Tourism, Organisations & Operators,

Luxury Escapes, one of the world’s fastest growing travel companies, is launching into the UK giving Brits unrivalled access to the world’s best travel deals for less
• After dominating the Australian luxury travel space for more than a decade, Luxury Escapes is expanding its presence onto UK shores • The Luxury Escapes’ team of global experts curate and unlock exclusive travel offers across the world’s best resorts, hotels, tours and cruises • Luxury Escapes has a growing membership of seven million+ global members – all enjoying up to 70% savings, a wealth of curated add-ons and the assurance 24/7 customer support
London: Luxury Escapes, one of the world’s fastest growing travel companies, has announced its entrance onto UK shores, ushering a new era of unparalleled travel opportunities to millions of Brits.
Founded in Australia in 2013, Luxury Escapes is a global leader in offering the world’s best travel experiences for less, with an intuitive and user-friendly website, app and dedicated 24/7 call centre. Luxury Escapes offers a gateway to the world via tailor-made experiences on everything from world class accommodation to excursions, flights, travel insurance and car hire.
After dominating the Australian luxury travel space for more than a decade, Luxury Escapes already has more than seven million global members enjoying its exclusive offers in sought-after locations like the Maldives, Dubai, Bali and Thailand.ADVERTISEMENTWith Luxury Escapes, customers get more with every booking. Every booking is laden with more value, granting travellers up to 70% savings, a wealth of curated add-ons, and the assurance of round-the-clock customer support.
Adam Schwab, Global CEO Luxury Escapes, states, “We are confident the expansion of Luxury Escapes into the UK market is not only an exciting moment for British consumers, but the UK travel industry as a whole.  Our team of experts curate and unlock exclusive offers consumers won’t find anywhere else – allowing every traveller to experience the exceptional.”
Schwab continues, “What sets Luxury Escapes apart is that we are far more than a standard travel booking provider. It is our unwavering commitment to provide our members with more – more luxury, more expertise, more value, more service and more hand-picked inclusions than anyone else – enabling our members to unlock incredible travel offers at unbeatable prices”.
Nicolaj Munch, Luxury Escapes VP Europe commented, “We understand that organising a trip can be stressful and doesn’t always go to plan – which is where our team comes in. With one of the highest Trust Pilot ratings of any travel business anywhere in the world, our members know that they can access incredible customer service and support day or night, wherever they are.”
Luxury Escapes is free to join, with members getting access to a global team of industry experts.  To book your next escape, or to find out more information, visit https://luxuryescapes.com/gb.
Just a few of the incredible travel offers available on Luxury Escapes now:
Aleenta Phuket Resort and Spa – Five-Star Phuket Beachfront Retreat with Daily Breakfast, Nightly Dinner & Massages – save up to 76%Mai Khao Lak Thailand – Khao Lak Beachfront Bliss with Daily Breakfast, Nightly Dinner & Nightly Drinks Plus Two Kids Stay Free – save up to 74%COMO Maalifushi Maldives – COMO Maldives Boutique Private Island Retreat with Daily Breakfast, Nightly Cocktails & Roundtrip Domestic Seaplane Transfers – save up to 46%Double Six Seminyak – Bestselling Seminyak Double-Six Beachside Bliss Returns with Indulgent Dining, Massages & Daily Rooftop Free-Flow Cocktails – save up to 57%Grand Hyatt Bali – Bestselling Grand Hyatt Nusa Dua Luxury with Daily Breakfast, Nightly Dinner, Exclusive Lounge Access & Nightly Free-Flow Drinks – save up to 51%

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Premier Sports Ticketing Platform for Tourism Industry Launches at WTM London

