Author: Tuhin Sarkar

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TRAVEL NEWS TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY NEWS

A third of people do not trust Google Maps: Atly

Atly, the user-generated social mapping platform revolutionizing location-based knowledge sharing, today unveiled consumer survey results in a data report entitled “Location-Based Recommendations: Mapping Trust & Digital Discovery in 2023.” The report reveals that one in three people (30%) have little to no trust in Google Maps when it comes to discovering places that best fulfill their needs.

In today’s digital landscape, discovering reliable information about places to go and things to do remains a daunting task. The survey revealed that 72% of respondents trust recommendations for destinations and restaurants from family and friends most – over social media influencers, online review sites, and Google Maps. Only 11% firmly trust Google Maps to suggest places that meet their needs.

Atly’s report also sheds light on the challenges consumers face when discovering and saving recommendations online. Across all age groups, the majority of respondents resort to outdated and inefficient methods to save and track places of interest they come across digitally, with 50% of people using screenshots and 39% still bookmarking sites on their web browser.

The lack of trustworthy information and effective discovery and tracking methods has real-life implications, as most saved locations go unvisited. Only 13% of respondents across age groups regularly visit the places they discover online. Twenty-nine percent of respondents admitted to rarely or never visiting the places they had previously saved, and for those aged 18-29, the number reached 35%. As a result, businesses and content creators are experiencing diminished performance on social media posts.

Uriel Maslansky, the CEO and Co-Founder of Atly, mentioned that their understanding of how consumers acquire recommendations and the factors influencing their trust in online discoveries allows them to continuously enhance the consumer experience related to location-based knowledge discovery, tracking, and sharing. The findings reveal a significant disparity between trust and action in the digital discovery process, highlighting the necessity for innovative social solutions that benefit consumers, content creators, and businesses while tapping into the collective wisdom of the crowd to improve the overall experience for everyone.

Joshua Kaufman, Co-Founder of Atly, pointed out that despite Google Maps being considered the most reliable source for location-based content, the younger generation tends to turn to social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok for their next recommendation. In a world where information is easily accessible, there is still no single platform that combines trusted sources with an exceptional mapping experience, and that is the challenge Atly is directly addressing.

To compile the report, Atly conducted a survey of over 1,000 consumers across the United States. The consumer survey aimed to explore where people get destination and activity recommendations, the discovery processes they undergo to do so, and the frequency with which these discoveries translate into actual visits.

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BLOG TRAVEL NEWS

Take a closer look at your travel documents

The beginning of the summer holiday season offers a good opportunity to take a closer look at our travel documents. Digitization is also making impressive progress here thanks to integrated chips, machine learning and the use of artificial intelligence.

Although ID cards and passports are still physical documents, they are increasingly being supplemented with digital functions and also benefit from digitized processes in their production and use. This digital transformation extends over the entire life cycle: from initial quality controls in the factories to digital services on smartphones. As a result, the use of documents is becoming safer, faster and more convenient for both citizens and authorities. Veridos shows four examples of how digitization affects our documents – already today and in the future.

Artificial intelligence for quality control in production

ID documents have the first points of contact with modern digital technologies very early in their life cycle. Already in the factory, the manufacturing processes are supported with artificial intelligence (AI) in order to produce precise and error-free copies. Some documents have more than 50 security features, including tiny elements that are imperceptible to the naked eye. However, control devices, for example at border crossings, can recognize them and sound an alarm at the smallest deviations of just one millimeter. Using empirical data from global control devices, AI can develop an understanding of what deviations are acceptable, enabling a constant process of learning and improvement.

Integration of electronic chips in passports and the like

Many ID documents around the world are now equipped with electronic chips on which the identification data of the ID card holder is stored, such as their fingerprints. At this point, digitization begins for the citizen as well, because the chips act as a bridge between the physical and the digital world. They are embedded in the covers of passports and the layers of ID cards, allow identity data to be transmitted without media discontinuity to electronic devices such as smartphones or eGates at airports, thus enabling digitized verification processes.

