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Discover the religious heart of Maltese culture with the new Pilgrimage

September 9, 2019 by PressEditor

Malta Tourism Authority’s series of themed maps introduced a new addition this year; the Pilgrimage Trail, which showcases the most beautiful churches and religious spots across the archipelago. With more than 360 churches and chapels scattered across Malta and Gozo, the religious sites highlighted in the map form an integral part of the country’s history, landscape and skyline – they are at the heart of Maltese social and cultural life. 

Malta is believed to be the first country to be converted to Christianity, when St Paul was shipwrecked on the Islands in AD 60. St. Paul’s grotto is still visited by thousands of tourists each year. Malta was ruled by the knights of St. John during the 16th and 18th centuries and today remains one of the most devout Catholic countries in the world. 

The Pilgrimage Trail firmly plants the capital, Valletta, and the islands as one of Europe’s top pilgrimage hot spots and a must-visit religious destination for 2019.

Highlights include:

  • Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Valletta – the silhouette of the buildings 42-metre high oval dome dominates the skyline and is home to a painting of Our Lady of Mount Carmel dating back to the 17th century.
  • St John’s Co Cathedral, Valletta – The jaw dropping interior, elaborately created by Mattia Preti is widely considered to be the best example of baroque style in Europe. The magnificent cathedral is also home to the only signed Caravaggio painting in the world.
  • St Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina – Founded in the 17th century, the cathedral is widely believed to be a Lorenzo Gafa masterpiece. The cathedral stands tall in the middle of ‘the silent city’ and it’s façade impresses visitors as they emerge from Mdina’s narrow streets.
  • Cathedral of Assumption, Gozo – Dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, the impressive structure is situated in Cittadella of Victoria in Gozo. The church is more than 300 years old, completed 1711, and boasts a beautiful baroque exterior.
  • Our Lady on Ta’Pinu, Gozo – In 1883 a woman from the village of Għarb, Karmni Grima, heard the voice of Our Lady at the small chapel that then occupied this site. It rapidly became the center of pilgrimage and the number of visitors soon overwhelmed the little church. Today’s monumental shrine to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu was built between 1920 and 1931 and was heralded as an architectural masterpiece. The sanctuary was constructed in front of the original chapel.

For more information on religious sites, visit visitmalta.com

About Malta

The sunny islands of Malta, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, are home to a most remarkable concentration of intact built heritage, including the highest density of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in any nation-state anywhere.  Valletta built by the proud Knights of St. John is one of the UNESCO sites and the European Capital of Culture for 2018. Malta’s patrimony in stone ranges from the oldest free-standing stone architecture in the world, to one of the British Empire’s most formidable defensive systems, and includes a rich mix of domestic, religious and military architecture from the ancient, medieval and early modern periods. With superbly sunny weather, attractive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Malta Tourism Authority:

Michelle Buttigieg

Tel: (212) 213-0944

Fax: (212) 213-0938

E-mail: michelle-margaret.buttigieg@visitmalta.com

MTA US Editorial Contact:

The Bradford Group

Karen Hoffman/ Bianca Pappas

Tel: (212) 447-0027

Fax: (212) 725 8253

E-mail: info@brafordglobalmarketing.com

Gabriela Reyes

Public Relations Coordinator 

The Bradford Group

347 Fifth Ave. Suite 1205

New York, New York 10016

T (212) 447-0027

F (212) 725-8253

gabrielar@bradfordglobalmarketing.com

www.bradfordglobalmarketing.com

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Filed Under: Travel & Tourism Tagged With: Gozo, Maltese, Pilgrimage, religious, sites, UNESCO

Shangri La Hotel Colombo Veteran Chef killed with 160 people in 6 terror attacks in Sri Lanka

April 21, 2019 by Forimmediaterelease

Shangri La Colomo

Shangri La Colombo Veteran chef Shantha Mayadunne and her daughter are among 138 or more dead this morning at 6 deadly terror blasts on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka.  Several local news sources report more than  160 dead and among them 8 foreigners.

