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      What’s new in Orlando for 2024

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      Tourism board Visit Orlando will be exhibiting at this year’s London World Travel Market on stand S3-222.
      Orlando is the most visited destination in the United States, Theme Park Capital of the World®, and the No. 1 meeting destination in the country. The tourism board looks to highlight these key messages as well as a variety of talking points going into 2024, including accessibility, the newest openings inside and outside of the parks, affordable Orlando, and lesser-known experiences.
      Orlando is constantly evolving with plenty of new openings and additions planned for the end of 2023 and into 2024.
      Accommodation:
      The luxury Waldorf Astoria Orlando is undergoing a comprehensive, multi-phase reimagination with this expected to debut in December 2023.ADVERTISEMENTIdeal for families and groups, Evermore Orlando Resort is planning a late-2023 grand opening, with reservations now open for stays beginning 5 February 2024. This resort will be a re-imagined 10,000-bedroom complex, offering an array of stay experiences from single homes and villas to flats. Also onsite, a new Conrad Orlando, features 433 rooms, including 51 regular suites and 10 spacious family suites.
      Transportation:
      Florida’s Brightline high-speed rail service is revolutionising Orlando to Miami travel, with the service up and running from 22nd September 2023. The route includes 16 daily round trips with hourly departures, including stops in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Aventura.
      Experiences:
      Journey of Water, inspired by Moana, opens in late-2023 within World Nature, the EPCOT neighbourhood dedicated to understanding and preserving the beauty, awe, and balance of the natural world. The all-ages attraction will allow guests to explore and engage with water as it travels from the skies to the oceans and back again.
      Caribe Royale Orlando Resort will debut its all-new, sports-centric facility, Stadium Club, in January 2024.
      Universal Orlando Resort will debut an all-new themed land featuring DreamWorks Animations’ animated characters in an immersive and interactive experience in 2024. The land will feature Gabby from Gabby’s Dollhouse, along with interactive play spaces and attractions including characters from Shrek, Trolls, Kung Fu Panda, and more.

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      WTTC opens its Global Summit in Kigali with a strong message of recovery for Travel & Tourism

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      As the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit kicks off in Kigali today, WTTC president Julia Simpson revealed that the global tourism sector is making a robust comeback.
      The latest data from WTTC and its partner Oxford Economics shows that global travel is surging back, with all regions recovering faster than previously expected, with Asia-Pacific leading the way.
      Speaking at the opening of the 23rd Global Summit, Simpson said: “Our latest data highlights our sector’s enduring appeal and resilience and is recovering faster than anticipated.
      “This trend underlines the longstanding consumer appetite for travel, and despite China’s full recovery potential yet to be realised, the global sector’s performance is exceeding expectations.”
      WTTC recently launched the latest industry-shaping Environmental Impact Research data (ESR), in partnership with the Sustainable Tourism Global Centre (STGC), part of the ministry of tourism of Saudi Arabia.
      Last year, during the WTTC Global Summit in Riyadh, the two organisations launched the collaboration and unveiled the inaugural results including the accurate greenhouse gas emissions for the first time ever.
      This represents the most comprehensive environmental data in tourism history including the sector’s energy, and water use footprint.
      Not only tells the sector’s direct impact, but also its supply chain impacts, both within national borders and those that are embedded in tourism’s international supply chains.
      According to the data, tourism was responsible for 8.1 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, 10.6 per cent of total global energy and 0.9 per cent of freshwater use.
      The ground-breaking ESR data covers 185 countries across all regions and will be updated each year with the latest figures.
      Building upon WTTC’s world-renowned Economic Impact Research, this initiative introduces individualized factsheets for each country and major global regions, and a dedicated microsite allowing users to explore the data in detail.
      Global Summit
      As host to the first ever WTTC Global Summit in Africa, the event in Kigali will feature footballing legend Didier Drogba; Justin Urquhart-Stewart, Global Economist and renowned business commentator; Francis Gatare, chief executive of the Rwanda Development Board; as well as heads of state from the region.
      WTTC Members, international media, and government representation from over 45 countries are also attending the event in Kigali.

