Category: Latest Travel News

Paris (France) – March 18, 2020 (travelindex.com) – Mother, activist and Oscar-winning Hollywood actress will star in the luxury brand’s new global marketing campaign launching Spring 2020. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is delighted to announce a new Global Brand Ambassador – the Oscar-winning actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Susan Sarandon. In this unique role, Ms. Sarandon will star in a global brand campaign that will portray the transformative power of travel, connecting Fairmont’s history and majestic hotels with modern sensibilities and the dreams of a new generation of travelers. The campaign is expected to be revealed in key markets around the world in Spring 2020.

“Fairmont and Susan Sarandon share a spirit of adventure, a passion for thinking globally and acting locally, and a history of turning words into action,” said Sharon Cohen, Vice President, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “We chose Susan to represent the essence of Fairmont – representing a strength of character and timeless sophistication.”
The collaboration between Ms. Sarandon and the Fairmont brand will focus on their shared values. Both Fairmont and Ms. Sarandon are dedicated to professional excellence and award-winning achievement. With Oscar, BAFTA, and SAG awards, along with a filmography of over 100 films, Susan Sarandon continues to inspire audiences with new work, including roles in The Meddler, The Jesus Rolls and Ray Donovan.

“It is a privilege to work with Fairmont, a company for whose values I have great respect and whose extraordinary hotels are a joy to experience,” said Ms. Sarandon. “Together we hope to convey a sense of life as a grand journey that we hope will be meaningful and inspiring to guests and fans of Fairmont around the world.”

Similarly, Ms. Sarandon is known among her industry as a trailblazer who leads with her heart. From her early work in the cult classic film, Thelma & Louise, to her recent performance as the face of Roger Vivier’s autumn/winter 2019 campaign, and starring in the 2016 music video “Fire”, by French electronic-pop duo Justice, Ms. Sarandon consistently portrays strong characters with independence, grace and great authenticity – qualities that Fairmont holds in high esteem.

Fairmont also shares Ms. Sarandon’s commitment to environmental concerns, and her passion for exploration. Fairmont’s first hotels, which can easily be described as grand castles, were born in the rugged hills of California and the majestic Canadian Rockies. The intrepid William Cornelius Van Horne chose the site of the Fairmont Banff Springs with the remark, “If we can’t export the scenery, we’ll import the tourists.”

Fairmont’s pioneering approach to hospitality extends to its mission for preserving and protecting the landscapes it calls home. Nearly 30 years ago, Fairmont became the first luxury hotel brand with a comprehensive and global sustainability program, that now forms part of the Accor’s Planet 21 program. Along the way, the brand has built an enviable reputation as a company that continuously invests in its colleagues, guests, and destinations in order to provide genuine hospitality and authentically local guest experiences in diverse parts of the world, without compromising long-term sustainability and responsible tourism. Over the last few years, standout initiatives have included the brand’s 2015 pledge in coordination with WWF to reduce CO2 emissions, its 2018 commitment to ban the use of single-use plastic straws and its ever popular Bee Sustainable program, launched in 2008, which focuses on bee habitat protection and pollination.

The new partnership with Ms. Sarandon further builds on Fairmont’s history of connections in the world of cinema. Generations of filmmakers and directors have focused their cameras on Fairmont properties to portray luxury accommodations that truly represent their destinations. As part of its Fairmont Loves Film event series, the brand has also worked with film director and screenwriter Gia Coppola as well as artist Cuba Tornado Scott, who created a short film at Fairmont San Francisco exploring Fairmont’s historic connections to the world of cinema and the attachment to the brand’s legendary hotels.

Several Fairmont hotels, such as Fairmont San Francisco, The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London and Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York have also achieved impressive film credits. A few of the more high profile and recent movies shot on location at Fairmont hotels include Ocean’s 8, American Hustle, The Post, Molly’s Game Spotlight, Stan & Ollie, Almost Famous, The Great Gatsby, Home Alone 2, Bride Wars, 50 Shades of Grey, and Notting Hill. Fairmont hotels also appear regularly on the smaller screen. For example, on the TV show Suits, character Rachel Zane, played by Meghan Markle, has her wedding at The Plaza in New York City, although the scenes were shot at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Fans of the golden age of film might also spot Fairmont hotels in such movie classics as North by Northwest, River of No Return, Vertigo, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and The French Lieutenant’s Woman. Ms. Sarandon herself has appeared in a number of films shot on-location at Fairmont hotels, including Little Women, The January Man and King of Gypsies.

