Search Results

Nashik, April 6, 2021: With a strategic focus to expand the company’s footprint in Maharashtra by tapping into the high potential market of Nashik, SOTC Travel, a leading omnichannel travel and tourism company, recently inaugurated its new franchise outlet at Mico Circle. Located at the heart of the city, the new outlet will also cater to nearby areas of Sinnar, Devaly & Ozar. Nashik features an upcoming source market for SOTC Travel in Maharashtra and caters to the growing demand from millennial, multigenerational families, couples, Gen S and business owners. With the pandemic putting a halt on international travel, customers are once again planning their long awaited holidays for the upcoming summer season. In the new normal, customers are seeking guidance and reassurance of holiday experts to navigate through the dynamic changes in travel and health protocols. And hence to support and guide customers from Nashik, SOTC Travel’s expert holiday planners will provide the much needed assistance to customers and help plan the perfect holiday. Additionally, to strengthen customer confidence in travel, SOTC’s safety commitment, “TravShield” – with only vaccinated staff and co-passengers among many other precautions, builds on its “Assured” travel safety protocols - developed in association with Apollo Clinics. TravShield & Assured together, ensure best in class safety and protection for travellers in the post Covid era, covering every distribution, delivery and partner touch point in the travel ecosystem. SOTC Travel’s internal survey highlights insightful travel trends from Nashik. A significant 70% of its customers are keen to take a summer holiday and to cater to the strong pent-up demand, SOTC Travel has introduced an array of special offers like Buy One Get One – Companion Free, air-inclusive holidays, Ultra-Flexible Holidays - 8 day tour featuring 5 days in Switzerland with the flexibility of choosing 3 days in either France, Italy or Austria – free; ready to book and customized air-inclusive holidays with Air Arabia and Vistara Getaways. Customers are also displaying growing interest for eclectic stays, experiential holidays, domestic cruises and biking trips. Catering to its vegetarian customers, the Company has also introduced dedicated vegetarian tours to select destinations in India. Long haul destinations driving demand from Nashik include Europe’s Switzerland, France, Italy and Austria; United Kingdom, USA (for visa holding customers), Australia, Mauritius, Turkey and Egypt; equally short haul favourites include Maldives, Dubai - Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Thailand and Nepal. Domestic summer favourite locales are Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Leh Ladakh, Uttarakhand Goa, Andamans, Kerala and the North East. SOTC Travel’s new outlet offers end-to-end travel solutions with an array of services, including: International & Domestic Holidays (Group tours, Personalised Holidays, Cruises, etc.), Value Added Services like Travel Insurance; Visa Services, etc. Contact Details SOTC Holiday World Indus Apartment Next to Ved Mandir, Near Mico Circle, Tidke Colony, Trimbak Road, Nashik – 422002 Mr. Daniel D’souza President & Country Head - Holidays, SOTC Travel said, “Nashik is strongly emerging as a viable source market for SOTC. Maharashtra contributes a significant 35% to our overall SOTC holiday business and customers from Nashik have displayed over 2x growth in demand since the pandemic. To inspire the evolving travellers of Nashik take their much needed holiday, our new outlet in the heart of the city at Mico Circle was chosen to leverage its significant catchment across millennial, multigenerational families, couples, Gen S and business owners. We have introduced a host of special offers and products that are dedicated to cater to this market and its discerning travellers.” He added, “We are delighted to associate with Mr. Aditya Shekhar Patil as our franchise partner for our Nashik outlet. Being a travel enthusiast and having an extensive network in the region, he will assist SOTC to further strengthen our presence in this growing market and thereby assist our customers plan a perfect holiday. We extend a warm welcome to our Nashik based customers and our in-store experts look forward to co-curate and plan a memorable holiday for the upcoming summers.”

Mumbai, India- 3 April 2022: His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture and Abdullah Al-Qahtani, CEO of the Film Commission, embarked on a visit to India to showcase Saudi Arabia’s booming film industry and explore collaborations with the Indian film faternity. Over the three-day visit, they were joined by executives from NEOM, Film AIUla, Red Sea International Film Festival and MBC Group. The visit saw the delegation meet with leading Bollywood actors, including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, as well as prominent film production houses. The insightful conversations centered around Saudi Arabia’s holistic film proposition and synergistic opportunities for Indian filmmakers. Aspects discussed included the breadth of filming locations in the Kingdom and the Red Sea, emerging industry talent in Saudi Arabia and the wider region, as well as the burgeoning film ecosystem to support the Kingdom’s ambition for the sector. Saudi Arabia proactively facilitates regulation to support Indian filmmakers by offering competitive incentives and promotion programs. The Red Sea International Film Festival, quickly establishing itself on the regional and global stage, was also highlighted as an opportunity for the Indian film industry to showcase its creative output and engage with audiences in Saudi Arabia. The Festival’s success also stands as a testament to the ongoing evolution of the Kingdom’s film industry, as it sets its sights on becoming the Middle East’s new film industry powerhouse. His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture, stated: “In an increasingly interconnected world, it is now more vital than ever to facilitate meaningful cultural exchange. Film remains a powerful tool to open hearts and minds, while the culture sector holds immense potential as an economic contributor. Our visit to India has enabled us to strengthen our relationship with this nation’s thriving film industry. We look forward to exploring partnership and knowledge-sharing opportunities as we continue to work towards realizing Vision 2030.” Abdullah Al-Qahtani, CEO of the Film Commission, said: “With fast-developing infrastructure, promising talent and picturesque locations waiting to be discovered, Saudi Arabia is ready to be an exciting, unique setting for filmmakers. We are pleased to have been able to interact with leading members of the Indian film industry on this visit and are excited about working together to take the Kingdom’s film sector to greater heights.” As part of its Vision 2030 national transformation plan, Saudi Arabia aims to leverage bilateral relations to make culture a way of Saudi life and a powerful economic contributor.

The 'India International Travel Mart' (IITM) Tourism Fair Show was once again a resounding success. Enthusiastic visitors passed through the turnstiles at this major celebration of tourism and Travel Show which was held at Regional Sports Centre, Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium,Elamkulam Road,Kadavanthra P.O., Cochin – 682020 IITM Expo visitors are passionate about travel and tourism and want to make the most of their visit to plan their upcoming trips,” In this regard, Please find attached the press release along with the photographs from the Kochi edition of India International Travel Mart - 2022.

29th March 2022, New Delhi/ Maldives: Every year, at 20:30 for one hour on the last Saturday of March, supporters in over 190 countries come together to celebrate the oh-so splendid nature. Earth Hour is more than just an hour of lights-out, it's a movement for the future of generations to come and the vibrant mother nature. This year on 26th March 2022 for Earth Hour Kandima Maldives contributed to this global spirit of saving the planet by not just turning the lights down but also hosting an Earth Hour inspired special celebration for its guests. Kandima installed and created a ceremony in the Maldivian waters to mark the Earth Hour. The ceremony started with the global identity logo with the 60+ symbolic Earth Hour sign, through fire lighting on the serene waters in front of the healthy Mediterranean restaurant, Azure for a barefoot BBQ under the stars. The event in itself was spectacular coupled with the beach candle lights, oh-so gourmet freshly grilled delicacies from around the world lulled by the romantic music of the live guitarist on vocals creating an enchanting moment. Now that’s a stylish way to end the night while relishing in the beauty and serenity of a tropical island! Neeraj Seth, Cluster Director of Marketing Communication & Public Relations, Kandima Maldives and Nova Maldives expressed, “As part of Kandima Maldives consistent efforts to bring more sustainability and awareness for the environment, internal and external ecofriendly practices, sustainability at the heart of designing guests activity offering is basic at Kandima. Our brand stands for being ‘rooted’ and so do our day to day running of the resort. We believe in leaving things a little better when they were found. So, we do make sure we do our little part by offering sustainability led activities at our oh-so exciting island desti(nation)” Also on the cards for the Earth Hour was the Zero Mile Cocktail at the Breeze Bar! Made from freshly grown ingredients from the Fresh Labs on this kool island desti(nation), the Zero Mile cocktail is an explosion of freshness and flavours from locally sourced fruits and other ingredients! What’s even kooler is that it was complimentary for all the Kandima in-house kool cats to be part of the celebration for the whole day! Also did we mention that it was lights-out across this game-changing island desti(nation)? Paving the way for the sustainable Maldives, Kandima strongly believes in reducing their carbon footprint by actively taking innovative steps. From recycling all wastewater which are used for irrigation, composting all leftover foods recycling, moving towards a ‘no plastic’ policy across the resort and also taking newer steps each day for a more sustainable living for all, Kandima is definitely an oh-so smart player. That’s not all! Items are responsibly packaged; energy is saved through smart room controls and Kandima drastically reduces its paper use through the Kandima guest app and contactless check-in to reduce some carbon footprint. What’s even kooler is that they also have a coral adoption program and regular beach and ocean cleaning exercises to help restore the pristine and vibrant marine ecosystem! Well, that’s what we call walking the talk!

Mumbai, March 28, 2022 – DBS Bank India has partnered with EaseMyTrip to launch an environment-friendly international debit card made using 99% recycled polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material. The digibank EaseMyTrip Green Debit Card provides exclusive travel-related offers to customers and rewards them for adopting eco-friendly practices while encouraging them to reduce their carbon footprint. Recycled PVC material is quickly gaining popularity worldwide due to the lower carbon emissions generated from its production processes. By launching an eco-friendly debit card, DBS Bank India and EaseMyTrip are enabling their customer base to make sustainable choices, thereby conserving the environment and resources involved in the production of cards. The digibank EaseMyTrip Green Debit Card offers exclusive best-in-class deals on bookings made through the EaseMyTrip website and mobile app, offering a 10% discount up to INR 2000 on flight ticket bookings and up to 17% discount on stays at select eco-friendly hotels & resorts. This international debit card provides customers with special recognition and discounts globally across retail, dining, travel and entertainment establishments. Among the travel benefits, cardmembers have one airport lounge access per quarter across India. This card allows withdrawal up to INR 1,50,000 per day from any bank's ATM in India and overseas and allows purchases worth up to INR 1,50,000 in India and up to INR 1,00,000 across merchant outlets globally. Existing digibank customers can apply for this co-branded debit card through the digibank app, while new customers can download the app in just a few clicks and apply for the same during their digibank account opening journey. Kartik Jain, Head - Product, Platform & Partnerships, Consumer Banking Group, DBS Bank India, said, "We believe in inclusive sustainability. digibank by DBS - India's first digital bank - delivers a paperless, straight-through experience across all the banking transactions helping you to go green, even as you live more, bank less. The digibank EaseMyTrip Green Debit Card made from 99% recycled PVC builds on this ethos providing customers with a unique international debit card made from sustainable material and rewards that encourage an eco-friendly lifestyle. We are excited about this offering as it aligns with DBS' commitment to supporting sustainable business practices that positively impact the community and the environment." Speaking about the partnership, Nishant Pitti, CEO and Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip, said, "Sustainability has been a key focus at EaseMyTrip. We have been actively looking to incorporate practices that align with our vision of a sustainable future. The rewards provided for the patronage of eco-friendly establishments will also encourage travellers to opt for sustainable travel and tourism options, thereby making the adoption of eco-friendly practices an enticing choice for customers. Through this collaboration with digibank by DBS, we look forward to creating a positive impact on our industry and the environment and will look at further integrating sustainability-focused methods across our offerings." Through this collaboration, EaseMyTrip aims to promote sustainability and incentivise sustainable tourism. This is further encouraged by the numerous rewards offered through the digibank EaseMyTrip Green Debit Card for people opting for eco-friendly and sustainable booking options through the EaseMyTrip website and mobile app. The bank furthers its commitment towards sustainability with this eco-friendly card that helps reduce the carbon footprint. Customers will also be able to proactively check their carbon footprint and contribute towards a greener planet through the carbon calculator now live on https://go.dbs.com/greencard. The digibank EaseMyTrip Green Debit Card with a green skyline of a montage of key sights around the world upholds the bank's sustainability proposition whilst reflecting its partnership with EaseMyTrip. The silver coat embedded with travel-related graphics in green gives a premium look to the card. The 'recycle' icon reminds users to continue making sustainable choices in their day-to-day lives. DBS Bank has been committed to conducting business more sustainably and managing its environmental footprint. The bank has undertaken several initiatives to support and address crucial ecological, social, and governance (ESG) challenges. In 2020, DBS Bank introduced a wholly digital and innovative payments solution for Transport Corporation of India Limited (TCIL). The solution enables TCIL to make real-time payments into the bank accounts of the fleet operators and drivers, eliminating the need to travel to a local centre to collect payments. DBS also advocates the scaling up of transition finance and supporting like-minded clients and their ecosystem of supply chain partners to adopt sustainable business practices. To scale up India's cotton industry, the bank partnered with fashion retailer Inditex, one of the world's largest retailers, to arrange financing for the Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to procure organic cotton from the farmers in a timely fashion. In 2020, DBS issued its first two green loans in India totalling INR 10.5 billion to CapitaLand, breaking new ground for its sustainable financing agenda. *T&C apply

New Delhi, India, 28th March, 2022- Accor announced Vinay Gupta’s appointment as the Director of Operations for ibis and ibis Styles, India portfolio. Vinay is a veteran in the Hospitality sector with over 25 years of experience managing hotels, alongside being the founder of an aspirational Food & Beverage concept, with his last role being Vice President at SAMHI Hotels. Throughout his impressive career span of 25 years as a hotelier, he has handled different roles from being in an entry level role to managing different portfolios for a single brand, to being a General Manager of different hotels across three different continents. This is Vinay’s second inning with Accor, as he was responsible for the opening of Grand Mercure at Bangalore in capacities of General Manager in 2008. Vinay has an MBA Degree from The University of Central Lancashire, UK and a Diploma in Hospitality from IHM, Pusa Road. He also holds a BA Hons in Hospitality from Lancaster University, UK. On his appointment, Vinay Gupta, Director of Operations- ibis & ibis Styles India said, “I am delighted and honored to be back with Accor, it feels like homecoming in so many ways. Ibis has had a great journey with 20 hotels currently operating across the nation and five under development. ibis and ibis Styles are the fun and youthful global brand by Accor, I look forward to work on taking it to newer heights. We have a highly motivated and exceptional team that runs our hotels as well as a strong and loyal guest base. I look forward to being a part of this exciting journey ahead.” On this occasion, Puneet Dhawan, Senior VP Operations, India & South Asia for Accor, “We are thrilled to welcome Vinay back to the Accor family with this new and exciting role. Our Ibis portfolio continues to grow from strength to strength and I am sure his insights and support will be invaluable for the team as we continue to expand the portfolio in the coming years.” Congratulating Vinay, JB Singh, President & CEO- InterGlobe Hotels, said, “We are delighted to welcome Vinay to Interglobe & the ibis family. He holds a rich and a diverse experience in this industry and brings strong expertise with him. We are confident that his knowledge and approach to the business along with his passionate outlook will help us grow aggressively over the next few years.”

