Tourism, Organisations & Operators,

For fans of adventure tours and mountains Georgia is the place to be. A modern infrastructure to international standards meets a spectacular natural environment: high snow-covered mountains, ravines with fast-flowing mountain rivers, lush green forests, alpine eco-systems, palm-lined beaches and cliffs and caves.
At ITB Berlin 2023 tourism experts from Georgia offered an insight into the adventure tours in their country which besides hiking, heliskiing and riding has a lot to offer.
Mountain guide Nick Phaliani has been fascinated by nature in his home country since he was a child. “Today, I am able to practise a job which is my passion in a strong community of Georgian mountain guides“, he said. Whether heliskiing, alpine ski runs, ski tours or helibiking, everything is possible. “Last year I had around 50 tours with about 300 guests“, Phaliani said. He is glad the Georgian Mountain Guide Association (GMGA), established in 1998, also joined the International Federation of Mountaineering Associations (IFMGA) in 2021. Its president Urs Wellauer from Switzerland recalled that “we began work with Gudauri in 1991. I was particularly impressed with the local mountain guide school where children already learn the basics.”
In the five large skiing regions Bakuriani, Gudauri, Mestia, Tetnuldi, Hatsvali and Goderdzi in the Adjara region, winter enthusiasts can find pistes and lifts, cable cars, ski jumps, cross-country skiing trails as well as horse-drawn sleighs and snowmobiles. The skiing region in Gudauri on the southern side of the Caucasus plateau is up to 3,279 metres above sea level and has around 60 kilometres of ski runs of varying degrees of difficulty. The resort is also known for freeriding on natural terrain. Deep snow where rocks are few and the risk of avalanches is low have made Gudauri a mecca for lovers of deep snow sports.
Ia Tabagari of the Lost Ridge Group in Georgia promoted intense riding experiences in her home country. The website Horsebackgeorgia.com offers first impressions of adventure on horseback in fascinating natural surroundings. And when all the adventure tours are over it is still worth noting that Georgia is also an outstanding place for wines. “Winemaking countries like to boast about their history. But we really don’t have to be shy”, said a smiling Tabagari. “Wine has been cultivated in the foothills of the Caucasus for at least 8,000 years, longer than anywhere else in the world.“ADVERTISEMENT

