Category: Latest Travel News

London, United Kingdom, November 24 / TRAVELINDEX / The UK government’s latest move that will slash the travel quarantine lockdown if passengers test negative on the fifth day, will provide a much-needed economic boost and is a step towards reviving international travel, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, says the move, which will come into effect on 15 December, is significant progress to restoring travel, especially for leisure travellers.

However, while many holidaymakers will embrace the reduced quarantine and will be able to afford the test, which will cost between £65 and £120, WTTC says it won’t be enough to resuscitate meaningful business travel.

For that to take place and to significantly aid the Travel & Tourism sector, which has been battered by widespread and uncoordinated travel restrictions, quarantines need to be reduced even further or completely replaced with a comprehensive and internationally recognised test upon departure.

Until a vaccine is widely available, WTTC says this is the only way to get business travellers moving again, which is so critical to the UK economy.

However, WTTC supports any viable alternatives to damaging quarantines to get travel moving once more, such as the oneworld airline alliance trial with British Airways and American Airlines recently unveiled, which offers free COVID-19 tests to eligible customers on select flights between the UK and the U.S., as well as other examples we have been seeing around the world.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Cutting the hugely disruptive 14-day quarantine to just five days with a test, albeit a rather expensive one, will be welcomed throughout the Travel & Tourism sector as real progress.

“However, whilst it may provide the shot in the arm needed to bring about the return of some international leisure travel, it is simply not enough to bring back the economically boosting business travel.

“A single internationally recognised cost-effective test for all departing air passengers should be used to remove crippling quarantines and begin the gradual process to revive international travel, save the sector and bring back millions of jobs around the globe.”

WTTC has been at the forefront of a series of international initiatives to fight for and support the stricken Travel & Tourism sector since the beginning of the pandemic.

Thousands of businesses have been left in the balance and the jobs of 174 million people employed in the sector globally could be lost if action isn’t taken to restore international travel.

Just this week WTTC announced the date for its 20th Global Summit, the most influential annual event in the Travel & Tourism calendar, which was postponed from earlier this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now the prestigious event, which has featured former US presidents, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton as top-billing guest speakers, is set to take place in a hybrid format, in the popular Mexican resort of Cancun, hosted by the Government of Quintana Roo, from March 23-25, 2021.

This format will include a limited number of delegates attending physically, by observing the latest health and hygiene protocols and social distancing, with many thousands more participating online.

The WTTC Global Summit aims to lead the sector into recovery and restore millions of jobs around the world.

Research from the 2020 WTTC Economic Impact Report revealed how Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million in total), made a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generated one in four of all new jobs.

Brasilia, Brazil, November 23, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with the Government of Brazil to help the country’s tourism sector recover and become a key driver of sustainable development. The statement of support came as Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili led a UNWTO delegation to meet with President Jair Bolsonaro and Minister of Tourism Marcelo Álvaro Antônio.

Making good on his commitment to resume in-person visits to Member States as soon as possible, Mr. Pololikashvili led the UNWTO delegation to Brazil, on a first visit to the Americas region since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The highlight of the visit was a meeting with President Bolsonaro, during which Secretary-General Pololikashvili thanked him for making tourism a central part of his government’s agenda and for his ongoing support for UNWTO. The President and his government were cited as a strong example of Member States working together with UNWTO to advance education and training in the tourism sector, foster innovation, and drive both job creation and investment.

Strong support for tourism

I thank the Government of Brazil for the ongoing, strong support for tourism and I am particularly encouraged by the commitment to growing innovation in tourism and using the sector as a tool to advance sustainable development for all

In meetings between the UNWTO leadership and the Brazilian Ministry of Tourism, Minister Marcelo Álvaro Antônio outlined how he has been working to support the sector through the unprecedented crisis posed by the pandemic. Measures taken include advancing US$1 billion of loans to support tourism businesses, as well as promoting investments in the sector, including through modifying the existing legal framework.

Alongside this, UNWTO is working closely with private partner Wakalúa, the first global tourism innovation hub, and the Brazilian government to make the country a hub of tourism innovation. Furthermore, the Brazilian government used the occasion of these meetings to again express an interest in hosting a new UNWTO Regional Office for the Americas.

The UNWTO delegation also met with Brazil’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ernesto Araújo and shared with him the roadmap to restart tourism designed on the back of continued dialogue with the Global Tourism Crisis Committee. The meeting also focused on the need for stronger cooperation to advance tourism’s contribution to inclusive and sustainable development, including for rural communities across Brazil.

UNWTO building confidence in tourism again

The UNWTO Secretary-General said: “Tourism is a powerful force for good for Brazil and for all of the Americas. As UNWTO guides the global restart of tourism, we are on our first official visit to the region since the start of the crisis. I thank the Government of Brazil for the ongoing, strong support for tourism and I am particularly encouraged by the commitment to growing innovation in tourism and using the sector as a tool to advance sustainable development for all.”

