Author: Leandro Agostini

Kenya national day celebrations

Kenya national day celebrations at Expo 2020

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Kenya national day celebrations

February 16 2022 – Kenya national day celebrations  is taking its turn in the spotlight at Expo 2020 in Dubai as the country celebrates its national day.

President Kenyatta leads Kenya national day celebrations at Expo 2020

President Uhuru Kenyatta led a flag-raising ceremony in Al Wasl Plaza earlier this morning, with hundreds of onlookers present.

He said: “I wish at the onset of my remarks today to congratulate the government and the people of the United Arab Emirates for the successful and safe management of this expo.

“Organisers have effectively ensured adherence to the regulations set out by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“This has helped keep all those participating in this event safe, and indeed proved instructive, offering lessons, on how the world can deal with any such eventuality in the future.”

Each national day is dedicated to a participating country, with a cultural showcase on offer to guests.

Kenya will also seek to bolster business opportunities and foster partnerships between local and international investors.

Kenyatta added: “Kenya is very keen and strengthen existing relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states – and, indeed, with all participants of this expo.

“We seek to harness the opportunities offered by this expo to build new business relationships, new investments, but also to bring tourists to enjoy Kenya and its renowned attractions.”

He continued: “Today, I invite all of you to visit our exhibition, to sample the goods and services on offer, and to participate in the esteemed tourism promotion event we are offering.

“Kenya is becoming a newly-industrialising, middle-income country, providing a high quality of life to all our citizens, as set out in the Kenya 2030 agenda.

“Trade and investment, as well as strong relationships with the private sector, are key to realising this mission.

“It is against this backdrop that we seek to increase trade with the GCC and partners across the Middle East.”

Expo 2020 visitors can today also enjoy a spectacular and colourful live performance of the traditional music and dance of Kenya.

Performed by the celebrated national dance company, the dance troupe will showcase the beauty and diversity of traditional Kenyan music.

Kenyatta concluded: “As a country, we are in a strong position – Kenya is without doubt the largest economy in eastern Africa, it is the business hub for the region, a trade and logistic facility for the surrounding eleven countries.

“Further, Kenya enjoys economic stability, we are a fully-liberalised economy, with a large domestic consumer market, and access to our most important asset, which is a youthful, educated population.

“These attributes have made Kenya the destination of choice for many multi-national companies, and a destination of choice for foreign direct investment in our region.

“In the spirit of our vision for 2030, we are here to promote business-to-business partnerships, and to establish links between public and private sector institutions.”

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Qatar Airways increase flights from Dublin

Qatar Airways to increase frequency from Dublin to 10 weekly flights

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Qatar Airways increase flights from Dublin

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February 16, 2022 – Qatar Airways will increase frequency from Dublin Airport to ten flights per week to accommodate rising demand for international travel, from March of this year. The move to ten weekly flights, up from seven, from 27 March will see an increase in capacity on the route.

Qatar Airways to increase frequency from Dublin to 10 weekly flights

Introducing additional services will give Irish passengers greater access to travel to a wide range of destinations on Qatar Airways’ global network, the most popular of which from Dublin include Australia, Thailand, India, the Maldives and the Philippines.

Schedule changes will also see even further improved connectivity to Australia and New Zealand. The airline has quickly rebuilt its network to pre-pandemic levels, enabling passengers to connect to over 140 destinations around the globe.

Gary Kershaw, Country Manager for UK & Ireland, Qatar Airways said: “Demand for flights and international travel is returning at pace, and we are absolutely thrilled to be able to offer our passengers flying from Dublin more choice about how and when they fly. We look forward to seeing these changes come into effect later this year, a moment which will mark another important step in the travel industry’s recovery from the pandemic.”

Qatar Airways has been operating the Dublin-Doha route for five years, having launched a daily service in 2017.

Source: Breakingtravelnews

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Malaysia To Fully Reopen Borders In March 2022

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Malaysia To Fully Reopen Borders In March

February 15, 2022 – Malaysia To Fully Reopen Borders In March

As part of the country’s economic revival, the NRC in Malaysia has agreed to open the country’s borders entirely in March.

