Category: Latest Travel News

Geneva, Switzerland, December 21, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Economic Forum will defer its Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, in the light of continued uncertainty over the Omicron outbreak.

The Annual Meeting was scheduled to take place in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland between 17-21 January, 2022. It is now planned for early summer.

Participants will instead join a headline series of State of the World sessions bringing together global leaders online to focus on shaping solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.

Current pandemic conditions make it extremely difficult to deliver a global in-person meeting. Preparations have been guided by expert advice and have benefited from the close collaboration of the Swiss government at all levels.

Despite the meeting’s stringent health protocols, the transmissibility of Omicron and its impact on travel and mobility have made deferral necessary.

The health and safety of everyone involved in physical meetings – participants, collaborators and the host community – have always been the Forum’s priority.

“The deferral of the Annual Meeting will not prevent progress through continued digital convening of leaders from business, government and civil society,” said Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum. “Public-private cooperation has moved forward throughout the pandemic and that will continue apace. We look forward to bringing global leaders together in person soon.”

Singapore, Singapore, December 18, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Thai airline Nok Air today announced strategic new long-term agreements with both Sabre Corporation (NASDAQ: SABR) a leading software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, and its subsidiary company, Radixx, to support the evolution of the carrier’s new business strategy.

Nok Air has selected an extensive suite of products from Sabre and Radixx to expand distribution and revenue generation opportunities. The agreements support the carrier’s repositioning to serve its growing customer base of premium travellers and value-based customer segments. The Sabre and Radixx products will power future business model evolution as Nok Air expands its international operation, develops new airline partnerships and explore further technical capabilities and innovations beyond today.

Radixx will provide a fully integrated passenger service system for Nok Air that spans reservations, inventory, pricing, e-commerce, agency distribution, departure control, load control, loyalty and other related capabilities. In parallel, under a new Sabre distribution deal, Nok Air will distribute its airline content across Sabre’s global travel marketplace, opening the door to new international markets and growing its Thailand home market on the Sabre Global Distribution System (GDS).

“We have ambitious business expansion plans, including launching new domestic and international routes, restructuring our fleet and adding new jets as we transition selected segments to a premium service to reflect our quality service,” said Wutthiphum Jurangkool Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Nok Air. “So, it was imperative to us that we chose the right technology partner to support us in all of our goals to streamline our operations, improve efficiencies and open new revenue opportunities and new markets while improving the experience for our travellers.”

The carrier, which operates out of Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport, will utilize the following Sabre and Radixx products as Thailand re-opens to vaccinated international travellers:

Radixx Res – Radixx’s core passenger system will enable Nok Air to manage all passenger operations and sales channels in order to expand distribution channels and partnerships.

Radixx Go and Radixx Go Touch – new digital capabilities to evolve Nok Air’s check-in operation at airports, enhance customer service and enable additional ancillary revenue-generation opportunities across airport touchpoints. Radixx Go Touch enables airline employees to transact full airport departure control capabilities from a mobile device, allowing some flexibility from the constraints of physical airport desks and counters.

Radixx ezyCommerce – an integrated e-commerce and mobile solution to power Nok Air’s business-to-consumer for passengers and business-to-business channels for travel agents and corporates.

Radixx Loyalty – new capabilities will enable Nok Air to strengthen the offering of its Nok Air Fan Club, including enhanced online servicing, automation and redemption options for members.

Radixx Insight – valuable business data and analytics to enable better decision-making, while powering the airline’s internal back-office systems.

Sabre’s Global Distribution System – to enable expansion into new global markets, ensuring its fares have the widest possible distribution.

Chris Collins, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Radixx, said: “We’re delighted to further expand our footprint in APAC while opening up access to new global markets and segments for Nok Air as well as providing new digital capabilities for the carrier, creating additional revenue-generation opportunities and, ultimately, enabling Nok to create improved experiences for travelers at all touchpoints.”

“At Sabre, we are laying out our strategic plans to create our own catalysts for growth, so we are thrilled to be able to support Nok Air on its own transformational journey,” added Rakesh Narayanan, Vice President, Regional General Manager, Asia Pacific, Travel Solutions Airline Sales, Sabre. “Our new dual-deal alliance with Nok Air, incorporating both PSS and GDS solutions, is the perfect example of how Sabre and Radixx are able to combine synergistic technological offerings to create effective, innovative end-to-end solutions for airlines of all sizes and cost models.”

About Sabre Corporation 
Sabre Corporation is a leading software and technology company that powers the global travel industry, serving a wide range of travel companies including airlines, hoteliers, travel agencies and other suppliers. The company provides retailing, distribution and fulfilment solutions that help its customers operate more efficiently, drive revenue and offer personalized traveller experiences. Through its leading travel marketplace, Sabre connects travel suppliers with buyers from around the globe. Sabre’s technology platform manages more than $260B worth of global travel spend annually. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre serves customers in more than 160 countries around the world.

