Tony Charters and Associates

Edition 91 - August 2015

Circulated to 10,000 Professionals Worldwide

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TOP STORIES

Stellar Cast of Operators Lead Global Eco

The Global Eco Asia-Pacific Conference on Rottnest Island 17 - 19 November is bringing together some of the world's leading operators under the theme Ecotourism - Navigating for Success.

Keynote speakers from 13 nations will gather to focus fairly and squarely on issues that deliver success for business, communities and conservation through ecotourism.

The conference will explore policy and planning, investment and development, quality and consumer trends, marketing and distribution.

Amongst the international award winning operators presenting are:

  • Mayah Brandon and Jefferson Dent - Laguna Lodge, Guatemala
  • Bruce Bromley - Soneva Group, Maldives, Thailand
  • Grant Colquhoun - TripAdvisor
  • Peter Gash - Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort
  • Glenn Jampol - Finca Roas Blanca Coffee Plantation and Inn, Costa Rica
  • Rika Jean-Francois - ITB, Germany
  • Michael Lutzeyer, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, South Africa
  • Robyn Mungulu, Wandjina Tours, Australia
  • Robert Pennicott, Pennicott Wilderness Journeys, Australia
  • Albert Teo, Borneo Eco Tours

Luxury Partnership

Tourism Australia has signed a partnership with Virtuoso, the world's leading luxury travel network comprising over 370 travel agencies with more than 9,800 specialists in 30 countries. The agreement will build a greater connection between key international markets and luxury experiences in Australia. It includes a digital and print marketing campaign with a focus on trade engagement and agent training with partners Destination NSW, South Australian Tourism Commission, Tourism Northern Territory and Tourism Tasmania.

Further information: http://www.tourism.australia.com/news/Media-Releases-17427.aspx

Tourism - Ready Set Go in 2016

University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Jan Thomas has announced the University's Fraser Coast campus is expanding its Bachelor of Business program to include new majors in tourism, events, marketing and hospitality management.

Heading the new tourism major being offered from USQ Fraser Coast in the first semester next year will be Dr Elizabeth Saxon.

Dr Saxon has a PhD in sustainable tourism and has lectured extensively at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in economics, policy, planning, anthropology and tourism.

She also has extensive experience as a sustainable tourism consultant with national and international tourism businesses, governments and organisations.

"I am very excited to be part of the USQ Fraser Coast team delivering the new on-campus tourism program next year," Dr Saxon said.

"Tourism is a great area of study for potential students as employment opportunities and lifestyle choices are extremely diverse.

Further information: www.usq.edu.au

Tourism Tribe Targets Digital Economy

Tourism Operators throughout Australia will benefit from a new digital training program designed to increase their uptake of new technologies widely used in the marketplace.

The 64-module program is geared to support, train and raise the online exposure of tourism businesses that have lagged behind other industries in adopting technologies.

Research shows only 40% of tourism businesss optimise their websites for search capability and only one in two tourism websites are mobile friendly.

Further information: http://www.tourismtribe.com/

PROTECTED AREAS

World's Most Popular Tourist Destination

London has been named the world's most popular tourist destination in the Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index. It is the second year running that the capital has topped the index which provides an in-depth ranking of the 132 most travelled cities from around the world. The global top five are London, Paris, Istanbul, Bangkok and Dubai.

Further information: http://newsroom.mastercard.com/digital-press-kits/mastercard-global-destination-cities-index-2015/

Kan-Du Destination

Kakadu Tourism, formerly known as Gagudju Dreaming, has launched a new website designed to make planning a visit to Kakadu a 'Kan-du' experience. The Indigenous-owned Kakadu Tourism operates a range of accommodation options and tours within Kakadu National Park including the world-famous Crocodile Hotel, Cooinda Lodge, the Cooinda caravan and camping ground, Yellow Water Cruises, Spirit of Kakadu 4WD Adventures and the Warradjan Cultural Centre.

Further information: http://www.kakadutourism.com/

PROTECTED AREAS

National Park Film

Independent filmmaker MacGillivray Freeman Films, creator of 20 giant-screen box-office hits including Everest, the highest-grossing IMAX documentary film ever, is creating America Wild: U.S. National Parks in partnership with Brand USA as a tribute to the National Park Service's upcoming centennial anniversary. The film will showcase U.S. national parks and outdoor experiences when it is released globally to approximately 800 giant-screen theatres in 60 countries in 2016.

Further information: http://www.thebrandusa.com/Media/Press-Releases/041015%20Great%20Outdoors%20
Filming%20in%20DC

Investing in Parks

The Western Australian Government will invest $6.25 million in low-cost, high-quality camping and caravanning accommodation and visitor facilities in national parks and reserves across the state. The investment is part of the Royalties for Regions Parks for People initiative being delivered by the Department of Parks and Wildlife over four years.