Older
Gett and FREE NOW partner on minicab bookings for business clients

Newer
TRAVELLING FOR HEALTH REASONS More

The Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Hospitality and Tourism Task Force announced today its founding members and new partnerships, which includes 14 global hospitality companies and three leading sustainability and inter-governmental development organisations. The Task Force will drive more sustainable actions in the sector.
Founding members include: Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and Co-chair of Sustainable Markets Initiative Hospitality and Tourism Task Force Xenia zu Hohenlohe, Co-founding Partner of the Considerate Group and Co-chair of Sustainable Markets Initiative Hospitality and Tourism Keith Barr, CEO of IHG Hotels & Resorts Sebastien Bazin, CEO of Accor Jorg Bockler, CEO of Dorint Hotels & Resorts Anthony Capuano, President and CEO of Marriott International, Inc. Katerina Giannouka, CEO of Jumeirah Group Federico J. González, CEO of Radisson Hotel Group Marloes Knippenberg, CEO of Kerten Hospitality Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton Karl-Heinz Pawlizki, CEO of Arabella Hospitality Tim Rumney, CEO of BWH Hotel Group GB Sonu Shivdasani, Founder, CEO and Joint Creative Director of Soneva Gloria Fluxà Thienemann, Vice-Chairman & Chief Sustainability Officer at Iberostar Group
Sustainability partners and inter-governmental development organisations include:  Suzanne Neufang, CEO of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Zoritsa Urosevic, Executive Director of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)
The Task Force, announced last year at COP15 in Montreal, Canada, is aligned with the Sustainable Market Initiative’s Terra Carta which provides a roadmap for the private sector to accelerate the transition to a sustainable future. One that harnesses the power of Nature combined with the transformative power, innovation, and resources of the private sector. 
It is co-chaired by the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance’s Chief Executive Officer, Glenn Mandziuk, and the Considerate Group’s Co-founding Partner, Xenia zu Hohenlohe. The Task Force will support efforts that create leadership and collaboration in the hospitality and tourism industry, in the pursuit of tangible, scalable and practical sustainable solutions. This may include building momentum for more transformative solutions in the sectors’ value and supply chain.  ADVERTISEMENTThe Task Force aims to leverage existing infrastructure to discover and learn how the industry can accelerate pathways to sustainability making a greater impact.  The Task Force members will work collectively to identify and pursue delivery of opportunities to reduce carbon and environmental footprint.  The aim is to deliver standardised measurement tools to enable hotels to understand impact and prioritise action on carbon emissions, water, waste and biodiversity and natural capital.    A focus of the Task Force includes research and other sustainable solutions for industry leads, staff, and supply chains to support innovation through system and design thinking. It will support roadmaps for industry-level transition supporting sector focus on achieving net zero before 2050. It aims for the industry to embed water stewardship into decision-making, embed circularity and support zero waste to landfill, including addressing single-use plastics, food waste, and support for biodiversity efforts and regeneration on land and below water.  The Task Force also recognises the need to improve access to clean technologies and renewable energy across the sector and in company member operations.
By utilising the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance’s existing committees and research, alongside the expertise of sustainability and hospitality partners, this collaboration will maximise the collective experience and thought leadership of these networks and enhance alignment. 
Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and Co-chair of the Sustainable Markets Initiative Hospitality and Tourism Task Force, said: “I welcome our founding members who bring their expertise and knowledge to help build a more sustainable future for the hospitality and tourism industry. By galvanising the conversation around sustainability, we can drive practical and tangible solutions, to push innovation and address the challenges the industry faces.  The Task Force aims to collaborate not only with each other, but other Task Forces. With far-reaching value and supply chains, the hospitality and tourism industry are in a unique position to engage and have cross-sector influence.  I look forward to working with our members and hope to welcome more leaders to the Hospitality and Tourism Task Force as the industry focuses on pathways to accelerate sustainability.”
Xenia zu Hohenlohe, Co-founding Partner, the Considerate Group and Co-chair of the Sustainable Markets Initiative Hospitality and Tourism Task Force said: “I am very encouraged by the level of commitment and leadership of the founding members, to our purpose of bringing this industry together with other sectors, already active as part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, to build a more sustainable future. The hospitality and tourism industry can play a pivotal role, given its crossover with so many other sectors, such as aviation, asset management, shipping, buildings, to mention but a few, in this process. Hence this task force is also key to ensuring maximum alignment in our efforts to overcoming the common challenges our societies and companies face when it comes to climate change. I am honoured to co-chair this group of highly professional and dedicated CEO’s and partners.”

Older
Saint Lucia to host World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas 2023

Newer
READ NOW! Breaking Travel News ITB Berlin 2023 Special Edition – ISSUE 4 More

For business travel, the return to pre-pandemic normality has been moved back two years to 2026. Inflation, China’s economic problems and the effects on global supply chains were among the reasons listed by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) on Wednesday at ITB Berlin 2023. Basic parameters concerning business travel had also changed, said Suzanne Neufang, CEO of the GBTAFollowing the slump in 2020 the curve had peaked sharply around 2021/22, but had since dropped off again, due in part to China opening up quickly again and resurgent infections there. Currently the curve was pointing downwards – probably until 2026.
During the pandemic business travel decision-makers had learned that virtual meetings offered advantages in some respects, even if on the other hand there was fundamentally no substitute for meeting in person, Neufang said. Moreover, sustainability was increasingly becoming an issue, and fewer business trips meant a smaller carbon footprint. All the while, business trips had not gone entirely out of fashion for internal meetings.
Financial companies and insurances easily topped the list of those sectors taking business trips again at more or less pre-pandemic levels, Neufang said. At the other end of the scale were NGOs and foundations.
45 per cent of travel managers had increased their budgets, that much could be said. Faced with the general skills shortage travellers’ expectations had grown. Many of them expected to undertake blended travel, for example in order to extend a business trip by a few days off at their destination. A survey among travel managers found that employers were divided here: 41 per cent were in favour, trending upwards, while 42 per cent were against.
Summarising, she listed five business travel trends: China remained difficult to forecast, business travellers as such had higher expectations, demand for eco-friendly travel was on the rise, technological change slowed things down, and personal trips would play a big role again.ADVERTISEMENT

Older
GETTING TO AMERICA HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER

Newer
SECURITY CHECK APPOINTMENTS, SUNFLOWERS, SELF-SERVICE More

At ITB Berlin representatives of the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism symbolically handed over three new brochures to Malaysia’s ambassador to Germany. They present a wide range of attractions for visitors with all kinds of interests:For those in search of city tours Kuala Lumpur is worthwhile, for nature lovers there are lots of sports and adventure activities in fascinating natural surroundings, while sun worshippers can find white sands and thriving marine wildlife at the beaches of this country in southeast Asia.
This is the fiftieth time Malaysia is taking part in ITB Berlin, reason enough to present three new brochures in German translation. Representatives of the Ministry of Tourism and Tourism Malaysia symbolically handed them over to Dr. Adina binti Kamarudin, Malaysia’s ambassador to Germany in Berlin. Taking as their slogan ’Malaysia – Truly Asia’, the brochures present the wide-ranging attractions awaiting travellers. One brochure is devoted entirely to Kuala Lumpur. In this pulsating metropolis with its shopping malls, museums, parks, restaurants and a flourishing cultural scene, an impressive skyline with some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers awaits travellers.
Another brochure is devoted to Malaysia’s beaches. In particular, archipelagos such as Langkawi, Penang, Pangkor and Terengganu with their white sands and clear blue waters are an attraction for tourists. Chendor Beach near the coastal town of Cherating is one of the places one can find turtles in the wild. The third brochure is for adventurers: whether trips to mountains, rivers or caves, there are many ways to explore this country’s many-faceted natural attractions. In addition to the new brochures, the presentation also took place of a five-minute image film which conjured an impressive atmosphere. In 2023 Malaysia expects tourism numbers to increase, in particular from Europe. 68 attendees from 40 organisations are represented at this year’s ITB Berlin.

Older
MORE THAN PALMS AND PYRAMIDS

Newer
FOUR COUNTRIES – FOUR TOURISM CONCEPTS More

Miral Destinations, the trusted one-stop trade and promotional partner for Saadiyat Island and Yas Island Abu Dhabi, is highlighting key developments presented by both award-winning destinations at ITB Berlin, taking place from March 7 – 9. The company presented key trade initiatives for 2023 at the exhibition, along with recent updates on Yas SeaWorld ® Research & Rescue, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi , which has recently opened its doors earlier in February this year.
Liam Findlay, CEO of Miral Destinations said: “We are pleased to participate in yet another edition of ITB Berlin as we continue to provide our guests with best-in-class leisure, tourism and entertainment experiences. We recognize the critical role that travel professionals play in promoting and selling both Yas Island and Saadiyat Island and are committed to working closely with them to create unique and authentic experiences for their clients all over the globe. At this edition of ITB Berlin, we are showcasing a range of products and services designed specifically for travel partners. We look forward to engaging with industry partners and leaders to share ideas and best practices, to explore ways we can work together to reaffirm our commitment to the global tourism industry.”
Abu Dhabi’s fascinating beach destination Saadiyat Island spans across the Arabian Gulf with its breathtaking views and glittering turquoise waters and is only a short drive away from Abu Dhabi’s downtown area. The island is home to tranquil and idyllic beaches and for the 11th consecutive year, Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi has been crowned as the “Middle East’s Leading Beach Destination” by the World Travel Awards, reaffirming its spot as the Middle East’s Best Beach destination.

Standing as the Middle East’s leading and award-winning beach destination, Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi delights guests with inspiring beach experiences, guaranteed to take them on a transformative journey. Guests can expect captivating natural surroundings, pristine white sandy beaches, thriving wildlife and marine life, luxurious resorts, and a vibrant culture and entertainment scene.ADVERTISEMENTNeighboring premier and entertainment hub Yas Island is no stranger to success, with 2022 being a pivotal year for the destination. Yas Island offers year-round offers and packages for visitors from every continent, with the F1 Grand Prix race topping the list for racing fans in Germany and delighting thrill-seekers who flock from all over the world to be part of the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit, with this year’s highly anticipated event scheduled from November 24 – 26. The destination also offers a unique lineup of events and world-class performances at the Etihad Arena, which continue to entertain visitors of all ages and interest.
Yas Island is set to expand its portfolio with the highly anticipated addition of SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, which is on track to open in 2023. The next-Marine-Life Theme Park, tells a captivating ‘One Ocean’ story that uncovers the interconnectivity between life on earth and our oceans, inspiring a deep commitment to conserving our planet. SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is set to deliver fun, engaging, and immersive family-friendly experiences through eight uniquely themed realms inspiring entertainment, as well as unmatched dining and shopping experiences, all under one roof.
Earlier in February, Miral Destinations had announced the opening of Yas SeaWorld Research & Rescue, , the first-of-its-kind dedicated marine research, rescue, rehabilitation and return center in the region, serving as an advanced marine science knowledge hub and a key contributor to marine life conservation in the region and beyond.
Yas Island also offers visitors unique all-inclusive packages such as the ‘Stay & Play’ offering, which will soon include SeaWorld Abu Dhabi, offering travel agents the chance to purchase the packages from Miral Destinations’ booking portal or through their preferred travel partner.

