Author: Tuhin Sarkar

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HOTEL NEWS New Appointment TRAVEL TRENDS AND FOCUS

JW Marriott Goa appoints Neha Chhabra as a General Manager

JW Marriott Goa is delighted to announce the appointment of Neha Chhabra to lead the team as General Manager.  With over two decades of luxury hospitality experience behind her, Neha embodies the ‘Power of Women Leaders’.  She commenced her career with The Oberoi Group of Hotels and was soon a part Marriott International’s leadership team.

Her phenomenal creativity and unwavering passion have been driving forces behind her remarkable achievements in effectively implementing strategic initiatives and attaining financial success.  Hailing from Kolkata, Neha comes from a self-made business family.  Neha spent her early years enjoying the eclectic culture of the city. Extremely academic and intellectual, Neha was all set to start her education in Economics.  She stumbled into the hospitality profession by pure chance.  Having been accepted for specialization in Economics, Neha joined the hotel management institute for a short stint.  She enjoyed her time so much that she chose this over a career as an economist, never to look back. 

This will be her third leadership role, having joined as Director of Operations at JW Marriott Sahar and moving onto her first assignment as General Manager with Courtyard Hebbel in Bangalore.  Neha essayed this role for two years, before moving back into the luxury hotel league with JW Marriott Goa.

Armed with a degree from the reputed Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Kolkata and a post-graduation in Guest Service Management from the prestigious Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development, Neha’s career started with Food & Beverage with a pre-opening project at The Oberoi New Delhi.   Over the next years, she honed her skills, which laid the foundation for her growth as a luxury hotelier.  With this background, her keen business acumen and an overview of operations, she rose to become Executive Assistant Manager and moved further upwards to her current position.  

Neha truly embodies the core values of Marriott and has led her last hotel to be recognized at the 2022 GM APEC Summit for the Highest Internal/Alumni Hiring Award 2021 and Spirit to Serve our Communities Award 2021.  Most recently, she won the Diamond General Manager of the year, Global 2022, for her hotel.   She is a co-chair of the Marriott India Business council and works cohesively with all stakeholders to get SERVE 360 in life and spirit at the properties.    Among her accolades, is a Gold Medal (Apeejay Surendra Paul) in college in 2002. 

At JW Marriott Goa Neha, will lead the dynamic leadership team to position the hotel in India’s most favored holiday destination.  She will focus on increasing employee engagement, driving guest voice scores and building relationships with key stakeholders while driving revenue and growing market share. 

A keen traveler and swimmer, Neha ensures both are penciled into her calendar.  She loves her moments off with her family and enjoys this time with her little son, Veer and hotelier husband, Manas. 

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Travel Association News TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Asian video industry is set for greater growth as opportunities abound beyond traditional TV

The Asia Video Summit marked a successful return to Hong Kong, with almost 300 delegates attending the conference in person and virtually.

Hosted by the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA), the Summit conversations centred around the key themes of “The Making of Korea and the Model for Who’s Next?”, “Video at the Crossroads”, “Technology Taking Over”, “The State of Video 2023” and “The Advance of Advertising”, with a special opening session to set the stage, led by Henry Tan, Special Advisor, Astro, & Chairman, Astro Awani and Vivek Couto, Executive Director, Media Partners Asia with Louis Boswell, CEO, AVIA.

While recognising there are many important and challenging issues evolving in the industry, the mood was upbeat across the two-day summit. The conversation with Couto and Tan touched upon much of this and while recognising the importance of advertising on premium video which was growing, Tan also added that there was no better business than long term subscription, even if for now the mantra of streaming companies was to give the consumer full flexibility.

Discussing how Korea had generated such success in “How The Wave Was Launched”, Peter Choe, CEO, Blintn said that the Korean “export mindset” had been a key factor while Hyun Park, Producer and Advisor, Studio Dragon, said that Korean writers were very good at changing their style of storytelling to capture the market. However, the most important was to understand what the consumer wants, and that’s what Korea has become so good at, added Jeeyoung Lee, GM, Korea, Warner Bros. Discovery.

