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The head of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) called on the region to work together to ensure the Caribbean remains one of the world's leading destinations.
Delivering the keynote at the Annual General Meeting of the U.S. Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourism Association earlier this month, CHTA President Karolin Troubetzkoy noted that while Caribbean destinations are very different, they share many of the same challenges - from the impact of climate change to the high cost of operations.
Troubetzkoy, who is the executive director of operations at St. Lucia's Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain resorts, believes a collective resolve is needed, leveraging the strength of diversity and the commonalities of the region's countries and territories to fulfill tourism's true potential. She pointed to the some of the issues many regional destinations are facing, such as improving intra-regional travel, the high costs of airlift to the region as well as importing food, taxes and the growing activity of the sharing economy.
Troubetzkoy indicated she is encouraged by recent movements towards greater public-private sector collaboration to address the region's tourism competitiveness and development. She cited a recent presentation by CHTA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) at the CARICOM Intersessional meeting where the leaders gave the green light to the organizations to draft a plan for submission to the CARICOM Summit in July for a "sustained region-wide tourism development and marketing initiative."
Quoting from a recent CTO report on the industry's 2016 tourism performance, Troubetzkoy observed that while the Caribbean reported its seventh consecutive year of growth with an increase of visitor arrivals by 4.2 percent and a total of 29.3 million stay-over visitors to the region, that growth was unevenly distributed, with Cuba and the Dominican Republic being the primary beneficiaries.
Similarly, despite the increase in visitor arrivals, many regional hotel properties did not experience a successful 2016, as measured in terms of key performance indicators such as Occupancy, ADR (Average Daily Rate) and RevPar (Revenue per Available Room).
Underscoring the need for integrated regional approaches, Troubetzkoy reminded attendees that the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) expects the Caribbean region's tourism share to decline from 2.1 percent to 1.7 percent by 2030.
The CHTA president issued a call to tourism professionals across the region to work together to make their destinations more competitive on the global market: "We also must keep an eye on the many international tourism destinations out there that perform better than us - destinations that have been able to offer 5- and 6-star products at a cost that probably would buy a 3- or 4-star holiday in the Caribbean."
She called for stronger partnerships between the public and private sectors at the destination and regional levels to tackle the difficult issues of increased airlift, air travel costs, taxation, improved inter-regional connectivity and figuring out together how to price products more competitively in the global marketplace: "Our discussions may be uncomfortable and sometimes heated but they must take place because, in the end, we are in this together."
Pointing to the rapid growth of the alternative accommodations sector through online platforms like Airbnb, she asserted: "Rather than fighting the trend we have much to gain by working with (them) to find ways of cooperating for the benefit of our visitors, our dedicated hoteliers and tourism professionals, as well as our hospitable citizens who are willing to share their homes with visitors from abroad, and from within our destinations."
Key issues related to the sharing economy's participation in the hospitality industry include the need to ensure safety and security for guests, and to establish policies that require the homestay community to make a reasonable contribution to each destination's infrastructure maintenance and construction costs.
Noting that people are key to competitiveness, Troubetzkoy urged destinations to develop and fine-tune "every aspect of our customer service experience, enhancing our product itself - whether we are talking about availability of real, authentic Caribbean cultural and culinary offers, locally made products or renovated and enhanced hotel accommodations that have taken into account changing customer expectations."
None of this can be achieved, she declared, without well-trained and informed people in the sector: "We have to ensure we are training people who will continually improve our product as they make fulfilling careers in tourism, and we need to also provide these stalwarts of our sector with continuing education and training. Because, let's face it - our landscapes, adventures and beaches will draw travelers to our shores - but it is our Caribbean people who will keep them coming back."
About the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)
The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is the Caribbean's leading association representing tourism interests for national hotel and tourism associations. For more than 50 years, CHTA has been the backbone of the Caribbean hospitality industry. Working together with 1,000 hotel and allied members and 32 National Hotel Associations, CHTA is shaping the Caribbean's future and helping members to grow their businesses. Whether navigating new worlds like social media, sustainability, legislative issues, emerging technologies, data and intelligence or looking for avenues and ideas to better market and manage businesses, CHTA is helping members on matters that matter most.

