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Alaska Airlines flies to Belize – 1st flight to Belize City from SEA and LAX

Written by Traveltalksteam on November 22, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

November 22, 2021 – Alaska airlines flies to Belize as of now. If you’re looking for a new international destination to escape to – with an unbeatable mix of beaches, adventures and heritage that’s not too far away from the West Coast – it’s time to consider sun-splashed Belize. To make that trip planning easier, Alaska Airlines began nonstop service today to Belize City from Seattle and Los Angeles.

Alaska airlines flies to Belize

From Belize’s capital city, the sky’s the limit for exploration and fun. Given the strong demand for flights to Belize and building on our prior announcement of seasonal service in the winter, Alaska now intends to fly the Los Angeles-Belize City route year-round.

“For nearly two decades the Belizean market has been on our radar. We’re thrilled to now be inaugurating service from both Seattle and Los Angeles,” said Brett Catlin, vice president of network and alliances at Alaska Airlines. “Belize offers terrific family-friendly, eco-conscious possibilities – from iconic islands to lush jungles and ancient sites. And it’s closer than you might think: From L.A., it’s only a five-hour flight, and from Seattle it’s six hours.”

“In addition to attracting greater business investment and human capital, this new flight will also spur tourism which is essential for Belize’s prosperity. It comes at a very opportune time as it further boosts the industry’s recovery efforts,” noted Hon. Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations. “We therefore value our partnership with Alaska Airlines in providing such a vital connectivity for travelers from the West Coast interested in reinvigorating themselves and relaxing in our tropical jewel while immersing in a rich, unique cultural experience.”

Alaska’s service to Belize operates four times a week between Los Angeles and Belize City (BZE) and twice weekly between Seattle and Belize City – just in time for the holiday season. Tickets can be purchased at alaskaair.com.

All times are local times

Our inaugural service to Belize on Nov. 19 happens to coincide with Garifuna Settlement Day, one of the nation’s most important holidays which celebrates the arrival of the Garifuna people in 1802.

Belize offers a warm, sunny location during wintertime travel with countless things to do. English is the official language and the U.S. dollar is widely accepted. Belize is the fourth country Alaska flies to from our West Coast hubs joining Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica. Read more about the incredible possibilities Belize has to offer on our Blog.

For the latest on travel health and safety, the Belize Tourism Board has outlined the essential information travelers need to know.

Alaska prides itself on delivering low fares with great value and genuine, caring service. On board, our guests can enjoy food and drinks crafted with a range of refreshing, bright flavors inspired by West Coast ingredients. With our inflight entertainment, flyers can watch more than 1,100 movies and TV shows – all for free on their own devices and enjoy free texting while in the air.

With our highly-acclaimed Mileage Plan program, they can earn and redeem miles to fly on oneworld member airlines or our additional airline partners to more than 1,000 destinations around the world.

Alaska remains committed to Next-Level Care for our guests and employees by implementing more than 100 ways to maintain the highest standard of safety – from clean planes to clean air in the cabin with hospital-grade air filtration systems. For everyone’s safety on board, Alaska continues to enforce the federally mandated mask policy, even for those who are fully vaccinated.

About Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. We emphasize Next-Level Care for our guests, along with providing low fares, award-winning customer service and sustainability efforts. Alaska is a member of the oneworld global alliance. With the alliance and our additional airline partners, guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 20 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK).

SOURCE Alaska Airlines

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Qatar Airways in Kazakhstan – 1st time landing in Almaty

Written by Traveltalksteam on November 22, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Airline.

November 22, 2021 – Twice weekly flights are served by an Airbus A320

New service will offer seamless connectivity via the World’s Best Airport to many destinations in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East

DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight from Doha to Almaty in Kazakhstan landed at Almaty International Airport on Friday, 19 November 2021, marking the launch of the airline’s newest gateway in Central Asia.

Qatar Airways in Kazakhstan

Operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft, flight QR0391 was welcomed with an opening ceremony attended by Qatar Ambassador to Kazakhstan, His Excellency Mr. Abdulaziz Sultan Al-Rumaihi; Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Eastern Regions, Mr. Marwan Koleilat; Chairman of Aviation Committee of Kazakhstan, Mr. Talgat Lastayev; President of Almaty International Airport, Mr. Alp Er Tunga Ersoy and a host of airport and government officials from Kazakhstan.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are delighted to launch direct services to Almaty, which reflects the close relationship between the State of Qatar and Kazakhstan. Almaty is continuing to grow in popularity with our passengers for both business and leisure purposes, attracting travellers who wish to enjoy its rich culture, cuisine and natural scenery.

“This important new gateway will provide enhanced connectivity to both business and leisure travellers, and will help connect passengers from Kazakhstan to our extensive global network of more than 140 destinations worldwide.”

President of Almaty International Airport, Mr. Alp Er Tunga Ersoy, said: ““We are very happy to welcome the first passenger flight from Doha by Qatar Airways which is one the 5-star airlines in the world. Citizens of Kazakhstan will enjoy using high-level service quality on board and can discover more than 140 destinations. Besides, we believe that this route will help to develop the relationship between the two countries not only in tourism but also economic and culture. I would like to extend my gratitude to the management of Qatar Airways for their effort to open this route during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The new direct services to Almaty will be operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring 12 seats in Business Class and 120 seats in Economy Class. As well as enjoying the award-winning in-flight service on board, passengers travelling to Kazakhstan will also have access to Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system, offering the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more.