This focus on content continued with local experts on Chinese and Thai entertainment. In both markets, a good ecosystem of support and incentives was welcomed to nurture local talent. Cooperation within the region could possibly push growth across Asian markets, said Desmond Chan, Deputy GM, Legal and International Operations, TVB. There was particular optimism around the prospects for Thai content, and while recognizing this, Prof. Pirongrong Ramasoota, Commissioner, The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, Thailand, stressed the importance of “light-touch governance” to allow “industry players to be more creative and innovative with their content.”

The topic of monetization was also widely debated over the two days of the Summit. Gaming and e-commerce were seen as additional touchpoints and opportunities for cross-pollination with video to grow the consumer base. Ivy Wong, CEO, VS Media, shared that one-click purchase and seamless integration was what made e-commerce so successful in China, compared to other regions where consumers will have to go through several clicks to make the purchase. For William Wong, Head of Solutions Engineering, HK, Akamai Technologies, the key takeaway was not to focus on a single platform, but to diversify to capture different markets.

With the shift from linear to digital advertising, the time for CTV (Connected TV) could be upon us as “CTV is here to stay and will continue to grow. Dollars follow eyeballs. . . premium content with quality will earn more credible trust for our brands,” opined Douglas Choy, GM of Inventory Development, The Trade Desk. Gavin Buxton, MD Asia, Magnite, added that collaboration was key in terms of cross measurement to take CTV onwards, with audience and ad experience being the key driver behind that.

Louis Boswell, CEO, AVIA, presented highlights from a recent commissioned research[1] that measured the impact of advertising in a premium OTT environment versus mass streaming video environments (UGC / video sharing services) including (1) consumers felt that premium OTT was higher quality (58% OTT vs 36% mass) and commanded higher attention than mass streaming video environments (49% OTT vs 35% mass); and (2) both product recall (10% uplift) and brand recall (12% uplift) were significantly higher for the same ads when shown in a premium environment.

Closing off the Summit with a positive outlook, Alexandre Muller, MD APAC, TV5MONDE, said that Asia was where there were growth and opportunities for the video industry. “There are definitely challenges but people are excited because we are looking for solutions,” said Roger Tong, CEO, AsiaSat. “The bright spot is the diversity that we are seeing. . . There is so much diversity that it allows us to be more creative and if we maintain our creativity in solving the problems, then we will be able to perform better,” concluded Tong.

The Asia Video Summit is proudly supported by Lead Sponsor Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Gold Sponsors BytePlus, InvestHK, INVIDI, Irdeto, Warner Brother Discovery and Silver Sponsors AsiaSat, Broadpeak, Endeavor Streaming, FashionTV, France24, Lightning, Magnite, MEASAT, Nagra, Paramount, Publica.

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AIRLINE NEWS EUROPE

SITA: More passengers head for the airport this northern summer despite concerns over delays and congestion

With the northern hemisphere summer rush around the corner, travel concerns around delayed flights, surging airfares, and congestion in the airport are not putting travelers off air travel.

Preliminary findings from the 2023 SITA Passenger IT Insights released today revealed that 32% of passengers cited anxiety around flight cancellations when booking their next flight. Nearly 2 out of 10 passengers surveyed cited concerns around congestion in the airport and pointed to high airfares. This was fueled by past experience, where 56% of respondents said they had experienced delays or cancellations and 48% long airport queues.

Yet travelers intend to fly more than ever. On average, passengers expect to take 4.7 flights this year compared to 4.2 flights in 2019. This was driven mainly by frequent flyers. Those planning more than 10 flights in 2023 have increased from 6% of passengers in 2019 to 10% this year.

David Lavorel, SITA CEO, said: “It is encouraging for our industry that passengers want to travel and want to travel better in light of some of the challenges airports and airlines have experienced with congestion in the past year. We cannot dismiss the fact that the overall experience of air travel is an essential element in passengers’ decision-making. With passengers indicating a clear intention to travel more this year, the industry is well advised to address their concerns, deploying, for example, increased automation.”

