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It’s official – Anguilla is Beyond Extraordinary!

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The Anguilla Team at the Beyond Extraordinary launch at The PUBLIC Hotel with Hon. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary and Mrs. Donna Banks, Chairperson, Anguilla Tourist Board

The Anguilla Tourist Board (ATB) launched its Beyond Extraordinary destination campaign at a festive event in New York City on Tuesday, December 11th, at The PUBLIC, An Ian Schraeger Hotel.

A delegation comprised of the Hon. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism, Mrs. Donna Banks, ATB Chairperson, and Mrs. Shellya Webster, Manager, Corporate Affairs at the ATB head office, briefed 100 leading travel industry partners, island stakeholders, and representatives from the trade and consumer on new developments on island, and new marketing initiatives being undertaken by the Tourist Board.

In his welcome remarks, The Hon. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism highlighted the two new luxury brands that now call Anguilla home — Relais & Chateaux and Belmond, joining the Four Seasons and Auberge Resorts Collection, and independent brands CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa and Zemi Beach House.

Mrs. Donna Banks, ATB Chairperson, gave a comprehensive update on Anguilla’s tourism product, from access and accommodations through experiences and activities. She then introduced the Beyond Extraordinary campaign, aimed at sharing all the extraordinary aspects of Anguilla with travellers and travel planners alike.

Beyond Anguilla’s renowned 33 public, pristine white sand beaches and turquoise waters –Anguilla’s activities include festivals, music, an award winning dining scene, boating and sport events, off-shore cays, caves and so much more. The campaign aims to capture the diversity and richness of the Anguilla experience, and it will utilize stunning visuals to highlight the island and varied activities across digital advertising, search engine marketing, social media, online video, and many other tactics.

“Our Beyond Extraordinary campaign represents a greater investment by the Anguilla Tourist Board in the transformation of Anguilla’s marketing to embrace digital and mobile first strategies,” said ATB Chairperson Donna Banks. “We are positioning ourselves to compete in today’s tourism market, which increasingly depends on digital and mobile technology,” she continued.

A highlight of the evening was the unveiling of the Anguilla Tourist Board’s brand new web presence at IvisitAnguilla.com. In addition to gorgeous images of beautiful beaches and easier user navigation, the website provides many useful features for visitors to explore Anguilla including: an interactive map of the island that allows users to quickly find the best places to eat, sleep, relax, and celebrate; a custom itinerary builder where visitors can “favorite” any restaurant, hotel, or activity to organize a personal travel experience; Editor’s Picks with suggested itineraries for 3, 5 or 7 day trips geared toward different types of travelers; and so much more.

The evening concluded with a series of surprise drawings for hotel stays, restaurant specials and airline tickets courtesy of Anguilla’s leading properties — Malliouhana, Auberge Resorts Collection; Zemi Beach House Hotel & Spa; Frangipani Beach Resort; CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa; Carimar Beach Club; Shoal Bay Villas; Belmond Cap Juluca; Blanchard’s Restaurant and Beach Shack; Tasty’s; Mango’s; Good Korma; Veya; Dolce Vita; Seaborne Airlines and Tradewind Aviation.

For information on Anguilla, please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

MEDIA CONTACT: Shellya K. Webster, Manager, Corporate Affairs, Anguilla Tourist Board, The Valley, Anguilla, BWI, E: shellya.webster@atb.ai

Seven hotels and resorts in Seychelles honored at Annual World Luxury Hotel Awards Gala Ceremony

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Once again, the Seychellois hospitality is fêted as seven establishments in Seychelles have been recognized for their excellence in the tourism industry at the Annual World Luxury Hotel Awards Gala Ceremony. The 12th edition of the award took place on November 10, 2018 at the Ayana Resort and Spa in Indonesia, Bali.

Amongst the hotels rewarded for their distinction were Eden Bleu Hotel, Cerf Island Resort, Constance Ephelia Seychelles, Constance Lemuria Seychelles, Denis Private Island, JA Enchanted Island Resort and Savoy Resort & Spa Seychelles; all rewarded for their World Class facilities and service excellence provided to their guests.

