Up in the air . . .

THE Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today announced an ambitious new airport development project in #Yemen that, when complete, will accommodate 2 million travellers a year. The airport to be rebuilt is in the historic city of Marib, east of the capital Sanaa. Once complete, it will provide a critical infrastructure hub for the country and region.

THE Quintana Roo Tourism Board announced today that the region's global air connectivity continues to grow with new, direct international flights to the #Cancun International Airport as well as increased capacity on several existing routes. This expansion comes as international tourists continue to flock to Mexico's most popular international destinations located across the state, which include Cancun.

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European Capital of Smart Tourism nominees

A new EU initiative aims to promote smart tourism in the EU, foster innovative, sustainable and inclusive tourism development, as well as spread and facilitate the exchange of best practices. The European Capital of Smart Tourism initiative recognises outstanding achievements in four categories: sustainability, accessibility, digitalisation as well as cultural heritage and creativity, by European cities as tourism destinations.

The following cities have been shortlisted as finalists in the competition for the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2019 are:

Brussels (Belgium), Helsinki (Finland), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Lyon (France), Málaga (Spain), Nantes (France), Palma (Spain), Poznań (Poland), Tallinn (Estonia), and Valencia (Spain).


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Kenya to open 13 new hotels and add 2,400 beds in the next five years

A number of international hotel brands are expanding their presence in #Kenya, expecting to bring an additional 2,400 hotel beds in the next five years. The multi-billion shilling investments will see renowned hotel groups such as Radisson Blu, Amber, Ibis Styles, Swiss Lenana Motel and Villa Rosa Kempinski open new developments in the country by 2021. 

A range of new developments, such as the Hilton Upper Hill, are also opening their doors in Kenya in response to the increasing number of domestic and international tourists helped by an increase in flights to Kenya, lower park fees and a stable economy. 

A report by consultancy firm PwC estimates that the number of available rooms will increase from 18,600 in 2016 to 21,000 in 2021. Assistant Director of Tourism, Ms Keziah Odemba, said that these new openings show a positive development in Kenya’s tourism, which is expected to reach 1.4million visitors by the end of the year. 

www.magicalkenya.com

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New hotels open in Oman

THE Middle Eastern country of #Oman is the subject of some reimagining of its potential from within the region. Thirteen new hotel facilities started operating in the Sultanate during the first five months of this year, and the number is expected to increase to 81 hotels during 2017-2018.

The Ministry of #Tourism has detailed its efforts since the beginning of the year to establish hotel projects in the Sultanate, along with supporting investment opportunities through electronic services.

According to Director General of Investors Services & Quality Control
Eng. Mohammed Mahmoud Al Zadjali, the total number of rooms by the end of 2016 was 18,825 rooms distributed throughout the Sultanate, through hotels, resorts, hotel apartments, tourist camps, rest houses, guest houses, heritage hotels and green hotels.

The number of hotel establishments by the end of 2016, at 339, increased by 6.6% compared to the year 2015, which was at 318 hotel establishments. The number is expected to rise in 2017 to 352 hotels.

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Hong Kong: International Gateway

THE Hong Kong Tourism Board has welcomed renewed competition and extra capacity out of Melbourne following the launch of Virgin Australia’s direct route into #HongKong. 

Hong Kong Tourism Board Regional Director, Andrew Clark said: ‘Hong Kong is the most visited city in the world and it’s no surprise given half the world’s population is within five hours’ flight time. The city is extremely accessible with a world-class rail system and express link from the airport; it’s one of the safest cities in the world, the dining scene is outstanding and there’s so much to uncover, from local culture to hiking across its many islands and beaches,’ said Mr Clark. 

Hong Kong International Airport is planning an expansion project to keep up with demand which will see the development of a third runway, due for completion in 2024.  Better transport links from Hong Kong to mainland #China will also provide greater access. The world’s largest sea bridge will link Hong Kong to Macau onwards to Zhuhai on the mainland and a new high-speed rail network will connect Hong Kong to Guangzhou in one hour, scheduled to open in late 2018 with plans for future high-speed connections to Shanghai and Beijing.   

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Up in the air . . .

MORE than 1.3 million passengers flew through London Luton Airport (LLA) in April, representing a 16.1% increase compared with the same month last year.

Having enjoyed over three years of continuous growth, LLA is currently making its biggest ever investment to meet soaring passenger demand and grow the airport’s capacity by 50% to 18 million in the next three years.

Last week a major milestone was reached with the opening of a new dual carriageway access road making it quicker and easier to reach the terminal. 3,500 tonnes of tarmac were used in its construction and more than 30,000 m³ of earth had to be moved. The construction of the dual carriageway follows the construction of a 1,700 space multi-storey car park and re-designed bus interchange.

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Waldorf Astoria to Open in 2020/2021

WALDORF Astoria San Francisco, which will be the centerpiece of a two million square-foot, mixed-used complex that will feature luxury entertainment, retail and office space.

