South African Airways (SAA) has become one of a very few global airlines to maintain Stage 2 status of the IATA Environmental Assessment Program (IEnvA). IEnvA is a comprehensive airline environmental management process that measures a range of operational aspects. According to Tim Clyde-Smith, SAA’s Country Manager, Australasia, the IATA program introduced sustainability standards for airlines to cover all areas of operation to help them achieve world’s best practice. “SAA achieved Stage 2...
As part of its ongoing drive to raise its profile across social media platforms and fill the all-important knowledge gap about the islands, the Seychelles Tourism Board has launched a new blog: seychellesdiary.com The new blog is designed to engage with readers and drive tourism business to the destination. “We are always looking for new ways to create interest about our islands,” explains the manager of the digital marketing section, Vahid Jacob. “Blogging has become a very effective way of...
India’s Tourism Secretary, Vinod Zutshi, opened a 3-day event in Delhi to attract auto enthusiasts and continue to make the country a motoring tourism destination. The 7th edition of the 21 Gun Salute car rally attracted nearly a hundred cars from India and abroad. They are on display at the India Gate complex in Delhi. Madan Mohan, founder of the event, said the country has many heritage sites and vintage cars as well. The 3-day event ran from February 17-19. Last year, the cars were on...
WestJet today announced plans to connect two long-standing WestJet destinations with the addition of service between Winnipeg and Abbotsford. WestJet today also announced 21 incremental flights across the network that will serve both business and leisure travelers. Starting April 30, 2017, WestJet will add Abbotsford as its 13th non-stop destination from Winnipeg and will increase frequency on routes to Edmonton and Hamilton. WestJet has served Abbotsford since 1997 and Winnipeg since 1996. The...
While Minister of Tourism Julie Boulet is leading a tourism mission to China, Tourisme Montréal and the Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding. The two cities have enjoyed close ties for 30 years and this relationship has only grown stronger over time, with several missions being carried out to both Montréal and China. Numerous business sectors, including tourism, constitute areas of opportunity for the cities. Tourisme Montréal and...
Hundreds of tourism operators, destination marketing organizations and sector associations will meet over the course of three days (Feb. 22-24) as the BC Tourism Industry Conference kicks off in Victoria this week. Hosted by the Tourism Industry Association of BC (TIABC), the annual conference began over 20 years ago to bring delegates together to learn, develop business relationships, tackle issues and celebrate success, the latter of which is a big part of this year’s event. “In...
The first drive through pot store in the state of Colorado will open its doors to recreational marijuana smokers in the town of Parachute next month after being granted a business license last week. Tumbleweed Express is scheduled to open the state’s first drive-through location at the site of a former car wash in March after the Parachute Board of Trustees issued the permit. Tumbleweed Express is scheduled to open the state’s first drive-through location at the site of a former car...
In one of the season’s biggest line-up of fashion designers from India, “NUMAISH® Luxury Show” will bring together exclusive apparel and jewellery collections from 25 leading designers at the Taj Dubai on 25th February, 2017. The magnificent lines on offer at the show, range from bridal wear to cocktail and evening dresses for both men and women in Ethnic and Western styles. Curated by celebrity stylist Eshaa Amiin, this spectacular exhibition is open for public and will offer shoppers a unique...
Vietjet has received full membership from the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), affirming the new-age carrier’s role and position in the aviation community in Vietnam and overseas. Prior to attaining membership, Vietjet had been certified by the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). IATA, the most professional, consistent and comprehensive voice of the international aviation industry, actively seeks to support and increase the benefits for all airline members through...
It’s time to take to two wheels and visit Chatrium Golf Resort Soi Dao Chanthaburi for an event that’s packed with fitness and fun in your very own breathtaking highland sanctuary. All comers are invited to the Thailand Cycling Championship 2017 organized by Tubsai Municipal District and the Thai Cycling Association from the 10th-12th March as the 3rd round from 5 in a countrywide competition amid the stunning natural scenery of one of the most beautiful corners of the kingdom. It’s going to be...
Global hospitality company Dusit International today announced the appointment of Ms Prachoom Tantiprasertsuk as Vice President Sales, and Mr Michael Leong as Vice President Marketing, effective 15 February 2017. Ms Tantiprasertsuk has worked for Dusit International since 2015 as General Manager of Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket Resort. She studied Hotel Management at London City College and counts hotel companies such as Peninsula Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels, InterContinental Hotels Group, and...
The entire world in 26 display halls: this year, ITB Berlin is booked up again. In 2017, in addition to established exhibitors the World’s Largest Travel Trade Show has been able to secure many newcomers. ITB Berlin has also met numerous exhibitors’ requests for more floor space. Some of the stands have grown in height and the hall layout has been improved. This year the stands of many tourism destinations, especially in the Mediterranean, are now in different locations. Thus, from 8 to 12...
Qatar Airways was recognized for content innovation at the fourth annual in-flight workshop and awards at Aircraft Interiors Middle East, held in partnership with F&E Aerospace. The award recognises the outstanding array of the airline’s on-board entertainment platform, Oryx One. Qatar Airways was commended for offering a wide selection of content to enhance its global passengers’ journeys, including regional content selection tailored to the Middle East market. The award, which the...
After its successful launch in 2016, Meeting Design Institute is bringing the Future of Meetings concept back to The Meetings Show from 13-15 June 2017. The initiative gives start-up businesses, with less than ten staff and less than three years’ experience in the meetings and events industry, a chance to showcase their products and services to buyers in a technology focused environment. Maarten Vanneste, from Meeting Design Institute comments: “From the start, The Meetings Show has recognised...
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...