Seychelles Tourism Board Chief Executive, Mrs. Sherin Francis stated her great satisfaction to see many establishments rewarded for high quality standards.

“I do celebrate such good news with our hotel partners. Marketing the destination would not be an easy task if we could not count on the quality of their services. I do believe that it is because of their excellent work that we are able to sell Seychelles as a quality holiday destination,” said Mrs. Francis.

During the ceremony, Eden Bleu Hotel, located on Eden Island, walked away with the ‘Luxury Design Hotel’ award.

Upon winning the award, the General Manager, Mr. Manuel Policarpo, said that it was a great honor to be recognized as the continental winner in the Indian Ocean as the Luxury Design Hotel.

“There is a lot of other beautifully designed hotels around the continent which we needed to compete against. By winning this award we are also promoting Seychelles as a design and modern destination,” said Mr. Policarpo.

Other luxury hotels in Seychelles were also recognised and awarded on the night. Cerf Island Resort, a cluster of 24 spacious villas built to high standards and designed to blend into the surroundings, won the regional ‘Luxury Boutique Hotel’.

Constance Ephelia Seychelles received two continental awards for the ‘Luxury Eco/Green Hotel’ and ‘Luxury Family Resort’.

Another Constance branch in Seychelles, Constance Lemuria Seychelles, located on the second island, Praslin, was honored with the ‘Luxury Golf Resort’ award. The resort will this month be in the limelight as it readies to host the final of the MCB-Staysure 2018 Tour Season.

Talking about the achievement, Mr. Bruno Le Gac, Constance Lemuria General Manager mentioned the hard work and dedication the respective teams have put to achieve the standards to welcome the MCB-Staysure Tournament at the golf Resort. He dedicated the award to our entire team, and particularly to Mr. Wilson Volcere Head Greenkeeper, Mr. Gary Pouponneau Golf Director and their team members.

“Constance Lemuria is delighted to have been awarded “Luxury Golf Hotel” of the Indian Ocean at the World Luxury Hotel Awards that took place in Bali on November 10th. The timing could not be better, as we are going to host the MCB Tour Championship from December 13th to December 16th on our beautiful golf course. This is the most prestigious golf event ever to take place in Seychelles, and we feel very proud to be welcoming all the champions, VIPs and visitors for this occasion,” said Mr. Le Gac

The ‘Luxury Boutique Retreat’ and ‘Luxury Romantic Hotel’ awards were given to Denis Private Island. The resort allows their guests to unplug from the outside world, as there is no signal for mobile phones, no in-room and no cable television. It is the perfect environment to reconnect with your loved-one.

The awards provide a certain validation for the island’s ownership, Denis Private Island PR, Branding and Communications Manager Nicole St Ange said, given the leap it took in developing a unique brand of sustainable tourism on the island.

“Denis doesn’t stake its claim to being a luxury property, but we strongly believe that luxury is a concept that can be applied in many different ways,” St Ange said. “On Denis, you have an incredible freedom combined with this immersion in both nature and isolation. We believe that’s a luxury in its own right and it’s great that others agree as demonstrated by these awards.”

JA Enchanted Island Resort and Savoy Resort & Spa Seychelles were awarded the regional ‘Luxury Boutique Resort’ and regional ‘Luxury Beach Resort’ respectively.

The Group Marketing Director for the World Luxury Hotel Awards, Mr. Michael Hunter-Smith, congratulated all winners for the 2018 Award Year, who through their tireless efforts and endless passion to elevate their guests experience, have received the honor.

“True luxury is not easily attained, it takes a team of highly efficient and dedicated staff willing to go the extra mile and stop at nothing to ensure that every guest feels cared for and no challenged not solved. This is the definition of luxury, this is what makes the winners shine at the World Luxury Hotel Awards event,” said Mr. Hunter-Smith at the award ceremony.

