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African Tourism Board to become the Voice for Africa: Interview on Good Morning Seychelles

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Talking Tourism, the African Tourism Board was the talking points on the Seychelles Television “Good Morning Seychelles’ (Bonzour Sesel) program with Barbara Hoareau.

The very popular and loved “Good Morning Seychelles” (Bonzour Sesel) television program hosted by Barbara Hoareau of SBC Seychelles recently welcomed Alain St.Ange, the President of the African Tourism Board (ATB) to discuss tourism in Africa and how the ATB could be that very catalyst to bring about the development of Brand Africa.


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Alain St.Ange who was elected earlier this year as the President of the African Tourism Board on the sidelines of the World Travel Market Africa in Cape Town explained to Seychelles that the ATB was being managed from Pretoria in South Africa where the CEO and Vice President were based. The President of the African Tourism Board went on to speak about the latest country Uganda that became a member as he explained that the ATB would work with the new CEO of the Uganda Tourism Board to get out to the world the key USPs of Uganda and to support the relaunching of the Uganda Airlines.

Mr. St.Ange who was asked about whether the successes of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands could be replicated for Africa said that visibility for the continent and its member States would be a priority. “We shall work and will become the voice to dispel the negatives and bring out the successes and attractions,” he said as he deplored the fact that in the Indian Ocean Islands Seychelles and Mauritius were still not on board even though many in the private sector trade were already working with the ATB.

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Alain St.Ange was the founding President of the Indian Ocean Vanilla Islands and was the only one to have had his mandate extended for a consecutive two-term. He is now the founding president of the Africa Tourism Board.  St.Ange explained on air that when a disaster strikes the African Continent with its 54 States is affected and that this needed to change. “We shall be communicating as necessary and become that needed voice for Africa,” he said.

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African Tourism Board and Durban ICC: Working together on Sustainable Development Goals

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At the ongoing Indaba travel industry trade show in Durban, African Tourism Board Vice President Cuthbert Ncube met with Lindiwe Rakharebe, the Chief Executive Officer of the e Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre Complex in the city center of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

ATB VP Ncube said: “Our discussion centered on a need for a more robust approach in aligning so much diversity in terms of products from the region that can play a catalytic role that will see all countries in the region working together towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Tourism plays a pivotal roll in fulfilling these.”

Lindiwe Rakharebe holds a Bachelors Degree in Management Leadership and is credited to have contributed immensely to the success of Durban ICC. The Center has won several awards under her leadership as Africas leading Meeting and Conference Centre and is rated among the world s top client-rated convention centers.

She sees the African Tourism Board playing a more direct and positive roll in acknowledging the need for a more inclusive synergy in the region. She suggested moving to a more strategic partnership in hosting African Tourism Board conferences.

Lindiwe Rakharebe proudly added: “The convention center prides itself as Africa’s leading convention center and offers the largest flat floor, column-free, multi-functional event space in Africa.

Today’s meeting was a follow-up discussion after our article: Durban loves African Tourism Board and Africa wins

Founded in 2018, the African Tourism Board is an association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from, and within the African region. For more information and how to join, visit africantourismboard.com.

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Lufthansa makes dedicated staff look bad: The eTN Hero is Patricia Dzai of Swissport Johannesburg

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Lufthansa

“My personal hero today is Ms. Patricia Dzai. Patricia works for Swissport in Johannesburg, South Africa,” said eTN Publisher Juergen Steinmetz. Swissport is one of the largest aviation ground-handling agencies operating in countries around the world.

Major airlines hire Swissport to manage customer relations and logistics when it comes to baggage handling, including lost or misplaced items.

Lufthansa German Airlines’ ground handler in Johannesburg is Swissport. I recently traveled from Nice to Cape Town via Frankfurt and Johannesburg on Lufthansa German Airlines. I am a United Airlines Star Alliance Gold member and traveled on Lufthansa in Business class. Lufthansa is a member of Star Alliance.

When I arrived in Johannesburg, I heard my name called by Lufthansa’s lost baggage office handled by Swissport.

I was told my tube was still in Frankfurt, and they would put it on the next flight to Johannesburg. I explained it was of utmost importance to have the tube for an important trade show event, the World Travel Market in Cape Town, in the morning.

Patricia Dzai, the Swissport agent in Johannesburg, wanted to make sure this would be possible and sent an urgent message to Lufthansa in Frankfurt. The message said:

 

 

 

 

 

I was pleased to know my tube would go on LH 576 directly to Cape Town almost in time for the start of World Travel Market.

I went on to fly to Cape Town and received a text message in the evening saying my tube would be on the Lufthansa flight to Johannesburg, which was different from what Patricia had requested. Since it was late and the Swissport office in Johannesburg was closed, I was able to find a non-published phone number for Lufthansa baggage service in Frankfurt. Lufthansa, like most airlines, is hiding phone numbers to encourage passengers to communicate only by email.

I was told by Lufthansa Baggage Service in Frankfurt no such message to forward my tube to Cape Town was ever received by Swissport Johannesburg. The agent went on to say that passengers are often not told the truth by Swissport agents.

