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New York City Mayor Eric Adams, along with NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organisation and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York City, has kicked off the 30th anniversary of NYC Restaurant Week® with a press conference at Gage & Tollner, one of the original 1992 participants, while also announcing Savor NYC: a yearlong culinary celebration. A full list of restaurants participating in NYC Restaurant Week, sponsored by Mastercard®, is available at nycgo.com/restaurantweek. 
“NYC Restaurant Week provides New Yorkers and visitors the ability to eat at hundreds of restaurants, in dozens of neighborhoods, across all five boroughs,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “This year’s Restaurant Week is bringing diners an array of flavors with amazing deals. No matter where you dine, there is no better time to support our city’s restaurants than NYC Restaurant Week.”
“We are proud to celebrate 30 years of NYC Restaurant Week, marking three decades of exceptional deals to diners across the five boroughs,” said Fred Dixon, President and CEO of NYC & Company. “To continue celebrating the City’s world-class dining scene, we are pleased to announce the launch of Savor NYC, a yearlong culinary initiative that will spotlight the culinary community across the City’s multicultural neighborhoods encouraging visitors to go deeper and explore more.” 
The dining program, running 30 days from July 18 through August 21, highlights more than 650 restaurants across all five boroughs with more than 60 different styles of cuisines in 85 neighborhoods. The program encourages locals and visitors alike to explore the City’s vast, diverse and accessible restaurant scene while helping to support small businesses, the industry and its workers. 
Running Monday through Friday (with the option to participate on Sundays), NYC Restaurant Week offers a multitude of options for dining enthusiasts to enjoy. Participating restaurants will be offering either a two-course lunch or three-course dinner prix-fixe menu of classic, favorite and new menu items.  Inclusive price points for carefully crafted dishes are $30, $45 or $60, depending on the restaurant. This pricing structure was created to ensure establishments from all five boroughs can participate, from neighborhood eateries to fine dining. More than 100 restaurants will also offer $30 bottles of wine to commemorate the 30th anniversary, available on participating menus. ADVERTISEMENTDiners can browse participating restaurants by filters including “location,” “cuisine,” “has menu,” “$10 Mastercard rebate,” “accessibility,” “ownership,” “weeks participating,” and “meals.” Collections will also be available at nycgo.com/restaurantweek to help consumers choose restaurants by interest, including “Restaurant Week Classics,” “Lunch Break,” “Summer Vibes,” “Impress Your Followers,” “Dress for the Occasion,” “James Beard Honorees,” “Wine Spectator Winners’’ and lastly, “Make it a Stella,” a collection from Stella Artois, the official beer sponsor of NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2022.  Mastercard cardholders can pre-register here to receive an exclusive $10 statement credit on each transaction of $45 or more while dining on-site (for up to three (3) transactions, totaling a $30 rebate), when dining out through July 31.
“Bringing visitors and locals a meaningful way to experience world-class dining in New York City is truly Priceless,” said Rustom Dastoor, executive vice president of North America Marketing & Communications at Mastercard. “Together with NYC & Company, we are excited to provide cardholders exclusive discounts during NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2022 as they explore their passion for food and travel.”
In this landmark anniversary year, 15 of the original 1992 NYC & Company NYC Restaurant Week participants have returned, including: Barbetta, Carmine’s (Upper West Side), Dock’s Oyster Bar, Fraunces Tavern, Gage & Tollner, Gallagher’s Steak House, The Palm, Sardi’s, Shun Lee West, Sylvia’s, Tavern on the Green, Tribeca Grill, The Russian Tea Room, Union Square Café and Victor’s Café. NYC Restaurant Week is the original Restaurant Week created during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in 1992, which has been replicated in cities nationally and globally. 
“A true testimony to a savory milestone – NYC Restaurant Week’s 30th and Sylvia’s Restaurant’s 60th Anniversary. As an inaugural participant and fan, I’m overjoyed to support the best restaurant city on the planet one plate at a time,” said Tren’ness Woods-Black, co-chair of the NYC & Company Culinary Committee.
“As an original participant in the 1992 program, I’m honored to be a part of the 30th anniversary of NYC Restaurant Week, a cherished tradition in New York City. NYC Restaurant Week has always been a way for people to experience new restaurants, including some of the best in the world at an affordable price. This special anniversary is the perfect time for people to reconnect and celebrate over a memorable meal,” said chef and restaurateur David Burke, co-chair of the NYC & Company Culinary Committee.