Secretary-General Pololikashvili also used the occasion of the official visit to Brazil to share the steps UNWTO is taking to ensure confidence returns to international tourism. These include plans to introduce a new International Code for the Protection of Tourists, which will also have the additional benefit of spreading responsibility for tourists faced with emergency situations more fairly across the sector. Furthermore, the UNWTO delegation stressed the heightened importance of strong collaboration, both between governments and also between the public and private sectors.

Next stop – Uruguay

After visiting Brazil, the UNWTO delegation will leave for neighbouring Uruguay where the Secretary-general is expected to meet the country’s political leadership and key public and private tourism players.

Madrid, Spain, November 20, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / Ambassadors to Spain from the region of Europe gathered today for a high-level meeting with the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The virtual meeting with Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili focused on the timely and responsible restart of tourism across the continent.

Ambassadors act as a bridge between the Secretariat of the United Nations specialized agency in Madrid and their home countries. Mr Pololikashvili – who himself served as Ambassador of Georgia to Spain before taking up the leadership of UNWTO – highlighted the important role that diplomats must play in coordinating efforts to lift restrictions on travel and to restore confidence in international tourism.

Strong diplomatic relations will help ensure safe and seamless travel for tourists, ensuring our sector and the many benefits it offers will return as soon as possible

High on the agenda was tourism’s potential for helping rural communities recover from the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, echoing the year-long focus of UNWTO on tourism for rural development, which was also the theme of World Tourism Day 2020. The Ambassadors were also informed of UNWTO’s leading role in guiding tourism’s restart, including through the planned creation of an International Code for the Protection of Tourists.

The meeting counted on the participation of representatives from 36 of UNWTO’s European Member States. In addition, three other European countries who are not UNWTO members joined the meeting, reflecting the cross-cutting relevance of tourism for overall economic recovery.

“Strong diplomatic relations will enable safe and seamless travel for tourists, ensuring our sector and the many benefits it offers will return as soon as possible”, said Mr Pololikashvili when stressing the importance of maintaining close relations with Member States.

A total 34 Heads of Diplomatic Missions took part in the virtual high-level meeting, with interventions from Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, and Uzbekistan.

Geneva, Switzerland, November 20, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Economic Forum announced today that 36 cities across 22 countries and six continents have agreed to pioneer a new roadmap for safely adopting new technology as part of the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance.

Cities are facing urgent challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and other major disruptions, which are expected to culminate in a budget crisis that could reach $1 trillion in the United States alone. They need data and innovation to become more resilient, responsive and efficient. Yet there is no global framework for how cities should use these technologies, or the data they collect, in a way that protects the public interest.

This is set to change with the launch of a new global policy roadmap by the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance, designed to give cities the procedures, laws and regulations they need to use new technology responsibly. The secretariat of the alliance is hosted at the World Economic Forum.

“This roadmap is not about theoretical ideas and pipe dreams, it is built on practical, real-world policies from leading cities around the globe,” said Jeff Merritt, Head of the Internet of Things and Urban Transformation, World Economic Forum. “City governments are on the frontline of a global crisis and need to be able to act quickly and decisively to curtail this pandemic and set course for their economic recovery. Technology is an essential tool in this fight but governments cannot risk falling into the usual traps related to privacy, security and vendor lock-in. That’s where the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance can help.”

To kickstart adoption of the roadmap, the alliance has recruited a group of 36 “pioneer cities” that will collaborate with global experts to enhance their city policies, in areas ranging from privacy protection and cyber security to better services for disabled people and better broadband coverage.

The pioneer cities are launching their activities today at a global event broadcast by Smart City Expo World Congress, the world’s premier smart cities event.

List of pioneer cities (in alphabetical order):

•    Apeldoorn, Netherlands
•    Barcelona, Spain
•    Belfast, United Kingdom
•    Bengaluru, India
•    Bilbao, Spain
•    Bogotá, Colombia
•    Brasilia, Brazil
•    Buenos Aires, Argentina
•    Chattanooga, United States
•    Cordoba, Argentina
•    Daegu, South Korea
•    Dubai, United Arab Emirates
•    eThekwini (Durban), South Africa
•    Faridabad, India
•    Gaziantep, Turkey
•    Hamamatsu, Japan
•    Hyderabad, India
•    Indore, India
•    Istanbul, Turkey
•    Kaga, Japan
•    Kakogawa, Japan
•    Kampala, Uganda
•    Karlsruhe, Germany
•    Leeds, United Kingdom
•    Lisbon, Portugal
•    London, United Kingdom
•    Maebashi, Japan
•    Manila, Philippines
•    Medellín, Colombia
•    Melbourne, Australia
•    Mexico City, Mexico
•    Milan, Italy
•    Moscow, Russia
•    Newcastle, Australia
•    San José, United States
•    Toronto, Canada

“This initiative originated in Japan last year from our Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, a fact I’m very proud of,” said Koichi Akaishi, Vice Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation for the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan. “I hope to see more cities participating in the Alliance following the model set by these first pioneer cities.”