Use of ID documents via smartphone

The services made possible by the integrated chips include the digital use of ID documents using smartphone apps. They are provided by government agencies to ensure safe and secure data exchange and allow users to transfer personal information from their document to their mobile phone. Once the data is securely stored in the app, it can be used to register for travel documents or apply for visas, and even to provide personal information for digital healthcare applications. These are not yet virtual documents that correspond completely to the physical versions, but they are an important first step in further promoting digitization in this area.

AI-assisted image recognition for faster border crossings

In the near future, other AI-supported applications will be widely used. An illustrious example of this is provided by pilot projects that deal with the automatic reading of passport stamps. These projects use a combination of AI-based image recognition and OCR (optical character recognition) technology to analyze the passport holder’s travel pattern based on the stamps in the passport. The systems identify the stamps, extract important information such as entry and exit dates and automatically derive the travel pattern from this. This relieves border officials of the manual task of checking and evaluating the stamps themselves to determine the countries visited, length of stay and sequence of visits.

“Digitization is increasingly finding its way into the ID world – even if the end user is perhaps not always aware of it,” explains Marc-Julian Siewert, CEO at Veridos. “This digital transformation opens up great possibilities for our physical documents. They will revolutionise the way we travel and use our legal identity. Artificial intelligence in particular has the potential to make processes more convenient and safer around the world – provided that the ethical aspects that this technology entails are properly taken into account.”

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MICE News TRAVEL NEWS

Woodward Conference Center to host Thunderbird Drone Festival

Thunderbird Drone Festival is among the exciting events, including a drone light show, drone simulators, drone movies from around the world, a kid’s drone corral – where children can learn how to fly a real drone, exciting FPV Drone Races and much more will be available this year at the 3rd annual Thunderbird Drone Festival in Woodward.

The state’s only drone festival in Australia is set for August 25-26 at the Woodward Conference Center. Thunderbird Drone Festival keeps growing year over year, said Woodward Tourism Director Rachael Van Horn.

Van Horn said that this event is not only meant for drone business professionals of all stripes, but it is a great way for children to be introduced to the ever- expanding role that drones and aviation are playing in business, agriculture, and education.

This year, we feel so thankful to the Woodward Conference Center and its director Darci Miller, who made this incredible venue available for the event.

According to festival co-owner Chris Castor, this now, nationally recognized festival offers the most up-to-date information-sharing platform for drone business professionals and amateurs alike.

This year, NASA will be on-hand as well – offering children the opportunity to participate in STEM (Science, Technology Engineering a Math) activities on site.

Also, the FAA will be on hand with their flight simulators,” Castor said. And According to Air Force Drone Pilot and military drone expert, Major Karissa Garza, there is a good chance the Air Force will be on hand with their own flight simulator.

For industry professionals, there will be a panel and some breakout sessions covering the most current information and new technology available in the industry.

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HOTEL NEWS New Appointment TRAVEL TRENDS AND FOCUS

Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives announces Jean Francois Richard as the new Director

Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll has confirmed the appointment of Jean Francois Richard as the luxury Maldivian resort’s new Director of Sales and Marketing.


Jean Francois will be responsible for leading and further improving all aspects of the sales and marketing team.


Jean Francois joins Finolhu from Kempinski Seychelles Resort Baie Lazare, where he also held the position of Director of Sales & Marketing, Prior to that, he worked his way up the sales and marketing ladder at Marriott International, Starwood Hotels & Resorts between 2010 and 2021, culminating in the role of Cluster Director of Sales for Mauritius.


Holding dual French and Mauritian nationality, Jean Francois brings with him almost 20 years of extensive experience in a variety of positions across the international hospitality and travel sectors.


