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    Swissport Joins Airbus’ OpenCargoLab to Shape Future of Air Cargo Handling

    Swissport International participates in Airbus’ OpenCargoLab, joining forces with industry leaders such as KLM Cargo, Kuehne+Nagel, CHAMP Cargosystems and Fraport, to develop data-driven concepts for the future of air cargo handling.
    Swissport International AG has joined the OpenCargoLab initiative, leveraging its expertise as the global leader in aviation services to contribute to the development of data-driven processes for air cargo handling jointly with a group of leading industry players. Launched by Airbus, the OpenCargoLab is as a platform to evaluate how digital innovation, including AI and sensor technologies, can pave the way for more efficient air cargo handling.
    “We are proud that Airbus has invited Swissport to represent the global air cargo handling industry in its OpenCargoLab initiative,” says Dirk Goovaerts, Global Cargo Chair and Head of Continental Europe, Middle East and Africa at Swissport International AG. “Being a key member of this initiative underscores our dedication to driving advancements in the air cargo sector, positioning Swissport at the forefront of industry innovation.”
    Swissport will bring its extensive expertise in air cargo handling to the table, supporting the OpenCargoLab group in understanding how to best collect and analyse data during the physical handling of cargo. The aim is to improve the efficiency of the overall process. The initiative extends to support the development of technology for the cargo holds of the new Airbus A350F cargo aircraft, aligning with Airbus’ vision of a “smart freighter.”
    “We are pleased to welcome Swissport to our OpenCargoLab initiative,” says Marvin Ehrmann, Head of Airbus’ OpenCargoLab. “With their in-depth knowledge of air cargo handling services, combined with the expertise of our experienced partners, we aim to drive the air cargo sector towards greater transparency, efficiency, and connectivity.”ADVERTISEMENT

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    IATA and Smart Freight Centre Collaborate to Standardize Air Cargo Emissions Calculation

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    IATA and Smart Freight Centre Collaborate to Standardize Air Cargo Emissions Calculation

    The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Smart Freight Centre (SFC) announced a partnership to provide consistent and transparent CO2 emissions calculations for air cargo shipments. This is an important step for the global air transport sector to advance its decarbonization efforts.
    The two organizations will focus efforts on developing the cargo component of IATA’s CO2 Connect offering, which successfully launched its passenger version in 2022. The IATA CO2 Connect platform uses primary industry data to power highly accurate carbon calculations. The collaboration with the SFC Clean Air Transport Program will promote a common methodology in CO2 emission calculations and ensure accurate and consistent CO2 calculations are distributed to the industry’s biggest shippers and freight forwarders in air cargo, supporting them with pre-shipment and reporting purposes.
    “Our partnership with the Smart Freight Centre will help us to accelerate the development of CO2 Connect for air cargo as the most authoritative tool for carbon calculations. This is important for airlines, shippers and their customers who all need accurate calculations based on real data to support their contributions to global decarbonization efforts,” said Frederic Leger, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Commercial Products & Services, at IATA’s World Cargo Symposium (WCS) in Hong Kong.
    “A key milestone has been reached and this has been a long time in the making. The need for unified emissions data is stronger than ever and this milestone will enable cargo transport service purchasers to make well-founded, long-term decisions. Transparency is key to drive decarbonization investments and activities, encouraging collaborative and synergetic action throughout the value chain. Our partnership with IATA will enable effective collaboration by building trust and exchanging information across the value chain which, in turn, will help in accelerating our ongoing efforts in decarbonizing the aviation industry,” said Andrea Schoen, SFC Director of the Clean Air Transport program.
    Pilot ProjectADVERTISEMENTIATA and SFC are working with Kuehne+Nagel as a pilot customer for IATA CO2 Connect for Cargo to ensure that the tool meets the needs and requirements of freight forwarders and their customers.
    “As a freight forwarder, we can attest to the value that this collaboration will bring to the industry and to our customers.” said Fabiano Piccinno, Global Head of Sustainability Air Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel. “We’re happy to bring our expertise to the table and we look forward to seeing this project paving the way for future sustainable solutions in aviation.”

