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    ASTA congratulates re-elected members of board of directors

    The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) is pleased to announce its Board of Directors’ newly re-elected Directors-at-large, who will officially begin their second two-year term at the close of ASTA’s Global Convention in San Francisco in August 2022. There were three open Director-at-large seats this year.
    The following are the newly re-elected national Directors-at-large:
    Marc Casto, President Leisure Americas, Flight Centre Travel Group
    Jackie Friedman, President, Nexion Travel Group
    Tiffany Hines, President & CEO, Global Escapes, Inc.
    The other at-Large Directors returning to the board for 2022-2023 term are as follows: 
    Kelly Bergin, President, Duglin Travel Group
    Roger Block, President, Travel Leaders Network
    Kareem George, President, Culture Traveler, LLC
    Vanessa McGovern, Co-Founder & Chief Sales Officer, Gifted Travel Network
    Patricia Thorington, Manager, Plaza Travel
    Appointed or Elected by Committee
    The following Board seats are either appointed or voted on by a subset of ASTA membership:  ADVERTISEMENT >CAC Chair – Michael Dixon – returning to the Board as the CAC Chair and will sit on the Executive Committee for one more year.
    CAC Vice Chair – Kathy Bedell – returning to the Board as the CAC Vice Chair for one more year.
    Small Business Network Director – Rhonda Shumway – serving the second year of her first term.
    Consortium Director – John Werner, MAST Travel Network, will take the place of Helen Enriquez, representing Ensemble, on the ASTA Board of Directors.
    Elected Regional Director – Southeast – Eddie Woodham – elected to a second term.
    Returning Regional Director – North Central – Deb Belchak – serving the second year of her first term.
    Returning Regional Director – Northwest – Lynda Phillippi – serving the second year of her first term.
    Looking ahead, in 2023, five At-Large seats, one Small Business Director seat and two Regional Director seats on the Board of Directors will be open. 

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    Nearly 50,000 travel & tourism jobs in Portugal could remain unfilled

    A new analysis of staff shortages by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed a labour shortfall in Portugal, with nearly 50,000 Travel & Tourism jobs across the country predicted to be unfilled.
    The research looked into labour shortages across Portugal and other major Travel & Tourism destinations, such as the U.S., France, Spain, the UK, and Italy.
    The data shows Portugal is forecasted to see a shortfall of 49,000 workers in the third quarter of 2022, with one in 10 vacancies expected to remain unfilled this year, making it the least affected country of those analysed.
    Before the pandemic, in 2019, more than 485,000 people were employed in Travel & Tourism in Portugal. But 2020 saw the loss of over 80,000 jobs.*
    Portugal saw the beginning of the recovery in 2021, with a 32.6% growth to the sector’s contribution to the national economy. However, staff shortages have been prevalent in the country, with thousands of vacancies that remain unfilled, putting the sector under pressure.ADVERTISEMENTWTTC analysis shows Portugal’s hotel industry is expected to be the worst affected, as both hotels and food and beverage segments are forecasted to have 13% (one in eight) and 12% (one in eight) of job openings unfilled, respectively.
    Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said: “The Portuguese government has always put Travel & Tourism at the forefront of their agenda, and is already addressing this issue with strategic measures.
    “The Ministry for Tourism in Portugal is very proactive and has introduced a flexible visa policy to attract talent. They are doing a great job.
    “The future of Travel & Tourism in Portugal looks bright, and in order to ensure a full recovery of the economy and the sector, we need to fill these vacancies to guarantee Portugal can meet the long-awaited travellers’ demand.”
    Last week WTTC revealed that up to 1.2 million Travel & Tourism jobs across the EU will remain unfulfilled, with hospitality, aviation, and travel agencies being the most affected.
    Some of the key measures identified in the report for both governments and the private sector to address the talent gap are:1.  Facilitate labour mobility across international borders, with more favourable visa policies 2.  Enable flexible and remote working where feasible – allowing part time or contractor-based opportunities, where possible3.  Ensure decent work and competitive employee benefits and compensation packages4.  Attract talent by improving the perception of jobs and promoting viable career paths with growth opportunities5.  Develop and support a skilled workforce through comprehensive educational programs, as well as upskilling and reskilling current talent6.  Adopt innovative technological and digital solutions to alleviate pressure on staff, improve daily operations and an enhanced customer experience.
    The global tourism body believes by implementing these measures, Travel & Tourism businesses will be able to attract more workers.
    This in turn would enable the sector to meet the ever-growing consumer demand and further speed up its recovery, which is the backbone to generating economic well-being across the country.

