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    Hilton and Minus18 Partner to Expand Nationwide Access for LGBTQIA+ Youth in Australia

    Hilton and charity organisation, Minus18, have announced a nationwide partnership that aims to give​ more LGBTQIA+ young people in Australia​ the right to free, inclusive and empowering school formals – launched last week by queer icon and advocate, actor, model and DJ, Ruby Rose ​during Sydney’s WorldPride.
    Hilton’s ​support will see an expanded footprint for Minus18’s Queer Formals program, enabling it to roll out in new cities and regional areas nationally from 2024, with the hope of providing LGBTQIA+ ​youth nationwide the opportunity to experience their school formal as their authentic selves.
    Ruby Rose has come on board as an ambassador to champion the partnership to raise awareness of the discrimination and exclusion LGBTQIA+ teens experience at school formals – from how they dress to who they bring as a date.
    “As a queer person who came out at a very young age, I cannot overstate the importance of this cause. I am so overjoyed to be part of the partnership with Hilton and Minus18 to drive awareness around the need to provide more inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ teens. I remember, as a teen, finding an ad for the Minus18 events in a free newspaper. I don’t think I missed an event after that. At the time it was one of the only communities I truly felt free to be myself,” said Ruby Rose.
    “The steps Hilton and Minus18 are taking will be life-changing for thousands of kids and young adults. We must never underestimate the impact inclusion and acceptance has on both young people in their formative years.”ADVERTISEMENTRuby Rose
    “The steps Hilton and Minus18 are taking will be life-changing for thousands of kids and young adults. We must never underestimate the impact inclusion and acceptance has on both young people in their formative years. Attending a school formal as your true self is a rite of passage that every teen deserves. Queer high schoolers too often don’t have the right support network when navigating who they are. It’s time to change this,” she said.
    As part of its support, Hilton also staged its Rainbow Formal gala event, which was held this Wednesday, 1 March​ 2023​ at ​Hilton ​Sydney ​on ​George Street, headlined by singer Delta Goodrem. The event aims to support Minus18 to raise vital funds and awareness for its future events, educational programs and broader mission to create inclusive environments for young LGBTQIA+ Australians.
    “​Hilton’s inclusive culture keeps diversity at the centre of everything we do, and we are committed to creating a positive impact on the communities we operate in and providing a welcoming stay for all who come through our doors. ​As a global hospitality company, we ​are delighted to have this opportunity​ to support ​Minus18 in their efforts to change the lives of even more LGBTQIA+ teens in Australia​,” said Paul Hutton, area vice president and head of Australasia, Hilton. “Everyone deserves to attend their school formal with pride. We look forward to seeing what we can achieve together with Minus18, and the backing of Ruby Rose.”
    ​​Since 2010, ​Minus18 ​has been ​supporting more than 5,000 young Australians every year through life-affirming events, with thousands more accessing digital resources, and peer education created by the LGBTQIA+ community.
    “With ​Hilton and ​Ruby Rose behind us, our programs will have considerably more scale and reach, helping thousands more young people gain access to inclusive spaces – like our Queer Formals,” said Micah Scott, chief executive officer, Minus18. “With ​two​ in ​three​ LGBTQIA+ youth​s​ in Australia still today experiencing abuse for who they are, creating inclusive spaces has never been more important.”
    As part of the company’s commitment to advance ​diversity and ​inclusion efforts, Hilton will roll out gender and sexuality training with Minus18 for all team members across its network of 23 properties in Australia ​and​ New Zealand. This aims to make every Hilton ​property in the region ​a​n​ ​LGBTQIA+ ​inclusive ​space ​and complements existing global Diversity & Inclusion training required for all Hilton team members, including training on Unconscious Bias.
    The company’s ​more than ​400,000 team members globally are encouraged to bring their full, authentic selves to work. WorldPride celebrations in Sydney will be led by Hilton’s dedicated team. Events include hotel celebrations, team education sessions, as well as representation at Mardi Gras Fair Day and the Pride Village celebrations near Oxford Street.
    Hilton​, Ruby Rose​ and Minus18 are calling on the Australian public to support LGBTQIA+ teens’ right to inclusive spaces, including Queer Formals, by donating to Minus18. For more information, visit asiapac.hilton.com/standwithpride/