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    PATA Unveils Comprehensive Visitor Forecasts for Asia Pacific 2024-2026

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    PATA Unveils Comprehensive Visitor Forecasts for Asia Pacific 2024-2026

    Following the release of the PATA Executive Summary Forecasts Report for the years 2024 to 2026 released earlier last month, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) released a more comprehensive Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2024-2026 report, taking a deeper dive into growth projections, focusing on the source market-destination pairs from 2024 to 2026 for each of the three Asia Pacific destination sub-regions. This report covers 39 destinations within Asia Pacific forecasting from 2024 up to 2026 in a series of three possible scenarios.
    PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid points out that, “While most destinations within the Asia Pacific region are rebounding strongly and moving closer to pre-pandemic levels, this forecast report highlights the significant changes as experienced by the individual destinations. Therefore, it is important to understand this trend which will impact the future growth for respective destinations as compared to the overall region.”
    Under the medium scenario, international visitor arrivals (IVAs) to Asia Pacific are expected to increase from 619 million in 2024 to 762 million in 2026, with a recovery rate of 111.6% compared to the 2019 level. Asia will lead the recovery, with visitor arrivals reaching 564.0 million, followed by the Americas with 167.7 million and the Pacific with 30.4 million by 2026, highlighting the region’s resilience and growing potential as a travel destination.
    In interpreting the Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2024-2026 report, it is crucial to note that the data should not be viewed holistically, as destinations are undergoing recovery at varying paces. Each destination has its unique dynamics, contributing to diverse percentage changes in international visitor arrivals. For example, while numerous Pacific destinations are experiencing robust recovery, their numerical figures understandably differ in scale when compared to larger destinations globally. In analysing the forecasted growth, it becomes evident that understanding the nuanced recovery patterns of individual destinations is imperative for a comprehensive perspective on the evolving landscape of tourism in the Asia Pacific region. PATA emphasises the significance of observing the specific recovery rates and trends for each destination, as they shape the overall narrative of the region’s tourism resurgence.
    Out of 39 destinations covered in the report, 34 are predicted to recover to pre-pandemic levels, with Japan and the Maldives topping the fastest-recovering destinations chart. Japan is forecast to welcome 49.3 million visitors by 2026, which is 155% more than the 2019 number. The Maldives is expected to host 2.5 million visitors, indicating a 148% recovery rate to pre-pandemic levels. With this in mind, the visitor arrivals recoveries in the region call for appropriate destination management strategies.ADVERTISEMENTChina, the US, the UK, and Australia are expected to maintain their leading positions as major source markets of IVAs to the Asia Pacific region, all of which are forecast to recover to pre-pandemic levels by 2024, fuelled by their economic growth potentials.
    Noor added, “The ramifications for destination marketing organisations (DMOs) to be more agile, flexible and robust to quick changes in the marketplace, especially output from the source market will play a crucial role on which destination will perform better than the other in the coming years. Destination marketeers and policy makers must understand that what they do in 2023, might no longer work from this year onwards, as the travel market shifts expeditiously while consumer buying power depends very much upon user-generated content (UGC). In this regard, understanding the PATA forecast report, which takes into consideration various key factors such as economic indicators, travel capacity, etc., will be crucial.”
    What you will learn from this report:
    Forecast international visitor numbers for Asia Pacific between 2024 and 2026 by destination region, sub-region, and destination, highlighting changing opportunities in the post-COVID era;Forecasts and growth patterns for 39 individual destinations facilitating the development of appropriate strategies over the next three years; andHighlights of the key source markets within each Asia Pacific destination region over the forecast period of 2024 to 2026.The PATA Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2024-2026 is now available at www.pata.org/research-q1v63g6n2dw/p/asia-pacific-visitor-forecasts-2024-2026

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    CampusX and Mews partner up to revolutionize hybrid hospitality in Italy

    Mews, the industry-leading hospitality cloud that recently surpassed 5,000 customers and won Best PMS at HotelTechAwards 2024, has been chosen by CampusX (CX Campus & Hotel) to power their busy portfolio of hotels and student accommodations.Operating nine campuses and almost 5500 bed spots, CampusX runs the two biggest campuses in Italy, CX Roma Torvergata and CX North of Milan, opening next September. To support a rapid expansion into hybrid hospitality, the team replaced their legacy PMS with Mews, a cloud-based hospitality platform.
    “As CX started growing, we realized just how limiting legacy systems are,” shared Sonia Bastiani, Head of Sales & Distribution at CampusX. “Mews is a much better fit for us. We’re especially happy with the open APIs, an intuitive interface, and the possibility to work with beds as well as rooms.”
    Since switching to Mews, CampusX has noted significant improvement during off-season. Running on a flexible PMS let them target different groups of guests at different periods of time, generating better prices and boosting profitability. The brand is getting the most out of the hybrid model by maximizing their use of assets through Mews Spaces.
    “Innovate, scale and stand out – with the right tools and mindset, hospitality success can be as simple as that,” said Matt Welle, CEO of Mews. “Our award-winning tech and expertise help ambitious hoteliers like CampusX deliver remarkable experiences to students, digital nomads and community seekers, all while operating efficiently and profitably.”
    CampusX aims to create an enjoyable working environment for their staff, and that involves user-friendly training. With Mews, training is well structured and it takes only a few days. Having an easy-to-use system is imperative for a hybrid provider with young employees.ADVERTISEMENTThe team considers integrations vital for their business and values easy connectivity. Mews gives them access to the best hybrid hospitality solutions, from business intelligence to housekeeping.
    “Moving away from expensive and time-consuming integrations has been life-changing,” continues Sonia Bastiani, Head of Sales & Distribution at CampusX. “Technology is saving us a lot of time. We can organize everything better and dedicate more attention to guests.”
    CampusX plans to run 11 campuses on Mews by 2025, thus becoming a leading presence in the Italian market.