Older
Flight cancellations and schedule changes occurred with much shorter notice in 2022 than in 2019

Newer
Domes Resorts to open Domes Noruz Kassandra in Halkidiki More

Emilie Dumont, Managing Director of Digitrips
Digitrips has revealed flight cancellations and schedule changes occurred much closer to departure in 2022 than in previous years, highlighting the severe impact of staff shortages and strikes on airlines and airports worldwide.
The multi-product travel provider, which owns French B2B OTA MisterFly, found that passengers received an average of 39 days’ notice of changes or cancellations in 2022, compared to 54 days in 2019.
Emilie Dumont, Managing Director of Digitrips, said: “Our figures from MisterFly revealed that the proportion of our travellers who experienced flight cancellations or changes prior to their departure date remained significantly higher in 2022 than pre-Covid – with 40% of our travellers affected, compared to just 25% in 2019.
“But most importantly, changes and cancellations happened at much shorter notice than before the pandemic. In 2019, passengers were notified on average 54 days prior to departure that their flights had been changed or cancelled. In 2022, that average was just 39 days.
“This year is likely to be even busier and, with staff shortages and strikes continuing to cause disruption worldwide, we expect the cancellations window to shrink even further. Therefore, the travel industry must act swiftly to adopt technology that can help minimise the impact of these disruptions on travellers. This could include implementing automated rebooking and refund tools, or even AI-powered customer service systems.”ADVERTISEMENT

Older
ACTIVELY SHAPING CHANGE IN TOURISM

Newer
Miral Destinations presents key developments for award-winning destinations More

CTO Chairman Kenneth Bryan (left) and Acting CTO Secretary General Neil Walters are pictured at today’s press conference in Barbados.
Despite global pressures such as high inflation, the war in Ukraine, the ensuing energy crisis, and an impending economic recession, the outlook for Caribbean travel and tourism is favorable, according to the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)
Delivering the region’s 2022 “Tourism Performance and Outlook Report” in Bridgetown today, Neil Walters, Acting Secretary General of the CTO, confirmed that the Caribbean had one of the quickest recovery rates globally in 2022, with 28.3 million registered tourist visits in 2022. This represents 88.6 percent of the visitors who arrived in 2019, which served as the baseline year for typical tourism activity before the pandemic.
He reported that international travel is expected to contribute to the region’s substantial gains already registered thanks to the robust United States market, which continues to drive the region’s recovery.
There was an estimated 28.1 percent increase in visitors coming from the U.S. market in 2022. At the end of the year, 14.6 million American tourists visited the region, 3.2 million more than the 11.4 million in 2021.
Arrivals from the European market increased by 81 percent in 2022 when compared to 2021. The 5.2 million tourists from this market were almost double the 2.8 million in 2021. This represented 18.3 percent of all arrivals in 2022,ADVERTISEMENTDue to travel restrictions in early 2022, the Canadian market has recovered more slowly at 60 percent, while the lack of availability of intra-regional airlift has negatively impacted regional connectivity.
“Nearly 90 percent of the region’s travel demand for 2019 has already been recovered,” reported Walters, with destinations such as Curaçao, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, Turks and Caicos, and the U.S. Virgin Islands already surpassing their pre-pandemic levels.
Caribbean destinations can expect this recovery to continue into 2023, albeit at a slower rate, Walters explained, predicting that growth will be uneven among the destinations, with additional countries and territories exceeding their 2019 levels.
According to STR, the average daily rate at hotels increased by 21.7 percent to US$290.60 in 2022. The revenue per available room surged by 66.4 percent to $176.46, and the number of available rooms (up 4.4 percent) as well as room income (up 73.6 percent) increased. After two challenging years for the aviation industry, global air passenger traffic recovered significantly in 2022.
It is estimated that visitors to the Caribbean region spent between $36.5 and $37.5 billion in 2022, an increase of 70 to 75 percent compared to 2021.
It is expected that overall arrivals to the region will increase by between 10 and 15 percent when compared to 2022, with 31.2 to 32.6 million tourists visiting the region this year. The cruise industry is also anticipated to continue recovering and expanding to meet increasing demand, with 32 to 33 million cruise passenger visits expected – a five to 10 percent increase over the pre-COVID baseline figure.
Chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Council of Ministers and Commissioners of Tourism, Kenneth Bryan, who also serves as the Cayman Islands’ Minister of Tourism and Transport, summarized that in the face of the devastating blows delivered by the pandemic, “as a region, we have responded with hope, strength and the determination to prevail.”
Minister Bryan reiterated that great strides have been made in Caribbean tourism, a clear indication that the sector is bouncing back, and hopes are high that the robust pace of recovery will continue into 2023 and beyond. “So although we have not yet surpassed 2019’s numbers across the board in every jurisdiction, the needle is certainly moving in the right direction,” he commented.
The chairman envisioned 2023 as a period of growth and development for the CTO, and he and his team were laser-focused on growing the membership, including countries, territories as well as allied partners. “It is also my intention to strengthen the relationships with other organizations, such as the United Nations World Travel Organization, the World Travel and Tourism Council, and even the Central American Tourism Promotion Agency (CATA), to foster greater collaboration,” said Minister Bryan. Consideration is being given to the restructuring of the organization and reforming its strategic vision and direction for the next five years, which includes the appointment of a new Secretary-General, he confirmed.Minister Bryan announced the return of CTO’s Caribbean Week in New York, to be held in “The Big Apple,” from June 5 to 8 this year, and disclosed that his team was committed to addressing the nagging issue of air connectivity, a complex one that has been exacerbated by the reevaluation of airline business structures and the global pilot shortage. “It would be illogical for me to promise a solution to this issue during my tenure as chairman. But what I can and will commit to is getting the players around the table to forensically examine what we need to do as a unified region to improve this scenario and start the ball rolling towards the solution.”