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    Yas Marina participates in the Dubai International Boat Show

    : Yas Marina, the UAE’s finest superyacht marina complete with premium berthing facilities and unrivalled dining, nightlife and leisure experiences, is showcasing its offerings at the Dubai International Boat Show 2023 (DIBS) at the Dubai Harbour from 1st – 5th March. The UAE’s only Five Gold Anchor Platinum rated marina, welcomes destination stakeholders and international travel partners to the trade show at its dedicated stand, number MLL-70. 
    Recognised as the premier and established boat shows in the UAE, GCC and Middle East, DIBS is the definitive event for luxury, lifestyle and boating excellence.
    Visitors to DIBS will be treated to insights into the latest industry trends, interactive activations, access to beach clubs, live entertainment, discounts off marine related retail and much more.
    DIBS will be held at the Dubai Harbour from 1st – 5th March.Awarded the prestigious 5 Gold Anchor Platinum accreditation from The Yacht Harbour Association, Yas Marina is now formally one of the most remarkable marinas in the world for its exceptional facilities, amenities and service levels. The premier lifestyle destination also offers a variety of licensed outlets, fitness and leisure facilities.
    Situated on Yas Island, the 227 wet-berth Marina boasts an additional 93 dry-berths, features numerous restaurants, bars and lounges catering to all taste buds and budgets. Each outlet along the waterside promenade boasts iconic views of the W Abu Dhabi – Yas Island and racetrack. Then, as the sun sets, the family-friendly destination transforms into a buzzing hub of dining and nightlife entertainment.  ADVERTISEMENTFrom premier fitness facilities and physiotherapy to water sports including the Yas Marina Sailing and Rowing Centre, musical water fountain and a children’s playground, there’s something for all ages.
    Weekly promotions and seasonal activities make Yas Marina a destination to keep discovering, morning, noon and night.
    Website: www.yasmarina.ae

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    International tourism in 2022 made a significant recovery

    ITB Berlin presents the findings of the latest World Travel Monitor® by IPK International on global outbound travel trends in 2022In 2022 the travel industry experienced a significant recovery. Worldwide, outbound trips increased substantially year on year, but without regaining 2019 levels. Variations were evident with regard to individual continents, destinations and travel markets. Whereas outbound travel in Asia lagged far behind pre-pandemic levels, international trips of Europeans and Americans were much closer to 2019 figures. In 2023, despite all the crises and uncertainties, interest in travel abroad is consistently high, so that very little stands in the way of international tourism recovering further in 2023.
    Significant increase in outbound travel in 2022
    IPK’s World Travel Monitor® stated that worldwide, outbound travel in 2022 rose by 90 per cent year on year, equivalent to a global volume of almost 700 million trips in 2022. Compared to outbound travel before the pandemic in 2019, this is 66 per cent of pre-crisis levels. Thus, 2022 represented a significant turnaround towards recovery. Looking at individual continents, trends varied however. International travel from Europe rose by 92 per cent, from North America by 87 per cent and from South America by 70 per cent. These growth rates resulted in outbound travel almost fully recovering or reaching three-quarters of previous levels. International travel from Asia remained substantially below 2019 figures, while still showing a 90 per cent year-on-year increase in 2022. The difference in trends compared with other continents was mainly the result of tight Covid policy restrictions in China, which is the largest source market. Outbound travel in 2022 was highest in the USA, followed by Germany and the UK.
    Most popular destinations in 2022
    With regard to destinations, sun and beach holidays in Turkey and Spain were especially popular, almost regaining 2019 levels. Year on year, the UK also reported high three-digit growth rates above the global average. Overall in 2022, many destinations hardest-hit by pandemic restrictions in 2020 and 2021 attained above-average results. .ADVERTISEMENTAccording to the Destination Performance Index (DPI) developed by IPK, in 2022 the most popular travel destination was the Maldives. In the case of all international holiday trips the World Travel Monitor® asked whether travellers were satisfied with their trip, would recommend it to others and whether they would return, and evaluated the results. The winner Maldives was followed by Dubai and Cyprus in second and third place.