NYC & Company has long been committed to championing the local business community, with NYC Restaurant Week at the forefront of those efforts. The continued success of NYC Restaurant Week is a key indicator of New Yorkers’ and visitors’ desire to explore the five boroughs through food. 
During today’s NYC Restaurant Week 30th anniversary kick-off event at Gage & Tollner – one of the oldest restaurants in New York city having first opened in 1879 and an original 1992 Restaurant Week partner—Mayor Eric Adams and NYC & Company also announced an initiative to double down on supporting and promoting every culinary corner of the five boroughs with a program titled, “Savor NYC.” The yearlong campaign will highlight monthly content including cuisines across all cultures, street carts, established restaurants, accessible cuisine, sustainable cuisines, culinary events and more across the five boroughs that make New York City the most celebrated dining destination in the world.
A list of participating NYC Restaurant Week eateries is available at nycgo.com/restaurantweek. 
The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment has partnered with NYC & Company as a sponsor of NYC Restaurant Week, to offset participation fees for businesses across the boroughs in response to New York City’s ongoing tourism recovery.
In honor of this milestone 30th anniversary and in support of local students’ pursuit of careers in restaurants and hospitality, NYC & Company has made a donation to the Food Education Fund.

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The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) is pleased to announce their partnership with Discover Puerto Rico to host the 2023 ASTA Global Convention (AGC) in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino and the Puerto Rico Convention Center, May 2-4, 2023. As a result of member feedback over the years, ASTA has decided to change the dates of AGC from late August to early May.
“We’re thrilled to partner with our friends at Discover Puerto Rico for the 2023 ASTA Global Convention. Puerto Rico has been a longstanding partner of ASTA. Brad, Ed, and the entire Discover Puerto Rico team have gone above and beyond to support the travel advisor community,” said Zane Kerby, President, and CEO of ASTA. “By hosting the Global Convention, Discover Puerto Rico is committing significant resources to support travel advisors who want to learn, or become certified, in selling Puerto Rico. As a frequent visitor to the island, I know first-hand the variety of unique cultural experiences that await ASTA Convention attendees. ASTA is excited to extend this immersive learning opportunity to our members.”
With a year-round warm climate, Puerto Rico offers visitors a unique and authentic Caribbean experience. From Old San Juan with the cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, historic fortresses, and Spanish colonial architecture to the Island’s sandy beaches, impressive rainforest, and bioluminescent bays, Puerto Rico has for decades captured the attention and imagination of locals and visitors alike. Attendees will have access to the best of Puerto Rico’s rich history and culture through an offering of unique customised tours that will highlight the destination’s exceptional food, pristine beaches, majestic mountains, relaxing backdrops, and active adventure – all packed into one Caribbean paradise.
Travel advisors can expect all the same fantastic features they’ve come to love and expect at the ASTA Global Convention, such a robust trade show and education program, and a soon-to-be announced Puerto Rican keynote that you won’t want to miss. In addition to the sightseeing tours to local landmarks, AGC 2023 will also include options for extended Pre/Post Educational Journeys around Puerto Rico.
Special Promotion:ADVERTISEMENTAll travel professionals who register for this year’s AGC in San Francisco, August 24-26, 2022, by August 5th will receive $100 off their registration for ASTA Global Convention in Puerto Rico, May 2-4, 2023, in addition to receiving early access to all sightseeing tours. Registrants must be registered for the 2022 AGC in San Francisco by August 5th to receive early access to sightseeing tours and the $100 savings for AGC 2023 in Puerto Rico.
“We are delighted to partner with ASTA to host their 2023 Global Convention. Travel advisors are at the core of our industry, and these days, in which we are imagining and creating new paths to reignite and reshape travel, we want to be facilitators of the process and support our great partners. In Puerto Rico, you will find not only an excellent place for meetings and conventions, but you will also find an authentic and unique Caribbean experience that will enrich the educational and networking process, as well as provide inspiration for future endeavors within our industry,” said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico.
Save the date for ASTA Global Convention in Puerto Rico, May 2-3, 2023.

