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    Governments must help aviation more to reach net zero, says IATA

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for governments to urgently put in place large-scale incentives to rapidly expand the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) as aviation pursues its commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
    To fulfil aviation’s net zero commitment, current estimates are for SAF to account for 65% of aviation’s carbon mitigation in 2050. That would require an annual production capacity of 449 billion liters. Investments are in place to expand SAF annual production from the current 125 million liters to 5 billion by 2025. With effective government incentives, production could reach 30 billion liters by 2030, which would be a tipping point for SAF production and utilisation.
    “Governments don’t need to invent a playbook. Incentives to transition electricity production to renewable sources like solar or wind worked. As a result, clean energy solutions are now cheap and widely available. With similar incentives for SAF, we could see 30 billion liters available by 2030. Though still far from where we need to be, it would be a clear tipping point towards our net zero ambition of ample SAF quantities at affordable prices,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General at the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting in Doha, Qatar.
    In 2021, irrespective of price (SAF is between two and four times the price of conventional jet fuel), airlines have purchased every drop of the 125 million liters of SAF that was available. And already more than 38 countries have SAF-specific policies that clear the way for the market to develop. Taking their cue from these policy measures, airlines have entered into $17 billion of forward-purchasing agreements for SAF.
    Incentives to ramp-up productionFurther investment in production needs support from the right policies. This would boost supply and drive down costs.ADVERTISEMENTElectricity production through solar or wind power faced similar hurdles as these technologies replaced fossil fuels. With effective policy incentives, both are now affordable and widely available.
    By applying similar incentive-based policies to SAF, governments can support global SAF production to reach 30 billion liters by the end of the decade. This would be a tipping point as it would send a clear signal to the market that SAF is playing its intended long-term role in aviation’s decarbonisation and encourage investments to drive up production and drive down the price.
    The market for SAF needs stimulation on the production side. The United States is setting an example for others to follow. Its SAF production is expected to reach 11 billion liters in 2030 on the back of heavy government incentives.
    Europe, on the other hand, is the example not to follow. Under its Fit for 55 initiative, the EU is planning to mandate that airlines uplift 5% SAF at every European airport by 2030. Decentralising production will delay the development of economies of scale. And forcing the land transport of SAF will reduce the environmental benefit of using SAF.
    Other propulsion technologiesHydrogen and electrically powered aircraft are part of aviation’s plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, but they are likely to be limited to short-haul routes. SAF is the proven solution for long-haul flying.
    “Hydrogen and/or electric propulsion systems will most likely be available for short haul commercial flights by 2035, but the majority of emissions come from long-haul widebody flights and to tackle these emissions, SAF is the only proven solution. We know it works, and we need to double down our efforts to get all actors of the industry on board, including governments, to increase production, availability, and uptake” said Sebastian Mikosz, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Environment and Sustainability.
    Net zero and long-term aspirational goalIn October 2021, IATA member airlines came together and took the monumental decision to commit to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. This commitment brings the industry in line with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal. Climate change is the greatest threat facing our societies and achieving net zero emissions will be a huge challenge as the expected scale of the industry in 2050 will require the mitigation of 1.8 gigatons of carbon.
    To provide the right set of consistent policies and long-term stability needed for investments, the aviation industry is calling on all governments to support the adoption of a long term climate goal for air transport at the 41st Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) this September, aligned with industry commitments. This climate goal is critical to back up the industry’s decarbonisation ambitions and would provide a global multilateral framework for action without distorting competition.

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    The LVCVA celebrates 75 years documenting Las Vegas history

