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Category - Associations
Global Hotel Alliance at Berlin Hospitality Investment Forum
GHA was established based on the airline alliance concept, aiming to assist independent hotel brands in competing against the prominent global competitors.
LGBTQ Travel Association welcomes new global hospitality partner
The International LGBTQ+ Travel Association is proud to announce Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, the original boutique hotel company, as a Silver Level global partner. IGLTA is the world’s leading network of LGBTQ+ hospitality and tourism businesses. As a Silver Global Partner, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants will be positioned alongside the top global tourism companies committed to year-round support of LGBTQ+ welcoming travel and IGLTA. Kimpton is consistently recognized for going above...
David Scowsill to leave WTTC
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announces the departure of David Scowsill, President & CEO, after six years at the helm of the organisation. During his tenure as the third President in the 26 year history of WTTC, he has taken the organisation to new heights, championing the private sector views in high level governmental discussions and promoting the sustainable growth of Travel & Tourism. “It has been a privilege to lead WTTC, representing the global interests of the...
Special recognition for Skal’s new officers
During the installation banquet of Skal’s new officers, Skal International Orlando Past President Jeff Chase presented the prestigious HSMAI Gene Hassett Award to Luann Brooks, Executive Director of the I-Drive Business Improvement District, for distinguished service in the hospitality industry. Skal International Orlando, the only international organization bringing together sectors of the travel and tourism industry while networking, conducting business and helping communities locally...
Wyndham Hotel Group’s Geoff Ballotti named US Travel National Chair
The US Travel Association on Monday announced Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group, as its new national chair. He was elected in a member-wide vote. Last week, Ballotti presided over his first Board of Directors meeting as national chair. Ballotti succeeds Travel Oregon CEO Todd Davidson. “We are thrilled to welcome Geoff as our new chair,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. “Who better to help us emphasize the tremendous power of...
U.S. Travel on Big Airlines’ Challenges
WASHINGTON (April 10, 2017)—U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President for Public Affairs Jonathan Grella issued the following statement: “For days, the airwaves have been filled with negative stories about airlines. The common denominator here is that air travel has become all too unpleasant for scores of travelers. While airlines tout record profits generated on the backs of their passengers, many are left stranded with few to no options. Years of over-consolidation, compounded by...
Sustainable Tourism Observatories: UNWTO welcomes collaboration between Guanajuato and Paraguay
UNWTO welcomes the agreement reached by the Sustainable Tourism Observatory of Guanajuato (Mexico) and Paraguay to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer. Guanajuato is one of the 16 Observations in the UNWTO Network. “We praise the agreement signed by the State Secretariat of Tourism of Guanajuato (SECTUR) and the National Tourism Secretariat of Paraguay (SENATUR) as an important step to increase the development of sustainable tourism observatories” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb...
Still Hope for Climate Sanity?
It certainly hasn’t been a great month for Climate Resilience, as the new US Administration, led by global warming sceptics, started to gut environmental policies, people, programs, and budgets. At the same time, prioritising nationalism ahead of Internationalism, and publicly threatening to back out of US Paris Agreement leadership commitments and financial obligations. This is seriously bad news, and it’s fair to assume that the kind of US global Climate leadership, that we saw under the...
Sonoma County Sustainable Tourism Observatory joins UNWTO International Network
Located in California (USA), the Sonoma County Sustainable Tourism Observatory is the latest member having successfully joined the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO). This comes in a very unique momentum as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development is being celebrated worldwide. UNWTO has welcomed the incorporation of the Sustainable Tourism Observatory of the Sonoma County, in California, to the...
Who IGLTA wants to see lead UNWTO as a secretary general
John Tanzella, president and CEO of IGLTA, speaks out on the upcoming election for the new Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). IGLTA stands for International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association. IGLTA is an international organization and a leading global travel network dedicated to connecting and educating LGBT travelers and the businesses that welcome and support. The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association has been a proud Affiliate Member...
What is his objective? Colombia’s candidate for UNWTO spells it out
The Colombian embassy in Austria is giving out a brochure pitching for its ambassador to become the leader of world tourism. The global travel and tourism industry now has a Colombian approach with Jaime Alberto Cabal competing with 6 other candidates to lead the United Nations World Tourism Organization. His expertise and professional competence are related to the design and implementation of public policies for the development of strategic sectors and socio-economic and sustainable...
