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    Heathrow appoints Mark Brooker to its board

    Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd has today announced that Mark Brooker joined the airport’s Board as a Non-Executive Director in April. Mr Brooker brings a wealth of digital, financial and transport expertise to the Board as the airport gears up for growth, post-pandemic.
    Mr Brooker has a wide breadth of experience across high-profile, operational and strategic roles including Chief Operating Officer for Trainline and Betfair Group Plc. Mr Brooker will support the airport in navigating the challenges associated with rapid growth, whilst remaining focused on providing excellent service and taking advantage of digitalisation in a post-COVID era.ADVERTISEMENTHaving spent the past ten years in leadership roles at digital-led businesses and as the current Chairman of Findmypast and Non-Executive Director of Paysafe Ltd, Future plc and Seedrs, his experience in using big data to aid the customer experience will be a welcome addition to the Board and will ensure it can provide the relevant insight and advice to successfully support Heathrow’s own digital transformation.
    Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said:
    “I am delighted that Mark will be joining us at such a critical point as we gear up to deliver the same amount growth experienced over 50 years, in just 5 years. I am confident that the wealth of experience Mark will bring to the table will prove invaluable as the airport recovers from COVID and works to find innovative digital solutions to maintain the high level of service Heathrow is globally recognised for.”
    Heathrow Airport was nominated as Europe’s Leading Airport 2021 by World Travel Awards.

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    Abu Dhabi DCT creates unique NFT

    Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) has become one of the first UAE government entities to create its own Non-Fungible Token (NFT).
    During a series of innovative workshops, more than 220 employees collaborated to create the unique NFT digital art, which aimed to reflect DCT Abu Dhabi’s corporate values of being welcoming, pioneering, agile, and collaborative.
    Jasim Al Hebsi, Acting Director of the People and Performance Department at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “In creating our NFT collage, we have proven that the spirit of innovation is thriving within our organisation. At DCT Abu Dhabi, our vision is to cultivate knowledge and understanding for our cultural heritage, while also initiating creativity to embrace the future of technology. So, as well as highlighting our corporate values and encouraging teamwork, this project has enabled us to gain a firm understanding of how art and culture are evolving in the digital age.”
    NFTs are digital assets that represent real-world objects, such as artwork, music, video game, or film clip. The created arts can be purchased or sold online using cryptocurrencies only, and are often encoded and stored on the same cryptocurrency blockchain software.
    The two-day workshop event consisted of eight sessions where 20 teams worked on creating their designs using a photo library containing more than 1,000 images. The unique designs were fused to create a collage which was later transferred into DCT Abu Dhabi’s exclusive NFT.  ADVERTISEMENTSince DCT Abu Dhabi’s NFT workshop, other UAE government entities have shown interest in recreating the sessions to make their own unique digital assets.
    NFTs were first invented in 2014, but they have recently gained recognition as an increasingly popular means to buy and sell digital art. In 2021, NFT sales volumes were estimated at US $24.9 billion, compared to US $94.9 million the year before.
    Abu Dhabi was crowned World’s Leading Sports Destination and World’s Leading Business Travel Destination at World Travel Awards 2021.

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    Major players pave recovery at ITB India