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    Frontier Canada Unveils Exciting 2024 Escapes and Social Media Initiatives

    Frontier Canada, a tailor-made tour operator, is unveiling its new lineup of 2024 itineraries focusing on Newfoundland, Quebec, and Ontario. The company aims to offer travelers unique experiences, including visits to remote areas such as Northern Quebec and the Forgotten Coast of Newfoundland. Additionally, Frontier Canada is launching social media campaigns highlighting Atlantic Canada and Ottawa.
    Tailor-made tour operator Frontier Canada is launching an exciting array of 2024 itineraries in Newfoundland, Quebec, and Ontario. Currently running online, the specialist is also enticing travellers through social media campaigns exploring Atlantic Canada and the capital of Ottawa. From rugged coastlines and majestic mountains to cities full of surprises and remote outports that might soon be disappearing, the specialists’ new offerings promise to unlock the wonders of the Great White North.
    Jeremy Timms, Managing Director of Frontier Canada, comments, “2024 is an exceptional year to book a trip to Canada, with peak Northern Lights viewing and the total solar eclipse elevating the country’s natural wonders to a whole new level.  Authentic journeys of discovery: our latest trips visit some of the more remote reaches of this fascinating nation, including Northern Quebec, which is home to the Inuit, and Newfoundland, the province’s Forgotten Coast dotted with tiny isolated communities. We’ve even located some hidden gems in Canada’s capital. From a miniature gallery to an Indigenous cultural agritourism farm, there’s something for everyone’s bucket list in Ottawa.”
    With WestJet set to launch new direct flights of under six hours from London Gatwick to St. John’s, Newfoundland, in May, holidays exploring Canada’s Happy Province will be all the more tempting. The 11-night Newfoundland Circumnavigation Cruise—a new addition to the Frontier Canada collection for 2024—docks in Francois, a car-free remote outpost that is only accessible by boat or helicopter. Hiking through the surrounding hills will undoubtedly give travellers an appetite for the community kitchen parties, with drinks, dancing, and a chance to meet all of its 65 friendly locals, making this a memorable port of call. The Bonavista Peninsula, L’Anse Aux Meadows, Gros Morne National Park, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon—the last piece of French territory in North America—and the First Nations community of Miawpukek are additional highlights.
    The perfect year to visit, 2024, also marks the 75th anniversary of Newfoundland joining Canada, the province once a British colony. Adventure Canada cruise from £8,495pp (two sharing) with Frontier Canada, including cruise accommodation, guided activities, all meals, port and park fees, and return flights. Departing June 16. Starts and ends in St. John’s.ADVERTISEMENT
    Frontier Canada’s Worth The Wander social media campaign is currently putting a spotlight on the whole of Atlantic Canada. This year, Anne of Green Gables: The Musical™ is returning to Prince Edward Island’s Charlottetown Festival (June 19–August 31; Confederation Centre of the Arts), and 2024 will mark the 150th birthday of the novel’s author, Lucy Maud Montgomery (November 30), the province offering inspirational literary tours visiting historic and inspirational sites. In neighbouring Nova Scotia, the southwest region will be abuzz with Acadian culture when Yarmouth’s nine-day Acadian World Congress (August 10–18) rolls around. Combine a visit to both provinces on a tailor-made, bespoke fly-drive. Prices available on request. Follow #WorthTheWander on Facebook and Instagram for more Atlantic Canada updates.

    With magnificent waterways made for cruising, 140 stunning gardens, and more than 497 miles of multi-use pathways, summer is the ideal time to visit Ottawa. Save up to £100 on stays of three nights or more at up to 13 hotels, including the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, and book Frontier Canada’s new 4-night Discover Canada’s Capital Ottawa City Break. The offer applies to travel from July 03 to August 31, 2024. Book by March 31. Subject to availability. T&C’s apply. From £1,495pp (two sharing) with Frontier Canada including all accommodation and return flights. Made for the curious traveller, follow #OhOttawa on Facebook and Instagram to unearth surprises in the city, including the Mādahòkì Indigenous cultural agritourism farm, which hosts festivals to mark every season, and OMG, Ottawa’s miniature gallery. Showcasing artists from Ottawa and beyond, the dollhouse-size art exhibition is curated by Jennifer Kelly with OMG regularly popping up all over the city.