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      Etihad Airways, operates the first commercial flight opening Terminal A

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      Etihad Airways, operates the first commercial flight opening Terminal A

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      As the UAE’s national airline, Etihad Airways operated the first commercial flight from Abu Dhabi International’s highly-anticipated new Terminal A today.
      Etihad flight EY224, from Abu Dhabi to New Delhi, departed Terminal A today at 14.35. The flight used one of the airline’s Airbus A350-1000, with 359 guests onboard.
      Etihad and Abu Dhabi International Airport welcomed the guests who made history as they enjoyed the seamless experience of checking in at Terminal A for the first time.
      To commemorate the occasion, all passengers, including those in both Economy and Business classes, had the unique opportunity to be the inaugural guests at the new flagship Etihad Lounges which span three floors at Terminal A.
      After sampling a special menu of celebratory cuisine at the Etihad Lounge, guests made their way to Gate C27, where themed decorations and a photo booth awaited to capture this historic moment.ADVERTISEMENTThe ceremonial flight was officially inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by a distinguished array of guests, including Etihad and Abu Dhabi Airport Board members and aviation leaders. Among those present were Etihad’s CEO, Antonoaldo Neves, as well as Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Interim CEO and Frank McCrorie, Chief Operations Officer at Abu Dhabi Airports. Antonoaldo and Frank both gave speeches to officially welcome the airport’s first guests.
      Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad, said: “This is a pivotal and exciting moment in Etihad’s history. As we begin to celebrate our 20th anniversary in November, we are ready for the next growth chapter in our new home.
      “Our congratulations go to the Abu Dhabi leadership for their vision in creating what is one of the world’s most spectacular airports. The terminal is a stunning piece of architecture that echoes the local landscape and warmly welcomes our guests and elevates their travel experience.
      “As we begin our transition to our new home, we look forward to welcoming even more passengers as we continue to grow and expand our fleet and network.”

      Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and Interim CEO at Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “This is an historic moment for Abu Dhabi International Airport, our partners at Etihad Airways, and the emirate as whole. The first flight from Terminal A marks a major milestone in the journey of Abu Dhabi’s aviation sector. Terminal A brings a significant increase to capacity, and delivers state-of-the-art facilities to both airlines and passengers. We look forward to welcoming more passengers throughout November as we continue to increase the number of flights departing and arriving at Terminal A.”
      Terminal A is a key pillar of Etihad’s growth strategy, with the capability to handle up to 45 million passengers annually and connect Abu Dhabi to 117 global destinations.
      The Terminal provides dedicated check-in desks for Etihad’s Economy guests, as well as exclusive areas for guests travelling in Business and First to enjoy a fast-tracked, premium experience. Additional state-of-the-art biometric self-bag drop facilities are available for all guests wishing to take advantage of a speedy check-in.
      Guests flying in Etihad’s premium cabins can take advantage of the kerbside drop off facility outside of the First and Business class exclusive check-in area, where porters are on hand to assist with luggage.
      Etihad’s expansive new airport lounges feature an array of cuisine and dining options, a rooftop cocktail bar, a variety of relaxation spaces, games room and a family room. For added convenience, the Lounge offers direct boarding access for three aircraft, meaning many guests will be able to board their flight straight from the Lounge.
      Etihad will transition flights to Terminal A in a phased approach from 9 November and during this time the airline advises all passengers to carefully check their terminal information within two days of travel to ensure the most accurate information. Between 9 and 14 November, Etihad will operate from both Terminal A and Terminal 3, and from 11am on 14 November Etihad is set to operate all flights from Terminal A.
      Visit etihad.com/TerminalAinfo for more information.

      Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad said: “This is a pivotal and exciting moment in Etihad’s history. As we begin to celebrate our 20th anniversary in November, we are ready for the next growth chapter in our new home.
      “Our congratulations go to the Abu Dhabi leadership for their vision in creating what is one of the world’s most spectacular airports. The terminal is a stunning piece of architecture that echoes the local landscape and warmly welcomes our guests and elevates their travel experience.
      “As we begin our transition to our new home, we look forward to welcoming even more passengers as we continue to grow and expand our fleet and network.”