Older
Hyatt Hotels Corporation Sees Continued Growth in EAME Markets

Newer
ACTIVELY SHAPING CHANGE IN TOURISM More

ABTA – The Travel Association has launched a new video campaign which highlights travel as a great industry to work in.
The two-minute video is the latest phase of ABTA’s ‘#BePartofTravel campaign’, which aims to support members to attract and retain talent in the industry. It has been launched to coincide with National Careers Week which runs 6 – 11 March.The video features testimonials from ABTA member travel agents and tour operators explaining why they work in the industry, and the various reasons it should be considered as a career path by graduates and career changers. The opportunities to travel, culture and career development are among the top reasons people highlight as why to join the sector. The video can be viewed here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNKTaFoULaQ
The video will be advertised on LinkedIn and shared on ABTA’s social channels during National Careers Week and will continue to be promoted in the coming months ahead. There is also a series of shorter videos, each featuring a travel industry professional.
ABTA is encouraging its members and ABTA Education Partners to get involved with the campaign by sharing the new video across their own channels, as well as ABTA’s existing social media assets on career opportunities. They are available from the marketing toolkit.
Vicki Wolf, ABTA Head of Education and Career Development said: ADVERTISEMENT“This is an exciting time to join this fun, dynamic and versatile travel industry. Young people who are looking for career ideas and those who have worked in with transferable skills should consider a career in travel.
“These are exactly the messages we’re trying to get across with the new video and ‘#BePartofTravel’ campaign as a whole. The campaign has received positive feedback from ABTA members, who have been facing recruitment challenges as the industry continues to recover from the pandemic.”
Giles Hawke, CEO of Cosmos Tours, reflects on his extensive career in the video:
“I’ve been in it for 30 years now and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it, even in the tough moments. We’ve had to deal with some really big things, and you learn a huge amount about yourself. You learn about what you’re capable of.  “You get to travel to go to some amazing places around the world and have experiences you would struggle to do as a consumer on a holiday. So, travel is the industry to work in”.
ABTA member travel professionals featured in the Be Part of Travel campaign:
•  Chris Wright, Managing Director, Sunvil•  Vicky Yates-McCowan, Travel Consultant, Luxury Holidays and Honeymoons •  James Thornton, CEO, Intrepid Travel•  Annika Nickson, Travel Consultant, Not Just Travel•  Barbara Kolosinska, Managing Director, C&M Travel Recruitment •  Giles Hawke, CEO, Cosmos Tours •  Gemma Standish, Travel Consultant, Not Just Travel•  Brian Young, Managing Director EMEA, G Adventures •  Susie Taylor, Travel Consultant, Club Voyages

Older
JetBlue Card Portfolio Gets a New Look and Even Better Benefits

Newer
Dubai Metro Music Festival kicks off More