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Seychelles receives honor of hosting FINA CNSG Open Water World Series 2019

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The excitement was palpable at Beau Vallon Beach on Saturday, April 13, 2019, almost a month before the Seychelles hosts for the second consecutive year the FINA CNSG Open Water World Series 2019.

This year’s event is being held in collaboration with Chinese based company CNSG and Seychelles is once again the second leg in the series of eight.

The organizing committee’s partners including the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), officials and local swimmers gathered at Beau Vallon Beach where a trial run was organized to test out the facilities, the technical requirements and of course, the local swimming talents.

Principal Secretary for Sports, Fabien Palmyre present at the trial run mentioned his satisfaction to see that the FINA CNSG Open Water World Series 2019 is materializing with the support of all local partners.

“I am excited to again, be part of such an event. I am proud of all our young swimmers who have made an effort to be present today. I am grateful to all the partners and volunteers and I am definitely looking forward to this year’s event,” said PS Palmyre.

15 swimmers competed in the Beau Vallon waters in three main races, 2.5 km, 5 km and 7.5 km. According to the Seychelles Swimming Association (SSA) officials, the reasoning behind the distances selected is to enable the swimmers to test out their abilities to see which category would suit them best for the May 11, 2019 event, which will be opened for the public and other swimming enthusiasts.

The 2019 Mass Open Water event will take place on Saturday May 11, one day prior to the Elite event.

The May 11 Mass event will comprise of four distances, Group A (500 m), Group B (1 km), Group C (3 km) and Group D (5 km). The only age restriction will be for Group A where students aged 13 years and under can participate. The others will be open to all ages and there will be two races, a male and a female race for each distance.

“Mass participation is crucial in making the Mass event a success and the Seychelles Swimming Association is calling on all swimmers to register for the event,” said David Vidot, SSA Chairperson.

Mr. Vidot indicated that the forms for registration are available on the SSA Facebook page and website. The deadline to return the registration form to the Swimming Association is May 1, 2019.

The Seychelles is honored this year to have four Seychellois swimmers qualified to take part in the Elite 10 km race, which will take place on Sunday May 12, 2019.

Joining the 2018 swimmers, brothers Bertrand and Damien Payet, will be Matthew Bachmann and Alain Vidot, both of whom completed the 7.5 km race finishing second and third consecutively behind Damien who crossed the finishing line on Saturday first.

The Elite event which is broadcast to a global audience via the FINA network, exposes Seychelles in another light, similar to that of the annual Eco-Marathon event, which strengthens Seychelles’ potential as a Sports Tourism destination.

“It is such a privilege to be hosting the event again on our shores; as announced earlier this year, STB is committed to promote Seychelles as an ideal sports destination. Our collaboration with Seychelles Swimming Association and other partners for FINA CNSG Open Water World Series 2019 is an ideal platform for us to showcase our beautiful destination and its pristine waters,” said Mrs. Sherin Francis, Seychelles Tourism Board Chief Executive.

In May 2018, open water swimming made its debut in Seychelles, as the small island nation became the second host in the FINA World Cup Series 2018. The iconic Beau Vallon beach was the chosen venue to launch Seychelles in the open water swimming world, making it the first country in Africa to host an event of this caliber.

As part of the FINA mandate, the host country is required to host a mass event alongside the elite 10k m event, in order to encourage and mobilize the local community to appreciate and take part in the sport.

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Seychelles Tourism Board Chief Executive featured at third Esquire Podcast and Seychelles x Esquire Middle East Gentleman’s Evening

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Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive, Mrs. Sherin Francis, came aboard to the Esquire Q&A Studio at Dubai Media City for the third Esquire podcast last April 11, 2019 to speak about the tropical destination-Seychelles.

The podcast centered about the Middle East tourism market’s relevance, destination wedding in Seychelles and Seychelles as a sustainable tourism destination. It was followed by media interviews with journalists from Esquire, Rake, CEO and Arabian Business.

The STB Office in Dubai was in collaboration with Esquire Middle East, the leading men’s magazine in the Middle East and local partner Six Senses Zil Pasyon hosted a networking event last weekend at the Palace Downtown outdoor viewing deck under the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa and with the views over the Dubai Fountain.

The event saw the presence of STB Chief Executive Mrs. Sherin Francis and Esquire Middle East Editor Matthew Baxter-Priest along with dapper Esquire readers and the leading names in travel industry.

The astonishing location at The Palace Downtown’s Viewing Deck let guests enjoy stellar views while discussing their favorite travel destinations.

During the evening, Six Senses Zil Pasyon, an all-villa hideaway on a pristine private island, gifted two nights stay at the luxury boutique Indian Ocean Beach Resort.

