Category: Latest Travel News

Geneva, Switzerland, April 20, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / A new IPSOS and World Economic Forum survey found that almost 60% expect a return to pre-COVID normal within the next 12 months. including 6% who think this is already the case, 9% who think it will take no more than three months, 13% four to six months, and 32% seven to 12 months (the median time). About one in five think it will take more than three years (10%) or that it will never happen (8%).

Views on when to expect a return to normal vary widely across countries: Over 70% of adults in Saudi Arabia, Russia, India, and mainland China are confident their life will return to pre-COVID normal within a year. In contrast, 80% in Japan and more than half in France, Italy, South Korea, and Spain expect it will take longer.

At a global level, expectations about how long it will take before one’s life can return to its pre-COVID normal and how long it will take for the pandemic to be contained are nearly identical. These findings suggest that people across the world consider that being able to return to “normal” life is entirely dependent on containing the pandemic.

An average of 45% of adults globally say their mental and emotional health has gotten worse since the beginning of the pandemic about a year ago. However, one in four say their mental health has improved since the beginning of the year (23%), about as many that say it has worsened (27%).

How long before coronavirus pandemic is contained?

Similar to life returning to pre-COVID normal, 58% on average across all countries and markets surveyed expect the pandemic to be contained within the next year, including 13% who think this is already the case or will happen within 3 months, 13% between four and six months and 32% between seven and 12 months (the median time in most markets).

Majorities in India, China, and Saudi Arabia think the pandemic is already contained or will be within the next 6 months. In contrast, four in five in Japan and more than half in Australia, France, Poland, Spain, and Sweden expect it will take more than a year.

Change in emotional and mental health since beginning of the pandemic about a year ago

On average across the 30 countries and markets surveyed, 45% of adults say their emotional and mental health has gotten worse since the beginning of the pandemic about a year ago, three times the proportion of adults who say it has improved (16%)

In 11 countries, at least half report a decline in their emotional and mental health with Turkey (61%), Chile (56%), and Hungary (56%) showing the largest proportions.

About the study
The survey was conducted among more than 21,000 adults under the age of 75 between February 19, 2021 and March 5, 2021 on Ipsos’ Global Advisor online platform. Where results do not sum to 100 or the ‘difference’ appears to be +/-1 more/less than the actual, this may be due to rounding, multiple responses or the exclusion of don’t knows or not stated responses.

About Ipsos
Ipsos is the world’s third largest market research company, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1st, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD).

Geneva, Switzerland, April 19, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced an agreement with Eurofins to incorporate its worldwide COVID-19 testing network into IATA Travel Pass. Eurofins is a leader in bio-analytical testing with 800 laboratories across 50 countries. As part of the partnership, Eurofins’ dedicated COVID-19 portfolio encompassing multiple test types and hundreds of COVID-19 sampling stations globally will be made available through the IATA Travel Pass.

Amid the pandemic, coronavirus testing is required for most international travel. As part of the IATA Travel Pass initiative, Eurofins laboratories will provide secure, verified test results to travelers using the app. This result is checked against the IATA Travel Pass registry of national entry requirements to produce an “OK to Travel” status. Through the app passengers can share their status and the digital test certificates with authorities and airlines to facilitate travel.

Trials of IATA Travel Pass incorporating the global Eurofins network are expected to begin with airlines piloting IATA Travel Pass across multiple regions in the coming weeks.

“Verified testing is the immediate solution to give governments the confidence to open their borders to travelers. IATA Travel Pass aims to make it as simple as possible for travelers to locate certified laboratories and securely receive the test results that governments require. Our partnership with Eurofins is another mark of quality for IATA Travel Pass which is being built to the highest data security and privacy standards. Adding the extensive Eurofins network to the initiative will help travelers more conveniently adjust their travel preparations to meet the COVID-19 requirements,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

“Fast, secure, high-quality testing is a critical element in the fight against the pandemic and enabling the return to normalised travel. Eurofins is a market leader in testing and laboratory services and since the outbreak of COVID-19, Eurofins has established widespread PCR testing capabilities, as well as a wide range of testing solutions through its SAFER@WORK™ programs; and has carried out over 15 million tests in its own laboratories, while also supporting the development of a number of vaccines. We are delighted to be partnering with IATA and to support the IATA Travel Pass, to provide the testing gold standard to ensure people can travel with security and confidence,” Gilles Martin, Eurofins’ Chairman of the Board and CEO.