Lavorel highlighted that earlier research from SITA indicated that airport and airline CIOs were taking this seriously by pushing digital transformation. The industry’s IT spend is projected to continue its steady year-on-year growth trend since 2020 to support digitalization and automation. Last year, airline and airport IT spending rose to an estimated US$37 billion and US$6.8 billion, respectively.

SITA surveyed more than 6,000 passengers across 27 countries in April of this year as part of the 2023 SITA Passenger IT Insights. The full report will be released on 5 September 2023.

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HOTEL NEWS New Appointment TRAVEL TRENDS AND FOCUS

Outrigger’s Castaway Island, Fiji appoints Paula Vatunicoko as a Resort Manager

Outrigger Resorts & Hotels is pleased to announce the promotion of Paula Vatunicoko to Resort Manager at its private island paradise, Castaway Island, Fiji.

Vatunicoko first joined the Castaway Island, Fiji Resort as Executive Housekeeper in August 2019. He left in November 2020 to join Radisson Blu Fiji as their Executive Housekeeper from December 2020 to June 2021 and rejoined Castaway in December 2021. Before initially joining Castaway in 2019, Vatunicoko had spent more than fifteen years at the exclusive 7-star Lalucala Island Resort where he held various roles including Administration Manager, Concierge Manager, overseeing front office operations, events & weddings and activities.

Commenting on the appointment, General Manager Steven Andrews said, “Paula has a remarkable reputation at the resort and in the industry. His expertise and leadership skills will be instrumental in maintaining our commitment to delivering exceptional service and creating unforgettable experiences for our guests.”

Vatunicoko holds a Bachelor of Commerce in human resources management and services and hospitality administration/management in addition to a diploma in international politics, all from Fiji National University.

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Asia HOTEL NEWS

Centara Grand at CentralWorld allures stress-free lifestyle

LifeStyles on 26 at Centara Grand at CentralWorld now offers fitness enthusiasts an opportunity to spice up their exercise routine with a high-energy Zumba session.

Zumba is not just about having a blast, though. It’s a proven way to tone your legs, arms, and abs while burning up to 600 calories an hour. That’s right; you can burn more calories than running or cycling while enjoying the beat of lively Latin music.

The expert instructors at LifeStyles on 26 are committed to making your Zumba experience the best it can be. With classes three times a week, they will guide you through all the right moves, each targeting a different area of your body.

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HOTEL NEWS New Appointment TRAVEL TRENDS AND FOCUS

Stanislav Kondov appointed general manager of Radisson Hotels Moscow Cluster  

Stanislav Kondov took over the management of another oldest Russian hotel of the Radisson Hotels chain — the Radisson Slavyanskaya Hotel & Business Center, Moscow. Stanislav already had experience in managing a group of hotels: from 2015 to 2018, he was the general manager of the Radisson Hotel, Rosa Khutor and Park Inn by Radisson Rosa Khutor hotels.

Stanislav Kondov was educated in the field of finance and built his career in the same field. Since October 2005, he has been working in the hotel industry, where he was appointed Assistant Chief Financial Officer of Hilton International in South Africa. In the field of hospitality, Stanislav’s knowledge and talents were most in demand. After working in the Middle East and the African continent, Stanislav continued his path in the hospitality industry in the Russian capital, where he first headed the flagship hotel of the Radisson Hotel Group – the iconic Radisson Collection Hotel, Moscow, and since June 2023, the Radisson Slavyanskaya Hotel & Business Center . Stanislav Kondov speaks Bulgarian, Russian, English.