On 9 March 2022, Ms. Nichapa Yoswee, Vice President of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (Public Organization) or TCEB, attended a meeting with the Eastern Economic Corridor Committee chaired by Thailand’s Prime Minister His Excellency General Prayut Chan-o-cha, together with high-ranking representatives from authoritative entities. From this meeting, the “Thailand International Air Show” project has been granted approval, to be hosted the Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) and supported by TCEB and Royal Thai Navy. According to TCEB’s proposed feasibility studies, the “Thailand International Air Show” will stage an official announcement in 2023, the official soft-launch opening in 2025 and the full-scale event in 2027 with main objectives to inaugurate and create world’s awareness on the new U-tapao International Airport as well as to promote EEC through this global exhibition as the key mechanism to revive, drive and reignite Thailand’s exhibition industry to go forward and grow substantially. Moreover, this show aims to connect the aviation and logistics industry in EEC with relevant industrial and business sectors. It is forecast that throughout the 5 continuous editions, this biennial event will promote the GDP expansion by over USD 144 million, create more than 18,760 jobs, stimulate tax revenue beyond USD 54 million, and tremendously benefit Thailand’s exhibition and MICE industries in terms of social, economic and environmental impacts, under the “Thailand 4.0” national strategy and EECO’s development policies.

Berlin/Mumbai, 27 January 2022 – ITB India 2022 will be an all-virtual event with the physical show postponed to 2023. Scheduled on the same dates, ITB India 2022 Virtual will be held from 5 – 7 April 2022. After close observations of international developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the spread of the Omicron variant, and extensive conversations with local authorities and partners, the show organisers made the difficult decision to move the show completely virtual, which now gives exhibitors and trade visitors maximum planning security. Katrina Leung, Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organiser of ITB India said: “This decision is made after the surge in infection cases of the Omicron variant worldwide and in India, as well as the tightening of international borders and safety measures. In view of the uncertainties of executing a successful physical event for the travel trade, Messe Berlin (Singapore) consulted various stakeholders and international clients before concluding that the 2022 show should be held virtually to provide full transparency and reassurance of the upcoming exhibition and conference”. ITB India Virtual brings together key travel industry leaders and international exhibitors from various segments of MICE, Leisure, Corporate and Travel Technology. The B2B virtual event builds the bridge to the Indian and South Asian travel markets, offering three full days of virtual business appointments and digital conference programme. After the virtual trade show, all conference sessions will remain online until 6 May 2022, and all registered participants have full access to the conference recordings. With ITB Community in Asia (ITB Community), the organiser had already established a global virtual platform for the tourism industry where exhibitors can successfully leverage on virtual appointments with Indian and South Asian travel buyers and international delegates. What’s new for exhibitors and delegates at ITB India 2022 Attendees of ITB India 2022 can expect the following new key privileges: End-to-end business matching platform perfected with AI personalisation matching system that gives exhibitors a 360 degrees approach and holistic selection of key business prospects. Delegates will also receive recommended matches with greater business relevance through the system’s newly improved score-based, product group and interest-based matching. Digital exhibition booths (DEB) have also been improved and modified, with brand new features, product displays and branding opportunities. (Sample illustration of a Premium Virtual Booth) In addition, virtual booth packages for exhibitors have been enhanced to include features such as unlimited meeting slots, business cards sharing function, speaking opportunities, co-exhibitor benefits, extensive advertising exposure, and extra trade visitor passes. How to exhibit at ITB India Virtual: Virtual Packages and Prices Exhibitors have a selection of up to 5 virtual booth packages to best suit their marketing requirements and budget, starting from USD 245 to USD 7,000 per virtual booth. For more information on exhibiting at ITB India 2022, please visit https://www.itb-india.com/virtual-booth-options or register online here. Save-the-date: ITB India 2023 ITB India 2023 will take place as an in-person exhibition from 26 – 28 April 2023 at the new and state-of-the-art venue Jio World Convention Centre, in Mumbai, India. For more information of ITB India, please visit https://www.itb-india.com/ or email info@messe-berlin.asia

Healthcare and trade professionals representing nearly 160 countries will participate in Arab Health and Medlab Middle East as the largest healthcare and laboratory exhibitions in the MENA region return to Dubai next week. Taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre, from Monday 24 January until Thursday 27, under the show themes of ‘United by business, forging ahead’ and ‘Connect with innovation that's changing the face of diagnostics’, the co-located events will provide a platform for the global healthcare industry to meet and discuss the latest technologies and medical discoveries. Solenne Singer, Group Director for Informa Markets, said, “Arab Health and Medlab Middle East will once again reiterate the importance of the healthcare and laboratory industries as we continue to address the challenges posed by COVID-19 and provide a platform for developing solutions to overcome the pandemic." “We have witnessed a clear uptick in demand from both buyers and exhibitors eager to meet in-person, to see firsthand the latest technology and innovation on the market, while also hearing from industry professionals from around the world on the latest trends and insights. This year, both events will be integral to ongoing global recovery, and we look forward to welcoming the industry to Dubai.” More than 60,000 attendees are expected across the four days of both shows, with almost 4,000 exhibitors from the healthcare and laboratory industries confirmed. More than 60 countries are represented, with over 20 dedicated country pavilions confirmed, making Arab Health and Medlab Middle East a genuinely global healthcare showcase. Underscoring the focus on technology, Arab Health 2022 will feature the new Healthcare Transformation Zone which will explore the latest tech advancements from global innovators and disruptors. The popular start-up competition, Innov8 Talks returns and will feature 24 companies showcasing unique and innovative solutions Rounding out the Transformation Zone will be the launch of the Product Showcase segment, where a range of companies will be showcasing ground-breaking innovations shaping the future of the healthcare and laboratory industries. The innovation theme will continue through returning exhibitors, including Siemens, Canon, Masimo, Drager, GE Healthcare, Philips, Abbott, Roche, and Seegene. In another first for both events is the launch of the Future Health Summit. The high-level event will be attended by over 150 senior government healthcare officials, CEOs and visionaries, from across the globe. Moderated by Marwan Abdulaziz Janahi, Managing Director, Dubai Science Park, panellists include Alaa Murabit, Medical Doctor, Global Security Strategist, Women’s Rights Advocate and United Nations High-Level Commissioner on Health, Employment & Economic Growth; Dr Sameh El-Saharty, Program Leader for Human Development, GCC Country Department, The World Bank; Päivi Sillanaukee, Ambassador for Health and Wellbeing, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland; Veronica Beneitez Piñero, Deputy Head of Unit, Transition and Business Acceleration Services Unit, European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency, European Commission. As part of the Arab Health Congress, more than 550 regional and international speakers and over 2,500 delegates will participate in 12 Continuing Medical Education (CME). Conferences taking place onsite at the event include Total Radiology, Orthopaedics, Surgery, and Obs & Gyne, Other online conferences include Quality Management in Healthcare, Family Medicine, ENT, and Emergency Medicine and Critical Care. With a total of nine conferences, Medlab Middle East Congress remains one of the largest CME accredited multi-track medical laboratory congresses globally, featuring over 100 renowned laboratory champions from around the world. Eight conferences will take place live, in-person, and online, the new bonus track, Future of Lab. As part of Informa's commitment to providing the highest hygiene and safety levels, the event will again take place under the protocols introduced via the company’s Informa AllSecure health and safety mandate. The enhanced measures include 35 guidelines covering all aspects of cleaning and hygiene, social distancing measures, and the use of PPE, screening, and a track and trace in conjunction with local authorities. Both exhibitions are held under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention and Dubai Healthcare Authority. Starting at 10 Am on Monday, 24 January, Arab Health and Medlab Middle East continue until 5 Pm Thursday, 27 January. For more information, please visit www.arabhealthonline.com or www.medlabme.com.

With the markets recovering from post-covid situations, organizations are in a race to reassess, revamp, rebuild their businesses. When it comes to Resilience management demand continues to outplace supply as risks are rarely predictable. Centre Systems Group, the UAE based Disruptive technology company; has been focused on helping firms secure and reinvigorate firms primarily in terms of Business Resiliency. With their clientele expanding to major Government organizations in the Middle East, they have procured a resolute trust among their customer and partner base. Centre Systems Group (CSG) has recently secured a $4 Million Investment in their quest to expand their platform onto diverse domains. The Investors, MCube Holdings were looking to expand in the UAE and the investment in CSG has given them a fortuity to do so. With CSG’s ascend as a major service provider in the Middle East market, it was an ideal choice for a confident investment. The funding comes on the basis of the secure reputation they have garnered among organizations and partners that are leading service providers internationally. While keeping strong its current expertise, CSG has not slowed down in its pursuit of innovation and diversified its investment with more ambitions. The investment will be used to accelerate its developments in its group companies with its foray into its establishment of its Cryptocurrency Exchange called CoinCULT, its NFT platform called DINERO to be established in Malaysia and Lithuania and their EV company One Moto in India. With the investment already mobilized into multilateral developments, CSG is on the lookout for Series B investments to further amplify its projections. With the company expanding its reach into Cryptocurrencies and NFT’s the investment has come at an apt time to give them a further boost to increase their momentum. Mr. Sameer Moidin -Partner with CSG, categorically mentioned that the company has already applied for license for the same in Lithuania and has the licensing process going on in Malaysia as well. With the licensing in Malaysia, CSG intends to create the first Shariah-based Crypto Currency Exchange. The launch dates for the platforms are expected to be announced soon and are predicted to be launched in the first quarter of 2022. With these developments coming to light, the CSG Office is elated and ecstatic to see their ideas in real time and are determined to deliver them. “It has been a very exhaustive process to secure the investments, our investors believed in our reputation, vision, and long-term strategy when they invested in CSG and we aim to direct it towards those goals”, said Group CEO Muzammil Riyaz. Plans are also in place to build their in-house, state-of-the-art AI based GRC Software that has been much in demand in all categories of organizations internationally. With its multidimensional approach in direction of various sectors of technology CSG has built itself a strong profile for acquiring Series B Investment it seeks to acquire.

25 December 2021, Kolkata: The Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee during the Christmas Eve inaugurated a special exhibition on the various pictures of St. Francis of Assisi - the Patron Saint of Environment and the originator of the tradition of cribs - on Christmas eve. The Archbishop of Calcutta, His Grace, Thomas D’Souza, Kolkata Police Commissioner, Soumen Mitra, Swiss Ambassador in India, Dr Ralf Heckner, Mr Umesh Chowdhary, Swiss Honorary Consul in Kolkata, industrialist Mr Pramode Kumar Agarwal and other dignitaries were present. The pictorial displays of St Francis of Assisi at the exhibition, have been conceptualised by Church Art and would be installed in the Cathedral premises to inspire and motivate people to love and protect Mother Earth. “This year, as Christians heed to the call of green Christmas, tradition recalls a Catholic saint who returned to nature by promoting “presepio vivente” - a living crib. A crib, is a depiction of the birth of Jesus as described in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. The origin of the Christmas Crib or Manger or Nativity scene is often first ascribed to Saint Francis of Assisi, who, in 1223 AD, celebrated the `Feast of the Nativity’ in a new way that led to a new devotional practice popular even today,” said Fr Franklin Menezes, Parish Priest of The Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary, Burrabazar. The Cathedral was founded on 1799. Fr. Franklin Menezes called on everyone to respect and protect Mother nature and earth’s environment. The Cathedral is celebrating a green Christmas to spread environmental awareness and practice in daily life the conservation of nature and its resources. Nativity scenes exhibit figures representing the infant Jesus, his mother Mary, and Joseph. Other characters from the nativity story such as shepherds, the Magi, and angels may be displayed near the manger. Distinctive nativity scenes and traditions have been created around the world and are displayed during the Christmas season in churches, homes, shopping malls, and other venues, and occasionally on public places and in public buildings. The Vatican has displayed a scene in St. Peter's Square near its Christmas tree since 1982 and the Pope has for many years blessed the mangers of children assembled in St. Peter's Square for a special ceremony. In 2015, the first ever crib set depicting Jesus’ birth from India, designed by Kolkata-based organization Church Art, was added to the International Nativity Museum of Bethlehem’s collection of 223 nativity representations from over 93 countries. The International Nativity Museum in Bethlehem, a UNESCO Heritage Site, is currently located close to the Church of Bethlehem which is considered to be the spot where Jesus was born. Local lore passed down from ancient times holds that the three travelers or Magi who were guided by a star had passed through this path where the International Nativity Museum now stands. History tells us that St. Francis of Assisi was inspired by his visit to the Holy Land in 1219 where he had been shown Jesus's traditional birthplace. It was in 1223 that the first crèche was celebrated in the woods of Greccio near Assisi, on Christmas Eve. St. Francis’ idea of bringing Bethlehem into one’s own town spread quickly all over the Christian world, and soon after the death of Francis in 1226 there were Christmas cribs in churches and homes. The home crib became popular in Catholic Europe after 1600, owing, it is said, to the efforts of the Capuchins.