Destined to become the preferred hotel for global luxury travelers, Waldorf Astoria #SanFrancisco will reside within the first 21 stories of a signature tower designed by the architecture firm Foster + Partners. Located at Mission Street between Ecker and 1st Streets, Waldorf Astoria San Francisco will be ideally situated in the city's exciting new Transbay Neighborhood, in the center of a vast redevelopment project surrounding the Transbay Transit Center.

Bordered by Market Street on the north, Embarcadero on the east, Folsom Street on the south, and Hawthorne Street to the west, the Transbay Neighborhood is an inspirational environment onto itself. Transportation friendly with wide sidewalks and bike paths, the neighborhood has a vibrant mix of shops and restaurants, as well as contemporary green spaces which have been carefully planned as key components of area.

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MSC Cruises reveals plan for Caribbean island

MSC CRUISES is to develop its own private island in the #Bahamas. 

The company will invest $200 million in the 95-acre island – to be called Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve – which will have a 1.5-mile beach, a purpose-built berth and pier, a 2,000-seat amphitheatre, and restaurants and bars. It will also be fitted out with watersports, a zip wire across the island and a pavilion for weddings.

MSC Yacht Club guests will have access to an exclusive area of the island which will be a spa and ‘wellness’ sanctuary with private bungalows and massage huts.

Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the line, said: ‘This is a natural progression for our company, which is growing very rapidly, and we are thrilled about providing this totally new experience for our guests in the Caribbean. Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve and its exclusive offerings will be a magnificent extension of our shipboard experiences.’

#MSCCruises plans to break ground on the development in March 2016, and it will open to guests in November 2017 with 240 staff recruited from the Bahamas.

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Island on the move

THE Aegean #island of #Chios is to get a 5-star, 700-room resort complete with a museum and an educational institute. It will also have a holiday apartment block, thalassotherapy and conference centres, a paleontological theme park, and a yacht marina.

Under a deal approved by the Greek government, the developers will offer two scholarships to Greek university honours students, internships in the hospitality sector for young people, and contribute to the operating costs of a charitable organization within the municipality of Chios.

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India to develop lighthouse tourism

#INDIA’S Ministry of Tourism has revealed plans to turn the country’s lighthouses into tourism centres. 

As part of a broader project to develop tourism on the country’s coasts and islands, officials at the #tourism and shipping ministries and the Indian Coast Guard have written a report highlighting the tourism potential of India’s 78 lighthouses.

The lighthouses – 44 of which are on the mainland and 34 on islands – could be incorporated into large-scale tourism projects, ‘including recreation facilities such as water sports, resorts, light and sound shows’.

Thirteen of the lighthouses are in Maharashtra and Goa, while 12 are in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, 10 are in Gujarat, 10 are in Kerala’s Lakshadweep islands, and eight are in mainland Kerala. Others are in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.

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Picture Credit: LightHouse in Mahabalipuram by antkriz - http://www.flickr.com/photos/ananth/4890334584/sizes/l/in/photostream/. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Hotel confirmed for Battersea Power Station site

HOTEL operator Art’otel is to become part of the £8 billion re-development of the landmark #BatterseaPowerStation by the Thames in #London. 

The 160-room hotel, which will have an outdoor rooftop pool and bar overlooked by the iconic chimneys, is scheduled for an opening in 2019.

Rob Tincknell, chief executive of Battersea Power Station Development Company, said: ‘The selection process to find the right brand and operator was a very competitive and thorough one, involving the leading hotel brands from around the world. Art’otel was a stand-out winner, a brand unlike anything we have seen in London to date, and it is particularly fitting for it to have art at the very heart of the brand and the hotel itself.’

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Travelodge plans expansion in Yorkshire

#TRAVELODGE plans to increase its portfolio of 32 hotels in #Yorkshire, with 13 new properties after opening its second hotel in Harrogate. 

The expansion represents an investment of £8 million and will create 300 jobs across the county.

Locations for the new budget properties include Barnsley, Bradford, Brighouse, Bridlington, Halifax, Headingly, Huddersfield, Hull, Knaresborough, Wetherby, Whitby, and two sites in York. 

The chain has 522 properties across the UK. 

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Sydney upgrades

INFRASTRUCTURE developments in #Sydney – including the biggest change to Darling Harbour in 25 years – are set to transform the city's skyline and attract even more visitors.

Major infrastructure projects include the transformation of Darling Harbour including Australia's largest exhibition and convention centre, a harbourside development at Barangaroo, significant upgrades at Sydney Airport, and the regeneration of The Bays Precinct.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres said: ‘Sydney is a global city offering world-class events, leading hotels, and a spectacular harbour. These significant investments led by the New South Wales government will ensure Sydney continues to compete on a global scale in attracting international and domestic visitors.’

www.visitnsw.com
www.sydney.com

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