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    Jules Verne launches brand-new travel podcast

    Jules Verne is celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with the launch of a brand-new travel podcast series, Passepartout, People & Places, the first episode of which highlights the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and also Jules Verne’s royal connections.
    The specialist tour operator, Jules Verne, has been renowned for its adventurous holiday ideas since it was founded, 44 years ago (in 1978), by global pioneer Philip Morrell.  He is widely acknowledged as having changed the way we travel. On the Passepartout, People & Places podcasts, the Jules Verne team will discover past adventures, delve into current travel stories and reveal future journeys – ultimately, the podcast aims to inspire the listener to discover the wonders of the world anew.
    On the first episode, podcast host Abbey Renshaw talks to Jules Verne’s recently-appointed General Manager, Debbie O’Neill, about Philip Morrell, who really made his mark in 1979, when he launched holidays to China – a previously untapped destination – from the UK.  This was at a time when the Bamboo Curtain was still in place. Morrell’s first adventure trip, a 42-day escorted rail journey from London to Peking (now Beijing), and on to Hong Kong, sold out and was a resounding success, paving the way for many more adventures to follow.
    More recently, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh witnessed the Diamond Jubilee flotilla as it made its way along the River Thames from on board Morrell’s luxury barge, The Spirit of Chartwell, which he loaned to the Pageant organisers for the Royal family’s use, on 3 June, 2012.
    Continuing its royal links to this day, Jules Verne has secured the former Royal barge for a select number of departure dates in its new home, the Douro River in Portugal, where a group of travellers will be celebrating the Platinum Jubilee in style this week on the tour operator’s Royal Barge on the Douro cruise.ADVERTISEMENTThe Royal Barge on the Douro cruise has four departure dates remaining this year and six more departures scheduled between May and September 2023. Due to popular demand, Jules Verne has also released an additional departure date for the Royal Barge on the Douro cruise later this summer. Departing from Porto, guests will cruise deep into the verdant hillside landscapes of Portugal, discovering wine estates, sun-drenched vineyards, idyllic villages, Baroque castles and medieval hilltop ruins.
    The brand-new podcast is inspired by Jules Verne’s classic 1872 adventure novel, Around the World in Eighty Days. The name, Passepartout, People & Places, was chosen for the podcast as a nod to Phileas Fogg’s French valet, Jean Passepartout (whose surname, appropriately, means ‘goes everywhere’).
    General Manager of Jules Verne, Debbie O’Neill, says: “From that first iconic 7,000-mile rail journey, through to the present day, Jules Verne and its specialist travel team have so many travel stories to tell, share and inspire – stories about the places we’ve visited, the people we’ve met or how these experiences have shaped us.
    “The podcast will unlock the doors to Jules Verne, transporting the listener around the world, evoking a sense of travel like Philip Morrell first did when he founded the company in 1978. We’ll be inviting special guests to share their stories along the way, and we’re really looking forward to watching this new and inspirational adventure unfold.”
    The podcast – Passepartout, People & Places – will be available to download on 31 May, with new episodes released monthly.

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    IATA: Reforms needed to attract / retain ground handling talent More

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    IATA: Reforms needed to attract / retain ground handling talent

