WORLD TOURISM ORGANISATION’s MEMBERS IN THE AMERICAS ADVANCE COMMON GOALS The American Members of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) have met to assess the current state of the sector and plan for its sustainable future. The 67th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Americas brought tourism leaders from across the region together in the leading destination of Punta del Este, Uruguay. Across two days, Tourism Ministers and other high-level representatives, including private sector leaders and delegates form international organisations reviewed UNWTO’s leadership of the sector over the past year, highlighted key international tourism trends and the Organisation’s key priorities for the region, including work around education and investments. UNWTO Members addressed the key challenges facing tourism today and opportunities for recovery and growth. The debates among member states were complemented by special interventions, including the presentation the Tourism Promotion Hub for Latin America, Latina Tower, in New York City, and by the Latin American Development Bank (CAF). CAF, the leading investor in infrastructure across the region, addressed the UNWTO, advancing the newly-established partnership between the Bank and UNWTO. Alongside this, a policy discussion on “Accelerating Recovery and Building Resilience”, benefitted from insights of leaders from across the region, Two countries, Ecuador and Paraguay have already made steps to incorporate it into national legislation, while Uruguay will initiate the process. The 68th meeting of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Americas will be held in Ecuador in the first half of 2023.
AFRICA HOSPITALITY INVESTMENT FORUM RETURNS TO MOROCCO The Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) will return as an in-person event in 2022, taking place on 2 - 4 November 2022 at the luxurious Fairmont Taghazout Bay, a five-star resort with leisure and business facilities, next to Agadir. AHIF is Africa’s premier meeting place of leaders in the hospitality sector, attracting hotel and real estate investors, owners and developers, global hotel operator CEOs and prominent advisory services from across the African continent and beyond. The event creates a dialogue and drives deals between international investors and hospitality owner’s on the whole African continent. To date, this year’s top line sponsors include Host Partner SMIT and Platinum Sponsors Radisson and IHG.
AC HOTEL BY MARRIOTT MELBOURNE SOUTHBANK OPENS Melbourne Convention Bureau’s (MCB) partner AC Hotel by Marriott Melbourne Southbank has st now opened, signalling the 1 time in Australia for the design-led lifestyle brand that is part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of 30 extraordinary brands. Located in one of Melbourne's premier events, arts and entertainment precincts on the city fringe of Southbank, the hotel is close to public transport, South Melbourne Market, Melbourne Convention Centre, South Wharf shops and eateries and the Arts precinct. With 205 rooms and suites with sweeping views of the city skyline and the Yarra River, rooms are free of clutter and maximise a sense of openness. With indoor and outdoor venues, the hotel is the ideal setting for meetings and social gatherings in Melbourne. AC Hotel by Marriott Melbourne Southbank features a range of spaces including the brand’s signature AC Lounge, a modern co-working space for creative gatherings by day and a buzzing social hub offering European-style tapas by night. The hotel houses 576sq.m of flexible meeting space, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing abundant natural light, along with an outdoor covered terrace room and pool bar. The outdoor terrace beside the infinity pool can serve as a pre-function space accommodating up to 200 guests in cocktail format or broken down into smaller spaces for breakouts and more intimate meetings and social gatherings. The hotel offers a range of leisure facilities, including an outdoor, infinity-edge swimming pool and a 24-hour fitness centre.