Owned and managed by Seaside Collection, Seaside Finolhu Bea Atoll Maldives, is a luxury island resort renowned for its two–kilometre powdery beaches that stretch out across four islands.

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INDIA MICE News Travel Event News

International Temples Convention and Expo to be held in Indian holy city Varanasi

The International Temples Convention and Expo (ITCX) will be held at the Rudraksh Convention Centre in Varanasi, the oldest city in the world, from July 22 to 24, 2023. Developed by Temple Connect (India), it is the world’s first event solely dedicated to the management of temples across the globe and will focus on nurturing and empowering the administration, management and operations of temple ecosystems.

Conceptualised by Giresh Kulkarni, Founder of Temple Connect (a leading platform dedicated to the documentation, digitalisation and distribution of information related to temples of Indian origin), along with Prasad Lad (Chairman, International Temples Convention & Expo 2023 and Member Of Maharashtra Legislative Council), and Show Director & Co-Curator Meghaa Ghosh – this three-day event carves a space for free-flowing exchange of ideas, learning and invaluable insight among like-minded dignitaries who are at the helm of temple management, in order to establish, enable and promote best practices for temple management teams worldwide.

That the convention adds value to Temple Tourism and Pilgrimage Ecosystem – it is aptly supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, under the “Incredible India” initiative.

ITCX aims to birth and nurture an ecosystem for networking, knowledge sharing and peer learning that will pan out through expert seminars, workshops and master classes on various topics. These include temple safety, security and surveillance, fund management, disaster management, sanitization, and hygiene as well as optimal use of new-age technology like artificial intelligence (AI) for protection against cyber-attacks and social media management to foster a strong and connected temple community. The event will also touch upon subjects like crowd and queue management, solid waste management, and infrastructure enhancement under the umbrella of pilgrim experience.

The event is by invitation only and designed for temples and temple trusts of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism in its first season. Representatives from Jain Dharamshalas, leading Devotional Charities, Associations in the Hindu Temples of the United Kingdom, ISKCON Temples, Anna Kshetra Managements, Purohit Mahasangha of various pilgrim locations, and Pilgrimage Promotion Boards will participate in this meet.

Additionally, the convention serves as a platform to learn about diverse cultures, traditions, and arts and crafts of temples from around the world while also celebrating India’s rich temple heritage.

Highlights of the 3-day sessions:

Dr Mohan Bhagwat (Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) will inaugurate the convention. Prominent attendees at the event will include temple trustees, members of temple boards and trusts, along with visionaries, such as the Prince of Travancore (Padmanabhaswamy Temple), Rohan A Khaunte (Minister for Tourism, Information Technology,

Electronics & Communication, and Printing & Stationery, Goa), Dharma Reddy (Executive Officer – Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams), amongst many others.

To create a holistic impact, the sessions are tailored to include tried-and-tested as well as new-age practices to streamline sustainable temple management and development. Key conversations around green energy, archaeological architecture, langar (community kitchen) management, illuminations of lights for temples, etc will also be addressed. The line-up includes Tirupathi Balaji Temple experts who will share knowledge on their flawless queue management system and charity/social organisations that clean and maintain ghats in Varanasi. The founder of the convention, Giresh Kulkarni, will also lead a session on temple economics and its expanded role in tourism that can boost the local economy and promote a destination by providing pilgrims with a memorable experience.

Other talks and sessions on relevant topics will be held by delegates of Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Mahakaal Jyotirling, Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Patna Saheb Gurudwara, Chidambaram Temple and Virupaksha Temple Hampi. The event is also supported by the Antodaya Pratishthan that largely works in the space of CSR in the space of sustainability, hygiene, health and community service in a large way in Mumbai and the rest of Maharashtra.

Service and Product Booths

ITCX has curated a list of handpicked innovative products and services that offer solutions involving the improvement of systems and SOPs for better temple management and invited them to display their offerings for attendees to explore. These include fintech and transaction management/monetisation tools, screening virtual interactive maps, health ATMs at temple premises, social media and web technologies to help temples maintain their online engagement and chemical and cleaning products for temple housekeeping.