Arabian Travel Market (ATM), once again hosted an Advisory Board Meeting at the Address Skyview, Downtown Dubai, bringing together travel and tourism leaders and experts to discuss trending opportunities and challenges facing the industry post-pandemic. ATM’s Advisory Board was set up to provide counsel on industry themes, challenges, growth opportunities and future strategies, while brainstorming other topics and issues for debate at ATM 2022, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 8-11 May. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market, said: “We wanted to connect with a broad range of industry stakeholders to fully appreciate their key issues. More importantly, how those issues might impact the hospitality and the regional tourism landscape, as we work to build the agenda for ATM 2022, providing more business opportunities for our exhibitors and visitors.” Board attendees included Jamel Chandoul, SVP Retail ME&A, Amadeus; Gregory Fuller, Director of Brand Activation, Dubai Tourism; Mark Kirby, Head of Hospitality, Emaar Hospitality; Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, IHG; Ian Albert, CEO MENA, Colliers International; Jeff Strachan, Director, Dubai College of Tourism; Sandeep Walia, COO, Marriott International; Raki Phillips, CEO, RAKTDA; Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels; Mohammad Al Hashimi, VP Commercial, Emirates; Bilal Kabbani, Sector Lead Branding, MENA Google; Marloes Knippenburg, CEO, Kerten Hospitality; and Guy Hutchinson, President & CEO, Rotana. “During the debate which took place on 23rd November, three main topics came to the fore – innovation, attracting and retaining talent and sustainability, which will certainly feature in our seminar programme next year,” added Curtis. In terms of innovation, the board debated how the pandemic had accelerated the adoption of digital and technology in general and that companies were now focused more on innovating and leveraging third party data to adapt to the new normal. Examples used were the ways in which organisations were actively searching to simplify the payment process and defragment the way content is being pushed to customers. Furthermore, the board discussed the need for investment to facilitate the travel experience, ensuring customers felt safe through a frictionless journey. Although members agreed that technology would never totally replace human interaction, offering choice was imperative. By limiting the need to interact physically, the risk of further contamination could be reduced, highlighting the need to integrate all tech’ products for mainstream travel sectors, accommodating, wherever possible, a seamless travel experience. “The Middle East’s track record is especially strong in this area, having taken advantage of cutting-edge services and technologies to bring luxury travel to millions, however it was acknowledged that tourism and hospitality is still being disproportionately affected by the fallout from Covid-19. “Supporting sector-specific innovation and bringing it to market, therefore, has never been so important – both in terms of the immediate recovery and longer-term sustainability,” added Curtis. Turning to sustainability, the board discussed the positive trend of environmentally friendly practices and how essential it was, especially when reaching out to younger travellers. Google’s recent sustainability rating for hotels, was an example cited of reacting to such a trend, however although great strides had been made further investment would be required, whether through private or government support. Another salient point that was raised, was the link between sustainability and talent acquisition – hospitality school and university graduates would be far more willing to embark on a career in an industry that was environmentally responsible. It was widely accepted that there was an industry-wide shortage of talent. Although the pandemic hit the travel and tourism community harder than most, few sectors escaped its negative impact, which is why the travel and tourism sector will need to face up to the challenge of competing with multiple markets to attract the brightest new employees, graduates and innovators. The board also recognised that many people had witnessed another aspect of the work life balance having spent extended periods working from home and the flexibility and convenience that affords. The industry would need to start reconnecting through platforms such as ATM to better understand the expectations and aspirations of the future generations coming into the industry.

The Indian Captive Power Producers Association (ICPPA)In a recent representation to Ministry of Coal, Railways and Power, Government of India has sought urgent support for normalizing the coal supplies to Captive Power Plant (CPP) based industries. It has highlighted the issue of insufficient coal rake supplies to CPP based industries at levels of 40% to 50%. If this is not restored immediately, it would lead to an irrevocable collateral damage of these national assets. In the last few months, the supplies meant for CPPs & industries have been either stopped or significantly curtailed for diversion of these to the power sector, which has led to a perilous situation for other Coal-based Power Generators (CPP), adversely impacting their industrial operations. The decision of Coal diversion, left CPP-dependent industry with no time to devise mitigation plans for sustainable operations, forcing CPPs to curtail generation or come to a standstill. On an average, Captive Power Plant-based industries are getting less than 50% of the Coal against secured linkages and CIL auctions. Importantly, curtailment to CPP is continuing despite Power Sector having come out of the coal crisis. With the coordinated efforts of all ministries, the situation for State Power Sector has improved to current levels of 10 days. However, the CPP industry consumers are still getting overall coal supplies at just 40% to 50% levels leaving them struggling to get uninterrupted coal supplies for continued operations. Also, the Coal -Rake dispatch is at a much lower levels than their requirement booked through linkage and auctions. The Aluminium industry operations are one of the most severely impacted with the price being on a rise recently due to the global shortage. With the coal crisis impacting the industry, the scarcity will lead to further increase in rates. Being a metal of strategic importance, the country cannot afford the shock of Aluminium shortage. Any power outage in Aluminium plants will lead to catastrophic impact & complete shutdown which will take minimum 12 Months of recovery, resulting in job loss of more than 8 lakh people. Banks will have debt exposure of over Rs.1 Lakh Crores and additional National forex loss of Rs. 90,000 Crs. (~$ 12 billion). Aluminium production is a 24x7, 365 days continuous process industry which is highly power intensive. To meet stringent & continuous Power demand the industry has set up their inhouse Captive Power Plant CPPs of ~ 9,400 MW (9.4 GW i.e., 34% of Thermal CPP capacity of the country) with an investment of ~ Rs. 50,000 Crs. The industry can only meet its power requirement through CPPs for which it requires 1.5 Lakh Tons of domestic Coal daily (~ 55 million Tons every year). To meet the extensive Coal demand, the industry has set up plants in the vicinity of Coal bearing areas, with Power plants designed to operate on domestic Coal. Therefore, it is critical to maintain continuous Coal supplies to the Aluminium sector for production of captive power as any shortfall will jeopardize investments of Rs. 1.4 Lakh Crore including debt of Rs. 1 Lakh Crores. This shall also cause shortage of raw material to key industries leading to increase in Aluminium import & loss of export earnings, having an impact of ~$ 10 Bn per annum (~Rs. 70,000 Crs. every year). Keeping the above in mind, The Indian Captive Power Producers Association has requested the ministry’s immediate intervention for normalizing 100% Coal rakes supplies to CPP industry and help them to partner the economic development of the nation.

VFS Global has been nominated the new Trade and Marketing Agency for Turismo de Portugal, the official Tourism Board for Portugal, responsible for building destination awareness in the market, attracting more visitor footfall from India, and positioning Portugal as the leading destination for travellers across segments. In its role, VFS Global will help establish a bigger media outreach for Turismo de Portugal, providing them the latest updates about the destination, and keeping the travel trade up to date on the most recent and relevant information on places, products, and experiences. Additionally, there will be a focus on building corporate and airline partnerships to establish Portugal as a preferred destination in the Indian market. "Since the opening of our Turismo de Portugal office in 2020, based in New Delhi, our aim is to work with the entire Indian market. This is a very strong commitment, and we have selected VFS Global as our local Travel Trade and PR Agency to help us with this thrilling and huge task, with two major objectives. First one is to increase awareness about Portugal as a tourist destination and the second one, of course, is to increase partnerships with different tour operators and travel agencies to increase their knowledge and expertise on Portugal and to create the best conditions for these potential partners to bring more business here from India," said Claudia Matias, Director - India, Turismo de Portugal. “Portugal is the ideal destination for Indian travellers across segments and budgets, with an array of offerings from traditional tourist activities such as night life and nature to bespoke experiences including destination weddings and large family getaways. From sandy beaches to lush vineyards, this Southern European country has a range of activities, attractions and experiences for Free and Independent Travellers (FITs), well-travelled and first-time Indian tourists. We look forward to promoting the wonders of Portugal to customers through our partners and media here in India,” said Arzan Khambatta, Head – Tourism Services, VFS Global. Travellers can lose themselves in the history of heritage sites such as the Monastery of Alcobaça & Batalha and the Convent of the Order of Christ in Tomar; indulge in experiences like the Douro River Cruise and explore Porto, an ancient city, whose historic centre has been classified as World Heritage; get the adrenaline flowing with equestrian and water sports, feel one with nature on the many hiking and cycling trails, star gazing nights, whale and dolphin watching excursions, and visits to Geopark Serra da Estrela and Berlenga Biosphere reserve, host MICE activities and groups in the many state-of-the-art, luxurious venues available, and so much more. Portugal is also an encounter with spirituality. The Portuguese Road to Santiago and the Paths of Fátima are increasingly sought out by those who like walking a purpose, focusing on knowledge, nature and culture. Portugal has something for everyone and for the foodies, the mastery of talented chefs has also raised Portuguese cooking to the heights of the best cuisines in the world. One of the things that tourists notice most when they visit Portugal, is the hospitality and friendliness of the Portuguese, who are always ready to help if they are stopped on the street and asked for information. Perhaps it is the sun which gives us a good disposition, to welcome anyone, wherever they’re from. Portugal has 7 regions, which means that it has a lot to visit and discover. #YouCantSkipPortugal.

Balmond Studio is delighted to unveil their latest project, the stunning new beach front residential development Southbeach Weligama, Sri Lanka which has now launched for sale globally. The development, due to be completed in 2023, includes 106 one, two, and four-bedroom apartments with freehold prices starting from $150,000 USD for a limited period. This, coupled with direct airlinks to European, Central and East Asian markets, provides international buyers with a unique investment opportunity, like those seen in Thailand before its boom. Sri Lanka is fast becoming a must-visit global destination, and Weligama town has already seen its beach front land value increase by 84% since 2016. This exciting project brings a new offering to Weligama; with lifestyle-led residences that include state-of-the-art amenities such as a restaurant, poolside bar, gym, 35m swimming pool, an art gallery and a music room; providing a five-star hotel experience at a more long-term affordable price. Weligama is also home to one of Sri Lanka’s few swim-friendly beaches, with a sea that attracts surfers who are seeking exciting new breaks. When you invest in a property at Weligama, you are investing in breakfast by the pool with the turquoise Indian Ocean for company, afternoons spent surfing and snorkelling off catamarans, and evenings watching the sunset from the Southbeach Weligama bar. Designed by Balmond Studio, who are entering an exciting new chapter of ground-breaking design in Sri Lanka, these luxurious residences are set to become one of Sri Lanka’s most exciting new addresses. Distilling years of experience into the design, the apartments feature high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, with oxidised copper façades and balconies with blue-green glass to perfectly complement the colours of the ocean and coconut trees which are just a stone’s throw away. Southbeach Weligama reflects a celebration of a new ‘young and vibrant’ Sri Lanka, encapsulating the trend for modern coastal living and inspired by local artisans: ‘Design led; Sri Lanka inspired’. At the forefront of Southbeach Weligama is a philosophy of sustainability supported by Balmond Studio Colombo’s Managing Director, John Balmond, a dedicated committee member of the Lanka Environment Fund (LEF), who work with local communities to provide them with the education and tools needed to bring about long-term ecological change. With this commitment to sustainability in mind, for every apartment sold Southbeach Weligama will donate $1,000 to the LEF, while the development also aims to meet the Platinum requirements of the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka. Prioritising the synergy between renewable energy and design, Southbeach Weligama will use turbines and solar panels to power the lobby and restaurant areas while rainwater harvesting systems will be utilised to conserve water. The cornerstone of Balmond Studio’s ethos is to empower local communities by using local produce in the restaurant and furnishing the apartments with pieces crafted by Sri Lankan artisans. John Balmond, Managing Director Balmond Studio Colombo commented, “We are incredibly excited about the Southbeach Weligama project, as it marks the beginning of a new phase in Balmond Studio’s growth as specialists in modern lifestyle design. We want to use this platform to shine a spotlight on the excellence of Sri Lankan craftmanship, all the furniture will be made by local artisans. Community also lies at the heart of everything we do, and we believe that involves helping local communities to prosper.” Balmond Studio is responsible for the design of Gal Oya Lodge, a unique ecolodge in the heart of one of Sri Lanka’s most remote wilderness areas, while also acting as architectural consultants for Port City Colombo a brand-new development with the vision of building a world-class city in South Asia. Creating the Port City Colombo sales gallery, Balmond Studio designed the building in a unique octagonal structure to represent it's commitment to modern architectural design in Sri Lanka Balmond Studio also helped develop Cinnamon Life, a 4.5 million sq. ft integrated mixed-use development and Sri Lanka’s largest single private investment. Designed to transform the social, cultural, and architectural paradigms of Sri Lanka, the project is a perfect urban sanctuary right in the heart of Colombo, offering luxury apartments featuring a blend of contemporary comfort and stylish sophistication. For more information, please visit: www.southbeachweligama.com

The Ministry of Tourism has the honor to inform the public and international tourists that, with the permission granted by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Cambodia will be reopening to international visitors beginning with Preah Sihanouk City and Koh Rong City of Preah Sihanouk province, and Dara Sakor tourist resort in Koh Kong province from 30 November 2021 onward. This will be followed by the reopening of Siem Reap province in January 2022. The reopening is being implemented within the framework of "vaccinated" tourism program which allows international visitors to enjoy a quarantine-free stay and visit in Safe and Green Destinations for up to 5 days. Tourists visiting under this program will be required to submit themselves to rapid Covid-19 antigen test only upon arrival at the airport. If the test result is negative, the visitors will enjoy free movement within the designated Safe and Green Destinations, where all tourism business and service establishments have been inspected in advance to ensure their compliance with the standard operation procedures (SOP) and tourism safety measures. Foreign tourists visiting under this program can apply for tourism visa type T at Cambodian Embassy or Consular Office in their respective countries. Alternatively, they can also apply for E-Visa. Their visit falls under the Covid-19 vaccinated tourism package category or is part of family or small groups of high-end visitors who have been injected with adequate doses of vaccine against Covid.19. To meet the requirements of this reopening program, foreign visitors shall attach the following documents when applying for Cambodian visa: An authentic/legitimate certificate confirming injection of adequate doses of vaccine against Covid-19, Address of booked and paid-for accommodation in Safe and Green Destinations, Health insurance for travel to Cambodia, including insurance for any eventual Covid­19 treatment, and insurance to reimburse any eventual cancelation of the already booked tourism services in Cambodia, Flight ticket, A 'no Covid-19 infection' certificate issued 72 hours prior to the scheduled departure, and History of travel during the 14-day period prior to departing to Cambodia. International tourists coming under this program will be required to submit themselves for PCR test - with the purpose to ensure that they are Covid-19 negative - one (1) day before leaving the designated Safe and Green Destinations to travel to other areas in the country or to leave Cambodia altogether. Public and International travelers are to be informed accordingly.