Mrs. Sherin Francis mentioned her satisfaction to have featured on the third Esquire Podcast to talk about the destination, she further stated that the UAE and the Middle East is an important market for Seychelles and a constant presence on the territories is important for the destination.

“As a small destination it is important that we keep in touch with our clients, we constantly need to find innovative ways to push the Seychelles product. The UAE is only four hours away from the Seychelles and present a great opportunity for quick weekend breaks given we are well connected with double daily flights and we have no visa requirements which provides a great advantage for our visitors,” said Mrs. Francis.

Present at the event, Esquire Editor Baxter-Priest admitted that while he is constantly on the go, “the Seychelles is one of my favorite places. Sun, sea, sand and a whole lot more – it is a delightful place.”

The representative of the STB office in Dubai Ahmed Fathallah, who was present at the event, mentioned, “We are truly elated on the response for Seychelles from this region. The steady growth of interest and knowledge of the people from this region for the destination will not be possible without the help of our trade and media partners. In return and in line with the vision, Seychelles Tourism Board Office in Dubai will continue to implement activities that can gain continuous support and further the awareness for the destination in the region.”

The Palace Downtown regaled the invitees to the finest canapés and drinks, while some of the city’s finest DJs entertained them.

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Seychelles Tourism Board participation at EmQuest Cricket Mania 2019 – Dubai UAE

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The Seychelles has been seen on the Dubai Social scene this March as the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) participated in the EmQuest Cricket Mania 2019 which took place at the InSportz Indoor Cricket in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on March 22 and 29 2019 respectively.

The STB representative, Ms. Aliette Esther was present at the event on both days and seized the opportunity to showcase the beauty of the Seychelles Islands.

The EmQuest Cricket Mania 2019 – Dubai UAE, which is affiliated to Emirates, was organised for the 5th year and implicates cricket tournaments targeting the front staff/travel consultants of travel agencies across Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

The event, which provides the travel trade professionals with the occasion to compete against each other as well as participate in team building activities, is  attended by more than 50 teams, 500 players, comprising of the front-line travel agents and over 1000 guests.

Ms. Aliette Esther expressed her satisfaction to have been part of the event. She further explained that the STB’s participation in the Cricket Mania enabled the destination’s brand to be visible along other partners.

She reiterated on the importance of STB’s association with such events, as cricket is one of the biggest sports in countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, which are very important markets for Seychelles.

“The STB’s participation in the EmQuest event has contributed in providing a platform for the tourism board to interact directly with the players, their families, the other sponsors and exhibitors at the event. The event definitely profited the Seychelles by increasing its reach and exposure to new clientele in the UAE market,” said Ms Esther.

Visitors included the travel agents, exhibitors, sponsors, families and other guests, were all welcome to the Seychelles kiosk. A video of the destination was played throughout the 2-day event displaying enticing activities taking place in the Seychelles.

The STB participation to the EmQuest Cricket Mania 2019 has unquestionably enhanced brand awareness and increased media exposure for the destination.

Seychelles andEmQuest have collaborated in previous events to increase the destinations visibility and the last event together was the “Sell Seychelles See Seychelles “campaign with Ethiopian Airlines and Constance Group of Hotels.

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The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort, Langkawi welcomes team of Epicurean Authorities

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The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort, Langkawi announced the appointment of two new leaders who will work in tandem to heighten the dining experiences that The Andaman have to offer. As newly-appointed Epicurean Authorities of The Andaman, Quinn Pu and Stefano Micocci aim to bring global collectors from all walks of life an epicurean journey worth adding on to their collection of memories.

Quinn Pu, a Chinese national, was appointed as the new Director of Food and Beverage. With a plate full of both hotel and resort experiences in Food and Beverage, Quinn will oversee and lead the whole Food and Beverage department within the resort while driving revenue growth and guest satisfaction, maintaining The Andaman’s 6 unique dining venues and bars as one of Langkawi’s leading venues to have an exceptional meal.

With over 15 years of working experience, Quinn had had experiences in the United States, Ireland and various location in his homeland, China before being appointed to open The Ritz-Carlton in Jiuzhaigou, China in 2017, where he was in-charge of leading the pre-opening F&B team in the mountain resort.

The Andaman marks Quinn’s first assignment in Malaysia. “Malaysia is quite popular in China and I am most excited about the food scene. I look forward to see how the unique food culture can inspire me, not just for my work but in life as well,” says Quinn.

Hailing from Italy, Stefano Micocci was recently appointed as the Executive Chef of The Andaman. With 20 years of culinary experience, Stefano started his culinary journey around various regions of Italy before venturing to the Middle East and subsequently to Malaysia.

“Malaysian cuisine is unique. What attracts me is how each dish has a unique blend of different spices with distinctive flavors that explode in your mouth,” say Chef Stefano. “Every dish also has a story behind it and I find that inspiring. With a story, comes characters and emotions – making people feel as they eat, and that is what I look for when I am creating a new recipe.”