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for holistic reforms to manage the long-term need for a stable talent base for the ground handling sector.
    Thousands of ground handling staff left the aviation industry during the pandemic. Now as aviation ramps up, the severe shortage of skilled ground handlers is shedding light on the need for reform to stabilise the talent pool.
    In the immediate term, the most pressing issue is the bottleneck for security clearances as the airline industry prepares for the peak northern summer season. Longer-term, IATA urges the ground handling sector to;
    Adopt a stronger talent acquisition strategy
    Streamline onboarding processes, and
    Develop a more compelling retention proposition
    “The peak northern summer travel season is fast-approaching, and passengers are already experiencing the effects of bottlenecks in getting security clearances for staff at the airport. Additional resources are needed to accelerate the processing times for employment security clearances which can be as much as 6 months in some markets. The shortages we are experiencing today are a symptom of the longer-term challenges to achieve a stable talent base in ground handling,” said Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for the Operations, Safety and Security.
    At the IATA Ground Handling Conference, IATA proposed a comprehensive approach to recruitment, onboarding, and retention:ADVERTISEMENTRecruitment
    Attracting fresh talent is critical. This is made more challenging by perceptions created in the pandemic with the critical retrenchment of large numbers of staff, including those in ground handling.
    IATA recommends:
    An awareness campaign to highlight the attractiveness and importance of ground operations in global logistics and transport operations.
    Adoption of 25by25 campaign to help address the gender imbalance across the industry.
    Apprenticeships in partnership with trade schools to revitalise candidate pipelines.
    Career path mapping to demonstrate long-term prospects for people entering the sector.
    More efficient onboarding processesTraining and security clearance for new staff can take more than six months. More efficient and expedited onboarding will allow the sector to adapt quickly to demand changes, including those which are seasonal. IATA recommends:
    A greater focus on competency-based training; moving to more online training and assessments will improve speed, flexibility and efficiency of onboarding.
    Mutual recognition by authorities of security training and employee background records will expedite onboarding and reduce redundant processes.
    Retention programsGreater standardisation will improve performance, provide employment flexibility and broader career options. The IATA white paper recommends:
    Implementation of IATA Ground Operations Manual (IGOM) to standardise ground operations. Along with significant operational benefits and more efficient onboarding, this would provide additional flexibility and opportunities for staff in terms of relocation, reassignment and recruitment.
    Training passports that mutually recognise skills and training across ground handlers, airlines and/or airports.
    Adoption of new technologies and automated processes to create diverse job opportunities and career paths to attract a new generation talent
    “An industry-wide approach to lay the foundations for more efficient talent recruitment, onboarding and retention will pay big benefits in terms of efficiency for all concerned. The cornerstone is the standardisation that can be achieved with the adoption of the IGOM. Its global implementation will have a huge and positive impact in all aspects of ground handling, including talent management. The potential is to shift working in the sector from having a job to developing a career,” said Careen.

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    ABTA: Take part in this year’s Virtual TCS London Marathon

    ABTA LifeLine is looking for 10 volunteers from the travel industry to take part in this year’s Virtual TCS London Marathon on Sunday 2 October.
    Those who sign up via ABTA LifeLine will be guaranteed a place for this year’s event and will also be helping to raise vital funds for travel industry colleagues who are in desperate need of financial, practical, and emotional support.
    Volunteers of all abilities are welcome, whether they plan to walk, run or even skip the 26.2 miles. They are just asked to commit to raising £1,000 for ABTA LifeLine, with every pound going towards tailored support for an individual or family in need – whether that’s paying for a weekly food shop, covering unexpected funeral costs or providing vital mental health support.
    Fundraising is easily done through Lifeline’s JustGiving page and there is lots of help and advice on the charity’s website to help support fundraising efforts.
    Participants in the virtual marathon, which takes place on the same day as the main event in London, will still earn the coveted finisher’s medal and souvenir t-shirt, but can complete the race anytime on Sunday 2 October and from any location on the planet, as long as they’re outdoors.ADVERTISEMENTThey also don’t need to compete alone – if one person signs up, their work colleagues, friends and family are welcome to support them on the day. Last year Avis Budget Group’s International Travel and Partnerships Team collectively walked the marathon around Windsor Great Park and raised an impressive £2,000 for ABTA LifeLine.
    ABTA LifeLine Director, Trudie Clements, said:
    “If you’ve ever wondered about taking part in the London Marathon this is a great way to be part of this amazing event. It really doesn’t matter if you plan to walk, skip or wear a daft costume getting to the finish line, the most important thing is taking part and lending your support to a brilliant cause.”
    Volunteers will be encouraged to share updates on their training and photos on the day on social media using the #RunForABTALifeline hashtag.
    To find out more and sign up, visit the ABTA LifeLine website.

