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    Island Shangri-La, Kowloon Shangri-La and Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong Recognised with 5-Crescent Rating

    Island Shangri-La, Kowloon Shangri-La and Kerry Hotel, Hong Kong have been recognised with a “Crescent Rating “of 5 signifying a certified standard level of Muslim-friendly hospitality, by globally renowned Muslim travellers. This rating is a standardised and independent accreditation system and acts as global recognition for Halal or Muslim-friendly standards. This certification meets international standards […] More

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    Phocuswright Europe 2025 – AI agency takes center stage

    Phocuswright Europe 2025 kicked off in Barcelona last week, welcoming over 600 attendees from 20+ countries to discuss the future of travel.  The event highlighted the booming travel industry, tempered by geopolitical and economic concerns.  A key theme was the disruption in travel distribution, with technology reshaping customer loyalty and content control.  Speakers emphasized AI’s […] More

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    Visit Qatar Partners with Wego to Boost Traveler Engagement and Tourism

    Wego, the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), partnered with Visit Qatar to enrich traveler engagement and amplify the allure of Qatar’s tourism offerings. This co-marketing collaboration seeks to leverage Wego’s extensive reach and innovative marketing capabilities to drive more travelers to experience the wonders of Qatar.
    Through this partnership, Wego will utilize its robust digital platform and targeted marketing initiatives to showcase Qatar’s rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture and world-class events and attractions to travelers worldwide. By highlighting Qatar’s unique offerings, including it’s a wide selection of new hotels and iconic landmarks such as the Museum of Islamic Art and the futuristic skyline of West Bay Doha, Wego aims to inspire travelers to explore the country and create unforgettable memories.
    “We are excited to join forces with Visit Qatar to promote Qatar as a must-visit destination for travelers,” said Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Business Officer of Wego. “With our extensive reach and expertise in digital marketing, we are confident that we can effectively showcase Qatar’s unique attractions and drive more travelers to explore this remarkable destination.”
    The co-marketing partnership will entail a series of collaborative marketing campaigns, promotional activities, and exclusive travel deals designed to capture the attention of potential visitors and entice them to choose Qatar as their next travel destination. Wego and Visit Qatar are committed to providing travelers with unparalleled value and incentives to discover all that Qatar has to offer.
    “We are excited to partner with Wego to showcase our many new tourism developments, complementing our vibrant art, culture and events scene that Qatar offers to visitors from around the world,” said Philip Dickinson, Leading International Market Development at Visit Qatar. “Through this collaboration, we aim to further elevate Qatar’s profile as a World Class tourism destination and provide travelers with unforgettable experiences that capture the essence of our country’s rich culture and hospitality, where tradition meets modernity”ADVERTISEMENTThe partnership between Visit Qatar and Wego is poised to play a pivotal role in attracting more visitors and highlighting the country’s diverse offerings to travelers worldwide.

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    Riyadh Air joins United Nations Global Compact

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    Riyadh Air joins United Nations Global Compact

    Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new world-class airline, has announced it has joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative that promotes responsible business practices and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).In a letter to António Guterres UN Secretary General, Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas officially committed Riyadh Air to implementing the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact. As active participants of the UNGC, Riyadh Air will adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies in areas such as human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption and report on progress on these efforts regularly.
    As part of its aim to support the advancement of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) working alongside partners and stakeholders to drive progress towards these goals by 2030. Riyadh Air will also publish its first Sustainability Report in advance of its maiden in mid-2025.
    Tony Douglas CEO Riyadh Air said, “At Riyadh Air, we are conscious of our environmental impact and committed to actively contributing to the Kingdom’s sustainability goals, adopting world-class practices and leading our industry in integrating ESG into every area of our business.”
    “Our modern Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft and GeNX 1B engine are widely acknowledged for their improved environmental impact considerations, and more broadly ESG strategies are front and center to every aspect of how Riyadh Air operates. We pledge to take no shortcuts and sustainability will run throughout the airline, from flight and ground operations to the office culture, to transportation and even to Riyadh Air employees at home. As a start-up airline this a golden opportunity to do the right thing in the right way, from Day 1,” continued Douglas.
    Launched in July 2000 the UNGC is a voluntary UN agreement designed to encourage companies from around the world to develop, implement and disclose responsible and sustainable corporate policies and practices. Through the UNGC Riyadh Air will also benefit from access to a wide range of tools and resources to enhance learning, training and development for its team in all areas of sustainability. ADVERTISEMENTIbrahim Alhelali, Executive Director, UNGC said, “We are pleased to announce that Riyadh Air has joined the UN Global Compact network in Saudi Arabia. Their commitment to aviation sustainability is evident in their decision to join the network one year prior to commencing operations, showcasing their dedication to responsible business practices.”
    Set to take to the skies in 2025, Riyadh Air aims to become the world’s most forward-thinking carrier embracing the best sustainability practices, elevating air travel, and setting a new standard for reliability, comfort, and hospitality. As a full-service and digitally-native carrier, Riyadh Air will pioneer new technologies and innovations whilst offering guests authentic and warm Saudi hospitality.
    As a catalyst for the National Transport and Logistics Strategy playing a key role in contributing to Saudi Arabia’s wider economic diversification and jobs creation, toward realizing Vision 2030 goals, Riyadh Air is set to fly to more than 100 destinations, contribute to KSA non-oil GDP growth by USD 20 billion and directly and indirectly creating over 200,000 new jobs globally and locally.

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    Disney Destiny Will Bring Stories of Legendary Disney Heroes and Villains to Life

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    What To Do In Unveils The Ultimate Guide to Fuerteventura: The Hawaii of Europe

    What To Do In, a pioneering travel company known for its in-depth and insider guides to the world’s most captivating destinations, is thrilled to announce the launch of a new featured section on its website dedicated exclusively to Fuerteventura, often celebrated as the Hawaii of Europe.This set of comprehensive guides is the result of an extensive five-month exploration of the island, where our team ventured over 2,500 kilometres across every corner and hidden beach, to bring our audience the most detailed and immersive content about Fuerteventura’s tourist attractions, accommodations, dining, towns, beaches, activities, and trails for hiking and cycling.
    With its miles of pristine white sand beaches, Fuerteventura offers an unparalleled escape into nature’s marvels, making it a must-visit destination for travellers seeking both relaxation and adventure. Our new featured section goes beyond the surface to uncover the essence of Fuerteventura, offering insights and tips gathered from local experts and our own first hand experiences.
    Explore Like Never Before
    What To Do In’s Fuerteventura guides are designed to cater to every type of traveller. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker looking for your next adrenaline rush, a family in search of child-friendly activities, or a couple seeking a romantic getaway, our guides have something for everyone. From the bustling markets of its charming towns to the tranquillity of its secluded beaches and the exhilarating paths of its hiking and cycling trails, Fuerteventura is a gem waiting to be discovered.
    Discover Hidden GemsADVERTISEMENTOur dedication to exploring every far-flung corner of the island means that readers will have access to hidden gems not found in other guides. We encourage journalists, news editors, and travel enthusiasts to dive into our guides and share the beauty of Fuerteventura with the world. Our aim is not just to inspire travel but to empower travellers to experience the unique culture, breath taking landscapes, and vibrant life of Fuerteventura.
    Your Next Adventure Awaits
    We invite you to explore the most comprehensive guides to Fuerteventura available today. Let What To Do In be your compass to the Hawaii of Europe, guiding you to experiences that you’ll treasure for a lifetime. Discover new places to stay, eat, and explore. Find your next adventure, unearth a new hidden gem, and fall in love with Fuerteventura.
    For more information about What To Do In and to explore the Fuerteventura guide, please visit our website at https://what-to-do-in.co.uk/category/fuerteventura.