    Keen interest in holidays – sun and beach destinations top the list
    In 2022, with a market share of 70 per cent, holiday trips were again the main reason for travel, and compared to 2021 showed higher growth than business travel and even other private trips. In the business travel market, MICE trips in particular displayed a significant year-on-year upward trend. In 2022, within the holiday travel market, sun and beach trips were the most popular holiday worldwide at over 90 per cent growth (overall market share: 35 per cent), with city breaks in second place. In addition to city breaks, round trips also made above-average gains. Holidays in nature (in the countryside or mountains), which experienced a considerable boom during the pandemic, also remained highly popular in 2022 and increased their market share.
    Transport choices and sustainability
    Concerning transport choices, in 2022 the following global trends became apparent: while international air travel increased significantly again, compared with 2021 it lagged far behind pre-pandemic levels in 2019. As in previous years, most international travel took place by air (market share: 60 per cent). Growth in car travel was slightly below average compared with 2021. Rail travel growth was significantly above average. This was mirrored by the survey findings on sustainable travel. Thus, around 20 per cent of interviewees said sustainability / environmental considerations had influenced their choice of transport for an outbound trip in 2022. The importance of this topic was also reflected in the new IPK NEXT Media study, powered by pressrelations NewsRadar®, which examined international media reporting in the context of holidays and travel in 2022. It analysed the extent to which the media reported on sustainable travel. What can be seen is that in 2022 the media very frequently reported on aspects of sustainable travel. In the German media, 25 per cent of tourism reporting addressed the topic of sustainability.
    Higher travel expenses in 2022
    In 2022, while the average duration of an international trip was almost the same as before the pandemic, according to the World Travel Monitor® travel expenses per person and trip rose significantly again. In 2022, average spending per night and person was around 165 euros. Stays became shorter – their duration reaching almost pre-pandemic levels – due to an above-average growth in short breaks (one to three nights). These suffered a much greater decline over the last two years of the pandemic. Increases in travel spending resulted above all from higher travel costs, due to inflation and the reduced availability of flights and services. By contrast, the World Travel Monitor®’s findings showed hardly any change in outbound travellers’ incomes.
    Recovery set to continue in 2023
    According to the IPK’s surveys, this positive trend will continue in 2023, and globally the outbound travel figures for 2019 are within reach, at least as far as the majority of source markets, travel destinations and markets are concerned. The latest survey results reflect a virtually uninterrupted desire for international travel in 2023.
    Visitors to the ITB Berlin Convention 2023 will gain further industry-specific insights. In 200 sessions more than 400 experts will exchange views on the current tasks and challenges facing the tourism industry at the leading think tank for the travel industry from 7 – 9 March.

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    Climb to New Heights at Changi Airport’s Newest Attraction: Climb@T3

