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    Quito, the city surrounded by 17 volcanoes

    Ecuador has a total of 44 volcanoes, 17 of which are found near the capital, making Quito the ideal destination for adventure and nature lovers.
    Exploring the many volcanoes in and around Quito allows people to connect with nature, discover wild trails and admire the region’s remarkable biodiversity.AntisanaKnown as Quito’s shy volcano, Antisana lies a mere 50 kilometres from the capital and, as one of Ecuador’s tallest volcanoes, often hides behind a vail of clouds, to go undetected and live up to its nickname. Antisana’s many ecosystems, from forests and marshlands to alpine meadows, are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.One of the main attractions of Antisana National Park is the home of Alexander von Humboldt, one of the most important researchers in the world of science. Other ideal activities in the area include bird watching, hiking and wildlife observation.SincholaguaThe village of Píntag is the gateway to the Eastern Andes. This location offers views of both Antisana and Sincholagua. Sincholagua is sacred for the indigenous populations of the region and is considered to be one of the most beautiful mountains of the Andes.Located 45 kilometres to the east of Quito, it is easily recognised by its perfect cone shape. This area is home to a great variety of fauna and flora species, including the spectacled bear, the Andean condor and the Páramo wolf, also known as the Andean fox. Hosting a section of the Inca Trail and being in close proximity to Cotopaxi, makes Sincholagua a popular destination, especially during the colder months when its snow-capped peak can be seen from all around.

    CotopaxiCotopaxi is one of the region’s most iconic and most active volcanoes. Situated about 50 kilometres to the south of the capital, it the second highest volcano in Ecuador, reaching an altitude of 5,000 metres above sea level.Pululahua Geobotanical ReservePululahua Geobotanical Reserve is a 3,383-hectar natural sanctuary which is home to scores of different animal, plant and insect species. It is one of only a few inhabited volcano craters in the world, where a small population once found fertile land perfect for agriculture.Cayambe-CocaCayambe-Coca is one of the most biodiverse protected areas in Ecuador, a unique place surrounded by the breath taking landscapes of bordering peaks: Cerro Puntas and Reventador volcano. The area offers hot springs, trekking trails, climbing walls, the possibility to see wildlife like spectacled bears, mountain tapirs, Páramo wolves, Páramo lagoons popular for trout fishing , rivers perfect for rafting and many more activities.
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    WTM Latin America 2023 grows more than 37% in professional visits

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    WTM Latin America 2023 grows more than 37% in professional visits

    The largest and most important B2B travel and tourism trade show in the region celebrates the results of its latest edition, with growth in all aspects. Held from April 3 to 5, at Expo Center Norte, in São Paulo, WTM Latin America had 26,454 participants, an increase of 32.2% compared to the 2022 event.
    The number of professional travel and press visitors alone reached 20,873 (excluding the number of exhibitor staff), which corresponds to an increase of 37.3% compared to the 15,204 visitors of the 2022 edition.
    Regarding exhibiting companies, WTM Latin America 2023 had 623 exhibitors from 40 countries – about one third of them representing national destinations – presenting their novelties in products and services, a growth of 3.8% compared to 2022. In commercialized area, the increase was 8% compared to the previous year.
    The significant increase in the presence of travel agents, one of the most important drivers of the sales chain, was another point celebrated by the organization. The number of professionals jumped from 2,706 in 2022 to 6,947 in 2023, a 157% growth and an absolute record among the ten editions held. The event also registered a higher participation of buyers who are members of the WTM Buyers’ Club – from 1,473 to 2,362, a 60% increase.
    The official figures, released today, reinforce the relevance and recognition of the event as the main meeting point in the region for attracting new business, networking, and offering knowledge that supports the development of the Latin American tourism industry. The 2024 edition is confirmed to take place at Expo Center Norte, from April 2 to 4. “The cycle has already started, our planning is underway. Our responsibility now is to listen, improve and build an even better event next year,” says Daniel Zanetti, director of WTM Latin America.ADVERTISEMENT