IATA Travel Pass provides the infrastructure needed to securely manage, share and verify test data matched with traveler identities in compliance with border control requirements. It will help travelers manage these new processes starting with understanding the requirements to travel and helping them identify labs, such as Eurofins, which are certified do to the testing.

About Eurofins 
With over 50,000 staff across more than 800 laboratories in over 50 countries, Eurofins is a global leader in Testing for Life.  In 2020, Eurofins reacted quickly to meet the global challenge of COVID-19, by creating the capacity for over 20 million patient tests per month to support efforts to identify and suppress the virus. The Group has established widespread PCR testing capabilities and has carried out over 15 million tests in its own laboratories, is supporting the development of a number of vaccines and has established its SAFER@WORK™ testing, monitoring and consulting programmes to help ensure safer environments during COVID-19.

St. James, Barbados, April 19, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Apes Hill Golf and Beach Club in St James, Barbados, is undergoing a major renovation with sustainability at the top of the agenda. With its ground-breaking sustainable initiatives, Apes Hill is working to become the most environmentally responsible golf course in the Caribbean – from the preservation of wildlife to operating in a power neutral way.

Renowned golf course architect Ron Kirby, one of the most experienced architects in the world, has been engaged to plan and renovate the new sustainable golf course which has been underway since the end of 2019 and is scheduled to open in January 2022.

Apes Hill Golf and Beach Club is committed to becoming power neutral within three years of opening by building a solar energy farm. In addition, irrigation considerations have taken centre stage with the redesign, which has helped contribute to the development becoming Audubon* certified.

An expert agronomist selected Zoyza Zorro grass for the course, which requires less water, reducing the number of sprinkler heads from 1800 to 800. Out of play areas will have organic mulch and feather grass, which also requires less watering and fertilizer.

An artificial lake is being installed to collect rainwater for future irrigation and the latest technology is being used on the irrigation system to minimize watering with weather forecasting and remotely controlled watering.

Spread across a 470-acre site in St James, biodiversity has been another key focus in the redesign of Apes Hill, avoiding disruption of local habitats and trees, and creating new habitats through clever landscaping to enhance the development’s natural state.

Close to the island’s highest point, Apes Hill’s golf course is nestled among lush jungle and deep winding gullies that are populated by families of chattering green monkeys, birds and an abundance of tropical foliage. This combined with its dramatic vistas over the wild east coast and Atlantic Ocean and beautiful natural coral rock formations make it arguably one of the most spectacular golf experiences in the Caribbean. Apes Hill’s 18-hole golf course will have 13 sea view holes, four of which will boast views of both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

Twelve acres of ‘out of play’ pockets around the golf course have been set aside for growing indigenous fruits and vegetables including pineapple, mangos, coffee, aloe and sweet potatoes. In total, Apes Hill will be creating 50 acres of farmland for hosting livestock and growing fresh produce on the east coast side of the golf course bordering holes 12, 13 and 14. In addition, beehives will be established in the gullies and habitats created to promote butterfly breading in ponds around the course.

Upon completion, Apes Hill Golf and Beach Club will have a fully renovated 18 Hole, Par 72 championship golf course, with the addition of a 19th Hole modelled after the island-green 17th Hole at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, a new Par 3 course with a relaxed dress policy – the first of its kind in Barbados. In addition, there will be a state-of-the-art Golf Performance and Teaching Centre with a Titleist Performance Institute – the first one to open in the Caribbean.

Architect Kirby is no stranger to Barbados, having renovated Barbados Golf Club in 2000. Now aged 88 and a lifetime member of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Kirby’s name is attached to more than 70 courses around the world, including Old Head Golf Links in the Republic of Ireland. Kirby is considered one of the most experienced architects in the world having worked alongside Robert Trent Jones Senior, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus. Commenting on the new design of the course Kirby, says:

“We were very careful with the design to focus on reducing the footprint of the grasses that need full maintenance, water and fertilizers. Using the latest technology for irrigation, we have been able to reduce the number of sprinkler heads on the course by 56%. In addition, the new Zoysia Zorro grass we planted needs less water. We have reduced the number of bunkers from 107 to 38. All these factors combined have helped us to significantly reduce the overall volume of water and chemicals that will be required in the maintenance of the course.”

