G Adventures pushes out five new community tourism projects

March 11, 2020

Berracas_de_la_13_-_Comuna_13,_Medellin,_Columbia — The Berracas de la 13 project in Comuna 13, Medellin, Colombia

Adventure travel operator G Adventures and its non-profit partner Planeterra are rolling out five new projects with a focus on empowering women, youth and indigenous communities.

More than 2,800 women will be positively impacted by the 3,000 travellers expected to visit these projects annually.

The Berracas de la 13 project in Comuna 13, Medellin, Colombia

The new projects include a visit to a cultural and craft experience in Jerusalem where cultural stories are shared and local handicrafts are showcased, as well as a stopover in Kerala, India where 10 local women create community through hospitality and traditional food.

The new projects are part of the Project 100 initiative, a commitment to have 100 Planeterra projects built into G Adventures tours by the end of 2020.

With these projects, the total number now built into the company’s tours has reached 85.

The Berracas de la 13 project in Comuna 13, Medellin, Colombia, was created by a group of women to help their community. With Planeterra’s support, Berracas de la 13 has improved its restaurant, developed a local tour and meal service, and created a sustainable income stream. Travellers can visit this on the nine-day Colombia Express tour (from US$1,849).

The Domari Culture and Craft Experience in Jerusalem, Israel supports local women and children. Over here, guests can enjoy traditional food, listen to cultural stories, and purchase local handicrafts. Travellers can visit this project while on the 15-day Jordan and Israel Adventure tour from Amman to Jerusalem (from US$4,049).

The TWE (Together We Earn) in Kerala, India helps equip women with tangible skills so they can find employment. Travellers can visit and experience this project on the seven-day National Geographic Journeys South India: Explore Kerala (from US$1,349).

Shedia Home in Athens, Greece is a not-for-profit organisation working to employ and empower those experiencing homelessness and social exclusion in Athens. Planeterra brings travellers to the new Shedia Home, which features a cafe, an educational talk from one of the Shedia’s guides, and the option to join a tour of Athens. The visit is available on the 15-day Best of Greece tour from Athens to Santorini (from US$3,349).

Lastly, the Maldives Plastic Program in Malé, Maldives is a collaboration between Planterra and local travel company Voyages to integrate plastic pick-ups into all G Adventures tours in the Maldives. The experience can be had on the eight-day Maldives Island Hopping trip (from US$959).

dnata adds two rental car brands to its portfolio

By TTG Asia

March 11, 2020

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dnataexpandspartnershipwiththehertzcorporation — Search Results Web results Dnata expands partnership with The Hertz Corporation

Emirates Group’s travel management arm, dnata, will now promote and sell services from Dollar Rent a Car and Thrifty Car Rental.

Both brands belong to The Hertz Corporation, which is best known for its Hertz car rental brand.

Alan William, vice president, dnata Air & dnata Representations (land), said that the travel management company is strategically placed to increase awareness of all three brands in dnata’s key markets, namely, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The Dubai-based travel management company has been Hertz’s GSA for the UAE since 2011.

Lux Collective to open flagship property in Mauritius

By TTG Asia

March 11, 2020

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LUX_Grand_Baie_Resort_&_Residences_-_Lobby — LUX Grand Baie Resort Residences

The Lux Collective will be launching its flagship property, under the group’s Lux Resorts & Hotels brand, in Mauritius come 2Q2021.

Located in the Grand Baie neighbourhood in the north of the island, Lux Grand Baie Resort & Residences will house 86 suites (65m²) and eight two-bedroom villas with private swimming pools (from 240m²) in the main resort complex.

Sitting adjacent to the resort are an additional 24 residences (from 180m²), each complete with two bedrooms, a private pool and kitchen. All rooms, which feature floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive terraces, overlook the resort’s sheltered beach and lagoon.

The three-bedroom Beachfront Lux Villa (420m²) offers direct access to the beach, a wide sun deck, and a fully equipped kitchen with a personal chef and butler on standby.

F&B offerings include a beach club serving locally-sourced cuisine, a Japanese restaurant featuring Asian cuisine, a cafe, an in-pool bar, as well as a pool deck bar serving fresh juices, smoothies and cocktails.

The resort will also feature an adults-only rooftop area housing an infinity pool with cabanas, an inventive raw restaurant and bar, a cookery school, as well as an open-air wellness space for sunrise meditation and yoga classes. As night falls, guests will enjoy music sets from the resident DJ.