Malaysia To Fully Reopen Borders In March

There will be no mandatory quarantine when the borders reopen on 1 March, NRC Chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said during a press conference on 8 February.

As a result, visitors to Malaysia will be required by the Health Ministry to undergo COVID-19 testing before and shortly after entry.

A current risk assessment guided Muhyiddin’s call for border opening. Based on the country’s public health history, he also voiced his confidence in its ability to keep up with the number of infections occurring each day.

Malaysia’s Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) has confirmed that the country’s economy and industrial sectors will not be shut down again due to the Omicron variant wave wreaking havoc, driving the daily number of new COVID-19 infections to five-figure levels.

During the first three months of 2020, when the government instituted a movement control order, a staggering 826,000 people lost their jobs as a result of the prior economic sector closures, according to Senior Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali.

According to him, MITI would adopt a focused approach, closing only the affected industries and vaccinating the staff.

On a case-by-case basis, Malaysia’s borders are currently open to foreigners only in the event of an emergency or for official business.

Since November of last year, Singapore and Langkawi have had a quarantine-free vaccinated travel lane (VTL) agreement.

Over 2.9 million people in Malaysia have been infected with COVID-19 as of 8 February, with 32,043 deaths. Malaysian adults are over 99 percent vaccinated, with more than 53 percent receiving booster shots.

 

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Aeromexico to relaunch London connection in April

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February 15, 2022 – Aeromexico will resume operations to London from Mexico City as of April 1st with five weekly flights.

Aeromexico to relaunch London connection in April

With the airline using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the move represents a monthly offer of more than 9,000 seats.

Aeromexico has been operating to London since 2012, and the United Kingdom is one of the most relevant global investors for Mexico and an important source of visitors.

Customers traveling from London to Mexico City can connect with more than 42 destinations operated by the airline within the country.

Giancarlo Mulinelli, senior vice president of global sales, commented: “We celebrate our return to London Heathrow International Airport, which is one of our customers’ preferred routes for business and leisure travel.

Aeromexico connects Europe with six direct routes from London, Madrid, Amsterdam, and Paris to Mexico City, as well as from Madrid to Guadalajara and Monterrey.

Thus, the company adds more than 330 flights with an offer of almost 90,000 seats per month.

Heathrow chief commercial officer, Ross Baker, said: “We are delighted to welcome Aeromexico back to Heathrow so that our passengers can get back to visiting the fantastic destinations Mexico has to offer.

“With travel restrictions easing and the airline resuming five flights a week to Mexico City, passengers now have more choice and businesses can go back to developing stronger trade links with one of the largest emerging markets in the world.”

Source: Breakingtravelnews

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Icelandair launches brand refresh with new livery

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February 15, 2022 – Icelandair is introducing a new livery with colours inspired by Icelandic nature, including the northern lights.

Icelandair launches brand refresh with new livery

As part of a complete refresh of the Icelandair brand, this is the first time the whole livery design has changed since 2006, supporting the promise of bringing the spirit of Iceland to the world.

TF-ICE, a Boeing 737 Max 8 named Jökulsárlón (after the famous glacier lagoon), is the first of the fleet to be painted in the new livery, with plans to have a total of five Max aircraft with the new livery in operation by the end of this month.

Icelandair intend for the whole Boeing 737 Max 8/9 fleet to be painted by the end of November alongside the aircraft maintenance schedule, a total of 14 planes.

Furthermore, Icelandair plan to also paint their regional fleet in the new livery colours, a total of five planes, by the end of October.

The bright Turkish is a representation of the northern lights, while the magenta signifies the collective creative power of Iceland, with just a hint of sunrise.

The cyan is the refreshing Icelandic summer sky that’s filled with light, and the bright yellow is the sun reflecting off waterfalls, glaciers, and even simmering magma.

Finally, the bright green represents the life that can be found, even after the harshest of events.

“Icelandair is delighted to be able to kick off 2022 with an exciting new livery design, our first since 2006.