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    IHG’s voco hotels opens second hotel in Italy

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    The Yukon joins UNWTO network of sustainable tourism observatories

    The Yukon Sustainable Tourism Observatory, hosted by the Government of Yukon, will identify, measure and interpret sustainable tourism conditions to guide evidence-based decision making. This will help the Yukon to better deal with post-pandemic recovery and future growing, ensuring the sector is managed in a sustainable and responsible manner.
    UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “We warmly welcome the Yukon into our growing global network of observatories. The Observatory can help Yukon to better manage its tourism sector, recovering and growing back more sustainably for the benefit of visitors and residents alike.”
    Inclusive future for Yukon tourismThe Yukon is one of Canada’s vast northern territories with a strong and burgeoning tourism industry. The Yukon Tourism Development Strategy “Sustainable Tourism. Our path. Our Future. 2018-2028” called for the establishment of a framework to measure progress on the sustainable tourism development goals in accordance with the vision, goals and actions of the Strategy. Within this context, Yukon pursued the establishment of an observatory on sustainable tourism within the INSTO Framework, with the aim to provide the sector with knowledge on the state of sustainability to make informed decisions and investments.
    Minister of Tourism and Culture of Yukon, Ranj Pillai says: “We are very proud to join this prestigious and important network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories as Canada’s first northern member. The Yukon Sustainable Tourism Framework will drive the shift towards sustainable tourism development in the Yukon by bringing the sector together to better understand the impacts of tourism and guide our decision making for the benefit of all Yukoners.”
    Minister of Environment of Yukon, Nils Clarke, adds: “The Yukon government is honoured to receive this international recognition for the vital and groundbreaking work being done to address climate change in the territory. Together with the Our Clean Future Strategy, Yukon’s Sustainable Tourism Framework commits us to alignment with global best practices and promotes a balance between economic, social and environmental values.”ADVERTISEMENTThe Yukon Sustainable Tourism Observatory is the second Observatory in Canada, after the Thompson Okanagan Sustainable Tourism Observatory and brings the worldwide total to 31.
    About INSTOThe UNWTO International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO) was created in 2004 with the main objectives to support the continuous improvement of sustainability and resilience in the tourism sector through systematic, timely and regular monitoring of tourism performance and to connect dedicated destinations, helping them to exchange and improve knowledge and understanding about destination-wide resource use and the responsible management of tourism.

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    Rosewood Red Sea set to open in Saudi Arabia

    Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has been appointed by The Red Sea Development Company to manage Rosewood Red Sea, opening as part of phase one of the multi-complex The Red Sea development. Located along Saudi Arabia’s west coast on Shura Island, the new Rosewood® hotel will be part of The Red Sea destination, which is comprised of a stunning marina offering a yacht club, commercial retail and dining options, as well as an 18-hole championship golf course. This new development is poised to be one of Saudi Arabia’s top cultural and lifestyle destinations, appealing to international visitors and local citizens through a mix of leisure elements.
    “It is our great pleasure to announce our expansion in the Middle East, adding Rosewood Red Sea to Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning cultural movement,” said Sonia Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of Rosewood Hotel Group. “Rosewood’s presence in The Red Sea destination will mark a transformational time for the brand as the project looks to set new standards in sustainable development and support Saudi Arabia emerge as a top global tourism destination.”
    “We are delighted to partner with Rosewood to establish its ultra-luxury brand on our hub island, Shura, at The Red Sea destination,” said John Pagano, CEO at The Red Sea Development Company. “Rosewood’s philosophy to reflect the local culture and spirit of a destination in its offering will tempt visitors to explore the rich heritage and unsurpassed natural beauty of this undiscovered, unique region. Rosewood Red Sea is set to meet the increasing demand for exclusive, personalized experiences that dovetail with the natural environment, and we look forward to welcoming guests to the resort.”
    Rosewood Red Sea will boast 149 guest rooms and suites. Elevated food and beverage offerings will include three restaurants, two lounges, a signature Manor Club and a central hub featuring authentic eateries. Additional recreational spaces will include event pavilions and Asaya™, Rosewood’s integrative well-being concept consisting of seven treatment rooms, a gym, two movement studios and a yoga pavilion.
    Encompassing 22 islands and five inland sites by the time it completes in 2030, The Red Sea destination will be home to a luxury and upper-upscale segment composed of mono-island resorts, beach resorts, centralized island-hubs, and inland resorts in the desert and mountains. The destination is located 550 km north of Jeddah. For travellers near and far, the new Red Sea International Airport will provide access and airlift to the destination. It is set to welcome its first flight by the end of 2022.ADVERTISEMENTRosewood Hotels & Resorts was nominated as Middle East’s Leading Lifestyle Hotel Brand 2022 while The Red Sea Development Company was nominated as World’s Leading Tourism Development Project 2021 by World Travel Awards.