Leaders of organizations participating in the programme:

Miguel Eiras Antunes, Global Smart Cities Leader, Deloitte Global, said “The transformation from a traditional city to a ‘smart city’ does not just happen overnight. Success depends on the quality of the decisions that are made and the way those decisions are executed. Deloitte is committed to working closely together with the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance on Technology Governance to co-design policy frameworks that will empower governments to accelerate smart cities initiatives for sustainable developments.”

“Being a pioneer city in the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance is an excellent opportunity for us to promote the innovative work that is taking place in Leeds right now, but also facilitates the opening of doors where we can learn from other leading cities around the world and implement best practice in our city,” said Stephen Blackburn, Head of Smart Cities, Leeds.

London’s Chief Digital Officer, Theo Blackwell, said “We need to work together to realize the potential of data to solve city challenges by putting it in the hands of those who can make a difference. But we also need to do it in a way that is safe, ethical and responsible. London is proud to join this global initiative as a pioneer city to promote the adoption of ethical smart city policies.”

Will Cavendish, Digital Services Leader at Arup said “COVID-19 has driven a step-change in the use of digital services in cities, and many of these changes will only accelerate beyond the pandemic. The policies developed by the G20 Smart Cities Alliance will be fundamental in ensuring that the enabling digital connectivity and data infrastructures, along with the rapidly-emerging technology-enabled services, are deployed in an inclusive, transparent and mutually beneficial manner.”

“Technology and knowledge are two strategic assets to build inclusive, data-driven, and sustainable smart cities capable of tackling new and emerging challenges,” said Roberta Cocco, Deputy Mayor for Digital Transformation and Services to Citizens, Milan. “That is why Milan is joining the G20 Global Smart City Alliance, as this initiative will allow us to share best practices with innovative cities around the world. Today more than ever, in fact, we need to collaborate with each other to identify the most effective tools to face global threats like COVID-19. It is only by joining our forces that we can beat this common enemy that is threatening the health, the economy, and the future of our citizens.”

Dr. Julia Glidden, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector, Microsoft Corporation, said “Accessibility and privacy policies are critical to making cities more inclusive and transparent. Microsoft congratulates the Forum and G20 for creating model policies that aid cities in serving all citizens.”

“We will adopt a transparent and participatory philosophy of local governance in the city of Istanbul,” said Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul. “Our aim is to empathize with all segments of society, and value the participation of everyone, ensuring that the majority of the people are represented – not the few.”

Eduard Lysenko, Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Moscow Department of Information Technologies, said “Digitalization of urban infrastructure and entire spectrum of social services belongs to the Moscow Government’s prioritized policies. Moscow has developed and widely employs digital platforms that increase the availability of electronic services and improve the quality of life and safety of its citizens. Those platforms allowed by the way to promptly provide the Muscovites with the maximum level of protection in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Today we are ready to share experiences and coordinate efforts within the pioneer city programme for the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance. We develop technologies not for the sake of technologies, but for the sake of people.”

Gilvan Maximo, Secretary of Science, Technology and Innovation, Brazil, said “The G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance will provide us with a global partnership to accelerate the adoption of technologies in a responsible manner and for the benefit of the citizen, debating complex issues and seeking joint solutions. Therefore, Brasilia is eager to participate in this joint work.”

“This opportunity to collaborate as a G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance pioneer city on a new roadmap for safely adopting new technology is very welcome indeed as we work to develop a Belfast Smart District and to weave digital innovation into every part of our economy,” said Alderman Frank McCoubrey, Lord Mayor of Belfast. “We’ll be exploiting new technologies and data to tackle city challenges in areas such as health and mobility to improve our citizens’ quality of life – and we must ensure this is done ethically and in a way that prioritizes transparency, privacy, equity and inclusion. Being part of the G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance on Technology Governance means that each of the partner cities will benefit from expert, tailored insights and policy tools and this collaborative approach will allow us all to make progress in how we govern technology more swiftly and effectively, for the benefit of all our citizens.”

Dr. Frank Mentrup, Mayor of Karlsruhe, said “The G20 Global Smart Cities Alliance offers a unique opportunity to develop common ethical standards, foster digital sovereignty and therefore create and build a new resilient ‘trust infrastructure for cities and citizens’, as trust is going to become one of the most important and most vulnerable resources of our future.”