Further information: http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/pages/
StatementDetails.aspx?listName=Statements
Barnett&StatId=9520

DIGITAL & TECHNOLOGY

Global Wi-Fi

A new report from Hotelwifitest ranks the quality of hotel Wi-Fi by letting travellers test hotel Wi-Fi while at a property and publishes test results for others to view percentages. Globally, two Scandinavian-based hotels, Nordic Choice Hotels and Scandic Hotels, were among the 10 hotels with the best overall Wi-Fi quality and both also ranked well in Europe.

Further information: http://www.hotelwifitest.com/reports/144329/

TRANSPORT

In-Flight Meditation Program

British Airways, in collaboration with the Mindfulness Institute, are offering an in-flight meditation program to help calm anxious fliers. The program consists of three mindfulness guidance videos which aims to soothe the nerves of passengers for the full duration of their journey from the time they board their plane to their next activity once they disembark.

Further information: http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/health-and-wellbeing

Inflight Caddy

The TabCaddyClip is a new reusable device which attaches securely to airline meal trays providing passengers with a low-cost holder for a range of personal devices. The clip clamps onto the meal tray and features a hinge which allows the passenger to adjust the angle to optimise their viewing angle. The product can be customised to include branding and has the potential to be sold inflight providing additional revenue for airlines.

Further information: http://www.skycastsolutions.com/products/#clip

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

Make Holidays Greener

The Travel Foundation and Travelife as part of the Make Holidays Greener campaign have launched new resources to help hotels reduce plastic waste. An online toolkit provides simple actions that hotels can take to reduce the costs and time associated with the use and disposal of plastic in everyday hotel operations. The guide includes other practical tips, training presentation, customer poster, letter and survey.

Further information: http://www.makeholidaysgreener.org.uk

ACCOMMODATION

Corporate Environment Program

AccorHotels has won the 2015 Pacific Asia Travel Association Gold Award for best corporate environment program for Planet 21: Reinventing Hotels Sustainably. The program includes 21 commitments across a range of environmental and social issues including water consumption, energy use, carbon emissions, child protection, disease prevention and employee development.

Further information: http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/sustainable-development/index.shtml

Lego Hotel

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced a global partnership between Le Méridien Hotels and the LEGO Group to offer a complimentary Welcome Amenity to children checking in to any of its 100 plus hotels and resorts worldwide. This is the first time that Lego has partnered with a hotel brand and is part of the brand's first step to a new multi-faceted family program.

Further information: http://www.starwoodmediacentre.com/eame/le-meridien/news/2015/07/23/le-meridien-unlocks-free-play-for-families-on-the-road-with-global-partnership-with-the-lego-group?locale=en_GB

INFRASTRUCTURE & INVESTMENT

Viewing Cube

Skyline Queenstown is planning to build New Zealand's first suspended glass viewing cube off the deck at the top of Bob's Peak. The 1 metre-wide, 1 metre-deep and 2 metres-tall cube will give guests the feeling of being suspended in mid-air as they look out towards the Remarkables mountain range, the Crown Range and over Lake Wakatipu to Cecil Peak. The design was inspired by the 'Step into the Void' installation at the Aiguille du Midi in Mont Blanc. Construction is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

Further information: http://www.skyline.co.nz/newzealand/skyline-news-detail/index.cfm/2015/05/step-into-the-void/

POLICY & PLANNING

Adventure Tourism Development Index

The Adventure Travel Trade Association and George Washington University have published the 2015 Adventure Tourism Development Index which contains the top 10 countries best suited to adventure tourism according to the UN's classification system. It is based on principles of sustainable adventure tourism and is calculated through a combination of expert survey data and quantitative data gathered from international indices.

Further information: http://www.adventuretravel.biz/store/2015-adventure-tourism-development-index/

CERTIFICATION & ACCREDITATION

Noosa Eco Check

Tourism Noosa has launched an interactive online training program to assist businesses in implementing environmentally friendly business practices to ensure Noosa is a sustainable and eco-friendly destination. The Noosa Eco Check program is the second stage of the Welcome to Noosa program and provides a selection of easy-to-implement key actions in areas such as energy, water, waste and corporate social responsibility with great examples of sustainable business initiatives in the region.

Further information: http://www.noosaecocheck.com.au/

AWARDS

Green Hotel Awards

The Green Hotelier has announced the winners of their worldwide 2015 Green Hotel Awards. Applicants ranged from small eco lodges surrounded by nature to large corporate hotels in city centres throughout Europe, Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas.