    The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) Archive Collection, which has documented Las Vegas’ history and helped promote tourism to Southern Nevada since 1947, will mark its 75th anniversary of its Las Vegas News Bureau collection by curating and presenting some of the most iconic photos of the collection to the public for the first time.
    The collection began as part of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce in 1947 with the goal of promoting Southern Nevada and its offerings. Over the years, the collection became a valuable resource for the news media, movies, documentaries, and researchers with many images in the collection garnering worldwide acclaim. With more than 7 million images, 11,000 pieces of film and video, and 1,300-linear-feet of manuscripts and artifacts, the archive is estimated to be the largest and most comprehensive post-World War II collection of Southern Nevada imagery in the world. The collection is curated by a full-time archivist, who manages it and ensures it is preserved for future generations.
    “For decades the Las Vegas News Bureau has played an integral role in promoting tourism to Las Vegas, documenting and sharing worldwide the sights and sounds of our dynamic city,” said Steve Hill, president and CEO of the LVCVA. “We are thrilled to showcase the iconic images that have become synonymous with Las Vegas.”
    To honor the milestone, a 75th Anniversary Website features some of the most famous photos of the collection throughout the celebration beginning with the release of the 75 most iconic images, based on how frequently the photos have been requested and published. The first photo captured in the collection is also featured. Taken in Downtown Las Vegas on May 15, 1947, the photo captures Helldorado Days, a celebrated Western-themed festival that dates back to the 1930s. Additional photo collections, including Celebrities, Entertainment, Downtown, Then & Now, Sports, Implosions and more, will be released online regularly throughout the celebration. Other anniversary programming will include resort partner integrations, a social media campaign and special events.
    In 1947, members of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce determined they needed to promote and market Las Vegas to increase tourism and created a fund to accomplish that goal. Known as the Livewire Fund, contributions were made by hotels and motels throughout Southern Nevada to create the Las Vegas News Bureau, which was charged with marketing Las Vegas as “The Entertainment Capital of the World.” In 1992, the Las Vegas News Bureau Collection was transferred to the LVCVA, where the collection continues to grow and be shared in marketing and promotional efforts.ADVERTISEMENT“If it were not for the Las Vegas New Bureau, essential elements of the visual history of Las Vegas starting in the late 1940s would not have been recorded and, just as important, preserved,” said Bob Stoldal, retired television news executive and Las Vegas historian. “From its group of talented film and still photographers, the archives of the News Bureau continue to provide a unique record of the development of Las Vegas, as well as Southern Nevada. History comes alive thanks to the Las Vegas News Bureau.”
    Las Vegas is considered the North America’s Leading Meetings & Conference Destination 2021 by voters at the World Travel Awards.

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    ICAO Assembly must adopt long term aspirational goal to decarbonise Aviation

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for governments to adopt a Long Term Aspirational Goal to decarbonise aviation at the 41st Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) later this year.
    The call came at the 78th IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit (WATS) where airlines are mapping out the pathway to the industry’s commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal.
    “The decarbonisation of the global economy will require investment across countries and across decades, particularly in the transition away from fossil fuels. Stability of policy matters. At the IATA AGM in October 2021, IATA member airlines took the monumental decision to commit to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. As we move from commitment to action, it is critical that the industry is supported by governments with policies that are focused on the same decarbonisation goal,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
    “Achieving net zero emissions will be a huge challenge. The projected scale of the industry in 2050 will require the mitigation of 1.8 gigatons of carbon. Achieving that will require investments across the value chain running into the trillions of dollars. Investment at that magnitude must be supported by globally consistent government policies that help deliver the decarbonisation ambition, take into account differing levels of development, and do not distort competition,” said Walsh.
    “I am optimistic that governments will support the industry’s ambition with an agreement on a Long Term Aspirational Goal at the upcoming ICAO Assembly. People want to see aviation decarbonise. They expect the industry and governments to be working together. The industry’s determination to achieve net zero by 2050 is firm. How would governments explain the failure to reach an agreement to their citizens?” said Walsh.ADVERTISEMENTData from a recent IATA survey shows that improving the environmental impact of airlines is seen as a post-pandemic priority for passengers, with 73% of people polled wanting the aviation industry to focus on reducing its climate impact as it emerges from the COVID crisis. Two-thirds of people polled also believe that taxing the industry will not achieve net zero faster and expressed concern about the money raised not being earmarked for decarbonisation projects.

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    NYC & Company announces staff promotions

