Edition 166 · March 2022

Bundaberg Rum has launched a new limited-edition aged Rum to help flood-hit communities recover and rebuild. They are aiming to raise $100,000 for the Australian Red Cross Queensland and New South Wales Floods Appeal. The From Our Town to Yours collectable bottles will feature the name of one of the more than 40 flood ravaged regions.

Further information: https://www.bundabergrum.com.au/products/flood-recovery-2022.html

A new technology created by a New Zealand technology company makes any high-touch surface touch-free. The HoverTap is currently being used in elevators in Canada and the company plans to expand into self-service kiosks in airports, restaurants, hotels, ATMs and airplane seatback entertainment systems. The owners of HoverTap have entered into a manufacturing agreement with Dupar Controls a world leader in the innovation, design and manufacture of elevator control systems and push-button technology.

Further information: https://nztech.ca/hovertap/

The Australian Government has announced the third round of the COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program providing $75.5 million in targeted support for eligible travel agents and tour arrangement service providers who continue to support consumers to rebook their travel using existing COVID-related travel credits. To date, $184 million had been paid under the first two rounds of the program with 5,455 grants issued to over 3,233 recipients. Applications close on 20 April 2022.

Further information: https://www.austrade.gov.au/australian/tourism/grants-and-support-for-tourism-businesses/covid-19-consumer-travel-support-program

The Western Australian Government has announced a $77 million Safe Transition Industry Support Package to help tourism operators offset the financial impact incurred by the delayed border reopening. Tourism Western Australia is administering some of the programs and tourism operators can apply under the $20 million Tourism Support Program, $15 million Tourism Deposit Refund Program, $10 million boost to the existing Aviation Recovery Fund or the $3 million Travel Agents Support Fund.

Further information: https://www.tourism.wa.gov.au/industry-support-and-events/resources-for-businesses-and-operators/Coronavirus/Pages/WA-Tourism-Funding-Programs.aspx#/

A new $7 million program aims to attract business events to the three state-owned convention centres in Queensland including Brisbane, Cairns and the Gold Coast. The Queensland Government Convention and Exhibition Centre Economic Recovery Bid Support Program aims to boost the centres’ competitiveness in securing national conferences and bring business travellers back to Queensland. Events that apply for financial assistance need to align with Queensland’s priority industry sectors and may qualify for multi-year support.

Further information: https://www.cimbusinessevents.com.au/queensland-convention-centres-get-7m-boost-to-attract-conferences/

Kempinski Hotels is looking to launch the world’s first Floating Sea Palace Resort in Dubai. The floating structure will comprise a 156-room hotel connected to 12 floating luxury villas which are effectively houseboats that can be sailed and come equipped with solar panels. Designed by Seagate Shipyard, the Floating Palace is slated to open in 2023.

Further information: https://www.kempinski.com/en/hotels/press-room/the-worlds-first-floating-sea-palace-resort-under-the-management-of-luxurious-kempinski-hotels/

Lufthansa Technik, in partnership with chemical manufacturer BASF, have created the AeroSHARK film a surface technology for aeroplanes. The film is flexible, lightweight and consists of riblets that act like the shark’s scales providing lift while reducing friction and the amount of fuel used on each flight. AeroSHARK can be cut to size and has been tested in real flight conditions to withstand variations in temperature, air pressure and a mix of weather elements. Lufthansa Cargo’s fleet of Boeing 777F planes will be outfitted in the first half of 2022 and Swiss International Air Lines is also using the technology on its Boeing 777s.

Further information: https://www.lufthansa-technik.com/press-releases/-/asset_publisher/Xix57wMv0mow/content/pressrelease_swiss-aeroshark

The largest passenger railway company in Japan is improving and invigorating passenger services at their metropolitan train stations by using advanced robots and AI technology. The East Japan Railway Company which carries 17 million people from Tokyo to multiple areas in Eastern Japan has opened the Takanawa Gateway Station. It is using cutting-edge technology to employ a crew of robots that provide travellers with transfer information, act as security guards, carry heavy luggage, serve food, as well as clean station facilities and equipment.

Further information: https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/index.html/

Drive North Queensland has launched the second edition of their map which promotes the Great Barrier Reef Drive, Great Tropical Drive and Epic Cape York Drive. These will be distributed at Caravan and Camping Shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane as well as through Visitor Information Centres in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Drive North Queensland is a collaboration with Townsville Enterprise, Tourism Whitsundays, Mackay Isaac Tourism, Outback Tourism and Tourism Tropical North Queensland.

Further information: https://drivenorthqueensland.com.au/

The Museum of the Future is an exhibition space for innovative and futuristic ideologies, services and products. Located in the Dubai, the museum aims to promote technological development and innovation, especially in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence. Founded by the Dubai Future Foundation, it was designed by architecture studio Killa Design and engineered by Buro Happold. The exterior of the building is covered with windows that form a poem by Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed about his vision for the city’s future, written in Arabic calligraphy.