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Research from World Travel Market London 2023, the world’s most influential travel & tourism event, has revealed that more holidaymakers are abandoning their sun loungers in favour of nature, foodie and wellness experiences.
The exclusive WTM Global Travel Report – compiled in association with renowned researchers at Oxford Economics – notes “increasing demand for unique, authentic and personalised experiences” while people are away on vacation.The report, unveiled at WTM London on 6 November, cites social listening data curated by tourism intelligence specialist Mabrian in 2023.
This “revealed that experiential activities such as wellness, nature and food tourism increased by over 10% compared with 2019”.
“Meanwhile, traditional activities such as sunbathing were less important in travellers’ motivations compared with 2019,” says the report.
It also notes how people “crave more opportunities to reconnect” in an increasingly digital world, with more meaningful in-person experiences “fast becoming the raison d’etre for travel”.ADVERTISEMENTFurthermore, climate change looks set to play a bigger role in consumers’ choice of holiday destinations and timings.
“This is already influencing travel patterns after successive hot European summers,” according to the report.
“In 2023, data from the European Travel Commission found that the popularity of Mediterranean destinations dropped by 10% compared with 2022, which was influenced at least in part by perceptions of weather.”
The climate crisis has other influences over consumer trends and government policies, says the report.
“This could mean fewer but potentially longer long-haul trips, and more local, short-haul trips,” it adds, noting a growing demand for volunteering and interacting with local communities.
“Slow travel, which involves undertaking longer but potentially fewer trips, may also become an increasingly popular trend.”
Meanwhile, many destinations have been grappling with the problems of overtourism, such as Thailand which had closed Maya Beach as thousands were lured there after it featured in The Beach.
And next year, Venice will trial a new tax on day visitors, who have a significant impact on the city’s infrastructure.
Elsewhere, outbound markets in emerging economies are continuing to grow, including China, India and Indonesia.
As these countries become more affluent, more people can afford leisure travel, prompting new trends with different demographics and cultural preferences.
“The ‘travelling class’ in China is expected to nearly double over the next 10 years,” says the report.
“However, this represents only a very small portion of Chinese citizens (2.3%) which highlights huge potential for future growth. Similar growth opportunities exist also within India and Indonesia, to name just a few.”
It also highlights how older people in China will become more affluent over time, which could mean more demand for holidays such as cruises.
Furthermore, the report notes a resurgence in the demand for travel agents as consumers seek help to make the most of their time on holiday.
Juliette Losardo, Exhibition Director at WTM London, said:
“Trends in leisure travel are quickly changing, which mean this WTM Global Travel Report is a vital snapshot for the industry to see how markets fared in 2023 and what is in store for 2024 as post-pandemic consumer demands evolve.
“Holidaymakers seem more determined to make the most of their precious time away – instead of just sun-bathing, more of them want to create treasured memories by booking experiences and excursions to get under the skin of their destination, to explore cultures, cuisine and nature.
“After lockdown, we also saw that growing desire to enjoy the outdoors and connect with other people – but in an increasingly sustainable way.
“Our report is vital for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it – and the discussions it will prompt can help to re-frame travel and tourism in a positive way for us all.”

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Leisure travel is more important than ever for consumers

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Chestertons, one of the world’s oldest and leading real estate advisory services, is galloping ahead with its international expansion with the launch of Chestertons Polo in the Park Dubai. Taking place for the first time in the Middle East and supported by the Dubai Sports Council, Chestertons Polo in the Park Dubai will be held on Saturday, 11 November at The Desert Palm Polo Club.
Chestertons, which has over 30 offices in London, UK, has sponsored Chestertons Polo in the Park London for more than 10 years, during which time it has grown and evolved into the largest three-day polo event in the world, attracting more than 30,000 people each year.
Chestertons Global, headquartered in the Middle East, is now bringing Chestertons Polo in the Park to Dubai as part of its continued international expansion. The first event is on an invitation only basis, with plans to host annual, public events from next year.
Chestertons Polo in the Park Dubai features two exciting matches between British and Middle Eastern teams.  The England Polo Team will play Northern Data Group Team Dubai, followed by Boadicea The Victorious Team Riyadh taking on Chestertons Team London.
Salah Mussa, Chairman and Owner of Chestertons Global, said: “Chestertons has proudly supported this exciting form of city polo since it first came to London in 2010. Since then, it has grown in popularity and is now a firm, much-anticipated fixture in London’s summer social and sporting calendar. ADVERTISEMENT
“With our international headquarters in the UAE, bringing our event to Dubai is a natural progression in line with our continued growth in the region and internationally.  As a leading location for world class sporting events, Dubai is the perfect destination for Polo in the Park. We look forward to a successful event on 11th November – and every year thereafter.”

