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    DAMAC Unveils a Premier Night Golf Experience at Trump International Golf Club Dubai

    As winter sets in, DAMAC proudly announces the launch of its Night Golf facilities on the championship course at the renowned Trump International Golf Club Dubai, adding a touch of exhilaration to the overall golfing experience.Situated within the heart of DAMAC’s flagship master community, DAMAC Hills, the introduction of state-of-the-art LED floodlights ensures that the 18-hole Gil Hanse designed desert links style course remains open late into the evening, offering players an unparalleled golfing experience.The inaugural event, attended by esteemed guests and industry colleagues marked the official unveiling of the illuminated course. This development aligns with DAMAC’s commitment to providing world-class luxury sports facilities.Since its launch in 2017, the Trump International Golf Club has garnered acclaim, winning the Luxury Lifestyle Awards in Dubai twice for best Luxury golf course in the city. Notable accolades include the World’s best PAR 3 course in 2021 and the UAE’s best golf course in 2022 at the World Golf Awards.To commemorate the Night Golf facility’s launch, the club hosted an exclusive dinner, welcoming close associates, partners, and golf enthusiasts. The occasion showcased DAMAC and Trump International Golf Club’s dedication to delivering top-tier golfing services in the region and marking it as the first Trump golf course to offer night golf services. Nestled in DAMAC Hills, the luxury golf club offers more than just golfing excellence. Culinary enthusiasts can savour authentic Italian cuisine at PRATO, enjoy international flavours at the 71 Sports Bar with live sports on a mega screen, and experience community-style family dining at Caddy Shack.

    Beyond golf and dining, the club boasts an open-air infinity swimming pool with stunning views, a well-equipped fitness centre, and an expansive Pro Shop offering the latest in golfing hardware equipment and exclusive lifestyle apparel.Dubai’s thriving golf community is further enriched by the Trump International Golf club’s two award-winning floodlit courses and two state-of-the-art swing studios and Dubai’s only TrackMan driving range, attracting top tier golfers and celebrities from around the world to the facilitiesDAMAC Hills, the community surrounding the expansive golf course, offers diverse living experiences, including the recently launched Golf Greens.

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    Sandals® Resorts and Beaches® Resorts Reach New Milestone in Sustainable Scuba Diving Practices

