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      Iberia’s revamped Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan focuses on promoting diverse talent

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      After the pandemic, Iberia redesigned and relaunched its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan with a new approach that covers gender, generational, cultural (nationalities), LGTBIQ+ and disability groups. The objective of this new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan is to achieve adequate management of the diverse talent that exists within the company, which enhances the commitment and feeling of belonging of the employees and promotes internal creativity and innovation to face organisational challenges.
      Regarding gender equality, the airline is developing internal and external initiatives to give visibility to its female talent and promote the presence of women at all levels and roles within the company.
      María Bello, Director of People Development and Diversity at Iberia, explained: “Companies must be a reflection of our society and be as diverse as possible. Through the new plan, we want to refocus DE&I initiatives and understand how diverse our company is, identify opportunities for improvement and break down barriers. To do this, we want to involve the entire organisation, rely on training and awareness programmes, set objectives, plan actions and review all our processes”.
      2025: 40% of women in positions of high responsibility
      38% of Iberia’s workforce is female; the majority of them are in the administrative team and among cabin crew and are still a minority in professions such as pilots, aeronautical engineers, and aircraft maintenance technicians.ADVERTISEMENTIn line with IAG, its parent company, Iberia is committed to increasing the percentage of women in management positions to 40% in the next two years. Between 2018 and 2022, the airline has gone from having 18% to 34% of women in the most senior positions.
      Raise awareness, develop and showcase female talent
      Iberia’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan promotes the presence of women in management positions and brings them closer to those professions in the aeronautical sector where they are still a minority, through a range of initiatives that revolve around three main pillars:
      1/ Internal awareness and training in a committed culture to diversity and through different actions:
      Carrying out “YoSInEtiquetas” workshops with employees from all areas to identify the framework for action.A community of Diversity Ambassadors for each of the diversity groups: gender, generational, cultural, LGTBIQ+ and people with disabilities.The incorporation of diversity into the internal brand values: “We are one and diverse”.Monitoring the use of inclusive language in all internal and external communications.2/ Processes related, above all, to professional development, inclusive HR policies and the Equality Plan:
      Equality Plan: Iberia has materialised the agreements with the airline´s social representation of the three employee groups (ground staff, pilots and cabin crew) and, currently, is working to update it according to the law.Inclusive HR policies:Implementation of the 50% requirement of CVs in its selection processes of external candidates, for profiles where there is enough representation of both genders in the labour market.Review from the gender perspective of various human resources processes such as attracting talent, leadership profile, evaluation, succession plan, climate survey, Training Plan and talent programmes.External competitiveness study to ensure that salaries in Iberia are in line with the market and that there is no gender pay gap.Female talent development and mentoring programme: Take the lead, to promote the professional career of women towards positions of greater responsibility.
      3/ External communication actions to make female talent visible and attract women to professions like pilot, engineer, and maintenance technician, where female presence is still very minor.
      Attracting and promoting technical careers among young women is the objective of Iberia’s “I want to be” programme, which allows girls between the ages of 16 and 18 to enjoy an “immersion” in the airline’s facilities and learn more about traditionally male professions in the aviation industry.In addition, Iberia supports different associations and events aimed at lending visibility to women:It is part of the “Ella vuelan alto” association, a project that seeks to promote female talent in the aviation industry, giving women a voice and making them more visible.It supports the 50&50 Gender Leadership consultancy project, whose objective is to advance equal rights and opportunitiesAnd it also participates in WoMen Now, a platform that gives a voice to extraordinary women.

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      easyJet customers raise over £300,000 to support UNICEF’s Türkiye and Syria earthquake appeal

