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“Escape To Jamaica” Instagram Live series delivers a taste of the destination

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The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is using its digital platform to deliver a virtual care package to uplift and inspire followers around the world currently practicing responsible social distancing. On Friday, April 3 at 9:00 pm ET (8:00 pm Jamaica time), the JTB will kick off its “Escape to Jamaica” Instagram Live series featuring one of Jamaica’s leading disc jockeys, ZJ Sparks. The popular ZIP 103 DJ will host a dance party spinning the latest reggae and dancehall hits live from Jamaica, helping viewers chill and unwind after another week of social distancing.

“Escape to Jamaica” will occur weekly on the JTB’s Instagram channel. In addition to sharing irie vibes, the series will also feature live cooking demos and pre-recorded wellness sessions. The first wellness session will be on Monday, April 6 at 9:00 am ET (8:00 am Jamaica time), with Empress Thandi Wise, Certified Yoga Instructor from Rasta Wellness Centre and Jakes Hotel. On Wednesday, April 8 at 6:00 pm ET (5:00 pm Jamaica time) the cooking demos debut with Andre Fowles, Food Network Chopped Champion and Culinary Ambassador for Miss Lily’s in New York, Negril and Dubai.

“We’re aware that people from all corners of the globe may be in need of an escape with what’s happening right now. With this live series, Jamaica offers a virtual getaway through our music, cuisine, culture, warm people and that unmistakable Jamaican spirit,” said Donovan White, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism. “Since visitors are unable to come to us at the moment, we want to bring the “Heartbeat of the World” to their homes. Jamaica will be here to welcome travelers when the time is right. We want our followers to know we can only get through this together.”

Following is the current schedule of the “Escape to Jamaica” series, with additional dates to be announced:

  • April 3: ZJ Sparks – Zip 103
  • April 6: Empress Thandi Wise – Certified Yoga Instructor, Rasta Wellness Centre and Jakes Hotel
  • April 8: Chef Andre Fowles – Food Network Chopped Champion and Culinary Ambassador for Miss Lily’s in New York, Negril and Dubai
  • April 10: DJ Delano – Renaissance Disco
  • April 15: Rousseau Sisters – Jamaican Sisters, owners of SummerHouse in Kingston and Authors of Provisions, The Roots of Caribbean Cooking
  • April 17: ZJ Chrome – Zip 103

To participate, be sure to visit the JTB’s Instagram account at www.instagram.com/visitjamaica. Join the conversation with #EscapetoJamaica.

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

Tourism Resilience means Challenges, Opportunities & Hope: Bartlett speaks out

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Known to see the world also from out of the box the Hon. Edmund Bartlett is not only the current minister of tourism for Jamaica, but is the brain and founder of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre

COVID-19
Hon. Minister of Tourism, Jamaica: Edmund Bartlett has a message for the global tourism world:

We need no further reminder that the COVID-19 pandemic has become a global shock of epic proportions. Accordingly, I will depart from the morbid and depressing narrative that you have grown accustomed to over the last several weeks and share with you a message of hope and reflection.

I am of the view that The COVID-19 pandemic will easily be the game-changer of this millennium. While the world has witnessed other deadly pandemics in recent history such as the Spanish Flu outbreak of 1918 and the H1NI outbreak of 2009, never before has a pandemic so quickly and frighteningly rendered countries across the world, so powerless and helpless in such a simultaneous and indiscriminate manner.

Suddenly, all the advanced and seemingly impenetrable technological, scientific and military capabilities that some countries have developed to bolster self-defense and geopolitical supremacy have become useless against this indomitable invisible threat; appropriately called the great equalizer.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also reminded us that, in spite of the lines of demarcation that we draw up to separate ourselves in our daily lives such as class, wealth, zip code, job, religion, nationality, there is ultimately ONE HUMAN RACE sharing the same vulnerabilities and locked into the same fight for its survival.

This pandemic has indeed offered a very profound lesson in humility by showing us that, irrespective of development disparities and against the assumption of the supremacy of some countries, all countries have their moments of strength and weakness that will become self-evident at the right time. In an ironic twist of fate, historically embattled and volatile states and regions have become safer grounds, even if only temporarily, in the fight against the COV1D-19 pandemic than many countries that have become global symbols of power, control, and security.

This crisis has also forced us to quickly embrace the norms of the future digitalized economy in which business relationships and transactions will become increasingly mediated by digital technology. This new economic paradigm will provide us with an opportunity to discover new modes of functionality and productivity, allow us to balance mobility with responsibility and will help to generate business models that are more resistant to future public health crises Indeed, the adjustments we are now being forced to make, in terms of shifting to remote services and working remotely, will become the new normal underpinning the ethos of public and private sector organizations in many countries in the post-COV1D-19 era.

This crisis has also provided countries with the opportunity to maximize their full potential by un-tapping hidden sources of strength and resilience. Facing isolation, reduced trade, reduced inbound travel and tourism and the possibility of economic recession due to the interconnectedness of the global economy, many countries have now been forced to discover new sources of competitive advantage and survival which they are now locating within their own national borders and which they have traditionally overlooked or underutilized.

In the end, by forcing countries to be more in-ward looking in responding to and adjusting to the exogenous shocks induced by the COVID-19 pandemic, some countries would have chartered their own path to increased self-reliance which will serve them well in the post-COVID-19 era.
In this moment of darkness, fear and uncertainty, the new vicissitudes of life have also helped many of us to appreciate the things that really matter in life-bonding with children, reconnecting with relatives and loved ones, protecting the elderly, being each other brother’s keepers, sharing with the less fortunate, identifying with the suffering of others, paying closer attention to our diet and health and recognizing the temporality of life.

As we continue to fight this crisis together, we are reminded that we have been here before and like we overcame in the past, so shall we again. How quickly we do so will, however, depend significantly on the extent to which we, as citizens, are able to act selflessly and obey precautionary measures, on the one hand, while the state and the private sector must work collaboratively, on the other hand, to deploy resources and lead initiatives to encourage economic resilience as well to help those who are suffering the greatest.

