Edition 139 · December 2019

The Queen of England is offering GBP85,000 to the right candidate who will be involved in planning safe, efficient, cost effective and appropriate travel services for the official duties of members of the Royal Family and their households. The director of Royal Travel is a full-time London-based position.

Further information: https://theroyalhousehold.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/appcentre-1/brand-3/candidate/so/pm/1/pl/4/opp/2200-Director-of-Royal-Travel/en-GB

Dutch airline KLM has marked its centenary year by launching a new campaign titled ‘Fly Responsibly’ taking a leading role in creating a more sustainable future for aviation. The campaign created by DDB Unlimited highlights various sustainability focussed initiatives by the Dutch operator and encourages travellers to either offset their emissions or travel by alternative and less polluting forms of transport.

Further information: https://flyresponsibly.klm.com/en

Air New Zealand has begun trialling edible coffee cups as it explores new and innovative ways to meet its sustainability challenges. The ‘twiice’ edible trial uses plant-based cups made from paper and corn instead of plastic, which enables the cup to break down in a commercial composter. The airline currently serves more than eight million cups of coffee each year and switching to plant-based cups is expected to prevent around 15 million cups from going to landfill annually.

Further information: https://twiice.co.nz/

Virgin Australia has launched a Nervous Flyers program to help ease the nerves of anxious travellers. The is available on all flights and passengers who join will get a personalised e-mail a week before they travel with a behind-the-scenes look at some technical aspects of flight operations. When on-board passengers will have access to dedicated wellness and meditations on in-flight entertainment and cabin crew will keep an eye out for them during the flight.

Further information: https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/plan/specific-needs-assistance/nervous-flyers/

Pennicott Wilderness Journeys from Tasmania and has launched its first Victorian eco-tourism adventure called Wilsons Promontory Cruises, 3 hours South-East of Melbourne. The international award-winning tourism operator has invested $3 million in the new development which is the only cruise to be operating from the Wilsons Promontory National Park. Guests board a custom-built amphibious vessel before embarking on the 4 hour adventure in search of untouched islands, rugged coastlines, rock formations and wildlife.

Further information: https://www.promcruises.com.au/

Turkish firm Hayri Atak Architectural Design Studio has revealed plans for a new boutique hotel to be built into the cliff face on Preikestolen, 600m above the picturesque Lysefjorden fjord in the west of Norway. The new concept hotel is designed with nine boutique rooms over three stories each with its own private balcony. The upper entry would serve a dual purpose as a scenic viewing deck out and a glass-bottomed pool would be cantilevered over the cliff face.

Further information: https://worldarchitecture.org/article-links/ecgec/hayri-atak-architectural-design-studio-creates-boutique-hotel-suspended-from-a-cliff-in-norway.html

Airbnb partnership makes work travel easier Airbnb for Work has announced a new partnership with New Zealand’s travel management company Orbit World Travel that will make it easier for Kiwis to travel for work without sacrificing the comforts of home. The partnership is the first of its kind in New Zealand and will have access to Airbnb’s third party booking tool which allows a company’s travel bookers to search, book, and pay for trips on behalf of other employees and business premium customer service.

Further information: https://www.airbnbforwork.com/

The Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System has been awarded funding by the US Federal Transit Authority for the purchase of six zero-emission electric coaches which will operate on routes by the end of 2020 making it the first public transit agency to utilise battery-operated vehicles for service into a National Park. The transit service provides a year-round alternative to driving to Yosemite and was started as a joint effort 20 years ago between the National Park Service and the Counties of Mariposa, Merced and Mono in order to decrease traffic and pollution.

Further information: https://yarts.com/

A labyrinth of underground tunnels have been unveiled to the public in Tasmania by art tycoon David Walsh The 27 million investment named ‘Siloam’ belong to MONA the museum of old and new art, in Hobart. The Siloam tunnels aim to take willing visitors on a journey to ‘no particular place’ but leave with the feeling of a ‘religious processional’.

Further information: https://mona.net.au/museum/siloam

Amager Bakke has become a landmark in Denmark’s capital Copenhagen, built on the roof of a huge incinerator that burns waste to produce heat and electricity. It is billed as one of the cleanest waste-to-energy plants in the world, thanks to technology that filters its emissions. The project has been almost a decade in the making and recently opened a 450m artificial ski slope area that wraps around the aluminium-clad building. Further information: https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/planning/copenhill-gdk1088237

Agoda one of the world’s fastest growing online digital travel platforms has launched its first multi-market cross-channel advertising campaign. The campaign will built upon the platform Less Hassle, More Travel and leverages its brand characters called “Agojis” across Australia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. It focuses on hassle-free cancellation and best prices reflecting the goal of providing the easiest booking journey possible to enable its customers to travel more.

Further information: https://www.agoda.com/press/agoda-new-brand-identity

Byron Shire Council in partnership with conservation movement Take 3 for the Sea has launched a responsible travel campaign inviting visitors to help reduce plastic pollution. Take 3 for the Sea Byron has the simple message of inviting visitors to take three pieces of rubbish when they leave the beach, river, creek to make a difference. The campaign will run for three months over the summer period when tourist numbers are at their peak.

Further information: https://www.byron.nsw.gov.au/Council/Media-centre/Media-releases/Take-3-for-the-Sea-Byron-%E2%80%93-a-new-campaign-to-reduce-plastic-pollution

Broken coral is being rescued from the sea floor at Fitzroy Island and given a second chance to form new reef structures near Australia’s first ocean-based coral nursery in Cairns. The not-for-profit organisation had embarked on a Corals of Opportunity program in conjunction with the Powershop Coral Tree Nursery at Fitzroy Island where corals are grown to be transplanted on degraded reefs. They program aims to plant 1 million new corals on the Great Barrier Reef by 2026.