“From five years of experience in managing one of the best Moscow five-star hotels in difficult times and a cluster of hotels on Rosa Khutor, I learned a lot of tools, so the new position inspires me and gives me a strong impetus for development. The Radisson Slavyanskaya Hotel & Business Center team has certainly built a strong base. But my mentality is tuned to the more complex tasks of the luxury segment, and I am very scrupulous in matters of quality of service, no matter how many stars flaunted on the facade. This means that, while maintaining a democratic 4-star strategy, we will raise the level of service, which cannot but affect the profitability of the object.

Managing a total stock of almost 1,000 rooms in the Russian capital is a huge responsibility, but also a great strength: it is an opportunity to influence the hospitality market. Therefore, I am going to do a lot of useful things, including legislative initiatives in the hotel and tourism industry,” says Stanislav Kondov.

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MICE News MICE NEWS HOME Mice News Pick Travel Event News

Connections Luxury relaunches adventure series after popular demand

Connections Luxury is set to relaunch its adventure series in Funchal, Madeira from 3-6 September.

Last hosted in the Azores in 2019, Connections Luxury Adventure will connect up to 40 leading buyers with suppliers who offer extraordinary travel experiences with a flair for adventure.

Luxury buyers and suppliers will meet during personalised one-to-one business appointments held in the pioneering Connections Way format – the company’s approach to facilitating long-lasting business relationships by building trust through memorable, shared experiences. Delegates will have the opportunity to participate in Levada hiking, archery and ziplining, as well as golf, a surf lesson and trail exploring with one of the island’s biggest trail running stars.

Held in partnership with Madeira Promotion Bureau, Savoy Palace and DMC Madeira, the two-day showcase is designed to be interactive and mobile to discover some of the destination’s best venues, including The Views Baía Hotel, Porto Mare and Reid’s Palace, a Belmond Hotel.

Regional secretary for tourism and culture of Madeira Islands, and president of the Madeira Promotion Bureau, Eduardo Jesus, said: “After the success of the event Connections Luxury hosted last year in Madeira, it is with great honour that we’re preparing to host the Connections Adventure event in September.

“As an archipelago known for its unique landscape, nature, world heritage forest and scenery for international outdoor sports events, having the opportunity to show delegates what Madeira has to offer for those seeking adventure is a privilege. We hope that during this event everyone can experience a sample of the adrenaline-fuelled adventures Madeira has to offer.”

Attendees will also join a leadership “ConnecTALKS” session which will touch upon the latest trends and challenges within the adventure travel space, and welcome guest speaker Raj Tamang of Responsible Adventures.

Greg Reeves, managing director of Connections Luxury, said: “Due to popular demand, we’re thrilled to be relaunching our adventure series this year and offering our members a highly focused and targeted specialist event.

“Our attending agencies are seeking soft and more challenging adventures to offer their customers and want to be at the forefront to discover iconic destinations. Where better to be inspired and to create new, promising business connections than in Madeira – a sun-trap in the Atlantic with a dynamic and adventurous edge.”

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TRAVEL NEWS

European legends hail Central Vietnam’s potential as a golf hub

Two giants of European golf — Sir Nick Faldo, and Luke Donald — have added their voices to the chorus of approval surrounding Central Vietnam’s credentials as a golf destination.

“To my mind, Central Vietnam is near the pinnacle of places to play golf in Asia,” said Faldo, whose signature layout at Laguna Golf Lang Co is regarded as one of the best layouts in Asia. “The stunning landscapes of beaches and mountains are endlessly beautiful; the warmness of the people is a joy to encounter and there are wonderful golf courses to suit players of every ability.”

When Faldo and Donald express an opinion on golf it pays to take notice. After all, the English pair have decades of experience at the very highest level of the game. They have notched 58 professional wins between them. In Faldo’s case, six of these victories were major titles.

Both have starred in multiple Ryder Cup installments, with Donald due to perform a vital captain’s role when the biannual clash between Europe and US golfers takes place in Italy this September.

And their zeal for the golf options in Central Vietnam — not to mention an array of off-course attractions ranging from endless beaches, world-renowned cuisine, and luxury resorts — bodes well for the destination as golf travel returns with a vengeance.