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      Israel Government Tourist Office withdraws from WTM

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      Israel Government Tourist Office withdraws from WTM

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      The Israel Government Tourist Office has pulled out of World Travel Market London, which is due to take place at ExCeL next week (November 6-8)The withdrawal from the international travel trade show comes amid Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
      A spokesperson for WTM London said the event was informed this morning and the tourist board has been removed from the list of exhibitors.
      Pini Shani, senior deputy director general of marketing for Israel’s Ministry of Tourism had originally been expected to attend, along with representatives from the London team.
      A statement from Israel’s Ministry of Tourism said: “After consideration, Israel’s Ministry of Tourism has decided to no longer attend this year’s World Travel Market in London.
      “The Ministry, through its Tourist Office in London, vows to support the travel industry, its stakeholders, and those who rely on tourism and visitation to the country and hopes to welcome travellers from the UK back to Israel in the future as soon as it’s possible to do so.”ADVERTISEMENTSource: Travelweekly.co.uk

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      Sharjah to showcase integrated tourism developments at World Travel Market

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      Costa del Sol seeks to attract more high-spending British tourists at World Travel Market in London

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      Francisco Salado and Margarita del Cid will attend the WTM in London
      The Costa del Sol hopes to appealing to more British tourists with greater purchasing power at the upcoming annual World Travel Market (WTM) in London. The main aim of the fair, held from 6 to 8 November, will be to recover some of the pre-pandemic tourists to further boost the number of visitors to Malaga province next year.
      President of Turismo Costa del Sol Francisco Salado, together with the CEO Margarita del Cid will attend the event. Meanwhile, SUR will have its own stand at the travel trade fair for yet another year.Both Salado and Del Cid have presented the campaign that the province will take to the fair, the most important for the tourism industry in Malaga. With optimism, but also with caution, Salado is confident in the improvement of the UK economy and the potential of the destination to achieve the objectives set. He pointed out the strong recovery of British tourism recorded in the past year.
      However, according to latest data, the number of tourists staying in hotels and holiday apartments are still 7% below pre-pandemic levels and 10% lower when it comes to British visitors.
      From January to August, a total of 4.2 million stays were recorded, almost 6% more than in 2022. “We are on the road to recovery. We have made a lot of progress. British arrivals at the airport are up 12% on last year, but still almost 11% below 2019 records. The figure has improved, but we have to keep working hard,” Salado said. A total of 79% of British overnight stays in the Andalucía are on the Costa del Sol, Salado added.Turismo Costa del Sol has invested 600,000 euros in its promotional campaign which it will take to the travel fair in London. Salado said the organisation will have its own 200-square-metre stand with work and networking areas at which 50 companies and 150 professionals will be present. Meetings with travel agencies, operators and airlines, are planned in addition to 300 meetings scheduled for Malaga businesspeople at the stand.
      To attract the attention of the British and promote the main attractions of the province, there will be special attention paid to Malaga province’s golf, weather and beaches. In the centre of London, at Marble Arch, Turismo Costa del Sol will also dress up an old newsstand with striking images of the province and with staff handing out newspapers named ‘sun’ – a play on the region’s famous sunshine.ADVERTISEMENT

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      Bahamas Visitor Arrivals Now at Pre-Pandemic (2019) Levels