Joining the world class team are shapers Justin Carlton, who recently finished the renovation of Adare Manor in Ireland, the 2027 Ryder Cup Course, and Gary Shapiro. Both have been on site since the start of 2020 and have been responsible for softening the course considerably by reducing the slopes on greens, eliminating 59 deep and sometimes unplayable bunkers, and accentuating the beautiful natural environment and vistas across Apes Hill’s 470-acre site.

Other additions planned for Apes Hill Golf and Beach Club include a renovated clubhouse with the new Drunken Monkey bar and veranda restaurant, fitness centre, lap pool and yoga garden, hiking and biking trails with outdoor calisthenics gym, pro shop and farm shop, which will sell the fresh produce grown on site. Scattered throughout the development is a growing collection of luxury homes which are available for sale.

About Apes Hill Golf and Beach Club
First opened in 2009, the luxury private members’ club and residential community of Apes Hill in St James was purchased in 2019 by Glenn Chamandy, the founder of Gildan Activewear. Now undergoing a £24 million renovation, Apes Hill will be reopening in January 2022 with a mission to be “the best golfing experience in the Caribbean.”

Set in 470 acres at 1,000 feet above sea level in the North West of the island, Apes Hill enjoys an enviable location with views across both the west and east coasts. A series of villas and semi-detached homes are available for sale.

About The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program
*The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf is an award-winning education and certification program that helps golf courses protect our environment and preserve the natural heritage of the game of golf. By helping people enhance the valuable natural areas and wildlife habitats that golf courses provide, improve efficiency, and minimize potentially harmful impacts of golf course operations, the program serves an important environmental role worldwide. Audubon International has developed Standard Environmental Management Practices that are generally applicable to all golf courses. These standards form the basis for ACSP for Golf certification guidelines.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 18, 2021 / TAVELINDEX / Dubai based press caught up with Alain St Ange, the well known former Tourism Minister for Seychelles. St.Ange was in transit in Dubai Airport and from the Emirates Lounge answered queries from the press on his working visit to Indonesia. “I am on my way to Jakarta to meet some tourism islands group wanting to look at consolidating their tourism industry” St.Ange said.

“I work closely with friends in successful and respected communication and media organisations and have been approached by some Indonesian developers to make their tropical islands the new tourism destination”. said Alain St.Ange in a Zoom Interview. Mr St.Ange told the UAE press he is going to use his skills and years of expertise to help these islands as the Covid-19 pandemic was easing.

The press friendly and well known former Seychelles Tourism Minister said that he was humbled and felt he was privileged by the exciting opportunity to play a part in building the tourism industry of Indonesia adding “It will be no small feat, but I am committed to the task and will give it my heart and soul. I was raised within the tourism industry and have spent my entire working life within the tourism sector, both within the private sphere and in Government, and have years of experience to bring to the table”.

Alain St.Ange is set to work the “South South Cooperation” that is so often talked about, but rarely implemented, and bringing in Africa and Asia together with Indonesia as the bridge for key tourism players.

Alain St.Ange who heads the “Saint Ange Tourism Consultancy” based in Seychelles said he was not leaving Seychelles but expected to take consultancy roles where his expertise is needed. Today I embark on a temporary leave of absence from my island home. It remains to be seen how long I will need to be away for, but I remain cognisant of the need for balance in life, and the importance of being there for my family as I now have a grandson, particularly during these trying times.

Menlo Park, California, United States, April 18, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Facebook have partnered to help global destinations make use of the power of digital marketing as they look to welcome tourists back safely.

Over the past year, the United Nations specialized agency for tourism has been supporting its Member States on a series of initiatives relating to market intelligence and marketing. Now, as tourism begins to restart in some parts of the world, a series of special sessions were held jointly with Facebook to deliver a range of key insights into how the effective use of digital marketing can help destinations gain a competitive advantage in the challenging months ahead.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Three sessions, one each in English, Spanish and French, welcomed participants from 30 countries. The sessions focused on Facebook and Instagram Communication Insights and Best Practices, with participants also given an overview of digital tools and tips for communicating with their target audiences, including through Messenger and WhatsApp. Alongside this, the sessions highlighted the importance of metrics and other key tools in measuring the success of digital marketing campaigns, and role of advertising and creativity in reaching new audiences.

Sandra Carvao, UNWTO Chief, Market Intelligence and Competitiveness, says: “We are very happy to have Facebook on board with us to bring the fundamentals and best cases of digital marketing to our Members. Our partnership will help destinations be better prepared for a new market framework and allow them to use data and digital marketing to reach new audiences and restart their tourism sectors.