To this end we must continue to:
• practice social distancing and limit interactions that will increase exposure to infection
• observe regulations about public gatherings
• desist from circulating misinformation or fake news that can contribute to more panic and confusion
• sterilize infrastructure and public facilities.
• Allocate public funds to support the preservation of jobs in both the public and private sector
• Introduce measures that will reduce taxes and financial burden on the poor
• Subsidize necessities for the poor including food, housing, medicine etc.
• Partner with the private sector to transform hotels, hostels and residential rentals into accommodation centers for quarantined or infected persons.
• Revisit our travel and tourism institutional structure
• Prepare plans for public investments
• Closely examine the preparedness of our education and health care systems to respond to future shocks

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

“DEEP JAPAN” Exhibit on Seto Inland Sea Has Opened at Kansai International Airport

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Business News first on FIR:

OSAKA, Japan–()–The Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan is holding a new initiative called the “Japanese cultural media arts dissemination initiative in airports and other institutions” for inbound tourists.

Overview of Exhibition at Kansai International Airport

Date & Time:

(Phase 1) Sunday, February 16 to Tuesday, March 31, the second year of Reiwa (2020)

(Phase 2) Early March to March 31, the second year of Reiwa (2020)

Location:

Kansai International Airport (Izumisano City, Osaka) Terminal 1 International Arrival Lobby North-South Corridor (Phase 1)

JR Kansai-Airport Station (Phase 2)

Content:

New media art by artists MANABE Daito and NAKAYAMA Akiko and creative producer UKAWA Naohiro on the theme of the Seto Inland Sea, exhibited in the north-south corridor of Kansai International Airport Terminal 1’s International Arrival Lobby (Phase 1), and media art by Okayama Art Summit artist Ryan Gander and creative producer NASU Taro exhibited in JR Kansai-Airport Station (Phase 2)

Official website: https://jmadm.jp/en/

A media arts exhibit entitled “DEEP JAPAN” on the theme of the Seto Inland Sea has begun at Kansai International Airport and JR Kansai-Airport Station on Sunday, February 16, 2020.

“DEEP JAPAN” is taking place over two periods in two locations.

Phase 1 features a piece by MANABE Daito of Rhizomatiks Research entitled “phase” in the approximately 570-meter south corridor of Terminal 1’s International Arrival Lobby and NAKAYAMA Akiko’s “Whirlpool Art” in the approximately 400-meter north corridor of the lobby, both produced by UKAWA Naohiro, from February 16. “phase” is a new piece that visualizes data generated from the waves of Seto Inland Sea as well as international flight arrival times, while “Whirlpool Art” is a new live painting performance piece inspired by the Naruto whirlpools.

Phase 2 features “Imagineering” by Ryan Gander, an artist at Okayama Art Summit 2016, produced by the 2019 summit’s executive director NASU Taro, in JR Kansai-Airport Station. Furthermore, a panel exhibition in cooperation with Setouchi DMO invites visitors from overseas to the Setouchi area’s diverse tour destinations.

This encounter with cutting-edge media arts will convey new Japanese cultural insights and appeal to tourists in Japan.

The Agency for Cultural Affairs is hosting the “Japan Media Arts Distributed Museum” that will be deployed in 10 Japanese airports sequentially as part of a new project called the “Japanese cultural media arts dissemination initiative in airports and other institutions.”

The artists and creators featured in this exhibition capture the cultural resources borne out of various local cultures through fresh perspectives in places like airports, which serve as gateways to these regions. By showcasing the works of media arts, we invite visitors to explore the true spirit of these cultures throughout their travels.

Kansai International Airport Exhibition Summary

Theme: Setouchi Area

The Setouchi area, which includes the beautiful Seto Inland Sea, is a region rich in nature exceeding 900,000 hectares and containing 727 islands. It became Japan’s first national park in 1934. Home to numerous world heritage sites like Itsukushima Shrine and nationally-designated historic streetscapes as represented by the city of Kurashiki, it is a treasure house of cultural resources. For visitors from overseas, it is a place through which to thoroughly get to know Japan, from its little-known unique scenery to its historically-significant buildings and ornaments.

Seto Inland Sea was central to ancient Japan’s sea routes. As an important transit route for envoys to Tang China, the Yamato Imperial Court built harbors, and Shogun Taira no Kiyomori developed these routes for trade with the Song dynasty during the Heian period. Shipping through the Seto Inland Sea reached its peak during the Edo period. In this way, it has carried a variety of people and goods inside and outside of Japan for thousands of years, accumulating various important cultural assets along the way. In addition, the large number of islands cause tides to change severely in places, leading to the development of the ports as sailors waited for the tides to turn, making it a truly unique ocean area. Now, Kansai International Airport in Osaka Bay, the easternmost point of that area, serves as a key gateway connecting Setouchi to the world.
The Setouchi area is also host to world-famous art festivals like Okayama Art Summit and Setouchi Triennale, to which many visitors come from Europe and North America to enjoy the fusion of modern art and the region’s nature. Awaji Island, Seto Inland Sea’s largest island, is a place of Japanese legend overflowing with cultural significance. According to Japan’s oldest historical record, the Naruto Strait is where a god thrust a spear into the sea and stirred it to bring the very first shape to a world of chaos. Even the Naruto whirlpools drawn by KATSUSHIKA Hokusai are art produced by nature. The massive eddies that rise up from the sea floor to its surface are breathtaking spectacles for all who visit. Shodo Island, the second-largest island, is famous for its contribution to Japanese food culture with its olive groves and soy sauce production. It is also historically significant for the former quarry that produced the stones for the walls of Osaka Castle. One can run from Onomichi along the Shimanami Kaido while enjoying the salty sea breeze, and experience Japanese cuisine while imagining the generations and generations of people through the ages who have done precisely the same. Ogijima, a valuable island that has preserved its lifestyle of old and is also home to a large number of cats, and Chichibugahama Beach, which gleams like the mirror surface of Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia, are also in the Setouchi area. The culture of the Setouchi area has developed through the countless travels of people back and forth, and thus offers the chance to peer into the deep, deep history of Japanese culture.

