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Pacific World reveals new programs for #bringchangewithME 

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Initiative to Support Sustainable Development and Behavior Change Continues to Expand Around the World

Pacific World, the leading global destination and event management company, has introduced new programs for its ‘#bringchangewithME’ initiative.

After a successful launch at IMEX America 2019, Pacific World will expand the conversation about global issues at IBTM World 2019, taking place November 19 – 21 at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via exhibition and trade center in Barcelona, Spain. 

The business events industry can work collectively to make a real change by creating solutions in the areas of social and environmental sustainability.

“Our vision is to raise awareness and work with our customers and partners to contribute to building a sustainable world for future generations” says Selina Sinclair, global managing director of Pacific World. 

Pacific World has existing products that allow our clients, particularly those of the next generation, to immediately commit to making a real change.  For example, 96 percent of 24,000 fisheries in Greece engaged in coastal fishing, and Pacific World Greece has established a collaborative partnership with carefully selected local communities to reduce IUU fishing practice.

Leveraging successful programs like “secondary destinations” by Tourism Authority of Thailand that supports the livelihood of 55 secondary cities in Thailand, Pacific World Thailand has curated immersive experiences to gain perspectives on real social impact activation – a key success indicator for the programs Pacific World manages.

Pacific World leads the industry by “walking the talk” with #bringchangewithME, a ground-up commitment to help address social, economic and environmental problems through hands-on, meaningful activities at key destinations. Developed by its teams around the world, Pacific World hopes to create more meaningful experiences for clients, provide lasting benefits for each destination, and motivate behavior change throughout the globe.  

For a complete list of #bringchangewithME programs around the globe, visit Pacific World at Stand O50 during IBTM World.

About Pacific World

Founded in 1980 in Hong Kong, Pacific World is a dedicated destination and event management company operating in over 40 countries and over 100 destinations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and The Americas.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Hwee Peng Yeo, Sarah Rogers, Kate Bewak and Juliona Miller at Glodow Nead Communications, (415) 394-6500 or PacificWorldPR@GlodowNead.com

Marriott International official hotel sponsor of Brand USA United Stories international campaign

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Today, Brand USA, the destination-marketing organization for the United States, announces Marriott International across the United States as the official hotel sponsor for United Stories. The sponsorship will help expand the global reach of the United Stories campaign, which aims to inspire international travelers to visit the USA through visual storytelling efforts. This new United Stories collaboration also provides Marriott International, one of Brand USA’s founding and diamond partners, fresh localized content and innovative ways to reach international customers.

Launched earlier this year in partnership with Beautiful Destinations, United Stories utilizes mobile content creation labs to track and share relatable, human stories to inspire lasting emotional connections between international travelers and people and places across the United States. Throughout the year, accomplished content creators, storytellers, and influencers will travel to various points of interest across the country in eye-catching, buzz-worthy vehicles branded with #UnitedStories.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Marriott International on United Stories. Marriott’s strong international brand recognition and ongoing dedication to their customers makes them an ideal partner to expand the reach of this campaign,” said Tom Garzilli, chief marketing officer of Brand USA. “We believe in the power of storytelling to engage global audiences and highlight the diversity of real travel experiences in the USA. Our partnership will help deliver these inspiring stories to an even larger population of international travelers, extending the United Stories campaign to millions of people around the world.”

Marriott Bonvoy will be integrated within the United Stories campaign to generate awareness and create connectivity with its newly launched travel program. This includes branding of the mobile content creation labs and hosting influencers and content creators at hotels across the USA.

“The United Stories mission aligns with our passion for travel, said Kieran Donahue, vice president, marketing, The Americas. “Our sponsorship of United Stories is a great extension of our ongoing partnership with Brand USA. The mobile content labs allow us to show the breadth, depth, and variety of our brands, destinations, and hotels throughout the U.S., and most importantly, connect with our members and guests in a way that showcases how good travel can enrich and unite the world.”

The Marriott Bonvoy travel program is built on the belief that all travel is good travel; it enriches the individual and connects the world. The program offers a global footprint of extraordinary hotel brands, experiences for every passion on Marriott Bonvoy Moments, and the richest rewards and benefits.

The United Stories mobile content lab launched in January and has traveled to nine U.S. states and territories: Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Hawai’i, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Vermont. At each destination, United Stories content creators spotlight first-person perspectives of American culture via locals, influencers, and travelers.

Travel News | eTurboNews

The Travel & Adventure Show San Francisco, USA

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The Seychelles Islands marked its presence through its marketing body Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), as it exhibited at the Travel & Adventure Show 2019 edition.

The event took place in the city of San Francisco, in Northern California, on March 21-22, 2019.

The STB team was represented by the Regional Director for Africa & the Americas, David Germain, was present at the Show on the organisation’s behalf to showcase Seychelles as an extraordinary holiday destination to the 9,500 consumers, travel trade and Media who visited the exhibition at the Santa Clara Conference Center.