Explosions occurred at

  • St. Anthony’s Church
  • Kochchikade St.Sebastian’s Church
  • Katuwapitiya Church in Batticaloa
  • The Kingsbury Hotel 
  • Shangri La hotel
  • Cinnamon Grand Hotel

“How can we fight terrorism when secretly we support the extreme ideologies of one terrorist group? Instead of saying ”terrorism has no religion” please come out and say that religious fundamentalism leads to terrorism and it should be condemned, is a comment eTN received from Sri Lanka.

Shangri La Colomo
Shantha Mayadunne, Chef Shangri La Colombo died in terror attack Easter Sunday

According to unconfirmed information the attack at Shangri La hotel was carried out by suicide bomber Zahran Hashim, while Abu Mohammad has been identified as the attacker at the Batticaloa church.

According to sources, Abu Mahammad was named after Taha Subhi Falaha, known as Abu Muhammad al-Adnani al-Shami, was the official spokesperson and a senior leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. He was described as the chief of its external operations. He was the second most senior leader of the Islamic State after its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdad

 

Travel News | eTurboNews

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Syrian Tourism Minister: Work in progress to attract tourists from Russia

April 20, 2019 by Forimmediaterelease

Syria’s authorities are making persistent efforts to attract guests from Russia, with religious tourism viewed as a major area, Syrian Tourism Minister Rami Radwan Martini said on Friday.

“Work is in progress to attract tourists from Russia. The first area is religious tourism. Russians may be interested in such places as Maaloula, Saidnaya, Aleppo and Damascus,” he said.

According to the minister, the second area is the development of the coastal tourism infrastructure. Russia’s capital is being attracted to do that, he noted.

“Our participation, that is, of the Syrian Tourism Ministry and travel companies, in an exhibition in Moscow is expected. At that exhibition, we will present videos, booklets and other materials about Syria’s places of interest that we offer to visit,” the minister said.

He added that the restoration of antiquities was in full swing. According to Martini, the Syrian authorities have given new life to the historical markets in Homs.

“Also, a large number of churches has been restored in the Old City of Homs. The biggest mosque in the region, Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque, was completely destroyed. We have been able to restore it,” he added.

As for Aleppo, the Old City has been fully restored there. “We include every district that has been restored in our tourist plan to make sure there is a tourist flow there,” the minister said.

Travel News | eTurboNews

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Driving in the 10 most-visited cities in Mauritius

April 12, 2019 by Forimmediaterelease

While there are many ways to get around Mauritius, car rentals remain a popular option. From visits to quant villages to coastal drives, to visiting cultural attractions and, of course, shopping, getting there by car is the most convenient way to enjoy a trip to Mauritius on your own time.

Pingouin Car Rental is a top car rental company based out of SSR International Airport, making it convenient to hop off the plane and into your car.

At Pingouin Car Rental, customer experience is top priority, and the cost of rental will make your pocketbook very happy. Imagine driving a Mini Cooper, BMW or Kia Sportage around the island, and there’s much more to choose from. And with Pingouin Car Rental, rental is conveniently done online via secured payment processing. Watch how easy it is to rent a car at the airport with Pingouin Car Rental.

Aerial View S.S.R int. Airport

Listen to what customer Richard Mattison has to say about his experience: “I have booked a car online will full payment. On arrival, i had only to present my voucher and the excess amount was blocked. Within three minutes, i was already on my way to my hotel. I advise everyone to pay the 100% online for a swift car delivery. The agents are professional and very responsive. I will not hesitate to book again with Pingouin Car Rental.”

So, get ready to explore Mauritius on your next holiday – it is an island of plenty: plenty of gorgeous beaches, cultural attractions, nature walks, and shopping centers. If you’re visiting on a leisurely vacation, you may want to spend some time exploring at least a few of the island’s ten most visited cities by car.

Plaine Magnien City

Holiday Inn Hotel at Plaine Magnien

Located in southeast Mauritius, Plaine Magnien is a quaint village and home to Mauritius’ only airport: SSR International Airport.

When you arrive on the island, you will first set foot in Plaine Magnien. And this is where we will be waiting for you with the car of your choice that you can drive to your hotel.