• Read all the latest UNWTO News and Updates here.

Nicolai Gerard, Facebook EMEA Government Politics & NonProfit Marketing Solution Director says: “We are very pleased to work with UNWTO to help global destinations take advantage of all the benefits that digital solutions and tools can offered. In the times we are living, it is key for the travel industry to implement digital marketing strategies to accelerate the road to recovery.  With this partnership, we believe that travel destinations will gain the necessary tools and skills that will allow them to use all the services available through our family of apps”.

Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., United States, April 18, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / NASA is getting ready to send astronauts to explore more of the Moon as part of the Artemis program, and the agency has selected SpaceX to continue development of the first commercial human lander that will safely carry the next two American astronauts to the lunar surface. At least one of those astronauts will make history as the first woman on the Moon. Another goal of the Artemis program includes landing the first person of color on the lunar surface.

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The agency’s powerful Space Launch System rocket will launch four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft for their multi-day journey to lunar orbit. There, two crew members will transfer to the SpaceX human landing system (HLS) for the final leg of their journey to the surface of the Moon. After approximately a week exploring the surface, they will board the lander for their short trip back to orbit where they will return to Orion and their colleagues before heading back to Earth.

The firm-fixed price, milestone-based contract total award value is $2.89 billion.

“With this award, NASA and our partners will complete the first crewed demonstration mission to the surface of the Moon in the 21st century as the agency takes a step forward for women’s equality and long-term deep space exploration,” said Kathy Lueders, NASA’s associate administrator for Human Explorations and Operations Mission Directorate. “This critical step puts humanity on a path to sustainable lunar exploration and keeps our eyes on missions farther into the solar system, including Mars.”

SpaceX has been working closely with NASA experts during the HLS base period of performance to inform its lander design and ensure it meets NASA’s performance requirements and human spaceflight standards. A key tenet for safe systems, these agreed-upon standards range from areas of engineering, safety, health, and medical technical areas.

“This is an exciting time for NASA and especially the Artemis team,” said Lisa Watson-Morgan, program manager for HLS at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “During the Apollo program, we proved that it is possible to do the seemingly impossible: land humans on the Moon. By taking a collaborative approach in working with industry while leveraging NASA’s proven technical expertise and capabilities, we will return American astronauts to the Moon’s surface once again, this time to explore new areas for longer periods of time.”

SpaceX’s HLS Starship, designed to land on the Moon, leans on the company’s tested Raptor engines and flight heritage of the Falcon and Dragon vehicles. Starship includes a spacious cabin and two airlocks for astronaut moonwalks. The Starship architecture is intended to evolve to a fully reusable launch and landing system designed for travel to the Moon, Mars, and other destinations.

The HLS award is made under the Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP-2) Appendix H Broad Agency Announcement (BAA).

In parallel with executing the Appendix H award, NASA intends to implement a competitive procurement for sustainable crewed lunar surface transportation services that will provide human access to the lunar surface using the Gateway on a regularly recurring basis beyond the initial crewed demonstration mission.

• The ultimate Space domain name maybe available for sale to visionary individual or company – Everything was Made in Space…

With NASA’s Space Launch System rocket, Orion spacecraft, HLS, and the Gateway lunar outpost, NASA and its commercial and international partners are returning to the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and inspiration for a new generation. Working with its partners throughout the Artemis program, the agency will fine-tune precision landing technologies and develop new mobility capabilities to enable exploration of new regions of the Moon. On the surface, the agency has proposed building a new habitat and rovers, testing new power systems and more. These and other innovations and advancements made under the Artemis program will ensure that NASA and its partners are ready for human exploration’s next big step—the exploration of Mars.

Tokyo, Japan, April 16, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Global leaders back the need for more technology governance to tackle the most pressing global problems at the World Economic Forum’s inaugural Global Technology Governance Summit.

The summit, hosted by the Government of Japan, was opened by Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide with a welcome address in which he emphasized the timeliness of discussions among leaders on the implementation of digital technologies in the post-COVD era. Suga also reaffirmed his commitment to accelerating reforms to create the world’s most advanced digital society.

More than 2,000 leaders gathered virtually to address the adoption of technology to improve lives and respond to global challenges. The World Economic Forum Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) Network will develop this work throughout 2021 and beyond.