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The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) in partnership with the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) will host their inaugural PATA & GBTA APAC Travel Summit at the new, state-of-the-art Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC) in Bangkok, Thailand from December 8-9, 2022.
The joint event in Asia will address sustainability and best practices in the tourism, MICE, and corporate travel spheres. The two-day educational and tradeshow event, under the theme “Defining a Responsible, Sustainable Future for Business, Tourism and MICE,” will highlight the challenges and solutions for CO2 emissions, destination sustainability options, and procurement-oriented approaches in the context of the global and Asia-Pacific region’s pandemic recovery. Targeted attendees and sponsors are regional and global travel suppliers including top airlines, hotel and ground/car rental brands – as well as MICE and corporate travel decision-makers from the world’s largest travel companies and travel management companies.
“We are delighted to be working with GBTA in bringing together both of our industry networks to share insights and discuss opportunities and best practices for the responsible and sustainable growth of the travel and tourism industry,” said PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera. “At PATA, we support the industry recovery, pursuit of emerging travel opportunities and sustainable travel practices for the region. Therefore, I invite all of our members, partners and industry colleagues to join us and engage in this travel forum to reconnect, get informed and collaborate.”
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organisation, with a growing global network of more than 28,000 travel professionals and 125,000 active contacts. Headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents, GBTA’s members manage more than US$345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually.
“The path to recovery for the global travel industry continues for both tourism and business travel. However, there’s also the opportunity and need to create a better, more sustainable way forward to serve the industry and the planet as well. We are pleased to join forces with PATA to bring to event attendees the important insights, learnings and discussions on what a sustainable future might look like and the actions that we can take in the region as well as across the globe to get there,” said Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA.ADVERTISEMENT

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ITB Asia, ‘Asia’s Leading Travel Trade Show,’ is back and on track for a physical event in October and shines light on new collaboration with Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), the national trade association for meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions and events in Singapore. A corresponding partnership agreement has been signed between the two institutions to host the “Singapore MICE Forum” event, which will be co-located with ITB Asia and MICE Show Asia in Singapore.
Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) is SACEOS’ premier annual event that brings together global and regional MICE players to foster partnerships and international collaboration. The one-day event will be held on 20 October 2022 at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre. The event is expected to attract more than 250 meetings and event professionals and 50 expert speakers from the global MICE industry.
The partnership aims to leverage the extensive networks of business, government, and travel trade contacts to attract even more experts and key industry players, laying the foundation for new initiatives and activities for the MICE segment.
Through this new agreement, SACEOS will also be ITB Asia’s knowledge partner, curating high quality conference sessions within MICE Show Asia as well as providing insightful content and high-level speakers for the Singapore MICE Forum, which brings together industry players, promotes learning and uncovers trends from forward-thinking MICE leaders.
Katrina Leung, Managing Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organiser of ITB Asia, commented: “Hosting Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) at ITB Asia and MICE Show Asia is a significant step in fostering and enabling growth in the MICE and Events sector in the region. We are looking forward to a successful partnership with SACEOS and leverage on its decades of experience in the MICE industry. Its educational approach and content will be a great asset to all ITB Asia and MICE Show Asia’s participants.”ADVERTISEMENTRichard Ireland, President, Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS), said: “The spirit of connection, collaboration and innovation has always been at the core of the MICE industry’s purpose. As business events in the region come back to life, there is no better platform for the industry to gain new insights and exchange views on new opportunities and trends than the Singapore MICE Forum (SMF). Driven by the partnership with ITB Asia, we are confident that the SMF 2022 will continue to be the choice networking and learning platform for the region’s MICE industry.”
MICE Show Asia, co-located with ITB Asia, will bring together global and regional meeting planners and event organisers for three days. Together with its partners SACEOS and IAPCO, the event will feature educational training sessions and workshops that caters to the needs of the industry. A dedicated hosted buyers’ program for MICE Show Asia is set to bring international buyers who are in-charge of travel procurement.

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The 7th edition of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Global Conference on Wine Tourism will be held in La Rioja in 2023. This new edition was presented at the Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture, with the participation of Concha Andreu, President of the Government of La Rioja; Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism; and the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, Zurab Pololikashvili.
The Conference has become a leading international forum on trends, tools and opportunities to advance wine tourism. It provides an opportunity for experts and professionals, as well as consolidated and emerging destinations in this tourism segment to exchange knowledge and experiences.