    Key travel industry leaders and international exhibitors from various segments of MICE, Leisure, Corporate and Travel Technology met virtually this week for the 3-in1-show ITB India, MICE Show India and Travel Tech India, hosted on ITB Community in Asia (ITB Community).
    The concurrent three-day ITB India Conference featured close to 100 online sessions with over 80 industry experts. Under the heading “Connecting you to the Indian Travel Market”, the focus of this year’s show was to discuss effective strategies to lead the Indian and South Asian travel industry towards recovery and growth and share best practices that will help the industry make meetings and events more sustainable.
    Major market players and industry heavyweights such as Agoda, Airbnb, Booking.com, FCM Travel, GIATA, HRS Group, Tourism Australia, Tripadvisor, Uber, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and many more addressed key topics concerning the travel & tourism industry and provided valuable insights and perspectives for shaping corporate strategies and measures.
    Katrina Leung, Managing Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organizer of ITB India, MICE Show India and Travel Tech India said: “Our 3-in-1 business-to-business show came to a successful close today, bringing leading industry experts and the most relevant topics virtually to every corner of the world. The 2022 show was a great success virtually, and we look forward to next year’s in-person event, when ITB India 2023 will once again provide the long-awaited human connection and allow for face-to-face business meetings and networking in Mumbai”.
    MICE Show India and Travel Tech India were held in conjunction with ITB India Virtual, making them part of the Indian and South Asian travel market’s three-day B2B trade show and convention. At this year’s MICE Show India, top executives from world-renowned MICE associations and leading companies discussed topics ranging from event organisation and management to technological applications and trend forecasting to move the MICE industry forward. Gathering the latest technologies, emerging trends, leading travel brands and innovative startups in one place, Travel Tech India explored innovations, initiatives and case studies from various industry profiles, including technology companies, hotels, OTAs, transportation companies and more.ADVERTISEMENTAlongside ITB India’s conference, international exhibitors representing destinations, hotel chains and tech companies made keen use of the virtual format to present their products and services. Key exhibitors like Berlin Brandenburg Airport, Business Events Perth, German National Tourist Office, GIATA, Melia Hotels International, National Tourism Office of Spain in India, Radisson Blu Hoi An, Royal Commission for AlUla, Sarawak Tourism Board, Tourism New Zealand, Turismo de Portugal and many more presented themselves to a wide online audience.
    The on-demand sessions of ITB India, MICE Show India and Travel Tech India Virtual are available until 6 May 2022 and are opened to registered delegates only. To access the on-demand presentations, users can register online at the ITB India website here.
    ITB India 2023 to take place as a live- event
    ITB India 2023 will be held as a 100% physical event from 26 – 28 April 2023 at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, India. Exhibitors may register for super early bird rate of 15% off Listed Rate before 15 January 2023 via the registration link here.

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    Staff shortages at UK airports could prolong travel recovery

    Manchester Airports Group has significantly increased the number of active jobs available on its career pages, with open positions increasing from 65 in December to 110 in February, according to GlobalData. However, the leading data and analytics company notes that only 36 positions were closed in this period – an ominous sign of things to come with international trips set to dramatically increase in April.
    The peak season for holidays in the UK is fast approaching. According to GlobalData, total domestic and outbound visits in August from the UK are projected to be more than double the total number of visits in April. If staff shortages are not addressed by the peak of the summer season in airports such as Manchester Airport and London Stansted Airport, the impact could be calamitous for the UK’s airport and airline sectors, and the wider tourism industry.
    Ralph Hollister, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Staff shortages could remain a problem for several months as airports scramble to match employment levels with demand. When travel came to a standstill during the pandemic, many airport employees left their positions to work in other industries. Stories of unruly passengers, often long commute times, and job uncertainty, as seen with COVID-19, could be off-putting for many currently seeking work.”
    The coming months will be challenging for UK airports and airlines. A lack of staff in key positions could create an array of knock-on impacts, including missed flights, cancelations, and negative traveler sentiment, all of which could prolong recovery.
    Hollister adds: “A lack of employees in key roles, such as those involving security, are key contributors to the long queues causing flights to be missed and passenger experiences to turn sour. It’s now up to airport companies to improve their recruitment strategies and make working in an airport an attractive proposition However, lengthy vetting procedures and training processes involved for these positions means the issue with long queues will not vanish overnight.”ADVERTISEMENT

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    Business travel bounces back