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was announced as the ‘Airline of the Year’ at the 2021 World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation, Skytrax. It was also named ‘World’s Best Business Class’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Airline Seat’, ‘World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering’ and ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’. The airline continues to stand alone at the top of the industry having now won the main prize for an unprecedented sixth time (2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019 and now 2021). The airline’s hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), was recently recognised as the ‘Best Airport in the World 2021’, by the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2021.

In addition to this, Qatar Airways has become the first global airline to achieve the prestigious 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by Skytrax.

This follows the success of Hamad International Airport (HIA) as the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating. These awards provide assurance to passengers across the world that the airline’s health and safety standards are subject to the highest possible standards of professional, independent scrutiny and assessment. For full details of all the measures that have been implemented on board and at HIA, please visit qatarairways.com/safety.

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CTW China 2022

Written by Leandro Agostini on November 19, 2021. Posted in Featured events, Destination news.

November 19 2021 –

CTW China is committed to providing comprehensive solutions in corporate business travel management

CTW China is committed to providing comprehensive solutions in corporate business travel management, including business travel networking and conference and event business, to local Chinese enterprises and multinational companies in China.

Started in 2015, this market-driven event aims to continuously improve the professional level of China’s business travel elites who manage all aspects of corporate business travel demand.

By localizing global best practice cases and establishing a sustainable mutual aid community where industry experts and industry elites can share knowledge and experience, CITS insists on guiding local influencer, planner and decision-maker in business travel management to make the best business travel management decisions.

Held at the same time as China (Shanghai) international conference and awards tourism expo, the China international business travel conference, organized by TTG Asia media exhibition department, is one of the series activities of the international business travel conference.

CTW China is the leading corporate travel management conference in China and it is the market’s answer to the proliferation of corporate travel management activities, including business travel & entertainment (T&E) as well as Meetings & Events (M&E), for Chinese-grown companies and multi-national corporations based in China.

source: europecongress

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Nordic Business Travel Summit 2022

Written by Leandro Agostini on November 19, 2021. Posted in Featured events, Destination news.

November 19 2021 –

Place:	Clarion Hotel Sign, Stockholm
Date:	2022-03-23
End date:	2022-03-24
Organization:	The 4 Nordic Business Travel Associations
More information:	Klicka här

Nordic Business Travel Summit 2022 | Transforming the way we meet

Nordic Business Travel Summit is an annual event gathering buyers and suppliers of Business Travel as well as Meetings & Events related services across the region. The 2022 Summit will offer an unparalleled opportunity for networking with the Nordics when Danish, Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish Business Travel Associations bring our members and partners physically together for the first time since 2019.

By including M&E content, #NBTS2022 is showing understanding of the profound change in the way businesses/organizations are going to operate and communicate in post-covid times. In-person meetings generate need for Business Travel, whether individual or in group. Digital meetings reduce that same need. The two categories co-exist and cannot be properly analyzed nor managed without each other.

We’d love to meet YOU in Stockholm on 23 – 24 March, 2022!

source: europecongress

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Hotel Indigo French Riviera – opens 2nd hotel in France

Written by Traveltalksteam on November 19, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Hotel.

November 19, 2021 –Leading boutique and lifestyle brand Hotel Indigo, has just opened Hotel Indigo Cagnes-sur-Mer, the brand’s first hotel on the French Riviera, growing its footprint in the market. Taking inspiration from its Mediterranean surroundings, the hotel is a unique retreat for those looking to explore the medieval neighbourhood and the town’s coastline.

Hotel Indigo French Riviera

Just as no two neighbourhoods are alike, no two Hotel Indigo hotels are alike. Hotel Indigo French Riviera, opens in Cagnes-sur-Mer. The hotel has 87 guest rooms all designed to mimic the neighbourhood in which it is situated, with a blue and white theme to help create a truly relaxing seaside retreat for guests. Guests staying at the hotel will also get the opportunity to take a piece of the neighbourhood home with them, whether that be a selection of the amenities from L’Atelier de la Maison Jaune, a locally crafted natural cosmetics brand made in Nice or a beautiful French Riviera Girls scarf that forms part of the uniform at the hotel.

Known for being a popular destination for well-known artists including Renoir, Chaïm Soutine, and Yves Klein, and the inspiration for many famous paintings, Cagnes-sur-Mer is often referred to as the ‘Montmartre of the French Riviera’. The town is a 15-minute drive from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport, quietly nestled between the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and beautiful hills lined with olive and cypress trees. Situated between the resorts of Cannes and Nice along the Côte d’Azur, this unassuming town has a rich history and stunning landscape to charm its visitors. From the medieval castle to the fascinating Renoir Museum, the 19^th-century fishing village and the restaurant-lined coastal boulevard, Promenade de la Plage, there is plenty on offer for those looking to indulge in a slice of French culture.