Singapore, 29 October 2021 – Today marks the successful conclusion of the extensive event programme, networking opportunities and business-driven discussions at ITB Asia 2021. For the first time, Asia’s leading travel trade show spanned an entire week, and as usual covered both current and forward-looking leisure, MICE, corporate travel and travel technology topics. An impressive 42,100 business meetings and exchanges were recorded throughout the week, representing an increase of 31 percent from 2020. The event hosted over 900 buyers and 400 sponsors & exhibitors from around the world who participated in the show's vibrant agenda of conferences and networking sessions, supported by leading global companies and destinations, including Best Western Hotels & Resorts, Busan Tourism Organisation, Business Events Perth, Danang Center for Tourism Promotion, Department of Information and Tourism,Taipei City Government, Far East Hospitality, Frasers Hospitality, Goyang Convention Bureau, Gyeonggi Tourism Organisation, Jeju Convention Bureau, Leningrad Region, Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Bureau, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Organisation, Melbourne Convention Bureau, Melia Hotels Group, St. Petersburg Convention Bureau, United Airlines, Worldhotels Collection, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Yokohama Convention Bureau. The show featured more than 3,200 exhibitor showcases, creating a favorable marketplace for buyers and sellers to engage in meaningful business meetings and discussions. Asia’s leading travel trade show, which was eagerly awaited by the industry, was hosted virtually on the well-established online platform, ITB Community in Asia (ITB Community). Katrina Leung, Managing Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organiser of ITB Asia shared: “We are proud that with this year’s virtual ITB Asia, we were once again able to provide a unique meeting platform for the travel industry in surely one of the most challenging times. I am very pleased with the outcome of the show. Building on our experience with the virtual edition last year, we were able to further expand the event format and give our clients more opportunities for interactive engagements with the travel community. We look forward to welcoming the industry back in-person in Singapore from 19 – 21 October 2022, bringing back human connections through face-to-face business meetings and networking sessions. I would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank this year’s Elite Partners, Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and the Saudi Tourism Authority, for their support and cooperation over the past months”. Recovery and growth of travel represented the 2021 conference theme Under the overarching theme of “The Decade Ahead: Braving New Realities in Travel”, this year’s conference programme delivered captivating insights on how to lead the industry towards recovery and growth, setting the tone for the changes that the industry is likely to see in the next months. Over 150 key industry experts delivered fascinating insights at the keynote sessions, as well as focused topics for the MICE and Corporate segment, Leisure Travel, the Travel Tech space and Tours, Activities & Attractions amongst others. With the virtual format of the trade show, over 250 sessions have been made available on-demand for all registered delegates to view and watch again till 28 November 2021. The following is an overview of a selection of exciting sessions and speakers from the past conference: What Will Your Future Cruise Look Like? Ben Angell, Vice President & Managing Director, APAC, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Rebuilding Travel Post-Vaccine Julia Simpson, President & CEO, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) When Will Asia Pacific Travel Again? Laura Houldsworth, Managing Director & Vice President Asia Pacific, Booking.com The New Normal for the Hotel Business Nicolas Huss, CEO, Hotelbeds Carlos Muñoz, CCO, Hotelbeds The Evolution of the Traveller Through COVID-19 Stephen Kaufer, President & CEO, Tripadvisor Sessions led by MICE profiles Beyond Hybrid – The Future of Experiential Anna Patterson, Vice President & Managing Director, George P. Johnson (Singapore) Private Limited Experience Marketing What US Corporations Are Saying About Incentive Trave Aoife Delaney, President, SITE - Society for Incentive Travel Excellence The New Agents of Change Dan Rivlin, CEO, Kenes Group Leadership in Times of Crisis Jocelyne Mülli, Managing Director, K.I.T. Group GmbH Sessions led by Corporate Travel profiles Back on the Road – New Era, New Rules! Will Business Travel Be the Same Again? Bertrand Saillet, Managing Director, FCM Travel Asia Environmental, Social and Governance: Business Travel’s Responsibilities Brett Thomson, General Manager, Corporate Travel, TAG Global Travel and Events Navigating Through the Industry’s Greatest Crisis Carl Jones, Vice President, Head of Strategy, Asia Pacific, SAP Concur How Digital Nomads and Bleisure Are Re-Defining the Future of Business Travel David Hughes, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, UNIGLOBE Travel International High Touch Service in the Digital Age Jane Warren, CEO, APAC & ME, Reed & Mackay Business Travel Post-Vaccine: A Reset for 2022 Michelle McKinney Frymire, CEO, CWT Corporate Travel Megatrends Suzanne Neufang, CEO, GBTA - Global Business Travel Association Sessions led by Accommodation and Hotels profiles COVID-19 – Emerging Stronger and Better David Kong, President & CEO, BWH Hotel Group How the Extended-Stay Segment is Leading the Journey to Recovery Dean Schreiber, CEO, Oakwood Asia Pacific Recovery: How Hoteliers Can Reignite Confidence in Travel Joon Aun Ooi, President, Asia Pacific, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Shifting Sands: How We Can Adapt to Changing Perceptions of Travel Michael Marshall, CCO, Minor Hotels Restoring Travellers’ Confidence Olivier Berrivin, Managing Director - APAC, WorldHotels The Future of Family Travel: RE-connecting or DE-connecting? Rachael Harding, CEO of East, South Asia and Pacific, Club Med Banking on Technology and EQ to Thrive Through the Recovery and Beyond Rainer Stampfer, President, Hotel Operations - APAC, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts People, Communities and Our Big Opportunity Rajit Sukumaran, Managing Director, South East Asia and Korea, IHG Hotels & Resorts A CEO’s Vision of Recovery and Opportunity William (Bill) J. Hornbuckle, CEO & President, MGM Resorts International Sessions led by Travel Technology profiles How Will Technology Change Travel? Eric Bailey, Global Director, Travel, Meetings & Payments, Microsoft Shane O'Flaherty, Global Director, Travel, Transport, Logistics & Hospitality, Microsoft Technology, Travel and COVID Recovery John Brown, CEO, Agoda Timothy Hughes, Vice President, Corporate Development, Agoda Accelerating Hospitality’s Recovery: The Vital Role of Technology Patrick Andres, Regional Vice President Asia-Pacific, Oracle Hospitality Technology and the Future of Travel Renaud Nicolle, Senior Vice President, Business Travel, Amadeus, Asia Pacific Sessions led by Tours, Activities & Attractions profiles The Next Generation of Technological Innovation in the Travel Sector Dana Dunne, CEO, eDreams ODIGEO How Will Tours & Activities Support the Return of Travel? David Schelp, CEO of TUI Musement, Member of the TUI Group Executive Committee New Ways of Generating Business for Tours and Activities Enrique Ybarra, Founder, President & CEO, City Sightseeing Worldwide The Future of Travel Experiences - Adopting Digital While Retaining a Genuine Human Touch Hamish Keith, CEO, EXO Travel Group The Tomorrow’s DMCs Stephan Roemer, CEO, Diethelm Travel Group Making Every Travel Experience Count Through Sustainability Wolf Paunic, President, Trafalgar Save the date: ITB Asia 2022 live in Singapore again Next year’s edition of ITB Asia is scheduled to take place as an in-person event in Singapore from 19-21 October 2022. Stand registration for ITB Asia 2022 is available through this link. For more information on ITB Asia 2022, the sales brochure can be downloaded here.

DUBAI, 24 October 2021 – United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has commended the UAE leadership for delivering a meaningful World Expo, despite challenges caused by the pandemic, describing Expo 2020 Dubai as a solid building block towards implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the road to Agenda 2030. Visiting Expo 2020 Dubai as part of the United Nations Honour Day on Sunday, Mohammed was welcomed by Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai, and Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director, Commissioner General Office, Expo 2020 Dubai. Amina Mohammed said: “With 192 nations represented, Expo is an auspicious occasion to mark 76 years of multilateralism… of nations and people working together towards a better world for everyone, guided by our founding document, the Charter of the United Nations…I’m very heartened to hear that sustainability is a common theme in all pavilions and that the SDGs are incorporated in many of the Expo’s presentations. “I offer my sincere gratitude and recognise the leadership of the UAE for bringing the world together, nations united, here at the Expo, and for doing so with so much grace, efficiency and inspiration, and for being a generous and reliable partner to the United Nations in our humanitarian and development cause.” Mohammed commended Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, describing the Expo 2020 Director General as an inspiration and an incredible leader. “I have watched you put on paper what the aspirations of this nation are, and to bring them to realisation here. That is leadership. At a time when there is a dark cloud, you have presented a real vision for what we can do to recover better, for how the world can look beyond the UAE – beyond your neighbourhood – into this global community. You’ve given hope and a sense of dignity to everyone that has participated in this Expo. On this incredible day for the UN, which we are all a part of, we need that; we need that hope to carry with us.” Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali said: “Today we recognise the pivotal role that the United Nations plays in galvanising action towards affecting real change through the value and power of multilateralism. Located in Mission Possible – The Opportunity Pavilion, the #UNHub examines how to unlock the potential of individuals and communities in creating positive change for people and planet. “The #UNHub also focuses on programming that champions international cooperation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the Decade of Action. The United Nations has partnered with Expo 2020 Dubai through comprehensive programming and a series of events and cultural activities that engage visitors of all ages and backgrounds, complementing and amplifying Expo 2020’s Programme for People and Planet.” UN Honour Day is being marked with a variety of events at Al Wasl Plaza and the #UNHub, including a cultural performance by the Emirates Youth Symphony Orchestra (EYSO) – a group of young musicians from the UAE and the Arab world devoted to cultivating the musical talent of youth – and the opening of a photography exhibition marking the UN’s 76th anniversary. The exhibition – #TheWorldWeWant – runs until the conclusion of Expo 2020, and has been curated from more than 50,000 images from 130-plus countries. It is located at the plaza of Mission Possible – The Opportunity Pavilion just across from the #UNHub, which is also hosting a special SDG Art Exhibit, with original pieces by artists from around the world, aimed at inspiring action and understanding of the SDGs. National and Honour Days at Expo 2020 Dubai are moments to mark each of Expo’s 200-plus International Participants, shining a light on their culture, achievements and programming. Each features a flag-raising ceremony at the Stage of Nations in Al Wasl Plaza, followed by speeches and cultural performances. Running until 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 has invited visitors from across the planet to join the making of a new world in a six-month celebration of human creativity, innovation, progress and culture.

New York, 04 October, 2021: Gurugram, India based hospitality firm, Morpho Hotels and Resorts India Pvt. Ltd. in partnership with Upjeet Singh Sahota have founded Morpho Hotels and Resorts USA LLC based in New York. With the acquisition of the Rodeway Inn, a Choice Hotel in the city of Holdrege, Nebraska, thereby taking their first step towards Morpho Hotels vision of expanding in USA and select strategic International markets via owned and managed assets. Rodeway Inn Holdrege, Nebraska, a Choice Gold Award winner for 2020 and 2021, is a 40 keys Choice Hotel with an indoor whirlpool, indoor temperature control swimming pool, gymnasium, spacious meeting venue, video game arcade and a business centre. The property is advantageously located at 420 Broadway Street on Highway 6 and 34, about 18 miles south of Interstate 80, making it an ideal destination for travelers. Commenting on the acquisition, Dipinder Benjamin, Founder & CEO, Morpho Hotels and Resorts quotes, “We intend to build an intimate chain of world-class ‘smart’ hotels that leverage Asian roots of empathetic service with a razor sharp focus on yield management and profit optimization. Customized Technology is our greatest tool in this ambition. Our expansion plans continue to be robust through multiple routes of investments, management contracts and branding of mid-market hotels across GCC, Indian Ocean and Europe.” Upjeet Singh Sahota, Director of Operational Excellence and Business Development, India and Overseas further adds, “Our aim through this acquisition with 100% equity is to take Morpho Hotels and Resorts to the next stage of hotel development and ownership, particularly in newer markets outside India. We will also augment our endeavors with managed hotels in USA and other strategic International markets. Our focus is to build confidence with prospective owners and partners to achieve success together.” Currently, Morpho Hotels and Resorts manages properties in Goa, Coorg and Bokaro with more hotels under development in Kasauli and Darjeeling. Moreover, Morpho Hotels and Resorts has developed a wholesome pipeline of hotels coming up in Gurugram, Chandigarh, Nalanda, Kochi, Manali, Bangalore and Lucknow alongside Dubai, Kathmandu and Barcelona.