We believe that technology is a key enabler that can transform our cities in to smart cities leading to delivery of improved services to citizens and businesses”, said  K.T. Rama Rao, Minister of Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Industries and Information Technology, Electronics and Communication, Government of Telangana, India. “We are keen to collaborate with G20 cities in formulating policy frameworks to improve quality of life of our citizens using emerging technologies.”

“Transforming our cities into smart cities is a great tool to improve people’s life quality,” said Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, Mayor of Buenos Aires. “That is why we are committed to continue incorporating technology, developing innovative public policies, and to work together with the G20 cities to build a modern and efficient state that makes life easier for everyone who lives, works, studies or visits us in Buenos Aires.”

“The pandemic presents an opportunity to reshape our future, with renewed digital rights and tools that should allow access for all and people-centred government. Local and regional governments will need to lead this shift to ensure the application of technology promotes human rights through equitable public service provision; putting our communities and planet first,” said Emilia Saiz, Secretary General of the United Cities and Local Governments. “The G20 Smart Cities Alliance is an important mechanism to help facilitate this transformation, bringing together a critical network of partners to collectively address and mitigate future crises”

Cancun, Mexico, November 19, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The first major conference in the “new normal” of the COVID-19 world will take place in Cancun, Mexico on 23-25 March 2021, hosted by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Cancun in Mexico to host 2021’s world’s first physical/virtual hybrid summit. The world’s leading Travel & Tourism event will take place on 23-25 March 2021. Latest leading hygiene and safety protocols will show how the world can get moving again.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Press Releases here.

WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, is once again hosting the most influential event in the Travel & Tourism calendar, to help lead the sector into recovery and restore millions of jobs around the world.

The WTTC Global Summit will take place in a hybrid format, observing all health and safety protocols.

The 20th WTTC Global Summit, delayed from Spring 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be held in the popular Mexican resort of Cancun, in partnership with the Government of Quintana Roo, from March 23-25.

The hybrid format will include invitations to the live event, with restricted numbers and extensive outdoor sessions to ensure physical distancing.

Those unable to attend will be able to take part virtually, with up to 20,000 online free registrations available, enabling participants to listen to a range of specially invited international guest speakers headlining the event and engage in special breakout sessions.

World-leading hygiene and safety protocols will be in place throughout the Global Summit to ensure the health of every participant at the event, with testing and regular health checks, guided by the very latest medical and scientific advice.

Previous Global Summits have attracted some of the biggest international speakers in the world, including former US Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former UK Prime Minister David Cameron, former President of Argentina, Mauricio Macri, and former President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso.

During a joint press conference in Mexico City, Gloria Guevara President & CEO of WTTC and the Governor of Quintana Roo, Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez, said that this innovative event will be conducted with responsibility and according to the ‘new normal’, and will become a platform for the recovery of the sector.

The Global Summit will take place at The Moon Palace Convention Centre, and Jose Chapur, President of Palace Resorts Group was also present at the press conference, during which he thanked WTTC and the Government of Quintana Roo for their trust in holding this event at the Moon Palace.

The Palace Resorts Group holds the WTTC Safe Travels stamp and has been conducting the highest standards of hygiene and security since the beginning of the pandemic.

• Read all the latest WTTC News and Press Releases here.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Every aspect of the 20th WTTC Global Summit is being explored to ensure it complies with the world’s best available health and hygiene protocols to show with best practice, how major conferences can be held safely and securely in the new normal of the COVID-19 world.

“WTTC wants the Global Summit to learn from the challenges of the pandemic to showcase how we can use this experience to adapt to COVID-19 and lead the global Travel & Tourism sector back to recovery and save millions of jobs – and thousands of business large and small – which have been thrown into turmoil since the beginning of the year.

“The stakes in the Travel & Tourism sector could not be higher, so the WTTC platform provides an essential form for the very highest industry leaders and key government representatives to discuss and take action.

“We must use the Global Summit to establish a consensus on international cooperation and coordination to accelerate the recovery, as well as public/private partnership and restore vital public confidence to travel safely once more. The 2020 Global Summit will benefit and showcase not only Mexico, but the wider regions of the US, Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez, Governor of Quintana Roo said: “The WTTC Global Summit in Cancun will be the place where we will discuss the future of tourism in the new world.

“During the Global Summit, we will implement enhanced safety and hygiene protocols such as mask wearing, physical distancing, hygiene and sanitisation, along with fast turnaround testing, all of which will enable us to host a safe large-scale event. 

“Today, Cancun Airport operates more than 300 daily flights and the R rate remains below one.”

WTTC which will announce its major new initiatives for 2021 during the Summit, has been at the forefront of international efforts to save the Travel & Tourism sector, which has been ruined by the impact of COVID-19, leaving tens of thousands of businesses hanging in the balance, and threatening the jobs of nearly 200 million people employed in the sector globally.