With Pingouin Car Rental, you can just check-in online and prepay your rental. They have a pretty large range of rental vehicles, so you can choose one you’re most familiar and comfortable driving. In case of assistance, our 24/7 support team is here for you.

Although there is not much to do in Plaine Magnien, it is of strategic importance. If you’re planning to stay a day or two here, you can visit Tamarind Falls or popular attractions near the village, such as Flic En Flac Beach, Pamplemousses Botanical Garden, La Plantation De Saint Aubin and Caudan Waterfront.

Île aux Cerfs City

Ile aux Cerfs

Île aux Cerfs or Deer Island is a privately-owned island near the island’s east coast. It lies off Trou d’Eau Douce, Mauritius’ largest lagoon and is made of nearly 100 hectares of land.

While its name pays homage to the deer herds that used to inhabit the island, their numbers have decreased and today, visitors and locals come here for wonderful beach experiences.

Relax at a white, sandy beach or indulge in water sports, which range from water skiing to riding in glass bottom or banana boats. Snorkelling is also a popular activity at the beautiful coral reef teeming with rich marine life. If you’re a golfing enthusiast, you can tee off at the island’s 18-hole golf course offering splendid views of the lagoon and emerald waters of the Indian Ocean. After you have worked

up an appetite, stop by at one of the many diverse restaurants, although we recommend trying one that features the local cuisine on its menu.

Blue Bay City

Ile aux des Cocos Island

For stunning scenery and untouched landscapes, visit Blue Bay, a listed Marine Park well-known for its coral beds and amazing marine life.

Make time for a snorkelling adventure on this little bay: you will be amazed at the fuchsia mushroom corals crowning sea beds, and shoals of convict shoalfish, Moorish idols, damselfish and Parrotfish.

Note that the western area of the beach has the richest coral life.  If you’re looking for a budget 3-stars apartmentin Blue-Bay, we highly recommend Pingouinvillas for your stay.  It is only 8 minutes drive from the SSR Int. Airport.  This place is convenient mainly if you have to catch a flight early morning due to its proximity with the airport.

Bagatelle City

Bagatelle Mall

The famous Bagatelle Mall is thronged by tourists and locals alike. Why? The mall has 155 stores and offers the widest selection of specialty stores in Mauritius.

If you intend to shop till you drop, spare some of your time to exploring the brands on offer at the mall and tuck into a delicious treat at its huge food court.

Belle Mare City

Belle Mare Plage Beach

Belle Mare is one of the island’s most picturesque talcum sand beaches. Its water flows along the island’s east coast, which is a less developed tourist area in the region. The blue waters of the 400-meter-long beach sparkle against a backdrop of palm trees and caress soft white sand.  It is a nice area for a picnic, with filao trees offering generous shade and fisherman dropping anchor on weekends.

Grand Bay City

Grand Bay Lagoon

The seaside village of Grand Bay (also known as Grand Baie) is located to the island’s north.

It is a popular resort town whose beaches, nightlife and shopping beckon tourists in large numbers. You can enjoy sailing water skiing wind surfing, deep sea fishing or boat excursions to the northern islands.

Shop at local shops that have been in existence for half a century or visit the area’s modern shopping centres. At nightfall, Grand Bay’s bars and night clubs come alive. If travelling with kids, stop by at the local aquarium where you and yours can feed fish and watch sharks.

Trou aux biche City

Trou aux Biches Sandy Beach

Located on the northern coast of Mauritius, the town of Trou aux biche is home to a beach by the same name, which is a famous spot for sunset watching. World Travel Group has rated the beach as one of Mauritius’ most beautiful.

Several tourist resorts and hotels line the beach, although they don’t interfere with the suburban village-like feel. While you’re here, you can visit the island’s largest Hindu temple, play a few rounds at a local golf course and check out the Mauritius Aquarium mentioned above.

Port Louis City

Port Louis Harbour View

Port Louis is Mauritius’ capital city and home to many cultural attractions. Visit Blue Penny Museum to see the world’s first colonial stamp. Boast about seeing an ancient dodo skeleton at the Natural History Museum. Learn about the island’s religious diversity at a local church, Indian temples, Chinese places of worship and mosques. Take a stroll up Signal Mountain to marvel at the cityscape at sunset.