Coming out as a winner of a World Luxury Hotel Award not only inspire the confidence of guests and retain a loyal clientele in this highly competitive market, but it will also stimulate continuous growth and development of your hotel.

The 2019 World Luxury Hotel Awards will be organized at Arctic Circle in Finland in October.

MEDIA CONTACT: info@seychelles.travel

Malta celebrates Valletta, a 2018 European Capital of Culture

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As 2018 draws to a close, Malta will celebrate the culmination of a year of festivities honoring Valletta, a 2018 European Capital of Culture, with a final Valletta 2018 closing spectacle on December 15, 2018. For Valletta, 2018 set the stage for a more vibrant and welcoming capital city, and this special after party promises to keep spirits high!

The Valletta 2018 European Capital of Culture festivities comprised over 400 events and encompassed a yearlong celebration of the culture and history of the island nation of Malta. The success of any European Capital of Culture is rooted in the passion, imagination, support, dedication, enthusiasm and generosity of its communities.

As such, Valletta 2018’s Closing Spectacle is all about celebrating community, life and culture while forging new friendships. Only together can one truly celebrate Valletta 2018’s year-long program of incredible events, initiatives and activities with the same energy and love that’s gone into it.

The festive closing event will take place in the heart of Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where visitors will experience an amazing celebration of Malta’s tenure as a European Capital of Culture 2018. Event-goers can expect to enjoy a spectacular line-up of live shows, music, tours, as well as a few unexpected surprises.

Highlights for the Valletta 2018 Closing Spectacle on December 15 will include:

• A contemporary performance from the Moveo Dance company
• Concert by the Valletta 2018 Chorus
• A colorful street performance featuring the Big Dancers’ signature giant marionettes
• Live painting by multidisciplinary artists, offering their own take on Valletta 2018
• Tours of the Old Abattoir (Il-Biċċerija) which houses the Valletta Design Cluster building

The Valletta 2018 Closing Spectacle will be a lively closing event, paying homage to the creative diversity that exists on the Maltese archipelago, in Europe and beyond. Visitors will join artists, curators, local residents, and the entire Valletta 2018 team in what will prove to be an exciting and memorable “after-party”!

“The amazing and diverse calendar of Events for Valletta 2018 generated great publicity and was a major factor for the dramatic growth in tourism from the US & Canada this year,” said Michelle Buttigieg, Malta Tourism Authority’s North American Representative. She added, “we want to congratulate Jason Micallef, Valletta 2018 Chairman and his entire team on their hard work to make the European Capital of Culture 2018 such a resounding success, not just for Valletta, but for all of the Maltese Islands.”

The Valletta 2018 Foundation is responsible for the planning of events for the European Capital of Culture program in Malta. Throughout 2018, they have partnered with various local and international communities to develop the programs for Valletta 2018.

Local partners and tourism industry players to assist hosting first ever international tournament in Seychelles

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As the Seychelles destination is in anticipation of the MCB Staysure Tour event to start in one week-time, local partners and service providers have rallied to ensure the event to be hosted on Praslin between December 14, 2018 and December 16, 2018 is a success.

Parallel to Constance Lemuria preparing to welcome the final of the golf tournament, the organising committee is working effortlessly to guarantee that the necessary means are put in place so that the tournament runs smoothly.

From the minute the guests set foot on Seychelles’ soil, the organising committee, with the help of its various partners, are in charge of ensuring that the guests’ stay in paradise goes without any hiccups.

Amongst the various local companies who have offered to provide their support are local destination management companies Creole Travel Services, Mason’s Travel and 7 Degrees South, CAT COCOS, Takamaka Rum, ISPC Seychelles and Heineken.

The 32 professional golfers together with Staysure Tour Officials, MCB partners and the international press will touch down in Seychelles on December 11, 2018, flying in on-board an Air Seychelles flight from Mauritius.

The national airline will have three twin otters lined up to facilitate the transportation of golfers and their spouses and other invited guests to the second biggest island of Seychelles – Praslin.