Mr. Germain mentions STB’s participation to the event is in line with its marketing efforts in the USA for increased arrivals from North America in 2019.

“Destination awareness and visibility is central to all we endeavor to do as Seychelles Tourism to grow our country’s market share in North America, and on the entire continent,” said Mr. Germain.

The annual participation by the STB at the Travel and Adventure shows in different cities of the United States each year, allow the STB to showcase Seychelles to a wide audience of consumers in the United States, creating awareness of the destination.

Viewed as one of North Americas largest consumer show for tourism and leisure, it is the place for holidaymakers to find information and offers about the latest travel trends, new destinations, among others.

In the prospect of raising the destination’s profile, the STB continues to increase its marketing efforts in North America during 2019, with marketing activities in different major cities in the United States during the year.

Mr. Germain further mentioned that as part of the marketing activities planned for the market for the year, media trips and agent’s familiarization visits to Seychelles would take place during the year, in collaboration with airline partners.

Mr. Germain explained that through the current available flight connectivity between North America and most major airlines, the destination has become even more accessible with easy connections to the archipelago via either Africa, Europe or the Middle East.

“Through our constant presence on the United States Market, Seychelles is today more known to the affluent North American travellers than in the last decade and the current visitor arrival figures from the Americas to the archipelago confirm that the North American market is one with great potential” said David Germain.

For the past 15 years, the Travel & Adventure Show has conducted more than 80 events in the major cities of the United States of America, connecting over 1.5 million travel enthusiasts, with over 3,700 unique travel professionals, facilitating face-to-face dialogue, which has resulted in more than 2.1 billion dollars in travel bookings worldwide.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Korean Air and the Hanjin Group Chairman and founder of Skyteam died in Los Angeles

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Yang Ho Cho, 70, Chairman and CEO of Korean Air and the Hanjin Group, died peacefully April 7 in a Los Angeles hospital after a brief illness.  He was considered to be an Air transport pioneer.

Mr. Cho’s reach extended far beyond Asia.  He was a founder of the Skyteam international airline alliance and led the bid committee that took the 2018 Winter Olympics to Korea.  He recently completed development of the iconic Wilshire Grand complex in downtown Los Angeles, the tallest building west of the Mississippi.

He served on the Board of Governors of the International Air Transport Association (IATA); the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, University of Southern California; and has received honorary doctorate degrees from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (Florida) and the Ukraine National Aviation University.

Under his guidance, Korean Air became a global powerhouse flying to 124 cities and 44 countries, emerging as America’s largest Asian airline with 15 North American gateways. He recently negotiated a joint venture with Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, that created the industry’s most comprehensive transpacific network. The airlines are scheduled to launch a new non-stop route between Boston and Seoul on April 12.

Mr. Cho was in the airline industry all his life, as his father, Choong-Hoon Cho, had acquired and privatized Korean Air 50 years ago.  The younger Cho was named the airline’s Chairman and CEO in 1999 having served as President and CEO four years earlier. Mr. Cho began working for Korean Air as a manager in the Americas Regional Headquarters in Los Angeles in 1974 after graduating from the University of Southern California.

Three weeks ago Korean Air investors removed him from the board in a victory for shareholder activism.

Mr. Cho’s leadership has been widely recognized over the years. He was awarded the title of `Grand Officier’ in France’s Légion d’Honneur, ‘Polaris’ in Mongolia and also the `Mugunghwa Medal’ in Korea – all of which are the highest order of civil merit awarded in these countries.

In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Mr. Cho was vice chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, co-chairman of the Korea-U.S. Business Council, and served as the co-president of l’Année France-Corée 2015-2016’, celebrating 130 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and France.

Mr. Cho is survived by his wife, Myung-hee Lee, son Walter, daughters Heather and Emily and five grandsons.  Services are pending in South Korea.

Travel News | eTurboNews

The Set Hotels announces key staffing changes

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The Set Hotels, comprised of the Hôtel Lutetia in Paris, the Hotel Café Royal in London, and the Conservatorium in Amsterdam announced several key staff changes. Here are the comings and goings:

Matthias Kaesweber, Vice President of Sales & Marketing is leaving The Set Hotels after three productive years to pursue other opportunities. During his time with the company, Matthias successfully created and led a highly effective global sales team, whilst playing a significant role in the continuous business growth of Conservatorium in Amsterdam, Café Royal in London and the highly anticipated re-opening of Lutetia in Paris in 2018.

Ruurd Hooijer has been appointed as Senior Director of Sales & Marketing for The Set Hotels, based in Amsterdam. Ruurd joined The Set Hotels from The Leading Hotels of the World in New York where he held the position of Senior Director, Travel Trade for North America for three-and-a-half years. In his role, Ruurd was overseeing Leading’s global partnerships with American Express, Virtuoso and other agency partners for its 400 independently-owned, luxury hotels worldwide. Prior to this, Ruurd held the position of Director of Sales at Conservatorium.