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    Indianapolis Zoo Launches $1 Million Saving Species Challenge

    The Indianapolis Zoological Society announced a bold grant program to reverse the decline of an animal species heading toward extinction.The Indianapolis Zoo Saving Species Challenge will award a $1 million grant to one organization that can develop and execute a plan that will have a measurable and sustainable impact on the survival of an animal species.
    Field conservationists from around the world are invited to apply and present a plan to identify an animal species that is currently designated as threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable or Extinct in the wild) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List and create a program that would lead to an improvement in the species’ status.
    “The Indianapolis Zoo searched for a big idea to make a real difference and support field conservationists to make a measurable change in the future of a species,” said Michael W. Wells, Trustee and Chair of the Indianapolis Zoo’s Conservation Committee. “Our ability to measure the outcome by using the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List will allow us to objectively assess the results of our investment.”
    The grant has a two-stage application process. Pre-applications must be submitted by June 4, 2023, and then the organizations selected need to submit a full application by Dec. 3, 2023. Complete information on eligibility and application procedures can be found at IndianapolisZoo.com under the Conservation tab.
    “We know that reversing the decline of a species takes time. If we trust the science and stay focused, we will save species. This challenge will serve as a model for other conservation organizations to follow,” said Dr. Rob Shumaker, President & CEO of the Indianapolis Zoo. “The Indianapolis Zoo Saving Species Challenge is visionary and will focus attention on achieving significant impact on the survival of a species. I am excited to see the Indianapolis Zoo continue to set the bar high on how Zoos, Aquariums and Botanical Gardens can advance conservation action and catalyze real and positive change for species,” said Jon Paul Rodriguez, Chair, IUCN Species Survival Commission.ADVERTISEMENTA Jury of international animal conservation experts will choose the winner of the Indianapolis Zoo Saving Species Challenge. The winner will have five years to activate the program and show progress. The Zoo will announce the winner February 2024. Click here for free-use media assets.

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    PATA Signs MoU with SPTO

    The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), to promote and strengthen shared interests between the two organisations in the areas of market access, innovative events, membership and communications to name a few.
    PATA Chair Peter Semone expressed his delight about this partnership between the two organisations and highlighted that PATA is thrilled to partner with SPTO in implementing these exciting development opportunities to encourage advocacy marketing and communication, insightful market research, and innovative events for its member organisations.
    “PATA is looking forward to further connecting with SPTO on these areas of cooperation for travel and tourism within the Asia Pacific region. This connection will provide more opportunities to host international events, share market insights and enable us to promote the Pacific region to a globally connected audience. Keeping the P in PATA is imperative to us,” Mr Semone said.
    In acknowledging the importance of the MoU, SPTO CEO Christopher Cocker highlighted the potential to establish important public-private partnerships, to strengthen the development of the travel and tourism industry in Asia and the Pacific.
    “We welcome this partnership with PATA as it aligns with the innovative partnerships component of SPTO’S Strategic Plan 2020-2024. Between our two organisations, there is a wealth of diverse membership and wider stakeholders. We recognize this partnership as an opportunity to bring our stakeholders and resources together to revitalize our progress towards the sustainable growth of travel and tourism in Asia and the Pacific”, he said.ADVERTISEMENT

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    TUI LAUNCHES BIGGEST EVER SUMMER PROGRAMME FOR SUMMER 2024 WITH 1.1 MILLION EXTRA FLIGHTS