    NYC & Company President and CEO Fred Dixon today announced three recent promotions at NYC & Company, including an addition to the C-Suite, an update on the Executive Leadership team, and an addition to the Senior Leadership team.
    Natalie Koepff, who joined the organisation in 2008 has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. In her capacity, she will continue her role as General Counsel at NYC & Company along with overseeing operations at the organisation. Rondel Holder, who joined NYC & Company in late 2020, has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Content and Diversity Initiatives. In his role, he will continue to lead the content strategy for the company along with addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across company functions including marketing, tourism, convention development, and more. Janette Roush, who joined NYC & Company in 2018, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Marketing & Digital. In her role, she will continue to develop marketing strategies for the company along with overseeing digital growth efforts.
    “As our tourism recovery continues to take shape, I am so proud to announce the well-deserved promotions of Natalie Koepff, Janette Roush and Rondel Holder,” said NYC & Company President and CEO Fred Dixon. “Each have played a key role in shaping the success of NYC & Company now and will into the future, and I thank them for their important contributions and leadership.”
    More background on the new appointments:
    Natalie Koepff, who was promoted to Chief Operating Officer, recently served as General Counsel and EVP of Legal & Business Affairs at NYC & Company. In her new role, Natalie will continue as General Counsel, and oversee daily business operations of the organisation, working closely with department heads and supervisors to support the day-to-day activities at the company. Prior to joining NYC & Company’s legal team in 2008, Koepff was on the legal team at Constituency Management Group (CMG), a part of the Interpublic Group of Companies, in their Business and Legal Affairs Department, offering clients integrated services in a full range of marketing communications disciplines.
    Janette Roush, who was promoted to Executive Vice President, Marketing & Digital, recently served as Executive Vice President, Marketing at NYC & Company. Janette will now lead the Company’s marketing and digital divisions. She will continue to oversee the organisation’s domestic and international promotional campaigns, B2B marketing for the travel trade and meeting planners, partnerships, and promotional strategy for the Company’s tentpole campaigns including NYC Restaurant Week and NYC Broadway Week. In her new role, Janette will now also oversee the organisation’s paid media strategy, digital initiatives, and media insights to raise the profile of the City and inspire visitation to the five boroughs. Prior to joining NYC & Company, Janette spent over two decades marketing Broadway at organisations such as Broadway.com and AKA, a global leader in entertainment advertising and strategy.
    Rondel Holder, who was promoted to Senior Vice President, Content and Diversity Initiatives, recently served as Vice President, Creative Director at NYC & Company. Rondel will continue to lead content strategy at the Company along with addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across company functions including marketing, tourism, convention development, and more. Prior to joining NYC & Company in 2020, Holder served as Head of Production & Execution, Marketing at Essence Communications Inc. where he oversaw execution of branded videos and videos series, sponsored digital content, influencer marketing, and more.
    NYC & Company is considered North America’s Leading Business Travel Destination 2021 by voters at the World Travel Awards.ADVERTISEMENT

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    NYC & Comapny announces key staff promotions

    NYC & Company President and CEO Fred Dixon has announced three recent promotions at NYC & Company, including an addition to the C-Suite, an update on the Executive Leadership team, and an addition to the Senior Leadership team.
    Natalie Koepff, who joined the organization in 2008 has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. In her capacity, she will continue her role as General Counsel at NYC & Company along with overseeing operations at the organization. Rondel Holder, who joined NYC & Company in late 2020, has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Content and Diversity Initiatives. In his role, he will continue to lead the content strategy for the company along with addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across company functions including marketing, tourism, convention development, and more. Janette Roush, who joined NYC & Company in 2018, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Marketing & Digital. In her role, she will continue to develop marketing strategies for the company along with overseeing digital growth efforts.
    “As our tourism recovery continues to take shape, I am so proud to announce the well-deserved promotions of Natalie Koepff, Janette Roush and Rondel Holder,” said NYC & Company President and CEO Fred Dixon. “Each have played a key role in shaping the success of NYC & Company now and will into the future, and I thank them for their important contributions and leadership.”
    More background on the new appointments:
      Natalie Koepff, who was promoted to Chief Operating Officer, recently served as General Counsel and EVP of Legal & Business Affairs at NYC & Company. In her new role, Natalie will continue as General Counsel, and oversee daily business operations of the organization, working closely with department heads and supervisors to support the day-to-day activities at the company. Prior to joining NYC & Company’s legal team in 2008, Koepff was on the legal team at Constituency Management Group (CMG), a part of the Interpublic Group of Companies, in their Business and Legal Affairs Department, offering clients integrated services in a full range of marketing communications disciplines.      Janette Roush, who was promoted to Executive Vice President, Marketing & Digital, recently served as Executive Vice President, Marketing at NYC & Company. Janette will now lead the Company’s marketing and digital divisions. She will continue to oversee the organization’s domestic and international promotional campaigns, B2B marketing for the travel trade and meeting planners, partnerships, and promotional strategy for the Company’s tentpole campaigns including NYC Restaurant Week and NYC Broadway Week. In her new role, Janette will now also oversee the organization’s paid media strategy, digital initiatives, and media insights to raise the profile of the City and inspire visitation to the five boroughs. Prior to joining NYC & Company, Janette spent over two decades marketing Broadway at organizations such as Broadway.com and AKA, a global leader in entertainment advertising and strategy.      Rondel Holder, who was promoted to Senior Vice President, Content and Diversity Initiatives, recently served as Vice President, Creative Director at NYC & Company. Rondel will continue to lead content strategy at the Company along with addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across company functions including marketing, tourism, convention development, and more. Prior to joining NYC & Company in 2020, Holder served as Head of Production & Execution, Marketing at Essence Communications Inc. where he oversaw execution of branded videos and videos series, sponsored digital content, influencer marketing, and more.ADVERTISEMENT