As guests enter Hotel Indigo Cagnes-sur-Mer, they will be met with an array of light turquoise hues that contrast with rich darker blues to reflect the unique shades of the sea and the endless skies which the Riviera is known for. The soft furnishings throughout the hotel’s public areas continue to evoke a nautical feel, with decorative rugs that feature waved patterns, the use of soft curved edges, and light fittings which mimic the waves that lap up against the coastline. Nodding to the destination’s link to notable French artists, the artwork that can be seen throughout the hotel has been specially curated, partnering with local talent. Thanks to a partnership with Eric Garence, the Cote d’Azur ambassador and poster designer, guests can send home a one-of-a-kind postcard to family and friends.

Laurence Lovera, General Manager, Hotel Indigo Cagnes-sur-Mer, commented: “We are extremely happy to have opened the doors to our wonderful hotel. Cagnes-sur-Mer is a truly unique retreat and has so much to offer those looking to explore an undiscovered neighbourhood of the French Riviera. Hotel Indigo was the perfect brand to open here, and we are looking forward to creating an experience for guests that is truly unique to the local neighbourhood.”

Hotel Indigo Cagnes-sur-Mer has a spectacular rooftop pool with panoramic views of the Grimaldi Castle, a great place to sit back and enjoy the view with a drink in hand. The hotel’s Italian restaurant Cucina Victoria, is the newest in the neighbourhood, specialising in locally sourced seafood with dishes like Fritto Misto and creamy prawn risotto. The restaurant is the perfect place to relax after a day of exploring and welcomes guests and locals alike to enjoy views of the open kitchen and Italian-inspired cuisine.

Hotel Indigo, the world’s largest boutique hotel brand, has 129 hotels globally, with another 116 set to open in the coming years*. There are a selection of openings coming up towards the end of 2021 including Hotel Indigo Vancouver-Downtown, Washington, Hotel Indigo Flushing, New York, and Hotel Indigo New Orleans French Quarter in the US. Openings in early 2022 will include Hotel Indigo Karuizawa and Hotel Indigo Inuyama Urakuen Garden in Japan, Hotel Indigo Brisbane in Australia, Hotel Indigo Galapagos and Hotel Indigo Vienna.

As an IHG hotel, guests can be reassured that cleanliness is top of mind throughout each step of their stay. The company’s longstanding commitment to rigorous cleaning procedures has been enhanced with the IHG Way of Clean programme developed with Ecolab and Diversey, both world leaders in hygiene and cleaning technologies. As part of the IHG family of brands, Hotel Indigo Cagnes-sur-Mer offers guests additional peace of mind with the IHG Clean Promise.

Prices start from 99€ a night for a standard room and IHG Rewards members will receive exclusive member rates and save more when they book direct at ihg.com.

^*numbers as of 30 September 2021

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Air Arabia Abu Dhabi starts flights to Delhi

Written by Traveltalksteam on November 19, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

November 19, 2021 – Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, the capital’s first low-cost carrier, has announced the introduction of a new service to Indian capital city Delhi starting from November 24^th, 2021.

Abu Dhabi travelers will now be able to fly direct to Delhi, in addition to Cochin, Calicut and Trivandrum in India at competitive prices, as of the below schedule:

Air Arabia

Schedule to Delhi, effective November 24^th, 2021 (all times local)

Flight	Departure	Time	Arrival	Time	Aircraft	Frequency
3L 161	Abu Dhabi	10:35	Delhi	15:20	Airbus A320	Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat
3L 162	Delhi	16:00	Abu Dhabi	18:40	Airbus A320	Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat

The new service represents the 16th route for Air Arabia Abu Dhabi since the launch of the carrier’s service from Abu Dhabi International Airport in July 2020.

Customers can now book their direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Delhi by visiting Air Arabia’s website, by calling the call centre or through travel agencies.

Ensuring the highest standards of safety at every step of the journey by following all health and safety protocols, Air Arabia has also added to the convenience and confidence of passengers by introducing free COVID-19 insurance coverage. The insurance is automatically included as part of the booking and no additional documents are required from passengers.

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Indaba 2022 – tradeshow returns!

Written by Traveltalksteam on November 19, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Featured events.

November 19, 2021 – The South Africa Tourism authority just announced that after the cancellation of two signature global trade shows due to the COVID-19 pandemic, South African Tourism is excited to once again host both Meetings Africa and Africa’s Travel Indaba.

The destination marketing organisation has today confirmed that the flagship business events and leisure trade shows will return next year, with both platforms being hosted as physical events with limited virtual components.

Indaba 2022

The last Meetings Africa was hosted in February 2020, just before the coronavirus outbreak, when it celebrated its 15^th year anniversary.

Africa’s Travel Indaba did not take place in 2020 and 2021 due to global restrictions on movement and immigration regulations necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meetings Africa will take place from 28^th February 2022 to 2^nd March 2022 at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, while Africa’s Travel Indaba will be hosted from 2^nd to 5^th May 2022 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban. Both events will have virtual participation capabilities, albeit to a limited extent.

As South African Tourism charges forward with its commitment to the recovery of the tourism sector, the return of these shows will promote and market the country’s business events hosting capability and showcase destination South Africa’s leisure tourism products and experiences. The hosting of these events will contribute to the country’s economy, as delegates from various parts of the world will attend these trade shows.

Over the recent past, South Africa has recorded a significant reduction in the number of new COVID-19 infections. The vaccination program is well under way as part of the South African government’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus. The country aims to have 70% of its adult population fully vaccinated by the end of 2021.