“Part of a wider brand refresh, the new livery colours represent the different natural wonders Iceland is renowned for.

“From the aurora borealis, to the vast Icelandic glaciers and waterfalls, Icelandair’s new livery design celebrates the true spirit of Iceland,” said head of global marketing at Icelandair, Gísli Brynjólfsson.

Source: Breakingtravelnews

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FIFA World Cup 2022

Millions of tickets requested for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

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FIFA World Cup 2022

February 15 2022 – The start of ticket sales for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has generated huge demand around the world.

Millions of tickets requested for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

More than 1.2 million tickets were requested by fans worldwide in the first 24 hours of the initial sales period.

The highest demand came from fans from Qatar, followed by Argentina, Mexico, the USA, the United Arab Emirates, England, India, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and France.

More than 140,000 tickets have been requested for the final due to take place on December 18th at Lusail Stadium, and over 80,000 for the opening match.

During this first sales period, fans were able to submit their ticket applications at any time.

In cases where the number of tickets applied for exceeds the available ticket inventory for the domestic or international market, tickets will be allocated by a random selection draw process.

All successful, partially successful and unsuccessful applicants will be duly notified of the outcome of their applications by Tuesday, March 8th, along with the steps to follow and the deadline by which to pay for allocated tickets.

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New guidelines for international arrivals in India

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February 14, 2022 – The Indian government has revised its COVID guidelines for international arrivals. The country has decided to do away with the at risk category of countries. India has recommended self-monitoring for 14 days for symptoms, instead of the previous rule of home quarantine for 7 days. The new guidelines for international travellers will be followed from February 14.

New guidelines for international arrivals in India

However, according to the Ministry, there is a need to monitor the continuously changing situation. The Ministry has also said that economic activities must be taken up in an unhindered manner. Passengers will need to upload RT-PCR negative report, which must be taken 72 hours before the journey. Moreover, passengers will also have to upload fully-vaccinated certificates and schedules.

A self-declaration form available at Suvidha Web Portal needs to be filled out by passengers, along with their history of travel, going back to 14 days.

An alternative to uploading the RT-PCR report is a certificate that confirms that the passenger has received both the vaccines. This option is only available for passengers arriving from select 72 countries. The vaccine programmes for these countries have been recognised by the Indian government.

Passengers should keep in mind that there will be a random sampling of about 2&% of the international travellers at the airports. Travellers will have to give their samples, and then they may leave the airport.

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Formula One Bahrain confirmed till 2036 – excellent news

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Formula One Bahrain

February 14 2022 – Formula One Bahrain has confirmed that Bahrain will stay on the F1 calendar through until 2036 inclusive, following the agreement with the promoter to renew its contract. This extends F1 in Bahrain by a further 10 years.

Formula One Bahrain confirmed in Bahrain till 2036

The Bahrain Grand Prix has been a brilliant race on the F1 calendar since 2004 and Bahrain International Circuit hosted two races in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2022, it will be the opening race of the season and has become a favourite with all the fans, drivers, and the teams.

Formula One Bahrain: The incredible facilities at the circuit for both the racing and for the fans have recently undergone further investment, ensuring it remains state of the art and offers the best fan experience.

Alongside this, the promoter has already announced significant measures to increase the environmental sustainability of the event. This includes all energy used by the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in 2022 being provided by a newly installed on-site solar farm, meeting the BIC’s needs throughout the race weekend and beyond whilst also supporting the Kingdom and Formula 1’s net zero carbon emissions targets.

The plans will reduce the venue’s carbon footprint and generate significant savings on overall energy costs.

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of Formula 1, said: “I am delighted we will be racing at the Bahrain International Circuit until 2036 where more incredible racing and excitement will be on show to thrill our fans. Since 2004 we have had some fantastic races in Sakhir and we cannot wait to be back there for the start of the 2022 championship as we begin a new era for the sport.

Bahrain was the first country in the Middle East to welcome Formula 1 and it has a very special place in our sport and I want to thank HRH Prince Salman and his team for their dedication and hard work throughout our partnership and look forward to the many years of racing ahead of us.”