Just last week WTTC offered to work closely with the new incoming US administration to recover international travel through a five-point list of top priorities.

This includes reopening borders, the adoption of a comprehensive and cost-effective global standard testing regime at airports, a commitment to seamless travel, the re-opening of essential ‘air corridors’ to resume key international business travel routes and re-establishing relations with countries around the world to ensure each is ‘open for business’.

Research from the 2019 WTTC Economic Impact Report revealed how Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million in total), making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs.

Mumbai, India, November 19, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / Due to the ongoing travel restrictions and the circumstances around the current pandemic situation, ITB India organiser has decided to hold the inaugural ITB India 2021 as an entirely virtual event, set to take place from 7 – 9 April 2021. The new event format provides exhibitors and attendees with both maximum safety and planning certainty. The virtual show welcomes over 400 Indian and Southeast Asian buyers from MICE, Corporate and Leisure sectors. ITB India 2021 Virtual will be hosted on ITB Community in Asia (ITB Community), which is a one of a kind, unrivaled 24/7 experience for trade professionals to forge connections, strike conversations with industry peers and do business all-year-round.

“We had high hopes that we could combine a live and a virtual event for the very first ITB India next April. Unfortunately, the travel restrictions in place, and the economic uncertainty resulting from the worldwide pandemic have become too unpredictable to proceed with the show as a hybrid event as originally planned. As much as we would have wished to bring the industry together face-to-face, I firmly believe our highest priority should be the health and safety of our attendees and personnel,” said Katrina Leung, Managing Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organiser of ITB India.

Attendees of ITB India 2021 Virtual can expect the following key privileges:

• Business Matching – Live platform to exchange business contacts and schedule virtual appointments. Delegates can benefit from business appointment via social video and messaging functions.
• Conference – A robust line-up of key industry speakers with thought-providing insights or showcases of innovative technology and solutions.
• Supplier Directory – A comprehensive view of all suppliers, such as company profiles, product resources and downloadable articles.
• On-demand Videos – All attendees of will be entitled to exclusive videos from virtual events or industry contributors.

Exhibitors may enjoy early bird discounts on virtual booth packages starting from USD 1,000+, to view package summary. Exhibitors, buyers and visitors who are interested in registering or sponsoring ITB India 2021 Virtual event can reach out to ITB India.

About ITB India 2021 Virtual Event
ITB India 2021 Virtual Event will take place digitally from 7 to 9 April 2021. It will be hosted on ITB Community in Asia (ITB Community). In its first year ITB India will be organised by the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce and supported by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd. The 3-day business-to-business travel trade show and convention will focus on the Indian travel market including MICE, corporate, and leisure travel sectors. Exhibitors from every sector of the industry, including travel agencies and operators, NTOs, business travel and MICE, travel technology, accommodation, and transport companies are all expected to attend.

Madrid, Spain, November 19, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Sommet Education launched the Hospitality Challenge. This was designed to identify ideas and individuals capable of accelerating the recovery of the tourism sector in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The initiative has received almost 600 applications from all around the world. The 30 top finalists will be granted a full-board scholarship for Bachelor or Master’s degree-level courses at 30 different hospitality programs. All of them are hosted by Sommet’s internationally renowned institutions specialized in Hospitality and Culinary Arts: Glion Institute of Higher Education, Les Roches, and École Ducasse.

The scholarships are dedicated to accelerating the personal development of talented individuals who will build the Hospitality of Tomorrow. Bringing the submitted projects to life and increasing their chances of impacting the tourism sector has been the driving force of this challenge. The three most entrepreneurial projects among the 30 winners will receive seed money from Eurazeo, the leading global investment group to which Sommet Education belongs.

Out of the 600 applications, 39% were submitted from the Americas, followed by Europe (28%), Africa and the Middle East (both 18%), and Asia and the Pacific (15%).

It shows how innovators from around the world can keep tourism, hospitality and travel at the very forefront of sustainable development and positive change for all

Putting People and Planet First

The Hospitality Challenge focused on four categories. The Hotels and Hotel-Related Operations category was the most popular, receiving 41% of all applications, followed by the Luxury Travels, Goods and Services category (34%), then the Food and Beverage category (17%), and finally the Smart Real Estate category (8%). The breakdown of the different categories demonstrates a strong interest in improving the operational side of hotels through its social impact, with many projects aiming to reduce unemployment and the better management of hotel staff.

Among the four categories, four eminent trends have emerged: waste reduction and sustainability, jobs and education, safety and travel experience, as well as revenue and productivity. Almost 50% of the projects address Sustainable Development Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth. Many projects also offer new perspectives on the COVID-19 response.