About Fairmont
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is where occasions are celebrated and history is made. Landmark hotels with unrivalled presence, authentic experiences and unforgettable moments have attracted visitors to Fairmont and its destinations since 1907. The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai are but a few of these iconic luxury hotels, forever linked to the special places where they reside. Famous for its engaging service, grand public spaces, locally inspired cuisine and celebrated bars and lounges, Fairmont promises a special brand of thoughtful luxury that will be remembered long after any visit. With a worldwide portfolio of more than 75 hotels, Fairmont also takes great pride in its deep community roots and leadership in sustainability. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique and meaningful experiences in 5,000 hotels, resorts, and residences across 110 countries.

Bangkok (Thailand) – March 18, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The long-running PropertyGuru Thailand Property Awards programme is marking its 15th anniversary with title sponsor Hitachi Escalators & Elevators, as well as a fresh set of categories, celebrating the fullness and breadth of the kingdom’s dynamic real estate industry.

To mark the milestone, awards organiser PropertyGuru, Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company, is spreading the wealth of the Awards to companies that demonstrate leadership in various facets of property development, both within and outside Bangkok.

Nominations from the public are now open until Friday, 24 July 2020 ahead of the black-tie gala dinner on 18 September.

In addition to the longstanding awards for Best Developer and Best Boutique Developer, the 2020 competition will celebrate the diversity of companies in the categories of Best Sustainability Developer, Best Breakthrough Developer, Best Lifestyle Developer, Best Commercial Developer, Best Hospitality Developer, Best Industrial Developer, and Best Mixed Use Developer.

The Awards will also introduce new Special Recognition awards to developers that lead by example in sustainability, societal impact, and corporate governance. Companies are enjoined to submit details of their activities for the opportunity to win Special Recognition in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance); Special Recognition in Sustainability Design; Special Recognition in Sustainability Construction; and Special Recognition for Community Projects, as selected by Right To Play Foundation, the Official Charity Partner of the Asia Property Awards.

Other prizes are also in contention this year, including: Best Transit Oriented Development, recognising projects with seamless connectivity to Thailand’s new transport infrastructures, and Best Smart City Block, recognising self-sufficient communities that promote a smart economy and smart logistics. New competitive regional categories will also recognise the most impressive projects in the markets of Chiang Mai and Khao Yai as well as the Southern and North East provinces.

Key dates for the 2020 edition are:
24 July 2020 – Nominations Close
31 July 2020 – Entries Close
10-21 August 2020 – Site Inspections
24-25 August 2020 – Final Judging
17 September 2020 – PropertyGuru Leaders Luncheon
18 September 2020 – Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand
20 November 2020 – Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand

BDO, one of the world’s leading auditing and accounting organisations, will ensure the ethicality, fairness, transparency and credibility of the PropertyGuru Thailand Property Awards. The BDO Thailand team, led by Paul Ashburn, Co-Managing Partner; Angelina Harinck, Manager, Audit Services; and Komang Indrihapsari, Assistant Manager, Audit Services, will supervise the independent and rigorous judging process.

Originally launched in 2005, the PropertyGuru Thailand Property Awards is the oldest and longest-running real estate awards programme in the kingdom, having witnessed continuous growth over the years, with nominations from the public reaching as high as 1,500 and receiving entries averaging between 175 and 300 a year.

The 10th anniversary gala dinner took place in 2015 at the Plaza Athenee Bangkok (a Royal Meridien hotel). The same venue –– under its current name, The Athenee Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Bangkok –– hosted the event until 2019, and it will host again in 2020.

The 2020 PropertyGuru Thailand Property Awards is supported by platinum sponsor Hitachi Escalators & Elevators; gold sponsors JLL Thailand; official airline partner Thai Airways; official portal partner DDproperty.com; official magazine PropertyGuru Property Report; official charity partner Right to Play; media partners The Bangkok Insight, Hot Magazine, Locanation, and Luxury Society Asia; official PR partner Vivaldi PR; supporting association British Chamber of Commerce Thailand; and official supervisor BDO.

About PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards:
PropertyGuru’s Asia Property Awards, established in 2005, are the region’s most exclusive and prestigious real estate awards programme. The Asia Property Awards are recognised as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence in the Asian property sector. Boasting an independent panel of industry experts and trusted supervisors, the Awards have an unparalleled reputation for being credible, fair and transparent.

In 2020, the Awards is open to 15 property markets around the region. With exclusive gala dinners hosting up to 600 senior industry leaders to recognise excellence within each Asian market, each local awards culminate in the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final, which takes place alongside the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit in Bangkok in November 2020.

About PropertyGuru Group:
PropertyGuru Group is Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company and the preferred destination for over 23 million property seekers to find their dream home, every month. PropertyGuru and its Group companies empower property seekers with the widest option of over 2.4 million homes, in-depth insights and solutions that enable them to make confident property decision across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Nairobi (Kenya) – March 18, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The travel restrictions announced on Sunday in Kenya will lock out residents of countries that account for 88 percent of foreign travellers to Kenya, hurting Kenya Airways and the wider tourism industry.

The government said that for the next 30 days, only Kenyan citizens and foreigners with valid resident permits will be allowed entry and they will either self-quarantine or go into government-run quarantine facility in the wake of the spread of the Coronavirus.

President Uhuru Kenyatta Sunday said his government was suspending travel from any country with reported COVID-19 cases, adding that the ban will take effect within 48 hours and remain in place for at least 30 days.

This has the potential to affect incoming travel from tens of countries countries that shipped in 2.84 million visitors to Kenya last year or 87.6 percent of the 3.1 visitors that entered the country via Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

This will prompt Kenya Airways to ground flights and cut costs as hoteliers mull over cutting jobs on reduced bed occupancy in the face of the pandemic that has restricted global travel.

Some 160,000 people worldwide have been infected and almost 6,400 have died in an outbreak that has affected more than 140 countries.

In Kenya, confirmed cases of Coronavirus, a disease with an estimated mortality rate of two percent, rose to three with 14 persons under State quarantine and three others categorised as suspects. The travel restrictions will cut off revenue for the national carrier and the tourism sector, which rake in more than Sh270 billion combined.

The contraction is expected to filter through to other industries, risking significant job losses in the economy that was already weak.

“Obviously, this is devastating not just for Kenya but the global tourism industry,” a chief executive of one of the leading hotel chains told the Business Daily.

“There were cancellations before and now there are no new bookings,” he said in reference to the new travel restrictions.

His firm is holding meetings to decide what actions to take, including reducing staff count, he said.

This signals closure of hotels in a sector that is one of Kenya’s top foreign exchange earners and supports, among others, handicraft makers, taxi drivers, fishermen and farmers.

Nine cruise ships have since cancelled plans to dock at the Port of Mombasa, with Kenya Airways also set to ground most of its planes in the coming days.

“We are currently in meetings trying to determine the effect of the new government directives and the necessary changes we need to make,” the carrier’s chief executive, Allan Kilavuka, said.

“This will become clearer in a day or two. But we will make decisions that will conserve cash and mitigate the effect of these changes on the business. We are also currently reviewing our network and will announce the changes that we will be making shortly.”

Large revenue losses

The World Bank Monday committed $60 million (Sh6.1 billion) to Kenya to help the country battle the coronavirus outbreak that has spread to at least 30 countries on the continent. The funding will improve surveillance, laboratory services, isolation units, equipment, supplies and communication to help mitigate the virus in Kenya, the World Bank said on Twitter.

Kenya Airways and the tourism sector are bracing themselves for large revenue losses as the travel restrictions come into force.

Tourism revenues rose 3.9 percent last year to Sh163 billion as the number of visitors increased one percent to two million. The sector employs some 80,000 people directly, accounting for four percent of total formal jobs in the private sector.

The travel ban is set to worsen the country’s bed-night occupancy rate that has hovered around 32 percent in the past five years.