About Nok Air
Nok Air is a Thai-based premium-oriented airline with its main hub at Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport in Thailand. Since starting it’s operation in 2004, Nok Air strong emphasis on domestic routes brings people to explore the “Land of Smiles” through value for money, convenience and state of the art passenger experience. Alongside it’s domestic operation, Nok Air has been growing continuously within Asia through its narrow-body jet and turboprop aircraft. Being a proud Thai-owned carrier, Nok Air, aim to expand its reach beyond current capabilities across the various aspect of aviation.

About Radixx
Founded in 1993, Radixx, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, combines an innovative technology approach with unique partnership models enabling airlines of all sizes and business models to be effective retailers and efficient operators. Radixx caters to LCC and ULCC airlines, including the support of GDS distribution. Radixx offers a world-class Internet Booking Engine, Radixx ezyCommerce™, a cloud-based Passenger Services System, Radixx Res™, and a leading Departure Services Suite, Radixx Go™, uniquely designed to enable airlines to increase their profitability and maximize productivity through expanded distribution services. Since 2016, Radixx has delivered its sixth-generation, micro-services-based passenger services system.

Madrid, Spain, December 20, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the former Executive Director of UN Women, has been confirmed as the new Chairperson of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics.

The 24th Session of the UNWTO General Assembly, which met in Madrid (30 Novemer-3 December) unanimously approved Dr.  Mlambo-Ngcuka’s nomination for the position. She will serve as Chair for four years, starting on 3 December 2021, taking over from Pascal Lamy, former Director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and President Emeritus of the Jacques Delors Institute.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

“It is with great honour that I accept this appointment and I will, together with the members of the Ethics Committee, work hard to provide a fair guidance towards more ethical practices in the tourism sector.” said Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka.

With her rich background and experience of leadership, Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka will ensure that the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics continue to serve as a compass directing us towards a fairer and more inclusive tourism sector

UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili added: “With her rich background and experience of leadership, Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka will ensure that the principles of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and the UNWTO Framework Convention on Tourism Ethics continue to serve as a compass directing us towards a fairer and more inclusive tourism sector.”

New Committee Members Confirmed

The World Committee on Tourism Ethics is the independent body responsible for interpreting, applying and evaluating the provisions of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism. The Committee’s tasks include the promotion and dissemination of the Code as well as the evaluation and monitoring of its implementation. Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka brings to the role significant experience working in the fields of human rights, equality and social justice, most notably serving as an Undersecretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women for two terms.

The 24th UNWTO General Assembly also approved the appointment of the following as Committee Members: Ms. Mayada Belal (Undersecretary for the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Cultural Cooperation), Mr. José Ignacio Besga Zuazola (President of the Basque Country Ethics Cluster), Ms. Susan Longley (General Secretary of the International Union of Food, Agriculture, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers Associations (IUF), Ms. Daniela Otero (Chief Executive Officer of Skal International).

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Ms. Gunnur Diker (Partner and General Manager of Eurasia Tourism Ltd.), Mr. Shahid Hamid Fih (Chairman & Founder of SH’otel Hospitality Management & Consultancy Ltd) and Prof. Marina Novelli (Professor of Tourism and International Development at the University of Brighton) were also appointed as alternate members of the Committee.

Bogota, Colombia, December 17, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and a multistakeholder community have developed a technology and governance framework for trustworthy and commercially sustainable public-private data exchanges in Colombia. This new public-private resource will give individuals greater control over how their data is used and serve as a means for responsible value creation.

The multistakeholder community comprises more than 150 business leaders, academics and policy-makers in 60 organizations from 25 countries. It was led by PwC Colombia, the Colombian government and the World Economic Forum’s Data for Common Purpose Initiative (DCPI).

Benefits of Data-Driven Economy

The group put together a framework that supports Colombia’s national digitization strategy as part of a broader effort to transition from a traditional to a data-driven economy as data exchanges will play a pivotal role in facilitating this transition. Creating a governance structure that makes them sustainable both technologically and ethically is essential.

With rising energy costs, disrupted supply chains and rising concern for the environment, the urgency and necessity to act on data-driven insights grows. Officials and private sector experts will focus their initial efforts to address the net-zero transition within the Colombian energy sector and apply utility-based, data-insight models to the energy sector. The insights and best practices will be applied in other sectors over time.