Further information: http://www.greenhotelier.org/our-news/industry-news/green-hotelier-awards-2015-winners-announced/

RESEARCH

Canadian Aboriginal Tourism

The first major study of Aboriginal tourism across Canada in more than a decade points to the increasing importance, growth and sophistication of the industry. The study commissioned by the Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada and conducted by O'Neil Marketing and Consulting determined the barriers limiting the ability of Aboriginal tourism to reach its potential including access to financing, marketing strategies, visibility at transportation gateways, authenticity of experiences, travel trade relationships, training and retaining qualified staff.

Further information: http://aboriginalcanada.ca/corporate/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/REPORT-ATAC-Ntl-Ab-Tsm-Research-2015-April-FINAL.pdf

Multigenerational Travel

The Preferred Hotel Group has released a new study identifying the evolving profile of one of leisure travel's fastest growing segments. The national survey examined a multiple of variables including the attitudes, behaviours, preferences, social values, lifestyles, and media habits of multigenerational travellers. The study confirmed a continued desire to spend more time with family on vacation, a trend that first emerged as a primary motivation for leisure travel in the aftermath of 9/11.

Further information: https://preferredhotels.com/press/children-shape-desires-and-decisions-of-multigenerational-travelers

Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Report

The World Travel and Tourism Council have forecast the economic impact of the travel and tourism sector in 184 countries and 24 regions. The expected growth in 2015 demonstrates the sector's enduring ability to generate economic growth and create jobs at a faster rate than the global economy. By 2025, the sector is expected to contribute 357 million jobs, some 73 million more jobs than this year. The 10-year forecasts also provide a unique understanding of Travel & Tourism's future growth, economic importance and social influence.

Further information: http://www.wttc.org/research/economic-research/economic-impact-analysis/

CONFERENCES & EVENTS

Malaysia Organises First World H.O.S.T

The Malaysia Tourism Council (MTC) and the Malaysia Homestay Association (MHA) have formally announced their partnership in organising the World Homestay Organisations Summit for Tourism (H.O.S.T.) 2015 from 29 November – 2 December to be held in different locations around Kuala Lumpur.

The Summit brings together for the first time, the global movement in community and homestay networks and initiatives. With a lineup of internationally acclaimed speakers, World H.O.S.T. is expected to attract delegates from around the world, including community homestay providers, tour operators, tourism development planners, civic and corporate groups, industry partners, students and academics, and travel writers.

Tony Charters AM has been confirmed as a key speaker at the Summit.

Further information: http://gte-forum.com/

Global Tourism Economy Forum

The Global Tourism Economy Forum will be held in Macau from 12 - 14 October 2015. The Global Tourism Economy Forum was established by The Global Tourism Economy Research Centre Forum in collaboration with the United Nation World Tourism Organization in 2012. The forum represents a unique opportunity to get in touch with top-level tourism leaders through privately-scheduled meetings that bring new partnerships and business leads.

Further information: http://gte-forum.com/

Australian Regional Tourism Convention

The Australian Regional Tourism Network Convention will be held in South Australia from 19 - 22 October 2015. The annual event provides a forum to discuss, debate and investigate solutions to issues, challenges and opportunities facing regional tourism. It is for all sectors of the tourism industry to exchange ideas about ways to grow a sustainable regional destination and to showcase best practice success.

Further information: http://www.cvent.com/events/2015-artn-convention/event-summary-905e3643a63347c5a4909aee48a1a1b6.aspx/

INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS

Trekking Again

By Anjana Lamichhane - Nepal Correspondent

Welcome! Festival season is almost here. The most dramatic cultural festival of the Newari community called Gai jatra (Cow festival) on the 30th of August marks the start of the festival season each year. This is celebrated inside the Kathmandu Valley, but cultural festivals extend right across Nepal. Come and enjoy the numerous and unique cultural festivals of our nation.

Nepal has opened Mount Everest to climbers for the first time since the earthquake-triggered avalanche in April killed 19 mountaineers and ended the popular spring climbing season. Japanese climber Nobukazu Kuriki set out on August 25 to be the first person to attempt to scale the world's highest peak since the earthquake. Nepal's tourism minister, Kripasur Sherpa, gave Kuriki his climbing permit at a ceremony in Kathmandu. This is the great news for the interest group to travel Nepal for Mount Everest.

Hotels and cultural sites, which were partially damaged by the earthquake, are now repaired and open for business. Most importantly they are ready and waiting to welcome you. Visitors are returning in good numbers – which is great evidence and a good sign for our recovery. Adventure trekking routes have re-opened and according to statistics from the Nepal Tourism Board and Trekking Agency Association of Nepal, since the earthquake to August 18, the number of trekker arrivals was 1,635 in the Nepali mountains.




Road to Recovery – Homestay Returns to Balthali

By Anjana Lamichhane - Nepal Correspondent