An interactive experience was designed for the participants, embedding technology into the summit. Registered participants were invited to learn about non-fungible tokens (NFTs) by collecting fragments – called “shards” – of “Voice Gems” designed by artist Harry Yeff (Reeps 100). Over 250 shards were minted on the first day.

Among the summits, outcomes and commitments include:

• Two new regional networks of cities were launched in Latin America and South Asia as part of the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance. The city networks, modelled after the C4IR Japan’s successful Japan Smart City Alliance, aim to bolster small and medium-sized cities’ capacity to realize the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s benefits and safeguard against governance challenges.
• The C4IR Network will support Agile Nations, a global initiative to enable government, business, and civil society to share evidence and insights into innovative governance. The Network re-committed its support for the Agile50 initiative at the summit, recognizing the role of experts and business leaders in driving agility in governments worldwide.
• To address pressing challenges and opportunities relating to the rise of new digital currency, central bank digital currency, and so-called “stablecoins,” the Digital Currency Governance Consortium (DCGC) is convening more than 80 organizations representing numerous sectors and geographies.
• The Forum established the Future of the Connected World initiative with five priority areas for collective action in 2021-2022. Building on the pilot project’s success for Accelerating the Impact of Industrial IoT for SMEs in São Paolo, Brazil, the C4IR Network will expand projects in Colombia, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Turkey.
• Executive leaders from the public and private sector, representing more than 12 countries on five continents, released a new roadmap for building a connected future that benefits all. The roadmap and global action plan seek to rally and mobilize the international community on a set of five actions and 37 initiatives to advance the governance of the internet of things and related technologies.
• The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will adopt the framework and pilot it as part of its World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport, trialling autonomous delivery vehicles and using the framework to test a series of performance-based regulations. The impact of this is a framework developed by a Forum project sponsored by the Global Autonomous Vehicle Council (GAVC), which is being used as an incremental part of Dubai’s roadmap to make 25% of its travel driverless by 2030.

The following reports and white papers were published:

• The Rebuilding Trust and Governance: Towards Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) white paper gives a bird’s-eye view of global data governance issues, including privacy, fair competition, cybersecurity and transparency to strengthen trust-governance mechanisms.
• The Medicine from the Sky: Opportunities and Lessons from Drones in Africa report provides a framework for evaluating where these technologies can be best applied to improve healthcare.
• A new resource, Global Governance Toolkit for Digital Mental Health, provides help for governments, regulators and independent assurance bodies to address growing ethical concerns over the use of technology in mental and behavioural health.
• The Technology Futures report outlines new ways for leaders to predict future trends. It provides a framework for leaders to assign probability to trends and forecast risks and uses speculative fiction to bring these to life.
• A new white paper, Co-designing Digital Interventions and Technology Projects with Civil Society outlines how policy-makers and business leaders can collaborate with civil society to address power imbalances. It explores how each sector can co-design tech and bring equitable access.
• Transforming Rural Mobility with MaaS explores mobility as a service (MaaS), which will be at the forefront of a new generation of mobility services. It focuses on examples from Japan and examines the common challenges and success factors for MaaS to support local government and related enterprises to transform mobility.

The C4IR Network Affiliate Centres made the following commitments:

• C4IR Brazil will launch a data governance prototype for noncommunicable disease (NCD) patients to facilitate remote monitoring and public-private sharing of patients’ data in the health system.
• C4IR Colombia will publish a regulatory framework for data exchange with the Data for Common Purpose Initiative.
• C4IR India initiated the Artificial intelligence for Agriculture Innovation (AI4AI) project to explore the use of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies throughout the food chain, from seed to fork. The project, supported by more than 60 industry, government and start-up partners, is currently piloted in Telangana, India. C4IR India has also launched Fourth Industrial Revolution for Sustainable Transformation of Health (FIRST Health). The project explores the role of the Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in 18 areas of health, including preventive, curative and governance.
• C4IR Israel is committed to enabling the future of mobility by taking the existing pilot programmes and creating a scalable commercial business model that is safe, sustainable and ethical.
• C4IR Japan has developed an approach called Authorized Public Purpose Access (APPA), which seeks to use data for the public good while balancing all stakeholders’ rights and interests.
• The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Ocean will lead the Action Coalition on Ocean Data together with Microsoft. The coalition strives to deliver open, transparent and easily accessible universal data to comprehensively understand “life below water” for better policies and decision-making. The coalition will be open and inclusive to all actors seeking to liberate ocean data; the Ocean Data Platform will be at the heart of solutions to unlock this data.
• C4IR Rwanda’s most recent work on pending data protection legislation will serve as a foundation in helping to achieve Rwanda’s ambitions of becoming a proof-of-concept hub for technology innovation and regulation.
• C4IR Saudi Arabia will hold its official launch event, along with projects designed to advance multistakeholder collaboration on agile governance frameworks and AI, IoT and blockchain. The centre will develop frameworks that usher in advanced autonomous mobility through heavy-lift drones and accelerate the advent of autonomous trucks and vessels, thereby expanding mobility opportunities for air, land, and sea.
• C4IR South Africa will address the needs of small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs) by launching a series of projects to develop policy protocols for accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies by SMMEs and mitigating associated risks.
• C4IR Turkey will address the need for human-centric technology using governance models designed by the collective rationality that has emerged from the rapid spread of IoT, AI, and other Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.
• C4IR UAE is launching a report focused on developing a precision medicine programme locally, highlighting the critical process areas, including the infrastructure and regulatory environment. It aims to further the growth of the healthcare industry in the UAE and exchange healthcare data globally. C4IR UAE will also lead multiple tokenization pilots to test blockchain technology to modernize the financial system and improve access to capital and liquidity to further economic diversification and digital growth in the UAE.

About the Global Governance Summit 2021
The World Economic Forum’s inaugural Global Technology Governance Summit on 6-7 April 2021 convened leaders from more than 50 governments and 600 companies worldwide. The Summit enabled participants to share perspectives on our ability to harness and disseminate the Fourth Industrial Revolution’s (4IR) new technologies. These technologies will play a key role in ensuring our recovery from the pandemic and avoiding future crises. The Government of Japan hosted the Summit and leveraged the Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Network.

Mumbai, India, April 16, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The virtual edition of the inaugural ITB India was successfully held, with three days of networking, travel news and business opportunities. The annual B2B trade show and conference will build the bridge to the Indian and South Asian travel markets. ITB India 2021 Virtual welcomes over 400 Indian and South Asian buyers from MICE, Corporate Leisure and Travel Technology sectors, as well as 150 international sponsors and exhibitors presenting their innovative products and services.

ITB India 2021 is an entirely virtual event hosted on ITB Community in Asia (ITB Community). “Staying in touch, sharing best practice ideas and negotiating business – in these difficult times the travel industry needs exchange more than ever” says Katrina Leung, Managing Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organiser of ITB India. “The virtual inaugural ITB India provides the ideal platform, giving key travel industry leaders and international exhibitors the opportunity to connect.” The online platform concentrates business, networking, content and news in one place. With its virtual show floor, video streaming and intelligent matchmaking tools, the platform offers the best opportunities for successful trade show results.

Saudi as the Official Partner Country of ITB India

The Official Partner Country of ITB India, Saudi Tourism Authority, will showcase an array of current tourism offerings and destination highlights. Tourism is a strategic industry for the future of Saudi Arabia. The country is the world’s largest investor in sustainable tourism infrastructure and offerings. Projects such as the Red Sea and Amaala are setting new global standards in the development and management of tourism in harmony with the natural world.

Virtual show floor for international exhibitors

Apart from the extensive conference programme, 150 international sponsors and exhibitors present their products and services on the virtual show floor. This includes National Tourism Organisations such as Belarus National Tourism Agency, Business Events Perth, German National Tourism Organisation, Israel Ministry of Tourism, Italian National Tourist Board, Korea Tourism Organization, Sarawak Tourism Board, Visit Finland, Visit Levi, Visit Portugal and Zagreb Tourist Board. Hospitality & Travel groups such as Avis India, NH Hotel Group, Royal Cliff Hotel Group and more are also exhibiting.

In addition to digital exhibition booths, ITB India’s online platform also offers business matchmaking including chat and call functions for 1-to-1 business meetings. A supplier directory provides a comprehensive view of all suppliers, such as company profiles, product resources and downloadable articles.

“Rebuilding Travel” – theme of conference programme

The theme of this year’s ITB India Conference is “Rebuilding Travel”. The over 60-session themed agenda of the conference programme has been specially curated to help the travel industry reboot the Indian and South Asian travel industry through effective strategies for business sustainability. Industry experts will cover topics ranging from Travel Recovery across MICE, Corporate, Leisure and Travel Technology.