During the official presentation, which was hosted at the Vivanco facilities in Briones, Pololikashvili thanked Spain and La Rioja for hosting the 2023 edition of the Conference, and highlighted the potential of wine tourism as a driver of the growth of local economies and as an engine of social change: “This is a sector that can lead a positive change,  especially in many rural communities, creating jobs and opportunities in the most depopulated areas, boosting economic growth and preserving the natural and cultural environment.”
The minister stressed that wine tourism “contributes to economic, social, environmental sustainability, adds value, de-seasonalises product offerings and allows us to visit the rural environment”.
The President of La Rioja, for her part, pointed out the recognition that the holding of the Conference implies for the tourist development of the region: “La Rioja possesses a unique and diverse heritage, both material and intangible, related to wine as food and as a product, and, in turn, that heritage constitutes a leading tourism offering that can and should be further enhanced.”ADVERTISEMENTThe 2022 edition the UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism will be held in Alba, Italy, from 19 to 21 September.

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UNWTO joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Spain in the recent High-Level Meeting on Safe International Travel held in Ibiza on 7-8 July.
The High-Level Meeting focused on the lessons learned from the impact of the pandemic on international mobility and tourism, to build resilience to face future crises.
“The progress during these past two years, alongside increased coordination among governments, have prompted the basis for a strong recovery”, said Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili. Underscoring that “vaccine equity remains a big challenge”, he stressed that “implementing what we have learned is critical for how we deal with future pandemics, as we work to consolidating how we grow back better”.
Participants recognised that the recovery of cross-border travel requires easing and lifting COVID-related travel restrictions as far as possible, while ensuring public health considerations Chaired by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain, Reyes Maroto, the meeting gathered health and the tourism sector representatives of over 30 countries, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other UN agencies such as the International Organizational for Migration (IMO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The High-Level Meeting on Safe International Travel was held in support of the G20 Indonesian Presidency of 2022.  Backed by key stakeholders such as OECD, WHO, ICAO and UNWTO, participants encouraged the Indonesian chair to incorporate the main points into the relevant initiatives of the G20 process,, namely the G20 Health Working Group’s priority on Harmonizing global health standards focused on the Harmonization of COVID-19 and other Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD) Certificate Recognition at the Point of Entry. ADVERTISEMENTOn the occasion, UNWTO and OECD released an impact assessment of the pandemic on tourism showcasing how the sector was among the most affected.

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UNWTO recognises the importance of youth. For this reason, youth empowerment, including through offering education and training opportunities as well as access to decent jobs, is one of our key priorities. But we are committed to going even further. Young people must not only be beneficiaries of tourism’s restart, but they must also be active participants in it. Now is the time to bring young voices on board as we make big decisions that will set the course for our sector for years to come.
The first UNWTO Global Youth Tourism Summit confirmed that the young talent is there. So too is the determination to make a difference. For one week in Italy, we brought together some of the brightest young minds, to hear their concerns, but above all, their vision for the sector. This was a landmark first – for the young people, for UNWTO and for the tourism sector as a whole. It put young people in the driving seat. And it gave them a unique opportunity to engage directly with the sector’s leaders, including business heads and Ministers of Tourism.
Out of the week came the Sorrento Call to Action, a call from the young participants to have a greater say in the decisions that will affect them whether as tourists themselves or as beneficiaries of the sector. While only signed by the delegates present in Sorrento, it is a true representation of the determination of global youth not to be left on the side-lines anymore. It also makes clear the priorities of the next generation of tourists and tourism leaders, namely accelerating the shift towards greater sustainability, most notably through the development and promotion of green transport, for greater inclusion and respect for human rights, and finally ensuring that the benefits tourism delivers are enjoyed as widely and fairly as possible.
To put these ideas and ambitions into action, young people need to be given a seat at the decision-making table. Youth-led organisations need to be invited to monitor and assess the development of tourism and, if necessary, be in a position where they can hold governments and businesses to account.