Entry of new players in the hospitality industry and expansion by existing firms have increased the bed-night capacity to more than 27,000.

Virtually all the major tourist source markets have been hit by the coronavirus, including Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. For KQ, as the national carrier is known by its international code, the travel restrictions will worsen its already precarious financial position.

The National Securities Exchange-listed firm made a net loss of Sh8.5 billion in the half year ended June, more than double the net loss of Sh4 billion the year before, as costs rose faster than revenue.

The loss saw the company’s negative equity widen to Sh16.1 billion from Sh2.4 billion, underlining the airline’s capital crisis.

Turnover in the review period rose to Sh58.5 billion from Sh52.1 billion, representing a 12.2 percent increase.

The government last month provided a Sh5 billion loan to the company to sustain operations.

It is expected to provide more funds if the airline is to meet its short-term obligations to employees and lessors of aircraft.

The fresh challenges facing the tourism sector are set to further weaken its contribution to the economy. The industry is estimated to account for just 0.7 percent of economic output.

Kenya is among the countries that have taken increasingly stricter measures in a bid to combat the respiratory illness.

The disease is paralysing social and economic activities in countries where it has spread to.

The scare is disrupting travel, supply chains and weakening demand for goods and services worldwide, raising the spectre of a substantial reduction in global economic growth.

How fast the disease spreads and whether a vaccine can be developed fast enough are among the uncertainties rattling the public, investors and governments alike.

First published at Business Daily Africa here:

Madrid (Spain) – March 18, 2020 (travelindex.com) – As the COVID-19 situation evolves, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) observes that full or partial travel restrictions have been – and continue to be – introduced across the world. These decisions are made with public health as the primary concern.

This pandemic affects every level of society and we stand by those affected in these times. The impact of the pandemic on already slowing economies has made tourism particularly vulnerable, becoming the hardest hit sector so far. With 80% of the sector made up of small and medium-sized enterprises, millions of livelihoods in the world are left vulnerable.

Putting people first

People and their wellbeing must come first! UNWTO continues to work closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) to further a collaborative response to COVID-19. Following a high-level meeting at WHO headquarters in Geneva (10 March), we jointly underscore the importance of international cooperation and strong leadership in these difficult times.

This is a shared challenge and everybody must be part of the solution. Anyone travelling, whether for vital humanitarian missions, essential business or to keep supply chains functioning, has a duty of care to themselves and others. There can be no excuses and no exceptions as people around the world are living up to their responsibilities. If you do travel, stay safe and follow the existing simple but effective guidelines.

UNWTO operations

UNWTO has implemented public health protocols based on WHO recommendations and we are closely following the measures introduced by the government of Spain, our host country. All UNWTO events planned until 30 April have been suspended and will be rescheduled, based on the latest expert recommendations.

Living up to our social responsibility, and caring for the safety and wellbeing of their families, UNWTO personnel will be working from home until the end of March, and we remain fully operational during these extraordinary times.

Stay home – but travel tomorrow!

Tourism is uniquely placed to lead future recovery. Our sector will provide the jobs people need to bounce back and will drive economic growth that will help whole communities and countries to recover.

But for now, we must be patient and stand ready.

By staying home today, we can travel tomorrow. And travelling tomorrow will support jobs, celebrate culture and promote international friendship and understanding.

Read the full statement and more at the Official UNWTO website here:

To get the latest UNWTO News, in particular to read updates on the Covid-19 pandemic, click here…

Costa Navarino, Messinia (Greece) – March 18, 2020 (travelindex.com) – Costa Navarino the sustainable destination in the Greek region of Messinia, is developing two new luxury beachfront eco resorts close to the two José Mariá Olazábal-designed golf courses already scheduled to be completed in 2021.

The resorts are part of Costa Navarino’s development of three new areas of the destination: Navarino Hills, Navarino Bay and Navarino Waterfront.

The hotel at Navarino Bay – designed by two of Greece’s most prominent and successful architectural practices Tombazis & Associates Architects and K-Studio – will be the destination’s most luxurious hotel, offering 99 suites and pool villas on two kilometres of waterfront.