    A new sport climbing attraction will open in Changi Airport as part of Changi Airport Group (CAG)’s continuous effort to enhance the experience for passengers and visitors.[email protected], managed by The Rock School (TRS) Singapore, will be located at Terminal 3 Basement 3. It will feature an 8-metre-high rock-climbing wall as well as a 12-metre-long boulder wall. The family-friendly facility will have both guided and free-and-easy programmes for climbers of varying skill levels, from as young as two years of age to adult enthusiasts.
    Ms Phau Hui Hoon, General Manager of Landside Concessions at CAG said, “At Changi Airport, we’re constantly looking for ways to delight our visitors and inject excitement into our offerings. [email protected] is the latest addition to Changi Airport’s suite of leisure and entertainment offerings and will offer a fun and challenging experience to our passengers and visitors. We hope both new and experienced climbers will enjoy scaling new heights with us.”
    Mr Chong Zedong, Managing Director of The Rock School, said, “The Rock School is excited to partner CAG in this initiative because we believe that with our 15 years of experience, [email protected], as a family-friendly facility, will be able to add to Changi Airport’s value-proposition of being a world-class icon and destination in itself.”
    State-of-the-art climbing facilities
    [email protected]’s star attraction is the 8-metre High Wall, spanning Basements 2 and 3. Constructed by the official wall provider for the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games, the wall’s nine lanes are each equipped with state-of-the-art auto belay systems, which allow families and friends to climb together even if they do not know how to belay. Climbers can challenge themselves with over 20 different climbing routes to pick from. In time to come, this will go up to about 30 routes, with each ranging in difficulty from beginner to intermediate levels.ADVERTISEMENTAlso available is the 12-metre-long, 2.5-metre-high Boulder Wall, open for use by all climbers but built primarily for younger and budding climbers to hone their skills and build their confidence before they move on to the High Wall.
    Programmes for every type of climber
    Climbers aged two and above who prefer a free and easy climbing session of up to two hours can opt for the ‘Climb and Play (Unguided)’ programme. Children aged 12 and below must be accompanied by an adult. Those who prefer more guidance can opt for the ‘Climb and Play (Guided)’ programme, where experienced instructors will spend an hour showing participants the ropes at the High Wall.
    The Rock Tots programme, designed for children aged two to six, is filled with activities and games aimed at helping children get comfortable with climbing and learn new movement types in a fun and age-appropriate way. This fortnightly one-hour Boulder Wall-only programme will progressively challenge children both mentally and physically and is a great way of building parent-child rapport.
    Programmes for those with special needs are also available on an ad-hoc basis, and will be led by specially-trained staff. More programmes, including TRS’ popular Step Up! Coaching Programme for children that employs a sustainable coaching pedagogy developed by sports science and youth development professionals, will be added to the line-up in the future.
    While visitors are welcome to bring their own gear, [email protected] also offers climbing harnesses and shoes for rent. Programme bookings can be made at www.climbt3.sg.
    Opening promotions
    Opening promotions include Early Bird pricing of up to 30% off all packages purchased from 28 February to 10 March, and promotional pricing of up to 10% off from 11 March until further notice. Both Early Bird and promotional packages include complimentary equipment rental. Bookings can be made from 2 March onwards.
    Once open, [email protected] will operate from 12:00pm to 9:30pm on Mondays to Fridays. On weekends and public holidays, the facility will open from 10:00am to 9:30pm, with regular coaching classes conducted between 10:00am to 12:00pm, and unguided and guided programmes commencing from 12:00pm onwards.

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    MORE CHOICE: BRITISH AIRWAYS HOLIDAYS CUSTOMERS CAN NOW PAY WITH AVIOS WHEN BOOKING HOLIDAYS