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    VIKING MARKS FLOAT OUT OF NEWEST EGYPT SHIP

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    British Airways Pioneers Green Ground Operations with Heathrow Investment

    British Airways is embarking on a multi-million-pound investment programme to overhaul its ground support equipment at Heathrow Airport, as part of its commitment to reducing emissions both in the air and on the ground. The airline will gradually be replacing its ground vehicles at Heathrow, such as vans and cars, cargo transporters and passenger steps, moving towards hybrid or electric alternatives where available. Already, more than 90% of British Airways’ vehicles and ground equipment at Heathrow are either zero emissions electrical equipment when being used or driven, (hybrids) or are operating on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel.
    Improvements include: 
    Replacing more than 750 pieces of ground equipment, including fuel bowsers from fossil fuel to HVO. HVO is an interim measure whilst the airline gradually transitions to zero-emissions (when being used or driven) or hybrid equipment. Supplied by the airline’s current sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) supplier, Phillips 66, the use of HVO is anticipated to save more than 6,000 tonnes of CO2 per year compared to traditional diesel fuel, the equivalent of more than 8,000 round-trip economy passenger journeys between London Heathrow and JFK*.Replacing all diesel passenger aircraft steps with electric alternatives. This aims to reduce fuel consumption by more than 370 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, based on previous diesel usage, which is the equivalent of more than 500 round-trip economy passenger journeys between London Heathrow and JFK*. Many of the electric steps will be in full service by the end of the year.Phasing out its fleet of 20 diesel-powered vehicles which support the loading and unloading of cargo containers onto aircraft, replacing them with Hybrid Electric models.Introducing 135 new electric baggage tugs, accounting for 40% of our tugs, to transport customer’s luggage. This improved battery and charging technology utilises highly efficient lithium-ion battery technology, requiring less energy and producing 30% less C02 when in use compared to traditional lead acid batteries. We are working closely with our supply chain in order to recycle as many battery components as possible at the end of life.Gradually phasing out all 38 diesel passenger buses over the next two years, with 23 expected to be fully electric and the remaining 15 operating on HVO fuel, with a large charging park at Heathrow now in the early stages of development. The use of these vehicles is expected to save 800 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, helping to reduce negative air quality impacts around the Heathrow area.
    Tom Moran, British Airways’ Director of Heathrow, said: “At British Airways, we are committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner and our focus isn’t just about reducing emissions in the air, but on the ground too. This major investment into our vehicles at Heathrow is our largest investment in more sustainable airport ground operations to date and is part of our wider environmental objective to minimise emissions from our airside ground operation. We’re proud of the work we are doing in this space and are excited to continue improving the running of our ground operations at Heathrow.”
    Carrie Harris, British Airways’ Director of Sustainability said: “I am incredibly proud of this project, which has been driven by our Heathrow ground operations teams and encapsulates our BA Better World ethos of raising awareness of our strategy to all of our colleagues, and inspiring them to play a part in minimising our environmental impact where possible. Their energy, enthusiasm and innovative approach in bringing the project to life shows what can be achieved and this investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to making improvements across our business that will benefit both our customers and colleagues.ADVERTISEMENTThese improvements form part of British Airways’ £7 billion investment in transformation across many aspects of its business over the next three years. They also build on previous ground improvements made by the airline, including the introduction of electric and hybrid cars for driving airside-based colleagues around the airside roadways, using remote-controlled pushback vehicles, called Mototoks, for short-haul aircraft and ensuring aircraft plug into electricity at Heathrow when on stand to help power the lights and air conditioning.

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    Weeva’s Sustainability Standard Attains Prestigious GSTC-Recognized Status More

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    Weeva’s Sustainability Standard Attains Prestigious GSTC-Recognized Status