Some names include VAMA, HDFC Bank, Meta Social, Diversey Chemicals, Yono Meta, Unity IE World, Vedic Bhawan, Rigvedalaya, The Indian Puja Company, Krystal Integrated Services and Volksara Techno Solutions amongst others.

Giresh Kulkarni, the founder of Temple Connect and ITCX mentioned, “On the forefront of the duty of devotion, Temple Connect is committed to uplifting the experience of a devotee in a place of worship. For a holy ground that attracts people through faith, it is imperative that it functions smoothly. Benches at every interval for resting in a queue, access to drinking water and an organised flow that takes care of the devotees’ experience from the moment they enter the premise is critical. At the International Temples Convention & Expo, we aim to gather on-ground temple soldiers on one stage to open knowledge portals to get inspired and organically elevate and set the standard operating system in a temple.”

Prasad Lad, Chairman of International Temples Convention & Expo 2023, Member of the Legislative Council, & The Chairman of the Legislative Council Rights Violation Committee, Government of Maharashtra, added, “The ITCX is a profound effort towards strengthening and empowering the temple ecosystem, which is one of the oldest ecosystems.

The convention, in its very first edition, is indeed a first-of-its-kind to be held on such a scale and gravity. It will provide a much-needed space for information percolation, where various temple management can come together under one roof, learn from one another, network with experts and create synergies which will positively impact sustainable temple development.”

Meghaa Ghosh, Show Director & Co-Curator, says, “We have found ourselves in a time where taking initiative matters. No one has attempted to create a forum for temple management, but there is always a first. The convention brings to the fore a sense of national pride in our rich Temple heritage. And it is time to safeguard and support it with new-age technology. We are beginning with four faiths with similar roots. We would love to see more faiths join the movement in the coming years.”

The convention will also be streamed online through the Temple Connect website and Facebook Live for registered viewers.

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HOTEL NEWS New Appointment TRAVEL TRENDS AND FOCUS

Leisure Hotels Group appoints Sumit Kumar as Corporate Chef

Leisure Hotels Group (LHG) an experiential luxury resort chain in North India and the largest across the state of Uttarakhand announces the appointment of Sumit Kumar as their group Corporate Chef.

With a rich experience of over three decades, Chef Sumit is a seasoned professional who has excelled in diverse and multicultural culinary environments both in India and Internationally. Throughout his illustrious career, he has garnered numerous awards and has collaborated with leading hospitality and F&B brands across India, UAE, and Mauritius, including Taj Hotels, Ananda in the Himalayas, Al Khoory Hotels, Max Healthcare, Citymax Hotels, Dubai, amongst others. 

Chef Sumit holds a Diploma in Hotel Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce.  Furthermore, he is certified by Cornell University in Hospitality Management. Having trained at esteemed establishments including The Dorchester and The Ritz in London, Chef Sumit Kumar has cultivated his culinary expertise under the guidance of renowned experts, notably, Chef Michel Guerard in France, the visionary behind Cuisine Minceur, a culinary philosophy focused on wellness cuisine.

Commenting on the appointment, Vibhas Prasad, Director, Leisure Hotels Group stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Chef Sumit to the Leisure Hotels Group team. With his remarkable culinary experience and unique approach, we are confident that he will elevate our F&B operations across all properties. We look forward to him incorporating his extensive knowledge & expertise, especially in wellness cuisine. Our guests can look forward to a more mindful dining experience that not only satisfies their palates but also nurtures their overall well-being.” 

Chef Sumit’s culinary expertise encompasses a wide range of cuisines such as Contemporary European, Middle Eastern, Indian, Asian, Macrobiotic, Ayurvedic, and modern wellness cuisine. He has played a pivotal role in designing and implementing thoughtfully curated wellness menus across various properties.

