Association Leaders’ Forum, curated by Stylianos Filopoulos, International Associations Expert, will consider the role that associations can play in our changeable world. Through the sharing of case studies, interactive sessions and round table discussions, the tailored programme will explore issues such as sustainability, diversity and inclusion, socioeconomic instability, wellbeing, and creativity, and discuss how associations can leverage these challenges and opportunities to increase the impact of their future events.

Stylianos comments: “The Association Leaders’ Forum is a cultural melting pot, where association leaders from around the world come together in the forum’s safe space, to exchange best

practices and learn from each other

This year we take a step forward and transform the forum to an innovation lab, where people will listen to amazing stories from thought leaders, and they will have the chance to experience innovative event formats

“We will discuss trending topics from wellbeing to diversity and from rising costs to new business models and we will try to see how events can build legacies in fluid and uncertain times Be ready for some serious play”

One of the highlights of the Forum is the Presidents’ Talk, which will open the programme and bring together all five Association Executive Society leaders. This interactive session is an opportunity for association professionals to hear how different global associations innovated and solved problems in the design and delivery of their own international events, as well as a chance to discover different cultures and celebrate diversity and points of convergence

In partnership with MeetDenmark, the programme features an innovative

session to help design the future of in person events through Lego Serious Play. This interactive session will enable delegates to share ideas and learn what in person events of purpose driven organisations will look like in the future. It will also enable them to experience new and innovative formats through play and reflect on the impact of events gamification

David Thompson, Event Director, IBTM World,

said: “The Associations

Leaders’ Forum is an integral part of IBTM World, and this year as we come together to reflect on how culture impacts events, the forum is a fantastic opportunity to learn from and exchange ideas with different global cultures. Stylianos has produced an unmissable programme which explores all the issues facing associations today.”

New ‘Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse’ theme park to open in Thailand this October

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced that Sony Pictures Entertainment and Amazon Falls have confirmed that the world’s first fullybranded Columbia Pictures movie theme park – Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse – will open in Thailand on 12 October, 2022.

Mr. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing and Communications, said, “The opening of Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse is thrilling news, and it adds another world-class reason to come and enjoy a holiday in Thailand. We are very much looking forward to the park’s muchawaited opening.” Thailand-based attractions developer Amazon Falls has reimagined what was the Cartoon Network Amazone waterpark and created – in collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment – the new Columbia Pictures theme and

waterpark. Situated a short drive from Pattaya in the Bang Saray area, Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse promises to be an exciting ‘immersive entertainment destination’ for everyone, with rides and attractions featuring characters from such movies as Ghostbusters, Jumanji, Bad Boys, Zombieland, The Emoji Movie, and Hotel Transylvania.

Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse will cater to all ages, with themed and immersive zones offering both water and land-based attractions, as well as live shows, interactive props, restaurants, and specialty merchandise shops. Among the park’s highlights, the Mega Wave Pool will host music events, movie screenings, and shows with giant LED screens and concertgrade Dolby DTS surround sound; the Ghostbusters Proton Stream will take

people on an exhilarating water dome journey, and monsters from Hotel Transylvania will welcome people to an enormous water play structure.

While Columbia Pictures’ Aquaverse is the next step in Sony Pictures’ larger global strategy to grow and expand location-based entertainment by utilising its film and TV brands, it is also poised to set new standards for immersive entertainment in Thailand’s EEC or Eastern Economic Corridor initiative that aims to revitalise the Eastern Seaboard area that includes Pattaya.

Dubai Esports Festival to be launched in November 2022

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has announced that the city will host the inaugural Dubai Esports Festival (DEF 2022) from 9 – 20 November 2022 at Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai. DEF 2022, which will be hosted in partnership with VSPN, a global leader in esports total solutions, will be the first international leisure event to be held at the Dubai Exhibition Centre following the hugely successful Expo 2020, and is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to position Dubai as a global city at the forefront of innovation and a leading events destination

Starting with DEF 2022, DET and VSPN will roll out a series of events and activities, as part of the strategy to further elevate Dubai’s standing as a global hub for esports and interactive tech driven entertainment. The festival will have a diverse offering, including a top tier international esports tournament featuring world renowned professional esports players, the launch of a school tournament, a concert featuring high profile artists, an immersive GameExpo, as well as an industry networking event for domestic, regional and international stakeholders and partners.