The resort has an earth-sheltered design with the buildings blending into the curved hillside with planted roofs. The design follows the natural topography of the land, using local materials, giving the impression that it has grown organically. The new hotel will feature an exclusive beach club, large swimming pool, destination spa, and various restaurants, bars, lounges and terrace spaces overlooking the historic Bay of Navarino.

The hotel at Navarino Waterfront – designed by Tombazis & Associates Architects, a big proponent of contemporary bioclimatic design – north of Navarino Bay, will be different in design with a contemporary take on a traditional port town.

The design borrows architectural details from the region, such as stone-built towers, sloping stone walls and wooden elements, but interprets them in a lean and modern style. Appealing to those looking for a livelier holiday, there will be a waterfront Agora with shops, restaurants, an open-air cinema, lagoon pools and a boho-chic beach club. The hotel will have 174 rooms and suites as well as 26 bungalows.

South of Navarino Bay, development continues on Olazábal’s two new golf courses, which are set high above the coastline, stretching over 150 hectares of scrubland typical of the region and bringing the total number of signature golf courses at Costa Navarino to four – all within a 13km radius.

One of the world’s leading sustainable destinations, Costa Navarino is made up of several distinct sites, all in southwest Peloponnese. It is renowned for its coastal location, unspoilt landscape, cultural heritage, luxurious accommodation and exclusive real estate.

A commitment to the highest standards of environmental and social responsibility exist throughout its operation and development – the building footprint covers only 10 per cent of the land – thus protecting and preserving both its natural beauty and the local communities of Messinia.

The two new hotels and golf courses will further enhance the destination, which already offers a wide choice of luxury hospitality and real estate, high-end gastronomy, year-round golf and sports facilities, authentic experiences and activities for adults and children.

The construction of all new developments is expected to be completed in 2021.

About Costa Navarino
Costa Navarino is the prime, sustainable destination in the Mediterranean, located in the Greek region of Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese. One of the most unspoiled and breathtaking seaside Mediterranean landscapes, this area has been shaped by 4,500 years of history.

Its philosophy is driven by a genuine desire to promote Messinia, while protecting and preserving its natural beauty and heritage. It will comprise a number of distinct sites featuring five-star deluxe hotels, luxury private residences, conference facilities, spa and thalassotherapy centres, signature golf courses, as well as a wide range of unique year-round activities for adults and children.

Navarino Dunes, the first area, is home to two luxury five-star hotels, The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, and The Westin Resort Costa Navarino; Navarino Residences, a collection of luxury villas for private ownership; and The Residences at The Westin Resort Costa Navarino – fully furnished resort apartments for sale; the signature golf course The Dunes Course; Anazoe Spa, a 4,000m2 spa and thalassotherapy centre; the state-of-the-art conference centre House of Events; specially designed facilities for children; and a variety of gastronomy venues, sports, outdoor and cultural activities.

Navarino Bay, the second area, is home to the signature golf course, The Bay Course and to the earth-sheltered Bay Clubhouse, while an ultra-luxury, all suite and pool villas resort is currently under construction, alongside an upscale, vibrant, lifestyle resort at the nearby site Navarino Waterfront.

At Navarino Hills, two new 18-hole signature golf courses are also being constructed.

London (United Kingdom) – March 17, 2020 (travelindex.com) – The World Travel and Tourism Council says up to 50 million jobs in the Travel & Tourism sector are at risk due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: “WTTC figures show the stark impact on the Travel & Tourism sector of the present COVID-19 outbreak with analysis now suggesting that up to 50 million jobs are at risk in the sector globally”.

“When the time is right, WTTC and the global private sector will be ready to help and support the government and countries to recover”.

Latest figures from WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, show that global travel could be adversely impacted by up to 25 per cent in 2020. This is the equivalent to a loss of three months of global travel. This could lead to a corresponding reduction in jobs of between 12 and 14 per cent.

“The COVID-19 outbreak clearly presents a significant threat to the industry as a whole, to those employed within it, and those wishing to continue travelling.

“Travel & Tourism has the strength to overcome this challenge and will emerge stronger and more robust by taking all necessary measures to tackle COVID-19 and the understandable concern which surrounds it.”

