The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has sent an open letter to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, calling for his leadership ahead of next week's announcement, urging him to support its recovery plan and provide evidence of a clear exit strategy, to save the besieged UK Travel & Tourism sector.
The UK Government has announced that outbound tourists will have to make a declaration proving their journey is for essential purposes. If successful, inbound UK residents will be faced with a mandatory 10-day hotel quarantine when returning from 22 high risk countries including South Africa, Portugal and South American nations;
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has said that introducing hotel quarantines in the UK would cause irreparable damage to an industry which contributes nearly £200 billion to the UK economy.
Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: "WTTC urgently calls upon the UK government to extend the furlough scheme for those employed in the beleaguered Travel & Tourism sector."
After several years of dominating headlines, the Brexit transition period is over. What does the deal mean for EU and UK business travelers and how do we make heads or tails of the new restrictions?
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Aimbridge Hospitality's international division, has announced it has been appointed to manage Jupiter Hotels' UK portfolio.Interstate will step in as the new management company for all 31 of Jupiter's UK properties from 1 December 2020.The portfolio is made up of both Mercure and Holiday Inn branded hotels, as well as two independents.Nicholas Northam, Executive Vice President International at Interstate Hotels & Resorts, said: "This is a very exciting development for Interstate, as we expand our portfolio significantly in the UK - a fast-growing market for us."The 31 properties further assert our position as a global leader in hotel management and we look forward to putting our industry talent and operational expertise into action.
The UK government's latest move that will slash the travel quarantine lockdown if passengers test negative on the fifth day, will provide a much-needed economic boost and is a step towards reviving international travel, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
The UK's data privacy watchdog has fined the Marriott Hotels chain £18.4m for a major data breach that may have affected up to 339 million guests.
The designated Members of the Executive Board of Steigenberger Hotels AG/Deutsche Hospitality - CEO Marcus Bernhardt and CFO Dr. Ulrich Johannwille - assumed responsibility for operational management at the hotel group with effect from 1 November 2020. This new leadership pairing creates a wealth of international experience at the helm of Steigenberger Hotels AG, which brings together five separate hotel brands under the umbrella brand of Deutsche Hospitality.
Following the new three-tier system of COVID-19 restrictions that have now been rolled out in England; Ralph Hollister, Travel & Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view on the situation: "According to GlobalData's most recent forecasts, total UK domestic trips are now set to drop by 64.1% this year from 122.2 million in 2019 to 43.8 million in 2020.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has urgently called on the UK government for strong leadership and unprecedented international collaboration, to save the struggling Travel & Tourism sector and recover the millions of jobs already impacted.
Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: "For the best part of a week the UK government has delayed announcing which countries will be safe for British holidaymakers to fly to for what's left of their summer holidays, resulting in frustration and confusion among travellers.
The judicial tribunal of Paris has issued an important verdict deeming Airbnb a "publisher" of the ads which appear on its site and, for the first time, requiring AirBnB to pay damages for illegal activity which took place through its platform. While AirBnB plans to appeal the decision, if the judgement stands it could have significant legal repercussions across France and Europe.
Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: "The UK's Travel & Tourism sector will no doubt welcome the UK government's announcement on the re-opening of hotels, pubs, restaurants and attractions from July 4, as the lockdown measures ease across England. It will help drive the recovery of a crucial sector which is worth almost £200bn or nine per cent of the UK's total economy.
Following recent news that the UK will not be taking part in an EU-led data-sharing project to reboot tourism; Ralph Hollister, Travel & Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view on the situation.
As the UK looks to emerge from the COVID-19 lockdown, business leaders have been calling upon the Government to set out its plan for how we might return to some sense of normality. Unsurprisingly, the hospitality industry has been amongst the most vocal, given numerous concerns over the practicalities of reopening venues under social distancing guidelines.