A large number of the high-quality projects promoting inclusivity and sustainability to reinvent the Hospitality of Tomorrow, also provides fresh ideasfor the tourism sector. These will allow tourism to keep on contributing to overall socio-economic recovery.

UNWTO and Sommet Education would like to thank all the participants, innovators and entrepreneurs for their enthusiasm and contributions to the Hospitality Challenge, and to congratulate the 30 selected finalists.

UNWTO Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili said: “The tourism of tomorrow must embrace new ideas, new voices and the full diversity the sector has to offer. This competition highlights the best global tourism and hospitality has to offer. It shows how innovators from around the world can keep tourism, hospitality and travel at the very forefront of sustainable development and positive change for all.”

Benoît-Etienne Domenget, Sommet Education CEO adds “we are thrilled to welcome so many diversified talents in our institutions next year. The variety of backgrounds and profiles will source of creativity and bring fresh perspectives to all.”

Out of the following 30 selected finalists, the three winning projects will be announced in March 2021:

– Chartok – Hotel Collaboration Software
– Coliving Hotels – Medium and long-term shared housing rentals
– Digital Butler – Personalized guest assistance
– Digital Concierge – Digitalized guest experience
– FirstClasset – Asset model and payment process
– Food safety and organic food production
– GauVendi – Retail system
– Go-Travel direct hotel booking club – Data driven direct booking club
– Hogaru – Cleaning and facility management provider
– Hosbot – Digital Hospitality assistant
– Hospitality Onlearning – Online Hospitality learning platform
– HUTS – HR management support
– Join F&B – Recruitment of disabled people service
– Komodore – Guest management automation
– Lemonade Social – Experience driven e-commerce
– Little Big Travel – Experience travel provider
– Luxury Origin – Immersive customizable luxury experience
– Mes Petites Feuilles – Urban SmartFarming
– Olappa Linens – Sustainable linen
– Recotrak – Certification process for food donation
– Searchef – Food & Beverage sharing platform
– Service Club Delivery – Recruitment solution
– SiliconBali – Youth employability
– Travel Seeds – Sustainable on-line booking platform
– TrekSecure – Covid contagion response application
– Tiptrip – On-line guest comment management
– Viridescent – Eco-friendly on-line booking platform
– Virtual Hospitality Research Platform – Research Hospitality platform
– Woof Together – Standards in pet-friendly hospitality
– Young Hotelier Network- Social impact community integration

London, United Kingdom, November 18, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The opening of an ‘air corridor’ between the UK and the UAE is great news not only for British holidaymakers, but also for the struggling UK Travel & Tourism sector.

“The UAE is a major winter sun hot spot for British holidaymakers, and this latest news will come as a welcome relief to the many tour operators and travel agents up and down the country, which are in need a of much needed financial boost, particularly as we head towards the festive season.

“This move means that British travellers can enjoy a stress-free holiday and will not need to quarantine when they arrive in the UAE or back in the UK after their travels in the country.”

Bethesda, Maryland, United States, November 18, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) and six industry-leading hotel operators today jointly announced the launch of Curator Hotel & Resort Collection, a hand-selected collection of small brands and independent lifestyle hotels and resorts worldwide. Curator’s distinct owner-centric platform offers an alternative for independent lifestyle hotels looking to strengthen their performance, providing them with best-in-class agreements, services, and technology, while allowing them to retain their unique identity. Created by owners and operators, Curator gives its members the power to compete together on their own terms, unbound by strict rules or constraints. As of today, Curator’s seven founding members represent an exceptional collection of more than 120 independent lifestyle hotels and resorts throughout the United States, with many more poised to participate over the next six to 12 months. In addition to Pebblebrook, the founding members of Curator include Benchmark Global Hospitality, Davidson Hotels & Resorts, Noble House Hotels & Resorts, Provenance Hotels, Springboard Hospitality, and Viceroy Hotels & Resorts.

“Curator is a champion for the independent lifestyle hotel, uniting and empowering individual small brands and properties. Every property in the Curator Collection offers its own distinct, singular guest experience. We’re excited to bring these hotels and resorts together in one collection that is incredibly diverse, yet unmistakably cohesive,” said Jon Bortz, Founder and Chairman of Curator Hotel & Resort Collection and Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust. “We are seeing a rapidly-growing segment of sophisticated travelers who value independence and creativity in their hotels. These travelers are searching for more individualized and unique experiences. Curator bridges the gap and connects these guests with independent hotels and resorts across the United States that provide just that.”

There is no one-size-fits-all uniformity for the Curator Hotel & Resort Collection. Instead, each property provides its own authentic and memorable experience with the freedom to operate on its own terms. Quality assurance comes from customer ratings rather than mandated standards, allowing Curator’s members to focus on being themselves and providing standout guest experiences rather than conforming to restrictive checklists, standards, and rules.