    British Airways Executive Club Members now have more choice than ever when it comes to using their Avios, with the new option to redeem them towards the cost of a British Airways Holidays booking.Customers choosing a flight and hotel and/or car package with British Airways Holidays, can now use Avios towards the total price of a holiday when making their booking. After selecting their preferred package, customers will be able to pick one of up to nine different Avios payment options at check out, allowing them to choose the amount of cash and Avios they wish to spend, with the cash amount starting from as little as £1, subject to holding a qualifying Avios balance. Examples include:
    Return flights and two nights’ accommodation in Barcelona from £1 + 67,650 Avios for two people sharing (50p + 33,825 per person)**Return flights and three nights’ accommodation in New York from £1 + 246,275 Avios for two people sharing (50p + 123,188 Avios per person)**Alternatively, customers can secure their holiday with a deposit just using Avios, paying any remaining balance with cash in as many or few instalments as they like, provided the balance is paid off in full four or five* weeks before travel for short haul trips or seven weeks for long-haul.
    British Airways Executive Club Members will also continue to earn Double Tier points with British Airways Holidays. To qualify they need to book flights and hotel, or flights and car hire, for five nights or more and travel before 31 December 2023. This includes solo travellers and any holidays already booked.
    There are a number of ways for customers to collect Avios to spend on holidays, including spending on the British Airways American Express Credit Card, travelling with Uber, converting Nectar points and shopping on the British Airways Avios eStore. With more than 1,500 outlets to select from, savvy shoppers can earn Avios from any purchase that they make when visiting www.shopping.ba.com.
    Claire Bentley, Managing Director of British Airways Holidays, said: “Now more than ever we want to give as many options as possible when it comes to booking that much needed holiday, so we are really excited to offer our Executive Club Members the ability to spend Avios on a package with British Airways Holidays.ADVERTISEMENT“When people book with us, they can do so knowing that we take their holiday seriously. As well as a wide range of holidays to suit all travellers and budgets, we have a dedicated helpline available to customers at any point during their holiday, so they can switch off and relax knowing that they are in safe hands.”
    In addition to packages with British Airways Holidays, British Airways Executive Club Members can use Avios to pay, or part pay for flights, as well as seat selection, upgrades and on board food and drink.
    Elsewhere, after much feedback from customers, British Airways recently rolled out its Reward Flight Saver to 100 per cent of its network. This proposition allows customers to purchase a Reward Seat at a low flat fee, plus a fixed Avios amount. Members can travel to and from Europe from as little as £1 plus 18,500 Avios, or to a long-haul destination, such as New York, from £100 plus 50,000 Avios.

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    GEORGIA’S PRIME MINISTER IRAKLI GARIASHVILI TO OPEN ITB BERLIN 2023

    Official opening ceremony on 6 March 2023 with leading names in politics and tourism – Georgia, the Host Country of ITB Berlin, will kick off the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show with a spectacular show program of traditional dance and music performances.
    A high-profile lineup for the festive opening gala of the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show: Georgian Prime Minister H.E. Irakli Gariashvili will ceremoniously open ITB Berlin 2023 with a brilliant show of traditional Georgian dances and music. The opening ceremony, hosted by ITB Berlin and this year’s Host Country, will take place on the eve of the first day of the trade show, March 6, 2023, at 6 p.m. in the CityCube Berlin for invited guests.
    Dr. Robert Habeck, Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Berlin’s Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey and Dirk Hoffmann, Managing Director of Messe Berlin, will welcome invited guests from all over the world to this year’s ITB Berlin. Other well-known representatives of the travel industry have also announced their attendance: Julia Simpson, President & CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), and Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
    Under the heading “Infinite Georgian culture – from the beginnings of viniculture to modern avant-garde art”, an impressive journey through the cultural and ethnic diversity of the country in the Caucasus awaits the audience. The official opening show includes a conceptual and contemporary performance of masterpieces of Georgian performing arts from various genres: from ethno jazz and classical music to part-singing and electronic music, as well as performances by the world-famous Sukhishvili Georgian National Ballet. Divided into six acts, in addition to ballet dancers showcasing the diversity of Georgia on stage, the Rustavi Ensemble will present traditional Georgian polyphony and impress with its unique Georgian style of polyphonic singing. The audience can also look forward to the artistic director and chief conductor of the Georgian Philharmonic Orchestra Nikoloz Rachveli, the internationally renowned opera soprano Nino Machaidze, and the Georgian pianist Dudana Mazmanishvili, who is causing a sensation on the world’s stages with her lyrical talent and extraordinary virtuosity. Other notable artists will include the Georgian violinist Liza Batiashvili, the Georgian composer and musician Dato Evgenidze, and Nika Machaidze, a musician, filmmaker and artist. He produces a form of electronic music (IDM) that uses breakbeat rhythms to create harmonies and melodies that reference Georgian folk music.