Exhibition: “DEEP JAPAN”

A “sky gateway museum” that combines media arts into a new Japanese cultural history
Creative producer: UKAWA Naohiro (DOMMUNE)

An airport is just what the name implies – a port of the air, a gateway to the sky.

This floor is indeed a gateway for cultural interaction with different countries and regions, and even a kind of cloister where people who have literally crossed borders are thrown together. So in this hub of human activity, the Agency for Cultural Affairs, whose mission is to stimulate international cultural exchange, is showing the world a new initiative that crossfades Japan’s historic cultural resources into cutting-edge media arts. Yes, this is the concept of the distributed museum that installs media artwork mixing regional culture and their stories in airports around the country. This initiative lets participating international airports take the lead in collaborating with artists to create “sky gateway museums” in an aim to encourage the increasing number of inbound tourists to stay longer and connect with other regions, strengthening the foundation of Japan tourism and catalyzing media art. Kansai International Airport’s version is like a dancefloor, matching the beat of the most avant-garde applied technology (media art) to the rare grooves of Japan’s historic cultural resources. And its name is Japan Media Arts Distributed Museum: Deep Japan!

The artists’ pieces unveiled here, which mix images of Seto Inland Sea with a variety of media, represent a search for the universal potential of historic chance encounters with media arts. A read of history reveals that in any era, new media and novel technological inventions are merely tools in the hands of creators. For example, rock art and cave murals, the Nazca Lines and pyramids, and Jomon pottery and keyhole-shaped tumuli can be interpreted as media art from mythical ancient times, but even from long ago, media and technology have never been more than tools to bring imagination to life. Now, in the age of industry 4.0, we have conceptualized museums at the gateways to the sky as a new Japanese cultural history. We have also drawn an alternative future of revitalization for rural Japan and used an international airport as the stage for a completely new type of media art.

The first piece is by Rhizomatiks Research and Daito Manabe, 314 LED lights installed in the approximately 570-meter corridor running parallel to the runway. The LED lighting patterns are generated from Seto Inland Sea wave data as well as data from the timetable of international flights arriving at Kansai International Airport. It links the wave cycle of Seto Inland Sea, praised by many Westerners including German physician and botanist Philipp Franz von Siebold for its picturesque scenery, with the record of visitors to Japan from overseas, synchronizing traveler activity with environmental change in Setouchi.

NAKAYAMA Akiko’s piece is a fusing of the Naruto Strait with her distinct style of flowing colors depicting change over time. According to Japan’s oldest historical record, the Naruto Strait is where a god thrust a spear into the sea and stirred it to bring the very first shape to a world of chaos, and this artwork, made of colors inhabiting a single moment, stands alongside the imagery, poetry, performance, and other media through which storytellers have told of this legendary place for a thousand years.

Japan Media Arts Distributed Museum: Deep Japan is the intersection of technology and history, media and tourism, art and tradition! It is the concept of museums at the gateways to the sky that combine media arts into a new Japanese cultural history. As all of these composition elements are mixed together in the airport to form a completely new network of hubs, each airport becomes a node in this modern distributed museum. And this time, the museum features two leading Japanese artist teams!

Artist:

MANABE Daito

Tokyo-based artist, interaction designer, programmer, and DJ. He established Rhizomatiks in 2006 and then the R&D-heavy project-focused Rhizomatiks Research in 2015 with ISHIBASHI Motoi.

He creates artwork by reconceptualizing familiar phenomena and materials from new perspectives and in new combinations. Instead of going for high-resolution, highly realistic, rich expression, he focuses on phenomena only discovered through careful observation, the inherent attractiveness of bodies, programming, and computers, and the relations and boundaries between analog and digital, real and virtual, as he works in the domains of design, art, and entertainment.

His broad range of collaborations include the likes of SAKAMOTO Ryuichi, Bjork, OK GO, Nosaj Thing, Squarepusher, Andrea Battistoni, NOMURA Mansai, Perfume, and Sakanaction as well as the Jodrell Bank Center for Astrophysics in Manchester, England, and CERN.
He has received many awards both at home and abroad, including the Ars Electronica Distinction Award, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Titanium Grand Prix, D&AD Black Pencil, and Japan Media Arts Festival Grand Prize.

NAKAYAMA Akiko

Graduated from Tokyo Zokei University’s Department of Fine Arts with a major in painting in 2012 and a master’s in art research in 2014. She creates living paintings using color and flowing energy to react a variety of materials with each other.

As shown by her continually-transforming “Alive Painting” series or the “Still Life” series that visualizes and solidifies the filtration process of the former’s run-off, she is continuously producing strongly performative paintings. Her dynamically-changing artwork harmonizing various media and colors are almost like extemporaneous poetry. Viewers are led into this poetic landscape by projecting into it themselves, living things, nature, and more. In her solo exhibitions, she uses sound as “invisible paint” , touching on space and emotion through her painting. In recent years she has appeared at TEDxHaneda, DLECTRICITY Art Festival (Detroit), a solo performance at NEW ARS ELECTRONICA (Austria), Biennale Nemo (Paris), LAB30 Media Art Festival (Augsburg), TECHNARTE art + technology (Bilbao), MUTEK Montreal, and more.