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      easyJet customers have raised over £300,000 in three weeks to support UNICEF’s emergency appeal. Their donations have helped raise vital funds for the children and their families affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.
      The emergency onboard collection by easyJet’s cabin crew has now been extended into March, providing millions more customers flying with easyJet across 36 countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, the opportunity to donate in any currency.
      Donations will go directly towards supporting UNICEF’s round-the-clock emergency response in the region. In Syria, UNICEF is mobilising supplies and services to support the urgent needs of children and families. In Türkiye, UNICEF has mobilised critical emergency supplies and ensured evacuation to safe spaces for children in affected areas.
      Michael Brown, Director of Cabin Services, commented:
      “I would like to thank all of our customers who have already donated, for their kindness and generosity in raising over £300,000, which will help UNICEF and their volunteers to continue providing a vital lifeline in the region for the children and families who have been affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. ADVERTISEMENT“This is, of course, all made possible by our fantastic crew, who day-in and day-out go the extra mile to raise money for UNICEF.  As the relief effort continues, we are pleased to have been able to extend the collections onboard into March so more customers can have the opportunity to donate.”
      Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive, UNICEF UK:
      “Through our partnership, UNICEF and easyJet remain committed to ensuring that the families affected by the recent earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria receive urgent support. By supporting UNICEF’s appeal, easyJet is helping to provide access to emergency supplies.”
      “Children face extra risks to their health without supplies of food and clean water and donations from easyJet and its generous customers will continue to support UNICEF’s work around the clock to protect the health and welfare of children and their families.”
      Over the last 10 years easyJet customers have raised more than £16m for UNICEF through on board collections, including more than £800,000 last year for children and their families impacted by the war in Ukraine, helping to protect millions of children around the world from disease and keep them safe during emergencies.

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      Manchester City players and Etihad Airways make dreams come true for young female players

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      Manchester City players and Etihad Airways make dreams come true for young female players

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      Ahead of International Women’s Day, Etihad uses the strength of its partnership with MCFC to champion inclusivityThe sky is the limit for four aspiring female footballers from the United Arab Emirates after an invitation from Manchester City Women turned into the trip of a lifetime thanks to Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national carrier.
      For girls, Madiyah, 12, Meriel and Sura, both 11, and Zarah, 9, who all attend the City Football Schools in the UAE, mid-week coaching in Abu Dhabi typically ends with a tactical de-brief.
      But in a new heart-warming video released to celebrate International Women’s Day, the girls were thrilled to receive a personal message from England Lionesses, Chloe Kelly and Lauren Hemp, and Australia’s Hayley Raso, in which they were invited to join them as Manchester City matchday mascots for the Women’s Super League fixture against Arsenal at the Academy Stadium on the Etihad Campus in Manchester.
      Unknown to the girls, Etihad Airways had booked the players, their parents and coaches onto an eight-hour flight that evening from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Manchester.
      As part of the experience, the young female players enjoyed behind-the-scenes access to Manchester City Women’s final training session before the match and were lucky enough to have photos and signatures with some of their role models from the club.ADVERTISEMENTGeorgia Bainbridge, City Football Schools Coach, said, “When we were told about the surprise and asked to put forward four girls, Madiyah, Meriel, Sura and Zarah immediately sprung to mind. They have demonstrated fantastic skills and potential, but their attitude to training is outstanding and something all the coaches at City Football Schools in the UAE really admire.
      “We want to continue to inspire our female players and promote women’s football as much as we can in the UAE which has been helped massively following the Women’s Euros and Chloe Kelly’s winning goal. She’s a player the girls admire and hope one day to emulate so having the chance to watch her and the rest of the team train before meeting them was incredible.”
      Before leading out the team as match day mascots in front of a sell-out crowd, the girls also toured the Etihad Stadium along with the home dressing room, where screams could be heard around Manchester as their personalised matchday shirts took pride of place.
      Amina Taher, Vice President Brand, Marketing and Sponsorships from Etihad Airways, said: “The UAE places a strong emphasis on elevating the role of women in society and as the national airline we are fully engaged with this mission. We’re proud to work with our long-standing partners City Football Group to champion the inclusion and empowerment of young women ahead of this year’s International Women’s Day.
      “It was an honour to fly Madiyah, Meriel, Sura and Zarah to Manchester to visit the Etihad Stadium and meet their Manchester City heroes.”

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      SAUDI ARABIA – A LUXURY DESTINATION

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      easyJet customers raise over £300,000 to support UNICEF’s Türkiye and Syria earthquake appeal More

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      SAUDI ARABIA – A LUXURY DESTINATION