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      In the first three quarters of 2023, The Bahamas welcomed more than 7.2 million visitors, equalling in nine months the total number of arrivals for all of 2019, putting the country squarely on target to welcome more than 8 million visitors this year.The Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation can confirm that arrivals by air and sea, from January through the end of September 2023, numbered 7,209,165. Of this record number of visitors to our beautiful islands, 1,332,752 came by air and 5,876,413 came by sea as total arrivals are outpacing 2019 by 33 percent.Elaborating on the country’s 2023 tourism performance, the Hon. I. Chester Cooper, Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation, said: “The overall goal of our efforts in tourism is to continually increase visitor arrival numbers to our destination, year after year. Our tourism performance in 2023 has been spectacular on two fronts. We have surpassed the tourism benchmark year of 2019 across all metrics, and our visitor arrival numbers are a resounding indication of a complete post-pandemic rebound.”
      Cruise arrivals from the beginning of the year through September are up 61 percent over the corresponding period in 2022, and 45 percent ahead of 2019. Foreign air arrivals, which include stopovers and day visitors, are up 21 percent over the same period in 2022 and stopover visitors through September, are just shy of the total number of stopover visitors for the same period of 2019.
      Hotel occupancy is up over 2019, with average daily room rates and room revenue significantly ahead of that year. The Bahamas also continues to see gains in the overall spend of visitors onshore.
      DPM Cooper hailed the result as a confluence of strategic planning and hotel and cruise operators’ continued confidence in the strength of The Bahamas brand. He said, “we are now certain to have a record year for tourism arrivals, and it’s no fluke.”
      “We have some of the most attractive cruise destinations in the region, with the new Port of Nassau making waves on social media and throughout the travel sector. Nassau, Bimini, the Berry Islands, Half Moon Cay and other destinations have seen remarkable growth in cruise arrivals in the past two years, with more visitors coming off the ships and spending more time onshore. This activity is being felt throughout the economy.”ADVERTISEMENTDPM Cooper pointed out that the metrics are also changing with stopover visitors. “We see that room rates are nearly 60 percent higher than they were in 2019, yet occupancy rates are higher and room nights sold continues to increase.”
      “This not only translates to higher revenue for all tourism stakeholders, but also speaks to the extraordinary demand that exists for our product. Importantly, we are seeing a healthy hold in repeat visitors from our main source markets, while witnessing major increases in new arrivals who are spreading the message about The Bahamas.”
      Cooper said the dedication of tourism stakeholders to providing new experiences and stellar service year in and year out has not only helped The Bahamas tourism industry, recover to pre-pandemic levels, but is also pushing us toward gaining significantly more market share in the region.
      “We must be incredibly intentional about tourism. The Ministry of Tourism and its partners spend a great deal of time and energy to better understand our customers,” he said. “What we know is that with the projects underway in many of our islands and, the next few years of redevelopment of airport infrastructure across our islands, we will continue to grow our arrival numbers, barring any acts of God or global shocks.”
      “This is the strongest tourism has ever been, and we only expect our performance to get stronger.”

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      TAT concludes the second edition of “The One for Nature” campaign

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      TAT concludes the second edition of “The One for Nature” campaign

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      The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has concluded the second edition of “The One for Nature” project with a series of online and on the ground responsible tourism initiatives that underline Thailand’s direction towards high-value and sustainable tourism experiences, following the success of the campaign’s first edition in 2020.Mr. Nithee Seeprae, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, said, “The campaign corresponds with the TAT’s Corporate Plan 2023-2027, which aims to elevate TAT’s position as the strategic leader in driving Thailand towards experience-based and sustainable tourism. Activities under “The One for Nature” campaign are conceptualised to strengthen the awareness of Amazing Thailand as a quality destination for sustainable tourism that appeals to environmentally conscious travellers.”
      In its second edition, “The One for Nature” campaign is aimed to offer environmentally conscious travellers from all over the world the opportunity to immerse themselves in even more abundant natural surroundings once again after natural sights across Thailand have rejuvenated and restored their natural beauty.
      The campaign kicked off with online and on the ground activities from August to September 2023. During the one month, the online campaign garnered 10,369,360 impressions.
      Travellers were invited to join an online activity via www.tourismthailand.org/theonefornature by uploading their own photo of their favourite travel destination in Thailand and share on social media for their friends to vote. The top two participants with the highest votes were awarded an exclusive four-day/three-night sustainable tour package. Each package included round-trip flight tickets for two, accommodation, meals, and activities. The third, fourth, and fifth-place winners also received prizes.
      Travellers were also invited to join on the ground responsible tourism activities of learning how to recycle and turn trash into treasure. The activities were arranged at Bali Hai Pier in Pattaya, Chon Buri, and the Walking Streets in Chiang Mai and Phuket.ADVERTISEMENTThe campaign concluded in Phuket with a collaboration between TAT, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, and SCG to construct coral larval settlement with 3D Cement Printing Technology using marine-friendly materials for marine ecosystem rehabilitation. The placement of coral larval settlement under the sea at Ko Racha Yai was proceeded by Racha master diver volunteers and the Racha Phuket Hotel.