Every part of the wide global tourism ecosystem will benefit enormously from embracing the power of youth. Right now, the planet is home to around 1.8 billion people between the ages of 10-24— the largest generation of youth in human history. Almost 90% of them live in developing countries, and in many of them they make up the majority of the population. It’s here that they can make the biggest difference, and tourism is without doubt the most powerful vehicle to drive transformation and growth.ADVERTISEMENTAs World Tourism Day 2022 makes clear in its theme, we now have an opportunity to rethink tourism – where we are and where we are going. Young people must be active protagonists in this vital process. The climate action movement has shown what can be achieved if young voices are brought on board. Here, young activists have helped set the agenda and pushed governments to raise their ambitions. Tourism must now do the same, and UNWTO is ready to lead by example.

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The latest phase of the #DubaiDestinations campaign, focused on highlighting the city’s exceptional summer experiences, has kicked off, inviting local and international audiences to enjoy an epic summer in the emirate.
Running till the end of August, the new campaign encourages residents and travellers to discover the city’s diverse leisure, dining, adventure and family-friendly activities that make Dubai a one-of-a-kind summer destination.
Aligned with the vision of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to make Dubai the world’s best city to live and visit, the #DubaiDestinations initiative was launched in December 2021.
The start of the latest phase of the campaign was marked by the release of two interactive #DubaiDestinations summer guides focused on children’s activities. The first guide lists a vast range of indoor destinations for children and adults who want to rediscover their inner child. From having breakfast with penguins and riding on giant rollercoasters to painting up a storm in art cafes, the activities featured in the guide offer something for all children. The list covers activities offered at 115 destinations spread across malls, retail complexes, theme parks, beaches and esplanades, among other locations, making it a handy reference for families to plan their leisure activities during the Eid-Al-Adha holidays and the rest of the summer season.  A total of 20 theme parks and 28 retail complexes are covered by the guide. The second guide features a list of around 40 exciting summer camps for children that will enable them to challenge themselves, forge new friendships and pick up a new skills. The release of the guides coincides with the start of school summer holidays.
Available in both English and Arabic, the guides can be accessed on Brand Dubai’s digital platforms including its website www.branddubai.ae, and its Instagram account @branddubai.ADVERTISEMENTShaima Al Suwaidi, Director of Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, said: “The latest phase of the #DubaiDestinations campaign invites local and global audiences to explore the unique destinations, hidden gems and exciting activities that make the emirate one of the world’s most popular destinations. We are releasing a series of interactive guides designed to help people learn more about Dubai’s top-rated experiences during the summer. The campaign is being implemented by Brand Dubai in cooperation with other government entities, industry stakeholders from both the public and private sector and the creative media community. We seek to tap the power of collaborative storytelling to further raise Dubai’s profile as the world’s best place to live and visit.”
Vast range of indoor attractionsTop summer attractions in Dubai include indoor theme parks like IMG Worlds of Adventure and Dubai Parks and Resorts, where the entire family can go on adrenalin-pumping thrill rides, meet their favourite superheroes and cartoon characters, get up close and personal with dinosaurs and mythical creatures, and splash their way through water slides and tunnels, in addition to enjoying live entertainment, delectable food and play areas.
This summer, children also wouldn’t want to miss out on Modesh World, one of the region’s best summer indoor entertainment facilities, offering a multitude of activities catering to families and children featuring new Modesh and Dana experiences including mall appearances, stage shows and much more. For those looking to enjoy the natural world in an indoor location, the Dubai Butterfly Garden, the “world’s largest covered butterfly garden” gives children the opportunity to spend time in climate-controlled domes housing 15,000 butterflies of over 50 varieties. Other popular destinations covered by the guide include the Dubai Indoor Kartdrome Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo and the Dubai Dolphinarium.
Upcoming #DubaiDestinations guides, set to be released later during the campaign, will help people discover many attractions in the emirate covering exciting summer and weekend activities, seaside dining options, and other businesses running exciting programmes during the season. Brand Dubai will be partnering with several content creators and influencers to develop videos and promotional content that highlight the top activities, experiences and events in the city and where to find them. The latest phase of the #DubaiDestinations campaign coincides with the Dubai Summer Surprises.
The campaign is being rolled out over digital, broadcast, print and outdoor media to ensure it reaches large sections of local and international audiences. Key partners in the #DubaiDestinations campaign include: the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai; Dubai Municipality; the Roads and Transport Authority; the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; Dubai Sports Council; Dubai Ladies Club; Emaar; Dubai Holding; Nakheel Properties; Majid Al Futtaim Group; and Merex Investment Office.

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