Toolkit for Meaningful Trust

One of the main challenges in implementing a sustainable, equitable and accountable data strategy for Colombia is strengthening trust in the use of data. According to the recent Fall 2021 Visa, Inc. Consumer Empowerment Study of the connected population in Colombia, only 9% of connected Colombians feel entirely in control of their data, and 89% want at least the option of more control over how their data is used. In response, with Visa International as a co-creator, a new toolkit was designed to strengthen trust via new consent mechanisms.

The DCPI aims to build meaningful trust with citizens by highlighting the importance of individuals’ consent to use personal data within public-private data exchanges. By providing a clear roadmap for policy-makers to co-design these collaborative exchanges, the underlying data economics can be addressed in the early design phase to ensure sustainable commercial value is created over time.

With the erosion of trust throughout the digital ecosystem – putting control back into the hands of the individuals has become a global priority. Clear, consistent and granular consent mechanisms are foundational for driving meaningful change in data-driven insights and the decisions that come from them. The mutual exchange of strategic digital assets and insights, such as carbon emissions and energy usage indicators combined with an underlying framework for strengthening and maintaining trust, is central to creating a sustainable and inclusive digital ecosystem.

In the first half of 2022, a toolkit will be published on strengthening trust through individual consent experience. The focus is on enhancing the consent of individuals in terms of how data is internally governed within an exchange, the commercial interactions with the user and the underlying technology architecture. The toolkit is being piloted by C4IR Colombia and the City of Medellín as they examine several models for public-private data exchanges in 2022.

Expert Quotes

Sheila Warren, Deputy Head of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network, World Economic Forum, said: “The core focus of the Data for Common Purpose Initiative is centered on unlocking the sustainable value of data while protecting individual privacy rights. This new report marks another milestone of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Network to deliver real-world impact in accelerating the responsible transition to a data-driven economy.”

Víctor Manuel Muñoz Rodríguez, Director of the Administrative Department of the Presidency, Colombia, said: “The unfolding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution has highlighted the need to collect and process data in a strategic and innovative manner. The development of tools or models, such as data marketplaces and data trusts among others, are beginning to show their potential to promote economic and social objectives for the common good. Aware of this new reality, Colombia’s public policy instruments have established the development of a governance model that aims to facilitate the effective use and exchange of data through emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, as well as providing the necessary framework to ethically and responsibly implement it.”

José Antonio Vargas Lleras, President World Energy Council Colombia, said: “Digitalization is a major player in the energy transition. Indeed, tools such as mobile applications, big data, artificial intelligence and blockchain have become major transformers of our sector. Digitalization is allowing us to further optimize energy consumption in terms of efficiency. In addition, it allows the incorporation of new technologies such as hydrogen and therefore contribute to the reduction of CO₂ emissions and mitigate the carbon footprint. In short, digitalization is at the heart of the humanization and sustainability of global energy systems.”

Felipe Bernal Guarín, PwC Strategy Consulting Manager, World Energy Council Colombia and the Forum’s DCPI community member, said: “Data-energy-trust was the pivotal triad discussed at COP26 as key enablers to attain the universal ambition of limiting global warming to 1.5ºC and achieving net-zero economies in 2050. What do they have in common? Where do they meet? And how can we leverage their sweet spot amidst cross-border data exchange initiatives? Not only for climate change action and energy transition but also for the threads that globally bind us.”

Erez Zaionce, Director, C4IR Colombia, said: “In 2022, in alliance with Colombian national government entities, C4IR.CO will participate in implementing a pilot project in data exchange within the framework of the National Data Infrastructure Plan of Colombia, as part of the strategy of reactivation, repowering, and sustainable and inclusive growth of Colombia.”

Silvia Constain, Head of Government Engagement for Visa Latin America and the Caribbean, said: “At Visa, we are committed to working to empower all individuals and raising overall consumer confidence in the digital ecosystem. One way we hope to materialize this commitment is by championing approaches to ecosystem design, consumer choice and consent management experiences that support transparency, consistency and empowerment for individuals. Through our work with DCPI and pilots like in Colombia, we are testing and improving approaches to build trust through consent management in a repeatable fashion and provide a roadmap for other nations or organizations to follow.”

Seoul, Korea, December 17, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Government policymakers, statisticians and relevant stakeholders from across the Asia and the Pacific region came together for a special workshop focused on Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism.

The workshop was organized by UNWTO in collaboration with the Department of Tourism of the Philippines and with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea. The sessions featured prominent speakers from governments as well as from the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), Auckland University and UNWTO. To further enrich cross-country and interregional learning, guest speakers also came from Fiji, Jamaica, Netherlands, Thailand and the Philippines.

Participants underscored the importance of implementing the MST Statistical Framework not only for informing national policy and subnational tourism management, but also to ensure aligned action and monitor progress towards regional and global policy ambitions such as climate action and the Paris Agreement, circular economy, the Sustainable Development Goals, the SAMOA Pathway, the Convention on Biological Diversity and others.