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    KLCC bags global innovation award for Asia

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    KLCC bags global innovation award for Asia

    Malaysia’s premier purpose-built venue, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre has been voted as the Winner of EventseumTM Hall of Fame’s 2021 Global Innovation Award for Convention and Conference Centers for the region of Asia, at the recent IMEX in Frankfurt, Germany.
    The Global Innovation Awards highlight specific innovation that differentiates one venue from another while celebrating the venue’s overall commitment to innovation. The Centre is one of the four global winners, each representing key regions in the business events industry.General Manager of the Centre, Alan Pryor, said, “Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is honoured to have won this inaugural award. This recognition strengthens our position as the perfect choice for international organisers and planners to host their major regional and global congresses, exhibitions and meetings. We are further motivated to keep pushing the envelope, as a venue and an important infrastructure of our city, in contributing to Kuala Lumpur’s and Malaysia’s 2030 and 2050 sustainability agenda.”
    The Centre’s zero-energy rainwater harvesting systems leveraging the building’s architecture harvests up to 60,000 gallons of rainwater per year, its landmark partnership with URBANICE Malaysia, a Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cities and Community Wellbeing, and its commitment to sustainability impressed the EventseumTM global judging panel.
    This award comes on the heel of another global recognition that awarded ‘Muslim-Friendly Convention & Exhibition Centre of Year’ to the world-class venue by Halal in Travel Awards 2022, held in conjunction with Halal in Travel – Global Summit 2022 in Singapore. Aimed at celebrating the travel industry players’ efforts towards the growth of halal travel, these awards span four categories and recognise destinations, organisations, companies and individuals who have made a considerable impact on the Muslim travel segment.
    “As a leader in the global business events industry and Malaysia’s premier venue, we are inclusive, sensitive and conscientious of our stakeholders’ and guests’ needs and this award is a testament to our commitment to providing quality services to all,” concluded Pryor.ADVERTISEMENTOne of the country’s most iconic mosques, Masjid As-syakirin or better known as KLCC Mosque, is within walking distance of the Centre while the venue itself houses a number of prayer rooms. The Centre’s vast customisable spaces can also be transformed into prayer rooms and ablution areas based on event needs. All of its five kitchens are Halal-certified and over the years the Centre has been the venue-of-choice for many high-profile Islamic events such as the 9th Muslim World Biz and the meeting of leaders of Islamic nations, the KL Summit 2019.
    At the same awards where Malaysia is also named the ‘Top Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year’, H.E. Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture of Malaysia (MOTAC) delivered a keynote speech.

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    PATA and OAG strengthen organisational partnership

    The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has announced a new preferred partnership with OAG, a leading data platform for the global travel industry.
    The new agreement will provide PATA members with continued access to unique and reliable aviation data through the PATAmPOWER platform. It will also enable both organisations to provide wider insight and intelligence to the Asia Pacific visitor economy, through events, analysis, and further data collaboration.
    OAG has the world’s largest network of flight information, covering the whole journey from planning to customer experience. The data helps businesses achieve many goals, principally by finding new revenue streams, driving growth across operations, and deepening the relationship with customers.
    Its customers include search engines, metasearch, tech start-ups, travel booking sites, international government organisations, global financial institutions, airlines, airports, and travel operators.
    “Strengthening our partnership with OAG ensures we can provide members with the highest quality, most reliable aviation data including historical data (back to 2018) and 12-month forward frequency and seat capacity data. This will enable them to make smarter and more insightful decisions as they plan their recovery strategies,” said Santosh Kumar, Director of Business Development, PATA. “I look forward to leveraging OAG’s data and insight to assist us in our mission for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region.”ADVERTISEMENT“Our deeper partnership with PATA will provide richer data insights to facilitate market recovery and future investment in the region” said Mayur Patel, Head of Sales, Asia. “As Asia Pacific air travel embarks on its own come back journey, having access to data, networks and knowledge through this collaboration will equip PATA members will vital insight to get ahead of the curve”.