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    American Express Global Business Travel becomes publicly traded company

    American Express Global Business Travel has announced that it will begin trading as a public company on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol “GBTG” on May 31, 2022.
    Paul Abbott, Amex GBT’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Today marks a significant milestone in the business travel industry recovery and for Amex GBT. With strategic initiatives over the last few years, including complementary accretive acquisitions, product and technology enhancements and lasting cost reductions, we have confidence that we are very well positioned to win a larger portion of the $1.4 trillion business travel market. As a publicly traded company, we will have the flexibility to further accelerate our growth strategy.
    “Trading as a public company follows years of work to strengthen our market leadership position. While listing our company is an achievement, it also marks the beginning of a new phase of growth paired with a focus on delivering long-term shareholder value as the world’s largest publicly traded B2B travel platform.”
    Amex GBT has become a publicly traded company following the completion of its previously announced business combination with Apollo Strategic Growth Capital (NYSE: APSG, APSG.U, APSG WS) (“APSG”), which was approved by APSG shareholders on May 25, 2022, and closed on May 27, 2022. Concurrently with the closing of the business combination, the Company received proceeds from cash in trust and PIPE investments, including sizable investments by strategic investors Zoom and Sabre, and new investors Apollo, Ares and HG Vora. These investors join American Express Company, Certares and Expedia Group, which remain invested in the Company. The Class A common stock and warrants of the newly combined company, Global Business Travel Group, Inc., will trade on the NYSE under the new ticker symbols “GBTG” and “GBTG WS”, respectively, beginning on May 31, 2022.

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    Mastercard launches cyber security “Experience Centre”

    Mastercard has unveiled the ” Experience Centre” at its Global Intelligence and Cyber Centre of Excellence (“Centre of Excellence”) in Vancouver, BC, where local, national and international tech communities are invited to collaborate on cyber security innovation. The Experience Centre also features emerging Mastercard products and solutions that are already securing digital payments on a global scale, including those developed locally in Vancouver.   
    “Rapid advancements in digital technology have changed the way we shop, pay, work and interact, but with increased convenience comes increased risk,” said Sasha Krstic, President of Mastercard Canada. “Building on the world-class innovations developed at our Centre of Excellence in Vancouver, this new Experience Centre offers a venue for much-needed industry collaboration to anticipate and neutralise ever-expanding cyber threats to our global digital economy.” 
    Announced in 2020, Mastercard’s Global Intelligence and Cyber Centre of Excellence is leading innovation in cyber and intelligence (C&I), artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). Research from the Centre is already enhancing Mastercard solutions, combining the Centre’s biometric security algorithms with existing cyber capabilities is creating new approaches to enhance online security. In just two-and-a-half years, the Centre of Excellence is making quick progress against its long-term goals, such as:
    filing more than 30 local patents that will secure cyberspace by building confidence in our connected devices, reducing the presence of malicious bots, bad human actors, and establishing a seamless experience for online interactions; and
    creating and maintaining more than 230 quality tech jobs to date, ranging from software engineers to data scientists to product and program managers, with many more roles to fill.
    “We are achieving this unprecedented level of cyber security innovation by attracting top talent from across Canada and the world to work smarter, better and faster in a creative, inclusive environment embedded in Vancouver’s vibrant tech community,” said Sasha Krstic. “Mastercard’s Centre of Excellence is not only making digital payments safer for consumers and businesses everywhere, it’s helping cement Canada’s role as a global powerhouse in cyber security innovation.”