Further information: https://museumofthefuture.ae/en

A $27 million proposal is set to transform the historic Nedlands Bath site on the Swan River into an iconic tourist attraction for Western Australia. The Sevens Group Australia redevelopment proposal includes a two-storey boutique hotel, function centre, restaurant, café, bar, public amenities and a protected marina. The project will receive support from Tourism Western Australia’s Tourism Attractions Case Management team which assists projects that will have a significant impact to tourism and the economy.

Further information: https://www.sevensnedlandsbaths.com.au/

Tourism Australia is adopting a dual-naming approach for capital cities and other specific locations around Australia by using the known Aboriginal name alongside the English name. This will not only acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we live, work and travel on, but seeks to incorporate 60,000 years of Indigenous custodianship, language and knowledge into the mainstream consciousness.

Further information: https://www.tourism.australia.com/en/news-and-media/news-stories/tourism-australia-adopts-aboriginal-dual-naming.html

Image: The dual names of Australia’s cities © Tourism Australia

A new international strategy for Business Events Australia will drive demand in key global markets and prove There’s Nothing like Australia for Business Events. It builds upon the recent reopening of international borders and marks the first phase of positioning Australia for long term growth as a global leader in business events. The campaign will be launched in the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, South-East Asia, New Zealand and China. It will have high impact placements across business events trade media supported by content, social and public relations activity.

Further information: https://businessevents.australia.com/content/dam/digital/be/documents/there’s-nothing-like-australia-industry-fact-sheet-2022.pdf

The Victorian Government has announced the winning design for a new museum of contemporary art which will be the centrepiece of its $1.7 billion Southbank arts and culture precinct. The winning team is Angelo Candalepas and Associates along with a collective of 20 Victorian and Australian-based firms with expertise across architecture, design and engineering. The gallery will be Australia’s largest cultural infrastructure project with 13,000 square metres of display space for art and design, exhibition galleries, rooftop terrace and sculpture garden. Construction will begin next year with completion expected by 2028.

Further information: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/ngv-contemporary/

Tourism Northern Territory is working with Tourism Top End, Tourism Central Australia and Hospitality Northern Territory to deliver a dedicated campaign to attract temporary workers in preparation for the peak tourism season. The working holiday maker campaign ‘Work Hard, Play Hard’ will target the youth market that is already in Australia as well as new working holiday makers based in the U.K. and Germany.

Further information: https://www.tourismnt.com.au/marketing/international-marketing/work-hard-play-hard

JTB Corp (formerly the Japan Tourist Bureau), has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council to further accelerates its sustainability initiatives and strategies on a global level. It plans to bring positive enhancement of sustainability through its extensive market reach of over 215 offices located in 37 countries and regions. The Japan Tourist Bureau was formed in 1912 to service the ticketing needs of foreign visitors in Japan and has now evolved into a global travel and tourism industry leader.

Further information: https://www.gstcouncil.org/jtb-gstc-sign-mou/

Image: MOU signing ceremony (held online). Left: Randy Durband, GSTC CEO; Right: Eijiro Yamakita, JTB Corporation President and CEO

The Whale Tale exhibition in Auckland features individually designed whale tails located around the city to raise awareness of New Zealand’s marine environment. The public art trail features 80 Big Broos (large) and 82 Pēpi (mini) sculptures that have been turned into bespoke pieces of art by well-known and emerging kiwi artists and schools. The sculptures will also be auctioned to raise funds for the work done by WWF-New Zealand in and around the Hauraki Gulf.

Further information: https://whaletales2022.org/art-trail/

Australian Regional Tourism has launched a professional development program tailored specifically for local government and regional tourism organisations. The initiative will help tourism providers restimulate visitation to regional areas impacted by two years of COVID-related travel restrictions. Sponsored by Tourism Australia, the program will be delivered online and provides insight into the role of the visitor economy in regional communities and best practice industry planning and development.

Further information: http://regionaltourism.com.au/lgpdp/

The new Study Australia Partner Hub is a dedicated resource for education agents and Study Australia partners to support the promotion of Australia as a preferred study destination. It was established on the Study Australia website and includes the latest news, updates, links, resources, insights, podcast episodes, marketing toolkit, guidance on culturally sensitive communications and the latest student travel, arrival and visa information.

Further information: https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au/membership.aspx

The online course ‘Sustainability Management for Tourism Businesses’ by TrainingAid provides practical steps to building a sustainability management system, with lessons focused on tools and techniques to help companies improve their management practices. Registration available for the next cohort starting in April.