DUBAI, 2 October 2021 – Sir Tim Smit KBE will take the mic at the World Majlis, as part of Expo 2020 Dubai’s Climate & Biodiversity Week. The world-renowned ecological expert will share his insights on advancing ecological protection via diplomacy, as part of the session titled Nature’s Game of Jenga: Getting Creative to Fight Biodiversity Loss, held in collaboration with Switzerland on Sunday 3 October from 1600-1800 in the Terra Auditorium. Sir Tim has been pivotal in developing Expo 2020’s Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion. He is Co-Founder of the UK’s eco-attraction the Eden Project, which transformed a china clay pit into the world’s largest indoor rainforest and has attracted more than 22 million people since it opened in 2001. Sir Tim Smit KBE said: “Eden is immensely proud to have been offered the opportunity to create marvellous things inside Terra with genius designer Tom Hennes of Thinc Design. We knew it would have to be brave and startling to capture the imagination of people from all over the world coming to be inspired and entertained. “The Expo team deserve huge credit for encouraging the creatives to go for their shots, raising emotionally interesting and challenging questions, and ultimately asking all of us: how would we like to be remembered 100 years from now? “In our view, this is the world’s first rock’n’roll science centre. Congratulations to all. We loved working on it and we look forward to this being just the start of something very special indeed.” Eden Project’s work has expanded to other countries, including Costa Rica’s tropical forest. Sir Tim is also Executive Co-Chair for Eden Project International, which aims to have an Eden Project on every habited continent by 2025. Sir Tim will be joined by Professor Alexandre Roulin from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. In collaboration with Switzerland, the Maldives and the UK, the World Majlis kicks off its series of 52 conversations with four events, each featuring up to 10 globally recognised thought-leaders and decision-makers, to answer the question: “What if we could do more to save the planet?”. World Majlis guests will also speak about why humanity needs to reinvent its relationship with nature and how to do it; opportunities in engineering climate solutions through technological innovations; how to think of sustainability as an accessible opportunity for all; and the importance of empowering more women to address climate change.

New Delhi, 27th September 2021: Vedanta Aluminium Business, India’s largest producer of the aluminium and value-added products, has bagged top spots at Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) Cycle-II among the Indian Aluminium Industry. Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme is a regulatory instrument deployed by the Ministry of Power, Government of India, to reduce specific energy consumption in energy intensive industries with an associated market-based mechanism to enhance cost effectiveness through certification of excess energy savings, which can be traded. Among Aluminium Smelters in India, Vedanta’s subsidiary Bharat Aluminium Company (BALCO) secured the coveted top spot with the highest Energy Saving Certificates, followed by Vedanta Jharsuguda’s Smelter I. Vedanta’s Alumina Refinery at Lanjigarh, ranked highest among peer alumina producers. An alumina refinery is a plant where bauxite is refined into aluminium oxide or alumina, and an aluminium smelter is a plant where aluminium is produced from alumina. These achievements bear testimony to Vedanta Aluminium’s robust endeavours towards energy conservation for business and environment sustainability. Speaking about Vedanta’s energy stewardship, Mr. Rahul Sharma, CEO – Vedanta Aluminium Business, said, “Being India’s largest aluminium producer, our aim at Vedanta Aluminium is to be the best in all facets of business, including Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) sustainability. Maximising energy conservation and minimising carbon footprint are two key pillars of our sustainable business development agenda. A three-pronged strategy of ensuring judicious resource usage, energy-efficient operations, and renewable energy sourcing, helps us further our energy sustainability and climate action goals. Towards this, we have adopted global best-practises in energy and resource management, and deployed cutting-edge solutions to reduce our carbon footprint.” Energy management is at the heart of Vedanta Aluminium’s climate action roadmap, and finds realization through dedicated efforts towards attaining highest operational efficiency of assets and processes. These include impactful initiatives for optimisation of specific energy consumption in production processes and a long-term focus on migrating to low carbon energy mix. Mr. Prafulla Behera, Site In-Charge of IGSEC Heavy Engineering Limited, which is the Operations & Maintenance partner for Power Plant at Lanjigarh, adds, “With our engineering and domain expertise, we have been working with Vedanta on their energy efficiency and energy sustainability targets. We are proud to be playing a crucial role in Vedanta’s journey towards being a forerunner in the field of energy conservation and ensuring maximum energy optimization at its world-class refinery operations.” Vedanta’s Alumina Refinery, Aluminium Smelters and Power Plants have been forerunners in the realm of energy management, among the Indian manufacturing sectors. Few notable initiatives and highlights: Vedanta Aluminium was India’s largest green power purchaser in Q1FY22, having procured 354 million units of solar and non-solar renewable energy for its aluminium smelter at Jharsuguda. Vedanta Aluminium Business has significantly reduced its GHG emission intensity by 21% with 2012 as baseline, and aims to reduce it by 24% in 2025 over the same baseline. Climate action initiatives across all Business Units have resulted in energy conservation of 1.4 million GJ and GHG savings of 0.32 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) in FY 20-21. Vedanta’s aluminium smelter at Jharsuguda is India’s first, and the world’s third smelter to deploy Digital Smelter Solution, which uses digital twin technology, predictive and prescriptive analytics to enhance energy efficiency. The Jharsuguda smelter is also the amongst the first few aluminium smelters in Asia to receive ISO 50001 certificate for Energy Management System. BALCO Vedanta’s subsidiary at Chhattisgarh, achieved lowest specific power consumption in its Potline-I in 2020, which is among the best in India and the Gulf countries. A potline is a long building, or collection of buildings, located in a smelter and contains a series of ‘pots’, or large electrolytic cells, in which aluminium smelting is carried out. Vedanta Lanjigarh's specific energy consumption has reduced by over 23% over the last five years, making it one of the most energy efficient refineries in the country. Vedanta’s ‘Carbon Forum’ is actively working on guiding implementation of the company’s carbon mitigation approach. Vedanta Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest manufacturer of aluminium, producing half of India’s aluminium i.e. 1.96 million tonnes in FY21. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. With its world-class Aluminium Smelters, Alumina Refinery and Power Plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.

LONDON (24 September 2021) --- As summer turns to autumn, fly away for some golden sunshine, sandy beaches and crowd-free sightseeing. Following the announcement that Turkey moved onto England’s amber list on 22 September 2021, leading low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, has expanded its schedule and its number of direct flights from London Stansted and Manchester to Turkey and beyond with low-cost and flexible fares, and its health and safety-first approach. Pegasus has reinstated direct flights to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport from London Stansted, with twice-daily flights departing at 14:40 and 00:05 from London Stansted Airport, and returning from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport at 11:35 and 21:00. Flights are now on sale from £49.99 one-way. Five-times weekly direct flights are now also operating from Manchester Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, departing at 12:50, with returning flights departing from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport at 09:45 (local times apply). One-way fares from Manchester are on sale now from £74.99. Both routes offer excellent onward connections across Pegasus’ network of 36 destinations in Turkey, including to the popular coastal resorts oozing culture and relaxation, such as Bodrum, Dalaman and Antalya - as well its 83 other international destinations. More direct flights Pegasus Airlines’ expanded schedule includes five-times weekly direct flights from 21 October between London Stansted and Izmir, on Turkey’s Aegean coast, with flights departing at 12:55 from London Stansted, and returning flights departing Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport at 10:05 (local times apply). Direct flights to Izmir are on sale now from £59.99. Pegasus will also be launching direct flights between London Stansted and Antalya for the winter season on 20 October. Pegasus Airlines CCO, Güliz Özturk said: “In light of the new announcement putting Turkey back into the amber list, we’re seeing strong growth in our bookings to Turkey from England, and in response to this growing demand and desire for autumn travel, we’re delighted also to be expanding our flight programme from London Stansted and Manchester to Turkey, with excellent connections across our network of 119 destinations in 44 countries - meaning travellers will have a lot more choice with our flexible booking options this autumn and winter. We’re planning to further increase the number of our flights from England later in the autumn if demand continues to rise, and we’re very much looking forward to welcoming our guests back on board as travel begins to reopen again.” Flexible booking on Pegasus’ network of 119 destinations in 44 countries As well as an extensive network in Turkey, Pegasus Airlines also flies to 119 destinations in 44 countries, including destinations such as Dubai, Tel Aviv and Sharm el-Sheikh, offering both low-cost direct flights and seamless connectivity on one of Europe’s youngest fleets. Pegasus also offers flexible booking options, with guests able to amend flights booked up to 31 December 2021 without paying any change fees. Health & Safety First Pegasus’ highest priority is health and safety, with comprehensive Covid-19 safety measures in place including masks required on board. Pegasus was also one of the first low-cost airlines in the world to trial the IATA health-related certification Travel Pass app and the airline offers contactless boarding and bag-drop with Express Kiosks in Turkey. Click for more on Pegasus’ Covid-19 safety measures. Pegasus also offers lots of great value extras, including the Pegasus Café, with a delicious range of hot and cold drinks, meals and snacks on-board, and Fly & Watch, Pegasus’ on-board entertainment system which means guests can enjoy a wide choice of films, TV programmes, games and lots more from their mobile device. Visit flypgs.com/en or the Pegasus’ mobile app to book the lowest fares and other travel needs, including accommodation, car hire and transfers.

First held over 30 years ago the annual ITE Hong Kong, which highly international, is the city’s only travel fair! It held successfully in 2019 despite protest marches, canceled in 2020 due to pandemics; and held as scheduled amid closed borders in July 2021 with separate days for trade and public visitors! To revive the economy, more international destinations are re-opening borders to foreign tourists! Hong Kong and neighboring cities, which are big and safe markets with strong pent up demand, likely can be their prime targets! Thus, outlook for ITE Hong Kong 2022 more positive! However, border uncertainty not going away soon! With our successful experience in 2021, we can use online and onsite services to better help onsite exhibitors and offsite advertisers in 2022! Strongly supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, ITE which organized by TKS, has other tourism authorities like Hong Kong Tourism Board and trade associations like Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong as supporters! ITE2021 results beyond Expectations The first post-pandemic edition, over 60% of its 103 exhibitors from abroad with several attractively designed official pavilions, launched new theme pavilion on Glamorous Camping; and held some 50 well attended trade and public seminars! In the first two days were 2544 registered trade visitors; while the two halls filled in 4 days with nearly 30000 quality visitors! Survey on its public visitors, which collected 4514 replies, found 60% respondents maintain or increase travel spending in coming year; over 80% paying more for safer holiday; and after border restrictions lifted 21% will travel abroad within 1 month and cumulatively 69% within 6 months! In ITE2021, themes like Glamorous Camping launched and Green Tourism highlighted, which popular in post-pandemic travel! With more international exhibitors than local and well attended by quality trade and public visitors, thus, quality of ITE2021 upheld! For reference, the pre-pandemic ITE2019 used 5 halls and drew 675 exhibitors from 56 countries and regions half of which outside Asia; 11613 buyers and trade visitors with nearly 30% from China (mainland) and under 10% from other parts of Asia; and 73665 public visitors who were frequent travelers! Specifically, 13% with 6 or more outbound holidays in past year; 47% with 3 to 5 holidays and only 2% no! More positive Outlook for ITE2022 Hong Kong, with fewer than 12100 confirmed cases at the end of August, widely regarded as safe source market! It’s big too as in 2019 it spent US$26.9 billion on outbound travel and ranked world’s 12th largest! It’s very readily available too as survey found there exist strong and sustainable pent up travel demand. These enhance the city’s priority as market post pandemic! Also, it is part of a much bigger and safe source market, namely China’s Greater Bay Area (the Bay), which includes Guangzhou and Shenzhen. It had in 2020 a combined GDP of US$1.67 trillion while that of Canada had GDP of US$1.60 trillion and ranked world’s 9th largest economy! In 2019, nearly 20% of ITE’s trade visitors came from Guangdong! To revive economy, more and more countries are reopening borders to international tourism. Hong Kong and the Bay can be attractive to them. Proven ways to better handling borders uncertainty Successful experiences in ITE2021 will be used in 2022 to help exhibitors better handling border uncertainty! In 2021, TKS helped invited over 100 travel trade to attend a webinar in June, and offered various online, onsite and online plus onsite packages during ITE! Onsite this year, some exhibitors including official pavilions or stands cut down need to send outside staff from into Hong Kong by having staff from local offices or agents to man booth, and in their pavilion install attractive panels, photo spots, broadcast video and some even held regularly real-time online meetings between stay-home speakers and visitors onsite. For those “offsite” advertisers who were unable sending any staff, TKS set up for them ad panels, photo spots, and shelf-help stands; and some simply broadcasted video regularly in seminar sessions. Also, some NTOs held seminars in ITE instead of exhibiting. TKS equipped one onsite forum with facility for live-streaming on Facebook, which exhibitors can take turn to use it. Also available next year to exhibitors will be sharing facility for holding zoom meetings for stay-home speakers with onsite visitors. TKS will be flexible to help exhibitors better handling border uncertainty. The next ITE in 2022 The next ITE Hong Kong, which incorporate the 36th ITE (Leisure) and the 17th ITE MICE will be held June 9 to 12, 2022 at Halls 1 of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, with the first two days for trade and the last two days open to the public. Space rental will be kept unchanged as same as in 2019 and again, ITE2022 will be eligible for the Convention & Exhibition (C&E) subsidy by the Hong Kong Government which TKS will share with all exhibitors by offering a 20% discount for booking on or before 30 December, 2021; and 10% discount thereafter. For details, enquiry of visiting etc., please visit www.itehk.com or contact TKS via Email: travel@tkshk.com | Wechat: ite-hongkong | Faceboook: itehk | Tel: +852 31550600.

