For Immediate Release | Official News Wire for the Travel Industry

Where press releases are breaking news

Seychelles represented at a Corporate Travel Planners Roadshow in Abu Dhabi

by

Maximizing its exposure in the Middle East, the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) participated in a Corporate Travel Planners Roadshow held at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

The roadshow, which took place on November 20, 2019 was organised by dnata Abu Dhabi with the objective of connecting the corporate travel bookers to the key service facilitators.

The event saw the participation of over 90 key travel planners/bookers from dnata’s prestigious corporate account and 20 exhibitors providing various travel services including airlines, hotel chains and tourism boards. This involved the STB featuring Seychelles as a versatile destination of choice in the Indian Ocean.

The Corporate Travel Planner Roadshow attracted mainly frequent travellers from the corporate world such as travel managers, procurement managers and travel officers all keen to keep abreast with the services available on the market.

The destination was represented by Ms. Aliette Esther, Tourism Attaché based in Abu Dhabi, and was assisted in promoting the Seychelles in the roadshow by Cerf Island Resort representative Mrs. Foram Varsani.  Both were working in unison to provide information about the destination. Mrs. Varsani also used the opportunity to explain about the facilities and activities available to potential clients at the Cerf Island Resort.  

Commenting on the STB’s participation at the event Ms. Esther explained that it falls in line with STB’s strategy for visibility as well as educating its partners.

 ‘It is important to be constantly on the road to promote the destination especially in this day and age where the competition is tough. It is important also to keep managing our relationship vis-à-vis our travel trades partners and update their knowledge of our destination. This can be achieved by reminding partners that Seychelles is a versatile destination, which also includes services for the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) segments,” said Ms. Esther. 

 “I had a fruitful visit to Abu Dhabi to attend two events which took place on 20th & 21st November. I am pleasantly surprised to see the marketing & awareness, which is done by STB  as I found great number of corporate and tourism establishments interested in the destination.

I am very grateful for all the help and support I received during my visit from Aliette to draw more business to our shores.” Mrs Foram Varsani said.

‘At the moment, the UAE is the 5th biggest market for the Seychelles.’ Ms Esther said. ‘Roadshows such as this one will certainly help in getting the UAE to climb a notch higher on the ladder.  At the end of the day, the more visitors we get, whether it be from the UAE or any other parts of the world, the ultimate benefactors are the Seychellois people.  In the process, we will be sharing some of the beauty and culture of our islands with the visitors. It is a win-win situation all around. We look forward to participating in similar events in the future.’

According to the latest Knight Frank’s 2018 City Wealth Index, Abu Dhabi is the richest city in the GCC.

Ms. Esther further mentioned that the affluence in Abu Dhabi and the regular daily flights availability -3 times a day from the two UAE hubs (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), a 4-hour flying time make the city an excellent place to market the destination. 

With the five-day long National Day holiday coming up at the end of November early December, the roadshow was well timed and Ms. Esther and Mrs. Varsani at the STB and Cerf Island Resort were kept busy answering questions about attractions and activities on the islands of Seychelles.

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

Brazil Corporate Travel and Cruise Specialist AZ Travel joins UNIGLOBE

by

UNIGLOBE Travel has expanded its network in South America with the addition of UNIGLOBE AZ Travel in Curitiba. 

Owned by Alessandro Azevedo, UNIGLOBE AZ Travel has been in business since 2010 and specializes in corporate travel management and cruises. “We were seeking to join an international franchise network that could help us to scale up our operations and service offerings to clients,” says Azevedo. “We chose UNIGLOBE over other brands because of their local support, including a regional management team here in Brazil, that makes us feel truly connected to the global network.”  

The UNIGLOBE Brazil Region, led by regional president Patrick Tytgadt, has locations in urban centres across Brazil, including the nation’s capital Brasilia, Campinas, Curitiba, Goiânia, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, São José dos Campos, Uberlândia and Vitoria – Vila Velha.

Says UNIGLOBE Travel International founder and Chief Executive U. Gary Charlwood, “I have great respect for Patrick and his team and I am delighted that Alessandro has chosen to become part of our expanding network in South America. On behalf of our leadership team in Vancouver, I welcome everyone at UNIGLOBE AZ Travel to our international family.”

About UNIGLOBE
Working globally to serve clients locally across more than 60 countries, UNIGLOBE Travel leverages current technologies and preferred supplier pricing to save clients time and money on business and vacation travel planning. Since 1981, corporate and leisure travelers have depended on the UNIGLOBE Travel brand to deliver services that go beyond expectations. UNIGLOBE Travel was founded by U. Gary Charlwood, CEO and has its world headquarters in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Annual system-wide sales volume is $5.0+ billion.

Media contact: [email protected]

UNIGLOBE expands in Europe with the addition of Corporate Travel Bulgaria

by

UNIGLOBE Corporate Travel Bulgaria is the newest member of the UNIGLOBE Travel Global Partner network in Europe.     

NIGLOBE Corporate Travel Bulgaria, based in Sofia, is a fast-growing travel management company focusing on serving corporate enterprise. Says managing director Thomas Stoitschew, “In partnership with UNIGLOBE, our vision is to be the most trusted partner for our customers in Bulgaria. We look forward to providing local expertise to UNIGLOBE clients in Bulgaria and around the world.”