“The topography of Vietnam is just unbelievable,” said Donald, whose design in the area, Ba Na Hills Golf Club, unfolds over rolling foothills amidst the dramatic peaks that back the coastline in Central Vietnam. “There are courses built around mountains and on sandy soil next to the ocean. The land is hard to match.”

The buzz about Central Vietnam’s layouts has grown almost as loud as the motorbike horns that soundtrack daily life in Danang.

Layouts such as Laguna Golf Lang Co and Ba Na Hills Golf Club are among Asia’s best courses. Ba Na Hills Golf Club features natural elevation changes, ravines, streams, and spectacular mountain backdrops. At Laguna Golf Lang Co, Faldo’s championship course threads between trees, over rice paddies and streams, through rock features, and alongside the pounding surf.

Other highlights for play, meanwhile, include courses designed by luminaries including Greg Norman, Colin Montgomerie, Robert Trent Jones Jr., and Jack Nicklaus.

“Asia’s top golf destination is not just recovering following the pandemic: it’s getting even better,” said Gary Dixon, general manager at Ba Na Hills Golf Club, one of the driving forces in the Vietnam Golf Coast (VGC), a freshly rebooted destination marketing organization that links the region’s best signature golf layouts.

With high-quality golf combined with incredible beaches and luxury resorts like the award-winning properties at Laguna Lang Co — Banyan Tree Lang Co and Angsana Lang Co — Central Vietnam is arguably Vietnam’s hub for golf tourism. It offers a range of attractions, including the heritage sites in history-steeped Hoi An and the Golden Bridge at Sun World Ba Na Hills: a 150-meter-long pedestrian bridge that is one of Asia’s most photographed landmarks.

“Central Vietnam is a place you must see and experience to fully take in and appreciate,” added Faldo. “It’s a fantastic destination for tourism with great properties, great climates, and clean air. The outlook for it is amazing.”

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BLOG Middle East

Incredible places in Qatar to rejuvenate

There are some spectacular natural wonders in the beautiful country of Qatar, which are sure to leave travellers refreshed and rejuvenated.

While the stunning coastline, breath-taking cultural attractions, and modern architecture are at its finest, those who want a break from the city can explore the bounty at some of the most iconic and photographed spots, throughout the country.

Here is a list of activities and spots to reconnect with nature and enjoy the picturesque view in Qatar.

Khor Al Adaid (Inland Sea)

A UNESCO recognized natural reserve with its own ecosystem, Khor Al Adaid, also known as the ‘Inland Sea’ Is a breathtaking destination, where the sand dunes meet the shores of the sea. One of the major attractions in Qatar, the Inland Sea Is soothing on the eyes, to just observe or fun to drive around with the dunes reaching thrilling heights of up to 40 meters. Families can make the most of this attraction by spending an afternoon in the desert, dune bashing, taking a stop along the way to ride camels, and posing with the country’s famous national bird, the falcon. 

Sand Dunes

The sand dunes in Qatar are a major draw for tourists and residents alike. The desert is enjoyable for a leisurely safari and to take in the breath-taking scenery.

Al Thakira Mangroves

Al Thakira mangroves provide a special contrast of greenery, from the desert landscape. This location forms an adventure off the beaten track, with Kayaking as a key fun activity, surrounded by vegetation area that attracts a variety of bird species, including herons and flamingos.

Dahl Al Misfir Cave

A fascinating, 40-meter-deep gypsum-fibrous cave, the Dahl Al Misfir Cave sometimes emits a phosphorescent glow that resembles the moon. The peninsula is also covered in gypsum crystals that resemble roses, or desert roses. As one descends inside the cave and steps on to the path, the temperature begins to drop.

North Sarda and the Heenat Salma Farms

An enchanting experience for families is exploring the North Sedra Farm, the first agritourism destination in Qatar. The farm has a mini zoo with various animals, including Arabian Oryx, zebra, ostrich, lama, and camels with a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables to handpick. The farm also sells top-quality Sedra honey produced in-house, in the winters.