The lockdown imposed in the UK to slow the spread of Covid-19 has saved many lives. Across Europe, only full lockdown has worked to reduce the reproduction number of Covid-19 below 1, slowing the rate of spread and buying time. But the economic, social and other health consequences of the suppression measures are severe. The Office for Budget Responsibility anticipates a 35 per cent fall in GDP in Q2 if current restrictions remain in force through June, and unemployment is expected to rise by 2 million to 10 per cent. The longer lockdown goes on, the greater the chance of a significant permanent reduction in living standards.
Deutsche Hospitality comes first among 15 other German hotel chains in the "Innovation" category of the 2020 "WELT Corporate Management Awards".
Cycas Hospitality has signed a management agreement with Zeal Hotels and Sandgate Investors to operate its first property in the South West of England and its second with Accor.
PARIS - Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a world-leading luxury brand within the Accor group, is pleased to announce the launch of its global partnership with the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival (MJF). After a hugely successful European pilot in 2019, this global partnership between Fairmont and MJF will expand in late January 2020 with a number of special musical programs and activations launching at 13 properties worldwide. For over a century, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts around the world have delighted guests with unforgettable musical moments. From John Lennon and Yoko Ono's now famous "Bed-In for Peace" at Montreal's Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, to a punk rock Ramones concert held at Fairmont Olympic Hotel's ballroom in Seattle, Fairmont has been at the forefront of impactful events throughout music history. Fairmont Le Montreux Palace has also been an essential part of this musical odyssey. Located in the heart of Switzerland where the annual Montreux Jazz Festival takes place, the hotel welcomes artists, festival-goers, and music lovers to discover iconic spots including the festival's "House of Jazz", where daily jam sessions and concerts by both musical icons and emerging artists are showcased. "Fairmont's special connection to music is at the forefront of our rich and celebrated brand history," said Sharon Cohen, Vice President, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. "As a proud supporter of musical talent, we are thrilled to expand our partnership with the Montreux Jazz Festival through exclusive activations and innovative programming that will not only inspire our guests, but provide them with opportunities to discover new music." Fairmont has focused its attention on nurturing musical talent, and has partnered with the iconic Montreux Jazz Festival to help amplify the passion Fairmont guests have for music. After recently piloting a European Tour, in which nu-soul singer Jalen N'Gonda performed at four Fairmont properties across Europe, Fairmont is thrilled to expand its partnership with the Montreux Jazz Festival on a global level. With the 2020 Fairmont World Tour, Fairmont guests around the world will experience a taste of the celebrated music festival. After their performances impressed festivalgoers and a panel of judges at MJF 2019, Fairmont has invited two musicians, Jalen N'Gonda and Bobby Bazini, on the 2020 Fairmont World Tour. They will perform at 13 extraordinary Fairmont properties across the globe.From January 29 to February 12, 2020, Jalen N'Gonda will embark on his second tour with Fairmont, performing at six Fairmont properties in South and North America. Canadian blues and soul-inspired musician Bobby Bazini will tour six Fairmont hotels in Europe and Asia from February 22 to March 5, 2020 in advance of the release of his new album Move Away, coming out later in May. To close off the tour, the two artists will meet at Fairmont Le Montreux Palace for a final "jam session" on March 7, 2020. Jalen N'Gonda and Bobby Bazini are integrated in the talent pipeline of the non-profit Montreux Jazz Artists Foundation (MJAF), dedicated to scout and promote up-and-coming artists."The Montreux Jazz Festival is proud to bring emerging musical talent to audiences all around the world, in a series of exclusive intimate and enriching experiences. This global musical adventure highlights Fairmont's hospitality excellence, as well as our shared passion for music and commitment to supporting the next generation of artists," said Mathieu Jaton, CEO, Montreux Jazz Festival. Fairmont is thrilled to scale up its partnership with Montreux Jazz Festival and through these exclusive live music activations, the brand will bring young, raw, next generation talent to Fairmont guests and visitors around the world.