Following extensive consultation with other Travel & Tourism organisations, WTTC is also calling for a series of measures to be taken, to enable the swift recovery of the sector once COVID-19 is under control.

WTTC will offer its support to all governments, particularly those which are implementing strong policies for a prompt recovery such as:

1. Improve travel facilitation – remove or simplify visas wherever possible, reduce the cost and improve processing times where practical, accept other visas when appropriate and introduce more efficient technologies for seamless and secure travel.

2. Remove barriers – ensure that unnecessary barriers are removed or relaxed to alleviate pressure at ports and airports, including temporarily lifting of the 80-20 slot policy rule, ports assignments and implement flexible working visa for the industry in some countries with existing limitations, especially in hospitality and tour operation.

3. Ease fiscal policies – reduce and remove travellers’ taxes which increases the cost of travel, e.g. Air Passenger Duty and similar airport, port and hospitality taxes around the world.

4. Introduce incentives – introduce relief and incentives to support business continuity for companies which have been most negatively impacted by the virus. SMEs in particular will take longer to recover.

5. Support destinations – increase budgets and assign resources for promotion, marketing and product development purposes in destinations when they are ready to welcome visitors again.

At this time, WTTC reinforces the importance of strong public-private partnerships and greater international cooperation in order to respond and overcome the challenges faced by the sector during the management and recovery from COVID-19.

The Travel & Tourism sector has a proven track record of resilience in the face of crises and this ability to bounce back has improved significantly in recent years.

More about the World Travel & Tourism Council at www.wttc.org

Victoria, Mahé (Seychelles) – March 17, 2020 (visitseychelles.org) – Reference is made to our call to the Government of Seychelles for an open dialogue between the politicians, our Head of State and the relevant authorities and stakeholders, to discuss and agree upon immediate affirmative action moving forward as our vulnerable Nation grapples with COVID-19.

Our call has thus far gone unanswered and unacknowledged by the other politicians, with our Head of State continuing to operate in isolation and in the shadows. The fear and anxiety being felt by the public is escalating steadily, with many businesses, as well as private and Governmental bodies, taking matters into their own hands and closing their doors for two weeks. Teachers on Praslin today reacted to the opening of the schools, while educational institutions around Mahé have closed their doors in order to promote social distancing.

Different countries reliant upon tourism have taken drastic measures to preserve and safeguard their citizens by closing their borders, including Mauritius, our sister island. Meanwhile, Seychelles continues to receive visitors daily from Europe, which is now the epicentre of the coronavirus. Seychelles must now move to curtail tourism arrivals from coronavirus-infected areas while simultaneously working to keep businesses afloat and continue providing employment for the people of Seychelles.

We call on the National Assembly to urgently develop austerity measures, in consultation with the Seychelles Tourism Board, that will ensure businesses are kept alive and Seychellois employees do not lose their jobs. The tourism industry is encouraged to offer a re-booking option, if they are unwilling to offer a refund, to clients who booked their accommodation or excursion packages prior to the pandemic.

While the Country is feeling the mounting pressures associated with the virus reaching our shores and infiltrating society, the only constructive way forward is to strive for unity. Unity is our strength, division is our weakness. Our Government has a duty to prioritize the health and security of its People. It must also protect the public from the economic impact of this global health crisis; family-operated businesses in our tourism-reliant country will need support to weather the crisis.

Frankfurt (Germany) – March 16, 2020 (travelindex.com) – IMEX has been cancelled this year but what makes the cancellation of the event so unique is that IMEX group chairman, Mr Ray Bloom, and Ms Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX group, have managed to encapsulate the emotions and thoughts of many industry players in a personal note to their supporters.

“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the cancellation of this year’s IMEX in Frankfurt (due to take place 12-14 May). We know that this will come as an enormous disappointment, not only to the exhibitors, buyers and industry professionals who were due to attend the show, but also to the global business events community.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly and there are two overriding concerns that have caused us to make this decision at this time. First is the uncertainty caused by the fact that the German health minister has recently called for the ban on events with over 1,000 people which some German states have already endorsed, including the state of Hesse where Frankfurt is located. This announcement makes the probability of factors outside our control forcing us to cancel the show at the last minute much higher.