The Initiate Summit will bring together the whole esports and gaming business ecosystem, including esports stars, experts, and industry establishments, providing them with a unique opportunity to exchange best practices, develop a strong network for accelerating momentum and growth,

benchmark technologies and invest, both in the world’s fastest growth market, MENA, and in a safe and inclusive esports culture. At the GameExpo, visitors can experience a variety of activities, whether they’re enjoying classic games at the Retro section, getting their hands on the latest game drops, shopping for creative one offs of their favourite fan fiction, to participating in competitions at a Cosplay stage, where they could win fabulous prizes. Both the Initiate Summit and GameExpo will be organised by DET in collaboration with Dubai World Trade Centre.

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), commented: “We are pleased to partner with VSPN in hosting the Dubai Esports Festival, further reinforcing Dubai’s position as the top regional hub for esports, inspired by our visionary leadership’s goal to make Dubai the best city in the world to visit, live in, work and play. With this region being one of the world’s fastest growing gaming markets, DEF will be a new annual festival that will build a legacy for esports and interactive entertainment companies, paving the way for high quality innovative content

that will allow esports enthusiasts from around the world to enjoy the ultimate gaming experience. “With the continuous support of our stakeholders and partners enabling a world class esports ecosystem in Dubai, the launch of DEF will also build momentum across multiple mobile and digital platforms, help us tap into the vast market potential for esports and gaming and inspire the next generation of esports talent, all while highlighting the city’s position as a safe international events destination ”

Dino Ying, CEO of VSPN, said: “VSPN is committed to partnering with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism to establish Dubai as a global hub in the burgeoning market of esports. DEF will serve as the cornerstone of a new esports ecosystem, an enduring cultural phenomenon and industry benchmark ”

“We will expand VSPN’s groundbreaking global esports ecosystem model alongside Dubai by setting up a comprehensive network of professional and amateur tournaments Meanwhile, by bringing the world’s top esports IPs to Dubai, we can bring this unique industry ecology into a new era, ” he further added

As MENA’s leading esports hub, Dubai has developed a world class esports ecosystem by investing heavily in technology, infrastructure, education and a new regulatory framework, alongside a buoyant tech start up environment and a thriving, internet savvy talent pool. DEF 2022 will further enable Dubai to tap into, unlock and leverage the vast potential that exists in the MENA region for esports

Lyons announces £11.5 million funding package for tourism in Northern Ireland

Economy Minister Gordon Lyons has announced an additional £11.5 million funding package to support the further recovery of the tourism industry across Northern Ireland.

The funding package will assist the tourism industry in dealing with not only the knock-on effects of the pandemic but also the new challenges of soaring energy bills, rising food and labour costs all of which have begun to have an adverse impact on the industry.

The Minister said:

“I am delighted to announce this significant funding package to support the tourism industry in the face of the crisis that it is presently facing. “The industry remains one of the largest employers in the local economy employing almost 1 in 10 of the working population with 70% of those

jobs being outside of Belfast. “This package of support will drive much needed additional business through the doors of tourism and hospitality providers outside of the summer season and reduce the risk of job losses in the sector. “The tourism industry employs people from all sections of society, providing a range of diverse employment opportunities for young people, many of whom have not had the benefit of a university education, and those seeking to return to work. It is vital therefore that we do all that we can to help the industry to

weather the cost of living crisis.”

The wide-ranging package of support will include an extension to the Covid Kick-Start Programme to assist tourism businesses to manage their cost base and boost their productivity and competitiveness

The funding will allow Tourism NI and Tourism Ireland to respond to the industry’s call for additional marketing and promotional activity over the autumn, Christmas and spring both domestically and in close to home markets in the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and Western Europe.

Tourism NI’s Partnership Marketing Fund will be increased to allow further support to be made available to tourism businesses to undertake their own sales and marketing activity to obtain additional bookings from these markets between now and the end of March.

Indonesia examines offering a exible visa to attract more digital nomads

ndonesia is trying to attract more

Iso-called “digital nomads” to its tropical shores by offering a more flexible visa, the country’s tourism minister says, in a move welcomed by the tourism industry on the resort island of Bali. Tourism Minster Sandiaga Uno said in a post on his Instagram account that digital nomads could now visit Indonesia and work for up to six months using a socialcultural visa. “I am increasingly

convinced the number of foreign tourists who are interested in staying in Indonesia will increase and will automatically have an impact on economic revival,” he said.

In recent years, some Asian holiday destinations have seen an influx of digital nomads, or long-stay visitors from overseas who combine travel and recreation with remote working. Employment under this category of visa has not previously been permitted

and Indonesia is yet to outline how it could tax digital nomads, but the plan has been positively received by the Bali tourism board.

“We have to embrace this opportunity,” the board’s chairman Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana said. “But I suggest the government make a clear regulation regarding this. For example, travellers must pay a certain amount of tax to the Indonesian government if they work from Bali.”