Great Southern Rail has unveiled its newest Indian Pacific luxury rail experience, the freshly refitted and refurbished Chairmans Carriage. Visitors to Australia can now opt to travel between Sydney and Perth, via Adelaide and visa versa, in the Chairmans Carriage which features three Platinum Double and one Platinum Twin cabin.

But, for the ultimate in luxury and privacy, the Chairmans Carriage can be chartered for sole use.

The Chairmans Carriage was gutted last October with part of the refit including the realignment of the carriage windows to ensure each new cabin has a view on both sides of the train. The Carriage now offers a private lounge area equipped with TV and bar facilities.

This new service is the latest in a long list of enhanced options available on the Indian Pacific which this year sees:

  • The 100th anniversary of the completion of the Sydney to Perth railway line.
  • The introduction of NEW OFF RAIL EXPERIENCES between Sydney and Perth including Adelaide Hills – an intimate foodie tour featuring a local artisan chocolate or cheese producer, followed by dinner in the historic town of Hahndorf
  • NEW OFF RAIL EXPERIENCES between Perth and Sydney including Kalgoorlie – a theatre performance of “Paddy Hannan's Ounce of Luck” production, the story of boom and bust in this mining town, and Rawlinna – a special Outback breakfast hosted in this remote Nullarbor town.
  • BAILS & RAILS – a special cricket themed package combining the live action excitement of the Ashes with the experience of everything in between whilst travelling from Adelaide to Perth on the Indian Pacific.
At the end of the year the Chairmans Carriage will transfer to The Ghan, offering the same exclusive experience between Darwin and Adelaide, via Alice Springs and vice versa.

A massive increase in product choice, more affordable flights and guaranteed sun, has led to a major increase in family holiday bookings to Dubai in the first quarter of the year, says Travel Republic.

The leading online travel agent, has revealed booking figures for a Dubai holiday have increased by a dramatic 64% amongst families since the beginning of 2017, compared to the same period last year*.

And Dubai has leapt into Travel Republic's Top 10 destinations for 2017 with  an overall increase of 39% across all bookings year on year, with family holidays showing the biggest growth, and strong demand for all inclusive now available across a wide range of luxury hotels.

Ian Simmonds, Managing Director for Travel Republic, says, “The increase of family holidays to Dubai from the beginning of 2017 demonstrates an ever growing demand for new destinations that many families haven't been to before.”

“Dubai is a destination that has always seen growing popularity with Travel Republic customers, with the majority of our bookings coming from couple's holidays**, so it is particularly pleasing to see such a strong growth and enthusiasm amongst our family customers to take advantage of affordable flights and luxury accommodation in the jewel of the Middle East.”

The results announcement follows Travel Republic's biggest peaks campaign in the UK and Ireland at the beginning of 2017. The “Yours for the Making” campaign, showcased the reward holidaymakers get by creating a holiday experience that elevates their time away above and beyond the usual.

At 4321m Mt. Elgon has the largest volcanic base in the world. Located on the Uganda-Kenya border it is also the oldest solitary volcanic mountain in East Africa. The slopes of Mount Elgon are riddled with caves carved out by moving lava and the erosion of soft volcanic deposits.

The elephants enter the caves as a whole family and walk as far as 160 metres into the pitch darkness just to find a salt seam in the rock, very often with their young in tow. They then excavate the mineral-rich rock by using their tusks to chip off chunks of halite, slowly making the cave deeper and deeper over time. The elephant population of Mt. Elgon are the world´s only elephants to venture underground into huge, dark caves and pass down the unique culture of salt mining to their young.

15 years ago the Mount Elgon Monitoring Team was initiated by the BBC Natural History Unit to learn more about these unique elephants prior to filming Sir David Attenborough's 'The Life of Mammals'.

They found there were only one group of elephants coming to the caves and they announced their presence with 'rumbles' as a greeting call.

It is hoped that this process – similar to the technique used by Diane Fossey to habituate gorillas – will eventually make it possible for tourists to accompany these specialised rangers and experience the thrill of tracking elephants, whilst also providing funding for the further development of the park.

Mount Elgon National Park has a variety of other attractions to tempt the eagle-eyed traveller including immense cliffs, the Sipi falls, breath taking gorges, bubbling springs and some of the finest Arabica coffee in Africa. However, the cave elephants of Mount Elgon are a genuine wonder of the natural world and unmissable for any visitor to Uganda.