During his address to the nation on 30th September 2021, His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa moved South Africa to adjusted alert level 1, reduced the hours of curfew and increased the number of people permitted for gatherings up to 750 people for indoor and 2 000 people for outdoor gatherings providing a major boost for both for leisure travel as well as for the Business Events industry.

“We are very pleased to bring Meetings Africa and Africa’s Travel Indaba back. The need for physical events and face-to-face encounters is evident in both the industry and the public. The experiences over the last months have shown that on-location events can take place safely and successfully, and demonstrate how important they are for dialogue and exchange. We recently hosted Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit, a hybrid format which was a well-executed and attended bringing the tourism sector together for a common purpose of reigniting the tourism sector” said Sthembiso Dlamini, Acting CEO of South African Tourism.

While Africa’s Travel and Tourism Summit was not a replacement for Meetings Africa and Africa’s Travel Indaba, it did provide a platform to showcase the African continent’s leisure tourism offerings and business event capabilities.

“Hosting Meetings Africa and Africa’s Travel Indaba will certainly show our exhibitors, buyers, and the world, that South Africa is open for business and that the South African tourism sector has world-class COVID-19 safety protocols in place to deliver on memorable experiences and events. South Africa is ready and well prepared to welcome delegates from across the world,” Dlamini concluded.

Registration details for delegate participation for these trade shows will be announced soon.

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European travel – Pre-pandemic levels will not be achieved until 2024

Written by Traveltalksteam on November 19, 2021. Posted in Destination news.

November 19, 2021 – Despite a strong summer rebound, international tourist arrivals to Europe are forecast to be 60% below 2019 by the end of 2021

European tourist arrivals were still down 77% half-way through the year relative to 2019
European air passenger growth gained momentum over the months of June (-69%), July (-57%) and August (-49%) compared to pre-pandemic levels

European travel

Although European travel demand is poised for a major recovery due to the high vaccination rates in Europe, volumes are still far from the pre-pandemic days which are not expected to be surpassed until 2024. The most recent edition of the ‘European Tourism Trends & Prospects’ quarterly report from the European Travel Commission (ETC) continues to monitor the COVID-19 impact on the sector, examining how travel activity is rebounding amid the current wave of infections and ongoing vaccination programmes.

Commenting following the publication of the report, Luís Araújo, ETC’s President, said: “From our latest ‘European Tourism Trends & Prospects’ quarterly report, it is clear to see the critical role vaccination programmes have already played in helping travel rebound. The COVID-19 vaccine rollout was vital to the easing of entry requirements and boosting the appeal of travel during the summer season. However, vaccination efforts won’t be enough. As the winter months approach, it is imperative that Europe strives to further restore the freedom of movement by implementing more holistic and coherent approaches for travel within and outside the EU.”

Increased demand for European tourism

Europe currently has the highest vaccination rate of the world’s regions, which is expected to enable the release of significant pent-up demand. In fact, European destinations already enjoyed a stronger than expected summer season owing to successful vaccination programmes. Moreover, the creation of the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate was fundamental to ensuring safe travel across the region and helped to simplify cross-border mobility. Intra-regional travel as a result experienced an uplift and is set to account for 85% of European international arrivals in 2021, up from 77% in 2019.

The travel recovery observed has been different across destinations, with those that reopened their borders earlier to vaccinated travellers being the most favoured. As the first nation to reopen to COVID-free tourists, Greece delivered the strongest rebound in overnight terms (-19% vs. 2019), although foreign arrivals were weak. The strongest pick up in arrivals from 2019 rates was observed in Croatia (-37%), which was able to extend its outstanding performance into off-season, welcoming 1.9 million tourist arrivals in September. In contrast, Czech Republic (-94%) recorded the sharpest decline with stringent COVID-19 measures extended throughout the year.

All reporting European destinations enjoyed higher levels of hotel occupancy this summer compared to 2020, based on data for July-September. Several destinations reported occupancy rates close to 70%, including Slovenia, the UK, Monaco and Turkey. European air passenger growth also gained momentum over the months of June (-69%), July (-57%) and August (-49%) compared to 2019, although global revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) in August remained half of pre-COVID-19 levels. The relative improvement throughout the summer months was mainly driven by domestic air travel demand.

A long road ahead

Although European travel has made positive strides in 2021, there is still a long road ahead as international tourist arrivals to Europe were still down 77%[1] half-way through the year. A slower vaccine rollout across Eastern Europe, and in some large long-haul source markets, may potentially delay the recovery, presenting a lingering downside risk.

ETC also observed a notable absence of long-haul travellers, with US arrivals to Europe remaining 90% below their 2019 levels for one third of reporting destinations. The absence of Chinese holidaymakers was also sorely felt across Europe, with all reporting destinations posting declines over 90% compared to 2019.

Overall, international tourist arrivals to Europe are forecast to be 60% below 2019 by the end of 2021 with many other factors continuing to weigh on Europe’s tourism recovery. These include ever-changing COVID-19 restrictions and policies, renewed outbreaks and the confusion around the colour-coded EU travel system applied differently across European destinations. The adoption of different systems for accepting non-EMA recognised vaccines may also continue to impact destinations heavily reliant on long-haul travel.

Full report can be downloaded here

[1] January-July 2021 – UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

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Google highlights 2022 travel trends

Written by Gill Dewar on November 18, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Spotlight on.