    The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC®) recently announced that the ‘Weeva Sustainability Management Standard’ has gained GSTC-Recognized Standard status, fully recognised as equivalent to the GSTC Industry Criteria.
    Weeva is an award winning SaaS platform that enables tourism businesses to adopt measurable and holistic sustainability practices to improve operational efficiency and build resilience, driving positive impact for people and the planet. Focused on 18 parameters across Conservation, Culture, Community, and Commerce, Weeva enables accommodation providers to monitor, manage, improve and report upon their sustainability using a comprehensive suite of digital tools, educational guides, analytics and reports.
    The GSTC-Recognized status refers to the standard itself, indicating that a sustainable tourism standard has been reviewed by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Assurance Panel and deemed the content of the standard equivalent to the GSTC Criteria for sustainable tourism. It shows that the set of standards is based on the four pillars of the GSTC Criteria: Sustainable Management, Socioeconomic, Cultural, and Environmental principles.
    GSTC Recognition of Standards does not relate to the process of certification (which is a third-party assessment, through an audit, of a tourism enterprise for conformity to a standard). GSTC Recognition of Standards does not relate to accreditation (formal verification that a certification body operates in a competent and neutral manner according to international standards of how to properly certify, which is the highest level of assurance).Currently, 15 destination standards, 20 tour operator standards, 44 hotel standards, and 5 systems have achieved GSTC-Recognized status. The status offers the market proof that these standards adhere to international norms. GSTC Recognition does not ensure that a certification process is reliable, only that the set of standards used to certify are equivalent to the GSTC Criteria. GSTC-Recognized standard owners are encouraged to follow and complete the accreditation process, which assures that the certification process used to apply the standard meets international best practices, transparency, and rigor.
    “We’re so excited to have achieved this recognition from the GSTC. Our team of experts has worked tirelessly over many months to ensure that our sustainability management system, including all our supporting best-practice educational guides, tools and reporting for continuous improvement, meet the incredibly high standards and benchmarks set by the GSTC.” says Julie Cheetham, Managing Director and Co-founder of Weeva. ADVERTISEMENT“We congratulate Weeva for embracing the Four Pillars of the GSTC Criteria, which entails adopting a holistic perspective on sustainability; going beyond just environmental factors, and including the deep impact on communities, a broad spectrum of social and cultural dimensions,  and the development of effective management to ensure continual progress,” says Randy Durband, CEO of GSTC.
    The stated scope of the standard is ‘Hotels and other accommodation providers’ with global geographical coverage. The GSTC Recognition is valid until either the standard or the GSTC Industry Criteria are changed.

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    Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ Women Own the Room Initiative Surpasses 15 Openings and 50 Signings

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    IHG Hotels & Resorts Partners with RB Leipzig to Offer Exclusive Rewards for Loyalty Members

    IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies has just launched new and unforgettable experiences for its IHG One Rewards members thanks to the ongoing partnership with German football club RB Leipzig. The partnership gives IHG One Rewards members more choice and more rewards, putting football fans at the heart of the action by offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences throughout the season.
    Available now, on a first come first served basis, IHG invites IHG One Rewards members to redeem and bid their loyalty points on exclusive VIP packages for RB Leipzig games – granting access to exciting matches with numerous extras and behind-the-scenes glimpses.
    With 96* open IHG hotels across Germany spanning multiple well-known brands, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts and Holiday Inn Express, travelling football fans will have plenty of options when deciding where to stay as they support RB Leipzig this football season. Loyalty members and guests can explore more of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ more than 6,000 hotels and 19 global brands in Germany and beyond via the IHG One Rewards mobile app – all in the palm of their hand.A VIP experience for two at the men’s Bundesliga match against VfL Wolfsburg on April 13 or against Borussia Dortmund on the weekend of April 27, 2024.
    The package includes:
    A tour of the RB Leipzig Football Academy on the day before the match and VIP stadium tour on match dayTwo VIP day tickets for the men’s Bundesliga matches on level 8 (“Rathausblick”)A meet & greet with a player from the RB Leipzig men’s team after the matchAuction closes April 8th 2024 for Borussia Dortmund and March 25th 2024 for VfL WolfsburgA VIP experience for two at the women’s Bundesliga match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen on April 19, 2024.ADVERTISEMENTThe package includes:
    Two VIP tickets for the women’s Bundesliga matchA joint meet & greet with a player from the RB Leipzig women’s team (expected after the match)Auction closes April 1st 2024Two VIP tickets for the women’s Bundesliga match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen on April 19, 2024.
    The package includes:
    Food and beverages in the VIP loungeAccess to the VIP area one hour before kick-offAuction closes April 1st 2024For detailed information on redeeming points for fan packages, visit auctions.ihg.com. To learn more about the IHG One Rewards loyalty programme, visit IHGOneRewards.com. The mobile app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

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    Hilton Announces the Opening of Canopy by Hilton Seychelles

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    MSC Cruises Makes Landmark Return to Mainland China with Maiden Call of MSC Bellissima More