Creative producer:

UKAWA Naohiro (DOMMUNE)

Born in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, in 1968. Identified as a “current artist”, instead of a contemporary artist. As a filmmaker, graphic designer, VJ, writer, university professor, he has engaged in a wide range of extremely diverse activities since the late eighties. Since participating in the “Buzz Club: News from Japan” (MoMA PS1, New York) and “JAM: Tokyo-London” (Barbican Art Gallary, London) in 2001, his work has been featured in exhibitions around the world. In 2010, he founded DOMMUNE, Japan’s first live streaming channel/studio. DOMMUNE has built “satellite studio” pieces at contemporary art exhibitions in London, Dortmund, Stockholm, Paris, Mumbai, Linz, Fukushima, Yamaguchi, Osaka, Kagawa, Akita, and Sapporo. In 2019, “DOMMUNE SETOUCHI” was presented at the Setouchi Triennale. DOMMUNE has created over 5000 shows (7000 hours, 150 terabytes worth of programming) viewed by over 100 million people in the past 10 years. The studio moved to the 9th floor of Shibuya PARCO in 2019, and transformed into SUPER DOMMUNE, updating content to evolve with and anticipate the technologies of the post-5G future.
https://www.dommune.com/

Artist:

Ryan Gander

Born in Chester, England, in 1976. Currently active in London and Suffolk. A driver of the new-generation conceptual art scene, he is known for artwork that turns familiar, everyday objects into universal concepts. In Japan, he has had numerous solo exhibitions at national art museums such as “Icarus falling – An exhibition lost” (Maison Hermès, Tokyo, 2011), “You have my words” (Dazaifu Tenman-gu, Fukuoka, 2011), and “These wings aren’t for flying” (The National Museum of Art, Osaka, 2017). He has also participated in major international exhibitions such as the 54th Venice Biennale (Venice, 2011), documenta (13) (Kassel, 2012), Okayama Art Summit (Okayama, 2016), and Sydney Biennale (2018), garnering high praise both inside and outside of Japan. In January 2021 he will have a solo exhibition at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery.

Creative producer:

NASU Taro

Born in Okayama in 1966. Graduated from Waseda University. After working in Tenmaya’s art division, he opened the modern art gallery TARO NASU in Tokyo in 1998. He has collaborated with many art museums and other public institutions in Japan and overseas. In 2016, he established Art & Public, a company mainly engaged in art consulting. Now, he works to popularize modern art, serving as art advisor for “Imagineering Okayama Art Project” (2014) and executive director for Okayama Art Summit 2016 and 2019.

Okayama Art Summit

The Summit is an international modern art exhibition held every three years in the city of Okayama. For Okayama Art Summit 2019 (the second summit), the artistic director was French artist Pierre Huyghe, and it was held over two months from September 27 to November 24, 2019, in Okayama Castle and various other historic cultural venues around Okayama Korakuen. Entitled “IF THE SNAKE”, it featured 18 artist groups from nine countries selected from around the world. In 2019, Asia Art Pioneer, which recognizes Asian groups, artists, programs, and exhibitions that contributed to the global art scene, awarded it Public Art Project of the Year.

Okayama Art Summit 2019

Period:

Friday, September 27 to Sunday, November 24, 2019 (51 days)

Organizer:

Okayama Art Summit Executive Committee (Okayama City, Ishikawa Foundation, Okayama Prefecture)

Chairman:

OMORI Masao (Mayor of Okayama City)

Executive producer:

ISHIKAWA Yasuharu (President of Ishikawa Foundation, President of Stripe International Inc.)

Executive director:

NASU Taro (Representative Director of Art & Public)

Artistic director:

Pierre Huyghe (Artist)

Public program director:

KINOSHITA Chieko (Associate Professor, Osaka University Co-Creation Bureau’s Office for Society-University Co-Creation)

Setouchi DMO

DMO (Destination Management/Marketing Organization) conducts an integrated management of the entire region by vitalizing the tourist destinations. The Setouchi DMO consists of The Inland Sea, SETOUCHI Tourism Authority, which plans and carries out tourism marketing promotion, and the Setouchi Brand Corporation Inc. that supports tourism product development by utilizing the Setouchi Kanko Kasseika Fund. Making the most of the broad and varied tourism resources of Setouchi, the Setouchi DMO, together with relevant parties, conducts information dissemination, promoting activities, effective marketing and strategy formulation, and encourages the local tourism-related business operators to develop tourist destinations.

Overview of Exhibition at Kansai International Airport (Details)

Date & Time:

(Phase 1) Sunday, February 16 to Tuesday, March 31, the second year of Reiwa (2020)

 

(Phase 2) Early March to March 31, the second year or Reiwa (2020)

Location:

(Phase 1) Kansai International Airport (Izumisano City, Osaka) Terminal 1 International Arrival Lobby North-South Corridor

 

(Phase 2) JR Kansai-Airport Station

Artists:

(Phase 1) MANABE Daito, NAKAYAMA Akiko

 

(Phase 2) Ryan Gander

Creative producers:

(Phase 1) UKAWA Naohiro

 

(Phase 2) NASU Taro

Supporters:

Setouchi DMO

 

Ishikawa Foundation

 

West Japan Railway Company

 

Kansai Airports

Organizer:

Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan

 

“Japanese cultural media arts dissemination initiative in airports and other institutions in the first year of Reiwa”

Puerto Rico Tourism: Out with the old, in with the new

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“Since our inception last July, we hit the ground running to accelerate the tourism economy,” said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico. “This brand campaign follows a strong publicity effort that set up Puerto Rico as the top place to visit in 2019 and a recently revamped website, DiscoverPuertoRico.com.

“The creative highlights our two strongest assets – our culture and our people – and will help us strengthen traveler’s familiarity with what makes our Island one-of-a-kind.”  The campaign officially launches today across digital channels via digital banners, social, pre-roll and a follow-up TV spot that will launch in coming weeks in key markets. Additional marketing support is expected throughout the rest of 2019, to attract visitors to the Island during the summer travel season.”

Discover Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico’s newly-established Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), announced today the rollout of Puerto Rico’s brand campaign called “Have We Met Yet?” which draws inspiration from Puerto Rico’s cultural and natural offerings and at its essence, focuses on the hospitable and welcoming nature of its people. By posing the question “Have We Met Yet?” the creative re-introduces the Island to the world and brings to life the exotic yet familiar essence of Puerto Rico. As the U.S. mainland’s “neighbor to the south,” the new campaign showcases through Puerto Rico’s iconic doors how the Island welcomes visitors with open arms.