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    IAPCO Council meets Northern Ireland business tourism representatives

    The IAPCO Council Meeting is hosted this week by Tourism Northern Ireland in Belfast.
    The international panel met with representatives from Tourism Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, Visit Belfast, Visit Derry and ICC Belfast as well as industry professionals and key political stakeholders.  Securing conferencing and business events is deemed a critical driver in the region’s economic recovery post-Covid. 
    According to Tourism Northern Ireland’s recently launched Integrated Strategy for Business Events in Northern Ireland, it is estimated that the sector could deliver £209 million in direct economic impact, and up to 2000 new jobs by 2030.
    The busy programme of events, of which Tourism Northern Ireland was the Corporate Sponsor, saw IAPCO Council members sampling local hospitality and attractions including Titanic Belfast, a tour of the Cathedral Quarter and events at both ICC Belfast and the Grand Central Hotel.
    Martin Boyle, Chief Executive of IAPCO commented: “The economic impact and social legacy that results from people gathering for business and professional events can never be underestimated.  It’s important for IAPCO and our members that we all work in close collaboration with destination stakeholders to ensure this remains a fundamental driver in the years to come.  “All of our attending Council members are delighted to have touched down in Belfast to connect with one another and share their experiences and insights.  We are looking forward to connecting to local event partners and to further understand the city’s capabilities for future events.  We very much appreciate the opportunity to explore Belfast and would like to thank Team Northern Ireland for co-ordinating the visit.”ADVERTISEMENTIn 2019, IAPCO members delivered 21,423 meetings and events worldwide with an economic impact of €13.8 billion.  Even through the pandemic in 2020, IAPCO members still delivered 13,300 meetings and events.
    ICC Belfast hosted a business breakfast on Friday to showcase the venue as Belfast’s only purpose-built conference centre.  Ellvena Graham, Chairperson of ICC Belfast, said: “I am delighted to be able to welcome the IAPCO Council to Belfast and to showcase our fantastic venue and citywide offering to our guests.  We recognise that business events are crucial to Northern Ireland’s economic development, and we look forward to collaborating with our partners, and organisations such as IAPCO to achieve the goals set out in the Integrated Strategy for Business Events.”
    The Integrated Strategy for Business Events in Northern Ireland, launched by Tourism Northern Ireland in March this year, is seeking to double the number of international conferences hosted annually and attract three times the number of delegates from the UK and Ireland by 2030.
    John McGrillen, Chief Executive of Tourism NI said: “Conference and business events are a crucial part of Northern Ireland’s visitor economy and can play a major role in securing investment and job creation across the region. Our latest estimates show that the sector could deliver £209 million in direct economic impact, and up to 2000 new jobs by 2030. The Northern Ireland Business Events Strategy, sets out an integrated approach to achieve a significant increase in our share of the lucrative business events market and by partnering with IAPCO, we now have the potential to achieve this.”
    He added: “As business events return, we look forward to working collaboratively with Visit Belfast, Visit Derry and ICC Belfast in rebuilding the sector. I wish all council members an enjoyable stay here and we hope you return again soon.”
    Showcasing some of the city’s key venues, attractions and experiences, Rachael McGuickin Visit Belfast’s Director of Business Development, Sustainability and Transformation said: “Business meetings, events and conferences generate vital mid-week business that helps to sustain and support hospitality and tourism businesses throughout the year.“Investment, dedicated and targeted sales and marketing and the passion and hard work of the entire industry has seen Belfast develop into a highly attractive international conference destination. Hosting such an influential group of industry leaders provides hugely positive exposure and a significant opportunity to further elevate Belfast and Northern Ireland’s presence in the global meetings marketplace. We’re confident that this landmark visit and future engagement with IAPCO by Visit Belfast and our partners will help the region win a greater share of business events in the years to come.”
    Visit Derry’s Chief Executive, Odhran Dunne added: “We are delighted to welcome the IAPCO Council to Belfast and showcase Northern Ireland as a globally competitive destination for business tourism events. International meetings and conferences play an important part in the economic recovery and future growth of Northern Ireland and Derry/Londonderry. Collaborating with influential partners such as IAPCO plays a pivotal role in unlocking the potential of our business events sector and helps us achieve our ambitious goal of doubling the number of international conferences hosted annually and attracting three times the number of delegates from the UK and Ireland by 2030.”Following their departure on Sunday 29th May, the Council members will travel to IMEX Frankfurt, one of the largest trade events in the business events calendar attended by over 5,100 global decision makers with qualified buying power.

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