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      The Gulf state is exhibiting at ITB Berlin for the first time. Saudi Arabia wants to lure more tourists to the country with new hotels, restaurants and attractions at historical sites such as Diriyah and Alula. Increasing hotel capacity and flight routes and easing visa requirements are part of a strategy for the future entitled Vision 2030 which envisions an economic transition towards greater diversity and sustainability. The Gulf state is represented at ITB Berlin for the first time and over the coming days will provide information on new tourism projects on its stand in Hall 3.2.
      Saudi Arabia attracts almost two million pilgrims annually with Mecca and Medina, holy sites in Islam. Beyond that however, the country wanted to profit more from tourism, said Hazim Al Hazmi of the Saudi Tourism Authority speaking at the press conference of ITB Berlin at the Palais am Funkturm. The country is currently investing heavily in tourism as part of Vision 2030. As a strategy for the future it wants to reduce oil dependence by strengthening other sectors.
      At its press conference on Media Monday at ITB Berlin, Saudi Arabia presented some of its tourist highlights. In the desert city of Diriyah, marketed under the slogan ’The City of Earth’, the district of Al Bujairi with its winding streets awaits visitors who take a short half-hour drive from King Khalid International Airport or travel 15 minutes from Riyadh’s city centre. The history of the former Saudi capital is documented in museums. According to Abdulrahman Aljefri of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, there are plans to significantly expand bed capacity around this historical site and build 38 hotels. Expanding the Bujairi Terrace resort to include 21 luxury and mega-luxury restaurants is seen as a gigantic project.
      Fascinating rock formations await visitors to Alula. According to Julia Stubenböck of the Royal Commission for Alula Germany, there are plans to increase bed capacity here too to 5,000 rooms in 2030. Visitors can look forward to numerous adventure activities or relaxing – from volcanic tours to wellness applications at Saudi Arabia’s first Banyan Tree Resort.
      According to Abdullah Al-Zahrani of Red Sea Global, beach holidays in Saudi Arabia are an option too. Currently hotels, apartments and leisure facilities enabling sustainable tourism are being built on the Gulf state’s west coast, where travellers can dive down with colourful marine life in the Red Sea and enjoy sports and leisure activities.ADVERTISEMENT

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      The United Nations Establishes Global Tourism Resilience Day

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      The United Nations Establishes Global Tourism Resilience Day

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      The United Nations has voted to create a Global Tourism Resilience Day, which will be marked each year on February 17.The day will be used to promote a sustainable and resilient travel industry, with a focus on the potential for the sector to drive economic growth, social development and financial inclusion, in addition to environmental benefits.
      The UN voted on Monday, February 6 to adopt resolution 70.1 drafted by the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council in collaboration with the Global Tourism Resilience & Crisis Management Centre.
      It was backed by countries including the Bahamas, Belize, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Georgia, Greece, Guyana, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Malta, Namibia, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Zambia.
      More than 30 private sector associations including the USTA, IATA, the WTTC, Travalyst, the Business Travel Association, LATA, PATA, ETOA, ITB Berlin, Travel Foundation, Travel Declares a Climate Emergency, the GBTA, USAID Developing Sustainable Travel in Bosnia Herzegovina and the Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers also endorsed the proposal.
      Jamaican tourism minister Edmund Bartlett (pictured), who made the case to the UN and is also co-chair of the Resilience Council and the GTRCMC, said: “The day will remind countries and businesses in travel and tourism to focus on how you respond to crises, how you recover quickly, and how you will grow. That is what resilience is all about.”ADVERTISEMENTResilience Council spokesperson Laurie Myers added: “Every year leading up to February 17 we will run events and campaigns to remind both the public and private sectors to focus on preparedness, sustainability, recovery and resilience with the outstanding examples being honoured establishing best practice and in the process saving lives.”
      Minister Bartlett will hold a Talk and Toast event at ITB to share the enormous importance of this day going forward and hand out certificates of appreciation and acknowledgment to invited organizations present at ITB. March 9 at 5:20pm in Hall 3 1.b.

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      NEW CHALLENGES FOR LGBTQ+ TOURISM

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      NEW CHALLENGES FOR LGBTQ+ TOURISM