    As long-standing partners immersing travelers under the colorful depths of the Caribbean Sea with a sustainable-first approach, today – together with PADI – Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts celebrate their newly obtained Green Fins membership. This coveted milestone marks the first resort company to adopt this conservation management approach across the entirety of its growing portfolio – which spans 20 resorts across eight Caribbean islands and counting. Implemented internationally by The Reef-World Foundation and the UN Environment Programme, the Green Fins program is designed to protect coral reefs through environmentally friendly guidelines while promoting sustainable scuba diving and snorkeling.
    “Here in the Caribbean, the ocean is a part of our everyday lives, and the health of our underwater ecosystems plays a role in the livelihoods of our friends, families, and neighbors,” said Michael Clarke, Corporate Director of Watersports for Sandals Resorts International. “As new members of Green Fins across our entire resort portfolio, Sandals and Beaches are upholding their vows to protect and restore our natural resources so guests visiting from every corner of the earth can experience the crown of the Caribbean while generations to come continue to prosper from its resources.”
    Through the creation and logging of action plans curated by Green Fins, all levels of staff at Sandals’ and Beaches’ on-resort, PADI-certified dive shops will engage in solutions aimed at reducing environmental impact. Participation in Green Fins will expand on the resorts’ existing conservation practices, which include rotating dive site visits to manage human interaction with wildlife, invasive species management, encouraging the use of reef-safe sunscreen, and providing snorkelers and scuba divers with briefings on eco-friendly behaviors before they jump into the diverse waters of the Caribbean. Combined, these efforts drive down operational footprints on the natural world, both above and below the surface. 
    “As PADI Mission Hubs, Sandals and Beaches are incredibly important strategic partners for PADI. Their scale and shared commitment to a healthier future helps advance our mission to create more ocean ambassadors who can go out and not only explore but also protect the ocean,” said Katie Thompson, PADI Global Director, Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability. “We proudly continue forward on this important journey with Sandals and Beaches and celebrate them as the first PADI resort company that can boast 100% Green Fins status.”
    Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts are also actively engaged in PADI AWARE Foundation’s Adopt the Blue Program – through which dive centers adopt a dive site from PADI’s global inventory, taking responsibility for its cleanliness via ocean clean-ups, reporting changes in its ecosystem, and presenting a willingness to take conservation action as recommended by specialists.ADVERTISEMENTThe Caribbean’s Most Comprehensive Dive Program: Sharing the Skill and Forging Forward
    A 2022 Reef-World survey of sustainability in the marine tourism industry found that over 80% of divers are seeking sustainable operators that prioritize marine life conservation when booking a trip, emphasizing not only the importance of but also the strong demand for sustainable and regenerative tourism. Dive-certified guests and snorkelers can explore the Caribbean’s colorful coral reefs as part of the all-inclusive experience across all Sandals’ and Beaches’ PADI-certified dive centers. For new divers, certifications can be administered on-resort, with over 140,000 PADI certifications fulfilled to date – the largest number of certifications completed by any PADI partner. These certifications have played an integral role in building the PADI Ocean Torchbearer army, a movement of united ocean conservationists, along with sustainable on-resort hands-on experiences in the form of courses and dives, including PADI coral restoration and PADI invasive lionfish management.
    Paying it Forward with ‘The Gift of Blue’
    Ever-creating opportunities for Caribbean travelers to be a part of the ocean conservation movement, this year, Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts are dedicating its holiday sale to the oceans it calls home – turning Black Friday “blue” with the ‘Gift of Blue’ sale. In addition to an air credit valued at up to $750 and a resort credit of up to $250, Sandals and Beaches will donate $50 to the Sandals Foundation’s ocean conservation efforts – more specifically, the expansion of coral nurseries throughout the Caribbean, which houses 10% of the world’s underwater ecosystems – for every booking made between Thanksgiving and Giving Tuesday.
    To book your next vacation and donate to the Sandals Foundation’s ocean conservation efforts through the “Gift of Blue” sale, please visit: www.sandals.com/gift-of-blue-sale and www.beaches.com/gift-of-blue-sale.

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    Be at the heart of the action at Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s Fanzone

    The race to Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has begun! Fans can head to Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi for a racing-themed experience in this year’s Fanzone. From November 20 to 26, guests can enjoy the ultimate race build up while watching highlights of the 2023 season ahead of the live broadcast of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
    Lucky guests will have the opportunity to meet Scuderia Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz during his visit to the park on November 22.
    Adding to the excitement, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi will be hosting a variety of entertaining activities including a live DJ, break dancers, themed merchandise, designated chill-out sections with large LED screens and more!
    Formula One enthusiasts can look forward to an exhibit of The Ferrari SF-23 racing car designed and constructed by Scuderia Ferrari and driven by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz in Grand Prix races. Guests can also snap photos in front of a racing themed Fanzone backdrop to commemorate their visit. At the heart of the Fanzone, Ferrari fans can expect the first touring exhibition showcasing the Formula One Driver Racing Kits as seen on Antonio Giovinazzi who won at the 24 hours of Le Mans race in June 2023, Kimi Räikkönen throughout his races in 2018 and Leclerc and Sainz in the 2023 Italian Grand Prix in Monza, amongst others.
    Gear up for a thrilling week of activities as family and friends come together at the heart of the world’s leading theme park, all in anticipation of the year’s most exciting event.ADVERTISEMENTFerrari World was voted World’s Leading Theme Park 2022 at last year’s World Travel Awards and in addition, Yas Island collected the award for World’s Leading Theme Park Destination 2022.