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    Royal Jordanian Airlines expands technology agreement with Sabre

    Sabre Corporation, a leading software and technology provider powering the global travel industry, and Royal Jordanian Airlines, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Jordan, announced the renewal and expansion of a long-term distribution and technology agreement to continue to distribute the carrier’s content through Sabre’s global distribution system (GDS) and to utilize Sabre’s leading technology to achieve its strategic goals.
    Under the expanded agreement, Royal Jordanian will continue distributing its content to the large network of travel agents and corporations worldwide connected to Sabre’s GDS. Furthermore, the airline will be deploying a set of Sabre leading technology including Sabre’s Dynamic availability and Fares Manager and Fares Optimizer. The adoption of these products can help Royal Jordanian Airlines move toward a more flexible and modern environment, while supporting its growth.
    “We have ambitious plans to double our fleet and operations within the coming 3-5 years and to position Royal Jordanian as the carrier of choice connecting Jordan and Levant with the world,” said Karim Makhlouf, chief commercial officer, Royal Jordanian.  “Our extended technology partnership with Sabre will help us deploy the most robust and advanced technology to enable our growth plans, help us drive profitability and improve our efficiency while staying on top of today’s ever-changing airline landscape. We are excited to continue partnering with Sabre at this exciting time.”
    Dynamic Availability empowers airlines to gain better control of their pricing position by leveraging shopping data, automating fare changes, and enabling dynamic pricing capabilities to generate recommendations that help drive incremental revenue opportunities. Fares Manager and Fares Optimizer, on the other hand, brings integrated end-to-end automation and intelligence to airline pricing to increase analyst productivity and improve revenue opportunities.
    “As a key building block for personalized retailing, our dynamic pricing engine enables airlines to optimize availability at scale and unlock greater value by maximizing revenue,” said Darren Rickey, senior vice president, airline sales, Sabre Travel Solutions. ” We are thrilled to expand our long-standing relationship with Royal Jordanian, one of the forward-thinking airlines in the Middle East region and help them deploy some of the industry-leading technology that brings broader possibilities and insightful information about their guests, so they can remain competitive and succeed in this ever-evolving industry.”ADVERTISEMENTSabre provides technology and consultancy services to more than 225 airlines, including most of the world’s largest carriers. Sabre’s broad suite of flexible and scalable software solutions allows airlines to operate how they want to and adapt their business to changing needs and requirements.  Most of the world’s largest carriers already use Sabre’s technology to address their biggest challenges – increasing revenue, minimizing costs and providing an enhanced travel experience.

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    ITB 2023: the EU’s green tourism pioneer paves the way in sustainability

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    ITB 2023: the EU’s green tourism pioneer paves the way in sustainability

    2023 European Destination of Excellence (EDEN) Kranj (Slovenia) is participating in ITB Berlin 2023. Representatives from the destination will be at the European Capital of Smart Tourism stand (Hall 20, stand 303).Kranj is setting the standard in a form of tourism that is good for the environment and benefits the local community. This means implementing tourism measures that are reducing carbon footprints, while at the same time, empowering communities to get the most out of their local tourism industry. Leading sustainable tourism practices in Kranj include:
    The Green Team: a team dedicated to lowering the carbon footprint across Kranj. The team is made up of 21 members from different local authority institutions. It collects data, sets targets and organises workshops with local businesses and tourism industry representatives, to make sure those targets are met.The SOS Info Centre Proteus: the tunnels underneath Kranj old town are home to a rare species of olm. A local laboratory, in partnership with town authorities, have been researching and protecting these amphibious creatures for decades. The centre is taking this a step further, by informing visitors and locals about the endangered species, as well as the importance of the groundwater in which they live; a vital source of drinking water for the entire Slovenian population.To secure a one-on-one meeting a representative from Kranj, you can book an appointment here.
    The European Destinations of Excellence is an EU initiative, implemented by the European Commission. Its aim is to recognise and reward smaller destinations that have put in place successful strategies to boost sustainable tourism through green transition practices. The competition is founded upon the principle of promoting the development of sustainable tourism in destinations which brings value to the economy, the planet and people.
    For all the latest news visit the European Destinations of Excellence website. https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/tourism/eden_en

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