Spotlight on…

Google highlights 2022 travel trends

As travel and the industry powering it moves through recovery from the pandemic, Google has identified three key areas that will grow in importance over the next year.

According to the online search giant, heading into 2022, travel will become more meaningful, with a rise in “life moments” that were put on hold because of the pandemic.

Google commissioned Ipsos for a survey that reveals that more than half (56%) of Americans are likely to participate in a life moment in the next two years.

Among that group, travel plays a key role, be that traveling for a wedding, job, education or moving. Of those planning to participate in a life moment in the next two years, 78% are considering travel related to those moments.

According to the survey, 62% of Americans who have stayed in an accommodation or booked a flight for a life moment say previous experience with a brand is important when deciding on a brand.

About 78% of travelers who have stayed in accommodations or booked a flight say good change or cancellation policies are important when deciding on a brand, whereas 85% say affordable prices are important.

The study also reveals that 70% of travelers say a brand’s respect for COVID safety guidelines and restrictions is important when decided on a travel brand, and 57% of Americans who took a larger trip in the past year used an online source to get inspiration or ideas related to their trip.

On average, travelers who took a large trip in the past year spent 71% of their time researching their trip online.

In addition to a rise in life moments, Google believes travel will also become more inclusive moving into the next year, which will influence talent, teams, culture and marketing.

Three in four travelers will seek out information specific to their cultural and ethnic backgrounds, with the top sources being word of mouth, travel guide sites and social media influencers.

Finally, Google says travel will become more purposeful moving into the next year, and data and insights will be necessary to influence sustainability.

According to Ipsos, environmental considerations are important to potential travelers, with more than 50% of travelers saying considerations such as carbon emissions and offsets are worth important when considering travel.

Additionally, 51% of travelers who stayed in accommodations or booked a flight for a life moment say sustainable/environmentally friendly options are important when deciding on a brand.

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Team building activity Serbia – Kayaks and Canoes on the Danube

Written by Traveltalksteam on November 18, 2021. Posted in Activity, Destination news.

Team building activity Serbia

Discover the city from its rivers, the Sava and the Danube.

We paddle quietly in a canoe or kayak, and we offer a unique perspective on the Serbian capital, Belgrade Fortress and its banks.

Discover the pleasures and techniques of navigation and learn about Belgrade’s history and it’s architectural heritage.

Learn basics of kayak skills explore Capital from different and active perspective and enjoy in pleasure and leisure time on river.

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Princess Cruises launches “The Cyber Event” – amazing offers

Written by Traveltalksteam on November 18, 2021. Posted in Cruise, Destination news.

November 18, 2021 – Princess Cruises Launches “The Cyber Event” for Holiday Shoppers Seeking Black Friday & Cyber Monday Travel Deals This holiday season, give the gift of a real vacation traveling on a Princess cruise, a floating resort with 24-hour room service, casino, entertainment and no cooking or cleaning required. Travelers can take advantage of “The Cyber Event,” featuring Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers, to must-see destinations around the world.

Princess Cruises offers

Available now through November 30, 2021, guests booking cruises and cruisetours departing March 2022 and beyond receive up to $200 in onboard spending money per stateroom ($50 per guest) with 50 percent off deposits when booking. “The Cyber Event” offer is also combinable with Princess Plus – which includes a premier beverage package + service charge, unlimited Wi-Fi and crew appreciation paid on your behalf ($95 per day value for only $40) – and Princess Savers cruise fares.

Shoppers can choose from cruise vacations to 330 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, California Coast, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. A team of professional destination experts have curated 170 itineraries, ranging in length from three to 111 days and Princess Cruises is continuously recognized as “Best Cruise Line for Itineraries.”

Princess Cruises delivers the ultimate in effortless, personalized cruising featuring the world-class dining and entertainment Princess is renowned for, all elevated with the Princess MedallionClass Experience. On all Princess ships, it begins with the Medallion™, a quarter-sized, wearable device that enables everything from contactless boarding to locating loved ones anywhere on the ship, as well as enhanced service like having whatever guests need, delivered directly to them, wherever they are on the ship. In addition, guests can share their favorite cruise moments using MedallionNet, the best Wi-Fi at sea, as well as stay connected with friends and family back home, work remotely anywhere on the ship, quickly post content and stream favorite movies and shows.

“The Cyber Event” cruises and cruisetours sale starts at 12 am PST on Nov. 17, 2021 and runs through 11:59 p.m. PST on Nov. 30, 2021, and is available to residents of the 50 United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Bermuda and the District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older.

Princess Cruises sailings are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination. All vaccinated guests must also produce a negative, medically-observed COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken within two days of their embarkation on all Princess sailings.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237), or by visiting the company’s website at princess.com.

For the latest Princess COVID-19 health protocols, please visit https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/covid-19-guest-protocols/.

About Princess Cruises:
One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is the world’s leading international premium cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 14 modern cruise ships, carrying two million guests each year to 380 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. A team of professional destination experts have curated 170 itineraries, ranging in length from three to 111 days and Princess Cruises is continuously recognized as “Best Cruise Line for Itineraries.” In 2017 Princess Cruises, with parent company Carnival Corporation, introduced MedallionClass Vacations enabled by the Medallion , the vacation industry’s most advanced wearable device, provided free to each guest sailing on a MedallionClass ship. The award-winning innovation offers the fastest way to an effortless personalized vacation giving guests more time to do the things they love most. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).