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 11: Kerala Tourism Department today launched its mobile app which ensures a hassle-free travel for tourists coming to Kerala and giving them an opportunity to discover unexplored attractions themselves and record their impressions during the visit. Super star Mohanlal unveiled the app at The Raviz, Kovalam, in the presence of Tourism Minister Shri P A Mohamed Riyas. Dr V Venu, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Kerala Tourism, was also present. “Besides providing all information about destinations and services at your fingertips, a key feature of this app is that it identifies unexplored destinations in all panchayats in Kerala. It will help attractive local tourist spots to grab global attention”, Shri Mohamed Riyas said. Shri Mohanlal said that the launch of the app would be a blessing for travellers, who would like to explore God’s Own Country extensively. Dr Venu said that the app was designed with a view to providing all services to tourists. “Tourism Minister’s direct contribution was there during the preparation of this user-friendly app. It has the facility to add user-generated content, and thus, going forward, it can give a kind of modular growth.” The in-progress app is designed in such a way that a visitor gets the opportunity to write about any unexplored destinations and experiences through the option ‘Create Story’. The app will be further upgraded with more innovative features within six months. In the next phase of the app, tourists can make enquiries using ‘Voice Assistant’ facility, which will give answers through voice, eliminating the difficulty in typing letters. Moreover, the app makes the current toilet mapping activities very fast as it helps those travelling inside Kerala to find out safe and hygienic rest rooms nearby. Tourists can also explore restaurants and eateries that offer delicious Kerala cuisine and relish local flavours as per their choice. With the application of cutting-edge technologies like augmented reality in future, the app will have the dimensions of a gaming station and it will draw tremendous response from travelers across the world. Giving added thrust to Kerala’s successful RT initiative, the app also enables tourists to experience the community driven model in its totality and will also help local communities to showcase their ethnic products globally.

Following the announcement made by the government in Dubai to resume back tourist arrivals from India, Barceló Hotel Group is looking forward to welcoming again all Indian travellers to its 5 and 4-star properties in Dubai with much excitement. With its hotels ranging from luxurious to affordable, Barceló Hotel Group has something for everyone! Be it staycation, long-duration stays, requirement for transit hotels, leisure, business travel, family fun time, celebrations, meetings and conferences, or sports tournaments, everyone is welcome at Barceló Hotels. It feels like you can touch the city’s skyscrapers from the tranquillity of 5* Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel. Located in the exclusive area of Palm Jumeirah, the panoramic views of the sea and the city of Dubai from this luxurious hotel with a private beach are the backdrop to a stay where elegance, exclusivity and British hospitality are second to none. The relaxing, breath-taking and welcoming surroundings make it an ideal place for spending time as a family. Also, exclusive service at the hotel will make your stay extra special with outstanding restaurants offering a fusion of tradition and innovation: the award-winning Khyber restaurant with authentic Indian cuisine, Great British Restaurant with delicious international cuisine and the iconic Dukes Bar. It also offers an Olympic size infinity pool, an indoor pool, lazy river and a kids’ club. The elegant 4* Occidental Dubai Production City hotel enjoys a prime location in the Dubai Production City area, close to EXPO 2020 Dubai area. Thanks to its excellent facilities and services, the hotel meets the needs of both business travellers and those who seek to make the most of the various tourism opportunities this dynamic destination has to offer. It has 2 restaurants, 1 sports bar, 1 sky lounge with swimming pool, a coffee shop, 4 meeting rooms and a ballroom with a fully equipped entrance hall. The hotel also features 2 heated rooftop swimming pools and 2 fitness studios (one of them designed especially for CrossFit training), a sauna and a Turkish bath. Shuttle service to EXPO 2020 site will be provided on complimentary basis for in-house guests. The 4* Occidental Al Jaddaf is a new hotel concept located in the centre of Dubai, close to Dubai Creek and with easy access to Downtown Dubai and various areas of the city. The modern rooms along with the comprehensive facilities, make this hotel an excellent option for both business and pleasure. The hotel has 365 well-appointed sunlit large rooms and the largest suites in the city. It also offers a variety of cuisine and fine dining including Mediterranean and Eastern flavours. The heated swimming pool, which is open year round, the fully-equipped fitness studio and the sauna and Turkish bath, make up the exclusive services the hotel offers its guests to make their stay perfect. Located south of the spectacular Palm Jumeirah, in a skyline of numerous skyscrapers and residential towers, you can find the best apartments in Dubai at the 5* Barceló Residences Dubai Marina. The Barceló Residences Dubai Marina apartments are the perfect choice for a holiday with your family, friends or partner. The building is a modern, impressive tower that features elegant residences and an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub. In addition, there is also a fully equipped gym. Last but not least, guests interested in exploring the cultural heritage of the UAE, while relaxing in peace and tranquillity by the sandy shores of the Arabian Gulf can visit 4* Occidental Sharjah Grand. Indian and other international travellers and guests looking to reserve their booking at Barceló properties can visit: https://www.barcelo.comhttps://www.barcelo.com

New Delhi, 30 Aug: The highly power-dependent Aluminium industry is in for a tough time ahead. This is because of Coal India Ltd’s (CIL) recent move to significantly reduce coal supplies and railway rakes for Captive Power Plants (CPPs), resulting in coal crunch for the Indian Aluminium Industry. Aluminium is a metal of strategic importance and an essential commodity for diversified sectors, crucial for the nation’s economy. Aluminium smelting requires uninterrupted and high-quality power supply for production which can be met only through in-house CPPs. Hence, such drastic curtailment of coal supplies, without any advance notice, will bring the industry to a standstill as it has been left with no time to devise any mitigation plan to continue sustainable operations. Also, resorting to imports at such a short notice is not feasible. The Aluminium industry CPPs have signed FSA (Fuel Supply Agreement) with CIL and its subsidiaries for assured long term coal supply. Any abrupt stoppage of this secured coal supply brings the industry to a grinding halt and has a severe impact on the SMEs in downstream sector resulting in increased prices of finished products and burdening end consumers. Aluminium is a continuous process based highly power intensive industry wherein coal accounts for ~40% of Aluminium production cost. Huge investments of Rs 1.2 lakh Crore ($20 billion) have been made to double the domestic production capacity to 4.1 mtpa to cater to the country’s increasing Aluminium demand. The Indian Aluminium industry has set up ~9000 MW CPP capacity to meet its power requirement for the Smelter and refinery operations and reduce dependence on power grids. Any power outage/or failure (2 hours or more) results in freezing of molten Aluminium in the pots which leads to shutting down of the aluminium plant for at least 6 months rendering heavy losses and restart expenses, and once restarted it takes almost a year to get the desired metal purity. The Indian Aluminium industry is already struggling to remain globally competitive due increasing production costs in India primarily due to increased power cost over the past few years with rising coal prices, increase in various duties, cess and RPO. Also, the high incidence of unrebated Central & State taxes and duties, constitutes ~15% of Aluminium production cost which is amongst the highest in the world. This is adversely impacting the sustainability & competitiveness of the Indian Aluminium industry. Being a continuous process-based power intensive industry, The Aluminium Association of India has sought the following support from Coal India to continue sustainable operations and to reduce the load on the power grid: Resumption of adequate coal supply against secured linkages for sustainable industry operations. Allocation of railway rakes on priority for coal dispatch to the Aluminium industry. Allocation of coal dispatches through rakes in proportion of 75% (power) and 25% (non-power), as per MoC circular for auction linkage, dated 15th Feb, 2016. Any decision for stopping or curtailing secured coal supplies should not be taken on an ad hoc basis. The CPP based industry should be give prior notice well in advance (2 to 3months) to devise mitigation plans for coal or power imports.

Singapore, 24 August 2021 – Under the overarching conference theme of “The Decade Ahead: Braving New Realities in Travel”, the organisers of ITB Asia, Messe Berlin (Singapore), have announced that ITB Asia Virtual Conference 2021 will address the most pressing issues looking forward to the travel year 2022. Happening from 25 – 29 October 2021, visionary pioneers and leading figures will be having their say and sharing their up-to-date insights and discuss key strategies on the biggest and most important issues to remove barriers to travel, accelerate international recovery and ultimately make sure the travel, tourism and MICE industries become more inclusive and sustainable. During the five-day event, the conference brings together leaders of national tourism boards and convention bureaus, top CXOs of destination management companies, travel agencies, cruise lines, hotels, attractions, world's major travel brands, MICE planners and travel tech solution providers. Key Sessions & Speakers revealed for this year’s show COVID-19 has indeed plunged the global tourism industry into a deep crisis and drastically changed the world of travel. ITB Asia’s travel think tank will cover key topics ranging from “2022 Global Travel Outlook”, “What Will Be Key to Travel the World Again?”, “The Challenge of Digital Health Passports”, “Getting to Know Your Consumers Post-Vaccine Travel” and “Where Do OTAs Stand in the COVID-19 Era?”. High-profile international speakers will discuss the new micro and major challenges such as resuming to travel the world again with implementation of digital health passports and business opportunities emerging from post-vaccine-travels. The key topics speakers will include John Wroughton Brown (CEO, Agoda), Laura Houldsworth (Managing Director & Vice President Asia Pacific, Booking.com), Todd Handcock (President, Asia Pacific, Collinson), Ang Choo Pin (Managing Director, Asia & Senior Director Government and Corporate Affairs, Asia, Expedia Group), James Thornton (CEO, Intrepid Travel), Stephen Kaufer (President & CEO, Tripadvisor), Axel Hefer (Managing Director & CEO, trivago) and David Schelp (CEO of TUI Musement, Member of the TUI Group Executive Committee). At ITB Asia 2021 key leaders in corporate travel discuss future trends, what new priorities travel managers are having, and how Travel Management Companies (TMCs) and other travel partners can adapt quickly to the many changes in the business landscape. Among the key topics are “Business Travel Post-Vaccine: A Reset for 2022”, “How Digital Nomads and Bleisure Are Re-Defining the Future of Business Travel”, “NavigatingThrough the Industry’s Greatest Crisis”, “Travel Managers' NewPriorities” and “Who Will Disrupt Corporate Travel?”. What will help business travel recover and revive will be discussed by the following key speakers from the corporate travel industry: Michelle McKinney Frymire (CEO, CWT), Bertrand Saillet (Managing Director, FCM Travel Asia), Suzanne Neufang (CEO, GBTA - Global Business Travel Association), Carl Jones (Vice President, Head of Strategy, Asia Pacific and Greater China, SAP Concur), Brett Thomson (General Manager, Corporate Travel, TAG) and David Hughes (Managing Director, Asia Pacific, UNIGLOBE Travel International). The MICE industry is slowly getting back on its feet. Visitors to the ITB Asia Conference will learn what lies ahead for MICE players to ensure their business sustainability in the long term and whether remote working and hybrid events will dominate the MICE industry in the following sessions: “MICE Megatrends: What’s Hype, What’s Real, What’s Next”, “After Lockdown – The Who, What and How of Bouncing Back”, “MICE Buyers’ New Priorities” and “The Rise of Remote Working and the Future of Meetings and Events”. The powerful line-up of top speakers continues with Dato’ Vincent Lim (President, AFECA - Asian Federation of Exhibition & Convention Associations), Michael Matthews (President, Association of Australian Convention Bureaux - AACB), Dr. Adam Wu (CEO, CBN Travel and MICE), Ashwin Gunasekeran (Chair, Asia Pacific Chapter, ICCA - International Congress and Convention Association), Dan Rivlin (CEO, Kenes Group), David Audrain (Executive Director, SISO – Society of Independent Show Organisers) and Kai Hattendorf (Managing Director / CEO, UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry). The global travel technology market is expected to reach $12.5 billion by 2026 (source) and there’s no double that technology plays a crucial role in supporting recovery, helping travellers feel safe and comfortable enough to travel and helping companies optimise their operation. Under the headings “Accelerating Hospitality's Recovery: The Vital Role of Technology”, “How will Technology Change Travel?”, “The Recovery is Digital”, “Tech Trends to Watch in 2022” and “The Present and Future of Contactless Technologies”, ITB Asia will gather leaders across travel sectors in a series of talks to share what challenges and strategies they are having going forward. Renown tech speakers such as Ramona Bohwongprasert (SVP for Retail, Amadeus), Renaud Nicolle (SVP for Business Travel, Amadeus), Eric Bailey, Global Director Travel, VenueSource and Payment, Microsoft), Shane O'Flaherty (Global Director, Travel, Transportation and Hospitality, Microsoft) and Patrick Andres (Regional Vice President Hotels JAPAC, Oracle Hospitality) will provide the industry with clearer ideas of how the future of digital travel should look like. Top speakers from other travel sectors will include Enrique Ybarra (Founder, President & CEO, City Sightseeing Worldwide), Stephan Roemer, (CEO, Diethelm Travel Group), Donggun Lee (Founder & CEO, MyRealTrip) and Min Yoon (CEO & Founder, Tidesquare). With everyone looking forward to finally travel on the plan again with the new “travel bubbles”, borders are opening, ITB Asia’s travel think tank gathers airlines leaders to identify the challenges in the aviation sector and how they are discussing about the trends with their new implementations measures and procedures to ensure everyone to have the best and safer flight experience again which we all are missing out for a long time. The air travel sessions include topics such as “Navigating Aviation's Greatest Crisis”, “Rebooting Air Travel”, “The Digital Airlines” and “The New GuestExperience”. In addition to the wide-ranging programme, a new conference format, the Talk Series will feature a wide range of discussion rounds at the ITB Asia Virtual Conference this year. The Talk Series will kick-off with the “NTOs’ & CVBs’ Talks: What We Plan for 2022”. In this series, ITB Asia gathers National Tourism Organisations (NTOs) and Convention & Visitors Bureaus (CVBs) across Asia Pacific and beyond to share their plans for 2022 to the audience. The key topics range from “Travel trends in Asia and the world, and their implications”, “Initiatives and new business models” to “Travel bubbles, vaccine passports and policy recommendations” and “Exit measures for post-pandemic recovery: Plan for 2022 and years ahead”. Under the heading “Hotel Leaders’ Talks: Road to Recovery” ITB Asia will ask hotel leaders to share their observations on what has changed in the hotel business landscape. Attendees will explore how ultimately the industry players across Asia Pacific can work together to bring travel back. Hospitality experts will discuss issues surrounding some of the most hard-hitting questions facing the industry including notable changes in traveller's behaviours since the start of the pandemic, what hotels can do to bounce back more effectively, and how we can build trust among travellers as markets begin to recover. Among others, the Hotel Leaders’ talk series brings together top industry experts from the hospitality sector: John Flood (President & CEO, Archipelago International), David Kong (President & CEO, BWH Hotel Group), Markland Blaiklock (Deputy CEO, Centara Hotels & Resorts), Rainer Stampfer (President, Hotel Operations - APAC, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts), Alan Watts (President, Asia Pacific, Hilton), Rajit Sukumaran (Managing Director of South East Asia and Korea, IHG Hotels & Resorts), Paul Town (COO, Marina Bay Sands), Rajeev Menon (President, Asia Pacific (Excluding Greater China), Marriott International), Michael Marshall (CCO, Minor International), Dean Schreiber (CEO, Oakwood Worldwide), Katerina Giannouka (President, Asia Pacific, Radisson Hotel Group), Olivier Berrivin (Managing Director - APAC, WorldHotels) and Joon Aun Ooi (President, Asia Pacific, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts). People’s demand and desire for travel remains strong, but the fear of COVID-19 is changing how they approach the trips. In the Talk Series “Cruise Leaders’ Talks: Re-Sailing & Recovery – The Future of Cruise Holidays”, Kelly Craighead (President & CEO, CLIA - Cruise Lines International Association) and Ben Angell (Vice President & Managing Director, APAC, Norwegian Cruise Line) will offer ideas and insights on how cruise companies can explore new business strategies and technologies, both to drive bookings and to facilitate safe travel.

The Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia has a great honor to inform the public that with an approval of the Royal Government of Cambodia and a nation-wide COVID-19 vaccination administration to be completed by the end of 2021 and we are ready to host ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2022 under the theme of "ASEAN — A Community of Peace and Shared Future" toward tourism recovery and reopening our region in a more resilient, sustainable and responsible future, which will be held in Preati Sihanouk province (Sihanoukville) from 16th – 22nd January 2022. The ATF 2022 incorporates ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meetings, ASEAN NTOs Meetings, ASEANTA Meetings, relevant meetings and conferences, and TRAVEX. TRAVEX is the largest ASEAN Tourism Business Platform that will be held from 19th - 20th January 2022 and will be attended by over 100 sellers, 100 buyers, and 50 national and international media. In this connection, the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia is pleased to invite the relevant institutions, tour operators, development partners, the public, tourism communities and media to actively attend the above-mentioned event and to widely join and promote our unique tourism products aimed at tourism recovery after the COV1D-19 pandemic and the reopening of our region.

Rather unexpectedly, the first post pandemic edition of ITE Hong Kong 2021, the city’s only travel fair with strong international presence, was held successfully as scheduled from July 29 to August 1 at halls 1B & C of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. With closed borders almost everywhere including the host city, it is reasonable not to expect ITE this year could be held! In fact, the annual ITE saw its edition in 2020 canceled due to pandemic! That it was able to be held this year with comparative successes, in our view, reflect some in the travel trade and travelers are prepared to take action at the soonest to speed up tourism recovery. Understandably, ITE2021 is much smaller than in a normal year, but quality maintained. For examples, it has more outside and overseas exhibitors than from locally; presence of destinations popular to the city’s travelers; attractively designed stands and special displays; new themes, exhibitors and special displays; and total some 50 seminars many by KOLs, etc.Hopefully, ITE 2021 can rally for more actions to speed up tourism recovery! The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Yau officiated the Opening Our honor that Mrs. Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive (CE) of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, again sent this year her Message to welcome ITE participants! (Click HERE for the Message from CE) Our Guest of Honor, Mr. Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong SAR officiated the opening of ITE 2021 on July 29. Other honorable guests on the stage included Ms. Vivian Sum, JP, Commissioner for Tourism HKSAR; and the Hon Yiu Si-wing, Legislative Councilor of HKSAR (Tourism sector) etc. The opening was well attended by the travel trade and media! Beyond our expectation, there is also a strong presence of the diplomatic corps including 13 Consul Generals from USA, Argentina, Bangladesh, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Panama, Nigeria, Philippines, Russia, Thailand, Venezuela and Vietnam, who were invited onto the stage for the VIP Group Photo. ITE Hong Kong 2021, which incorporate the 35th ITE (Leisure) and the 16th ITE MICE, is organized by TKS and continues receiving the strong support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong etc. as Supporters. Visitors - Quality made up for smaller Quantity Several factors affecting visitor attendance. Buyers and trade visitors from outside or overseas, who often account for some 40% of visitors in trade days, could not attend this year due to border restrictions. Social Distancing regulations on exhibitions tightened week before opening, so halls could only be half full instead of 75% of the capacity. Many employees in travel trade been on no-pay leave. ITE2021 has separate admission policy and session for trade and public visitors. In Day 1 and Day 2 morning, admission only by registration and successfully registered buyers and trade visitors given badge allowing unlimited entry in these two whole days. For the remaining sessions and days, visitors can pay for admission. Attending ITE2021 were 2544 local buyers and trade visitors, among them 63.7% from travel trade and 36.3% from corporation and MICE; and 27106 public visitors. However, exhibitors satisfied with the traffic flow and also on enquiries, business discussions, sale leads with some even report making deals. In fact, our in-house surveys on ITE trade or public visitors and many public surveys consistently found strong pent up travel demand in Hong Kong. Outside & Overseas Exhibitors outnumber the Locals This year, ITE exhibitors come from 18 countries and regions, which are Hong Kong, mainland China, Macau, Taiwan, Japanese prefectures of Hyogo, Tokushima, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Toyama, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Nagano and Chugoku Region, Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, Iran and Castilla-la Mancha –Spain. Contrary to expectation, ITE this year still have more outside/overseas exhibitors than from locally. Of its 103 exhibitors, the locals account only for 36% which about half of those from outside and overseas. Also present are pavilions and stands by tourism boards, of which China (mainland) the largest in scale, Taiwan second, and the group of Japanese prefectures ranked third. Exhibitors solve border restrictions in different ways! Yellowknife from Canada, an ITE regular, went through 14 days quarantine in Hong Kong! China (mainland) work with local travel agents while Japanese prefectures mainly with their local offices! Taiwan incorporate online facilities in stand for real time online communications between stay home Taiwanese travel trade and ITE visitors in the exhibition halls. Instead of exhibiting, others present in ITE in other formats! Spain broadcast video regularly in ITE seminar sessions. A Pakistan travel agent use panel ads printed with their QR code. Switzerland, Thailand and South Korea conduct seminars onsite. Understandably, ITE welcome supports for tourism recovery. New Themes, Displays and Seminars This year, as expected, ITE feature more local exhibitors than before. But beyond expectation, ITE introduce new themes like Glamorous Camping and Theme Restaurant, and new displays like the “Greater Bay Area” and the “Colorful Hong Kong Photo Competition”. Also, destination and themed travel seminars for trade and public by exhibitors and a number of KOLs were well attended. In particular, the organizer of ITE, TKS worked with the following organizations to hold quality seminars, they included International Live Event Association (ILEA) seminar on “Applying local resources for post pandemic MICE”; the Hong Kong Discovery on a series of Green & Sport tourism seminars; and the Hong Kong Extra-curricular Activities Masters’ Association (HKEAMA) on Study Tour seminars. Post pandemic travel can be complicated. It involves factors like vaccination, test, quarantine and health measures etc. better start discussion early. Hopefully ITE can be a timely platform for exchange and for serving the strong pent up travel demand which identified in many surveys. The next ITE Hong Kong, which incorporate the 36th ITE (Leisure) and the 17th ITE MICE will be held June 9 to 12, 2022 at Halls 1 of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, with the first two days for trade and the last two days open to the public.

Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL & FutureCHEM rescheduled from September to October 27-29, 2021 Bio Asia Pacific remains unchanged during September 1-3, 2021 as Virtual Event Following the increasing in COVID-19 transmissions in Thailand recently, VNU Asia Pacific as organizer, together with the Science and Technology Trade Association (STTA) and Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS) would like to announce the postponement of Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL 2021 from its original date to (NEW DATE) OCTOBER 27-29, 2021 at Halls 101- 102, BITEC, Bangkok. Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL 2021 together with FutureCHEM INTERNATIONAL 2021, the new show concept for the Chemical Industries will further provide a substantially upgraded Hybrid Platform (Physical Exhibition + Conference + Online Platform) during October 27-29, 2021 at BITEC for the maximum benefit and flexibility of all participants in accessing our exhibition and conference platform. As of now, pre-registration, show information, floor plan, virtual exhibition, online conference and online business matching with target buyers is available through this new platform. Please visit www.thailandlab.com for more information or register at https://register.thailandlab.com/e/Thailand-LAB-INTERNATIONAL-2021?ref=TLAB332 FutureCHEM INTERNATIONAL 2021 will present as a co-located event with Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL 2021. This event focuses on the conference for chemical businesses in petrochemical, pharmaceuticals & cosmetics and food & supplement industries organized through our online and offline platforms. For more information, please visit https://www.thailandlab.com/future-chem/ The original event dates and times of Bio Asia Pacific 2021 remains unchanged with both the exhibition and conference now Fully convened under a virtual platform during September 1-3, 2021. There will be no physical exhibition this year due to the COVID-19 situation.Bio Asia Pacific has a new direction and fully development the virtual platform with the maximize features for all online exhibitors and visitors. This year, Bio Asia Pacific will present the virtual exhibition gathering booths from global biotechnology organization, international associations and companies with the interactive facilities to increase the online experiences. This new digital platform will enable exhibitor and visitor to pre-register online, gather show information, explore virtual exhibition, attend online conferences and conduct business matching with target buyers. The highlight of the conference in Bio Asia Pacific will focus on Thailand's Life Sciences Industry Outlook after COVID-19, the first shot of homegrown COVID-19 vaccines, Life Sciences Industry; Pathway to Stock Exchange of Thailand, Biomimicry: Trend in Cosmetics Innovation from Nature and more. Please visit https://bioasiapacific.com/for more information or register at https://virtual.bioasiapacific.com/e/Bio-Asia-Pacific-2021?ref=BAP318