The workshop provided a platform to review the MST Statistical Framework and its main concepts, definitions, and tables for producing credible and comparable data on tourism sustainability. Participants discussed the value of a flexible implementation of MST based on priorities and circumstances, best strategies for strengthening data capture capabilities and making the most of available data, and the importance of engaging stakeholders across the board. Other elements raised for successful implementation included a shared communication strategy, education not only in the production of data but also its use, and drawing up a commonly agreed roadmap.

The workshop brought together more than 80 key virtual participants from National Tourism Authorities and National Statistical Offices in the Asia and the Pacific.

Paris, France, December 17, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO said: “This is an ineffective, knee-jerk reaction by the French government. Banning travel to France will not stop COVID variants that are already in France. As South African scientists said these decisions are based on hysteria not logic.

“This decision will destroy long planned family reunions and it has long term implications for a Travel & Tourism sector that was just beginning to recover.

“Governments should be focusing on individuals allowing people who are fully vaccinated to travel freely. Banning whole countries has been proved to not work.

“We know this drastic measure will do nothing to stop the new virus strain but will be a major blow to the Travel & Tourism sector – which is the last thing it needs right now. We should be focusing on stopping community transmission, by enforcing on mask wearing and implementing enhanced health and safety measures.”

Bangkok, Thailand, December 17, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / In the official launch event of The Michelin Guide Bangkok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket & Phang-Nga 2022, Michelin announced awardees of the coveted Michelin Star, the Michelin Green Star, the Michelin Guide Young Chef Award, and the Michelin Guide Service Award. Featured in this fifth local edition are 361 dining establishments – with 6 two Michelin Star (all retained their status), 26 one Michelin Star, 133 Bib Gourmand, and other 196 selected entries. New additions to the Michelin Guide consist of 6 (all located in Bangkok) in the one Michelin Star, and 33 in the Bib Gourmand lists, together with another 51 in the Guide’s official selection.

• Discover gastronomy destination Thailand and the World’s Best Fine Dining Restaurants at Top25Restaurants.com

Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of Michelin Guides, revealed: “Due to lockdowns and dine-in restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries, the restaurant business has been on its all-time lows. Nevertheless, Thailand sees the opening of new restaurants with interesting cuisine types – such as street-food-inspired stalls and authentic Thai food from ancient recipes. Local produce and ingredients have been incorporated in the menu, as diners are increasingly concerned about living healthy lifestyles and food sources. This not only ensures optimum freshness that elevates the cuisine, but also encourages sustainability in the agriculture and restaurant industries that help boost up the local economy.”

“This year’s Michelin Guide celebrates Ayutthaya as the latest city introduced into the guide – yet the oldest and with the richest heritage among all. In addition, this former capital city of Thailand boasts historical charm and retains among the greatest history in Thai cuisine. We are thus convinced that our local and international readers will enjoy exploring this extended coverage of Thailand’s culinary scene,” added Mr.Poullennec.

Six New Entrants Joining the one Michelin Star List, While the two Michelin Star Listing Remains the Same

In the 2022 Michelin Guide Thailand edition, two Michelin Star listing remains the same with 6 entries – namely, Chef’s Table, Le Normandie, Mezzaluna, R-Haan, Sorn, and Sühring. However, the one Michelin Star selection welcomes 6 new entrants, all located in Bangkok, namely: Aksorn, a Thai restaurant offering flavorsome dishes inspired by chef’s collected Thai cookbooks from the 1940s to the 1970s, with highlights including the coconut cupcakes with salted pork, and the fermented bean curd relish with minced pork and prawns;

Côte by Mauro Colagreco, a French contemporary restaurant with contemporary Riviera-inspired cuisine that serves lunch set menus, à la carte dishes, plus a special nine-course “Carte Blanche” dinner – an Omakase experience where every course is a surprise;

Gaa, an innovative restaurant offering an exquisite variety of Indian dishes transformed with modern techniques and presentation, plus a street-food-inspired tasting menu with a delightful balance of flavors, textures and aromas; IGNIV, a European contemporary restaurant serving up modern European cuisine – including its signature chicken nuggets and barbecue sauce – through a unique shared meal experience; Savelberg (new by relocation), a French contemporary restaurant offering à la carte and fixed menus that boast sophisticated modern French fare made from fine international ingredients; Yu Ting Yuan, a Chinese restaurant offering refined Cantonese dishes that emphasize nuance of flavor and strike the right balance of oil – with highlights including delectable Peking Duck and succulent Dim Sum.