Following extensive research that showed that Puerto Rico’s brand identity was neutral in the minds of travelers, this new campaign is this next phase of Discover Puerto Rico’s brand repositioning process, enabling the Island to fully capitalize on its rich tourism product offerings and emerge as a leading Caribbean destination. The creative repositions the island as that neighbor that one dreams of – with the festive flair, the ocean view, the incredible art collection, the delicious food. Puerto Rico is the neighbor you’ll laugh with, celebrate with, and maybe even fall in love with.

“Puerto Rico’s people, its rich culture and unparalleled natural offerings, combined with the fact that it’s a U.S. territory and easily accessible, were key factors that led to this creative. We’re excited to debut this brand campaign as it opens the door, literally, to endless possibilities that showcase the spirit of the Puerto Rican people and everything the Island has to offer,” said Leah Chandler, CMO of Discover Puerto Rico.

Travelers exposed to the new brand campaign will be immediately drawn by the colorful vibrant doors and stunning imagery found throughout the Island. The creative highlights many aspects that make Puerto Rico a unique destination—ranging from its people, its cuisine, its festive spirit, its natural attractions, and much more.

“The campaign invites travelers to visit Puerto Rico and meet us, the neighbor that you can’t live without,” said Chandler. “Puerto Rico was named the #1 Place to Visit in 2019 by the New York Times and has topped over 20 other notable lists of places to visit this year,” she added. “We want to send a message to all travelers that this is THE year to visit Puerto Rico. The entire island is eager to welcome them.”

The creative was ideated and produced by Beautiful Destinations, with support from local production crews who traveled throughout the Island to capture the beautiful scenery, thousands of colorful doors, and welcoming faces of the Puerto Rican people.

To view the “Have We Met Yet?” creative online, visit YouTube.com/DiscoverPuertoRico and be on the lookout for additional campaign creative coming soon.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Indian travelers expected to spend $136 billion by 2021

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The Indian traveler has come of age, spending approximately $94 billion in 2018, on around 2 billion domestic and international trips, helping the Indian travel and tourism industry achieve unprecedented scale.

The momentum is expected to continue and the industry will grow at a 13 percent CAGR to $136 billion by 2021, according to a report, ‘How Does India Travel’. The report outlines how India spends on travel, the influence of online channels in their purchase journey and potential growth opportunities for travel businesses till 2021.

Deep diving into the $136 billion spends, the report cites a 12 percent growth in transportation ($50 billion), 13 percent growth in lodging ($21 billion) and consumption, which includes spends on shopping, recreation and food, to grow at 13 percent ($65 billion) over the next three years. Additionally, as more people come online, smartphone penetration improves and use of digital payments goes up, the report estimates that Indian travelers will spend an additional $24 billion on online travel bookings over the next three years, a growth from 25 percent in 2018 to 35 percent in 2021.

Online is a significant source of research

Elucidating the planning journey of Indian travelers, both for business and leisure, the report calls out five phases of a customer journey – Interest, Research, Booking, Experience and Sharing. The report states that during key research-heavy phase of interest, research and experience, digital plays a pivotal role with over 86 percent of consumers being influenced by online channels. During this phase, travelers spend their maximum time on search, travel tour provider websites, price comparison websites, and travel articles. Online video too plays a significant role with 21 percent of travelers being influenced by this platform. In the booking and sharing phase, the report states that nearly 60 percent of customers book transport and lodging online, and over 50 percent share feedback online with social media being the dominant platform.

Talking about the market opportunities for online travel players, Vikas Agnihotri, Country Director – Sales, Google India said, “New users perceive that online channels are geared towards the more frequent flyers and experience-oriented travellers; and existing travelers research online but the lack of trust in payments and booking experience make them end up booking offline. If travel players tap these online users through personalised marketing, messaging and travel plans, they can further augment online travel bookings. This can be done by adopting digital technologies to influence customers early in the journey and moving from one-time engagement to ongoing relationships to have a positive impact.”

“There is a perception amongst consumers that online channels are geared towards premium customers, along with a marked distrust around payment and pricing terms. It is imperative for businesses to address these concerns in order to effectively tap into the growing base of users.” Arpan Sheth, partner Bain & Company said.

Decoding the Indian travelers

The report further identified the five cohorts of travelers in India, across business and leisure travel, and categorised each against their online research behavior:

Frequent flyers: Nearly 70 percent of them booked online, cumulatively spent $17 billion in 2018. They make their choices based on convenience, availability, brand preference and past experiences.

Budget business traveler: 86 percent of them researched online whereas only 60 percent book online, cumulatively spent $20 billion in 2018. This cohort makes their decisions based on cost of travel, availability and consultation amongst their personal business network.

Experience-oriented traveler: Around 70 percent of their bookings were done online and cumulatively spent $22 billion in 2018. They extensively research both online and offline for ‘authentic’ experiences and convenience of options; display high loyalty towards preferred brand of airlines or hotels and actively share experiences.

Budget group traveler: 90 percent researched online and 55 percent booked online, cumulatively spent $29 billion in 2018. They make multiple decision-makers in the process and take the final decisions based on minimal cost.

Occasional travel visiting friends/relatives: 92 percent researched online but only 60 percent booked online, spent $6 billion in 2018. They maximize family convenience within a budget and believe online terms and conditions are restrictive.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Top 10 sustainable places to stay around the world revealed

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Travel is not just about seeing the wonders of the earth but understanding our impact upon it. With increasing frequency, people are looking to make the shift from “tourist” to “conscious traveler” by finding ways to maximize positive impacts on the locations they visit. Making thoughtful choices about how, when, and where you go on a vacation can make a significant difference. So, this Earth Day, travel experts analyzed over eight million traveler reviews from last year to find the key hot spots for eco-travelers.

Delving deep into sentiment, the global data showed the 10 best places to stay around the world, as reviewed by Expedia travelers. From boutiques with beehives and resorts with rainwater recycling, to grand urban retreats with solar cell power, many of these amazing places show that luxury and sustainability are not mutually exclusive.
Additionally, the experts highlighted the top countries with the best reviewed eco-conscious accommodations, with the USA topping the charts.