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    Miral Announces Major Expansion to Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

    Due to its huge popularity with both local and international visitors, Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, have announced a 16,900 sqm expansion to Yas Island’s Yas Waterworld. Set for construction completion in 2025, the expansion will see the addition of 3.3 km of slide sections and is expected to grow guest capacity by 20% through the addition of 18 new thrilling rides and attractions, taking the park total to more than 60 rides and experiences.Once open, the park will include the UAE’s highest slide, as well as the GCC’s first amusement ride in a water park, that is integrated within a waterslide complex. This exhilarating ride promises an unparalleled adventure, with a 15-meter-high drop for up to 20 guests and water park enthusiasts, who can experience this adrenaline rush together.
    Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO commented: “This expansion marks another addition to our world-class attractions and experiences on Yas Island, and a testament to achieving our vision of positioning it as a top global destination for entertainment and leisure. We are proud to be contributing to the development of Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem and economic diversification, while further enhancing its global appeal as a tourism hub.”
    For the last decade, Yas Waterworld has immersed guests in ‘The Legend of the Lost Pearl’ story, which reflects the UAE’s rich pearl-diving heritage. Combining the coolest rides and thrilling attractions as well as shopping and dining options into a seamless, guest experience, the award-winning theme park is the ultimate water adventure.
    Introducing a new chapter to the story, Yas Waterworld will bring a new adventure called the ‘Lost City’. Guests will embark on an exciting journey to discover hidden treasures and secret passages, intertwined with fun attractions. The expansion seamlessly blends with the park’s existing architectural style, rockwork features, and iconic characters, transporting guests to a whole new world.
    Features of the new expansion includes a swim up bar, a high-thrill boat ride, racing and tube slides, family raft rides, and a duelling master blaster. The expansion caters for mini thrill seekers as well by providing smaller scaled versions of Yas Waterworld’s most iconic rides. These include a mini-Dawwama, which will be the region’s only kids’ mini blaster fusion ride with two blaster sections and a thrilling rattler end section, as well as a mini-Boomerango to give little guests that big ride sensation minus the fear, with a fantastic hero-shot photo opportunity.ADVERTISEMENTYas Waterworld is part of the wider offering of Yas Island that includes world-class attractions such as Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, CLYMB Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Watan, Yas Bay Waterfront which is home to the UAE’s largest indoor multi-purpose venue Etihad Arena, the world’s first-ever Warner Bros. themed hotel, and the newly opened SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.  The globally renowned offerings, cement the island’s position as a top global destination for entertainment and leisure. 
    Guided by its ambition to be a customer-centric, progressive, and efficient organisation, Miral will continue to grow and develop Yas Island as a successful destination as well as delivering new leisure and entertainment destinations and ventures that generate sustainable value, while contributing to the diversification of Abu Dhabi’s economy.

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    NEOM announces Epicon – its luxury coastal tourism destination on the Gulf of Aqaba

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    NEOM announces Epicon – its luxury coastal tourism destination on the Gulf of Aqaba