Another 51 Eateries Included for the First Time in This Year’s Michelin Guide Selection
Apart from dining establishments awarded with the Michelin Star, the Bib Gourmand, and the Michelin Green Star; the official selection of the 2022 Michelin Guide Thailand edition also recognizes an additional 196 eateries that provide good meals, capably prepared with fresh ingredients and good cooking. Out of this number, 91 are located in Bangkok & Surrounding Provinces, 16 in Ayutthaya, 37 in Chiang Mai, and 52 in Phuket & Phang-Nga.

It is notable that 51 are first-time entrants (15 in Bangkok, 16 in Ayutthaya, 5 in Chiang Mai, and 15 in Phuket & Phang-Nga). Among them are Baan Suriyasai [Bangkok], a restaurant offering time-tested dishes drawn from royal recipes and bygone family favourites – including the savory 5-spice stew with boiled eggs; and the stir-fried crispy pork belly, fish flakes, and dried shrimp with seasoned paste; Phak Wan Noodles [Ayutthaya], the first and only restaurant in Ayutthaya where every dish is cooked using local greens called “Pak Wan” (Melientha), providing unique and pleasantly different flavors and aromas; Yangzi Jiang [Chiang Mai], a Chinese restaurant in a contemporary Lanna house, offering fresh, clean, and expertly cooked food – including the signature steamed scallop dumplings with black truffles; Juumpo [Phang-Nga], a restaurant offering many unique local “Baba” (Chinese-Thai) recipes – such as the Baba-style coconut milk soup with shrimps and Thai herbs, the chilli dip with shrimp, and the fried fish with sweet and sour sauce.

PRU Retains Its Michelin Green Star: The One and Only in Thailand
For the second year in a row, PRU – the one Michelin Star restaurant in Phuket – retains the Michelin Green Star for its sustainable gastronomy practices. As part of the restaurant’s initiatives, ‘Pru Jampa’ – PRU’s own farm that supplies vegetables, herbs and flowers – is where PRU puts the idea of permaculture into practice, while pursuing sustainability and supporting artisan producers. With seasonal, 100% locally sourced ingredients that determine its menu cycles, the restaurant offers a dining experience that combines culinary excellence with outstanding eco-friendly commitment, and stands as a source of inspiration both for foodies and the restaurant industry as a whole.

Michelin Guide Thailand 2022 Young Chef Award:
Ms. Garima Arora from Gaa
An Indian native, Garima was born on 9 November 1986 and is the first Indian woman to win one Michelin Star in November 2018. Her cuisine is focused on applying traditional Indian cooking techniques onto locally sourced ingredients. An alumnus of Le Cordon Bleu school in France, Chef Garima has worked alongside many world-renowned chefs, such as Gordon Ramsay, René Redzepi, and Gaggan Anand.

• Discover gastronomy destination Thailand and the World’s Best Fine Dining Restaurants at Top25Restaurants.com

Michelin Guide Thailand 2022 Service Award:
Mr. Thibaud Charlemarty from Côte by Mauro Colagreco
According to the Michelin Guide inspector, the whole service team under the direction of Mr. Charlemarty is professional and very well-trained. All service sequences were perfectly executed without any flaws. Staff are very approachable and polite. Information of each dish, including inspirations and cooking method, were clearly explained. All elements (excellent food, service, and atmosphere) encourage another visit.

Key figures of the 2022 selection at a glance:

6 two Michelin Star entries
26 one Michelin Star entries (6 new)
1 Michelin Green Star entry
133 Bib Gourmand entries (33 new, 6 promoted)

6 restaurants with two Michelin Stars
– Chef’s Table
– Le Normandie
– Mezzaluna
– R-Haan
– Sorn
– Sühring

26 restaurants with one Michelin Star (6 new)
– 80/20
– Aksorn (New)
– Blue by Alain Ducasse
– Cadence by Dan Bark
– Canvas
– Côte by Mauro Colagreco (New)
– Chim by Siam Wisdom
– Elements
– Gaa (New – Relocated)
– Ginza Sushi Ichi
– IGNIV (New)
– J’aime by Jean-Michel Lorain
– Jay Fai
– Khao (Ekkamai)
– Le Du
– Methavalai Sorndaeng
– Nahm
– Paste
– PRU
– Saawaan
– Saneh Jaan
– Savelberg (New – Relocated)
– Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin
– Suan Thip
– Sushi Masato
– Yu Ting Yuan (New)

1 Michelin Green Star restaurant
– PRU

Bangkok, Thailand, December 16, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Travel industry leaders have united to support the Go Give One campaign to help fund COVID-19 vaccines worldwide. Virgin Atlantic has joined travel services specialist Collinson and the Pacific Asia Travel Association as part of the Global Travel Sector Vaccine Coalition. Together, they will use their collective reach to play a part in ensuring everyone, no matter where they are in the world, has access to the COVID-19 vaccine.