Top 10 eco-friendly stays

1.Sandos Caracol Eco Resort, Mexico
2.Nomad Hotel Roissy CDG, Paris, France
3.Siloso Beach Resort, Sentosa, Singapore
4.Habitat Suites, Austin, Texas
5.Pakasai Resort, Krabi, Thailand
6.PARKROYAL on Pickering, Singapore
7.The Green House, Bournemouth, UK
8.Listel Hotel, Vancouver, Canada
9.Hotel Verde, Cape Town, South Africa
10.Sherwood Queenstown, Queenstown, New Zealand

Top 10 sustainable countries around the world

1.USA
2.Mexico
3.Canada
4.Australia
5.UK
6.Costa Rica
7.Thailand
8.New Zealand
9.France
10.Italy

Sustainable travel is the perfect opportunity to show Mother Earth and fellow inhabitants how much you care.

1. Sandos Caracol Eco Resort – Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Situated between dense jungle and the blue of the Mexican Caribbean coast, this Rainforest Alliance-certified destination is among the highest-rated by travellers for the multitude of positive impacts it offers.

•Extensive policies governing waste management, resource consumption and natural conservation

•Opportunities for guests to engage in ecologically sustainable practices: eco-tours, cruelty-free animal interactions and beach meditation

•A commitment to the community, reflected in celebrations of local indigenous culture, on-site markets that support local artisans, and local partnerships to improve area schools

2. Nomad Hotel Roissy CDG – Paris, France

Located five minutes by car from Charles de Gaulle airport, the Nomad Hotel Roissy CDG boasts Scandinavian-inspired design, tech-enabled customisable room layouts and a mission to “to reduce the ecological impact of these buildings to a minimum, at every stage of life, from design to operation”—making it the perfect accommodation for digital nomads with green leanings.

•Rigorous standards for creation/loss of heat and a low total annual energy consumption, supported by green (living) exterior cladding, solar panels, air handling units

•Proactive efforts to neutralize water impact through use of rainwater collectors

•Use of sustainable materials, including PEFC wood, carpets made from recycled fishing nets, recycled stone and glass shower units

3. Siloso Beach Resort, Sentosa – Singapore

Just off Singapore’s south coast lies Sentosa Island, a haven whose southwest coast is the home to the Siloso Beach Resort. Steps from the sandy beaches of the South China Sea, this award-winning eco-resort has taken special care to integrate the surrounding habitat into its design by prioritizing open spaces and preserving established natural features like mature trees and flowing springs. The result? A uniquely organic take on a luxurious beach resort experience.

•200 original trees preserved (and 450 planted) on-site; landscape pool fed by underground waters and built according to natural terrain formation

•72% of the resort is open-air—and activities including cycle tours, hikes and other eco-adventures

•Operations keep ecological impacts top-of-mind, emphasizing locally-sourced foods, limited use of plastics, and reduced energy consumption

4. Habitat Suites – Austin, TX, USA

Habitat Suites, a sustainable gem in the heart of Texas’ most progressive city, boasts a 30-year track record of forward-thinking environmental stewardship. Habitat Suites has been a charter member of the Green Hotels Association since 1991—and won an Austin Green Business Leader Gold Award in 2018.

•Widespread use of alternative energy, including solar panels, solar thermal and electric vehicle charging
•On-premises organic fruit and herb gardens; clean, local and organic food options

•Use of plant-based, zero harsh chemical detergents for cleaning; bio-safe guest shampoos and detergents; hypoallergenic suites that include live potted plants and windows that open for access to fresh air

5. Pakasai Resort – Krabi, Thailand

Spa treatments, boxing and cooking classes plus plenty of space for lounging by the pool—the Pakasai Resort delivers on everything you’d expect from a tropical Thai resort, then sweetens the deal with an impressive list of sustainability efforts. “Krabi’s Greenest Resort” was the first in the area to win an ASEAN Green Hotel Award (2014).

•Resource conservation efforts include rainwater capture and greywater recycling, energy efficient lighting, biogas production and reduction of plastic use

•Careful attention given to reducing carbon emissions through waste minimization program and collaboration with the local community and local organizations

•Guests are encouraged to make their stay even greener by joining the #GreeningPakasai campaign, which incentivizes visitors to make low-carbon choices around food, transportation, linen services and local activities

6. PARKROYAL on Pickering – Singapore

With 15,000 square metres of greenery and a cutting-edge design, the PARKROYAL is equally impressive in what it does and doesn’t do. This LEED-certified masterpiece saves 32.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools’ worth of water annually and could power an estimated 680 households with the energy saved by its conservation efforts.

•Highly regulated resource consumption through employment of light, motion, and rain sensors

•Solar cells and rainwater collection mean zero-energy maintenance of the 15,000 m2 sky gardens

•Thoughtful construction processes reduced concrete (and associated waste and energy expenditure) use by more than 80%

7. The Green House – Bournemouth, UK

Equally suitable for weddings, self-care weekends and romantic getaways, every detail of this eco-hotel has been designed to help guests feel great while doing good. That ethos touches every facet of The Green House, from the building’s renewable energy production and Forest Stewardship certified, UK-crafted furnishings to the on-site restaurant’s adherence to local sourcing and high animal welfare standards—the company car even runs on bio-fuel from the kitchen’s old cooking oil!

•The use of earth-friendly cleaning products and efforts toward energy conservation

•Staff are trained in the ethos of sustainability and are encouraged to find new ways to improve the Green House’s efforts

•Environmental efforts extend to the exterior grounds, including bird and bat boxes (to provide a safe place for breeding) and rooftop beehives that produce honey

8. The Listel Hotel Vancouver – Vancouver, BC, Canada

The Listel Hotel dedicates itself to both environmental responsibility and the arts. The hotel provides a location to elevate local and international artists—including a gallery dedicated to First Nations artists from the Northwest Coast—while participating in the city of Vancouver’s “Corporate Climate Leader” program, setting an example for sustainable tourism efforts across the globe.