The UNIGLOBE Global Partner Program is open to top-performing travel management companies who are seeking to expand their networks and technologies to international markets. The program also provides UNIGLOBE agencies worldwide with access to local expertise and service when planning travel programs for business and leisure clients.

“Bulgaria is an important market for UNIGLOBE,” says UNIGLOBE founder and chief executive U. Gary Charlwood. “It is a fast-developing market for global corporations and a desirable event destination in Europe. We are delighted to welcome our new partner, UNIGLOBE Corporate Travel Bulgaria, and add this thriving market to our global network.”

About UNIGLOBE

Working globally to serve clients locally across more than 60 countries, UNIGLOBE Travel International leverages current technologies and preferred supplier pricing to save clients time and money on business and leisure travel services. Since 1981, corporate and leisure travellers have depended on the UNIGLOBE brand to deliver services beyond expectations. UNIGLOBE Travel was founded by U. Gary Charlwood, CEO and has its world headquarters in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Annual system-wide sales volume is $5.0+ billion.

Media contact: [email protected]

About UNIGLOBE Corporate Travel Bulgaria

UNIGLOBE Corporate Travel Bulgaria Ltd. provides a wide selection of travel services with the utmost focus on best practices, new technologies, and creative sourcing, to the benefit of its corporate clients. UNIGLOBE Corporate Travel’s processes and technologies are adapted to each customer’s unique needs and aimed to create customized programs and services.

Media Contact: Thomas Stoitschew
[email protected]
Phone: + 359 2 423 1871

UNIGLOBE Travel expands corporate travel management service to Nigeria with the addition of St. Clare Travels

by

UNIGLOBE Travel has partnered with Nigerian corporate travel specialist St. Clare Travels to serve the burgeoning Nigerian business travel market. 

Headquartered in the Victoria Island area of Lagos, UNIGLOBE St. Clare Travels is IATA certified and works with all major airlines operating in Nigeria. Together with UNIGLOBE, St. Clare Travels provides corporate clients with responsive service, significant cost saving programs, the latest technologies and reporting, and a commitment to ethical business practices.

St. Clare Travels owner and chief executive Olukemi Esan has a Master’s degree from the University of Lagos. She brings with her over 15 years of experience in the banking industry and more than 15 years of experience in corporate travel management and services.  Says Esan, “I am pleased to be able to expand our presence in new markets through this new partnership with UNIGLOBE.  This will allow us to extend the reach of our global corporate service offerings to clients and assure them of attentive service whether they are travelling within Africa or around the world. We also look forward to collaborating with other UNIGLOBE agencies planning corporate travel to Nigeria.”

Says UNIGLOBE founder and chief executive officer U. Gary Charlwood. “Africa holds some of the world’s fastest growing economies and offers growth opportunities for entrepreneurs in business travel. We are pleased to join forces with Olukemi and her team to serve the business community in Lagos and benefit from her depth of experience in African travel and tourism.”

About UNIGLOBE

Working globally to serve clients locally across more than 60 countries, UNIGLOBE Travel leverages current technologies and preferred supplier pricing to save clients time and money on business and vacation travel planning. Since 1981, corporate and leisure travelers have depended on the UNIGLOBE Travel brand to deliver services that go beyond expectations. UNIGLOBE Travel was founded by U. Gary Charlwood, CEO and has its world headquarters in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.  Annual system-wide sales volume is $5.0+ billion.

Media Contact: [email protected]

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism cites Sandals Resorts as good corporate citizens

by

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett has hailed Sandals Resorts as a prime example of indigenous companies in the tourism sector that are taking their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to new heights, ensuring that the positive impact of tourism is reaching all corners of our communities. The Minister was speaking in New York City on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 as part of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) North America Leaders Forum panel: From Doing CSR to Being CSR.

Mr. Bartlett noted that in an effort to modify the perception that the tourism sector is too focused on the narrowed economic interest of a few and lacks a social conscience, stakeholders such as Sandals Resorts have been a leader and has been working with communities that surround their hotels for four decades. “To solidify and deepen that impact, Sandals launched its Foundation some ten years ago to expand that impact and today the value of their CSR programmes across the Caribbean stands over US$58 million, impacting over 850,000 people’s lives,” noted the Tourism Minister.

Minister Bartlett believes that the locally owned hotel chain has not just been doing CSR but being CSR. “Sandals shares the story of the Caribbean, our culture, heritage, struggles and resilience of our people with every traveler to this region, encouraging them to donate cash and in-kind, providing them with strategic volunteer opportunities while on vacation through its Pack-for-a Purpose and Reading Road Trips programmes,” stated the Minister.

During his remarks, the Tourism Minister sought to highlight a number of sustainable projects with direct linkages to the industry on which Sandals Resorts is focused. Among them, the Artisan Project, a partnership with the Development Bank of Jamaica through the World Bank Fund to upgrade the market-readiness of local artisan suppliers, building their capacity not just for local markets, but for international markets as well.

Another critical area for Sandals Resorts is the environment. “Sandals and the Sandals Foundation have continued to prioritize the environment with all their hotels being Earth Check Certified engaging both guests and team members in best practices to ensure everyone works together to protect the Caribbean’s natural resources,” noted Bartlett.

In citing Sandals Resorts as a CSR case study, he had high praises for the Foundation and its executive team which has projected that it will spend US$1.5 million annually on education, environmental sustainability and community driven programmes across all islands.

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