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      Six Strategies to Reduce Stress and Enhance Well-Being in Business Travel

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      Six Strategies to Reduce Stress and Enhance Well-Being in Business Travel

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      According to recent research, four in five business travellers will experience poor mental health and heightened stress, anxiety, exhaustion and loneliness during work trips.
      It’s true that travelling can still be stressful due to the demands of work, unfamiliar environments, and the pressure to meet deadlines. These trips can be successful though, if there is plenty of careful planning and support provided by employers to minimise stress and maximise productivity.
      With National Stress Awareness Day just around the corner, I discuss how businesses can make corporate travel less stressful for employees…
      #1 Plan in advance
      The foundation of a successful business trip is thorough itinerary planning. This includes scheduling meetings, arranging transportation, and booking accommodations for employees in advance to ensure that everything runs smoothly.ADVERTISEMENTBusinesses should develop a schedule that factors in buffer time for unexpected delays. Providing your employees with additional time and a well-structured schedule can help alleviate stress and worry if things don’t go to plan.
      Corporate travel coordinators will also need to be mindful of travelling between time zones. Jet lag can significantly hinder an employee’s performance. Careful planning of this often-overlooked facet of business travel will ensure employees have the time to rest and adjust to local time ahead of important meetings.
      #2 Use a travel management company (TMC)
      Consider using travel management platforms and apps to streamline the booking and expense tracking process. TMCs typically offer 24/7 support and assistance in case of travel disruptions or emergencies. Knowing that help is just a phone call away can reduce the stress associated with unexpected situations.
      Some platforms will also include integrated expense-tracking features. Employees can easily log their expenses, such as meals and incidentals, during their trips, which are automatically recorded in the system. This not only reduces the administrative burden for both employees and organisations, but also ensures accurate and consistent expense reporting.
      #3 Prioritise wellbeing in your travel policy
      A clear travel policy, which outlines expectations, reimbursement procedures and guidelines for booking travel is essential.
      But travel policies should go beyond making sure staff adhere to certain rules. Businesses have a responsibility to boost employee wellness where possible, particularly during stressful scenarios like travelling for business.
      A TMC can assist here in helping companies create individual travel profiles to enhance workers’ travel experiences and optimise their performance. This could involve building unique, personalised plans, which encompass dietary requirements, fitness routines and even entertainment preferences.
      Even small details like providing employees with an adequate budget for nutritious meals, and access to flat beds for quality sleep can go a long way in improving the physical and mental wellbeing of your workforce while travelling.
      Companies may choose to recognise their ‘road warriors’ with bigger perks. Frequent business travellers are likely to bring in substantial business, so acknowledge their efforts with added benefits to boost morale and retain top talent.
      This could mean implementing specialised policies for your ‘high mileage’ workers like upgraded accommodation or more flexible work arrangements to help balance work and travel demands.
      #5 Take advantage of corporate rewards.
      Encourage employees to join frequent flyer or hotel loyalty programmes, which can lead to perks like upgrades, lounge access and faster check-ins.
      Employees can also simplify the travel experience by using mobile boarding passes to skip the lines at the ticket counter or enrol in programmes like Fast Track to expedite airport security screening.
      These simple additions to an employee’s journey not only save time but also reduce the stress associated with long security lines and the potential risk of missing a flight due to delays.
      #6 Enhance travel support with technology.
      Embracing technology is essential for businesses looking to reduce stress among business travellers as it streamlines travel processes and enhances communication.
      Many airports and hotels are introducing biometric authentication technology, like facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, which reduces waiting times during security and check-in processes.
      AI is becoming more recognised for its potential to ease travel stress too. For example, AI-driven virtual assistants, are useful for providing real-time updates, suggesting travel options, and even rebooking flights in the event of cancellations. American Express, is already investing in Large Language Models (LLMs) to improve traveller care operations and answer questions efficiently.
      While there are benefits to using AI in travel, it’s hard to say if it will ever fully replace the human touch. AI is not always accurate and can frequently provide incorrect answers. Additionally, the travel industry is dynamic, and there still needs to be a human level of understanding to navigate the differing priorities of suppliers, companies, and travellers.

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