James Baker, Director of Sales & Marketing, The Americas remains in charge of The Set Hotels in North America, supported by Michal Galili Censor, Director of Sales for North America whose responsibilities have expanded as a result of her success in North America with Mamilla and The David Citadel hotels in Jerusalem, now proudly representing The Set Hotels, too.

The General Managers and Directors of Sales on-property will continue to play an active role visiting The Set Hotels’ valued trade and media partners in North America alongside James and Michal.

Travel News | eTurboNews

WTTC Global Summit: Next stop San Juan

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Discover Puerto Rico, the Island’s first-ever and new Destination Marketing Organization, today announced that island will serve as the host for the World Travel & Tourism Council 2020 Global Summit, following the formal announcement made by WTTC at today’s closing ceremony of the 2019 Summit in Seville, Spain. Representing the global private sector of travel & tourism, the Global Summit is regarded as the most important worldwide event in the sector, and gathers significant global business leaders, yearly.

“We’re honored to have been chosen as host destination for the upcoming World Travel and Tourism Council 2020 Global Summit. Puerto Rico is a place where rich culture and natural wonders lay the foundation for an immense bounty of one-of-a-kind experiences. We’re thriving as a destination of global importance and hosting this Summit will elevate even further our tourism offering, positively impacting the local economy. We look forward to welcoming the global tourism industry next year to discover all that Puerto Rico offers,” said Brad Dean, Chief Executive Officer of Discover Puerto Rico.

In Puerto Rico, the travel industry employs roughly 77,000 people, contributes 6.5% to the Island’s GDP and impacts a noteworthy 17 additional sectors of the economy. This, on the rise given the Island’s increasing popularity as a must-visit destination on a global scale, and validated given the selection by the WTTC, as the first U.S. Island territory to host the respected event.

“We are delighted to bring next year’s Global Summit to the beautiful tropical Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, a welcoming and diverse destination that is attracting travelers from all over the world,” said Gloria Guevara Manzo, President and CEO of WTTC. “We’re particularly excited because the destination provides ease in traveling and doing business since Puerto Rico is a US territory yet has the allure of the Caribbean.”

The WTTC Global Summit will be held from April 21-23, 2020 at the District San Juan, a five-acre hospitality and entertainment district opening later this year. The complex is currently being designed and poised to be the most vibrant and popular setting for events, conventions and performances in the Caribbean.

Puerto Rico’s unique history and offerings set it apart as a global destination, including a fusion of Taino Indian, Spanish and African cultures, seen vividly in the food, music and architecture. Found on the Island is El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. forest system; three of the world’s five bioluminescence bays; and El Monstruo, the longest zip line in the Americas. Visit DiscoverPuertoRico.com for more information on the destination and its variety of offerings and lodging options.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Passenger satisfaction at baggage collection jumps to new high with mobile notifications

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While the adoption of technology has improved passenger satisfaction across the airport journey, the biggest jump by far over the past year was at baggage collection. 2019 Passenger IT Insights shows that passengers are demanding more mobile services in relation to their baggage and where these are available, satisfaction levels have surged.

The research shows that 26% of passengers in 2018 used their mobile device to receive status updates on their baggage at arrival, up from 14% in 2017. At the same time, there is a growing demand from passengers to receive more baggage information via their mobile devices. A majority of passengers said they would definitely use mobile notifications providing information on baggage at arrival while a similar proportion said they would use their mobiles to track their bags or to report mishandled baggage.

These mobile services have dramatically improved passenger satisfaction levels. In 2018, those travelers who used their mobile to receive updates at baggage collection were 8.6% more satisfied than those who relied on traditional voice announcements or flight information screens for information. In fact, those who relied on traditional voice or screen announcements for updates ranked baggage collection as one of the lowest points in their journey while those receiving mobile updates perceived this step as one where they were most satisfied.

Peter Drummond, Director of Baggage at SITA, said: “Today airports and airlines are increasingly tracking bags at key points across their journey. While this tracking data is primarily used to provide better oversight of baggage and reduce mishandling, many operators are providing some, or all, of this information to passengers as a mobile service. This is being done either through the airline or airport mobile app or other notifications such as SMS.

“As we have seen from the survey, this service has a tremendously positive impact on passengers’ airport experience. It provides a significant positive boost to the way they perceive their travel, while reducing anxiety around baggage. It is a strong endorsement of the benefits of baggage tracking in addition to the improvements in mishandling rates we have already seen where tracking solutions are in place,” said Drummond.

A potential force driving adoption of mobile baggage services is the growing number of checked bags in 2018.

Drummond added: “More than 4.3 billion bags were checked in by passengers globally. This is an average of 1.2 bags per person, up from 1.08 bags per passenger in 2017. The rise in checked baggage is likely to drive demand for more services as passengers want to know where their bags are at all times. Those airports that track bags across the journey are well placed to offer this service.”

The key findings of the report are based on a survey of passengers from 20 countries across the Americas, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Africa, representing over 70% of global passenger traffic.

Travel News | eTurboNews