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      New crises and the uncertainty they create are encouraging populism, and “then we minorities are the first to be attacked.“ That was the sad fact that stood out in Tuesday’s keynote speech by Peter Jordan on ’LGBTQ+ Tourism and Resilience’.Jordan, founder of the consultancy Gen C Traveller, was confident the community could master this challenge: “It has been through a lot these last few years.“
      Rika Jean-François, CSR commissioner for ITB Berlin, opened the panel discussion noting that the pandemic in particular had further increased the threat for minorities and that it helped hate and conservatism thrive again. Jordan was insistent that even in times of increasing demand for sustainability travel had to remain a basic need because it was indispensable among other things for educating oneself and one’s personal orientation. The LGBTQ+ community had to “establish its own resilience“ while also identifying with measures to fight climate change, since this impacted everybody regardless of sexual orientation. It was possible this increasingly urgent situation held the key to successful inclusion.
      Barbara Poma of the onePulse Foundation from Orlando, who has dedicated herself to the fight against hatred, invited everybody to travel to Florida to help the local inclusion efforts which are under threat from many sides. Benedikt Brandmeier, director of Tourism, Events and Hospitality, explained the efforts the Bavarian capital is taking in order to treat tourists not simply as cash-dispensing hobby photographers, but to make them feel part of everyday local activities, thus giving them a taste of the city’s way of life. He admitted this was sometimes difficult to reconcile with the LGBTQ+ community’s desire for safe spaces, however such efforts had proved successful at specific carnival events.
      Rachel Ferguson of Visit Philadelphia made similar comments. Many visitors belonged to more than one marginalised minority, as a person of colour or in the role of a mother for example. The solution, with inclusion as its goal, had to be to afford all groups respect so they could realise their potential with dignity as free persons. Alex Belopolsky of the Munich Proud at Work Foundation appealed not to simply accept decisions contradicting LGBTQ+ values, such as that of UNWTO to make the Uzbek city of Samarkand the World Tourism Capital, because homosexuality was punishable with a jail sentence in Uzbekistan.
      Thomas Bömkes, the LGBTQ+ tourism adviser to ITB Berlin, announced Karl Krause and Daan Coljin as winners of the Pioneer Award for innovative achievements for the community. They had travelled around the world as a male couple with their travel blog, had recently published a book and had contributed decisively to spreading a positive LGBTQ+ aura.ADVERTISEMENT

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      NEW DESTINATIONS AND MORE FLIGHTS

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      Abu Dhabi unveils new summer offering at ITB Berlin

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      Experience Abu Dhabi will be revealing its new summer offer at ITB Berlin this week, showcasing to the world that one summer is not enough to visit the destination and its abundance of activities that can be enjoyed.
      A summer in Abu Dhabi is like no other.
      Whether looking for experiences that inspire, excite or restore, there is something for everyone to enjoy, at their own pace.
      Travellers can get inspired by the rich culture and heritage scene across 23 locations including the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi, Qasr Al Hosn and the presidential palace of Qasr Al Watan.
      Alternatively, those looking for adventure, can reach new heights at one of 14 theme parks including Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi. ADVERTISEMENTCouples can also escape to a private and secluded desert island retreat of Nurai Island, just 15 minutes away by boat, or enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime meal at one of the recently awarded Michelin star restaurants.
      An exciting calendar of events will make this an unforgettable summer, including the return of Monster Jam – offering motorsport fans an adrenaline-charged weekend in May, unrivalled family fun at Paw Patrol Live, as well as an exhilarating concert by rock legends, Guns N’ Roses in June, and Yas Gaming Festival in July.
      A variety of promotions and offers will also be available across the city so travellers can make new memories and enjoy endless summer fun.
      The unveiling of the summer offer marks the first step to launch the best of summer in Abu Dhabi this year.
      New offers will be rolled out this month, with unbeatable promotions to offer amazing value when booking stays to Abu Dhabi this summer.
      Travellers will be able to make the most of their summer holiday to Abu Dhabi with an exclusive, limited time deal of ‘stay more, pay less’ for trips booked between four to seven nights. Valid from May 1st to September 30th, and available to book from tomorrow, travellers can opt for a getaway that’s nestled in the city, select a gorgeous resort surrounded by turquoise waters, or book a family escape for the kids to enjoy at amazing value.
      At the stand, attendees will be able to immerse themselves in Abu Dhabi’s intangible heritage and culture.
      Here guests can learn about Emirati craftsmanship and the art of henna in the cultural zone or have their favourite art piece from Louvre Abu Dhabi printed in the Saadiyat Island zone.
      “One summer isn’t enough to discover the countless memorable and enriching experiences that can be enjoyed in Abu Dhabi.
      “Whether you’re looking for a thrilling summer adventure, to be moved by culture or for some family fun, Abu Dhabi has it all,” said Abdulla Yousuf, director of international operations, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
      “We look forward to meeting with esteemed industry professionals at ITB to share the variety of activities that are on offer in Abu Dhabi this summer and beyond.” 
      There will be a daily competition held at the stand where special prizes can be won. Head to stand 200 during the show to find out more.
      More Information
      The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of the culture and tourism sectors, fuels economic progress and helps achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions.
      Find out more on the official website or head over to Hall 2.2/200 at ITB Berlin 2023.