    Four in five executives expect to travel for business this year in latest sign of post-pandemic bounce back.
    The vast majority of people (80%) believe they will travel for work this year and next, in the latest sign of a surge in demand for international travel following the lifting of coronavirus restrictions.
    A renewed public focus on sustainability means that most passengers would now prefer to travel by train than plane, new polling by Opinium Research, commissioned by HS1, shows.
    The data reveals how demand for environmentally-friendly travel is surging back following the end of all coronavirus restrictions in the UK.
    Two-thirds of respondents stated they would prefer to travel by train over plane, with 66% saying they are likely to travel to Europe by train over using a plane for business. The figure increased to 77% for leisure passengers.ADVERTISEMENTRespondents stated that Covid-19 had highlighted a need for businesses to take more sustainable travel options, demonstrating a major shift in attitudes towards green transport when going overseas. This was reflected by four in five of those surveyed (81%) saying they want their business to become greener by reducing their carbon footprint.
    Dyan Crowther, CEO, HS1, said: “We’re extremely pleased to see that people are looking to get back out there for business and leisure, and taking up all of the UK’s travel options in 2022.

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    Saint Lucia and Spain among nations relaxing Covid entry restrictions

    Saint Lucia and Spain are among the nations relaxing entry requirements. For Saint Lucia, fully vaccinated travellers no longer need to take pre-travel Covid tests, with unvaccinated travellers requiring a negative PCR test. Meanwhile Spain will allow unvaccinated arrivals entry with proof of negative PCR or antigen test.
    Saint LuciaVaccinated travellers must provide a valid vaccination record as requested on check-in, boarding, and entry to Saint Lucia. Unvaccinated travellers five years and older must have a valid negative standard COVID-19 PCR test five days before arrival. An unsupervised self-swab antigen or PCR test is not accepted.
    Passengers arriving without tests or with the wrong type of test will be retested on arrival at their own cost and will be required to remain in quarantine until the test result is known.
    In addition, travellers are no longer required to pre-register online prior to arrival in Saint Lucia. All arrivals are required to bring proof of vaccination status or test results as per protocols. International travellers and returning nationals must complete a Health Screening Form before disembarkation in Saint Lucia for ease of processing on arrival.
    For more information about Saint Lucia’s COVID-19 response, all protocols, and details of entry requirements, visit www.stlucia.org/covid-19.ADVERTISEMENTSpainSpain has updated its entry requirements and non-vaccinated UK passengers can now enter Spain with proof of a negative PCR or antigen, or proof of diagnostic recovery.
    The new entry guidelines, effective from 6 April 2022 require all UK travellers ages 12 and above to submit one of the following three criteria:
    1 Certificate of vaccination: Proof of being fully-vaccinated (with both doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a one-dose vaccine) at least 14 days prior to arrival in Spain. If more than 270 days have passed since the final dose, certification of a booster vaccination is also required, except for teenagers aged 12 to 17 (inclusive).
    2 Diagnostic Test Certificate: Proof that the passenger has carried out a negative diagnostic test including PCR tests (within 72h) or antigen tests (within 24h).
    3 Certificate of recovery: Proof that the passenger has recovered from COVID. Recovery certificates issued by the official authorities will be valid at least 11 days after the first NAAT diagnostic test or positive antigen screening test, carried out by qualified personnel. The certificate shall be valid for 180 days after the date of the first positive diagnostic test result.
    Children under 12 years old are exempt when travelling with an adult.

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    Jamaica reports rapid rise in UK visitors