•Responsible food practices including membership in Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise sustainable seafood program and a commitment to offering local and sustainable food and wine

•Conservation efforts including 20 solar panels, a state-of-the-art heat capture program (reducing the hotel’s natural gas use by 30%) and water reduction and air quality programs

•Adherence to a 100% Zero Waste policy since August 2011

9. Hotel Verde – Cape Town, South Africa

“Sustainable by design, stylish by nature” is the modest motto of Cape Town’s Hotel Verde. The first hotel in Africa to offer 100% carbon-neutral accommodation and conferencing, the Cape Town Verde has earned an extensive list of international accolades (LEED Platinum certification and a 6-star rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa) for its extensive adherence to sustainable practices.

•Restoration of the surrounding wetlands now supports indigenous water-wise vegetation and a healthy population of Cape honeybees—as well as an ecotrail, outdoor gym, and eco-pool for visitor use, plus on-site edible food gardens and aquaponics

•Energy efficiencies include photovoltaic panels on the roof and north-facing facades, wind turbines, energy-generating gym equipment and geothermal heat

•Commitment to social responsibility through sustainable procurement practices, waste management and community involvement

10. Sherwood Queenstown – Queenstown, New Zealand

Sustainability and connection with nature are behind every detail you’ll encounter at the Sherwood Queenstown, a boutique hotel perched on three acres of alpine hillside overlooking Lake Wakatipu. The Sherwood operates based on the belief that “a simple respect for nature lies at the heart of any sustainable practice”. The hotel’s orchards and kitchen garden supply its award-winning restaurant; most rooms offer sweeping mountain or lake views, and all are outfitted with South Island wool blankets and locally-sourced beverages. Mornings start with optional yoga sessions, followed by hiking, mountain biking, skiing or snowboarding.

•A focus on materiality selection that integrates the building with the landscape, while employing upcycled fixtures, fittings and furnishings

•Conscious choices about energy generation—the Sherwood is one of the largest private solar installs in New Zealand and currently generates enough electricity to return surplus to the grid

•Selection of food, wine, beer, spirits, and other consumable products that are local, natural, healthy, ethical, seasonal and sustainable in their production and use

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New sales leader at Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC & Kimpton George Hotel

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Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC and Kimpton George Hotel announced the hire of Katherine Saad-Loman as director of sales and marketing for both boutique hotels in Washington, DC. Saad-Loman brings a strong resort, catering, and luxury hotel background to the position, as well as nearly 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry.

In her new role, Saad-Loman will drive all sales and marketing activities for Kimpton’s Hotel Monaco Washington DC and Hotel George. Saad-Loman’s day to day as director of sales and marketing for the two hotels will be spent with an emphasis on working with key corporate accounts while also leading the hotels’ expert sales, catering, and events staff. Under her guidance, the team will continue to create ridiculously personalized meetings, weddings, and creative event experiences, offering seasonally-inspired food and beverage in partnership with the hotels’ talented restaurant teams. Saad-Loman will also spearhead strategy for all sales segments and oversee the approach toward revenue, digital marketing, advertising and public relations efforts for the hotels.

Saad-Loman joins Kimpton with varied and impressive experience. She began her career at Hilton Singer Island Ocean Front Resort where she increased catering sales 350% across her three year term. After learning the ropes of a conference hotel, Saad-Loman gained experience as a director of food and beverage at Imperial Lake Golf and Country Club in Mulberry, Florida. She then cut her teeth in a number sales and operations roles throughout central Florida and Baltimore before joining the team at Walt Disney World’s Grand Floridian Resort as a senior sales and catering manager. She continued to advance her career at top hotels in the Florida market before returning to the Mid-Atlantic as a director of sales and marketing at Bethany Beach Ocean Suites in Delaware. Prior to joining the team at Kimpton, she was task force director of sales and marketing with Crestline Hotels & Resorts in Fairfax, Virginia.

A world traveler and graduate of Catham College in Pittsburgh, Saad-Loman has called the greater DC area home for the past seven months. Outside of work, she can be found planning her next trip, finding places to use her fluent French and recommends everyone live abroad at least once in their lives. Saad-Loman is a member of Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) with a passion for mentoring those looking to hone their sales and leadership skills, and she also volunteers, teaching financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship to first graders through Junior Achievement of Greater Washington in her spare time. Saad-Loman brings a stylish sense of leadership and a wide range of sales and marketing experience to both Hotel George and Hotel Monaco Washington DC.

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SBC Travel Group announces new Chief Digital Officer

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SBC Travel Group, a technology company, has officially appointed Chief Digital Officer Anthoney Jayasekera. He steps into this role with more than 18 years of experience within the hospitality sector, having worked in digital marketing and online distribution for several leading global brands including Minor Hotels, Crown Melbourne and Aitken Spence Hotels where he was in charge of driving digital strategies.

“SBC Travel excites me as they have a passion for embracing new technology and building solutions for travel,” Mr. Jayasekera says. “Being with hospitality and travel for the last 18 years, I’ve been able to see the paradigm shift from traditional to digital platforms.  It’s exciting to see the transformation from then to now. However, there’s still more opportunity to improve and disrupt current processes so they can be secure, faster, novel, and cost-effective with the use of new advancements in technology.”

In his new role with SBC Travel Group, Mr. Jayasekera will direct the overall digital strategy for all business units within SBC Travel, manage the website and social presence and manage all digital marketing initiatives.

For more information on SBC Travel, please visit sbctravel.io.

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The future of flight: UN aviation agency looking for new designs and concepts

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The United Nations (UN) International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has launched the Aviation Innovation Competitions and is looking for ideas, concepts, and prototypes from the next generation of aviation innovators.