Who is UNWTO Secretary General Candidate Jaime Alberto Cabal from Colombia?
UNWTO Secretary General candidate Jaime Alberto Cabal, former Minister of Colombia and Colombian Ambassador ao Austria, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Montenegro, Czech Republic and Serbia occupied different positions in the corporate and business association sector. He has assumed governmental responsibilities as well as diplomatic and academic activities distinguishing himself by his leadership and management, geared towards the creation and transformation of organizations with a high...
We had an epic Nepal Tourism Summit in Europe
You love Nepalese food and did not attend the Nepal Europe Summit? You missed out! The long anticipated Nepal Europe Summit after ITB Berlin finished last week after traveling to Duesseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Prague and Warsaw. The Nepal Summit was organized and attended by the Nepal Tourism Board under the leadership of CEO Deepak R Joshi and senior officer for brand promotion and corporate marketing Shradha Shrestha in cooperation with the global team of eTurboNews in Hawaii, Duesseldorf...
UNWTO Seminar addresses tourism development in the Russian regions of the Silk Road
The potential of tourism itineraries and products in the Russian regions of Silk Road has centred the debates of a Seminar conducted last 12 March in Moscow by UNWTO. The Seminar was held in the framework of the UNWTO Silk Road Programme in cooperation with the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism and the Intourmarket Tourism Fair. The relevance of Silk Road tourism itineraries and products in Russia as well as marketing and branding opportunities received major attention during the Seminar...
Hawaii Tourism Authority Issues State’s First-Ever Studies on LGBT Travel
More than two years ago LGBT Hawaii suggested to the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) to hire Community Marketing andInsights to conduct a study on the potential of LGBT Tourism to the Aloha State. Today HTA issued four research studies offering comprehensive findings about the profiles, preferences and sentiments of LGBT travelers from the United States, Canada, China, and Australia as it relates to the Hawaiian Islands. Two additional studies by HTA evaluating LGBT travel to Hawaii from...
World Tourism Organization: Seven candidates vie for UNWTO Secretary-General job
The Secretariat of the World Tourism Organization referring to decision CE/DEC/15(CIV) of the Executive Council at its 104th session (Luxor, Egypt, 30 October – 1 November 2016), on the procedure for the election of the Secretary-General, informs in regards to the election for the post of Secretary-General for the period 2018-2021, that as of 11 March 2017, 24:00 hours, Madrid time, the deadline for the submission of candidatures in accordance with the aforementioned decision, the following...
eTN at MITT 2017 in Moscow Nepalese style
Today was the start of MITT 2017 in Moscow. With over 1,600 participating companies from around the globe, MITT is the key meeting place for the tourism industry in Russia or interested in Russian tourism. Dmytro Makarov from the eTN head office in Hawaii was among the participants. He met today with Daria Ovechkina Fomina. She is a mountain climber and a medical doctor from Russia. She recently got married in Tyanboche in the Everest Region of Nepal. She was among the many visitors saying...
UNWTO advances the conversion of the Code of Ethics into an international Convention
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is working to convert the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism into an international Convention, in order to increase the commitment of all stakeholders to its principles. The process is being led by an intergovernmental Working Group composed of representatives of 36 UNWTO Member States. While extremely relevant for the tourism sector, the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, adopted in 1999, represents a voluntary instrument whereas, the future...
PATA launches travel agent initiative with Equator Learning
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), in conjunction with Equator Learning, is launching a travel agent initiative to support organisations with travel trade marketing efforts. The Asia & Pacific Expert is a consistent and succinct online learning tool for travel agents that is applicable for all markets worldwide. Written in an innovative format, it supports and promotes the destination as well as any pre-existing learning platform. A simple and inexpensive annual fee secures a...
What is the V4 in Tourism for the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia?
Promoting travel and tourism and sharing benefits between the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia is very much part of the Visegrad Group (also known as the “Visegrad Four” or simply “V4”) They reflect the efforts of the countries of the Central European region to work together in a number of fields of common interest within the all-European integration. Member countries had always been part of a single civilization sharing cultural and intellectual values and...