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 27, 2021 – When it comes to cities that combine history, beauty and culture with art, style and creativity, there are few places on earth that can compete with Istanbul. And there are few people who know the city like the team of local experts at Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul. Tapping into these deep-rooted connections throughout the city, Shangri-La has created a series of curated experiences that invite guests to rediscover the best of Istanbul this summer. The new experiences make every Istanbul adventure even richer for guests, whether they’re jewellery lovers, art aficionados, or just love getting out on the water. A Journey into the world of Turkish jewellery designer Sevan Biçakçi Loved by celebrities including Elizabeth Hurley, Halle Berry and Whoopi Goldberg, Sevan Biçakçi launched his first collection of extraordinary jewellery in 2002, having spent years working as an apprentice with master craftsmen in Istanbul’s famed Grand Bazaar. His unique pieces are a reflection of Istanbul in miniature, incorporating Ottoman history, art and traditional motifs, with one of his most famous pieces to date incorporating a miniature of the Hagia Sofia mosque embedded into a ring. On this Shangri-La-curated half-day tour, guests will visit Biçakçi’s store deep in the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar for a close-up look into the intricacies of his designs, including one unique and highly desirable piece that is usually under wraps and off-limits to visitors. A must for lovers of jewellery and Ottoman style, the experience is priced at EUR 250 per person for a minimum of four and a maximum of eight guests. A visit to artist Ismail Acar’s atelier and an Afternoon Tea to remember Inspired by his home city of Istanbul, multi-disciplinary Turkish artist Ismail Acar’s artworks are filled with Turkish and Ottoman motifs, with people, patterns and familiar city sights all finding their way into his creations. A glimpse into Acar’s atelier is like entering his own version of the city. With works ranging from portraits to paper-carving, stencil graffiti and much more, it’s his hyper-realist portrayals of still life and Turkish artefacts, juxtaposed with Ottoman and Turkish design details, for which he has become most famous. After experiencing artistry in the atelier, guests will return to Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul to experience artistry through the hotel’s renowned Afternoon Tea, where Turkish and Asian flavours reflect the meeting of European and Asian cultures in this thrilling city. The menu features dishes such as the palace manti with fresh goat cheese, herbs and gold leaf, fresh-from-the-oven Black Sea pide with minced beef, and the much-loved money bags with Peking duck, as well as a selection of teas ranging from traditional Turkish çay to Indian and Chinese blends. The experience is priced at €170 for two people, inclusive of round-trip transfer from the hotel to the artist’s atelier. Cruising to find the Catch of the Day on the Bosphorus The Bosphorus is one of the world’s most evocative waterways, connecting Europe and Asia and providing the perfect backdrop for all sorts of Istanbul adventures. On this excursion created by Shangri-La, guests will have the opportunity to set sail on these storied waters with local fishermen and try their hand at fishing the catch of the day. Departing at sunrise on a traditional Turkish fishing boat, your local guides will survey the waters and cruise to the spots with the best chance of landing a catch. Depending on the time of year and the conditions of the day, bluefish, seabass and mackerel can all be fished in these waters. For those who prefer to enjoy the ride instead of fishing for dinner, a morning out on the Bosphorus offers opportunities to see the beautiful Istanbul skyline from a different perspective, with mosques, minarets and the city’s seven hills lighting up with the sun’s first rays. And keep an eye on the surface of the water, too. It’s not unusual to see dolphins here. Back at the hotel the chefs will be waiting to cook up the catch in traditional Turkish style. And for those who didn’t have any fishing luck or who preferred simply to enjoy the ride, there will still be a freshly prepared meal waiting with ingredients picked up at the fish market for a true strait-to-table experience. The Bosphorus Fishing Excursion, including one night in a Premier Bosphorus room for two, is priced at EUR 1650. The fishing experience is available for a minimum of two and a maximum of eight guests. For bookings, please call +90 212 275 88 88, email slib@shangri-la.com or visit https://www.shangri-la.com/landing/summer-on-the-bosphorus/ Shangri-La Cares Enhanced Health and Safety Protocols Shangri-La Bosphorus, Istanbul remains committed to providing a safe environment for all through Shangri-La Cares, the Group's global safety program. Comprising a range of enhanced protocols and measures designed to ensure colleagues work with peace of mind and guests can confidently enjoy the moments that matter most. Shangri-La has followed recommendations laid out by the World Health Organization, or more stringent local directives where appropriate, to ensure its operational protocols are comprehensive. Concrete measures have been adopted at all Shangri-La Group hotels and resorts to combat the risk of contracting viruses and bacteria so that guests can feel safe when staying at or visiting its properties. These protocols include: increased frequency and full attention to deep cleaning of all high-touch surfaces and areas used by guests throughout the hotels; use of medical grade sanitizers and disinfectants, which are approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency; increased cleaning frequency of air filters and air-conditioner systems to ensure optimal air quality; and safe dining, meetings and events with extra precautions to respect physical distancing and enhanced food safety practices. Guests can learn more about Shangri-La Cares programme on the website.

27 July 2021 – A globally-renowned multi-experiential, immersive and retail innovation festival will make its debut in Abu Dhabi this December, as a prelude to Abu Dhabi Winter Shopping Season, creating a melting pot of creative expressions, progressive ideas and future experiences from across the business and entertainment spectrum. FUTR World will launch exclusively in the UAE capital from the 9 – 11 Dec 2021 at the Manarat Al Saadiyat, a partnership between Retail Abu Dhabi, the retail platform of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), MP Singapore and FUTR Group. While innovation summits have taken place across Asia, Europe, US and Oceania, Retail Abu Dhabi have enabled the emirate to host the first ever global FUTR World, a significant boost to the retail sector programming. “DCT Abu Dhabi is proud to host the inaugural edition of FUTR World Middle East in Abu Dhabi. Our commitment to innovation is highlighted by the three-year agreement to bring this globally significant event here, showcasing our year-round programming of unique and first-in-the-region experiences,” said HE Ali Hassan Al Shaiba, Executive Director of Tourism and Marketing at DCT Abu Dhabi. “By forging monumental collaborations with global partners such as MP Singapore and the FUTR Group, Abu Dhabi continues to expand its offering of world-class events, further cementing its role as a global hub for business and entertainment.” Through collaborations with innovators, leaders, retailers, artists, futurists, brands and influencers, the three pillars of the event - FUTR Live, FUTR Festival and FUTR Summit – will show how to bridge the gap between “now and next” in retail, marketing, and commerce. FUTR Live attendees can enjoy interactive workshops, an array of masterclasses from the World of food with MOB Kitchen to lifestyle hacks with influencers like Grace Beverley and extreme sports display with Red Bull’s BMX rider Viki' Gomez to the UAE’s very own figure skating pioneer Zahra Lari. FUTR Festival will feature a world-class line up of progressive music artists taking to a new purpose-built stage at Manarat Al Saadiyat, while inspiring international and local brands, retailers and start-ups at FUTR Summit will provide an unrivalled networking environment. Attendees include Gareth Rees-John, Chief Digital Officer of Kurt Geiger, Mike Butcher MBE, Editor at Large, Tech Crunch, Blaise Bellville, CEO & Founder, Boiler Room, Jeff Hoffman, Co-Founder, Priceline.com/Booking.com and many more industry champions. As part of the Retail Abu Dhabi’s commitment to providing unparalleled retail offerings and experiences to the emirate’s residents and visitors, FUTR World will enable opportunities for both stakeholders and consumers in the emirate, further reinforcing the capital’s position as an exceptional international retail and tourist destination. “FUTR World is the first of its kind in the world and we are very happy to have the opportunity to launch this brand-new event in Abu Dhabi, with the kind support of DCT Abu Dhabi, FUTR World is a landmark festival that will convene thousands of innovators, exceptional leaders and influencers for three days of inspired conversation, world-changing ideas and meaningful takeaways” Shane White, Managing Director, FUTR Group. For more information on FUTR, please visit www.futrworld.com.

Singapore, 23 July 2021 – Messe Berlin (Singapore) wins “Outstanding Event Organiser" award at the Singapore Tourism Awards 2021 for successfully organising TravelRevive, the first international travel tradeshow to take place physically in Asia Pacific during COVID-19, with both local and foreign attendees and exhibitors. The Singapore Tourism Awards celebrates and recognises individuals and organisations in the tourism sector for delivering outstanding experiences and demonstrating enterprise excellence. The award is an integral part of the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) efforts to enhance the competitiveness of Singapore's tourism sector by motivating organisations and individuals to create compelling experiences and adopt best practices. Powered by ITB Asia and STB, TravelRevive was the first pilot tradeshow to trial the newly developed ‘hybrid event’ tradeshow prototype for safe business events, safe itineraries, and digital enablers in Singapore. The event was part of a public-private alliance among various government agencies that aimed to bring to life Singapore’s vision for safe, trusted and innovative business events. The two-day event brought together local and international attendees on-site to exchange ideas, bridge knowledge gaps, and reimagine the future of travel. It featured conference sessions, an exhibition, as well as opportunities for one-on-one buyer-seller appointments. It was complemented by virtual conference sessions which enabled a wider global audience to connect with regional travel businesses. “Messe Berlin (Singapore) has been providing our industry with event excellence for over 14 years by delivering all-rounded experiences for attendees in both our physical exhibitions and virtual events. We are very grateful to receive this important award, which recognises our proven record in organising and running quality exhibitions. It has been a difficult year of hard work for our team. Event experience is what we strive for. Our team continues to adapt, change and excel in bringing an unparalleled platform for industry stakeholders to do business, learn and network. With TravelRevive, we did our part to help pave the way for a positive future for trade shows during and post-pandemic”, said Katrina Leung, Managing Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore), the organiser of ITB Asia and TravelRevive.

New Delhi, 15 July 2021: Radisson Blu, an upper upscale brand that delivers a positive and personalized service in stylish spaces, is proud to announce the opening of Radisson Blu Resort Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh. Located on the scenic foothills of the mighty Dhauladhar Range, this idyllic resort is a perfect getaway with accessibility from all corners of the world. The resort offers the perfect combination of business and leisure amenities for discerning travelers. “We are delighted to bring our flagship brand to Dharamshala. Radisson Blu Resort Dharamshala is our fourth hotel opening in 2021 which is set to mark new milestones for our business. We seek to add more than 15 new hotels to our portfolio this year, achieving the 100-hotel milestone,” said Zubin Saxena, Managing Director and Vice President Operations, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group. With easy accessibility from Kangra Airport, the resort features 120-uniquely designed modern rooms overlooking the most picturesque view of the spectacular Kangra Valley. The resort enjoys an independent access from Khaniyara road connected to national highway 503 and is conveniently placed to explore all popular tourist destinations around Dharamshala. “We are honored to open this superb resort in Kangra Valley. Radisson Hotel Group was our chosen strategic partner and we are confident that this hotel will set a new benchmark of hospitality in the valley,” said R.P. Singh, Director, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association. Spread over 30,000 sqm and located 6 km from the iconic Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, the resort features rooms across standard, superior, deluxe, suite and presidential suite categories. It constitutes three banquet halls - Mid Off, Mid On and Centurion with capacity between 80 to 100 pax and an outdoor venue, The Banquet Deck, offering unparalleled views of the Kangra Valley and ideally suited to host weddings and social functions. In addition to 24-hour room service, the resort houses numerous onsite dining options serving a variety of cuisines such as The Edge – all day dining restaurant serving a range of local and western dishes; Italian Crust - the specialty Pizzeria, and All Out – Lounge Bar offering an enviable selection of wine and spirits along with delicious small bites. Vikas Sharma, General Manager, Radisson Blu Resort Dharamshala said, “I am confident that the unique combination of the resort’s location, its facilities and the Group’s unmatched service standards will prove to be a compelling option for travelers looking for all-inclusive hospitality in the hills.” Radisson Blu Resort Dharamshala will feature The Spa at Radisson Blu, a full-service branded spa offering guests a 360º immersive experience by focusing on minds, bodies and emotions. The spa will offer a selection of natural, holistic and beauty treatments for complete rejuvenation. Other amenities for rest and relaxation include a meditation room, a contemporary fitness studio and a temperature-controlled infinity pool offering a tranquil view of the Kangra valley. The resort offers a range of family recreation options such as an outdoor kids’ play area, family picnic spots in the serene pine forest and a cozy cards room. With the health and safety of guests and team members as its top priority, Radisson Blu Resort Dharamshala is implementing the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol program. The in-depth cleanliness and disinfection protocols were developed in partnership with SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, and are designed to ensure guest safety and peace of mind from check-in to check-out.

[July 13, 2021, Macao] A four-month mega international cultural and artistic event ‘Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2021’ will be inaugurated on Thurs, 15 July 2021 at Macao Museum Art, presenting a movable feast to the city. On the occasion, the Main Exhibition themed “Advance and Retreat of Globalization” will also be inaugurated, with three exhibitions, distributed through various areas of the Macao Museum of Art, reflecting on the advances and retreats of globalization through the arts. “Art Macao” will present 30 art exhibitions in 25 locations from July to October, bringing an immersive cultural atmosphere to the entire city as a gallery and an art garden, allowing the public to enjoy the beauty and vividness of art. This edition is curated by Professor Qiu Zhijie, one of the most influential contemporary artists in China and Dean of the School of Experimental Art of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, focusing on contemporary visual arts. “Art Macao” is divided into several sections: Main Exhibition, Special Exhibition of Resorts and Hotels, Creative City Pavilion, Public Art Exhibition, Selected Works by Local Artists and Collateral Exhibition, aiming to reshape the humanistic spirit in the post-epidemic era. Curated by Qiu Zhijie, the Main Exhibition at the Macao Museum of Art is divided into three parts: “The Dream of Mazu”, “Matteo Ricci’s Labyrinth of Memory” and “Advance and Retreat of Globalization”, providing a space for reflection and discussion on globalization and individuality, life and dreams, remoteness and proximity, security and happiness, among others. The three thematic exhibitions feature over 40 artists from nearly 20 countries and regions, presenting more than 100 pieces/sets of artworks. The first part of the Main Exhibition “The Dream of Mazu” brings together Ming’s and Qing’s export porcelain transhipped through Macao, the combination of traditional and contemporary creations of azulejo tiles by artists from Portugal, the brand-new blue-and-while porcelain works by artists from China and the Middle East; the second part of the Main Exhibition “Matteo Ricci’s Labyrinth of Memory” describes the Western world’s view of China over 500 years. Both parts of the exhibition are held until 15 August. The third part of the Main Exhibition “Advance and Retreat of Globalization” shows that artists around the world have been continuously working on creation, striving to open a new spiritual path that leads the world from despair, and organizing the ideas about tradition and memory mentioned in the first two chapters. This part of the exhibition is held until 17 October. Under the patronage of the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture and the Secretariat for Economy and Finance, “Art Macao: Macao International Art Biennale 2021” is organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Macao Government Tourism Office, and co-organized by the Education and Youth Development Bureau, Galaxy Entertainment Group, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited, MGM, Sands China Ltd., SJM RESORTS, LIMITED, Wynn Macau, Limited, and Nam Kwong (Group) Company Limited, with the participation of various creative cities and local higher education institutions, as well as the support of the Municipal Affairs Bureau and Air Macau. The Cultural Affairs Bureau will strictly follow the relevant guidelines of the Health Bureau and implement appropriate measures for the event. All participants must wear face masks, undergo temperature checks, present a valid “Macao Health Code” of the day, and follow crowd control measures on-site. Admission to all activities is free. Video: https://www.macaotourism.gov.mo/en/videogallery/1847