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      NEW RESEARCH SHOWS TOURISM RECOVERY THREATENED

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      Initiative announced to address the workforce deficit in the travel and tourism industry. Jamaican Minister Bartlett to discuss global workforce issues in tourism at ITB, Berlin
      A newly formed Tourism Employment Expansion Mandate (TEEM) project, which is a cross sector collaborative effort to understand the workforce deficit in the travel industry, has released new global research that indicates the situation is more critical than ever.
      The project put in place by the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council (RC) under the leadership of Minister Edmund Bartlett of Jamaica to monitor emerging trends and promote resilience, has shared their preliminary research with some alarming findings. While the tourism sector has fueled the global economy of up to 10.6%, it is a vulnerable sector that has felt the impact of the global pandemic with a loss of more than 62 million workers according to the World Economic Forum.
      Working on behalf of TEEM to ensure a broad cross section are organizations such as EEA, GTTP, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, A World for Travel, Medov Logistics, JMG, EMG, FINN Partners, LATA, USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia Herzegovina and others. The research was conducted globally across travel and tourism industry. The key findings include:
      Alarming deficit figures – 68 percent of respondents said they are currently understaffed. Whilst the deficit of the workforce has been widely discussed – there’s been no data to understand how widely the issue is being felt across the industry. The resource shortage remains critical in food preparation, technology, AI, sales and reservations.ADVERTISEMENTDeficit due to the industry’s image – 88 percent of the global travel and tourism industry recognize the deficit in the workforce and attribute that to a reputational challenge, leading to a lack of talent in the industry. The same amount would welcome and support an initiative to understand talent sentiment.
      Younger demographic harder to attract – 62 percent said the 25–45-year-olds are the most difficult talent to attract to travel and tourism. Talent is choosing to pursue jobs in technology and pharmaceuticals rather than the travel industry.
      No action to address the issue – 80 percent of respondents said they leave jobs open longer than in previous years and 82 percent leave jobs open rather than pushing through other means. This indicates that the travel and tourism industry is taking a wait and see approach rather than taking action to address the issue.
      The research was initially presented at the Global Tourism Resilience Conference in Kingston, Jamaica in celebration of February 17th being declared Global Tourism Resilience Day by the United Nations. A day which is focused on driving global resilience within the travel industry. This is the first phase of the planned research being driven by Arvensis Search for TEEM. The next step will look at understanding the talent sentiment and identifying reasons for attrition and migration to other industries.
      TEEM was represented on two panels to discuss the human capital crisis identified by the research, and steps that can be taken to address it. Both Anne Lotter, Executive Director of GTTP and Christian Delom, Secretary General of the A World for Travel stressed that engaging the future talent pipeline with an interactive and exciting curricula and retaining staff by adapting the business model to align with students’ expectations were some of the suggestions made by the panel. The panel, agreed that education is key, offering a professional training programme which balances skills and training to ensure future employees do not transfer out of the sector. Ibrahim Osta, USAID Developing Sustainable Tourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chief of Party also presented models of best practice in human capital development for the tourism sector from various countries including Jordan, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He presented a four-pronged approach for the Industry that includes expanding the demand for tourism jobs through employer brand awareness campaigns, upgrading vocational training for youth, improving higher education institutions’ curricula and implementing industry-based training to upskill existing workers, all elements of the TEEM plans going forward.
      Minister Bartlett, the Resilience Council’s CoChair said: “Resilience is not a destination…it’s a journey. We all must be on this journey together in collaboration with each other to ensure that economic parameters and the social conditions are improved, while climate and the environment are addressed. Resilience means we prepare for crises rather than react to them. Let us not have gone through this pandemic without having learned the lessons. Across the world there are examples that we can replicate while we improve our own responses, we lift those who have not the capacity. We build capacity and we share best practices, new technologies and social philosophies that ensure local supply chains are maximized as workers are embraced and thrive within the sector.”
      The Minister will further discuss the work of Project TEEM and resilience of the industry on 8 March 2023 at ITB, Berlin. Minister Bartlett will be joining the ‘New Narratives for Work’ panel session moderated by established tourism author Harald Pechlaner for Destination Resilience, Routeledge, 2018. The Future Work Track session will be on the Blue Stage, Hall 7-1b from 10:30-12:00. For more information on Project TEEM or to be involved, write to [email protected]

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