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UK lifts all testing rules for vaccinated travellers

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February 14, 2022 -Vaccinated travellers can enter Britain without taking any coronavirus tests, after the government scrapped one of the final restrictions imposed over the past two years in response to COVID-19. British residents and visitors who have had at least two doses of an approved coronavirus vaccine now only need to fill out a passenger locator form before traveling to the U.K.

UK lifts all testing rules for vaccinated travellers

Unvaccinated people still have to take tests both before and after arriving but no longer need to self-isolate until they get a negative result. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the U.K. “now has one of the most free-flowing borders in the world — sending a clear message that we are open for business.”

Airlines and other travel firms hailed the change as a lifeline after two years of severely constricted travel. Andrew Flintham, managing director of travel group Tui UK, said there was “a huge pent-up demand for international travel,” and people were rushing to book getaways for the February school break and April’s Easter holiday. Gatwick, London’s second-busiest airport, said that it plans next month to reopen the second of its two terminals, shuttered since June 2020.

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Jet2 begins return to Cyprus

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February 14, 2022 – With travel slowly returning to normal, Jet2holidays has relaunched fights and package holidays to Cyprus.

Jet2begins return to Cyprus

Flights departed for Paphos from Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle, East Midlands and London Stansted airports over the weekend. 

Services will also restart to Paphos from Birmingham on Wednesday, followed by Glasgow on February 26th and Edinburgh and Belfast International in March.

In addition, the company will operate flights and holidays from Bristol Airport to Paphos for the first time from March 6th onwards.

The resumption of services to Paphos comes after the removal of restrictions for fully-vaccinated customers arriving in the UK, which has seen holidaymakers flocking to book flights and holidays in their numbers.

Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, added: “We are delighted to be restarting our award-winning flights and package holidays to Paphos and seeing our flights take off once again to the stunning island of Cyprus.

“Since travel has started to return to normal, we have seen strong demand from customers looking to make the most of being able to enjoy a much-needed getaway in the sunshine, with Paphos proving to be a very popular choice of holiday destination.”

Source: Breakingtravelnews

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Emirates rebuilds Australia services as borders reopen

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February 14, 2022 – Emirates has announced a second daily flight on the Sydney-Dubai route, served by an A380.

Emirates rebuilds Australia services as borders reopen

Starting March 1st, the airline will offer customers an additional seven flights per week, to reach fourteen weekly services from Dubai to the News South Wales capital.

With the re-opening of Australian borders set for February 21st, Emirates is increasing services to meet market demand.

The additional daily frequency between Sydney and Dubai will operate as EK412/413 and will offer 14 first class suites, 76 lie-flat seats in business class and 426 ergonomically designed seats in economy.

From Sydney, EK413 will depart at 21:45 and arrive in Dubai at 05:15 the next day.

The A380 aircraft is also operating daily flights to Melbourne, having been upgraded recently from the Boeing 777-300ER, on February 1st.

The upgrade to the double-decker aircraft allows 50 per cent additional capacity to serve anticipated demand arising from the re-opening of international borders.

Australia has long been a popular destination for leisure travellers and those visiting family and friends, mainly from Europe, including the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany, in addition to India, Pakistan, South Africa and United Arab Emirates, among others. 

In addition to the capitals of New South Wales and Victoria, Emirates also provides passenger services to Brisbane with five weekly flights as well as three flights per week to Perth, both with a Boeing 777-300ER.

Source: Breakingtravelnews

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Spain loosens rules for younger UK travellers

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February 11, 2022 – Spain has updated its Covid-19 entry requirements after seemingly being caught out by a rapid reopening elsewhere.

Spain loosens rules for younger UK travellers

From February 14th, UK children and teenagers aged between 12 and 17 can present a negative Covid-19 PCR test, taken within 72 hours of arrival to Spain, as an alternative to having been fully vaccinated.

All other UK travellers, excluding children under 12, will need to present a Covid-19 certificate showing proof of being fully vaccinated, administered at least 14 days prior to arrival in Spain.