Tamarin City

Tamarin Crystal Islet

Located on the west coast of Mauritius, Tamarin is home to the Tamarin Bay, a popular surfing spot. It is also a dolphin spotting area, with many boat companies offering trips to watch and swim with dolphins in the mornings. The salt pans of Tamarin are a sought-after attraction – it is the only place on the island that continues producing salt in the traditional, artisanal way, continuing a heritage dating over 200 years. As you drive around, you will see how locals harvest salt, which feeds all of Mauritius.

Le Morne City

Le Morne Brabant Mountain Aerial View

Depending on your individual interests, the village of Le Morne can be the place where you engage in a surfing adventure or one where you relax at a white sandy beach or tee off at a golf course. The One Eye surf spot at Le Morne is world-famous among the surfing community. It is so called because of its fast left tube that traces the shape of an eye before breaking on the shallow reef.

Logo sign Pingouin Car on Hyundai 120

In this artcle, we have highlighted the uniqueness and main features of the 10 most-visited cities in Mauritius. So, next time you’re visiting Mauritius Island, get this guide in hand and you know what is the best way to rent a car in Mauritius once you get out of the airport.

Travel News | eTurboNews

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Vietjet launches new service to Indonesia with Ho Chi Minh City-Bali route

April 12, 2019 by Forimmediaterelease

Vietjet today opens ticket sales for its new international route connecting the biggest city of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City with Bali (Indonesia). Vietjet is the first and only airline to operate this route, which will better link the two tourist-attraction cities to meet the increasing travel demands of local people and tourists as well as boosting the regional trade promotion and integration. Hongkognese will be more convenient to travel these two cities.

The Ho Chi Minh City– Bali route will operate five return flights per week, on every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday starting from May 29, 2019. Flying time is around 4 hours per leg. The flight departs from Ho Chi Minh City at 08:05 and arrives in Bali at 13:05. The return flight takes off from Bali at 14:05 and lands in Ho Chi Minh City at 17:05 (All in local times).

Vietjet Vice President Nguyen Thanh Son said: “Vietjet has the advantages of an expanding flight network and comfortable, friendly aviation services; therefore, I believe that the new route will not only create opportunities for people to travel by safe, civilized and modern air transport, but also connect two cities as known as two economic, cultural centers of Vietnam and Indonesia. The route will contribute to promoting tourism and economic integration in the region as well as introduce the images of Vietnam to the world.”

Bali – the popular tourist island of Indonesia and Asia is often called among travelholics as ––“Island of the Gods”, “Tropical Paradise” or “Dawn of the World”. Voted as the best tourist island in the world, Bali is a wonderful blend between the pristine, beautiful landscape with the local cultural, artistic and religious quintessence. Besides visiting Ubud Palace, discovering the famous town Bedugul with large Bratan lake, tourists can go surfing, ‘snorkeling’ diving or visiting endless terraced fields.

Vietnam, the country of thousand years of culture was always a favorite destination of many international tourists. If Hanoi capital is a representative of ancient culture, bold identity; Hue ancient capital is dreaming or Da Nang, Quang Binh are impressive wonders, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s largest economic, financial central, vibrant and modern travel destination. The culture exchange trend and retaining characteristics make image and beauty of one of the most dynamic cities of the S-shaped country.

Travel News | eTurboNews

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Saudi tourism sector worth over $70 billion in 2019

April 10, 2019 by Forimmediaterelease

Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism sector is expected to contribute $70.9 billion (SAR 263.1 billion) in total to the country’s GDP in 2019, according to data from the World Travel and Tourism Council, as exhibitors prepare to showcase what the Kingdom has to offer at this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which is being held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 28 April – 1 May 2019.

According to data from ATM’s research partner Colliers, international arrivals to Saudi Arabia are expected to increase 5.6% per year from 17.7 million in 2018 to 23.3 million in 2023. Religious tourism is expected to remain the bedrock of the sector over the next decade, with a goal of attracting 30 million pilgrims to the Kingdom by 2030, an increase of 11 million from the 19 million Hajj and Umrah pilgrims that visited the country in 2017.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “At ATM, we are witnessing this growth first hand with the total number of delegates arriving from Saudi Arabia increasing 42% between 2017 and 2018, while 33% of delegates, exhibitors and attendees were interested in doing business with the Kingdom.