Curator also amplifies the performance of independent lifestyle hotels, giving them an alternative to consolidation and saturation while providing them with the benefits and support that come with belonging to a larger collection of like-minded unique properties. Leveraging the power of scale, Curator drives significant operating cost savings for its members through an array of curated benefits and initiatives. With its competitive market knowledge, Curator can utilize its economies of scale advantage to provide its members better and less expensive products and services.

Curator takes care of vendor negotiations so that its members don’t have to, executing and managing advantageous portfolio-level agreements to help owners reduce operating costs and increase profit. Members also benefit from shared business intelligence reporting, insights and proprietary tools and technology solutions, all of which help guide and focus key operational activities and cost-saving efforts. These initiatives allow owners to focus more time and resources on attracting customers and growing revenues.

“Benchmark Global Hospitality is honored to be a visionary owner with Pebblebrook and a part of this prestigious group of respected operators launching this innovative, owner-centric collection. Without question, as the independent and lifestyle segments of our industry grow in response to consumer demand, Curator fills a need for those owners seeking a competitive advantage without sacrificing their independent edge,” said Alex Cabañas, Chief Executive Officer of Benchmark Global Hospitality.

Strengthening independent hotels, Curator Hotel & Resort Collection will lift the industry as a whole by providing increased consumer choice. For consumers, Curator believes the fun is in the find – providing guests the freedom to decide what they want and the excitement of discovering it. The Curator Collection website will serve as an online matchmaker between collection members and guests. The portal will magnify the visibility and reach of small brands and independent hotels by connecting them directly with consumers, who will handpick their hotels based on their preferences. A Curator badge will also appear on participating hotel websites to celebrate genuinely independent lifestyle hotels and make selecting one that much easier and more fun. Guests can feel confident knowing that booking a Curator property will provide the sense of place they seek when traveling, paired with a world-class guest experience, to help them create a travel lifestyle that is uniquely their own.

Curator was founded for independent lifestyle owners, operators and small brands. Its creation was led by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, the largest independent lifestyle hotel and resort owner in the United States.

About Curator Hotel & Resort Collection
Curator Hotel & Resort Collection is a distinct collection of hand-selected small brands and independent lifestyle hotels and resorts worldwide, founded by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust and six industry-leading hotel operators. Curator provides lifestyle hotels the power to compete together while allowing its members the freedom to retain what makes their hotels unique. It offers independent lifestyle hotels the benefits of associating with other unique lifestyle hotels and brands while participating in best-in-class operating agreements, services, and technology. In addition to Pebblebrook, the founding members of Curator include Benchmark Global Hospitality, Davidson Hotels & Resorts, Noble House Hotels & Resorts, Provenance Hotels, Springboard Hospitality and Viceroy Hotels & Resorts.

About Pebblebrook Hotel Trust
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE: PEB) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (“REIT”) and the largest owner of urban and resort lifestyle hotels in the United States. The Company owns 53 hotels, totaling approximately 13,200 guest rooms across 14 urban and resort markets with a focus on the west coast gateway cities.

About Benchmark Global Hospitality
BENCHMARK®, a global hospitality company, is a leader in the development, management, and marketing of independent, soft branded, and experiential hard branded resorts, hotels, and conference centers. In addition to the company’s award-winning full-service Benchmark Resorts & Hotels, its lifestyle and luxury Gemstone Collection, and its industry-leading Benchmark Conference Centers. BENCHMARK is also an investor in etc.venues, a leading provider of contemporary city centre venues for meetings, signature events, and conferences. Benchmark’s combined portfolio features more than 80 unique projects across three continents. The company is passionately committed to delivering personal, inspiring, and memory-making experiences, driving total revenue and profitability, and cultivating an award winning, “Be The Difference” culture for all its employees. Benchmark is based in The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, with offices in London, England; Miami, Florida; Park City, Utah; Scottsdale, Arizona; New Brunswick, New Jersey; Seattle, Washington; and Tokyo, Japan.

About Davidson Hotels & Resorts
Davidson Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning, full-service hospitality management company comprised of 55 existing hotels and resorts; more than 120 restaurants, bars and lounges; and nearly 1.5 million square feet of meeting space across the United States. Amassing one of the purest full-service hotel portfolios in the industry, Davidson, along with its lifestyle and luxury operating vertical, Pivot Hotels & Resorts, specializes in independent and branded assets in the upper-upscale to luxury segments. A trusted partner and preferred operator for Hilton, Hyatt, Kimpton, Marriott, and Margaritaville, Davidson offers a unique entrepreneurial management style and owners’ mentality that provides the individualized personal service of a small company, enhanced by the breadth and depth of skill and experience of a larger company.

