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The Seychelles Tourism Board takes the Seychelles to Los Angeles

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The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) recently conducted a ‘Seychelles product & destination training’ for a group of 45 Los Angeles based tourism professionals.

The session was conducted by the STB Regional Director for Africa and the Americas, Mr. David Germain, who presented the products and services available in the Seychelles for the North American travelers visiting the island paradise.

Held at the Il Fornaio Restaurant on Manhattan Beach, the training saw the participation of tourism professionals from the Southern Region of Los Angeles, most of which are familiar with the Middle Eastern and African market.

The training provided the industry players present with updated information about the Seychelles and its products and services. Participants were also informed about the different flight schedule and airlines available from North America to Seychelles, providing several options, which could be made available to their customers. They were also given the opportunity to have their enquiries about the Island destination answered

Mr. Germain mentioned that training is an important part of STB’s marketing efforts to obtain results in North America, and a very essential distribution strategy for our islands in that part of the world.

“Travel Agents help people plan, choose and arrange their holiday, they also advise, and at times give their opinion where to go, they are thus very important and essential partners for Seychelles in North America, especially, as there are thousands of them who works from home,” he added.

Other trainings also take place whenever STB takes place in major exhibitions in North American cities, these help to, as much as possible; boost North American Trade Partner’s knowledge on the Seychelles Islands.

Aside from training programmes, STB also organizes familiarization trips to the Seychelles for North American agents in collaboration with the various airlines and trade partners, allowing the agents to understand the destination they are selling to their clients.

The North American market is increasingly becoming more significant to the Seychelles. According to statistics, 9,152 visitors from North America visited Seychelles until the end of September this year, an increase of 7% more visitors than last year, 2018.

For more news about Seychelles, please click here.

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected]  www.seychelles.travel

Jamaica Tourism Ministry to Host 2nd Tourism Resilience Summit of the Americas

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Jamaica Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that his Ministry will be hosting the Second Tourism Resilience Summit of the Americas, under the theme “Building Tourism Resilience for Sustainable Development’. The event, which is open to the public, is scheduled to take place on October 9 and 10, at The University of the West Indies’ Regional Headquarters.

Under the theme, ‘Tourism Resilience for Sustainable Development’, the 2nd Tourism Resilience Summit of the Americas will examine and further explore the experience, best practices, and lessons learnt from tourism climatic resilience initiatives around the world.

More specifically, the objectives of the summit will be to examine and highlight the lessons learnt from tourism climatic resilience initiatives; examine emerging issues surrounding tourism climatic resilience and sustainable development.

“I anticipate fruitful discussions on capacity building and effective responses to such global disruptions, including tools for effective recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. It is the goal that destinations should not only rebound but also continue to thrive on a path towards development post disruptions,” said the Minister.

The issues to be examined at the two-day international summit will include Corporate Social Responsibility; Leadership; Collaboration and Partnerships; Risk Management Solutions; Legal and Regulatory Frameworks; Communications and the Media; Crisis Management; Tools and Systems; Capacity Building; Research and Development; The Use of Digital Technologies and the Sargassum Threat.

Executive Director of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, which is spearheading the event, Professor Lloyd Waller, also highlighted that “the Resilience Summit of the Americas will be a game changer in terms of the exchange of ideas on resilience and resilience building.”

Speakers for the event include: Former UNWTO Secretary General, Dr Taleb Rifai; Professor the Hon. Ambassador Richard Bernal; UNESCO Co-Chair in Island Studies and Sustainability & MAIS Program Coordinator, Professor James Randall; CDEMA’s Executive Director, Mr Ronald Jackson and Ingenuity Technologies CEO, Melarka Williams.

Other speakers are Jacobs Media Group’s Daniela Wagner; Founding Director, Global Resilience Institute, Dr. Stephen Flynn; Jamaica Chamber of Commerce Montego Bay President, Janet Silvera; Professor Donna Hope; Finn Partner’s Gail Mooney and CEO Omie AR, Omar Itum.

It is expected that the papers and report from the summit will help to shape policy and strategic frameworks globally, specifically as it relates to enhancing the resilience of worldwide destinations.

“These presentations and other expected outcomes of the summit will contribute to policy formulation and the development of strategic frameworks, specifically as it relates to building resilience of tourism destinations worldwide.  I look forward to the upcoming publication of the ‘Journal of Tourism Resilience’ which will include some of the papers from this meeting,” said the Minister.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jamaica Ministry of Tourism, Corporate Communications, 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Tel: 920-4926-30, Fax: 920-4944

WTM London 2019 to reveal the latest Global Travel Research

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The most current and thought provoking research into global and regional travel trends will be revealed over all three days at WTM London 2019 (Monday 4 November to Wednesday 6 November).