“More relaxed access to visas, through online portals such as the ‘Sharek’ and the growth of the Umrah plus market – combining religious and leisure travel – are expected to be key drivers in the growth of international tourism in the Kingdom.”

Vision 2030 has set aside $64 billion to invest in culture, leisure and entertainment projects over the next decade, which will significantly add to the attractiveness of the country as a touristic destination, according to a recent report from real estate firm Savills.

The first phase of the Red Sea project, which is estimated to grow the kingdom’s GDP by US$5.86 billion (SAR22 billion) and will consist of an airport, marinas, up to 3,000 hotel rooms and various recreational activities, is expected to complete during 2022.

Additionally, last year Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced the development of Amaala, a new ultra-luxury tourism megaproject which is earmarked for completion in 2028. The development will add 2,500 hotel rooms – further boosting the accommodation offering for both domestic and international visitors alike.

“Saudi Arabia will see a vast expansion of its hotel and resort inventory during 2019, with over 9,000 keys of three, four and five-star international supply expected to enter the market despite major cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah experiencing an overall drop in ADR during 2018.

“While, this new supply will place additional competitive pressure on hotels performance across the country, the projected growth in visitor numbers in both the domestic and international markets is expected to boost occupancy levels throughout 2019,” added Curtis.

Looking ahead to ATM 2019, Saudi exhibitors, who will highlight what the Kingdom has to offer and the exciting developments in the pipeline, include The Red Sea Development Company, Saudia – Saudi Arabian Airlines, Makarem Hotels, AlfaOne Concierge – and of course the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage who will have a major presence too.

A focused seminar titled ‘Why Tourism is Saudi’s new ‘White Oil’ will take place on the Global Stage on Monday 29th April between 14.50 – 15:50.  The session will discuss Saudi Arabia’s tourism potential as the Kingdom undergoes a period of rapid economic diversification and forges ahead with its Vision 2030 blueprint.

The upbeat tourism forecast is also being driven, by domestic tourism with the number of local tourist trips inside Saudi Arabia exceeding 47 million in 2018. The latest research from Colliers forecasts this figure to increase 8% per year to 70.5 million by 2023.

“Plans are already afoot in Saudi, to achieve the projected increase in domestic visitors, with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 blueprint forecast to double the number of UNESCO heritage sites and increase household spending on cultural and entertainment activities inside the country from 2.9% to 6%.

“Meanwhile, the Quality of Life Vision Realisation Programme (VRP) and the General Entertainment Authority are both working to create new attractions and recreational activities within the country,” added Curtis.

ATM, considered by industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism sector, welcomed over 39,000 people to its 2018 event, showcasing the largest exhibition in the history of the show, with hotels comprising 20% of the floor area.

Brand new for this year’s show will be the launch of Arabian Travel Week, an umbrella brand comprising four co-located shows including ATM 2019, ILTM Arabia, CONNECT Middle East, India & Africa – a new route development forum and new consumer-led event ATM Holiday Shopper. Arabian Travel Week will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 27 April – 1 May 2019.

For more news about ATM, please visit: https://arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com/media-centre/Press-Releases/.

About Arabian Travel Market (ATM)

Arabian Travel Market is the leading, international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. ATM 2018 attracted almost 40,000 industry professionals, with representation from 141 countries over the four days. The 25th edition of ATM showcased over 2,500 exhibiting companies across 12 halls at Dubai World Trade Centre.  Arabian Travel Market 2019 will take place in Dubai from Sunday, 28th April to Wednesday, 1st May 2019. To find out more, please visit: www.arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com.

MEDIA CONTACT: NATHALIE VISELE, Director, Shamal Communications, Arjaan Office Tower, Dubai Media City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tel: +971 4 365 2711 | Mobile: +971 50 457 6525, E-mail: nathalie.visele@shamalcomms.com , Website: www.shamalcomms.com

Travel News | eTurboNews

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Peru working to welcome more tourists to Machu Picchu

April 10, 2019 by Forimmediaterelease

The Executive Branch of the Government of Peru is working on a land management proposal for Machu Picchu said Prime Minister Salvador del Solar in order to increase the number of tourists to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in the Cusco region while also improving the experience and enhancing the impact of tourism in Cusco.