Elsewhere, Lux Me Wellbeing will offer an array of thermal experiences and spa treatments, while Lux Me Fitness will feature curated wellbeing programmes overseen by a wellness concierge.

Other facilities include a yoga and pilates studio; a gym and indoor cycling studio; a kids’ club with an outdoor garden space, aquatic zone, library, arts and crafts area and mini-kitchen; and an adult-free hangout area for teens. Guests can also indulge in a range of outdoor activities, including kayaking, SUP, beach football and volleyball.

IATA reiterates travel is safe, calls for return to normalcy

By Caroline Boey

March 10, 2020

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A two-day Aviation Resilience & Health Workshop was organised by IATA in Singapore last week (March 4-5), where the association’s medical advisor and an infectious diseases specialist reassured attendees that catching Covid-19 on a flight was “extraordinarily low”.

The closed-door workshop, attended by more than 100 members and partners from 50 organisations in 20 countries and territories, focused on meeting the medical and regulatory aspects of the Covid-19 outbreak and working with governments.

From left: IATA’s Anthony Council, Brian Pearce, David Powell, and Isaac Bogoch at the media briefing

David Powell, IATA’s medical advisor, told the media that airline medical advisers around the world are “in touch” with virus outbreaks dating back to SARS, and the workshop confirmed that existing procedures and suitable solutions for the current challenge required no changes.

Powell added there was no evidence of a passenger catching Covid-19 from a sick passenger on the same flight.

IATA, in following WHO’s guidance for the aviation industry, is not advising travel bans and with Powell adding that bans “tend to be ineffective and have significant disadvantages”. He advised each traveller “to do his own risk assessment” instead.

Powell said IATA’s messages have to be reinforced and rational messages need to get out.

While IATA respects the right of countries to issue travel bans, Anthony Council, IATA vice president, corporate communication, commented that “there needs to be consistency and clarity” – something that is very difficult right now – and called for “collaboration” for the industry and life to “return to normalcy”.

By holding the workshop, which was organised in 10 days, IATA is trying to reassure people the travel process is safe, Council added.

Isaac Bogoch, University of Toronto’s infectious diseases faculty member, reiterated it was pointless to keep adding countries to the travel ban list, pointing out that it would slow down, but not stop the spread of Covid-19.

As such, Bogoch advised travellers to consider factors such as the destination, how to get there and back from the home country, and the rules and regulations of the respective countries.

“The risk is extremely small,” Bogoch stressed. “Remember to practise good hand hygiene and try not to touch the face, the same as during flu season.”

Meanwhile, IATA revealed two scenarios in its analysis update of the financial impact of Covid-19 on 2020 global revenue losses – it is US$63 billion where it is contained in current markets, and US$113 billion with a broader spread, said chief economist Brian Pearce.

Malaysia ushers in new tourism minister

By S Puvaneswary

March 10, 2020

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Malaysia’s prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin unveiled his Cabinet yesterday (March 9), appointing Nancy Shukri as the tourism, arts and culture minister, and Jeffrey Kitingan as the deputy tourism, arts and culture minister.

Nancy was a former minister in the prime minister’s department in charge of law, while Jeffrey serves as Keningau’s member of parliament and is the president of Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR), a Sabah-based political party.

Nancy Shukri has been appointed Malaysia’s new tourism minister

Local stakeholders have responded positively to the new appointments, and are eager to work closely with them.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president, Tan Kok Liang, shared that the association is looking forward to working closely with the new minister “to achieve tourism targets, modernise outdated laws, introduce incentives to spur the industry, and step up enforcements against illegal and unlicensed operators”.

Tan also said that the new tourism minister should prioritise engagement with tourism players, and ensure that reasonable requests are being met.

He added: “The tourism industry is at the lowest level now due to Covid-19. (Restoring) confidence in foreign holidaymakers to visit Malaysia and not cancel their trips here should be a top priority, as well as growing the domestic travel segment.”

Malaysian Association of Hotels’ CEO, Yap Lip Seng, shared his hope for the new ministers in tourism, arts and culture to “actively continue to listen to the private sector in formulating policies and initiatives for the industry”.

Yap added: “We look forward to more opportunities, especially in addressing the negative impact of Covid-19 on the hotel industry. We will be updating the government periodically and possibly formulate new strategies towards a sustainable tourism industry.”