    Nicknamed “Québec’s secret Arctic wonderland,” Frontier Canada is offering wildlife adventures in Nunavik’s uninhabited Gyrfalcon Islands in Ungava Bay. A brand new experience starting this summer, guests of Ungava Polar Eco-Tours will spend six nights hiking, fat-biking, and boating their way around this undiscovered region alongside Inuit guides. While polar bears might be the most exciting wildlife to spot, this remote location offers encounters aplenty, including the chance to view seals, musk ox, and beluga whales. Aside from the abundance of wildlife, the area is renowned for its magnificent Northern Lights displays, and 2024 is an opportune time to visit. From now through October, solar activity will be at the peak of its 11-year cycle, with more intense and impressive displays of Aurora borealis expected during the Solar Maximum. Ungava Polar Ecot
    On April 08, a total solar eclipse will pass over central and eastern Canada. One of the ultimate viewing points, Ontario’s impressive Niagara Falls, is expecting over three minutes of totality starting at 3:18 p.m. Hotels are filling up fast, so Frontier Canada is urging travellers to book now—the tour operator’s four-night Toronto and Niagara Falls Experience, priced from £2,040pp (two sharing), including all accommodation, guided tours, transfers, and return flights. Starts and ends in Toronto. The path of totality also includes other parts of Ontario, along with Quebec, and Atlantic Canada. Prices for tailor-made itineraries available on request.
    Frontier Canada (020 8776 8709; [email protected]; Frontier-Canada.co.uk).  ATOL PROTECTED No 5405 ABTA W3207.our adventure with Frontier Canada from £9,525pp (two sharing) including all accommodation, all meals, guided activities, a direct flight from Montreal to Kuujjuaq, and return flights. Departures August through September. Starts and ends in Montreal.

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    Heidi Unveils ‘FlexiFly’ to Unlock a World of Skiing Possibilities

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    Heidi Unveils ‘FlexiFly’ to Unlock a World of Skiing Possibilities

    Heidi has announced the launch of ‘FlexiFly’, a game-changing feature designed for the modern skier. FlexiFly introduces unmatched flexibility in air travel, allowing customers to tailor their flights to suit their unique needs and preferences, ensuring they make the most out of the remaining ski season. Plus, will allow them to make informed choices into next year. For ski and winter enthusiasts, Heidi’s latest news – hot on the heels of its recent launch of its flexible payment offering – further positions Heidi as the most flexible and innovative skiing brand on the market.
    Unparalleled Flexibility
    FlexiFly allows skiers to:
    Fly with different airlines for outbound and inbound journeys (e.g. British Airways out, EasyJet back).Arrive and depart from different airports (e.g. Barcelona outbound, Toulouse inbound).Utilise different airports for departure and arrival, exclusively for flights in and out of London, offering unprecedented convenience for the capital’s travellers.Key benefits of FlexiFly
    This innovative feature offers two significant benefits to Heidi’s customers:ADVERTISEMENTIncreased availability: FlexiFly opens a plethora of options for travel dates and times, accommodating unique schedules like Thursday to Tuesday trips, which may not always be possible with traditional flight bookings. It also gives customers more choice on flight times, such as arriving earlier or leaving later, to allow more time on the slopes.
    Cost efficiency: By leveraging the flexibility to fly with different airlines or from/to different airports, customers can enjoy savings on their trips. Heidi prioritises showing the cheapest travel options first, though customers can opt for traditional bookings if preferred. The average holiday saves £100 by using FlexiFly.
    Industry leading growth and commitment
    Founded in 2018 by Blunt brothers, Marcus and Alexander, Heidi has rapidly grown from initial sales of £500k and is on-track to achieve a staggering £38M in its sixth year. This success story reflects the founders’ deep-rooted passion for skiing, inherited from their Norwegian heritage, and their commitment to providing flexible mountain adventures.
    Marcus Blunt, co-founder of Heidi, expressed his enthusiasm: “I’ve wanted to offer Heidi customers the option to fly flexibly for a long time, so I’m delighted we’ve launched this new feature. It will bring our customers much greater availability for their chosen travel dates, and in many cases, cheaper prices too.”
    Statistics reveal that 26% of Heidi’s ski holidays have become more affordable thanks to FlexiFly, with about a third of customers opting for this innovative solution for its convenience and cost benefits.
    Heidi was born from a desire to transform the winter ski market. The Blunt brothers have skillfully combined their travel industry experience and technical expertise to create a platform that offers thousands of flexible and affordable skiing options. From families seeking beginner-friendly packages to groups looking for exciting mid-week getaways, Heidi covers all bases, including ski passes and equipment, all covered under ATOL protection. This initiative underscores Heidi’s mission to make mountain adventures more accessible and enjoyable for all.