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    PATA: Positive increases in IVAs predicted

    The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is pleased to release its latest quarterly updated international visitor arrivals (IVAs) forecast current to May 6, 2022, based on the data provided by 39 Asia Pacific destinations. In line with the start of the region’s travel recovery, aggregate numbers into the 39 Asia Pacific destinations are projected to have step-wise annual increases beginning in 2022 and continuing to 2024 across all three of the mild, medium, and severe scenarios.
    IVA recovery rates (above 2019 baseline level) for visitors into and across Asia Pacific is predicted to reach between 25-48% of the volume last received in 2019, with the numbers reflecting the range of potential outcomes from a severe to a mild scenario. This is a solid improvement over the 16-18% range of 2021 – the trough year for most Asia Pacific destinations – and heralds the beginning of a continued growth trend to 2024.

    The number of foreign arrivals into and across Asia Pacific is still projected to either reach parity with the 2019 position (medium scenario) or be well above it (mild scenario) by 2024. Even so, the severe scenario reminds us that a possibility still exists for conditions to deteriorate once again – with multiple influencing factors including the ongoing pandemic continually evolving, the Ukraine/Russia crisis, escalating jet fuel prices, and limited air capacity and routes, plus industry-wide staff shortages.
    While annual growth is predicted to occur for each of the 39 destinations covered between 2022 and 2024, there will of course be some variations. This is illustrated by the differences in relative positions for each of the three destination regions of Asia Pacific, as well as under each of the three scenarios within each of those regions.ADVERTISEMENT
    At the individual destination level, recovery rates vary broadly in 2022 and are predicted to range from less than 15% to almost 99%, while in 2024, they range from 86% to 120% under that same scenario. Overall, however, projections are now for Asia Pacific to reach an IVA count in 2024 of 510-832 million, depending on which scenario plays out over that period.
    Similar variations are apparent across the source market regions relevant to Asia Pacific, although in general, the trend is back towards the same inbound structure of 2024, at least under the medium scenario.
    As PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera observes “While a positive turning point is predicted to occur in 2022 for all the 39 Asia Pacific destinations covered in these updated forecasts, many market variables are currently influencing travel and significant challenges still lay ahead. While the momentum for international travel demand is obviously increasing, multiple challenges need to be navigated by the global travel and tourism sector.”
    “From emerging new strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to escalating jet fuel prices, the spectre of rising inflation to the current geo-political conflicts, these variables are concerns in the face of global pent-up demand to reconnect and travel.”
    Ms. Ortiguera concludes by reminding the travel and tourism sector that “Safety, wellness and smooth travel experiences are top of mind as needs for post-pandemic travellers.  It’s important to provide clarity in processes and deliver good customer support in the face of ever-changing circumstances.Recognition should go to all the travel and tourism staff that are enabling efficient and great travel service delivery and experiences in the face of all these challenges. We need to respect and applaud their efforts as the backbone of the industry through these challenging times.”
    The PATA Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2022-2024: 2Q Updates is now available at https://www.pata.org/visitor-forecasts.
    What you will learn from this report:Updated international visitor forecasts for Asia Pacific between 2022 and 2024 by destination region, sub-region, and destination, highlighting changing demand preferences in the face of policy changes.
    Updated forecasts and recovery patterns for 39 individual destinations allowing for the development of better recovery strategies for the post-COVID-19.
    PATA International members have exclusive access to the recording of the, PATA Visitor Forecasts 2022 to 2024: 2Q Updates’ webinar which included expert speakers from The Hong Kong PolyU, Euromonitor International, Visa, and OAG. The speakers provided an overview of the updated forecasts for international arrivals to Asia Pacific between 2022 and 2024 as well as latest insights into key source markets’ traveller behaviour and Asia’s capacity rebuild and changing supply structures.

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