About Noble House Hotels & Resorts
Built upon a philosophy that emphasizes location, distinction, and soul, Noble House Hotels & Resorts dedicates itself to creating and managing exceptional properties that celebrate their local communities. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington and continuously growing, the Noble House portfolio features a luxury and upper upscale portfolio of 18 distinct and visually captivating hotel properties, over 50 restaurants, bars, and lounges, the Napa Valley Wine Train, and a collection of spas, marinas, and private residences throughout the U.S. and Canada. A range of beachfront resorts spanning California and Florida, luxury retreats in Jackson Hole, WY, British Columbia, and Colorado, and award-winning urban hotels in Seattle and San Francisco punctuate the diverse collection. Centered within destinations worthy of every bucket list and layered with unique amenities that inspire adventure, the curated collection of one-of-a-kind hotels, resorts and adventures, are known for creating unforgettable travel experiences.

About Provenance Hotels
Headquartered in Portland, Ore., Provenance Hotels owns, develops and manages market-leading independent hotels. Inspired by the soul of the cities in which they thrive, these award-winning hotels showcase trend-setting amenities, locally curated art, creative collaborations with local tastemakers and innovative food and beverage operations, while focusing on operational efficiency and profitability. The portfolio includes 12 properties in Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, Palm Springs, New Orleans, Nashville and Boston. Projects in development include Fort Wayne, Ind.

About Springboard Hospitality
For more than 30 years, Springboard Hospitality has transformed people, properties and communities as a leader in the hospitality industry managing and developing innovative boutique and branded properties throughout the U.S. With dual offices in Honolulu and Los Angeles, Springboard operates more than 30 properties across 10 states. Led by technology entrepreneur Ben Rafter, Springboard specializes in using analytics and technology with its Hospitality Intelligence (H.I.) to ensure properties are optimizing return on investment. The company offers a full spectrum of hotel services with expertise in accounting, creative management, food and beverage, human resources development, marketing, sales and more. The Springboard Hospitality team is committed to going above and beyond with high-touch, personalized service in every aspect of its operations, from its interactions with guests to its relationships with owners.

About Viceroy Hotels & Resorts
Viceroy Hotels & Resorts inspires travelers with one-of-a-kind authentic lifestyle experiences that bring together provocative design and intuitive service in sought-after locations. A leader in modern luxury, Viceroy’s vibe-led hospitality is guided by the brand promise “Remember to Live,” an affirmation to create lifelong memories for each and every guest. Viceroy destinations are segmented into three distinct portfolio tiers to help travelers find exactly the kind of experience they’re looking for. The Viceroy Icon Collection properties include epic hotels and resorts in Los Cabos, Chicago, Beverly Hills, Riviera Maya, Snowmass, and St. Lucia, with forthcoming openings in Serbia, Algarve and Panama. The Viceroy Lifestyle Series hotels and resorts are found in attitude-led destinations such as Santa Monica and Washington DC. The Viceroy Urban Retreats in San Francisco and Washington D.C. have an independent spirit and bold, eccentric personalities. Viceroy Hotels & Resorts is a member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) DISCOVERY, a unique loyalty program offering exclusive benefits and experiences to its members at over 570 hotels around the world.

Pattaya, Chonburi, Thailand, November 17, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / The Gems Mining Pool Villas Pattaya threw a sparklingly extravagant grand opening at the resort on 12 November 2020. The grand opening was presided over by the Mayor of Pattaya, Mr. Sontaya Khunpluem, with many guests of honour attended.

The celebration started in the morning with religious ceremony, followed by the opening with drums marching and a special performance King of Africa. The guests then were hosted lunch and entertained with live jazz band, DJ and mini concert by a popular Thai Lookthoong singer, Fon Thanasoonthorn.

Mr. Meechai Inphitak, the founder and brainchild of the resort said, “My family and I would like to humbly thank Mr. Sontaya Khunpleum, the Mayor of Pattaya, as well as all other guests who came to celebrate the resort’s grand opening today. It was my intention to create The Gems Mining Pool Villas Pattaya to be another unique destination. I would like our guests to relax in a precious oasis and experience a new design and decoration concept which is inspired by the African gems mining, the vibrant tribal culture, and the greatest wonder of African safari.”

The staff uniform is also another significant element of the resort being inspired by African safari. It was designed by a Thai designer Hirankrit Pattaraboriboonkul who created Tuk Tuk Thailand costume worn by Nat Aniporn Chalermburanawong and won the best National Costume in Miss Universe 2015 pageant in Las Vegas.

The Gems Mining Pool Villas Pattaya opened its door welcoming first guests on 14 November. It is conveniently situated with an easy access to Bangkok-Pattaya Motorway. Suvarnabhumi International Airport and U-Tapao International Airport are located approximately 1-1.5 hours from the resort.

For more information and reservations, call +66 (0) 38 222 222.