Proud Vietnam and the International Coalition of Tourism Partners
Green growth + quality = business. These are the principles all 700+ members of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) operate in 135 countries around the globe. Four leading travel agents and tour operators in Proud Vietnam Travel Proud Vietnam Travel is a dynamic professional inbound and outbound tour operator in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and other Southeast Asia countries; a well established privately owned Vietnamese company managed by travel experts with many years of...
UNWTO candidate Mzembi: World tourism leadership against all odds
The hard-working UNWTO Secretary General candidate and Minister of Tourism and Hospitality for Zimbabwe, Hon. Dr. Walter Mzembi, continues another world tour. His ongoing trip already took him to attend meetings and trade shows in the Middle East, Iran, India, and now in Istanbul. In this European/Asian city, he is participating in the ongoing World Tourism Forum under the patronage of the Turkish Presidency. The Former British Foreign Secretary, David Milliband, and now President and Chief...
Seychelles Tourism minister commends Beau Vallon hoteliers for quality services and products
The Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Maurice Loustau-Lalanne said it is pleasing to see how tourism operators are putting great effort to upgrade and offer good services and products in the industry. He said this while speaking to the local press last Friday after visiting several tourism properties in the northern part of Mahe. Minister Loustau-Lalanne was accompanied on his visit by the principal secretary for tourism Anne Lafortune. They visited eight properties in the...
Happy Valentine eTurboNews Friends & Tourism
Aloha and Happy Valentine to all our readers anywhere in the world. Besides all the challenges it’s a wonderful world and the travel and tourism industry is a true and non-bias opportunity for peace, prosperity and friendship between people. And yes travel is safe, fun and rewarding even to regions mass media and hysteria tell you different. Travel and tourism for the most part is personal and not political motivated. Tourism contributes to the livelihood of millions that work hard to...
New SKAL International USA Executive Committee officially takes office
The new 2017 SKAL International USA Executive Committee officially took office and began work at their recent Winter Board Meeting in Orlando, Fla., endorsing recommendations of its Futures Committee, confirming its formal mission statement, goals and objectives for the year ahead. New officers for the coming year are Holly Power, President, SKAL International Boston; Burcin Turkkan, Vice President—Administration, SKAL International Atlanta; Alton Hagen, Vice President—Finance, SKAL...
ABPCO and CHS Group partner to create PCO specific education for the Conference and Hospitality Show 2017
The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) has partnered with CHS Group to create association focused education alongside the Conference and Hospitality Show 2017 – being held in Leeds on Tuesday 4th April. ABPCO’s members are invited to attend a Round Table on Innovation facilitated by Professor Rhodri Thomas, who will discuss “absorptive capacity” and give a short presentation on recently published research conducted in the meetings industry. This will be a...
Zimbabwe Tourism and its role in the International Coalition of Tourism Partners
With close to 1000 key tourism stakeholders and destinations in 153 countries, the International Coalition of Tourism Partners has been a force for Green Growth PLUS Quality EQUALS Business. ICTP is active in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa known for its dramatic landscape and diverse wildlife, much of it within parks, reserves and safari areas. On the Zambezi River, Victoria Falls make a thundering 108m drop into narrow Batoka Gorge, where there’s white-water...
UNWTO Secretary General Election: How it works?
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) generates market knowledge, promotes competitive and sustainable tourism policies and instruments, fosters tourism education and training, and works to make tourism an effective tool for development through technical assistance projects in over 100 countries around the world. The organization is based in Madrid, Spain. UNWTO’s membership includes 157 countries, 6 territories and over 500 affiliate members representing the private sector...
The State of the Airline Industry according to IATA
The state of the airline industry was laid out by IATA, the International Air Transport Association Financial Monitor report for January 2017 The initial financial results for Q4 2016 indicate a continued solid performance for the air transport industry, albeit with ongoing signs that momentum in the profitability cycle has weakened. Global airline share prices began the year on a positive note, rising 1.5% in January and a healthy 6.8% over the past year. However, the industry has lagged the...