If more than 270 days have passed since the last dose was administered, proof of a booster jab is also required.

Prior to travelling to Spain, all passengers must also present a QR code which is obtained from filling in the Health Control Form available via Spain Travel Health.

This new entry criteria is for all travellers (unless exempt) from the UK and outside of the European Union for arrival to the whole of Spain, including the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.

Spain minister for trade, industry and tourism, Reyes Maroto, said: “As one of the world’s favourite tourism destinations, we are committed to making travel to Spain a safe and easy experience for our visitors, especially for families travelling with children.

“We hope that with these changes, many families will choose Spain to enjoy safe and memorable holidays together.”

At the moment everyone over 12 has to be double-jabbed to enter the country.

The rapid rule change comes after reports Spain was losing visitors to rival destinations as complex rules meant families were unable to travel together.

 

 

Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com, said: “This is very welcome news for families who want nothing more than to holiday in their favourite Spanish destinations.

“We are pleased to see the Spanish government taking positive action to welcome more arrivals from the UK and we know that this will lead to an increase in bookings.”

He added: “The removal of the requirement for 12–17-year-olds to be double-vaccinated tells families that travelling to Spain is returning to normal, and after two years of missing out we know how much everyone wants to experience that famous Spanish sunshine again.

“Our teams and colleagues are excited about welcoming millions of happy holidaymakers to their favourite Spanish destinations this year, and we look forward to more positive updates from the Spanish government.”

ABTA also responded positively to the change.

A spokesperson said: “This, along with the UK also relaxing its travel requirements, means it is getting easier for people to set off on their long-awaited holidays abroad.

“With two thirds of families saying their holidays are more important to them now than before the pandemic, the latest changes should give more people confidence to book their much-missed foreign holiday and many are expected to enlist the help of a travel agent or tour operator to do so.”

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Thailand eyes travel bubble with China and Malaysia

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February 11, 2022 – Thailand plans to hold travel bubble talks with China and Malaysia this month, days after resuming a quarantine-free visa programme to boost tourist arrivals seen as key to sustaining a nascent economic recovery. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha’s government will soon discuss with the Chinese Minister for Culture and Tourism details of a possible bilateral travel deal, Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, a government spokesman, said in a statement.

Thailand eyes travel bubble with China and Malaysia

Thai officials are also preparing to hold talks with neighboring Malaysia later this month for a similar agreement, he said.

Thailand is chasing bilateral deals to spark a broader recovery in its pandemic-battered tourism industry after the waiver of quarantine for vaccinated visitors and the so-called tourism sandbox experiments in recent months failed to draw a large number of holidaymakers. The return of Chinese and Malaysian tourists, the largest groups of visitors to the Southeast Asian nation before the pandemic, is seen by the industry as key to a sustainable rebound.

“We think a travel bubble will be more positive for Thailand’s tourism sector than the currently implemented ‘Test & Go’ quarantine-free scheme, as the latter alone is not enough to attract tourists who will have to quarantine on their return,” Tim Leelahaphan, a Bangkok-based economist at Standard Chartered Plc, said in a note. “While the plan is a good starting point, we think a clear and strong recovery path is unlikely anytime soon and is more likely in the second half or late this year.”

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MAG preparing for bumper half term traveller numbers

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February 11, 2022 – Manchester Airport is expecting February half-term to be one of its busiest periods since the pandemic began, as passengers respond to the removal of testing requirements and take advantage of a return to restriction-free travel.

MAG preparing for bumper half term traveller numbers

The anticipated increase comes after the government announced on January 24th that fully-vaccinated passengers would no longer be required to take any tests when travelling to the UK from February 11th, a move which has made travelling abroad easier and cheaper for millions of Britons for the first time in over a year.

This announcement saw businesses across the travel industry record a sharp increase in bookings.

The total airline seat capacity across MAG airports is around 20 per cent higher for February and March than January.

MAG chief executive, Charlie Cornish, said: “It’s great that passengers are clearly feeling more confident as we go into February half term, and we expect our airports to be busier than we have seen in recent months.