Creole Travel Services, Mason’s Travel and 7 Degrees South will be catering and making provision for the complimentary transportation of the participants between venues.

The Operations Manager at 7 Degrees South, Ms. Lindy Cadeau, said that such is in line with the company’s vision of involving new grounds.

“The resources have all been adequately allocated specifically for the event which will surely be an ideal opportunity to allow more exposure to the home of the mystical Coco De Mer fruit and Seychelles in general,” said Ms. Cadeau.

She noted that the number of golf enthusiasts’ eager to attend destination tours over the years have grown significantly.

Discussing Mason’s travel participation in providing support to the golf, Mr. Alvis, General Manager of the company talked about the importance of seizing such an opportunity for Seychelles.

“Being part of the MCB-Staysure Golf event is an opportunity for us to show our pride as a local business to support such events being hosted in our country. We believe that our contribution to this event will not only help our company to get new clients but also the country to get new business through the interest that would be generated in this event,” said Mr. Alvis.

Responsible for the transfer of the golf tournament partakers’ equipment and luggage and the Staysure delegation, CAT COCOS is making available a complimentary chartered boat to Praslin.

Speaking about the Creole Travel Services’ commitment to be part of the MCB-Staysure Golf Tournament, Mr. Eric Renard, General Manager at the company mentioned the meticulous organisation behind the project from the organisation’s part.

“It is our pleasure to provide our support to such an international event. We have an active delegated department assigned to the task, ensuring that everything that is required from us is ready when the time comes. Events such as these are ideal to attract a niche market to the Seychelles, and as a dynamic local DMC, it is our duty to encourage the further growth and evolution of the Seychelles as a tourism destination.”

IPSC Seychelles, Heineken and Takamaka Rum will ensure that food and beverage are made available to the different members of the delegation as the golf tournament rolls on.

Talking about the investment made for the event by ISPC, Mr. Alfred Alain Fourcroy, ISPC’s Chief Executive and Partner mentioned that the company is making provision to serve their best brands at the various events.  He further mentioned that ISPC would also be assisting in serving Champagne to arriving guests on board the aircraft.

“Our involvement in this event was a natural step for us. We have been actively supporting golf since 2013 via our competitions/events and more recently since 2016 being involved within the Seychelles Golf Federation. We believe this event is an amazing opportunity for Seychelles and we are delighted to be on board,” said Mr. Alfred Fourcroy.

As another regular sponsor of golf events on our shores, the Takamaka Rum local distiller company took the opportunity to add its brand to the list of partners to the event.

“Takamaka Rum is very proud to be one of the sponsors of the MCB Tour championship; we have supported golf in Seychelles for many years so it was an easy decision to make to be a part of the best golfing event ever to come to our shores. Best of luck to the all the Golfers,” said Takamaka Rum Managing Director Mr. Richard D’Offay as he spoke about their association to the prestigious MCB-Staysure Golf Tournament.

With the tourism industry being the driving pillar of the economy of Seychelles, each member of the team has a specific role to play in making the first golf tournament in the 115-island archipelago of the Indian Ocean a success.

Hosting such a high profile golfing event will secure higher visibility for Seychelles, potentially attracting more golf enthusiasts to the country – the perfect opportunity for one to relax and lay back while still doing what they love.

MEDIA CONTACT: info@seychelles.travel

World Mice Day Returns to Qingdao, China

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After a very successful launch in 2017, W0rld Mice Day will be returning to Qingdao China on October 25-27, 2018. This wonderful event combines education and enjoyment as over 2000 top travel agents and companies gather for educational seminars, destination showcases and awards.

Martin Stevens, Ambassador to Qingdao, China, invites all MICE organizations to attend the event which will propel their businesses into the next level. Network with suppliers and operators throughout China, Europe and North America. The jam-packed program is designed to educate and entertain.

Please find our invitation to visit at: www.MiceDayChina.com. We have some limited Hosted Buyer availability also for qualified attendees.

 

 

 

 

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