Machu Picchu is an Incan city surrounded by temples, terraces, and water channels and was built on a mountaintop. It was built with huge blocks of stone joined to each other without any mortar. Today it has been designated cultural heritage of humanity in recognition of its political, religious, and administrative importance during the age of the Incas.

Del Solar announced the government will enhance the value of other tourist attractions like Choquequirao (Cusco region), Kuelap (Amazonas region), and other archaeological sites in northern Peru.

In addition, he continued, efforts are being made to implement tax-free, an initiative to promote tourism consumption and further stimulate the local economy.

Travel News | eTurboNews

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Game of Thrones final season is here! See where it all began in Malta

April 4, 2019 by Forimmediaterelease

As Game of Thrones approaches its final season, set to premiere on April 14, 2019, it’s a good time for die-hard fans to take a look at the first location where it all started, Malta. Often referred to as “the hidden gem of the Mediterranean,” Malta is not so hidden when it comes to Hollywood and if you’re a Game of Thrones fan you will remember that most of season one was filmed there.

 

The quest for power between the Houses of Stark, Baratheon, Lannister and Targaryen all started on the island of Malta. Malta offers tours to join local actors who took part in Season One of HBO’s hit series Game of Thrones as they unravel the secrets and adventures of your favorite characters including Arya Stark, Daenerys Targaryen, Joffrey Baratheon and Cersei Lannister.

 

Step back in time as you travel to idyllic locations such as those used in the first season including the gardens of Kings Landing, the Red Waste, the Tower of the Hand, the Stables, Maegor’s Holdfast, the Red Keep, Cobblers Square, The Street of Steel, Baelish Brothels (ext), Coppersmith’s Wynd, King’s Gate, King’s Square, and the village of Lhazar (when accessible).

 

The Maltese Islands – Malta, Gozo and Comino – have been home to Hollywood blockbusters such as Gladiator, U-571, The Count of Monte Cristo, Troy, Munich, Popeye, the movie set abandoned in 1980 which remains a huge tourist attraction in Malta, as well as prestigious dramas and sitcoms such as the BBC’s Byron and ITV’s Coronation Street to name a few. The island’s beautiful, unspoiled coastlines and breathtaking architecture have ‘doubled’ for an amazing variety of locations on the big and small screens – from ancient Rome to 19th-century Marseille and 1960’s Beirut. Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, Wolfgang Petersen, Guy Ritchie and other renowned directors, as well as a host of A-list celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Russell Crowe, Brad Pitt, Sharon Stone, Madonna and Sean Connery, all experienced Malta’s movie making facilities and its many charms.

The sunny islands of Malta, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, are home to a most remarkable concentration of intact built heritage, including the highest density of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in any nation-state anywhere.  Valletta built by the proud Knights of St. John is one of the UNESCO sights and the European Capital of Culture for 2018. Malta’s patrimony in stone ranges from the oldest free-standing stone architecture in the world, to one of the British Empire’s most formidable defensive systems, and includes a rich mix of domestic, religious and military architecture from the ancient, medieval and early modern periods. With superbly sunny weather, attractive beaches, a thriving nightlife and 7,000 years of intriguing history, there is a great deal to see and do. www.visitmalta.com

Travel News | eTurboNews

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Five challenges confronting Meetings Industry in 2019

March 25, 2019 by Forimmediaterelease

Tight meeting budgets, time pressures, organizational issues, a lack of creativity from hotels, increasingly complex and costly mandates in catering, a need for more dynamic and enriching experiences and resistance to change – these are among the major challenges confronting the meetings industry in 2019.Teneo Hospitality Group surveyed 150 meeting planners and hoteliers on the challenges they faced in effectively competing in today’s changing and complicated marketplace. Interestingly, some of the challenges planners faced are internal, within their own organizations. All identified limited meetings budgets, lack of time and somewhat inflexible corporate cultures that gave rise to additional problems such as a lack of innovation and poor cost control.