Experience world-class Bahamian art in beautiful surroundings.  The 13th Transforming Spaces Art Tour is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, April 1 and 2, 2017. The weekend tour will include a morning and afternoon tour on Saturday, and a morning tour on Sunday. Each gallery will be curating its own exhibition for the event and it is expected that approximately 40 artists will be exhibiting their artworks at the various venues.

The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore observed World Spay Day to create awareness about controlling the increasing population of stray dogs through spaying (neutering) and also through chemical (zeutrtering). UVAS Vice-Chancellor Meritorious Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha led the walk while Dean Faculty of Veterinary Science Prof Dr Masood Rabbani, Prof Dr Aneela Zameer Durrani and Dr Asim Khalid and a large number of students, faculty members participated.

Alkhidmat Orphan Program arranged a training session for the Orphan Children of Aghosh Alkhidmat Rawalpindi. The session was aimed at sensitizing the children regarding moral values and volunteerism. Mr. Ali Sheikh, Deputy Coordinator AKF Mawakhat Program Rawalpindi and Ms. Zainab delivered lectures on morality and benefits of being a good human. Children enjoyed the learning activity and appreciated the training environment.

"It has come to the notice of the Zone 2 Headquarters reports making the rounds in national dailies that ‘Obasanjo Storms out of Police Event over Delay.’ In as much as it is a statement of fact that there was delay in the taking off of the First Special Training and Capacity Development Seminar held at the Federal Palace Hotel, yesterday March 2, 2017, due to exigencies of the policing job, the truth must not be skewed to suit personal or pre-determined stances."

Instagramming the world's highest peak is set to become much easier following Nepal's plans to create a free wi-fi zone at Everest Base Camp. Although at the moment paid-for wi-fi is available at various hotels and restaurants in the area, at 5,380m (17,600ft) it is expected to be the world's highest free wi-fi zone.

Slovenia, one of Europe's greenest countries, will explode with colour in May as the Bohinj International Wild Flower Festival returns with the theme 'Flowers and Bees'. This year's festival opening coincides with World Bee Day, a United Nations initiative created in cooperation with The Slovenian Beekeepers' Association. In recent years, Slovenia has been identified as a leading beekeeping destination, creating honey therapy (apitherapy) programmes to emphasise how bees positively impact human lives.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF) has advised the application deadline for its scholarship program is Thursday, March 30, 2017. Scholarships are open to Caribbean students and industry professionals pursuing higher education or professional development in the hospitality and tourism field and are awarded with support from CHTAEF sponsors and supporters.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) presented checks totaling $70,000 to hotel associations in Haiti and The Bahamas to assist residents in both countries with Hurricane Matthew relief efforts. Recognizing the considerable hardship and damage which Haiti and part of the northern Bahamas faced in the aftermath of the hurricane, CHTA President Karolin Troubetzkoy called upon fellow hoteliers in the region to respond to the association's call for support.

Manly Beach will be the venue for Australia's rising Olympic hopefuls from four Olympic sports when more than 300 athletes take part in Australian Open of Surfing from Saturday 25 February – Sunday 5 March and 200 athletes participate in Volleyfest from Friday 17 March – Sunday 26 March. The Australian Open of Surfing will feature Whale Beach's surfing up-and-comer, Cedar Leigh-Jones who has Olympic Gold in her sights. She said, “Surfing's inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is a dream come true for my sport.

Jacada Travel are leading an industry-wide campaign to enforce the wearing of surgical face masks for people visiting the critically endangered mountain gorillas of Uganda and Rwanda. Gorillas are highly susceptible to human diseases, sharing 98.4% of our DNA. With no immunity to viruses such as the common cold, gorillas are very much at risk when in proximity to people.

Beginning March 1, the Harvard Museum of Natural History, located on the historic Harvard University campus, will join the Boston CityPASS program. For 20 years, CityPASS ticket booklets have allowed travelers to visit a destination's top attractions while saving nearly half off combined admission prices. Each 2017 Boston CityPASS booklet includes prepaid, discounted admission to the New England Aquarium, Museum of Science, Skywalk Observatory at the Prudential Center, and a choice between either a Boston Harbor Cruise or the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

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