    The Board of Directors of NEOM, the sustainable regional development taking shape in northwest Saudi Arabia, have announced Epicon, its latest luxury coastal tourism destination, including a residential offering.Located on the Gulf of Aqaba, Epicon aims to set a new standard of hospitality and architecture. Rising from NEOM’s desert landscape like a glistening mirage, the property will feature two striking towers, one 225 meters tall and one reaching 275 meters. The towers will be home to an ultra-premium 41 key hotel and luxury residences that comprise of 14 suites and apartments. A short distance from the hotel is the Epicon resort, which blends tranquility with indulgence and features 120 rooms and 45 stunning residential beach villas.
    Designed as a gateway to the future, Epicon provides an opportunity to escape the stresses of the everyday. Whether relaxing at the beach club, visiting the spa for bespoke wellness treatments, exploring the surrounding nature, participating in one of the many watersports on offer, or dining at destination restaurants for an unforgettable culinary experience, Epicon has been conceived to meet the full array of guest and resident needs.
    A highly attractive visitor destination and an optimum place to live and thrive, Epicon’s guests and residents can expect a truly immersive and life-affirming experience. The luxurious residences and beach villas aim to deliver new levels of livability through cutting-edge innovations, world-class services and first-class experiences, positioning the resort as a benchmark for iconic living.
    Guests and residents of Epicon will enjoy unrestricted access to world-class facilities, complemented by views of one of the most desirable shorelines in NEOM. Amenities include a state-of-the-art gym, library, workspaces, pools and lounges.
    News of Epicon follows the recent announcement of Leyja, NEOM’s sustainable tourism destination set within a magnificent natural valley. The extensive range of experiences and activities offered in Epicon and Leyja will strengthen and enrich the NEOM ecotourism offering, aligned with the broader objectives of the Kingdom.ADVERTISEMENT

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    7 Reasons to Visit Gothenburg in 2024

    Gothenburg is ranked one of the world’s 100 best cities in 2023* (the only non-capital in the Nordic Countries) and is also the winner of the Global Destination Sustainability Index Leadership Award 2023* for the 7th time in a row. Here are 7 reasons to visit in 2024. There’s also a selection of new restaurants, bars, and shops to discover in Sweden’s second city situated on Sweden’s west coast.Experience World of VolvoWorld of Volvo, run by Volvo Cars and Volvo Group, will be both a landmark and meeting place with space for the new Volvo Museum, exhibitions, concerts and dining experiences. The circular, five-storey, 22,000-square-metre building is inspired by the Scandinavian landscape and will be located just next to Liseberg Amusement Park. It opens April 2024.
    Liseberg opens brand new water park – OceanaOceana, part of Liseberg Amusement Park, is inspired by the history of Gothenburg and will be unlike anything else available in Scandinavia today. Guests will be able to enjoy everything from quiet indoor sandy beaches to thrilling water slides. 14 attractions, a wave pool, family river and water play for various ages. Opens spring 2024.
    Re-opening of the renovated Fish ChurchThe fish market hall The Fish Church “Feskekörka” will re-open after an almost 4-year renovation. This iconic temple of seafood from 1874 houses fishmongers, restaurants, and a bar. Vegetarian options are available. The Fish Church will be open all year round, with outdoor seating in the summertime. Opens in the beginning of 2024. Information only in Swedish
    New hotel Clarion Hotel KarlatornetKarlatornet is now the tallest building in Scandinavia. 246 meters high and 74 storeys, it will have apartments, restaurants, a sky bar, and a lookout viewpoint as well as a photo exhibition about the project and the surrounding area. The new hotel Clarion Hotel Karlatornet will open spring 2024 with 300 rooms. The lookout viewpoint and sky bar will open late 2024 or spring 2025.
    The re-opening of the public saunaThe public and free sauna in the Jubilee Park – Jubileumsparken – will re-open in spring 2024. The sauna, originally a prototype, will be replaced by a permanent sauna, retaining its unique appearance. It is also possible to swim all year round in the two recently opened saltwater pools, situated in the river beside the sauna, and during the warmer part of the year, you can also swim in a freshwater pool.ADVERTISEMENTClarion Hotel Draken opens its new SPAThe 33-storey Clarion Hotel Draken opened in October 2023 and is right now Gothenburg’s tallest hotel building with 474 hotel rooms, a cinema, several restaurants and a sky bar with a rooftop terrace boasting views that stretch for miles. In March 2024 the hotel will open its new SPA area, including a gym, and is promised to be something extra.
    New exhibition Design storiesDesign Stories (“Designhistorier”), a new permanent exhibition at the Röhsska Museum of Design and Craft, is based on the question What is design? The exhibition will focus on Scandinavian design from the end of the 19th Century until today. Objects, sketches, films and interviews will be the starting point for different stories about design. Opens autumn 2024. Information only in Swedish.
    https://www.goteborg.com/en– The official visitors guide to Gothenburg