The travel industry has been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the emergence of a new variant and renewed travel bans, it is urgent to address low vaccination rates in middle and low-income countries.

Anil Soni, Chief Executive Officer of the WHO Foundation, said: “Vaccine inequity is morally unjust and economically and epidemiologically self-defeating. We need everyone to help protect the world. We are thrilled to see this leadership from industry heavyweights to get vaccines to people who need them most. The Global Travel Sector Vaccine Coalition is a great example of how companies can join forces to make a global difference. We invite other members of the travel industry to join us to power vaccines around the world. Together, we can all play our part to ensure vaccines for everyone, everywhere.”

The Collinson COVID-19 Testing Initiative first launched in October 2020 and is now at several major UK airports. Listening to their experience, WHO Foundation and Collinson formed the Travel Coalition in recognition of how the industry can make a real difference.

David Evans, Joint CEO at Collinson, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the WHO Foundation’s Go Give One campaign. The travel and tourism industry knows only too well how important it is for everyone, everywhere to have access to vaccines if we are to end the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve seen first-hand how our industry has had to adapt to ensure the safety of people and organisations in this new reality and are calling on the sector now to join us as part of the Travel Coalition. There’s a true power in numbers to getting this done, and we’re urging our customers to give what they can, as well as asking other travel companies to join forces with us. It’s time to stamp out vaccine inequality, so support however, you can, especially during this time of year – the season for giving back.”

Virgin Atlantic is supporting the Go Give One campaign through onboard donations this December and with an additional donation from the Virgin Atlantic Foundation.

Corneel Koster, Chief Customer and Operating Officer, Virgin Atlantic, commented: “It’s evident that COVID-19 is something we must learn to live with. We know that en masse vaccine programmes work, thanks to the success we’ve seen in developed nations around the world, but unless we support lower-income countries in accessing these vaccines, we will not beat this global threat. By supporting the WHO Foundation in raising funds for the Go Give One campaign through our onboard donations this month, our teams and customers can play a part in helping to close the gap. The WHO Foundation and Virgin Atlantic are grateful for every contribution.

“It costs just £4 to buy a vaccine, meaning even the smallest donations can go a long way. Successful vaccination programmes are the route out of the pandemic and we must all play our part in combating this virus; together we can do our bit to offer vaccines to the world and beat COVID-19.”

Members of the travel industry can join the Global Travel Sector Vaccine Coalition to power vaccines by making corporate contributions, running match giving schemes, and engaging their customers, employees, and clients in the Go Give One campaign.

Liz Ortiguera, PATA Chief Executive Officer, said on tackling vaccine equity as a Travel Coalition member, “We at PATA are calling on our travel sector colleagues to support vaccine equity because no one is safe until everyone is safe. As of the beginning of December 2021, only a little over 8% of people in low income countries have received a first vaccine dose. Individuals, organizations, and governments need to rally to accelerate the recovery. The travel sector has played a critical role in responding to the crisis already – from serving as quarantine hotels to providing staff for field hospitals. We can continue to help enable the solution to this crisis by supporting the vaccine efforts of the WHO Foundation for COVAX AMC.”

Go Give One is a COVID-19 fundraising campaign with no borders. Created by the World Health Organization’s WHO Foundation, the campaign calls on everyone, everywhere to play their part in helping to vaccinate the world. Every $5 / £4 donated funds a vaccine, through the Gavi COVAX AMC, which buys COVID-19 vaccines for low-and middle -income countries in order to help protect those the most vulnerable and at risk groups.

Alongside the Global Travel Sector Vaccine Coalition, Go Give One harnesses the power of companies to engage their employees, customers, partners, and networks to offer the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to vaccine equity. Partners of the Go Give One campaign are making corporate or match donations, donating a portion of sales from a product line, engaging their employees or clients in campaigns, offering peer-to-peer challenges, using their network to scale vaccine equity around the world.

About PATA
Founded in 1951, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a not-for-profit membership association that acts as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research and innovative events to its more than 650 member organisations, including 82 government, state and city tourism bodies, 14 international airlines and airports, 71 hospitality organisations and 75 educational institutions, as well as thousands of young tourism professional (YTP) members across the world. The PATA network also embraces the grassroots activism the PATA Chapters and Student Chapters, who organise numerous travel industry training programmes and business development events across the world. Thousands of travel professionals belong to the 32 local PATA Chapters worldwide, while hundreds of students are members of the 28 PATA Student Chapters globally. The PATAmPOWER platform delivers unrivalled data, forecasts and insights from the PATA Strategic Intelligence Centre to members’ desktops and mobile devices anywhere in the world. PATA’s Head Office has been in Bangkok since 1998. The Association also has official offices or representation in Beijing and London.