Malaysia bars cruise ships

By S Puvaneswary

March 10, 2020

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Malaysia has temporarily banned all cruise ships from entering the country’s ports due to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases, putting a further damper on the tourism industry.

The decision, which will take effect immediately, was made following instructions from the Health Ministry and Transport Ministry.

Malaysia issues blanket ban on all cruise ships; Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal in Penang pictured

Malaysia’s health director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a recent Facebook posting: “The entry and transit of cruise vessels, passengers and crew members require considerable medical resources to be made available at ports for screening and treatment purposes.

“During this difficult period, it is important that more medical resources are concentrated at hospitals to attend to medical emergencies and undertake preventive measures.”

Last year, Penang recorded 449,885 cruise passengers, while Port Klang received 360,000 passengers, with 150 cruise liners calling on the port.

Malaysia joins several countries which has banned cruise ships from entering their ports, including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and the Maldives.

Philippines to host the world’s first ecotourism travel mart

By Rosa Ocampo

March 10, 2020

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The Philippines’ International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) will host the Asian Ecotourism Network’s (AEN) first International Ecotourism Travel Mart (IETM) in September.

IETM was hatched during last year’s AEN conference in Vietnam when it was noted that despite the many global travel marts and exhibitions for general tourism such as ITB Berlin, World Travel Mart and ASEAN Tourism Forum, there were none for ecotourism.

A screenshot of the soon-to-launch website for International Ecotourism Travel Mart which will take place in Manila this September

ISST bagged the hosting as there were no other bidders, its president and founder, and former tourism secretary, Mina Gabor told TTG Asia.

AEN is the regional initiative of Global Ecotourism Network (GEN).

The IETM is slated to be held from August 31 to September 6 at the Philippine International Convention Center Forum, coinciding with 2020 as the year of celebrating biodiversity.

Gabor said the 18 AEN member countries have confirmed their participation, while other countries have also indicated interest.

With the theme Enhancing Authentic Ecotourism, IETM will have a strong focus on international ecotourism buyers and sellers, while exhibitors will showcase a strong ecotourism component, green technology and sustainable green practices.

The travel mart will also host an Ecotourism Training course component where 36 speakers and trainers from around the world will tackle wide-ranging topics from disaster risk control and management to climate change and community development.

PATA Philippine Chapter chairman Bob Zozobrado said that as the chosen partner for IETM, they will be campaigning for the participation of local and overseas schools, while details are being finalised in their role in organising tours and accommodations and possibly, transport and transfers.

With a deluge of travel mart cancellations in 1H2020 due to the Covid-19 scare, buyers and sellers are requesting to be accommodated at IETM. Priority will be given to those with a portfolio of adventure, nature and ecotourism, and those primarily in ecotourism areas and destinations, Gabor said.

She added that IETM will be poised to deal with the evolving Covid-19 situation, with a strong emphasis placed on health and safety.

Gabor further shared that the first day of the IETM, which will be open to the public, will showcase the natural environment with demos on jungle survival course, special vegan and drinks preparation, and daily performances in native costumes.

To drum up public awareness, they are working with the Department of Education to run an ecotourism essay competition for students, as well as organising an eco-run along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

IETM will also showcase the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, including major ecotourism sites; four indigenous villages in Indonesia, and the Philippines, among others; as well as four villages in the Pacific islands.

Qatar, SIA and Emirates waive change fees amid Covid-19

By TTG Asia

March 10, 2020

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Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines (SIA), and Emirates have all announced that they will waive fees for date changes in light of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Qatar Airways’ customers can change the dates of their booking without charge should their travel date falls between March 6 and June 30, 2020. Fees for booking alterations will be waived if reservations are changed at least three days before departure.

Qatar Airways among airlines to offer more flexible booking policy for travellers

Qatar Airways will provide customers the additional option of exchanging the flight ticket for a travel voucher, where the unutilised value can be used for future travel, valid for one year from its date of issue.

Qatar Airways’ customers wishing to cancel their flights altogether can avoid incurring a refund penalty if they do so three days before departure.

Similarly, SIA will waive change fees for tickets issued between March 6 to March 31 for travel to and from all destinations. The new travel date must commence before March 31, 2021.

For Emirates, customers will be able to change their travel dates without penalties, if their tickets are issued between March 7 and March 31, 2020. Flight changes can be made to any date within an 11-month range, within the same booking class. Changes can also be made on the day of the flight, provided they call at least two hours before.