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    Phocuswright 2023: Gap in sustainability ambitions revealed by new research

    A new sustainability report presented at the Phocuswright Conference has revealed a considerable gap between what people say and what they do when it comes to green travel.
    The results were presented by Madeline List, Phocuswright senior research analyst, and shone a light on the preferences of thousands of travellers from across the US and Europe.
    In the US and EU, around half of the respondents said they were more likely to choose transport based on carbon footprint rather than convenience. 
    But, when asked why they chose certain transport options during recent travels, a much smaller number cited environmental factors as a reason.
    Respondents said they were more likely to choose a hotel for its sustainability credentials than price. 
    But of those that had booked, only 6-13 per cent said environmental reasons were among their top five considerations.
    “People are more likely to follow through on what they say if they will directly feel the burn from not doing so,” said List. 
    “For example, around half would rather stay somewhere less famous and less crowded – and many people actually follow through on this, as they are more directly affected by not doing so.  ADVERTISEMENT“With environmental decisions, people care, but they do not directly feel the consequences of not following through on sustainable choices.
    “Likewise, travellers want their money to benefit the communities they visit. 
    “But when asked if they ever checked to see if what they bought was locally sourced, only one-in-four said they did. 
    “Emotionally, people care, but they’re not taking the practical steps needed make those decisions.”
    Travelers find sustainability confusing
    Do travellers know what it actually means to travel sustainably? 
    The majority of respondents said that they find the standards for environmentally conscious travel confusing – and the ones that are sustainability-orientated already are the ones that are more confused than the people that don’t care. 
    Some 19-26 per cent also believe that they don’t travel frequently enough to have a significant impact on the environment. 
    Event those that take two trips a year don’t think they have much of an impact, but they are a sizeable part of travel.
    Travelers were split over who should take responsibility for sustainability – many believe it’s the role of government, whereas others think it’s travel providers, destination organisations, or travellers themselves.
    Travelers think it should be the responsibility of destination organizations to keep tourism money within the local community, which would explain why they’re not asking where their money goes after they spend it.
    Some 36-47 per cent of travellers also think sustainable travel options are more expensive. 
    And the more someone think about sustainability at home, the more likely they are to believe it presents more expensive travel options. 
    Some ten-15 per cent more was the accepted premium people said they would pay for greener travel.
    “I don’t think this belief-behaviour gap is coming from a bad place,” said List. 
    “They want to believe that they will make the right decision, but it’s important [for travel providers] to understand that this is not always the reality.” 
    List finished by giving her practical suggestions for the travel industry: 

    Increase sustainable options – make them more available and viable to begin with – they have to be appealing to travellers as a whole, and shouldn’t just be about sustainability.
    Green options need to be easy to find and prominent.
    Show that sustainable is accessible and affordable – push sustainable options at various price points.
    Help travellers understand that sustainability goes beyond the environment – it extends to many other areas too.
    Educate, educate, educate – inspire travellers to aspire for collective change; speak to the why not just the what, build understanding from the ground up.

    More Information
    More than 1,300 attendees are currently at The Phocuswright Conference, which is taking place this week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
    Find out more here.