Thailand grants visa extension for tourists to stimulate upcoming high season

Thailand’s Centre for COVID19 Situation Administration (CCSA) approved the proposal by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to extend the period of stay to 45 days for tourists from countries/territories entitled for visa exemption, and to 30 days for those eligible for a Visa on Arrival (VOA). This will be in effect from 1 October, 2022, until 31 March, 2023.

TAT has proposed the extension to stimulate the upcoming high season, which normally runs from October until March.

During the specially granted 6-month period, the length of stay per time will be extended from 30 days to 45 days for passport holders of the following

countries/territories who may enter Thailand under a tourist visa exemption scheme: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Monaco, The Netherlands,

New Zealand, Norway, Oman, The Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UAE, UK, Ukraine, and USA.

Also, during the same 6-month period, the length of stay per time will be extended from 15 days to 30 days for passport holders of the following countries/territories who may apply for a VOA: Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Malta, Mexico, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu.

Grand Prix Season Singapore 2022 revs up with bigger and more exciting lifestyle experiences across the city

Grand Prix Season Singapore (GPSS) returns from 23 September to 2 October 2022 after a two-year hiatus, with a diverse collection of innovative race themed lifestyle offerings that caters to all ages and interests. These complement the Formula 1 (F1) Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix experience, and encourage locals and visitors to explore and enjoy what Singapore has to offer. The precinct parties that made a successful debut in 2019 are back at four locations – including a first for Sentosa this year, with island exclusive experiences targeted at families and beach lovers. Other parties at Orchard Road, Clarke Quay and Kampong Gelam will be expanded, with an exciting line up of race themed offerings that showcases the very best of what each precinct has to offer.

At Orchard Road, visitors can shop at an auto-themed flea market at *SCAPE or take part in race themed, arcade game based challenges at the Heineken Silver Smooooth Pit Stopoutside Ngee Ann City Performances by percussionists and flash mobs will enliven the city’s famous shopping belt, alongside visual spectacles like “A Big Big World” – a sustainability exhibition showcasing works of art fashioned from recycled cardboard, including a five metre long race car. Singapore’s vibrant nightlife scene makes a comeback at Clarke Quay, with themed parties such as Retro Rocks and Girls’ Night Out, and regionally acclaimed DJs spinning the decks

Adding to the excitement will be race inspired fashion shows and a race themed carnival, where visitors can get their blood pumping with group fitness workouts.

Visitors can get their dose of culture and heritage over at Kampong Gelam from daily stage performances by local acts like Bushmen and Raw Energy, while enjoying a carnival like atmosphere at the inaugural Food Yard, which dishes out halal fusion cuisine out of food trucks. Adrenaline seekers can check out the All Style street dance battles and freestyle BMX bike challenges or experience the thrills of an F1 race through an immersive F1 roving truck, before catching a film at the silent cinema under the stars

For some family friendly fun, Sentosa offers a one of a-kind, race themed experience away from the city. Visitors can immerse in music performances at the Central Beach Bazaar, or hop into racing simulators for an Ultimate Red

Bull Racing Experience, before unwinding with race inspired film screenings

“The Grand Prix Season

Singapore has always been a key highlight of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix experience, showcasing the best of Singapore’s lifestyle experiences across retail, dining, and entertainment. We have been heartened by the strong interest from partners across the island, and have worked with them to offer a variety of exclusive, innovative race themed experiences. We hope these will encourage locals and visitors to explore and enjoy Singapore’s new and reimagined offerings,” said Ms Ong Ling Lee, Executive Director, Sports and Wellness, Singapore Tourism Board.

E Fest Cape Town to host Africa’s Green Economy Summit to connect capital to projects in Feb next year

Africa’s Green Economy Summit, an official E Fest Cape Town event, to be hosted from 22–24 February 2023, will focus on the exciting investment opportunities to accelerate Africa’s adoption of renewable energy, clean transport, and clean technologies, such as green hydrogen, that can effect social change and development. “Our role is to be agents for positive change in the South African economy,” says Iain Banner, co-founder of E Movement Pty Ltd and Africa’s Green Energy Summit. “By staging the summit, we are creating a marketplace to ensure real investment is made into qualifying green economy opportunities, not just in South Africa but deep into Africa too. We are connecting global capital with African green economic opportunity, so as to ensure there is real impact on the ground”.

“Climate change is accelerating the need for a green economy transition in Africa,” Banner explains, “and South Africa needs to adapt to a green economy to remain competitive in the global economy” “Africa’s Green Economy Summit will host finance and investor professionals from across the globe in a meeting place with the intention of connecting capital to projects” says David Ashdown, CEO of VUKA Group, organisers of the summit.