    TUI, the leading global travel and leisure company, has added a further 1.1 million flight seats for UK holidaymakers departing in summer 2024.Giving customers more flexibility with departing airports, destinations and holiday lengths, the new announcement means the season will be TUI’s biggest summer yet.
    With far more capacity to take holidaymakers to key destinations, it’s great news for British holidaymakers looking to lock in their summer holidays early.
    The increase in seats is made across 13 regional airports, from Glasgow to Bournemouth. Customers can fly to more destinations than ever before from their local airport.
    Over 10 million flights for Summer 2024
    The additional capacity is helping TUI increase the frequency of flights and offer more choice and flexibility for British holidaymakers. The increase means that TUI is now set to have over 10 million seats available for the season, including to destinations that are already popular with customers.ADVERTISEMENT
    The increase will see:
    250,000 additional seats to Turkey250,000 additional seats to Spain250,000 additional seats to Greece and Cyprus300,000 additional seats to North Africa50,000 additional seats to Italy and CroatiaNew Marella Cruise itinerariesAndrew Flintham, TUI managing director, said: “Our customers want more flexibility and to be able to choose a departure airport that is close to home – and that is exactly what the new TUI 2024 summer programme has been designed to do. We want every one of our customers to be able to create a holiday as unique as they are – departure airport, destination and duration are all key components which come together to make the perfect TUI holiday.
    “The 2024 programme will see extra flights departing from across the UK with additional TUI flying from Glasgow, Bournemouth, Newcastle, Bristol, and East Midlands. Each region of the UK will see significant increase in flight seats offering more holidays to those living in the region. All of this adds up to over 1 million extra TUI smiles!”

    Regional flying
    Customers across the country will benefit from additional flights, with new exclusive routes and significant frequency increases at regional airports. No matter where holidaymakers are travelling from, the additional capacity will give customers more choice when it comes to travelling.
    Two additional aircraft and 180,000 extra flight seats at Glasgow airport will make 2024 the biggest ever programme for TUI from the airport. The increase includes new flights to Cape Verde and Greece, as well as six exclusive routes.100,000 additional seats are planned for Birmingham with one additional aircraft, and 13 exclusive routes to Agadir, Boa Vista, Cancun, Enfidha, Hurghada, Kavala, Marrakech, Orlando-Melbourne Florida, Montego Bay, Pula, Punta Cana, Sal and Sharm El Sheikh.A new aircraft and a 33% increase of 60,000 additional seats are scheduled for Bournemouth Airport, with a new route to Enfidha, Tunisia and increased frequency to Ibiza, Lanzarote, Menorca, Heraklion, Paphos and Tenerife.An additional aircraft will help provide new routes to Boa Vista and Cape Verde from Bristol Airport, as well as 120,000 additional short and mid-haul seats planned with daily flights to popular destinations.2.3 million seats planned for Manchester with an additional aircraft based at the airport. With daily departures to ten destinations planned, there will be 130,000 extra seats, as well as a new route to Budapest.Newcastle will also benefit from one additional aircraft based at the airport to help with 120,000 extra seats and new routes to Cape Verde and Egypt.A new direct route to Sharm El Sheik, Egypt from Cardiff Airport will be introduced as well as 40,000 additional seats.It will be the biggest programme ever from East Midlands with four exclusive routes, one additional aircraft, 100,000 extra flight seats and new routes to Sal, Cape Verde.Extra flights to Crete and Rhodes have been added at Exeter Airport, plus 15,000 more seats.Two million seats are planned for summer 2024 from Gatwick with new routes to Marsa Alam and Budapest. TUI will be operating 11 exclusive routes from the airport as well as having 200,000 additional seats compared to Summer 2023 with up to 195 weekly departures to 18 countries.After over 60 years of presence at Luton, there will be 14 weekly flights to four countries with increased frequency to Dalaman and Antalya.Stansted has 30,000 additional seats planned for increased flight frequency to Greece, Turkey and Cyprus – offering more choice and flexibility.Teesside Airport will benefit from a new weekly route to Dalaman making TUI the exclusive operator to Turkey from this airport.The 2024 summer programme will be on sale now via tui.co.uk, TUI retail stores and independent travel agents.