Mantra Group today officially opened the new-look, rebranded Mantra Club Croc hotel, following a major $5 million refurbishment to bring a fresh design and upgraded facilities to the iconic Airlie Beach hotel. Situated close to the beachfront and Abell Point Marina, Mantra Club Croc is housed in a traditional Queenslander-style building, offering a glimpse into the region’s past, contrasted by its modern accommodation and facilities. Guests can now experience stylish accommodation with coastal...
Marlan Padayachy, a South Africa journalist, writes: The Indian Ocean island of Seychelles has the potential to become a strategic springboard for KwaZulu-Natal, particularly for Durban as a premier east-coast commercial and logistics hub of three million people, when Air Seychelles touches down for the first time later next month. Seychelles’ foray into this geo-political region earmarked for massive economic overhaul and growth is likely to push back the frontiers of tourism, travel, trade...
Multi-sectoral planning has started in earnest for Jamaica’s hosting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) historic Global Conference on Building Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism for Development. The highly anticipated event will be held from November 27 to 29, 2017, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James. With the commitment and involvement of several government ministries and agencies as well as key private sector groups and companies, a roster of sub...
A man who breached security at a terminal at Honolulu International Airport died after becoming unresponsive when detained. The incident took place at a small commuter terminal at the airport early this morning when he pushed a security guard away and ran through two doors leading to an outdoor walkway where the planes are parked. He was stopped there by security and taken into custody. There was a struggle, although it is not clear when this occurred, however, a security guard suffered head...
Bring up the topic of TEA at a cocktail or dinner party – and you can almost be certain the conversation will quickly draw to a close. Guests will anxiously try to find something else to talk about -even the weather will seem to be a better choice than tea. Tea is Tenacious What is the purpose of tea? We do not need it – there are many other beverages to drink…and yet, after water, it is the most popular beverage in the world. Today, more than three billion cups of tea are consumed every day...
Rafael Villanueva, Senior Director of International Sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said during a visit on February 16 to New Delhi, India, that Las Vegas is looking to promote the luxury Free Independent Traveler (FIT) travel market from India. Additionally, the city would like to bring in more people who come to visit friends and relatives from India who have settled in the USA. And another thrust area is the incentive market, as Las Vegas has many venues and...
Vietnam-India travel is set to increase with the planned launch of a direct flight between Delhi, India, and Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, by VietJet Air. The service is expected to take off this summer in July of this year. For the first time, Vietnam had a strong presence at the South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE) event that was held from February 15-17 in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India. Several agents and hotels shared information on the various tour possibilities and itineraries...
Princess Cruises announced today that Island Princess will be the fourth cruise ship to feature the Ocean Medallion, debuting May 16, 2018 for the Alaska season. The wearable device powered by a first-of-its-kind interactive technology platform within the One Cruise Experience Access Network (O·C·E·A·N), enables a new level of personalization and delivers an enhanced guest experience not previously available in the global vacation industry. Unveiled by Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald...
The owner of a popular café in Vienna has started to bill customers, who use “excess” power to charge their devices. Austrian capital tourists who visit the Terrassencafe im Hundertwasserhaus, located inside a colorful patchwork of apartments designed by artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser, are charged a euro ($1.07) if they spend too much time charging their phones, tablets or laptops. Galina Pokorny, the cafe’s owner, said she was fed up with tourists who spent...
A passenger train has derailed on the way from Leuven to Brussels in Belgium, killing at least one person and leaving up to 25 people injured, according to local media reports. The Leuven fire department has confirmed to local media that two people are in critical condition and 23 others have been injured. 14 people have already been transferred to local hospitals for treatment. “The victim who died, was not on the train,” Leuven mayor Louis Tobback told VTM. “A judicial inquiry...
India took another tourist-friendly step when the Ministry of Tourism, along with telco company, BSNL, launched a free pre-loaded sim card for foreign tourists landing in Delhi, India, on an e-visa. The cards will be extended to all 15 airports in the country where the e-visa facility is available. The sim card has preloaded talk time so that the immediate needs of tourists can be met. Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma launched the scheme on February 15. A help line in 12 languages is already...
Marriott International, Inc. today announced the opening of Four Points Manhattan Midtown West, the brand’s fifth hotel in Manhattan. Catering to the needs of today’s modern traveler, the hotel offers timeless design, stylish comfort and what matters most plus extras guests want. Owned by Joy Construction and managed by Real Hospitality, the newly constructed Four Points Manhattan Midtown West offers 148 spacious guest rooms, a 24-hour fitness center, a business center, and fast and...
The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP), an alliance of destinations and their stakeholders in 135 countries working on “Green Growth + Quality = Business,” is not untouched by today’s challenges and security situation in the world. Juergen T. Steinmetz, Chairman of ICTP said: “In 2007, we supported the National Hotel and Tourism Institute (NAHOTI) which was established by the Yemeni Government with the financial support of the European Commission and the technical...
Brand USA President and CEO Christopher L. Thompson says the number of Indian visitors to the United States continues to grow, and the opportunities within India as a source market are numerous. In 2015, more than 1.1 million Indians visited the United States, spending $11.8 billion – overall, a 17 percent increase from the year prior. NYC & Company, NTA, and American Tours International were among the agents, operators, and attractions who also spoke of good prospects from India. On...
The Kingdom of Swaziland certainly packs a cultural and entertaining punch despite its size, and starting the year off with a bang is what this nation does best! The Swazi people are united by culture and values and the Marula Festival, locally known as “Emaganwini,” is one of them. Such events have kept this nation united and inseparable, making it the unique destination that it is. The Swazis unite in song and dance during this festival, particularly the women who are the brewers of the...