In his rich career, he has accomplished many achievements such as being recognized as the ‘French Culinary Ambassador in India’ by French Ambassador in 2001 and winning the ‘Gold Medal’ in World Mango culinary competition.

In his new role leading the culinary operations of Leisure Hotels Group, Chef Sumit will further enhance the culinary offerings at all the 29 hotels, leveraging his profound expertise in cooking and kitchen management. He will closely collaborate with the culinary teams to curate distinctive menus and develop immersive food concepts, elevating Leisure Hotels Group’s dining experiences.

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European Travel News News Pick TTW APP NEWS

Turkey suffering from nationwide heatwave and wildfire

Several regions in Turkey, including Hatay, Mersin, and Çanakkale, are currently grappling with devastating wildfires. The fires, fueled by a prevailing heatwave, pose a significant risk as they continue to spread rapidly.

In Hatay’s Belen district, the fire originated from individuals attempting to clear reeds in their garden, leading to the evacuation of nearby neighborhoods. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumaklı visited the affected areas to assess the situation and provide support. Efforts are underway to combat the fires through aerial and ground interventions involving hundreds of personnel from various agencies.

 In Mersin’s Gülnar district, another fire broke out and expanded to neighboring areas, prompting the evacuation of homes. Additionally, a separate forest fire erupted in Çanakkale, with attempts to control it lasting over 20 hours.

The country’s high temperatures and low humidity increase the risk of fires, and citizens are urged to exercise caution. Authorities have initiated investigations into the causes of these fires, leading to the identification and apprehension of several suspects. The situation remains challenging, but progress is being made in controlling the fires in some regions.

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News Pick TOURISM NEWS TRAVEL TRENDS AND FOCUS

VisitBritain kicks off football tourism campaign in lead-up to FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023

Britain
Britain

Social media activity will drive consumers to a dedicated page on VisitBritain’s global consumer website, featuring football-inspired destinations, attractions and experiences themed around its Great Britain umbrella campaign for 2023 to come and ‘See Things Differently.’

As well as its digital advertising campaign, VisitBritain is also working on a content partnership with Australian broadcaster Optus Sport to extend the campaign’s reach with content driving ‘go now’ messaging. It includes a branded series of short films exploring Britain’s football cities running across Optus’s digital content platforms during live and on-demand football matches from August to October 2023.

VisitBritain latest research demonstrates the increasing importance of football in driving inbound tourism to the UK. There were 1.5 million visits overall to the UK in 2019 that included watching a live football match with those visitors spending £1.4 billion in total during their trip in 2019, 5% of all visitor spending that year.

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TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY NEWS

CWT adds WhatsApp to messaging traveller support channel

CWT is integrating WhatsApp into its messaging service channel, giving its customers’ employees another way to contact CWT for assistance with their travel arrangements.

CWT’s current messaging service, which is offered in multiple languages, can also be accessed through the myCWT web and mobile apps, Microsoft Teams, and Workplace from Meta, and is used by over 1,000 customers in more than 70 countries.

With an active user community of 2.2 billion worldwide, WhatsApp is one of the most widely used communication apps. It has also become an incredibly popular way for people to connect with businesses, with 175 million people messaging a business on WhatsApp every day, making it an ideal addition to CWT’s suite of channels.

“Since its launch in late 2019, the convenience of our messaging service has quickly made it the preferred support channel for many travelers, with customer satisfaction scores of over 90%,” said Erica Antony, CWT’s Chief Product Officer. “We remain focused on creating a simple, efficient, and personalized service experience for our customers, and the integration with WhatsApp allows us to give travelers even greater choice in how they can reach us for assistance.”

CWT’s messaging channel is backed by a team of specially trained travel counselors offering a rapid, customized, and efficient response service. It is further bolstered with natural language processing and AI capabilities, which allow traveler queries to be efficiently categorized, and addressed by a seamless blend of chatbot and counselor interaction.