Also, Emirates’ Skywards members who have booked to travel between March 1 and June 30 will receive a 20 per cent bonus in tier miles.

Passengers are advised to contact the respective airlines with specific details of their flights for confirmation. Fare differences or applicable taxes still apply.

The three airlines’ new policy, introduced to provide convenience for passengers amid imposed travel restrictions and flight reductions, apply to flights booked directly with them, as well as through travel agencies.

All airlines have taken additional precautions to stem the spread of the virus, such as disinfecting aircraft, as well as the use of advanced air filtration systems, which remove 99 per cent or more of the viruses in the cabin.

Flight Centre boosts tech platform with new investment

By TTG Asia

March 10, 2020

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The Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT) has strengthened its technology roadmap with the acquisition of a 22.5 per cent stake in TPConnects Technologies for an undisclosed sum.

The Dubai-based TPConnects was founded in 2012 by Rajendran Vellapalath, who will continue to run the business with his management team.

Flight Centre Travel Group invests in TPConnects Technologies to boost its tech capabilities

It is one of the first International Air Transport Association (IATA) NDC and ONE Order focused travel technology companies.

FLT has also entered into a commercial agreement with TPConnects to access Software as a Service (SaaS) functions and use its IATA NDC Certified Travel Aggregator platform, which aggregates NDC and GDS content.

NDC and ONE Order are key transformational projects, launched by IATA to modernise and simplify airline distribution.

Greg Parker, executive general manager of FLT’s global air distribution business, said: “This investment ensures we are at the forefront of developments in an exciting new era of distribution and connectivity and that our company and customers have access to the widest choice of airfares and content, including offers that sometimes sit outside the traditional channels.”

New management platform for boutique hotels rolls out in SE Asia

By TTG Asia

March 10, 2020

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HMP has launched HMP Master, a new cloud-based hotel management platform that claims to help hoteliers to streamline hotel operations, boost financial performance, and enhance guest satisfaction.

Launched simultaneously in South-east Asia and the US, HMP Master has been designed to boost operational performance, enhance management efficiency, integrate reservations, sales and marketing, and facilitate staff engagement. HMP can be used on mobile, tablet, iPad or desktop.

HMP Master helps hoteliers to boost operational performance and enhance guest satisfaction

The new software streamlines three areas: operations, financial control and business intelligence, including reporting, analytics and forecasting.

“Our aim is nothing less than transforming property management and digital service delivery for boutique hotels and their clients,” said Henry Pham, co-founder and CTO of HMP, which has offices in Silicon Valley, Bangkok and Danang, Vietnam.

Pham is helming the development of the integrated HMP platform in partnership with YAANA Ventures, based in Bangkok.

On operations, HMP has a reservations system, with an option of an integrated booking engine on the hotel’s website. The system tracks business-on-books, daily average rate, and more in real time. It makes maintenance easy to track, as staff can report on work in progress with a few clicks on the HMP app on their mobile phones.

On business intelligence, HMP lets hoteliers know in real time, through dashboards, which OTA, DMC or travel agent is generating most business. It allows managers to adjust rates which interface with reservation channels such as Expedia, Agoda, Booking, AirBnB, Hotels.com, TripAdvisor and many more.

“HMP operates on the principles of elegant simplicity. In addition, we’re making HMP available at user-friendly prices consistent with smaller hotel operations,” said YAANA Ventures’ Mark Remijan, who is also startup CEO of HMP Master.

There are three subscription levels, starting with HMP Direct for small hotels, which offers a booking engine, an OTA channel manager, and a basic dashboard with function analytics.

Designed for hotels with up to 70 keys, the HMP Master gives full access to the 360-degree functionality platform.

Meanwhile, HMP Master Pro targets hotels of up to 150 keys. For chain hotels, HMP Master Pro offers an enterprise solution, which includes customisation and a master dashboard spanning multiple properties.

Prices start at special introduction rates of US$119 per month.

G Adventures pushes out five new community tourism projects

dnata adds two rental car brands to its portfolio

Lux Collective to open flagship property in Mauritius

IATA reiterates travel is safe, calls for return to normalcy

Malaysia ushers in new tourism minister

Malaysia bars cruise ships

Philippines to host the world’s first ecotourism travel mart

Qatar, SIA and Emirates waive change fees amid Covid-19

Flight Centre boosts tech platform with new investment

New management platform for boutique hotels rolls out in SE Asia

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