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    Riad Botanica joins Top World Hotel as one of two Moroccan properties

    Riad Botanica, the Australian and Moroccan owned five-suite sanctuary in the heart of Marrakech’s Medina, is delighted to announce that it has been accepted to join Top World Hotel as one of only two Moroccan properties in the collection. Top World Hotel celebrates hotels that offer exceptional service, luxurious amenities, and stunning locations.Owned by Australian and Moroccan couple Angela and Mohamed Mellak, Riad Botanica is a labour of love and a fusion of cultures. Having undergone meticulous renovations from the ground up, the historic 10th-century Riad is now a space that ignites the senses with traditional Moroccan craftsmanship and Australian style. Complete with a rooftop terrace, courtyard, and pool, and defined by its iconic Moroccan and Australian art deco design, Riad Botanica can be hired exclusively for up to twelve guests, or suites can be booked individually, making it the perfect place to retreat from the city buzz of Marrakech and soak up Moroccan hospitality and culture.
    This month, Riad Botanica has been recognised by leading hotel collection Top World Hotel for its outstanding service, experience, and location, and has been awarded an impressive 9.0 rating. As part of the assessment, Riad Botanica was described as having a ‘captivating setting’ serving as a ‘tranquil haven’, as well as its architecture being ‘truly unique, creating an elegant and harmonious atmosphere’.  The guest rooms were described as ‘luxurious
    sanctuaries’, and the team as ‘committed to ensuring an outstanding stay’. The dining experience was also praised as ‘exquisite’, and overall the team’s ‘dedication to excellence and hospitality’ was celebrated with successful inclusion in Top World Hotel’s portfolio.
    Riad Botanica joins a prestigious collection of hotels, including Sugar Beach Resort, NOMAD Mykonos, and the iconic Crillon le Brave, all properties renowned for their unique personality and guest offering. Riad Botanica is one of only two properties within the collection in Morocco, demonstrating its leadership in Moroccan luxury hospitality.
    Nightly rates at Riad Botanica start from 200 euros for 2 people on a B&B basis. For more information and to book, please visit https://riadbotanica.com/. ADVERTISEMENT

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    Travel provider and sellers overlooking opportunity to embrace female audience potential – WayAway

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    Travel provider and sellers overlooking opportunity to embrace female audience potential – WayAway

    Travel search comparison website WayAway is calling on the travel industry to embrace and place greater value on female audiences following a recent survey of 2,477 statistically relevant female travellers in the United States.
    The results of the survey showed that 82% of travel decisions are made by women – with only 10% saying that their partner planned the whole trip. This matches other previous credible studies revealing the importance of females in the trip planning phase that is not reflected in how the travel industry creates and markets travel products.
    Meanwhile the results of the survey from WayAway – whose website provides discount and even cashback travel options to travellers – provide more insight into the types of holidays females take, revealing that half of them traveled at least once last year with children and / or their partner, whilst only 29% travelled alone.
    Whilst a majority report positive travel experiences, nonetheless 17% reported not having enough time to themselves and, more worryingly, 13% said they now needed another vacacion to recover – and 8% said they did not include any activities for themselves during their holiday.
    Janis Dzenis, Director of Communications for WayAway comments: “The current range of travel services and search & booking tools available to women do not ‘inspire inclusion’ – the International Women’s Day theme for 2024 – in any way. That despite the fact that, as our research shows, 82% of family trips are booked by a woman. There’s an economic as well as a moral case for targeting female travellers here that almost our whole industry is ignoring.ADVERTISEMENT“Equally it seems that the whole concept of holiday and relaxation – certainly in a family environment – seems to be somewhat unequal for women with 13% saying they need another holiday at the end and 8% not getting to include activities for themselves. I don’t think we need to survey the guys to find out they have a rather different experience!
    “Travel service providers, tour operators and travel intermediaries should be thinking about how to create products that ensure female travellers, particularly those travelling with children, are able to have a more equitable experience. That’s not an easy task, we know, but right now we don’t see anyone trying to fulfill what would seem, on the surface at least, to be more than just a niche.”

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