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BLOG EUROPE

Romance in Germany: Exploring the best part of it

Germany offers a captivating blend of history, art, culinary delights, and thrilling adventures, making it a perfect destination for those seeking a nomadic spirit of exploration.

Immerse yourself in Germany’s rich history by visiting iconic attractions such as the Berlin Wall, a poignant reminder of the country’s division and subsequent reunification. Explore the stunning Neuschwanstein Castle, the fairy-tale fortress that inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. Dive into the vibrant art scene of Berlin, known for its graffiti-adorned streets and world-class museums like the Museum Island, which houses ancient artifacts and masterpieces.

 Munich

The modern and traditional capital of Bavaria is known for the annual Oktoberfest celebration. The cultural capital of Germany has a fun and sophisticated vibe too. The largest city park in Europe – the English Garden is a key attraction point where can one go for surfing, bike riding or joining the cheer gang. The Marienplatz is a pedestrian only area to view the old and new Town Halls and the famous glockenspiel. One can also visit several museums, palaces and historical churches here. The area has several beer gardens in Munich; the Hofbrauhaus is world famous and a must visit for every tourists .The open air market, Viktualien market is full of gourmet food.

Romantic Road or Romantische Straße

See the beautifully preserved medieval architecture while travelling the 400 km stretch of road running from Wurzburg to Fussen – the Romantic Road or Romantische Straße.  In the quintessential storybook towns of Bravaria, taste German cuisine. There are more than 25 different cities and towns.

Residenz Palace & Marienberg

Residenz Palace & Marienberg-Fortress is a baroque palace and a UNESCO site. Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the best storybook town on the Romantic Road, was spared from bombing during the World War II. Dinkelsbühl with 16 fortified towers is the only remaining walled medieval towns. Its major draw is the quaint shops and colourful architecture. It is ideal for grabbing German meal.

Wieskirche

 Wieskirche, a UNESCO world heritage site, is located at the foothills of the alps in Steingaden. The exterior isn’t that catchy but it has an amazing interior with colourful paintings, golden ironwork and wood carvings.

Neuschwanstein Castle

At the end of the romantic road is the Neuschwanstein Castle which is a famous German landmark. The castle was built for the Mad King Ludwig and was an inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cindrella castle.

Rüdesheim

Rüdesheim, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is full of walking trails, castles and spectacular scenery. Its 65 km section of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley has dramatic, steep-sided banks where during summer cruise ships glide up and down the river. Rudesheim is the most famous town on the river; its cobbled streets, half-timbered houses covered in geranium give a fairy-tale feeling. Known for wine production, it is a real hub of Reisling expertise. Take a cable car to the huge Niederwald Monument, which was built to commemorate the unification of Germany post the defeat of France in the Franco-Prussian War of 1871.

Frankfurt-Germany

Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf was a toll point along the Rhine. During the 12th century, the Holy Roman Emperor Barbarossa built his royal castle. In the suburb of Kaiserwerth, one can freely explore the ruins or tour the baroque and rococo palaces, Schloss Benrath and Schloss Jägerhof left by city rulers. Find elite brands in Königsallee or head to the K21 to see what popular artists have left behind or the Kiefernstrasse neighborhood for prevalent art scene.

A walk from the Rheinuferpromanade is a must; the Altstads is the longest bar in the world having 260 restaurants and pubs within a half-mile radius.

Frankfurt am Main has both old, historical structures with new, tall modern skyscrapers. In the Old Town Altstad, majority of the old structures are reconstructed from the Second World War. Major German cities along with Frankfurt’s medieval city centre was completely destroyed during the Allied bombing raids from 1939-1945.

Eurotower

Eurotower brims with modern architecture and Frankfurt also houses the headquarters of the European Central Bank which is a 40-story glass and metal skyscraper. The Euro Monument outside the courtyard is a popular German landmark.