“‘Many of these challenges – and their solutions – are interdependent,” says Teneo President Mike Schugt. He notes that meeting professionals are saying that they have concerns within their organization and corporate cultures which contribute to resistance to change, resulting in budgets that are impacted negatively. Planners are also saying that these challenges, coupled with the many demands on time, inhibit creative strategies that could otherwise help solve the obstacles pointed out in Teneo’s most recent survey.

“Teneo and its hotel and DMC members have a unique opportunity to step up and help solve the challenges of our planner partners,” says Mike Schugt. “We can introduce creative, time-saving offerings that can also meet their bottom line. By understanding the needs that go beyond rates, dates and space, hotels can provide innovative, solutions to the challenges planners face behind the scenes.”

Challenge #1 Budgets. Inadequate budgets headed the challenge lists for all survey participants. Planners cited rising costs, especially concerning food and beverage, with no comparable increase in budgets. The complexities of gaining budget increases from various corporate departments impact every aspect of the meeting process from training staff to negotiating contracts. Despite a strong economy, some planners reported budget cuts. Respondents noted that the inability to obtain adequate funding reflected a lack of understanding of the profound changes in the meetings industry that demanded more, not less, investment. Needs of attendees are very different today, especially among Millennials and Generation Z who require a high degree of technical services, greater engagement and entertaining activities – needs that are difficult to meet on a tight budget. Yet management and attendees had extremely high expectations.

Suggested Solution: The fundamental way planners can achieve their budget is to be transparent and in open communication with a property. Though the tendency may be to play one’s cards close to the vest, transparency from the beginning of negotiations is key to effective planning and keeping costs in check. While many planners feel they must keep back some of their budgetary concerns until further on in the planning process, an honest and comprehensive view of the meetings objectives and resources will enable hoteliers to present a realistic budget.

Challenge #2 Lack of Time. Time pressures impact every business and organization, but some concerns have particular ramifications for the meetings industry. Virtually all respondents cited a lack of time and identified challenges that could have far-reaching consequences. With sweeping advances in technology impacting the industry, hoteliers and planners noted that they often lacked the time to keep up with technical developments. This problem was amplified when attendees were ahead of the planners and hotels in their own use of technology. Training a new generation of meeting planners and hotel staff is key to the industry’s progress. But few had time to develop effective programs, tailored to meet the different viewpoints and technical skills of a new generation. Most significantly, respondents worried that the overwhelming details of day-to-day work left little time for long-term, strategic planning. And the top time waster? Too many unnecessary e-mails.

Suggested Solution: Hotels are often inundated with leads and may not always be able to reply in 24 hours. Planners are encouraged to indicate their timeline for response up front so hotels and resorts can offer a higher quality of response. For planners, they can then gather their lead responses all at one time and be assured that the quality of response is going to be higher if a little more time is allocated to the properties of interest. Planners that source more than 6 or 7 hotels per lead and in multiple cities will tend to be taken less seriously by a hotel. So planners can save time and drive up quality of response by reducing the number of hotel sources they contact.

If planners can share flexibility with dates early in the process, they will save time and the hotels can provide multiple options, which will likely have differences in pricing leading to greater value with the budget. Giving the hotel as much information as possible saves everyone time and can save on the budget.

Challenge #3 Keeping Up with Technology. In a technological environment that is moving at lightning speed, staying current and knowledgeable of technology’s impact on meeting productivity can be daunting. Realizing that millennial attendees may be way ahead in their technical knowledge, technology applications and expectations can be intimidating. Even leadership within select organizations don’t always seem to grasp how technology is revolutionizing the meetings experience today.

Suggested Solution: Staying current and out front with technological progress is critical to the successful outcome of every meeting, conference or social gathering. Yes, some long-term practices are still prized such as white boards and LCD players. But engaging with attendee devices puts the meeting’s learning literally in the hands of conferees in a way that resonates within a generation who grew up on texting, social media posts, interactive apps and more. These are the tools they use for their everyday living, and should be the tools they can expect to use within meetings important to their and their employer’s success.