About Go Give One
Go Give One, created by the WHO Foundation, is a fundraising campaign with no borders to help vaccinate millions of people around the world. The money raised through the campaign will go directly to the global COVID-19 vaccine financing mechanism – Gavi COVAX AMC – which purchases COVID-19 vaccines for middle and lower-income countries, helping to protect everyone from COVID-19. Our aim is to get 50 million people from around the world to take part in this campaign, showing a stance of solidarity and togetherness against an issue facing us all. We are calling on everyone, everywhere to give $5/£4 to buy a vaccine for someone who wouldn’t otherwise have access to one.

About the WHO Foundation
Established in 2020 as an independent entity, the WHO Foundation complements and strengthens the work of WHO and its global network of partners by mobilizing new funding from diverse sources—including philanthropists, corporate entities, and the public—to drive innovation and transform the global health ecosystem. By addressing the world’s most urgent health issues in a new, transformative, catalytic way, the WHO Foundation aims to provide everyone, everywhere, a healthier, more equitable future. Together, we have so much to achieve.

About Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, with innovation and amazing customer service at its core. In 2021, Virgin Atlantic was voted Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the fifth year running in the Official Airline Ratings. Headquartered in London, it employs 6,500 people worldwide, flying customers to 27 destinations across four continents. Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network, with onward connections to over 200 cities around the world. On 3 February 2020, Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic launched an expanded Joint Venture, offering a comprehensive route network, convenient flight schedules, competitive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem miles across all carriers. Sustainability remains central to the airline and since September 2019, Virgin Atlantic has welcomed eight brand new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, helping to transform the fleet into one of the youngest, quietest, and most fuel efficient in the sky. By 2022, the airline will operate a streamlined fleet of 37 twin engine aircraft following the retirement of its B747-400s and A340-600s, making its simplified fleet 10% more efficient than before the Covid-19 crisis impacted.

About Collinson
Collinson is a global leader in the provision of traveller experiences including medical and security assistance and travel medical services. Its travel medical and security assistance business unit has more than 55 years’ experience in the delivery of international medical assistance and emergency care, including the handling of pandemics such as Ebola, Zika, and the coronavirus. Annually, Collinson responds to over 95,000 emergency calls, manages over 40,000 medical cases, and conducts over 3,000 aero-medical evacuations across the 170 countries it serves.

Collinson has over 2,000 employees operating out of 17 locations globally, all working to deliver a broad range of traveller experiences that ensure the safety, welfare, and comfort of 55 million people as they travel for business and leisure around the world. Collinson’s traveller experiences include the world’s leading airport lounge and experiences programme, Priority Pass, as well as travel insurance, identity assistance, flight delay, international health and travel risk management solutions. We work with clients including: American Express, Cathay Pacific, CBA, Mastercard, UnionPay and Visa.

Kelowna, Canada, December 16, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) is pleased to announce that the GreenStep Sustainable Tourism Destination Standard has achieved the ‘GSTC-Recognized Standard’ status.

GreenStep Sustainable Tourism Standards are used by GreenStep Solutions in their assessment and verification programs which provide tools, resources, and consultative support to destinations and businesses across the tourism industry. The Sustainable Tourism standards enable tourism businesses and destinations to measure their sustainability performance in several key categories; management, social, economic, natural, cultural, and environmental.

The GSTC-Recognized status refers to the standard itself and means that a sustainable tourism standard or system has been reviewed by GSTC technical experts and the GSTC Assurance Panel and deemed the standard or system equivalent to the GSTC Criteria for sustainable tourism. It shows that the set of standards is based on the 4 pillars of the GSTC Criteria: Environment, Social, Cultural, and Management principles. This does not relate to the process of certification, nor to accreditation.

“We are thrilled to have achieved GSTC-Recognized status for our tourism destination standard,” says Angela Nagy – President & CEO of GreenStep Solutions. “Now our industry and destination partners, customers, and those that are using our complimentary online Sustainability Score assessments can rest assured knowing they are measuring their sustainability performance based on globally accepted best practices and standards.”

“Congratulations to GreenStep for their continued development in providing tools and support for systematic approaches to sustainable tourism,” says Randy Durband, GSTC CEO.

Currently, 11 destination standards, 32 hotel standards, and 14 tour operator standards have achieved GSTC-Recognized status. The status offers the market proof that these standards adhere to international norms. GSTC Recognition does not ensure that a certification process is reliable, only that the set of standards used to certify are equivalent to the GSTC Criteria. GSTC-Recognized standard owners are encouraged to follow and complete the accreditation process, which assures that the certification process used to apply the standard meets international best practice, transparency, and rigor.