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    Quarter of a million tourism vacancies threaten Italy’s recovery

    A new study by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed the recovery of Italy’s travel and tourism could be jeopardised if quarter of a million jobs across the sector remain unfilled.
    The research analysed labour shortages across Italy and other major travel and tourism destinations, such as the U.S., France, Spain, the UK, and Portugal.
    The data shows Italy is the most impacted of the European countries analysed, expected to see a shortfall of a shocking 250,000 workers, with one in six vacancies likely to remain unfilled this year.
    According to the global tourism body, the supply-demand gap is expected to be even higher during the peak third quarter when the sector’s demand is likely to approach pre-crisis levels.
    Before the pandemic, in 2019, nearly 1.4 million were employed by travel and tourism in Italy. But 2020 saw the loss of more than 200,000 jobs.*ADVERTISEMENTItaly had a strong recovery since 2021, with a 58.5% growth to the sector’s contribution to the national economy. However, staff shortages have been prevalent in the country, with thousands of vacancies that remain unfilled, putting the sector under great pressure.
    WTTC analysis shows Italy’s accommodation industry and travel agent segment are forecast to be the worst affected, facing more than one third (38%) and nearly half (42%) of unfulfilled vacancies, respectively.
    Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said: “Italy’s economic recovery will be put in serious danger if we don’t have enough people to fill the vacant jobs.
    “If they remain unfilled, it will further dampen the revival chances of travel and tourism businesses across Italy which struggled for more than two years to escape the impact of the pandemic.”
    Last week WTTC revealed that up to 1.2 million jobs across the EU will remain unfulfilled, with hospitality, air transport, and travel agencies being the most affected.
    Some of the key measures identified in the report for both governments and the private sector to address the talent gap are:1.  Facilitate labour mobility across international borders, with more favourable visa policies 2.  Enable flexible and remote working where feasible – allowing part time or contractor-based opportunities, where possible3.  Ensure decent work and competitive employee benefits and compensation packages4.  Attract talent by improving the perception of jobs and promoting viable career paths with growth opportunities5.  Develop and support a skilled workforce through comprehensive educational programs, as well as upskilling and reskilling current talent6.  Adopt innovative technological and digital solutions to alleviate pressure on staff, improve daily operations and an enhanced customer experience.
    The global tourism body believes by implementing these measures, travel and tourism businesses will be able to attract more workers.
    This in turn would enable the sector to meet the ever-growing consumer demand and further speed up its recovery, which is the backbone to generating economic well-being across the country.

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    ABTA writes to Conservative leadership candidates on priorities for the industry

    ABTA – The Travel Association has written to Conservative leadership candidates Rt Hon Liz Truss MP and Rishi Sunak MP to outline what is needed to support the UK travel industry through its recovery from the COVID pandemic, and to ensure a prosperous future for the sector.
    The letter, sent from Chief Executive Mark Tanzer at the end of last week, explained the value of the UK international travel industry to the UK economy, as well as its role in supporting hundreds of thousands jobs and as a driver of growth.
    It also says that to grasp the opportunities that lie ahead for the travel industry, and wider economy, it is essential that a constructive and ongoing dialogue is maintained between industry leaders, Ministers and officials. In particular, ABTA reiterated its call for clear ministerial responsibility to bring together the various strands of policy that affect international travel, and which fall across a number of Government departments.
    Other issues raised as part of the letter included the industry’s commitment to net-zero in line with DfT’s Jet Zero Strategy, with investment in Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) and delivery of airspace modernisation as priorities. The importance of finding workable solutions to UK-EU labour mobility challenges was also emphasised, along with other matters relating to the UK’s departure from the EU. 
    Mark Tanzer, Chief Executive of ABTA – The Travel Association said:ADVERTISEMENT“The current travel landscape shows just how important it is that ABTA continues to impress on all politicians the value of the UK’s international travel industry to the UK economy. The political changes present an opportunity to reiterate what we need from this Government to ensure a prosperous and sustainable industry, and how we need to work together to achieve this. Our engagement with the candidates for Prime Minster builds on our ongoing work with Government, including recent meetings with Minsters and our work with officials and MPs from across all parties.”