At a time when the travel industry is searching for up-to-the-minute market insights, ITB India gathers some of the most influential leaders across the globe to hear their views and action plans for recovery. The conference kicks off with two C-Suite Talks, delivered by two industry heavy weights: Rohit Kapoor, CEO, India & South-East Asia (INSEA), OYO and Indiver Rastogi, President & Group Head – Global Business Travel at Thomas Cook India.

National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) and Convention & Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) across South Asia and worldwide will offer thoughts and insights on how the travel industry in their destinations and South Asia will change and grow in the wake of the pandemic. Participating destinations for NTOs’ and CVBs’ Talks include Abu Dhabi, AlUla, Italy, Japan, Maldives, Oman, Portugal, Ras Al Khaimah, Saudi Arabia, Sharjah, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Top speakers from the private sector include hotels like BWH Hotel Group, Hilton, Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), IntelliStay Hotels, Lemon Tree Hotels, The Ashok, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts as well as airlines like Air India Express.

What’s the big idea that can kickstart business travel in a post-pandemic world – where regulations, procedures and attitudes to travel – all have changed? Corporate travel experts from Amadeus, CWT, SAP Concur, SOTC Travel and Thomas Cook India share their insights and innovative ideas to get corporate people ready to travel again.

In order to rebuild travellers’ confidence, tech innovation will play a crucial role. ITB India 2021 Virtual will explore what innovations we will see next to bring even more changes and transformation to the Indian and South Asian markets including enhanced online experiences, seamless trip planning and more. Speakers from companies like Airbnb, GRNconnect.com and Yatra.com will share their insights.

About ITB India
The inaugural ITB India is an annual 3-day business-to-business trade show and convention curated to connect you to the Indian Travel Market. ITB India brings together key travel industry leaders and international exhibitors from various segments of MICE, Leisure, Corporate and Travel & Technology. Leverage on ITB India to capture the fast-growing Indian and South Asian Markets, to forge new partnerships and strengthen existing business relations with the most important players in India.

Singapore, April 15, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / Sabre Corporation, a leading software and technology provider that powers the global travel industry, today announced that Singapore Airlines has successfully migrated to Sabre’s new generation Crew Manager solution.

This latest implementation builds on Sabre’s longstanding and valued relationship with Singapore Airlines and means that Singapore’s national flag carrier can now take full advantage of Sabre’s advanced crew planning, tracking, management and recovery ecosystem at a time when crew management is more complex than ever before.

• For a global coverage of the latest airline and aviation news, including verified airlines traveler reviews and ratings, go AirlineHub.com

Singapore Airlines, together with its subsidiary SilkAir, is now able to quickly and efficiently manage and track all crew operations from one holistic, real-time crew management system, enabling more effective communication and decision-making.

“We’re delighted that Singapore Airlines has successfully implemented Crew Manager, joining a growing number of innovative, forward-thinking carriers in Southeast Asia and beyond who recognize the importance of utilizing advanced technological tools in order to improve efficiency and to help minimize disruption for themselves, their crew and, ultimately, the traveller,” said Rakesh Narayanan, Vice President, Regional General Manager, Asia Pacific, Travel Solutions Airline Sales.

“Crew management is one of the most complicated areas of airline operations, and that complexity is only growing as the Covid-19 pandemic means airlines are operating in an environment of constant change, new government and authority regulations, changing business needs and dynamic crew expectations,” added Mr Narayanan. “Singapore Airlines’ confidence in Sabre to support these needs amid challenging times is an unequivocal endorsement of the advanced capabilities of Crew Manager.”

• For a global coverage of the latest airline and aviation news, including verified airlines traveler reviews and ratings, go AirlineHub.com

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. For more information visit www.sabre.com.

About Singapore Airlines
The SIA Group’s history dates back to 1947 with the maiden flight of MalayanAirways Limited. The airline was later renamed Malaysian Airways Limited and thenMalaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA). In 1972, MSA split into Singapore Airlines (SIA)and Malaysian Airline System. Initially operating a modest fleet of 10 aircraft to 22cities in 18 countries, SIA has since grown to be a world-class international airlinegroup that is committed to the constant enhancement of the three main pillars ofits brand promise: Service Excellence, Product Leadership and NetworkConnectivity.