“Second, our primary concern is always the responsibility we feel towards our exhibitors and partners, who fund the show – not only by purchasing stand space but also in the considerable additional investment they make in everything from the build of stunning stands to the hosting of buyer events.

“Whilst only a short time ago we felt optimistic that May was far enough away to confidently proceed with our plans, as it stands today [11 March] we cannot guarantee the one thing that our exhibitors trust us above all else to deliver – namely a large-scale, high quality hosted buyer programme.

“In an ideal world we would wait and see. But we are in the real world and we cannot, in all good conscience, ask our exhibitors to continue to invest money against which they may not get a return.

“Both of these factors – uncertainty around whether IMEX will be allowed to proceed, as well as doubts as to the number of buyers who will be able to attend – have led us to the conclusion that we now have no option but to cancel IMEX in Frankfurt.

A decision based on facts

“We want to make it very clear that we have made this decision based purely on the facts as we know them today and, importantly for the whole IMEX team, based on the responsibility and genuine care we feel for all our clients and the global business events community.

“IMEX is our family business and the business events community is the only community we serve.

“We have tried today to take the best decision for the industry and we are so thankful for the support that has already been shown to us. Quite rightly many of you see yourselves as friends and members of the extended IMEX family. This is precisely why we’ve thought long and hard in the past few days, consulting in depth with partners and stakeholders across the industry before making this announcement. Our strapline “We Are All Connected” has never felt more true, nor more important.

Committed to serving the industry

“Despite the disappointment and impact we know you will feel, we want you to know that we’re fully committed to serving this industry that we love. We’re already working hard in the background to deliver value and service above and beyond the trade show you were looking forward to and will announce these plans in the near future.

“We intend to keep morale high and, together with leaders around the world, to focus on collective efforts to rebuild confidence and advocate for the power of business events to aid economic recovery once this situation is over.

“The IMEX team will also be working hard to deliver a successful IMEX America (15-17 September) with plans to recognise the 10th Anniversary of the show already in full swing. We hope that the business events world will join us in Las Vegas to celebrate our great industry.

“Once again, we thank the whole industry for the support that has been shown to us and we are here to support others in the industry as we all work through these difficult times.”

Response

Several industry leaders responded to these comments, among whom was Mr Kai Hattendorf, UFI MD/ CEO and president of Joint Meetings Industry Council.

He said: “It is, of course, deeply regrettable that the IMEX team has to cancel their flagship trade show in Frankfurt this May. However, I want everyone in the business events and exhibition industry to know on behalf of JMIC that we fully understand and support the difficult decision that Carina and Ray have had to make.

“Market places and meeting places are the core driver of business. For our industry to bounce back from the corona slump, our own market places and meeting places will as well be our fastest fast track to recovery. We are a resilient industry. We have shown that in the past, we will show that again. We are all in this together.”

Madrid (Spain) – March 15, 2020 (travelindex.com) – Protect yourself and others when traveling. Follow prevention practices you also use in daily life. As we face up to #COVID19 the UNWTO conveys the importance of responsible behavior and international coordination.

Tourism has an active role in response and recovery. This is a shared challenge.

Be part of the solution! How you travel MATTERS.

For yourself and for others: stay safe, travel responsibly.

NO EXCEPTIONS. NO EXCUSES.

We are all part of the solution!

#ResponsibleTravel

To get the latest UNWTO News, in particular to read updates on the Covid-19 pandemic, click here…

Madrid (Spain) – March 15, 2020 (travelindex.com) – In response to the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak, UNWTO is implementing public health protocols based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Spanish authorities, as the host country of UNWTO.

Effective immediately, all UNWTO events planned until 30 April are suspended.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and with the purpose to support and contribute to the health prevention and regulation actions recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNWTO decided to postpone all events organized by UNWTO and to not attend any event in which UNWTO personnel would participate from today until the end of April.

For the events that will take place in May, UNWTO will review the situation around the COVID-19 outbreak in due course.

Rescheduling to later dates will be evaluated depending on the further development the current situation.

To get the latest UNWTO News, in particular to read updates on the Covid-19 pandemic, click here…