The Lufthansa agent in Frankfurt explained that his job was not to help me, since this was only handled in Johannesburg. I argued my tube is in Frankfurt and not Johannesburg, and the handling agent for Swissport in Johannesburg was closed.

The agent then said he was now doing a one-time exception for me and would reroute my tube on LH576 directly to Cape Town. He said there were 5 hours to get this done, still plenty of time according to him.

The next day I received another message telling me again the tube was on its way to Johannesburg instead of Cape Town.

I called Swissport in Johannesburg, and the news not could have been worse. They told me, apologizing, that my tube was still in Frankfurt for a second day, and they did not know why.

I again called the baggage-handling office in Frankfurt and was again told it’s all Swissport’s mistake for not telling them where to send it.

This time I was angry and called Swissport Johannesburg again. I asked Patricia why she was lying about this. I told her she never sent this request to Frankfurt, according to Lufthansa.

Ten minutes later, I received an email with a time-stamped screenshot from Patricia Dzai showing me exactly what was requested by her in the first place.

Patricia actually had gone out of her way originally to make sure I would be united with my tube on time and in Cape Town. I felt bad thinking she didn’t care and didn’t do anything, when in fact she did.

It shows that big companies like Lufthansa have a serious customer service issue. They hide behind a huge system and are trained to say it’s not their job and simply blame others for company shortcomings.

There was no way I could talk to anyone at Lufthansa about this, and my urgent email to them on the day I was trying to get the tube re-routed was just responded to 2 weeks after I was already back home in Hawaii. Lufthansa offered a 200 euro compensation.

No explanation was given and no apology for accusing Patricia Dzai and Swissport for not doing their job.

I finally received my tube on the last day after the trade show and took it back to the US unopened. When I changed planes in Frankfurt, I asked the agent working in the Senator Lounge to speak to a supervisor in baggage handling about this case and compensation. She told me I have to send an email, which I had already done days ago.

She gave me some chocolate and said they get customers’ complaints all the time and do their best to help and respond, but the back-up system by the airline is not there.

It’s all about a giant non-caring anonymous machine.

I extend my apologies to Patricia Dzai from Swissport, as I now understand she was also a victim of shortcomings created by Lufthansa German Airlines.

Patricia Dzai is the eTN Hero for today.

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MSC Cruises partners with Martha Stewart

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MSC Cruises – the Swiss-based world’s largest privately-owned cruise line – is partnering with internationally acclaimed home and lifestyle expert Martha Stewart on new, exclusive culinary and discovery experiences on board and ashore to make MSC Cruises’ guests vacation moments even more special and memorable. The partnership — themed Celebrate, Discover, Experience — includes specially curated shore excursions, celebration surprise gift packages, and onboard special holiday dinner menus and recipes.

“MSC Cruises is committed to developing enriching guest experiences and as such we partner with world-class experts in their field to create together something truly unique,” said Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises. “Martha Stewart’s philosophy and passion for discovery is a perfect match for MSC Cruises and we are excited to bring her innovation, style and expertise to life in this special partnership designed to help our guests create memorable vacation moments with friends and family.”

“I’ve always enjoyed introducing people to new experiences, and I’m thrilled to be working with MSC Cruises on a partnership that embodies the true celebratory nature of travel, exploration and discovery,” said Martha Stewart. “The excursions showcase some of my favorite activities and help MSC Cruises’ guests discover some of the authentic and hidden treasures of destinations throughout the Caribbean. The holiday dinner menus and surprise gift packages encompass what I believe celebrations should include: good food, good company and commemorating great adventures and inspiration wherever we are.”

Travel News | eTurboNews

Moscow selected to host annual GSMA Mobile 360 Series event

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Eurasia conference, a regional event held as part of the activities of GSMA (Global System for Mobile Communications Association), will be held in Moscow, October 8-9 2019.

The decision to host the event in Moscow was adopted as a result of an active work of the Russian Convention Bureau which provided the proposal for venues, and organized an inspection visit for representatives of the international association.

The event will be held in Moscow for the second time, following the successful launch in 2018 which gathered over 600 attendees from 21 countries and 52% were Director-level and above.

In 2019, the conference and exhibition will bring together over 600 policymakers, regulatory authorities, international organisations, Mobile Network Operators, mobile technology solution providers and broader ICT ecosystem players from Russia, the CIS region and the international market leaders in 5G technology. The event will be held at the Lotte Hotel Moscow.

Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation, said: “The sphere of mobile and high technologies plays a key role in stimulating economic growth, attracting foreign investments and increasing global competitiveness through development of science and technology. Adding more industries to the list of events organized by the Russian Convention Bureau will not only facilitate the development of corresponding areas of the real economy sector but also help create the image of the country on the international arena as one of the most meaningful players on the market of the event industry.”

Alexey Kalachev, Director of the Russian Convention Bureau, said: “We use various tools of working with international associations as we work to attract various business events to Russia. We are ready to offer universal and customized solutions that will correspond to the needs and expectations of conference organizers of various scale in different industries.”

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