Research sessions commence in the WTM International Media Centre with ForwardKeys’ research into the UK outbound market. ForwardKeys, which analyze 17 million flights a day, will review the top 50 UK inbound flights, comparing them to last year and five years prior. The session takes place in the Press Conference Theatre (ME170) at 10.30 am on Monday 4 November and is preceded by the chance to network over tea, coffee and pastries during the WTM Press Breakfast at 10 am.

On Monday afternoon, World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), will present a session looking at China’s astonishing economic growth, which has created a brand new group of travellers. The session entitled, Booming Chinese Outbound Market, will have a panel of experts looking to discuss the aims at better understanding the Chinese traveller by sharing experiences and expertise from different angles.

It will take place on the dedicated Asia Inspiration Zone at 12.15 on Monday 4 November.

Tuesday morning will see Euromonitor International present a session entitled Megatrends Shaping the Future of Travel. Attendees will discover the latest developments for global travel and tourism performance. This session will give insights into upcoming trends in Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East and Africa. The key focus is on major drivers, consumer behaviour and attitudes that are affecting travel companies’ bottom line. The research will prepare participants with the important knowledge to navigate the year ahead.

Lead by Euromonitor’s Head of Travel, Caroline Bremner, this session takes place at 11.30 am in the Press Conference Theatre.

First thing on Wednesday morning at 10 am in the Press Conference Theatre there is a session, which looks specifically at research around Sustainability in Tourism, conducted by MMGY and Destination International. The research is from a comprehensive survey issued to the global travel industry which looks at gaining insight into what companies are doing responsibly, how they are measuring the impact and what they hope to do moving forward.

This research ties in with World Responsible Tourism Day (WRTD), now the largest day of responsible tourism action in the world and focusing on responsible tourism efforts in the travel industry.

All research sessions in the Press Conference Theatre are available to all delegates.

As part of WTM London’s drive to hone the relevance of sessions, with a greater focus on the regions represented at the show, area-specific topics will be covered within the regional Inspiration Zones.

WTM London, WTM Portfolio Press & PR Lead, Julia Newbound, said: “Research is a crucial component of the WTM London seminar experience, with past sessions consistently standing-room-only. Companies big and small want to ensure they are ahead of the game, so attending these sessions to find out the latest research, trends and data is a great way to make sure they are not left behind.

“We have a mix of global research alongside dedicated country-focused sessions in our regional Inspiration Zones. These sessions will offer delegates even more ideas to implement in their businesses, further demonstrating that Ideas Arrive at WTM London.”

About World Travel Market

World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises eight leading B2B events across four continents, generating more than $7 billion of industry deals. The events are:

WTM London, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend three-day exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. About 50,000 senior travel industry professionals, government ministers and international media visit ExCeL London every November, generating about £3.4 billion in travel industry contracts.

Next event: Monday 4 – Wednesday 6 November 2019 – London #IdeasArriveHere

About Reed Exhibitions

Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events business, enhancing the power of face-to-face through data and digital tools at more than 500 events a year, in more than 43 countries, attracting more than seven million participants. Reed’s events are held in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa and organised by 41 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 43 industry sectors with trade and consumer events. It is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries.

About Reed Travel Exhibitions

Reed Travel Exhibitions is the world’s leading travel and tourism event’s organiser with a growing portfolio of more than 22 international travel and tourism trade events in Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Our events are market leaders in their sectors, whether they are global and regional leisure travel trade events, or specialist events for meetings, incentives, conference, events (MICE) industry, business travel, luxury travel, travel technology as well as golf, spa and ski travel. We have more than 35 years’ experience in organising world-leading travel exhibitions.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Julia Newbound – WTM Portfolio Press & PR Lead

E: [email protected]

T: +44 (0)20 8910 7056 / M: +44 (0)7775 036 858

Nicole Smart – WTM Portfolio PR & Events Consultant

E: [email protected]

T: +44 (0)20 8910 7032/ M: +44 (0)79 1955 5510

IMEX America 2019 – three days of discovery, business and learning

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IMEX America never stands still. The show, taking place September 10 – 12 in Las Vegas, showcases the changing landscape of the business events industry around the world.

Innovation, discovery, exploration – and strong business value – are all on the menu, and every year that menu evolves to reflect a rapidly developing global marketplace with new players, new technologies and new trends.