Challenge #4 Lack of Creativity. Big brand hotels’ corporate bureaucracy partially accounts for planners’ demand for greater creativity in the meeting process, and a far more flexible business environment. Larger hotel brands often have corporate policies that may place limits on pushing the boundaries of creating the ultimate meeting experiences for planners. But the need for innovation and original events, imaginative use of technology, effective teambuilding exercises, new experiences in even the most tried and true destinations, and diverse, sustainable and healthy food cannot be ignored.

Suggested Solution: Partner with a hotel or resort that creatively works with planners and groups to construct a meeting itinerary customized to a specific group and set of meeting objectives. Independent and small brand properties, by the very nature of their independence, have proven to be expert in creatively discovering and helping plan for achieving meeting goals of professional planners and groups, doing so with out-of-the-box thinking, highly unique group initiatives, and far from run-of-the-mill teambuilding programming. Private destination management companies can also be an important resource, and Teneo suggests partnering with them to help make a city or destination come alive for meeting guests by maximizing local resources and attractions in a way that is meaningful to the group.

Challenge #5 Increasing Complexity and Rising Costs of Food & Beverage. As the population becomes more diverse, food preferences and dietary requirements have become more complicated. Growing awareness of wellness and sustainability issues add to a mix that could become more problematic and costlier. Paleo, keto, pescatarian, vegan and religious dietary requests are among the newest trends in conference dining in 2019. Respondents also called for better management of food ordering to keep costs down and eliminate waste.

Suggested Solution: This is an area where independent and small-brand hotels can get ultra-creative for the planner as they are in a more entrepreneurial and creative mode, less restricted by big-brand requirements and constraints. They can typically offer a more creative product with reduced costs. By working with chefs and banquet managers from these properties at the beginning of the planning process and being candid about budget constraints, it’s possible to obtain serious savings on food and beverage while achieving maximum creativity.

Travel News | eTurboNews

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Discover religious heart of Maltese culture with new Pilgrimage Trail

March 21, 2019 by Forimmediaterelease

The Malta Tourism Authority’s series of themed maps has a new addition – the Pilgrimage Trail, which showcases the most beautiful churches and religious spots across the archipelago.

With more than 360 churches and chapels scattered across Malta and Gozo, the religious sites highlighted in the map form an integral part of the country’s history, landscape and skyline – they are at the heart of Maltese social and cultural life.

Malta is believed to be the first country to be converted to Christianity, when St Paul was shipwrecked on the Islands in AD 60 and his grotto is still visited by thousands of tourists each year. Between the 16th and 18th centuries Malta was ruled by the Knight’s of St.John and still today remains one of the most devoutly Catholic countries in the world.

The Pilgrimage Trail firmly plants the capital, Valletta, and the islands as one of Europe’s top pilgrimage hot spots and a must-visit religious destination for 2019.

Highlights include:

• Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Valletta – the silhouette of the buildings 42-metre high oval dome dominates the skyline and is home to a painting of Our Lady of Mount Carmel dating back to the 17th century.

• St John’s Co Cathedral, Valletta – The jaw dropping interior, elaborately created by Mattia Preti is widely considered to be the best example of baroque style in Europe. The magnificent cathedral is also home to the only signed Caravaggio painting in the world.

• St Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina – Founded in the 17th century, the cathedral is widely believed to be a Lorenzo Gafa masterpiece. The cathedral stands tall in the middle of ‘the silent city’ and it’s façade impresses visitors as they emerge from Mdina’s narrow streets.

• Cathedral of Assumption, Gozo – Dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, the impressive structure is situated in Cittadella of Victoria in Gozo. The church is more than 300 years old, completed 1711, and boasts a beautiful baroque exterior.

• Our Lady on Ta’Pinu, Gozo – In 1883 a woman from the village of Għarb, Karmni Grima, heard the voice of Our Lady at the small chapel that then occupied this site. It rapidly became a center of pilgrimage and the number of visitors soon overwhelmed the little church. Today’s monumental shrine to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu was built between 1920 and 1931 and is heralded as an architectural masterpiece. The sanctuary was constructed in front of the original chapel.

Travel News | eTurboNews

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