The three competitions, managed by ICAO and supported by Transport Canada commemorate the agency’s 75th anniversary this year. Participants will be highlighted on ICAO’s digital content platforms, and global winners in each category will win grand prizes of $1000, $2000 and $5000. The global winner of the prototypes competition will also win a trip to Montréal to receive their award.

Submissions from elementary students, high school students and young adults must be uploaded by June 30, 2019.

Quote

“Canada is proud of its long-standing relationship with ICAO as Host State, and as an active member of the ICAO Council. Throughout 2019, we join ICAO and its other Member States in celebrating flight and the crucial importance of air connectivity worldwide. On this special milestone of its 75th anniversary, I am pleased to support ICAO’s Aviation Innovation Competitions and I encourage all young Canadians to apply.”

The Honorable Marc Garneau
Minister of Transport

Quick Facts

•Proudly hosted by Canada in Montréal, ICAO was created in 1944 to promote the safe and orderly development of international civil aviation throughout the world.

•ICAO sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, capacity and environmental protection, amongst many other priorities.

•Canada is one of 193 Member States and is also a member of the 36-member ICAO Council.

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Centara identifies technological and social trends that will shape the hospitality industry in the next 10 years

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Global hospitality is at a crossroads. In the last 20 years, technology has transformed every aspect of the guest journey, from online bookings to in-room services to post-stay feedback. But as technology continues to evolve and advance, what will the hotel industry look like 10 years in the future?

In the past, digitalization was largely driven by companies, as new solutions were introduced to enhance efficiency and target customers more effectively. In the modern era however, it is customers who are demanding greater connectivity. This is especially true in the hotel industry, which is driven by modern lifestyle trends and the “always-on” mindset of millennial travelers.

In light of these trends, Markland Blaiklock, Centara’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, explains his vision for the future of the hospitality industry in the next decade:

“Ten years from now, I’m sure we will look back and see that the hospitality industry changed much more than predicted, and Asia will continue to be a major catalyst for change. This evolution will be part social and part technological, but the overall goal will be the same: to meet and exceed guests’ expectations,” he commented.

According to Mr. Blaiklock, Centara foresees three significant trends shaping its business, and the entire industry, going forward:

Travel and work life will become inseparable thanks to improved technology and faster connectivity. This trend will occur in all countries but will be led by China and the rest of Asia, which are currently driving the growth in overseas travel. The launch of Centara’s new “Meetings Redesigned” MICE initiative will help to accommodate this shift, by allowing companies to be more flexible and creative with their event agendas.

Robotics and artificial intelligence will create hyper-connected hotel experiences. The Internet of Things (IoT) will seamlessly connect every hotel touchpoint, which will be personalized to the unique preferences every guest. In addition, big data insights will enable hotel staff to improve service quality in real time.

Delivering emotional experiences will be the ultimate goal of hotels. As technology takes over, many guests will go in search of authenticity, human interaction and genuine hospitality. The ability to predict and identify human emotions will be key to the success of hotels in the coming decades.

The big question for hoteliers now and in the future will be: how do we successfully integrate technology to improve the guest’s entire journey, whilst also retaining our distinct personality and brand loyalty?

For Centara Hotels & Resorts, Thailand’s leading hotel operator, this balance is at the core of its strategic vision. In the coming years decades, the group will focus delivering warm Thai hospitality in line with the latest social and technological trends to create exceptional customer experiences.

Centara has proven adept at developing new brands that embrace innovation. The most recent example is COSI, which caters for young-minded and tech-savvy travelers with friendly, simple and affordable accommodation and state-of-the-art amenities like smartphone integration, self-service check-in and a 24-hour lifestyle café concept. It is no surprise that this contemporary concept, which made its debut in Koh Samui in 2017, is now a key driving force behind Centara’s expansion strategy.

In many ways, COSI represents the future of hospitality. Its combination of connectivity, comfort and convenience enables guests to blend business and leisure travel, a key trend identified by Mr. Blaiklock. Across all of Centara’s six brands however, the group continues to roll out innovative new digital experiences.

Recent initiatives range from revamping the Centara website and mobile app for a seamless online experience, to launching a new central reservation system and revenue management system for global coordination. The new Chinese language, China-hosted website, social media pages and payment solutions are also positioning Centara to compete successfully in the world’s largest travel market.

Technology, however, is only one element of a successful strategy. Hotel guests will always be human beings, and the majority of humans visit a destination to experience its charm and culture, not to look at a screen. For Centara, the ability to deliver authentic Thai hospitality is something that can never be replaced by technology. By harnessing big data and personalization tools however, hoteliers can enhance every human interaction. Intuitive and rewarding loyalty programs like CentaraThe1 will play a major part in anticipating and delivering tailored experiences.

So digitalization really is the key; by using smart technology to identify and satisfy guest preferences, the hoteliers of the future will be able to create truly bespoke experiences for every guest.

Centara Hotels & Resorts is Thailand’s leading hotel operator. Its 68 properties span all major Thai destinations plus the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Laos, China, Oman, Qatar and the UAE. Centara’s portfolio comprises six brands -Centara Grand Hotels & Resorts, Centara Hotels & Resorts, Centara Boutique Collection, Centra by Centara, Centara Residences & Suites and COSI Hotels – ranging from 5-star city hotels and luxurious island retreats to family resorts and affordable lifestyle concepts supported by innovative technology. It also operates state-of-the-art convention centers and has its own award-winning spa brand, Cenvaree. Throughout the collection, Centara delivers and celebrates the hospitality and values Thailand is famous for including gracious service, exceptional food, pampering spas and the importance of families. Centara’s distinctive culture and diversity of formats allow it to serve and satisfy travelers of nearly every age and lifestyle.

Over the next five years Centara aims to double its size with additional properties in Thailand and new international markets, while spreading its footprint into new continents and market niches. As Centara continues to expand, a growing base of loyal customers will find the company’s unique style of hospitality in more locations. Centara’s global loyalty program, Centara The1, reinforces their loyalty with rewards, privileges and special member pricing.

For more information about Centara, please visit centarahotelsresorts.com.
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