Here are just some of the new activities, speakers and exhibitors, attendees to IMEX America this year can discover…

• Business continues to be at the core of the show with new exhibitors including Choice Hotels International, Destination Cleveland, Israel, Leonardo Hotels, Los Cabos, RIU Hotels & Resorts, Tourism Trinidad, Uber for Business and Wilmington & Beaches offering planners even more opportunities to do business.

• The new Discovery Zone is the hub of all things experiential – look out for multi-sensory digital displays, mystery tattoos, digital graffiti walls, AR, interactive photo booths and the Hyatt Meditation Station.

• Diversity continues to top the global agenda and She Means Business – a new joint event by IMEX and tw magazine, supported by MPI – will explore this in detail with a stellar line-up including keynote speaker Dr. Mara Catherine Harvey, UBS Switzerland AG; Vicki Hawarden, Society for Human Resource Management; and Melissa Ow, Singapore Tourism Board.
• If there’s one industry that’s ever-evolving, it’s technology. IMEX America’s Tech Pavilion reflects this, with a full complement of exhibitors, many of them new to the show. Expect the latest in gamification, apps, AR and cyber security.

• Smart Monday, powered by MPI, continues to be… smart! More than 30 concurrent education sessions cover hot topics for event planners, including a session on ‘unlocking the DNA code of leadership’ and the chance to study for the Event Design Certificate and join EventMB.com’s highly regarded Event Innovation Lab™. For a truly immersive – and dramatic – learning experience, join InsideRisk’s session – What kind of leader are you under maximum pressure?, the session fosters critical thinking and trust building. There’s also a keynote from a boundary-pushing comedian and dedicated education for event planners working in associations and corporate organizations.

IMEX America takes place September 10 – 12, 2019, with Smart Monday, powered by MPI on September 9. Registration for the show is free of charge and open to all who work in the meetings, events and incentive travel industry.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Emma Blake (UK): [email protected] ; Norman Birnbach (US): [email protected]      

Seychelles titled Number 1 island destination in Africa & Middle East by Travel + Leisure 2019 World’s Best Award

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Seychelles has been named the top island destination in Africa & the Middle East.  It is the third time that Seychelles is rated in the top spot in this category by Travel + Leisure.

The exotic destination’s nomination results from the annual survey conducted by Travel + Leisure, which allows readers of the New York-based travel magazine to rate their travel experiences around the globe. Readers get to share their opinions on top hotels, islands, cities, airlines, cruise lines, spas, among others.

The best islands by region are rated on a number of characteristics including the destination’s natural attractions, beaches, activities & sights, restaurants, food, people & friendliness and value. The destination’s romantic appeal also features as an optional criterion. For each characteristic, respondents are asked to give a rating based on a five-point scale of excellence.

Boasting lush tropical vegetation, powder-white beaches and clear turquoise waters, Seychelles – a 115-island archipelago in the western Indian Ocean came out on top of the readers’ list when it comes to the Africa & Middle East region.

It is during a cocktail event at the Times Square Edition in New York City on Tuesday July 16, 2019 that Seychelles was revealed as No1 island Destination in Africa & Middle East.

Mr. David Di Gregorio, Executive Board Member of (APTA) Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa, of which Seychelles is a member, received the Award on behalf of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB). Jacqueline Gifford, Editor in Chief and Jay Meyer the SVP/ Publisher presented the recognition to the destination to Mr. Di Gregorio.

Commenting on the award, the STB Regional Director for Africa & the Americas, Mr. David Germain stated that the prestigious title results from continuous collective efforts between the Seychelles authorities, including the STB and all its stakeholders.

“Achieving the distinction of Top Island in Africa and the Middle East for the third time is a tremendous honor for the Seychelles, recognizing that the region has much to offer in terms of world-class island experiences,” Mr. Germain.

Mr. Germain also pointed out that the STB’s maintains the hard work to maintain solid trade relations with the USA and Canadian outbound tour operators, travel agents and other trade partners in North America. He said that winning the award for a third time, is evidence that the STB’s marketing strategy in North America is working.

“The Award helps to garner recognition and provides a significant amount of visibility for our islands in North America and the region. The STB will continue to share and present the culture and tourism attributes of Seychelles to both the trade and consumers in the various North American cities, with the aim of increasing tourist’s arrival to Seychelles from this part of the world,” said Mr. Germain.

According to latest figures, the North American market has shown an increase by 8 percent from January to May 2019 in tourism arrivals in the Seychelles.

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, [email protected]  www.seychelles.travel