About the GSTC
The Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) establishes and manages global sustainable standards, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are two sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, and Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators. These are the guiding principles and minimum requirements that any tourism business or destination should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources, while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for conservation and poverty alleviation.

The GSTC Criteria form the foundation for Accreditation of Certification Bodies that certify hotels/accommodations, tour operators, and destinations as having sustainable policies and practices in place. GSTC does not directly certify any products or services; but it accredits those that do. The GSTC is an independent and neutral USA-registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization that represents a diverse and global membership, including national and provincial governments, leading travel companies, hotels, tour operators, NGO’s, individuals and communities – all striving to achieve best practices in sustainable tourism.

About GreenStep Solutions
GreenStep Solutions was founded in 2008 to help businesses and organizations measure and improve their sustainability performance. To date, GreenStep has worked with more than 3000 businesses and organizations within several sectors, including private, public, non-profit, and academic institutions; in a variety of industries such as tourism and hospitality, retail, professional services, and manufacturing; and with organizations of all sizes, from owner-operated businesses to publicly traded companies. Through their Sustainable Tourism Division, GreenStep provides assessments, training, strategy, and certifications to tourism businesses and destinations. GreenStep is a Certified B Corporation, is powered by 100% renewable energy with Bullfrog Power, and is Certified Carbon Neutral with Offsetters.

Koh Samui, Thailand, December 16, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / With an interest in preserving the original vision and integrity of Kamalaya, founders John and Karina Stewart have entered a strategic partnership with Thai-based businessman and technology investor Chakrit Sakunkrit who joins the world-renowned wellness retreat as a co-owner.

Kamalaya’s visionary founders John and Karina Stewart will continue in their respective roles as Chairman and Chief Wellness Officer of Kamalaya, both contributing to the operations and management of Kamalaya Koh Samui while spearheading the continued development of the brand and ensuring its legacy.

Kamalaya’s founders and the team of professionals and health practitioners will continue to operate Kamalaya Koh Samui in the way in which wellness travellers know, love and trust while exploring options to expand the reach and breadth of the Kamalaya experience.

Speaking of his investment, Mr. Chakrit Sakunkrit said: “Since its inception 16 years ago, Kamalaya has remained at the forefront of wellness, and now more than ever, the world needs Kamalaya. Thailand needs Kamalaya, wellness tourism needs Kamalaya, and most importantly our guests need Kamalaya. It is for the benefit of Thailand’s wellness tourism that I am pleased to have been invited to make this philanthropic investment into Kamalaya. It will enable the founders, John and Karina Stewart, to continue realising their vision and to help a great many people on their personal journey to lifelong wellness.”

Founder & Chairman John Stewart said: “We welcome Khun Chakrit with open arms, as our shared vision on health, wellness, and sustainable business, makes him the ideal partner for Kamalaya. Karina and I, along with our team look forward to working closely with Khun Chakrit and his network, combining our collective knowledge and passion in the fields of health, wellness, technology and philanthropy to continue to develop Kamalaya.”

Founder & Chief Wellness Officer Karina Stewart adds, “Kamalaya is a place where growth and transformation, a natural life process, will always be nurtured, guided and supported. We look forward to working with our new partner Khun Chakrit to enhance and add complementing capabilities and facilities to our existing service offering at our beautiful sanctuary.

This move ultimately supports the continuous evolution of Kamalaya, bettering its ability to remain a sacred place where our guests can re-connect with themselves and their natural surroundings. John and I are very excited about our new partnership and what it will do for the future of Kamalaya in the coming decades.”

Chakrit Sakunkrit’s addition to the Kamalaya family comes at a pivotal moment for international travel and global wellness tourism as Thailand’s borders re-open and the world-renowned wellness sanctuary prepares for a bright future.

Catering to the needs of individuals, Kamalaya launched in 2005 with a host of curated wellness programmes that addressed prevalent concerns of the time, including anxiety, loneliness, and discontent. Over the years, three additional programmes have been added. Now, after a long pause on international travel, the holistic wellness offerings at Kamalaya are more significant than ever before.

Throughout the global pandemic, Kamalaya Koh Samui remained open to guests. Now with the re-opening of Thailand, the team of hosts and health practitioners are ready to re-connect with guests and look forward to welcoming international travellers back to the wellness sanctuary for the remainder of 2021 and beyond.

About Kamalaya Koh Samui
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa is a multi-award-winning wellness sanctuary located on the southern coast of Koh Samui, Thailand. Founded by John and Karina Stewart in 2005, Kamalaya offers a synergistic wellness experience that helps people reconnect to life’s potential and achieve optimal wellbeing, while integrating healing therapies from East and West, including customized programmes that approach Detoxification, Stress & Burnout, Enriched Gut, Sleep Enhancement, Yoga Synergy and Emotional Balance.