“We welcomed the government’s decision to reintroduce restriction-free travel in time for the holidays.

“Airlines are now putting on more seats and there’s a real sense of excitement for travel as we head into the summer season.

“Our strong recovery means we are looking to recruit all sorts of roles across our airports. With our terminals filling with passengers again, this is a fantastic time to consider a job in aviation.”

Looking further ahead, MAG anticipates consumer confidence will continue to improve.

The group is preparing to handle passenger volumes close to pre-pandemic levels as the recovery strengthens over the summer season.

Passenger figures for January – released by MAG today – show how testing measures introduced in response to the Omicron variant weakened demand for international travel.

January passenger volumes were down 63 per cent on the same month in 2019, which was significantly quieter than the recovery seen in late 2021.

Source: Breakingtravelnews

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UK national day welcomed at Expo 2020 Dubai

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February 11 2022 – The United Kingdom is celebrating its national day at Expo 2020 Dubai with a splash of pomp and ceremony featuring cultural performances by the Band of the Coldstream Guards.

UK national day welcomed at Expo 2020 Dubai

There is also a site-wide journey of the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Relay Baton, and a visit by prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, as part of his first official trip to the UAE.

Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, UAE minister of culture and youth, welcomed Nadine Dorries, secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport and the UK delegation.

Al Kaabi said: “The United Kingdom’s pavilion theme of ‘Innovating for a Shared Future’ demonstrates the country’s pivotal role in leading innovation efforts globally.

“Key breakthroughs in the future of science and technology, as well as its advances and contribution to space, artificial intelligence, energy, and more are essential to the development of our shared humanity.”

Following the speeches at Al Wasl Plaza, the band of the Coldstream Guards delivered an eye-catching performance in their red jackets and iconic bearskin hats.

Earlier, 40 children from the Dubai British School participated in activities involving the Rugby League World Cup at the Sports, Fitness and Wellbeing Hub and visited the Surreal water feature.

Dorries said: “The UK and UAE share a deep and historic bond.

“We’re committed to tackling global issues together, and we’ve strengthened that relationship through our new and ambitious ‘Partnership for the Future’ – which, alongside our expanded UAE-UK Sovereign Investment Partnership, we’ll use to create new trade, and collaborate on a number of areas including life sciences, education, climate and security.”

The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Relay Baton left the UK Pavilion on its journey across the Expo 2020 Dubai site, ahead of the Commonwealth Games in July, inviting colourful participation at several other country pavilions along the way.

Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge will tour the site, the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra will perform in Jubilee Park, and a UK in 360 Projection will light up Al Wasl Plaza accompanied by performances from musicians including John Newman and Tom Seals.

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Aer Lingus to reconnect to Miami from October

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February 11, 2022 – Aer Lingus will be re-starting its direct service from Dublin to Miami from October 21st with seats on sale from today.

Aer Lingus to reconnect to Miami from October

Customers will once again be able to travel directly to Miami this October with Aer Lingus via the Dublin gateway, operating two services per week until October 28th, increasing to three per week from October 29th.

The removal of testing requirements for fully vaccinated arrivals into the UK is welcome news for customers and will help rebuild consumer confidence in travel in 2022.

Aer Lingus offers connections to Miami from eight UK airports; London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Leeds Bradford, Edinburgh and Glasgow via Dublin.

Customers can connect seamlessly onto the transatlantic route, preclearing US Customs and Immigration in Dublin, meaning passengers can then pass-through domestic channels upon landing for a smooth and swift arrival in the USA.

This weekly schedule of direct flights to Miami will fly on Friday and Sunday until October 28th with an additional flight on a Wednesday added from the October 29th.

Bill Byrne, executive vice-president US at Aer Lingus, said; “We are delighted to be building back our US connectivity this year and there’s no doubt that travel is back for 2022.

“We are so happy to be flying to the US again, and this week we are delighted to be continuing to connect families, friends and businesses to Florida.”