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    PortAventura World leads the themed resort sector by joining the B Corp community

    PortAventura World has reached a major corporate milestone by becoming a B Corp company, thanks to its positive impact on society and environmentally friendly practices. The company has successfully passed the strict impact measurement requirements to become a B Corp company, meeting high standards of compliance in environmental, social and good governance performance.
    Becoming a B Corp company has been based on a new corporate purpose, “At PortAventura World, we create unforgettable experiences that have a positive impact on people while caring for the planet”, which has been included in a statutory modification to adapt the corporate purpose and powers of the board in accordance with B Corp requirements.
    Arturo Mas-Sardá, President of PortAventura World, pointed out that “becoming a B Corp company represents a before and after in our way of acting, managing and governing. But it is also the acknowledgement of our company, a benchmark in the tourism and theme resort sector worldwide, which has always sought to have a long-term vision of what the company would be like in the coming decades”.
    One of the most outstanding sustainability actions that PortAventura World is carrying out is the installation of a photovoltaic plant for self-consumption, consisting of more than 11,000 solar panels. It is also committed to promoting measures such as recycling, energy saving, responsible use of water and sustainable mobility.
    Choni Fernández, director of sustainability at PortAventura World, pointed out that “it is of enormous importance to be a member of the B Corp community because it gives us added value to change, in a real way, the way things are done. We are aware of the role we play in the tourism industry and the economic fabric, and being part of the B Corp movement is a corporate philosophy that will guide our present and future steps and decisions”.ADVERTISEMENT

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    Banyan Tree announces its first signed property in Europe

    Banyan Tree Group, one of the world’s leading multi-branded hospitality groups, is set to debut in Europe with the upcoming Banyan Tree Varko Bay. The new luxury resort to be developed on the Varko Peninsula in Pogonia, Aitoloakarnania, is the result of the successful collaboration between Banyan Tree and the French hospitality group, Accor. Targeting to open in 2026, the five-star resort will consist of approximately 116 villas and 43 branded residences, seamlessly embedded into the stunning coastal surroundings of the Varko Peninsula in Pogonia.
    Applying Banyan Tree’s pioneering expertise across the all-pool villa concept, the resort aims to offer a unique sense of place through tranquil, wellbeing-centred accommodations, backdropped by unforgettable views of the Ionian Sea and the surrounding islands of Lefkada, Meganisi and Skorpios, as well as luxurious facilities for rejuvenation of both mind and body. This includes the award-winning Banyan Tree Spa, a water sports center, several state-of-the-art venues for meetings and events, a beach club, several bars and three restaurants including the signature Saffron where guests can dine on delectable Thai fare.
    In keeping with Banyan Tree’s core pillar of sustainability, Banyan Tree Varko Bay will be constructed and operated with an uncompromising approach to sustainability and eco-sensitivity, immersing guests in a flourishing natural environment. Built in partnership with the award-winning Greek Elastic Architects, the resort aims to be the first in Europe to achieve LEED Gold (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification and to become a model of sustainability for the hospitality sector. Mirroring existing Banyan Tree developments, the resort will prioritise responsible water use—70% of water will be reused for irrigation, the use of renewable energy sources and the encouragement of vegetation growth. By ensuring the majority of all its hotels are covered with vegetation and developing plant-centred tropical spas, Banyan Tree creates beautiful contemporary spaces that are also friendly to the surrounding environment.
    Banyan Tree Group operates over 60 hotels worldwide, with a potential pipeline of more than 50 projects by 2025. The addition of Banyan Tree Varko Bay will build on the brand’s core concepts of sustainability and wellbeing-centred luxury, while reinforcing Banyan Tree’s leadership in this highly demanding sector.