“The Andaman has always been a front-runner in innovative dining on the island, setting benchmarks and best practices in both curating memorable experiences as well as sustainability,” says Carlos Tarrero, General Manager of The Andaman. “With these new Epicurean Authorities on board, I am confident that we will be able to push the boundaries even further in being the pioneer on the island.”

The Andaman raised the bar in unique sustainable dining when the resort’s signature seafood restaurant Jala was launched in 2013. With its one-of-a-kind sand-flooring, rustic design and natural ambience, Jala enables guests to take in the beauty of nature whilst enjoying fresh seafood dishes specially curated by culinary maestros in Jala, complemented by exceptional Malaysian hospitality.

To ensure the freshest catches arrives daily on the shores of The Andaman, Jala has also partnered with the local fishermen, thus assisting Langkawi’s small businesses. Every afternoon, guests can look forward to walk down the beach to watch the chefs of Jala in action dealing and negotiating with local fishermen on the purchases of fresh seafood.

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Antigua and Barbuda strengthens its partner relations for win-win solutions for the upcoming cruise season 2019/2020

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Antigua & Barbuda’s Tourism Delegation led by the Hon. H. Charles Fernandez held a series of meetings with the country’s critical cruise line Partners  at Seatrade Cruise Global, the cruise industry’s largest annual conference being held at the newly rebuilt Miami Beach Convention Center.

The annual Seatrade Cruise Global Conference presented Antigua and Barbuda with a not to be missed opportunity to showcase its products and services to the cruise industry buyers and decision makers. It provided unique networking opportunities with industry leaders from all facets of the industry, and exposed its tourism executives to the conference’s educational industry programs, which allows participants to stay ahead of the curve.

The Country’s vibrant destination booth was a hub of activity as Antigua and Barbuda tourism officials conducted a series of one-on-one meetings, and media interviews.

In its communication to the major cruise lines the destination provided updates to its industry partners on its recently announced partnership with Global Port Holdings (GPH) and the Government’s strategic plans to expand the St. John’s Port facilities, to position the destination to take advantage of the growing industry trend towards larger cruise ships.

GPH also used the opportunity to announce its partnership with its two new Caribbean destinations Antigua and Barbuda and the Bahamas at a gala reception attended by over 600 cruise industry stakeholders.

In meeting after meeting Cruise-line executives reconfirmed their support for the initiative taken by Antigua & Barbuda to improve its infrastructure to offer the best possible service to cruise passengers. This more than anything else will ensure it remains well positioned as a premier cruise destination of choice within the Caribbean on many of the cruise line itineraries.

A major increase for the destination comes from a Key European cruise line partner TUI Cruises whose new ship the Mein Schiff 2, will increase calls to the destination after an absence of three years. Mein Schiff 2 will visit the destination on its inaugural call on November 6th with a total of 13 calls for season 2019/20 bringing over 37,000 passengers.

Another key Partner Norwegian Cruise Lines will return with the Norwegian “Epic” which was a diversion that has now become permanent, along with the Norwegian “Bliss” in the breakaway plus class. This ship will make its inaugural call on December 9th with over 4,000 passengers.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) one of the Country’s key partners confirmed that larger ships will be serving the destination this upcoming season and we will see an increase to approximately 250,000 passengers this year from its various lines. Antigua and Barbuda continues to record strong customer satisfaction scores of 8.8 out of a maximum of 10 with RCCL guests.

MSC cruise lines the world’s fastest growing cruise line, indicated Antigua is and will continue to be a key port of call as the company has 10 new ships on order and will be increasing its fleet to 29 ships with the delivery of one new ship per year up to 2027.

In a joint meeting with representatives for all the Carnival Corporation Cruise Lines the commitment was given at the highest level by all the attendee member lines to continue to work together with Antigua and Barbuda to our mutual benefit.

The Country’s presence at Seatrade also facilitates local stakeholder partners to also meet cruise line executives to increase their tours and excursion business. Local partners included Wadadli Cats, South American Ventures Ltd, The Rendezvous Company and Tropical Adventures.

Minister of Tourism the Hon. Charles Fernandez in all meetings thanked our cruise line partners for their support over the years and reconfirmed our commitment to work with all partners for win-win outcomes as the country continues on its development path to be a premier port of call for all cruise lines visiting the Caribbean.  “The Industry leaders have  reported that 2018 was the best year for profitability and have forecasted that, with a record orderbook for 70 new ships over the next three years and a record 25 million set to cruise in 2019, the Caribbean continues to be the world’s number one cruising destination. The renewed focus on improving our infrastructure by the Government has now positioned the destination to increase its share of this business,” said Minister Fernandez.

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