The Summit’s focus on three of seven, interdependent green economy pillars; clean transport, renewable energy, and clean technologies, including green hydrogen, will drive a strong

foundation of economic value and development. Due to rapid growth forecasts in population, motorisation, and urbanisation on the continent, it is urgent that these verticals become important to the agenda as transport decarbonisation is a core focus of cities and municipalities across the globe

The event will highlight investment prospects that exist in the fields of green hydrogen, EVs and hybrid vehicles, energy storage, solar, hydro and wind energy, infrastructure development, smart cities as well as manufacturing. Creating a platform to bring stakeholders together in an environment where people and organisations will connect with

information and to each other

African cities and green-tech start-ups are spearheading the necessary change towards a just transition but require more capital to grow. Catalysing investments across local and international stakeholders is key to fast-tracking the development of projects and infrastructure to enable a net zero economy on the continent. This new era presents an unprecedented opportunity for projects to scale up, further development of infrastructure and reindustrialisation, which will have a significant impact on environmental sustainability and economic growth.

Miral announces the opening of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi in 2023

iral, Abu Dhabi's leading

Mcreator of immersive destinations and experiences, in partnership with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, announced it has reached 90% construction completion of the next generation marine life theme park, SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, Yas Island's latest mega-development. The development, which is due to open in 2023 as the latest addition to Yas Island's tourism offering, includes the UAE's first dedicated marine research, rescue, rehabilitation and return center.

To be located next to the marine life theme park, the research and rescue center will open this year. It will support regional and global conservation efforts, providing an advanced knowledge hub with a focus on indigenous Arabian Gulf and

marine life ecosystems. The center will be led by world class marine scientists, veterinarians, animal care professionals, rescue experts and educators, who will collaborate with peers, environmental organizations, regulators and academic institutions to impact long-term conservation efforts in the region. The rescue team will also be available to support the authorities 24/7.

The marine life theme park, set to be home to the region's largest and most expansive multi species marine life aquarium, will feature a myriad of immersive experiences and interactive exhibits, inviting guests from around the world to broaden their knowledge and appreciation of marine life, while educating and inspiring. The central "One Ocean" realm of SeaWorld Abu Dhabi links six distinct marine environments throughout the park, all

of which tell a unified story based on the interconnectivity of all life on earth and in our ocean. Within the central hub, guests will encounter fascinating ocean stories presented in an expansive 360º fully immersive media experience, transporting them from one fascinating place to another, while they encounter much of the ocean's diverse marine life, learning how the One Ocean current impacts us all

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi will further support Miral's vision to position Yas Island as a top global destination and a great addition to the island's unique portfolio of attractions and experiences. The next generation marine life park is scheduled for completion in late 2022 and is set to become Yas Island's next mega attraction.

Government of Canada to remove COVID-19 border and travel measures effective October 1

ince the beginning of the

Spandemic, the Government of Canada has taken a layered approach to border management to protect the health and safety of Canadians. As the pandemic situation has continued to evolve, adjustments to border measures have been informed by the latest evidence, available data, operational considerations, and the epidemiological situation, both in Canada and internationally. On September 26, the Government of Canada announced the removal of all COVID 19 entry restrictions, as well as testing, quarantine, and isolation requirements for anyone entering Canada, effective October 1, 2022

The removal of border measures has been facilitated by a number of factors, including modelling that indicates that Canada has largely passed the peak of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 fuelled wave, Canada’s high vaccination rates, lower hospitalization and death rates, as well as the

availability and use of vaccine boosters (including new bivalent formulation), rapid tests, and treatments for COVID 19

Effective October 1, 2022, all travellers, regardless of citizenship, will no longer have to:

Ÿ submit public health information through the ArriveCAN app or website;

Ÿ provide proof of vaccination;

Ÿ undergo pre- or on arrival testing;

carry out COVID 19 related quarantine or isolation;

monitor and report if they develop signs or symptoms of COVID 19 upon arriving to Canada.

Transport Canada is also removing existing travel requirements. As of October 1, 2022, travellers will no longer be required to:

Ÿ undergo health checks for travel on air and rail; or

Ÿ wear masks on planes and trains

Although the masking requirement is

being lifted, all travellers are strongly recommended to wear high quality and well fitted masks during their journeys.