Source: Breakingtravelnews

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Gatwick to reopen south terminal next month

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February 11, 2022 – Gatwick Airport has announced it will reopen its south terminal in March – after nearly two years being dormant – to help meet the expected strong demand this summer and beyond as confidence in international travel returns.

Gatwick to reopen south terminal next month

The news comes on the day that testing requirements for those arriving into the UK have been eased significantly, with fully-vaccinated passengers and those under the age of 18 no longer needing to take pre-departure and post-arrival tests.

Flights have been operating solely from the north terminal since June 2020 to save on costs, but activity will return to the south terminal from March 27th, as Gatwick enters what it expects to be a busy summer season.

British Airways has already announced it will restart its short-haul services from Gatwick from March 29th, with 35 new European routes added.

Vueling will also be expanding its operations, adding five new short-haul routes and basing three aircraft at Gatwick. 

Tickets for over 30 exciting long-haul routes from Gatwick are also on sale, including New York, Tampa, Bangkok, Phuket, Mauritius, Dubai, Doha, Islamabad – and range of cities across Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico, including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Cancun, Antigua and Montego Bay.

The increased demand is also positive news for the local job market – with Gatwick’s local communities among some of the country’s worst affected by the impacts of the pandemic. 

Gatwick and its partners – airlines, retailers, ground handlers etc – have been recruiting for some time, with more than 2,000 jobs still available for positions such as security officers, IT specialists, engineers, shop and restaurant workers, ground and cargo handlers and cabin crew.

Stewart Wingate, chief executive of Gatwick Airport, said: “After an incredibly challenging two years for the airport, our partners, local communities and the entire aviation industry, we are delighted to be reopening our South Terminal next month.

“Following some major announcements from our airlines about significantly increased flying schedules, and from Government on removing travel restrictions and airport slot regulations, we can now look forward to once again operating a busy Gatwick this summer and beyond.

Airlines who will be operating from the south terminal include British Airways, Vueling, Wizz, Ryanair, Norwegian, Turkish Airlines, TAP, Eastern Airways, Aurigny, Aer Lingus, Air Baltic, Airmaltia, Air Europa and Enter Air, while easyJet will operate across both south and north terminals.

Source: Breakingtravelnews

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IBTM Asia Pacific 2022

Singapore sets stage for inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific event

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IBTM Asia Pacific 2022

February 11 2022 – Global meetings and trade show organiser IBTM has selected Singapore as the site for the inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific. The event will take place from 6 to 7 September 2022 at Marina Bay Sands. It’s the sister event to IBTM World and IBTM Americas and will be coupled with the first edition of Singapore MICE Forum (SMF) X IBTM APAC, in partnership with the Singapore Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (SACEOS). The forum will be held on 5 September.

Singapore sets stage for inaugural IBTM event

The launch of the inaugural IBTM Asia Pacific event signals the progressive return of international events to Singapore and the resurgence of the MICE industry.

Singapore is a key MICE hub and ideal location for the event because of its vibrant business culture, excellent infrastructure, and stellar track record in delivering similar high-quality events.

Before the pandemic, Singapore’s meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) market reached USD2,523.4 million in 2018 and is expected to attain a market value of USD5,214.9 million by the end of 2027, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.4%.

Themed ‘Make Every Connection Count’ IBTM Asia Pacific 2022 should welcome exhibitors from over 40 countries, as well as pre-qualified hosted buyers and visitors.

IBTM Asia Pacific event manager, Michael Jones, commented: “Now more than ever, making every connection count is critical for event professionals as together we rebuild our industry.”

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Westin debuts in UK with contemporary scheme in London

hotel news

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February 10, 2022 – Marriott International’s wellness-oriented hotel brand has entered a new market after launching a stylish riverside property designed by Dexter Moren Associates.

Westin debuts in UK with contemporary scheme in London

The Westin London City promises to deliver a wellness-focused hospitality experience in the heart of the UK capital.

 A wellbeing experience

The Westin brand’s first UK hotel, The Westin London City, is now open. This riverfront property has been designed by British hospitality design practice Dexter Moren Associates to enhance the wellness experience, with contemporary, fluid and sculptural residential-style interiors connecting guests with nature.