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    More than 70,000 vacancies in Travel & Tourism threaten France’s economic recovery

    A new study by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed the recovery of France’s Travel & Tourism is at risk as more than 70,000 jobs remain unfilled across the country.
    The research looked into labour shortages across France and other major Travel & Tourism destinations, such as the U.S., Italy, Spain, the UK and Portugal.
    According to the global tourism body, the supply of labour could fail to match the increased travel demand across the sector, which is estimated to be near pre-pandemic levels by the third quarter of 2022.
    The data shows France is expected to see a shortfall of 71,000 jobs, with one in 19 vacancies left unfilled this year.
    In 2019, before the pandemic, more than 1.3 million people were employed by Travel & Tourism in France. But by 2020, nearly 175,000* had lost their jobs.ADVERTISEMENTFrance saw the beginning of the recovery in 2021, with a 40.6% growth to the sector’s contribution to the national economy. However, staff shortages have been prevalent in the country, with thousands of vacancies that remain unfilled, putting the sector under pressure.
    WTTC analysis shows France’s aviation is expected to be one of the worst affected, struggling to find candidates for nearly one in three (38%) job postings, while travel agencies could also face one third (39%) of staff shortages.
    Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said: “The sector needs more staff to meet the current demand. The widespread travel disruption being experienced by millions of French holidaymakers is clear evidence of this.
    “If these 71,000 jobs remain unfilled, they could threaten the revival of Travel & Tourism businesses up and down the country, which have struggled for more than two years from the impact of the pandemic.”
    Last week WTTC revealed that up to 1.2 million jobs across the EU will remain unfulfilled, with hospitality, aviation, and travel agencies being the most affected.
    Some of the key measures identified in the report for both governments and the private sector to address the talent gap are:1.  Facilitate labour mobility across international borders, with more favourable visa policies 2.  Enable flexible and remote working where feasible – allowing part time or contractor-based opportunities, where possible3.  Ensure decent work and competitive employee benefits and compensation packages4.  Attract talent by improving the perception of jobs and promoting viable career paths with growth opportunities5.  Develop and support a skilled workforce through comprehensive educational programs, as well as upskilling and reskilling current talent6.  Adopt innovative technological and digital solutions to alleviate pressure on staff, improve daily operations and provide an enhanced customer experience.
    The global tourism body believes by implementing these measures, Travel & Tourism businesses will be able to attract more workers.
    This in turn would enable the sector to meet the ever-growing consumer demand and further speed up its recovery, which is the backbone to generating economic well-being across the country.

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    CMAC Group partners with Trees4Travel in step towards becoming carbon neutral

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    CMAC Group partners with Trees4Travel in step towards becoming carbon neutral

    In a bid to become a carbon neutral organisation by the end of 2023, the ground transport and accommodation specialists, CMAC Group, has announced a partnership with Trees4Travel, an initiative dedicated to neutralising traveller’s impact upon the environment through reforestation in developing countries.
    As part of the collaborative project, CMAC’s clients can choose to decarbonise their ground travel and the company will facilitate reforestation projects on their behalf.
    Trees4Travel will calculate and grow the necessary trees to neutralise the emissions, translating trips into trees. Each tree will absorb an estimated 164kgs of CO2 in its first 10 years. The scheme also aims to restore valuable ecosystems and biodiversity as well as creating employment opportunities to support local communities. CMAC has also announced that it will additionally pledge to compensate all internal CO2 emissions for travel and facilities before the end of 2023.
    Further than this, the scheme goes beyond planting trees. Whilst precious habitat is given time to regrow, CMAC and Trees4Travel are eager to compensate for travel carbon emissions as soon as they can. Therefore, every tree planted will be assigned with a share of an investment into a United Nations Certified Emissions Reduction (CER) renewable energy programme.
    The award-winning managed ground travel specialists, CMAC Group, is the partner of choice for many big-name brands. CMAC’s trusted team and reliable supply network safely transports nearly 6,000 travellers every day on behalf of clients, such as the Home Office, TUI, The AA, and G4S.ADVERTISEMENTCMAC’s extensive network of certified suppliers enables it to offer seamless, time critical ground transport for any business scenario, whether that be managing flight disruption for airlines, organising business travel for private and public sector clients, arranging crew travel for train and freight organisations, or providing onward travel for customers on behalf of breakdown companies.
    This latest announcement exhibits the company’s commitment to investing in a sustainable and carbon neutral future and is part of a wider strategy which is working to keep environmental impact to the absolute minimum.
    CMAC has adopted multiple sustainable working policies to become ISO 14001 accredited, installing green office equipment, such as push controlled taps to minimise water usage and introducing recycling stations to reduce waste. Rideshare opportunities are available for customers and with its global network of access to 2.5 million vehicles, CMAC is committed to cutting out unnecessary mileage to reduce emissions, by obtaining the nearest possible vehicle to their customer. Finally, CMAC has already mandated that employees with company cars will use electric or hybrid vehicles only.