In line with the latest advice from health officials about COVID-19, Princess Cruises is currently enhancing health and safety protocols with input from medical experts and government bodies and assessing how they may impact future itineraries. Actual offerings may vary from what is displayed in marketing materials. Click on the following links to stay updated on current Cruise Updates and Health & Safety protocols.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/princess-cruises-launches-the-cyber-event-for-holiday-shoppers-seeking-black-friday–cyber-monday-travel-deals-301426980.html

SOURCE Princess Cruises

media@princesscruises.com; Negin Kamali, +1 661 753 1539, nkamali@princesscruises.com; Briana Latter, + 1 661 753 1538, blatter@princesscruises.com

View this release →

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237), or by visiting the company’s website at princess.com.

For the latest Princess COVID-19 health protocols, please visit https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/covid-19-guest-protocols/.

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Eurowings is looking for personnel in Stockholm – excellent news

Written by Traveltalksteam on November 18, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

Eurowings is looking for personnel

November 18, 2021 -Eurowings launches tenders for Cockpit and cabin personnel wanted for Eurowings’ eleventh European base

Eurowings is playing an active role in the upcoming reorganization of European air traffic. With the opening of a new base in Stockholm, the Lufthansa Group airline is now developing its services in Northern Europe for the first time. Starting in March 2022, Eurowings will initially station five Airbus A320 aircraft in the Swedish capital. Stockholm will thus become the eleventh Eurowings location in Europe – and the fifth base outside the home market of Germany, after Palma de Mallorca, Prague, Pristina, and Salzburg. The flights will be operated by Eurowings Europe, Eurowings’ pan-European flight operation.

With its increased presence in the “Nordics,” Eurowings is not only creating better connections to Sweden, especially to popular sun destinations in Southern Europe. The move also brings new jobs to the region and thus important employment stimulus for the Scandinavian aviation market.

Eurowings is now launching an initial application process for crews for its new base in Stockholm. In a first step, the airline has advertised around 150 new jobs, about 100 for cabin crews and around 50 for the cockpit. In order to start flight operations, crews from Eurowings Europe in Vienna will initially be deployed from Stockholm starting in March. In the medium term, however, flights will be operated entirely by locally based crews. Crew members already flying for Eurowings Europe will have preferential transfer rights to the Scandinavian metropolis in accordance with internal company regulations.

Robert Jahn, Managing Director of Eurowings Europe, said: “Shortly after opening our base in Prague, we are now delighted to be driving pan-European growth in Northern Europe as well. With the creation of local jobs, I am pleased to welcome more colleagues to the team. In particular, I would also like to encourage internal colleagues to transfer, so that we can carry our Eurowings DNA as an innovative and customer-focused team into the new base right from the start.”

Eurowings will bring its guests directly from Stockholm to around 20 destinations across Europe for the first time from March 27, 2022. The first published routes from Stockholm include popular sun destinations in Southern Europe, such as Palma on the Balearic island of Mallorca, Alicante and Malaga in Spain, Faro in Portugal and Nice in Southern France. As city destinations, Eurowings is initially adding the metropolises of Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, and Copenhagen to its program, as well as Birmingham, Gdansk and the capital of Kosovo, Pristina. Further destinations will follow in the next few weeks. Tickets can be booked at eurowings.com and via the Eurowings app.

To the job offers:

Flight Attendant: www.career.aero/eurowings/de/job/show/id/3500

Purser: www.career.aero/eurowings/de/job/show/id/3501

First Officer: www.career.aero/eurowings/de/job/show/id/3505

Captain: www.career.aero/eurowings/de/job/show/id/3506

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Singapore Airlines Rolls Out New Cabin Product

Written by Gill Dewar on November 18, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

Singapore Airlines Rolls Out New Cabin Products for Return to 737 MAX Flights

Singapore International Airlines (SIA) on Tuesday said it will roll out a host of new cabin products as it returns to utilizing the Boeing 737 MAX-8 aircraft.

“This is the culmination of three years of innovation and hard work, involving extensive customer research and close partnerships with designers and suppliers,” Lee Lik Hsin, Executive Vice President Commercial, Singapore Airlines, said in a statement. “As a result, we can now offer customers a premium travel experience across our entire full-service network, no matter how long or short their journey.”

The carrier said it is adding amenities to the narrowbody 737 MAX-8 that are similar to features found on its widebody jets.

All of the MAX jets will have 154 seats in two classes, 10 in Business Class and 144 in Economy.

Business Class will feature new lie-flat seats while Economy will have the latest generation slim-line seating. The cabin of the 737-8 has been designed with a special focus on ergonomics, helping to ensure that everything is within easy reach for customers.

All seats will have the Panasonic’s X-Series seat-back in-flight entertainment system.

SIA said it invested around $230 million on the development, design and installation of the cabin products.

“This significant investment demonstrates Singapore Airlines’ commitment to maintaining our leadership position in the airline industry,” Hsin said. “As air travel recovers, our customers can continue to enjoy world-class products and award-winning service across our fleets.”

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Mauritius tourism bounces back

Written by Gill Dewar on November 18, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Travel Advice.