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    Celebrating Earth Week with the Light and Warmth of Hospitality

    Hilton marks progress towards its Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals, celebrates over $20,000 in Hilton Global Foundation grants supporting team member‑led projects.
    In recognition of Earth Week, Hilton is marking a year of significant progress towards its Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals by activating its global team member community to reduce its environmental impact and preserve the beautiful destinations that host Hilton properties around the world.
    Travel with Purpose is Hilton’s global environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy that aims to drive responsible travel globally. Announced in 2018, Hilton’s ambitious 2030 goals are supported by emissions targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), water and waste reduction targets as well as social impact targets aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Travel with Purpose guides Hilton’s efforts to reduce its emissions in line with climate science, create engines of opportunity within its communities and continue to operate with accountability, integrity and transparency. 
    Hilton is proud of its progress toward these goals, which it recently shared in its latest Travel With Purpose report, including: 
    Environmental ADVERTISEMENTA commitment to new, more ambitious science-based emissions targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi); Continued to reduce carbon emission intensity (44%), water intensity (38.1%) and landfill waste intensity (57.6%) among its hotels globally;  5,500+ hotels partnered with soap recycling organizations to donate 2.3 million bars soap to those in need;  Established LED bulbs as a global brand standard for new builds and existing buildings across all brands;  Earned inclusion on the World and North America Dow Jones Sustainably Indices, S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook and earned an EcoVadis Gold Medal in recognition of its sustainability achievements.  Social
    Created more than 677,000 learning and career growth opportunities against its 5 million commitment;  Meaningfully impacted more than 2,700,000 community members through local support, disaster relief efforts and economic opportunities;  Donated 344,958 volunteer hours in 2022;  Reached more than 78,000 refugees since 2015 through volunteering, in-kind donations, purchasing, training, shelter and employment opportunities.  Governance
    Partnered with cross-industry networks like the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and the World Travel & Tourism Council;  Committed to grant $500,000 to the American Hotel and Lodging Association Foundation’s No Room For Trafficking (NRFT) Survivor Fund over the next three years; and Invested in two Fifth Wall climate technology funds that aim to decarbonize the global real estate sector. Hilton is committed to tracking and transparently reporting on its progress towards its Travel with Purpose 2030 Goals by utilizing LightStay, Hilton’s award-winning platform for environmental and social reporting that enables Hilton properties to measure and manage energy, emissions, water, waste and social impact. Through LightStay, Hilton has achieved more than $1 billion worth of cumulative savings in energy costs since 2009. 
    In recognition of Earth Week, the Hilton Global Foundation, Hilton’s primary philanthropic arm,  awarded more than $20,000 in grants towards local organizations advancing Hilton’s environmental goals through destination stewardship and climate action. Nominated by Hilton team members, these organizations will utilize Hilton Global Foundation contributions to launch volunteer efforts in their local communities: 
    In partnership with youth volunteer organization Toplum Gönüllüsü, Hilton Istanbul Bomonti plans to build a lavender farm in the southern Türkiye region of Hatay, providing employment opportunities while teaching sustainable agriculture practices to community members impacted by recent earthquakes;  Team members from Hilton Garden Inn Avondale, in collaboration with the Avondale Youth Advisory Commission, aims to support and beautify the local Tres Rios Wetlands in Avondale, Arizona through trail maintenance, litter disposal and other beautifying projects.  As part of its long-standing partnership with Oz Harvest Australia, Hilton Brisbane plans to use grant funding to purchase meals as well as compostable containers and cutlery for those in need.  DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles Allamanda Resort & Spa plans to continue its partnership with The Ocean Project Seychelles to clean up local beaches with students from nearby communities.  The Hilton Global Foundation recently released its inaugural Impact Report, showcasing the impact of nearly $2.3 million donated in 2022 to organizations working to build a healthy, sustainable planet and resilient communities for future generations.  Since 2019, The Hilton Global Foundation has awarded more than $8 million in grants, donated over 18 million pounds of food to communities in need, meaningfully impacted over 6.7 million people and restored over 225,000 acres of land. More information about the efforts of the Hilton Global Foundation can be found at https://hiltonglobalfoundation.hilton.com/.

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