In terms of overall concept, the guest experience is defined by the brand’s six wellbeing pillars: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well and Play Well. Through these pillars, guests are able to personalise their stay and participate in the hotel’s programming.

“The Westin London City seamlessly balances London’s captivating energy with the wellness promise that Westin Hotels & Resorts is known for, providing mindful travellers a new way to experience this iconic destination,” said Jason Nuell, senior vice president of premium brands for Marriott International. “As the brand’s debut in the UK, we’re excited to continue expanding our portfolio, delivering industry-leading wellbeing experiences designed to empower a better you.”

The sleek property is owned by 4C Hotel Group and managed by RBH.

Wellness meets contemporary design

Travellers are accommodated across 222 guestrooms, each featuring the signature Heavenly Bed, a spa-like bathroom and handy amenities like White Tea Heavenly Bath products.

This accommodation is joined by Heavenly Spa by Westin, comprising six treatment rooms and an indoor pool built around the archaeological remains of the Huggin Hill Bathhouse. Guests can also make use of the fitness equipment, including Peloton, in the state-of-the-art WestinWorkout Fitness Studio.

The dining offering revolves around two venues: the Hithe + Seek wine bar overlooking the Thames, and the Mosaic all-day dining venue, focusing on sustainably sourced ingredients. At Hithe + Seek, plush furnishings meet modern finishes, and small plates are served alongside an extensive choice of wines, from familiar favourites (Hithe) to those less likely to have been encountered previously (Seek). The fourth-floor Mosaic, meanwhile, is named after the artwork found at the front of the hotel.

Events and meetings are catered for in 1,060 sq m of flexible event space, including a ballroom and five expansive meeting rooms, all exhibiting the same residential feel and natural touches as the rest of the hotel. The site is completed by nine state-of-the-art residences.

A positive step forward for London

Found on the Thames pathway, this property is the final piece connecting the Embankment to the Tower of London.

“By connecting these two sides of London, we have opened a walkway that could help towards a greener city, encouraging locals and visitors alike to walk the beautiful stretch of river,” said Neil Taylor, chief operating officer at 4C Hotel Group. “It has been 80 years in the making in bringing this walkway back for everyday use and we are delighted to see our city united once more.”

Recently, Dexter Moren Associates’ founding director Dexter Moren discussed his role on The Westin London City in an exclusive interview with TOPHOTELNEWS. The London-based architect, who set up the eponymous hospitality design practice exactly 30 years ago, revealed that he completed his first sketches for the scheme over a decade ago.

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Source: Tophotel

 

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Emerald Azzurra to make Red Sea debut

cruise news

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February 10, 2022 – Emerald Cruises has taken delivery of Emerald Azzurra, the first of two new superyachts.

Emerald Azzurra to make Red Sea debut

Departing Ha Long Shipyard in Vietnam earlier, the 100-guest yacht is headed to Aqaba in Jordan to welcome guests on board its inaugural sailing on March 11th.

The vessel will initially offer an eight-day sailing in the Red Sea.

After its inaugural sailing, Emerald Azzurra will transit the Suez Canal to embark on a series of sailings in the Mediterranean and along the Adriatic coast over the summer.

Glen Moroney, founder and chairman, Emerald parent Scenic Group, commented: “Today marks a major moment for our team at Emerald Cruises as the first in our fleet of ocean-going superyachts takes a giant step towards completion.

“We look forward to welcoming our first guests on board Emerald Azzurra and we are confident she will exceed all expectations.

“The demand has been unprecedented with her inaugural season almost fully sold.”

He added: “Her sister yacht – Emerald Sakara – will follow early next year, providing double the opportunities for guests to join us on board our ground-breaking vessels.”

A first for yacht cruising, Emerald Azzurra features an innovative infrared sauna for longer, relaxing guest experiences.

Of the 50 luxuriously appointed suites, more than 88 per cent of them boast balconies, with more space per guest than similar vessels of her size.

Emerald had initially hoped to launch the vessel last summer, but plans were delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Source: breakingtravelnews

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