Mauritius tourism bounces back

Since the reopening of Mauritius’ borders to fully vaccinated visitors on October 1, the Indian Ocean Island has welcomed over 80 000 holidaymakers to its shores.

Bookings through to year end are looking “extremely promising” according to a spokesperson for the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA), which is targeting growth of 25% in arrivals.

Mauritius Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Steven Obeegadoo, said: “In Mauritius, we continue to prioritise the health of our population, and our staggered reopening was part of this carefully planned policy.”

The MTPA added that the reopening was only made possible by the country’s exceptional vaccination programme. The Mauritian health authorities are continuing to implement a wide-ranging COVID-19 response, and are presently prioritising the rollout of booster doses for those who are already double-vaccinated,” said the MTPA in a statement.

The vaccination of 15 to 18-year-olds is also well underway. Close to 85% of the adult population in Mauritius is already double-vaccinated – one of the highest rates in the world.

This week Mauritius is hosting a familiarisation trip, with tour operators from France, UK, Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, India, Reunion, South Africa, and Kenya to showcase the attractions, as well as the safety, of the destination.

The MTPA pointed out that the country has seen a recent increase in infection rates, which is unfortunately part of the new normal in most countries where restrictions are removed.

“In order to contain the spread, the government recently took the measure to temporarily close schools, and introduced some further sanitary measures, mainly to limit large gatherings. All this is done while further accelerating the booster vaccine programme and the vaccination drive across the youth population.

“The health authorities remain confident in their ability to manage the recent increase in infection rates and will continue to follow world-leading scientific advice in this regard,” said the MTPA spokesperson.

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International Conference on Tourism and Hospitality – Tokyo 2022

Written by Leandro Agostini on November 18, 2021. Posted in Featured events, Destination news.

November 18 2021 – The International Research Conference Aims and Objectives

The International Research Conference is a federated organization dedicated to bringing together a significant number of diverse scholarly events for presentation within the conference program. Events will run over a span of time during the conference depending on the number and length of the presentations. With its high quality, it provides an exceptional value for students, academics and industry researchers.

International Conference on Tourism and Hospitality

aims to bring together leading academic scientists, researchers and research scholars to exchange and share their experiences and research results on all aspects of Tourism and Hospitality. It also provides a premier interdisciplinary platform for researchers, practitioners and educators to present and discuss the most recent innovations, trends, and concerns as well as practical challenges encountered and solutions adopted in the fields of Tourism and Hospitality

Call for Contributions

Prospective authors are kindly encouraged to contribute to and help shape the conference through submissions of their research abstracts, papers and e-posters. Also, high quality research contributions describing original and unpublished results of conceptual, constructive, empirical, experimental, or theoretical work in all areas of Tourism and Hospitality are cordially invited for presentation at the conference. The conference solicits contributions of abstracts, papers and e-posters that address themes and topics of the conference, including figures, tables and references of novel research materials.

Guidelines for Authors

Please ensure your submission meets the conference’s strict guidelines for accepting scholarly papers. Downloadable versions of the check list for Full-Text Papers and Abstract Papers.

Please refer to the Paper Submission Guideline, Abstract Submission Guideline and Author Information before submitting your paper.

Conference Proceedings

All submitted conference papers will be blind peer reviewed by three competent reviewers. The peer-reviewed conference proceedings are indexed in the Open Science Index, Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, Zenedo, OpenAIRE, BASE, WorldCAT, Sherpa/RoMEO, and other index databases. Impact Factor Indicators.

Special Journal Issues

16. International Conference on Tourism and Hospitality has teamed up with the Special Journal Issue on Tourism and Hospitality. A number of selected high-impact full text papers will also be considered for the special journal issues. All submitted papers will have the opportunity to be considered for this Special Journal Issue. The paper selection will be carried out during the peer review process as well as at the conference presentation stage. Submitted papers must not be under consideration by any other journal or publication. The final decision for paper selection will be made based on peer review reports by the Guest Editors and the Editor-in-Chief jointly. Selected full-text papers will be published online free of charge.

Conference Sponsor and Exhibitor Opportunities

The Conference offers the opportunity to become a conference sponsor or exhibitor. To participate as a sponsor or exhibitor, please download and complete the Conference Sponsorship Request Form.

source: waset

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Salon Mondial du Tourisme 2022

Written by Leandro Agostini on November 18, 2021. Posted in Featured events, Destination news.

November 18 2021 –

Salon Mondial du Tourisme de Paris

from 17 March 2022 to 20 March 2022

Description

During the Salon Mondial du Tourisme de Paris, you can discover all the latest trends in terms of tourism.
It is a real source of inspiration for your travels. This trade show offers you more than 500 destinations! If you are looking for new ideas for your next vacation, that’s THE place to be!
Whether you are looking for exoticism or having a rest on the beach, whether you want a new touristic or cultural destination in Europe, sports holidays or even family holidays in the countryside, the Salon Mondial du Tourisme de Paris shows you a wide range of options for short stays as well as long stays in France and abroad.

This event takes place at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles – VIPARIS.

PLACE

Paris expo Porte de Versailles – VIPARIS

Paris expo Porte de Versailles is Europe’s largest exhibition complex in the centre of the Capital, and is renowned for its hosting of large-scale international events. The site is currently being renovated and will soon be an incredible place to experience, open to the whole city.

source: convention.parisinfo

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Cambodia travel advice – reopens to foreigners without quarantine

Written by Traveltalksteam on November 17, 2021. Posted in Destination news, Travel Advice.