Further information: https://reefrestorationfoundation.org/

In 2018, Hilton launched the new Travel with Purpose goals to redefine sustainable travel by cutting its environmental footprint in half and doubling its social impact investment by 2030. Travel with Purpose is Hilton’s corporate responsibility strategy to redefine and advance sustainable travel globally. Hilton became the first major hotel company to set science-based targets to reduce carbon emissions in line with the Paris Climate Agreement at nearly 6,000 hotels.

Further information: https://cr.hilton.com/

The Centre for Responsible Travel has released a new tourism industry study The Case for Responsible Travel: Trends and Statistics 2019. The report highlights growing consumer demand for sustainable travel experiences and analyses the role businesses and destinations play in mainstreaming responsible tourism. The report was prepared in collaboration with more than 30 leading organizations and institutions including the United Nations Environmental Program, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and the Word Wildlife Fund.

Further information: https://www.responsibletravel.org/docs/CaseforResponsibleTravel_%202019_Web.pdf

A new study by Griffith University has found national parks are worth billions in mental health benefits to the Australian economy. Researchers surveyed nearly 20,000 people who used national parks in Queensland and Victoria. Previous studies found physical benefits to spending time in nature including lowered stress levels, but none had been done looking at the mental health effects. Further information: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-12631-6

Princess Cruises in collaboration with Wakefield Research has revealed the findings of its 10th Annual Global Relaxation survey. The 2019 report examined the sleep and relaxation habits of 1,000 adults across 8 countries including United States, United Kingdom, Australia, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and Mexico. Princess Cruises has also partnered with world renowned sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus to design the Princess Luxury Bed for a sleep-friendly sensory experience while on holiday.

Further information: https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/onboard-experience/wellness/

The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association has launched its Regional Pledge which provides the framework for sustainable tourism in the region for all visitors. The pledge is called the Seven Affirmations for Seven Generations which is based on Indigenous philosophy that recognises decisions an individual makes today will have an impact for as long as seven generations to come. It is the responsibility of the individual to consider impacts on the environment and the people who inhabit the area when making decisions.

Further information: https://www.thompsonokanagan.com/pledge

Tourism Industry Aotearoa and Tourism New Zealand were part of the group of organisations that joined forces to develop Tiaki (Care for New Zealand) in November 2018. The initiative actively encourages international and domestic travellers to act as guardians of Aotearoa. It also encourages Kiwis and visitors alike to experience New Zealand in a way that keeps everyone safe, protects our environment, respects the culture and protects the country for future generations.

Further information: https://tiakinewzealand.com/

The Lion Recovery Fund has formed the Lionscape Coalition a new initiative to assist Africa’s top tourism operators to take a leadership position in supporting on-the-ground conservation work and encourage clients to support the future of lions. It aims to raise funds for lion conservation, as well as help educate people about the plight of lions and empower the travel industry to play an even bigger role in conservation.

Further information: https://www.lionrecoveryfund.org/lionscape-coalition/

Air New Zealand has been named Airline of the Year by Australia-based aviation safety and product rating agency. The Airline Excellence Awards cover the best of the best in the aviation world, recognising the best airline lounges, finest first class cabins and most exciting in-flight entertainment. The awards are judged using international industry and government safety audits alongside 12 key criteria including fleet age, passenger reviews, investment ratings, staff relations, product offerings and profitability.

Further information: https://www.airlineratings.com/

The 2019 Global Eco Conference held in Cairns, Queensland earlier this month was judged the ‘best ever’ by many of the 220 delegates from 15 nations.

As Ecotourism Australia’s premier annual event, now in its 27th year, Global Eco Asia-Pacific brings together tourism operators, tourism commissions, protected area managers and other tourism professionals to continually review and improve practices related to ecotourism.

Under the theme ‘Essential Evolution’ the conference delegates were invited to explore how ecotourism can continue to be innovative in all aspects – providing leadership in sustainability, tourism experiences and benefits from community engagement.

Climate Change took a very high priority in presentations and panel discussions, particularly as large parts of Australia were facing fire emergencies at the very time that the conference was being staged.

Presentations from the 2019 Conference are now available on the conference website at https://globaleco.com.au/2019/program

Keep tuned for advice on the 2020 Conference location and theme.

The Internationale Tourismus Börse will take place in Berlin, Germany from 4 to 8 March 2020. The event brings together tourism industry representatives from over 185 countries to network, negotiate and do business.

Further information: https://www.itb-berlin.de/en/

The World Indigenous Tourism Summit will be held in Perth from 6 to 9 April 2020. Organised by the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council in partnership with the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance the conference will see delegates discuss the conference theme of “Tourism & Indigenous Earth Wisdom – Weaving the Future that Benefits All”.

Further information: https://www.wits2020.com.au/

The annually anticipated ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) will add a new business speed-dating component to the 3-day TRAVEX programme from 14 to 16 January.

Held on the first day of TRAVEX (14 January), all attending buyers and sellers will have the opportunity to meet and swap contacts with each other in this fast-paced activity prior to business appointment and exhibition days.

“We wanted to create additional lead generation platforms for delegates to benefit from the entire ATF 2020 experience. Each delegate can easily expect to exchange at least 60 business contacts during this period. This is on top of their pre-scheduled business appointments over the next 2 days,” said Darren Ng, Managing Director of TTG Asia Media.

TTG Events, organisers of ATF 2020 TRAVEX are targeting a minimum 1 to 1 buyer-seller ratio, with confirmed representation of suppliers from all 10 ASEAN destinations.

Booth spaces are filling fast. Buyer hosting programme is still open and in its final phase with over 500 registrations received to date.

To register for ATF 2020 Brunei, visit http://www.atfbrunei2020.com/registration/

For more information and programme updates, visit https://www.atfbrunei2020.com.