Further information: https://www.trainingaid.org/sustainability-management-for-tourism-businesses

The Green Key award is a leading international eco-label for facilities in the hospitality and tourism industry run by the Foundation for Environmental Education and supported by the World Tourism Organisation and the United Nations Environment Program. With more than 3,000 eco-labelled facilities in over 60 countries worldwide, the Green Key label is an easy-to-use tool for facilities in the hospitality industry that want to improve their sustainability work and reduce their environmental impact.

Further information: https://www.greenkey.global/

Brisbane City Council has developed a city-wide strategy to guide the future delivery of off-road cycling opportunities and facilities for children, adults and families within bushland reserves and parks. The strategy aims to meet the needs of a rapidly growing cycling community while protecting bushland reserves and parks. It identifies potential locations and opportunities for developing facilities including existing shared-use tracks and fire trails.

Further information: https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/things-to-see-and-do/outdoor-activities/riding-in-brisbane/brisbane-off-road-cycling-strategy

The International Air Transport Association has launched the Recommended Practice Per-Passenger CO2 Calculation Methodology. The methodology using verified airline operational data provides the most accurate calculation methodology for the industry to quantify CO2 emissions per passenger for a specific flight. This allows organisations and individuals to make informed choices including decisions on investing in voluntary carbon offsetting or sustainable aviation fuel use.

Further information: https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2022-releases/2022-22-03-01/

PATA has recently launched the Tourism Destination Resilience Program to help destinations recover from COVID-19 pandemic and prepare them for future crises that will come by building a more resilient tourism industry. The online and in-market training program offers open-sourced modules for tourism professionals or businesses to boost their destination recovery, increase competitiveness or become more resilient and sustainable.

Further information: https://crc.pata.org/tourism-destination-resilience/

The Western Australian Government Pickering Brook and Surrounds Sustainability and Tourism Strategy has been released and local businesses are invited to have their say on options to grow local tourism and agriculture. Tourism Western Australia provided input into the draft report which explores future growth in the Pickering Brook area. Applications close 29 April 2022.

Further information: https://consultation.dplh.wa.gov.au/land-use-planning/pickering-brook/

The Net Zero Methodology for Hotels has been developed to support the industry in taking action to seek net-zero commitments. It sets out a recommended approach for hotels of any size and can be adapted to align with specific requirements of individual companies. The methodology is a joint initiative between Tourism Declares, Greenview, the Pacific Asia Travel Association, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and the World Travel & Tourism Council. It was launched as part of the Glasgow Declaration and is supported by an Advisory Group of experts from over 20 hotel companies around the world.

Further information: https://sustainablehospitalityalliance.org/resource/net-zero-methodology-for-hotels/

The International Air Transport Association which represents over 80% of global air traffic (290 airlines) has released the 2021 safety performance data for the commercial airline industry showing strong improvement in several areas compared to the last five years 2017-2021. Highlights include reductions in the total number of accidents, the all-accident rate and fatalities, as well as no runway/taxiway excursion accidents for the first time in 15 years.

Further information: https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2022-releases/2022-03-02-01/

Kind Traveller has released the 2022 Impact Tourism Report: Hotels, Charities and Destinations. As part of the Global Traveller Survey, Kind Traveller interviewed 64 partner hotels, charities, and destinations in 16 countries to uncover 10 trends that are shaping the intersection of travel, sustainability and philanthropy. The report brings together these findings with solutions to advance regeneration within local communities and the environment.

Further information: https://www.kindtraveler.com/content/2022-kind-traveler-global-impact-tourism-report

A report by the Urban Land Institute in the U.S.A. explores sustainability in the hospitality industry and examines ways in which hotels are incorporating eco-friendly best practices into both operations and construction. The ‘Sustainability in Hotels: Opportunities and Trends Shaping the Future of Hospitality’ includes insights from leading hotel owners, developers and investors. According to the study, hotels that implement sustainability initiatives typically see immediate returns that add to the bottom line and give them a competitive edge including reductions in energy and water costs.

Further information: https://americas.uli.org/research/centers-initiatives/greenprint-center/greenprint-resources-2/best-practices-in-sustainable-real-estate/sustainability-in-hotels/

The annual Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Conference in the Asia-Pacific event will be held on 17, 19, 24 and 26 May 2022. The conference will share how catering to the accessible and inclusive market promotes sustainable growth and creates great opportunities for the travel and tourism industry in the region.

Further information: https://www.getaboutable.com/aitcap/

The Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference will be held in Cairns from 16-18 June 2022. The 3-day conference aims to promote First Nations tourism in the future.

Further information: https://www.cvent.com/c/abstracts/49f68225-ee63-4f63-9214-e4bd4b1f185a

The Global Youth Tourism Summit will be held in Sorrento, Italy on 27 June 2022. The event aims to include a series of workshops and education initiatives that allows youth to share and discuss innovative ideas, visions and proposals for the future of sustainable tourism.

Further information: https://gyts.org/