November 17, 2021, As of November 15, 2021, fully vaccinated travelers can now enter Cambodia without quarantine.

Cambodia travel advice

Documents for quarantine-free travel include:

An Electronic Visa Certificate (E-visa)
A Flight Reservation
Hotel Reservation
Vaccination Certificate (2 doses) or a COVID-19 Recovery Medical Certificate
A Medical Certificate of a negative RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours of departure

In addition, travelers are no longer required to have COVID-19 health insurance coverage.

After completing a rapid COVID-19 test upon arrival, fully vaccinated individuals may stay in their hotel of choice and are free to travel around the country if the testing result at the airport is negative.

Travelers who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated may still enter the country but must remain in quarantine for 14 days at approved centers designated by the Ministry of Health.

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Procedures change very quickly, and we will inform you as soon as possible of any changes.

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Better Q3 for airlines

Written by Gill Dewar on November 17, 2021. Posted in Airline, Destination news.

Better Q3 for airlines

For the third quarter (Q3) of the year, airlines’ financial losses – compared with pre-COVID levels in 2019 – have diminished compared with Q2, with some carriers reporting their first profitable quarter since the COVID-19 crisis.

But Iata’s Airlines Financial Monitor report released this week – shows that there are still headwinds to recovery.

The quarterly Airlines Financial Monitor report looks at a sample of airlines across the globe, evaluating them in terms of economic performance and pressures. This gives an indication of the overall aviation picture.

In the sample of 27 airlines for the latest report, the industry-wide EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) margin improved to -2% of revenues in Q3.

Iata Economics noted that the improvement had been driven by passenger travel recovery on some domestic and short-haul routes where travel restrictions had been lifted during the traditionally busy Q3.

Furthermore, total airline revenues declined by 30% – a robust improvement on the 46% decline in Q2.

The report further noted that operating costs fell by 18%, other variable costs have also been returning with the traffic restart, reinforcing the need for all partners in the air transport supply chain to carefully manage costs in a still weak revenue environment.

Amongst others, sharp increase in the jet fuel price has been putting an upward pressure on airlines’ operating costs and represents a risk to a further recovery in the industry’s profitability during Q4. Additional challenges come from rising infrastructure costs, according to Iata Economics.

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More about travel to Thailand

Travel Pass required for all visitors to Thailand

Written by Gill Dewar on November 17, 2021. Posted in Destination news.

Travel news from around the world

Thailand now has its own “Thailand Pass”.

Travel Pass required for all visitors to Thailand

It’s a free, web-based system designed to add efficiency to the document processing of inbound travellers entering Thailand.

Just like the Certificate of Entry (COE), (which it will replace) it collects the necessary data for entry forms, but, unlike the Certificate of Entry, it collects both travel and health information like vaccine certificates, and it then generates a QR code. The forms may be found at https://tp.consular.go.th

The aim of is to help support the country’s “Ease of Travel” system after Thailand reopens and to expedite the process of filling out information and uploading travel documents.

All travellers, both Thai and foreigners are required to have a Thailand Pass. They also require travel insurance. According to thaiembassy.com (which is not the Thai Embassy in Pretoria, but a travel assistance company in Thailand), a common reason for applications being rejected is that some insurance policies are “not properly worded”.

The COVID-19 insurance policy must expressly state that it covers up to US$50 000 ( approximately R763 000) in medical expenses, including COVID-19 and it must cover the whole stay in Thailand. The system only accepts one attachment therefore it is important to have a one-page Certificate of Insurance with all the required information.

But nothing about the Pass changes the fact that travellers from only 63 countries are eligible to enter without quarantine. South Africa is not on that list nor is any other Southern African country.

So, South Africans and those from countries not listed among the 63 “green” countries, may still only enter Thailand under the “Thailand Sandbox Program”, also referred to by Thailand’s Tourism Authority as “Living in the Blue Zone”.

It is basically a seven-day quarantine where vaccinated travellers may not leave their resort, but after testing negative on day 6 or 7, they may tour the country at will.

“People who want to visit under this system are required to spend their first seven nights within one of the 17 Blue Zone Sandbox destinations – including, amongst others, Bangkok, Krabi, Phuket and Ko Samui. After testing negative for COVID upon arrival and for a second time six days later, travellers are free to tour the rest of the country while following COVID safety protocol. We look forward to welcoming South Africans as we head into the busy season,” says Chiravadee Khunsub, Director of TAT.

Lesley Simpson of LSC Communications, who represents the TAT in South Africa told Travel News that the recommended entry is either via Phuket or Bangkok, and Phuket the preferred one of the two, due to the logistics of getting the PCR test on arrival. “Phuket has a clinic at the airport so it’s easy. In Bangkok’s case, the Safety and Health Administration (SHA) registered hotel fetching the guests, will first take them to a clinic/hospital outside the airport and then back to the hotel to await the results. That’s why most agents are selling predominantly Phuket for now. It’s easier – the clients take the PCR test, then transfer with their SHA+ shuttle to the hotel for seven nights/eight days, and if not returning to South Africa after eight days, they are free to continue to Bangkok or any other 17 provinces.”

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