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ETIHAD AIRWAYS UNVEILS STUNNING NEW LOUNGES AT ABU DHABI INTERNATIONAL’S NEW TERMINAL A

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2023 has marked a triumphant chapter for Sri Lanka’s tourism industry; a return to 1 million visitors by September and a total of 1.5 million anticipated for the year. With rebranding for a strong country brand to be launched at WTM, enhanced trade partnerships and collaboration, and a substantial Global Tourism Brand marketing budget for 2024 the destination looks set for further growth in 2024.
Despite the challenges that loomed at the beginning of the year, including an economic downturn, dollar deficits, and commodity price hikes, Sri Lanka’s resilient and resourceful government efficiently managed the situation, swiftly putting the nation back on its feet. This positive turn of events ushered in a reinvigorated tourism sector including the operation of new airlines with improved airline connectivity and increased cruise calls. In September a notable milestone was achieved as Sri Lanka welcomed its one millionth tourist arrival.
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has proven its competitive edge, especially compared to regional counterparts such as the Maldives, India. The UK, Germany, France and Russia are the primary source markets driving growth. The positive trend continues, and Sri Lanka remains optimistic about surpassing its annual target of 1.5 million tourists by the year-end.
At WTM, Sri Lanka is poised to unveil a new brand for tourism. The “check-in” campaigns, already underway, will pave the way for a “thematic” campaign in the coming year, 2024. Its primary objective is to attract more visitors from key markets through these strategic campaigns while championing sustainable tourism initiatives. Visitors to WTM can find out more at the opening ceremony of the stand, press conference and networking event. 
“The Ministry and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau’s paramount focus is to create a robust country brand through a comprehensive rebranding exercise, highlighting Sri Lanka’s unique assets. To achieve this, we will prioritise the key source markets through year-round digital and PR campaigns, with a particular emphasis on the UK” commented the Hon. Minister of Tourism, Harin Fernando “Ongoing promotions will introduce new initiatives to maintain a competitive edge for the destination” he added. ADVERTISEMENTThe UK is traditionally an important market for Sri Lanka. British visitors enjoy the unique culture, many historical sites, wildlife, diverse gastronomy and tea plantations with their British architectural style.
Sri Lankan Airlines, the national carrier, is gearing up to extend its routes, connecting more UK cities and other key destinations, thereby providing travellers with convenient access to Sri Lanka. Details of these expansion plans will be unveiled shortly.
Enhanced Partnerships and Collaboration were secured in 2023, through country partner status with key travel associations such as ABTA and the ITAA, while maintaining a longstanding relationship with Antor. These affiliations strengthen Sri Lanka’s rapport with the UK travel trade and allow it to deepen relationships with influential media outlets and journalists through collaborative efforts.

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EGYPTAIR Announces Expansion Plans

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For travellers ready to take on new experiences, Quito’s cable car is a portal to a natural paradise in the Ecuadorian Andes. From its starting point located at 2,950 metres above sea level, this wonderful means of transport is one of the highest cable cars in the world and offers a gentle ascent up to the heights, reaching a maximum altitude of 4,100 metres. The trip offers breathtaking panoramic views of Quito’s majestic beauty, as well as the impressive volcanoes that surround the city. This natural treasure is more than just incredible panoramic views. It also offers the opportunity to explore the Área de Intervención Especial y Recuperación Pichincha – Atacazo (Pichincha – Atacazo Special Intervention and Recuperation Area), covering more than 23,400 hectares, home to a moorland ecosystem with wild fauna and typical Andean flora. This is a privileged area thanks to its natural resources and water fountains that provide this vital resource to Quito. 
Quito’s cable car is an experience suitable for all. The most adventurous visitors can enjoy activities such as hiking and mountain biking, always accompanied by a guide. It is open all year round and easily accessed from the city centre, making it an exciting tourism experience, whatever the season.

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THE CALL TO LEADERSHIP

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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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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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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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