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    PATA publishes ‘Food and Plastic Waste Reduction Standards for Tourism Businesses’

    The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is proud to publish the Food and Plastic Waste Reduction Standard for Tourism Businesses as part of its commitment to the European Union (EU)-funded TourLink project, under the EU SWITCH-ASIA Programme.
    TourLink aims to drive Thai tour operators and suppliers, from hotels to transport companies and activity providers, towards sustainability. Under the project, PATA collaborates with members of the Thai-EU tourism supply chain to develop a series of capacity-building initiatives that promote best practices for sustainable tourism growth. PATA takes on a crucial role in developing new standards, toolkits and trainings that empower Thai tourism professionals to embrace sustainability in their operations as the industry recovers from COVID-19.
    As PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera says, “PATA is focussed on supporting the industry recovery with tangible in-market projects that can demonstrate practical, responsible and sustainable solutions. Our goal is to develop and share business models that combine sustainability with profitability. Creating strong sustainability development plans brings businesses a competitive advantage in addressing a growing consumer interest and global need.”
    A key component of TourLink involves achieving common standards for sustainability in the industry to transform Thailand into a leading sustainable tourism destination. According to TourLink Project Manager, Peter Richards, “Strengthening tourism and hospitality businesses’ sustainability will help the sector become more resilient in the face of future crises, save critical resources and boost overall morale as we prepare for a greener tourism reopening.”
    Following the success of PATA’s BUFFET Toolkit and Plastic Free Toolkit for Tour Operators (which are also available in Thai), PATA recently published the Food and Plastic Waste Reduction Standard for Tourism Businesses. The standards act as a guide for all tourism businesses, professionals and communities to reduce food waste and plastic waste in their operations. According to Peter Richards, “The standards were developed through thorough research on food and plastic waste reduction strategies in tourism along with consultations with experts and partner organisations”.ADVERTISEMENTAs Fernanda Rodak, PATA Project Coordinator of Sustainability and Social Responsibility and lead author, adds, “The standards can be applied as a checklist, a step-by-step guide as well as a training tool for waste prevention in the tourism and hospitality sector”. Underpinned by the circular economy framework and the hierarchy of waste reduction strategies, the document encompasses best practices across the industry on sustainability management and tools and resources for practitioners to advance their food and plastic waste reduction efforts.

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    Farnborough Airport appoints design & build contractors for new £55m hangar

    Farnborough Airport, Europe’s leading airport for premium air travel connectivity and the home of British aviation has appointed contractors McLaughlin & Harvey and Gebler Tooth for the design and construction of its new £55m 175,000 sq. ft state of the art and sustainably designed hangar development, Domus III.
    Farnborough Airport has been working closely with McLaughlin & Harvey and Gebler Tooth to create a plan that will increase hangar space by over 70%, whilst complementing the Airport’s existing award-winning facilities. The large project was conceived in response to the growing demand for premium hangar space with a design that accommodates the growing presence of the next generation of business jets.
    The new hangar will be rated by BREEAM, the world’s leading sustainability assessment method for infrastructure and buildings and is set to achieve some of the highest environmental standards. One of the iconic features of Domus III will be the translucent automated doors, which will stretch the entire length of the building, optimising natural light inside the hangar and reducing lighting usage. The large unhindered access provided by the door design will improve aircraft manoeuvrability and help mitigate unnecessary emissions from aircraft handling activities. The plan for the construction will also ensure that building doesn’t impact the day-to-day activities at the airport.
    Simon Geere, Farnborough Airport’s CEO says: “We are pleased to announce that we have appointed McLaughlin & Harvey and Gebler Tooth on the development of Domus III, which will further enhance our facilities and operational infrastructure. We want to be known as a global showcase for airport sustainability and the new hangar has been meticulously designed with this in mind. The investment will also provide a substantial boost for employment and economic growth in the region, whilst continuing our journey in providing the very best-in-class facilities to our customers at Europe’s number one business aviation airport.”
    David Tooth, Founding Director of GeblerTooth says: “We are delighted to be involved in this significant development at Farnborough Airport. Our team has worked closely with the Airport and Contractors teams to date to reach this stage and are excited to see the project through to completion.’’ – David Tooth, Managing Director, GeblerTooth.”ADVERTISEMENTThe new hangar is part of a wider plan to continuously improve the customer experience at Farnborough Airport at the same time as setting the standard for sustainability in the sector. In June, Farnborough Airport committed to some of the most ambitious environmental targets within the sector with the launch of its Net Zero roadmap, setting a pathway to Net Zero across it’s controllable emissions by 2030 or sooner. In 2018, Farnborough Airport became the first business airport to be awarded carbon neutral status, last year made Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) available to customers and earlier this month ran a successful promotion in offering SAF at the same price as Jet A1 fuel.
    Construction of Domus III will commence in August 2022 with completion scheduled for quarter one 2024.

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