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    Ambitions Travel Recruitment & Training grows presence in UK travel sector

    Ambitions Travel Recruitment & Training, a go-getting new travel industry recruitment and training agency, has bolstered its position within the UK travel sector, tapping into an expansive network to deliver quality candidates to businesses across the industry.
    A series of award wins, new hires, free eLearning courses and industry partnerships have accelerated growth at a time when many travel businesses struggle to recruit in the face of continued talent shortages. 
    Founded by specialist Fi Morrison-Arnthal, Ambitions Travel Recruitment & Training (ATR) works to swiftly connect businesses with top-tier candidates, leveraging industry knowledge, contacts and a proven track record for efficient, successful hires.
    Morrison-Arnthal has more than three decades of experience in the industry, including as a director at Progressive Travel Recruitment, a leading global recruiter. 
    The launch and swift expansion of ATR comes at a time of ongoing candidate shortages within the industry.
    Morrison-Arnthal, managing director of ATR, said: “Against an improving economic backdrop, the travel industry’s recovery continues to accelerate.
    “However, candidate shortages mean that many businesses find their progress throttled by the inability to source hard to find talent. This has resulted in a strong demand for our services since launching. 
    “The old ways of doing business are no longer working – today employees are seeking attractive salaries that are in line with inflation and flexibility in their roles, while ongoing training and career development opportunities and a sense of mission are more important than ever before.
    “At Ambitions Travel Recruitment we work tirelessly to connect employers from across the industry to the people they need to make their businesses thrive in this new world of work, and to match candidates with roles that will give them long-term fulfilment.”

    Originally launching in 2022, ATR has welcomed two new additional industry experts in recent months, to support the agency’s rapid expansion.
    The business welcomes talent acquisition operations specialist, Genna Davis.
    Her diverse career spans travel consulting, national travel account management, travel recruitment, and training in the hospitality industry.
    Brand operations manager Claire Castro brings years of experience leading international, remote travel recruitment operations support teams.
    Joining ATR, she provides online advice and value to their global audience, candidates and customers.
    ATR Industry Support
    As part of a wider ambition to develop new industry talent and support growth in the travel industry, ATR has launched a series of 12 free essential soft skills courses via their sister website.
    While product and destination knowledge are undeniably crucial, it’s incomplete without the essential soft skills needed to have a career within the travel industry.
    Their free courses are created by industry experts, featuring interactive modules, flexible learning options, engaging content, and worldwide accessibility.
    The free courses are designed to enhance expertise, boost customer satisfaction, and open doors to new career opportunities within the industry. 
    In addition, ATR offers a wide range of free guides for their candidates and clients, downloadable from the website.
    Covering topics such as creating a personal brand, interview preparation, new hire on-boarding, and developing a stand-out CV, the informative guides are available to everyone that might want guidance or support job hunting or talent acquisition a success. 
    ATR is also proud to be a partner of Back in time for Bed (BITFB), the flexible working movement for parents, created by Vicky Billing, head of partnerships at Riviera Travel, and head of supplier relations at Panache Cruises, Anna Perrott.
    A co-branded guide is already available via their ATR website, offering valuable insights to make parental leave a success, and support for businesses and candidates as they navigate the parameters of flexible working.
    With a positive impact on the long-term career satisfaction, loyalty and wellbeing of staff, businesses can gain competitive advantages.
    This guide will help all parties to achieve a more flexible approach and demonstrates why a more human touch to resourcing is so important in attracting the best talent, reducing turnover, to increase productivity and profitability. 
    Morrison-Arnthal added: “It is an honour to work with our partners at BITFB.
    “This inspirational organisation is doing important work to promote better working practices, and we are delighted to offer our support and expertise to help parents everywhere, as well as the businesses that recruit and employ them.
    “The travel sector is a career, not just a job, and we aim to create conditions where our candidates can thrive for the long term.”
    More Information
    Ambitions Travel Recruitment was recently awarded ‘Lone Wolf Business of the Year’ at the Small Business Awards 2023, celebrating the independent strength and prowess of the newly launched agency.
    The consultancy was nominated for ‘Best Start Up Agency’ at Global Recruiter Awards 2023, recognising the hard work, determination and inspiration required to create a thriving new business in a highly competitive industry. 
    Take a look at the Breaking Travel News interview with Ambitions founder, Fi Morrison-Arnthal, here.
    For more information, please visit the official website.

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