    The Jamaica Tourist Board has reported a significant increase in UK visitors returning to the Caribbean island with more than 15,000 arrivals in January, 18,000 arrivals in December and 16,000 arrivals in November.
    The latest arrival data indicates the paradise island, winner of “Caribbean’s Leading Destination” at World Travel Awards, is almost on course to return to the pre-pandemic volume of visitors. Across the year, British travellers to Jamaica reached 74,290 in 2021 compared to 225,000 in 2019.
    The Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica said: “The recent increase in arrivals from UK visitors augers well for 2022. We are encouraged to see the results of the hard work of everyone in Jamaica to successfully rebuild tourism. Our airline partners responded to our careful and thorough resilience planning by committing to return and to increase airlift to Jamaica.  From June 2021, Virgin Atlantic increased to five flights per week and British Airways operates five per week. By October that year TUI had also relaunched with six flights a week to Jamaica. We are now poised and ready to welcome all our British visitors to return – particularly in 2022 the year of our sixtieth anniversary of independence.”
    Jamaica reopened its borders in June 2020 with a Jamaica CARES programme which focused on extensive health and safety protocols, which were developed in conjunction with authorities across health and tourism sectors. As a result, Jamaica was among the first to receive the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Safe Travels recognition.
    Strong visitor numbers for December also followed hard on the heels of the news of the relaxation of Jamaica’s Covid-19 requirements. From 1 March 2022, people arriving in Jamaica no longer need to complete a travel authorisation form before arriving in the country. Travellers 12 years of age and older will only need to provide a negative COVID-19 Antigen or PCR test result conducted within 72 hours prior to their travel.ADVERTISEMENTElizabeth Fox, regional director UK and Northern Europe, said: “2022 is the year to return to Jamaica and we’re already achieving a great increase in honeymoon enquiries. Jamaica has definitely been top of mind for British travellers recently – from absorbing beautiful shots of Port Antonio filmed in the James Bond No Time to Die film through to cheering on our bobsled sportsmen and women during the winter Olympics. We are ready for visitors to return and promise them a holiday of a lifetime.”

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    Aurora Expeditions expands North American team

    Aurora Expeditions, the Australian adventure travel company, has announced its North American operations are continuing to grow, with the company hiring three new Business Development Managers in a move to significantly expand its market presence. 
    The company, who is celebrating its 30th year of operations, recently successfully resumed its Antarctic expeditions with 70 per cent of the season’s guests coming from the US and Canada – and Aurora is eager to build on this.
    The new team members bring a wealth of travel industry experience to the Aurora team, and include Kelli Mills (Northeast), who has extensive experience in expedition travel and is also former agency owner with over 15 years in the industry; Jennifer Reynolds (Southeast), Adventure and Small-ship sector expert of more than 18 years, and Bonnie Newman (Western), who has previously been nominated for Travel Agency Advocate of the Year and has established solid relationships with agency partners, particularly within Virtuoso, a key partner within Aurora’s global trade network.
    These new hires will join the existing team of Lisa Bertini, who has recently been appointed VP of Sales, North America. Lisa will work with and lead the national sales team to further propel the company’s growth by maximizing sales and partnership opportunities throughout the market. Aurora has also recently expanded its focus beyond the English-speaking market in hiring Nicolas Bilek, a dedicated resource for business development in Quebec.
    “Aurora Expeditions is committed to growing and investing in North America,” commented Lisa Bertini, VP of Sales, North America.  ADVERTISEMENT“We have already seen a significant increase in interest in our active and life-changing voyages to Antarctica and the Arctic from this market, and I am confident that our new team members will help to accelerate and expand this growth for us, working with our valued trade partners.” 
    “More than ever, North American travelers are motivated to book their dream trips, and are craving remote, nature-based, enriching, and environmentally conscious experiences. As a small-ship expedition operator focused on true exploration to some of the world’s wildest, awe-inspiring, and isolated environments, we are extremely well positioned to meet the market’s desire to explore the polar regions and beyond.”
    Aurora recently released its 2023 Arctic season, which has so far seen an overwhelmingly positive response. Its Antarctica 2022-23 voyages are also in high demand, with many voyages close to sold out. The company’s upcoming voyages include Costa Rica & The Panama Canal, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Greenland, and Canada’s Northwest Passage, followed by an extensive 22-23 Antarctica season.
    Aurora Expeditions’ second purpose-built expedition ship, the Sylvia Earle, is due to debut in late 2022.

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