Heenat Salma Farms is another nature led experience that promotes communal living and lush sights. The farm attracts eco-conscious, sustainable living and farming enthusiasts who enjoy organic natural produce. Heenat currently grows around 30 different crop varieties, along with organic fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, honey, and meat.

Ras Abrouq (Zekreet)

These are limestone rock formations that have been formed into mushroom-shaped lunar-like landscapes by the wind. Although the Ras Abrouq peninsula is somewhat remote, it is home to beautiful sandy beaches and a wild deer reserve. Nearby, visitors can also enjoy a fort called ‘Film City’, the ancient 9th-century Murwab Fort, and Richard Serra’s famous steel sculpture called East-West/West-East.

Fuwairit Beach

Fuwairit Beach, which is 1 hour and 20 minutes outside of Doha, is worth visiting for its fine, white sand and clean waters. A Hawksbill Sea Turtle hatchery may be found at Fuwairit Beach, which is popular with kitesurfers.

Qatar’s Flora & Fauna

The desert turns into a lush oasis after it rains. There is a wide variety of fauna, including flamingos, foxes, birds, reptiles, and, of course, the Arabian oryx, which is Qatar’s national animal.

Stretching over a 560km coastline, the sea is an integral part of the Qatari life. The water is rich with marine life. There are ‘Whale Shark in Qatar Tours’ that have recently opened for public sightings, for those interested in seeing the magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

The destination has plenty of natural attractions and cultural heritage sites to enjoy, while taking a break from the city life.

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HOTEL NEWS New Appointment NEWS UPDATES TRAVEL TRENDS AND FOCUS

Fusion Resort Cam Ranh welcomes P.J. Bosman as new culinary director

Fusion Resort Cam Ranh, a wellness-inspired property on Vietnam’s scenic south-central coast, has appointed a new culinary director, P.J. Bosman, to oversee the resort’s healthy and sustainable “farm-to-table” dining concept.

Bosman, a South African, joins Fusion following successful stints as an executive chef and culinary operations manager at other luxury hotels and resorts in Vietnam, and as a private chef for a royal family in the United Arab Emirates.

As head of Fusion Resort Cam Ranh’s culinary program, Bosman will also help to manage one of the largest resort farms in Vietnam—with more than 300 animals, a mango orchard, and a 3,000-square-meter herb and vegetable garden producing more than 40 kilograms of fresh homegrown vegetables daily.

“I want to source as much as possible from the on-site farm and the surroundings,” Bosman said. “We are now starting to plant numerous fruits and vegetables and will be able to harvest them in a few months’ time. We will always have something supplying the restaurants from the garden, as we focus on seasonality.”

Fusion Resort Cam Ranh is home to celebrated restaurants and unique dining opportunities, including the poolside Fresh restaurant serving a clean-living menu of Vietnamese and international favorites; Zen Bar with wood-fired pizzas, snacks and tapas; Breeze, which hosts distinctive pop-up meals and acclaimed visiting chefs; the weekly Beach Barbeque featuring fresh seafood, meats, salads and local Cam Ranh specialties under the stars; exclusive in-villa dining; and romantic candlelit meals for two.

Fusion’s strong wellness focus will also inform the menus under Bosman, who says that homegrown, seasonal and fresh produce will be hallmarks of the resort’s culinary program.

“My vision is to have a story for the menu: where the food comes from, why we are using certain produce and so on,” said Bosman, a graduate of The Culinary Academy in South Africa. “When chefs use the best possible produce our job is easy, as the ingredients speak for themselves.”

Fusion Resort Cam Ranh also established the Fusion Farm school where they teach classes daily, on a complimentary basis, to guests and employees’ children on how to care for animals and grow vegetables. Children also enjoy collecting their own free-range eggs for breakfast. All of their wet raw food waste is used to feed the animals, resulting in zero removal of waste from the property.