Cruise measures are also being lifted, and travellers will no longer be required to have pre board tests, be vaccinated, or use ArriveCAN. A set of guidelines will remain to protect passengers and crew, which will align with the approach used in the United States

Individuals are reminded that they should not travel if they have symptoms of COVID 19. If travellers become sick while travelling, and are still sick when they arrive in Canada, they should inform a flight attendant, cruise staff, or a border services officer upon arrival. They may then be referred to a quarantine officer who will decide whether the traveller needs further medical assessment as COVID 19 remains one of many communicable diseases listed in the Quarantine Act.

A return to form for the global meetings and business events industry marks close of IMEX America 2022

The 11th edition of IMEX America closed on Oct 13 2022, following four days of business and networking that heralded a welcome return to form for the global meetings, events and incentive travel industry

Speaking in the show’s closing press conference at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, IMEX Chairman, Ray Bloom, announced an overall participation of 12,000 people, of whom over 4,000 were buyers, 3,300 of these attended on the show’s hallmark hosted buyer program. Bloom explained that the 2022 edition was 45% bigger than last year due to an easing of travel restrictions plus 40% of returning exhibitors taking more booth space “We’ve certainly all got our steps in this week,” he joked

Across the board, international exhibitors returned in strong numbers. Of those who doubled the size of their booths, 24% were from North America, 23% were hotel groups, 15% were European and 12% from Asia. Latin America and tech exhibitors also showed significant increases. Bloom continued, “The size of this year’s show is obviously a function of many in the industry being able to travel and plan meetings again and to do so with certainty. It’s been a long time coming and, although we a produced a great show last year, this week felt like the big come back we’ve all been waiting for ”

“That’s not to deny that challenges remain. Equally, it seems buyers are

being more discerning”, he said “We’ve heard they’re preparing RFPs in more detail and being more rigorous in their selection criteria.”

Bloom explained that exhibitors had reported long pipelines, with business being placed as far out as 2028. Early today Tourism Ireland announced they’d confirmed business to the value of EUR 10 million during the show, while Destination DC landed a large event for the American Distilling Association in 2026

Having welcomed the largest group of faculty members in the world to IMEX America this week, Bloom reminded his audience that IMEX purposefully gathers every corner of the global industry together. “We’re not just talking about buyers and suppliers from all corners of the world. Hundreds of students, our future leaders, have been here, learning and experiencing the industry first hand and seeing it in full color. And IMEX together with IAEE invite faculty here too, delivering a program tailored specifically for them.”

Some of the big themes percolating through from corridor conversations and speakers this week included:

service levels, contracts, wellbeing and mental health; the pros and cons of distributed workforces; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEI+B) and sustainability, both personal and environmental. Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX Group, said “The juddering, global halt of the pandemic may be behind us, but its lessons live on. And, having talked about disruption as a tool for business transformation for so long, we ’ re now seeing what that really means. Many of these lessons are positive, innovative and long overdue. From our A Voice for All program on Smart Monday, to Google Experience Institute’s NEU Project, we ’re all invited to understand that events, and event designs, have excluded too many people for too long

“The juddering, global halt of the pandemic may be behind us, but its lessons live on. And, having talked about disruption as a tool for business transformation for so long, we ’ re now seeing what that really means. Many of these lessons are positive, innovative and long overdue. From our A Voice for All program on Smart Monday, to Google Experience Institute’s NEU Project, we ’re all invited to understand that events, and event designs, have excluded too many people for too long.

Welcome WOnboard elcome Onboard

Hanif Shaikh Emirates Holding Group

Abhinav Gupta IRCTC Tourism

Rungphech Chitanuwat Informa Markets

John Burke Kuala Lumpur Convenon Centre

Rishi Kudale HuddleXRVirtual Event Plaorm

Karl Boga Qatar Tourism, India

Ludivine Basen IELA Mohammed S. Al Alsheikh, Events & Exhibion Gurus

Ganesh Parkar FairAct Exhibions & Events

Dee Dee Quah Medical Conference Partners

Dr. G. Anil Kumar Chennai Trade Center

Devika Sood Inspiring Travel Soluons

Harsh Mukherjee Bombay Exhibion Center (Division of Nesco Ltd)

Rajesh Batra IICA Indian Instute of Corporate Affairs

Jusn Pau Swapcard Ptd Ltd

Anna Paul InOrbit Tours Pvt Ltd

Bryan Paul Greentek Investment Group

Dr. Sweety Jamgade University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore

Marvin Pinto World Expo 2020 Dubai

Angeline Van Den Broecke Als Business Soluons

Htar Nu Wai NMT Ltd

Renjini Liza Varghese WriteCanvas

Mohd Hanapi Bin Bisri Petra Energy

Hima Pujara BugRaptors | Seasia Group Companies